It was once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Rapier squad learned of a high-ranking officer visiting the former Royal Knights’ barracks, where now are quartered the enemy troops.

They only needed one thing: to say ‘yes’.

“No problem.” (R4)

“Good to hear it. No help from us, though~.” A rebel grinned at the two crazy guys that just surged out of the street to have their butts handed over to them.

“How about you go with us, just to make sure we done everything?” (R3)

“We look that crazy?” The rebels looked at the operatives with a mock.

“Maybe not, but you would need to see for yourselves, that we are the best guys to work with.” (R3)

“Well, I don’t exactly trust you, but I’ll be following you and observing from the shadows.” The presumed rebel commander shrugged his shoulders, and nonchalantly walked away.

“That’s fine. See you later then.” The operatives headed out too.

Three hours later.

A carriage stopped by the barracks. Target code A-6. ‘A’ stands for the confirmed military-only objects of high value. In other words, no need to hold back.

The soldiers who were previously wandering around aimlessly and sweeping the yard with sticks, were now forming up at the carriage.

‘I wonder if their general uses them to build his own house too.’ (R4)

‘Bite your tongue. Should He learn of this…’ (R3)

A man in neat clothes walked back and forth in front of the soldiers, and after he was satisfied with something, he headed inside the barracks. The soldiers stood on guard outside.

‘The bird is in the cage. I repeat, the bird is in the cage.’ (R3)

“Copy that.” (R1)

‘WRRRRRR’

24 kilometers away from the capital, a vehicle drove to the top of a hill overseeing the vast forest that surrounds the capital.

The clanging of tracks and the noise of diesel engine stopped together with the vehicle.

The crew disembarked immediately, and started preparing the vehicle.

At the back of the vehicle a spade was lowered, and dug into the ground. Then, the gun was uncovered, and a huge breach with hammer and sickle engraved on it was opened.

“The Third is ready!” The gun crew commander reported.

The rest of the battery has set up too.

The battery commander stood by for the confirmation.

“Solid copy. Hammer, marking the target. Don’t miss.” A little girl’s voice was heard from the radio.

“That’s affirmative, comrade captain.” The chief swung his arm, commanding for everyone to start the next phase.

“FUGASNIY!” [High-Explosive!] The loaders rushed to put the hundredweight shell on the hydraulic tray.

With a hiss, the system transferred the shell all the way up to the breach, and the rammer pushed the shell into the gun.

“Elevation 17° 23’’.” While the gunners mumbled their mantras to the God-Machine, known as the ballistic calculator, the loaders put the charge bags on the hydraulic tray.

‘Shhh’

With everything finished, the gun slowly rose to the firing position, while the crew hurried to haul their a*s away.

“Tretiy gotov!” [The Third is ready!] The crew commander shouted to the chief.

A young captain gulped, and pushed the button on the radio.

“Everything is ready.”

“Fire at will.” The girl responded, and the captain glanced at his wards: the artillery of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command.

“FIRE!!!” He shouted on top of his lungs, so that every hiding crew would hear him for sure.

At the same time, a small siren started howling by the first vehicle.

‘Wiu-Wiu-Wiu-Wiu-Wiu’

KABOOM

A thunder of an explosion rocked the forest, deafening everything in front of the gun up to a kilometer away.

“Perviy, vistrel proizveden, otkat normalniy.” [The First has fired, the recoil is normal.] The first crew’s commander reported.

Then, the second siren started. Exactly 5 seconds later, the gun roared.

KABOOM

“Vtoroy, vistrel proizveden, otkat normalniy.”

Then, the third one. And then the fourth one.

KABOOM

“Chetvertiy, vistrel proizveden, otkat normalniy.”

The captain nodded his head in satisfaction, and after asking something from the girl, he shouted the new command.

“PACK THEM UP, PEOPLE!” Immediately, the crews hurried to get the hell away from that hill.

There would be no bombers or gunships coming for their heads, neither there would be enemy artillery starting counterbattery fire, but old habits die hard.

In a minute, the only thing left that reminded about the guns firing was the ash, and the dug up soil where the vehicles stood.

The convoy of the four guns, and the four auxiliary vehicles, proceeded away from the hill.

When they drove out to a narrow road, the vehicles turned in the direction of the main road, and dispersed into particles of light. Disappearing, as if they were never here to begin with.