Genoverse I

Stake VII - Homefront

There they were, aimlessly firing rifles from behind a line of tanks, Legi, Onyx, Calvin, Rocker and Jet. This battle was beyond brutal, situated on the edge of the coast; in the dunes and on the sand, tanks, fleets and squadrons of planes were involved. Both armies were pushing back and forth along the beach.
"How are we supposed to end this fight?" Legi shouted. "They just keep repelling our offensive!"

Onyx ducked behind a tank destroyer as an incendiary shell whistled overhead, crashing into a wall of sandbags and burning it. He hopped up into the tank destroyer and rested his rifle on the back of the gun, shooting a series of bursts at enemy soldiers charging towards them.

"I don't think this is gonna end today, we'll have to secure the dunes as a stronghold. Worst case scenario is that we'll need to dig trenches." Onyx called back.
Jet and Rocker were sat in the turret seats of a heavy tank, gunning down enemy light tanks as they sped into the battlefield.
"We just need to hold our ground until our heavy bombers get here!" Rocker shouted, spraying fifty or so bullets into the front of an approaching tank's driver hatch.

Another tank shell kicked up the sand, followed by sprays of bullets from overhead dogfights. Onyx yelled the command to back up.
"Back up into the dunes, we need to make a stronghold if we want to win!"

Rocker flipped the cover of his machine gun up and lifted the empty bullet belt out of the chamber, he grabbed the next one and tried inserting the first round into the chamber. But he couldn't. His fingers were trembling from the cold and he fumbled multiple times, before Jet's hand gently grabbed his and guided the round into the chamber.
"You need gloves, Rockstar, we'll getcha some gloves when we can before your fingers freeze off." He said reassuringly. "Just a bit longer."

The Blue Army's tanks started reversing, using suppressive fire as the tracks rolled up into the spiky, pale grass. They rolled halfway up the dunes before stopping; the sand was too soft and the tracks were sinking into it.

Calvin, kneeling just a few yards away from Onyx, took aim at a squad of enemy soldiers creeping up through the fog of sand and smoke. His hands were steady, but his face was streaked with exhaustion, his eyes red from the grit and saltwater. He pulled the trigger, sending a precise burst of bullets into the advancing line, slowing their momentum.

"Rocker's right," Calvin muttered, his voice barely audible over the roar of engines and gunfire. "We just need to hold until our air support gets here. But if those bombers are delayed..." He didn't finish the thought. No one wanted to consider that possibility.

Legi crouched down beside Calvin, glancing up at the sky, now painted a deep, bruised purple as dusk began to settle. "If we lose the beach, we'll be pushed back to the cliffs-and that's it. No more cover, nowhere to dig in. Just rocks and a ten-foot drop into the sea."

Onyx clenched his jaw. He knew Legi was right. This beach, battered and blood-soaked, was all that separated them from a full retreat. But something in him refused to give up, not when they'd fought so hard to hold their ground. He clambered onto the tank destroyer again, raising his voice so everyone nearby could hear him over the chaos.

"Alright, listen up!" he shouted. "Calvin, you take point on the left side of the dunes-try to funnel them into our line of fire. Jet, Rocker, keep that turret hot and cover our center. Legi and I will hold the right and make sure none of them slip around us. This beach will be ours by nightfall!"

Jet nodded grimly, patting Rocker's shoulder as he adjusted his grip on the turret's controls. Rocker flashed a shaky thumbs-up, his frozen fingers still struggling to function as they fumbled to reload another belt. He locked eyes with Jet, grateful for his steadying presence, even if he couldn't say it out loud.