[56AB]D|Pvt.Jones
03-08-2007, 03:51 PM
Chapter 2
In the frozen city below us, hundreds of ground units moved into defensive formations. Tanks and battlewalkers were scattered sequentially throughout the streets in order to force the enemy into predetermined areas to maximize the effectiveness of the crossfire. The ‘killzones’ as they are so elegantly called did their jobs well, and it was hoped they would again. The massive bullets from the walkers twin chainguns could tear through vehicles and infantry alike, and the heavy shells from the tanks eliminated whatever the walkers barrage left alive. Legions of gunships soared overhead, with each crew scanning the horizon for the first appearance of the enemy.
A formation of Titans held position just behind the front line. These massive airborne military transports were refitted at the dawn of the war to fulfill the role of a flying command center, complete with its own set of defense shields and ship-mounted heavy artillery. This was my vantage point for the battle to come. I was heading one of the four squads charged with defense of Titan Alpha, the lead command ship. As massive as these Titans were, we all knew they weren’t impenetrable. There were several old Anti-Titan missile silos scattered throughout the city. Some of which were so well hidden, our scouts couldn’t find them all. In the years leading up to the war, these silos were constructed in almost every city in Europe. I guess the tacticians suspected an early assault by the PAC. Well, the assault certainly wasn’t early, but here we are now.
When we first moved into the city, we were able to locate and activate 5 of them, but there were ten total, or so we were told. The ground troops were ordered to defend the silos we had already captured, so they could be used against any enemy Titans that made their way to the battlefield. There were also squads of assault and recon soldiers stationed on the ground who were ordered to attack, capture and reprogram any hidden silos the enemy happened to locate and reactivate. Both sides knew that the victor would be the side who kept their Titans alive. This was the first time in history a Titan had been used in frontline combat, so we were all a little unsure of how safe it would be in the long run. However, we were definitely looking forward to seeing what those massive cannons on the underside of the Titan could do to an enemy walker. No other weapon in the field has that kind of raw power. We’d all seen them fired in tests, and it’s frightening to think what it would be like to be on the receiving end of a Titan salvo.
It seemed like everything was prepared. At least, to the best it could have been. The final moments of anxiety are always the most excruciating. Those are the times when you find yourself wondering ‘just what the hell they are waiting for?’. Soon after that though, you always find yourself wishing it had never begun. Still, we waited on the frigid platform of the Titan hangar, anticipating the first alert warning. It’s amazing how little protection the Titan’s energy shield provides against the wind. It’ll block any incoming ammunition you can imagine, but a fast breeze just cuts right through it. We were all shivering within about five minutes up there. Even with our triple layers of insulation and body armor, the wind seems to slice through to the bone.
My Squad was a good crew, with a good mix of talent. The training we’d all received in close-quarters combat was intense, and I had faith that we’d do our jobs well. If the enemy ever made it on board, that is. Most of the guys were young and cocky, and didn’t believe the PAC would ever make it past the frontlines. But I had a nagging suspicion in my head that this battle wouldn’t turn out like we had expected. Something just seemed, off. Not right. It was unsettling, so I tried to forget it and focus on the task at hand.
To be continued...
In the frozen city below us, hundreds of ground units moved into defensive formations. Tanks and battlewalkers were scattered sequentially throughout the streets in order to force the enemy into predetermined areas to maximize the effectiveness of the crossfire. The ‘killzones’ as they are so elegantly called did their jobs well, and it was hoped they would again. The massive bullets from the walkers twin chainguns could tear through vehicles and infantry alike, and the heavy shells from the tanks eliminated whatever the walkers barrage left alive. Legions of gunships soared overhead, with each crew scanning the horizon for the first appearance of the enemy.
A formation of Titans held position just behind the front line. These massive airborne military transports were refitted at the dawn of the war to fulfill the role of a flying command center, complete with its own set of defense shields and ship-mounted heavy artillery. This was my vantage point for the battle to come. I was heading one of the four squads charged with defense of Titan Alpha, the lead command ship. As massive as these Titans were, we all knew they weren’t impenetrable. There were several old Anti-Titan missile silos scattered throughout the city. Some of which were so well hidden, our scouts couldn’t find them all. In the years leading up to the war, these silos were constructed in almost every city in Europe. I guess the tacticians suspected an early assault by the PAC. Well, the assault certainly wasn’t early, but here we are now.
When we first moved into the city, we were able to locate and activate 5 of them, but there were ten total, or so we were told. The ground troops were ordered to defend the silos we had already captured, so they could be used against any enemy Titans that made their way to the battlefield. There were also squads of assault and recon soldiers stationed on the ground who were ordered to attack, capture and reprogram any hidden silos the enemy happened to locate and reactivate. Both sides knew that the victor would be the side who kept their Titans alive. This was the first time in history a Titan had been used in frontline combat, so we were all a little unsure of how safe it would be in the long run. However, we were definitely looking forward to seeing what those massive cannons on the underside of the Titan could do to an enemy walker. No other weapon in the field has that kind of raw power. We’d all seen them fired in tests, and it’s frightening to think what it would be like to be on the receiving end of a Titan salvo.
It seemed like everything was prepared. At least, to the best it could have been. The final moments of anxiety are always the most excruciating. Those are the times when you find yourself wondering ‘just what the hell they are waiting for?’. Soon after that though, you always find yourself wishing it had never begun. Still, we waited on the frigid platform of the Titan hangar, anticipating the first alert warning. It’s amazing how little protection the Titan’s energy shield provides against the wind. It’ll block any incoming ammunition you can imagine, but a fast breeze just cuts right through it. We were all shivering within about five minutes up there. Even with our triple layers of insulation and body armor, the wind seems to slice through to the bone.
My Squad was a good crew, with a good mix of talent. The training we’d all received in close-quarters combat was intense, and I had faith that we’d do our jobs well. If the enemy ever made it on board, that is. Most of the guys were young and cocky, and didn’t believe the PAC would ever make it past the frontlines. But I had a nagging suspicion in my head that this battle wouldn’t turn out like we had expected. Something just seemed, off. Not right. It was unsettling, so I tried to forget it and focus on the task at hand.
To be continued...