Sedition [Tankiverse fanfic]

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

Sedition

Fanfic in the Tankiverse by Hippin_in_Hawaii

 
The depot sergeant closed the hatch and affixed a single-use lock. “Sierra Foxtrot Twelve, confirmed loaded for simulation. All rounds scanned and approved. Unit secured until operations.” He took the tablet from the adjutant, used his finger to sign, and pressed his thumb against the biometric scanner. “Moving on to Sierra Foxtrot Thirteen.”
 
Ted, Alicia, and Nyun stood beside their tank, watching as the procession moved down the line, inspecting the payload of each tank in preparation for tomorrow’s maneuvers. Fifteen tanks in a single column, the crew of each standing beside. It was an inspiring, and terrible, sight. Tomorrow these crews, these war machines, would test their mettle against fellow soldiers for the first time.
 
“Do you think he did it?” asked Alicia.
 
Nyun eyed the retreating back of the depot sergeant. “Yes. He did it.”
 
“As easy as that?”
 
Nyun shrugged. “The safeguards are there to prevent mistakes. They’re not security.” She paused to light a cigarette. “He did it.”
 
“We’ve worked with these people. Trained with them. Some of them are my friends.” Ted looked at his crewmates, eyes moist with unshed tears. “Are we sure about this?”
 
Nyun laid her hands on Ted and Alicia. “It’s a terrible thing we’re planning. People, good people, are going to die. Most likely we are going to die. Even if we don’t, our lives will be over. But this is an action, a cry for attention that cannot be ignored. Even a government as corrupt as ours has become can’t cover this up. It will be on every news outlet, every social media page. They will have to see that the people oppose their mad grab for power before it’s too late, before we end up in a war that cannot be won.”
 
“COMPANY, DISMISSED!” came over the PA system. Everyone turned towards the canteen, 45 soldiers in a hurry to toast their bravery and inevitable success over the “enemy” tomorrow. Well, 42 soldiers in a hurry to toast their whatever, and three soldiers in a hurry not to be noticed. “Brave faces for now,” Nyun cautioned her teammates as they joined the crowd. “We can weep tomorrow.”
 
Whatever personal torments gnawed at the trio, they gave no outward sign. They pounded backs, and laughed, and drank alongside their friends. Nyun risked one flicker of a warning scowl at Alicia when she proposed “Freedom!” as a toast, but the rest of the company merely echoed “FREEDOM!” And although the night ended early, not one of them slept. Whatever thoughts occupied each of them in their lonely bunks afforded them no opportunity for rest.
 
The next day, as their company rumbled into starting positions, Ted took their tank off course and started to climb the ridge.
 
“Sierra Foxtrot Twelve, this is Sierra Foxtrot Actual. You are out of position. Retreat, and return to formation. Over.”
 
“Sierra Foxtrot Actual, this is Sierra Foxtrot Twelve. That’s a negative. Over.”
 
“Sierra Foxtrot Twelve, say again.”
 
“You heard me, Actual. We’re calling in a solid.”
 
“Nyun, are you ****ting me? You’re calling in a favor to get yourself killed?”
 
“Trust me, Actual. We have a plan. This is going to work. Over.”
 
There was a brief pause. Ted continued piloting their mammoth up the incline. Nyun flipped a switch, releasing a mine as they climbed the narrow ascent. The radio crackled. “Sierra Foxtrot Twelve, this is Sierra Foxtrot Actual. You are cleared to proceed with operational freedom. Good hunting. Over and out.”
 
They reached the top of the ridge then proceeded towards the farthest end, Nyun dropping their small inventory of mines along the way.
 
“Alicia, our first target is Sierra Foxtrot Actual. You take him out and I’ll jam the comms. If you can identify the red commander, take him next. Then fire in order of convenience. Most likely the referees will call for evacuation. Wait for the tanks to converge on the exits, then concentrate your fire there.”
 
“I know my job,” growled Alicia, tears flowing down her face.
 
“I know you do,” said Nyun. “I know you do.”
 
The seconds passed slowly, ticking down to the referees’ message. “All units, all units. Commence operations. Weapons free. Repeat, weapons free.”
 
Almost immediately came the sounds of simunition rounds impacting on the hull. “Steady,” said Nyun as she reached for the microphone. “Sierra Foxtrot Actual, this is Sierra Foxtrot Twelve. We’ve been fragged. Sorry. Over.”
 
“Sierra Foxtrot Twelve, copy. I told you so. Over and out.”
 
Nyun reached in her pocket and pulled out her phone. Plugging the headphone jack into the intercom, she pressed play then toggled the transmit switch. Edwin Starr’s “War” flooded the airwaves, effectively interrupting communications amongst the blue team. “Ok, Alicia.”
 
The cannon spoke, shaking the tank. On the command display, Nyun watched as the marker for Sierra Foxtrot One disappeared. She finally released her hold on her emotions and let the tears flow; there was nothing to be gained by stoicism at this point.
 
Alicia was deadly, efficient, and methodical. Her second shot destroyed a red tank that had been screening the red’s command tank, effectively blocking it in a small cul-de-sac. Her third shot took out red command. The gun spoke again, and again, and again, shattering tanks on both sides.
 
Through tear-blurred eyes, Nyun saw something on her monitor that didn’t make sense. Something approaching, and quickly. What was… “Ted! Rear stick, full throttle! Move!!”
 
She heard the engine rev, felt her mammoth shudder into motion, then there was a terrible impact. The world spun; she was flung this way and that against her safety harness. The lights went out; the noise was deafening.
 
Nyun shook her head. She was disoriented, in excruciating pain, and couldn’t see. Was she upside down? How were Alicia and Ted? Then there was another crash, more intense than the first. Her own screams were tiny, pitiful things compared to the tortured screams of armored steel being crushed.
 
 
 
 

Mahalo (thank you) for reading; I hope you enjoyed! This story is part of a series. Information on the series, and links to the other stories, can be found here.

Edited October 17, 2018 by Hippin_in_Hawaii

[tweezers 1,034]

Approved. 

 

-Highlighted the title.

 

It's always a pleasure to approve a piece that doesn't need any edits. Well done! 

 

 

So they failed in their rebel mission, yeah? I admit, I am a wee bit confused. 

 

 

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

 

 

So they failed in their rebel mission, yeah? I admit, I am a wee bit confused. 

 

 

 

Did they? I guess we'll have to wait and see...

 

[r_trooll15 827]

That's the other side of the story

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

That's the other side of the story

It takes at least two sides to have a story.   :)

[r_trooll15 827]

It takes at least two sides to have a story. :)

Ok

Sedition and the incident at suicide ridge

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

Ok

Sedition and the incident at suicide ridge

You got it! What would make someone do such a terrible thing? And would it work as they intended? Or would the consequences be something unforeseen?