Hellerian Heroes: The Armored Goliath

Chapter VI:The Mighty Stronghold

As those heavy Armored vehicles rolled up the mountain, the men in the Stronghold cheered them on as they saw those vehicles roll up closer and closer. Colonel Lazarus smiled as he turned to face Lieutenant Colonel Fegel and Major Charles.
"Aye boys! We seem to be welcome here!" screamed Lazarus in glee as he peered from the commanders hatch,
"Seems so, sir!" replied Alora as she sped past the Colonel in her Puma.
With tanks shaking the mountain to its core, with metal tracks rolling over  old cracked concrete roads leading up the Alpine mountain range, up to a Hellerian Stronghold that held for years, against mighty attacks from all sides.
As it held against the attack of Richterians, the Culpers and the Loyalitats, it held against the bombings of the Eastern foes.
The Stronghold that held against mighty attacks, overlooking all the key positions of the Italian alps,no bombers weakened the morale and resilience of the Hellerian troops.
As the command tank came up to the entrance, a very familiar voice rang out,
"You goin somewhere, Colonel?" said the familiar voice from the ramp,
"I would go inside if you let me in, Captain" Lazarus smiled as he turned to face Staff Sergeant Aurelia.
"You haven't aged one year since we saw each other, Colonel" Said Aurelia as she raised the ramp and saluted the Colonel,
"I've been away for meere months, Aurelia, i didn't go away for 10 years" He shook his head smiling "We do have to head for the garage, by the time we park, morning will break" said the Colonel as he moved up and away from the border, following him were his loyal officers speeding up to catch up with him.
"Those fools never fail to leave an impression, huh" said Aurelia as she closed the border gates, looking up at Brigadier General Philip,
"Still better than your 4th".
As tanks slowly parked into the Armored Vehicle Bay, Lieutenant Lee came out of the bay, saluting the Major as he approached him,
"Good job, sir!" said Lee as he handed the bottle of water to Charles,
"Thank you, Lieutenant, please do inform Hans that the job has been done" said Charles as he walked over and inside the officer bay and resting on the couch "damn i need a fucking nap after this".
As hours went by, all the men were at their bunks sleeping, with the late evening breeze freshening up their bunks and their clothes drying outside from the washing done by their lower enlisted earlier that morning. Some men were still sleeping, tired from the long way and a very tiring battle, snoring away as the sun started to go down.
"Dang it boys, get up, we are being summoned to the royal residence by the Chancellor" said Lieutenant Alora as she ran insides and banged on the barracks metal door frame.
As men jumped up and ran outside putting their uniforms on and tying down camouflaged smocks over their uniforms, in a hurry running to their trucks, and deporting away to the residence grounds.
As they parked and jumped out, forming a Shoulder to Shoulder formation in 3 rows, with their officers standing in front of them, but with their Colonel to the side in front of the door, waiting for the VIPs.
As the murmur ceased, the doors swung open by the FIL guards, and as they marched aside and took their posts, Battalion General Austin and Chancellor Hans walked outside followed by Major Ethan.
"Hail Helleria, Tankers!" Battalion General yelled and saluted,
"HAIL!" yelled the 3rd personnel as they saluted back and fixated their looks to the Chancellor.
"Well done, ladies and gentlemen, Emperor was pleased by your performance and is going to award you with medals, Order of the Brave Soldier III class, to be exact, congratulations!" said Hans as he looked at Lazarus  "And your captain...Captain Dark, he has been awarded with Order of the Hellerian Officer, that will be awarded to him once he is released from the medical care, that'd be all.".
The Chancellor walked back inside the residence with Austin and Ethan, other FILs following inside.
As they closed the door Colonel gestured the troops to get back in their trucks, firing up their engines and driving back to their barracks, to get some more rest, as they have been given 2 days off.
Colonel came to the officers lounge inside the residence, sitting across Akai, the battalion General of Commando Battalion,
"Your tanks are way too big of a target, Colonel, but good job" said Major General Akai,
"For what, sir?" asked the Colonel,
"You did spot us on the hill moving across and inside the forest, but a bit of a slow reaction, be weary of your surroundings Colonel" Akai smiled as he pulled another smoke from his cigar.
"You're Infantry, what do you expect, sir, way too bulky" Lazarus smiled as he took a sip of his coffee,
"Try painting them" Colonel heard a familiar voice followed by a laugh behind him, as he turned around he saw another familiar face which made him smile,
"Is it possible that Mr. Incredible is here too, huh, General Philip" said the Colonel in a happy tone,
"Hardly incredible, Colonel, our troops took a lot of casualties, 25, i was informed" said Philip looking down, sighing as he took another swig from his half empty wine bottle.
"Im sorry to hear that, General, Mechanized Infantry is hardly a safe job, quite a bit risky" said the Colonel with genuine grief for the fallen troops,
"I suppose so" said the General as he sat down besides Lazarus.
As they chatted about random things, doors behind them opened and Major Ethan walked in,
"Boys, be ready for tomorrow, His Majesty just took off by plane from Albertia, he has some business to attend here, make sure to bring your dress uniforms." said the Major before he walked outside and closed the door.
"Well that's the reason we're here, i didn't expect any other reason why us Generals would be summoned here" said Brigadier General Philip as he leaned back in his chair "It will be one hell of a meeting",
"Let's hope for the best" a voice startled all the generals from behind, a deep voice known to all, and feared by all,
"You're here too...god damn..." said the Colonel as he turned around with fear on his face.

[Chapter II, End of Chapter VI]