The Fifth Pillar

Chapter Eleven: A probe

The attacks of the day before were still fresh as Jackie sat at her desk silent. Just across the desk was Bennu as well.

The silence was broken by Dekota walking into the room.

"Dekota." Jackie said

"You two seem busy"

"Not really." Bennu replied. „Just reflecting on that beast."

"Well a report has come in."

"Go on."

"It's Sasha."

[Some time earlier]

The forest surrounding Kamno were dense with tall oak trees towering every which direction you look.

Dirt roads offer the only clear path through the forest, but currently the paths were being slowly torn through by a line a vehicles.

In front was a beast of metal with tracks digging into the dirt and pulling itself along while the arrowhead turret faced side-to-side slowly scanning around, minding the trees.

Behind it followed a line of vehicles with fronts angled to perfection and turrets looking to find a purpose.

Finally armored vehicles holding men followed behind the armor.

Going through the top hatch of the tank there were four people inside, including the slavic giant.

"Hey," the driver asked over the headset, "How far are we from the drop-off?"

"Ten klicks, Mila." Sasha responded.

"Must be boring for you compared to your time in that hanger." Mila joked

"Wouldn't miss your remarks."

"Still surprised you can even fit in here." Remarked the gunner.

"This cupola just gives me enough room. But if you wanna know about fitting big things in confined spaces, just come by my office~"

He shuttered at that as Sasha laughed.

"Just keep your eyes on the trees" he grumbled

"You know she won't stop, Henry."

"I know."

They continued the drive.

Suddenly a thunderous bang was heard and an explosion rocked the front side of the tank, blowing it's track and forcing it to turn to the side and crash into a ditch.

The line slammed to a stop and turned to face towards the origin of the explosion.

A group of figures were spotted coming from behind trees.

Quickly the other vehicles started to open fire, tearing apart the trees they tried to hide behind.

Inside the tank all there was to hear was ringing and vision was blurred.

Sasha held her head as she tried to stand.

The gunner turned the turret despite his pain and fired a shell towards the targets.
It exploded with massive effect, forcing the attackers to flee under a rain of fire, shards of wood, and chunks of rock flying all around from the explosion.

Finally it fell silent after a final spray from a machine gun ensured they had left.

[Back to real time]

Jackie walked towards the wreckage as it stuck it's back in the air from the ditch. It's engine was getting pulled out by another tank that had a crane instead of a turret.

All around were armored vehicles and soldiers keeping on edge in every direction just incase they decided to.

She walked up to a guy dressed in uniform with a bang around his arm reading "VP".

"So, how did they do it?" Jackie asked him.

"Lady Jackie. Seems they set up a Improvised Explosive Device by the side of the road." He responded walking towards the front.

On the ground there was a scorch mark showing where it was set up.

The MP squatted down and pointed to it.

"This kind of IED seems to have used a Shaped Charge to punch the armor."

He pointed to a hole on the side of the tank, right where the driver was.

"That's a copper jet's doing. Small diameter, burn marks all over, clean hole. Whoever did this had the knowledge of anti-armor tactics."

"So this probably wasn't their first time dealing with tanks."

"So I suspect. Unless they did some serious research before this."

He got up.

"Sadly the driver didn't make it. The jet went straight through her her large intestine and clean out the other side. She wouldn't have lived but a few seconds after being hit."

"What of the others?"

"Currently they're at the Central Hospital."

"Alright. I'll head there and check on Sasha. You just figure out who did it."

"Yes ma'am."

Jackie got up and left.

So many things on her mind.

She already had to deal with being attacked by an unknown being that seemed unkillable and now she has to worry about someone or something targeting them all. Even had experience in combat.

[Chapter: END]