Gunner then replies “Alpha 1 engaging”

Moments later the tell-tale sound of the Retribution shatters the calm of the valley as masses of rounds rip into the Rhine heavy tanks and ifv’s, the enemy mobilizing to counter the threat.

As this is happening Lucia and the rest of the squad advance taking out stragglers, she keys the comm “Alpha 1, status?”

Nothing, but she can still hear the massive gun firing, again she tries “1 I say again status?”

All she gets is static, closing in on the main building only a token force guarding, she motions to Anastasia to ready her rifle.

Only 2 guards, she motions a count down with her fingers.

Three, Two, One.

Anastasia fires twice and both troopers drop.

She motions them forward, still listening for a response, only now the sound of the assault cannon having stopped, a lump forming in her throat, shaking her head she focuses, readying her rifle.

They stack at the front door, Evelyn moves up and uses a snake camera to check on the other side of the door, denotes 2 more troopers on the other side,

Lucia then designates that a breaching charge be used, Evelyn applies the charge to the hinges and lock, steps back and sets the fuse, moments later thermite plasma cuts through the door in no time, they knock down the door, tossing in a flashbang, after it detonates they enter the room taking down both remaining soldiers, after securing the room Lucia motions for LtCol. Brandis and his team to move up.

As they begin their diagnostics and download of the data Lucia receives a message from the Hannibal “Alpha 2 this is War God actual, enemy force has disengaged Alpha 1’s position, main enemy force on their way back to you, ETA 5 Mikes, Alpha 1 really put the hurt on them, estimate 5 destroyed Ratte tanks and the rest are heavily damaged, all Schlange IFV’s destroyed or disabled. Infantry at 80% strength.”

Lucia then asks “And status on Alpha 1?”

Onyria then responds “Alpha 1 is alive, however diagnostics from the armor show that the nano forge has burnt out, Retribution fire control is offline, shields are damaged and only working at 25% efficiency and minor internal bleeding, medical subsystem engaged, last known heading was toward Kingston Space Port”

Lucia responds “Roger that, keep us updated, LtCol Brandis, status?”

Brandis responds “Nearly done Ma’am, however you should see this”

She walks closer and watches “Who is…” before her words are even cold she realizes who she saw on the footage and states “Arsenia, but why?” Brandis replies “No idea, however she got on a transport that left early this morning, destination unknown, but that’s not all”

Before he could finish she hears Evelyn screaming at someone to stop she looks over and sees one of the Bretonians holding a ripper knife close to Angel’s throat.

Brandis chuckles and says “You are all fools, once the Rhine forces return we are going to surrender and we’ll see you lot get executed while we get to live, good job Sergeant Linehan.”

Angel then speaks her voice laden with menace “The only fools in here are you Brandis”

As she finishes speaking the Sergeant cries out in agony as his arm as flash frozen and shatters followed by the corporal who proceeds to collapse in place from cardiac arrest as all his blood is frozen in his veins, Brandis then tries to ready his weapon but is unable to as his armors motivators are frozen solid, Angel moving to within striking distance with her weapon Mistral Destiny and says “You have brought dishonour on your world and your empress, your cowardice deserves but one punishment.” As she finishes her helmet recedes revealing her face and features, long jet black hair about waist length tied up in a neat knot, ice cold glowing blue eyes, snow white skin, she really looks like an Angel, but for Brandis it is an Angel of Death, her translator disabled she recites an Amaterasu prayer for the dead and once she completes it she performs a ritual execution on Brandis decapitating him in one swift movement using Mistral Destiny.

She reactivates her helmet and translator looks at Lucia, bows and takes her station again.

Evelyn collects the data discs from the dead bretonians.

Amber speaks “Was that really necessary?”

Angel just looks on as Evelyn responds “They at least had a chance to breathe one last time, if it were up to me they’d not even have had that chance”

Amber then says “Well I hope we have evidence of what transpired here, the Empress will not take kindly to her subjects being brutally murdered like this.”

Lucia finally speaks again “We do.”

Anastasia says “Hate to break this party up but we have company, also I spotted Gunner, he is closing in but he is limping badly, armor must be badly damaged.”

She takes aim with her Vostroya rifle and fires, taking down a Rhine trooper that was aiming at her commander. “No response, his comms must be damaged as well” she says

She fires again, this time the massive round from the rifle ripping into a Ratte heavy tank, the vehicle lurches then explodes, after the round penetrated the ammunition magazine.

Gunner manages to get into the building.

Lucia runs to him and catches him just as he collapses, Amber moving closer to check his wounds.

Lucia then shouts at him “You damn fool, you could’ve been killed, what the hell were you thinking?”

He just looks at her and smiles.

Lucia then calls on the comm “War God actual this is Alpha 2, intelligence secured, requesting fire support, Danger close, I repeat danger close.”

Captain Reyes voice coming in over the comm breaking up “Ro..g.e.r tha… Com..cing fire mission”

Damn she thought that jamming is back again.

The next 30 minutes was absolute hell as the rounds from the Ravager cannons on the Hannibal smashed into the remaining Rhine forces.

She moves over the Amber and asks “How’s he doing?”

Amber responds “I’ve sedated him, based on the damage here on the armor and the damage to the shield generator, I’d hazard a guess he took a direct hit from the main gun on a Ratte, 5 broken ribs, his right lung was on the verge of collapsing, damaged Achilles tendon and severe internal bleeding, if not for a breakers increased resilience, his armor and hard headedness, he’d probably not be with us now”

Lucia just shakes her head again and says “damn fool, one day you’ll fight something as stubborn as you are”

After the bombardment ends Echo 521 lands to pick them up.

Warrant Officer Pulaski asks “Ma’am, where are the eggs?”

Lucia responds “Broken, they were rotten”

Warrant Officer Pulaski says “Roger that, all crew aboard?”

Lucia responds “A-firm” then switches channel to the Hannibal “War God actual this is Alpha 2, have medical teams on standby, Alpha 1 is badly injured”

Captain Reyes responds “Roger that, Echo 521 you have priority clearance, War God actual out”

Warrant Officer Pulaski pushes the Raiders engines as fast as they will go.