Turambar
Mar 11, 2007, 12:34 AM
Chapter1: First Blood
“Charlie Company will flank the enemy forces from the east. Orion Company will set up artillery positions 5 miles from the enemy units. Gabriel and Able companies will form the main assault group.”
A firm voice spoke loudly over hum of the display monitors in the command and control complex, 7 miles south of Tarcus city. Appearing on the main screen was the speaker: a tall male CAST dressed in the standard military body shell, boasting a pair of EVOR arm shell to signify his rank of Major General.
“That’s all for the briefing. Everyone is dismissed.” The monitor shut off as the several officers inside the compound slowly made their way to the exits.
Luthien, Gabriel Company’s XO could only silently sigh. This was the first time the 18th Infantry was moved out of its station at Holtes city. However, ever since the human 17th Mechanized and 14th Calvary pushed out of the Melovre base and into the outer fringes of capital city Tarcus, all available man power have been transferred over to this front. The first assault on Tarcus was expected sometime within the next 24 hours and the top brass wanted a preemptive attack set up before then.
“Only 10 hours to set up an attack involving 3 separate divisions.” Luthien thought to her self. “This is not going to end well.”
The 18th was supposed to take out the forward supply depots for both enemy divisions while the 21st Infantry and 1st Armor feinted an attack. Time ticked by slowly for the rest of the night. She leaned back in the driver’s seat of the armored personal carrier as her CPU counted off how many ways the plan could go wrong, estimate how many men she’d probably lose. War has taught her that such estimations were usually inaccurate, and pointless, but it was a habit she has yet to break. Her internal clock read 1400 hours.
“6 hours until operation time,” she mumbled to herself.
A sudden explosion rocked the APC. Luthien rushed out of the vehicle just in time to see another explosion appear amongst the barracks. Then another near the triage center. This time the arc of the artillery round was noticed. They were being shelled!
Luthien ran for the command and control center, only to watch it go up in flames as another shell scored a direct hit with it. She looked around her as men dove for cover. Some made it to the trenches and under ground bunker entrances. Others lay on the ground, in pieces. She ran for the nearest bunker.
The bombardment went on for about 5 minutes, and then ceased. Only one thing came after an artillery bombardment and that was an assault by ground forces. She looked around and noticed about a dozen others there with her, all of who were from her squad. The looks on their faces made it clear they knew that fact as well.
“We all know what’s coming. Take up positions at the trench line. Conway, man the anti-tank gun if it’s not a smoking pile of debris yet. Alright lets go.”
How had the humans set up an assault so much earlier than expected? How the hell did they get so far with out being spotted on sensors? Questions ran through Luthien’s head as she ran out of the bunker doors, rifle in hand. She shook her head, forcing her self into the here and now, as she took up positions at the trench line. She looked over and saw the anti-tank guns being brought into position. It was a short wait as the first waves appeared, consisting of light vehicles flanked by foot infantry.
“So it’s the 17th Mechanized?” Luthien said to herself as she lined up her first shot.
The battle ensued with the standard chaos that has been witnessed by the galaxy for a decade now. Men and women were shot and killed. Screams of pain and cries of fear rode on the wind as many fell on both sides. Luthien watched as another of her shots ripped through the weakened personal shields of an enemy soldier, cutting through his left arm, and almost winced as his cries for mother added to the screams. Such empathy for the enemy was short lived however, as another shot severed the head of the CAST next to her from his body.
The minutes ticked by and slowly, the sounds of gunfire and cannon fire dimmed. Three waves came crashing at the trench line and three were repelled. But undoubtedly, this would not be the end of it. And unless the brass suddenly decided to become satisfied with a mere defensive victory, a counter-attack would probably be set up, no matter what intelligence could be gathered by then. She stood up and slowly walked from the trench line back to where a temporary command station was being set up. She walked by the rubble of the old C&C station. 2 squads of engineers were crawling about it.
Victory at any cost. Her body involuntarily shook at the thought of that. That was the motto the brass always stood upon. But what did they know about the cost? The only things that mattered to them were victories and public moral. But what of the sanity of the actual soldier? Luthien thought back to her earlier days as a mere private. It was the 2nd assault on Holtes city, and the first firefight Luthien was put in. It was also the first time she took a life, and remembered how she winced at the sound of the death wail of her first kill. She was assured that she’d get use to it. And here, 10 years and 4 promotions later, those assurances were still being proved wrong.
Luthien shook her head as she approached the temporary command station.
“Captain Bishop, sir!” She gave the standard military salute as she reported to her commanding officer, Gabriel Company’s CO.
The tall red CAST held up his hand, made some final remarks to a technician he was speaking to, and turned to address her.
“At ease Luthien. And before you asked, no I don’t know how they got past our sensor perimeter and into artillery range undetected.”
“And what about…” Luthien started.
“And yes, we are being ordered by the brass to prepare for a counter-attack as soon as possible.” Bishop responded with a look of distaste on his face.
_______________________
A bit different from many of the fanfics that have graced us lately. Feed back is very welcomed and appreciated.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Turambar on 2007-03-10 21:41 ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Turambar on 2007-09-24 16:30 ]</font>
“Charlie Company will flank the enemy forces from the east. Orion Company will set up artillery positions 5 miles from the enemy units. Gabriel and Able companies will form the main assault group.”
A firm voice spoke loudly over hum of the display monitors in the command and control complex, 7 miles south of Tarcus city. Appearing on the main screen was the speaker: a tall male CAST dressed in the standard military body shell, boasting a pair of EVOR arm shell to signify his rank of Major General.
“That’s all for the briefing. Everyone is dismissed.” The monitor shut off as the several officers inside the compound slowly made their way to the exits.
Luthien, Gabriel Company’s XO could only silently sigh. This was the first time the 18th Infantry was moved out of its station at Holtes city. However, ever since the human 17th Mechanized and 14th Calvary pushed out of the Melovre base and into the outer fringes of capital city Tarcus, all available man power have been transferred over to this front. The first assault on Tarcus was expected sometime within the next 24 hours and the top brass wanted a preemptive attack set up before then.
“Only 10 hours to set up an attack involving 3 separate divisions.” Luthien thought to her self. “This is not going to end well.”
The 18th was supposed to take out the forward supply depots for both enemy divisions while the 21st Infantry and 1st Armor feinted an attack. Time ticked by slowly for the rest of the night. She leaned back in the driver’s seat of the armored personal carrier as her CPU counted off how many ways the plan could go wrong, estimate how many men she’d probably lose. War has taught her that such estimations were usually inaccurate, and pointless, but it was a habit she has yet to break. Her internal clock read 1400 hours.
“6 hours until operation time,” she mumbled to herself.
A sudden explosion rocked the APC. Luthien rushed out of the vehicle just in time to see another explosion appear amongst the barracks. Then another near the triage center. This time the arc of the artillery round was noticed. They were being shelled!
Luthien ran for the command and control center, only to watch it go up in flames as another shell scored a direct hit with it. She looked around her as men dove for cover. Some made it to the trenches and under ground bunker entrances. Others lay on the ground, in pieces. She ran for the nearest bunker.
The bombardment went on for about 5 minutes, and then ceased. Only one thing came after an artillery bombardment and that was an assault by ground forces. She looked around and noticed about a dozen others there with her, all of who were from her squad. The looks on their faces made it clear they knew that fact as well.
“We all know what’s coming. Take up positions at the trench line. Conway, man the anti-tank gun if it’s not a smoking pile of debris yet. Alright lets go.”
How had the humans set up an assault so much earlier than expected? How the hell did they get so far with out being spotted on sensors? Questions ran through Luthien’s head as she ran out of the bunker doors, rifle in hand. She shook her head, forcing her self into the here and now, as she took up positions at the trench line. She looked over and saw the anti-tank guns being brought into position. It was a short wait as the first waves appeared, consisting of light vehicles flanked by foot infantry.
“So it’s the 17th Mechanized?” Luthien said to herself as she lined up her first shot.
The battle ensued with the standard chaos that has been witnessed by the galaxy for a decade now. Men and women were shot and killed. Screams of pain and cries of fear rode on the wind as many fell on both sides. Luthien watched as another of her shots ripped through the weakened personal shields of an enemy soldier, cutting through his left arm, and almost winced as his cries for mother added to the screams. Such empathy for the enemy was short lived however, as another shot severed the head of the CAST next to her from his body.
The minutes ticked by and slowly, the sounds of gunfire and cannon fire dimmed. Three waves came crashing at the trench line and three were repelled. But undoubtedly, this would not be the end of it. And unless the brass suddenly decided to become satisfied with a mere defensive victory, a counter-attack would probably be set up, no matter what intelligence could be gathered by then. She stood up and slowly walked from the trench line back to where a temporary command station was being set up. She walked by the rubble of the old C&C station. 2 squads of engineers were crawling about it.
Victory at any cost. Her body involuntarily shook at the thought of that. That was the motto the brass always stood upon. But what did they know about the cost? The only things that mattered to them were victories and public moral. But what of the sanity of the actual soldier? Luthien thought back to her earlier days as a mere private. It was the 2nd assault on Holtes city, and the first firefight Luthien was put in. It was also the first time she took a life, and remembered how she winced at the sound of the death wail of her first kill. She was assured that she’d get use to it. And here, 10 years and 4 promotions later, those assurances were still being proved wrong.
Luthien shook her head as she approached the temporary command station.
“Captain Bishop, sir!” She gave the standard military salute as she reported to her commanding officer, Gabriel Company’s CO.
The tall red CAST held up his hand, made some final remarks to a technician he was speaking to, and turned to address her.
“At ease Luthien. And before you asked, no I don’t know how they got past our sensor perimeter and into artillery range undetected.”
“And what about…” Luthien started.
“And yes, we are being ordered by the brass to prepare for a counter-attack as soon as possible.” Bishop responded with a look of distaste on his face.
_______________________
A bit different from many of the fanfics that have graced us lately. Feed back is very welcomed and appreciated.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Turambar on 2007-03-10 21:41 ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Turambar on 2007-09-24 16:30 ]</font>