Coloured flares pulsed downwards from the pitch black sky, his eyes straining as excitement surged up his spine, the dull crumps and thuds from far behind spreading across the defensive positions, a nervous tongue running across his lips as he glimpsed the lights sparkle off the walkers, the defensive shields rising across the upper cockpits of the second wave. Smaller mortars puffed from behind the hill, the local Ukrainian militia force commander determined to add to the defender’s potency.
Major Kelb stared forward, a whoosh of shells above as the mortar rounds fell towards earth, the commander jolting backwards as the explosions erupted across the dark terrain. Fire billowed upwards, acrid black smoke churning as brightly burning phosphorous shrapnel arced to the sides, pulsing through the dark smouldering night. Bodies were tossed into the air, many disintegrating as immense shock waves tore through the packed infantry and grenadiers, the German major jolting in overwhelming excitement and relief, glimpsing walkers collapse downwards, the screech of hydraulics and tearing metal echoing through the explosive roar as venomous distant shrieks from the enemy behind filled the air.
The detonations continued, flashes erupting all across the fields below as the artillery shells burst amongst the Morgon front and second line, mortar rounds exploding behind, the high powered guns now being adjusted to fire shells beyond the initial coordinates.
Major Kelb screamed with relish into his microphone, ‘Snipers…take out the survivors! Drive them back…break their spirit!’ The long barrelled high powered Barret rifles cracked and bucked, further shrieks below as the eruptions continued, night becoming day as the explosions tore through enemy infantry and armour.
The major raised his binoculars once more, leaning forward against the fallen tree trunk and adjusting the zoom, the overwhelming stench of burning flesh and acrid smoke sweeping across the defensive positions as artillery shells once more whooshed overhead and rained down on the enemy positions in the valley below.
Fleeing civilians and militiamen stared towards the battlefield from miles around, the night’s sky lit up by numerous flashes behind trees and hills, flares still pulsing high in the heavens as the roar of battle swept over them. Excitement stirred in many chests as hopeful rumours spread rapidly of an alien enemy perhaps being stopped by human special forces…and amalgamation of German and US forces deploying specialist weaponry.
Panzerfaust 3s, SMAWs (Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons) and RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) swept forward from the defensive positions, the burning afterglows filling the darkened hills as the missiles surged towards the target area ahead. The terrain below now burned fiercely, trees and bushes igniting as ammunition detonated and exploded amongst the bodies, a small number stirring and shuddering.
Major Kelb punched the air in relish, the binoculars rising again as his adrenalin soared, seeing the armoured figures fall back, several crouched and stunned, the continuing explosions ripping through fragmented units, the shrieking Morgon officers attempting to reorganise the advance as the units behind began to slow, several gesturing towards the dug in defences menacingly.
Further phosphorous shells fell amongst the grenadiers and Morgon infantry of the second and third lines, bodies thrown to the sides as the burning and pulsing shrapnel engulfed further units. The armoured soldiers backed away as shrieks of anger filled the night air, mortar rounds dropping across the rear fields as the heated flying fragmentation glimmered across the terrain. Smouldering metal and destroyed walkers littered the flickering fields, specialist Morgon troops desperately attempting to set up rear supporting mortar and rocket defensive positions for the infantry as Kelb strained his eyes, shouting into the microphone, ‘Engineers and escorts forward…execute any survivors! Move the Tanks and APCs up…chase them down…slaughter them!’
Glancing round, he indicated to his second in command, the blonde German running at a crouch towards him through the undergrowth, ‘Target artillery…I want coordinates on their engineering crews…’ He drew a sharp breath as engines roared behind the hill, the squeal of tank and APC tracks escalating as the armour jolted forward, Ukrainian commanders screaming excitedly inside their armoured machines as they heard the latest shout from Major Kelb, his tone almost venomous, ‘Enemy units falling back…destroy them!’
Further flashes filled the fields to the north, the rolling artillery barrage now smashing reserve units, the last few walkers turning away as the Morgon infantry began to withdraw. Then the roar of jet engines above, Ukrainian, Polish and Romanian planes sweeping low over the defensive positions, rockets igniting beneath their hulls and sweeping forward towards the remaining enemy armour and preparing artillery position.
A wall of fire rose in the distance as the fighters banked hard off to the sides, the glow from their engines visible for miles as the explosive sound waves engulfed the positions on the hill. The rocket and mortar pits were obliterated as further artillery fell to the rear, acrid smoke now covering the fields, flashes through the billowing shroud indicating further detonations.
Major Johann Kelb’s voice resounded across the defenders and advancing Ukrainians through their earpieces, his voice stern, ‘Advance only to the map coordinates you were given…we do not know the enemy’s strength further north. Move the artillery forward in support and establish new defences in the forest we indicated…we will wear them down!’
The main Morgon drive towards Kiev had been blunted and driven back…the fields littered with the dead and wounded soon to be executed, numerous walkers and other equipment destroyed. In the darkened heavens above, dropships swept through the earth’s atmosphere and towards predetermined targets.
Urgent messages swept through covert radio and media channels, Morgon warship and underwater vessel commanders shrieking in rage as they realised their first defeat against what they considered to be a negligible and insignificant enemy.
Further reinforcements including some reserves were ordered from the orbiting warships, additional drop ships and reserves despatched towards the Ukraine and central Russia…the Morgon commanders now keen
