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Here they come… To your positions.

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The speedy march across no – man's land was surprisingly unopposed. Though under the pressure of everything leading up to this point the troops just pushed ahead at a full tilt sprint as the armor sped along and past on the approach to imposing wall of smoke.

They crossed through it and yet… Nothing happened.

The pace slowed down immediately. They crossed the smoke; to nothing?

Well there was buildings, the road, abandoned cars but in the terms of what was expected; it was nothing… Quiet.

As the troops began to catch up they stumbled and bumbled faced with the odd circumstance.

“Is this a trap? This feels like a trap"

“Where the hell are they?"

“Are we meant to keep pushing?"

Even officers began to run up and down the force under quiet swears; this wasn't what we planned for.

Roland just scope her environment to every potential place of activity; in no way taking comfort to the lack of activity… All the towers had hundreds of windows, anyone the perfect spot for a sniper or an MG to let loose. This place is too open; something is not right.

The rest of her team was quiet, confused but far too concerned by what was happening to comment on it.

“Keep moving Corporal" Cu finally ordered “Get us by one of those blocks" the vulpine was clearly in the same camp as Roland; adverse to the open space and as the Marines started to walk to cover the other troops began to follow.

Two of the tanks made a slow move to the road; each vehicles respected commander standing from their open hatch as they scope the area around them with a silent anxiety only visible in the movements of their heads.

An urban area; the killing field for armor…

It was almost funny to think about it, met with no opposition, with all the initiative and the troops were at a lost with what to do… Admittedly the expectation would have been a fight and that had become some fixation.

“Were do you think they're hiding?" Nix questioned as he looked over Yuri, though just for that moment the rat was watching his friend look into one of the apartment windows.

“It's empty" Melin commented as he came back down and looked towards the troops “maybe they've ran away"

“Feds never run away" Zeb mumbled as he finally came over and also looked into the room; a large common area, like an atrium of sorts.

Quiet; everything still there like they left in a rush; bags, cases and neatly folded paper on a bench, untouched and Uncomfortable.

“Well this -"

Zeb didn't get to finish, this time around a Commissar came down the line, a vulpine; seemingly frustrated unlike the confusion of others officers, “get in those blocks and make sure they're clear!" he shouted with the expectant mix of hostility and authority only a Commissar could get.

Roland just peered around the building, looking down the main street. It was completely dead, for the visible 200 meters till the road became blocked by another tower block that looked down the road.

Even with her good eyes she couldn't pick up on anything, not even a glint of light; but the feeling was there…People were watching from somewhere, waiting… But what for?

“Corporal?" Koppa seemed to close in leaning over the wolfess shoulder to get a peek at what was going on… He only gave a dismissive snuff to the empty street.

“Just stay ready… I don't like this" Roland hissed with apprehension.

Koppa nodded his head to Roland's order as she pulled back slightly “are we just waiting out here?" Koppa followed.

Roland wasn't sure to what to say or even what she was meant to think about the ongoing situation; more standing around seemed wrong or like a waste of what they had... Or were they just to think that?

Cu seemed to stand their dismissively once she gave some orders to other side of the squad and they made their way inside. “Well, it's not like you can be much help in an apartment complex" Cu spoke the first words in a hushed tone before coming to a communicable fashion “Roland, I want you and target practice keep watch out here and…*Gurk*"

Hassel gave the vixen a clip from behind “don't call my support target practice" he stepped away after that just leaving Cu to rub at the back of her head.

“Just keep watch… I doubt will be long"

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“So what the hell is happening?" Colonel Kreek questioned as he looked about the small group of officers and Commissars, this wasn't even all of them. “And were are the rest!?"

The officers looked amongst themselves, the Commissars stayed at attention; they rode that funny position inside and outside the system but for now they observed.

Lavid spoke up first “some of the NCO's are helping the troops in clearing the buildings, planning certain scouting roots and how we'll get down the roads to clear the other buildings" It all made senses but Kreek was not to appreciable to it.

“Get them here, I can't organize any plan if we're all acting on our own accord" Kreek ranted

“What of our objectives?" Rickson chimed in as he finally arrived to the small congregation, likely catching the back end of the conversation.

“We didn't get any remember… As far as HQ is concerned we're meant to be fighting not just standing with our thumbs up our backsides!"

“And what do you intend to do Colonel" Walsh spoke up this time, one of the Commissars. The colonels attitude took an immediate turn.

“Did you send a messenger back" Kreek directed the comment away to one of the soldiers at the side.

“Aye Colonel" a soldier replied

“The radios are still not working" Walsh continued as his critical eye scoped the line, none of the officers had a good answer for that.

“We are picking up the interferences further into the city; that's likely the cause of our problem" after an officer made that comment a small relief came; at least we do not look like total fool under the party's eyes…

“What have we got those troops doing?" Kreek questioned as he looked over to the mass of troops going about doing business he was not informed of.

“There checking the apartments, they could make a good outpost… And it's just good to check for hostiles" Walsh said.

Kreek may not have given the orders, but in hearing them via the Commissar left him feeling no desire to try and contest it, least they were doing something.

Kreek nodded his head agreeably, “we'll secure our foothold and then see where that puts us; agreed?"

There was no reassuring responses beyond a collection of general nods from the people around him.

“Get on with it then" Kreek hissed as the officer parted and continued in there small operations clearing each of the six apartments.

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“Go, go go!" The team of troops were quick on the step as they flooded the small communal area at the bottom of the apartment.

“Clear!"

“Clear!"

The shouts came as further squads advanced to the stairways, similar sized groups of twelve. The Lupines quickly finding themselves stuck in the communal area; the doors to the stares were small, the same with lifts though both of them were destroyed…

“I hate blasted stares" a collie grumbled

“Quit your aching; let's go"

………………

Four squads had to start the long process of clearing the building floor by floor. A fifth team had to stay as some guard detail; standing and waiting.

“I still don't get it" the Yersin said as he looked about the room “why give this area such a high roof and entry ways if tall people can't even get around?"

“Maybe it's a convince thing; get around the place without having to walk the long – way?"

It seemed a plausible explanation, though as the human looked to the ceiling he was presented an interesting detail; the ornate design which firstly seemed like a nothing more than an aesthetic choice, but peering closer the trooper made out how the design cut deep into the roof…

“Hang on… This place is a trap…" the human spoke with a calm tone pointing up to the roof, the Yersin followed the hand and looked up to the gaps.

“Murder holes… Ain't stupid are they?"

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“We got movement; they've gone into the apartment"

“And we got confirmation on block one, five and six"

… They went quiet for a minute, thinking, planning, “How many went inside?"

“A couple squads of twelve… maybe a platoon if we're lucky, if we're saying it's the same per building?"

“Take out three platoons; that'll shake'em up; hell not even counting the collateral"

The observer continued to tenses his eyes as he watched, “I don't know how long will get sir"

…

Well, it was never a move to win with; but it'll give them a hell of a surprise

“Get ops on the horn, I want a confirmation before we drop the hammer"

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“How fucking long does this take?" The rat shouted up the stairway just waiting for a reply.

A Vulpine peered over the stairs and looked down at the rat, “It takes as long as it takes; it's not like it's one fucking story! Besides you got something else to do ye - twat" the vulpine fired back before disappearing.

Well he did have a point, the NCOs were yet to send out further instruction beyond what was given as current, 'check the apartment'. Nothing else could be added upon that; why rush?

The troops watching the lowest floor had started to let themselves slip; troopers congregating to chatter on anything other than their current situations. Other were helping themselves to left belongings, checking for traps; well no one was going to stop them… And it wasn't like there was much to be had, clothing was already being strewn about along with old bit of paper. An older vet took the time to rest at a bench, reading one of the folded newspapers; it might have been yesterday's news but he didn't seem to mind.

The rat paused as he looked at the mural on the wall a large artwork of federal militiamen standing at arms, a fearless group of three, blank faced characters… Well faces obscured. A reflection that the federation and its force was a conglomeration of anyone, anybody willing to fight and die…

That willingness scared him, they had a reason to fight and a reason to die… But for him?

“What the fuck am I doing here?"

The trooper closed a fist tightly with anger, not an anger against his enemy… Instead it was an anger that his enemy had something he did not, “fucking bastards"

In a moment of frustration the trooper grabbed a bit of rock from the floor and threw it at the picture, but rather than the cathartic collusion, “what the fuck?" The rock passed right through the image, ripping it.

That's not supposed to happen…

The rat was quick to whistle getting the attention of lupines though he only needed one, “pull this thing down; right now!" The tone of voice signaled his intention; this was no ego over enemy imagery, this was fear… The Lupine were quick to pick up on that.

A timber got up from the group, quick on the step, grabbing the image from the top and in one swift movement yanking it down. The image tore; maybe a nicely done but still a plastered on poster and while the image fell from the ceiling the issue became clear, the supporting pillar had a huge gash cut into it, no product of corrosion. A purposeful act someone made that hole and Lupine face only signed to what was inside.

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“Shit, we got a problem" the observer spoke under his breath as he watched “Captain something going on!"

“What is it?" the rabbit instinctively looked up from his position, moving over to the observer while keeping his radio at his side.

“Someone ran out of the block, I don't know if that account for all but we know five is in trouble"

“So they know?" The Captain questioned, his hearted pounding.

“Well they're keying on; we're going to be out of time soon sir and if they evac back all will get is a flashy firework show; maybe a couple by collateral"

The captain tapped his radio against his side, thinking matters over a million thoughts a second… No, this was the best they had, now or never.

“Drop the hammer"

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“General Ovex, I have a report from the frontline; the force has met no resistance, they are currently in the process of checking the first line of apartments searching for the enemy and awaiting new orders"

No, something is wrong. The general could just sense it, but to the surrounding officers the news gave a grand senses of enthusiasm. They had a foot in the door and now it was just the act of pressing the advantage.

The officers returned to the desk, flying above their general as Ovex continued to sit; still unsettled with the news. Kong was also left to the side but as the only marine amongst room of army-men, well he wasn't surprised.

“We should move to the center -"

“Take the mayors building?"

“Good, good"

“The long – wave coms array should be near there… That could make a more important capture?"

The officer nodded along again, but as they chatted Ovex arose from his chair and made his way out of the tent, he needed to check something.

Kong took greater interest in that, tailing the general, “I thought you would be more interested in what they're talking about?"

Ovex gave the smallest glance back to Kong before looking forward “they don't know what they're talking about and I'm not about to just trust the word of a messenger; old methods may work but a lot can happen in a -"

Ovex stopped as he opened the tent flap looking out to the base, focusing mainly on the congregation of troops who seemed to gather on a small crest; they were looking out to the city. Ovex made no further comment just running over to the crest and up it…

Mara was some small distance away, not impossible but you were not getting a details view of the place from here; least without a set of binos.

But Ovex did not need them, the pluming towers of smoke were more than visible from the HQ. A silent sight that everything was not as it seemed.

This is why I hate messengers.

“Major Kong" for the first time Ovex spoke with a tone of authority, some small sense of spirt “I want you to organize the reserve; have them move up with us"

“Move up with us sir?" Kong was slightly confused by the request.

“I lost this city once, I will not lose it again"

Ovex stormed back to the tent a new spirit burning to life as he pulled back the flap and addressed the officer in a manner he should have from the start.

“We're packing this HQ and moving it forward" the officer snapped from the map this confused and uncertain look amongst them; but they had no counter for this…

“And if anyone takes issue, I'll shoot you myself! Now move!"