The fight around Swinburne had begun with the thunderclap of distant German artillery. The bastards' little remaining airpower, a few scout helicopters, had spotted the approaching force and managed to radio it in before they were shot down. The shrapnel had killed a few Marines and more of Aletta's regiment of fighters.
John dropped onto his stomach, eyes locked down the peep-sight of his M16. He squeezed and a burst of automatic fire ripped through the air while Bier beside him laid hell down with the M60. Tracers lit the air between them and their intended target. Swinburne was the biggest town on this side of the Front and the Germans' supply line.
They needed to take it out, John thought as their UNSC allies pushed forward. 90mm cannons roared in their automated turret mounts as Scorpion main battle tanks pushed forward. The Clarks weren't far behind them, main guns roaring and firing HE shells into the facades of Swinburne's dozens of buildings. One smaller building, a storage shed of some kind, exploded outward upon the impact of the shell of one of the Clarks.
Overhead, two UNSC Pelican Gunships hovered, their nose-mounted cannons ripping through the Nazi and AS Positions, missiles and rockets raining down upon the rear positions. German mortars replied, the Boer loyalists firing their own rifle grenades and whatever ammo the Germans could spare them back at the yanks and Spacers.
There wasn't much cover ahead of the formation of allied troops, though. John spoke, "Wait 'till the Tanks are out in the open-" before ducking just as an enemy AT Gun fired, screaming out, "JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!" when the APHE shell exploded behind them. A UNSC tank zeroed in on the AT gun and fired.
Another building exploded, but the bastards just kept fighting. Mann spoke, "There's still a bunch of the fuckers dug in in trenches! Bier!" and he looked upon their buddy. The bastard had linked three 100-rounder belts together and was using his right arm as support for them while the left held the gun pressed against a thicker branch of the tree.
The barrel was starting to glow red as the man kept up the fire, calling out, "GET SOME, YOU NAZI FUCKS! GET SOME!" only to pause as the gun jammed. He ducked behind the tree just as a sniper's round skimmed the bark, swearing up a storm as he racked the bolt back to clear the jam. Mann noticed the shot and domed the shooter before he could try again, then crawled over to John.
John showed them to wait, watching as the allied armor, which now included M113 transports, gently rolled forward and into the line. The tree-line they were in was still exploding with shrapnel, mortar fire and artillery shells from the Krauts, but their own counter-battery fire and air support from both US and UNSC Aircraft was helping.
Tibbets then dropped the spent mag out of his rifle, slapped in a fresh one, then barked, "MOVE! MOVE WITH THE TANKS! DON'T STOP 'TILL WE'RE IN THE TOWN!" as he jumped to his feet. Bier, Mann and the rest of the platoon followed, running in behind a UNSC Scorpion. They joined a formation of UNSC Marines led by Godfather himself.
"Didn't think UNSC full-birds would'a joined us down here, sir! We thought you'd just drop the Briefing and go back to your fancy ship! No offense!" Tibbets quipped as he aimed and shot a burst at another Nazi, forcing him and his buddies down into the trench. He then primed a fragmentation grenade and threw it when they passed said trench.
After the detonation, a UNSC Marine carrying a heavy flametherower appeared, dousing the entire trench in burning-hot napalm. The stench of searing human flesh filled the nostrils of the men even as rounds sparked off the armor of the tanks. Three American soldiers fell, gunned down by snipers or MGs. An MG42 rippled, the burst catching one of the UNSC Marines and hitting him in the face. He dropped, but was dragged to cover by his comrades.
The Marines, US Troops and South African Volunteers dived into the trenches, taking out AS and German Troops as they went. Two Huey gunships rolled in overhead, the wing-mounted swivel miniguns raking the inner parts of the town while rocket tubes screamed, Hydras striking enemy positions even as Triple-A tried taking them down.
"God bless First Cav and the UNSC's Flyboys," Tibbets mumbled as he shot over the lip of the trench into an enemy house. He watched his rounds strike through the remaining glass, but miss the Kraut or Boer up top. Aletta, right beside him, lifted her own 7,62 rifle and let loose a burst that struck wood. She pat him on the shoulder, then climbed out.
He followed, leading his unit to the door of the house while UNSC Marines and Army Elements poured in. Another Anti-Tank gun fired and struck one of the M113s. The box-like transport exploded outward, the rear door being flung off by the APHE shell fusing within it. The Marines and Army behind it dived into the trenches or were killed.
He looked at Bier and Mann, then nodded, before turning to Aletta, who was across the door from him and said, "Ready to kick a door in or is that rifle too big for ya?" as he racked the bolt of his M16A1. She smirked, swept in first and kicked the door flat in the lock, before taking cover and tossing a frag in. When it thumped, she tilted her head toward the door.
"Ladies first!" She joked. He snorted, then pushed in, rifle raised. He fired on the first disoriented Boer or German he saw, rounds tearing through the man's chest. He dropped dead, his Sturmgewehr-44 dropping beside him. Tibbets pushed up and kicked it away, then moved toward the Stairwell as the others swept and cleared.
He pulled out a frag, pulled the pin and tossed it high and to the top. A Boer poked out, fired a burst from his rifle and kicked the grenade down. Tibbets swore, "Fuck-" before pushing Aletta and Bier out of the way and diving as it exploded, spraying shrapnel across the room. The group then opened fire into the ceiling, which was made of wood(Implying the floor above was also wood) on full auto.
They stood up, ears still ringing, then pushed up to the door frame. Aletta moved left, next to the stairwell and took a knee, aiming up. She watched a German poke out with a stick grenade and shot him, causing him to drop the grenade down the stairs again. It was, however, with its pin still inside. When an Afrika-Schild soldier, a young girl, scrambled to try and grab it, Tibbets shot before he could think.
The corpse tumbled down the stairwell, a sickening crunch echoing as she stopped right next to the grenade she'd tried to grab. Tibbets coughed, swearing to himself, then looked at Aletta, who narrowed her lips and shook her head before showing him to push up. He did, taking lead with her and Bier right behind him.
She patted him on the shoulder and told him softly, "Don't worry… Some of them are just brainwashed… Much as I hate it, I've seen it enough here," in a whisper. He nodded, still unsure he liked the fact he just domed a kid, but regardless. He ignored the corpse, pushing up the stairs with backup from both Bier and Aletta.
He pied the door, scanning each corner as he heard Krauts speaking next door. He looked at Aletta and Bier, then showed two fingers, pointing at himself and Bier, before chopping a hand toward the door. He then pointed at Aletta and showed her to 'wait and cover' by showing an open palm, doing a downward motion twice, then pointing inside.
Both of them nodded. Tibbets counted down from three with his fingers, rifle ready and heart thumping in his chest, then, when it hit zero, he pushed in first and took a knee, firing a burst at the first surprised German. The second, a Waffen SS Officer, drew his Luger sidearm and tried to fire at Tibbets. Bier's first burst gutted the man.
A third soldier, a young Afrika-Schild boy, raised his hands, throwing his MP40 aside and screaming in Afrikaaner, tears in his eyes. Tibbets sighed deeply, then looked at Aletta as she pushed in. She walked over to the boy slowly, gently reassuring him that it was gonna be fine before noticing what the fuckers were doing.
An improvised explosive vest lay on the ground, most components, sans the Dead Man Switch, attached. She scoffed, moved the bomb away and then stripped the kid of any equipment. She called out, "Engela, up here! Surrendering Afrika-Schild boy, eh, Mukka!?" only for them to pause as they heard a taller, more broad, dark-skinned woman run upstairs.
She slung her M3 Grease Gun over her shoulder and greeted the boy with all the gentle care of a nurse. She wiped his tears away and took his hand, showing him to follow her while speaking in Afrikaaner. Tibbets swore in a whisper, then said, "The fuckers are using kids now. They got this desperate?"
"Seems like it," Aletta spoke as she moved over to one of the windows facing into the town. She pointed out their intended target:The large white house at the rear of the town. She told him, "That's Swinburne's Town Hall. We take it, we win," as she watched him pull out a pair of binoculars and peer right at the Nazi flag on top.
"Like the Reichstag in a few years, I'm ripping that flag off and planting ours," Tibbets murmured. He waved Mann over as he entered, then motioned for him to take up a position on this window. He told the man, "Shoot any fuckin' officers you see, Mann. I, Bier, Aletta and the UNSC guys and girls will kick the door in on their hall."
"Gotcha, boss," Mann replied, shouldering the rifle. A pair of UNSC Marines entered the place and started setting up an aid station and other equipment. One of them moved up to Mann, hit him on the shoulder with her elbow and showed him an electronic rangefinder. He grinned and nodded, letting her sit with him and call out ranges.
Tibbets rallied the rest of the platoon downstairs, soon realizing this place had once been a tavern. He saw the bullet holes left by him and his team in the wood, in the walls, in the floors and so on and sighed. Blood pooled at his feet, the corpses of a dozen Nazis and their collaborators laid low by American lead.
He looked around and said, "Alright. Main objective is the Town Hall. We'll secure others as we move along. Keep your eyes peeled," before reloading a new magazine. He waved the group forward, only stopping to cast another glance at the dead girl as she was being put in a body-bag. He sighed, walked out with Aletta and moved to join the forces advancing down the main road in the center of town.
Godfather was taking cover behind a building as German guns continued raining hell down the boulevard. They met him behind said building, to which he said, "Lieutenant! Good of you to join us down here again! Take a team right and flank the Hall!" and pointed at the Church to the far right, "If you take the Church, you cut off their reinforcements! Other platoons will hit the water treatment plants and the local clinic!"
"Rog!" Tibbets nodded. He turned back and chopped a hand down an alleyway, then turned and said, "Don't leave us out of the flag-raising ceremony, sir!" before he led the troop forward and into the alleyway. The man snorted, then waved them out and lifted his own rifle, firing toward the Nazis in nearby buildings.
As Tibbets and his unit moved down the alley, Aletta spoke, "Krauts are really putting up a fight," while listening to vehicles roll around them. Warthogs, Jeeps and tanks of various types moved on their right, the road parallel to them being one of the Main Supply Routes for the transports. M113s also audibly deployed the troops they had in their rears, firefights erupting between the OFN's troops and the Nazi forces.
Bullets zipped past the team, Bier calling out, "Shooters in the windows!" before opening up on the targets ahead of them. Tibbets and the others took cover by the buildings, firing back at the muzzle flashes of enemy rifles and MGs. Bullets struck the walls, drilling uneven holes as the soldiers fired their weapons to suppress one-another.
A UNSC Marine appeared, taking several rounds to his chest, then aimed the underbarrel grenade launcher of his rifle and fired. The round struck into one of the windows, detonation sending shards of hot steel into the backs of the Krauts inside. Tibbets kicked in the door of a house and watched as the UNSC Marine fired another grenade inside, then took cover.
He saw one of his own boys take a sniper round through the head, scoffed, then aimed toward the window where he thought the shot came from, only to see two more of Aletta's girls fall dead, shot through the chest and stomach respectively. Aletta swore, then poked out and fired her rifle on full auto toward the building.
He watched Bier duck to reload his MG next, continuing to fire. He barked, "BOUNDING!" before he heard the gunfire of his comrades intensify. He pulled another Grenade off his vest and charged toward the building up ahead. The UNSC Marines that'd also come in entered the house he'd opened while he charged forward. He let go of the paddle and threw the grenade inside the building's top-left window.
It exploded and a Kraut sniper, filled full of steel shards and looking like a porcupine, fell out of the window with his broken semi-automatic Gewehr. The Lieutenant stood up and waved the rest of the team in, kicking the door and spraying the inside full of lead. The others followed quickly, Bier being first one beside him and stating, "Boss, folks, stay clear!" as he poked the MG in and raked the place.
When he was done, he said, "Alright, now go!" which got a laugh out of Aletta and a snort out of John. The Platoon piled on in, rifles firing, bullets zipping through the bodies of half-a-dozen Krauts and Boer sympathizers. Three men and two of Aletta's soldiers cleared the second floor, then came back down. Ahead of them was the Church.
To the immediate left was the Town Hall.
And surrounding them, German defensive positions and entrenchments. Mortars still thumped out shells while MGs, though they seemed to be in dire straits in terms of ammo, continued firing burst after burst at the OFN and UNSC forces. Tibbets pointed their UNSC Grenadier at it, then said, "Lay'em out. Start with the Mortars."
The man nodded, loaded a fresh HEDP grenade into his tube, aimed through the Smartscope aided by his helmet's HUD, then squeezed. The 40mm grenade arced high, then dived into the enemy trench, exploding upon contact and causing a small chain-reaction across the German line. Though far less than they expected due to the presumed lack of ammo from the home front, it was still enough to cause several AS and Nazis to run out into the open, where Bier put'em all down with his MG.
The team then pushed up toward the Church, Bier suppressing targets inside with his machine gun by firing at the windows as they ran. UNSC Marines were with them, too, moving to the twin pine doors engraved with the Lord's face. It'd been desecrated by Nazi knives, however, much to the disappointment of a few of the more religious men.
John scoffed, lifted his cross necklace and kissed it, then whispered, "Lord, forgive us for the transgressions, but may Ye Remember how Your Son dealt with intruders to the Temple," before he kicked the door in, primed his last frag and was about to throw it in. A young girl's voice echoed from inside and Aletta seemed to freeze. She grabbed John's hand before he threw the explosive, then shook her head, eyes wide.
She lifted her rifle, then barked, "Ons kom in! Los julle wapens, kinders!" only to pause and smile as she heard several weapons fall to the floor. She swallowed, then pushed in, the light bearing down through the stained glass shining a kaleidoscope of colors onto the dust around. On the ground, rifles now lay, alongside a platoon of, horrifyingly enough, mostly children.
A few hid behind the altar, while others still were behind the benches, trembling, cold and underfed. Some didn't even have ammo pouches or basic helmets, just garrison caps. She breathed a sigh, lowered her rifle and smiled at the kids, then raised a hand and said, "It's okay, seuns en meises… We're friendly."
"Godfather," A UNSC Marine called out as they walked in, her voice heavily accented, almost sounding Mexican, "Church secure. Be advised:Multiple Afrika Schild youth are now POWs…" only to gasp as she saw a wounded one nearby the window. Bier sighed, walking in, too, then shook his head as John followed them inside.
Aletta sighed deeply, slinging her rifle on her shoulder and walking over toward the Altar. John followed, rifle at the ready. She told him, "Relax, John. I doubt they're gonna start shooting now…" as UNSC Combat Medics poured into the place, too. They walked over to the altar, where a young girl with her back turned was tending to a wounded young man.
Aletta spoke, "Lemme help," before pulling out a bandage and morphine. She gasped when the young girl turned to face her, eyes wide and tears in her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared right into those bright blue eyes. She swallowed empty, then spoke quietly, voice cracking, "Nadea…? Is that you, sis…?"
"... Aletta…" The young one barely managed to utter through the tears. She jumped and hugged her sister by the neck, starting to wail and sob uncontrollably. Aletta hugged her back, sniffling, then leaned her head against that of her sister and let out a short, choked-out laugh. She pat the girl on the head, eyes closed, while a UNSC doc came over to help with the other wounded kid.
John stood there, a little awkward. He let his rifle hang by the strap, barrel pointed at the ground while he watched the reunion, taking his helmet off, too, just to be respectful. After what felt like an eternity of the two crying in each-other's arms, they finally, gently moved back, with Aletta wiping the tears out of her sister's eyes and asking, "How are you doing, Bokkie?"
"They told me you… That you died," The girl replied in a whimper, "Forced us out here…"
John felt a little familiarity, courtesy of his own family. He knelt in front of them and said calmly, "You're a very brave kiddo," offering them a kind smile. Nadea looked between the two, tears still in her eyes, before John continued, "I have a sister, too. Back in the states. She's a tough girl, even if she's a pain at times… You two good to each-other when you're together."
She sniffled, then replied, "F-For the most part."
"She was one hell of an ankle-biter as a kid," Chuckled Aletta as she ran her fingers through the young girl's hair, trying to tidy it up. She got a gentle slap on the shoulder from Nadea, though, the girl cracking a small smile. Aletta added, "She's also one hell of a fighter. Has been since birth, considering she nearly died… Complications that nearly got ma, too…"
John snorted and said, "And here you are, being a fighter again. Thank God I didn't have to face you, eh?" before he pat her on the head. She giggled. She wasn't much younger, maybe thirteen or fourteen, John realized, but she was quite calm and happy. Even now, after witnessing friends get shot. He asked her, "How about you and Aletta go with the folks in green armor while I go talk to our COs. Get us an idea of what to do next."
"S-Sure," She nodded, "What's your name…?"
"John," He replied, "John Tibbets. Call me John, like your sister does."
She extended her hand and said, "Nadea… Nice to meet'cha, mukka," with a small smile. He nodded and shook it. He let them be for now, only freezing when, as he turned to walk away, he heard Nadea ask Aletta, "Is he yer boyfriend, sis?" which seemed to get even Aletta embarrassed, considering the fact the girl choked on her words immediately after. A few UNSC Marines let out muffled laughs, while some of John's own platoon and Aletta's comrades laughed out-loud.
John, face burning hot, walked out, hiding his face behind his helmet. Bier himself laughed a little at the comment as they walked out of the Church. Bier gave him a gentle slap on the back, while Mann approached, rifle slung over his shoulder. He raised a brow and asked Bier, "The fuck's got the boss so flustered?"
"We met Aletta's sister inside. She was taken in with the Afrika Schild," Bier spoke, grinning. Mann raised a brow, as if asking how that's relevant to John's blush. He added, "She joked about him and Aletta being boyfriend and girlfriend," and that got Mann to grin, looking at Tibbets. The Lieutenant cleared his throat, put his helmet on and scoffed, then walked away.
Approaching the town hall, where an OFN and UNSC Flag hanged together, despite the destroyed facade and broken walls and windows, John paused as he saw soldiers clad in starkly black uniforms, cradling rifles with wooden handguards and wire stocks. The leading soldier was a woman carrying a designated marksman rifle of some sort with a thumbhole stock and scope.
John quickly recognized the rifles as the familiar Kalashnikov pattern assault weapon. Though they were a rarity beyond the borders of Old Russia, they were reliable firearms. Deadly, too, with their 7,62mm rounds. The soldiers themselves, most seemingly women, stood at attention in front of Godfather.
Godfather greeted, "Lieutenant Tibbets."
"Sir," John spoke, staring at the black-haired woman with sky-blue eyes ahead of him. She was beautiful, but there was a certain air of revenge seeking about her. John soon saw why. On one of her rolled-up sleeves was a familiar black patch with a yellow line down the middle and a pentagon with its tip pointed up. Written in cyrillic, which John barely understood thanks to his mother, he saw Sibirskaya Chernaya Liga. He blanked, looked at Godfather and asked, "The hell are Russians doing so far out from Omsk, sir?"
"Our ambassadors within Omsk have begun talks with the Warlords of the area," Godfather replied, "With the hope of forming an alliance of Russian states that could slowly help rebuild their 'Motherland' into something positive for the area. Something that can also help us fight the Nazis on more even footing later. These ladies are a Volunteer Unit of the Siberian Black League."
"First Battalion, First Mechanized Infantry Division," The woman ahead of him spoke, her strangely Ukrainian accent heavy. She extended her hand, "I am Captain Lydia Viktoria Oktyabrskaya, leader of said unit and currently, of the Siberian Volunteer Brigade deployed on a joint OFN-Chernaya Liga assistance mission within Afrika. A pleasure to make your Acquaintance, Tovarisch Leytenant Tibbets."
"Pleasure and concern are all mine, ma'am," Tibbets replied with half-a-mouth, shaking her hand. He asked, "We won't have any major incidents with you around, right?"
"We will comply fully with our Alien Allies' and the OFN's mandate of operation here," She replied terrifyingly calm, "Though I do dislike the weather. Got too used to the chills of Siberia," and she wiped a little sweat comedically off her brow. Part of Tibbets wanted to shoot back with 'wear uniforms that aren't black next time', but he bit his tongue.
Things just got that little bit more complicated…