*BOOM
The smell of burning gunpowder fills my nose as I run through the ruined city toward the frontlines.
*BLAM *BOOOMMM *BOOM
Continuous sound of explosions deafens my ears from any human noise. Miles away from the frontline, hundreds of artillery unload their shells non-stop, hoping for at least one of them to manage to hit the enemies. I could see dust, smoke and flame rise to the air after a heavy bombardment followed by another one and another one. It was a usual sight considering the enemy we are fighting against and yet my body still couldn't get used to the vibrating ground every time a shell missed its target.
*VROOOM *VROMM *CLANK *CLANK *CLANK *BOOM-BOOM-BOOM
Tanks' engines roar next to me as they weave through the city ruins, pushing through the enemy line and destroying them at the same time. There were thousands of these tanks when the battle started but who knows how many that were still operating. I see some of them on the side lines, broken and burning with burnt bodies inside.
After walking for minutes and almost getting crushed by falling debris, I decided that it's better to enter a ruined house and let the cavalry division push the frontlines further before continuing onward. The house that I am in is filled with dust, holes, broken furniture, glass shards and fallen concrete, the only thing resembling a normal house in this place is the door and the weirdly still attached roof.
Feels just like home. I tried to cheer myself up with a little joke, but after years in the frontline, that joke seemingly has turned itself into reality. I let out a small chuckle finding the irony in my joke, knowing full well that this could be where I would sleep if we don't push the frontlines far enough to establish a base. I reach for my radio on my chest and speak to it. "This is Lieutenant Colonel Igo, does anyone copy? Over."
"This is First Lieutenant Keneth from the 1st Company. Over." "This is the Second Lieutenant Maya from the 2nd Company. Over." "Captain Jeremy from the 6th anti-tank Company is here. Over." "This is First Lieutenant Hanah from the 8th anti-tank Company. Over." "The 7th anti-tank Company is currently in an engagement with the enemy tank. Over." "This is the Captain from the 5th anti-tank Company, we are currently rerouting to aid the 7th anti-tank Company. Over." "The 4th and the 3rd anti-tank Company are currently at the rendezvous point. Over."
"I only said this once." I said to the radio in a serious tone. I could only tell them my plan if all of them are currently at the rendezvous point. "The 1st Company met up with the 4th and 3rd anti-tank Company. The 2nd Company will aid the 7th anti-tank Company with the 5th anti-tank Company, after that the three Company will go to the rendezvous point. The rest will go to the rendezvous point ASAP! Over." Waves of affirmation poured out from my radio as I exited the house and continued my journey.
.
.
.
The rendezvous point is in the middle of the city or what was a city. The place was a big park with a lot of green space and was surrounded by high rises. There are plenty of war marks in this place, starting from the obvious craters and black spots on the ground. The fact that there aren't any green things in the park and the whole city is on fire is a good indication that this place isn't in its prime condition.
Man, I heard this city was beautiful. Shame that it turns into a hell hole. I think to myself as I walk through the park to one of the high rises. I walk alone, searching for the correct building before a group of people greets me.
"Lieutenant Colonel Igo, over here." Said one of them, followed by all them saluting me.
"Thank you. Keep up the good work." I said to him with a little pat on the shoulder. I enter the building and am greeted by hundreds of soldiers. Some of them are treating their wounds, looking through binoculars for the enemy, chatting and I even see some of them eating something. I thought none of them were carrying MRE. These bastards lied to me.
When they caught me entering the room, all of them got up, straightened their bodies and gave a firm salute. "Welcome Lieutenant Colonel!"
"Calm down." I said to them, "Everyone return to what you were doing, except for those who were eating." I could hear from the corner of my ears, some loud audible gulps. Everyone chuckles, including me as every eye focuses on a certain group. "This is the front line so there would be no toilet paper. So unless we manage to retake the city today, you have to use leaves or something."
"It's okay, lieutenant colonel. We're used to it!" One of them said confidently before receiving one hell of beating from his partners in crime.
"Sure. The Captain of each Company reports to me, I have something to tell you." I said to them before leaving to the next room and the captains followed afterward. "2nd company, 7th anti-tank company and 5th anti-tank company first. I want to know the casualties."
All the captains spill their report on me. Some are more preferable than others but it's not like I could complain now can I? Having them here is still a miracle I should be thankful for. The gist of their reports is that most companies have severe minor damage, mostly caused by flying debris and wild shots. Some equipment was broken and three people died because they were crushed under falling concrete. The biggest casualties were coming from the 7th anti-tank company, 30 people died while many were injured. The 2nd Company and 7th anti-tank company each suffered minor live casualties.
"Well, we can only be mindful of where we will be going next time." I said to them and sat on one of the debris. "Still, an encounter with the enemy this early means that the enemies aren't going away without a fight." A hard one too. I avert my gaze outside, the numerous empty high rises, rising black smoke and finally the sound of jet fighters, fighting for air supremacy. They finally unleash the jets huh? About time, but still… I bite my lower lips and close my eyes. If this continues on, we'll win but with an astonishing number of casualties. I think to myself as I absorb every sound from my surroundings. "How many high rises do we have?"
"Excuse me?" Ask one of the captains.
"You hear me right." I said affirming their ears. "I ask how many high rises do we have?"
"Rough estimation, we have twenty of them." Said the 2nd Company's captain. "Are we going to use them to crush the enemy?"
"Well, I want to use them more as borders." I said frankly. "But we can use them as weapons too after we are done with it."
"Border? If I could ask you to please elaborate your plan to us." Ask the 6th anti-tank company's captain.
"You see outside there." I said to them, pointing with my finger. "The fighters are having a hell of a time fighting for superiority, whilst our tanks are being destroyed right and left. I want the air force to help us without decreasing the effort for air superiority. That's why I want to call for bombers, but the problem is that our tanks are too mixed with the enemy's tanks that the air force would deem it too dangerous to do." Not only that, we can also make a maze out of the falling high rises to make it harder for the enemy to proceed. It will also make it hard for our land force but it should be easy for both artillery and planes.
"Ah I see, but we can't expect the enemy to just sit idly right? And the air force is still fighting, would the air force allow their bombers to fly through a contested airspace?" Ask the 1st Company's captain.
"Good question. I said border wall but what I am imagining is more of a dam. There would still be an opening for a fight between two sides, I assume that is where the enemy would focus their effort. I have a gamble for the air superiority part, hopefully there is someone stupid enough to do it." I said to them, I scan the captain's face, waiting for someone to ask me something or show worried or perplexed emotions. "If you have any questions, ask them now. It'll be hard afterward." I see them seeing each other's faces like some students after being asked who did it. Honestly, it's nostalgic.
"Yes, I have one." Said the 5th anti-tank company's captain. I hint him to ask away. "Does the colonel know you are here?"
"..." I froze. I couldn't say it to them but my body is currently shivering. Cold sweat trickles down my cheeks and my breathing is getting faster. Panic and anxiety start to accumulate inside my heart. My eyes start to blink faster and the sound of my boot kicking the ground lightly is getting faster. "...fuck."
"She doesn't, does she?"
"If any of you ratted me out. I swear to god, none of you will get your MRE tonight." I couldn't contain the panic anymore. She'll crush my legs if she knew I ran away from the base and went straight to the frontline. I don't even want to see her angry look or hear the amount of paragraphs she'll throw at me when I eventually return to base.
"She'll probably know even if we don't rat you out." Said the 5th anti-tank company's captain. "Lieutenant, you better enjoy your current freedom before she'll ultimately keep you on a leash."
"...Damn you all." I said out loud. I tightened my fist and gritted my teeth. She'll fuck me dead. It's my last day goddamn it. At least let me enjoy the thrill of battle for one last time. I took a deep breath, held it for a couple seconds and then released it. There is no use of getting angry now. "…My fate is already sealed. She'll have my head by tonight. So, please…" I said to them in a pleading tone. "win this battle, at least let me enjoy the feeling of victory for one last time…"
"Lieutenant…" They said to me as if looking at an old friend that once dreamed of being the best football player but suddenly got a broken leg and was diagnosed to not be able to play football anymore.
"You are aware that there is still a chance for you to participate in this war right?" Said the same guy who started this whole fiasco of emotions. "All you need to do is ask the general."
"…" You have no idea how much I want to punch this guy's face. Every fiber of my body is screaming, 'PUNCH HIM!' Just because I want to doesn't mean I can just do it. I have made my promise god damn it. "Sigh… tell all your men to get ready and move. The 1st and 2nd will plant bombs on the foundation of all high rises that are currently still standing except for this one, after that wait for further instruction. All the anti-tank companies find a comfortable place for you to camp on. You'll be assisting the tank division to hold the gate." I said to them and every single one of them immediately started rushing out of the room and screamed at their men to get ready. I see every single soldier in the room pack their stuff and run outside in a matter of seconds. The soldiers follow their captain to their area of operation and vanish under the ruins of a city.
Now it's my turn. I reach toward my radio and mess with the frequency a bit. "This is Lieutenant Colonel Igo, does anyone copy? Over."
I immediately got an answer. "This is Mayor Hans from the 999th Rhino Squadron, we heard you loud and clear. Over."
"Mayor Hans, may I ask you to assist me for a bit. I have a plan and I need the Cavalry division to make sure the plan went smoothly. Over."
"Say it. Over."
"Do you see the closest high rises to the frontline? My men are about to blow the foundation and hopefully create a wall to separate you from the enemy. Over."
"What does the cavalry division need to do? Over"
"I am hoping you could hold your current position. We don't want to make a basic wall where the enemy couldn't break through, we are hoping to create a bottleneck that you could use effectively. My anti-tank companies will try to help you out in the process. Over."
"Is there something to help us out other than your anti-tank companies? Not to underestimate them or anything but the enemy numbers are currently in the hundreds. Over."
"I am going to ask the air force to send a bomber. By separating you and the enemy, the air force could drop their bomb blindly without the concern of hitting a friendly unit. Over."
"We'll try our best. The bottleneck strategy should work better than what we currently have. If you couldn't get help from the air force, ask the artillery instead. Over."
"Thank you. Over." I said to him before messaging again with the frequency. This time, the air force. These guys should be the hardest to convince. "This is Lieutenant Colonel Igo from the 160th Infantry Brigade. Does anyone copy? Over."
"This is Henry from the mobile ATC. We heard your call. Over."
Wait! Mobile ATC!? We have those now!? "Yes, can I speak to the higher ups? I have a plan that they need to hear. Over."
"We are rerouting your call, please—" The person on the other end immediately vanished before finishing their sentence.
My heart immediately dropped. The worst imaginable situation just happens. Did an enemy go through our lines or did they jam our communication? Did they manage to sneak a unit behind our lines?! FUCK! Not good, I need to-
"This is First Sergeant Boris. Say your plan. Over." From the same channel, a deep voice emerges. Replacing the first one.
"Okay. I need some of you to be brave and hit the enemy air force's installment. I suspect—"
"There are five of them." Boris cut in before I could finish my sentence. "We are doing that right now kid, told the army to hold their butt off. Over."
"Okay, thanks." I said to him, "Can I also ask you guys to send bombers here? Don't worry about friendly fire, we are sorting those out. Over."
"They are coming. ETA twenty minutes, hope the army got their shit sorted before that. Our fighters will hold the air. Over."
"Thank you. Over." I said to him before tuning the frequency again. Well that was fun. I hope the artilleries have a better receptionist. I adjusted the knob on my radio whilst looking at the frontlines, I could still hear the explosions and the smoke coming from said explosions. I also notice that they are getting rarer, at least the one coming from our tanks. The artillery are still rocking the place non-stop. I speak to my radio after I am done tuning it. "This is Lieutenant Colonel Igo from the 160th Infantry Brigade, does anyone copy?"
"I am Colonel Grayson from the 132nd Artillery regiment, we hear you. Over."
"Can I ask you guys to concentrate on your attack? We'll give you a smoke signal to aim for. Over."
"Yes, can do buddy." The voice on the other side sounds joyous and weirdly infectious. Even my morale is boosted a little bit by him. "I expect the army to have a plan, yeah? Over."
"Yes. Start bombarding the target when you see red smoke. Over." After hearing an affirmative from Grayson, I tune the frequency of my radio back to the original one. Better start moving now, I can't see shit from here. I walk out from the room expecting to not see anything other than rubble and human traces. Well, I am half right as my eyes glue to a weapon leaning on the wall.
Who left this here? God damn they are not going to go away with this. I walk to the weapon, feeling a little bit dejected. I swear I had told them to not leave important things behind. I scan the weapon as I approach it. It's a sniper rifle with a big body and a weird ass barrel? It has one normal barrel but it has four other barrel looking tubes sticking next to it. Wait, does it shoot five bullets or something? Who the hell thinks this is a good weapon design? I pick the rifle up and a note falls down from the scope.
"Lieutenant, we know that this will be your last time in the frontlines before the Colonel is going to have her way with you. So we like to make this your most memorable victory." I read the note with somewhat mixed feelings. "This is an experimental weapon that was entrusted to us by General Robert. It's a railgun."
When I read the word railgun, my mind immediately switches to the navy. I heard they were experimenting with railguns a decade ago. Don't know where it goes tho, but I guess the answer is in front of me. A sniper railgun? railgun rifle? Sniper Railfe? Whatever. To think that they are testing a mini version of that cannon already. They sure are hella diligent.
"We hid the magazine clips behind that rubble." 'That'? Which rub- Before I could ask myself, I saw in the corner of my eyes. A pack of Snickers with a piece of paper under it. The paper is filled with messages from the whole Battalion.
"Congratulations MAN!" "Don't take too long away from the battlefields okay?" "I like you lieutenant, if you're not happy with her, please ask me first." "We'll always be there for you!" "Don't forget to contact us every so often, 'kay?" "Guess you're not going to die heroically, which means I won the bet." "If you need something to be done, ask me personally, 'kay? I still owe you one." "First time I met you, I thought you were some lucky bastard to be able to score the Colonel. But now, good luck man. YOU ARE going to need it."
"Sigh…" I couldn't hold back my hand to not slap my own face. These fuckers…..whatever, I just let this one slide. I close the paper and try to contain the happiness inside without realizing that a smile had formed in my face. I fold the paper and put it in my pocket. I then continue reading the note that drops from the railgun.
"You reload the gun like your average rifle. The difference is probably in how you actually shoot the bullet. Hold the trigger for a couple of seconds to charge it, release the trigger to actually shoot once it is ready. You'll know it's ready when the main chevron on the scope turns bright red." I look through scope and see the usual sight. Well I guess the difference is more on the telescopic sight itself. It has some knobs and buttons that you bet I'll press every single one of them. Night Vision, Heat Vision, Computer assisted aim and what seems to be an identification mode.
Neat! I grin to myself. Well, time to do my job. The war isn't going to win itself. I took the magazine clips, loaded one in and adjusted myself to the new experimental weapon. "Nice~~" Seems like I couldn't contain the word in my mind. Well, when you are presented with such magnificent beauty, can you?
"YES SIR! WE'LL RAISE HELL IN YOUR NAME SIR!"
"Good god, they look as amazing as ever…."
"Yes, it works and now we need you guys to stop so the cavalry divisions could storm in."
"….and could you help me get up after that? My back hurt."