Soldiers were being loaded into trucks to be sent to camps near the front lines. Sarge waited with his pal, Red Glory, to be loaded onto a truck. "Looks like it's our turn to be thrown into hell, eh?" He said.
Red smiled, "Just going through the motions my friend. Can't be too much different from training, other than actually being able to die of course."
"Eh, if the frontier has taught me one thing, it's to get used to the idea of being killed at any moment." He replied.
Red smiled, "Oh you should know that military runs in my family by now Sarge. Wonder what it's like out there on the front line?"
"Heh, I've heard my mother's war stories and tell you what she said. There are three things you should know about battles that will forever stay with you; the sights, the smell, and your first kill." Red said as the truck kicked to life, "You know, I'm surprised we ain't in one of those ATC's."
"We will be, my friend, i'm sure." He said, reaching for a tooth pick in his pocket so he could chew on it.
Red nodded, "Let's agree, right now, that we will never leave the other behind, no matter what. Even if I am kickin and screamin at you to leave me behind, you take me. And vice versa." Red held out a hoof, "What do ya say ol' pal."
"As well I and my mother's as well." Red said grinning back, before leaning back to enjoy the ride. (I hope you are okay with this.) Suddenly, Red's ears picked up to the sound of a yelling pony, and looked out to see a private from their squad was running behind the truck trying to catch up. "hey! Come on, you can make it!" Red yelled encouragingly getting up and motioning towards him. Soon, almost everypony in the truck had joined in on encouraging him, "Come on guys this isn't funny!" he yelled, before an all dangerous whistle was heard, and he was blown to bits by the mortar blast. "We're being attacked! Hold on to your hats!" Red yelled, as the jolting of the many explosions around them shook them, getting threateningly close.
"Oh, bloody hell!" Sarge yelled out, trying to stay in his seat as the explosions surrounded them. "We need to get off this thing!"
"Your bloody right!" a soldier in the truck yelled, before the truck was hit, sending it flying through the air, landing on it's side. "Oh Celestia damn this!" Red called out. He looked around the smoky area, found Sarge, picked him up and said, "Come on, get your gear, we need to get out of here!"
Sarge nodded and picked up his assault rifle, "Let's move before we're turned into little bits!" He yelled out.
"Come on let's go!" Red said, first helping a few other soldiers out then jumping out of the remains of the truck. In front of them was a small wall that divided them from the town that they were supposed to be attacking. "The sargent is dead!" a voice rang out. "Alright then, we are are on our own now. With life's gives you lemons, make life pay! We need to get up and over this wall. It will be our detour!" Red yelled, going up to the wall to help others get over it, "Come on Sarge, help!"
Sarge assisted in getting the other soldiers over the wall, "Let's do this, eh?" Sarge said before jumping over the wall, firing at the enemy.
Red jumped over after Sarge, and instantly found himself in hell. They had jumped straight over as an enemy convoy past by, so now they were stuck with light weaponry, fighting tanks and other armor, supported by loads of infantry. Red dove behind a small corner of a building and took stock of the situation. Half of the squad was already dead, with most wounded in some form of fashion. But there was a possibility..."Everypony, on me!" Red yelled, before levitating out two grenades, one smoke, one explosive. Tossing the smoke first to blind the enemy, he took a step back and tossed the other at the wall, blowing a clean hole in it. "Follow me!" he yelled, running into the house.
Sarge followed close behind, sending a few more bullets at the enemy. "Well, this is a fine mess, huh?" He exclaimed.
"Yes, now, I think I can get us out of here. We'll just have to check from now on before doing something blindly. And everyone be quiet, we will try to lose them in here. Stay away from windows and be as steathy as you can." Red whispered.
Red lead the remnants of the squad through a maze of buildings, keeping nice and quiet and avoiding the streets. Whenever they ran into an enemy soldier, they killed him as silently as possible and hid the body. After several hours, Red finally got them safely to their original destination, where the rest of the army was finishing up remnants of resistance there and sending the flag flying high above it. (It was the highest point in town). Red quickly flagged down a superior and notified him of all that had happened to the squad, allowing the about 3 remaining others to interject when they wished.
