Chapter 11: The Battle of the North Part 2

“Marines,” Colonel Eladio’s voice echoed from the comms. “ ... Redder than Blood.”

“Blood for life,” many of the marine operators replied in unison.

“See you on the other side. For Palora ... All units fire at will...”

Tahir’s hand adjusted the periscope. The entire heavy cannon of the great tank lifted to a 45-degree angle. Through the optic data, the first Shal’rein tank in front of him was coming into range. Despite the constant motion of the tank, everything remained stready. A red triangle appeared, indicating that the shell was still out of range. However, it didn’t take long before the triangle turned green and inverted upside down.

“Fire...,” Tahir said.

In the allied army, the great colossal tank would be the first to fire a shot. The heavy howitzer’s blast echoed through the entire landscape. Several hammer mobile artillery guns would soon follow. Heavier T’rintar hovercraft armed with large box-like launchers began to fire streams of small missiles into the air.

It didn’t take long before Tahir watched the heavy shell strike the Shal’rein tank’s rear left side, creating an explosion that fractured it into smaller pieces, spilling the burning wreckage through the frozen snow.

In less than a few seconds, multiple explosions rippled through the Shal’rein formation before the Shal’rein APCs unleashed their mortar cannons. Allied vehicles, especially the T’rintar hovercraft, could evade several of the shots. The UHN vehicles had a harder time but still managed to dodge the incoming volleys. Blasts reverberated everywhere on the encroaching two fronts.

Tahir pulled the trigger again, unleashing another heavy shell. His heart began to pump faster. Unlike in the previous battle, everything was on the line. He knew that he could be alive or dead at any minute. The Shal’rein could easily target the We’kal. Even a single sustained, concentrated fire from all the enemy vehicles would be enough to obliterate him and his family.

An explosion rippled near a Shal’rein tank, missing it. The blast shoved it slightly to the right, but it kept coming.

<The shot has missed, > We’kal replied. <Shal’rein vehicles are fighting in more open terrain. Expect evasive maneuvers.>

“I’m trying,” Tahir said.

<Reprocessing firing solution ... processing complete. You may fire.>

The man pulled the trigger. The massive heavy cannon fired again. In less than several seconds, an APC vehicle took a direct hit. The explosion was so intense that the turret blew straight up into the air before gravity took it back down.

“Got it,” the man said.

<Continue firing. Attempt to compensate for their evasive maneuvers.>

All hell was beginning to break loose as the battle was kicking into full swing. Hammer artillery units fired their shells while T’rintar hovercraft fired swarms of missiles. In the air, UHN and T’rintar fighters and interceptors began firing missiles onto squadrons of Shal’rein fighters. Meanwhile, UHN gunships and shuttles were attempting to find the best angle of attack.

“Colonel,” the same female marine’s voice echoed on the comms. “Rear forward center of the Shal’rein formation is slowing down.”

“I see it,” Eladio replied on the comms. “Looks like they’re holding their carriers back and letting the rest take the hits.”

“Side flanking attack is incoming. They’ll be in firing range in less than a minute.”

“Maintain fire, Prepare MMACCs for evasive maneuvers, but maintain course to the PLO regions exit vector. All Hammer units, concentrate your fire on the Behe’ton siege tanks as soon as they reach within range.”

From Tahir’s periscope, he could see the Shal’rein tank’s side minigun turrets unleash a flurry of autogun fire. The multitude of small missiles launched from the T’rintar hovercraft were being destroyed. However, a few did manage to strike and damage a Shal’rein vehicle in turn. In the wake of his own foolishness, Tahir turned the periscope to his left, causing the entire main turret of the tank to also turn as well.

“By Allah,” Tahir said.

The light fog served as a partial obstruction, but it didn’t take long before a plethora of Shal’rein vehicles emerged. They could be seen in their full glory, traveling in two rows well spread out.

<Do not stall, > We’kal told him. <Continue firing... >

The man quickly turned the main cannon toward one of the Shal’rein tanks. With a pull of the trigger, another large shell was flung into the sky. It struck the front of the tank, causing it to flip forward and upside down into a burning wreckage.

“How much longer before railgun range?” Tahir asked.

<39 seconds for flanking forward rows. 5 minutes 50 seconds before we exit the blast range.>

“Colonel Eladio,” Admiral Hazer’s voice echoed on the comms. “We’re registering a code Mike One Foxtrot Failure, Sector 2 of the PLO Range. Do you copy?”

“ ... Damn, can you confirm that?” Eladio’s voice picked up.

“Confirmed, the T’rintar cannot fix the error.”

“ ... Copy...”

“We’re on standby.”

Tahir seemed confused. “What did they say?”

<Code word decipher states that one of the FC-11 Torpedoes deployed underwater by the T’rintar assault carriers is suffering a guidance failure. It will not reach the planned strike region.>

“That means ... seven explosions instead of eight?”

<Correct.>

“Not good...”

A giant horseshoe of incoming Shal’rein vehicles surrounded the front and sides of the allied army. Tahir managed to get one more shot off before the next step of the attack began.

Multiple vehicles began to fire their railguns. Marine mobile railgun destroyers, Helera’kun, and T’rintar tanks all began to exchange fire with the swaths of Shal’rein tanks. Hypervelocity shells were being flung about. Tahir could see the blue and purple particle effects, briefly followed by a near-instant strike, hitting or missing a vehicle and causing immediate damage. Explosions were everywhere.

<Caution, > We’kal said. <Behe’ton sieges tanks are closing in on railgun range. Target and destroy immediately.>

“I have control of the railguns, mate,” Sr’ina said. “You handle the big gun...”

Tahir saw the silhouettes of the rearward tanks, followed by the larger Behe’ton tanks. The siege tanks were more noticeable than ever before. Their larger frames carried numerous light side-mounted railgun batteries followed by the single large gatling railgun turret on top. Emerging from the fog, two of them had their heavy turrets pointed upward.

The sky was filled with periodic explosions. The T’rintar Assault Carriers had also enveloped the Shal’rein army, unleashing a massive payload of small, guided missiles. Smoke trails filled from the wing-mounted launchers as wave after wave of ordinance was being deployed, homing downward towards the enemy. Their side nose-mounted autocannons also fired downward toward the Shal’rein ground targets.

However, the Behe’tons had acquired a lock. Two of the great siege tanks fired, their large railguns spinning rapidly before unleashing a swath of hypervelocity shells. Their powerful salvo tore into one of the assault carriers, causing multiple explosions to take effect. They fired again before one of the large wings of the T’rintar assault carrier ripped off, damaging the hover engines in turn. The entire carrier’s right side was in flames as it began a downward trajectory straight into the ground, slamming metric tons into the hard ice.

“ ... They can do that?” he asked, seeing how quickly a couple of those siege tanks could obliterate a larger target.

Tahir could hear the Alara’jal’s railguns firing as Sr’ina was doing her best to target and fire on any and every vehicle that came into her range. At times, the colossal tank would fire in triple format. However, Tahir needed to eradicate those Behe’tons. Finally, one of them was close enough. He jilted the periscope, moving the heavy gun to face the target before pulling the trigger.

The heavy cannon went off. Pointed at a 20-degree angle, the howitzer lobbed a shell that flew for a couple of seconds before hitting one of the siege tanks. The massive rear reactor of the vehicle suddenly and violently exploded, creating a brief blue shockwave that sent shrapnel in all directions.

<Direct hit. Target destroyed.>

Sr’ina’s voice was frantic. “I’m trying to shoot them,” she said. “But, every time you turn the turret, I lose a lock and miss.”

<You hold priority, > We’kal said to Tahir. <The Kinta’ga Cannon must be used first.>

“How much longer?” Tahir asked.

<At current course and speed, 4 minutes and 47 seconds remain.>

Explosions and blasts rippled everywhere. It had turned into an all-out warzone. A T’rintar railgun destroyer, moving forward, would fire ahead, before being hit by a Shal’rein tank’s dual railguns. Another T’rintar APC fired its autogun turret before a mortar blast slammed into it, instantly destroying it. From the north, the other flanking Shal’rein force was closing in, guns blazing. T’rintar assault carrier missiles were raining down from above, but the tanks seemed to be destroying them or ignoring most of it. The Behe’tons were more focused on the allied flank sides. Two of them began spinning up their gatling cannon before unleashing a volley, shredding a Helera’kun tank to sheer pieces.

Above, another T’rintar assault carrier was taking fire, getting hit by Shal’rein tanks from below while having to fend off Shal’rein gunships that were whizzing past it, firing and striking its hull. UHN fighters swarmed in, targeting and destroying one of the gunships before Shal’rein interceptors flew in from behind and gunned down a marine fighter in the process.

“Colonel,” the female marine said on the comms. “T’rintar Assault Carrier Jako’pre has been destroyed. Assault Carrier Kalo’way is taking heavy damage. We’re taking heavy losses in the Northern Shal’rein flank. We’ve already lost half of our airforce.”

“Admiral Hazer,” Colonel Eladio said. “We need fire support. Perform Strike Package Beta. Target the Northern flank.”

“Understood,” Hazer replied. “Let’s see if we can give them something else to shoot at.”

<Danger, > We’kal said to Tahir. <Enemy Behe’ton is targeting us. Destroy it now.>

“Where?” Tahir practically yelped the question.

Immediately, he saw it. In the wake of numerous vehicles in his periscope and the ensuing barrage of weapons fire, past the port side of the firing MMACC carrier’s side-mounted railgun turret was a siege tank. It had four other Shal’rein tanks escorting it, shooting at the T’rintar and Helera’kun tanks. The siege tank’s large gatling turret had swung low and spun rapidly, ready to point at the colossal Alara’jal tank. Tahir was faster, turning the periscope during the whole moving rush of gunfire.

However, before he could pull the trigger, the tank’s three railguns fired at once, slamming into the spinning turret and almost sheering it clean off.

“YES!” Sr’ina said.

<Target disabled, > We’kal replied. <Adjust Kinta’Ga Cannon 23 degrees north and 4 Degrees right and fire. Alert: Shal’rein fighters are attempting strafing runs. All autocannons are set to tracking mode.>

“I can’t see them,” Tahir said. He quickly turned the periscope to the spot that the computer told him and saw one of the siege tanks. He pulled the trigger and fired another heavy shell, striking the ground just below it. However, the blast was enough to flip the entire massive frame of the enemy vehicle over to its side.

<I am tracking the fighters, > the computer replied. <When you see the flashing yellow light on your HUD, press the second button below it.>

“Got it. How much longer?”

<3 Minutes and 29 seconds remain.>

From the sky, a volley of incoming missiles could be seen crackling through the atmosphere, spinning toward its intended destination. Thundering booms could be heard following as hypervelocity shells rained from orbit. However, many of the Shal’rein tanks had already veered away, evading the shells before they even hit the ground. The missile volley was closing in when a large sweep of heavy anti-craft weapons fire cracked the sky and tore them to pieces. Multiple explosions erupted before the smoke trails came to an abrupt end.

“No good,” Admiral Hazer said on the comms. “Those Goalrein carriers just wiped out our strike package.”

“Try to close in and use your railguns,” Colonel Eladio said.

“We are. Keep targeting those Behe’tons. The tanks are one thing, but those siege tanks will rip our fleet apart.”

<Tahir, > We’kal said to him. <In one minute, the Goalrein carriers will come into range. It is imperative that you destroy them.>

“How?” Tahir said in frustration. “There’s too many targets!”

<The rear forward formation will pass us in less than 3 minutes. The carriers are the primary command vehicles of the Shal’rein army. Target and destroy.>

Ahead, the forward portion of the Shal’rein army could be seen dead ahead. Some had been destroyed from the ensuing gunfire, while countless others continued to pour withering fire. Their accuracy was foretold. The frontal portion of the allied forces was getting wiped out. The T’rintar hovercraft were being shredded by mortar shells and autogun fire from some of the Shal’rein tanks. A trail of destroyed vehicles and burning wreckage could be seen behind the allied army. The flanking Shal’rein were in pursuit, hitting the sides and moving towards the rear. One of the railgun rounds struck the MMACC carrier to the left, putting a small hole in the portside armor. By now, mortar shells were striking the center of the allied formations.

However, the Shal’rein were taking losses in turn. Not all of the Shal’rein were in direct engagements with the allied forces, having to concentrate on the T’rintar Assault Carriers while taking counterfire from the T’rintar and Helera’kun vehicles. The Alara’jal tank also seemed to have an effect ripping apart the most powerful vehicles in the flanking portside.

The We’kal was a mobile battle fortress smashing another Behe’ton tank and firing its three railguns in tandem, disabling another Shal’rein tank. However, the weapons fire directed towards the center of the allied forces was having an effect. A mortar round landed directly on top of the front right side of the large tank, exploding and sending shrapnel everywhere.

<Armor is holding, > We’kal said to Tahir. <Shal’rein weapons fire is beginning to direct towards the center formation. We will soon be targeted more as we progress through the battle.>

“I can’t concentrate on anything else,” Tahir replied.

<14 shells of Kinta’ga Cannon remain. Continue firing on the heavier vehicles.>

“What do we do when we run out?”

<Alara’jal vehicles would typically ram and crush enemy opposition if they managed to survive long enough to run out of ammunition.>

From the right side, more weapons fire tore into the allied army’s flank. The Shal’rein were disabling or destroying every vehicle. There were four of the Behe’tons moving and matching speed. The MMACC carrier appeared to be next. It was already taking an occasional mortar hit from above. Four Shal’rein fighters attempted to do a strafing run, but the MMACC carriers and the We’kal fired above, shredding them to pieces and sending the flaming wreckage behind the allied forces.

More and more of the frontal portion of the Shal’rein army was pouring through. They attempted to do everything they could to cause damage. Some filtered through the sides, while a few dared through the more centered formation, getting picked apart by the MMACC Carrier’s powerful side-mounted railguns. Regardless, one of the crawlers was getting hit by more and more stray hypervelocity shells, punching small burning holes in the armor. Small amounts of smoke were billowing into the air.

“Colonel Eladio!” the female Marine frantically called out on the comms. “We’ve lost the Assault Carrier Op’dretkre. Our forces are reduced to 68%. Shal’rein are down to 79%.”

“Maintain course and switch to Evasion Pattern Gamma,” Eladio replied. “How much longer before we reach the PLO Exit?”

“Two minutes ... Sir, the Santana!”

Tahir could briefly see it on the main display. To his horror, the large marine crawler to his right continued taking more and more hits. Screaming could be heard on the comm-line as the MMACC carrier took several railgun hits, punching clean through one side and out the other, sending spall and shell remains to god knows where. Finally, the Behe’ton siege vehicles zeroed in. The heavy turreted gatling railguns spun and fired a volley of hypervelocity shells.

It was nothing but raw death. Like a heavy buzzsaw, the MMACC carrier made one last defiant shot with its starboard railgun before being hit by 32 shells almost all but once. Every compartment was struck, and every piece of the large frame was hit. Flames erupted from the interior before a series of small explosions echoed from its hull. Finally, the entire crawler erupted into a small blast before the rest of the vehicle ground to a halt in the snow.

The man was shaken up. Seeing one of the MMACC carriers go up in flames, seeing the crew eviscerated and such a grandiose design reduced to flaming wreckage, he knew he could easily be next. He was prepared to spin the turret around, but he still had another siege tank to destroy on his screen. This one was focusing its fire above, but the starboard side of the allied army was collapsing.

As the Shal’rein tanks continued to shoot every vehicle in sight, the Behe’ton siege tanks were preparing to target the colossal tank next. The turret began to aim, with the barrels still spinning up. However, they quickly began to conduct an evasive maneuver, pulling hard to the right when railgun shells rained from above.

The UHN fleet was conducting its bombardment, attempting to target every vehicle on the ground. Multiple shells slammed into the snow. It was proving to be somewhat effective at first, but many of the tanks were able to evade successfully. It caused the Behe’tons to discontinue their attack and point toward the sky before firing against the low-orbiting warships.

<Kinta’ga ammunition down to 10 remaining shells, > We’kal stated. <Try to save the remaining ammunition for their carriers. Danger: Shal’rein tanks are targeting us.>

There were too many to track. Five of the Shal’rein battle tanks had broken their attacks on the allied formation and aimed their dual turrets at the colossal tank. Tahir fired the heavy cannon, obliterating one of the vehicles. Two of the railguns fired next, disabling another as the remaining railgun struck another. This left two of the tanks clear in the open. They all fired.

Suddenly, four railgun shells slammed into the midsection of the colossal tank. The hypervelocity shells hit so hard that all that could be seen were the faint purple and blue particle effects in the air before they quickly dissipated. Four holes bore through one side and out the other.

Tahir could hear the shots echo inside. The turret turned slightly as the Shal’rein tanks maintained their assault. The lighter railguns fired next, targeting the main compartment. Small holes appeared in the cabin area before the next salvo of railgun fire destroyed and disabled the remaining Shal’rein vehicles. There was a brief power outage in the main cabin.

<Damage reported, > We’kal replied. <Damage to the main processor and living quarters. Life support reduced to 80%. Attempting to bypass. Focus your attacks ahead.>

The interior was starting to get slightly cold as the holes were letting in fresh, freezing air from the outside. The entire map was flashing showing Shal’rein vehicles everywhere. The entire allied army was almost completely surrounded and being chased at the same time.

Tahir knew they weren’t going to last much longer. The Shal’rein were simply better in ground combat. He knew he was making a difference, but was it enough? How much more could the We’kal take?

“Unit Z,” Eladio said on the comms. “You’ve taken some of the heat off our left flank. Focus your firepower forward, maybe take out one or two of those carriers in the process. All units full speed ahead. We’re punching through the last line of their formation!”

“Tr’ina,” Tahir called out to her somewhat shaken up. “Respond to him and let him know I’ll comply.”

“I got it,” Tr’ina said. She was busy making small adjustments to the controls. There was light cooing from the baby again, noticing the declining temperature drop. The interior heaters were working overtime to keep everything warm.

“Admiral Hazer,” Eladio called out. “The moment we exit the PLO region, trigger the explosives!”

“Understood,” Hazer replied. “Be quick, marines. Our fleets are taking a pounding up here. I’ll maintain the bombardment for another minute or two, but if we don’t discontinue, they’ll be nothing to obliterate the Shal’rein army from orbit after we sink them.”

Tahir turned the main turret to look ahead. From here, he could see it all. Through the light fog, the three colossal Shal’rein vehicles lay ahead, protected by a small detachment of Shal’rein APCs, battle tanks, and two siege tanks. The Goalrein carriers were moving slowly, using their current momentum to evade possible orbital fire but maintaining a steady motion through the thick ice and snow. From the sky, the last remaining T’rintar assault carrier was continuing to lay down ground fire, launching more and more of its small missiles. The top rear sides of the ground carriers were firing into the sky, destroying the salvo before it landed. Meanwhile, other tanks were firing into the air and hitting the carrier, causing more and more explosions to ripple from its sides.

The entire colossal tank began to speed up. This would be the last hoorah. The Goalrein carriers’ plethora of weapons focused on firing on the incoming allied formation. An occassional artillery shell from the hammer artillery units would hit the carriers, causing small flames to erupt from their armor. It wasn’t doing much to slow them down. Tahir could see the carriers’ two side forward-mounted mortar cannons firing almost in unison. They were little more than mobile ground battleships capable of unleashing hellfire onto anything that moved.

One of the Goalreins had targeted the Alara’jal tank, unleashing its mortar cannons and forward-mounted light railguns in tandem. Tahir could feel the tank being struck, the heavy armor on the main turret was holding. However, seeing the constant waves of smoke jettisoned from the incoming shells was disturbing. The heavy cannon lowered into position, almost pointing directly forward.

<Target locked, > We’kal told him.

Tahir pulled the trigger when all the main weapons opened fire. The heavy howitzer cannon’s shell flew over, narrowly skimming the top deck of the targeted carrier, smashing into the snow, and missing it. However, the three railgun rounds did strike the frontal portside, punching three holes into it. Unlike the other Shal’rein vehicles, the sheer mass of the carrier almost seemed to shrug off the hits.