The last guns of memphis (story)
May 16, 2022 10:48:13 GMT
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Post by xaxiuscolnier on May 16, 2022 10:48:13 GMT
This story takes place during the battle of memphis and follows the survivors of an artillery battery.
9 regiments of artillery, 54 batteries with 2-6 guns apiece... and only about a dozen were still firing... Lieutenant Cunningham shook his head. "We have to get back in the fight!" He growled.
"But how sir" a voice said from his side. "They burned our guns but good, we're lucky they didnt hit the ammo."
The lieutenant turned and looked at the Corporal who had just spoken. Covered in the ash of the horses and men who had been hit when the heat ray had swept their position he was a dreadful sight.
"We must get to another battery, one that wasnt hit by a ray, the black dust and green gas wouldn't destroy the guns. Does anyone remember one nearby?" He looked around at the eleven men, all that was left of the 38 who made up the 28th battery.
Seargeant Frost the signalman stepped forward. "The 9th and 15th batteries to the north and our own 29th to the south, to the east the 33rd and the 45th. ah thats all i heard before we were hit sir."
The lieutenant nodded with the 29th firing again they must have gotten their masks on in time but the 15th was quiet. "We go to the 15th, get two cases of shells on the last horse we dont know the ammo situation and keep your rifles ready"
The men hurried to obey, Sgt. Frost supervised the loading of the horse while Lt. Cunningham made sure all the men took a drink of water filled their canteens and had their rifles. "Ok men, we are going down the supply trench to sparrow street where our supply depot is and crossing there to the supply trench that goes to the 7th regiment then we follow their supply trench up to the guns. Keep your eyes sharp and watch out for friendlies see if we can gather a couple more men to help aim the guns." A chorus of "yes sirs" and "aye sirs" came back and he nodded "ok men move out"
Sgt. Frost took point as the Lieutenant and Corporal Tenner brought up the rear with the horse. They hurried down the trench passing a number of burnt out tanks and destroyed gun nests but picking up a few men along the way from the 3rd infantry who had been supporting the guns. "We falling back sir?" The woefully young Corporal in charge of them asked "whats your name Corporal" the Lieutenant snapped "uh Miller sir, Eric Miller 3rd infantry" he responded quickly "well Corporal Miller, no we are not, we are going to anotherbattery and getting back in this fight" Lt. Cunningham said back. "now fall in, you're with us now" the Corporal nodded and fell in with his men bringing them up to 18.
"18 men against the Martians" Corporal Tenner said from the other side of the horse "sounds like a book dont it sir" the Corporal smiled a hollow smile and led the horse on. Lt Cunningham shook his head and followed.
Reaching sparrow street the scene was a nightmare 2 burnt out Mk. II tanks blocked the road and the supply depot was destroyed. the bodies of the supply clerks were scattered about among the shattered husks of several drones. the ammo bunker was a smoldering ruin and the wreckage of a scout tripod had colapsed into the supply CP. "Corporal miller set security, everyone else cross quickly" the six infantrymen rushed to cover watching the area for any signs of activity as the artillerymen crossed the depot to the supply trench for the 7th artillery regiment on the opposite side as Sgt. Frost made it across and turned to cover the rest the distinct sound of a Martian heat ray snapped through the air and two of Cpl Miller's men were vaporized as the scout tripod shifted in the rubble.
"Its still alive!" Cpl Miller shouted as he fired his rifle and rushed forward.
"Cover! Take cover!" The Lieutenant shouted as he and Cpl. Tenner tried to pull the horse back to cover and the rest of the men scrambled behind the tanks as the Martian fired again as it struggled to stand "Miller what are you doing?"
Miller ignored the danger and the cries of the rest of the men as he rushed forward towards the struggling scout counting down "five, four, three, two, ONE!" And at one he dove to the side just as the heat ray fired. he sprang up again and rushed further "Five, four, three, two, ONE" and dove again the opposite way once again avoiding the ray.
He sprung up one more time.
"Five"
Pulled his satchel charge out.
"Four"
Pulled the pin on the charge.
"Three"
Took three steps swinging the charge round.
"Two"
Hurled the charge at the tripod.
"ONE"
and was vaporized where he stood...
One second later the charge detonated and blew the hood of the tripod apart and it ceased its struggle to right itself sinking back into the ruins of the Command Post.
"Good lord" Lt. Cunningham exclaimed as he stood dumbfounded. "Why, why didn't he take cover?" Cpl. Tenner asked. "Forlorn Hope" one of the three surviving infantrymen said "his wife and child were killed by the Martians. He wanted to be with them... now he is" the men stared at the shattered tripod for a moment in silence before the sound of the last few artillary batteries firing another salvo broke the spell. "Come on we have to hurry" the men gathered themselves and ran up the trenchline once again.
As the aproached the hill that the 15th battery had been set up on they came across what was left of the crews "green gas got them sir" Sgt Frost said as they passed the bodies "masks men" the Lieutenant said pulling his out and putting it on, "one whiff and your lungs melt, better not to take any chances"
The men quickly pulled thair masks on and hurried past the horrific sight up to the guns. "Check the breeches, make sure to clear them the gas could have fouled the rounds. Use the ammo we brought first." The men hurried to obey the 14 men splitting up between 3 of the guns as the Lieutenant looked over the battlefield with his binoculars. "Damn, they are breaking through" he muttered as he watched the martains advance on the last four batteries "Seargeant Frost get the guns turned to the east, we have to distract the Martians from the howitzers" he hopped down into the gun pit and helped the 4 man crew turn the gun before climbing back up on the parapet and calling the range and elevation "battery prepare to fire!" The Lt. Called, "ready on one", "ready two" , "three ready" the crews called back quickly... "Fire!" He shouted. and the guns spoke, belching fire as they hurled their shells at the back of the Martian line. The Lt watched through the binoculars as the rounds landed, two missing narrowly but the third striking a tripod in the back of its hood and knocking it off balance "hit" he called and ordered a slight adjustment as the crews reloaded the guns "one up", "two up", "three up", "Fire!" And again the guns roared this time two of the three shells struck and the tripod tumbled to the ground "target down!" He called out as the men cheered.
looking through the binoculars he saw 3 of the tripods turn around and head their way "new target!" He called and the cheering ceased the men back on task as he called out adjustments and the guns fired, again and again, one more tripod fell but as the last two closed on their position the Lt knew they couldn't stop them both, "Fire!" He called one last time then hopped down and diving for cover as the Martian fired destroying the guns and killing most of the men, but only one had fired, the second stood still with a wisp of smoke rising from the hole where its eye had been before blowing apart a moment later sending the other tripod staggering.
As the dazed Martian tripod staggered away the Lieutenant raised his head and looked around "Seargeant, head count" He called looking for anyone else still alive. "Here" called a voice from behind the shield of one of the guns and Cpl. Tenner stood and looked around, "the Sargeant didn't make it" he said as a few others stood and reported "looks like 6 of us sir, counting you". The lieutenant looked out over the parapet as the the Martians destroyed the howitzers. "Ok Corporal, lets go find another gun"
-end
I hope you enjoy the story please feel free to provide any feedback.
9 regiments of artillery, 54 batteries with 2-6 guns apiece... and only about a dozen were still firing... Lieutenant Cunningham shook his head. "We have to get back in the fight!" He growled.
"But how sir" a voice said from his side. "They burned our guns but good, we're lucky they didnt hit the ammo."
The lieutenant turned and looked at the Corporal who had just spoken. Covered in the ash of the horses and men who had been hit when the heat ray had swept their position he was a dreadful sight.
"We must get to another battery, one that wasnt hit by a ray, the black dust and green gas wouldn't destroy the guns. Does anyone remember one nearby?" He looked around at the eleven men, all that was left of the 38 who made up the 28th battery.
Seargeant Frost the signalman stepped forward. "The 9th and 15th batteries to the north and our own 29th to the south, to the east the 33rd and the 45th. ah thats all i heard before we were hit sir."
The lieutenant nodded with the 29th firing again they must have gotten their masks on in time but the 15th was quiet. "We go to the 15th, get two cases of shells on the last horse we dont know the ammo situation and keep your rifles ready"
The men hurried to obey, Sgt. Frost supervised the loading of the horse while Lt. Cunningham made sure all the men took a drink of water filled their canteens and had their rifles. "Ok men, we are going down the supply trench to sparrow street where our supply depot is and crossing there to the supply trench that goes to the 7th regiment then we follow their supply trench up to the guns. Keep your eyes sharp and watch out for friendlies see if we can gather a couple more men to help aim the guns." A chorus of "yes sirs" and "aye sirs" came back and he nodded "ok men move out"
Sgt. Frost took point as the Lieutenant and Corporal Tenner brought up the rear with the horse. They hurried down the trench passing a number of burnt out tanks and destroyed gun nests but picking up a few men along the way from the 3rd infantry who had been supporting the guns. "We falling back sir?" The woefully young Corporal in charge of them asked "whats your name Corporal" the Lieutenant snapped "uh Miller sir, Eric Miller 3rd infantry" he responded quickly "well Corporal Miller, no we are not, we are going to anotherbattery and getting back in this fight" Lt. Cunningham said back. "now fall in, you're with us now" the Corporal nodded and fell in with his men bringing them up to 18.
"18 men against the Martians" Corporal Tenner said from the other side of the horse "sounds like a book dont it sir" the Corporal smiled a hollow smile and led the horse on. Lt Cunningham shook his head and followed.
Reaching sparrow street the scene was a nightmare 2 burnt out Mk. II tanks blocked the road and the supply depot was destroyed. the bodies of the supply clerks were scattered about among the shattered husks of several drones. the ammo bunker was a smoldering ruin and the wreckage of a scout tripod had colapsed into the supply CP. "Corporal miller set security, everyone else cross quickly" the six infantrymen rushed to cover watching the area for any signs of activity as the artillerymen crossed the depot to the supply trench for the 7th artillery regiment on the opposite side as Sgt. Frost made it across and turned to cover the rest the distinct sound of a Martian heat ray snapped through the air and two of Cpl Miller's men were vaporized as the scout tripod shifted in the rubble.
"Its still alive!" Cpl Miller shouted as he fired his rifle and rushed forward.
"Cover! Take cover!" The Lieutenant shouted as he and Cpl. Tenner tried to pull the horse back to cover and the rest of the men scrambled behind the tanks as the Martian fired again as it struggled to stand "Miller what are you doing?"
Miller ignored the danger and the cries of the rest of the men as he rushed forward towards the struggling scout counting down "five, four, three, two, ONE!" And at one he dove to the side just as the heat ray fired. he sprang up again and rushed further "Five, four, three, two, ONE" and dove again the opposite way once again avoiding the ray.
He sprung up one more time.
"Five"
Pulled his satchel charge out.
"Four"
Pulled the pin on the charge.
"Three"
Took three steps swinging the charge round.
"Two"
Hurled the charge at the tripod.
"ONE"
and was vaporized where he stood...
One second later the charge detonated and blew the hood of the tripod apart and it ceased its struggle to right itself sinking back into the ruins of the Command Post.
"Good lord" Lt. Cunningham exclaimed as he stood dumbfounded. "Why, why didn't he take cover?" Cpl. Tenner asked. "Forlorn Hope" one of the three surviving infantrymen said "his wife and child were killed by the Martians. He wanted to be with them... now he is" the men stared at the shattered tripod for a moment in silence before the sound of the last few artillary batteries firing another salvo broke the spell. "Come on we have to hurry" the men gathered themselves and ran up the trenchline once again.
As the aproached the hill that the 15th battery had been set up on they came across what was left of the crews "green gas got them sir" Sgt Frost said as they passed the bodies "masks men" the Lieutenant said pulling his out and putting it on, "one whiff and your lungs melt, better not to take any chances"
The men quickly pulled thair masks on and hurried past the horrific sight up to the guns. "Check the breeches, make sure to clear them the gas could have fouled the rounds. Use the ammo we brought first." The men hurried to obey the 14 men splitting up between 3 of the guns as the Lieutenant looked over the battlefield with his binoculars. "Damn, they are breaking through" he muttered as he watched the martains advance on the last four batteries "Seargeant Frost get the guns turned to the east, we have to distract the Martians from the howitzers" he hopped down into the gun pit and helped the 4 man crew turn the gun before climbing back up on the parapet and calling the range and elevation "battery prepare to fire!" The Lt. Called, "ready on one", "ready two" , "three ready" the crews called back quickly... "Fire!" He shouted. and the guns spoke, belching fire as they hurled their shells at the back of the Martian line. The Lt watched through the binoculars as the rounds landed, two missing narrowly but the third striking a tripod in the back of its hood and knocking it off balance "hit" he called and ordered a slight adjustment as the crews reloaded the guns "one up", "two up", "three up", "Fire!" And again the guns roared this time two of the three shells struck and the tripod tumbled to the ground "target down!" He called out as the men cheered.
looking through the binoculars he saw 3 of the tripods turn around and head their way "new target!" He called and the cheering ceased the men back on task as he called out adjustments and the guns fired, again and again, one more tripod fell but as the last two closed on their position the Lt knew they couldn't stop them both, "Fire!" He called one last time then hopped down and diving for cover as the Martian fired destroying the guns and killing most of the men, but only one had fired, the second stood still with a wisp of smoke rising from the hole where its eye had been before blowing apart a moment later sending the other tripod staggering.
As the dazed Martian tripod staggered away the Lieutenant raised his head and looked around "Seargeant, head count" He called looking for anyone else still alive. "Here" called a voice from behind the shield of one of the guns and Cpl. Tenner stood and looked around, "the Sargeant didn't make it" he said as a few others stood and reported "looks like 6 of us sir, counting you". The lieutenant looked out over the parapet as the the Martians destroyed the howitzers. "Ok Corporal, lets go find another gun"
-end
I hope you enjoy the story please feel free to provide any feedback.