Chp. 13: Sound the Pipes
January 24, 2005
Northwest of Caranda Beach
"This is Kameleon 1 to friendly units near the 458-22 Interchange. Friendly helicopters approaching the area. Check your fire to the east. Acknowledge?"
"Copy that, Kameleon! This is Lisica 3, southeast of the interchange and advancing. Glad to see you, but we have no LZs secured for you."
"Kameleon this is Zlato 1, are you able to assist in securing an area to the west of the interchange?"
"What's the situation there, Zlato?"
"We stopped an insurgent convoy trying to bring their friends at the interchange supplies, but have sustained heavy casualties. Request help in pursuing the remaining insurgents."
"Copy that Zlato."
The second he had the information, the pilot hailed Jamie and relayed what he'd learned. In the spirit of improvising this entire plan, it was decided that they'd secure the convoy and supplies if any was left. Jamie passed it down the line while the enlisted crewmen readied the Hip's door-mounted GPMGs. He snuck glances out the doors and windows, eyeing the farmland below. Thin herds of cows ambled about, but that was the only sign of civilization. The Hip and its wingman rose above the wooded hills and made a half left. Jamie keyed his headset.
"Right then, Captain; what's the plan for getting us on the ground?" He asked.
"We'll land on either side of the highway, west of the Eruseans We'll lay down cover fire and make a quick landing with both helis at the same time. Your men have eight seconds to get off, and that's generous. Rear doors will be aimed away from the Eruseans." The pilot replied.
Well Jamie had never liked the idea of being immortal, he remarked inwardly.
"Understood. How much time do we have?"
"Two minutes, about. Better get combat ready before then."
Jamie acknowledged and told everyone to get on their feet and be ready to fight the second they were out the door. The clamshell entrance popped open as the Hip banked again, then snaked to the right. He kept his headset on as they approached to get a solid idea of what they were up against. He set a hand near the trigger for his M203 and held on with the Hips leveled out, then split up. Jamie looked out of the doors and saw the highway as it broke the rolling mix of green and brown. He spotted smoke at the same time the co-pilot spoke up.
"Looks like two XA-185s and a BOV. Got two more BOVs in the field to the north of the road."
"Understood, ready and waiting." Jamie replied.
The Hips accelerated, and the door gunners drew beads on their targets. They unleashed on the unsuspecting Eruseans with a hail of 7.62mm armor-piercing, aiming for the gun turrets on the APCs first. Troops in the open scattered in shock, most only making it a short ways before falling to the Lenish gunners. The BOVs in the field were given the same attention by the right-side gunner behind Jamie. The man pointed out that the enemy vehicles were quick to turn their guns to respond, but kept firing. In the momentary shock, the two Mi-8s flared and descended to the ground as rapidly as they dared. Their wheels hadn't even touched the ground before Connors was leading the charge into the open. Jamie followed suit, bracing himself as he ducked down and went to the left, towards the convoy. The rotorwash picked up as the Hip launched back into the air. Jamie took a knee and looked in all directions, trying to get a handle on the situation as quickly as he could. They'd been inserted behind the convoy's north side, and his men automatically formed a proper skirmish line relative to it.
"Concentrate fire on the BOVs! I want them out of action!" He barked.
The BOVs were temporarily distracted by the helicopters. Long enough for Jamie to change out his M4 for a LAW. He kept his position in the firing line , where his backblast was clear, and let the rocket fly towards the APC. It curved up slightly, but hit the vehicle nonetheless. A second LAW struck its partner almost simultaneously, and Jamie brought his M203 to bear against the third as it raked the Lenish lines with its NSV. Paulson fired a grenade, then Jamie followed up with a second. Sergeant Ned Foley, who'd taken over Jones's position, tossed a fragmentation grenade to add to the effort. It was enough to take the gunner out of action so the third LAW could be used on one of the Pasis.
"Alpha 1, Bravo is preparing to move in on the convoy. What's your status?" He radioed.
"Alpha is ready, Bravo 1." Yorke assured.
A team from each troop bounded forward towards the withering resistance. As they got close, the rest of each troop (those who were still alive) moved in. One of the XA-185s lurched forward, pushing its way through the front of the convoy and cutting right. The BOV followed before another grenade struck it and brought it to a halt. The few Eruseans who remained were cut down as they tried to pop out and hit the Lenish men at point-blank 's troop moved through the convoy and set up blocking positions ahead while Jamie's moved to three lorries. The windshield and tires had been shot up on the first, and the second had rear-ended it. Jamie turned and pointed to the last one, sitting slightly off the road.
"Get what you can from the first two and put them in the third. If it doesn't run, load up on what you can. Five minutes." He ordered breathlessly, reaching for his radio.
"Southern Volunteer Guard units holding the bridge near the 458-22 Interchange, this is Bravo 1. We have secured your resupply and are working on getting one of the lorries moving. Do you read?"
"Bravo 1, this is…erhm, sorry, we don't typically have cool code names." An older and rougher voice replied.
"Got a first name, sir?"
"Willy."
"Alright Willy, we're enroute to assist. Watch your fire to the west. Additional forces are inbound at this time with heavy weapons."
"I understand. Did any of my mates make it?"
"None that I can see."
"Right…well, don't keep us waiting. I'll tell you more once you get our weapons back to us."
"Understood."
Jamie released the transmit button and drew in a breath. The bridge was visible in the distance, but it seemed to loom over him like an omen. He heard the beating of rotors and saw a pair of Chinooks. It only brought him some comfort, but he'd make due. You survived evacuating your home, Jaime, you'll hopefully survive this...
"Thirty seconds, lads!"
Warrant Officer 1 Kenneth Bartley rose to his feet, even as the LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) dipped again from Erusean artillery. He was used to such a thing, but from inside the protection of a Warrior IFV. Having been on a ship during the first hours of the invasion had given him a surprising amount of access to information. Usually the things being related to Captain Harris about their mission once ashore. After surviving the last air raid by the Eruseans, A Company had finally been ordered ashore. The Marines of 5 Commando had seen a very bloody slog from the water to their current position.
The machine gunners on the bow of the craft opened up as the last few seconds passed. There was then a sharp coughing noise as smoke grenades were launched from the craft's midships. The Lenish riflemen spilled out into the mid-morning tide at full tilt. Some screamed, some stayed quiet, but suddenly it seemed like they were carrying nothing at all. Kenneth dared look into the distance and saw sporadic muzzle flashes from the hills inland. A particularly big one caught his eye. He recognized the turret of an M-84 before it disappeared below the crest of one of the mounds. Before he knew it, another Erusean shell landed nearby. It wasn't close, but the shock was enough that he forgot his balance for a second and went face-first into the water.
"Argh, bloody hell!" He snarled as he picked himself up.
The stocky man stumbled forward as the weight of his gear became apparent for an instant. He gained his balance after another few steps and kept moving. As his eyes rose, he saw a figure lying in the surf, face up. Face might not have been the proper term, as it became apparent that the man's jaw was gone. Even then, Kenneth was able to recognize the upper half as belonging to Captain Harris. He kept running, setting his sights on the burnt-out hulk of a Fuchs APC. He dropped to a knee directly behind the machine and looked at the other riflemen coming ashore.
"Lance Corporal Carlye! Get over here!" He roared as he saw a man with a radio pack.
The young soldier made an abrupt turn and dove for cover. He was accompanied by the company's piper, Sergeant Danny Polk.
"Where's the Captain, Warrant Officer?" Carlyle gasped as he raised his head from the seafoam.
"He's gone, Corporal. Get us a line of communication to Battalion HQ. Sergeant Polk!" Kenneth ordered.
"Yes sir?" The bearded soldier replied. Kenneth motioned at the case for his bagpipes.
"Our Lady Mably."
"Sir."
Polk curled up against the far side of the wrecked APC and swung around a case. While Kenneth gave a contact report to his superiors, the sergeant pulled out his instrument and made sure it was still tuned how it ought to be. He tucked the bag under his arm and started up the tune of the regiment's march. Kenneth looked up as their promised air support came rolling in. Two Jaguar strike aircraft passed by from his left, dropping eight unguided bombs on Erusean positions below. The AA fire and missiles that followed seemed almost nonexistent to the crazy pilots hammering out a path for their mates on the ground. Kenneth raised a fist in triumph and looked back at his command. He keyed his personal radio to sound the charge.
"Alright boys, forward! Skirmish line along the dunes!"
With Polk playing away, the infantrymen emerged from the craters and wrecked vehicles and started forward once more. More Jaguars passed overhead, though he was focused on the dunes. Tracers flashed by on either side but never seemed to fall in his path. When he drew close, a man in a similar uniform to his emerged from the reeds. Kenneth hit the ground and looked up at the man.
"You with 5 Commando?" He asked.
"Yes Warrant Officer! My company commander is just over this dune." The man replied.
"Right…Carlyle until you can raise the XO, have the company standby at our current line. Be ready to move them to reinforce the Marines as soon as we figure out what's going on."
"Yes, Warrant Officer."
Kenneth and his RTO followed the young marine while Polk continued to play for those still moving up the beach. Where he was, the Eruseans couldn't really see him. To keep his calm, he fixed his gaze on a piece of driftwood some meters away and filled his mind with the notes to "Our Lady Mably". Kenneth and Carlye were led to a reed-covered dune, next to which was an unpaved road to access the beach. A man talking into a radio handset looked at the enlisted infantryman, who rendered a salute upon seeing he was a Captain. The dark-skinned man lowered his handset and cocked a brow.
"That bleeding sound from your unit?" He asked.
"Yes sir. Warrant Officer Kenneth Bartley of A Company, 1st Battalion of the Mably and Rosemont Highlanders." Kenneth replied.
"Captain Nelson Kvanti. What happened to your CO?"
"He's had it; barely made it ashore before the Rusies got him."
"Do you have an idea of how many of your men made it ashore?"
Kenneth looked at Carlyle, who cleared his throat.
"Both rifle platoons and our support platoon have made it ashore. Light casualties, and Lieutenant Davison is badly wounded but alive." He explained.
With A Company's Executive Officer out of action, that put 1st Platoon's Lieutenant George Murphy in charge. Carlye hailed him over the radio to their position, despite Kvanti's visible impatience. The steady impacts from light artillery and tank shells put an emphasis on that. Still, he waited for the man to come bounding over from another dune.
"Where's Captain Harris?" The man asked over the report of an M-84's main gun.
"Done in, sir. The XO is badly wounded, so it's your company now." Kenneth replied.
Murphy drew in a breath and nodded. He looked to Captain Kvanti, who traded his C8 for a map he'd tucked in his protective vest.
"We're here, almost in the center of the beach. We've been taking a lot of fire from this shopping centre here, just off the coastal highway. Our southern flank is moving to link up with Crowne Beach's northern flank, but that centre is giving them a lot of grief. We need to take it and keep the link-up safe."
"We have any clue what's up there?"
"Infantry, possibly a Tunguska or two. It's not well-fortified, but we need the manpower to take it. My 1st Platoon is dug in on the slope approaching it, keeping a low profile."
Murphy's response was quick and firm.
"Bartley, take Carlyle and go with 2nd Platoon to clear the centre. I'll stay with 1st and 3rd Platoons to deploy smoke and help reinforce against those tanks. Carlyle, tell our Javelin teams to start searching for targets, and get my RTO over here."
"Yes sir!"
"Captain Kvanti, are your marines aware we're coming?"
"They won't fire on ya, Leftenant."
Kenneth moved down the beach almost immediately, staying hunched over as shells and tracers flew by overhead. He stopped when he was in front of the buildings and crawled to the top of a dune to observe them. From there, he could also see the M-84s firing on his part of the beach. More vehicles, many of them now charred hulks, littered the highway near an intersection going inland. A dozen XA-185s were squished against the slope, like they were waiting around for a road march. He kept an eye on them as 2nd Platoon, under the command of Second Lieutenant Ferrier, started moving its men down the line. Seeing an opportunity, he held out a hand for Carlye to put the handset in.
"Alpha 6 this is Alpha 5, come in Alpha 6." He said.
"Go for Alpha 6." Murphy replied.
"I have eyes on that armor. They're gathered around a parking lot and moving a fresh platoon towards the sand path next to your position. Additional APCs to the rear, but I can't see the troops they've deployed."
"Copy, good eyes 5."
"This is X-Ray 6, I've got two CG teams in the dunes moving to ambush positions. Keep me updated if those tanks do anything else." Kvanti added.
Kenneth acknowledged the request and centered his rifle's scope on the lead tank. Its commander's hatch popped open and a crewman emerged to look around. Kenneth dared to look away to try and find the marine anti-tank teams; he spotted one closing in on the tank. Kenneth centered his sight back on the Erusean and fired a few rounds. The man jerked to his left, then collapsed back into the turret. Kennth looked to the following tanks as they scanned the area for the shooter and ducked down. He heard the sharp bang of a Carl Gustaf and peeked up in time to watch the lead M-84 get a second round. It went still as smoke and fire erupted from the penetrations and the open hatch. The man eased down the dune, out of sight, and let the marines take care of the rest. He noted a figure approaching and turned to see the Verusean features of Lieutenant Ferrier.
"Morning to yah, Warrant Officer." He exhaled.
"Morning sir, ready to move when you are." Kenneth replied.
He followed the Lieutenant towards the line between brush and sand, which prompted 2nd's rifle sections to rise and move forward. The slope rose sharply, then leveled out and turned to pure shrub brush until it reached a safety net. One section stayed behind while the other two pushed forward, collecting marines along the way. Kenneth felt very uncomfortable as the shooting appeared to be reserved to the rest of the beach. The company's Javelin teams were working at a steady pace, given the constant pop-bang of their launchers. He stopped at the safety net and drew his bayonet to cut his way through. Ferrier did the same a few meters down, then looked at the noncom.
"Take four men and move up to the overlook above us. I'll have the marines check the flanks." He ordered.
"Yes sir." Kenneth nodded.
With his RTO's help, the man climbed through the net and clawed up the shrubs towards a brick safety wall. At the top, he yanked a smoke grenade off his web gear and waited as the rest of his men stacked up on either side of him. He saw one of the marines trudge up to the crest of the ascent. He raised his C7A1 and stood as tall as he could for a second. He dropped down and looked at Kenneth, signaling there was a position just past the crest. Kenneth signaled to deploy smoke, then attack with grenades. He removed his helmet and tilted his head so that he could see past the wall. It wasn't much, but he spotted a pair of figures guarding the entrance to a two-story building. He looked up as he drew back, though there didn't seem to be anyone who saw the Lenish troops approaching. He signaled back to the marine, then turned to Ferrier and did the same.
As they'd decided, the smoke grenades went first. Followed quickly by a few fragmentation grenades and two shots from the marines' M203s. Kenneth grabbed the top of the wall and pulled himself up.
"Over the top, lads!" He roared.
He yanked back the trigger a few times in the direction of the Erusean guards, and another explosion went off to his right. He hurried to the nearest structure, an ice cream shop, and ducked behind one of the pillars for its patio awning. He emerged and fired on the guards' position again. The infantrymen formed a fighting line using whatever cover they could. Carlye appeared to his right and fired several shots into a storefront across the roundabout. A GPMG team came forward with their L7 and set up to provide suppressing fire. Ferrier and a fresh rifle section poured over the top of the slope, moving towards the buildings to clear them. Kenneth dropped to a prone position and fired a few more rounds, then moved to a trash bin for a better view of the roundabout. All the Eruseans seemed to be concentrated in the buildings closest to the beaches from what he gathered. He eased his head through the gap between the trash bin and the ice cream shop for a better view. An Erusean machine gun team hurried from one side of the lane to the other, unaware of his gaze. He rose and poked around the corner more to fire on them. He saw movement on the left and spotted another Erusean with his Rk 62 raised. Kenneth fired a burst and drew back as the enemy soldier replied with a longer burst. Carlye already seemed to know what to do. He came up with a fragmentation grenade and threw it around the corner.
"Frag out!" He shouted.
Kenneth moved away from the wall and let the RTO take up firing while he moved to the other side. Even as he hurried along, he jammed back the trigger on his L85 thrice. He ducked behind a display stand and turned his attention to the MG team's last location. The Eruseans' rear guard tossed a grenade himself; Kenneth wasn't aware of it until it landed a handful of meters away. He hunched over and turned his back to it. The explosion lifted him up a centimeter or two, but only rattled him. Carlye was firing as soon as the shockwave was gone.
"X-Ray 2-1 is moving up on the right side of the shopping centre! Watch your fire." A marine called.
"X-Ray 2-1, watch out for an MG team on that side." Kenneth replied as he rose to a kneel.
"Copy!"
Kenneth leaned back to try and see around the pillar that the Erusean was behind while the marines hit the MG team. After a few seconds, he raised his L85 and started firing. Other riflemen moved into the lane, forcing the Erusean into a store. One of the marines appeared and raised his M203. Kenneth charged in after the explosion, firing from the hip in all directions. He found the Erusean crumpled up against some shelves, back covered in a smear of crimson.
"Clear!" He shouted over his shoulder.
Not wanting to advance through a cramped space, he ordered the others back outside. Carlye followed him back towards the roundabout. He stopped at another corner and looked around it. There he found one of the Tunguskas approaching from a parking lot. The man bit back a curse and ducked back. The AA vehicle laid down fire on the roundabout, then backed away out of sight.
"Alpha 6 this is Alpha 5, we're in position to flank that AA gun." He reported.
"Copy that Alpha 5. Take the men with you and get moving. I'm sending a squad up the opposite side. We'll draw fire." Ferrier replied.
Kenneth acknowledged and waved over the seven men he had. They had two AT4s between them; more than enough in his opinion. He relayed the orders and followed them as they hurried towards the end of the lane. As they came around, they were greeted by the sight of another Tunguska pulling up. The men scattered in all directions; Kenneth ducked into an alley between two buildings with one of the soldiers carrying a rocket. The young man looked around and pointed to the roof of the buildings.
"Bit exposed, sir, but I'd have a clear shot from there." He noted.
Without having to be told, Kenneth slung his rifle over his shoulder and knelt down. The rifleman used the NCO's hands as a step and pulled himself onto the sloped roof of one of the shops. Kenneth gave him a push for good measure and hurried to the corner as the pitch of the Tunguska's engine rose. He saw it heading north, firing a few bursts to keep him and the others pinned down. Another passed by as well in the same manner. The only men out in the open seemed to be a pair of riflemen who'd been caught by the high-caliber rounds. Kenneth looked away in respect and keyed his radio.
"Alpha 6 this is Alpha 5, be advised Rusies are breaking contact and heading north." He reported.
"Copy that Alpha 5, ahh...secure your side of the centre and set up a defensive line. I'll see if we might be allotted some anti-tank teams." Ferrier replied, masking most of his surprise.
"Understood. Any word on 5 Commando's link up?"
"They've made contact, but it'll most likely be another hour before we see any of them."
"Copy…be advised that I've got two casualties. Will get back to you when I have a full headcount."
"Understood. Good job either way, Alpha 5."
Kenneth clicked his mic and raised the front of his helmet. He wiped off some of the sweat and sighed. It did feel good to beat back the Eruseans after so long.