Chapter 1: Rucidia Island Pt.3 of 4
I just found out that I had accidentally copy-pasted this twice when transferring from MS Word. Oops. I deleted the repeat now.
For a small stretch of land as wide as a house and many kilometers long, the jungle suddenly disappeared. In the center lay a train track, running through the gap in the vegetation. It originates from a tunnel in the west, and ended at the airport in the east. By now it's past 0800, and the cover of darkness is gone.
"There it is," Mack says in a low voice, pointing his paw west where the tunnel ends. In the distance, the gaping mouth of the tunnel can be seen. The two wolves and one fox are at the northern side of the railroad, kneeling at the edge of the forest. "C'mon," he says, retreating back into the jungle. Lenn and Fredric follow, and the team makes its way to the opening. There is no activity. Knife Team is now next to the tunnel's entrance. Still no one. There is barely any movement, even from the jungle. The trees and vines are almost perfectly still from the lack of wind. Mack goes first, quickly moving to the tunnel and peering into it. The wolf looks back and motions for the other two to follow, and they line up behind Mack. He's looking back into the tunnel.
"Mack?" Fredric asks. Mack doesn't respond, but his tail twitches. Something's wrong. Fredric looks around the corner. He can't see anything, but Mack continues to stare intently down the tunnel, his ears perked up.
"I hear something," Mack says. Before Fredric could hear anything suspicious, he sees something, a light in the distance. The train is already leaving.
"The train is here!" Mack says nervously as he turns around. "Ok, it's still gaining speed. We can get on the train and then secure the package"
"Dammit, we're supposed to board a moving train!" Fredric says.
"We're paratroopers. We just survived our first combat jumps. We can do this," Mack says rather casually, looking back into the tunnel. The train is now roughly twenty meters away from the tunnel entrance. He turns back, facing Fredric and Lenn.
"Okay, when the train exits, run as fast as you can and jump onto the last cart. We'll neutralize all enemies and secure the package." With no better idea, Mack's plan is approved.
The train closes the distance, emerging from the tunnel shortly after. Fortunately the train isn't fast, so catching up would not be a problem. First the engine passes, and with no location for an engineer, it is easy to tell it is completely mechanical with no Canid operator. There would be no need to secure the engine. A flatcar comes next with a bulky, irregularly shaped cargo container vaguely resembling a shipping container, which must be the package. On top are four Arcanians, two behind machine guns protected by sandbags facing front and back, the other two spotting for them. They are definitely expected. Then he sees it, a sign, or symbol of some sort he has never seen before on the container holding the weapon. He pushes the thought aside and scans the rest of the train. The next flatcar has a regular shipping container about the same height as the irregular one. The last flatcar is carrying pieces of equipment and machinery. It is shorter than the cargo container, and can therefore provide cover from the machine guns. Before the Arcanians could fire back, Knife Team already has their rifles ready. They each fire a short burst at the spotters, killing at least one of them. The team sprints for the train as the last flatcar passes. The three get on and take cover behind the regular cargo container.
"All we have to do is cross this container and we would be at the package," Mack comments as the Arcanians open fire.
"Lenn, come over here. Fredric, we'll give you suppressive fire. Once we start firing, get on the container and go directly for the machine gun nest. Wait behind the container for now."
Fredric waits behind the regular shipping container as Lenn quickly walks towards Mack with his head down to avoid being shot. The two crouch on top of the machinery and reload their rifles with a full magazine.
"On my mark!" Mack shouts over the incoming fire. They aim at the supposed location of the machine gun. "Mark!"
They stand up and fire in full-automatic on the enemy position. At a theoretical rate of 900 rounds per minute, the thirty-round magazines are depleted in two seconds. Fredric climbs on top of the container and charges at the machine gun position while squeezing the trigger on his rifle. A bullet hits Fredric's right arm, but he is still able to empty his rifle at the Arcanians. With all enemies killed, the wolf checks his wound. Luckily for him, the bullet went through his forearm's flesh instead of tearing up the bone, but it's painful nonetheless.
"Um...sir?"
Fredric turns around to see Lenn, the fox's ears flat on his head.
"Mack's dead," he whimpers.
Fredric runs to the edge of the shipping container and sure enough, he sees Mack's lifeless body on the last flatcar. He was shot while covering Fredric's advance. With the team's sergeant KIA, the next in command is Fredric.
"Damn it! Alright, tell platoon HQ that the train's secured. Assist me at the front MG when you're done."
The wolf examines his own wound. Fredric honestly doesn't know whether or not he'll bleed to death. Copious blood flows from the wound, but they should get to the airport soon. There, he could receive medical attention. He takes his position behind the machine gun, only to find out it's not a machine gun. It's actually a 20mm autocannon. He pulls back the charging handle excitedly, only to find out a round has already been chambered. Sending the train early is one thing, putting a .50 cal machine gun and an autocannon on it was another, but the round had most likely been chambered before the train left the tunnel. They were undeniably expecting them.
"Infantry in the building, up ahead!" Lenn shouts. A few rounds fly past Fredric as he pivots the large gun at a small shack made of sheet metal, and returns with four of his own. The high explosive rounds tear the building apart, killing most if not all soldiers inside the building. Fredric's tail wags in excitement at the sheer power he's holding in his paws. The train is now at max speed towards the next and only stop: the airport.
(.....)
The Arcanian commanding officer of Rucidia Island operations stares angrily at the large map on the table. Early in the morning, the old wolf was woken to gut-wrenching news. Enemy paratroopers were detected landing near the island's airport, and at midday they were supposed to ship out a "special package". What a coincident he had thought in the morning, which is why he ordered the news to be sent to the mainland and broadcasted to all personnel on the island. He also changed the schedule so that the "package" would be at the airport before noon and out of the island by twelve. It was not long after the train departed when he receives news that they lost contact with the squad on the train.
"Colonel!"
"Sir!"
"I want blockades at every intersection! This train will not get to the airport while under enemy control! At the-" but before the general could finish, a soldier bursts into the room.
"Sir, the airport is under attack! They say they will not be able to hold!"
The general pounds a paw against the table.
"Get 3rd battalion to reinforce our troops at the airport! I want helicopters in the air to neutralize the enemy on the train! I don't want enemy scum dancing around on the package, and I'm sure High Command would agree!" the colonel stalls for a moment. Helicopters? How far will he take this? Isn't the package supposed to be delivered unharmed? Despite his concerns, he leaves to relay the orders.