The thunderous roar of engines in the distance would force them to shift their attention away from their comrades for the moment, however, as a new, and
much more dangerous threat emerged. Turning his panoramic periscope towards the source of the engine sounds, demanding his attention, it did not take long for the young crewman to shout for his gunner to bring the turret to bear.
<”GUNNER! HEAT! TAAAAANK! LEFTLEFTLEFTLEFTLEEEEFT!”> The man ordered in panic as he watched the turret of a
Terenta Pattern Main Battle Tank turning towards him in horror, roughly three hundred yards to their south-east.
<"Guardian One sounding off as your cover from the north. You're clear to move for now, fellas.... Though not for long on our end sadly, but we'll deal with that on our own initiative - so just focus on getting back to FOB: Reverence, bais. Tunnel-focus time!">
<"Appreciate it, Guardian One, beginning extraction operations-">
<"Roller-8-1 to Basel-Actual, be advised, enemy armour moving hard from our east towards the convoy.">
The blocking detachments have displaced, laying into the convoy. Orik and his troops were the only ones in position to do something about it.
<"Actual to Rollers, how goes armoured engagement?">
<"Roller-8-2, chased off enemy armour but they'll be back.">
Orik bit his lip under his helmet as he looked down the macrobinocs down at the convoy. He keyed the QRF's net:
<"Section 2, continue manning westward gun positions. Actual to 8-Ecks, spare two squads and mount up in Roller-8-2. Hit them from the rear.">
<"Roger.">
<"Roller-8-1, maintain patrol of the southern flank. We'll establish southward facing defenses.">
The QRF got to work; while squads of stormtroopers re-mounted and the second tank went to hit the Alliance tanks from the rear, the rest of them on the ridge continued to man the Alliance heavy weapons, firing down as best they could. Soon, some of the repeaters had been turned around to face possible Alliance counter attack.
<"Roller-8-1 to Actual, hostile APCs from the east; at least 4. Two tanks. Will draw them away.">
<"Affirmative, give 'em hell.">
"You heard him! Heavy guns, range and fire at will!" The MPs and stormtroopers rushed to their positions, turning some of the guns to face the onrushing enemy. Sure enough, five APCs thundered out of the snow to meet them. Almost immediately, heavy guns on both sides opened up and the air was filled with heated plasma and blasted snow; Orik ducked down under a makeshift embankment before peeking again. The APCs were unloading soldiers, many already rushing the Imperial positions.
"Incomiiiing!" Someone yelled, and before Orik could clarify, he was flung into the embankment by an explosion to his rear. Ears ringing, he pushed himself back into cover as he heard the dreaded words;
"
ARTY ARTY ARTY"
"TAKE COVER-" Orik could no longer hear himself as shells landed all around. Through his HUD he could see the life signs of several of his men go flat, but there was nothing he could do. He lay there, pressed against the ground even as snow piled around him, thrown up and falling to the earth from the bombardment. Though it lasted barely a few seconds and was relatively light, it felt forever. When it passed, Orik got up, struggling to pull his blaster from the snow. The enemy infantry was dangerously close now.
"
Stand to!" Orik opened fire from the mound of dirt that passed for cover; well-placed shots down a few, but there were too many, even with the Repeaters firing again.
<"Roller-8-1, return to our position, we need back-up! 8-1, do you read?">
<"Strider-8-Oh, we read you.">
Strider? Why was-
Heavy laser blasts raked the Alliance infantry from behind. A momentary obstacle as they dived for cover, but enough for Orik's men to move unimpeded back to the prepared defense and open fire. Another salvo of laser fire caught one of the APCs and it went up in flames. The two still active moved forward, providing covering fire against Orik's men as the Alliance infantry retreated back to them.
Orik looked in the direction of the lasers and saw two AT-MPTs trundling towards the Alliance soldiers, firing. The Imperial soldiers cheered when they saw the walkers, a sight for sore eyes. One of the APCs fired back, a lucky shot taking out one of the walkers' cannons. The walkers backed away, circling towards Orik's position while maintaining their distance. The APCs mounted up and limped back away.
<"Strider-8-Oh to Basel, sitrep.">
The Lieutenant had arrived with the walkers after all.
<"Medium casualties, we're covering the convoy's retreat back to FOB from this position. Roller-8-1 and 2 are still in contact-">
<"We came across 8-1. They... didn't make it. Went down fighting, and we avenged them.">
<"Sir, there was mobile artillery in the battle area.">
<"One of the walkers went after it, just dispatched it and is circling back around.">
<"Then I suggest the walkers secure Roller-8-1.">
<"Sounds good; third walker will arrive shortly and cover you lot while we assist the tank. Prepare to move off once the Roller-8-2 is back.">
<"Yes sir!">
The soldiers stirred to activity, taking as much useful equipment as they could and dressing the wounded. Orik coordinated the packup, moving from section to section to supervise.
"
Ajreo, you up?" He asked the corporal, leaning against one of the barricades.
"Yea... but many of our guys aren't." The Corporal looked down at the bodies of some of the soldiers, many of them new MPs like Mhlant.
"Sarge, what do we do with the big guns?" Qelso, one of the new MPs, asked as she jogged up.
"
Set up charges and spike them; proximity mode. But controlled det. on the heavy guns to be sure."
They would leave nothing for the Alliance once they left.