Katyusha

Chapter XIX - Rescue

The opening shots pepper the Kv-1 and Lev's forced back into the safety of his tank, unless he wishes to risk getting shot.

"Captain, stay down! We'll protect you and get you out of there." The squad Sergeant says with some stress in his voice from realizing the situation that he's now put in.

"NO SHIT Sergeant!! What the hell do you think I'd plan to do? Go for a walk?!" Katya snaps out in frustrated anger, and the pain that's beginning to become overwhelming below her stomach is becoming increasingly obvious as well.

There's a few laughs that can be heard in the dire situation, the opposing army from the German flanking force here at this town's from the SS-Panzerkorps II, Totenkopf battalion.

A lot of the young men here in this small town that are going to be defending are just simple conscripts and under trained from other parts of the Russian armies, they're not the more heavily trained and feared shock troops.

"Lev sir!" We've managed to jump start the engine, however that collision knocked some screws and a track loose. We can't go faster than 15mph or we'll risk losing our tracks." Kirill reports quickly to Lev before he climbs back into his own seat, and man's his post.

"Alright everyone, lets lend the grunts outside a hand. Load HE and Peter, open fire upon any moving German uniform out there!" Lev calls forth with his ordered revolutions.

Doing what was ordered, Abram pulls a handle back to open the breach of the tank's 122mm armament, and he loads the HE shell into it before closing it.

While Peter has opened fire, using the mounted turret in front of him to cut into any poorly covered German infantryman.

Pulling the triggers lever to fire the KV-1's armament, the roar of the cannon kicks up dust around the blast radius and the shell's sent down range, and into the cover of some Germans.

The splash damage annihilates anyone within the radius of the explosion, sending blood splatter into the side of the building.

Outside of the tank and in the streets, the rescue efforts are making steady progress under the covering fire of friendly bullets.

With the rescue of the Captain underway, it needs four men to help unbury the captain which in turn, is taking away much needed fire power that could be sent at the Germans.

There's a screech suddenly, that flies overhead and lands harmlessly into the side of a building. The Panzerfaust rocket was taken off course due to the gunner being shot before he could fully aim at the tank.

Feeling the weight lifted off of her, she sighs in relief but it's shortly lived.

Her face contorts into agony and she tries her best to hold back a cry of pain due to the rubble that was pinning her down. It was also cutting off blood flow to her lower body, numbing the pain of a shattered leg bone.

Adding the rush of newly circulated blood as well, it causes tremendous pain to ensue from the effects of the blood finally getting to her lower body.

Unable to stand, Katyusha had to be dragged by the collar of her shirt and into safety which is the entrance to a dead end alleyway.

"Lieutenant Colonel Andrei's on his way with the 4th Guard light infantry, and the remaining 5th Guard Tank army squadron, he said to expect him in about 10 minutes, and to hold your position until relieved!" The platoons radio operator yells over the roar of gun fire, before he was forced to duck his head back down a couple of bullets whizzing past his head.

Turning to face the radio operator whose taken cover on the other side of the street, the Senior Sergeant calls back "Let him know we got a wounded Captain up here with us who's in need of immediate medical Evac, and that there's Waffen-SS forces present and actively engaging us!" He calls back, while kneeling next to Katyusha in the entrance and safety of the alley.