As the storm began to clear Hawke watched as the cliffs came into view well the edges. David was about to head on the slope taking them down. It was at that Point Gabriel caught the glimpse of something flash before them. “BANK LEFT” Hawke bellowed. David had no reason to question the Captains promote and loud command. With ease David spun his hands on the large wheel turning the lead truck with such skill and letting the rear trailer skid slightly as a rocket streaked past the passenger door leaving a trail of white smoke in its wake. Gask saw the rocket at the last minute as the rocket slammed hard into the front of the K9 froont with an explosion that rocked the smaller truck knocking the crew about. The trailer rose of the ground momentarily as the explosion had slammed hard smashing the bonnet apart in a loud explosion. Gasked kept his hands firm on the wheel trying to turn the truck again when a second rocket slammed hard into the small trailer. A loud roar of an explosion took the trailer apart in a large ball of fire. Mika grabbed the doctor and kicked the passenger door open throwing the doctor from the door she followed both rolled across the snow as a volley of gun fire pinged from the front of the truck shattering the glass across Gask’s face. Sadie jumped down from the other side as another rocket slammed hard into the other side ripping the door clean off. Mika rolled grabbing her gun she saw three Van Haar dressed in white coats armed with shotguns approaching her and the Doctor. Hawke popped the top hatch above his passenger seat and pulled himself up grabbing a firm hold of the Heavy Stubber he took a second to check the ammo box was firmly in place and pressed back on the trigger using the shield to dodge the ping of bullet fire. The gun whined for a few more seconds then broke into life with a constant chatter of blazing bullets. Shells flew from the chamber bouncing from the roof as the gun fire. “Gaston get out and take some of these bastards down.” Hawke bellowed over the loud roar of the gun. Hawke glimpse six Van Haar coming up from the slopping road carrying machine guns. He aimed the stubber at them and opened fire cutting three of them to pieces but the other three had managed to avoid the barrage of bullet fire. Group three swerved as a Jeep with a heavy stubber passed by firing hard at the armoured carriers side. Inside it was like listening to a violent storm of hail stones. Eve banked to her right kicking up snow and ramming the jeep head on knocking the gunner from the vehicle. From behind Group four moved around to cover the burning remains of the blazing truck and trailer in an effort to shield its crew. Helena moved her hands over her wheel with ease. Blocking the road was two small trucks firing the rockets behind them three jeps jumped to life racing towards the lead truck. From the side six snow bikes came from what seemed like nowhere and began attacking the rear carrier of group four. While to the other side Van Haar soldiers began attacking the carrier of group three armed with shot guns. Eve counted seven in toatla but there could be more. Hawke raged the Stubber aiming it towards the two blocking van Haar trucks. The Gun jammed. “Bastard.” He called allowed to himself. He dropped back into the cockpit passenger seat and took his SA-80A3 in both hands checked the clip was in tight then opened the passenger door and jumped out crunching his feet into the snow. He took the gun in both hands and began firing off shots at a fourth approaching jeep. The jeep was carrying a crew of three men one armed with a machine gun the other two with shot guns.
"If you shoot me I'm sure that we'll rip you," the bird's eyes turned towards the man who asked them their story as they were settling inside, "Same as any story with a man and a dog...though I'm hardly a dog....we are Merle, this truck has no room for me in here." Merle rubbed his bird's beak and stared at the members. Their story was the same as anyone else's story. They were here to win freedom or win warmer climates. "I wonder if victory allows us to get a tropical place....with some fresh smoothies," the bird continued, "I could go for a mango, strawberry smoothie...with some sunshine."
Gaston immediately hopped out of the truck, rolling Arthur and out his door. He threw his Ghillie wrap around him, white side out, and rolled under the truck. It was tough to see, initially, but the gunfire gave away positions and Gaston immediately began returning fire everytime one of brutes pulled their trigger. He next heard the approach of another vehicle. Looking over, he saw the jeep and immediately took aim at the driver. He zeroed in, waited for the wind to die down, held his breath, and pulled the trigger, sending the shot straight at the driver. Then he heard there stubber stop firing. "Someone get back on that gun!" he screamed. "Arthur, get your arse up their and give 'em Hell!"
An explosion, an eruption of gunfire, and Spencer was acting. He tore out of his seat. "Get on that gun and take them off the left flank!" He yelled back to Drake as he slid his door open. One of the Van Haar was approaching his door. In a flash, his shotgun came up and fired. A splash of red shot across the snow as the buck took out a piece of his shoulder and sent him flying off the bike to the ground. Spencer leveled his aim at a bike further back. A shot punctured the tire, and the bike went down. The third was too far back, and it looked like more hostiles were coming in. As they drove past, he saw Hawke nearby on the ground. "Keep it moving!" He yelled back to Helena as he dove out the door, rolling as he hit the snow. Another bike came screaming towards him. His shotgun was instantly exchanged for his katana. It came with a scream from its sheath. He stepped to the side and swung as the biker roared past. His head fell to the ground, and Spencer rushed towards Hawk, retrieving his shotgun.
I ripped my Jackhammer out of it's door holster and grabbed a cylinder from under my seat then stuffed it in my jacket. I jumped out on the top of the truck and headed for the top of the trailer as Gaston was already in position and Hawke was trying to return fire. I saw the blockade up front in the middle of the road down the cliff of Cornwall. I aimed up and fired the 3 rounds hoping they would fall and hit maybe one. Suddenly 3 jeeps busted from the truck blockade and head towards us. I fired 4 shots at the on coming jeeps. One of the jeeps exploded while the other 3 shots exploded around the other cars who were able to swerve around them. I crawled on top of the trailer to the back to make sure Artie was manning the Stubber in the back.
"Someone get back on that gun!" he screamed. "Arthur, get your arse up their and give 'em Hell!" "Oh sh*t!!!" Arthur said as he saw what seemed to be an endless supply of Van Haar raiders. He manned the stubber and pointed it towards the group of snow bikes. Only thing left to do now is fire, Artie. He took a long blink then opened his eyes and let loose. He hit the first bike with ease, the second bike he aimed at was a little tricky. It swerved and spun seemingly out of control. But Arthur knew better, Van Haar were as good as Orlocks behind the wheel. He sprayed a line in the general direction of the snow bike, missing it completely, but somehow gunned down another snow bike. He focused on the other three snow bikes, and hoped someone would pick off the wandering biker. "WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?!?!? AND WHERE THE F**K DID THEY GET ROCKETS FROM?!?!?"
"If you shoot me I'm sure that we'll rip you," the bird's eyes turned towards the man who asked them their story as they were settling inside, "Same as any story with a man and a dog...though I'm hardly a dog....we are Merle, this truck has no room for me in here." Merle rubbed his bird's beak and stared at the members. Their story was the same as anyone else's story. They were here to win freedom or win warmer climates. "I wonder if victory allows us to get a tropical place....with some fresh smoothies," the bird continued, "I could go for a mango, strawberry smoothie...with some sunshine." "What the hell? What are you some kind of ventriloquist?" Chris asked. "you must be the comic relief or someth--" There was a loud explosion in front of them. The Orlock made a violent turn that sent some of the loose equipment in the truck flying and sent chris into a panic. The Orlock seemed to be driving with one hand and shouting into the cb radio with the other. "Hold on to something!" She yelled back at the crew. Chris gripped the side of his seat as the truck slammed into something, probably an enemy vehicle. He could hear the constant crackling of rifles outside, and the less frequent boom of a shotgun. "This is it, the reavers are attacking, we're all going to die." Chris thought to himself. Eve, Chris had leaned her name from listening to the CB radios, stopped the truck and looked back at the Englishman. "One of our trucks has been destroyed, right now we're parked between them and the wreckage, they're out in the snow and we're surrounded by Van Haar, we're the closest truck so get out there and bring them aboard. Also, be advised that there are friendlies on foot outside, so make sure you identify your targets before you shoot!" She yelled as she dropped ramp.
Gaston quickly rolled from underneath the truck and began climbing up top. He was knicked in the process, but otherwise made it safely. He took refuge behind one of the stubber's large shields. Arthur manned it, firing wildly. "Calm down, Arthur," he told him. "Short, controlled bursts. You're strong enough to handle this baby." He pressed his back against the shield and turned to aim. He drew a bead on one of the bikers, held his breath, and fired. The shot struck the biker, taking him down. Gaston wasn't sure if he was alive or not, but he was certainly immobile. Shots sprayed against the shielding, and Gaston took cover. He peaked up, watching as Arthur took down some more. "Ata boy," he said while reloading. Then it was pack to the peak-a-boo shots. Some landing, some grazing, and some missing.
Hawke dropped to his chest aiming his shots carefully at the jeep closest. He gunned down one of the back passengers and hit the tire with a burst on auto. The jeep slanted throwing the last two passengers from the back and into the snow. Hawke rose back up and charged towards them the first got up fired the shiot graced past his cheek. Hawke fired hitting him head on the face. The latter struggled to rise hawke took advantage and gunned him down. The driver emerged from the jeep holding his hands up to surrender. Hawke gunned him down in cold blood then dropped behind the jeep. He took his clip from the gun and slammed in another. A rocket flew past slamming into the snow with a bang near the lead vehicle of group one. That damned launcher needed taking out.
Mika lay in the snow, yanking the Doc down in case he had the bright idea of getting up. Pellets spattered over them and a rocket zipped overhead with a track of flame. She brought up the muzzle of the shotgun to blot out an approaching soldier's face almost instantly pulling the trigger. The Van Haar fell in a cloud of red. She snapped the shotgun to the left to take care of another soldier just as one of Hawke's rounds took him out. Mika dragged the doctor up by the back of his coat as the Team Four carrier slewed around in front of them, shielding them from the enemy. She thanked anyone and anything that might be listening that the Orlocks were good drivers and that they hadn't been run over. Not far away she saw Sadie and Gask scrambling to their feet and taking cover as well.
Eyes closed as they were, Sadie didn’t notice the rocket headed for them. She didn’t realise anything was wrong until the fiery blast sent their truck reeling and Sadie herself slamming into the door. White pain exploded at the back of her skull, and she gasped for breath as the wind had been knocked out of her. Her entire body was jarred by the impact, and her ears rang with static from the explosion. Despite that, her honed military reactions kicked in and she was instantly alert, twisting round in her seat to check on her teammates. Gask was trying to gain control of the vehicle, but as she turned to see how Mika and Omar were doing she saw another rock headed for the trailer. Oh, hell no … “Bail!” she screamed, just as the rocket made impact. The trailer was blasted apart, sending the truck spinning out of control. As Sadie kicked her door open she saw Mika flinging herself across Omar and shoving them both out of the truck. Sadie’s door burst open, swinging sharply on the hinges. The freezing air hit her like a physical blow, stinging her face but sharpening her senses. She fumbled with her seatbelt, when a familiar staccato rattle told her someone was firing on them. Without pausing for thought she jumped, twisting as she hit the snow to see the windscreen shatter – across Gask’s face. He didn’t get out!? There wasn’t anything she could do. But where were Mika and Omar? Sadie pushed herself to her knees, trying to ignore the icy coldness of the snow that attacked like a thousand needles. There! There was Mika, rolling to her feet and grabbing her gun, and there was the Doctor … and there were three Van Haar, headed straight for them. Sadie swore, reaching for her own gun. She staggered to her feet, already feeling bruises blossoming all over her body. Lifting her gun up, she took rough aim and squeezed off three rounds. As soon as she released the trigger she was off, running across the snow to her teammates.
Shots sprayed against the shielding, and Gaston took cover. He peaked up, watching as Arthur took down some more. "Ata boy," he said while reloading. Then it was pack to the peak-a-boo shots. Some landing, some grazing, and some missing. "There's three more bikes left, sir." he said while attempting to take at least one more out. Then he heard a loud crash. It was a rocket. It didn't land on the jeep, but close enough to buck Arthur away from the stubber momentarily. There was a raider trying to board the top of the truck. Arthur, thinking fast, kicked the Van Haar in the head and off the truck. He got back up and Artie pulled out his nail gun and deposited three nails in the Van Haar's forehead. He quickly jumped back on the stubber, but the gang was scattered by then. Arthur struggled to find something to shoot.
The Englishman and the Ventriloquist quickly dismounted and Eve turned her attention to the Mechanic. "Kimsey, get on that gun! you need to protect us, we're just sitting ducks!" "What!? i've never fired a gun before, i'm not a soldier i'm a--" "Our people are in danger, if you don't do what you can to help then i'll kill you myself! Now move!" Her shy and timid side had completely vanished. Chris was talking to a woman possesed. He stuck his head out of the hatch and grabbed the stock of the weapon, it was huge. He checked that the chain of ammo was properly loaded and clicked the bulky safety into the fire position. That 3 hour briefing on weapons systems had been useful after all. He took in his surroundings, all of the Van Haar were dressed in white, making it hard to see them unless they were moving. Jesus they were everywhere, like ghosts dancing across the battlefield. Chris set his sights on one running toward the group from the downed convoy vehicle. He let a short burst fly, and the man exploded, staining the snow red. Chris had heard stories about what .50 cal rounds could do to people, but he'd never seen it with his own eyes. He was horrified, but he kept shooting, whenever he had a shot, he kept shooting...
Another rocket flew by, narrowly avoiding the truck. "Arthur, take aim at wherever those bloody rockets are coming from." Gaston rolled from the shield and slid down the ladder to the ground. He made his way towards Hawke, and took cover next to him. "How we takin' down that launcher, cap'n?"
I rolled towards the edge as another rocket slammed into the ground near us. This baby was a battle ship but I don't know how many direct hits it could take. I looked down to see Gaston and Artie working together near he Stubber. I looked towards the blockade again because I couldn't fire towards the back with the other teams there. I saw Hawke take down the last jeep alone. They picked this guy to be Captain for a reason obviously. I got up on one knee and aimed at an angle high the air. I fired my last 3 rounds in my cartridge. The shots landed right in front of the blockade makign large explosions and knocking up snow like a storm.
It seemed like a dream when the first rocket hit, sending the entire crew of the Coms Truck against the walls of the vehicle. A stark fear gripped Gask. Bullets bounced off the glass, eventually shattering it across Gask's face. Then the second rocket hit and Gask was alone. He was aware of fire all around him, but he was lost in the raid on his family's convoy almost a decade ago. The hot blood on his face was a stark contrast to the overwhelming cold of the world outside the truck. Fear had gripped him when the first rocket hit the truck, but now it was the need to survive that drove him. He was dimly aware of Sadie running somewhere near him, firing off into the distance. Gask became aware that he too war firing. He must have grabbed his Reaver Rifle before he jumped ship. A jet of fire flew overhead and exploded against the front truck. Rockets. They had rockets. Gask traced the rocket's path back to a couple of trucks some of the bastards were using for cover. Those b*tches had to be taken out. Gask became aware of the distant whir of an engine. When he turned, he saw one of the small Van Haar snow bikes charging right at him, one of the laughing bastards driving the thing. Standing his ground, Gask took aim and opened up a volley of fire on the man. Jumping out of the way at the last minute, the snow bike whirred to a sliding halt and the man fell out, briefly painting the snow red before the storm covered it up again. Someone was yelling, but Gask didn't pay attention to it. The rockets. Gask hopped onto the Van Haar bike with his rifle in hand and sped off towards the rocket launchers.
Hawke suddenly felt the rush of cold air grace his face it was almost like a thousand teeth biting into his skin. Using his strength he rose up and aimed over the bonnet of the stuck jeep he was closer to the two trucks but couldn’t see the rocket launcher anymore. "How we takin' down that launcher, cap'n?" Gaston called. but before hawke could reply a Bike passed by him the driver stopped aimed his short shot gun at him and Hawke squeezed his trigger the gun blazed killing the biker. Hawke crawled over to the fallen biker and took his grenade belt placed it over the handles and turned the bike to face the trucks he started it up again pulled the pin and let the thick snow bike speed off towards the two blocking trucks he dropped back behind the jeep for cover as the grenades exploded once the bike slammed into the side carriage of one of the trucks suddenly that cold feeling in his face vanished to be replaced with a warmer sensation from the blaze of flames that now engulfed one of the trucks. He rose back up to the sound of grinding motors as the remaining truck began too turn back and head back down the slope. He glanced at the other attackers they were still in force and surrounded the convoy. Hawke realised that group twos smaller truck and trailer was a blaze in flames itself. Again he reloaded his gun and ran back towards the lead truck of group one. “Artie gun those frakking Jeeps down will you.” He bellowed as he approached the truck.
Gaston was miffed by the captain's lack of correspondence, but he didn't say anything. He saw the retreat in order and almost let his guard down. Then he saw another biker, heading away. Oh no you don't. Gaston took aim at the fleeing biker and pulled the tricker, bringing the bike down with a hard slam. "Don't forget that one over there, Arthur," Gaston said to him, pointing to the downed biker.
Another rocket flew by, narrowly avoiding the truck. "Arthur, take aim at wherever those bloody rockets are coming from." "Yes, sir!" he replied to the Ghost. “Artie gun those frakking Jeeps down will you.” "I'm on it, sir!" he now replied to the Captain. Not waiting for David to tell him to aim towards the launchers, he turns the stubber around, searching for a good spot on the jeep. He locks in on the jeep and squeezes. The shots started off jerky, then smoothed out. He fired at one of the jeeps until it exploded. Then he took aim at the next jeep. Another rocket flew the skies, but they must have been a little panicked, because it landed way off base. Man up, Artie Boy!!! He let out a warrior's yell and sprayed the jeep, eventually sending its operators to the same place the first jeep now dwells. "Don't forget that one over there, Arthur," Gaston said to him, pointing to the downed biker. He nodded and jumped off the truck to rush the immobile biker. He pulled his nail gun again and points it at the Van Haar, who laughs and spits at him. He says, "Do it, pu**y!!! Be a man!!!" Artie pumped his chest full of nails and gave him a couple in the head for good measure. After witnessing the raider's death, Artie wisely hopped back on the truck, barely avoiding a shot at his leg.
Inside the truck the conversation seemed to go smoothly. But something quick and deadly happened. Now they were playing a rescue mission. Merle was walking in the snow calmly, the bird noticed he was thinking about something completely different. "And what are you doing?" the bird asked, "Shouldn't we hurry." Merle stared at each other. "I'll go ahead then," The bird flew off with a crafty cackle. Merle smiled a bit, him a ventriloquist. He could no longer speak, so how could he speak from the gut. His words had left him years ago. He found his way to the trucks he found it almost odd he had met nothing, yet. Which meant they were watching him? The bird came back. "I tell you this one thing...I can't see a damn thing from above and here I thought my bird eyes could," the bird went on, "By me some of these snow goggles." Merle's hands went across the wreckage, they noticed the people. "Don't worry your safety is in the hands of a bird and a man," the bird said. Merle was able to open the door that had seemed to pin itself. "My first question, is there anyone who can't move or talk?" the bird asked. The human companion stared at his bird companion. "You're right if there was a man who couldn't speak he wouldn't be able to answer," the bird said, "If you are injured please moan in pain." The human companion stared at his bird companion again. "You're right they wouldn't be able to hold those demands,"
As he blazed over the snow, one of the bikes cut in front of him, and he stopped. The rider raised his shotgun, and Spence ducked away, taking a graze from the buck. He came up on a knee and fired three rounds in return. His aim was low, and the first two shots shredded the biker's leg. The third punctured the tank with hot lead, and the bike went up in flames. Spencer ran up to the downed Jeep where Alec and Hawke stood. "Alec." Spencer said. "Snipe the launcher! We'll cover you!" He peeked around the jeep and started firing at the approaching vehicles.
Chris focused on controlling his breathing and taking well aimed shots, firing short bursts so as to conserve ammo, and using proper trigger squeezing techniques, everything he'd learned from the briefing. As long as he kept his mind on the technicalities of what he was doing, he couldn't focus on the horror of it all. Chris had decided that the vehicles zipping around were a bigger threat than the men on the ground and began focusing his efforts on them. He'd taken out a couple of jeeps and a few bikers when he noticed one of the survirors of the downed truck kill one of the bikers with a reaver rifle, steal his vehicle, and zip off away from the safety of the convoy. "What the hell?" Chris said to himself. Chris relayed the information to Eve so that she could tell the captiain. She was on the radio immediately. "Vehicle 3 Commander to Mission Commander Hawke. Be advised. Friendly aboard enemy motorcycle heading outside convoy perimeter... most likely Gask. Heading north by northwest, in the direction of the launcher."
"Vehicle 3 Commander to Mission Commander Hawke. Be advised. Friendly aboard enemy motorcycle heading outside convoy perimeter... most likely Gask. Heading north by northwest, in the direction of the launcher." Gaston stopped when heard the CB. The last person he had sniped was a biker. Was it one of the enemies or was it Gask? Gaston picked up the CB and spoke into it. "All units, stand down," he said transmitting to all working trucks. "May have had misfire. Heading out to check." Gaston remove his Ghillie cover and packed it away. He picked up his rifle and headed out to where he dropped what he thought was a fleeing bogie.
One of the Van Haars went down with Sadie’s shots. She grinned as she raced over the snow, then winced at the freezing air hit her teeth. Not nice. One of the two remaining Van Haars kept on towards Mika and Omar, but they would have to deal with that themselves. The final Van Haar was now coming for Sadie. “Bring it on,” Sadie said to herself. That rocket blast had pissed her off and she was itching to hit something. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Gask shooting at a biker, then stealing the ride for himself and heading in the direction of the rocket launchers. Nice to see he was alive and fighting, even if one side of his face was a bloody mess. She turned her eyes back to the Van Haar approaching her. She’d slowed down from a sprint into a steady jog, assessing her opponent and her own ability. Flinging herself out of the truck had caused some more bruises, and she’d probably be in more pain tomorrow when the danger was over. For now, she thought she should be able to take this b*****d down.
Gaston hustled out to the fallen biker. He was crawling on the ground, drops of blood pattering on the snow. The Ghost flipped him over, and the man's hands shot up. It was Gask. "Sorry 'bout, brotha," Gaston said to him, helping the Orlock up. "Shouldn't have been ridin' out there to begin with." Gaston helped the man limp back to the convoy. He located the doctor and put him down in front of him. "I think he's from the second truck," Gaston told him as an explanation for his wounds. "That's about all I know, other than he went ridin' off like a cowboy."
