"Incoming!" The shouted word woke me up. It was quickly followed by an 
Earth shaking explosion somewhere out side. I was so startled I fell from my 
cot and face first into the dirt floor of the unimproved advance base barracks. 
My mind was still in confusion.

"The American's are attacking! Everyone to your vehicles!" A young, panic 
stricken lieutenant rushed through the tent door and screamed.
In a cluster of commotion, hundreds of men haste fully staggered from their 
sleeping bags and hurried to put on their uniform pants and coats and hobbled 
along as they squeezed on their boots. We ran out in a sea of panicking soldiers 
and raced to the vehicle line in the pitch blackness of the early morning.
I could hear the AV-8's flying overhead. It was a too dark to see them. 
Suddenly a streak of light flew across the sky and the radar tower instantly 
exploded in a shower of flaming debris that rained down all around us and sparked 
many fearful screams from the men, and sending many others flying face first in 
the dirt. It was a massive air strike.

I made it to my vehicle, a T-109 Apocalypse. A huge, bulky tank recently 
shipped over from Siberia. I was the last one to climb up and get inside. My 
driver, Private Yashin, already started the engine and the gas turbine power 
source steadily roared to life. I hopped down in my seat and started prepping 
my station.

My gunner and loader were already in their positions. Lights flickered on as 
the power came on and the smell of dirt and painted steel filled my lungs. The 
bitter smell of hydraulic fluid proved the mechanics still never fixed the leak. 
My gunner, Sergeant Voramir, sat down below, between the two 130mm main guns.. 
He was still only in his boxer shorts and undershirt. I noticed my uniform top 
wasn't even buttoned.
"Sir, did you just hear!?" Voramir asked.
"What?"
"Our Kirov reinforcements were just shot down over Montana early last 
night!"
"$%#@!" I cursed, looking out my hatch and seeing that all the vehicles 
were ready to go, all several hundred of them, like a metallic sea of eager 
deathbringers itching to fight. We were all then ordered to rush 
into the tree line. Fortunately for us we were stationed next to a large forest. 
"Man, their fighters are out in force tonight." The Americans outfitted their 
harriers with powerful missiles, but they were so big and heavy that only a small 
amount could be carried, so they wouldn't dare waste shots firing blindly into 
the trees.

My digital displays and maps finally flickered on and the hydraulic pump 
for the turret activated. I could hear the Flak cannons opening fire, darkening 
the already black sky. 

I'm Major Kruetzchev of the Soviet Army 3rd Tank Brigade, Company commander 
and commander of this Apocalypse tank, which was made in the recently destroyed 
factory in the Ural mountains. In fact, the American's new Chronoshpere device 
threw enemy forces all through Russia, effectively destroying all our factories 
and supply lines, but the bulk of the soviet army still remained in the Eastern 
United States, well dug in and still gaining ground, no one was for sure how the 
war was going to turn out at this point, for both sides were grasping for their 
last straws.

With a little bumpiness and squeaking of our metallic road wheels, Yashin 
throttled up and we eased forward, gaining speed, crashing through the chain 
link fence and burrowed into the forest for safety. All the others did the same, 
and we waited for the harriers to leave.

We were shipped over from Siberia to invade the northwest United States, 
and so there I was, never seen combat and assigned to a task forced ordered to 
attack and destroy Seattle, Washington. I was all a farce if they asked me, 
the temporary advance base, my Company, everyone there was bait for a diversion 
to lure American forces away from the city while the main effort, a Battalion 
of Rhino's and a small fleet of Kirovs, thrusted forward and moved in for the 
siege. Airborne forces had already been dropped into the city during the night, 
but none had heard from them since.

"Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo Companies, this is General Dimel," 
A gruff voice sounded over my crew helmet, he was our Division commander in 
charge of this operation. "Needless to say we're going to make our advance to 
Seattle a little sooner then expected, we must move now while their Air Force 
is heading back for reloading!"

I sent my acknowledgement and formed up my company on the pre-planned 
route, a dusty back-woods road leading to the interstate. My Company consisted 
of four Apocalypse tanks as the main front, two T-98 Rhino tanks for phlank 
security, four BRD-S Flak Tracks loaded with conscripts for air security, six 
V-3 launchers for the main offensive, a Tesla Tank in case enemy infantry 
decided to get close, and four Terror Drones in the rear for in case someone 
snuck up from behind.

By the time all the companies formed up and moved out, it was already 
first light. Things had been quiet for the past hour since the harriers left.. 
I gave the order and we pulled out. My heart was still beating fast from the 
morning assault We were lucky, the offensive in California drew 
most of the American Troops along the entire western seaboard south to defend 
the countries most populated state, leaving only meager forces in Washington 
for us to deal with, but reinforcements from Fort Louis Were on their way, so 
we had to act fast. My Company, Bravo Company, was tasked out on the far left 
flank of the task force, our mission was to infiltrate the city and destroy 
any anti-air defenses that could endanger the Kirov fleet. I figured it would 
be a simple task considering what we had.

Captain Korovski, my Company XO, my wingman, and my best friend, drove 
his tank parallel to mine and gave the thumbs up, "This is the real thing now, 
buddy!"

I gestured back, "Let's make a toast as we sit on top of their city hall!"
The Apocalypse tank was an already intimidating looking vehicle, but as 
we hauled butt down the bumpy trail, launching off small hills and crashing 
through trees like they were weeds, all while the stabilization systems kept 
the gun tubes level and the Rhino's plowing through everything on our sides, 
it sent exciting chills down even my spine. It was strange, it seemed like 
such a normal day, like any other I've lived, but knowing where we were going,
and knowing that people who were going to die were still breathing somewhere
out there...I could never get used to that feeling that war gave.
"Slow down the pace, we're kicking up too much dust, they'll see us 
from over the tree line!" I ordered.

After a few minutes of traveling through the dense woods we came upon 
a large mud pit, obviously made by the Allies to slow down our heavy armor. 
This was a problem. The Apoc was designed with a quad track system that allowed 
the vehicle to maintain good traction over any terrain, and it paid off there, 
we drove down and scuttled through the thick brown, watery mud. The Rhino's, 
Tesla, and flak tracks made it though with moderate difficulty, but the V3's 
were so top heavy they with only rubber tires for mobility, one by one they 
slid down the bank and splashed into the water, unmoving, steam rising from their 
flooded engine compartments. It was appearant they weren't going anywhere anytime
soon. The Terror Drones hopped up and scurried across the top of a V3 missile 
and jumped to the dry ground off the other side.

One lost footing and fell off the side, then thrashing it's limbs around in the 
mud like a bug drowning in water. Snickering, I got off, unhooked my tow cable and 
threw it a life line. It crawled out and shook it's self off like a dog before running 
forward.

We had no choice, we didn't have time to wait to get all the V3's out 
of the mud, I left one Rhino behind to use it's tow cable to pull them out.. 
The rest of us continued onward.
"You know, we won't be able to do much damage to the city without those 
V3's" Korovski' cautioned.

"I know, but we have to maintain our advance alongside the other Companies.
The point is to advance a wall of units so the enemy doesn't slip through and 
blast us in our rear." It was true, the T-109 had virtually no armor benieth
it's rear engine grill doors. We had to be carefull.

As we began to crest the next hill, I saw we were only a few hundred short 
meters away from the highway. My heart skipped a beat as I also saw something 
else- A platoon of Grizzly tanks were entrenched along the side of the wood line
next to the road, so well dug in that even our Apoc's might suffer if we advanced 
on them, I stood out my hatch and watched them with my binoculars as I pondered 
the plan of action. Their engines were running and obviously expected us.
The Terror Drones were prancing about eagerly like puppies wanting to 
play, they got the idea the second I looked at them and they charged forth like 
dogs chasing after Frisbees. I watched them scurry into the trees. After a short
burst of distant cannon fire I realized it was over. I signaled my troops to move 
and we rolled down the hill.

We passed by the enemy positions, where we found the drones sitting proudly 
on top of the shredded tanks. The engines were still running, only the turrets 
were ripped off. Blood dripped from their penetration drills.

"Shoo, go away you nasty little things!" A waved them off. They made a 
little noise and ran away. I never liked Terror Drones, I heard too many of 
the horror stories of them turning on the scientist teams during their development 
stages, resulting in similar ugly messes. I don't care what they said about them 
being mindless robots, as I stared into their little red mechanical eye, I could 
tell they were more intelligent then they looked. They were eerie, but right 
then they were my favorite little creatures in the world.

We plowed through the trees and power slid across the pavement of the 
busy highway, making a sharp turn toward the direction of the city. Just then 
the car I turned in front of slammed on it's brakes and became one with my left 
fender. The tank didn't budge and I didn't feel a thing. Every civilian there 
stared wide-eyed at us like they'd never seen a tank before, and quickly proceeded 
to flee for their lives. 

I could already see the skyscrapers over the trees, we were almost there! 
My hopes, however, were short lived as the Rhino tank in front of me 
suddenly exploded, it's turret flying off and landing in the center of the road, 
the whole vehicle enveloped in flames.

"Mirage Tanks! Mirage Tanks!" Someone screamed over the radio.
The very words that struck fear into the hearts of all soviet tankers. 
"%$#@!!!! All units, open fire!"

Voramir squeezed the trigger and the whole tank rocked back from the main 
gun blasts. The closest tree exploded in a cloud of dust and wood chips. Cursing, 
I looked around, I couldn't identify any of them, but I could hear the whistling 
of their heat-based main gun rounds flying about. The smell of burnt propellant 
filled my lungs, accompanied by the metallic clank of my loader filling the 
breeches with another pair of rounds. 

Two of the Flak Tracks behind be burst into flames, their crew pouring 
out the back door and running around on fire before collapsing to the asphalt, 
The conscripts in the other tracks deployed, rather fighting then dying in their 
vehicles, and it was good they did for the other two vehicles were destroyed 
next, sending the soldiers fleeing for cover. Then, one by one, the terror drones 
exploded into metal shards.

"They're wiping us out!" Korovski shouted as the main gun rounds 
and Tesla charges continued to fly in every direction.
"I see them! I see them!" Blue 2 reported as he fired a pair of 
shots. The percussion from Apoc rounds was so loud it shattered every automobile 
window in the area. A tree exploded with a wreckage of a tank rolling on it's 
side. "Got'em!" He turned his turret and plugged another one center mass.
Mirage tank rounds started impacting against my armor, "How's he 
seeing them!?" I asked as I watched him fire another volley that destroyed a 
third tank.

"I got'em pinned down!" Blue 2 drove off the side of the road and into 
the woods.
"Blue 2, don't be foolish, get back in formation!"
"Don't worry, we will bury them!"
I saw his Apoc erupt into a sea of fire just as he fired one last round, 
destroying yet another metallic tree. We didn't take any more hits after that.
"We just lost Blue 2!"

The remaining vehicles still lit up the square mile with deafening blasts. 
"Cease fire, they're all dead, it was only a platoon of them!" I got back 
up and looked at the scattered burning vehicles on the road. Out of the original 
seventeen vehicles I started the mission with, only four remained to that point. 
"Curses, they beat the %$#@ out of us." I'd have some explaining to do when I
got back, as well as write letters to the families of all those Soviets who'd
just died. Curses.

Pressing on, we rolled over abandoned cars like they were speed bumps.. 
We finally reached the last main intersection before the city limits. Looking 
in the distance , I could see V3 rockets launching and black dots over the distant 
mountains as the Kirov fleet approached. I was relieved to see the Soviets where 
still in the fight. We decided to take a back street to avoid being slowed down 
by civilian traffic. but as we turned onto the next road I was caught off guard 
by an Earth-shattering explosion.

"That was a V3 Rocket, it just put a crater in the road, we can't go that 
way now!" Voramir complained.
I quickly examined the situation, "They were warning us, the tides have 
turned, the American reinforcement arrived early!" I could already tell my hunch 
was right as I heard the tread squeaking of more Grizzlies then I could ever 
count approaching down the road we were about to take. "Everyone into the city, 
now!"

"But if we do that, they'll cut us off, we won't be able to escape!"
"I know." My heart sank as I said that. I looked into Voramir's worried eyes.
"B-but sir!" The shaky voice from Blue 3 echoed through my helmet.
"Listen, we all knew the risked when we were drafted, we are all 
Soviets, we must do what is right for our nation , and stop thinking of yourselves!" 
I gritted my teeth.

"Don't worry, " Korovski said, "I will stay here and hold them off, go 
in and destroy those batteries, you will escape!"
I fumbled the turret override as I heard that, making the tank jolt. 
"No, that's suicide, I can't let you do that!" I argued.
"I was a dead man the minute they assigned me in an assault against 
the Americans, at least this way I can send you home to tell my parents that 
I went down fighting." His words were firm.
I wanted to argue, and I almost wanted to cry, I grew up with that man, 
and now he was willing to lay down his life for me. I clenched my fists as I 
nodded, "Korovski, I'll never forget this."
He saluted and maneuvered his tanks to the middle of the intersection.
"Everyone, let's go!" I lead the way. Blue 3 and the Tesla Tank followed 
closely behind.

Meanwhile, behind, Korovski took a deep sigh. He never though his best 
friend would agree to what he just proposed, but he would've argued untill he did. 
He watched the Grizzly tanks round the bend and stood tall and proud out his hatch 
and loaded his 50 Cal. "I am Captain Mickail Korovski of the Soviet Union, I shall 
let none pass!" The turrets began to swing towards him. He buttoned up and 
prepared for battle. 

The streets were swarming with panicking civilians fleeing from their 
cars and into surrounding buildings. Intelligence was right, there was a SAM 
battery on just about every street corner.

The Tesla Tank opened up on the civilians, the sparkling blue bolt of 
electricity swirled through the crowd of men, women and children, shocking them 
with so much voltage that the flesh turned to ash straight off the bone.
I covered my mouth in horror, "What an awful war."

Patriot missiles swarmed the sky, I looked back to see the Kirovs closing 
in on the city, the lead one was going down in flames, with it's crew jumping 
from the doors to escape the flames. I heard hundreds of tanks rounds behind me. 
It was easy to distinguish the sound of Grizzly cannons to that of an Apoc, and 
all I knew was that I heard a lot more Grizzly shots then Apoc rounds. Black 
smoke bellowed up from behind the buildings. I shuddered in my seat, an 
overwhelming pain in my soul.

"All units disperse, take out those patriot launchers and IFV's, we 
got to protect the fleet!" It was my last order. The Apoc and Tesla Tank drove 
down separate Avenues and I continued straight, shooting anything that moved.. 
It seemed like I lost my sanity for the next few moments, and Voramir 
and I tore into the American defenses like a coyote in a nest of jackrabbits.. 
My loader almost died from the exhaustion from all the rounds he loaded, and 
all I saw was fire around me. Thick sweat poured down my forehead, the salt 
stinging my eyes.

Suddenly a bullet flew in the turret and stuck my loader in the head, 
followed by hundreds more bouncing off the armor everywhere. I closed the hatch, 
only to have my vision periscopes become shot out one at a time.
"My lord, it's the civilians, they got more guns then their military!" 
Voramir exclaimed.

"They got loose gun laws, they actually sell guns to anyone in the general 
public." I noted.
"You've got to be joking!"
I rolled around the next corner and saw something unusual, it was 
a sea of soviet bodies, conscripts, Flak troopers and Tesla troopers alike, 
it was the airborne forces the that were dropped in last night. There was over 
a hundred of them still alive and huddled behind cars and dumpsters, pinned down 
by a squad of machine gun IFV's.
I had to load the rounds now, since my loader was dead, leaving the 
shooting to Voramir.

 Voramir sent a hot Kinetic energy round straight down the center of 
the street, striking an IFV and sending it's wreckage rolling into the face of 
a building. The soldiers all turned their head in surprise and stood up and 
cheered as they saw us charge down the center of the road. We took out the last 
two vehicles and the friendly troops huddled in a line behind our tank, using 
us as a shield as they advanced and effectively taking out every civilian from 
the windows who were sniping at us. I felt like a hero, I could see the relieved 
victorious looks on the men's faces.

After taking out the last few Patriot Launcher on my radar, I opened my 
hatch and took a breath of fresh air, feeling it was finally safe. 
Something blocked out the sun. I looked up, and with a mortified look I 
saw the Kirovs were right over the city.

 The conscripts fled for the closest building as the bombs began to fall.
A bomb exploded at the base of a near bye skyscraper. I looked up and saw 
the face of the giant structure steadily, as if in slow motion, arc towards 
me. I was speechless. All I could do was close my hatch and wait for the impact.

Hours later I woke up, finding my self on the floor of the turret. For a 
second I forgot where I was. "Voramir, are you alright?"
"Y-yes, sir." He stroked a large bump on his head. 
We worked together and unbolted the turret guards and helped Yashin 
crawl out of his station. The loaders hatch was pinned shut, but the commander's 
opened right up into a window port of the toppled building. I dew my pistol and 
looked around. We crawled out into a lopsided room where all the furniture had 
slid into one corner. The building completly crushed the Apoc, it was a miracle 
we were still alive.

A section of the building's exterior wall crumbled during the impact, 
leaving us a distant exit down the hallway of exposed rooms. As we hobbled out 
down the hill of rubble, I head a weapon cock. I froze.
Well, this was it, I was now going to be a POW, after we came so far.....
"Hey, are you guy's alright!?" The conscript asked before he turned and 
shouted for a medic.

We looked at him in relief. It was the company of soldiers we saved I 
fell to my knees, crying. They told us the Americans had withdrawled, and the psychic forces were currently building a psychic beacon downtown. Soon the whole region would belong to the soviets. We had survived.

I later found out that Korovski had died in combat. He had faught bravely 
and destroyed many enemies. I honored his wish and returned home to tell his 
parents myself. They were very understanding and didn't blame me for leaving him, 
but I still bared the guilt for many years. 

Work got out about what we did, and Premier Romanov himself presented me, 
Blue 3, and the Tesla Tank commander with the Order of Lennon, the highest soviet 
decoration, and I was labeled the hero of the battle. I laid the medal on Korovski's 
grave during a beutiful sunset evening, he was the one who earned it.

UNIT LOST- The End

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