The fire and flame of war

Out for blood

Daniel woke up drenched in cold sweat. He looked around and saw that he was in a hospital, nonetheless in his daughters hospital room. The mission he was meant to be on went ahead without him, flying in to their location. Over the last few days, there had been another two bombing raids, however by this point in time Australia was somewhat prepared. Amelia remained out of it, lying on her bed, doped up on meds, sleeping. It was best for her recovery at this point for her to sleep.

North Korea threatened a land invasion. They had fully captured the Papua New Guinea province, leaving Australia isolated from the world. Scouting missions reported that there were three battleships and five troop ships in port moresby. Australia withdrew half its current forces fighting the war in Russia to defend Australia.

In the base hospital, patients were being moved into ambulances and trucks to be moved further back inland. Alice springs, centre of Australia, would be the safest place for them. Including Amelia. Daniel and jade walked beside her and watched as she was loaded onto a truck, unaware of what was going on as she slept. A nurse got onboard the truck and it took off. Daniel and jade watched until it couldn't be seen anymore. Jade stayed behind because she was re-activated for active duty.
"Our daughter is finally safe." She says, before crying and hugging Daniel.

That night, more bombs fell. The soldiers dug in, awaiting koreas attack.

The next night, more of the same.

Day three. A letter from Amelia by express defence mail. She's awake and on recovery.

Just as the soldiers decided that there wouldn't be an attack, more bombs fell, and off in the distance, landing ships loaded with North Korean soldiers. The Australians opened fire, attempting to sink as many landing boats as possible before they reached land. Some boats did reach land, and machine gun fire swept across them. However, despite Australia's best efforts, the continuos arrival of enemy soldiers soon overrun the Australian defence. In the confusion that followed, daniel and jade were separated. Daniel was retreating back towards the airfield, where there were more machine gun nests than along the coastline. Jade was running for a bunker, trying to hold the line.

At the airfield, daniel jumped into the nearest machine gun nest and loads the weapon. It doesn't take long for the enemy to enter his crosshairs. The machine guns roar as the enemy fall, hit by the fire.

Jade runs out of the bunker, heading back towards the airfield. She avoided the onslaught of enemy soldiers and ran towards another set of bunkers, this one set up to withhold the enemy advance and push them back. The armoured division waited behind the fortifications. 300 main battle tanks ready to go, and jade was going to sit back in a bunker and watch.

Daniel was still in the machine gun nest. It was lucky his weapon was belt fed, as he didn't have a chance to reload at all. He was holding the Koreans back, with most of them now taking cover behind whatever they could find. Suddenly a series of explosions went off in front of Daniel, and an aircraft flew past overhead, low and fast. Another bombing had begun. A bomb landed just in front of Daniels nest, temporarily stunning him. He stumbled out of the nest, shell shocked. A bullet hit him in the arm, knocking him down. The wound woke him up, clearing his head as adrenaline coursed though him. He crawled into cover behind the nest as the other nests kept firing. Daniel stood and ran across to a hanger, taking cover inside as bullets slammed into the wall behind him. He grabbed a first aid kit off a workbench and quickly strapped up his arm, to stop the bleeding and keep himself in the fight.

Jade had moved through the fortified line and out the other side, past all the waiting tanks. She was forming the infantry force that would move in behind the tanks. Gunfire rang out across the airfield.

Down in Alice springs, away from the raging battle, Amelia was struggling for breath. The injuries caused to her chest had severely damaged her lungs. Her lungs would heal in a month or so, the doctors had said. Amelia was also told she would have permanent scarring across her chest and breasts due to the beam that had crushed her. She looked down at her bandaged chest, remembering the scarred skin and bruising she had seen when the nurses changed her bandages. She was thankful however, that she had female nurses. It made it a little less embarrassing for her. Amelia was completely unaware of what was happening up north.

Daniel had strapped up his arm and grabbed a rifle out of the storage area at the back of the hanger. He emerged through a side door, shooting three Korean soldiers that were advancing towards him.he moved forward, running around a building and shooting two more enemy soldiers. He looked across the airfield and saw that the Australian offensive had begun, with the tanks moving forward, firing on the move. The Koreans were retreating, unable to fight against tanks. Daniel ran forward, taking out another soldier, and saw jade. She was firing on a group of enemy soldiers, but she didn't see a soldier taking aim at her. Daniel lifted his rifle, aimed and fired, taking him out at range. Jade looked across, seeing Daniel. Daniel smiled, just as he another soldier fired from behind.

Jade, without hesitating, lifted and fired her rifle, taking out the soldier. In that moment, the war froze. Nothing around jade mattered anymore. The Koreans forces were being pushed back, and jade was left behind, almost alone, that's how fast the Australians were advancing. Jade ran across to Daniel, tears threatening to cloud her vision. She knelt down beside him. Her hands went to his chest and neck, feeling for a pulse.
"No!" She screamed, letting her emotions take control. Her screams echoed across the mostly silent airfield. His blood was spreading across the ground. Jade picked up his torso, resting it in her lap. Sobbing, she closed his eyes, letting her tears fall onto his now still body. She kissed his now motionless lips, touching his still face.
"You can't leave me like this" jade sobs as it starts to rain.
"Please, don't leave me."