Chapter 137: Beginning of the End
Eric lay on the cot holding his stomach. It had been two days since he was sent down to the triage unit in the underground bunker. He looked to his left, and a soldier missing his right leg was resting, while another soldier was on Eric’s right. The man had been hit by shrapnel in the face and could no longer see.
"You look like hell." A voice said behind him, and Eric sighed. "Have you co to cheer
up, or does Jessica not believe that I will stay and rest?"
He said as he gingerly sat up. Liam was standing there, his arms crossed. "Why would I ever want to cheer you up, future father-in-law?"
Eric growled at the man, his eyes narrowing. "Don’t push your luck yet, kid. I still have plenty of weapons back ho to teach you manners."
The two shared a laugh, and Liam’s eyes softened. "Nah, we were all worried about you. I saw Jessica carrying you down the steps. Her and Mia have been texting at least three tis a day with updates about you."
Eric groaned as he laid back down.
"I should have known that word would reach Mia fast."
Liam shook his head. "Sotis, you are the most competent man I know. Other tis? You’re like a chicken with its head cut off."
Eric shrugged. "Alright, lets cut to the chase. I know the real reason why you ca down here is to inform
that all the preparations have been made. I read the last report. ISR has confird Dresken forces less than twenty miles out."
Liam sighed.
"You need to take a break soday, old man. Most people wouldn’t work after damn near taking a tank shell."
Eric laughed and patted his chest lightly.
"I’m just built different."
Liam ignored Eric.
"To answer your question, yes. Cartharic forces are less than twenty miles out. We have requested air support, and we were inford that the Apaches were finally fixed."
Eric’s eyebrows arched. "It’s about damn ti. They’ve been sitting in a hanger for half a year now. How were they fixed?"
Liam looked to the side, not eting Eric’s eyes.
"A manufacturing facility fractured over when we left for Dresken."
"Of course it did."
The two n stared at each other while Eric scratched his chin. He ,looked at the clock. "Alright, bring
two maps and a radio."
Liam paled.
"Eric..."
"Just fucking do it. We don’t have the luxury of ti."
Michael stared out the window as Liam finished reporting.
The Captain sighed. "I guess that we have no choice but to involve him. Even if he is annoying and too prideful for his own good, we need him."
As if on cue, the radio cackled to life.
"All stations on net, this is Master Sergeant Eric Dryer. So of you may have heard that I was badly hurt. I am here now, so don’t worry about that."
There was a brief pause before all the units out in the field responded back with "Roger, or ’copy’."
Michael grabbed his radio, calling for Eric. The two were on a private channel.
"Mike." Eric started.
"Eric." Michael growled. "What the fuck do you think you’re doing?"
"What I have to do, Mike. You will take point. You will command. I am here to listen and advise. If you need help, just let
know. I have faith in you though. You have been by my side since the early days. I have faith that you can do it."
Michael sighed. "Are you sure you didn’t die and beco soone else? You’re starting to sound like a hallmark movie."
"Fuck you, punk ass Cherry."
"I’m a captain now, doofus." Michael growled.
There was no response.
Jessica sat against the hood of her truck as she looked around at her team. Felicity sat with her, the dragon trying to steady her breathing.
They had seen the feeds of ISR, and knew the enemy was approaching directly in front of them. Their team had spread out, manning the gaps in the walls. Jessica clicked the safety off of her M249, tapping her fingers against the granite that made up the walls of Dresken.
To her right, Felicity had her mana swirling around her. The plan was that when they see the approaching column of Cartharic soldiers, Felicity and the other dragons would launch a few spells, and then they would fall back to their fortified positions.
That plan changed when they saw that the few hundred soldiers they were expecting beca much more than that.
"Jess." Felicity whispered as she looked out into the plains.
"I know." Jessica responded, grabbing her weapon.
"CONTACT FRONT! Two hundred yards!"
Safeties clicked off as gunfire began to be exchanged at the Eastern wall of Dresken. Sharp cracks of gunfire whistled past Jessica as she focused down her sights at the approaching column.
"They’re trying to flank! Contact HQ!"
A large explosion echoed out from her right, but she couldn’t take her eyes off first wave of Cartharic soldiers making bounding movents up the hill.
"Shit! There are more than we expected. Fall back! Get behind the gates!"
If they tried to engage with the enemy out in the open, they would be sitting ducks.
Another explosion roared to Jessica’s right, and she took a mont to look, seeing a large portion of the hill they were on beco a crater. "They’re using the Mumats! We need air support!"
Michael heard the first explosion and turned to his left. He saw a huge plu rise into the air, and grimaced. "What??"
He grabbed the Radio and called down to Jessica’s unit. "Team Echo, report."
"Sir! They are using the Mumat on the Eastern front. Large enemy unit approaching. We are holding them-"
Another large explosion echoed throughout the valley, the building Michael was in rattled, and he looked out the window. Another chunk of the hill had been turned into a crater.
"Shit."
Eric called Michael. "Mike, you need to call in air support. ISR reports that they have artillery positions on the mountains about twelve miles to our North. We need to get rid of those before we do anything else. If we let those things keep taking shots at the city, there won’t be anything left to defend."
Michael slamd his hand on the desk. "Fucking great. Every single-"
There was another large explosion, and Michael’s eyes widened as a large portion of the Eastern wall exploded. Shrapnel and debris burst into the city, and he could hear screams of pain and panic from down below.
"MIKE! NOW!" Eric yelled into the radio.
Michael took a deep breath and collected himself. His eyes narrowed.
"Teams Alpha and Bravo, shift fire three clicks west. The enemy isn’t coming from either the North or South like previously thought. Paladins. Fire mission Echo one. Target is twelve miles north at the Hiwiet mountains. They want to take a chunk out of Dresken, let’s take a chunk of their mountains."
He walked over to another radio.
"Command, this is Chaos one. Requesting Air support at Dresken. Targets are near city walls. Enemy is danger close. I repeat, enemy is danger close."
The response ca imdiately. "Copy that Chaos one, sorties are already in the air."
Michael smiled. "Happy hunting."
Jessica fired round after round into the approaching wall of soldiers. Her eyes narrowed as she felt the tanks move towards their position. The ground shook as the massive earth tech moved in to take position.
They fired their main guns as they moved at top speed, the large thunk of their weapons causing her chest and body to rattle. From the top of the wall, she saw rounds making contact with enemy vehicles and groups of soldiers.
As she reloaded, Felicity low crawled over.
"They stole my thunder." She jokingly pouted.
Jessica shook her head.
"Is this anyti to be joking around?!"
Liam laughed from her left. "This is exactly the ti to be joking around!"
"You’re out of your m-"
Her words were drowned out by a line of explosions dropping a few hundred yards from them. Everyone on the walls took shelter, covering their ears and praying before a voice called out. "No! That’s us!"
Jessica took the chance to peak from the walls, and she gasped. What had once been an approaching enemy column was now little more than mangled steel and deep ground scouring.
She heard the jets scream overhead again, and even more rows of explosions echoed in the air. Her teeth rattled, her body shook, and her bones vibrated from the aftershocks, but she never felt more alive.
She grabbed Liam and kissed him, giddy to feel the warmth of the sun.
"I thought we weren’t going to make it." She whispered as more rows of explosions echoed out in the background.
Liam shook his head, pulling her into his arms. "That, sweetheart, is the power of the United States Air support."
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