Then momment a later to this blockhouse would enter another soldier, Private Albert known in this part of the trenches as the "Gas-Boy", he earned this nickname by the fact that he would only take of his gas mask only when he absolutely needed to take it of, some would evenjoke that underneath that mask there wasn't even a man but something different, of course under that mask was just some young lad who wanted to make his country proud. Albert soon found a place where he could sit down, it was just next to Fitzgerald actualy, so without futher ado young private had sat down, and well kind did nothing, just a heavy sigh after a patrol.....

Fitzgerald noticed the boy immediately due to the fact he kept his gas-mask on in the humid blockhouse....Only one madman would do that.."Gas-Boy is that you?" The other conscripts would look towards the new arrival,they heard of the young man before,his little gas-mask quirk earned him a reputation around the front trench-line.

The conscripts would puff on their cigarettes as they watched the the torn open field littered with barbed wire and mines. "Oi you think lil Sally would go out with me? Asked a fat soldier who goes by the name Freddy "Fatty" Jones. "lil Sally" was one of the more beautiful young girls in the bunker city of Joaburg. It was Freddy's dream to one day marry "lil Sally" it was a dream that made the other men laugh.

Albert turned towards Fitzgerald
- Yeah you cought me
He chuckeled slightly
- It is me Albert "Gas-boy" Wilecki, at your service rhm..... what is your name?
But before he could get Fitzgerald name he turned to "Fatty"
- Well maybe one day Jones, I heard that escaping from our Grand Enemy can easliy burn any fat

The laughter continued at the ironic truth of "Gas-Boy's" words,but the laughter would then quickly die out as the soldier's thought dwelled back to their "Grand Enemy."

"Name's Fitzgerald" the Corporal replied to "Gas-Boy's" earlier question.He held his hand out for a shake whilst keeping his rifle wedged between his legs.One of the soldiers walked towards the wall and moved the large wooden crate that contained ammunition away from the doors,hidden in a small hole in the wall was a bottle of brandy.The soldier known as Westley "Porter" Rightman stored it there for celebration,whilst not celebration it would at least lighten up the mood in the humid blockhouse.

He opened it at took a sip before passing it to "Fatty" who in turn took a sip and passed it on to the next soldier up until it ended up in the hands of "Gas-Boy"

Albert also laughed with everyone, but from the start it wasn't very loud laugh like those of his comrades, so when things died down, it sounded like he never laughed, but when he noticed Fitzgeralds hand, he quickly shook it
- Well it is nice to meet you Fitzgerald, I think that I do not need to introduce myself, since I did it a momment ago
Then the bottle was passed to his hands and he looked at it for a momment, and passed it to Fitzgerald without taking a sip out of it
- Here take it, I don't  drink anyway

Fitzgerald took the bottle and took a sip before handing it back to "Porter" who hid it back in the hole and pushed the crate back to hide it.

It was then that "Porter sat down with is rifle peering out towards the field,he kept his eyes fixed on the misty battlefield ahead of him. "No-Man's land stretched for over 14 km's from Joaburg to the hive's territory. "Porter" was almost 21 now he once believed he would be able to easily pass through the ranks to become a officer....and get the benefits officers recieve...But due to several cases of misconduct he was demoted back to being a Sargent and placed on the Front-Line as punishment.He still had his tricks and mischievous mindset...One that made him infamous among the commanders.

He turned to "Gas-boy"  and spoke with a slight smile. "So Albert......You done anything you regret eh?"

- Did I ever done something that I regret hmmmmmmm well joining the army comes mind heh
He chuckled nervously  here
- Just joking, but to be honest nothing comes to mind.......
He stays silent for a while after saying that, it looks like he is thinking about something
- So did you done somthing that you regret Porter?
While asking this "Gas-Boy" starts taping on floor with his feet

"Gas-boy" began tapping his feet as he awaited "Porter's" delayed answer.."Me too many to count" he laughed.

"Porter" watched for any signs of movement on the front the only movement he could see was the rustling chains that was scattered alongside the barbwire fences.

Over the hill and yonder their Grand Enemy remained planning,waiting......

It would only be a matter of time before they attack......Then the officer from earlier stepped into the Blockhouse.He carried a notepad and pen. Slowly walking past the group and inspecting their gear. "Everything seems in order troopers." The officer sat down on the crate of ammo that hid the hole "Porter's" brandy hid in. "So anything to report?"

- Well nothing sir, 
Said Gas-Boy
- Nothing other than bunch of soldiers tring to relax before inevitable .........
He paused for a momment
- Attack of our Grand Enemy, sir
He continued taping on the floor

The officer jumped from the crate,and began walking to the other exit to inspect the next blockhouse. "Carry on men"

Across the fields hidden by the morning mist,several Flickr Soldiers scouted the Front-line remaining low and out of sight as their cybernetic vision was fixed on the bunker city of Joaburg.In the back of their minds their orders were whispered by the War-AI

"Scan Joaburg sector........Identify weaknesses and engage when ready"

The acceptance of their orders were only clicks and screeches that no-human could ever understand.The soldiers then watched one of the blockhouses and observed these strange creatures laughing and puffing smoke.....None of the hive could question the War-AI who then ordered them to observe the blockhouse until further orders....

Albert started inspecting his rifle, to see if eveything was in order
- So ..............
Gas-Boy sped up his taping on the floor
- Did anything interesting happened today to any of you? I was just on patrol and nothing much had happened
He stoped his work and waited for his comrades response

"Fatty" then took a seat and began talking. "Oi ya before I was assigned here I saw Colonel Degrant....I don't know why he'd be here through,Joaburg isn't Roholm."

"I guess he is inspecting the colonies....." answered "Porter" as he watched the field."

Fitzgerald wanted to talk about the unusual lone Flickr soldier but before he could say a word "Porter" began whistling the national anthem...A tune that lifted the spirits of the hardened Sabatonian people.

{Meanwhile in the Durasteel halls of the fallen frigate the ship's computer systems buzz with endless activity as the War-AI plans it's strategy}

Scanning....Assault pattern required

Assault pattern 17.....39% effectiveness
Assault pattern 487....53% effectiveness


Developing new pattern........Synchronizing......Pattern 19023 developed.....test required.....Locating targets.....



The information packets were sent to the hive mind and the soldiers immediately adapted to the strategy.They clicked and crawled across the field.

- Colonel Degrant, huh man I wish I Could  have been as good of a soldier like him......
Gas boy whispered to himself, then he would continue inxpecting his rifle, that was until Porter started whistling, at first he was just humming silently, but as soon he was whistling with in tune with Porter, then something unexpected happened. Albert started singing the national anthem and not just that he was good at it to say the least.....

The merry singing soon broke off into a loud cheer of merriment as the songs switched from prideful national anthems to cheerful folk songs.

Fitzgerald even began dancing in the blockhouse while "Porter turned his gaze from the field to watch"
"Fatty" was dancing alongside Fitzgerald in a dance that was reminiscent of old tap-dancing routines they learned by watching old musicals recorded from Earth long ago.

It was then that the hive soldiers saw their chance,they burrowed slowly into the mud,covering themselves and slowly crept towards the barbed wire,they made sure to avoid the various mines scattered around the field.Only stopping when a DKS conscript walks past on his patrol.

Albert continues to sing, of course he changed from National Anthem to those folk songs, then he would join Fitzgerald and Fatty in their dancing , and again he wouldn't stop singing, he denced and sang, dnaced and sang and sang again, like there was no war or tomorrow and even though his face was coverd by his gas mask, it was rather obvious that he was grining like small child

The party intensified and quickly died down as an officer appeared at the blockhouse door.

"The front-line is no place to party,you cannot let your guard down..." He walked towards the blockhouse loophole and took a long look out on the field. "I'll have to report this you kno......Wait...Oh Go....." His words where shortened as a bullet blasted the side of his face sending blood across the visor of "Gas-boy's" Gasmask as the officer's limp body fell to the concrete floor with a sickening crack.
For a moment time seemed to stop in the shock and "Fatty" vomited sending yellowish slime across the floor. The Hive began it's attack sending wedges of soldiers who burrowed across the defensive line,some leaped into the trench-line while others used their machine guns to fire bursts into the blockhouses,by the time the alarm was sounded the hive already overran several other blockhouses.

Fitzgerald grabbed his rifle and slammed the iron door of the blockhouse shut as Flickr soldiers clawed  at it trying to get inside.Their screeshes and clicks rang across the trench-line as sending "Fatty" into a panic.

"Weregonnadieweregonnadie" he would mutter as he crawled into a corner,his rifle on the floor in front of him.

Gas-Boy was shocked, for a momment, soon he came to conclusion that it all was his fault, if he just kept quiet it might have never happened, but now.............
He walked up to "Fatty" and smacked him across face
- Get your self together, when you joined the army you you had agreed to die for the republic, so if die today then so be it

Gas boy goes to lock this bloody bolt, so they would  keep those fuckers away for some time. or he hoped so at least, man he didn't expect to die this day, and probably nobody expected this day to be theirs, well at the very least he might die while killing some of Grand Enemies forces. Though he isn't sure if it will work out

The ground shook as explosions tore across the trench-line,several hundred Flickr charged into the breach,their charge only stopped by the firepower of the D.K.S soldiers who formed a defensive perimeter at the second trench-line,machine-gun fire from both the D.K.S and Flickr echoed throughout the area.

The blockhouse was surrounded by Flickr who now began to shoot away at the iron door,some bullets piercing it and flying past "Gas-boy" and Fitzgerald,embedding itself into the concrete wall.

"Porter" and "Fatty" were busy firing on the ever growing number of Flickr soldiers who encroached upon the block house. "I NEED AMMO!" screamed "Porter" as he motioned for somebody to help him.The ammo crate still stood against the wall opposite "Porter" who now took cover whilst reloading his clips.Fitzgerald kept his eye on the door readying his rifle as the Flickr continuously bashed it hoping to break in and skin the D.K.S troopers.

Gas-Boy went for the crate and put it next to Porter, then he went for his rifle. After geting his hands on his gun, Albert would join hi comrades in their desperate fight against Grand Enemy

The field in front of the blockhouse was swarming with Flickr soldiers......Who shot bursts at the blockhouse forcing the D.K.S soldiers to take cover. "Porter" took a shot to his shoulder sending him to the ground where he sat clenching his teeth in tears. "Arrrrgh!" The wound burned as blood poured out of the hole.

"Don't stop ssshooting!" Porter shouted as he crawled to the wall with his rifle.

'Fatty" continued firing whilst Fitzgerald stood near the dented iron door breathing heavily.

Unless something is done the Flickr will break in and kill them all.

Gas-Boy finds some cover, and takes radio(Which he had this entire time on his back) then he calls Artillery control
- ATILLERY CONTROL ,THIS IS PRIVATE ALBERT WILECKI WE HAVE SITUATION HERE, ENEMY BREACHED OUR DEFENSES WE REQUIRE IMIDIETE BACK UP......... COORDINATES?! FUCK IF I KNOW WHAT EXACT COORDINATES OF OUR ENEMIES POSITION, JUST SHOOT THE FUCKING BLOCK HOUSE POSITIONS...... NO I AM BATSHIT GREG NOW SHUT UP AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OR ELSE THOSE FUCKERS WILL COEM FOR YOU
After that little show, Gas-Boy went to shoot some of bloody cyborg insects, and soon after that the sound of falling shells could be heard, then explosions, then doors to Blockhouse were blown off the hinges

The artillery shells rained down upon the blockhouse,shaking and shattering the earth around it.

The blast tore the doors from it's hinges and sent the Flickr soldiers surrounding the blockhouse into chaos,the air was heavy with the smell of the acidic blood the Flickr had.There was an brief opening for the D.K.S soldiers to retreat....However they were dazed themselves and by the time they were on their feet the remaining Flickr soldiers charged into the blockhouse.

One came directly for Gas-Boy,lunging at him with an knife it held in one of it's arms while it's machine gun shot an volley of bullets through "Fatty" who fell against the wall and slowly slided down leaving an oozing trail of blood against it.