307. Gunners Sudden Attack PT.2

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The Minutemen surged forward, their boots pounding against the dirt as they raced toward the Castle. Sico's heart pounded in his chest as he ran, his mind filled with one thought: they couldn't let the Castle fall.

Sico and his squad dashed across the open ground toward the Castle, their boots crunching on the cracked asphalt of the once-proud fort's exterior. The sound of battle roared louder with every step, a symphony of gunfire, explosions, and shouted commands that reverberated through the air. The thick plume of smoke that rose from within the Castle's walls only deepened the urgency that clawed at Sico's chest.

As they neared the gates, Sico could see the breach where the artillery blast had torn a hole in the Castle's defenses. The walls, once formidable and stout, had crumbled inward, creating a jagged gap just wide enough for Gunners to storm through. Several Gunners were already scrambling over the rubble, their heavy armor clinking as they fired at the Minutemen defenders inside the courtyard.

"Through the breach!" Sico shouted, waving his squad forward as they darted toward the opening. They moved quickly, dodging the sporadic fire from the Gunners who were still holding positions outside. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning debris and the sharp scent of gunpowder.

Sico's rifle barked as he fired off a few shots at the Gunners perched on the outer walls, but he didn't stop moving. He had to get inside, had to see how the defenders were holding up.

They reached the breach, and Sico leaped over the twisted remnants of the wall, his squad following close behind. As soon as they entered the Castle, the full scale of the battle hit him like a sledgehammer.

The courtyard was a chaotic battlefield.

Minutemen were dug in behind makeshift barricades, firing desperately at the waves of Gunners pouring through the breach and other weak points in the walls. The old artillery pieces scattered around the courtyard were belching flames, but many of the defenders had fallen back to more secure positions. The Gunners were pressing hard, and their superior firepower was taking a toll.

Sico took in the scene in a split second. The Minutemen defenders were holding their ground, but barely. Their faces were smeared with dirt and sweat, their expressions a mix of determination and fear. For every Gunner they took down, another seemed to step in to replace them.

To his left, he saw a group of Minutemen huddled behind a stack of sandbags, their laser muskets firing in controlled bursts. To his right, two Gunners were using cover from a broken fountain to rain suppressive fire down on a corner of the courtyard, forcing the Minutemen there to stay pinned.

It was chaos.

"Move! Secure the breach!" Sico bellowed, charging forward to where the defenders were under the heaviest assault. His squad fanned out around him, their rifles and laser muskets adding to the cacophony of the battle as they poured fire into the Gunners trying to storm the courtyard.

Sico dove behind a stack of sandbags and popped up just in time to see a Gunner leveling an energy rifle at a pair of Minutemen. Without thinking, he squeezed the trigger, his rifle bucking against his shoulder as he fired. The shot hit the Gunner square in the chest, sending him sprawling backward with a smoking hole in his armor.

"We've got to push them back!" Sarah shouted over the roar of the battle as she slid into cover beside Sico. Her face was smeared with dirt, but her eyes were sharp, focused. "If they breach the inner walls, we're done."

Sico nodded grimly. "We need to clear the courtyard. Focus fire on the groups at the breach! If we can drive them out, we can regroup inside the walls!"

Sarah didn't hesitate. She grabbed a handful of Minutemen nearby, rallying them to her side as they began to concentrate their fire on the Gunners still trying to force their way through the breach. The sudden surge of laser fire and bullets caught the Gunners off guard, and several of them went down under the concentrated assault.

Sico stayed low, scanning the battlefield for his next move. He could see that the Minutemen had the right side of the courtyard mostly secure, but the left was still vulnerable. More Gunners were flooding through a secondary breach in the wall, and the Minutemen there were struggling to hold the line.

"Robert, take your squad and shore up the left flank!" Sico shouted over the din, pointing toward the crumbling section of the wall where the Gunners were pushing in. Robert nodded and waved his squad forward, leading them across the courtyard toward the left side.

Sico followed them for a few steps before turning his attention back to the breach. There were still too many Gunners trying to force their way through, and if they didn't close it soon, the defenders would be overwhelmed.

He spotted an old artillery piece near the breach, one of the few still operational. It wasn't much, but it might be enough to stem the tide.

"Cover me!" Sico shouted, breaking into a sprint toward the artillery gun. His squad immediately laid down suppressive fire, forcing the Gunners to duck behind cover as Sico darted across the open courtyard.

He reached the artillery piece and grabbed the controls, quickly adjusting the aim toward the breach. With a grunt of effort, he slammed his hand down on the firing lever.

The gun roared to life, belching a massive plume of smoke and fire as the shell rocketed toward the breach. It struck dead center, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. Several Gunners were caught in the blast, their bodies flung through the air like ragdolls as the ground erupted in a spray of dirt and debris.

The explosion rocked the Gunners' advance, and for a moment, the battle paused. Sico could see the remaining Gunners scrambling to regroup, their formation shattered by the sudden artillery strike.

"Now! Push them back!" Sico roared, waving his squad forward. The Minutemen surged from their defensive positions, charging the breach with renewed vigor. They fired as they advanced, their shots cutting down the disoriented Gunners who were still trying to recover from the explosion.

The tide was turning.

Sico's squad hit the breach hard, their combined firepower driving the Gunners back through the gap in the wall. Several of the Minutemen were already moving to pile debris in the breach, trying to seal it off before more Gunners could push through.

Sico fired his rifle in quick bursts, taking down two more Gunners who were trying to regroup near the edge of the courtyard. The battle was far from over, but the immediate threat of a full breach had been averted.

"Sarah! How's the right side?" Sico shouted, ducking behind cover as a stray bullet whizzed past his head.

"We're holding!" Sarah called back, her voice strained but steady. "They're pulling back for now, but we need reinforcements if we're going to hold the fort!"

Sico cursed under his breath. The Gunners weren't done yet, and they still had the artillery pounding the outer walls. If they didn't take out those cannons soon, the Castle would fall, no matter how hard they fought.

He turned to Robert, who had just returned from reinforcing the left flank. "Get a squad together and take out those artillery pieces. I don't care how you do it—just get it done!"

Robert nodded, already signaling to a group of Minutemen to follow him. "On it. We'll take those bastards down."

Sico watched them go, his mind racing as the battle raged around him. The courtyard was still a battlefield, but they had a chance now—a chance to turn the tide.

He just hoped it would be enough.

As the gunfire crackled and the smell of burning debris filled the air, Sico gripped his rifle tighter and prepared for the next wave. The Gunners were relentless, but so were the Minutemen. They had fought too hard and come too far to let the Commonwealth fall to the mercenaries.

Sico wasn't about to let that happen. Not while he still drew breath.

As the battle in the courtyard raged on, Sico knew they had a small window of opportunity. They had temporarily driven the Gunners back and secured the breach, but it wouldn't last long. The Gunners were relentless, and their artillery still pounded the Castle's outer walls. Reinforcements were already needed.

Wiping sweat and dirt from his brow, Sico surveyed the courtyard. His squad was huddled behind cover, taking quick breaths and reloading their weapons. The Minutemen defenders were fighting with everything they had, but their numbers were thinning. If they didn't find a way to turn this battle around quickly, the Castle would fall.

He had to find Ronnie Shaw—the veteran Minuteman officer who had overseen the defense of the Castle since the fighting began. She would know the state of the fort's defenses and could help formulate a plan to push the Gunners out once and for all.

"Sarah!" Sico called out over the din of battle. "I'm going to find Ronnie Shaw. Keep the pressure on the Gunners here and make sure they don't breach again."

Sarah, crouched beside one of the Minutemen, nodded grimly. "Got it. Be quick, though—we're holding them for now, but I don't know how long that'll last."

Sico nodded, and without wasting any more time, he sprinted across the courtyard, ducking behind cover as stray bullets and energy blasts whizzed past. He skirted around the edge of the courtyard, keeping low as he made his way toward the command center inside the Castle's main building.

The old stone structure loomed ahead, battered but still standing. The heavy wooden doors were reinforced with metal, though they bore the scars of several close artillery hits. As Sico reached the entrance, he shouldered through the door and stepped inside.

The air in the command center was thick with tension. Several Minutemen were gathered around a large table in the center of the room, where maps of the Castle and surrounding area were spread out. They looked up as Sico entered, their faces grim.

At the head of the table stood Ronnie Shaw.

Ronnie was a seasoned veteran, her graying hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her face was lined with years of hard fighting, but her eyes were sharp and focused, filled with the same determination that had kept her going for decades. She wore the traditional Minutemen armor, but hers was marked with the insignia of a general, showing her rank and status within the militia.

"Sico!" she called, her voice rough but commanding. "Glad you made it. Things are looking bad out there."

Sico nodded, stepping up to the table. "We've managed to hold the courtyard for now, but the Gunners have artillery pounding the walls. If we don't take those out, we won't last much longer."

Ronnie Shaw grunted, crossing her arms over her chest. "I've seen worse, but you're right. We can't hold this place if their artillery keeps hammering us. We're already running low on ammo, and the men are exhausted. We need a counterattack, and we need it fast."

Sico glanced down at the map of the Castle. He could see the defensive positions marked in red, with the Gunners' artillery placements to the south and southeast. There were also notes indicating where the Gunners had breached the outer walls.

"We've got Robert leading a squad to take out their artillery," Sico said, pointing to the area on the map. "But even if they succeed, we need to push the Gunners out of the Castle. We can't afford to let them regroup."

Ronnie Shaw nodded, her brow furrowed as she considered their options. "Alright. If Robert can take out the artillery, we'll have a window to go on the offensive. We'll split our forces into two groups. One will stay here to defend the inner walls and the courtyard, while the other will push out through the breaches and hit the Gunners head-on. We'll need to hit them hard and fast before they have a chance to dig in."

Sico tapped the map, considering the layout of the battlefield. "The Gunners are heavily armored, but if we can flank them and take out their officers, we might be able to break their morale. They're mercenaries—they're in this for the money, not loyalty. If we take out their leadership, the rest might scatter."

"Good thinking," Ronnie said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, kid. We'll hit them where it hurts."

She turned to one of the Minutemen standing nearby. "Gather the squads and have them ready for a counterattack. We'll wait for the signal from Robert, then push out in force."

The Minuteman saluted and hurried off to relay the orders.

Ronnie turned back to Sico. "I'll lead the defense here at the courtyard. You take the offensive team and hit the Gunners once Robert gives the signal. Clear them out of the breaches, then drive them back to the shore if you can. This is our Castle, and we're not letting them take it."

Sico straightened, nodding firmly. "Understood. I won't let you down."

Ronnie clapped him on the shoulder, her expression hard but confident. "I know you won't."

As the Minutemen around them began to move, preparing for the upcoming counterattack, Sico took a deep breath. The adrenaline was already pumping through his veins, and his mind was focused on the battle ahead. They had a plan now, a real chance to turn the tide.

Outside, the sounds of battle continued, but Sico knew the real fight was about to begin.

Sico moved quickly through the courtyard, gathering his squad and several other Minutemen who would form the offensive team. Sarah was among them, her laser musket slung over her shoulder as she checked her gear one last time.

"Looks like we're going on the attack," she said with a grim smile. "About time we gave these Gunners a taste of their own medicine."

Sico nodded, tightening the strap on his rifle. "We'll be ready. Robert's taking out their artillery, and once we have the signal, we'll hit them hard. Stay close, and keep an eye out for their officers. If we take them down, the rest might scatter."

Sarah grinned, her eyes alight with determination. "Got it. Let's show these mercs what happens when they mess with the Minutemen."

Sico couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, but he knew the battle ahead would be anything but easy. The Gunners were well-equipped, well-trained, and dug in deep. It was going to be a brutal fight.

But they had no other choice.

The Minutemen were the Commonwealth's last line of defense. If they lost the Castle, they would lose everything. Sico wasn't about to let that happen.

Minutes passed like hours as they waited for the signal from Robert. The tension in the air was palpable, every Minuteman gripping their weapon tightly, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of the enemy.

Then, finally, a distant explosion echoed through the air. Sico felt a surge of relief. Robert had succeeded—the artillery had been taken out.

"That's the signal!" Sico shouted, raising his rifle. "Let's move!"

The Minutemen surged forward, pouring through the breaches in the walls and charging toward the Gunners' positions. Sico led the charge, his rifle blazing as he fired at the nearest group of Gunners. The mercenaries scrambled to return fire, but the sudden onslaught caught them off guard.

Sico could see the panic in their ranks as the Minutemen pressed the attack, forcing them to retreat further and further toward the shore. The Gunners' lines were breaking.

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• Name: Sico

• Stats :

S: 8,44

P: 7,44

E: 8,44

C: 8,44

I: 9,44

A: 7,45

L: 7

• Skills: advance Mechanic, Science, and Shooting skills, intermediate Medical, Hand to Hand Combat, Lockpicking, Hacking, Persuasion, and Drawing Skills

• Inventory: 53.280 caps, 10mm Pistol, 1500 10mm rounds, 22 mole rats meat, 17 mole rats teeth, 1 fragmentation grenade, 6 stimpak, 1 rad x, 6 fusion core, computer blueprint, modern TV blueprint, camera recorder blueprint, 1 set of combat armor, Automatic Assault Rifle, 1.500 5.56mm rounds, power armor T51 blueprint, Electric Motorcycle blueprint, T-45 power armor, Minigun, 1.000 5mm rounds, Cryolator, 200 cryo cell, Machine Gun Turret Mk1 blueprint, electric car blueprint, Kellogg gun, Righteous Authority, Ashmaker, Furious Power Fist, Full set combat armor blueprint, M240 7.62mm machine guns blueprint, Automatic Assault Rifle blueprint, and Humvee blueprint

• Active Quest: -