“Copy. Northern guns are quiet, moving onto the southern.” Iron hides commander said over the radio, it was not fully quiet as shells slammed home and the ground shook. Artillery in other areas friendly and hostile was engaging each other and black smoke rose from those hit on the beach and those that were hit on the enemy side as distant smoke rose from Iron hides and others bombardment. Almost all had taken minor damage and were hit or shook, a number were out of the fight and burned as well as one lost utterly with all hands from a direct hit, magazines detonated and carved a large hole into the beach front. 

The battle was anything but heating up than slowing down as a Paladin further down the line was laying out its own barrage sending rounds inland that had a Texan flag with shrapnel holes in cloth. An Himars… who the hell landed a Himars on a beach like this sent plumes of fire and telephone pole sized missiles fired from the beach edge with whatever it brings a rather vital target priority. 

“Sir, we got counter battery radar tracking fires, over a dozen guns in the area engaging our forces, alternating fires. Some SPG.” The gunner said as he listened to the radio with surprising calm and cool Canadian. 

“30 seconds. Give me 30. We have a jam.” Came Xena who grabbed a rather heavy tool to apply the rites of percussive maintenance that would free the system, they could fix it later but they had to get the gun back online and operational for now. 

“Get it back, 30mm, suppress that ridge. Timed detonation. On my mark” He called out to cover the tank escorting them that took a hit. “Got about 15 seconds T rex before 30mm is dry, will suppress ridge line 4. Fire on command.” Anakin said as he looked before he could even ask the rest of crew as Xensa swore, banged the system hard and lights went from green to red with a grinding hiss of systems that would definitely need a strip down after the battle. 

“Hot.” Xena said with a tone that was part anger and part … something else that he did not question. He left what they did in private to them as long as it did not bother the crew, she and Nord were close friends and complete opposites, they all got on but those two were thick as thieves and trouble magnets. 

“Fire on north. Join up with the rest of the battery, arty command wants North quiet.” Anakin confirmed and switched from inter group to the battery net to coordinate fires between the crews in the separate sections. Air defense teams  and others had an overarching net between them.

“1 minute, all arty. 1 min. Set.” The curt command came from the senior artillery officer in the force. Anakin leaned over and gave the crew the command. They would fire in 40 seconds and the rest of the force, rocket, mortars and anything else they were able to area bombard would lay down cover for the rest of the force. 

“All artillery. Fire.” Called the command.