08-08-2016, 04:31 PM
When enough people were moving, the pounding of boots didn't sounds like boots anymore. It was more a steady thunderstorm. Perhaps a train. Victoria kept up close behind the first company, who had split into squads to take the village from the southern entrance to the valley, and the low, eastern side. Victoria was confident no one who they didn't want to get away could. The western side was an almost sheer cliff face, and while the northern entrance seemed free, that was purposefully deceptive. Henderson's scouts were up there, dug in. Between the couple of light machine guns, any insurgents who wished to fight another day would see themselves swept down in a hail of crossfire.
The colonel hung off the side of one of their few vehicular supports. Victoria had left any request for a tank, anything armoured behind. Would've just got in the way. Just a pair of trucks, heavy rail guns mounted on the back. Her grey eyes scanned the buildings fiercely, taking a closer look with the land Warrior built into her visor every now and then. Her ear piece was full of chatter from the various officers taking their men across the bumps, down the hills to surround the buildings. She saw the flicker of movement in the buildings, and the skirmish began with the rattle of small arms fire.
The older guns used by the insurgency rattled out from murder holes and windows, the battle cries rising. She couldn't understand them, at at first, Victoria thought that was due to the noise of the battle. It took a moment for her to realise they were screaming in Arabic, the old language of the region. She'd very rarely heard it, but it made sense; what better way to fight off the shackles than reject everything. To her chagrin, a few figures from the advancing groups slumped to the floors, to cries for medics. The Third advanced well, however; one squad laying covering fire, while another ran to advance to something that would offer suitable cover, and it would repeat, the company slowly leapfrogging to the buildings. The soft patter of rail guns started to fight against the harsher barks.
The rail guns started to win out against the assault rifles, and with a start, Victoria realised that a group was fleeing from the village, heading north. A good portion of the defenders had leaped away, and from what she was hearing, were being shot at by those still in the village.
Her voice crashed over the radio, silencing the confused voices coming from it. "Cover those fleeing! Damnit, now! I want snipers targeting those trying to gun them down, now! Henderson, ensure your scouts let them pass. They'll be lopping around to the town we were at last week." A barked series of affirmatives greeted her, and her visor lit up with the view of those few in the ranks with the longer, scoped guns lining up the shots on the north wall. Eventually, the gravelly Henderson's voice joined in, confirming he'd sent the order to let them pass. She sagged in relief at that, a victorious smile crossing her thin lips. Knowing Henderson, she'd almost expected the order to come late. After the machine guns had lined up. That... no, that was unfair. Henderson never disobeyed her. Wouldn't. She'd earned their trust, and she needed theirs now.
It was odd that she was so much more expressive during battle than normal. Perhaps it was that now, she was alone, no one carefully analysing her reactions like that. Formality did rather seem to break down when death was whizzing around your head.
"Fourth Squad has breached the east side! We have a breach point, I repeat, we have a breach point!"
The victorious scream brought her back to the battle, and her own smile faded. It was good news, of course, but now she really did need to concentrate. The vehicle she was on drew to a halt, and Victoria leapt off, running forward, her side arm in hand, as always. With it, she could let her power grow.
As she let more power into her, Victoria's eyes were drawn to another of the squads in front of her, storming to one of the outlying buildings. With a start of horror, she was an insurgent rise from the roof of the thing, RPG in hand, aimed directly at him. She didn't think. Rarely needed to with her power, and her left hand instinctively shot up, and a yellow lines drew from her hand. As the rocket left the launcher, the air it encountered seemed to solidify, the rocker careening off its intended course to strike the ground to the side of them leaving the only thing hurt the squad's pride as they were scattered with dirt. A soft pop, and the man holding the now empty launcher disappeared with a quick spray of red. He'd been too busy staring at the sudden misdirection to realise he was still in danger.
Victoria would say it didn't take long to take the buildings. You could never be sure, though. Time almost lost meaning. Her Land Warrior recorded it for her, however. Those things made after battle reports so much easier. By the time Victoria jogged into the square, it was over. The first going through building by building, securing everywhere, ensuring there were no surprises. The cave entrance was a short distance away, and Victoria gestured at one squad who had just jogged into the square with her.
"You! Cover that damned hole. You see any movement that doesn't have its hands up, light it up. Move it!"
Her head swung around, eyes settling on just the person she needed. Victoria's voice carried well, naturally suited for barking out orders over a battlefield, and the squad instantly moved behind cover, barrels aimed at the darkness. "Edwards! Report!"
Captain Edwards, painting heavily, slammed into a salute, rigid in front of her superior officer. "Ma'am! Minimal casualties! Squad seven was severely injured by an IED but that was the worst hit; others only suffered individual casualties, medics are out. None apart from the ones you approved escaped; we're taking injured and surrendered back to the trucks for custody."
Victoria gave a short nod to the Captain, putting her face of frank professionalism on again. "Very good Captain. You and your company did excellently. Tell the men they have my thanks. Henderson! Bring up your company. We've breaching in ten." Henderson, having just joined them, snapped out an affirmative, before letting off his roaring voice, summoning his company to him. A few were armed differently to the ones who had taken the town; close range weapons, combat shotguns, bayonets, side arms, were on a much more prominent display.
Henderson came up beside her, cocking the assault shotgun in his hands, and working a sardonic grin, twisted with a particularly heavy scar. "Well ma'am, lets go burn these damned rats out."
Victoria just frowned at his tone, and raised her sidearm, letting the power still in her hold the beginnings of fatigue away.
"Company! Prepare for close quarter engagement. Prep for little visibility."
The infrared on her land warrior flickered to life. No need for torches that would reveal positions here, as the lasers detectable by their visors flickered to life too. It would be short, fast, and brutal. As it always was.
And Victoria hoped to whatever gods there were it was successful too.
The colonel hung off the side of one of their few vehicular supports. Victoria had left any request for a tank, anything armoured behind. Would've just got in the way. Just a pair of trucks, heavy rail guns mounted on the back. Her grey eyes scanned the buildings fiercely, taking a closer look with the land Warrior built into her visor every now and then. Her ear piece was full of chatter from the various officers taking their men across the bumps, down the hills to surround the buildings. She saw the flicker of movement in the buildings, and the skirmish began with the rattle of small arms fire.
The older guns used by the insurgency rattled out from murder holes and windows, the battle cries rising. She couldn't understand them, at at first, Victoria thought that was due to the noise of the battle. It took a moment for her to realise they were screaming in Arabic, the old language of the region. She'd very rarely heard it, but it made sense; what better way to fight off the shackles than reject everything. To her chagrin, a few figures from the advancing groups slumped to the floors, to cries for medics. The Third advanced well, however; one squad laying covering fire, while another ran to advance to something that would offer suitable cover, and it would repeat, the company slowly leapfrogging to the buildings. The soft patter of rail guns started to fight against the harsher barks.
The rail guns started to win out against the assault rifles, and with a start, Victoria realised that a group was fleeing from the village, heading north. A good portion of the defenders had leaped away, and from what she was hearing, were being shot at by those still in the village.
Her voice crashed over the radio, silencing the confused voices coming from it. "Cover those fleeing! Damnit, now! I want snipers targeting those trying to gun them down, now! Henderson, ensure your scouts let them pass. They'll be lopping around to the town we were at last week." A barked series of affirmatives greeted her, and her visor lit up with the view of those few in the ranks with the longer, scoped guns lining up the shots on the north wall. Eventually, the gravelly Henderson's voice joined in, confirming he'd sent the order to let them pass. She sagged in relief at that, a victorious smile crossing her thin lips. Knowing Henderson, she'd almost expected the order to come late. After the machine guns had lined up. That... no, that was unfair. Henderson never disobeyed her. Wouldn't. She'd earned their trust, and she needed theirs now.
It was odd that she was so much more expressive during battle than normal. Perhaps it was that now, she was alone, no one carefully analysing her reactions like that. Formality did rather seem to break down when death was whizzing around your head.
"Fourth Squad has breached the east side! We have a breach point, I repeat, we have a breach point!"
The victorious scream brought her back to the battle, and her own smile faded. It was good news, of course, but now she really did need to concentrate. The vehicle she was on drew to a halt, and Victoria leapt off, running forward, her side arm in hand, as always. With it, she could let her power grow.
As she let more power into her, Victoria's eyes were drawn to another of the squads in front of her, storming to one of the outlying buildings. With a start of horror, she was an insurgent rise from the roof of the thing, RPG in hand, aimed directly at him. She didn't think. Rarely needed to with her power, and her left hand instinctively shot up, and a yellow lines drew from her hand. As the rocket left the launcher, the air it encountered seemed to solidify, the rocker careening off its intended course to strike the ground to the side of them leaving the only thing hurt the squad's pride as they were scattered with dirt. A soft pop, and the man holding the now empty launcher disappeared with a quick spray of red. He'd been too busy staring at the sudden misdirection to realise he was still in danger.
Victoria would say it didn't take long to take the buildings. You could never be sure, though. Time almost lost meaning. Her Land Warrior recorded it for her, however. Those things made after battle reports so much easier. By the time Victoria jogged into the square, it was over. The first going through building by building, securing everywhere, ensuring there were no surprises. The cave entrance was a short distance away, and Victoria gestured at one squad who had just jogged into the square with her.
"You! Cover that damned hole. You see any movement that doesn't have its hands up, light it up. Move it!"
Her head swung around, eyes settling on just the person she needed. Victoria's voice carried well, naturally suited for barking out orders over a battlefield, and the squad instantly moved behind cover, barrels aimed at the darkness. "Edwards! Report!"
Captain Edwards, painting heavily, slammed into a salute, rigid in front of her superior officer. "Ma'am! Minimal casualties! Squad seven was severely injured by an IED but that was the worst hit; others only suffered individual casualties, medics are out. None apart from the ones you approved escaped; we're taking injured and surrendered back to the trucks for custody."
Victoria gave a short nod to the Captain, putting her face of frank professionalism on again. "Very good Captain. You and your company did excellently. Tell the men they have my thanks. Henderson! Bring up your company. We've breaching in ten." Henderson, having just joined them, snapped out an affirmative, before letting off his roaring voice, summoning his company to him. A few were armed differently to the ones who had taken the town; close range weapons, combat shotguns, bayonets, side arms, were on a much more prominent display.
Henderson came up beside her, cocking the assault shotgun in his hands, and working a sardonic grin, twisted with a particularly heavy scar. "Well ma'am, lets go burn these damned rats out."
Victoria just frowned at his tone, and raised her sidearm, letting the power still in her hold the beginnings of fatigue away.
"Company! Prepare for close quarter engagement. Prep for little visibility."
The infrared on her land warrior flickered to life. No need for torches that would reveal positions here, as the lasers detectable by their visors flickered to life too. It would be short, fast, and brutal. As it always was.
And Victoria hoped to whatever gods there were it was successful too.