Dawn at Cambrai - Das As (2) (1927 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Cambrai
Rating: 1.63 on 24 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Hadley Tobedone (View user info) at 2005-07-05 10:14:14 EDT
Abstractions (Part 1) - http://www.ubersite.com/m/69763
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He woke shortly after dawn to sirens wailing. As he opened his eyes, it began to register. Attack. To battle stations. He rose slowly and watched as men scrambled outside for weapons. He dressed quickly - not hurried - and strode from his barracks, walking deliberately toward his plane.
As he pushed through the crowds, he heard the familiar whispers. The soldiers all looked at him in awe, and they referred to him in kind, "Das As!" The Ace. Head high, he projected an air of confidence as he reached his Hannover CL.II biplane. His gunner was already waiting, leaning calmly against their weapon, smoking a cigarette. Das As climbed into the cockpit and sank into the seat which had molded itself to his body's shape over hundreds of flights. This plane, this marvelous weapon was like an extension of himself. Together they had proven to be invincible.
The gunner reached up and spun the propeller, kicking the engine to life. He gripped the control stick as the gunner settled in behind him. This was his third gunner this year. It was also his favorite. The others had always tried to yell over the plane when something needed to be said. It was distracting during battle.
A tap on his shoulder brought him back to the matter at hand. It was time. Das As touched his chest, feeling the cross underneath his shirt, and whispered a prayer - for safety and for the souls of those who would die by his hand today.
With a throaty roar, he began to move slowly forward, picking up speed. When the ruts in the road became a blur and dull vibration in his ass, he rose into the air. Banking left toward the battlefield, he nearly froze. This was definitely not what he had expected.
Inching across the cratered flats were approximately sixty...boxes? Behind them, huddling for protection, were the ground troops. Unsure what was happening, he slowly circled overhead, surveying the situation. As the first of the mysterious boxes reached the German front, they opened fire with machine guns and cannons. Those were weapons! A tap on his gunner's shoulder, a quick twisting motion, and the message was sent.
He circled one last time and pushed the plane into a screaming dive. As he passed over the first of the boxes, the gunner tossed a grenade down onto its treads. Soaring back up into the sky, Das As felt the explosion, then his gunner's jubilant reaction. Smiling wryly, he banked for another pass.
This time, his gunner used the machine gun to cut through the huddled infantry. He caught himself grinning, as he always did in battle. Soaring above the death and destruction he felt powerful, like an avenging angel raining death on all who opposed him. A quick glance over his shoulder told him that he had succeeded in separating the infantry from their armored escorts. Now it was time to end the threat posed by these menacing new weapons.
Sweeping low again, he passed over the front of the British attack. His gunner dropped another grenade onto one of the machine gun-laden vehicles. It erupted into flames and he immediately wheeled around for another pass. Lining up for the run, he sped low over the British again. Closing in on his target, he noticed that the machine gun nearest him wasn't firing.
Holding steady, he noticed that the machine gun was tracking him. He immediately pulled up and to the right as the weapon spit fire in his direction. Bullets tore through the floor of the plane and into his legs. As he fought through the pain, the grenade his gunner dropped exploded. There was no reaction from behind him, so Das As assumed he would need to train a new gunner before his next mission.
Trying to fly back to his landing strip, his thoughts were on anything but his plane. He needed medical attention. The doctors would save him. He was essential to winning here. They would have him up and flying again in no time. His eyes blurred as he tore his shirt open, clutching the cross and half-crying prayers. He should be getting close. But suddenly the trees were directly in front of him. He pulled up desperately, but felt the tail hit the treetops.
He desperately sought to control the plane, but the mistake was causing him to doubt himself. He was no longer certain that he would be able to save the day for his country. Flying over forest, he saw a clearing ahead and decided to land there. As he slowly dropped, he misjudged the distance between his plane and the trees. The wheels were sheared off and the plane began to splinter apart. As he spun out over the clearing he saw a small house and a fleeting glimpse of a child watching him.
As the wall of the house drew closer, Heinrich Vennemann cried out once before the fireball swallowed him.
User Reviews
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-04-26 14:54:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-10-11 12:49:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
.
Submitted by inbreakingnewsT.A.N. (user info) at 2005-10-06 20:16:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-09-09 01:49:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck man, I had no idea these existed until I saw #5 posted.
I just read them all and this story is great. You can tell there's been research and I really like where you're going with it. They get better as you go along.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-08-18 00:53:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this one better. It's clear you did some solid research, which is always nice to see in a story.
I felt your writing was overly descriptive in some areas, especially the plane crash portion. When I read it in my head it 'sounded' somewhat dry and plain to me. Some metaphors or similes would have spiced things up a bit.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-07-18 10:43:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2005-07-16 10:41:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-07-15 23:08:55 (#)
Ranking: 0
it wasn't mine forensic
chop chop
Submitted by ballchick_handjob (user info) at 2005-07-12 18:02:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Some people are so mean.
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-07-12 16:21:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2005-07-06 22:18:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Not enough ANZAC.
Submitted by hollygolitely (user info) at 2005-07-06 17:41:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The different perspectives are brilliant.
Submitted by ArnieGeddon (user info) at 2005-07-06 13:04:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"Das dumkoff.." muttered the small child.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-07-05 17:51:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this one better than pt 1.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-07-05 16:01:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool series.
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-07-05 13:51:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Xcuses (user info) at 2005-07-05 12:52:04 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-07-05 12:31:49 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm hooked.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Hehehe.
Someone slap me please.
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*slaps viciousriffs*
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It puts the lotion on it's skin, or else it gets the hose again...
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-07-05 13:16:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yeah! Well done.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-07-05 13:05:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Eagerly awaiting the next in the series. Nice job, Hadley.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-07-05 12:54:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I really like this.
Submitted by Xcuses (user info) at 2005-07-05 12:52:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-07-05 12:31:49 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm hooked.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Hehehe.
Someone slap me please.
----------------------------
*slaps viciousriffs*
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-07-05 12:31:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm hooked.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered.
Hehehe.
Someone slap me please.
Submitted by doctorj24 (user info) at 2005-07-05 12:11:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Solid. My interest is piqued.
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-07-05 11:07:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Surprisingly good for an emu-free post.
You went into labour this morning, btw. Seems you were further along than I anticipated. I expect babies when I get home. We had to put GuhLahll in another home so he would stop trying to hump you as you gave birth.
Submitted by Fabit (user info) at 2005-07-05 10:35:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i think this would be of particular interest to you.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/69950
El FaBit O
Submitted by UrbaneMischief (user info) at 2005-07-05 10:25:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
god, i love the way you write.
write for me, baby, write for me