01-08-2020, 07:30 AM
Into Freeborn
Monday, January 6th, 2:20 PM
Freeborn, Vulkaria
“Advance.”
The 46th Battalion, a half mile from the main bridge entering Freeborn, began their on-foot movement towards the target. They had to capture the first bridge in order to move further into the city. In addition, the Battalion would also have to engage and destroy any anti-air turrets that they discovered. This would be a difficult task, and the troopers of the 46th knew that.
As they turned the sharp bank in the road, company commanders began shouting for the soldier’s attention and for staging themselves for possible incoming fire. Doing so, the soldiers in the front column paced slower behind the APV’s leading the flank. Sure enough, once the bridge was in view, flashes and loud cracks of erupting enemy gunfire signaled the beginning of the battle. The conflict had officially begun.
“Contact!” Lieutenant Colonel Emmett Marsh shouted as a round whizzed by his head. The troops ducked back behind the troop carriers as bullets ricochet off the metal plating. Inside the protected walls of the APV, a scout observer eyed the terrain and buildings around the bridge ahead for the targets bearing down on them. Muzzle flashes in the spaces between the rocks and shrubs dotting the bridge entrance confirmed their location.
“Targets located, bearing 65 meters down slope,” the scout shouted into the comlink.
“Return fire, suppress!” Marsh shouted, spit flying to the asphalt as his troops began to take point. The APV’s turret swivel, with loud thumping explosions and tracer casings rocketing towards the bridge. The dirt and foliage around the enemy location burst in quick puffs of the blast from the APV’s cannon and eradicated the majority of incoming fire. Any remaining stragglers from those positions began running up onto the road, where they were quickly picked off by the advancing Zamastanian troops.
“Good work,” Marsh approved in a pump of his fist in the air. “APV team, hold here.” The APV column stopped, turrets trained on the bridge as Marsh and dozens of troops began rushing forward to the head of the column with their heads ducked. The concrete construction barriers on the entrance to the bridge, erected by the Malvarian Liberation Front during their occupation of the city in 2017, stood as perfect cover. As the battalion settled at the entrance to the bridge, preparing to march across, they heard the muffled eruptions of blasts to the south-west.
“Colonel,” a voice on the intercom squaked, “Maximusian forces have begun their assault.”
“Thank you, officer,” Marsh responded into the com strapped to his chest, “send word to their lead command that we are about to take the bridge position-” Marsh stopped, as he caught in the corner of his eye one of the soldiers under his command proding a fallen enemy combatant with his boot.
“Private, quit.” Marsh’s face twisted. “Note the body and leave it be.”
“It’s a terrorist, sir,” the private retorted. “They don’t get dignity.”
“No, private, they don’t. That’s why we’re killing them-” Marsh stopped again as the intercom buzzed once more. Marsh pressed his finger down on the receptor. “This is Marsh.”
“We found an anti-air system, sir!” Another voice squaked over the com.
“Location?”
“Two blocks from the other end of the bridge,” the voice said ecstatically. “No vehicle attached, it’s just the platform and turret system. Located inside a large warehouse. Minor enemy security, tagging four tangos around the perimeter-” The intercom went quiet as Marsh clicked his finger away from the receptor and turned to the private once more.
“Private! Step back from the body!”
“Sir,” the private began to protest, foot planted firmly on the dead man’s neck, “I didn’t just ship out from Tofino to see a quick clean up, I wanna see these guys completely-”
“Private, one last warning to step back from the body.” Marsh stepped up from his dug-in area behind the concrete, stepping towards the private rapidly and with muscles pulled back. The private stumbled back and fell to the ground, catching himself with his arm. Marsh stood over the soldier, as many in the battalion watched on.
“We are here to clear out the terrorist threat, not demean anything that would encourage people to their cause.” Marsh was loud, shaking this soldier further to the ground with his words. “That little display of yours isn’t impressing anyone, son. If you want to impress your fellow warriors, stay calm, keep collected, and shoot bad guys. Then don’t step on em after, you got it?”
The private swallowed, voice slightly cracking as he reeled. “Yes, sir.”
Marsh stepped back, turning his attention back to his spotter behind the concrete. “We need to take the bridge now.”
“Yes sir.”
“Arm up, watch yourselves men.”
The men of the 46th Battalion began marching slowly towards the bridge and into Freeborn, guns trained high looking for enemy fighters.
Monday, January 6th, 2:20 PM
Freeborn, Vulkaria
“Advance.”
The 46th Battalion, a half mile from the main bridge entering Freeborn, began their on-foot movement towards the target. They had to capture the first bridge in order to move further into the city. In addition, the Battalion would also have to engage and destroy any anti-air turrets that they discovered. This would be a difficult task, and the troopers of the 46th knew that.
As they turned the sharp bank in the road, company commanders began shouting for the soldier’s attention and for staging themselves for possible incoming fire. Doing so, the soldiers in the front column paced slower behind the APV’s leading the flank. Sure enough, once the bridge was in view, flashes and loud cracks of erupting enemy gunfire signaled the beginning of the battle. The conflict had officially begun.
“Contact!” Lieutenant Colonel Emmett Marsh shouted as a round whizzed by his head. The troops ducked back behind the troop carriers as bullets ricochet off the metal plating. Inside the protected walls of the APV, a scout observer eyed the terrain and buildings around the bridge ahead for the targets bearing down on them. Muzzle flashes in the spaces between the rocks and shrubs dotting the bridge entrance confirmed their location.
“Targets located, bearing 65 meters down slope,” the scout shouted into the comlink.
“Return fire, suppress!” Marsh shouted, spit flying to the asphalt as his troops began to take point. The APV’s turret swivel, with loud thumping explosions and tracer casings rocketing towards the bridge. The dirt and foliage around the enemy location burst in quick puffs of the blast from the APV’s cannon and eradicated the majority of incoming fire. Any remaining stragglers from those positions began running up onto the road, where they were quickly picked off by the advancing Zamastanian troops.
“Good work,” Marsh approved in a pump of his fist in the air. “APV team, hold here.” The APV column stopped, turrets trained on the bridge as Marsh and dozens of troops began rushing forward to the head of the column with their heads ducked. The concrete construction barriers on the entrance to the bridge, erected by the Malvarian Liberation Front during their occupation of the city in 2017, stood as perfect cover. As the battalion settled at the entrance to the bridge, preparing to march across, they heard the muffled eruptions of blasts to the south-west.
“Colonel,” a voice on the intercom squaked, “Maximusian forces have begun their assault.”
“Thank you, officer,” Marsh responded into the com strapped to his chest, “send word to their lead command that we are about to take the bridge position-” Marsh stopped, as he caught in the corner of his eye one of the soldiers under his command proding a fallen enemy combatant with his boot.
“Private, quit.” Marsh’s face twisted. “Note the body and leave it be.”
“It’s a terrorist, sir,” the private retorted. “They don’t get dignity.”
“No, private, they don’t. That’s why we’re killing them-” Marsh stopped again as the intercom buzzed once more. Marsh pressed his finger down on the receptor. “This is Marsh.”
“We found an anti-air system, sir!” Another voice squaked over the com.
“Location?”
“Two blocks from the other end of the bridge,” the voice said ecstatically. “No vehicle attached, it’s just the platform and turret system. Located inside a large warehouse. Minor enemy security, tagging four tangos around the perimeter-” The intercom went quiet as Marsh clicked his finger away from the receptor and turned to the private once more.
“Private! Step back from the body!”
“Sir,” the private began to protest, foot planted firmly on the dead man’s neck, “I didn’t just ship out from Tofino to see a quick clean up, I wanna see these guys completely-”
“Private, one last warning to step back from the body.” Marsh stepped up from his dug-in area behind the concrete, stepping towards the private rapidly and with muscles pulled back. The private stumbled back and fell to the ground, catching himself with his arm. Marsh stood over the soldier, as many in the battalion watched on.
“We are here to clear out the terrorist threat, not demean anything that would encourage people to their cause.” Marsh was loud, shaking this soldier further to the ground with his words. “That little display of yours isn’t impressing anyone, son. If you want to impress your fellow warriors, stay calm, keep collected, and shoot bad guys. Then don’t step on em after, you got it?”
The private swallowed, voice slightly cracking as he reeled. “Yes, sir.”
Marsh stepped back, turning his attention back to his spotter behind the concrete. “We need to take the bridge now.”
“Yes sir.”
“Arm up, watch yourselves men.”
The men of the 46th Battalion began marching slowly towards the bridge and into Freeborn, guns trained high looking for enemy fighters.