Helena snapped her shotgun in the direction Spencer was pointing. She saw a very angry Van Haar coming towards them...no..not them...HER. "Sh**" She took cover the best she could, took aim, and waited for the Van Haar to come into range before pulling the trigger.
Chris scanned for more targets but could see no enemies. The flux of adrenaline, which had been keeping him warm, began to subside and he started to notice the freezing winds nipping at his face and tossing his hair all over the place. He came down through the hatch. "We should turn around for truck 4." Chris said to the crew. Eve didn't look at him as she responded. "You heard truck one, we have orders, Kimsey. Sit down and sh--" "F**k those orders! Hawke's KO'd right now. We gonna follow orders by some old man who's presently unconscious, or are we gonna think for ourselves? Who's second in command? They might need a roughneck out there to help them fix their rig. They might still be under attack! They may need medical assistance!" Chris said pointing at the doc. "We can't just leave them to die out there!"
Merle fought his way on to the door holding on with one hand, a sudden sharp pain spread throughout Merle's face followed by wet substance rolling down his cheeks and chin, eyes beginning to well up with tears from the impact of the butt of the gun. Merle Turned into a savage one handed beast clawing, punching whatever he could get at, aided by a little blackbird squawking "RIP, RIP, BLOOD, SCUM, FILTH!!" tearing out the eyes of Merle's attacker. Ceasing this oppununity he disarmed the attacker and held firmly the pistol taking aim he fired a shot straight at the head of his attacker a second shot to the 50 cal operater toppling. The driver jumped over his seat towards Merle before he could react he lay on the floor of the jeep with man making fury swipes at his head, managing to push the man off, hands came from behind him and around his neck, 1 bullet left he placed the gun to stomach and pulled the trigger both men went down crumpling to the floor. The vehicle drove straight towards a ditch. Stewards eyes began to tear up at the sight he had just witnessed slowly in the background he could hear an argument from Eve and and Chris, he brought his head back into the vehicle. "He's dead" sorrow filled his words "dead..." "We should turn around for truck 4." "You heard truck one, we have orders, Kimsey, sit down and sh--" "F**k those orders! Hawke's KO'd right now. We gonna follow orders by some old man who's presently unconscious, or are we gonna think for ourselves? Who's second in command? They might need a roughneck out there to help them fix their rig. They might still be under attack! They may need medical assistance!" Chris said pointing at the doc. "We can't just leave them to die out there!" "SHUT UP!!!.... MERLE'S JUST SAVED ARE F*CKING ASSES" Lewis placed his neck-warmer back on, "2 minutes silence please for his act of bravery" 'Steward bowed his head' the memory of what he had just witnessed replayed itself back in his mind *To minutes end* "I agree with Kimsey on this one, Orders are orders.... but there's one order.... instict if you please, that every soldier should feel and that is NEVER LEAVE A SOLDIER BEHIND!!" slapping his fist into his palm "Hawke wouldn't think twice about saving are ass.... Hell he already saved mine" pulling down his pants to show the stitched wounds "He could of left me there to freeze, but he never-- Forget about orders follow your instincts" looking each person straight into the eyes "What do ya all say?" waiting for a answer "I'm not exacly in fighting condition but heck,"I SAY LETS TURN THIS BEAST AROUND AND GO SAVE THEM MOTHERF*CKERS OUT!!!!---WHO'S WITH ME???" "Chris, How dare you call Hawke and old man , HE IS ONE OF BEST SOLDIERS I HAVE EVER SEEN, SO DONT GO DISRESPECTING THE MAN I LOOK UP TO!!!" "Eve, take us away!"
"I SAY LETS TURN THIS BEAST AROUND AND GO SAVE THEM MOTHERF*CKERS OUT!!!!---WHO'S WITH ME???" Chris smiled as he grabbed the CB. "All vehicles, all vehicles, be advised. Vehicle 3 turning around to support Vehicle 4. Over!" "Get off the radio Kimsey! We're doing no such thing!" Eve yelled. "You're really going to leave them!?" "It's not my decision!!" "Yes it is! You're the one behind the wheel! We can help them! You can't just let--" Chris continued his speech as Eve finished debating with herself and slammed on the brakes, sending anyone not strapped in flying to the front of the vehicle. Chris' face slammed into the radio console. "Fine." She said as she turned the vehicle around.
Hawke came too looked across at David. He turned out the side window and noticed the Van Haar gone or beaten. “We need to get back to group four. David stop the truck.” Hawke felt the pain throb in his leg. “Get Gaston on the walky and tell him to get back to group four. We’re too big to U turn have the others return and bring group four up. We’ll have to wait it out her for them.” Hawke said wincing through pain throbbing in his bloodied leg.
"All vehicles....3...support Vehicle 4. Over!" I was glad to see Hawke finally awake. He gave me an order and I nodded. I grabbed the radio,"David here, team 3 be careful and check in when you reach them," I spoke into the radio. I looked to the back on the floor and some lady was laying on the ground. I had forgotten we added a person to our truck. I tried to tap her and wake her up. She must have passed out or something. I extended as far as I could while still driving but no luck. Yelling at her won't were since she obviously passed out and stayed that way during this ENTIRE fight. An idea came to mind, I reached down to my BFR and pulled it out. I grabbed a hold of it by the barrel and tap the butt of the gun on her thigh. "Hey sleepy head, wake up and gimme a hand will ya," I said while still trying to keep my eyes on the road.
Mika My head was throbbing as I felt someone tap me with something hard and call me 'sleepy head', asking for help. I groaned. The last thing I remembered was being head-butted by a damned Van Haar which should have been the end of me. Someone must have killed him and dragged me into...somewhere. "Wher'm I?" I asked muzzily. Not bound, gagged, or dead so I must be with friends.
Chris manned the 50cal, while Steward waited patiently behind the scope of his rifle, standing out of another hatch. The frigid air felt like it was shooting white hot needles into Chris's face. "Heads up Kimsey, Stewart, we're coming up on Truck 4 now!" Eve yelled back at them. Chris eyed the Englishman, making sure he'd heard, he nodded that he had. For a minute they saw nothing, then finally the veil of snow cleared and Chris could see the whole scene. Vehicle 4 had apparently hit a huge dip, man made, sending the driver through the windshield. One of the ghosts was on top of the vehicle taking pop shots at a few of the Van Haar that were circling them. Chris saw Gaston on the ground, using the truck for cover as he popped shots off too. Chris relayed the information to Eve so she could send up a situation report. Stewart began firing. "C'mon mate what're you waitin' for!?!" He said with a crazy grin. "Like shootin fish in a barrel. Chris took a deep breath, acquired his first target, let off a burst, then did it again...
I put my revolver back into my holster and both hands on the wheel. "Well, You are in the Behemoth my dear lady. Looks like ya bumped your head or passed out or something," I laughed as I told her. "The name is David, and you are," I asked as I now calmed down that Hawke was up and running.
Who was I? After a brief second of figuring that out I was able to answer. "Mika," I told him, "Mika Corvagio. Bohemoth sounds pretty good. Are the damed Van Haar gone?" I struggled upright, my scrambled thoughts finally ordering themselves, "Or are they still out there to shoot?"
I laughed a bit as she asked that question. I motioned up with my thumb to the roof. 'Nice ta meet ya, and my friend Artie up there took care of those guys but the others seem to have run into some trouble. Truck 4 seems to be outta commission for the time bein' and my truck can't just turn around as you can tell." I told Mika as I patted the dash board. I looked back over at Hawke who was seemingly sort of awake. "Hawke sir, We are just past half way across the Callis Dunes." I said to him hoping it sounded like good news.
Merle scrambled back to his feet the cold biting into his face. The bird landed on his shoulder and combust into a red mist as a bullet came flooding past. Merle felt faeces drain down his while urine wet his front. He dropped to his knees begging the Van Haar that approached gun aimed forwards. “No please I beg. Please do not kill me.” Merle begged. The Van Haar ignored him and fired. The gun took off his arm. Blood flayed across the white of the snow. “AAARRRRRGHH.” He screamed. More faeces came out like liquid spreading down his leg followed by urine. The Van Haar put the barrel of his shot gun in Merles mouth. And fired. Merle didn’t get to scream as his head combust across the white snow behind him. His limp body dropped in a flop. Merle was dead.
Switching to single mode Steward took aim through his scope making sure he was one shoting the last of the Van Haar, While Kimsley rattled the stubber at the runners. Loud sniper shots could be heared coming from the toppled truck "Eve get in closer to the truck"
The crackle of gunfire began to taper off, as did the number of living Van Haar on the battlefield. Soon the remaining members of the gang got wise and began to retreat. "Looks like it's over for now mate." said Stewart. "Right, for now." Chris replied, pulling his head back from behind the scope, but leaving both hands firmly grasping the weapon. "I should get over there with the Doc, see if they need any medical attention. While I'm there I can check out the vehicle, you should stay here and man the gun just in case some Van Haar come back." "Sounds like a plan." Said Stewart. Chris ducked back down and told the Doc and Eve the plan. Eve called up a sitrep. "Vehicle 3 Commander to Mission Commander Hawke, Sitrep to follow. Enemy Neutralized at Vehicle 4 site. Codenames 'Kimsey' and 'Doc' enroute to vehicle now to assess damage and casualties. Over." Chris grabbed his crossbow and the Doc, and they began trudging through the snow and bitter winds, making their way to the battered 4th vehicle...
Gaston had sat back, picking off any Van Haar stupid enough to pop his head out or try to scramble. When the action had finally ceased. He stumbled his way over, body aching, back and leg hurting. "Good work there," he said aloud and leaned against the truck. "Now maybe a doctor would like to whip some sort of cocktail and take care of these bullets, I'd be a very happy bastard."
Steward took hold of the Stubber and watched the two men cross through the snow to the wreckage, soon as the men had arrived at the location Stewards eyes began to wander into the darkness searching for any movement. ****another passes by**** Something catches Stewards spinning the gun towards the sighting three foolish Vaan Haars darted towards the wreckage fire variety of weaponry "For f*cks sake don't these guys ever give up" As Steward rained burst after burst upon the 3 enemies with a few minutes all three laying on the snow with red stained silloute. "Eve, report that to Hawke" Eve quickly responded taking the CB "Hawke this is Group 3 vehicle is under repairs and injured are being treated immedietly, we have just recieve fire from 3 VH all have been destroyed...... over" Lewis watched as group followed the doctor towards the convoy "CASUALITIES?" "YEA! THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS COLD!" "Eve lower the ramp, we are taken on the casualities they need warmth to recooperate"
"A pleasure," I told David in response to his polite response, "Artie, huh?" I tried to bring Artie to mind but couldn't remember him from the briefing. "Glad he was on the ball. Thanks to whoever got me in here." I rubbed a tender bump on my forehead, it was probably turning purple. "At least we're still moving forward," I said optimistically.
Spencer heard shots blaze above him. The big Van Haar was coming for Helena. Spencer motioned for her to keep down and cease fire. He began to clamber forward to try and get a better view. When his footfalls got closer, Spencer leaped over the seat, fired one shot, then dropped his gun. Two steps later, his blade was drawn, and he ran a bloody swath up the Van Haar's torso, splitting his face. The severed carcass dropped to the floor. And the shooting halted. Spencer let a breath out. He heard the others surrounding the truck, and he came out slowly, blade in one hand, gun in the other.
Chris heard shots from the 50cal coming from behind, Steward must've spotted something. He hurried the doc to the downed vehicle where he was approached by Gaston. He looked to be in horrible shape. "You look Great!" Chris told the Ghost. "Here's the doc, I'm going to check out the vehicle."
Gask tilted his head at the sound of the patrol bike, an annoying whir compared to the sound of the truck's raging engine. Hawke must have been sending out scouts. After all, there was no sense in not taking the necessary precautions with the Van Haar riding around like a bunch of maniacs. Sadie was peering out the window when Gask looked over to her. “Something tells me this is not a good sign,” she commented dryly. Just as he was opening his mouth to reply, the radio began to crackle. "...voy be ad...trap no more than....lookout." With most of the proper com equipment having been destroyed along with the trailer, there was little Gask could do to make the message any clearer. Even so, it only served to confirm Sadie's remark. Casually, Gask glanced over towards the side window and hummed a little tune around his cigarette. It looked light it was getting brighter out there...like a pair of lights were coming. A pair of lights. Headlights! By the time Gask realized what was going on it was nearly to late. Gask threw on the emergency brakes to reduce sliding and braced himself for the impact. The Van Haar truck rammed hard into the side of the smaller Coms Truck, sending both sliding on the ice. Gask could hear Sadie kicking away at the door, only just managing to bust it open. She appeared to have hurt herself. Not waiting for the Van Haar to swarm them, Gask shouldered his rifle and scooped Sadie up easily. With her in his arms, he dived out into the snow for the second time in what seemed to be far to short a time for such things to happen. Gask managed to get to his feet nearly as quickly as Sadie, Reaver Rifle coming into firing position as soon as he had risen. Sadie gave him a lopsided grin. "Told you it was a bad sign." Despite being more or less surrounded by angry Van Haar, Gask failed to suppress a smile at her comment. "Your sense of danger is flawless," he replied sarcastically as the Van Haar closed in on them. Not waiting for them to take the first shot, Gask charged the nearest of his enemies, knocking the shotgun away just as it fired and slamming the but of the rifle hard against the man's skull. There was a very audible crack that Gask savored a little too much for his own comfort. In a blinding flash Gask was on to the next of his victims, firing the rifle six times into the Van Haar's chest before laying him out onto the red snow with a heavy handed punch. Before Gask could turn and face his next opponent, the back of his head met with the heavy force of the butt of a rifle. Gask fell, feeling warm blood run down his neck. His vision swirling in odd and nauseating ways, Gask managed to roll over and bring his revolver into his hands. Taking quick aim, at the Van Haar bastard that had locked him in his rifle's sights, Gask squeezed off a round and blew the man's trigger hand almost completely off. The enraged madman threw down his weapon and jumped on Gask before he could squeeze off another round. The two thrashed about wildly for a moment before Gask landed a good punch in the man's face, breaking his nose. This gave Gask just enough time to get to his feet, attempting to run towards the wrecked Coms Truck. Gask was tackled hard in the back and slammed face first into the side of the truck. He though a little about how he had received far to many head injuries in such a short amount of time. The Van Haar grabbed him by the hair and slammed his face into the hard steel of the truck. Gask could feel his nose shatter. Again the Van Haar slammed him. Hot blood covered ground below him. Again. Gask felt the strength draining from him and was almost entirely sure he lost a tooth or two, but damn it, he still had that bent to hell cigarette in his mouth despite everything. Managing half a puff before the Van Haar slammed his head again, the cigarette finally broke. Red sparks collided with steel and snow and were extinguished. "Now you've done it you bastard." Gask managed through a mouth full of blood. He caught himself at the last moment before his head smashed again and began pushing against the truck and gradually over powering the Van Haar. Gask ducked under and let his enemy use his own momentum to slam into the truck. Gask punched him hard in the kidneys twice before slamming the Van Haar's head hard into the steel plating of the truck. Filled with rage and covered in blood, Gask kicked open the engine compartment on the side of the truck and drug the Van Haar to it. The man struggled, but the enraged Gask was far stronger, forcing the man's entire upper body into the engine compartment. Screams erupted for a brief moment as Gask used a free hand to feel around for the external starter. Then there was nothing but the roar of the truck's engine and a spray of blood and intestines as the Van Haar was ripped to pieces. Gask stumbled back a couple of feet, covered in his own blood and the blood of his enemies. In a daze he hoped that Sadie was faring better against these monsters than he was. That was his last thought before darkness took hold of him and he collapsed face first into the cold snow.
The vehicle didn't seem to be damaged at all except for the windsheild. It just needed to be towed out of the hole. While doc was busy mending everyone, Chris ran back to Truck 3 and told Eve the situation and backed her up within towing range. Helena helped him set up the tow bars and shackles and Eve pulled them out of the trap. After replacing the towing equipment, Doc advised Gaston to ride in truck three since his wounds were the most serious and required further attention. Chris loaded Gaston's speedbike onto vehicle 3 and Made sure Helena was good to drive before he loaded up himself. Eve called it up, "Vehicle 3 Commander to Mission Commander Hawke. Vehicles 3 and 4 Green and ready to roll, Rejoining convoy formation time now. Out."
Drake still lay motionless on the icy ground. Slowly he opened his eyes. He saw dim shadows. More Van Haar he thought. All he remembered was being kicked by a Van Haar. Slowly he saw Spencer and the others. He realised that he was a little behind time. He shouted out to Spencer, HEY-SPENCE!-I-AM-HERE,-WE-WERE-SEPERATED-AND-ATTACKED. HELP-ME-TO-THE-DOCTOR-AND-WHERE-IS-THE-COWARD-WOMAN-AND-ANOTHER-WHO-HIT-ME-WHEN-I-WAS-INJURED.-IF-THERE-HEAD-WASNT-RIPPED-I-WOULD-RIP-IT-NOW".
I managed to get into a seat and my head started to settle down. I mostly felt stupid for getting knocked out and being totally useless during whatever had happened. We weren't moving. So whatever had happened had been significant. I moved the armor plate that served as a window and looked out. I could mostly see snow but here and there, if I looked back far enough, splotches of red and crumpled vehicles. "Damn." I breathed, "Do we have any idea how many people we lost? Do we still have all of the trucks?" I ground my teeth. I had been useless. "I might be able to help the doc if we have too many injuries to deal with."
"You look Great!" Chris told the Ghost. "Here's the doc, I'm going to check out the vehicle." "Eh, thanks," Gaston responded. The doctor took him inside the bay, turned on a heater, and had Gaston remove his clothes. After a few "mmm hmms" and an "awww," he got his tweezers out and plucked out the first bullet from his leg. Gaston winced. Despite the heater, the cold was biting at him, and the metal tweezers didn't help. The doctor then plucked the second bullet from the wound in his back. "Awfully lucky to be wearing all those layers, yeah?" the doctor asked. "These bullets might've done more than tissue damage." Gaston nodded. "Hurry up and bandage me up," he said hastily. "My boys are freezing somethin' awful." After a few minutes the leg wound was bandaged up, then the doctor put wrappings around his torso for the back. He left while Gaston was getting dressed. Once he was bundled up, the doctor came back. "I've advised that you stay here," he said. "You shouldn't be riding out there, you've lost a bit of blood." Gaston looked over the doctor's back and saw Chris rolling the bike up the ramp. "Sorry, boys," he said. "Duty calls. You all have Spencer here, I'm on the first truck." He looked up at the two. "No arguing." Gaston began to unlatch the bike and rolled it back down the ramp into the cold. "See you on the other side, brotha" he yelled and grinned. He revved the bike up and took to the icy paths again. After a matter of time he had caught up with the first truck. "David, this is Gaston," he said into the headset. "Lower the ramp, I'm coming in." He saw the cargo bay open the ramp came down, hitting the ice and rolling on the tiny wheels it had. After some hard negotiating with bike and ice, Gaston lined up and got up the ramp. He hit the button to seal the bay and latched down the bike. He walked up front, and took a seat, letting out a sigh of relief. "Nothin' like a couple rounds of hot lead to warm you up in this weather, eh?" he grinned some more looking at the other occupants.
A tall figure bulked in from the rear of the truck accompanied by a blast of freezing air. "Nothin' like a couple rounds of hot lead to warm you up in this weather, eh?" Ah, it was Gaston. Mika had met him once or twice before as he had known Boris, her husband, while he was alive. "Better ways to warm up," she grinned back, "but each to their own I suppose. How is truck four? Do we still have everyone?"
