Frontline and Beyond
Story by HAAS_Bio_Fox on SoFurry
Hey look its fighting time; I wonder how it's going to go?
“Looks like they've got help coming in" Dos said as he pulled back to look at his team.
All of them were quiet sitting around a fire they set up on the concrete roof.
They weren't receptive to the comment, finding the news of CSS reinforcements mundane and in turn they focused upon the fire with its small hanging pot. Dos was tempted to leave them but a thought regarding the sight finally came to his mind:
“Which ones are in the digi cam again?"
That had a couple look over in silent contemplation though Trat kept his attention to the cooking stew. The two Lepus looked to one another as they debated the matter:
“It's the foxes in the digi cam ain't it?" the first said.
“Nah, all those army folks have that raindrop stuff" the second responded.
Dos pulled back again from his observation “well they can't be army; they're looking way to fresh and it's definitely not Army cam"
The two rabbits looked to each other once more.
“Which ones do they not tend to send out?"
“Special force?"
“Every force from the CSS is fucking special" the satirical comment gained least one laugh…
Another pause came as Trat checked the stew; bringing a small spoon to his muzzle… “Needs salt"
“It's their marines!" the first rabbit called with a snap of the fingers, the second started to laugh
“Spacers… Planet side? That's rich"
Dos came back again not really agreeable to the Lepus' lack of concern.
“CMC ain't no push overs… And looks like they've got fresh armor to"
“Just making light of it son" the rabbit commented as he finally pulled away from the fire and gesture for Dos to hand over the binoculars.
He lifted them up and looked out towards the trenches, the height of the blocks gave them amazing view of the position and the road leading up to it and the mass of fresh troops, vehicles and supplies that was approaching.
The rabbit just contemplated in silence.
“Are we going to have a problem?" Dos questioned but the Lepus just calmy brought his binoculars down…
“We'll just reorganized the strategy and give them hell… If they're going to take this city, they're going to have to pay for it"
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The approach was uncomfortable, quiet; too quiet for coming to a fight, for being in a war zone.
Yet here it was, a quire of crunching gravel as the marines and soldiers marched alongside the road.
This road]/i] itself was a jammed mess. That issue coming from it being a confined spaces with only two streams of traffic; either those going to or those coming back… The returning traffic was slim; made up of trucks with red crosses or empty wagons going for a refill of supplies.
_Though for the moment the returning traffic was forced to the side as their crew waited for the approaching troops to pass. It was mainly the tanks that took up the majority of the road as they ran down the center at their highest speed; Leo -T9s.
Not the CSS's greatest armor but quick to produce and relatively competent in battle. There was supposedly better armor MerkaA2 but they seemed to show up less and less. Lighter IFVs and APCs followed behind._
It gave Roland a small moment of consideration, as her leg sored; [i]I wish I could fit it one of those thing
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In reaching the trench the feeling changed but not for the better, instead of foreboding silence a combined feeling of hostility and weariness clung to the air; a tight, heavy and foreboding feeling. If the marines had not felt like foreigners amongst their so called brothers – in – arms before, then the feeling was finally starting to settle in.
“I'm not liking the look of these folks" Mix commented as Nix shrugged his shoulders.
Most of the soldiers who had already been stationed here held a flat observing and yet distant glaze.
“Just shush up you two" Zeb commented under his breath.
“YOU LOT HERE TO SAVE THE DAY!" a heckler called from the side, one amongst a group of these tired looking infantry who seemed neither here nor there on the comment as they sat in their little social space amongst empty supply boxes. The Cainanid seemed to stand there with a sour grin; seeing new people clearly had him wanting to play… It was clearly a bit of bait and hook, line and sinker; one person had to take it.
“What's your problem soldier?" Cu was quick to break away from the group, keeping that stern authoritative stance though the trooper was not responsive too.
“Just making comment ma'am… No problem with that right?" he was clearly stretching his rope and knowingly so.
“I ain't got problem with your comments but that attitudes pissing me off" Cu followed; again to no response from the dog.
“Well… I'm at the authority of the Army, not whatever poxy outfit you crawled from"
A moment of quiet settled, Cu's brow slowly lowering as the curtain of professionalism cracked and she seemed ready to punch the shepherd's lights out. The Cainanid only seemed ready to meet the challenge, his sour smile never once leaving his face as he seemed ready to square up with the fox… He'd been waiting here too long; a fight was all he was after, but luckily it didn't come.
“What's the issue?" A Yersin came between the two of them and upon noticing the rat the dog was quick to correct himself.
“Major! My apologies" the dog took a step back and saluted to the Yersin and seeing that Cu couldn't help but smile as if she somehow she won.
“Just get on your way soldier; there is preparations to be made"
The dog gave a curt nod of the head and on that went away, the other soldiers quickly followed behind their tired looks fading under the Major's presence.
Though upon the soldiers parting the Major was quick to turn around to address the Vulpine “While I appreciate the change of situation and that it is my trooper who instigated the issue; do keep in mind they only give the rope for you to hang yourself on… Try to avoid taking that rope for your ego"
Cu could only stare back with a conflicted expression; a Yersin addressing a Vulpine as such, though he did have a higher rank and she just got strung about rank and respect…
She swallowed her pride “Aye, Major".
The rat nodded his head, somewhat surprised to the positive reception “thank you lieutenant; continue to the front, Sgt Hassel and his section will be waiting for your team… I've other squads to organize"
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The frontline was horribly tight, not really in regards to its space but in regards to it bending and twisting nature. It was all purposefully done making sure one blast of an artillery wouldn't go knocking out a whole section…But even then it seemed so overdone.
Were the militia that bad… Or had the infantry been her that long?
Roland couldn't really imagine it, it all seemed to tight and confined, lacking in any convinces… War might have sucked but least the navy had the decency to keep you happy till they threw you into hell; but here…
“Hey, it nice to see some reinforcements" Roland came back as she took note of the pair of rats sitting by a small alcove they dug into the trench a little bit of smoke puffed out as they seemed to work on something. “If we knew we were having guest we would have cleaned up a little"
“Who's in charge her?" Cu was quick to cut in as she came to the front looking between the two soldiers as she waited to see which of them was going to be the first to respond to her.
“Well Lieutenant that authority goes to the Sargent… He should be around here somewhere"
“And who are you two?" Cu asked.
The two looked between themselves, this momentary pause as they shared depressive glance; giving names usually followed getting jobs...
“Am Yuri" said the white and brown rat.
“And am Melin" followed the brown and white rat.
“We're not related" Yuri was quick to interject while Melin nodded his head agreeably.
Cu had no comment for that “Well, were is the Sargent?"
On that the two rat shared a quiet moment of discussion as they seemed to argue over who was going to say it and likely get moved.
“Well, he should be at our section's gun pit" Yuri commented likely hoping that would be it, but
“Well, take me too him"
Yuri just gave a small nod of the head giving a small nudge to Melin as he passed the responsibility of whatever was in the pot over to him.
………………
The line opened coming to the gun pit, the trench walls lowering in a manner that allowed the troops easier access to the parapets and on that note the army troopers along this part of the line seemed to place themselves tightly to the parapets as they scoped across the field and towards the city.
The tower blocks were clear from here. Yet, there was still a calm, a quiet that even took Roland by surprise. Why aren't they shooting? She expected it to be none stop; but even for now their artillery seemed to hold.
Finally at the gun pit the trench opened to a small circular space, still protected with higher walls though to the front the earth – works had been done to allow for a gun to be set up and fire across the field.
There was only two people in this part of the trench a single human and another lupine; the two seemed to be in the mitts of a deep discussion till Cu (as she did) interjected herself.
“Sargent?" She called as the man quickly stopped and on a dime turned around to look behind himself.
“Sgt. Hassel" He was quick to just introduce himself with no need to be asked or questioned; if anything Hassel had a very stiff almost navy like posture and behavior.
“Lt. Cu; we're your CMC support" the vulpine replied only finding that to be the best option.
Hassel only nodded his head again as his gaze moved past Cu and then came to Roland; he quickly looked the wolfess up and down before giving a small smile and nod of the head “good to finally get a replacement, Koppa could use some help"
Hassel pointed behind his shoulder towards a grey lupine crouched to the ground.
“If you two would like to get acquainted it might be nice, you'll be working together" Hassel said directing his comments directly towards Roland completely bypassing her NCO before bring that attention to Cu.
“Would you like to show me the rest of your team? I don't think we have time to waste"
The Vulpine's eyes glared to the human, though she could not deny it; she like the no-nonsense mentality.
With that Hassel and Cu went back while Roland was left with Koppa.
“CMC aye?"
Hearing the voice took her by surprise as the wolf's gaze still stayed low to the ground; a young soft spoken speaker. Eventually Koppa lifted his head up, showing his subtle, curious grey eyes.
“Yes" Roland replied back not really sure with what she truly meant to say to this character.
His eyes seemed to give a little beam of excitement, “that's pretty cool"
Roland wasn't sure where she was meant to take that comment, but in seeing those eyes she was sure he meant it was the utmost honesty… She kept quiet.
The grey wolf then followed up with his own silence, seemingly a little disheartened.
The awkward silence then stood… Trully the panicle of plains introductions.
“Well then corporal what's going to be your orders?"
Roland felt a fearful twinge at that, though as the grey wolf twisted to readjust his equipment Roland was presented the single chevron… An army private…
“You're the ranking officer for me; so am at your order and I won't let you down"
…
You got to be kidding me…
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Things seemed to be changing very quickly, Cu was used to that kind of atmosphere; be it a warship or a trench system people preparing for action was always the same.
“Ain't this going quick?" Cu asked as she continued to follow behind the human, but Hassel just kept moving forward.
“I don't get to make the choices; I've just got to make the best of them" Hassel spoke back with little fan fair… If it was anyone else Cu would be certain they were just trying to be an ass, but listen to him seemed to hold a deadpan seriousness.
“Pleasure to meet you Sargent" as quick as they came back Draud was already throwing around that charm. Hassel seemed to just stare back for a moment, but after that silent assessment he met the outstretched hand and shook it in a quick gesture, but his words weren't reassuring.
“Any meeting in these circumstance is never a pleasure… You got your troops in order; I've got your support getting organized with ours; though aren't you meant to have two?"
He quickly twisted around directing that question to either of the foxes.
“Lacking replacements" Draud replied.
Hassel only rolled his eyes on that with no further question on the matter while the human just doubled down “your marines' are ready?" Hassel pushed to the broader matter again “of course Sargent" Draud followed, seemingly quite good at keeping pace with the human.
Hassel nodded his head but just before he could make a follow up comment the sound of whistles sounded across the line as army lieutenants came across the line quickly followed by long coated commissars.
“TROOPS ARE TO MUSTER FOR ATTACK; YOU WILL BE ADVANCING AT 1025" the officers continued to walk across the line repeating the message.
“The radios must still not be working…" Hassel commented in quiet annoyance, the human just shook his head; make the best of what you have.
“Okay troopers; have your gear checked, mags filled and smoke'em if you got'em!" Hassel shouted as the surrounding infantry made the most of their last moments.
Cu felt a temptation to throw out her own commentary, though as her marines already started to follow along with the behavior of the infantry.
“You know you never gave me an answer to that question I was talking about" It seemed not matter what was going on Draud always held a strange tone of levity even as battle lay just before them.
“I don't think this is the appropriate time for this" Cu followed up as she checked and adjusted the straps on her webbing just giving herself one last look over.
“what happens if we don't have the time later on?" He seemed to say this words with a strange melancholy tone; she knew what he meant though he was being poetic about the danger.
“Oh piss off" she liked to be dismissive when something was causing her trouble.
“Come on just tell me; do you really think this is going to end?"
The vixen still didn't address the question though she clearly had her thoughts, who wouldn't…
Another officer and commissar came to save the day as they walked through the line with the next set of instructions “to your positions troopers! Schnell, schnell!"
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How could a battlefield be so quiet? Just the distant thuds of artillery from the backline but as it finally reached the target large puffs of smoke started to obscure the buildings… Like a thick, impenetrable wall of off – white; a double – edged sword, the militia couldn't see them and yet they couldn't see back.
The quiet rumble of tank engines began to enter as they rolled into position just lining up with trenches at the small crossing points made for them, supporting vehicles took position behind them.
They been waiting for a while now… Or had it only felt so long…
Well, it was any minute now…
“Follow behind the armor! We will secure the first row of building and push our way forward; You will get fresh instructions as you go"
The officer seemed to give some level headed instructions against the periodic checks of his watch.
Any minute now…
“Watch out for yourselves and your comrades; best of luck"
Silence seemed to come back across the line only broken by the odd cough, sniffle and near silent mumble… Even the commissars seemed to save their diatribes; but their presence was still hard to escape.
Roland jus squeezed at her MG in silent contemplation, waiting, there was something so bad about the waiting… Koppa seemed to stay close to her despite the fact he was a Timber with a good foot and a half on her he seemed to take that extra chevron seriously.
A figure finally clambered from the trench, a commissar clad in his long coat with the blue trim and the red marks. He stood before the troops with little concern for being in the open, his hand rested calmy on the pistol at his side;
“Most of you have been waiting for this for some time and now that time is here… Before you is the city of Mara, you had it before and you will have it again!"
He finally went quiet on those words, slowly turning about as he pulled his pistol from his holster, following that with a final check of the watch.
The tension was finally at its height as the initially distant sound of whistle began to travel down the line till finally the high pitched blare was there and amongst them, Leo engines revved from idle to first gear as they started to cross over while troops jostled to climb out from their position under the unified call of officers, commissars and even their fellow troops as the collective call echoed the trench line.
ATTACK!
…
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“You think they're having fun down there?" the vulpine clearly meant the comment in jest but Commander Alex was not interest in that.
“Cut that type of chatter" he replied as the officer quickly corrected himself though Alex continued “take pleasure you've been granted this job; less you think it is a little too easy"
“No Commander, apologies Commander" the fox replied before finally stepping away.
Alex just shook his head; navy officer and their cockiness was a dangerous combination. They might have been quite far along but the fight was far from over and the enemy was far from calling it quits… Though it was difficult to convince them, the Leon was destroyed the Federal fleets in disarray; what did the navy have to fear?
Alex distained such ways of thinking; the threat was not gone till the enemy surrendered or sued for peace.
“Commander, Insig and Illock are attempting to make contact" an officer had come off from the side and Alex was quick to respond as he came over to one of the communication consoles.
“You're on the line" Alex spoke as he grabbed a head set.
“Commander Alex, this is Commander Yerkev of Illock; requesting that we can return to bases for rest, repair and refit" Alex just nodded his head along to request.
“Will you folks be back, we could use the transport assistance when we finish up here"
“Affirmative Commander, we'll attempt to be back by next week… Though I can assume our time frame is a little more generous?".
The human went quiet for a moment as he looked out the window and at the world before him… He had a long thought about the battle on the ground, what likely was happening, what was going to happen…
“Aye Commander you'll have time, I doubt this will be a quick affair"
…
“Roger that, Insig and Illock heading out; all the best"