Chapter 7

“Zero Hour, Part I”

Near the South Entrance of the city, Erwin looked at the Berlin City at night through his scope. On the highest building of the city, the flag of the GDCA waved. Everything looked so familiar to Erwin, but he didn’t like it.

He ordered the loader to aim the remote machine gun towards the flag. At the same time, he turned the turret and aimed at a LT-38 light tank, which was part of the defence forces of the city.

“Armor-Piercing shell loaded, sir.”?The other loader said quietly. “Very well...wait for my command.”?Erwin replied. “Three, two, one...Open fire!”?The remote machine gun launch a storm of blaze. The dark sky was lightened by the light of tracers and the flag of GDCA was torn apart by the bullets.

Erwin pulled the trigger. The huge 150mm cannon fired and the tank crashed backwards. The shell penetrated--or to be more specific, ripped the target’s front armor into half and exploded inside it, along with its ammunition, throwing its turret towards the sky.

The alarm in the city rang, soldiers and tanks moved towards the South Entrance. The bait worked.?Adolf smiled. “212nd legion! Follow us! Push forward!”?Hans pulled down the trigger, took out a tank and yelled. The Panzer III, along with the P40 roared forward, along with dozens of rebel soldiers, and blasted their way into the city. If we capture the senate building, then we’ll be able to liberate the whole city.

It didn’t take long for Erwin and his crew to break through the defence. The massive tank roared forward, rolling over the fragments of hostile vehicles that stood in its way. Erwin turned on the ratio and sent a message on a special frequency. “Operation Code: Black 13. This is Erwin. Friedlich, you may proceed.”

The tank kept moving forward and approached a junction. “The Senate Building is up ahead, sir.”?The driver reported. “Very well.”?Erwin said. Suddenly he realized something anomalous. It can’t be. Things shouldn’t be going on so well. Unless......?“Stop the tank! Repeat! Stop the tank! Don’t go forward anymore!”?He yelled. The driver pushed the brake and the tank slowed down quickly, with a loud sound of metal rubbing each other. At the same time, Erwin heard a deafening “Bang!”?that he had never heard before. A huge shell flew right in front of his scope and left a huge scar on the tank’s chassis. The tank reversed quickly and went back into cover.

On the other side of the junction, there are two massive 170mm K18 field guns, aiming towards the junction, right where Erwin’s tank popped out.

“If we braked half a second slower,”?Erwin said, still shocked, “that thing will blow us into pieces.”?“Yea...that was so close...My ears are still ringing...”?The driver replied.

On the Northern Entrance, Adolf and Karl were facing the same problem. The only difference is that the 170mm field guns at the Northern Entrance had already blew up half of the 212nd legion, because no one saw them until they fired.

“The situation is exacerbating!” Stein yelled. “I can’t see see anything and....Argh!” An 170mm High-Explosive shell exploded just beside their cover, making everyone’s ear rung crazily. “Adolf! We need reinforcements! Right now!” Hans shouted because he couldn’t hear clearly. “I’ll contact Erwin!” Adolf shouted back, because he couldn’t hear clearly, either. “Erwin! We’re stuck at the Northern Entrance! There are two large-caliber field guns in front of us and we’re taking heavy losses! We need help! Now!” “Negative Adolf. Repeat, negative! We’re stuck hear as well.?There are field guns here and they have already lock up the area. I’m afraid you’re on your own now!”?This is not I wanted! Adolf was frustrated. But what can we do now? Someone do something!

A dreary explosion came from outside.

Adolf look outside through the scope. One of the field guns was completely blasted apart and the gunners of the other one were trying to turn the massive 170mm cannon around, but another shot appeared, detonated the cannon’s ammunition aside and created another explosion.

Who did that? Erwin??Adolf was confused.

The sound of engines came from the smoke.

It’s not Erwin. That isn’t the sound of the gas turbine on his E-100.

A small tank appeared from the smoke. It was a LT-38 light tank, with GDCA logos on it.

A man wearing a GDCA uniform popped out from the LT-38’s hatch. “Remember me Adolf?”?He yelled. Him??Adolf searched his memory quickly. Then he remembered who he was. He was the first human he met on Earth, the leader of the patrol squad of the Berlin City. But why did he do that?

“You might wonder why I’m doing this.”?He shouted. “I’m the spy inside Berlin. Code name Schwartz 13, or Black 13. You can call me Friedlich as well.”

Adolf nodded, in disbelief. Hans heard something and turned the turret slowly towards the LT-38.

Friedlich noticed the movement of the Panzer III. “Wait what are you doing? Hold your fire Adolf! Hold your...”?Hans pressed the trigger and a 50mm shell flew towards Friedlich. Friedlich blocked his eyes with his arm and screamed.

But nothing happened to him.

Behind Friedlich, was another LT-38, pointing its gun towards Friedlich, but it was already on fire. Hans’?shot directly penetrated its front armor and set its fuel on fire.

“So you wasn’t shooting me?”?Friedlich said, still in panic. “At least you weren’t going to shoot us, but that guy behind you was going to do so.”?Adolf replied.

“Alright men!”?Adolf stood on his turret and said, “Karl, you and Friedlich go help Erwin and attack the Senate Building from the South. The rest of the 212nd Legion, follow us, we’re going to take the building from the North.”

“Copy that.”?Karl drove the tank forward and Friedlich followed.

Suddenly, a loud, deafening sound of gunshot came from behind.

A 17 pounder shell flew towards the LT-38 and penetrated through its back. But the shell didn’t stop there, it kept going forward inside the tank and finally punched its way out through the tank’s front, like a kebab.

The LT-38, along with Friedlich, exploded and vanished in the fire.

A huge shadow appeared from the left. It was covered in grey camouflage, smoke popped out from its centre and the flag of Berlin waved on its bow.

It was the K-Wagen.

“Move! Move! Move! Karl we’ll hold that thing here! Go find Erwin! Fast!”?Adolf yelled in the radio. “Split up and take cover!”?Merkel shouted to the soldiers outside, “Do not try to engage it! Repeat! Do not engage! That thing was designed as a mobile fortress!”

Stein stepped heavily on the accelerator and the Panzer III roared forward. The chase has started.?Stein thought. This is where the fun begins.

Erwin couldn’t do anything to the situation he was in.

He was trapped in a narrow street because the field guns formed a blockade at each side.

I couldn’t even turn the turret inside a street like this! I might break the gun!

Sound of explosions came from outside.

Erwin sat straight and took a look from the scope, but the sudden acceleration of the tank almost made him fall down. Erwin tried his best to sit straight and took another look. The tank was rushing towards the junction and at the center of the junction there stood Karl and his P40, along with the burning fragments of the field guns.

The E-100 rushed out of the street and made an U-turn. On the other side of the street, the gunners of the other field gun were trying to push the cannon into the street and take a shot before the E-100 could make the turn, but it was too late.

In front of them wasn’t the rear of the super heavy tank, but its front, along with a massive 150mm High-Explosive shell.

“Thanks Karl.”?Erwin said through the radio, “I owe you one.”?“Pay it back with double cheese in my pasta.”?Karl replied, Adolf is in trouble and we must hurry.”

“Understood.”?Erwin said while trying his best not to laugh.

Ahh.... he was still the same.

“The good news is, it won’t be able to catch us.”?Hans said inside the tank. “However that bad news is...”?“I know! I know! We won’t be able to out-maneuver it because there are guns all over it!”?Merkel interrupted, “You know, you don’t have to repeat this all the time! We all saw what happened to that LT-38!”?“Alright please stop talking!”?Adolf said, “Gustav! How’s your men over there? It the trap ready?”?“It’s all set sir!”?Sergeant Gustav, the commander of the 212nd Legion said confidently, “We will give that thing a warm welcome of High-Explosive-Anti-Tank rockets and patrol bombs once you lured it here!”

“Nice job commander! Stein! Full throttle! Let’s put an end to this.”

“We’re almost there!”?Karl said. “The K-Wagen should be right to this street!”

“Look out!”?Erwin shouted. In front of the speeding P40, a LT-38 appeared. Karl turned the steers and turned left to avoid being hit. The LT-38 fired at the E-100 but its shell only left a scratch on the E-100’s turret.

“Loader! Load Armor-Piercing shell! Gunner! Turn the turret toward point 80! Driver! Full speed ahead! We’re not going to waste a shot on this light tank! Everyone! Brace yourselves and prepare for impact!”

The Panzer III rushed into the street where that trap was sat and turned right at the end of it, expecting the K-Wagen would follow. Up on the empty houses beside the street, there were dozens of rebel soldiers preparing to attack.

But the massive tank stopped in front of the entrance.

It’s a trap. The commander of the K-Wagen thought. He ordered the gunners to shoot at the buildings beside the street.

The two frontal guns of the K-Wagen moved. Sergeant Gustav was terrified to find out the devastating 17-pounder cannon was aiming directly towards his location. “They’ve found us! Everyone take cover!”?He shouted through the radio, but his voice was overwhelmed by a massive sound of crashing and robbing sound of metal.

Behind the K-Wagen, the E-100 appeared. Along with it, was the LT-38, which was currently pushing by the E-100. The two tanks crashed on a solid wall and the LT-38, which couldn’t stand the huge kinetic force of a rushing 120-ton behemoth, was completely torn in half when it hit the wall. Erwin quickly aimed at the K-Wagen and pulled the trigger. A huge 150mm shell penetrated through the K-Wagen’s rear armor and detonated inside.

The K-Wagen exploded. The burning fragments were the only thing it left on Earth.

“Our job here is finished!”?Erwin greeted Adolf. “The assault squads will take over the Senate Building soon. We’re going to have a celebration party here tomorrow. After that you’ll be able to contact Mars...or that cruiser in orbit...whatever you want. After all you’ll soon be able to go home.”

“Thank you Erwin.”?Adolf replied. “Thanks for the help.”

Home.

Chapter 8

“Zero Hour, Part II”

Saturday, July 22nd, 2187 ?Sunny (Well the weather didn’t even change a little bit since we’re here on Earth)

Dear Diary:

We took control of the Berlin City fourteen hours before. It was a great success, and we should be able to meet the cruiser and Admiral Varsio in less than two days. The communications tower inside the Senate Building was slightly damaged during the battle, but it will be fixed in less than 12 hours. Admiral Adler was planning a celebration party tonight, and I’m planning to watch the sunset here on Earth with Hans, Merkel and Stein. If everything goes on well, we will be able to make contact with the cruiser right after the party is over.

It was estimated that it would take at least 72 hours for the GDCA to launch a full-scale ground invasion against Berlin and before that we’ll be able to contact the cruiser, so we will have plenty of time.

I can’t wait to introduce Admiral Varsio to Admiral Adler. I’m sure they’re going to be good friends. Then we’ll be able to mobilize the Martian Troops and support the Rebellion in further combat.

I hope you’re happy now, grandpa.

Sincerely, Adolf

?

Adolf, Stein, Merkel and Hans sat on the dune.

“That’s why Karl loves to watch the sunset at this sector. Majestic, isn’t it?”

“Indeed Adolf, that is absolutely remarkable.”

“Us Martian Troops......could only see a blurry shadow of the Sun on Mars......”

“Don’t worry, we’ll come back to Earth after we go back to Mars. We all will.”

After a long period of silence, Merkel asked: “So......Why didn’t Karl come with us? There was still space on that hovercraft.”

“Well,” Adolf smiled, “Karl is helping Erwin to make his pasta. Double cheese, he told me.” “Double cheese? That sounds delicious. Let’s go back right after sunset and attend the party.” Stein replied. “Of course Hans, of course.”

The majestic sunset painted every building of the Berlin City into a magnificent, gold color.

On the tallest building of the city, the Rebellion was holding the party.

“We gain this victory because we showed solidarity during the battle!”?Admiral Adler said in great joy, “This is for everyone!”?He took a cup of wine and drank it. Everyone cheered. “Tonight, please relax yourselves, put all the wars and pains behind! This is our day! This is our moment! Cheers!”

Everyone laughed and cheered, everyone was happy, even after the night already came, even it started to rain......

But they made one simple, but lethal mistake.

In the dark, rainy sky, above the liberated Berlin City, above the celebrating crowd, there floated something.

"Sir, we have reached the Berlin City." "Good.......good. Deactivate the cloaking device, charge the main batteries and prepare to open fire."

Between the dark clouds, the object slowly revealed itself: a huge airship, covered with black from head to tail, like a shadow, a nightmare, hovering just a few hundred meters above the celebrating crowd on the central building of Berlin.

Admiral Adler noticed something. He looked up and stared at the huge shadow. What was that in the sky......... He searched his memory as quick as possible. Then, he realized what it was. "Everyone evacuate! NOW!" he shouted. The crowd dispersed and ran downstairs, but it was too late.

A crimson?targeting?beam appeared from the airship and aimed towards the crowd. "Target locked." Inside the airship, an officer reported. "Enabling electric relay." "Charging the class II plasma compressor." The main concentration disc lightened, and soon became brighter and brighter. "Prepare for full-power ignition". "You may fire when ready." In the fire control room of the airship, the Weapon Commander ordered. Deep inside the airship's cabin, the main reactor operated. Down below, a huge beam of plasma blasted from the concentration disc and went right towards the crowd on the building, creating a huge explosion.

Outside the City, the radio on Adolf’s jacket rung.

“Yes this is Adolf please speak.”?Adolf picked up the radio and answered. A few seconds later, his face froze.

“What? Berlin is under attack? By what? By who?!”?“A massive airship-like thing........The GDCA......evacuating......”

The signal was lost.

“Get into the hovercraft, now! We’re going back!”?Adolf shouted. Stein stepped down the accelerator and the hovercraft rushed towards the Berlin City.

The airship unleashed its full firepower. The sound of missiles, plasma cannons and auto cannons rose one after another, creating explosions all over the city and tearing it apart.

Admiral Adolf escaped the plasma beam luckily.

“Erwin, use your E-100 to take the others away!”?He shouted through the radio, “Makarov! Fly north and try to find Adolf! Inform him that we will meet each other at zone 217! Repeat! Zone 217! I’ll go with Karl in his P40! Now move it!”

But what responded from the radio nearly broke his heart.

“Negative command. Escape immediately. Me and Joseph can make you more time! Go! Now!”

It was Sergeant Makarov and his co-pilot, Sergeant Joseph. Adler looked up in the sky, there was a small dot with bright, white trace, heading towards the massive airship. It was the A-40 flying tank.

“No! Makarov! I refuse! Repeat! I refuse! Do not engage! Get out of......”?Makarov’s calm voice interrupted Adler. “It has been a honour Admiral, it as been a honour.”?“No, wait......”

The radio has been shut down.

Adler squeezed his eyes shut, tear twisted around it.

“Get us out of here, Karl.”

Outside Berlin City, Adolf was anxious.

“How long will it take until we reach Berlin?”

“It won’t be long Adolf.”?Stein replied, “We’re close to the suburb area.”

“I really hope those people in Berlin City are safe.”

However, Adolf was totally wrong.

“Admiral! We’re taking heavy firepower from that thing! We need reinforcements! Repeat! We need reinforcements!”

Erwin’s voice came from the radio. But Adler couldn’t help even for a little bit.

“Hang on Erwin!”?this is the only thing that he could say, “Let’s get out of......”

A cruise missile interrupted him and blew the P40 into pieces. Adler was thrown out of the tank by the shock wave and fell faint.

In the destroyed tank, Erwin’s voice, mixed with sounds of explosions, came intermittently from the radio.

“They have destroyed the turret......are sitting ducks now....Fire! We’re on fire! Put it out! Put it......”

Signal lost.

Up in the sky, Sergeant Makarov heard everything from the ratio. But he could do nothing. The flying tank had already took a direct hit from the airship and could only barely fly in the sky.

“Take us down Joseph! Dive to the blind spots of the flak! We’ll go another pass!”?“I’m on it!”

The tank dived down towards the bottom of the airship. Makarov pulled down the trigger and shot a volley of bullets straight at the airship. But it did nothing. The armor of the airship was just too thick.

“We’ll have to figure out another method!”?Makarov shouted, “Take us up! I’ll try to shoot the propellers! I hope that will work!”

The tank pulled up and flied straight into the dark sky, and dived at the highest spot. Makarov carefully aimed the huge propellers of the gigantic airship and put his fingers on the trigger......

But it was already too late.

Two missiles hit directly on the tank’s wings and torn it apart.

The tank fell from the sky like a meteor and exploded.

The last spark of the Rebellion went out. At the same time, the lower hatch of the airship opened and a huge bomb dropped out of the airship.

The hovercraft finally reached Berlin City.

“We have to find a way to get to the communications tower! We have to send the signal and help the Rebellion!”?Adolf shouted and jumped out of the hovercraft, rushing towards the city.

“No!”?Merkel grabbed his arm and stopped Adolf. “Do not go in!”?“Why?! We still have a chance!”?Adolf was annoyed.

“Look carefully and think! The Rebellion is no more! Can’t you see the ruins of the city?!”?“But the communications tower is still there in the Senate Building! We still have a chance to send the signal!”

“Even if we send the signal, that thing will intercept our transmission and blow us into pieces.”?Hans added. “I’ve detected a jamming field around the city and it is coming from that airship.”

“But it worth trying! You aren’t sure if that thing can really intercept......”

Adolf’s words was interrupted by a deep sound of explosion.

Adolf looked inside the city.

A burst of fire was rising slowly from the senate building and devoured everything on its way.

It was a massive thermo-baric warhead that created that explosion.

“Everyone! Take cover!”

When Adolf and his crew looked up again, they found out the massive airship was slowly turning around, leaving and vanished in the deep dark sky.

They looked towards the city.

The Senate Building, along with the whole city center, had disappeared.

The only things left was a giant crater, and part of the suburb area.