//------------------------------//
// Open season 
// Story: Living on the line 
// by Frost338 
//------------------------------//

It was 20:45. Fifteen minutes before the attack was supposed to begin. We were prepared for this attack fully. We had our artillery dialed in right in front of the tree line. We had plenty of extra ammo with us, and the quartermasters were ready to bring us more. Also, our night vision goggles came in, so everypony had one attached to their helmet. Now we were just waiting. Waiting for the attack.

       I heard a roar from the forest, then a whole battalion of griffons charged out in a scattered formation. Then, our artillery thundered and screamed overhead, exploding right on top of the griffons. Their advance stalled as we hammered them with artillery and our fifty cals, but they just kept coming. They never stopped! Eventually they started advancing again, moving very slowly. Our artillery kept decimating hundreds of them. We were killing scores of griffons every second. Unlike the last two attacks though, they didn't retreat, they kept on coming! I was amazed by this daring move, but I knew it was foolish. They weren't even within rifle range yet so I was getting bored, but I remained ready on the trigger the entire time. The griffons decided to launch an all out wave against us, because they brought out seven Ursa minors and an entire infantry regiment. Now with the combined strength of three regiments they began advancing past our artillery. They moved the arc of fire with the advancing troops, slowly killing two of the Ursa minors. They were still more than a thousand yards out and I was getting ready for the shit storm to hit. The mortars then joined the barrage, killing for more ursas. Now only one remained, but there were still at least a thousand infantryman advancing on us. They were five hundred yards out and I gave the order. "OPEN FIRE!!!" then the whole base erupted sending a solid wall of lead at our enemy.
        This synchronized fire immediately killed at least a hundred griffons and wounding many more. This was a massacre! Why did they keep coming!? This reminds me of the Spartans last stand a Themopylae pass against the Persians. Then, out of nowhere a charge gained them enough ground to get close enough to use rockets on the wall. I ordered two of our five regiments onto the open battlefield. Before my squad got down to join them, all of us shot our grenade launchers at the Ursa minor, blowing it up. It was close enough that we were splattered with blood and shreds of skin.
       The armies were in a close range, open battlefield struggle. They were going toe to toe with each other, some with guns and some with knives and bayonets. We had the upper hand. Us ponies were holding our own against the most feared warriors in the world, and we were winning! I was shooting griffons in support of my men when a griffon jumped on my back, knocking me down on my back. I quickly drew my Desert Eagle and put on shot to his head, sending brains an blood spraying all over me. It didn't bother me one bit I pushed the body off of me an picked up my rifle. I holstered my pistol and took off my night vision. I then attached the bayonet to my M4 and started shooting again. Then I ran out of ammo. "FUCK!" I yelled and drew my knife and my handgun. Then another griffon jumped on me and scratched my face withe his talons, causing blood to ooze down my face. I then punched him across the face and plunged my knife into his eye socket. He screamed in pain as I twisted the knife, slowly killing him. I got up and looked for my squad. Rainbow was right behind me shooting her M16, but she is the only one I saw.then a griffon jumped on her back. As he was about to plunge his knife into her back, I shot him once in the chest and once in the head. His blood and brains sprayed onto Dash, who got up and smiled at me. Before turning around and blowing a griffon's head clean off.
      I turned around and saw a group of griffons sneaking up on some ponies. I shot two of them and charged the third, knocking him down. I drew my knife and slit his throat, then tore out his windpipe. I reloaded my Desert Eagle and ran off into another crowd of griffons who I gunned down. That was my las mag. I only had my knife now. I leapt onto a griffon's back and stabbed him through the bridge of his nose. Then, out of nowhere they start surrendering, as they noticed their reinforcements had retreated.

         Jaze's POV

  We were waiting. That's all we did was wait. I was manning one of the machine guns on the north tower. Razor was on the other machine gun to my right.  Our tower was in the center of the wall, facing the Everfree forest. Our eyes were fixed on the tree line. We heard the roar and saw the griffons charging out of the forest, but held our fire. The thundering blasts of artillery were heard, and we saw griffons that were torn into pieces. When the griffons slowly started advancing, me and Razor opened fire. We were holding them back under the artillery barrage while the battery showered them in airburst shells. 
      After about half an hour of this all out massacre, a massive charge by the griffons pushed past the artillery and our machine guns. They started a slow but steady advance toward us. We still fired at the front of the advancing troops as our artillery followed them. Suddenly, rifle fire erupted from across the wall, then about a hundred griffons dropped dead. Small arms fire was heard from everywhere now. The griffons were shooting back now, with little effect. As an Ursa minor approached the wall, I started to fire on it. Then, my gun jammed. While I was trying to fix it, the Ursa minor exploded as a high explosive round hit it in the chest, sending blood splattering onto me. As I fixed the jam, my regiment commander came over and told me, "Get your battalion down onto the battlefield! Their getting too close for artillery!" he yelled at me. "Yes sir!" I yelled back, and ran down to rally my unit. 
      As we made our way onto the battlefield, the griffons were already beginning to charge us! My unit got up to the front and joined in the shooting. As the griffons got closer, out of the range of artillery, they began shooting back. Some of my men were hit as we stood our ground. Then, the griffons launched a bayonet charge straight into my unit. I fixed my bayonet and stabbed one griffon in the forehead. Razor had stabbed one in the chest and fired two rounds into him. I started firing again, being careful of friendly fire, then I heard the Click! My gun was empty! So I dropped it and drew my M9 and my knife, just like we were taught to in training.then a griffon jumped on Razor's back. I shot him off with three shots to the head. I saw a griffon jump at me, claws raised. He tackled me, causing me to fall backwards. I pistol whipped him across the face and stabbed him in the stomach. Then I continued to shoot him through his chin and out the top of his head. I pushed the body off of me and got up. Then, I saw a mist of red, and felt an intense pain in my shoulder as I fell backwards. My vision went slow motion and my hearing shut off. I looked over at Razor. Three griffons were attacking him. One hit Razor's knee with his rifle, causing him to fall to one knee, then one griffon stabbed him in the chest with his bayonet and the other stabbed him in the side. He dropped to the floor, dead. I couldn't believe it I just got shot and watched my best friend die. I blacked out as a medic dragged me back toward the fort.

            The Next Day

               Frost's POV

   "We took 1500 prisoners last night. We took heavy casualties also, at 567 killed and 1785 wounded. That is almost a third of the division's total strength.  Aside from heavy casualties, last night was perfect. We killed over 11000 griffons. Well with that I need to get some sleep princess." I said to princess Celestia over the telephone.
"Alright Commander. Give me a status update on your supplies by 20:00 tonight."
"Yes your majesty, Frost out........."