Trench 1915, p.35
Trench 1915, page 35
“MOVE!” Maxis yelled and the two moved quickly to get off the roof while bullets whistled and snapped around them.
“Fire!” shouted one the Indian soldiers.
The rail gun fired with such force that it kicked the dust off the ground and the sound was deafening for operators, their ears ringing. The shells struck fast at the house and just in the nick of time as Maxis and Lothar jumped off the building as it blew up from the impact from the 12-inch gun.
The explosion sent them flying in the air. When they hit the ground Maxis felt pieces of wood and small amounts of shrapnel on his uniform. He looked at Lothar and saw a piece of metal lodged in his tornister.
The R.O.B. soldiers took the opportunity to deploy smoke grenades to the daring duo’s position, creating a large plum. Maxis got up quickly even though he was a bit shaky and his leg trembling. He helped Lothar up and they grabbed their rifles and went back-to-back. Maxis quickly attached his bayonet to his rifle.
“Oh Gott (God), what is the deal with us getting blown up? It’s bad enough I have a headache,” said Lothar, regaining his composure and rubbing his temple.
“Worry about that later. For now I think they’re getting ready to charge us.”
They can see shadowy figures running left and right but did not fire. Suddenly a Gurkha appeared on Maxis’ flank. He struck his kukri on Maxis’ head but it became stuck on the leather of the pickelhaube.
“Hands off the pickelhaube!” said Maxis not wasting a second as he plunged his bayonet into the man’s neck and heard him croak.
Another Gurkha appeared through the smoke with his kukri raised in the air, but Maxis quickly fired two shots through the impaled soldier and hit the other square in the chest.
Lothar spotted two Indian soldiers charging fast at them with bayonets. He fired the first shot at the one in the back killing him instantly. He blocked the others charging with his rifle, threw him to the ground then finished him off with his revolver.
Maxis continued firing four more shots at more incoming R.O.B soldiers who were charging into the smoke. They kept firing at anything emerging through the smoke until Maxis’ Mondragon suddenly jammed after firing the fifth shot.
“Damn rifle...” Maxis switched to his Bittner pistol and took the bayonet off the rifle.
A couple of Fijians charged toward them with their Totokias raised. “Behind us!” Maxis shouted as he blocked the sharp pointed club with his bayonet then fired the Bittner into the chest. The second Fijian almost struck Maxis but was countered by Lothar’s shovel who pushed him back before finishing him with his zig-zag revolver.
“Maxis! The smoke is clearing. We’d better start moving!” said Lothar, as he loaded another mag into the rifle.
“I hear you. Fnd the first cover you see! I’ll provide cover and follow!”
“Got it!” Maxis picked up an SMLE and his remaining ammo before taking Kugel ball grenades from Lothar.
The moment the smoke cleared Lothar sprinted ahead while Maxis provided covering fire, mimicking the “Mad Minute” with the SMLE rifle as he moved. Lothar jumped behind a sandbag emplacement and Maxis followed in. One of the R.O.B.’s sergeants rose from cover.
“That’s it, lads, we got Jerry on the run! Let’s sweep them away like the mosquitoes they are. Onwards!” shouted the Sergeant.
The short speech inspired what remained of the platoon as they revealed themselves from cover and fire and moved toward the sandbag emplacement then slowly advanced. They unleashed a continuous volley of bullets while some screamed “For King and Country!” or “Fight for the Empire! Fight for your lives!” as they moved. Meanwhile Maxis and Lothar remained behind the sandbag.
“Maxis, I can’t do anything with them laying down the fire!” Lothar shouted as sand lands on top of him.
“I’m thinking, I’m thinking! Ah, verdammt (damn it)!” Maxis sounded frustrated as a bullet snapped above him.
Maxis hit his elbow on piece of metal but instead of reacting in pain, it was replaced with an idea as he looked upon what he just hit.
“Lothar, I think I found our solution! Quick help me set it up! Fast, I have an idea.”
“Whatever you’re going to do, do it fast. I can put this together no problem!” said Lothar as he began to work.
The remaining twenty soldiers pressed the advance still firing until they saw a rifle emerge from the sandbag emplacement. A white cloth waved from its end.
“Cease fire!” shouted one of the soldiers.
The firing stopped and the could hear the sound of them reloading their rifles. Maxis stood up slowly holding the makeshift flag.
“Stay on guard everyone,” said an R.O.B. soldier, as the Sergeant stepped forward.
“Surrendering already, I see? About bloody time!”
“Yes, I’m surrendering. We’re out of ammo and...hope,” said Maxis putting on a disgruntled face.
“Well, well, well...the Germans finally can’t stand British might, eh. Heh, what are your conditions, if I may ask, and I’ll see if they’re...acceptable,” the sergeant said as everyone began to laugh.
“Keep going Maxis, they are buying it. Keep talking, I need a little bit more time,” Lothar whispered as put in the screws.
“I can offer an abundance of information regarding the K.W.S. Battalion. So much, that I can even tell you what commander Jorgensen does in his spare time,” Maxis said, placing his foot on the sandbag.
A small “Ooh” is heard among the soldiers until one said, “Shut your gobs, ya blimey bastards!”
“Alright, is that all? What about you or your friend?” the sergeant asked.
“Oh, my friend is already crying through the socket of this defeat. As for me, in exchange for vital information, I politely request proper treatment at whatever installation you send me and my friend. I expect better living conditions than what you are already providing for my captured brothers. Also cheese and crackers, wine, and a collection of books to read,” Maxis said as his face twitched a little as he tried not to smile.
“Wow, you’re good at making up blödsinn (nonsense). Though I wonder, how will they respond?” Lothar whispered.
The R.O.B. sergeant thought for a minute before speaking.
“Hmm...I would have to consult the acting commander of this base with this, but he ran off to do...important things.”
“Yeah, like running!” the soldier jokingly said followed by laughter.
“Shut it! Since he is not here to hear your offer and request, I will make the decision for him.”
“What will that be?” Maxis asked.
“No.”
“No? I’m offering a treasure trove of intel and you are saying no?”
“Well, let me be frank with you. You are Sgt. Maxis, right? The Black Wolf of Mons?”
Maxis remained silent, hiding his clenched fist as his expression changed.
“Oh no, he did not just say that. I better hurry,” Lothar thought.
“What’s it to you?” Maxis rudely asked.
“A lot of things. For starters, Commander Wellington put a bounty on you for anyone in the Regiment to claim. £500 for Sgt. Maxis, Alive or Dead. Our Russian ally in the east told us they put out a capture order for you by a lovely lass but, after the hell you put my men through, I think it’s better for all of us that you die here. It’s a safer course of action. Shame really, for a German you were very polite and not the brooding brute like they said in the war posters. Guess you can’t believe everything the government says. Men, get ready to fire!” the Sergeant finished as he signaled the troops and aimed his rifle.
Lothar nudged Maxis’ foot, indicating he was ready with some grenades in hand. Maxis then dropped the rifle that carried the white cloth.
“What a pity that you rejected my offer. However, you will not be collecting that reward for you have forfeited your lives,” Maxis said calmly as he pulled up his blue scarf slowly.
The entire group began to laugh at Maxis, so much it seemed they had forgotten who they were dealing with.
“Oi, get a load of this! Kraut thinks he’s intimidating! Ha, what a riot! Downright pathetic!” mocked an R.O.B. soldier.
“Now, Lothar!” Maxis shouted as the sound of a grenade’s click is heard.
From behind the sandbags three kugel ball grenades are thrown high in the air distracting the British and Colonial soldiers. At the same time Lothar pushed up the Vickers machine gun, now locked and loaded.
Maxis manned the gun while Lothar peered over his cover gripping his Madsen M1896 rifle. But the moment the R.O.B Sergeant noticed what was going on, it was too late. Maxis and Lothar opened fire on him the remaining twenty that stood before them. wiping them out in seconds as some tried to break for cover but failed. A few tried to return fire only to be cut down.
“Hold fire! I think we got them all,” said Maxis, as he exhaled and immediately sat down beside the machine gun, pulling down his blue scarf.
“Man, that was exhausting,” said Lothar. He too sat down, breathing hard and pulling down his scarf.
“I shouldn’t be surprised that my rifle decided to jam in the middle of the battle. I was about ready to throw it to the side and just stick with a British rifle.”
“Maxis, I would strongly advise against doing that,” Lothar commented, looking over at Maxis.
“Why?”
“In the letter that Fischer sent, he stated to avoid losing any special or prototype weapons that either Heinrich, his protégé Winter, or any Quartermaster has issued to us. He said that in one mission, Graf lost a special combination gun that was issued to him, and Heinrich was ready to ring his neck. Just something you should know,” Lothar said as he pulled out his canteen.
“Noted.” Maxis grabbed his canteen to take a sip before getting up.
“Come on. There’s still one left.”
“Are you serious? I thought we wiped them all out.”
“Not everyone, Lothar. Also, what’s the time?”
“It’s five minutes to eleven.”
“We’re on schedule,” Maxis said as he walked and pulled out his Bittner pistol. Lothar loaded a new magazine into his rifle and cocked it.
They moved through the now partially destroyed village where some of the tents were still burning, while others were just nothing but charcoal. The buildings themselves were not in the best shape and bullets holes could be seen in the walls, doors and windows along with some now deceased R.O.B. combatants slumped against the wall. One soldier was hanging out the window, still bleeding.
Everywhere else was littered with the destroyed platoon that had been comprised of regular British troops, Indian soldiers, Fijians, and Gurkhas. All had perished in this bloody battle for Base Camp King George, a camp that now bore the scars of war. Maxis stopped for a second to analyze the body of a fallen soldier’s upper shoulder.
“Hmm, it seems they’ve copied our idea of putting their unit emblems on their uniforms. By the look of it, they seem to have managed to put the Regiment of Britannia’s symbol lion head and its little decoration on their patch for easy identification,” Maxis pulled out his knife and cut the patch off the soldier’s uniform.
“What are you doing?” Lothar asked.
“Taking something back for the higher ups to use, so Battalion can now memorize and identify the enemy a little easier. Anyway, let’s keep moving,” Maxis put the piece of fabric in his pocket and moved on. They walked around the corner of the storage house where there were a couple of pickle barrels.
“Uh, there’s nothing but just barrels of...”
“Shh,” Maxis interrupted.
He squatted down and pointed his pistol at the barrel where the pickle brine was seeping out of it and leaving a trail. Lothar quickly understood when he saw it then nodded in agreement. Maxis got up and signaled Lothar to be ready.
“Do it!” Maxis ordered.
Lothar kicked the barrel over and brine, pickles, and 1Lt. Wilson tumbled out. Maxis picked up the First Lieutenant by the scruff of his neck and threw him to the wall then used his forearm to pin the First Lieutenant’s neck, tightly controlling him.
“We’re going to have a little chat ratte (rat)! If I were you, I start talking, NOW!” Maxis ordered fiercely.
1Lt. Wilson was quivering with fear like a cornered animal.
“Honestly, I didn’t think an officer would turn tails and hide in a pickle barrel,” said Lothar, containing his chuckles.
“Oh, you think I was going to stick around and let the bloody Black Wolf of Mons kill me?” Wilson responded with panic in his voice. Maxis pressed his forearm against Wilson’s neck.
“Why is there a price put on my head, huh?! You’d better answer quick ‘cause my patience is running thin!” Maxis angrily demanded.
“I thought it would be obvious for the Black Wolf of...”
Maxis pulled and aimed his Bittner at Wilson; all while a small growl can be heard.
“Ok, ok, don’t shoot, please! After the attack on Base Camp Elizabeth and the discovery of your little name tag on the ground, Commander Wellington immediately put a kill/capture order on you. He considers this retribution for the defeat at Mons and Base Camp Elizabeth,” Wilson said in a terrified tone.
“Verdammt (Damn it),” Lothar mumbled.
“But why me? I’ve never met the man,” Maxis said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you met him or not. You have a reputation.”
Maxis stood there thinking, keeping a tight grip on his pistol and maintaining the pressure on Wilson.
“That’s all I know...please let me go. Please, for the love of God, don’t kill me. Please Black Wolf! I don’t want to die!” Wilson began sobbing.
“Go,” Maxis said as he let the First Lieutenant go. He dropped to the ground, surprised.
“Go.”
“Wha – what, you’re actually letting me go?”
“I do not kill unarmed soldiers, let alone cowards. I was never that person back then or now, so I suggest you run along. Go! Beat it!”
Wilson quickly jumped up and started to jog away from the base.
“Faster!”
“I’m going as fast as I...”
Maxis fired his pistol in the air and the First Lieutenant started sprinting as Maxis watched; Lothar standing there chuckling.
“Heh, I didn’t think officers could run like...” before he could finish his statement Maxis smacked him on the back of the head.
“Ouch! What the hell was that for?”
“Lothar...what exactly did you do with that name tag that was stuck on my gear back at Ypres?” Maxis asked as he crossed his arms but still holding his pistol.
“Oh, I crumpled it up and tossed it.”
“Say that again, but slowly, Lothar.”
“I crumpled it up and...oh scheisse (shit). I didn’t realize it sooner.”
“Lothar, you have just given them info about me from a piece of paper and now I have a target on my head,” Maxis said as he holsters his pistol.
“Well, you have a target on your head in Russia as well, but at least it’s a capture order,” Lothar said as he shrugged his shoulders.
“That can easily change, Lothar.”
“Oh...right.”
“Sigh...Just deploy the flares and I’ll gather intel before firing my...oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Maxis pointed to the sky.
“What?...Oh.”
They both looked upward and saw an air wing of British planes flying. There was one squadron of Vickers F.B.5 fighters, one squadron of Martinsyde G.100 fighter bombers; leading the air wing was one squadron of Avro 504 fighter bombers. They all bore the Bullseye of the R.F.C. (Royal flying Corp), but next to it was the head of the Griffin. The Regiment of Britannia’s “Griffin Squadron” had arrived.
CHAPTER 32
Clearing the Skies
“Quick, get on the pom-pom! They’re probably here to provide support for their Regiment. We need to clip them out of the sky before the Blue Tails arrive!” Maxis ordered. The two rushed over to the anti-air guns.
“You remember how to use these, Maxis?” Lothar asked as he loaded the weapon.
“Yeah, it’s like a machine gun only bigger.”
“Almost. Same rules apply. Avoid overheating them and if they do overheat, it’ll take few seconds to cool down.”
“Alright, let’s get started!” Maxis cocked the pom-pom gun.
Maxis and Lothar rotated the guns toward the sky ready to face the onslaught of planes. They waited until the air wing was near their position; the sound of engines growing louder and louder as they approached.
“Open fire!” yelled Maxis.
They fired the pom-poms at the planes, taking down five before they dispersed. This took Griffin squadron by surprise as they were not expecting anti-air fire from an R.O.B. base. The F.B.5 fighter front gunner pulled out his binoculars and looked, only to see the entire base decimated, and the only occupants were two German soldiers firing on them. The gunner turned to the pilot and yelled.
“Pilot, those aren’t our boys down there. Jerry has taken the base and they’re using our own weapons against us.”
“What?! Are you serious?!” The pilot gave a shocked expression before changing to anger. He then signaled the other planes to tell them of the situation instructing them to form up.
The squadron of the F.B.5 fighters formed up and then immediately dove toward the pom-pom guns with their front gunners opening fire. The second squadron of Avro 504 fighter bombers would come next, followed by the Martinsyde G.100 squadron.
Maxis and Lothar turned their guns toward the incoming fighters, now under fire. They pulled the trigger and fired into the strafing F.B.5s, clipping another six before they broke off.
The second wave was fast approaching as the Avro 504 fighter bombers went into attack speed as they fired the machine gun. Maxis and Lothar fired at the incoming planes. Some of the Avros quickly dodged the fire while others came crashing down. Maxis noticed a little door opening at the bottom of the plane and sees shining objects being dropping.
“Move! They’re dropping darts!” Maxis shouted, getting out of the way and taking cover behind the crates.
