The Rumble Crew Squad

About half of us were outside eating our morning breakfast, the others inside the tent, “So I heard when I was getting my hay that we were going to be moving to the trenches they set up. Said maybe in the next twelve minutes or something.” Kettle said to those of us who were outside, “Which was about seven minutes ago.”

“Seven minutes ago you say. Who knows when they heard it themselves. I wouldn’t trust it.” Said Luiz.

“Maybe, but if it is, that means we’re probably going to be packing any minute to head out. Which if we are, we should probably finish u--” Kettle was interrupted by S.Sgt. Jaume as he trotted up to us.

“RUMBLE! Listen, we just got orders to pack everything important and load it onto the trucks and then carry whatever you can. They want us heading out in a few minutes! Try to get the damn tent down in that time as well.” Jaume said, “I’ma tell the ones inside as well.” before he made his way into the tent.

“Well fuck me. The timing on that couldn’t have been any more perfect.” I let out a small chuckle, “Best to get to it then?” I had already finished eating myself so I was getting up and heading into the tent.

“Two minutes! Get as much as you can. They think the Changelings are going to attack any second. Get it done.” Jaume finished up telling the three inside before turning to head out. I got out of his way of the entrance.

“Damn… even in the morning they wanna attack us.” Rostislav said. He had moved into the tent with the two others, “I guess I can help with the tent. You should help me with it Tuuli.” He looked at me and Samira, “Y’all should help carry supplies to those trucks along with everypony else. These damn tents aren’t that important as everything else.”

“Imagine we lose the food we do have; it could be a few days before we get resupply of just the bare minimum.” Samira said, “Or bullets.

“Then we should probably do so.” I said, “We meeting anywhere in case anything goes down before we head out?”

“The nearest pony I’d assume to make into your temporary battle buddle.” Samira said.

“Here before we move out I’d assume. Seems like Jaume was in a hurry. Maybe that’s what he's figuring out himself.” Tuuli said.

“Yeah.” I replied, “Here works. Anyways, best start.” I turned around and headed out, Samira followed and when I got out I saw the other three who were still outside waiting, “So Tuuli and Rostislav are going to work on the tent. We should help get supplies to the transports. We’re also meeting back in this spot, what we said in the tent .” I said to everypony else.

“At least we’ll be getting to the safety of the trenches, we should be able to hold them there then. I hope.” Nihal said.

“Yeah, hopefully. But Jaume said inside that the Changelings could be attacking any second apparently. That’s why we’re moving out, at least what I think.” I said.

We all headed off, us handing in our plates at the tent we got our meals from before splitting up to help load up the trucks. Everypony else was busy themselves, trotting or rushing around, to their own squads, commanders, doing whatever task the higher ups gave or they gave themselves.

I was carrying a box of parts to this one part of the camp, which to my surprise, had a tank just sitting there. I was bringing the parts to the crew of it, somepony at another tent just yelled me over and gave me the task after finding out I had no dedicated one, so here I was. I thought it was for one of the transport trucks.

What I found surprising honestly was that it was a tank. It was a Timberwolf tank. It came into production at the end of last year. I know my division had a few Muletilda’s, but I honestly thought they were all lost during the initial attack, but a TIMBERWOLF! It was a new class of tank as well, medium, I think.

I didn’t see anypony near the tank who seemed to be apart of its crew, so I walked around to the other side and saw two ponies standing near the back with a griffon on top of the tank where the engine was.

I walked up to the two on the ground and said, “Hey! Y’all’re expecting a box of parts?”

The two turned to look at me and the dark blue colored pony said, “We’re expecting one. You were told by Kahina to bring it? Copper color pony?”

“Uhm, yeah, copper. I didn’t get their name but that’s what they looked like.” I removed the box off my back and placed it on the ground between me and the other two, “Here’s your things then. Hope it was correct.”

The dark blue pony looked in the box and said, “Yep, right stuff.” He looked back up at me and said, “IF you’re heading back to Kahina, tell her that the tank is ready to head off. Not that important if you can’t.”

I nodded my head, “I’ll see to it if they’re still where they were.” I was about to leave as the other ponies were getting back to whatever they were up to when I asked, “Uhh, just quickly, but how’d y’all get your hands on a damn Timberwolf? I didn’t know the division had any.”

The other pony on the ground, with a dark orange coat, said, “Just got lucky, but we’re not with your division here. We came from the airfield to the east. We were told the city was being pushed hard and all your armor was practically destroyed so they sent us here. Temporarily with your division though. We’re heading out before everypony else so we can get set up at those trenches they’ve made.”

“Ahh, I gotcha, well, goodluck! May Celestial and Luna bless you!” I said before turning around to head off for real this time.

I quickly made my way back to where our tent was, with everypony at the camp working to pack up, we got it all packed away quickly and trucks and other ponies already seemed to be heading out. I was the last one in the group to meet up with everypony. S.Sgt. Jaume was with the group as well near the empty spot of where the tent used to be.

“Jurek! Finally. We can start heading out. Mile walk to the trenches.” Jaume said.

“Yeah, had to deliver a message for this tank crew, apparently they brought in a Timberwolf.” I said.

“A fucking timberwolf!?” Rostislav said, “When’d our division get one of those!”

“They came from the airport out east, they’re not apart of the division but were ordered here. What they said.” I replied.

“Fucking nice. No way are we going to be pushed back with one of those.” Rostislav said.

“Don’t get hyped up about any special tank. They destroyed all armor we had during the fight in the city. We got lucky ourselves to never see the enemy's armor ourselves.” Jaume said.

“Apparently the Changelings rushed the city with Panzer III’s so I wouldn’t be hyped either. They really wanted the city, but we really gave them hell regardless. Some say they’re surprised we even lasted as long as we did.” Samira said.

“Regardless of whatever tanks they used, they pushed us out. The trenches are about the only thing we have right now to really help hold off the bugs so we should head out before we’re the last ponies here.” Jaume said.

“Sounds a fail proof plan.” Kettle said.

A few of the other members were already picking up their packs and walking in the direction of what most would call a tactical retreat. The others who weren’t, quickly followed suit though and followed behind.

There was idle chit chat as we made our way to the trenches but when we were about half-way there Tuuli said, “Hey guys! Look up.”

Everpony looked up to see whatever it was Tuuli was trying to show us and Nihal asked, “What is it?”

“Far up in the sky, there’s planes…” Luiz said.

“Bombers. Heading towards the Changelings.” Jaume said.

“Are they ours? They aren’t Changelings planes returning from a bombing mission?” Tuuli asked.

“No way to know without some binoculars, but I have a good guess that they’re friendly.” Jaume said.

“I can’t believe it… actual war.” Samira said.

“No one can believe it, but here we are, dumbass grunts retreating to some trenches to hold the line while the air force flies nose first straight into the enemy as if it’s nothing...” I paused for a second before saying, “Give ‘em hell.” I then saw black puffs appearing around the squadron of planes.

“Give ‘em hell.” I whispered this time.

We then looked back ahead and continued on our way to the fallback line.