My shaking hand is grasped around a shell casing, holding it tightly as I slowly lift the shaped metal cone to my worktable. I can’t help but admire the smooth boring lines of the casing, the soft filed-down edges, and the engineering that went into making this 20-millimeter killing container.
Read MoreTondelayo
Instantly, the cannon’s begin their fiery gurgitations. Firing pins strike upon explosive charges, propelling shells at astonishing speeds through the long barrel of the gun, and out the front of the plane with a muz-zle flash that would blind anyone staring directly at it.
13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, my turn is coming soon!
My belt moves swiftly through the drum, ever closer to the cannon’s chamber!
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, MEEEE!!!!!!!!!
Read MoreJudgement 24
“Where are they?” I demand of Lieutenant Friess as I move away from the field glasses mounted atop an outcrop of the observation trench within newly captured Fort Douaumont.
“I don’t see any.” He replies while looking through his field glasses less than a meter away.
The French are nowhere to be seen.
Behind me flows a trickle of broken men; Limbs, eyes, jaws, ears, hands, all missing. Instead of reserves coming up, we have casualties heading back.
We should be attacking right now, while the French are in disarray. But how can I attack with this?
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