Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 70: The Roar of Dragons

"Shit!" Eric grabbed a few paper towels, cleaning the spill before turning back to the report. He analyzed the picture calmly before turning to look at other pictures. They all shared the same details. "It isn’t a fluke." He looked around, noticing a few new placards. "G-1, G-2, G-3.

Looks like those guys came here. Good, I didn’t want to have to move my desk.

He turned back to the reports.

Eric looked over to Intel. "Has this been confirmed with a live feed?"

The Colonel nodded, his voice coming out shakily. "Yes Master Sergeant. All ISR assets currently not on mission have confirmed."

Milano and Miher walked in. They took their seats while ignoring the reports. Miher took his notepad out, while Milano leaned over the map, one finger planted on Esponia.

Milano was the first to speak:

"Evacuate Esponia and the Vegas strip. All available LMTV’s and Humvees are to assist. Delta, Echo, and Charlie companies are to set up fortified fighting positions alongside Sual pass, Heas pass, and the foothills on the East mountain range.

"Do we have a count?"

"Estimated strength: one hundred to one hundred fifty thousand personnel, sir."

"Equipment?"

"Sir..."

Papers shifted.

"Forty-six Llathrels. Twelve Brios cannons."

Milano exhaled. "We hold the line."

"Go."

Chairs squeaked as officers began funneling out to relay orders. Radio calls echoed from the corner as the operator initiated contact with the company commanders. Milano looked up at Eric. For the first time since coming to Brishan, his face looked like a man who knew the ending.

Now alone in the room, Milano and Eric stared at each other.

"Dryer? Level with me. Can we win?"

Eric held up the report, analyzing the army pictured.

"We either win... or die trying."

Milano nodded. "You are to assist setting up anti-personnel mines, and rigging each encampment with C-4. I entrust your old platoon is capable of assisting with that?"

He looked at the reports, a black mass of humanity was marching towards them. The Army was so large ISR couldn’t depict the full size of it.

"We’ll get it done."

Milano paused. "And rig the passes."

"All of them?"

"Yes. All of them."

He sighed as he looked up at the sky. "We could use some help, ya know." He muttered, knowing it would be of no use.

Help was not going to come.

After the brief, a Staff Sergeant ran up to Eric before he could get in his truck. "What now?" Eric turned to the Staff Sergeant.

"Generals Milano and Miher are asking for you, Master Sergeant."

Eric sighed and nodded. "Thanks." He patted the man on the back and walked back into Battalion HQ.

"Dryer, go to Riemskin and give these reports to the Royal family. They have already been informed of the situation, but want the reports personally delivered." General Milano said before Eric could sit down.

"And Dryer?"

Eric looked up.

"Good luck."

When they read the reports, the King and Queen sat in silence. They held each other’s hands over the table. Their hands were trembling as the king issued commands to Liron. "Reinforce 6-8. Send every available unit."

Princess Ayeolla broke down crying. She revealed to everyone present that Michael and her were planning to get married.

The Royal family hugged as soldiers in the background moved to follow the king’s orders. Vehicles were loaded, weapons were secured, and unit’s marched for Esponia.

It won’t be enough.

After leaving Riemskin, Eric decided to make one last stop at his house.

He sat in silence as his phone screen illuminated a dark living room. He stared at the lock screen. His jaw clenched as his breath caught in his throat. He ran his thumb over the baby bump in the picture. "I’m sorry I won’t be able to meet you." He whispered.

Doors slammed as families rushed to pack what they could carry into duffels and sacks. "Pack what you can carry!" He heard Hammond say. "If you were a former soldier, and wish to fight, standby and wait at the town fronts gates!" Children cried, wives sobbed as goodbyes were exchanged.

Jessica walked in, collapsing next to him. "Im scared Dad." She said. Her body trembled as she curled up next to him. "I don’t want to lose this chance at life we’ve built."

Eric didn’t answer. He pulled her into his embrace, stroking her hair. "No matter what happens, I just want you to know that I am happy you came into our lives. You brightened Mia’s and my lives, and completed our family. I love you, Jessica. I just wish I could have seen you on your wedding day with Liam."

The teenager groaned. "DAD!" She blushed but curled tighter against his chest. Her sobs filled the room as she hugged him.

A knock came at the door. "Master Sergeant? It’s time."

Eric sighed. He separated from Jessica, looking at the young woman. "Stay with Liam, watch each other’s backs. Whatever you do, never give up and always push forward."

He left her on the couch, and saw Liam standing there. The young soldier trembled as he stood there like a statue. Eric grabbed the young man by the shoulder. "Snap out of it, bud."

Liam came to his senses. "Roger Master Sergeant."

Eric suppressed a chuckle. "Protect her."

"Yes sir."

Eric didn’t bother to correct him this time.

Ricky and the rest of the operators were waiting for him at the front of the town. Their weapons were slung as they slumped on vehicles. No one joked. They stood in silence.

"Delphy, Ricky, and Jonny. You load encampments with C-4. The rest will rig the passes. Any questions?"

No one spoke.

"Lets go."

At the top of the mountains, the operators worked quickly to place C-4 where the most damage would funnel empire troops. Eric did radio checks with command to verify the Empire Army’s movement patterns. He watched the horizon as if expecting to see the wall of black encroaching on them at any moment.

It took them a full day to rig every charge.

At the end of the second day on Esponia, Eric felt the air shift. Birds stopped screeching. The wind stopped died, and dust clouds rose into the atmosphere. Plumes of smoke and soot dragged behind the Llrathels as Eric observed the approaching vehicles.

"They’re here."

Eric finished his cigarette and got in his truck. "Fall back, retreat to the foothills."

The operators climbed into their vehicles as they began traversing down the mountain paths. They met up behind the fortified positions Charlie had set up. Perimeters of .50 cals, .249s, and M-4s waited in silence. Trenches dug as they waited for the approaching wall of chaos. Behind Eric, machines roared as they came to life. Tanks and Bradleys aimed their sights on the tops of the passes, ready to engage anything cresting the mountains.

Snow began to push down the mountainside as the first Empire vehicles began to crest. Each pass became an anthill as Empire soldiers marched in rows behind the Llrathels.

"Uh, Master Sergeant?" Ricky called to Eric as weapon safeties were clicked off.

"Do not engage. I repeat. Do not engage. Wait for my command." Eric growled as he watched the approaching Army. His eyes narrowed, tracking movement.

When the first Llrathels were approaching approximately four thousand feet above the waiting battalion line...

"Fuck you."

He grabbed the radio. "Engage. Show these bastards we will not go down easily."

The upper face of the mountain collapsed as thunderous booms echoed out. An avalanche swallowed the Empire soldiers as piles of snow carried soldiers, Llrathels, and cannons down the passes.

Abrams announced their arrival as one round after the other engaged and killed. One shot, one kill. Llrathels were destroyed one after the other, while the foothills came alive with whips and cracks of M-4, .249, and .50cal fire.

Apaches flew overhead, hell fire missiles and chain guns erasing swathes of soldiers from existence.

Eric pulled the trigger of his .249 relentlessly. He didn’t aim as he chose a direction and shot. No matter how many Llrathels they destroyed, and no matter how many troops fell...

The enemy kept coming. "Charlie company, red on ammo!" Calls kept coming over the radio as Tank, Mech, and infantry rapidly depleted their stockpile of ammo. The apaches had long since fallen back to Hood Hill for resupply. Jonny had been ordered to stockpile ammo for this mission.

"Fall back to fighting position Bravo."

Units tactically withdrew, vacating the area as the enemy still pushed forward. Eric looked up at the mountain, an entire horizen of men now pushing past the first wave. Blood stained the mountainside, red marks bearing the responsibility of war.

"Paladins, engage."

Chunks of the mountain began cratering as the twelve paladins targeted the kill boxes. The air felt heavy as each round pushed the very atmosphere around it. More avalanches followed as the shells landed, the precision strikes decimating everything left on the mountain.

But still...

The empire troops pushed forward. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Man. They’re really desperate to kill us."