Colonel Busse was just about to answer when he saw a tank commander climbing out of the new model tank, “Right, I need to borrow a motorcycle from you guys.”
Colonel Busse looked puzzled, “For what purpose?”
The commander pointed ahead, “The enemy is preparing counter artillery fire, right? Once the preparation is over, I want to go in and check the location of the craters.”
Colonel Busse, also an armored commander, understood immediately, “Afraid of falling into craters?”
“Yes, the new tank has broad tracks which provide good passage through mud, but the thing is so heavy that if it falls into a pit, it’s more than likely it won’t be able to get out on its own. You probably don’t have tractors capable of towing something this heavy.”
Colonel Busse’s aide, feeling slightly contrarian for some reason, said, “Our tractors can tow something weighing 40 tons!”
“This thing weighs fifty-six tons,” the commander said.
The aide closed his mouth.
The commander quickly reassured, “Don’t worry, we won’t drive it into a pit, provided that we thoroughly scout the ground ahead. You can go ahead and start moving.”
Colonel Busse was puzzled, “What if we manage to break through the enemy’s lines?”
“Then you break through,” the commander said, “We’ll follow behind. If you encounter resistance, then it’s our turn to step in. If you get counterattacked by enemy armor, we will handle it, we’ll take care of everything.”
Colonel Busse, “That confident, hm?”
“You don’t know how well this thing performed at the test range. I mean, apart from the high breakdown rate. But it’s normal for new vehicles to have issues. These things cannot be forced.” Discover stories with empire
Colonel Busse nodded, this young commander had left quite a good impression on him.
He inquired, “What’s your name?”
The young commander immediately replied, “My name is John Christopher, as you can see I’m a captain, and I’m pleased to be under your command, Colonel.”
Colonel Busse, “You forgot to introduce yourself to your new superior, but you remembered to scout the road. I have a feeling you’re a competent tank operator.”
“Thank you,” John replied.
Colonel Busse glanced at the ongoing artillery barrage ahead and decided to keep inquiring, “Got any combat experience?”
“Yes, I’ve participated in the Carolingian campaign, then I was injured.” The young man showed his Carolingian campaign ribbon and his wound badge.
Colonel Busse looked at the wound badge, puzzled, “You have another injury, what happened?”
“Before the Melania campaign started, I jumped on a tank and slipped, ended up with a fracture. It wasn’t really a combat injury, but my battalion commander valued me quite a bit and managed to get it categorized as one.”
Colonel Busse couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “You’re a lucky guy.”
Such an injury that didn’t impact one’s ability to look after oneself yet provided a respite from the battlefield was considered lucky, even in military-tradition rich Prosen.
John Christopher laughed as well, “Indeed.”
Colonel Busse then asked, “Did you pull some strings to become a driver of a new model tank?”
“No, I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for tank operators, so I sent my resume, and the defense department quickly transferred me to the test field and into an experimental company. And now, as you see, I’m here.”
Colonel Busse was about to respond when suddenly the constant barrage of artillery in front of them began to switch to extend firing.
The colonel immediately dove into the tank and closed the hatch behind him.
It was certainly safer inside the tank than outside.
Only after he got in did he realize, that John Christopher was still out there—would his wound badge get another star?
The extended fire quickly passed over the real assembly area and moved further back. Colonel Busse crawled out of the turret and saw John Christopher crawling out from under the new model tank, slapping the dust off himself, “The counter-fire preparation barrage will extend forwards, noted and learned.”
Glad to see him unharmed, Colonel Busse picked up the radio, “All units, begin advancing—”
“Report!” John Christopher raised his hand, “I suggest not moving just yet, if the Ante People have been cunning once, they will be a second time. Just when we think it’s safe and carelessly pass through, they might hit us with a surprise artillery attack.”
After John finished talking, the voice of the chief of staff came through Colonel Busse’s headset, “The recent extended barrage caught us all off guard, resulting in considerable losses. If we start moving now, the support units may not be able to catch up.”
At that moment, an officer from the armored unit approached to salute, “Colonel sir, fifteen tanks have had their tracks damaged and cannot join the attack.”
Colonel Busse cursed.
Then John Christopher said, “It’s a good time for me to scout ahead. Once I confirm a passable route, I can join the attack with you. You must have lost quite a few tanks, haven’t you?”
Colonel Busse answered, “Yes, most of them had their tracks blown off.”
Captain John laughed, “Then it’s crucial for us to join the attack, because if we can’t seize the battlefield tonight and immediately start retrieving the tanks with damaged tracks, they might end up on the list of permanent losses by tomorrow.”
Colonel Busse could only nod, “I’m afraid that’s indeed the case.”
John, “Then what about my motorcycle? To help you, I need to scout first, otherwise I can’t even drive the tank to the front of the enemy’s positions.”
Colonel Busse, “Didn’t you say the Ante People might be cunning again? I also think we should wait another fifteen minutes to make sure the Ante People are indeed done firing before taking action.”
“Yes,” John Christopher said, “but when the shelling comes, it’s easy for one scout to hide. I won’t have any trouble, they won’t use such a fearsome artillery group to trouble one scout.”