Fandom Gundam: blood and iron (IC) - German front

[54160]

December 4th, PU 0757.

Good morning, Atlantic Coalition, associated territories and colonies!

In the news, yesterday the Pact of Smolensk and the Arab Union issued a statement of mutual assistance and announced the oil embargo will stand if the Atlantic Coalition forces don't withdraw from the Ademar Kingdom Civil War.

The protests against drafting escalated after the death of sixteen students last Tuesday, this week the Atlantic Coalition suspended the talks with colony representatives and will vote if resorting to martial law. Terrorists groups announced reprisals and their goal is not self determination anymore, but full independence.

Ashtorn Corporation expressed its intention to look for a peaceful agreement with workers and unions who are on strike against the scheduled closing of the Mobile Suit factory of Detroit, though its plans to move the factory to Galileo space colony continue.

The cold-related deaths increased this month in Virginia and California as poor families couldn't afford callefaction with the prices of fuel and coal still elevating even with the Government subsidies.

... only a spark is needed to set the old forest on fire

 

[54160]

Morning of December 30th, PU 457.

Half of the Goodwill Colony, a joint project between the PS and AC, fell from orbit crashing on South Africa, causing around half a million victims between the South African victims, and the PS and the AC workers in the colony.

Both sides blame the other while the debris thrown to the atmosphere contributes to decrease the temperature of the entire Earth, leading to deteriorate the weather and living conditions on the Earth, after a few days of political struggle both sides attacked.

East German border

The main forces of the AC and the PS are located in the border between East and West Germany turning it into the main and boordiest scenario of the confrontation.

The AC forces took the initiative crossing the border with elite squads supported by air attacks, in an attempt to link with their forces in West Berlin and cut the PS frontline in two, therefore opening their way into Eastern Europe.

The PS forces had almost the same number of troops in the zone but they have a slight disadvantage in air power, their strategy consists in taking the blow and then counterattack after exhausting the enemy forces.

The battle will be decided on if the attacking AC hits the PS defenders so hard as to crush them back, or if the PS defenders would be able to hold until the AC attackers run out of steam.

 

[TARDIS06]

Repeatedly separated by mere moments that were increasing in duration, Seán’s eyelids seamed to be failing his facade of cognizance as they persistently drooped down before he fought to have them rise above his lowered gaze again and again. Pulling the yellow jacket closer to his weathered frame, the boy felt a shiver crawl up his spine as another wave of air conditioning berated his form; he didn’t know how no one else was freezing, especially with most of them in their thin uniforms.

Currently Seán was sitting on one of the many metal chairs in what he was told was a briefing room, whatever that means, along with a handful of what he could only assume were PS soldiers of varying rank. In front of the gathered group was a large white board, some scattered yellow lights that seemed to be bolted to the grey tiled floor, and a single silver boxed machine that hung from the dark ceiling. The fluorescent lights flickered with each shake of the room as the sound of running boots echoed through the shut wooden door.

Wasn’t there supposed to be bright neon signs, flying cars, and a prospering society?

He knew the future was never certain, but didn’t people want to work towards that utopian goal? Granted, from what the boy read over during reentry, Germany wasn’t in America.

But it had to be close right?

Interrupting his thoughts, a hefty man with dashes of grey in his hair, and almost inhumanely wide shoulders, shuffled his way into the room; prompting those around the boy to stand and salute. Seán kind of followed suit, however half heartedly, in the greeting. The screeches of metal grinding on tile made themselves known as the others sat back down upon a wave of the older man’s hand.

With a soft click, the lights were dimmed, the silver box began to whir, and over the next forty-five minute presentation, Seán spiraled into madness.

Many questions filled the boy’s mind, yet the most prominent seemed to seep out of his pores more and more as time began to pass once again: what the hell happened to the world?

Maybe his parents were trying to keep his brother’s idealistic dream alive, to protect the hope harbored in Jason’s smile; but oh boy, would Seán need to sit down and have a nice long talk with everyone if— once, he gets back.

The lights flicked back on some time during the boy’s internal monologue, his gaze still far away from the current situation. Yet he jumped slightly as a rough hand patted him on the shoulder, accompanied by a thin yet raspy voice that commanded him to report in at mobile suit bay number seven for his reserve duties.

A quick sneer and nod later, Seán was past the wooden door and out into the winding corridors that filled the building; green tinted lights on the ceiling made the boy’s jacket glow a lot more that he would’ve liked as he maneuvered around the maze of a structure.

Head down low, and effectively lost in thought, he nearly missed the green seven painted onto the wall and the metal airlock that lead to the hangar. Yet, with a few steps of backtracking and a tap of his hand on the blue console, the heavy door hissed as it pulled itself open.

The building shook again as he made his way through the frame, gripping onto one of the metal railings lining the walls while a grimace slowly twisted into a pained smirk. Towering over him were hundreds of mobile suits, most of which had designs that he could never could have even dream of and a luster he never knew could exist on a machine. Yet among all the brilliant machines was a small, faded red robot that sat patiently against the wall.

At least the world didn’t turn into something mundane.

 

[Wandering Grim Hollow]

Above Europe
ACSS Caravel
Captain C.Luna​

"Relay all communications and data to me once Taurus Team is deployed. God be with you, Ensign." Carlo saluted the steadily static filled video link. The Junior Officer on the other end saluted and the call cut out. With a soft sigh, Carlo slumped into his seat and turned his attention to the main monitor on the bridge. The footage of the East German border from both ground sources and satellite feeds showed a chaotic image.

"Looks like hell down there..." The ship's Acting Captain muttered. Its met with some mummured agreements among the newer crew members and scoffs from the veterans. Carlo in particular paid no mind to his men, he welcomed the sight. It simply means the cycle of war is continuing on as it should be. The new normal on the frozen hellscape that is Earth. His eyes narrowed behind his visor before he tore his gaze away from the screen.

"How many minutes until Point Alpha?" Carlo asked the ship's navigator as he paced about, reaching up to adjust his visor.

"10 minutes, Sir. The whole squad is prepped for drop." The navigator's reply made Carlo's heart skip a beat. Nervous? Why was he feeling nervous? Or was she feeling nervous? Ground combat is much more complicated than space warfare. And their drop would put them smack in the middle of PS territory.

"Helvez, you have the conn. Have the recovery pods prepped once we give you the all clear." Carlo ordered, rising out of his seat before floating towards the bridge's bulkhead. "And have Stagitarius Squad be on standby. We may need a live weapons test."

"Of course, Captain! Happy hunting!" The Acting Captain saluted Carlo, as did the rest of the bridge crew. Carlo smiled as the doors slid shut before turning his mind back to the mission. It should be easy. 3 teams lead by himself, Commander Arana, and Lt Commander Holst are to and orbital drop into enemy territory to disrupt supplies and weaken defenses to allow AC units to punch through the frontlines. 9 Mobile Suits against a whole garrison. Simple.

East German Border, PS Territory
Operation Meteor
Captain C.Luna​

"Not bad for a bunch of outdated flaks! Ahahahahaha!" Holst's laugh cut through the comms like a railgun as the drop pod shuddered. Carlo gripped the controls of his Douglas and focused on the pod's camera feed. The air was thick with shrapnel as anti-air missiles, flak, and beams were fired at their general direction. The pod shuddered as one anti-air missile exploded a little too close before the feed quality dropped.

"Matador 1 to all Squad Leaders, designate targets!" Carlo ordered, pulling out his targeting computer. Ignoring the missile trucks and MSes, Carlo started to target possible ammunition amd fuel depots. Glancing at the altimeter, he knew he had to time their barrage at the right time.

"Torero 1, all targets designated." Arana's voice sounded calm even as the signal dipped slightly when a beam grazed her pod.

"Banderillero 1 here! All set on my end too!" Holst whooped. Carlo kept a close eye on the altimeter. "All units on my mark!"

"1500.... 1300.... 1000.... 800... 500, release!" Carlo depressed the trigger. The pod's main thruster fired off, slowing its descent before it opened up like a flower, revealing the MS docked in each petal along with an additional present, 2 scatter missiles. The missiles launched off the pod and homed in onto the locked on targets and exploded, showering a large area with flecchetes.

"Good effect on target! Remember your rallying points!" Carlo ordered, detaching his MS from the pod and letting gravity do the rest. He spied a nearby landing zone, recently cleared by the bombardment and adjusted his landing vector. As his MS neared the ground, he deployed his drop chute and fired off his leg thrusters. It slowed his descent before detaching from his MS' backpack and it landed.

"Matador 1 to Matador Team, report in."
"Matador 2 here, I'm to your 6, moving in." Carlo's MS made visual contact with Keyes' Douglas as it moved over, stopping for a moment to plunge his beam saber into a twitching Zedong.

"Matador 3, I went off target. I'm with Torero 2. Light enemy presence in this area."

"Copy. All units, stay close to your team. And don't get surrounded. We're already losing the element of surprise." Carlo's Douglas raised its shield in time to block what would have been a fatal hit from a Shougang's beam rifle before returning fire.

"Matador 2 move to point Beta, I'll draw their attention." Carlo's grip on the controls tightened, his eyes narrowed as the sound of combat returned. "This is for you... Brother."

​

 

[54160]

Morning of December 30th, PU 457.

The combat intensity increased every minute on the German frontline while PS and AC forces attempted to break each other’s, as usual the PS could count on an almost unlimited manpower to achieve superiority on the battlefield, but the AC relied on a daring attack through an orbital descent behind enemy lines.

The PS forces had even armed squadrons during the first hours of the battle with barely trained conscripts and seized every MS available in an attempt to smash the AC frontlines, even those MS considered obsoletes or modified for civilian purposes could serve as support troops if not something else.

As the recruits boarded their units, most preferred to take a shining new unit, rather than those MS with marks on their armors or unmatching painting, in those circumstances the red cossack was the less popular MS in the hangar.

“Come on mudjaks, you are not in your local store, don’t be picky, just board the unit in front of you and prepare to fight for socialism!”

Complained a fat man with a distinctive thick moustache on his face, unlike the boys and girls he called mudjaks he will be piloting a superior version, named Brezhnev, in honor of a former Soviet leader.

However, as soon as he closed his cockpit the the fat moustache officer, he received an urgent message. “Lieutenant Mikoyan, take your squadron to Delta sector and prepare to locate and destroy possible AC forces scattered on the area”.

“Delta point?, that’s far behind our frontlines” replied the officer worried about leading a rookie squadron to a massive breach in the defensive lines.

“That’s the information the commander Adrionov allowed me to share, direct your squadron to the indicated sector, immediately, you will be reinforced once there”. Replied coldly the woman through the comms, following the long Soviet tradition of secretism.

The AC units who had descended from the orbit had found little resistance besides the AA fire, but the first enemy units started to approach and put some resistance, followed by more and more PS units who tried to eliminate the AC units before they could consolidate their positions.

 

[Kokurai Gaisgeach]

" Mayhem "
December 30th, PU 457
GPCN-3 Type-N Lt. Phoenix Riedel
Phoenix Team
East German Border, PS Territory
Nothing else Comes Close

"It's time to dive into the fireworks." Phoenix said as she disconnected from her pod and free falls from the sky. Engaging the mobile suit's wave-rider form, it's majestic wings sliced through the hellfire sky as the AA guns bombard the sky with shrapnel and lasers. Phoenix knew she has to be careful lest she follows her predecessor's demise but at the same time, the thrill of combat kept her heart pumping and her mind awake as she dodged and weaved the shards of a shattered sky.

Phoenix realized that the surprise element has started to vanish and upon opening her targeting computer it was a target rich environment. Her eyes darted across the screen as she picked which of them she should target, Ammo Dumps? Radar Units? Old and Outdated Mobile Suits? So on and so forth. Analyzing the estimated threat level that was opposing the Drop teams she realized that a head on assault would be suicide and a reminiscent of Phoenix 1's actions, She needed her allies and she needed to support.

"Phoenix to all Drop Teams, Commencing Electronic Support and Electronic Warfare. Give em' hell." A faint buzz was heard by both sides as Phoenix activated the Mobile Suit's Integrated Electronic Warfare System Module, just as she activated it, enemy fire towards her diminished as the IEWSM scrambled her signature preventing a proper lock on by the PS forces for a brief period. However despite the jamming, she knew she had to stay frosty as even the system wont protect her from a stray shot or manually aimed ones. She circled in the skies as a watchful bird, occasionally evading Flak and picking off stray units in her wave-rider form to at least alleviate the threat posed to the Drop Team's advancement.

 

[54160]

Morning of December 30th, PU 457.

The screen in the PS headquarters pinpointed the many marks indicating the AC units descending from orbit behind the frontlines of the German front.

Just like the parachute troops back in the days of WWII, the AC forces had disrupted the communications and tied forces that were needed inthe frontlines.

But just like the parachute troops from those days, although elite units, the AC forces were dispersed and after the surprise element they will be facing the reserves and heavy artillery of the enemy.

*****

Lieutenant Mikoyan had taken his squad to deal with one of the squads that had descended from orbit. The PS at least had a little better knowledge on the territory.

"Stay put", said the man while ordered his men to cover, for some reason the communications system had broken down when they were still marching to the designated point, but with the loss of communications it was unnavoidable that some mechas lost the way.

However, luck was on Mikoyan's side -good luck or bad luck is arguable- but as they continued moving they located Captain Luna's mecha.

Mikoyan was as brave as an experienced soldier, with comms or without them, he did signs with his mecha's hand to indicate them to engage at the count of 3.

"1...2...3..."

The mechas shot at Luna's MS as they were told, the Cossacks unloaded their cartridge while Mikoyan jumped on it with the beam axe high in an attempt to smash it on the enemy's head.

*****

Meanwhile, the PS air force took off to deal with the MS that were still descending, with the loss of much of the electronic support, a few MIG-62 aircraft scouted the sky aiming to intercept further AC MS.

Once located they threw flares on them before retreating, the blue lights of the flares should serve to mark the enemy position.

While Phoenix team descended, they were received by the projectiles of two Brezhnev, while the AC team continued descending the 2 Brezhnev moved closer to enhance their precision. Once on the land, it seemed these two Btezhnev will be the first opponents of the Phoenix team.



TARDIS06 Kokurai Gaisgeach Wandering Grim Hollow

 

[Wandering Grim Hollow]

East Germany, PS Territory
Operation Meteor
Captain C.Luna​

"Their response times are quicker than last time! Number 2, right side!" Holst's communication was clear to hear on the shared comms channel as Carlo tabbed through all of them to get a clear idea of the waging battle. With the datalink provided by Pheonix 1, he had a clear idea of the battle. Most of their objectives were secured, MS hangers, fuel depots, and supply warehouses were destroyed or rendered unsalvagable. A warning message from his HUD signalled that it was almost time.

"Matador 1 to all units, 5 minutes to Hammer. Proceed to your rally points." Carlo ordered as his Douglas lobbed a grenade into a bunker entrance, the explosion sealing it shut. Before he could do anything, his HUD flashed a red warning message. "Captain look out!"

"What?!" Carlo pulled back on his controls, his Douglas' leg thrusters propelled it backwards just in time to narrowly dodge the incoming strike from the hostile MS' beam axe as Matador 2's Douglas opened fire on the Cossacks that were firing on their location. "Handle the cannon fodder and head to Point Delta, I'll dance with this one."

"Yes Sir, don't get caught in the rain." Matador 2's Douglas charged towards the Cossacks, firing his beam rifle and drawing out his beam saber in his offhand. Carlo's own Douglas quickly stowed its beam rifle before it grabbed its shield from the backpack mounted arm and pulled out its Lobo beam tomahawk from its shield mounting.

"Shall we have this dance, Komissar?" Carlo taunted via an open comm, igniting his beam tomahawk in its estoc form. Wasting no time for a response, he charged forward, thrusting his ignited beam tomahawk towards Mikoyan's MS.

Above European Airspace
ACSS La Pinta
Sagittarius Team​

"Hurry it up you slobs! We're behind schedule here!" Ensign Lawrence chided, nervously flicking through the data that flooded his screen. In comparison to his visible nervousness, his NCO, Chief Petty Officer Langford was seemingly napping in her chair with her cap lowered over her eyes. Truth was, she was worried about her "babies" and their field test.

"Quit your worrying, we're almost ready here, Sir." Sagittarius 1's voice lazily drawled over the comms. Outside the cruiser were 3 Aragons, 2 Douglas escorts, and 3 Hunters acting as support and ammunition carriers. The Aragons' left arm had been replaced by Estocada railguns, a magazine fed electromagnetic launcher that is almost as long as the MS is tall with a power cable connecting it to a backpack mounted sub-reactor.

"That's enough bickering for now." Sagittarius 2 piped up. "We're all set and awaiting target coordinants, Ensign."

"Right... Uhh... This is the ACSS La Pinta to Ground Forces. Does anyone read, over?" Ensign Lawrence opened a comm link to the drop team at the East German border.

Kokurai Gaisgeach 54160

 

[Kokurai Gaisgeach]

December 30th, PU 457
GPCN-3 Type-N Lt. Phoenix Riedel
Phoenix Team
East German Border, PS Territory

Static filled the enemy airwaves as the jammers worked their magic but nevertheless, this didn't stop the enemy from changing their tactics, with the loss of their electronic-based supports they turned to the old reliable method of manual control. Crude and effective, this made Phoenix study them for a bit.

"Smart... they're better than the guys in space guess we really have to dive into the fireworks." As she descends from the skies to engage alongside The Los Conquistadores Team, her comms crackled to life receiving a call from the mothership she slowed down and opened comms.

"This is Phoenix Tea- ah what the hell I'm only a one man squadron here. This is Phoenix. I read you loud and clear La Pinto, Datalink sent to you as planned. waiting for th- Argh!"

A shot from the ground struck Phoenix with a few grazing the Mobile Suit's armor it was enough to knock her out of the sky. As she began her freefall from her flight, she saw the two culprits, Brezhnevs equipped with Anti-Air, Phoenix dived to avoid more fire while she successfully transmitted the Datalink of to La Pinta before revealing her Mobile Suit Hunter's true form. Its crimson exterior menacingly eclipses the Brezhnev's pilots.

"You have got to be kidding me, if that's how you want to play then so be it. Phoenix to Conquistadores, I've transmitted the targeting data to all nearby friendly units including Mother Ship. Jamming and enhanced targeting will end in 5 minutes, make it count."

Pulling the Chimera's Bazooka from it's rear weapon rack, Phoenix throttle the boosters to slow her descent and fires her first Bazooka shot towards the first Brezhnev's face, destroying it's sensors and knocking out some of its guns enough to cause it to stagger before aiming at the second one as she lands.

"This is Phoenix. engaging." Licking her lips and showing a devilish grin on her face, The Crimson Phoenix has resurrected from death.

54160 Wandering Grim Hollow

 

[54160]

Morning of December 30th, PU 457.

With the PS reinforcements incoming in greater numbers and their defense is more consistent, but perhaps not even that might change the tide of the battle.

*****

The Mikoyan's squad found the Matador team, and soon another fight started. The recruits savagely shot at the the incoming AC units retreating, giving terrain to the enemy in an effort to keep their advantage in firepower and number, meanwhile the strategy for their squad leader Mikoyan was a very different one.

The old Russian man understood he was dealing with something else than the average AC unit, not only the type of the mecha but the swift reaction of its pilot warned him, he groaned inside his cockpit, after listening the opponent.

Unlike the enemy he didn't carry a shield, only its axe, it was a superb attack weapon but by the same reason his first attack might be the last, however, for a though Siberian man cowardice wasn't an option. After a giggle with his deep voice he replied: "Come at me, mudjak!"

Mikoyan's mecha jumped with the axe high attempting to land a decisive hit on the opponent.

*****************

The Brezhnev pilots were confident, they had taken down a couple of unfortunate AC pilots before and were sure that a single isolated mecha couldn't be more than a nuisance.

However, before they could hit the falling mecha, one of them received a direct strike on the head, the pilot cursed while the screens of his cockpit, which depended from cameras on the mecha's 'face', only showed static. And the pilot cursed again when one of the twin cannons of his Brezhnev aimed down and remained there unresponsive to the controls.

With their jammed communications they had only limited forms to communicate, though the hit Brezhnev turned to move on the tracks it has in its legs and started to retreat while shooting, the other Brezhnev nodded its head understanding its partner. It moved sideways to shoot the enemy from both flanks. The Brezhnez on tracks could fire faster, but the other was more precise.

Kokurai Gaisgeach Wandering Grim Hollow

 

[Gundam-kun]

Dewey sat down in his Mobile suit and slides his helmet on and nodded as he types in a few codes into the sie computer and grabs the joysticks and pushed forward and slammed on the medal pedals and blasted his Mobile suit out of the carrier ship and looks down as he grabbed his beam saber and activates it, he looks to the ground and counted out the PS mobile suits he could see, "Valentine, enhance melee priority to level three." he nodded and grips the sticks and aimed the saber downwards and landed on the ground and sliced a grunt PS unit in half, he looks around as he blocks gunfire with his shield and fires two missiles into the unit and stepped backward

His A.I. spoke out, "Master I am detecting heavy units approaching, I suggest a tactical retreat."

"Got it, thank you, Val." he grabbed a tree and throws it into one of the heavy units and runs his suit back to the AC frontlines and grabbed his enhance beam rifle, "I won't support fire at bearing 30087." he pointed forward with his Mobile suit and charges up a beam shot and fires it off int the enemy area, he looks around as he couched down and locks himself into the ground and positioned his shield in front of his Mobile suits torso and pulls his aiming visor down and looks through

 

[Wandering Grim Hollow]

East Germany, PS Territory
Operation Meteor
Captain C.Luna​

"Not a man of many words, hm?" Carlo pulled back on the controls, not even using his shield to block the savage overhead swing of the enemy's beam axe. A one on one duel would normally bring joy but not this time.

"Then I shall do the talking, Comrade." Carlo continued on the open comm. He didn't care if the enemy pilot was listening, all that mattered was he said the words that came next. He pushed on the offensive, using his beam tomahawk to relentlessly press the advantage. A series of stabs and slashes aimed to keep his foe from counterattacking.

"I am familiar with how the Pact works. You maybe a veteran but I am willing to bet that your men are conscripts with barely a month worth of training. And your esteemed superiors didn't even give you proper intel." Carlo glanced at his radar at Matador 2's dot. It surged forward towards 3 dots signifying 3 Cossacks. 2 of the Cossacks disappeared from radar almost simulaneously before Matador 2 broke off from contact. Curiously enough, the 3rd Cossack remain motionless even as Matador 2 sped off towards the edge of his radar. A pity, there won't be enough time.

"Am I correct? I'm not expecting an answer anyway. Our time's cut short. Matador 1 to all units, brace for rain. Hunker down." As he said that his HUD flashed red and a warning alarm resounded through the cockpit. His radar suddenly showed a series of red dots that grew larger by the second before it almost painted the whole display red.

"You might want to seek shelter. Dasvidanya Comrade, may our next meeting be on friendlier terms." Flipping a switch, his HUD went dark before it rebooted. The screen flickered back to life and his MS's optics started to glow a fiery crimson as an electronic voice announced. "BIOCOMPUTER ONLINE"

Then the tremors started.

Above European Airspace
ACSS La Pinta
Sagittarius Team​

"Ah good. La Pinta to ground forces, Sagittarius Team is ready for Operation Meteor. Data link secure and targets are marked. If you can hear us Captain, good luck. Lawrence out." Ensign Lawrence sighed before cutting off the comms. He closed his eyes to composed himself before he turned to see CPO Langford staring at him.

"So we're really going to...?" Langford's question was cut off by Lawrence's grim nod. Her unsure expression hardened, she turned to a displayed map of the combat zone.

"Langford to Sagittarius Team, load seismic rounds." Outside the ship, the Hunter MSes quickly went to work. Carefully manuevering to the Aragons and loading the Estocada railguns with specialized 15m long rods. Once locked, the Hunters quickly moved out of the way. "Railguns set!"

"Make ready." The Aragons carefully spaced themselves out.

"Take aim." The Aragons' specialized aiming visors lowered over its optics before they aimed down towards Earth. Each member of Sagittarius Team took careful aim at their set coordinates. The railguns slowly charging up to maximum output.

"Sagittarius Team, fire."

"SLASH, SLASH!" With a deft depression of the trigger, the Aragons fired off a volley. The projectiles were sent hurtling towards Earth at speeds of almost mach 7. The rods glowed a fiery orange as it punched through the atmosphere and continued on to the target. As the rods plunged into the ground at mach 7.5, the 2 second fuse trigged an explosive charge inside each rod, cavitating the impact zone and sending tremors that could be felt all the way to the proper frontline.

East Germany, PS Territory
Captain C.Luna​

"Holy crap!"
"Is this part of the plan?!"
"Where's the Captain?!"
"This is Banderillo 3, the Commander's Douglas is damaged in the firefight!"
"Can it rookie!" The chaotic radio traffic following the bombardment matched the surroundings. The volleys kicked up a large plume of ash, dust, and smoke in what used to be the PS supply base. Carlo quietly listened to the transmissions as his Douglas started venting off excess heat and the limiters are re-engaged.

"Matador 1 here. I'm at Point Delta, cut the chatter, you're all clogging up the bandwidth." His transmission was met with a mix of whoops and sighs of relief. Walking through the desolate landscape he felt a multitude of emotions. But one peaked stronger. Even higher than his personal pride as a soldier. Pity. "All units head to the randevous point. Pick up in 30 mikes. Ditch anything that isn't working."

"Yes Sir!" As the comms died down, Carlo turned his attention to a fallen over signpost. Kneeling his Douglas down, it left off a blast of hot air that stirred up the coating of ash on it. The name of the nearby town made him frown.

"Hoffnung... There isn't enough...."

54160 Kokurai Gaisgeach