"Lanx, got the suits covered?" I asked.
"Of course."
"Everyone ready?"
"Yes!"
The others and I were all fitted out in our mole suits. The ones without suits we're simply going to focus on distracting the enemy with sniper fire.
"Let's move!" I ordered.
*
As we were taking a break from digging, we received a message telling us of the Dukes and enemy reinforcements.
"We need to hurry. Break's over."
We kept digging.
After a little while, we reached the base.
*
"Cpt Wif, where are the mole suits!?" Maj Gunnery asked from behind the wreckage.
"I'll take care of that! Rally the men would you?" I responded.
I moved away from the wreckage as quickly as I could. The Lucas Tanks on the left were holding their own, destroying an enemy tank right out the gate. The other two were simultaneously distracting the Duke, pinning separate areas along the battlements, and dodging enemy fire. Not dying seemed to be a real good motivator to the greenhorns. Infantry were desperately trying to find cover from the many machine guns and artillery fire, some fleeing entirely. That last one for got to me.
"Hey! You leave, and we'll blast off your hands later!" I called out over the radio. That brought back some.
Ugh...
I finally got to one of the provision trucks, bringing over a few soldiers along the way.
"Y'all know how to use these, right?" I asked, showing them some mine placers.
"Umm, yeah." One of them said. They all learned as it was one of the chores many of them had to do after the last big battle.
"Great! We're going to take out that Duke tank without mole suits."
"What!?"
"I gave what we had to Recon Company, now do as your told! Take one and pass it along."
There were 20 of us total. As we approached no mans' land, I ordered men to provide us cover and to act as a distraction. Many were not okay with the plan.
"Ready to give your lives to the persistence of Lethal Laser Battalion!? No!? Too bad! Charge!" I cheered. I immediately took the lead with some infantry, the mine guys staying more in the middle. "Remember, whoever survives gets a nice reward! Those who die, well, we'll just pass it along to your family! How's that sound!? Oof!"
Owwwww! My arm!
"I'LL CRACK YOUR HEADS OPEN!" I yelled as I blew apart the head of some unlucky peeker on the battlements with my rifle.
*
Underneath the base, we decided to forgo the first hole in case the enemy discovered it and went elsewhere.
Once we cut a new slab off to get through the floor, we immediately resealed the hole and made a base in some coward's room. Died quietly enough, luckily.
I motioned to Hunt.
He nodded and checked the door. Lanx then approached with the digital schematics, pointing at our room and another room more above us.
I nodded and motioned for Hunt and two others to go out. I then get Kret to open the vent. With the help of our mole suits, we all squeeze ourselves into the hole, me in the front.
As we made our way to the next story, an explosion. Not a big one. I was then signaled that Hunt and co returned.
Once I gave the all clear I bust open the vent and the lot of us rolled out, one after the other into an empty room.
We quickly armed ourselves and crossed the hallway, knocking on the door.
"Yes?" A voice answered.
In my most pained voice, "Sir, enemy saboteurs got in the building!" I responded.
"What!? How do they get in here anyways! Lt Yick, take care of them!" Another voice ordered.
"Yes sir!" Said the first voice, opening the door.
I blasted his chest open and we stormed the room.
"Hands up, this is a mutiny!" I call.
That confused them enough for the others to pick their targets and shoot the guards and not the officers.
"Major, I hope you'll cooperate." I said.
"Why would I surrender? The Duke Tank will still annihilate any and all enemies to the Baron! You have nowhere to run!"
"But I don't need to run."
*
As we neared the massive tank, their machine gunners took note of us and started firing in our direction. The Lucas Tanks had to avoid running us over and made sure to keep any cannon fire away from us.
I switched from my rifle to the mine placers, and, with the other surviving mine placer people, we made a final dash to the tank, a Lucas weaving in front of us, taking a brunt of machine gun fire and a Duke shot sailing harmlessly above our heads, me and 8 others rolled underneath the tank just roll back out before enemy infantry shot us like fish in a barrel. The Duke, now surrounded by enemy and ally alike, was indecisive, giving us the time for infantry to hold back the enemy as we attempted anew. I ordered the men just throw the mines wherever, and I ordered the retreat. The Lucases, catching on, also created some distance from the Duke. The Duke took the time to blast apart another Lucas Tank and, awoke from its stupor, moved forward.
The Duke created such a fiery display, shrapnel flying everywhere.
Wait, couldn't I have just used satchel charges?
...Whoops, bit overkill, aren't I.
*
"So, how 'bout now?" I asked.
The Major, with shock and fear in his eyes, said, "I surrender..." and put his hands up. The other officers then followed suit.
"Major Gunnery, this is Cpt Johnson. I have captured the enemy Major. Awaiting orders." I said over the radio.
"What do you need orders for!? Get over the loudspeaker!"
"You heard the man."
I dragged the Major over to the intercom at gunpoint and gestured.
He gulped.
"Attention all units, this is Major Slans. All personnel are to lay down their arms and the surrender. The enemy has taken the base. Please wait for reinforcements."