Soldiers of Tomorrow: The Winter War

by Michael G. Thomas

  “Damn it!”

  Will aimed at a soldier and took a deep breath before firing. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he forced himself to pull the trigger, rather too vigorously. The shot went wide and bounced off the asphalt.

  “Shit!”

  He chambered another round. Over the sound of the gunfire the German troops hadn’t even noticed. He fired again. This time the shot struck the man in the neck, and he went down dead. The others finally noticed and ran for cover. Will chambered another round and looked to the officer, but he had climbed into the safety of the armoured vehicle. The others were running for it, too. He took a shot at one, but it missed by a metre. He’d never had to hit a moving target before.

  The exhaust flaps on the Grizzly snapped open as fumes belched out, and it surged forward. Those behind the barricade opened fire with rifles and shotguns, but their efforts were futile. The shots bounced from the thick armour. The Grizzly smashed into the trailer and tossed it back as if it were nothing. Two militiamen were crushed beneath its weight, but it didn’t stop there. The vehicle’s front wheels climbed up onto the trailer, and it buckled under the weight as it stormed over.

  A shot rang out beside Will. His son had fired and was reloading. He’d moved over to a corner of the rooftop for a better view.

  “What are you doing?”

  But Leonard was entirely focused on his target now, the driver of the nearest Stryker.

  “No!” Will yelled.

  Leonard pulled the trigger, and his shot went through the windshield of the unarmoured vehicle. Blood splattered over the screen as the driver was killed. The vehicle veered off, crashing into a nearby truck. Several of the troops were flung out into the road. Will stopped dead in horror for what his son had done. Leonard lowered his rifle as he surveyed the damage, but automatic gunfire rang out, and two shots hit him square on.

  “Leonard!” Will screamed as he watched his son collapse back onto the roof.

  * * *

  Ray shot up from the sofa he had been sleeping on. He could hear gunfire in the distance. Baker was at the window of the second-hand furniture store that they had made their home for the night. He must have been on lookout, and the others were rousing, too. None of them had been in deep sleep, too concerned for what may strike at any moment. Ray grabbed his rifle, and Baker had his pistol in hand.

  “They weren’t ready for this storm, were they?”

  Ray shook his head as more gunfire rang out, followed by screams of panic. They could hear the roar of a Grizzly’s engine now. It was unmistakeable. He heard a rustling at his back. Lisa was opening a large duffel bag and pulling out a Panzerfaust.

  “What the hell were you expecting to face down here?”

  “A lady that is ready for anything, I love it.” Baker smiled.

  Ray stepped out of the front door. The Grizzly pulled into the long street they now occupied. Doug’s hardware store was on the other side of the street, and he was on the roof, clutching a rifle. Other militiamen lay in wait with terrified expressions, as if praying they wouldn’t have to fight.

  “All right, Lisa, you’ll have one shot at his. Don’t fuck it up.”

  The motorised turret atop the Grizzly panned and opened fire on Doug’s store. They had spotted people on the rooftop. The light cannon shells tore through the building, as those inside hunkered down for cover, not that they had any chance against the power of the weapons. The heavy, dull echo of the cannons rang out across the street, as Ray and Lisa rushed into the cover of their Suburban parked at the side of the road.

  Baker and the others had taken up position inside the front of the furniture store, but Baker’s pistol and Roy’s shotgun seemed painfully inadequate now they knew what they faced. Hugo was nowhere to be seen. Lisa readied the weapon as they heard the truck approaching.

  “You ready for this?” Ray asked.

  She nodded. Gunfire rang out now as troops from the back of the Strykers opened fire, too. Several militia in windows of the storefronts fired back, but automatic fire rang out in response. Ray saw a number hit and heard the screams of pain over the gunfire. The Grizzly was close now. Lisa moved out to the front of the vehicle where she could get clear view of the huge six-wheeled armoured vehicle about to thunder past. Its cannons were still blazing as they smashed the buildings all around. She took a deep breath, and knowing it was finally time, took aim. The Grizzly stormed into view, and she pulled the trigger without hesitation. The shell hit the front wheel and erupted into a ball of flames.

  The front wheel and axle were blown off. The truck’s nose plummeted into the ground and burrowed into the asphalt like an anchor, bringing the vehicle to a standstill. The driver of the Stryker behind it could not react in time. He hit the brakes, but it wasn’t soon enough. The truck ploughed into the rear of the armoured vehicle, and the cab was flattened. Those in the front were killed instantly. The other vehicle came to a standstill as the troops leapt out to engage the militia. One of the doors to the Grizzly screeched as someone tore it open, and smoke poured out. Those inside were coughing and spluttering. The officer staggered out first, his head bleeding profusely.

  Ray lifted his rifle to go in, but before he could do anything, he noticed Baker rush out from beside him. He fired repeatedly with his pistol, closing the distance with the German officer. Shot after shot struck the German until he dropped. Another SS soldier came to his aid, but Roy was beside Baker in no time, and his shotgun rang out. The first shot bounced from the German’s armour, knocking him back, but the second was targeted at his thigh and took his legs out from under him. Roy rushed in and struck the German with the stock of the weapon to finish him, before taking up his rifle. Ray leapt out to their aid, but he caught a glimpse of movement to his flank at the far end of the Suburban. He turned to face his attacker, but a single shot rang out, and the man dropped dead.

  He looked around for the origin of the shot and saw Hugo on a rooftop nearby, taking aim at another. A second shot rang out, and another of the enemy dropped. Ray nodded in appreciation before rushing to the far end of the vehicle, opening fire on the Germans as they disembarked. Lisa, too, and many of the militia in nearby buildings were laying down fire. The battle became a brutal turkey shoot as they rushed into an empty store to seek cover. The gunfire soon died down. The last Stryker had been smashed, lying on one side, the cab riddled with bullet holes.

  “Don’t give them time to dig in. Let’s move!”

  Lisa passed him a hand grenade. He was genuinely impressed with how much thought she’d put into their operation, and glad of it. Supported by their friends, they rushed forward to the building. Drew out the pins on both grenades and tossed them inside, ducking back for cover. Glass and debris blew out into the street, and a second later they were rushing through. Nobody returned fire. There was one dead soldier in the room, and a trail of blood where he had clearly been wounded out in the street. An engine fired up behind the shop and they rushed outside. A panel van tore off into the distance. Lisa opened fired, but Ray didn’t bother. They turned off and were gone. He breathed a sigh of relief as he returned to the fighting. Screams rang out as several were helping the wounded. Many of the militia looked lost, as if they’d just experienced hell itself.

  Will was approaching, his son in his arms. Doug rushed to his side, but it was too late. Leonard was already dead. Will collapsed to his knees, clutching his dead son.

  “This didn’t go how they expected at all, did it?”

  “No, but we know better, Gerry. You can’t blame them.”

  “I don’t, but they need leadership right now, and they aren’t getting it from the local handyman.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “Step up, and do what you know needs to be done,” replied Lisa.

  This was the turning point for her. The moment where she got to see if he had what it took to do what Weathers did.

  “What are we supposed to do against this?” Will asked as he wept.


  Several bodies lay strewn across the street. It was clear there would be many dozens of dead and wounded, if not more. Everyone was looking to Ray now. He didn’t ever want this, but he had no choice. He leapt up onto the hood of the Suburban. Fifty people had gathered, and more were still coming to see what had happened now that the gunfire had died down.

  “When I came here you told me you weren’t here to fight. Well, I am telling you that you don’t have a choice. You live under the jackboots of the Reich, or you fight. So will you fight?”

  “How can we? We aren’t soldiers!” yelled one.

  “And you think any of us were? Professional soldiers didn’t win the freedom of this nation. It was won by ordinary Americans who put a line in the sand, and said ‘No more!’”

  Baker smiled. He didn’t mind the jab at his own nation’s history. Whatever it took, that’s what mattered.

  “If we fight, will you lead us?”

  There was desperation in Doug’s voice. He had accepted that he wasn’t up to the task.

  “I’ll fight with you, and I’ll lead you if that’s what you want. But if we do, we are going to stand as one. I don’t care what city or what country you are from. If you fight with us, we fight as one, so will you fight?”

  A roar of support rang out, and he knew his job was finally done.

  * * *

  Ray breathed deep and slow as he watched the enemy ahead, a ten-man patrol on foot. He was hidden in thick undergrowth, not moving or making a sound. He could just make out Doug in a similar position on the far side of the valley. Not a word was spoken; it didn’t need to be. Everyone knew what they needed to do. Ray lifted his rifle and took aim at the sergeant leading the enemy squad. He took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. He was hit by several shots, but before anyone could react, the volley erupted into a horrific slaughter. Twenty guns had opened fire and cut down the enemy squad before they could get to any cover. It was over in a matter of seconds. Ray stepped out from cover to find one man still alive, but just barely. They had all been riddled with bullets. He picked up a rifle and tossed it to a militiaman.

  “You’ll never win this war. Your country is going to burn,” the wounded man spat.

  Ray’s reply was a shot that killed the man instantly.

  “This is our country, and we are taking it back. This is just the beginning.”

  The others were already pillaging the bodies for any weapons and equipment they could get.

  “Is this what we are now, the Minutemen?”

  “Damn right, Gerry, I want to rain hell on these bastards.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Downtown Manhattan, New York City

  11th February 2018

  “Sir, I have Barnes calling for you,” a young radio operator said to Woody.

  He had been nearby for hours waiting for news and leapt to his feet excitedly.

  “This is Blue Hawk speaking,” he said as he picked up the handset.

  “Iron Viper reporting in, over.”

  “What is your situation? Over.”

  “SS forces are hitting towns and cities all over. They’re trying to turn the population against us, over.”

  “In what sort of strength? Over.”

  “Plenty strength enough, and actions all across Maryland, over.”

  Woody fell silent and mulled it over. He had hoped Baltimore would be stronger than that. He wasn’t asking for facts and figures, but could tell the situation wasn’t great.

  “What are your orders? Over,” Ray asked after he had not heard back for some time.

  “Do not engage in open battle. Continue to skirmish and do what you can. That is all that can be asked of you, and R….”

  He stopped himself from saying Ray’s name, as it had been instinctive.

  “Good luck to you, over.”

  “Much appreciated, over and out.”

  * * *

  Ray put the handset down and slumped down into a nearby sofa.

  “Iron Viper?” Gerry asked. There was a funny smirk on his face, “Where on Earth did that come from?”

  “I made shit up, what did you think?”

  Gerry began to laugh, and Ray soon joined him.

  “It’s smart, though, you never know who is listening in,” added Gerry.

  They were both tired, but neither was willing to admit it. They had made a promise to the people of Baltimore, and they were going to keep it, no matter what. They heard a vehicle arrive in the street and a conversation start. It seemed to be important. They rushed out to find Lisa pushing through to reach him.

  “What is it?”

  “Doug has taken a team out to engage an enemy patrol. Will and a few others.”

  “Goddamn it!”

  “That is the plan, isn’t it?”

  “Sure, but they aren’t ready yet, Gerry.”

  “They have to be some day.”

  He rushed back into the store, threw a bag of ammo over his shoulder, and took the last Panzerfaust.

  “What are you gonna do?” Lisa asked.

  “Find Doug before he gets himself killed.”

  He leapt in to the driver’s seat of the truck. Lisa and Gerry joined him. Hugo and Roy were rushing in, too. They stopped at Gerry’s window to wait for orders, but he looked to Ray as their leader.

  “I’d say stay, but we sure could do with your help.”

  Gerry nodded for them to join them. Roy got in the back, but Hugo went in through the trunk. The rear window was broken anyway, and they certainly appreciated having someone to watch their rear.

  “What do we do?” asked one of the militiamen.

  Ray had no idea what his name was.

  “Do what you were trained to do, and what you were told to do. Stay put and look after things till we get back.”

  The engine roared, and they were off. It was running rough with maybe a cylinder or two defective. The exhaust was also noisy, as if the pipe was riddled with holes, but it was still moving, which was all that mattered. They tore off into the distance with Lisa as their guide. It wasn’t long before they saw movement between some trees. An SS Stryker tore along a muddy trail, and two trucks flew past in pursuit. Muzzle flashes lit up the scene from the lead truck and the enemy vehicle as they traded shots.

  “Jesus Christ, what an asshole.” Ray said, as he gave the area a rapid appraisal.

  He put his foot down without another word, heading to close off their enemy. They could just make out the vehicles through the trees, and there was an opening up head where they would come into full view.

  “Tell me you aren’t gonna do what I think you’re going do?” Lisa asked.

  “Hold onto your asses. This is gonna hurt.”

  Automatic gunfire rang out from two SS soldiers stationed on the back of a truck, firing a hurricane of bullets at the militia truck behind them. The truck came into full view, and Ray turned so that they hit the front at an angle, and not head on. The Stryker was blown off course and ploughed into a line of trees. The front of the vehicle caved, and the whole thing rolled several times, crashing to a halt. Ray’s truck had stalled, but they were still in one piece. He tried to open the door, but it was sealed shut. The window had been blown out, so he climbed out and rushed to the wreckage with his rifle. Several shots rang out. Doug and Will were already finishing off the survivors.

  “Thanks,” said Doug.

  “What the hell do you think you are playing at? This isn’t a game!” Ray yelled.

  “We said we’d fight, and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

  “You don’t know how to fight. That much is certainly clear.”

  “What, you think you are some military tactician now? You are no different to us, you New Yorkers, always the same.”

  “He is different. He’s been doing this his whole life. You’re a schoolboy compared to him,” Gerry said angrily.

  * * *

  Downtown Manhattan, New York City

  Woody was walking casually down a quiet and peacefu
l street, his rifle slung on his shoulder. He would never be foolish enough to go anywhere without it. Two of his entourage were following close by, including Mickey. He and many of the others clung to him like glue ever since he had taken over from Weathers. He never felt particularly comfortable about it, although he accepted it as a part of his life. He preferred working in the shadows, but more was needed from him now.

  “How’d you think Ray is getting on?” Mickey asked.

  Woody smiled. The young man had disliked Ray immensely from the moment they’d met, and what a turn around a few months had made.

  “He’ll do just fine.”

  “We should send others to help him, shouldn’t we?”

  “Not now, he needs to muster what help he can down there, just like we are doing here.”

  “I wish my father could have lived to see us win this war, if we ever do.”

  “We will, and he got to live more freely than most have in decades. He tasted the freedom that so many didn’t, even if it was for no more than a few weeks. Even more important, he understood where we were going. He foresaw a bright future for you, and for all of us.”

  “It’s not going to happen anytime soon, though, is it?”

  “The Reich won’t give up any ground without a fight. We’ve got a long road ahead of us, but we are heading in the right direction. That is what matters.”

  Mickey nodded in appreciation. It truly felt to them all that they had never had it so good. In the city was an atmosphere of positivity and camaraderie that had long been forgotten. But just when things seemed to be going so well, a siren rang out. An old air raid warning, and it sounded from the coastline. Woody felt his heart nearly stop at what that could mean.

  “Come on!”

  He unslung his rifle and rushed towards the waterfront at Battery Park. Cries of panic rang out. When they reached the shoreline, they could see why, and none of them could find any words to describe it. Reich warships were entering the bay. The lead vessel opened fire with a salvo from its main guns. The thunderous shells were so loud when firing they could be heard across the city. One shell struck the centre of the park and another an office tower behind, blowing a floor out.