Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 802 - 39: Winter Offensive of 916 (8K)_2

Chapter 802 -39: Winter Offensive of 916 (8K)_2

Just then, a shell happened to land near the anti-artillery bunker, causing a cloud of dust to fall from the ceiling and stick to everyone’s steel helmets.

The rookie soldier looked up worriedly: “The roof of this bunker is made of wood, could it suddenly collapse?”

Kosolek: “It could, which is why you see Sergeant Andreas sitting by the bunker entrance. That way, if it collapses, he won’t get buried and will be in charge of informing the casualty recording officer about which unlucky souls got buried here.”

Andreas smiled faintly at the rookies: “If you have any last letters, hand them to me now. I’ll try to make it alive to the next defensive line and send them out for you.”

Another rookie asked: “Is it really okay to openly express such defeatist views?”

“The Constitutional Guards don’t come to the frontlines, so don’t worry,” answered Kosolek.

...

“Constitutional Guards?”

Andreas: “That’s what we call the Constitutional Guards. You might find this name offensive now, but it won’t be long before you’re calling them that alongside us.”

The rookies exchanged looks.

Rookie Soldier B: “So has the frontline always been like this? Doesn’t anyone have confidence in defeating the Anteans?”

The only two veterans in the bunker looked at each other, then burst out laughing, louder than the sound of the exploding shells.

After the laughter, Andreas said: “When I was deployed to the front like you, I took a train for a whole two weeks. I mean, it was two weeks by train after entering Antean territory, and then nearly a week on foot to reach the front.

“How long did it take you to reach the front? Three days! It took you three days to reach the front from crossing the border, and you did it on foot! Do you know where the missing stretch of the journey has gone?”

“Where did it go?”

Kosolek: “Lost. After Sergeant Andreas arrived at the front, apart from the first few months of advancing, the rest of the time has been mostly retreating, marching, pausing to catch a breath, then marching again.

“That guy Rocossov has been following us non-stop, we’d occasionally stop to resist, and to be honest, the two of us fought pretty well, and our division did as well, but there’s always a point where we’re breached, followed by endless retreat.

“So you see, it’s not that we don’t want victory, but victory is getting further and further away from us. And our enemies’ faces are always filled with the longing for victory.”

Andreas: “I think that the fact we still have morale to hold our positions in such a situation, proves that we are the best warriors in the world!”

Kosolek concurred: “Exactly, that’s what I think too. Veterans like us will keep fighting, inflicting heavy casualties on the Anteans. They may be close to winning, but they will not win easily.

“Maybe one day, we’ll kill all the Anteans on the battlefield and victory will come, maybe.”

Rookie Soldier B: “Will it come?”

“It will,” Andreas said, “but before that, who knows how many rookies like you we’ll have to send off. Look, I’m too lazy to even remember your names, just calling you ‘that rookie’, ‘Curly’, ‘Freckle Face’, in a while it’ll be A, B, C, D.”

Rookie Soldier A: “I thought those nicknames were just a frontline tradition, a ritual to welcome us to the family!”

The two veterans laughed heartily again.

Right at that moment, another shell landed nearby, shaking loose some sand from the ceiling and giving the illusion that their laughter was causing the dust to fall.

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The heavy weapons company commander ran past the trenches and stopped at the entrance, looking puzzled at the people in the bunker: “What are you laughing at?”

Andreas replied: “We’re in high spirits, Captain.”

All this laughter, indeed a sign of high morale.

The company commander patted Andreas on the shoulder: “Good, very good! The two of you are the most senior non-commissioned officers in the heavy weapons company, we’re counting on you later.”

Andreas saluted: “Leave it to us, Captain. But what’s with you running through the trenches under artillery fire? That’s dangerous.”

The captain turned to Kosolek: “I’ve come to find Kosolek.”

Kosolek was surprised: “Looking for me? What’s the matter?”

The captain: “I need you to assure me, to assure me that I won’t die.”

Kosolek: “That’s in God’s jurisdiction, do you think I look like God?”

“We’re from the same town, both from Argon. And you’ve lived since Barbarossa, if you assure me I won’t die, I’ll believe it,” the captain stared at Kosolek.

Kosolek: “I never knew you were from Argon, I thought you were an old Junker.”

“How could that be! Indeed, my ancestors had an estate, but not in East Ploesen.”

Andreas: “Just promise the captain, how often do we get a chance to do something for someone like him in our lifetime? Like me, just a farmer from the mountains, rarely even getting a chance to salute you folks!”

Kosolek: “Alright, I assure you that you will not die, Captain.”

The company commander nodded and ran back along the trench.

Kosolek turned to Andreas: “What’s our company commander’s name?”

Andreas shrugged: “I don’t know, we usually just call him ‘Captain’.”

“And you encouraged me anyway?”

“Don’t you think the kid looks pitiful? His uniform trousers are too long and have to be stuffed into his boots, with a face as tender as my nephew’s.”

Kosolek fell silent, took out a cigarette from his pocket, struck a match, and quietly smoked.

The artillery shells continued to fall.

————

After an unknown stretch of time, the artillery fire gradually subsided, Kosolek stood up: “Alright, first group follow us! The second group will wait, if the Anteans do a short shelling, wait for the artillery to stop before heading to the positions!”