Cannon Fire Arc

Chapter 770: Chapter 27 This City, is Rocossov

2300 o’clock, on the road to Bogdanovka.

“battalion commander!” The reconnoitre soldiers riding motorcycles returned and reported to Major Hauson, the battalion commander of Prosen 504th Independent Tank Destroyer Battalion, “We ventured one kilometer ahead and saw Hill 171 already, but there was still no ambush.”

Major Hauson pursed his lips: “How is that possible! The Ante Motorized Forces that rushed ahead of us would definitely ambush us, that’s the perfect spot for an ambush!”

The reconnoitre soldier on the motorcycle said: “They are Rocossov’s troops, and Rocossov loves to defy our military common sense, Major.”

Major Hauson pondered for a few seconds and nodded: “Makes sense.”

The two reconnoitre soldiers on the motorcycle exchanged glances.

Major Hauson noticed this detail, so he said: “In that case, you two go in front of the column, until we pass the hill.”

The two reconnoitre soldiers widened their eyes, showing fear.

Major Hauson slammed hard on the roof of the Combat Room: “Dammit! You two actually did not execute my order! Disobedience on the battlefield should be executed on the spot! But now, I want you two 100 meters ahead of the battalion as point men!

“Remember, at a distance of 100 meters, I can kill you with an anti-aircraft machine gun, don’t think about running away!”

The two reconnoitre soldiers turned pale: “We won’t… we…”

Major Hauson: “If our battalion reaches Bogdanovka safely, you two are off the hook, no one will report your behavior to the Constitutional Guards.”

The two reconnoitre soldiers exchanged glances, and the driver turned the motorcycle around, heading back the way they came.

Major Hauson picked up the handset: “Break is over, those who haven’t finished maintenance can choose to stay behind for repair, everyone else continue at full speed.”

At that moment, the battalion commander of the Sturmgeschütz III assault gun battalion said, “We are tracked vehicles, actually, we can avoid the main road, it might be slower but we can bypass the enemy’s ambush.”

Major Hauson: “You have a point. We can avoid the danger zone and then return to the main road.”

At that time, the commander of the lead vehicle said: “But the two point men have already gone.”

Major Hauson: “Never mind them. Lead vehicle, turn left off the road, take Karino, bypass Hill 171.”

“Yes.”

The engine roared to life, and Major Hauson watched the lead vehicle turn and leave the highway.

————

Captain Short stood in the newly dug foxhole while observing the distance with a telescope.

To be honest, the night was cloudy and poorly lit; the telescope was practically useless, he couldn’t see anything in the pitch dark.

At that moment, a guerrilla fighter wearing a felt cap jumped into Captain Short’s foxhole, carrying an Incendiary Bottle.

Captain: “You can’t throw Incendiary Bottles from here, it’s too far.”

“You think this? No no, this is our drink.” Saying that, the guerrilla fighter pulled out the alcohol-soaked cloth from the top of the Incendiary Bottle, took a couple of sips, and spat, then took a big gulp from the bottle opening.

Captain Short: “Is it really okay to drink like this?”

“Why not? If it’s not strong alcohol, it won’t catch fire! This is good liquor! Usually, we drink that horse pee-like Prosenese beer.”

“You guys still drink Prosenese beer?”

“Yeah, let me tell you, the Prosen commander stationed in Bogdanovka is a sly one, he quietly does the fake accounting, deals with matters, and collaborates with us to resell supplies, calling us in for a big move if things are about to be exposed!”

Captain Short, shocked: “There are Prosenese people like that?”

“Yeah, he always says, since we’re doomed to fail, might as well enjoy ourselves well, he was like this since he first came to Bogdanovka. I tell you, he sneakily reads Marshal Rocossov’s pamphlets and thinks the Marshal is right.

“According to him, there’s an organization within Prosen too, called something like Valkyrie or Phoenix Society.”

Captain Short frowned: “Valkyrie and Phoenix Society aren’t the same word in Prosenese, are they? The pronunciations are quite different!”

“Do you understand Prosenese?”

“My great grandfather was a Prosen, and back then, quite a few Prosenese nobles were driven to Ante by the Conqueror, and he was one of them.”

“No wonder your name is Short, it’s not a name of the Saints.”

Antean names are all based on months, mostly those of saints or related to religion, so one can tell if someone is a ‘native’ Antean just by their name.

The guerrilla fighters stretched out a hand: “I am the guerrilla captain for this district, I’ve been fighting behind enemy lines for two years.”

“First year conscripted into service.” Captain Short shook the guerrilla captain’s hand.

This was a unique Antean way of greeting, stating the year one joined the fight, the earlier, the more respect earned.

“Want a sip?” the guerrilla captain handed an Incendiary Bottle to Captain Short.

Captain Short took it, drank a gulp, and immediately frowned, feeling the burning sensation down his esophagus.

The guerrilla captain patted Captain Short’s back: “Hahaha, I can tell from your expression that you don’t drink often. It’s rare that your family has been in Ante for over a hundred years but hasn’t turned into drunkards.”

Captain Short: “Is that rare? I heard Marshal Rocossov doesn’t drink much either (actually because he is of Ceres people).”

“Really?” the captain exclaimed in surprise, “We often hear broadcasts from Yeburg stating he’s a genuine Antean.”

Captain Short: “Marshal’s troops all know, he’s not much of a drinker.”

At that moment, the sound of an engine came from afar, followed by a burst of submachine gun fire.

Captain Short put down the Incendiary Bottle and picked up a submachine gun.

Suddenly someone ran over quickly: “Report! We’ve taken down a motorcycle, injured one and killed another!”

Soon, the injured Prosen was brought over, wearing a Prosen Motorized Forces leather jacket, apparently a reconnoitre soldier.

“I speak Prosenese.” a local Priest hurried over and asked in Prosenese, “How long until your assault gun squad arrives?”

“They went off the highway, didn’t follow us,” said the Prosen, “We are here because we disobeyed orders, not to scout as commanded, just sent to die.”

The Priest cursed: “Sukabule.”

Guerrilla Captain: “Nolinca, we also have our squad in Nolinca, I need to make a call!”

————

Major Hauson had already seen the outline of Nolinca ahead.

Passing through this small village, they could take a side road. Although it wasn’t as wide or well-made as a major road, it allowed for decent speed.

This would offer a chance to escape.

He slightly relaxed.

His troops entered the village one after another, gradually filling up the central village road.

In that moment, lights suddenly lit up all around, and a rain of Incendiary Bottles flew from the second floor and rooftops of the buildings.

Major Hauson was shocked: “What?”

Before he could man the anti-aircraft machine gun to resist, a shadow leapt down and landed on the tank’s top armor.

The shadow held a Papasha, and at point-blank range, opened fire on Major Hauson.