Battle Front: Attrition (America Falls Book 13) by Scott Medbury

Author:Scott Medbury [Medbury, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

14

The last of Chang’s force dropped his rifle, raising his hands in surrender as Concord fighters surrounded him. The thunderous exchange of gunfire that had dominated the morning gave way to an eerie quiet, broken only by the crackle of fires, the moans of the wounded, and the occasional shout of "Clear!" as buildings were secured.

Diana lowered her empty pistol, her arms trembling with exhaustion. Around her, the defenders of Manchester emerged cautiously from behind barricades, their faces streaked with blood and soot, expressions dazed as they tried to process what had happened.

The Concord army led by Brent had arrived with devastating efficiency, catching Chang's troops in a perfect crossfire. Trapped between Manchester's desperate defenders and Brent's fresh fighters, the Chinese soldiers had fought tenaciously but were ultimately overwhelmed. Of the original eighty that had breached Elm Street, a mere thirteen now stood in a dejected huddle, disarmed and under guard.

"All sectors secure," Gareth reported, approaching Diana. Blood soaked his left sleeve from a graze wound, but his eyes burned with fierce triumph. "Their commander is dead. The rest have surrendered."

Diana nodded wearily. "Casualties?"

"Still counting." Gareth's expression sobered. "Too many."

She surveyed the battlefield that had once been Elm Street, now a landscape of destruction – burning vehicles, collapsed barricades, and bodies. Manchester would rebuild the structures, but the people lost could never be replaced. Through the smoke she saw Bowman, aided by Vincent, crossing to greet Brent and his people.

"Mom!"

Diana turned at the sound of Samuel's voice. Her son came over to her; his face was filthy, but he was mercifully unharmed. She embraced him, her composure finally cracking as she held him.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yes," Samuel replied, pulling back to look at her. His eyes held a new gravity that clutched at her heart.

"Kane?”

“He’s good, he took two men and headed back into the city to look for the surviving infiltrators. Can I go too?”

Diana brushed the dirt from his cheek, seeing him clearly for the first time – no longer a boy but not quite a man, irreversibly changed by the traumatic events of the last few months.

"Yes, but see Gareth first, he’ll give you one of the confiscated Chinese weapons and ammo," she said.

He started to turn, then paused, a flicker of emotion crossing his face.

"Is Isaac okay? Is he…"

Diana squeezed his shoulder. "Yes, Isaac's still alive. He’s still in the tower. He’ll pull through.”

Samuel swallowed hard; he clearly hadn’t fully processed the encounter with Julian and its disastrous outcome.

"It was my fault," he whispered.

Diana took her son's face in her hands, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Listen to me, Samuel. It was Julian's choice to betray us. Julian's choice to use that knife. Not yours. Isaac protected you because that's what he does – what he's always done for us."

Samuel nodded, but the shadows didn't leave his eyes. Diana knew the conversation wasn't over, merely postponed until they both had strength for it.

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