— 25 —
It was a hot, sharp engagement. The skimmers could do little but be targets for the explosive shells of the enemy tanks. Hastily, the three infantry officers ducked their platoons into whatever shelter they could find. In most cases that meant sticking tightly to the hovertanks in front of them.
With his section grounded while Sergeant Lewis was bounding with the other section of Foxtrot Tango, Bull saw in his binoculars that his infantry was making itself felt, as one enemy track commander was pulped by small-arms fire. The rest of the enemy personnel hastily ducked inside the protection of their tanks. Bull's tanks, not having to "button up," had that much better a chance of scoring hits on the enemy.
The roar of his powergun told him that Corporal Ennis needed no urging from him to engage the enemy. The sudden shattering explosion of one of the tanks on the hill told him that his corporal's aim was true.
"Good going, Keith!" Bull roared over the intercom. He swept his binoculars across the hill but could see nothing but smoke.
"Foxtrot, this is Alpha Tango. Enemy destroyed," Dyer reported.
"Two Six, Two Zero," Lewis said on his heels. "Enemy destroyed or withdrawn."
"Very well," Bull replied. "Foxtrot reform. Good shooting." As always, Bull found himself drained at the end of the encounter. He felt the soreness of tensed muscles and an adrenaline drain as his body adjusted to the fact that he had survived again.
If Bull had had any doubts about how much trouble he would have getting to the wreck, they were dashed now. Ahead of them, across an expanse of blue water, lay Heatherlake, phaseline Green. It was a medium-sized city with a suburb on the near side of the two lakes from which the cities got their name.
Bull wasn't too worried about Little Heatherlake, but the city of Heatherlake itself could hide a whole battalion, which would require more than his small force to dislodge.
"Casualties are pretty light, sir," Engles reported to him.
"Thanks," Bull acknowledged. It was time for the next move. Bull decided that he had three choices: go south through the forests and avoid the city altogether, send his infantry in a stealthy pincer recon around the city, or advance with his infantry backed up by the tanks.
Keep track of the Slammers' casualties on the chart on page xiv. Put a pencil check in the box for each unit that was destroyed in the battle.
If Bull goes south and takes the lower route, turn to section 45.
If Bull continues on his current route, using a skimmer recon formation, turn to section 48.
If Bull continues on his current route and uses the skimmers to assault, turn to section 49.