Desert Glass

The fight during the night last up until dawn. The enemy was pushed back after taking heavy losses on their side and losing four on our side. When dawn came more transports landed bringing in around one hundred more soldiers to our fight. After they came in tanker buildings dropped building a makeshift command post for all of our operations.

It wasn't long after their landing that we had to move again. This time we had no real target. We just got told to push back toward the ocean through enemy territory. After that they planned on having us squeeze the enemy out of the surrounded territory.

Tanks and other assault vehicles had been dropped off for our push. When it was time for the move I didn't know that I wouldn't see home again by the time this was all over. Even if I got to then home would never be the same as when I saw it last. The military would be the last home that I will ever have.

"Everyone load up and get ready to move out."

The order came and we moved out as fast as we could. This time we didn't fly of a ship and land. We drove in an open truck with face coverings, goggles, and headsets. The sand made trouble for the vehicles, but still we moved forward. Through sand storms, and heat waves. We carried on pushing. The strange part was that we encountered no resistance for most of the drive.

We quickly cleared the map of enemy strongholds. When we finally made it to the ocean that was when we met the bulk of the enemy forces. The most soldiers I have ever seen during my entire deployment. When our forces got close artillery from on top of a nearby mountain started dropping shells on us.

"Everyone jump out and advance on foot!" The platoon commander yelled before a shell took out his transport.

The entire advance was fucked by this attack. Within the first ten minutes we lost six vehicles. Luckily none of them had been tanks. The tanks pushed firing at the enemy before any of the infantry units made it over the hill. Mortars set up just on the crest of the hill when a massive city came into view.

"Fuck, this will be a fight." I said it without thinking of the radio being on.

"Focus on the enemy!" The words came from a commander I had never spoke to.

As I came down from the top of the hill. The sand I was walking on came out from under me. It forced me into a slide down the hill. No one outside of artillery fired any shots. Buildings could be seen falling from the tanks and Mortar rounds falling into them.

When I was done sliding I fell into a trench that was filled with dead soldiers. It was filled with so much sand that I couldn't tell which side they fought for. I struggled to my feet and started firing at anything that moved in the city. I hit at least two men, but if they died I didn't see it happen.

"We have a tank moving out of the southern part of the city."

"Put more artillery into the business district."

The radio was filled so much chatter that it was hard to hear myself think. All I could do was fight what I could see since all our call outs are mixed up with everything else. It was too much to try to work through. I didn't know what command was for who.

"Support fire coming in on the northern exit from the city."

"Squad four is pulling back from the assault on the northern flank. We have taken major casualties."

A hand landed on my shoulder pulling me from the fighting. When I turned to look it was another unit joining in the fight to hold the line. Looking around many of the men I had been fighting with are being tended to by medics. I ducked into the trench to see that the fighting had been going on for an hour without me noticing.

I got the attention of one of the medics to see if they could answer my question. "How is the fighting going on the other fronts? I heard that north is pulling back from the city to regroup."

"Right now they are flying in a bombing run, and we are told to get the injured and pull them back. I think it is best if you pull back also. I wouldn't want you to see what is about to happen."

In the distance engines roared as planes came into view. I hadn't seen planes used since the gas was deployed. It made it hard to use anything that need to be flown.

"Everyone close to the city! I repeat all near the city! If you are still alive pull back! If you cannot pull back get below ground level!"

The medic and I looked at each other with fear in our eyes before he spoke. "Too late I guess. Best lay down boy."

We both dropped to the ground as an explosion erupted over head causing me to go deaf.