Part 26: Mission 27: It's All Uphill From Here

Alliance engineers finished the first prototype of a new tank chassis with an integrated turret design, and preliminary testing would begin. The hard numbers weren't in yet, but estimates were optimistic, indicating that a UDES with a retracted turret would be able to deflect blows that would destroy even an M1 or similarly specced main battle tank.



While Engineering was working fast, we were working faster. We'd caught the Forces of Darkness off-balance, and it was time to consolidate our hold on the new line. Taking the hills to the west would cut off any attempt by the enemy to flank us.

Mission 27: It's All Uphill From Here

Attending:
Lazarus (Forlorn Hope, Flamethrowers)
Habitually Red (Sane Max's Own, Flamethrowers)
Solrick Skaft (Scion of Emer, Flamethrowers)
T. Hinman (Ethereal Corps, Flamethrowers)
Logan "Hardtack" Smith (War Dogs, Paranormal Infantry)
Joe Moore (War Boys, Paranormal Infantry)
Patrick Gallagher (Just In Time, Elmag 1)
Svetlana Aliyev (Rusalka, Elmag 1)
Mael Radec (Radec's Rhinos, M1 Abrams)
Erik Spanner (The Toolbox, M1 Abrams)
James "Griff" Griffin (Party Crashers, M1 Abrams)
Basil (Paladin, M1 Abrams)
Jorji Costava (Cobrastan's Best, M1 Abrams)
Isara Gunther (Edelweiss, M1 Abrams)
Anil E. Hilated, Esq. (Polite Obliteration, AMX-30)
Grand Inquisitor Solaus (Balkanian Inquisition, AMX-30)
Gregor (The Swell Swords, AMX-30)
Michael de Boulogne (Chivalric Order of Saint George, AMX-30)
GyverMac (Gyver's Grinders, AMX-13)
Cholmondely Featherstonehaugh-Smythe (Sphinx Battery, Gepard)
Billy John (The Truther Squad, Gepard)
Catherine Ulysses (Smart Patrol, Humvee)




Catherine Ulysses: Looks like they were expecting us. How the hell are we going to get up there?
Mael Radec: The same way we got up the last one. Artillery, you're up.



Anil E. Hilated: They thought they could avoid charging into our gun range. They didn't realize they were already there!



Solaus: They're charging us anyway! Just took out some riders.




Billy John: Can't say I like the idea of sitting at the bottom of the hill, but if they keep coming to us like this, it just might work out!



Anil E. Hilated: Ballista down! That's the most dangerous target I saw.
Erik Spanner: That just means the really bad stuff is hiding where we can't see it.




Griff: Got things pretty well under control here. Our line of defense is ready for anything!




Solrick Skaft: Flamers up, we've got company!



Patrick Gallagher: That's... huh. At least I have something to aim at now.



GyverMac: Never mind the trogs, we've gotta drop the harpies! They're right on top of us, and if one of them screams, we're all fucked!




Habitually Red: There's something different about these trogs! The flames are killing them, but they're charging right 'til they drop! We can't suppress them?
T. Hinman: If only they'd let me bring my plasma rif... ehm. Nevermind.
Lazarus: Your what?
T. Hinman: Nothing, nothing!
Lazarus: Forget it, T, the jig's up.
T. Hinman: Laz, I think you're overrea-
Lazarus: Everyone, T's holding out on us! He's got some crazy weapon R&D cooked up and he's keeping it to himself!
T. Hinman: Ehm, yeah. Busted. You got me. Damn.



Hardtack: Got one! I think these are some kind of elite unit. Just keep hitting 'em and they'll drop!



Joe Moore: They're more resistant to psychic attacks too! Not resistant enough, though.




Basil: Harpies down, elite trogs down. How're things to the west?



Catherine Ulysses: A bit less trivial than they first looked.



Solaus: Still pretty easy, though.




Michael de Boulogne: Two tower platoons down in the east!
Cholmondely: It looks as though they've prepared the best they could with what they've had.



T. Hinman: Let's ruin a perfectly good plan, then.




Habitually Red: Looks like we're clear to the east. 'Til the next bunch of trogs comes charging through the trees, anyway.
Svetlana Aliyev: West is clear, too. There's only one thing left to deal with...



Svetlana Aliyev: I dunno about you guys, but I'm getting pretty tired of those bastards raining arrows down on us.
Mael Radec: Agreed. Tank crews, get ready! Full speed up the hill!



Basil: Ugh. Fuck these hills. I swear I can hear my transmission grinding.



Anil E. Hilated: Hope this makes things easier for you, Basil!




Gregor: Gregor can't explode mountain! Gregor is busy exploding trees!



Griff: I'm gonna be a bit delayed going up the hill, guys. A stray tower volley could finish Cathy, and someone's gotta spot for the artillery.



Griff: Okay, honestly I'm just really having too much fun down here.




Joe Moore: I think that's the last one, Griff. 'fraid you can't put off your rush into a hail of enemy fire any longer.



Basil: Speaking of which, would you goddamn people help me so I don't have to charge a hilltop that's probably crawling with elves all by myself?



Erik Spanner: Moving up with you, Basil. Let's see if I regret this.
Solaus: And you have a few dozen less elves to worry about now! Courtesy of me.



Griff: Sorry, my work down here's not done!



Basil: Hey guys? I just reached the top of the hill and there's nothing here. Literally nothing. Maybe we already cleaned them out?



Erik Spanner: No we didn't! They were waiting for me!




Griff: Just sit tight, I'll be right there!



Mael Radec: You know, I'm really glad there's not much left up there.



Isara Gunther: Taking fire, from the left! I think it's a different tower!



Erik Spanner: Three towers up here! Good thing they can't do shit to tanks.



Basil: Those can, though!



Mael Radec: One won't do a whole lot. Just roll up and pick 'em off.



Jorji Costava: Okay, here we go!



Mael Radec: Damnit, there's another one. Griff, you're close. You can deal with it.



Griff: Sorry, can't get a good angle on it. At least we killed this one!



Mael Radec: Eh, we got it in the end anyway. That should be the last real threat.



Svetlana Aliyev: Let's roll over the rest, then.



Mael Radec: Damn it! Watch out, they've got another golem hiding somewhere!




Isara Gunther: Not for long.



Erik Spanner: You know, this could've been a lot worse if they'd actually used all the firepower they've got up here while we were distracted from their flanking.



Jorji Costava: You think you're clever guy, huh? No one gets drop on Jorji!




Mael Radec: Finally. Alright, everyone, let's get to work. We've got plateaus here and to the east we need to deploy along. The enemy reinforcements want to come, they'll have to be the ones to fight their way uphill.



Our lightning assault was a success. Though the main strength of the enemy still loomed ahead, we'd thinned their numbers with minimal losses, and we now stood ready to force them to fight us at a disadvantage. For the first time since the beginning of the war, there was an air of genuine optimism.

That lasted right up until the moment when everything went to Hell.