Within the factory compound, a soldier sat atop a low building, the scope of a sniper rifle pressed to his eye. He'd been up there all night, keeping an eye out for any incoming patrols. It was only now in the early hours of the morning that he noticed 5 columns of dust on the horizon, closing fast. He pulled out his radio, calling it in.
It would take a few minutes for the sighting to pass back to command, and then to be further relayed to the appropriate units. Mech pilots climbed into their powered suits, hidden within the non-essential buildings, the few tanks had been stored within the garage. On the hills a few clicks out sat three artillery units, their long barrels realigning for what they believed to be a gaul patrol. Remaining infantry took up positions around the factory complex, some moving back inside to speak to the saboteurs. They left it another 30 seconds.
"Open fire!"
The guns in the hills roared, their massive explosive ordnance arcing through the air. True firing technicians are hard to come by, so the aim is a little off, resulting in just spraying the cheetahs with dirt. A few more salvos are fired.
Once they get in range of the complex, the flash of binoculars, before a young lad, could hardly have been more than 17 years of age by his face, ran out, waving a white shirt tied to a chair leg, as he screamed into his old, short wave radio
"CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE! TARGET IS FRIENDLY, REPEAT, FRIENDLY!"
The guns stop, one last boom echoing out, landing far beyond the effective zone of the others before it, clearly a last minute firing solution change. The young lad had lit a green flare, its smoke guiding the Cheetahs to the entrance of the complex to park. As they stepped out, they'd be greeted by the 17 year old lad, the makeshift flag discarded somewhere.
My apologies for the hostile welcome sir. We don't really get reinforcements out here all that much. Been waiting for a gaul attack all night y'see, had us all on edge really... My name is Corporal J Higgins. If you'll allow, I'll take you to Major General Williams now. Oh, and be ready, we'll be on the move once everyone is packed up. The frogs will definitely have heard Bertha's crew.
![[Image: gq51630.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/gq51630.jpg)