Prodigal Child, Command Tank of Fifth Company
Phillipsburgh
Phillipsburgh was a moderately-sized town of roughly 23,000 people. It largely owed its existence to the intersecting highways running through the forested south-east of Columbia, being a hub for the various lumber companies operating in the area. Such a hub, in fact, that the northern half is dominated by the industry - saw mills, truck stops, and warehouses line both sides of Highway 44, the northeast-southwest road. Highway 13, the east-west roadway, is the primary boundary between the industrial zone with the rest of the township.
The southeast quarter of Phillipsburgh is known as "The Bricks" or "Old Town," where the small city kept not only the older buildings, but the older brick roads as well. Aside from local governance, it is also the site of many of the shops as well as where the wealthier citizens call home. The southwest quarter of the small city is where the majority of the populace lives, a largely middleclass assortment of small neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs that expands out to the woods. Most of the people living here either work the shops, or, more likely, make their living in the mills and distribution centers to the north.
That was all Miho deigned to read about the town from her data pad. History and local attractions meant little in a combat situation like this one, even if her curiosity is a bit piqued. The 3rd Heavy Armor already encountered elements of the 7th Cavalry, who were in the middle of securing the city hall and the police station (Especially for the armory therein), as well as putting up barricades and checkpoints for the major roads. Maho directed them to aid in these efforts, and so Miho was deploying her company to the southwest half of Highway 44.
Nearing the city limits, she saw a group of 7th infantry men piling sandbags and extending razorwire into makeshift barricades. "Pull over here, Suzuhara," the brunette ordered, "I think these are the guys."
"Yes, ma'am."
Once the tank stopped, Miho opened the command hatch and raised herself halfway out of the cupola. She waved a pair of soldiers over, "You guys Echo Company?"
"Yes, ma'am!" One acknowledged as they both saluted, "Allow me to get Captain Matthews."
Makeshift Forward Operating Base
Parking Lot of Liberty Lumber Mill, Phillipsburgh
Though Maho's face appears to be stoic to the average soldier, those who knew her are able to pick up the minor expressions that indicated the colonel was, in fact, fuming as she climbed down from the Baneblade Indomitable with her staff.
The 7th were building a makeshift base of operations her at this saw mill, more or less due to its centralized location just off from where the two highways meet. And that was where their commanding officer was. Maho entered the command tent, quickly scanning for the highest ranking individual in the room. Her eyes landed on a golden oak leaf insignia - a Major - who was standing over a radio set holding a microphone up. "-I repeat, we are not here as conquerors. Our stay will be temporary. There will be no enforcement of Dunham laws onto your populace, nor will we make any demands of you. We simply ask for you to not interfere with our operations. We will make every consideration for civilians, but we will also defend ourselves if need be - "
Maho could hear what he was saying from the city loudspeakers outside. The 7rth must have hijacked the local radio stations and are trying to pacify the population of Phillipsburgh. Not like it really matters, though - the Columbians will, in the end, be a belligerent population to them. This is all hostile territory for the soldiers of Dunham. The populace will start off by feeding Columbian military their numbers and positions, and, once the military arrives, the civilians will be taking potshots at their backs. This will then only escalate to militias cutting off their escape routes as the Columbian Army closes in for the kill. In the end, Maho knew that this was ultimately territory that neither the 7th Calvary or her own 3rd Heavy Armor could hold.
Once the Major finished, though, that was when the brunette approached him. "Where's Lieutenant Colonel Wright?"
The man, a Major Knights, barely looked at her before leading her to an enlarged map of the surrounding area, "We left him behind in Dunham, ma'am."
"What?" This surprised Maho, shock noticeably showing through her otherwise stern face."
"I know you might have a lot of questions, ma'am, but now is the time for preparing. Just know that this was all my idea and you can line me up against a wall later."
"This was your doing?" Anger started to well up inside her, not just for Knights dismissal of her (despite her being ranking officer now), but now that they basically have a war on their hands that many will see Dunham initiating, "What the He - what were you thinking?!"
Knights turned to face her, his voice low, "I was thinking that Americana has to be returned to us at all costs, that she is more important than anyone of us, and that not acting was a betrayal onto her."
"And so you bucked orders, broke formation, and invaded Columbia?"
"Without Americana, Dunham is nothing."
"Invading Columbia will reduce us to no-" Maho remembered herself then, noticing how the enlisted were paying attention to their squabble. Gritting her teeth, she changed course, "I am now the ranking officer here, and will be taking control of this operation until General Sawyer arrives. Is that understood, Major?"
The older man was silent for a moment, before acknowledging her authority.
Highway 44 South Checkpoint
Phillipsburgh
First Sergeant Aoi approached the officers huddled around a makeshift shack - Captain Miho Nishizumi, First Lieutenant Mutsuki (Miho's XO), and Captain Matthews. "Captain Nishizumi? Colonel Nishizumi is hailing you and Matthews on the vox."
Miho looked up at her, thanked her, and started walking back to the tank with Matthews trailing behind her. Aoi heard him ask "Vox?" as they walked away.
It was a few minutes later when the two officers returned. Miho spoke "Mutsuki, you are going to be under the temporary command Matthews here. Just got new orders - I'm to take one of our squadrons, the two Pegasi, and one of Matthew's platoons down south."
"The colonel is sending you out to rescue Her?" the XO asked, a combination of worry and faint jealousy falling across her face.
"Yes," Miho affirmed.
Over the years, Miho has picked up some of her sister's stoicness - her nervousness about going deeper into enemy territory only being shown by a slight shaking of her left hand. She turned to her 7th counterpart, "Have your selected platoon meet us by the wire in about five minutes. May Americana grace us in our endeavors."
A few minutes later, five tanks, three IFV's and two scout vehicles left the city limits, heading southwest to where Americana dropped off of RADAR...
