The PAC had broken through the EU line no doubt about that. Alonya was back on the Titan Tributswith basically nothing for her and Afonik to do. They passed the time either with their crews, squadron, or watching movies. Alonya was particularly interested in an ancient movie that was based on a video game out lining a war similar to hers. She’d wondered if the Upper Echelons fo the PAC had ever seen the movie. Maybe it would just teach them something, in the movie the war machine unleashed by the proverbial PAC couldn’t be contained, the North American Union, the proverbial EU, was smashed at a horrifying cost. Everything was wasted, even the civilians. She shook the thought of Collateral Damage. Word was the EU had paid the US tens of billions of credits to start bombing the PAC cities, no doubt her government was doing the same. Her thoughts were interrupted as Afonik and another 2nd Lieutenant Silver stomped onto the Mess Deck and sat her table.

“Whats up?” She asked. Afonik grimaced when she looked at him. “Allie,” Alonya suddenly became worried Afonik only used her nick name when he needed her utmost attention or something was horribly wrong and judging from the other Lieutenant’s Uniform something had to be wrong, “this is 2nd Lieutenant Gold Alekseyev Gorgonovich, he’s here to brief us on our next mission.” Alonya sat up straighter, as if she could, “Will it involve tanks?” she heard her self ask. “I-“ Afonik was interrupted by Gorgonovich, “Yes, yes, it will,” The two tankers let out a sigh, “but, and there is always a but with the Pan-Asian Coalition, I have some news for you.” He pointed to Alonya. If she could sit up any straighter she would have, “What is it?” she spat out. The man smiled a toothy grin and laughed, “A girl only interested in the climax, guys must love you,” Alonya’s pale face burned red with rage it made her green eyes stand out and her dark red hair seem to catch on fire, the man laughed at here expression, “Well, Captain Silver, you are to be commemorated on such an outstanding performance.” Alonya slumped into the foam chair, at 29 she had terrible back pain.

“What for?” Alonya said finally. “You captured the EU’s Field Commissar Gold Zanipolo Bianchi and the EU’s premier tank commander Major Gold Eddie Hefting.” Alekseyev’s words made Afonik make a sound that got Alonya’s attention. She looked at him, his pale skin, pale blue eyes, and pale naturally grey hair but not old grey, won him the nickname “Ice Demon” from everyone he met except Alonya and a a few others. She went down from there he was quite the spectacle for most women. Her eyes stopped at his knife it had a couple of EU dog tags attached to it. No doubt he’d been in that charge she’d seen. “Shit, with that she should be Supreme Commander.” he said to Alekseyev. The man sighed. “Now about your latest mission,” Alonya looked at him, “the enemy has three hills Crucifix Hill, which they’ve dug into like it’s their last stand, Monument Hill; which again they’ve fortified the hell out of, and Hill 1845, which has a Mechanized Unit perched on top of it. Now, Command has seen fit to give you the choice of which hill you want to hit.”

“What’s the overall plan.” Alonya asked. Alekseyev nodded in approval. “The three hill will be assaulted at the same time. Monument will be hit by elements from both the Central Command Group and the Northern Command Group, 1845 will be hit by a Armored Infantry Unit, you know walkers, tanks, ground pounders, Crucifix Hill will be shelled till it’s flat on the ground and then an armored convoy will make it’s way up the one road to the top and capture it.” He seemed to have full confidence in the ground forces capabilities. “Crucifix.” She whispered. “Excuse me, Captain?” She looked at Afonik who nodded. “Crucifix Hill it is.” The man smiled said, “Thank you Captain.” and left. Alonya hoped she’d never hear from him again. “Get everyone in their tanks, it’s time.” she said standing up. Afonik snapped to attention, saluted, and then said. “Yes, Ma’am!” he about faced and marched off of the Mess Deck. She followed him.

Two hours later sixty tanks were lined up ready to go. Alonya in the lead tank and Afonik somewhere behind her. “Macaw Lead to all tanks. Report in.” There where a chorus of voices she recognized like Afoniks and Macaw 2, 5, and 10. The others were all green. She wondered how many would make it back, a bad chain of thought, for she then wondered if she would be coming back. “Macaw fifty-nine, checking in.” it was Afoniks voice. She sighed, “Okay, people, we’ll be helping take Crucifix Hill today, word is that command is gonna get the Americans to flatten the hill for us, plus we’re gonna use our guns in the barrage also, we’re a little bit more precise than those space jockeys.” there was some laughed and few curses. Some one was saying her prayers out load. Afonik ripped the tank commander a new one. “Tanker, what’s your name?” she asked the girl who’d been saying her prayers. “Monika Silber, ma’am.” she replied. A German!? Alonya screamed in her mind. “You’re from Germany right?” She asked. “No Ma’am, I’m from Moscow, my folks are German though, me I was born here.” Alonya breathed a sigh of relief, the last thing she needed was hesitation among her troops. “Okay, stick with me, every one else lets move out.” She grabbed the throttle and yaw sticks in front of her and put her Nekomata into a sideways turn. The other tanks followed.

They left the PAC staging area and entered the area where she had her first tank destroyed. Passing the burned out carcass of both Afonik’s and her tank served as reminder to be careful. “You think we should bury her?” Nakamura asked from his position behind her. “I don’t know.” he didn’t say anything back. They passed to the rear of the 1845 Assault Force which was setting up in the forest. An A8 Tiger was on top of Crucifix, which is directly behind the very much smaller Hill 1845, it was firing shots into the Forest; not really aiming but good enough to make the infantry to take cover and the Tanks, APCs, and Walkers to turn their shields on every now and then. A few shells from her company was enough to knock it out of commission. She watched as the crew bailed but for the ammo caught on fire. Then they continued north, passed a second line that had been smashed through and then turned east to pass through the tiny corridor that was owned by the PAC to get to Crucifix Hill. It was at a playground that two L5 Riesigs showed one of her tanks a new trick. The Walkers fired Rockets that homed in on the tank’s signature. The Gunner managed to get the shields up, but under the sustained fire power of both Walkers it failed miserably and sent the tank up in fire ball. Then the pilots of the Walkers began to back pedal, as he company broke it’s formation. They’d bitten off too much to chew. With 59 tanks they didn’t have to aim, both sides fired, but in the end when the dust settled two Nekomatas had 15 mm holes stitched in their sides and two walkers were nowhere to be seen. He company carried on.

They followed a road till they reached an outpost where other vehicles, aircraft, and infantry were at. She realized the PAC was pulling out all the stops except for a nuclear strike. Her screen flashed withUpdating... She watched it blink twice as the tank received information from the Tributs. The data packet was huge, 120 terabyte, it contained everything that would be needed for the next 72 hours. She sighed and sent each tank the coordinantes of where they were supposed to be. “Macaw Lead to all, you all know where to go, good luck. See you on the other side of that hill.” She said into her mike. Her tanks zoomed away, towards their pre-determined spots. After the last tank, soldier, and aircraft slid into place, a count down timer appeared she waited for it to reach zero. Nakamura found a target, a bunker, and elevated the cannon so the round would sail home. 10 seconds...9...8...7...6, she counted to herself, ...5...4...3...2...1.Then every cannon it what seemed like the world opened up on the hill.