Chp. 1-7: The Loudest Voices
May 10th, 2019 (Local Time: 1004)
Schkodra, Ugellas
"E padobishme! Largohu, je i kotë!"
The youths, distinguishable by their green and gold armbands, gestured jeeringly at Bruno's vehicle as it passed through the intersection. He ignored them, even as they stopped and shouted louder. The armbands meant they were members of People's Action, and their attitude was anything but uncommon today. Things had already been expected to be precarious, but the shootings had made the situation even more fragile. Most of the forces stationed at the FOB had been brought in to maintain a perimeter around Municipal Square. He regularly passed other IFVs on patrol. They got much the same treatment. Just about everyone regarded the two-vehicle patrols with contempt.
"Largohu, je i kotë!"
Bruno kept his attention focused on moving and watching the rooftops. Rude words and features seemed to be the only things aimed at him. That he could deal with, especially if they were opposite the outer perimeter.
"Sir, why are we letting the guys who shoot at us have a gathering with our protection?" Jansen spoke up.
"Like I told you, Jansen, part of the peace process. Representation for all so long as it's done peacefully. Free speech, all that." He replied.
It was fairly obvious that he didn't believe the words he was saying, but he didn't care. He had his job and he would do it well. There would not be another shooting under his direct watch. Thorsen brought them around a corner and past one of the checkpoints on the main thoroughfares. The Belkan MPs manning it waved them through without pause.
"Bravo 3-1 to Bravo 6; 3-1 and 3-2 are passing Checkpoint Garden, heading to Checkpoint Hook." He spoke up.
The Captain clicked his mic as Bruno raised a hand to Backer when the two passed. As they went right at the hook, they were greeted by one of the few protests going on. The ethnic Eruseans gathered glared at him the same as the Ugellans had. Bruno didn't even look at them once they were out of his field of view. He knew they would be doing the same in the square if it was the Erusean Citizens' League. The next corner let him see part of the square and the subsequent rally. Flags flew and the roar of the crowd could be heard very clearly over the engine. He caught a glimpse of the central stage, where local chapter leader Lucian Balan was making a speech to several hundred people. More MPs and members of Osea's 3-22 Infantry Regiment manned looked on from their checkpoint with guarded expressions.
The event disappeared behind the old municipal council building and Bruno looked to the road again. To his left, the buildings gave way to a park and the easements around the nearby highway. He lifted a hand to a pair of M3 Bradleys that passed by and checked his watch. It was almost time for them to switch responsibilities with 2nd Platoon.
"Bravo 2, Bravo 3 is heading down the eastern stretch. ETA five minutes." He radioed.
"Copy that 3. Anything to report?" Peters replied quickly.
"Roads are quiet and that protest between Hook and Garden hasn't grown. There are a few groups of youths with People's Action shouting insults, but little else."
"Bravo 2 copies all."
"Bravo 3-3, what's your position?"
"Near checkpoint Ascend. ETA to your destination is about five minutes."
"Copy."
Second Platoon was posted around a large, ornate fountain and steps overlooking the square, near some of 2nd Cavalry's tanks. Cassin and David's company (troop, Bruno reminded himself) had the role of maintaining the outer perimeter. The Osean tanks were very out of place near what was probably a nice, peaceful place in town. It certainly highlighted their presence, and that's exactly the intention. The tanks and their impressive arsenals would have any militiamen thinking twice. Peters and his platoon started moving as soon as Bruno and his wingman vehicle slowed. His compatriot gave a magnanimous wave as his vehicle passed by; Bruno did the same and keyed his mic.
"Driver, position us where Bravo 2 was. Bravo 3-1 to all Bravo 3 elements, form a defensive perimeter amongst the tanks. Keep your dismounts close and ready to go; we'll have about an hour and a half before we get back to it." He explained.
As the vehicle commanders radioed their acknowledgments, he switched his audience to the two tank platoons with them.
"Knight 6 this is Bravo 3-1, we're approaching your position to switch places with Bravo 2. Will take up the same positions they did."
"Copy that Bravo 3." Knight 6, one Captain Andrew McHanney, replied.
Bruno fought the urge to take his helmet off as the vehicle settled into place. As much as his auburn lochs wanted to breathe, he wanted to keep breathing. He kept his CVC helmet on, though, as his soldiers gladly sunk down into the troop compartment. Bruno did the same into the turret and poked his head through the entryway connecting the two.
"Bleeker, keep everyone close by. If we get called up I don't want to go running around to gather my platoon. I'm going to check the other vehicles, so you're in charge. Helmets stay on, gentlemen; again, need to stay prepared." He instructed.
"Will do, sir."
Sensing Jansen was getting a bit sour about that, he glanced at the man as he ascended towards his cupola again.
"When you're Sergeant, you can boss him around." He smirked.
Bruno grabbed his SiG and slid out of the turret to get a ration from the rear compartment. As he eased his way to the ground, he saw a familiar face sitting atop one of the M1s. Cassin raised a hand in greeting from behind his Browning M2. Bruno returned it and put his rifle over his shoulder. He decided to say hello, but first wanted to make sure his men were in good shape. His crew and dismounts had gathered near the rear ramp to rest. He walked past them to Sergeant Backer's vehicle. The senior NCO clamped his cigarette between his lips and rendered a salute to the officer.
"Just checking in, Sergeant. Want to make sure everyone is good to go." He explained as he returned the gesture.
"All good over here, Lieutenant." The older man nodded.
What he'd expected to take a bit longer very rapidly changed. Now it felt a bit more like he was micromanaging. He walked to the other two vehicles as a courtesy before he set off towards the Osean tank. Cassin had left the cupola and was kneeling atop the turret next to his machine gun.
"Bound to get shot that way, Lieutenant Lockhert!" Bruno advised.
"Let 'em try; I got this puppy to respond with." He replied, patting the main gun next to him.
"Are all tankers as confident as you are?" Bruno inquired as he stepped up next to the big machine.
"When you're the proverbial king of the battlefield, one must inspire confidence amongst those alongside him."
"So yes."
"Absolutely. The motto of 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry is "Audacity and Courage"; it's the kind of thing cav is all about. Thundering ahead of the others, finding the enemy and exploiting his flanks."
"I'll keep that in mind."
He looked at the crowd as he dug something to eat from his ration's packaging.
"How's the mood of the crowd?" He asked.
"They're pissed off about not being able to carry their arms around. The head honcho has been firing them up about something, but my Ugellan is nonexistent. If he was speaking Low Erusean I might be able to decipher more." Cassin replied.
"If he was speaking Low Erusean they might start stoning him."
"They would…I'd imagine it's the same kind of stuff Officer Creep spouts. About Erusean fugitives and all that."
"It makes me wary."
"I hear ya, brother. At the same time I have to ask how much they all believe that. Or how much of it they believe."
"Enough to shoot two men."
Cassin turned his head to the infantryman when his tone turned dour.
"People tend to have long memories. That's the short answer, anyways."
"The long one? No, nevermind; I shouldn't make you come up with that."
"Nah you're good, Bruno. I'm still coming up with that myself. I think I'll have it by the time we rotate out of here. But with the shooting, I'm not sure what to think. Outside of the hatred we've already seen. Of course, everyone will be mad at the big bad peacekeepers for shooting the guy."
Cass stood up and crossed his arms with a grunt.
"They'd be mad at us if we passed too close to their car." He complained.
"That does prompt me to question why we're here. Not for the first or last time." Bruno sighed.
"Because for every Officer Creep, every asshole who screams "invader", there's a kid who sees my tank and thinks it's cool. Or a family who can safely go outside their house. Someone who reminds you that you're protecting them. To quote a movie made long before we were: some men you just can't reach. Not the most famous part of that scene, but it fits the best."...
"Ugellas has never had a quarrel with Erusea, but Erusea has decided to have one with Ugellas. In 2003, it dragged us into its quarrel with other nations. They invaded without a second thought as they had San Salvacion. Never has it shown an ounce of regret for the suffering that occupation brought our home."
Lucian Balan had always styled himself an everyman, and it was a choice that made him very popular with his fellow ethnic Ugellans. Schkodra was his hometown, and he'd fought to free it during the war. His way of speaking, reminiscent of a preacher, seemed to breathe life into the crowd over and over. As if many were hearing it for the first time.
"...Erusea's reason for its war with the rest of the continent stemmed from the refugee crisis. Foreigners coming into their land and causing economic strain. They in turn did this to us. In some cases through the increase in children of mixed ethnicity. Others who fled the regime; refugees themselves, now…"
His words trailed off as he looked at a pair of portraits with him. Both were of the men who'd been shot a few days ago, and the truck driver had died of his injuries. They were joined by portraits of others from incidents before then. Balan walked to his podium and gripped it. Whether theatrics or genuine emotion, he took a minute before he spoke again.
"I had not wanted to use the faces of those before you, but the families asked me. They insisted that we be reminded of those we have lost. Some were active in our struggle, and others were honest citizens working to feed themselves and their families. The outside world has also seen it fit to get involved. They influence our own government. They're also working to impose the idea on us that the best solution is to live in harmony in this country. Harmony I can agree with; again, we have no quarrel with the Eruseans. But, how can we be expected to go along with a peace plan if we must disarm. Disarm and submit to other outside parties?"
He held his palms out towards a line of men and women in old fatigues and green berets. Members of the Ugellean Reformation Brigade's Schkodra "Regiment". As an act of mockery, they had cardboard tubes instead of their weapons.
"In Osea, it is a basic right for one to be able to defend oneself, but they say we cannot bear arms. We see no reason to attack unless provoked. As has been the way of Ugellas since time immemorial. I say, let Ugellas have its independence back! Ugellas for Ugellans! And Erusea for Eruseans! That is how we achieve lasting peace!"
That brought about the loudest round of applause, and to the young man crawling across the floor of the bombed-out office building that told him time might be running out. He decided to take a risk and crawl a bit faster to the opening in the side. He slowed once he could see past that into the square. Bogdan, as his friends knew him, was one of the half-Eruseans Balan had mentioned. His mother had been the mistress of an Erusean general. That detail was what had given him a home with the Erusean People's Commandos. He'd volunteered for this mission, too, just to be the one who shot Balan. Exact his revenge for all the prejudice the man had fostered. The Ugellans could hunt him down, but they would never be able to undo what he'd done. He didn't care about anything past doing this. He stopped and pulled the Kar 98k forward to rest it atop some cloth. He adjusted the scope a few ticks back to the correct settings and moved until he was in a comfortable position.
Balan strode back and forth as he talked, but Bogdan waited. The instant man stopped in his crosshairs, Bogdan squeezed the trigger. The round traveled from the building and above the perimeter, where it was picked up by the "Boomerang" gunfire detector atop an Osean Stryker. It struck Balan between his shoulder blades. Bogdan watched him fall; the effect on the crowd was almost immediate. He started to crawl back, then stopped. He looked down the scope again and clenched his teeth. Though Balan wasn't moving, Bogdan squeezed the trigger again.
The bullet hit one of the attendees who'd rushed onto the stage. The sniper cycled the bolt of his weapon and fired again. This time he hit Balan in the lower back. He fired again, but in his growing rage missed. It hit another member of the crowd. His last round hit the man on the torso as he was being pulled from the stage. His jaw clenched for a second as he considered the consequences of shooting more than once. He discarded the debate as he reached into his pants' pocket for another clip. Whatever happened to him, Lucian Balan would never get the satisfaction of knowing …
The minute the two officers heard the snapping of rifle shots, they were moving back to their vehicles. Bruno climbed the side of his CV90, barking at his dismounts to get back inside. Cass snaked up onto his tank's turret, then down into it. Bruno closed the hatch behind him as he got into the proper mindset and plugged his helmet back into the socket for the radio.
"Who the hell is shooting? Is that gunfire? Is someone shooting?" An Osean voice asked.
"It's gunfire. It's gunfire, the speaker on the stage is down. We have multiple casualties. Multiple casualties." A Belkan one replied.
"Clear the channel, break, Coyote 2-1 got several hits on its Boomerang. Shots are coming from the north. Repeat, the north; range is about 900 meters." A more authoritative voice stressed.
"Okay copy that; what are our orders, 6?" Dave spoke up.
"Knight 4 this is Knight 6. Maintain your perimeter and provide support to Bravo 6's elements. Stay on this channel; Bravo 6 what's the status of your elements?" McHanney radioed.
"Bravo 3 is mounting up, Bravo 2 is on patrol, and Bravo 1 is still manning the checkpoints into the city." Von Koning replied.
"Copy, break, Konig what are your orders?"
Bruno hurriedly divided his attention between that and ensuring his platoon was ready to go. He slowly opened part of his hatch but heard no further shots. What he could hear was screaming, panic. He peeked through the gap, then ducked down and decided to use his thermals. As it came around he could see dozens upon dozens of people running their way.
"Knight , we've got a lot of civvies coming our way! Watch out. All Bravo 3 elements hold position!" He reported.
The panicked clamoring from the crowd drowned out everything else. Bruno kept scanning, looking for any sign of further trouble.
"Sir, what about the crowd?" Bleeker yelled from the troop compartment.
"Keep the hatches shut! If they come rushing it won't help anyone!" He replied.
He could see some climbing onto his CV90, but he remained calm as he keyed the radio.
"Knight 6 and Bravo 6 this is Bravo 3, what do we do about the crowd? I've got civilians climbing onto my vehicle."
"Friendly MPs are inbound to assist. Hold your position." Von Koning advised.
"Same goes for you, Knight !" McHanney added.
Cass grunted his acknowledgement as he locked his hatch and ordered the same for the others. The panicked shouts began to grow angry as some figured out they weren't being let inside. He turned his CITV (Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer) so it was covered and keyed his intercom.
"Gunner, close the doors on the doghouse." He ordered.
Corporal Hannah Kolby reached for the switch as she shouted "on it!"
Cass glanced at his loader, PFC Evan Brubaker, and grimaced.
"Keep steady, Brubaker. Help is on the way." He grunted.
He went to his CROWS and watched as a couple of locals tried to wrestle with it. He kept turning it until they realized their efforts were futile. He watched as others shied away from the barrel of the machine gun. He noticed they were all around, save for behind the tank. The exhaust from the tank's engine was understandably too hot for them.
"Driver, what's it look like ahead of us? Do we have any room to move?" He asked.
"We have a little, but not much!" Specialist Evan Greyfeld replied.
Cassin tossed the idea out of his head and kept rotating the M2, pointing it at the crowd.
"Bravo 3, how you doing over there?" He asked as he noted the IFV nearby.
"Roughly the same situation as you, Knight 3." Bruno replied.
The Ustian felt a bit calmer now, especially as some of the crowd began to move along. The radio had an answer almost immediately.
"More shots, more shots. Same direction." Coyote reported.
"Does anyone have eyes on the shooter? Coyote, what was the direction again?" Peters asked.
"North of Coyote 2-1, range 900 meters. Focus on the taller buildings. Repeat, focus on the taller buildings."
"All Bravo elements clear the channel…okay once Skala 3 has the crowd moving, Bravo will move into the square to evacuate anyone pinned down. A number of people went towards the old municipal building. Clear it and rescue anyone inside; friendly ambulances will pick up any injured from the fountain area. Repeat, get any casualties to the fountain area and work your way towards the old municipal building." Von Koning said, speaking slowly at first.
"Knights 3 and 4, you'll cover them. Knight 3, hold the perimeter for the collection point. Spread out south of the old municipal building. Knight 4, I want you to move along the south side of the square, get your guns pointed north. If you see the shooter, call out his position and wait for further instructions."
Cassin acknowledged as he continued to watch the civilians desperately try to get into his tank. What he suspected were more gunshots drove some more off. As he glanced away, he noticed that his loader seemed to be staring pretty intently at his hatch. Even as he shoved a hand into a pack of gum he kept with him. Cass could sense he wanted to speak up, but was trying to behave.
"Got something to say, Brubaker?" He snorted.
"Aw nothin, El-Tee. Just appreciating the fact that I crew one of the most fearsome weapon systems ever devised but it's as useful as tips on a bull right now." Brubaker replied wryly.
"Me neither, Brubaker…hey, enough with the noise!" Kolby chimed in.
Cass looked at the Blue Force Tracker and saw friendly vehicles approaching. The Belkan MPs rolled in, barking orders from the bullhorn mounted to their vehicles. Bruno watched as more and more locals dismounted and fled. He carefully opened his hatch as the MPs rolled past, herding the remains of the crowd away. The remaining holdouts didn't stay for long as dismounts from the patrol vehicles were sprinting towards them. The enterprising few who decided they were tough enough were wrestled to the ground quickly. Bruno put everything he had into making sense of the chaos so he could command his platoon.
"Knight and Bravo, You should have a clear path into the square. Watch out for injured and dead from the crowd rush." The Belkan commander radioed.
"We're in your debt, Skala. Knight 3 is moving to establish a new perimeter along the east side of the square." Cassin grunted.
"Knight 4 is moving to cover Bravo 3. Break, Bravo 3 whenever you're ready." Dave added.
"Bravo 3 is moving now, break, Bravo 3-3 and 3-4 move along the south side of the square and collect casualties. Deploy smoke…Knights 3 and 4, request you deploy smoke."
Bruno sank behind his M2 a little so he wasn't too exposed and ordered his vehicle forward. Thorsen turned the machine around and took it forward.
"Driver, how well can you see?" Bruno asked.
"About as well as I can in smoke, sir. I'll take it slow." He replied.
"I'll let you know if I see anything."
Bruno grabbed the spade grips on his M2 and turned it north. After a second he gave it a look to see if the fleeing civilians had damaged it. The weapon seemed to be in working condition. Now he had to be fully out of the turret, but Jansen brought the main gun to bear in the same direction. He looked down at the cobblestones, dotted by people writhing in pain or still. The shooting had stopped for now, and he was keen to take advantage of that.
"Driver, halt. Bravo 3-2, halt; dismount your troops and help the injured. Bravo 3-1 will do the same." He ordered.
Thorsen brough the vehicle to a stop and Bruno gave the order for his troops to get out. They hurried to a handful of people sprawled on the ground, weakly pleading for help, while Bruno kept his eyes fixed in the direction of the sniper.
"Gunner, do you see anything?" He asked.
"Nothing, sir. Smoke is making it hard for the thermals to pick up anything." Jensen replied, distracted by his hunt.
Bruno glanced at his troopers as they helped a couple people over. An uncomfortable silence grew across the scene; there weren't even moans or cries for help. The only noise, in fact, was the sound of engines. Bravo 3-2's vehicle was little more than an apparition in the smoke.
"This is Bravo 3-1, has anyone spotted anything yet?" He dared ask.
"Knight 4-1 here, not seeing anything." Dave announced.
Bruno poked his head above his machine gun. The longer he took in the carnage, the more he wished the sniper would take another shot. The smoke wasn't going to last forever.
"Sir!" Bleeker called out.
Bruno looked back at the man as he hurried up.
"I think we can comfortably fit half a dozen injured into the track. Most of the injuries seem to be minor." He explained
"Some good news for a change, Korporaal. Carry on…if any of them can walk, they can hide behind our track." Bruno nodded.
Bleeker nodded back and hurried off. The clearing smoke didn't do much to encourage the elusive individual who'd caused this mess. The rapid beating of rotor blades drew his attention to the sky and the sight of an Ustian scout helicopter passing overhead. It looked to be focused on an office building a few blocks away.
"Anyone have contact with that helo?" Cass spoke up.
"Knight 3, we're working on that at this time. Standby." Von Koning explained.
"What do we do if we get a bead on him? Permission to engage if he starts shooting?" Dave added.
There was a pause, one that gave away the answer the longer it went on.
"Negative, we got orders to nab him alive. Unless he starts shooting at you." McHanney reluctantly commanded.
"Knight 4 copies all."
Bruno shared Dave's frustration, and he could imagine Cass was firing off some snarky observation under his breath. Bruno went back to his machine gun while his troops helped casualties into the back of the vehicle. How a sniper had gotten past this and shot a man escaped him. He knew there'd be hell to pay for it, though.