Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 38: Battle for Hood Hill (1)

Order were followed with professional precision as soldiers rushed to their stations. Time was of the essence as the enemy pushed in. Milano stood in his vehicle, ordering units around while he adapted a "defense in place" strategy. He had limited assets while dealing with a overmatched opponent capable of strategic strikes. Luckily his decoy had bought him some time. The loss of some vehicles and equipment had hurt, but the payoff was buying time he desperately needed.

"Sir! Master Sergeant Dryer has an urgent report!" A Lieutenant said as he ran up to Milano. "He said that he will be on line 1." Milano nodded while reaching for his radio, changing to the frequency Eric requested. "What is it Dryer?" He said while looking off into the distance. Seeing nothing of concern, he awaited Eric’s response.

"Sir, they have some workers sifting through the rubble of the gas station." Eric said quietly. He and Mia were behind what used to be the gas station. They had positioned themselves in a tree where Mia could use her enhanced eyesight to spy on the remains of the ill fated beaver. "I think they have come to realize that we used the gas station as a ruse."

Mia then grabbed the mic as she kept her eyes on the scene. "Commander Milano, this is Mia." She said, holding onto Eric as she almost lost her balance. The acrid smell of burning fuel was degrading her perception by the minute. "When they find out their attack failed, they will likely move the Brios. I cannot confirm how much time the cannon needs before preparation and launch, but I believe it to be around twenty five to thirty five minutes."

"Copy that, Milano out."

After sending in the report, Mia leaned back against Eric. The smell of fuel and ash were causing her physical pain due to her heightened senses. "How are you so calm in the midst of this?" She whispered worriedly, looking out at the men now leaving the site. "We are intel... not soldiers. I am not used to this... chaos." She said, her ears drooping.

Eric sighed and kissed her head while stroking her hair. "During my first tour, it was worse than this. Villagers were slaughtered for merely having contact with us. We would go to a town, and the next day return simply to find entire families in cages burner down to the bone. War is never kind, and it is never pretty. Here in this world, you have monsters, dragons, and Gods. In my world... we can wipe out a city without having to leave our base. We have weapons that can destroy multiple cities, and kill millions. To me, this world is just the same shit, different day."

He turned her around so that she faced him. "As for how i can stay calm? That part is simple. Its because the love of my life is by my side. This isn’t like Iraq where it was mostly just myself and my platoon. I have you to hold and watch my back. That, my love... Will always make me stronger."

After internalizing mia’s report, Milano realized that time was truly of the essence. He needed to find the cannon and destroy it quickly. If that canon fired, it would be like a tactical nuke over his head.

Given the new information, Milano decided to inverse the infantry "phalanx" formation, but instead of using men, he used vehicles. It had taken precious minutes they did not have, but eventually, the battalion was set up. The siege was on. "Hold fire!" Milano called out into his radio once he had received the "up" from all the units stationed around Hood Hill. "Apaches, stand by for further orders." He said, taking a "wait and see" approach. The enemy was now in targeting range of the tanks and bradleys, but he knew making the first move would be foolish. From what he had seen with this enemy prince, the man was certainly not a fool. "Sir, Echo one reporting." A call came over the radio. Milano rolled his eyes as he recieved the comms. "What is it Echo one?" He responded, grumbling to his CSM. "Why is it always infantry or Armor?" The CSM smirked and shook his head while his arms crossed. "The CAV life sir. The CAV life." Milano frowned as Echo came back on the net. "Sir, requesting permission to engage. Enemy units are approaching 3 clicks out, and the men are rearing to go."

"Negative Echo. You are not cleared to engage. Stand down and do not go weapons hot until instructed to do so. Do I make myself clear? I repeat: Do. Not. Engage."

A brief silence followed his command before Echo came back online. "Roger." The commander said. "Echo out."

"Milano out."

"Hmm." Prince Heith said as he recieved visual of the now ruined gas station. His subordinate was showing him a magic screen of what they had thought was a staging area, but it turned out the enemy had tricked them. "Clever. Very clever." The prince said calmy. "They staged vehicles there in hopes that we would target the area. Very well. If that is how you move your pawns, allow me to do this."

Heith turned to his generals, his eyes held a cold but calculative glint. "Have all units spread out. Allow 300 meters at the least between companies. Send the Mages to the front. Target the barrels of those godforsaken machines. When the mages run out of ammo, replace them with our Llrathels. If they want to fight with mobile canons, so will we." The campsite became a flurry of activity as his orders were recieved. Units began spreading out as the mages walked to the front of the line. Large, tank like machines rumbled up to the front as well, their mana engines roaring to life as their barrels aimed up at Hood Hill. The Llrathels had arrived.

"I wonder why they are quiet." He mused as he sat back in his chair. "They have won two major battles so far, and we have less men this time. Are they scared of the Llrathels? Hmph. And father was worried about mere mortals with their technology. I had my doubts about Hezel’s reports. However..."

He turned back around, looking at his units spread out. "Is 300 meters enough?" He sighed inwardly. "No matter. Mere prattle will always be just that. Mortals breed like livestock. We can always throw more out there."

Heith looked up at Hood Hill, smirking as he envisioned the crater it would soon become. "Hmm... didn’t a report come in about that cat girl Mia getting married?" He turned to the generals as one of the men answered. "Yes, your majesty. According to our reports, she married a soldier from the otherworld battalion approximately a week ago."

Heith grinned as he looked to the village. It was in range of the Brios.

"Fire the Brios into that village. See how they react when they lose their precious intelligence witch." He commanded calmly. That witch had been a thorn in his side for months now, having been solely responsible for leaking information on their plans for the coast. While the empire had claimed the land eventually, there had been nothing left of the resources they sought. Farmland had been ruined, infrastructure broken up, and entire towns had been burned to the ground. Heith wanted nothing more than to have the cat woman strung up and executed in front of his soldiers, but destroying her village would be a great consolation prize.

"Reporting!" A knight side while coming into the room and kneeling. "What now!" The prince growled as he looked at the knight that had barged in. Thus far, none of his plans had come to fruition, and Heith was becoming aggravated. "Sire! The mages have reported no human activity in Freedom Village!" The knight responded calmly. He had not been given permission to stand, so he stayed kneeling, looking at the ground.

Heith clenched his jaw, stuck at an impasse. He knew he couldn’t reach Hood Hill with the limited range of the Brios, and he had nothing else to target. He had been thoroughly duped. "How long would it take to set the Brios within targeting range of Hood Hill?" He said quietly to his advisor, staring at the man with anger rippling through his face.

"Sire." The advisor said gently. "Do not speak." Heith responded. "I know that moving it would place us in a compromising position." The distant rumbling of engines and marching of men filled the void as he remained silent. He thought about the coast of Riemskin, and how his father had explicitly reminded him that they needed to destroy these otherworlders. Failure here is not an option. "Answer the question." He growled to the advisor. "How long will it take to reposition the Brios?"

"Thirty minutes, my liege."

Heith then looked at Hood Hill, he smirked as he dreamed of it being in a crater. "All units, charge." He growled, moving back into his tent.

"And get that Brios ready to fire."