Sicily, Italy Late July 1943
The invasion of Sicily was still ongoing and the initial momentum of the invasion was starting to stall. British General Harold Alexander was commander of the invasion of Sicily and the British army was tasked with the majority of operations for the invasion while the Americans were meant to secure the flanks and provide support. General Patton wasn't exactly pleased with that and after enough badgering, General Alexander allowed Patton to conduct limited reconnaissance missions to the west which he interpreted as permission to charge the entire American 7th army west at breakneck speeds leaving British Major Montgomery to move along to the north slowly against stiff resistance. When Alexander ordered Patton to move back north and support the British forces, Patton ignored the order and continued moving west. He secured the western side of the island opening up the ports for Allied ships and securing the Mediterranean shipping lanes but the British began to suffer additional casualties and the advance was delayed.
Luckily, General Alexander was able to get Corporal Elbert, now Sergeant Elbert from the recon team to assist the British forces in the push north. The reports on the recon teams mission to Sicily told him enough to know that Elbert was going to be needed and Clark helped everywhere he could. Casualties would be higher and the advance would have been stalled a lot longer if it weren't for him. Kalvin Elbert was already earning a reputation among allied forces and the Axis forces as well. Many of them threw down their weapons when they saw how ineffective they were against him. All his good work earned him a battlefield promotion to Sergeant.
Unfortunately, German Field Marshal Kesselring was mounting his final defensive line in the harsh mountainous terrain of the cities occupying what was known as the Etna line. It was called that due to having the large Volcano Mount Etna as one of its key defensive components and it was the final opposition to push through in order to get to the northern part of the island. Whoever controlled the mountain slopes controlled the pace and outcome of the battle and it was here that some of the fiercest fighting for Sicily took place. General Alexander's plan was to capture the city of Adrano which linked the two halves of the Etna line together around the base of the volcano but that was still well behind enemy lines. In order to get there, they first had to get through the city of Centuripe.
The city was situated on the top of several steep hills which gave it a commanding view of the country side and a nearly impregnable defensive position for the elite German 3rd Fallschirmjäger Regiment who were stationed there. Clark was with Arthur Kingsley and his squad along with the rest of the British 8th army and the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Parachute division. The armored support was comprised of both British and Canadian armored vehicles and tanks. He and Arthur Kingsley were in a scouting position in the small rural village residing on one of the main roads about two kilometers from the steep hills of Centuripe.
Arthur was using his binoculars but noticed that Clark just seemed to be staring at the city. "You ok?" He wondered.
"Yeah, I'm fine. My eyes are really good so I don't need binoculars." Clark told him.
"Oh. Good to know." Arthur resumed looking through his binoculars at the city and it was a tactical nightmare. The city was on the top of some very steep hills giving it a clear view of the surrounding area whilst providing excellent defensive positions. The structure of the city streets and squares were tight which meant that fighting in the city would be close quarters and chaotic but they needed to take Centuripe to get to Adrano. The Germans knew that too which is why they were going to protect this city with everything they had. "12 o'clock. The large building on the side by the eastern slope. That's a bunker."
"I see it." Clark took note of it in a small journal while jotting down the distance and altitude. "I also see artillery cannons and fortifications on the western slope positioned to the south. And there's a mine field at the base of the hill on the main road."
Kingsley took a look with his binoculars and didn't see anything at first but did manage to get glimpses of the artillery cannons. "Nice spot." Kingsley remarked. "And there's some mortar crews at the base of the hill in those small buildings on the main road at the checkpoint. We can call it in and have the artillery take them out but making it through that city is gonna be a nightmare. Getting up those hills alone is gonna be slow and we'll be sitting ducks."
"You're right." Clark told him, seeing some impossible to scale cliffs on the eastern part of the city. "I could scale those cliffs to the east. Give the Germans something to focus on while the army makes its way up the main road."
"Those cliffs are impossible to scale. You sure you can do that?" Kingsley asked and got a nod in response. "Well, I've seen you do the impossible so much it's becoming common. Want to call it in?"
"Yeah."
"All right. Lewis." Kingsley whispered and one of his men manning the radio came over. "Get us a line to command to call in an artillery strike on German fortifications and artillery positions at Centuripe."
"Yes, Sarge." Lewis replied, grabbing his radio receiver, and calling it in. "Command this is British Paratrooper scout team 1 radioing in a fire mission at Centuripe."
"Roger that, Scout team 1. Awaiting fire coordinates."
"Sir." Lewis handed Clark the receiver so he could call it in.
"Command, this is Sergeant Kalvin Elbert calling in fire mission on confirmed hilltop bunker fortification in sector four. Azimuth 3-1-0 range 2000. One round, H.E." Clark called it in.
"3-1-0. 2000 One round, H.E. on the way."
There was a distant boom from the artillery cannons and a round hit the cliff side but missed the bunker. "Left 2-0. Add 50 and try again." Clark called it in.
"Left 2-0, add 50. One Round, H.E."
Another distant boom was heard and this time the round found its mark, destroying part of the building where the Germans were bunkered. "Confirmed hit. Mark it as Alpha for this sector. Next target. Artillery cannons at base of hill Charlie in sector three. Azimuth 2-3-0 range 1750. One round, H.E."
"Roger that. 2-3-0 one round, H.E."
Another distant boom was heard and this time the artillery hit their targets on the first shot. "Confirmed hit. Mark it as Baker for this sector. Good shooting, Command. Bring in armored column for escort into Centuripe."
"Roger that."
Clark handed Lewis the receiver and took another quick glance at the city with his super and X-ray vision. "The Germans know we're on the way now." Kingsley remarked.
"That they do. All right, Kingsley. You and your men stick with the armored column as it hits the city. I'm gonna move around to the cliffs on the east and make my way up. Give the Germans something to focus on while you hit it from the south. Hopefully if we divide them enough it'll make things easier." Clark told him.
"Here's hoping. Best of luck, Man of Steel." Kingsley pat him on the shoulder as they got down from the hill they were on.
The British armored column consisting of tanks, armored halftracks, and trucks for transport arrived to help ferry the first wave of British and Canadian infantry to Centuripe. Spotters and radiomen still called in fire missions on the cliffs and hills of the city on German targets they could see and the tanks did their job in mopping them up as best they could but the main rode up the narrow and tight slope up to Centuripe was going to slow everything down. It was big enough for one tank to go through at a time which presented a problem if an Anti-tank launcher or a mortar managed to hit it which wouldn't be that hard as it would be an easy target. So, the plan was that the tanks would stay at the base of the hill for the time being and provide fire support while the trucks carried the soldiers up. If the trucks were hit, moving them would be easier than a tank. Once the men secured the area surrounding the road up to the city then the tanks would move in. It was a smart logistical choice but having the first men up there without tank support was risky. The trucks and vehicles moved up the narrow road while the tanks were situated in positions to provide fire support with their cannons and machine guns. Larger artillery was soon moved to positions in nearby hills to provide additional fire support.
While the British and Canadian forces made their way up the main road, Clark super sped to the cliffs on the eastern side of the city. These cliffs were sheer rockface with high slopes, and positions that made it unclimbable at heights of several hundred meters. No one in their right mind would attempt to climb up or down unless they had a death wish. Clark didn't but he figured that with his super strength and durability he could handle it.
"Ok, Clark. Just like jumping through the cornfields in Smallville." He cracked his neck and jostled a bit to boost his confidence before taking a deep breath. "Just jump."
After taking a low crouch, he jumped into the air as high as he could. For a moment it felt like he was flying and it was both exhilarating yet terrifying. The wind rushing through his hair, past his skin, and the feeling of weightlessness as his body defied gravity, even for a moment. He reached the pinnacle of his jump which is when he grabbed onto the side of the mountain but lacking any kind of grip or ledge he began to fall down the side. To keep himself from falling any further, he punched his fist into the side of the cliff and it stopped him then and there.
"Whew…that was close." Clark looked around and then down which was a big mistake as his fear of heights kicked in. "Ok, that was stupid."
Centuripe was nestled up in tall hills and slopes at the base of Mount Etna so its highest point was about 2,400ft above sea level. Clark didn't jump that high but reached a respectable distance of about half that. "Oh, god why did I look down. I don't even know how high I am."
"You are approximately 1,276ft above sea level, Kal-El. That would put you at the height of the Empire State Building in New York City." Kelex told him.
"Thank you, Kelex. That doesn't make this any more frightening." Clark remarked.
"Apologies, sir. It is rather odd of your fear of heights given that if you were to fall you would not die." Kelex pointed out.
"That's one thing I can't explain. Hopefully, I'll outgrow it." Clark said, digging his other hand and boots into the cliff face and began climbing up as fast as he could.
The Germans stationed in Centuripe began to mobilize after one of their bunkers and some of their artillery cannons were destroyed. Their scout teams near the main road reported British and Canadian troops coming into the city so orders were sent out to everyone stationed in the city to ready their defenses. A platoon of German paratroopers were mobilizing to their defensive positions and getting all the ammo and grenades they could to stock up their positions. They were preparing an ambush point in a small street intersection with MG42s posted up in hidden positions within the homes and storefronts on the ground floor while the second floor would be their main firing position.
One of the German soldiers rushed forward with two ammo boxes for an MG42 when he heard distant thuds. It wasn't a tank since it would be a constant rumble and it didn't match the same thuds of artillery fire. It sounded more like something heavy was punching into the ground like a giant hammer or construction equipment. The soldier was ready to disregard the noise when he heard the thuds getting closer. "You! What are you doing?!" His lieutenant shouted.
"Sir, I hear something getting closer." The private told him and the lieutenant heard it by now as well.
"Artillery! Take cover!" The lieutenant shouted and they all ran for cover as the thuds got louder before something jumped into the sky. The private looked up, expecting a mortar round or even a grenade but saw the outline of a man in the sky before he dropped down and landed in the small street in a three point landing. The ground cracked under the pressure from his boots and fist. The soldiers of the platoon saw their mysterious intruder wearing an unusual blue and black uniform with a red S symbol on the chest. While the clothing wasn't common with the uniforms of Allied armies it bared enough similarities to that of American military. "American!"
The Germans raised their guns at Clark who super sped forward with his arms out, clotheslining two soldiers and sending them flipping onto their fronts before he grabbed the nearest one and tossed him at his friends like he was a bowling ball.
"Fire!" The lieutenant shouted and his soldiers opened fire. Their rifles and submachines guns fired their bullets which bounced, ricocheted, or broke against Clark's skin. He just stood there as all their bullets did nothing against him. He walked towards the nearest soldier who reloaded his Kar98K rifle just as Clark got close. The barrel was put right against Clark's stomach and he fired a bullet at point blank range only for the bullet to get trapped in the barrel as it couldn't pierce his skin. The barrel of the rifle exploded and the soldier saw that his gun was now useless. Clark just tapped him on the helmet with enough force that he knocked him out.
Clark took the destroyed rifle and chucked it through the air, hitting the German Lieutenant in the face with it before he blurred forward and pushed him with his right hand. The lieutenant was knocked back and ended up crashing onto one of his men where the two hit the ground hard. The German soldiers kept shooting at Clark despite how fruitless it was. The bullets kept on ricocheting and a few of the bullets even bounced off and hit some of them in return. One soldier took out a stick grenade and threw it at Clark who caught it with his left hand. He held it for a few more seconds before it exploded but after the burst of fire and smoke he and his face were fine. When the Germans saw that he survived the grenade, they all started to wise up to the fact that they were screwed and stopped shooting. One soldier decided to be brave and charged at Clark with his bayonet attached but instead of impaling him through the side the blade snapped in half. Out of desperation he used the rifle like a bat and hit him in the back only for man's hands and body to shake like he hit solid iron.
Clark sighed as he grabbed the soldier by the shirt and lifted him up with one hand. "What I don't understand…if the bullets and knife didn't work, why did you think that would?" Clark said in German and the soldier was terrified.
"Sorry…" he managed to say in English.
"Apology accepted." Clark put him back on the ground where he immediately got on his knees and put his hands up. The rest of the soldiers slowly put down their weapons and walked over with their hands behind their heads. He quickly grouped them up and proceeded to destroy their weapons and took anything else they had on them.
The front door on one of the homes opened up slightly before a husband and wife walked out to see an American grouping the Germans together. Clark noticed them come out and waved. "Hello, nice to meet you. I don't suppose you have any rope I can borrow, do you?" He asked in Italian.
The husband and wife looked at each other in confusion before nodding and soon enough, all the German soldiers had their hands and feet restrained before they were all tied up together. By now, the rest of the local Italians still in their homes had come out to see the Germans tied up in the square and a strange American man with a large S on his chest. A few of the feisty ones spit and threw rocks at the Germans. An elderly grandfather even poked one with his cane so Clark walked over and gently lowered it to the ground.
"That's enough of that, sir." Clark told him and his daughter came over and took him away. "I know you are all angry at them but they can't hurt you know. The British and Canadian forces are marching here now so please go inside and hang any white sheets or towels you have from your windows and doors to let them know that this area is safe."
They nodded and proceeded indoors to do what he said. Clark's super hearing picked up the sounds of the German's mobilizing at the junction where the main road entered the city and firing down at the Canadians and British who were about ¾ of the way up. Clark finished getting rid of the German's weapons and making sure they were secured before super speeding away.
Arthur Kingsley was with his squad who were all part of the larger battalion entering Centuripe. They were nearly at the top after the long and harsh trip and were now taking heavy enemy fire. The armored personnel carriers and armored cars were emptied of their occupants and used for cover and they pressed onward. Kingsley fired bursts with his Bren at the German's fortified position about half a mile ahead as the machine guns on the vehicles laid down suppressive fire.
"Come on, Elbert. Where are you?" Kingsley muttered as he reloaded his Bren.
The Germans at the entrance to the town kept up their fire down at the British and Canadians. Mortar teams quickly set up as fast as they could and fired down rounds. They were readying anti-tank rockets when the Germans on the western flank began to shout in surprise followed by several small explosions.
Clark super sped forward through gunfire and fired bursts from his BAR, taking down a few Germans at a time while pushing back or kicking those he didn't shoot. He shoulder shoved two through a sandbag bunker and knocked them into a machine gunner and assistant gunner before reloading his BAR and emptying the entire magazine at the German defenders at the front of the town. By now, his presence was noticed which made half of the Germans focus on him instead of the incoming British. One soldier fired a Panzerschrek rocket at him which exploded in a puff of fire but he burst right through the flames like something out of a comic and knocked 10 Germans back with his bare hands.
One of the machine gunners on an armored vehicle noticed that the German fire seemed to lighten so he took a look with his binoculars and saw they were engaged on their flanks. Kingsley took a look with his binoculars as well and saw them refocus on a new enemy and judging by the bodies he saw sent flying he had a feeling on who it was. "They're being attacked on their flanks! This is it! Forward!"
Kingsley rallied the men and led the charge up the main road with his squad following right behind him and the rest of the battalion following behind them. The German gunners opened fire, managing to shoot a few of the soldiers before Clark barreled through their fortified positions, tossed them aside and destroyed their machine guns. He unclipped a grenade from his belt and pulled the pin before throwing it at a small ammo cache set up in an isolated house which then exploded in a giant cloud of smoke and fire.
Kingsley was the first up the main road and fired a barrage from his Bren before moving to cover as the rest of his men moved up and engaged the enemy. Clark rushed forward and knocked down more and more of the Germans, essentially acting as a man-sized wrecking ball. He moved through the area in a blur and pushed or kicked enemy soldiers so they were sent flying when he rushed past them. His efforts made securing the entrance to the town easy as he was able to take down Germans quickly with the British and Canadian soldiers shooting them or capturing the ones who surrendered.
Clark rushed in and out through several buildings on the streets and brought out the Germans who were hiding or up on upper floors in elevated positions. More and more men came up from the main road along with the armored vehicles as NCOs and team leaders began leading their squads and platoons through the city to secure every street, roadway, and house in the immediate area before pushing forward.
Clark stopped in the middle of the street after dropping off the 100th soldier he found inside a building but before the German could shoot him he saw several British soldiers aiming their rifles at him. The German sighed and put his rifle down before raising his hand up. "Smart decision." Clark told him in German before looking at the private. "Take him away with the other POWs and get more men up here to secure the main road into town along with the tanks."
"Yes, sir." The British private replied before he and another took the German into custody as Arthur Kingsley walked over after restocking on ammo.
"So, how was the climb up?" Kingsley wondered.
"Oh, very picturesque. Beautiful cliffs, lovely birds, and smell of clean air was nice except for the fact that I have a fear of heights." Clark remarked as he grabbed his canteen but saw it was empty because it was riddled with bullets. "That stinks."
"Here." Kingsley handed Clark his.
"Thanks." Clark took a few sips and handed it back. "The easy part is over. Now comes the hard part."
"You're right. The Germans aren't going to let us take this town without a fight and they'll dig in to defend it." Kingsley remarked.
"It's gonna be like this at all the major towns in the area. The Germans know this is their last line of defense to keep us from moving north so they're gonna hold it with everything they have. It's gonna be brutal." Clark added, reloading his BAR with a fresh magazine.
"Good thing we've got the Man of Steel to help with that." Kingsley joked before looking at his men who had just finished restocking ammo and supplies. "All right, men. We're pushing inward into town. Our jobs not done until the Germans are pushed out of here and right now they're dug in so it's our job to kick them out."
"This town is fucking huge, Sarge." One private said.
"It is but this town is important. We take this and we push the Germans one more step out of Sicily." Kingsley pointed out.
"The Germans know we're coming so be prepared for anything. Look for anything out of the ordinary and watch each other's backs. Things are going to get intense but remember your training and trust the man beside you. And watch your fire. We don't want any of the local villagers caught in the crossfire." Clark warned them and they all nodded. "Ok. Let's go."
"All right, let's move." Kingsley ordered and they proceeded north through the town with a platoon of British soldiers while other platoons moved through the eastern sector and the Canadians took the western sector. The tanks and larger vehicles had to remain on the roads going through the north since that's where the roads were largest. The side streets through the eastern and western sectors were too narrow for the tanks so those were just for jeeps and transport trucks.
Clark was leading the group as his super senses made him the better scout. His super vision and hearing would pick up a German ambush or surprise and hopefully before it happened. They kept moving up north as soldiers went into the houses they passed to clear them out of any Germans and instructed Civilians on what was going on and to evacuate for their safety until they secured the entire town.
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