The Winter War

Chapter 3

Denver, Colorado

           

            “Keep up the fire!”

            And with a simple command from Lt. Simmons, who was standing next to the command Bradley, the tempo of outgoing rounds increased. At the river’s edge was a mix of .30 and .50 caliber machine guns along with infantrymen using their rifles to shoot at whatever they could see. Behind them was a line of mortars that were busy dropping bomb after bomb on the center of the city. And further back still was the artillery that was brought in for the siege.

            However the other side of the Platte River was far from quiet as what looked like the entire Druidth Army was on the other side firing back at the besiegers. The Druidth side looked much like the Human side with the exception of their artillery and mortars which were moved south and north to block off the city from advancing forces. It was the accuracy of their guns that pushed the main assault off course and forced them to find another way into the city. That left only one route: West. They would have to cross the Platte River and push in to finish the fight which would secure their victory in Colorado since Denver was the home of the Druidth High Command in the Front Range.

            Bombers flew over the city, dropping their payload and illuminating the city in the dark, before turning west and leaving over the Human lines; flares launched upward from the mortars to confuse any missiles that would be following them.

            James fired his M-1 twice at the muzzle flashes across the river, wondering what any good all of the shooting was going to do. He sat down behind the stone wall and reloaded his weapon before taking a few minutes to drink some luke-warm water and chew on a ration bar.

            “You know Pepsi Center isn’t too far from here,” Matthew Adams said from beside him. “How about later on we all go watch the Rockies play a game?”

            James laughed, “Who knows, maybe they’ll win the Pennant this year.”

            “On account of them being the only team left?”

            “Bingo.” He reached up and removed his safety glasses and wiped them the tail of his uniform overshirt. James found that he had to reach around back to get enough material to wipe the plastic glasses clean because the Druidth breastplate he wore covered him halfway down to his groin.

            When they were clean he rubbed his face and replaced the glasses before picking up his gun and readying himself to start shooting at shadows again. He was just about to squeeze the trigger when Matt tapped his shoulder several times.

            James gave him a curious look and saw the Grenadier who was gesturing behind him. Turning he saw Sargent O’Quinn shouting something and now that he was listening he heard his name.

            Duck walking, he made his way across the street and back towards the power relay substation that was behind them where the mortar crews were operating in the fenced in area. A series of fump! could be heard as they dropped the bombs down the tube and they launched back out in salvos. Downrange some would overshoot and land behind the defenders while some would land in the river, blasting fountains of water high enough to block a few bolts of plasma.