"I am not a big fan of kittens so ... plus you are still a sir." Decebalus continued and he waited for the line to clear "Roger that, I am assuming command"
-Hey hoss, I think I got something. Your convoy has officially entered my kill zone. Supersonic API rounds ready.
The click of a cocking mechanism was heard and the pilot continued.
-Waiting on your orders, Hoss. Say the word and I'll have Cascabel unleash it's incendiary fury on them. I've got a solid lock on the lead vehicle's driver. Give the all clear and he's gonna loose some teeth along with his face.
"Wait for the to enter the Gorge and then fire on the last vehicle. We will do the same. Sony, you are our main shooter"
"Roger Sarge"
The column headed towards the Gorge, leaving behind a trail of dusk. The cold Royalist insignia could be seen on the vehicles and Fleur-de-Lys in red and blue spread the light that hit them. Out of the blue, a plasma shot hit one of the front vehicles and the convoy stopped
"Merde! Nous sommes attaqués! Adopter une position défensive. Protégez le convoi!"
"Come on! Williams shoot! Rest of you hit them hard!"
"Ils sont partout!"
"Feu! Feu! Garde-les loin!"
"Pierre est bas! Antoine est aussi bas!"
"Gardez votre sang-froid et protégez le convoi!"
Decebalus looked and seen that his boys were acting like real professionals, keeping their calm and firing on the Gallic troops, using every bit of cover that they had and also the element of surprise. He saw that the gallic troops started to form a protective formation and trying to keep the vehicles safe, but due to the small room for maneuvers they couldn't do more, plus he saw that the AIT were aiming for the wheels of the vehicles or for the engine. A good sign. Means that they can use their brains and doesn't really need babysitting, Decebalus thought and he felt good seeing that even the new recruits were acting bravely and in cohesion with the rest of the team.
He looked again on the tactical displayed and observed 4 of his AIT engaged in hand to hand combat in the back of the convoy and then one of the dots turned from blue to white, marking a casualty and soon came the call "Twombly is down. Twombly is down. He is KIA."
and a few seconds later another frantic call came "Yumi is down also. We need some cover down here" and on his tactical view, Decebalus saw that around 8 Royalists were trying to push at the back of the convoy.
"Williams, provide them with cover fire. Thomas, Ruiz take Fernando and Karl. circle back and cover the Rear. Williams, sniper shot or jump in the combat if you are near." he peeked again on the view and saw his man circling back "The rest of you, double your fire and do not let them know what we are doing. Cover fire" he ordered and he felt his mouth dry and pull the trigger. A string of hot rounds flew towards the nearest royalists....
Vatman didn't said a word. Instead, he locked on the location of the fallen soldiers and swiftly removed the barrel extension/projectile accelerator of his rifle. Cascabel was now ready for CQB. -Let's see if this thing works as advertised. Said Williams, mostly to himself, while activating his jump jet -.Vatman, moving in! Stand by for danger close awesomeness!
The microjets roared as the flew towards the battlefield. It wasn't that far away, half a click at best, but with his speed, it shouldn't take more than a ten to fifteen seconds. He was closing in fast, way too fast. Braking conventionally was not an option, so he had to use an unfortunate soldier of the king as a cushion. Will didn't even look at his victim before drawing his now full auto rifle. Hot supersonic projectiles pierced the remaining enemies, tearing them apart.
-All clear, Hoss! Or well..at least back here.
Just as he finished his sentence, something violently went off and threw him and the remaining AIT a good ten meters back. Luckily their armor was enough to handle the kinetic energy of the blast. Or most of it.
-Ow...I think I broke a rib...or all of them...damn...Oooh no you don't!
Before he could even realize what was happening, an young boy, most likely in his late teens had his chest perforated by a deadly salvo provided by Cascabel. Williams caught his gaze as the kid was falling to his knees, desperately trying to apply pressure to his wounds. Sadly, he didn't have enough hands. For a brief moment, Vatman froze. His brain fired up like mad. He had just took the life of a child. A child that most likely has family and has never gotten in bed with a woman. And infant that had his chance at life taken away just like that. A child that most likely was here because he had no other choice.Wrong place, wrong time. The hand of a fellow AIT on his shoulder brought him back to reality.
-Right...the mission. Dec! We're clear here, no casualties, what's our next move, hoss?
Decebalus watched the fight going on and he noticed that the combat, while violent, was rather easy. Who are we fighting? he thought...
"Medic, fix our soldiers. Ruiz, Fernando, take Twombly and Yumi, get them back to Major position. Take two Cheetah and go there. Inform the Major of our report and tell him to send us reinforcements in Sector 117 D. We will be there in 2 days. Make sure they bring heavy weaponry as that seems to be a Gallic Hub."
He looked around and saw the Gallic vehicles. "Mechanics, check the gear and make sure this vehicles will be used by the Bretonians or us." and he switched to General Comm "Replace your packs, rearm and reform. Gather the Gauls and give them a proper burial"
"But sir, they are the enemy"
"And what Gabe? They are still to be honored even if we are enemies. Make a pyre and burn them. Let the Gods judge them" and he received William message and he looked at him "You OK pilot? First time having some close combat? Not what they describe in the books, isn't it?" he continued and took off his helmet, seeing the kid that was dead. "It is war. He would have killed you. But you must think who he is, was he ruthless, did he enjoy being in the Marines or was he forced through conscription, to leave aside his life and his family.... You may think that he is not supposed to be here, that he must chase young girls but war is ruthless. Ares is also ruthless. Look at our boys. Most of them barely passed the age of 20, but all of them are killing machines. War does that, the nation requires this sacrifice to survive."
Williams intently listened to the voice in his earpiece. He nodded a few times and sat down on a piece of debries.
-Hey, I'm a cold bastard, man. And so was he voice -But thing is, I'm not used to fighting kids. See, I've always fought hardcore killing machines, not high school graduates.
Vatman put away Cascabel on his back and started checking the bodies for lifesigns.
-Thing is, man... you and me, we know what we fight for. But those guys, I'm not sure anymore. Most of them are too young to have a cause, or rather, they were born in it. Had it drilled in their heads. To me, they're nothing more than mindless husks.
After a brief moment of silence, he discharged his sidearm, finishing off an unfortunate survivor.
-And that's why the sooner we end this bloody war, the better. After all, that's why I came back.
The man grabbed a dead body's hands and began dragging it away.
-Pff...well fed, aren't ya?! Anyhow, what's our next move, hoss? How 'bout we find a starport so I can grab a ship and rain some death from above. Unleash my full potential and all that.
Decebalus looked at him and took a big breath "Fighting kids, we will do mostly. I was present in several combats where there were more kids then adults presented, felt like a kindergarten. But we will finish this war and maybe we move on a different one. Is in our nature. Sometimes I agree with the Harvesters, we need to be purified. "
He looked around and seen his troops following his instructions. "Freeing a Heliport or a starport is still too risky, we need to have more people and equipment brought from Yuma. But we will strike at an industrial hub and preparing the landing spot for the new troop transport." smilling he continued "We will receive a company there, if everything goes according to plan" he moved to general comm "We move in 5 boys, we go to 117D. Install security camera here."
With a smirk on his face "Ready to cause some more havoc, William?"
"Well, all we can do is move to 117D." he switched to general comm "See which of those Gallic wagons work and take them. Also, check the bodies for any rations or medical kit. Take all the weaponry also. Load the wagons"
Decebalus looked around the field and felt some sadness about the lives lost here "Please set the fallen Crayterians suit to self destruct 5 minutes after we leave" and he caught Williams gaze on him "We cannot carry them, we cannot leave equipment behind. Best way"
10 minutes later the convoy left the Gorge and headed to 117D. Among the Cheetah and Wormtail, two Gallic vehicles joined the convoy, full of military equipment and rations. Looking on his tactical display, Decebalus saw the dot which marked the fallen AIT and after a short flash he felt the shock wave "For those we left behind. Their deaths was not in vain."
Decebalus opened a link to Major Mario "Sir, mission completed. We are proceeding to 117D to rendezvous with Gamma Company. We had two KIA, send back to your location with two Cheetah. Yes sir. Yes sir. It will be done."
Looking at his driver, he nodded "Things changed. After we rendezvous with other AIT units we move to the Klinger Mountain Range. Set up camp and start a guerrila war there. We need to free a concentration camp at 221 by 17 on the map. Free whom we can and move them to the mountain. Train them if they wish to fight if not, prepare them to load one of our transports. "
"Williams, how you like your tea? Or your wine? Cause we will be doing some home visits... "
Vatman took a canteen out of his pouch and poured a little scotch on the dirt next to his fallen comrades.
-Save a good seat at the bar for me, chaps... -He sighed deeply and checked the timers- All set hoss. charges hot, t-minus 300 seconds to detonation
Williams looked around and his gaze stopped at bret made hover bike. A fairly new model, most likely abandoned by it's previous owner when the planet was occupied and then taken as a recreational vehicle by the gauls.
-Booyaaah. It's my lucky day. Although...it lacks something...
Ever since he was a soldier, Vatman had always carried a can of green aerosol quick dry spray with him. It was useful for marking cleared rooms, leaving mocking messages to his enemies, using it as a way to blind people in CQB and even as a firestarter. But this time, he used it for something different. Something personal. Two minutes later, the bike was burning hard towards the convoy.
-Coming in hot, Dec! Hold your fire! Silver fastmover, on your seven. I'm sure you will recognize me! Hell, you can't miss me, even if you tried!
Williams swiftly blasted past the allied forces, but let them catch up after a minute. The vehicle's original paint job was white, so the bright green "VATMAN" on the side was easily readable from a distance.
-Yo! How do you like my new ride! I bet I can smoke your cheetahs without breaking a sweat! -He laughed and continued- As for my tea, I like it without the water and the bag, just scotch in the cup! Now, let's go gut the bastards! The sooner I'm off this backwater piece of crap planet and in the cockpit of my fighter, the better!
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