Sacred Sword was the most numerous of the companies, and would provide the backbone of the attack. David's troops were stalwarts, dependable, unflappable, steady and disciplined. They could hold a line or storm an enemy position with equal skill.
Crimson Eagle didn't have quite the reputation that Sacred Sword possessed, but they were still a very formidable force. Their strength was on the attack, where they fought in a furious but controlled fashion.
Band of Brothers had nothing to truly distinguish themselves, but that was their strength. They could attack, defend, fight at range or up close, and they could be relied to do any of those well. Elite units might get all the attention, but they were nothing without the backing of the main line units.
And then there were the ranger units, Black Wolf and Redd Foxx. By now they were considered to be one of the elite units of the Hydra Alliance, on equal footing with the armored company. The might not have the staying power of the main infantry, but they were skilled fighters, savvy, smart and fierce. It was their job to storm the beach, and they would certainly do it well. The enemy would never know what hit them.
Black Wolf Company was going to be the first Hydra unit to step foot in the city, and he would be going with them, helping to command and coordinate.
His alert buzzed. Bryce was on the other end of the line, addressing all the company commanders.
“Everyone, this is Buck Lead. We're going to start the bombardment in five minutes. All company commanders, please respond so I know that your communication systems are working properly.”
The radio started to come alive with responses.
“Sword Lead,” David responded.
“Bear Lead.”
“Angel Lead.”
“Fist Lead.”
“Hawk Lead.”
“Raider Lead.”
“Eagle Lead.”
“Band Lead.”
“Griffon Lead.”
“Raven Lead.”
“Porter Lead,” he heard Paige say. She and her workers had been formed into a temporary unit known as Porter Company for their reference.
“Fox Lead.”
It was his turn. “Wolf Lead,” he said.
Bryce responded. “Alright, I hear you all loud and clear. Fox Lead, Wolf Lead, get your troops assembled and embarked on your transports. Head for the middle of the reservoir. Head for Red Beach once the bombardment lifts. I'll signal you when that happens.”
“What's the signal?” Anna asked.
“The signal is 'Rangers lead the way', OK?”
“That's a bit long,” Zach commented.
“I though it was appropriate.”
“I'll signal once we make our final run toward the beach,” Zach said. “Code will be Alpha Green.”
“Copy that Wolf Lead.”
Zach headed down toward the shore.
“Coming along with us?” Javy asked. Bravo 2 was making their way into their transport.
“Yup,” Nora said as she stepped in with them.
They had decided to divide up their leadership so that they wouldn't lose all their officers if one boat sank. Zach would be going in during the first wave with Selene's platoon, riding with Alpha 1. Selene would ride with Alpha 2, and Danny would ride with Bravo 1.
It was the first time that Black Wolf would be fighting together in a long time, and Nora was grateful for that. She had liked working with Anna, but there was nothing like the familiarity that her own company brought.
Nora's role in all this was as a liaison. Command on the ground would be divided up into several levels. At the bottom was the squad level, where the sergeants would direct their squads. The next level was the platoon, where the lieutenants would control the movement of their squad leaders in accordance with the situation. Then there was the company level, where the captain would direct the actions of the entire company and coordinate them with other units. Finally, there was the army level, where the officer in charge of the operation would control the flow of the entire battle.
Nora touched the rank pins on her shoulder. That was another thing that Hydra Command had decided upon. Officers would have proper ranks so that there would be a clear chain of command. Some commanders would be given a field promotion for the duration of an operation.
Bryce, for instance, had the rank of colonel for this operation since he was in overall command, though his normal rank was a captain. Anna was a major, since she was the commander of the ranger company. Gina was a major as well. Zach retained his rank as a captain, and Selene and Danny were both lieutenants.
She was a lieutenant as well, but her role wasn't as a commander. Nora would coordinate Black Wolf's movements with the other companies. That would give Zach the opportunity to exercise tactical command without being distracted. She would also take field command if he was killed or disabled, though she really hoped that didn't happen. She had never even been a squad leader, and there were better choices for it. Danny, Selene, Xavier, Karen, Gavin, Javy, all of them had experience commanding forces in battle. But they would be on the front lines fighting, and Zach had insisted.
Beside her Javy activated his radio. “Bravo 2 is loaded.”
Nora looked across the reservoir as they pushed off from shore. It was time to go.
“Coming with us?” Selene asked as Miko walked up.
“Yeah, Zach told me to attach myself to a crew for the trip across. This just seems right.”
“Well, it's good to have you along again,” Selene said. The rest of Ethan's squad was filing aboard their transport. “What are you going to be doing?”
“Support,” Miko told her. “Ranging ahead, scouting. Taking out important targets if I see them. That sort of thing.”
“I'm glad you're along for the ride,” Selene said. It had been far too long.
She saw Miko smile. “Yeah, I am too.”
Danny had seen bombardments before. Bravehart and Griffon had always put on a show. The one they had performed at Fort Odin had been the most impressive he had seen. But this was in another league entirely.
Red Beach was covered in smoke and flame. He could hear the thunder of artillery behind him, the abrupt bangs of the mortars firing and the larger blasts of the field guns. There was noise coming from in front, booms, bangs as the entire scene in front of him exploded. It looked like there was no way anything was going to survive the bombardment. He knew better, though.
No matter how impressive it looked, some of the enemy would find a way to survive. They were going to run into resistance on the beach, and they would have to crush it. Not that he was ungrateful for the fire support, however. Every enemy that Bravehart and Griffon killed was one more they wouldn't have to deal with.
And they weren't even going to take the worst of it. Alpha Platoon was going in first. Danny silently wished them luck.
“Rangers lead the way.”
Zach looked out over the water toward Red Beach. Shells were still falling, but the bombardment would end in around thirty seconds. It would take them about a minute to get across the rest of the reservoir.
“Acknowledged, Buck Lead,” he responded. “Code is Alpha Green.”
His craft took off at full speed for the beach, flanked by two others. Zach made one last check of his carbine and took a deep breath. So it would begin.
Nora watched from her boat as the three craft in front made their way to the beach. The distance was disappearing fast. Only a few more seconds and they would land.
“Nervous?” Javy asked.
“I'm just hoping we don't screw this up,” Nora said. “If we win, I don't care what else happens. All of us can get killed as long as we take the district.”
Javy laughed. “That's one advantage to this being a game.”
That was right, Nora thought as she looked back toward the beach. This was a game. And the game was about to get thrilling.
“GO! GO!”
Alpha 2 leaped over the side of their craft into waist deep water. As soon as they were
clear the boat's gunners opened fire on the buildings along the shore, aiming for loopholes, windows, anywhere an enemy might use to fire at them. There was no return fire. The bombardment must have done its job.
Regardless, Alpha 2 pushed onto the beach as fast as their legs could carry them, urged on by Ethan and Selene. The defenses along the shore might be gone, but reinforcements would be on their way. They needed to establish a strong position before that happened.
Bullets suddenly came at them, fired from the second story of a partially destroyed house. Alpha 2 didn't even stop to fire back. It took discipline to keep pushing ahead while being shot at, but this wasn't the place for them to start a firefight. They were too exposed out here with no cover. It was better to move fast, move aggressively and storm the enemy position. They would tangle with the enemy once they had a better spot. Plus, they weren't completely helpless out here.
The enemy fire died out as their transport sent a recoilless rifle round through the window. The enemy gunner didn't reappear.
Selene saw Alpha 1 and Alpha 3 landing further down the beach. Logan's squad had landed along a section with jagged rocks. They took cover behind them and started firing. Apparently there was heavier resistance down that way. No matter. They had to do their own job first.
“OK Bravos, let's move!”
Danny could see the assault unfolding in front of him. Alpha 2 was pushing up the beach with no problem. So was Alpha 1. Alpha 3 looked like it was pinned down in a firefight. Thankfully they had cover, but they were still in a tight spot. That was right where Karen was going to land too.
“Bravo 3, Bravo 3, come in,” Danny said, thinking quickly.
“I hear you, Bravo Wolf,” Karen answered.
“Change of plans. Land along my section of beach, then move up and launch a flank attack on the troops that have Alpha 3 pinned down. No sense in putting yourself through the grinder.”
“Understood, Bravo Wolf.”
He tapped his pilot on the shoulder. “Shift over to the left once you drop us off. Give those guys there some fire support,” he said.
The pilot gave a thumbs up in acknowledgment, then relayed the order to the rest of his crew.
Danny looked back over his shoulder at the rest of the boats. He could see the Redd Foxx craft trailing behind them, waiting for their turn to unload their troops. Further back in the distance he could see the large transports carrying Marauder and Sacred Sword, waiting for a clear beachhead.
Well, it was their job to take it. Selene looked like she had the situation well in hand except for the left flank, but she still could use help. There was no sense in being too stingy with their forces.
Danny switched channels and contracted Nora. “Wolf 2, this is Bravo Wolf. Once we get ashore, relay this message to Alpha Wolf. Bravo Platoon will take the right flank once we push off the beach. They should take the left flank.”
“Copy, Bravo Wolf. I'll let her know,” Nora responded.
Beside him, Xavier gripped his assault rifle. “Looks like fun times out there.”
Danny looked down at his machine gun and grinned. “Only the best for us.”
Zach felt the kick of his launcher as he lobbed a grenade through the window in front of him. The enemy had a machine gun mounted here, positioned so it could threatened most of the beach. Cover fire from their transports had forced the gunners to duck, but they still had managed to wound one of Gavin's troops. He and Zach had grabbed the wounded soldier and dragged her into cover. Joon was patching her up.
I don't even remember her name, Zach thought to himself, but now wasn't the time to think about that. They had to get off the beach quickly.
Boom.
The grenade went off. As soon as they heard the noise Alpha 1 was on their feet, charging hard. They stormed into the building, throwing grenades in the doorway to cover their entry.
Zach stood up and ejected the spent grenade cartridge. He looked over at Joon and the soldier who was now back on her feet. Mira, that's what her name was.
He motioned forward. “Let's go.”
It had been a colossally stupid idea, and yet it had been so much fun.
Alpha 2 had run into resistance. An enemy squad had holed up in a single story house along the shoreline. Their transport had fired its recoilless rifle at it, but the weapon had done little to suppress them.
Alpha 2 was in cover, but it would only protect them for so long, and they need to get off the beach fast. Selene and Miko had made a completely impulsive decision. Covered by the rest of Alpha 2, Selene had fixed her bayonet and had charged into the building with Miko in tow.
The charge had apparently caught the enemy off guard. Selene was able to kill three of the enemy before they could even think about responding. Another had managed to get his pistol halfway out before he took a blade between the ribs. Miko shot two coming from another room, and then Selene had gone straight for the enemy sergeant.
He had been alert and far more skilled at close combat than his subordinates. Selene had been surprised when he drew a machete and started swinging. She came close to dying a couple of times, had to use every ounce of skill that she possessed, but she had been hardened by her training in the battledomes. Dodging, blocking, twisting, striking, she had stayed alive and had finally found an opening. The sergeant had taken a bayonet to the chest, followed by three bullets.
The last soldier had attacked he as she was finishing off the enemy sergeant, but Miko was covering her back well. A stab of the knife and a few shots later they had cleared the house out.
“We're safe. Move up,” Selene ordered.
“Roger,” Ethan confirmed.
“Well, that's my excitement quota for today,” Miko said. She took her sniper rifle off of her back and pulled her hood over her head. “I'm going to go see if I can give Logan's squad some help.”
“Keep in touch,” Selene said. That was a useful suggestion for herself as well. “Wolf Lead, we've pushed off of the beach. What are your orders?”
“Alpha Wolf, head to the main line and hold there. We'll back you up soon,” Zach ordered. Black Wolf was going to dig in on the beach side of a wide boulevard, and he wanted to make sure they got into place as soon as possible.
Danny's platoon was pushing up the beach. Karen was starting to make a flank attack, relieving the pressure on Logan's squad. Once they were all clear they would organize themselves properly and push on to their objective points.
Zach turned around to see Bravo 2 moving up the beach with Nora in tow. He waved them forward.
“Push forward!” Danny ordered his troops, though they needed little encouragement. Xavier's squad moved up the beachhead with no opposition. Selene's platoon had done a good job clearing out the resistance that had managed to survive the bombardment. Javy's squad had already moved off the beach and was pushing toward their planned defensive line. To his left Karen was launching a fierce flanking attack on the enemy pinning down Logan's squad.
Danny watched Bravo 3 go to work. He saw Karen put a hand up to her ear as she activated her radio. A few seconds later a half dozen machine guns opened fire on the building that was giving resistance, courtesy of their naval support. Her squad took advantage of the confusion to close the distance. They stormed inside, and suddenly Alpha 3 wasn't pinned down anymore.
Danny turned forward and followed the tail end of Xavier's squad. He had done enough observing for now. They still had a long battle to fight.
“You say you're secure?” Zach asked.
“Karen's squad just got Logan's squad out of their predicament. I'm going to assemble my platoon on the left flank of the defensive area,” Selene said.
“Make sure that Danny knows,” Zach said.
“He already does. He's the one that suggested we do it this way, actually.”
Zach nodded with satisfaction. “OK, we'll join you soon.” He looked over at Nora. “We secured the beach faster than I thought. Signal over to the transports that they can come in as soon
as possible.”
“Got it,” Nora said. “Redd Foxx is making their landing right now. Any instructions for them?”
“Other than the normal orders? No, we're fine,” Zach said. “We're well ahead of schedule.”
This was good. Very good, in fact. Zach didn't know whether the defenses were thinner than they had originally thought, or if the bombardment had wiped them out, but they had been expecting much tougher resistance and had planned accordingly. Now, with their troops in place ahead of schedule they could do even more to gain the initiative and swing the battle further in their favor.
He had been worried they would get caught on the beaches and forced to fight off the inevitable reinforcements from weak positions. Since they had managed to get into their desired line, which was very strong, they would probably be able to hold off the enemy indefinitely. That would give Marauder plenty of time to take the gate, and the line would be further reinforced by Crimson Eagle, Band of Brothers and Sacred Sword. Once they had the gate under control and the armored company was in the city they could push forward in one massive fist, crushing any resistance that got it their way.
They were clearly winning right now, but Zach cautioned himself against being too satisfied. They had been winning during the battle to take Lerna Bastion as well. They had been crushing the enemy, in fact, but that had all changed once the boss showed up. They had gone from a triumphant victory to the verge of a devastating defeat within the span of a few minutes, and they had barely made it through. Was that going to happen here?
Howl: A World at War Novel Page 23
