Ablaze Ch.15: Battle of Senchen (12)
Parosana begins a renewed offensive. A mechanized brigade has been tasked with seizing control of Senchen's industrial district, but standing in their way is a mix of war-weary Corysian soldiers. After a month of arduous fighting for their own homes, the Corysians are losing their hold on Senchen. This is the beginning of the end.
Here, the platoon Bravo 3 will work together with a platoon of paratroopers to eliminate a team of Parosanan forward observers directing fires onto friendly forces.
Note: beware of excessive violence near the end.
Cover art symbols are from "MIL-STD-2525C"
Attacking: Parosana Mechanized Brigade Marines
Defending: Corysia Infantry Battalion (2/159th Infantry) Militia Battalion Marine Company Paratrooper Company
Terrain: Urban
Characters:
Infantry Team (Bravo 3-2 Alpha, 2/159th Infantry): Karbovic - Wolf - Squad Leader Darrell - Wolf - Medic Reaf - Wolf - Designated Marksfur Sun - Red Fox - Anti-Armor Terry - Silver Fox - Rifle
Paratroopers: Faine - Wolf Roth - Jackal
Edits:
6/2/2013: Corrected several instance where the wrong unit was used. Originally Bravo 3-2 Alpha was the only one sent to neutralize the FOs, but it was changed to the entire platoon.
The Industrial - Apartment ruins - 12:09 PM
"I'm out of six-five!" a jackal says.
"Here, make good use of it!" Faine says, throwing over a 6.5mm CUA magazine to Roth, who immediately swaps his weapon's magazine. The magazine is already partially depleted, but their combat effectiveness and survival will depend on each last bullet.
The entire platoon has been spread out, and dug into the ruins of the residential buildings. Originally around six stories tall, most have been blasted down to just one or two floors. Faine, on the second story of a destroyed building, leans out of cover and fires on a Paro at the side of the street below. Keeping in mind the fact that they are dangerously low on ammunition, he fires two rounds in semi-automatic. The wolf still manages to eliminate the enemy, and hides behind cover to avoid being shot. Sporadic fire rings out as the Corysian paratroopers play a deadly version of hide-and-seek with the Parosanans. They originally intended on ambushing the Paros, but when that failed, the fighting got dangerously close. Now they are locked in combat with one another in the ruins of the residential structures.
Faine emerges from cover, spots an enemy, and takes another shot. He fires two rounds again, hitting the enemy soldier with one of them, and retreats behind cover as several rounds narrowly miss him.
"I'm moving!" Faine says to the other paratrooper, deciding to relocate.
The wolf runs with his head down to the opposite side of the building and inspects the area, his Type 55 assault rifle ready for contact with the Paros. The platoon's GPMG fires a quick burst before falling silent again. Seeing nothing, Faine peeks onto the street below. Two rounds narrowly miss him, and he quickly pulls back and collapses onto the ground, ears perking up and searching for the source. Another burst of automatic fire, then another rings through the ruins. Damn it, where is the incoming fire originating from?
Faine inches his muzzle upwards to get a better view, before falling flat as another few rounds fly his way.
"Hey, I just saw him over there, near the doorway!"
The wolf looks back, finding Roth pointing vaguely in the direction of the Paro. He had slung his rifle, instead holding a pistol in his paws. Apparently, he is out of ammo for his rifle. Faine nods in response. The wolf brings up the image of the street from his memory, and plots the probable location of the enemy soldier. He quickly reveals himself from cover, aims his rifle, and taps the trigger twice on instinct. Faine lies flat on the ground again to avoid returning fire. It doesn't come. He peeks over the edge of the floor again, and sees no sign of the enemy. Then, a multitude of gunfire erupts from seemingly nowhere. Faine retreats back to the staircase with the other paratrooper. They are so disorganized from this attack that Faine isn't even with his whole team. Only one of the other three, Roth, is with him right now.
Faine pokes his muzzle around the corner of the staircase, and find nothing waiting for them. Gunfire is still being exchanged, but at a much lower rate now. The wolf looks back at his teammate.
"What is going on down there?"
"I have no damn clue. I never knew we had enough ammunition left for-"
The jackal interrupted mid-sentence as he quickly raises his pistol, but then puts it down. Faine also peeks around the edge of the staircase, Type 55 shouldered, only to lower it afterwards.
"Hey, we're friendlies!" Karbovic shouts from the bottom of the stairs. "Are you furs paratroopers?"
Terry and Darrell appear soon after, followed by Reaf.
"Yeah, but what are you doing here? This isn't a place well suited for the regular infantry." Faine scoffs.
"Stow that 'Special Branches' bullshit, now where the fuck are the FOs?" Karbovic demands.
"Oh, they sent regulars to neutralize them? I think we'd be better off even in this condition."
Karbovic glares at the two furs.
"You paratroopers really are assholes. These orders are from Battalion HQ, stop fucking around!"
"Battalion HQ? You should confirm this right now over the radio first. That's pretty high authority right there-"
Karbovic runs out of patience. The fires his Type 49 from the hip, letting loose a single 6.5mm round that plants itself in the stairs, a few steps below Faine and his teammate. The sudden gunfire startles Faine slightly.
"What will command think of this?" Faine glares.
"Following orders."
"Friendly fire?"
"Executing the orders given to me requesting that a team of forward observers, directing heavy air and artillery support on our fellow troops from all branches of the National Corysian Army, be neutralized as soon as possible. A certain paratrooper platoon is also supposed inform us on the FOs' position and support our attack."
It gradually dawns on Faine the truth on what is happening. Their main defensive positions are being hammered into the ground, and he is holding the keys to stop it. All he needs to do is paw it over to that wolf down there.
"Where's the rest of the platoon?" Faine asks.
"Dead or waiting for you."
The Industrial -Echo Line - 12:13 PM
"Move fast, lay down heavy fire, and don't fucking stop!" the paratrooper platoon's executive officer says to 3rd Platoon's commanding officer.
The Corysian soldiers stop at the side of the street. They quickly get behind cover as an infantry section runs forward past them to another position further ahead. Opposite of them, a squad of paratroopers run forward to a position further ahead as other Corysians cover them further back.
Bravo 3 is mixed in with the paratrooper platoon, or at least part of what's left of them. The infantry platoon follows the paratroopers as they bound over towards Echo Line, where they were not long ago. About a hundred meters to the west is the housing complex Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion was trying hold earlier. The main emphasis of the Parosanans' attack is now focused on the warehouses, where their fellow soldiers are retreating from artillery, armor, and close air support. Distant sounds of crackling small arms and the thud of high explosives provide unnecessary evidence for the obvious. The soldiers on the opposite side of the street cross over as the paratroopers on point quickly check the street. They turn their muzzles back to the rest of the soldiers.
"They don't seem to be taking too much notice of this area, now's a good time," one paratrooper reports.
The paratrooper platoon's executive officer motions for the soldiers to gather around him, and they comply.
"Alright, Bravo 3-2 will cross first. They will see you no matter what, so we're going to open fire the second you guys step out of cover. The rest of the paratroopers will cross next. We'll keep the ground level clear while the rest of 3rd Platoon will stay at this intersection and keep the Paros at bay. Now, Bravo 3-2..."
The Platoon's XO adjusts his position slightly, and walks in a crouch away from the edge of the street and into the exposed center. The Karbovic follows the XO into the open, with the most of Bravo 3-2 not too far behind. The XO points his forepaw at civilian structure, seven stories tall, standing slightly above nearby structures.
"That's the target building right there, where the forward observers are."
"It looks like a good spotting position," Reaf comments.
"Definitely. We also saw radio antennas and furs with binoculars up there on the roof when we were falling back. You can still see antennas. As you can guess, that is where the FO team has set up shop. MURLDs can't guarantee they're eliminated, so you'll have to assault the structure. I can't say how many might be defending it."
"That's ok, just keep this damned road open for when we leave. And for my section, when we go up the stairs, Darrell will be behind me, then Terry. B and C Team will stay on or near ground level. Reaf, your precision rifle isn't good for CQC. I'm reassigning you to Bravo Team."
"Affirmative," they respond.
Everyone, tired of the war, fatigued of fighting, emotionally and physically exhausted, complies anyways. Terry taps the side of his Type 49 in the intense midday heat and high humidity. This is it, the mission is about to begin. They will be charging behind the lines of a major Paro offensive.
Bravo 3-2 gets into position at the front while the other Corysian soldiers take positions around and behind them, Type 55 and 49 assault rifles shouldered and ready to fire. The few furs with Type 55 SAW variants, light machine guns, prop their weapons' bipod on the ground. Everyone waits, crouching or lying prone, ready for the signal like a coiled spring.
"Good luck," 3rd Platoon's CO mutters. "Two, one... Go, go!"
Terry uses his hindpaws to push off the ground with all the strength he can assemble. The soldiers use the element of surprise to sprint as fast as they possibly can to safety, automatic fire blazing away behind them. The first team of paratroopers begins their sprint across the street as soon as Bravo 3-2 emerges from cover. Being a relatively short distance, Terry sprints to the other side with little difficulty. The infantry section carries the momentum all the way through to the target building. It's not far away, being only the third building from the street they had crossed. Karbovic, leading the section as usual, raises his Type 49 assault rifle at the residential structure's first floor, a small restaurant, a few meters before he reaches the front of the structure. He slows down and nearly halts as he rounds the edge of the shop. The wolf quickly lets out a few rounds from his rifle, and by the time Terry can establish a visual with the inside of the noodle shop, the Paros have already been neutralized.
"Now they know we're after them," Karbovic growls.
Reaf stays outside as B and C team arrive in mere moments. Darrell and Terry, meanwhile, line up behind Karbovic in just that order. Karbovic grasps the enormity of their current objective, and places one he can trust, not control for amusement, right behind him. Bravo team stays on ground level with the arriving paratroopers while Charlie team accompanies Alpha team to the second story. Alpha team then proceeds towards the upper levels, and the FOs they're here to eliminate. They allow enough time for a quick scan of each floor to make sure their tails are protected before continuing.
Finally they reach the very top of the structure. They haven't found the spotters on the first to seventh floor, leaving only the building's roof. Karbovic quietly sneaks to the door leading out onto the roof. He motions for Darrell to open the door, the large wolf trying his best to squeeze himself onto the right half of the narrow staircase. Darrell reaches a paw onto the handle, and after a short countdown, swiftly pushes the door handle down, and swings it outwards.
Karbovic, holding his Type 49 so that it points towards the ceiling, rapidly brings down the weapon's muzzle and shoulders the weapon. Bright midday light spills into the poorly lit staircase. Karbovic immediately squeezes the trigger, sending 900 rounds per minute of 6.5mm CUA rounds out towards the enemy. Darrell, who had a paw on his Type 49's pistol grip, quickly brings his other paw onto his rifle's forestock. The wolf squeezes the weapon's trigger at a second Parosanan, neutralizing the threat. Karbovic, who has also eliminated a second Paro, steps through the doorway after finding there to be no enemy contacts. But he acted too fast, and an enemy soldier hiding beside the staircase, just out of sight, points his assault rifle at Karbovic. The distance is less than a meter. The wolf sees the motion from the edge of his vision and swings around, using his rifle as a blunt weapon. The fox, caught slightly off guard, manages to block the attack with his own rifle. This time he tries to use physical force, intending to thrust his rifle's stock forward and smash it against Karbovic. But the large wolf isn't simply overpowered by physical force. He deflects the blow with his Type 49, and when the Paro's rifle is at the furthest his arm can reach, Karbovic pulls away the weapon, disarming the soldier.
The fox's eyes go wide with fear as his rifle is violently removed from his grip. Darrell and Terry, by now, are already outside on the roof and have neutralized two other Paros. They stare in a mix of fear and horror as the large wolf pulls out his multipurpose shovel, attached to the outside of his rucksack. Karbovic grips it tightly in his paw. Even as the Paro registers the new weapon the wolf is wielding, he brings it down forcefully on the fox's helmet, creating a loud and sharp noise from the two metal objects impacting. The fox is knocked down, landing hard on the concrete floor. Karbovic follows up by bringing down the shovel repeatedly on the fox's muzzle and head, inciting disturbing screams and yelps from the fox. Terry, observing the entire event, feels each impact on himself, every hit the wolf makes with his shovel.
Terry still has remnants of himself from the past that refuse to leave. Even though the silver fox has been fighting the messy and ugly battle at Senchen for nearly a month, he is still, inside, the innocent civilian from the island of Escova. He is also disturbed and afraid of violence that includes, of course, what is happening in front of him.
Karbovic, meanwhile, soon decides he's finished, and takes out his utility knife. Although not intended for killing, it can certainly do that. The wolf grabs the fox's broken muzzle roughly with one paw, and with the other, plunges the knife into the his throat. Blood gushes out from around the knife. The fox grabs at the knife, desperately attempting to stop or remove it somehow, but it's impossible. The fox emits a sickening gurgle noise as he attempts to breathe and scream. Terry nearly breaks down and sobs as he is unable to stand the sight and turns away, slumping against an air conditioning unit on the roof. After a few seconds, Karbovic removes his knife from the fur's throat and wipes it against the Paro's uniform. He sheathes it, puts his shovel away, and picks up his rifle, all while the fox is still barely alive.
"What...what the...," Terry stutters.
The silver fox tries his best to hold back his tears, but some still form at the side of his eyes. Karbovic just looks at Terry as if nothing had happened.
"How can you do something like that?" he asks, nearly sobbing.
"What, it's the fucking enemy. He has a gun, and he was going to shoot me. He is trying to kill me so I have the right to kill him," Karbovic answers sententiously.
"But that's... excessive!"
Out of patience, Karbovic steps forward, and punches Terry's muzzle.
"Grow up. What kind of a fucking war is this? Did you really think the Last War was the 'last war of violence against civilians' or some bullshit like that? Do you think anyone would give a damn about these atrocities? Look on the streets, how many of them have a dead civilian lying in the open for everyone to see? How many buildings have been demolished, yet held no military value? The fucking list goes on."
Terry whimpers, tears flowing from his eyes. His ears lie back against his helmet for what little distance they can, and his tail wedges between his legs. Karbovic is right. Of course he's right, I don't know anything, do I?
"I'm sorry..."
"You better be fucking sorry," Karbovic growls.
Darrell, afraid to go against Karbovic and make himself an enemy, stays silent. He's already trusted enough by Karbovic that the wolf has shared parts of his past with Darrell. There is too much to lose, and no matter how much he cares about Terry, making Karbovic an enemy is not worth it.
Karbovic and Darrell sweep the roof, making sure it's clear. Fortunately, the whole incident lasted less than two minutes, which is only a slight delay for them. Still, the paratroopers and the rest of 3rd Platoon, are risking their lives keeping the path back to safety open for them. Terry wipes away his tears and regains his composure while the other two complete the search. Satisfied that the Parosanan artillery and air elements will no longer receive updated firing solutions, the three soldiers quickly descend the steps down, taking two at a time. All three teams in 2nd Section rendezvous on the first floor, but from the clear rumble of automatic cannon rounds exploding outside, they hesitate to leave.
"What's the situation?" Karbovic shouts to a paratrooper near the restaurant's entrance.
"What? Oh, wait one," the soldier responds, before turning to the paratrooper platoon's XO. "Hey, these guys are requesting a sitrep."
"Oh, it's you guys. Well, right now the fucking Paros are primarily sending tracked IFVs from the north. They should be taken out soon, though. 3rd Platoon is holding the street to the south without major problems, but they're probably low on ammo over there."
"Where's Reaf?"
"Your marksman? I believe he's across the street right now."
Karbovic goes to the front of the shop, and first checks the opposite side of the street for Reaf, to no avail. He decides to come back to that later, and peeks around the corner of the wall instead, towards the north. The paratroopers are scattered on either side of the street, most of them lying flat on the ground to maximize cover and avoid incoming rounds. Only about sixty or seventy meters away are two IFVs firing their secondary 7.7mm machine gun on the Corysians. They are supported by about a squad of infantry. The wolf takes note that the majority of the paratroopers still have a disposable rocket launcher. Just as he formulates a plan, the paratroopers take advantage of a lull in the incoming fire to launch their own plan. In fact, Reaf also reveals himself at the same time, sending accurate firepower downrange. At the same time, the Corysian paratroopers rise to their knees and lay down suppressive fire. A few of them are shouldering MURLD anti-armor rocket launchers, which they quickly fire. The rockets cut through the air, hitting the Paro armored fighting vehicles a split second later. The XO soon arrives at the shop's entrance.
"We're moving out, everyone's leaving now! Let's move!"
Having brought nothing with them except the gear they carried on their backs, all the soldiers simply stand, and sprint south, the way they came from. With no more cannon rounds or automatic fire shooting at them, the furs run as fast as they can away from the fighting. They quickly reach the street they crossed earlier, with Bravo 3 easily visible on the other side. The first few make it across, as Terry steps into the open.
"Manta, get the fuck down!" someone in 3rd Platoon shouts.
But the warning comes a bit too late, and the paratroopers in the center of the street are ripped apart by 7.7mm rounds. Terry drops to the ground immediately. Behind him, Faine stops just behind the corner of a building. The wolf takes out his MURLD, and hastily prepares it for firing. After just a few seconds, he emerges from cover, identifies the target, and lines up the weapon sights with the IFV. He fires the rocket launcher, and drops the smoking tube before slipping back behind cover. Faine keeps his muzzle barely around the corner, allowing him to witness the high explosive anti-tank rocket's effect on the target. The result is a dazzling pyrotechnics display as the IFV is engulfed in flames and sparks.
"Path is clear, let's go!" Faine shouts, remembering the current situation.
Terry tries to stand, his body exhausted from the entire day. He struggles to push himself barely two feet off the ground. Faine almost runs past, but notices the smaller silver fox. The wolf stops, reaches a free forepaw down, and hauls Terry upright.
"On your hindpaws, let's go!"
With light small arms fire chasing after them, the paratroopers and regulars sprint across the street without further difficulty. Terry pants, tongue lolling out the side of his muzzle as he runs, or staggered to be precise, to keep up with everyone else. The mixed soldiers fall back along the street they came from just minutes ago back towards the warehouses, and along with it, the endless fighting against the Parosanans.