"Captain!" Lukas screams at Captain Surbella from atop the Thomas the Train. "AWACS Long Caster has just arrived, they will be guiding you to penetrate the slum area with the UAV! You are going to need to double-time, the pressure is piling up on Alpha very hard!"

Captain Surbella nods at the Sergeant before tossing a bag full of spare magazines for Adam's unit onto the back of an armed Humvee. He then turns to the detachment around him, motioning two fingers in a circle. "Alright men! Mount up! We're leaving in ten!"

Captain Surbella then mounts up on the driver seat of a lead-armed Humvee, equipped with an HMG-14.5 on the top. Bulletproof and well-protected against even some small explosions, he will be using this vehicle as a battering ram. Following behind his vehicle is a lesser protect Humvee, a Ground Mobility Vehicle that is basically a gun truck. Equipped with an AGL-40mm automatic grenade launcher, one MG-35 for the co-driver, and another MG-35 for rear coverage, the GMV Humvee is a heavily armed and highly mobile firing platform in exchange for a lesser degree of operator protection. This is why Captain Surbella has to lead with his more protected Humvee to attract all the potential interception fire.

In total, the two reinforcement Humvees will be carrying eleven soldiers, Belkans and Rusviets. The latter are there mostly because Surbella can't afford to spare any more of his men. The train still needs a defensive unit to man its weapon station security post. Once everyone is loaded up, Captain Surbella steps on the throttle, leading the other Humvee to move through the gate of the train station. He spares a glance at a group of disarmed and tied-up Polanians who were in charge of the train station's security before focusing on the road ahead. Prior to their departure, Captain Surbella had these Polanians detained to ensure they wouldn't be able to pull anything.

Hopefully, in the time it takes Surbella to reach Adam, Sergeant Lukas back at Thomas will be able to work out his hypothesis with the very much stressed-out Warsaw station master. There are old railroad lines in Warsaw, and if Lukas can identify which one is still useable, they may be able to bring Thomas directly to Adam. That will be the extraction ride and a half for their combatants and civilians.

Before that though, Surbella better bring relief to the undergunned and understaffed slum defenders. As the two armed Humvees drift around a corner, tires screeching and all, Surbella listens to the battle net that is very much alive with activities.

"This is AWACS Long Caster, arriving in the airspace above Warsaw. We will be providing intel and CAS coordination from here on out. Alpha unit, be advised, that friendly Charlie is inbound with two Humvees to reinforce you. ETA, five minutes."

"This is Alpha 1!" Adam's voice got cut off by a burst of gunfire. "We're under heavy attack from enemy footmobiles on all three avenues! They're using the slum buildings to creep closer to the barricade! Most of us are red on ammo and I don't know if we can even hold on for five minutes!"

"This is Charlie 1," Surbella interjected using the Humvee's radio. "We will get to you in three, just hang tight! AWACS, I need the shortest route to Alpha's position ASAP!"

"Copy that, Charlie. The quickest road will take you through an armored checkpoint. It will be a tight fit so you better keep your hand steady on the wheel! Patching the nav data now, check your GPS!"

Surbella's co-driver, a Private, changed the GPS installed on the Humvee to show the updated navigation data. The Private then says. "Take a right turn in the next intersection, Cap!"

Surbella follows the instructions, dodging a bus of shocked Polanian civies before making a turn. He continues following the Private's directions while making sure to dodge the traffic, Surbella listens in to the comms once more.

"Long Caster to Rigel Squadron. Detecting mechanized enemy units mobilizing from external garrisons around Warsaw. They're tasked with attacking the slum area from the rear. Move to intercept and destroy these mechanized elements when they're clear of civilian assets. Knight Squadron will take place as CAS for Alpha."

"Wilco, Rigel Squadron moving to intercept."

"Knight Squadron on station, we're ready to deliver close air support."

"This is Alpha 1, the enemy is setting up shop on the buildings all around our front! Taking multiple casualties and are bingo red on ammo! Broken Arrow! Broken Arrow damn it! I don't care if it's danger-close, bomb these bastards to Hell!" Shit, Adam won't be able to hold on for long with how these Polanians are maneuvering using the messy slum areas as cover against air attack. To call in a Broken Arrow, one must be very desperate.

Surbella steps harder on the gas, almost getting there to the battle zone.

"Long Caster to Knight Squadron, targeting data sent. Flatten the areas near the defenders, danger close, danger close."

"Good copy, we will pay attention to where we drop the payload. Knight Squadron, engage."

At this point, pulling punches by staying out of visual range won't be enough to save Alpha unit. As such, Knight Squadron, led by Toyjet, flies closer to the ground, coming in hard and fast. From the pilots' point of view, they see a cloud of purple smoke coming from Adam's position, with enemy tracers relentlessly pounding at the slum defenders' location. Pinned down and overwhelmed, Adam and Rokossovsky are fighting a retreating battle back toward the bank the civilians are hiding in. They have been buying time using booby traps and even blew up a few buildings already, but the Polanians seem dead set on wiping the slum off the face of Gaia. Locking on the buildings marked as 'TGT' by Long Caster, Toyjet, followed by Hellington, launch salvos of numerous DAGR rockets. Dozens upon dozens of small explosions bombard the enemy garrison troops, collapsing if not obliterating any covers they're hiding in or behind. Both Toyjet and Hellington would have cheered if not for the grim situation they saw the guys below facing. Professionals have standards, and they won't laugh when their compatriots are facing hardships and misery.

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Knights 3 to 5, flying a bit higher than Knights 1 and 2, drop the payload of guided 250 kg bombs. These bombs then impact and explode on large concentrations of enemy units and MG nests. Their HUDs are packed with green squares and red TGT markers, numbering in the dozens still. It's a wonder how this ragtag group of Belkans, Rusviets, Slavs, and some good-hearted Polanians is still standing.

"Look alive, people!" The voice of Adam screamed over the radio. "Fight with everything you have! Use your guns as a club, your fists if you have to! Resist! Resist and bite! Bite hard at these scums that seek to harm those you hold dear!"

It seems that the Lieutenant is motivating those around him now that bombs and gunshots are just coming from everywhere around them. Situations like that will shellshock even hardened veterans. Adam trying to get their head back into the game is a necessary move for the battle is far from over.

Surbella has to tune out of the live update from the radio when Charlie unit is approaching the slum. Switching to the local radio net, Captain Surbella announces. "Be advised, approaching the hot zone. Buckle up and be ready to engage the enemy. Charlie 1-2 focus on suppressing the enemy that comes up our rear and flanks!"

Surbella then switches back to the command net, saying. "Charlie 1 to Long Caster and Alpha, we're speeding over down the right side avenues, check your fire! Friendlies are inbound!"

"Copy that, Charlie!" Adam replied with the sound of gunshots and explosions acting as his backdrop. "Notifying the defenders now!"

"Long Caster here, Knight Squadron, you got that clearly?"

"Crystal clear, AWACS, holding off on suppressing right side avenues to let Charlie elements come through. Be advised, the road is bumpy with craters and there are enemies still in the side buildings."

Surbella says right when he has a visual on the Polanian roadblock, which is basically two TKSs and sandbag emplacements. "Nothing our Humvees can't handle." Surbella says before stepping harder on the gas.

The Captain shouts. "Alright boys, light them up!"

Per his command, the two Humvees light up the Polanian roadblock with everything they have. The gunner manning the HMG-14.5 starts unleashing a hail of 14.5x114mm rounds at the tankettes, completely shredding them to pieces. Meanwhile, the rear vehicle utilizes the 40mm grenade launcher and blows up the enemy machine gun nests and sentries, paving the way for Charlie's breakthrough into the slum.

Driving past smoldering wrecks of steel and dead Polanians, Surbella says. "Alright people, hit the gas and keep your eyes peeled! Shoot everything that breathes in your direction!"

"Roger!"

Riding over the bumpy terrain left behind by many rockets and bombs, the Humvees demonstrate their off-road capability wonderfully. Using speed, protection, and firepower, Surbella's two Humvees cut through units of Polanian soldiers, cutting or blowing them apart with ease. Any and all return fire at Surbella is blocked by or bounces off the armored plating of his Humvee. Those enemies that dare resist are greeted with a combination of 40mm, 14.5mm, and 8mm hail.

Leaving behind a trail of death and destruction that leaves the Polanians stunned and befuddled as to what the Hell just happened, Surbella soon leads his unit to a screeching halt in the heart of the slum. The Humvees have arrived at the outer perimeter of the bank where they're immediately welcomed by Alpha unit.

"I need suppressive fire on those windows!" Surbella commanded as he and some of the troops dismounted, carrying with them ammo and other necessities for the slum defenders.

Adam and Rokossovsky greet them with a strained smile, right when another Harrier releases its bomb over an apartment block. "Boy are we glad to see you, literally coming just shy of 3 minutes."

Surbella nods, with one of the Rusviets coming up to hand Rokossovsky additional munition. "Bravo is trying to determine whether we can bring the train to the slum. We need to hold until they can give us an update." The Captain then hands a bag of MP9 and USP magazines to Adam.

Adam takes it to fill up his vest. The Lieutenant then sees that there's a placard inside the bag. The placard is fitted with an armor plate and is mountable on Adam's chest rig. "Thanks, never thought I would even need to fire my gun today, much less need a plate."

"You're lucky that I remembered that you went out here without one. It's a miracle no one managed to hit you yet." Surbella commented, his words punctuated by the weapons on the Humvees engaging any Polanian stragglers.

Adam shrugs. "What can I say, Captain. It seems like the Mother Goddess and the Reich Marshal have answered my prayers. They really are looking out for me."

Rokossovsky, who is nearby, also laughs. "With how much shit we got into in a single morning alone, I won't be surprised if I find myself a religious man like the Lieutenant at the end of the day."

Surbella nods at the pair. "Words have it that diplomacy has failed, and our diplomats may have been placed under house arrest. While it's unlikely that they will be harmed, the enemy will be doubling their effort to eliminate us instead. If the civilians were to die die, they could still somewhat twist the narrative on the political stage."

Adam sighs. "So we're holding down the fort once more."

Rokossovsky smirks. "But at least we have heavier firepower now. Do remind me to get one this Humvee when we get to Berlin."

Surbella and Adam share a look. "Honestly, General, we won't be surprised if you are awarded a Humvee by Berlin in a show of camaraderie when we get back."

Rokossovsky barks out a laugh. "I can't wait to get that baby out for a spin then."

Though the battle has yet to end, there's at least a glimmer of hope for the people fighting the good fight now. The bonds they formed and the things they did in this single day would become a cornerstone for a pact of friendship in the future. Yet, in such a chaotic time, such friendship can change with a single flick of a coin.

Only Time will tell whether these men can still laugh on the same side of the battlefield.