THE SKIES ARE RED - OPERATION TERMOPILI

WAR 117, DAY 1007 TO 1010, THE TREASURY, The Clahstra --- The old bus rattled and shook, as it carved its way through the snow covered roads. It is usually full, used by both civilians and soldiers on leave to get around. Today, it's only passengers were me and my escort, an NCO from the [DELTΔ] regiment that went by the nickname "Cakeboy". The doors opened by the village hall of Watchful Nave, a small town in the south of The Clahstra. We stepped off the bus. I stared at the busy traffic. Trucks carrying a plethora of hardware, or refugees clinging to their last possessions, all heading in the same direction. It had been around a week since the Colonial government found out about the ballistic missile targeting The Treasury, the regional capital. Ever since, a full evacuation order had been in place for all residents.

I am still unsure why the Warden High Command would order an attack on a city about to be destroyed. Maybe they wanted a great victory to display to the world. But enough speculation. Multiple warden tanks had crossed over, with the bridge having been rebuilt as the soldiers guarding the checkpoint scrambled for cover. 

300mm slammed into the buildings, exploding their decayed remnants into smithereens. Screams pieced the sky, as those unable to make it to safety were struck by shrapnel, blew up by explosions, choked by gas or run over by tank tracks. I began to think that maybe I'd get to return home quicker than I thought, as it appeared the entire city was soon to fall. However, events would prove me wrong. During the fight that ensued, it appears a inexperienced warden crew got confused and thought they were being pushed back. They promptly destroyed the bridge, unknowingly trapping around five armoured vehicles on the other side. The Colonial infantry swarmed around these, firing Ignifists and Bane-45 RPG's. Only one survived, having been stolen by said infantry. With hopes of taking The Treasury without the use of a Rocket dashed, the 300mm artillery resumed, in an attempt to hamper evacuation efforts.

As night faded into a new day, the bridge was still the scene of brutal combats. However, colonial recon elements finally found where the shells were coming from. In order to support their offensive, warden forces had brought into the region a Long-Range Artillery Car, also known as Rail Storm Canon. [DELTΔ] regiment and an NCO from the regiment [SQUID], in order to disrupt its operation, began using a landing vessel and two APC's to land commandos on the northern shore. They were jokingly christened the "Royal Clahstran Navy" by the troops. This improvised "navy", during one of their trips, managed to find a lone Colonial gunboat, with no crew or ammunition, floating in the middle of the lake. This was promptly stolen by [DELTΔ] engineers and taken away to a nearby seaport. Unfortunately for these commandos, the landing crafts were eventually sunk. With no other option left, they were forced to sit there during the night as the bombardment rained down, the only illumination being the flares, dancing among the stars, making bodies appear as though they were silhouettes of mountains.

5 seconds.
Someone yelled "EVERYBODY HIT THE DECK!", as a black form appeared in the far distance.

4 seconds.
Crewmen jumped from tanks and clambered under them, some accidentally tripping and breaking limbs, leaving them unable to protect themselves against the oncoming blast.

3 seconds.
We put on improvised protective goggles to shield our eyes from the blast. Those in the city had to make do with what they had on hand.

2 seconds.
People began looking up, the temptation too much. The NCO's couldn't stop them in time. Many would ended with life-long injuries.

1 second.
"BRACE FOR IMPA-"

The fireball shone, brighter than five thousand stars. The shock wave tore up concrete bunkers and lobbed them like playthings. The boat shook side to side. Major Spring almost fell overboard, but Staff Sergeant Zera managed to grab him in time. Everyone on the boat was speechless. All we could do was watch, as the embodiment of death, that dark and expansive mushroom cloud, rose above The Treasury. Lieutenant Kito got off the ship's radio. "Early estimates are in. Insure, but we're talking about several thousands casualties." Slowly, Officer Cadet Stolsh brought up the throttle, and the ship sped towards the ruined city.