We have been at Canis II for a few days now, a hundred thousand recruits from most of the mammal worlds are present, with the toads having lost their chance to retake Warren, concerns are rising as to what they planning next. The course of action from how we understand it is that these recruits will be sent to the worlds that boarder between us and the toads in preparation for invading their space, an action that hasn't been even attempted yet. Jenny and I are moving around the base, we've been tasked with training duties with Jenny working in space and as for me teaching some recruits some ground combat routines. Recruits march and run as aircraft and armor moves around in trial, the clear sky perfect for combined arms exercises. From what I have read and seen, Canis II uses an automated defense grid similar to the capital world Genus, hence the fleet of Canis isn't in orbit but is reinforcing mammal forces on the front.






Jenny looks to me "What are your plans for training the recruits?" her eyes having a curious streak.






I glance to the cat "Given how effecting blitzkrieg tactics seem to be against the toad army, I'll start there. Their tactics are kind of similar, but lack the focus and flexibility of lighting war in it's true form. What exercise are you going to be doing in space?"






The feline says "They are green as grass, sadly we need to start with the basics, but it shouldn't be a problem."






I start to look at my datapad to double check what I have in place "Is anyone going to be down here with me?"






The cat looks ahead "Willy and Deadeye will stay, but the rest of us will be above.", a smirk forms on her face "You think they know your nickname?"






After some more idle chatter we wish each other luck and go our seperate ways, Bucky and Jenny gave me some tips on how to deal with recruits, even though everyone knows my reputation. In a few moments I am standing in front of a gathered platoon, various species and both men and women with a lane on either side as I enter the barracks... let's give it a shot.






I become firm looking while trying to still look approachable, I start to walk "Alright, first off welcome to boot camp, I am Adam, or as the military likes to call me the Iron Warrior... a fitting title as my job is going to be to take all fifty of you and reforge you into soldiers to fight the green menace! I am not a perfectionist, but by the time we are done here you will all be more then capable of holding your own if you follow the principles of war, note that I have your best interests in mind, but my aim is to push you... and push you I will. But first I want you all to do this... look to the person to your left!", everyone does so "Now the right!", they follow the instruction "Face forward!" and now they are looking ahead again "Remember these faces, for in combat your lives are in each others hands and this platoon is only as effective if the chain keeps itself together. Which is why we will have a practice skirmish today, there are no live rounds and you'll be fighting against drones, programed to fight how the toads do, this is to show what needs to be worked on, both for the platoon and yourselves! One more thing I should say before we get started, the battlefield is ever changing and it leaves you with only one choice... adapt or die! Say it with me.... IRON WITHIN! IRON WITHOUT!"






The recruits all say "IRON WITHIN! IRON WITHOUT!" not synced up at all.






I say "Again but with pride and in uniform.... IRON WITHIN! IRON WITHOUT!" as I raise my right hand in a fist.






This time they all say it in sync "IRON WITHIN! IRON WITHOUT!"






I smile "Proceed to the armory and head to test field 4."






The recruits are all geared up and looking ready to go, all fifty divided into squads of ten identified by color, the small field ahead is set up like a fortified bunker, the squads outfitted with standard equipment as I make ready to give the order, I ready a flare gun and after counting down I fire it into the sky. The exercise... goes as well as anyone would expect, the point of it is to see where the faults are and even though a few manage to cut deep, not one of them manages to break the bunker, which is fine, it wasn't to see if they can overcome the bunker, but rather see how well they work together and to see how far they get as a result, with only three making it just a little halfway to the fortified position.






...........................................






Jenny and Bucky are on board their ship, getting ready to link up with a carrier to train some squadrons, Jenny plots a course as Bucky contacts the ship.






The rabbit looks to her "How do you think it's going to go down there? Adam hasn't trained recruits before." before doing a quick system check.






The cat sighs "I think he'll do well, it's all in how he trains them. He plans on teaching them the ropes of the tactics he uses."






Bucky puts on a thinking look, a smile of pure interest forms "A new generation of assault troops, that may be what we need to finish this war once and for all. Also with Willy teaching some combat engineers and Deadeye training a few sniper units, plus us motivating some space forces, it could be just enough to make the final push."






The artificer starts to control the craft "Maybe and it's nice to see everyone optimistic, but from what we've learned, the toads are never out of the game. Just when you think they have nothing left to play they pull out an ace to get more cards."






The rabbit smirks "How many aces could they have left?" trying to suppress a chuckle.






The Righteous Indignation eventually links up with the carrier and enters ftl, taking them to a distant training ground.






................................................................................






WIlly, Deadeye and I are walking alongside some of the hangers, after a full days work we're just trying to take it easy.






The duck yawns "I'm beat, training these snipers is going to be hard fer sure."






I give a sigh "Three weeks to try to train troops... worth a shot, but I'm no miracle worker. But we need more effective shock troops for the ground and space forces.", I look to Willy "How are the new engineers performing?"






Willy shrugs "They are capable and they have some experience, but they need to learn how to improvise a little faster." and crosses his arms.






Given proper training takes two months, granted I did learn and go at it faster due to my regiment being more focused at first, but it takes time for a unit to learn how to work together, strengths and weakness need to be work out and those weaknesses need to be turned into strengths somehow. I hear something light in the air which causes me to slow down and stop which catches Willy's and Deadeye's attention, I close my eyes and I can make out it's coming from the hanger next to us, I open my eyes and make my way to the hanger, pressing my ear against the wall. The sound is this beep, but it doesn't sound like a forklift or anything like that, suddenly it starts to get faster and faster...






I yell "COVER!" as I run away with the two behind me, we jump over a barricade and take cover.






A massive explosion sounds, followed by many more, shrapnel and fire comes over us, I look to see the control tower explode and collapse in on itself, a tank barrel lands just next to us, crushing the barricade. Concrete and rebar fall from the sky for a few minutes, the alarm begins to blare as we slowly stand, the armories, warehouses, hangers... they are all destroyed...






I quickly open a comm "Dogstar! We just got hit hard!"






His voice comes through "It's not just over there, the planetary defense system is down along with interstellar communications."






I suddenly shutter as this catches Willy's and Deadeye's attention "Are you saying... this world is open to attack?"






Dogstar responds "Theoretically we can be under attack right now, but we still have global communications... wait a second... quickly get some gear, the toads have been..."






On that a squadron of toad fighters come down, we quickly take cover again as they try to hit us with a strafing run, we quickly start to run around as anti-air weaponry begins to open fire, I pull out my gauss pistol while Deadeye readies his blasters, we start to run to the barracks, bombers pound the airfield, we finally make it to our storeroom where I put my combat armor on and get my chainaxe read, my shotgun and flamethrower on the other hand are back on the ship. Toad troopships come storming down we start to run around to see what we can do, I take up an autocannon platform as Deadeye starts to run to reinforce a defense line, Willy helps me hook up the ammunition feed and I tell him to get clear, he refuses at first but I manage to get him off the platform. I get some double bubbles in my sights and with a foot press the autocannon fires, a few of them come crashing down, 20mm casings come flying out of the eject port as I try to follow them, I see a shine coming from my left, I look to see a bomber heading my way, I quickly aim my gauss pistol at it, I fire a few shots and the craft comes screaming down as black smoke leaves it, I holster it quickly scan the sky.






I open a comm "Dogstar, I need options here!", I shoot down a troopship which crashes and explodes into a building "This place is turning into Pearl Harbor real fast!"






The canines voice comes "The toads are overrunning several positions, a ground force is heading your way, I advise that you fall back to emergency positions!"






I grunt as I duck from incoming laser fire, I quickly sit back up and spray them with flak shells "I can hold the line for a time at least, we need to regroup! Can we send an s.o.s. to get reinforced?!" unleashing hell from the autocannon.






"Unfortunately no, with interstellar comms down we can't do that! I don't know how they did it but we are sitting ducks out here."






I growl "BLAST IT ALL!!!" as I slam my fist into the autocannon.






A toad tank comes into view with it's main gun turning my way, I leap from the platform and a second later it's gone... they already got armor down here that fast?! I quickly fall back, shouting the whole way for others to withdraw to the emergency defense line, bombers hit some more bunkers and emplacements, fighters strafe barracks and troop transports make their landings with tanks being deployed. One of our heavy lasers fires and obliterates a tank from a forward position, we get into a shallow trench system where recruits and experienced soldiers have quickly put together a form of defense.






I see Dogstar as I take cover "Is this all that's made it?!"






The canine fires an smg overhead "I don't know, we may have some trapped!"






I fire my sidearm at a squad of soldiers which takes a few of them out and duck as return fire comes "We can't hold position, the enemy has armor and aircraft and we got stones!"






Deadeye and Willy join us, the duck fires a few shots "These toadies are in full force, by the time we got to our post it was overrun!"






I hear distant booms, whistling starts to sound "ARTILLERY!!!"






We get down and shells land behind us with a few landing in the trench, blasters and bullets wiz by, I look over to see the toads coming in full force... there is no way we can them off.






Dogstar fires a spray from cover "There is no where to fall back to in this sector!"






"We need to flee and we need to do it now, is there a place we can fall back to and make a defense line?" as I take some shots.






The canine reloads his weapon "We can, but we'll be vulnerable."






I say "Better vulnerable then dead!" as I see a tank getting closer with it's main weapon being a flamethrower.






.......................................................






Bucky, Jenny, Blinky and Bruiser are on Genus and going over how the space training has been going, some promising recruits here and there with most needing work. Suddenly they see Mimi running towards them with panic on her vixen features, this causes them to just become stunned.






Mimi stops in front of them "You need to see this! Follow me!"






They run to where a screen in broadcasting an emergency news report and it hits them pretty hard as they see the title... "Canis II Under Attack!!!"






The news report delivers the information "We have just received confirmation that Canis II has just been attacked by the Toad Empire, about a half an hour ago a massive toad fleet began laying siege to the world. The defense system was sabotaged by an unknown source as the defense turrets didn't fire it's weaponry, a fleet is currently being put together to reinforce the planet. Rumors have been put forth that Commander Dogstar and Lance Sergent Adam have taken control of the present mammal forces, we cannot deny nor confirm this as we can't get any communications through. Before the attack, 100,000 recruits were sent to Canis II and it's main defense force is around 150,000 personnel, but just before communications and feedback was lost, hangers, bunkers, warehouses and other critical structures were destroyed. The full extent is again unknown, but we have been told that emergency supplies and materials are stored in hardened structures that the forces of U.A.C. can use.", the reporter gives a hard sigh, she puts her papers down "If those trapped on Canis II can hear this transmission, help is on the way. Dogstar and Adam will see you through."






Jenny says "Adam... Willy... Deadeye!", she looks to Bucky "We need to go help them!"






The rabbit gives a stern nod "We'll need more then just our ship, the problem though is that most of the fleet is scattered. But the news-lady is right, Adam and Dogstar will lead them until it's over."






Mimi finally catches her breath "They estimate that they are outnumbered at least four to one, but if Adam can pull off what he did in infiltrating that base, I don't doubt he can find a way out of this."






Bucky and Jenny were doing their best not to show it, but they were concerned to the core, not just for Adam but also Willy and Deadeye. Willy has never been part of the combat that was taking place and now he was stuck in the middle of it, Deadeye and Adam would keep an eye on him no questions asked, but there main concern was how Adam would react to this situation, he was more use to being on the offensive and rallying when needed, he was never use to being on the defensive.






For Jenny however, she reflects on her time with both humans, they both needed help in their own ways but they were equally important. They both needed somewhere to belong, they both needed people they know they can trust... even though it was by pure chance of Adam arriving on her homeworld, she remembers seeing the shine in his eyes when it was listed that Aldebaran was his new home... was that the reason why he enlisted instead of just simply helping them out? The only person who could answer that was him...






..............................................................................






Machine gun fire erupts in numberless vollies, quad .50 cals and quad laser basters, we've managed to reach a mighty bunker system in the mountains, my gauss pistol has long run out of ammunition and my chain axe hasn't been used at all yet, we're running through a deep trench system as dust and dirt comes in from high explosives, spent shell casing and power cells litter the ground. A round hits the trench behind us, a canine gets flung into the wall, her screams almost drowned out by the chaos, I quickly go over to her, I get her up and have her lean on me, I recognize her being one of the recruits I was training earlier.






She looks to me "S-Sir...?"






"You'll be fine, let's just get you inside first." as I do my best to keep a straight face 'The situation is completely fubar!'






We get inside as I yell for a medic, a medical officer takes her, I grab a nearby magazine for my sidearm to reload along with an assault rifle with some magazines and I run back outside, I get to a barricade and begin to fire at the advancing toads, the vehicles they sent have either fallen back or were taken out of action, save for some aircraft still zooming around, with each mag depleting in about ten seconds, thankfully runners are constantly bringing out ammunition for everyone. A double bubble comes our way, I duck as laser fire comes, as it goes by I just let loose and I have no idea what I hit but it looses control and crashes into the mountain. I peak over and I see the soldier operating an anti-air platform has fallen, I quickly run over, I lower him into the trench and hop in, I begin to saturate the sky with .50 cal bullets... one... two... three... they just keep coming!






The platform runs out, I quickly hop out and I begin to put new boxes in along with their feeds, I look and I see a damaged bomber coming our way, I notice Willy down below trying to work on some damaged wires, I quickly jump off and land on top of him as the bomber gets close and I try to cover him as best I can while covering my head, a second later concrete and metal comes on top of us, I glance to see loose .50 cal rounds flying around in their entirety... then I feel...






"FIRE!" as I roll off Willy and see I have fire engulfing my right shoulder, Willy and a few others help me put it out, a medic comes and sees that the shrapnel shredded my armor and now I have a second degree burn.






An aircraft comes our way, I quickly try to find my rifle, then I hear it, the double bubble crashes and explodes, I freeze as I fear who it is, I slowly look to see Willy holding the assault rifle, he's shaking as those eyes have his just have so much fear in them, I can see it really hitting him in what he has just done. I slowly take the rifle from him, his arms stay in place as if I had never taken it.






I feel something in me snap but I do my best not to lash out at all, I give a hard swallow to keep myself in check, I hear another bomber coming... a heavy one, I pick Willy up with all the strength I have and make a break for the door entrance, yelling for everyone to get to cover, lasers come my way but I don't get hit and I dive, twisting myself around so I can slide on my back, rather then have Willy take the brunt of the impact, the bombs begin to hit the trench and there coming our way, I flip over to where I'm covering Willy once more, debris cascades over us. I slowly get up, helping Willy up as well, he's a little beat up but physically he's fine... mentally though I can see it.






After a few hours the sounds of weapons stop, the quietness is just foreign now, I manage to get through eating an mre despite not having much of an appetite, I find a dark room away from the others, I deliver a punch into the hard wall and I scream as loud as I can, I don't know if it lasted ten seconds, a minute... but at the end I slowly fall against the wall and I start to cry. It has all gone to hell, eight hours of constant fighting and running, we're exhausted and our morale has just plummeted, I finally stop crying and I just sit there... I just want to close my eyes and go to sleep and hope I wake up from this nightmare.






Deadeye comes in, he looks my way "Matey? Are you okay?" his uniform covered in dirt as he kneels in front of me.






"I don't even know how to answer that Deadeye." with a sigh, I look to him "Please tell me, that it looks worse then it is."






The duck blinks "I wish I could, but we'z been pushed against the wall pretty good." as he sits next to me.






I try to take a breath but my lungs just hurt from the hard use of today "We need to try to re-established interstellar communications." as I eye my bandaged shoulder.






Deadeye says "Dogstar is leading ah mission to do just that, but we've lost ah lot of good people." his gaze going to the ceiling.






"Cleaver of the toads, they decided to hit us with revised tactics by learning from me. But now we are put into a position where the new tactic is useless against us."






The duck snaps his attention to me "How so?"






"Given that now we've been reduced to trench warfare on my end, it guts the blitzkrieg tactics in their usefulness. You see the point of the blitz is to punch a hole into the enemy ranks and exploit it, by exploiting that breech you can cause a lot of confusion and destruction before the enemy responds as it relies on momentum. When used against a force in an entrenched position it is far less effective, hence why it's a combined arms method of war, with mechanized infantry, tanks, artillery and aircraft working together to exploit weakness and keep the enemy from using their strengths." my eyes never leaving the floor.






The duck puts on a thinking look "So we can hold out against it?"






I sigh "For now, until they bombard us from orbit."






.....................................






On the world of Aldebaran, Queen Katrina has called an emergency conference with those available from the sisterhood, the sudden attack on Canis II has brought a lot to their attention. The room is as silent as death itself, none of the women know how what to say or what could be said.






Felicia finally breaks the silent air "We need to send what ever forces are available to Canis II and reinforce." which earns everyone's attention.






Katrina looks to her "We do not know if the ships we have available will suffice."






The young feline crosses her arms "If we use our psionics as well, we will be victorious!"






An artificer's eyes shoot open "And breech the secrecy of the sisterhood!"






Felicia sighs "If we continue to keep out powers hidden and we remain at ease, we'll be the only planet of the U.A.C. the toads will have to conquer to claim the Aniverse. Our powers can't remain a mystery to others forever and this is the moment we can use them for good and our technology is the most advanced off all the powers."






Another artificer raises her hand "I second that!" and another "We must caste the shackles aside to aid our allies!"






The more senior felines become uneasy, the tradition of their people was to keep their powers hidden from outsiders and everyone was fine with that, but as the war against the toads has raged on, the more younger generations have constantly proposed that their powers be used to help defeat the toads, the traditional method of hiding is quickly being shunned and fought against with many arguing that if they didn't have such a restriction, the war wound have ended ages ago.






Katrina puts on a thinking look "We shall debate the use of our powers at a later date, right now we must assemble what ships we have and prepare to send them."






The words said wasn't ideal for either side, but now there were going to be hearings of using their powers out in the open, a tradition that has been alive longer then any of them






.....................................






I'm going over my armor, most of the damage was cosmetic but the right shoulder, back plate and left greeve are heavily damaged, thus I am working on replacing them. The gem around my neck begins to flash, I hold it up to my face and Jenny appears, her face full of concern.






"Jenny?!" stunned at the sight.






Jenny gives a relief-filled sigh "Adam... we were so worried, please tell me you and the others are alright."






"Deadeye is a little roughed up and so am I.", I put on a saddened look "Willy is physically fine, but it's all gotten to him... he even shot down one of the enemy craft."






Jenny closes her eyes "I see, in war innocence never lasts.", her eyes re-open as a tear leaves her right eye "What's the situation?"






"I wish I can say we were in a good spot, but we are outnumbered and outgunned, all of our tanks and aircraft were destroyed along with off world communications, plus most of our material was destroyed. We've established bases in the fortified mountains and underground bunkers, but we have taken heavy loses and Dogstar is trying to re-establish lost communications."






The cat blinks "And... how are you doing, personally?" looking afraid of the answer.






"I'm doing my best.... oh how I am trying my best.", I'm beginning to lightly sob "We were able to stop their assault for now, but it's all coming apart at the seems. Please tell me, that reinforcements are on the way."






Jenny sighs "An emergency relief force is being put together, Bucky and Mimi are combing everywhere for any available ships and troops, Queen Katrina is currently seeing what's also available from the Aldebaran Forces with Felcia acting as force Commander. Just please hang in there until we get there."






I try to get myself back together "I'm currently working out how we can improve our armory from available materials, Deadeye and Willy are assisting me in working out the details. It helps keep their minds occupied.", I look her square in the eyes "We'll hold out as long as we can."






......................................






Jenny enters the bridge of the Righteous Indignation, Bucky looks to see the grief in her face with his stern features trying to hide how grim he feels.






Bucky sighs "How bad is it?"






The cat takes her seat "Worse then we thought, Adam is barely staying together... Willy made his first kill..."






Bucky just sits there stunned as Jenny informs him of the situation, it was dire and it was a race against time now, they needed to reinforce them, but they had to deal with the fleet first where the toads had their supplies. In less then twelve hours, the toads had smashed and crushed Canis II, but it wasn't out of action, not by a long shot... they knew Adam and Willy, even in the most dark situation they always pulled through and Deadeye would do his best to keep them together.






......................................






Two weeks have passed since Canis II was hit, the toads keep coming at us but we keep fending them off, Willy is slowly getting better but we needed to find a way to beat back the toads as our more advance gear is wearing out fast and we can't keep them going, thankfully I remember the plans for the M4 sherman tank with some of it's variants and the mp3008 smg, along with various improvised weapons, the staging ground the toads have set up is heavily fortified and to add insult to injury it was the base we escaped from. Jenny keeps informing me of what's going on when it comes to getting reinforced and while it is good news, our rations and munitions are running out. Dogstar has managed to get our long range comms online... for how long I am not sure and in the process he got wounded and taking him out of action.






I look to Willy "How much time before the signal gets cut off?"






Willy shakes his head "Maybe a few minutes, at most."






"Then let's get started." as I look the hazard stripes on my gauntlets and greeves while getting in front of camera "Transmit on all frequencies, radios and speakers."






Willy nods and he begins to flip switches and press buttons while I look to gathered soldiers in front of me.






..........................................






Adam's image suddenly broadcasts across the Aniverse, from Genus to the Toad Homworld and Aldebaran, vessels of civilian, merchant and military, all noise stopping as their attention goes to him, everyone would now know the full situation.






"To all worlds in the U.A.C. if you are receiving this, Canis II has been attacked and we have taken sever loses. I stand side-by-side with some of the bravest men and women I have ever known as we make our stand here, as I speak... I am the highest ranking active officer left standing. If the toads want this world, they'll have to pay the price, for every step they take, for every inch, they will pay the toll in blood! We will fight in the sky, we will fight in the trenches, we will fight on open ground... we will never SURRENDER!", for a moment he looks a little shaken as he pauses "One last thing, I want to thank Queen Katrina, Princess Felica and Commander Jenny for the opportunities they have given me, I am proud and I feel pride that I can call myself a citizen of your world, in Aldebaran's name I will lead us to victory and in the name of the U.A.C. go on to take the fight to the toads!", he gives a salute "This battle will decide the victor of this world... and it will be us! IRON WITHIN! IRON WITHOUT!"






A crowd sounds "IRON WITHIN! IRON WITHOUT!"






With that the signal is lost, but the message had been delivered and heard across the Aniverse, that this was it, this would be the survivors last offensive, their last stand to try to liberate Canis II. The last four words echo in everyone's mind, Adam was leading the remains of the military and recruits no questions asked, he was ready to kick the green menace in the teeth, there wasn't a dry eye on the mammal worlds, they now knew the defenders would either win or die trying, that even if only one survived they would win. Recruitment offices quickly become swarmed, their patriotism having been ignited, the Corsair Canards soon join the gathering ships above Genus to lend their guns and manpower as Bucky gives the order to make the ship ready to launch, whatever gathered ships there were, they would engage now.






On the world of Aldebaran, the sisterhood is shaken to it's core, the humans words had hit their hearts, they felt his heart in every word, the motivation in the entire speech. The random human who had crashed on their world that they had no idea what to make of, had become a strong representation of their world and to hear the pride when he said his citizenship had unbind the chains on their hearts.






Katrina looks to the artificers in front of her "What do we have available?"






Felicia says "A battle cruiser, two heavy heavy cruisers, seven standard and fourteen frigates. That's all I could get my hands on at the moment."






Katrina nods "Head out immediately, we can't wait for anymore ships or anymore forces, I'll notify the gathered fleet that you are heading straight for Canis II." her look becomes far more stern "Bring our boy home!"






Felicia gives a salute "It will be done!"






Audrey is sitting there in silence as Irene and Veral eye her, the cat looks to them, she knows what they are going to say, she finally makes her choice "Irene, take a small fleet and go to Canis II, we've waited long enough!"






Irene gives a thankful smile and runs off, Audrey knows not to show her full deck, at least not yet but this required any aid she was willing to give.






.................................






Sherman tanks are getting geared for war, artillery tanks and M10's roar, what aircraft we were able to get together are armed and ready to deploy, their metal hulls baring hazard stripes on their lower glacius. Much to everyone's surprise I decide to not be in a tank, as I want to fight alongside the infantry forces side-by-side, maybe next time.






Willy comes over to me "Everyone is ready." as he holds an mp3008.






I look to him "I'm still not use to seeing you with a gun.", I sigh "I want you in a 105 sherman with improved radio equipment, you'll be a relay and give fire support."






He nods to me "So this is it?"






I stand firm "After this, we're going to get some r and r, get to it Willy."






Willy heads over to the tank I pointed out, I look at the soldiers all around me as I begin to walk out of the base, the toad fortress off in the distance with a blasted wasteland between us and it. I get on board a half-track armed with a 75mm cannon, I give the order to head out and we do just that, those with radios notify the other bases... at 00:00 hours we begin the final battle for Canis II, Operation: Iron Collar is now underway.






I think 'We are ready to die... can you toads say the same?!' knowing that this fight can easily be my last.






To be continued...