Jurassic War

Twenty-Three

Tanaka had jumped from the truck as soon as the transport came to a halt. He ran around to the back of the vehicle and removed pegs and let the gate down. Soldiers piled out and moved into action. Osamu trundled past with a dire look in his eyes.

He told them to line up along the edge of the road, forming a perimeter and using the berm along the lane for cover. Soon the Jun-i was on the scene barking orders.

Imperial foot soldiers assembled the imitation Lewis machineguns at three tactical locations: the end of each flank and the center-point of the perimeter. A gas operated weapon, the Lewis guns fired a Japanese version of the British .303 cartridge. It utilized a circular magazine that held approximately 100 rounds. Osamu joined the center unit.

The Americas split into two groups. A larger contingency broke toward the center and flank near the parked transport. And the other group, much smaller, headed past the farthest flank, utilizing a beast for cover.

“Tanaka!” Jun-i spoke harshly.

“Yes, sir.” He faced the warrant officer and noted concern.

“They are better trained than we anticipated. Dividing troops and immediately moving to outflank us was a decisive tactical move.”

“We have the machineguns ready to fire.”

“Yes, but they avoided the crossfire from two guns at a time by breaking to either side, and they kept us from concentrating our attack by dividing into groups.”

“We will put up a brave fight.”

The Jun-i considered him for a moment. “I know that you will represent the honor of the Empire. Now, I want you to take command of the flank where the smaller force is headed. You must prevent them from coming around our line.”

“I will get to it right away, sir.”

“Our perimeter is a semi-circle. If they make headway, you fold your flank inward, tightening our circle.”

Tanaka nodded, understanding. He ran to his post.

A few soldiers had the Lewis gun set up and were firing at the Americans. The enemy hid behind a gigantic turtlelike creature with a long, spiked tail. Tanaka noted a marine rising from the ground. He shouldered his Arisaka rifle and pointed it at the marine.

The Lewis machinegun rattled off round after round, ricocheting off the creature’s armored shell, and boring into the more vulnerable scales on its legs.

And then, the marine was stable on his feet, ducking for cover behind the beast. Tanaka couldn’t get a bead on him before the commando slipped out of sight. The machine gunner let up on the Lewis gun, while the battle raged to his right.

Surveying the assault along the far flank, Tanaka understood they meant to use the creature for protection and pass by him and attack from the rear, where the Hetai didn’t have a fortified position. But how long could they expect to steer the beast in keeping with their strategy. He needed to repel the dinosaur being used for cover.

“Keep firing!” Tanaka pointed. “Hit the beast in the legs. Send it into the jungle.”

The machinegun blazed, lighting up the night. Bullets dug into the creature’s legs and exposed underside. It cleared the edge of the roadway and stomped onto the muddy lane. Round helmets bobbed on the other side of its shell.

“They’re going to outflank us!” Tanaka broke to the end of the line.

He ran past the dinosaur then planted his feet and prepared to fire.

Aiming at the creature’s face, he meant to redirect it. He planned to send it into the brush on the far side of the road, defeating the Americans’ goal of circling around their rear, and leaving them exposed to attack.

The Lewis gun shook violently as the troopers blasted away.

Other soldiers rushed over from the center position and laid down heavy fire at the encroaching marines. Tanaka stood fast, waiting for the creature to get closer. Steady. I’m going to stop it, he thought.

It closed the distance fast. Kaboom! Tanaka’s bullet tore into the flesh beneath the creature’s left eye. The dinosaur roared and shook its head.

Then, it grunted and changed course. It spun toward the machinegun nest, rather than bolting into the jungle. Loping around, it broke into a swift trot and charged into the Hetai. The dinosaur barreled through them, knocking soldiers to the ground, and then swung its deadly tail from side to side, clobbering the infantrymen with powerful blows.

Bones cracked, and soldiers bellowed in pain. A man was spiked in the thigh and got dragged along the ground as the beast trucked over the berm. It ran downhill towards the safety of the marshland.

The Americans were left standing exposed, without cover. Vulnerable.

Responding to the sudden change, they shouldered their weapons and took advantage of the calamity. Marines laid down heavy fire with automatic machineguns. The intruder who had fallen and then stumbled out of Tanaka’s line of fire, now turned to him.

Tanaka raised his rifle.

But the marine was quicker.

He fired first.

A bullet struck Tanaka in the shoulder and spun him to the ground. The impact seemed almost simultaneous with the muzzle blast.

Lying in the mud, he watched the marine wave to his squad and charge headlong into Tanaka’s flank. Machineguns and rifles lit up the night as Tanaka struggled for life. A burning sensation radiated in his chest, then he slipped into blackness.