Defiance

Chapter Eleven

Skia, Main route to capital city

Thankfully, they did survive after a call for reinforcements. A distressingly few walkers and soldiers answered.

Now, they were standing on a rise that overlooked a gorge, and beyond that, a reinforcement base.

"The base is heavily fortified. Full of Skian tanks." Rush reported, after a quick look through his binoculars.

"Attack them on a full frontal assault, via that gorge."

"But sir, the gorge is narrow. We'll only be able to get two squads in at a time."

"Don't disobey me." The General turned around and went down the rise, leaving no space for debate.

The casualties are going to be high!" Six said.

"Yeah! Does this guy want to kill us?" Another soldier from Odyssey yelled.

"You know, I wasn't sure if Fallar was crazy, but now, I'm certain. No reinforcements, no air support. We don't even know what we're walking into!" Blaze threw down his blaster.

"The Skians have weapons and technology that we have never even seen before!"

The whole division broke into angry chatter.

"Trickshot?"

He looked at Rush. Rush motioned with his head to talk to him, alone. They went behind a tree, a little away from the rest of the division.

"These are orders. We need to follow them. So it would help, if you just eased their minds."

"What, coax them to do one of Fallar's suicide missions? It cost us a lot of men last time.

And a General leads us from the front, not behind."

"I know his strategies aren't great, but he is effective in getting things done. He's a war hero."

"Have you seen his casualty numbers? More soldiers have been killed under his command than anyone else!"

Rush sighed. "That's the price of war, Trick. We're soldiers. We have a duty to follow orders, and if we must, lay down our lives for victory." Rush turned away to walk back to the division. Trickshot caught him by the arm. "You really believe that?"

"I honor my code. That's what I believe." Rush pulled his arm away and went back to the rest of their men.

~~

Rush, Six, and Trickshot crawled through the undergrowth, making way toward the reinforcement base, to get a better look at it before they attacked.

Rush took out his binoculars, and zoomed in on the base tower. It looked big, thankfully. It could fit the whole division.

"Six, you clear on the plan?"

"Yes sir."

"Trick?"

Trickshot took a while longer to respond. "Yes," he said reluctantly.

"Alright. Get into your groups. Let's move." They made their way down the hill, sliding the second half, until they reached the rest of their division.

It was conducted in silence. They used hand signals, pointing and counting. They moved toward the reinforcement base, night vision turned on, all lights off, and guns ready.

"Everyone, stay alert. Fingers on the trigger," Trickshot said.

A few of those flying creatures flew overhead, but they didn't attack, so they didn't shoot.