War Games Arena, the Anarchist, March of 163 AL.
"We're dead," Briarios sighed, "We are actually dead. Thanks, dad."
"You knew what you were getting yourself into when you came along," Salem gulped back his fear as someone brushed against his shoulder. He turned his head to find Alex standing beside him.
"I take it the missus isn't very happy with you leaving the infirmary?" Alex said as he crossed his arms, following Salem's gaze up to a very enraged High Queen.
"Nope, not a bit," Salem nodded as the soldiers behind him prepared themselves. He heard a sloshing sound to his right and saw Augustus frantically dumping the contents of his flask down his gullet. "She was actually very insistent I stay in bed."
"I swore, I swore," Augustus gurgled around a mouthful of whiskey, "On my life, she's gonna fuckin' end me."
"Welp, better get our shit together then," Alex said, picking up his rifle where he'd propped it against the barricade, "We've got a game to win, and I've got a promotion to earn."
"Kid, if you manage to win this you can have my job," Salem chuckled, "Because I know for a fact she's gonna fucking strangle me when this is over."
"Sounds good to me," Alex grinned and depressed the button on his headset, "Gunny, what's the plan here?"
"You will wait for your orders, Williams, if I wanted to hear from you I'd say so," Hoster barked back over the radio, "Alright cupcakes, here's the plan; they've got their Buzzsaw set up on the north side, I want first squadron to book it up the north side of the hill as a distraction while second and fourth squad move into position on the west side."
"What squadron are we?" Salem asked Alex quietly, though he was afraid he already knew the answer.
"First squad," Williams sighed, "Of course he's throwing me at the meat grinder."
"Once first squadron has their attention, third squad will move up the south side," Gunny's shouting nearly deafened Salem each time he spoke into his headset, "They'll assume first squad was a diversionary force for our boys on the south side, then I'll lead second and fourth squad straight up the western side into the bunker."
"Gotcha Gunny, first squad is Oscar Mike," Alex sighed again, looking up the hill at the machine gun bearing down on them.
"Wilco sarge! Third squad is Oscar Mike," one of the other squad leaders called eagerly; he was mostly just pleased to hear he wouldn't be facing off with the Buzzsaw.
"Hop to it cupcakes, we haven't got all day," Hoster yelled, "I want the bomb in that cradle inside ten minutes. Hooh-hah!"
The UCAM's battlecry echoed around the arena as each squadron responded in kind, then Salem heard gunfire as Alex ushered his team out of the barricade towards the first row of cover lining the hill.
"Move it! I want fireteam bravo taking point," Alex ordered as his soldiers charged out of cover towards the bottom of the hill. "Delta team, get suppressing fire on that Buzzsaw!"
"Aye sarge!" A soldier called back, but his response was cut off by a loud rattling sound; the Buzzsaw let loose a stream of rubber rounds at the first troops to leave cover, gunning down one of the members of delta team as they ducked out of cover. Several other soldiers popped up and fired back at the gunner, forcing him to take cover.
"Go! Go! Go!" Alex ordered, dashing out of cover alongside bravo team. One man tripped as they went, but Alex grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and pulled him to his feet.
Salem was right behind him, sprinting for cover alongside alpha and bravo team. They barely made it to the first row of barricades before he saw the Buzzsaw move; the gunner had found his spine and was taking aim again.
