The air was filled with soot and particles, forcing even those like Jamal to cough out the filth. The enemy artillery was more intense than even in their temporary fortifications, as back then, were there at least an occasion break or so.
"Dammit, y'all should have known this was to come!" a nearby soldier jogged to their hiding spot in the forest line, carrying a wounded member. "Fuck!"
"Hey, it's not over yet! Collect yourself!" Leon spouted back, eyes filled with disdain. "We all didn't wait here to stop and die! I refuse to fall now."
"He's right." Brat came into view, switching from a bird back into a human, "It looks like it's being concentrated behind us still. We need to continue onward carefully before they find our new spot."
Peering through the shaded cover, Jamal couldn't much through due to its thickness. Unless Brat could see past this, it would be risky to push back into the residential area and face not only hiding Reserve Guards, but artillery returning fire. But if they had a distraction, could it perhaps give them some time?
"I think I got an idea." Jamal turned to see the soldiers and Viligantes of Power members with him, "Y'all need to secure all these houses before we can make our way into the town. Someone sends a message to our other flank to not push into those apartments just yet, we need to link up as soon as possible. I'm going to distract their artillery, and we'll counter-fire on any incoming soldiers or those machines if possible. Understood?"
Leon and Brat gave each other a brief look at the quick plan, with most of the soldiers not wanting to wait around and find out. Jamal didn't have time for them to pick a choice, so he pushed himself off the earth and began moving towards the open fields.
"Go, now!" Jamal ignited himself, as he slowly levitated above, "Before it's too late!"
With the Port-O-Bea army willing to follow his words, or probably to avoid death itself, the nearby city men began their race back towards the housing and better protection. Brat and Leon just gave the man a simple nod, while Jamal stared across the land. The southern sector of Appleridge was a lot more flat than he anticipated, with a few trees and forest patches here and there, gave little more cover with an advancement in that direction. Thank his powers for not wanting to go towards another trap. But he had a real goal to complete, and that was something Jamal was willing to give his efforts toward.
The faint puffs of gas could be seen in the far distance, away from the main battle near the city, but close enough to be accurate and effective for their needs. The Port-O-Bea army's artillery itself was mostly still being set up and spread about, giving them limited capabilities to counter back at those positions. Jamal had to take into consideration his options, even as his comrades were getting hammered by the weapons.
The cooler air gave him a clearer mind, as his flames began to spread about as a distraction. If the artillery didn't fire in his direction, it would mean that he was wasting their temporary initiative, as Jamal being to pulse towards those batteries. Maybe he would have to bring the fight to them.
.....
"How did you plan that out!" Heskins couldn't help but be surprised at Sera's quick response.
"Considering our chances, it was either I tried something that worked, or death would have given us the other answer." Sera flicked the stains of blood onto the ground, "Y'all should be grateful."
"As I definitely am." Hops stepped over the body of one of the Reserve Guards, "But we need to keep on moving before the reinforcements come in."
The surviving army among them could only stay focused on their objectives and began to move, as plumes of smoke in the far distance began to become more visible to their eyes. Their fellow men were taking a beating and here they were, avoiding the worst of it. It only made them more sick and anxious about all the violence in this place, as Hops looked down at a clear street ahead.
"It's time to move! Let's give it our all!" he pounded his chest in a gorilla-like manner, energy pumping through his legs.
Heskins himself was already moving ahead, just as his eyes caught a glimpse of a person moving out of the shadows of a dark alley. If he hadn't caught sight of them, there was the potential for an ambush to strike them at that very moment.
Swaying his rifle towards the figure, Heskins didn't even have to wait for a response, as the person jumped up in fright.
"Hold on, we are on the same side! Don't shoot, don't fire!" the female voice rang out, as her uniform showed that they were clearly on their side. "I just had to get past the enemy, so this was the only way."
"I see." Heskins gripped a weapon a little tighter but lowered it slightly. "What's one of the code words we've established?"
"Crystal ocean." she spoke with no hesitation.
"Thank powers, really didn't want to waste this ammo on you." he took a quick sigh, as Sera moved next to him, curious about the hold-up.
"What are you waiting for?" she looked back at the person who appeared, "There's no way you're doing this right now."
"What, no! I came to tell you guys what Jamal wanted to inform you guys." the woman waved her hands in a manner to signal nothing was between the two, "He wants us to merge army groups so we can push together in the city."
"And when is that exactly?" Sera questioned, just as several incoming rockets zipped past over their heads and towards Jamal's location coincidentally.
"Now." the other woman's expression changed into one of despair, "If we don't try to get together in time, the whole operation will likely fail."