8,000 soldiers dressed in black marched out of an opening in the ground. Red Pahntom had been emptied. Even though the Araza was 22,000 strong, 8,000 was still a lot to defeat Val Verde and Mistmantle. Yet only ten tanks rolled out of Red Phantom. Many antitank guns chugged along. The communist victory over the capitalist democratic Mistmantle was certain.
That is, if Val Verde didn't interfere.
*******************
The spy pilot flew his surveillance plane around just to make sure that no more Araza people were coming. Just as he was going to head back to base, a multitude of soldiers marched out. The pilot's eyes widened as fast as the communist army widened. General Castellan would be blowing his head out. He put Alpha Grid on a closed channel.
"This is Chief General Castellan. Name, reports, and rank."
"General, look at this. I'm sending you a loop."
Castellan and other officers crowded around the screen. The horde of soldiers came on screen. General Castellan was reeling. "Oh gods," he breathed, and rushed to get the other officers. "We've got a lot of Araza marching out against us. How much do you estimate?"
The pilot bit his lip. "I'd say......the scanner says.......*gulp*.......8000, sir."
The chief general nearly popped a vein. "8....8000?!?!" He turned to the four battalions before him, but only 3300 troops. "Okay, men. Arm our weapons, load your rifles, and build a defensive wall with sandbags and shields. And radio the rest of the division." The soldiers gasped. That was 10000 troops.
Castellan glared at them. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
"Yessir!" The men rushed out and loaded their dontizers and other weapons, while the communications squad radioed SOS to five other battalions
Officer Unnow marveled while he tied a donitzer to a pole. This was going to be a battle to remember. He hoped Val Verde came soon to their aid.