The Start Of Something Great

Tank Dempsey

Carly's POV: Jan 17th, 0634

I grabbed my RE-45 and some ammo, but before I could properly prepare, a deafening boom echoed down the hallway as we took another hit from a torpedo. "Come on, let's go! They secured the beach!" Dempsey's voice cut through the chaos, urging us forward. I didn't hesitate. I grabbed my headset, quickly pulled my long blond hair into a messy bun, and started sprinting toward the Hangerbay where our tank was stored.

Josh and Blackburn caught up beside me as they snapped on their helmets. "We're heading down to the planet," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me.

The stolen IMC Paladin tank—now painted in militia colors with "Dempsey" scrawled across the barrels—came into view. I leaped onto the tank's hull, hopping over both barrels and landing on the driver's side. Grabbing the release handle, I pulled it open with a hiss, climbed into the driver's seat, and sealed the hatch behind me.

Josh climbed through the loader's hatch and took his place in the back, while Blackburn slid into the gunner's seat to my left. Dempsey, the commander, climbed in through the hatch above us, his usual calm demeanor overshadowed by the urgency in his voice. Hiss—the hatch sealed, and for a moment, there was a heavy silence.

"We're about to be loaded onto a Widow dropship," Dempsey said. Almost as if on cue, we felt a jolt. A few seconds later, another hit. Three loud thuds confirmed we were locked in. The wait was intense, every second ticking by like hours. We all readied ourselves, preparing for the chaos ahead. Another jolt and the sound of engines kicking into gear meant we were taking off. The world outside turned white as we launched, explosions lighting up around us.

"Pilot to tank Dempsey. We're approaching the beach but taking fire from the second set of turrets." The pilot's voice crackled through the radio.

"Copy that," Dempsey responded, then turned to us. "Alright, everyone, switch to frequency 99.7."

I adjusted my radio, and the chatter from the other tank squads filled my ears. It was chaos, but it felt reassuring to hear our comrades. Just as I was adjusting, another violent jolt made us all brace. The pilot's voice cut through again. "Doors open. Go, go, go!"

I slammed the engine start button. The roar of the engine filled me with determination. Peering through the small peephole, I shifted the tank into drive and pressed the gas. The sand ahead of us shifted as we pushed forward toward the breached walls.

"Tank Dempsey, take the middle wall. Tank Fury, follow them," the commander ordered.

We followed his command, moving forward toward the wall. As we approached, we saw militia soldiers being dragged away, overrun by enemy infantry. Driving up next to two militia fighters engaged in close combat, Dempsey and Josh opened fire with the mounted guns. Blackburn followed suit, unleashing a barrage of gunfire as the shells ejected with loud clinks and clatters.

Suddenly, the tank jolted violently. A tank round had bounced off our armor, but the impact shook us all. "Shit! Back us up, Carly!" Dempsey barked.

I shifted the tank into reverse, the sound of servos whirring as the turret rotated to aim at the enemy. I heard the distinctive slide of rounds entering the barrels, and moments later, two Boom, boom sounds echoed through the tank as our shots hit their target. The enemy tank exploded in a brilliant display of fire and metal.

"Fuck yeah! Ammo cook!" Dempsey yelled, elation in his voice. "Carly, drive us further. We need to reach the next wall."

I shifted the tank back into drive and pushed forward. As we neared the second wall, a third enemy tank appeared on the horizon. "Fuck, a third one just showed up," I muttered under my breath, scanning the battlefield. As we pressed forward, another tank ahead of us exploded from a combined assault of militia infantry and anti-tank rockets.

We finally reached the second wall. "Carly, you need to plant the explosives," Dempsey ordered, tossing me a bundle of satchel charges.

"Ten-four, sir." I unholstered my RE-45 and reached up to open my hatch with a hiss. I climbed out, scanning for threats. A lone IMC soldier came into view. I raised my pistol and fired three quick shots, all hitting their mark. The soldier crumpled to the ground.

With the coast clear, I sprinted toward the wall, sticking the charges in place and arming them. Just as I finished, I heard the deep roar of our tank firing again.

"Carly, get your ass back here!" Dempsey yelled from the tank.

I turned, sprinting back toward the vehicle. As I was nearing the hatch, a tank round slammed into the side of the tank, narrowly missing me. I dove into the driver's seat, quickly sealing the hatch behind me. I shifted the tank into reverse, and with the sound of the tank firing behind me, I pushed forward again.

"Carly, blow the charges! Our infantry is almost here!" Dempsey ordered.

I grabbed the detonator. With a click, click, the charges detonated, sending a massive explosion ripping through the wall, fire and smoke billowing into the sky. The sound of the enemy tank firing came almost immediately afterward, but our tank responded in kind with two shots. The tank rocked as rounds slammed into us.

"FUCK! JOSH IS DEAD!" Blackburn screamed from beside me.

I turned to look, my stomach sinking. Josh was gone. His body was mangled, the lower half of him completely destroyed. Dempsey immediately hit the radio. "This is Dempsey. We've been hit and have a casualty. We need a hand at the first wall."

I backed the tank up, my hands trembling as I fought to keep us steady. Another round slammed into the side of the tank, and Dempsey screamed as he was hit. "FUCK!" He collapsed, his leg torn off.

Blackburn quickly moved to assist, but more gunfire erupted around us. I looked at Dempsey, helpless as his blood pooled beneath him.

"I'm not leaving this tank," he said, looking at me and Blackburn. "Go, get out of here."

I shook my head. "No, sir, we can't leave you!"

But Dempsey pushed us away, his strength waning. "Go, live free," he said with a weak smile. "Live your life."

With a final look at him, I followed Blackburn as he dragged me out of the tank. We crawled into the jungle under the cover of heavy gunfire, the screams and explosions reverberating through the air. We had no time to mourn.

At the back of the tank, we saw two soldiers providing cover fire. "We'll lay down cover!" they shouted as we sprinted toward them. One of them fired a rocket, blowing up the enemy tank.

But just as we made it to safety, our own tank exploded. I was thrown to the ground, pain shooting through me as I landed hard. My left arm screamed in agony as I tried to move.

"FUCK! HELP ME!" Blackburn screamed, and I gasped. Shrapnel was lodged deep in his chest. I crawled to him, grabbing his hand, desperation flooding me.

"MEDIC!" I screamed. "Come on, stay with me!" I held his face, tears streaming down my cheeks.

He reached up weakly, cupping my cheek with his bloodied hand. "I'll be fine... with my brothers again..." He smiled faintly before coughing, his breath ragged. "You think I'll earn a medal for this?" he asked, barely audible.

"No! Please don't go, Blackburn. Stay with me."

But the light in his eyes began to fade. His hand slipped from my cheek as he spoke his final words, barely a whisper. "Where's the light...?"

His eyes closed, and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. "No... no... no..." I whispered, shaking his lifeless body.

An explosion near us kicked up dirt, and I was showered in the debris. I clutched his dog tags, my heart breaking. "He's gone, ma'am," a medic said gently.

I nodded numbly as Blackburn's body was carried away. The weight of it all settled over me like a suffocating blanket. Our tank was gone. Dempsey was gone. We had lost everything.

The medic guided me toward the trenches, where I could see the wounded being treated in hastily erected tents. A dropship passed overhead, landing on the beach, and four soldiers in black armor disembarked. The sound of their boots on the sand was almost drowned out by the continuing battle, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were far from done.