The War Down Stricken Lane

Chapter 16: The City Bloodline

It was after the first attack... Kit moved within city limits as orders rolled in from high command within the back... they were moving to finish off any forces attempting to push them back with tank support to match. Men were spread out in front of him, all with a mix of different ranks... they stayed ahead of the tanks down the road through rubble lining some of the road. Kit was closer to the tanks than anyone else, the Lieutenant leading them was slow looking through binoculars every once in a while like an idiot. "Come on sir you're slowing us down!" One of the men yelled with annoyance... Kit was perplexed why he even needed the binocs, but it wasn't much of his business as he continued to advance. Eventually down the road the continuous roar of the tanks behind were drowned by the clang through a helmet, Kit immediately ran for cover not looking for what happened. The tanks halted as the crews peeking through their hatches scrambled to get into the safety of their tank. He looked out to see the body of a soldier a bloody puddle forming around his head into the rubble nearby... The helmet that he was wearing was warped in a spot with a giant hole... a sniper was nearby, the lieutenant and a few other men were there with them "It's a sniper! Stay down!!" The tanks were aiming their cannons in every place possible unable to spot the sniper's position. They were well hidden for sure... the Lieutenant nearby took out his binoculars and dared to walk out, "No sir!! Don't go out there!" Some men grabbed him trying to stop him... Kit simply watched frozen with fear as the lieutenant walked out and began searching with his binoculars... Voices yelled from behind him, "Get back here!! There's a damn sniper!!" Suddenly another shot rings through the air and a round visibly passes straight through the Lieutenant... he fell to the ground lifeless his right eye completely blown off. His helmet rolled straight to Kit's feet causing him to get the chills... this sniper was a professional which reminded him of a hunting buddy. One of the soldiers behind him yelled, "We need to move!!" They were all urging to go some began to run across the way to another building... Kit had no choice but to follow them. He ran fast, at least as fast as he could with all the heavy gear, he looked to his left looking around for what he could before he locked eyes with something in the window not too far down the road...  it was the sniper whose face was blocked by the rifle... he was aiming straight for the guy in front of him... he had to make a choice. He tackled the Sergeant knowing that if the shot was taken he would die, "Get down!!!" Kit yelled... they both hit the ground with a thud before a shot rings through the air whizzing over them, "What are you do- God damn it get off me!!" Kit hurried up looking at the sniper who was wide eyed... he was familiar... he looked before realizing, but by then it was too late... the tanks began to move their cannons towards the building in which the sniper disappeared from sight running away. Through the building... the tank crews fired HE which made the building practically collapse... Kit stood in the road rifle held in one hand by his side... the tank crews peeled back out of their hatches as the coast was clear, "Let's get a move on!" The now in command soldier had yelled... there was still a long road ahead.

Tandy had his face shoved into binoculars... he was looking upon the German Capitol building trying to locate where Theodore could be held. The rest of the men were preparing some food... only Kim, and Gerald stuck with him... "I don't see anything that looks like a prison..." Kim looked over "You sure you're looking in the right place?" Gerald made a suggestion as well, "Maybe we should look on another side of the building..." Tandy however stayed focused... he checked every window for any sign of a prison. He even rechecked a few windows... nothing could be made out. "We're wasting our time, tanks'll roll in soon, and we gotta meet em." Kim was adamant to join up with the troops movements some few minutes after these words were uttered a loud rumble was coming down the road and the first sight of soldiers as they walked down the road with no resistance? They were followed by Sherman tanks, 75 millimeter from the looks. Still the lack of resistance was quite odd... they made their way between the clearing where a fountain lay set. There were trees and bushes lining the back of a creek that stretched away from the river 3 of the 5 tanks were between Tandy and that opening, but something was off. Kim was about to stand up to speak to them "He-" Tandy pulled him down, "Stay down!" He whispered, Kim spoke loudly, "What are you saying!?" "Shh!!" The commanders of each tank came out of their hatches. one yelled from the distance to a soldier holding a chart, "Hey! Do yah know where we are!?" That soldier continued to look down at the chart before looking back up to the commander "Well it says our task was right here!" They continue to speak, but something caught his attention in the trees in the back... it was metallic... inorganic... something stuck out like a nose, but it was too big... a rumble began before an enemy tank,a Tiger, rolled over out of the creek hearing the sound the commander panicked and raced to enter his tank before a blast set it alight... he pulled himself out burning as blood spurted out of his leg like a fountain... but as he burned that wouldn't matter... he rolled around on the ground. The soldiers all attempted to react before a violent stream of bullets began ripping through them... a bullet went straight into the one with the chart leaving him screaming with pain at his stained tan jacket.., the second tank in the column tried to back up as the Tiger turned its cannon before blowing it to bits... the two in the back continued down the road... the third in the column backed into an alleyway. The Tiger rolled the corner taking a hit in the side with little problems... it sent a shell through the front of the tank which spurted fire out of every possible hatch. It turned its barrel to the one in the alleyway who had a crew member racing to escape before getting gunned down... that tank too ended in the same fate. Tandy watched as the last Sherman attempted to flank the Tiger going right by the destroyed Sherman in front of it, but as it did the Tiger pulled its body and its turret sending the shot straight into the side of the Sherman setting it still... the Tiger backed away into the fountain clearing as a call from inside the tank continued... a cry for help. "HELP!! OH LORD HELP ME!!! AGHHH!!" A scream before the tank blew up sending the turret flying... a severed, mangled arm landed next to the three men... fingers missing with cracked, warped bones sending shivers down Tandy's spine... the capitol building was well defended... he'd give 'em that... he watched with envy as that Tiger rolled back into the shallow creek to await its next prey...