Avatia, Kingdom of Azuria.

  June 17th, 1427.

  The Marine engineers had worked overtime to hastily erect new concertainer walls, filling them with dirt as well as constructing vehicle maintenance areas, pumping fuel bladders, clearing the dirt for landing pads and fortifying defensive positions. Electrical lights lit up the area, providing bright industrial lighting to the previously pitch black fields which laid beyond the flimsy wooden walls that the Azurian defenders relied on. Heavy lift sorties from CH-48 quadrotors throughout the night brought much needed supplies to the brigade, expediting the construction of the FOB as well as delivering additional fuel and supplies.

  Technicians of the 5th Marine inspect the two dozen choppers in the Regiment, making sure that the helicopters are ready for combat as their twin turbine engines roared to life, their ducted rotors spun up, creating strong gusts of wind which blew some abandoned market stalls nearby. Handlers move ammunition and fuel around, loading them into the vehicles in preparation for the offensive.

  Colonel Stanford gathered all the commanding officers and Azurians officers around the command vehicle, pointing towards a large map projection on the flat ballistic aluminium hull of his Canyuza command vehicle. To his surprise, the Azurians who came from the capital city showed little interest in the projector, hinting that they are somewhat used to the concept and may even have something similar. Pushing aside that, he refocuses back on the battle map projection.

  “Our priority objective is to push back the attackers and force them into capitulation.” He pointed towards the junction on the projection. “The enemy has fortified themselves inside this settlement here, artillery and airstrikes are off limits within a two kilometers radius to the settlement itself to minimize civilian collateral. However,” He switched to the next slide. “There are several outposts around the large town, serving as eyes and ears; they're early warning posts for the main force to respond to any of our incursions into their defense zone. Your first objective is to neutralize these two outposts, which we have assigned to both Able and Baker companies.

  Switching to the next slide, he continues. “New information from recon flights by the Navy suggests that the estimated enemy strength has increased by fifteen percent compared to yesterday, going up to around forty thousand hostiles. The reason why, you jarheads already know how.” He stood in silence, letting the fact sink into the officers under him. They looked around, all gave out understanding nods to each other before refocusing back on the Colonel, determination filled their eyes as Stanford continued with the briefing.

  “That’s why this counteroffensive must be carried out with maximum force, the Azurians as well as the brass has given us permission to execute any goblins on sight. Human rights do not apply to these animals, despite their humanoid appearance. Understand that they are an invasive species and their eradication is official policy approved by the Federal Parliament and the President himself.”

  An officer raised his hand up. “General, what are we going to do about the civvies?”

  “Standard procedure. We’re just here to clean up the mess and the Army gets to look good on cameras with humanitarian deployments.”

  Sounds of disgruntled Marines rose from the officers and several others, sounds he was too used to hearing. The Army gets to look good, while the Marines get the dirty work done, it’s almost always how it's been overseas. Not like any Marines would complain though, the pay is much better in the Corps than in the Army due to the volunteer nature of the Marine Corps, along with the increased benefits and freedom.

  Stanford smiles lightly. “On the good side, this brigade is gonna be stationed in Azuria for the foreseeable future.”

  What he just said made the officers and grunts turn their heads, focusing on him. “You’re all gonna get a one month off-base pass in Azuria. Whoever raised the brigade’s banner above Lasselanta first gets a case of beer from me.”

  “AYEE!!! Let’s go boys! Woo!!! I’m getting that flag up first!” Cheers erupted among the ranks, with Marines clapping their hands at the prospect. Alcohol is pretty much forbidden in the Elysian Army except on holidays, but not in the Marines in order to improve morale and recruitment.

  Stanford switches to the next slide. “After the recapture of the settlement, it is open country for half a day to their command center in Arvandor, where their leadership is supposedly located. We’ll conduct a joint attack on Lassesanta, clearing the city room by room. Azurians will be providing support with their numbers, picking off the stranglers and filling security. For the initial assault, we’ll be going all in. Once the artillery did their work, we’ll be assaulting mounted through the open plain, dismounting would only slow us down. The Azurians will mop up whichever sons of bitches are left after the push.” He explained with rigidity, making sure that the men understood their objectives. “This briefing is now concluded. We roll out in an hour, return to your company.”

  Major Eli stepped in. “Chow’s ready. Fill yourself up.”

  – –

  Sergeant Boris grabs his R-25 rifle, checking its chamber and his pouches for any missing equipment or ammunition. Putting his helmet on, he taps on it with a spare magazine, just to make sure the ammo will feed properly. Comms, check. P-16 pistol, check. Four FR-57 fragmentation grenades, check. Individual first aid kit, check. Water, check. Flak jacket, tight and secured. Helmet, got it. Clear.

  “Alright. Let’s do this.” He mumbles to himself. Putting his hand into the pocket to grab his wallet, trying to find his tags. He opens the wallet, finding a worn-down photo of the old boys in this company. The photo was only from six years ago, but all of the hundred men present within the photo had already either died or been discharged, except one. He flips to the small photo’s backside, reading the familiar line of text of what used to be.

  Socialist Republic of Yunna. First deployment.

  January 1st, 1981. Happy New Year, fuckin’ jarheads!

  Able Company, 1st Brigade, 5th Marines.

  “Headin’ out to battle tomorrow, the Reds ain’t givin’ up.” - Cpt. Raleigh Brandon.

  “We’ll make it through this, after which I’ll probably go home and get laid with Yonina, giving my mama a grandkid like she had always wanted.” - Cpl. Tarya Verasikov.

  “How come we can’t ever invade a cool country, like with nude chicks on the beach instead of pillboxes and spider holes? If they have ‘em, this place wouldn’t be more fucked up than, say, Yarik.” - Cpl. Eric Sommel.

  “Will somebody please glue Eric’s asshole tight so he would shut up?” - Cpl. Tarya Verasikov, again…

  Boris looked at it for another short while with a light smile before putting it back into the wallet, taking his metallic name tag as he had intended. He moved over to his squad as they finished with their own kit, putting extra munitions as well as supplies and equipment into the MT25A Catalina’s rear storage boxes.

  “Aw c’mon, Richie. We ain’t got time for this, op’s starting in 3 mikes.” Corporal Lewis complained, checking the time on his watch, its numbers visible as luminescence chemicals contained inside provided barely visible lighting in the dark.

  “I need this, dude.” Richard said, rushing to put the recently taken picture of him and some hookers into his rucksack and grabbing his R-25 rifle.

  “After the op is over, you can fuck all you want. Let’s go!” Lewis grabs Richard’s flak jacket, dragging him towards their IFV as he hastily finishes up with packing his equipment.

  Turning over to Rita, Boris saw her finishing up with her own kit, putting her helmet which had a red cross on it. “Corpswoman, let’s move.”

  She grabs her R-25 and heads out to the vehicle with the rest of the squad. “Got it, Sergeant.”

  The Catalina’s engine roars to life as its rear ramp drops down, revealing a pair of figures already present inside. “What took you arseholes so long to get ready?” Joker asked half heartedly, already knowing the answer. He was sitting there with another feller, trading something with him, not giving a care in the world about his first war as a Marine.

  “Said the biggest clown in the squad.” Lewis took a seat, tucking the rifle in his arm. “What are y’all doing?”

  “Trading photos,” Joker said, showing off the collection of cards with his left hand. They were photos of all the non-human girls he took ever since they got off from the LCH-60 landing crafts, still newly taken when they were stationed in Anzuri. Some were taken normally, while others were taken in slightly suspicious positions.

  Lewis widened his eyes, his voice disgusted. “What the fuck…? We’re not even a month in Azuria and you alrea-” He snapped to attention as Boris stepped inside the IFV. “Sargeant.”

  Checking his watch and making sure his squad is all there, Boris nods. “We move out in 60 seconds. Strap up.”

  As Rita took a seat and the rear ramp closed, the vehicle commander sitting on the turret basket looked back in the troop compartment. “Looks all good, fellas.”

  He presses the intercom button. “Driver, standby.”

  The gunner turned to his commander, running through the buttons on the compact weapon control station. “25mm, check. Coaxial, check. TOLAT missiles, check. Weapons are hot, we’re clear.”

  The vehicle commander fiddles with the radio as he switches to the battalion headquarter frequency. “A Company, First Platoon ready.” He said as he waited for the confirmation code.

  A voice crackled in his tanker helmet. “All maneuver units, commencing Operation Rolling Earth. Confirmation Code: Mike, Able, Roger, Fox, Tare, How, Oboe, Roger, Easy.”

  “Code confirmed.” The commander switched to his intercom. “Let’s move out. Driver, forward!”

  The vehicles shook lightly as the diesel engine revs up, propelling the vehicle forward. The Azurian defenders outside cheered on as their reinforcement troops and the Elysian Marines headed towards their objective, ready to push back against the enemy that had attacked them.

  “So uhhh… new guy.” Lewis asked the Marine next to Joker. “Just got assigned here?”

  “Yeah. Name’s Milton. Marksman.” He offered a handshake.

  Shaking Milton’s hand, Lewis asked him several questions and after being coerced into it by Joker, he also joined in the trading of photos to pass the time while on the move.

  The vehicle kept moving on for another while as Milton, Joker and Lewis wrapped up their shady business, with them checking the outside with their periscope. Silence eventually befell the interior, save for the occasional chatter by the vehicle crew and the rumbling engine, few sounds make it into the hull besides a few loose rocks on the road. The squad checked their equipment one last time to make sure that everything was working properly.

  Boris looked out the infantry periscope, the vehicle formations outside are barely visible as the sun has yet to rise, but he knew they’re out there, preparing to unleash hell on the Yarians for their barbarity.

  The vehicles came to a halt as radio chatter filled the channels, waiting for the preparatory barrages by the howitzers back in Avatia before advancing. The Azurians on their trucks disembark, moving up and laying low on the treeline in front of the IFVs in preparation for the attack. While unfamiliar with the vehicles sitting besides them, they understood that the armored beasts would be the one pushing forward first to cut the Yarians down.

  “We’re here, ladies.” The commander announced over the intercom, dropping the rear ramp of the Catalina with a single push of a button. “Dismounts! Go! Go! Go!”

  “Let’s move!” Boris ordered as the squad sprint out from the back, grabbing the laser designator from the storage rack.

  Taking up positions, Boris took out his binoculars and turned on its night vision mode, scanning the area ahead. The binocs could barely see more than two hundred meters ahead, but that was more than enough as the torches lit by the Yarians provided ample lighting of their lookouts even from two kilometers away.

  “Richard, Joker.” He called out for the pair in charge of the machine gun and pointed towards a bomb crater. “Set up an MG there. Lewis and I will set up the laser designator.”

  Giving their thumbs up, the two of them ran towards the crater, hauling a crate of ammunition and spare barrels from the IFV. “We got it, Sarge.” Richard answers through the radio.

  After turning the laser designator on, Lewis turns to the radio on his back, connecting it to the command vehicle’s long range radio for relaying. “We’re clear for the fire mission, Sarge.” He offered the radio’s telephone to his Sergeant, who accepted it.

  Boris nods, satisfied with the quick setup. He observed the other squads doing the same, each taking up defensive positions, making sure nothing could go wrong while he himself finished checking the azimuth and range. Boris put the telephone up to his mouth and began to call for artillery. “This is Able-1-1. Fire mission, priority target…”

  – –

  Avatia, Kingdom of Azuria.

  Back in the FOB, the 5th Artillery Battalion stood by as thousands of 127mm rounds laid on their ammunition racks along with their propellant charges, ready to be fired in anger for the first time in the new world. The strange sight of the 32 self-propelled howitzers caught the Azurian’s attention, who observed the artillerymen with curiosity.

  “What are those things?” Captain Parva asked, piqued by the strange machines.

  A volunteer spearman answered. “They uhhh… called them ‘howitzers’. I don’t know what that means.”

  One of the artillerymen rushes toward Captain Parva’s and his men’s position, shouting and waving his arms at them. “It’s dangerous, stay back!”

  The Azurians complied as some returned to their post while others continued to observe from a longer distance, pondering about the strange action of the Elysians. Most of what they were doing was understandable like constructing a base, transporting supplies and making space for their steel mechanical beasts, but grouping them up together with their giant tusks pointed towards the sky? Unexplainable. The others have already left for battle already, so what were they doing here?

  “They said they’re gonna fire on the Yarians.” One of his subordinates said.

  “From here? The Yarians are an hour's horse ride away! That’s not realistic.”

  “Are steel beasts that tear up the road they travel on and iron dragons that use light arrows to destroy their enemies any more realistic to you, sir?” The spearman turned his head to Parva, making a defeated expression at his lack of understanding how these newcomers arrived.

  Parva was about to object but stopped, thinking about the statement. “I… suppose you’re right.”

  Suddenly, one of the artilleryman's voices caught his cat ear. “Commence fire!”

  The muzzle flashes lit up the night sky momentarily as dozens of howitzers fired their explosive contents into the dark-filled plains beyond, each gun only ceasing momentarily as new shells and charges were loaded into its breech.

  The Azurians defenders quickly covered their ears from the deafening blasts made by the howitzers. Those with animal ears hit the ground, burying their head into the soil as they covered their far more sensitive ears with their hands and shutting their eyes closed.

  After a minute had passed, the guns stopped firing, returning silence to the dark night once again. “Cease fire! Rounds complete!”

  “W-What are those things?!” The Azurian lieutenant asked loudly, covering his ears, panic could be felt in his voice.

  Still recovering from the deafening display of firepower unknown to him and his comrades, Captain Parva was aided by some of his men, helping him to stand up.

  One of the Elysians personnel stationed in the FOB walked up to him. “Are you ok?”

  “Yeah… I’m just… it’s a bit loud.” Parva answered, breathing heavily and holding on to his ears.

  The man pulled out something from his pocket, it was two tiny pieces of something. “Put these on your ears, they’ll help. They’re ear plugs, should help y’all somewhat with the noise.” He said as he distributed more of them to the Azurians, showing them how to use the orange-colored squishy objects.

  Captain Parva accepted the ear plugs, inspecting them for a bit. “What a peculiar device.” He thought to himself.

  His animal ears twitched again, overhearing the artilleryman's shouting. “Change target! Adjust fire, grid Easy-Sugar-Seven-Five-Niner -Three-Seven-One! Double charges! Five rounds, H.E! Airburst!”

  Realizing the Elysians are about to fire their excessively loud weapons again, Parva quickly puts on the ear plugs as the howitzers’ barrels move slightly. The dark night lit up once more with bright flashes, but the noises became more tolerable to him thanks to the plugs, now able to properly watch the artillerymen and their metallic beasts continue on as they rain shells on the unseen enemy beyond in the dark night.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  – –

  Lassesanta, Yarian Empire.

  Lieutenant General Adem breathed heavily as he woke up from the nightmares, every breath felt like a relief from the pain as he leaned his body upward, checking his injured leg, courtesy of the flying machines' bombs. His legs have largely recovered thanks to magic done by the healer, no longer weirdly bent to the wrong direction.

  “You must rest, sir Adem.” The young female healer said, sitting on his side, her robes bloodied from treating the others with their injuries and her eyes tired from staying up late into the night.

  Adem jumped up from his bed, aggressively grabbing her by the throat. “Where am I?!” He yelled at her.

  “Y-you’re a… at Las...se…san…ta!” She struggled to breathe, holding on to his arm as if begging for it to release. “Plea- please… forgi-ive. me-”

  Letting her go, Adem calms down. The tent’s curtains waved open as two guards walked into his tent and bowed in respect. “General Adem, King Yaria wants all remaining generals still alive to be present at the command building.”

  Questions ran through Adem’s head. ‘Remaining generals’? ‘Still alive’? Rethinking about what had happened to him and his army, he reasoned that the same thing had happened to others. “Very well. Inform him that I’ll be there momentarily.”

  He grabs his sword and half scorched piece of armor and heads towards the command tent. The outside sight is just as disgusting as ever, moaning sounds emanate from every house he walks past by as the goblins continued to rape the women endlessly even at night, especially at night. The stench of the dead, the rotten and blood filled his nose, causing him to cover his nose with a piece of cloth.

  “The fucking smell.” He whispered out to himself out of disgust. “Can’t they seal those houses properly?”

  Suddenly, an injured slave ran outside from one of the houses, screaming for help as he was tackled by a pair of soldiers. One of them pulled out a knife, slicing the slave’s throat before the two threw his corpse down the makeshift goblin den in the basement, adding to the future problem that this place has. At least it was food for the goblins, helping to replenish their numbers quickly. The other guards, however, were barely hiding their nervousness, discussing among themselves about what had happened in the morning.

  “You saw those things right?”

  “I heard the rumors only, the entire forward armies got wiped out by something like… uh… I think that guy said it was metallic wyverns?”

  “Shit… I don’t wanna be here. Maybe we should run… I got enough gold looted from these Elvish slaves. We can bribe our way out of here.”

  Adem let out a chuckle, amused at the sight. “Heh… the cowards under General Pandor who barely saw any fighting already wanted to call it quits, as if that’s the only option. The damn son of a bitch and his little underlings always get rear duties, never moving forward.” He continued towards the large citadel near the former market square, now filled with tall cages containing more slaves, separating between male and female to be fed to the goblins and to be used to breed more respectively. Walking up, the guards noticed him and opened the door, revealing a relatively clean and well lit room.

  Inside, the other generals are already present, arguing with each other while King Yaria watches on with disappointment and disgust at his underlings. Unlike the nasty environment outside, however, stacks of perfume candles were laid out to mask the uncomfortable smell plaguing the conquered town.

  One of the officers under General Hamire begged his superior. “The enemy is far too strong, General Hamire! My men were blown up mercilessly by those metal birds, not one of my archers managed to repay those things with an arrow! We should surrender!”

  “We cannot turn back now. Everything is already on the table for the invasion. If we surrender to the Azurians, how will the men react? A mutiny is already brewing and this is only the first day of the invasion! The men could turn their swords against us if we surrender and pillage our Empire! Some of them have already started raping the slave women together with the goblins in order to cool down, how deplorable.”

  “This is your fault, Pandor! Where was your wyvern reinforcement when the metal birds attacked us?!”

  General Pandor grunted, annoyed at his colleague’s attempt at shifting blame. “I grounded them. All of them. The moment I saw those things destroy the vanguard forces with ease, I made the decision to ground them and to not engage, opting to return them to their garrisons in Swetall. I told them to take the safer route along the beach to blend in with the wild wyverns flocks.”

  “King Yaria.” General Adem walked up to and kneeled before the king, ignoring the other generals in the command tent. “You are truly divine! To cheat death in these harsh circumstances is nothing but a blessing by the heavens!”

  “Your ceaseless flattery is beginning to tire me, General Adem.” King Yaria’s words struck like a blade through Adem’s heart, sending him kneeling so low as to hit his head on the ground. “I suspect your army suffered the same fate as General Pandor’s?”

  “My utmost apology, my King! The men and the goblins under my command have also been wiped out!” He trembles in fear, unable to lift his head up from the floor.

  King Yaria ordered everyone to cease their argument which was leading to nowhere, causing the generals to stand in silence. They stared at each other, not daring to face the king for fear of retaliation.

  “It is clear that we have underestimated this new enemy. You have all failed to prepare adequately.” He cleared his throat. “But this invasion is yet to be lost! We still have more men, resources and more monsters to release upon the Azurian lowlives! We have gone too far to step down now, I will accept nothing less than total victory!”

  The atmosphere in the command tent brightens up as instead of being reprimanded for their failures, the generals are spared from the worst of King Yaria’s wrath.

  “We will carry out your will dutifully, my King!” General Pandor and Hamire shouted, snapping Adem out of his fear and prompting him to do the same.

  “General Hamire, Pandor and Adem.” He cleared his throat once more. “You shall take command of the reinforc-”

  A messenger burst into the tent, disrupting King Yaria, kneeling on his knee and trying to catch his breath. “Your Majesty!...”

  “What is it?!” King Yaria stood up, urging the messenger. “Speak up!”

  “The enemy has begun their assault! All of the outposts were attacked simultaneously with explosive magic!” He catches his breath. “They're coming!”

  – –

  8 km from Lassesanta, Yarian Empire.

  The ground shook strongly as dozens of 127mm rounds impacted the outpost ahead, sending chunks and rubbles from the walls into the dark sky above. Smoke could be seen rising, even from a distance thanks to the fire that had broken out due to the artillery barrage.

  “Woo! Eat that, motherfuckers!” Joker can’t seem to contain his excitement.

  Richard whistles, amazed at the sight. “Shiiitt... Now that’s a rare sight you don’t see every day, I stopped feelin’ bored already!”

  Milton joined in, not wanting to be left out. “And that ladies and gentlemen, how barbarians should be treated.”

  Unlike the others, Rita remains quiet, silently observing the artillery pounding of the small outpost.

  Joker turned around, noticing Rita’s quiet observation of the artillery strike. “Hey.”

  “Y-yeah?” She snapped to attention.

  “Watch your back out there, this ain’t bootcamp.”

  Rita let out a sigh. “I know… you don’t have to worry about me.”

  A small group of Azurians hop down the crater, holding their large shields on their arms and a shortened sword on their hip. Their appearance is as distinct as possible from the Elysian Marines with leather pads and chainmail armor covering their entire body.

  One of them talks to Richard. “Such destructive sorcery… did your leader cast his magic?”

  “W-what? Oh, I get it. He called the artillery in, but the rounds came from Avatia though.”

  The Azurians got even more confused, not believing that modern artillery has such range and firepower. “Uhh…” They cast the question aside, focusing on the task at hand. “Nevermind.”

  “We’re gonna prepare the sweep, I hope you people know what you’re doing.” The Azurian shieldman said.

  Richard responded. “Alright, prepare to go back to the vehi-“

  Milton tapped Richard’s shoulder, pointing at the outpost ahead. “We got movements ahead! Six hundred meters!”

  Several figures emerged from the rubble, panickingly rushing in all directions. A few, then a dozen, then nearly a hundred figures. About two dozen of them are rushing towards their position, clearly disorganized but armed.

  “Goblins! Light those fuckers up!” Milton shouted as Richard squeezed the trigger on the R-125L light machine gun, spraying lead towards the small goblin horde and quickly dispatching them as their bodies hit the dirt, with some rolling in pain.

  THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

  The Catalinas joined in, using their 25mm automatic cannon to fire high explosive rounds into the small horde and nailing the stranglers that survived with their coaxial machine guns, making sure that they wouldn’t stand up again. The small horde was quickly reduced down to nothing with killer efficiency, which surprised and somewhat terrifies the Azurians, who can’t help but observe the carnage ahead while covering their ears from the deafening display of firepower. The IFVs then turned to the other groups and continued their engagements, blowing them up until no movements could be seen.

  “Cease fire! Cease fire!” Sergeant Boris yelled over the small radio. “We’re clear!”

  “My god…” One of the Azurian's jaw dropped. “That was incredible!”

  “Firearms, baby.” Joker laughs. “Serve ‘em right.”

  “You think we could use those ‘firearms’ one day?” The Azurian shieldman asked. “These crafts are said to require no magic, so in theory we could use them right?”

  “Maybe, but not for the time being.” He answered. “Leaving that aside, there’s a war for us to win. Get ready.”

  The Azurian nods, putting on his helmets which are imbued with a light golden tan color, distinguishing themselves from the Elysian’s helmets which were a mix of camouflage nettings and wires. While he was put off by the ugly choice of camouflage these Elysians wore, he could see the reasoning behind such style of armor. If this is how they fight in their old homeworld, then their enemies most likely fought the same way, requiring them not being hit in the first place.

  The three ran back to their Catalina IFV, seeing Sergeant Boris and Lewis already waiting. “Get back in the vehicle!” Boris yelled. “Go! Go!”

  The squad embarked the vehicle once more as the vehicle’s 25mm cannon turned, pointing forward towards the hill ahead of them. “Let’s open the hatches now.” Lewis said.

  The squad opened the two top hatches above the Catalina’s infantry compartment, standing on their seats as all of them pointed their rifles and machine guns around. The other vehicle’s squads do the same, opening their top infantry hatches before moving up.

  Originating from old cavalry tradition, infantry fighting while mounted was the tactic chosen by General Stanford in order to keep up momentum while maneuvering thanks to the support from following Azurian troops. The relative primitiveness of the Yarian was also a factor in the decision, which created far less risk compared to fighting mounted against a Socialist armored or mechanized division in an open plain like this.

  “I called for support shells, they’re coming any moment now.” Boris said, catching his breath as he readies his R-25 rifle.

  The night sky suddenly lit up as dozens of illuminating shells fell down gently on small parachutes, lighting up vast portions of the battlefield ahead.

  “Target! Front! Infantry, five hundred meters ahead!” The commander yelled, which the gunner complied as the turret moved slightly, pointing towards the pack of goblins and some much taller figures. “Shit-! Orcs! Gunner! Switch A.P!”

  “A.P’s up!” The gunner said as he pressed a button on the weapon control panel, causing the weapon to omit a clicking sound as it switched to armor piercing rounds. “Identified!”

  “Fire!” The commander said, bracing himself slightly due to the vehicle’s shake while on the move.

  “On the way!” The gunner pressed down on the trigger, releasing a five-round burst at the largest orc among the others which is wielding a large shield ahead, cutting through the large wooden shield with ease thanks to the APDS round. Shredding the orc’s arm off entirely. Multiple other vehicles followed suit, some unloading their high explosive rounds into the pack of goblins while others attacked orcs. While old, the 25mm APDS rounds were deemed suitable for service against the Yarians, saving the newer and more expensive 25mm APFSDS rounds for the Army.

  The commander looked around, seeing the vast horde of goblins kept getting larger as they came closer. “Gunner, switch target! H.E! Fire at will!” He opens his cupola and grabs the R-125HB machine gun before firing it into the pack of goblins ahead, adding more lead down range.

  “Cut them down!” Boris ordered, firing off to the side of the vehicle with his R-25, switching to fully automatic as he fired on the goblins to the sides along with his squad.

  The MT105 Casmira light tanks flanked around, firing on the larger orcs with 105mm HEAT to cover for the advancing IFVs.

  Recently introduced and built on the same MT hull as the MT25 Catalina infantry fighting vehicle as well as the MT127 Catherina self-propelled howitzer, the light tanks were the answer for a requirement for a mobile support gun for the Elysian Marine Corp. While categorized as a light tank, the 105mm GT105A4 cannon taken from the Ares main battle tank puts the vehicle’s firepower on par with the Ares itself, prompting the Marines to drop the Ares main battle tank entirely in favor for more strategic mobility.

  “Fuck! There’s too fuckin’ many of ‘em!” Joker fired a 40mm round into a larger pack of goblins, where there’s a human-looking silhouette present. The grenade blew the pack up in an instant puff of smoke, sending shrapnel to injure the goblin as well as killing the masked man, who’s presumably a beast tamer according to the Azurians.

  “I need more ammo!” Richard said, pulling back on the charging handle of his R-125L light machine gun. “Someone get me more belts!”

  A belt reaches up to Richard, given by Rita who’s busy shuffling ammo under the compartment. “Grab them quick!”

  Joker pressed the magazine release button on his R-25GL, dropping an empty magazine into the infantry compartment. “Rita! I need more grenades!” He yelled.

  “Take this!” She gave him a 40mm high explosive round. “You guys go through too much ammo!” She yelled through the deafening sounds of combat before going back down to the infantry compartment to fetch more ammo.

  Accepting the 40mm round, Joker opened his UL-40 launcher up, inserting the grenade into it. His eyes locked onto an injured Orc, still trying to stand up despite its injury from shrapnels. He aimed the rifle at it, ready to squeeze the trigger. Suddenly, a small green hand reached up from the outside and grabbed his rifle’s barrel, trying to pull the weapon away from him.

  “The fuck?!” Joker gasped, seeing a goblin hanging onto the side of the Catalina with a small knife in its hand, ready to swing it at his face.

  A pistol suddenly lunged forward from his back, shoving itself into the goblin’s mouth. “Eat this you cocksucker!” Milton said, pulling the trigger.

  The goblin’s head was blown off with a loud pop, spewing blood all over Joker’s face and partially deafening him due to the close proximity. “Aeugh, what the fuck?!”

  “Just saved your ass! Jokie! Now kill that fucking Orc!” Milton shouted over the gunfire before grabbing his backup R-25C carbine, quickly loading his rifle with a fresh magazine as he continued to join in with the others, cutting down the dense goblin horde with lead.

  Joker quickly refocuses his attention and fires the 40mm grenade on the injured Orc. Despite slightly missing, the grenade still blew next to the Orc’s face, instantly killing it.

  He looked back just behind the advancing line of armor, thousands of Azurians followed behind, stabbing the remaining goblins lucky enough to survive the lead rain the Marines just gave to them. The Marine’s shock has definitely struck the awe, few goblins put up any fight at all as they were mercilessly cut down by blades and spears, some were torched by flame magic.

  The vehicle eventually plowed past the dense horde of goblins, having finished the attack. Joker found himself catching his breath, closing the top hatch. “What the fuck man… I must’ve killed hundreds of them wankers….”

  His R-25GL’s barrel had almost warped, thanks in part due to the fact he must’ve put nearly a thousand rounds through the thing in such a short amount of time. He began to quickly disassemble the rifle. “Anyone got another spare barrel?”

  Richard gave him one, taken from the external storage boxes as he also lowered himself down into the infantry compartment with a fresh ammo can. “Help yourself.”

  “This is not what I was expecting.” Lewis grabs a magazine from the ammo crate, inserting it into his R-25C carbine. “Is this what you did abroad back then as well, Sarge?”

  Boris inserts a 25mm high explosive belt into the gun’s ready rack, giving the commander and gunner a thumbs up and a nod as he finishes up with the reloading before tossing the large empty ammo can outside, making more space inside the compartment. “Yeah, just… much worse, Corporal.”

  “I see…”

  “These goblins are so fuckin’ aggressive, why do most of ‘em attack us? We’re not the only vehicle, there are dozens more just outside, and we took out their tamers!” Rita complained as she helped wipe the goblin’s blood off Joker’s face.

  “Well maybe because we’re the only unit here with a woman in it.” Joker cracks a joke, which Rita replies with a strong pinch to his cheek. “Agh…!”

  “Your arsehole yap like that again, I’m gonna pinch ya even harder. That ain’t funny.” She said, before letting go of him.

  “Fine…”

  The vehicle continued forward as the squad kept their eyes out for anything out of the ordinary. Lassesanta was just ahead, beyond a low hill. The vehicles eventually crest several large hills near their objective, all their guns pointed at the walled off settlement ahead.

  “All maneuver elements, hold your positions.” Major Eli ordered over the radio.

  A pair of AH-24 Orcas flew past them on low level, destroying several catapults and strafing the outer wall defenses with their front mounted 25mm automatic cannon. Archers attempted to fire back at them through the gaps in the wall, only to find their arrows fell short or missed entirely due to the speed of the aircrafts. Some archers were lucky, hitting the fuselage of an Orca hovering next to a stone tower. They were for naught as the arrows harmless bounced off the AH-24’s fuselage, only chipping some paint off. The attack helicopter returned fire, firing a 70mm semi-armor piercing rocket into the source of the arrows, causing a part of the wall to collapse as the rocket penetrated and detonated its explosive content inside the structure.

  “This is William-2-1, all units be advised. I got a large grouping of heat signatures heading towards the large building in the center of the plaza. Looks like they’re rounding up the civvies.” The pilot reports over the radio.

  “Gunner, laser on.” The pilot of the lead attack helicopter detachment ordered.

  “Copy. Weapon hold.” The gunner responded over the intercom, quickly adjusting the newly fitted targeting pod towards to get a better look at the chaos ensuing below.

  The radio beeped, signaling a new frequency has joined in the channel. “This is General Stanford. Give me a sitrep. Over.”

  “General, we got visuals on the civvies and some strange monsters on the inner wheat field. They’re… they’re massive! Suspecting twice the size of a truck. No civvies sighted, requesting to break RoE to engage. Over.” The pilot’s hand hovered over the trigger, the beast’s silhouette in the dark night can be seen clearly even through his night vision device. Several smaller humanoid figures ran up to the monster, trying to break its chains. “They’re trying to free it! Gunner, shift target!

  “You’re cleared hot, William-2-1.” Stanford announced over the radio.

  “Weapon tight. Target spot. Tracking.” The front gunner pressed the fire button after selecting his weapon. “Missile away!”

  The Monarch-LR missile flew off its side rack, tracking by laser towards the beast and blowing it up, as well as killing it and several Yarians nearby, temporarily blinding the gunner’s night vision optic due to the sudden flash. “Hit. Target kill confirmed. Weapons dry.”

  “This is William-2-1, we’re Bingo fuel, Winchester on cannon rounds. RTB to Avatia.” The pilot announced, steering the ducted rotors to turn the helicopter eastward.