Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 16:39:31 GMT
"General Cascade. It's really good to see you again."
"You too, Admiral. All right, so I've given your proposal lot of thought. I'm okay with letting you try and establish a second base along the road to Pelemin. However, I am afraid that I must concentrate on getting my men to defend Bzura from the incoming Auraxii. We are afraid that they are indeed hostile. So in any case, you are on your own for a little while."
"Thank you, General. That's a concern but I am sure that I can handle this case for now until you are freed up. I'll have to mobilize my Naval Infantry. May I, however, borrow some of your tanks? I will sorely need them. Reconnaissance recently confirmed that the area that I selected has some significant Auraxii groups that are hostile. They told me that these Auraxii are leaning towards criminal."
"You have them, Admiral. Make sure that those bastards either die or pay for their crimes with great justice. I'm giving you command of the Kharaxos Armored Regiment. They will do very well for you."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nine hours after the battle of Bzura...
"Captain Client Forge, Entry # 099, start recording.
Our colonel has told us that we will be leaving for a large area occupied by small groups of Auraxii bandits and raiders. We were told that there are no civilians. Every Auraxii we will face out there is going to be a hostile. We either capture them alive or kill them as quickly as we could in order to secure the area. If we accomplish this, when we do, this shall allow Admiral Searing to establish the second base she needs to make operations here quicker and better.
I will have to bring the Fifth Tank Battalion from the Kharaxos Regiment. The colonel also told me that I have to lead the way. All I hope, even though I am commanding a tank in the safety of its turret, is that we will make it. Meanwhile, Admiral Searing said that her own naval infantry is going to drop into the area. I pray those hardcore women and men would make it through without too much issue. If they've been from Satembi, this would end in less time than I think it would."
---------------------------------------------------
THE ROAD TO PELEMIN
(i.imgur.com/i1H8KMk.png)
The time was good. As the sun started to let her light fade from the face of Telnarian, Admiral Searing immediately ordered her first elements to move out. On the other hand, General Cascade sent out the Letizia Armored unit to the road in order to meet the incoming Auraxii as reconnaissance aircraft continued to shadow the approach. Both officers kept each other in check as the Admiral had moved some of her ships to support her operation.
Included were 2 Daman class destroyers and 1 Delaporte class heavy cruiser. They were there to support the ground units, namely Searings very own Apugmar Battalion and the borrowed elements from the Kharaxos Regiment. Meanwhile, Searing selected the Akumalan Battalion to drop into certain points of the area. In support of all these units, the ships would provide accurate fire down on the heads of the Auraxii.
----------------------------------
"Good evening, Major Liliana. Admiral Searing would like to inform you that you have been chosen as the commander of the elements of the Naval Infantry and the Kharaxos group. Congratulations.
Moving on to the briefing, Admiral Searing wanted you to enter the area after the ships have conducted their fire missions against the enemy. Once you are in the area, Searing wanted you to make sure that there are no more threats to the first shuttles that she will send down from those ships. The shuttles then will begin releasing personnel and equipment as well as supplies to begin establishing the base. Make sure that this does not come under attack from any other enemy forces that may be nearby. Good evening, Major Liliana.
Your men now stand ready."
---------------------------------
BEGIN MISSION
---------------------------------
CAPTAIN CLIENT FORGE
5TH TANK BATTALION
KHARAXOS ARMORED REGIMENT
UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA
OPERATION LIGHT IN THE BLACK
UNDER THE COMMAND OF ADMIRAL SEARING
---------------------------------
"Captain Forge! Get your tanks moving out now and lead the advance! Do not stop until you reach the marines. Make sure you get there in time. Roll out and roll quickly now!" The radio demanded, the voice of Major Liliana fading out as Captain Client grabbed the hatch and then slowly brought it down to a close as his Contestar tank started to accelerate out of its camouflaged position, being the first armored fighting vehicle to leave for the area. It was nicknamed Searings Landing.
Forge was a human who lost his eyes long before. Due to that, he now had artificial eyes that, according to his doctor, gave him better eyesight, night vision, the ability to magnify at large distances and what else. Forge however took time to get used to it. Forge used his eyes to lock on to what he needed to do. His gunner, Radhika Rozalija (also nicknamed Rady), chuckled as she returned from watching her Captain get inside to looking through her sight, adjusting the gun with the joystick while the loader, Anastazie Lawan (nicknamed Ana), took care of loading the gun with its first round of the night: High Explosive Anti Personnel
The driver, Renata Orinthia (Rena), was having the time of her life, being in a separate compartment from the rest of the crew and the tank. She was able to get the tank to cross into the area very quickly, running over a wall of trash and then destroying a line of fence. Searings Landing was going hot.
In the darkness of the night, their tank, which was named Cornelias Ring, was able to make very great use of itself. It was so fast that it kicked up the dust as other tanks did, creating their own wall of particles that got in the way of those still behind them. Nevertheless, the tanks advancing with Forge were going to do a very beautiful job.
------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the Naval Infantry, who dropped into the area a while ago, had to deal with things at a disadvantage. Scattered, lightly armed and under serious attack. Even with the support of the ships in the skies, the UWA marines had to hold their positions and wait for the tanks to rescue them.
With them was Major Liliana and hundreds of her men. They were able to destroy the only radio station that was in the area and was in use by the enemy. They also captured and were holding one of their camps. But despite that, it was not enough to give them any advantage at all.
Major Liliana and her radiowoman were attempting to make contact with other groups but could not as they constantly took fire. Machine guns often tried to penetrate the thick stone and wooden walls they were sitting behind as the other marines protected them, firing their own machine guns back. Close to the camp, a company of marines were launching grenades at the enemy from the north, from where most of them were. The company was situated at the reverse slope of a small hill.
Everywhere was just a sight of dead bodies or ruined tents and makeshift structures for the enemy. Marines were also trying to make good use of the portable mortars they brought with them, shooting 81mm rounds into the sky for them to fall upon the heads of the enemy. It was fortunate, however, for the marines that their enemy had limited night vision equipment. But even that could not stop the marines from taking casualties.
With Major Liliana were a dozen wounded girls and their dead lieutenant. She shook her head as they weathered yet another burst of machine gun fire, the bullets just uselessly attempting to dig through the cover they had. Major Liliana rose from her place, scanned for a target, saw the Auraxii machine gun team reloading and then fired a few times before returning to cover. The machine gun never spoke its fiery rounds again.
And just in time once more, the armor came with a dramatic volley of HE or canister. Enemy personnel were either wiped out or forced to retreat. The rest that were struck by the main guns of the Contestars rushing deep into the area were simply destroyed...or exploded to great effect.
Liliana could not hold back her laughter as she greeted the tanks with the firing of a flare into the sky. She gave it six seconds...and then it burst into flames, creating a beautiful shower of violet. And from the skies, it allowed the rest of the ground units just waiting to enter the battle to finally do so.
------------------------------------
"This is Major Liliana, Admiral Searing. We have secured the area. We are currently tracking fleeing Auraxii. Should we give chase?"
"This is Admiral Searing. Hold the area. We'll let one of the ships take care of those fleeing Auraxii. We're sending a few drones to watch them and see if they can bring us to their friends if they have any. On the other hand, I have to tell you that there are some Auraxii coming from Pelemin. It seems that Pelemin is a city of vices. We will have a harder time taking that one. Casualties?"
"So far, I lost a lieutenant and some girls. I counted 6 bodies. I have on the other hand a dozen injured. I am so sorry, Admiral."
'Do not apologize. Anyway, do your job now: Get the base running and protect it from the coming enemy. Admiral Searing out."
------------------------------------
"Captain Forge, you have done a great job as far as I've heard from the Naval Infantry Major."
"Yes, Colonel. But it was only a small job. It's the least anyone else could do."
"Heh. Suit yourself. Anyway, you and your crew and your unit has a lot more to do. Listen up now.
The city of Pelemin is populated by both violent criminals and desperate deserters. Although there are some civilians, we determined that the body of Auraxii heading towards Bzura were just fleeing the city. They didn't want to stay there longer and when they heard about us, they hurried along. We learned too that a strong force of Auraxii, with a bunch of tanks and other armored fighting vehicles too, are going after them. Your job? Get there and make sure they don't mess with those refugees."
"Understood, Colonel. We'll make that happen."
------------------------------------
Sometime later...
Evening turned into a cold, windy night as the moon gave her light. However, it was a paradise for Forge and his tanks...as well as some detachments of Naval Infantry. As thanks from Liliana, these girls and boys rode on the Contestars as they sped cross country towards the road to Pelemin.
Meanwhile, General Cascade gave permission and ordered Captain Annabelle Atkinso, a human woman with silver, curly hair and wide amber eyes, known for her previous service as a tank instructor, to lead her tanks to advance along the road into Pelemin. It was time now to attack and capture it.
It was now or never.
------------------------------------
CAPTAIN ANNABELLE ATKINSO
QUEEN HERMINE BATTALION OF THE DIVISION OF THE QUEEN
UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA
OPERATION LIGHT IN THE BLACK
UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL CASCADE
------------------------------------
The first four tanks were pushing their engines to the limit, going as fast as they could to intercept the Auraxii vehicles and men going after the crowd of refugees that were getting closer to Bzura. As they sped, the rest of the tanks followed, men and women from the Naval Infantry Corps riding on the backs or on the turrets while the rest rode on trucks. There was no time to call for IFVs or APCs.
They had to get there fast and Captain Annabelle was getting very tired with having to glance at her wrist watch. She reached for it and turned it off before returning to looking through her commanders sight. She was glad this kind of tank came around for the UWA, having the best stabilizer she has ever seen. Annabelle watched as her tank sped through the plains, sometimes crossing over small hills or sliding down sharp slopes. Thanks also to a well designed and well made chassis, she didn't have to worry about banging her head against her own tank.
It took a while more but they eventually reached where they should be. As the Contestars and the trucks spotted the Auraxii heading through the road with all their headlights on and noisily, the UWA chose to attack.
Annabelle gave the order over the radio "Pay attention, girls! I want Tsetseg to take six and cover the flanks. Prue! Grab four tanks and make sure they don't get through. I'm taking the rest. We'll eat them out! Let's go!"
Tsetseg obeyed and took six tanks from the formation to the left and right flanks while Prue and her girls turned around and made sure to establish themselves 2000 meters away from where Annabelle and her own women were. The Captain popped out of the turret and, with a pair of powerful binoculars, scanned for targets.
But as she did, she heard the sharp sound of a tank round passing close to her head. She turned and in just a few seconds, she saw the round hit a part of the road and explode. She gave how it hit and how it ended up hitting the road a quick study and then concluded: That was a SABOT round!
They've been spotted! Annabelle turned around to face the front and was greeted with a burst of machine gun fire. Luckily, she threw her binoculars down back into the turret and dove back inside, closing the hatch while her tanks engaged, firing their main cannons as well as letting out bursts of machine gun fire. Annabelle then ordered "Driver! Reverse the tank!"
As her vehicle reserved, she felt the hull sound as machine guns fired at it. Meanwhile, she took the liberty of now being in the safety of her war machine to check the status of her tanks. They were all okay for now. But another shot from the Auraxii TR-8 Avenger against one of her tanks made that invalid.
That SABOT round gave a really hard beating for the tank commanded by Titan, one of her students. Her transmission was disabled and her loader was injured. Titan reported as the UWA and Auraxii exchanged tank fire in the darkness of the windy night
"Captain! I've lost my transmission! My loader got hit in the legs. We're trying to stop the bleeding and get her clear. But we'll take a while, we could use some cover!"
"Titan, reserve your tank and get to cover. We'll cover you until you're good to go!" Said Annabelle, now ordering the rest of her tanks "All tanks, fire at will! Keep engaging the enemy. Use what you can!" She then turned to her computer and began with a storm, trying to get a lock on on the tank that was firing first. She got it, gave the targeting solution to her gunner and then went to her commanders sight to guide her gunner in aiming at it. It took a few seconds but that was all she needed for her tank to finally fire back, seeing a APFSDS round hit, penetrate and damage the turret. She then said "Hit the turret again! Do not let it fire once more!" Then she left her crew alone to take care of the threat while she radioed Bzura
"This is Captain Annabelle. We are at the road to Pelemin. We are requesting artillery. Coordinates will be transmitted to you soon! Please take care of it!"
Another round hit Titans tank, bouncing off the turret thankfully. Titan fired back but missed. Annabelle had her tank shoot back once more but missed and instead hit a part of the hostile convoy. The other tanks were able to pen the Auraxii tank and render it useless, forcing the crew to evacuate while a few more tanks from the Auraxii side stepped forward, firing but missing or their rounds bouncing off. These were M40 Kursk tanks. While the UWA studied the Auraxii long before they came here, this was the first time they would go into combat against the tanks of another faction in the galaxy.
Annabelle consulted her computer again, grabbing coordinates from where the enemy fire was coming from and gave it to Bzura over the wireless link they had. Once done, she ordered her tanks "All tanks, reverse from the enemy by 1500 meters immediately!"
------------------------------------
UWA artillery, no matter how heavy or light it was, was more or less supported by power modules. This allowed them to propel their rounds faster and harder. And in this case, it proved devastating once more when batteries stationed close to Bzura fired at the coordinates provided, their 155mm and 105mm HEAT and HEAP rounds flying out of the barrels of the established guns. Along with the heavies fired a dozen 122mm rockets and several volleys of 100mm howitzer rounds.
All of these were synchronized and focused on both the coordinates given by Annabelle and on anywhere within a kilometer radius. This was why she had her tanks get out of the area of effect, the UWA artillery soon hitting the Auraxii. Rockets and heavy and light howitzer and field gun rounds hit their trucks, infantry and armor. Explosions and bright flames took the night and the winds blew the smoke and fire all around.
Annabelle counted 40 seconds on the barrage and after it ended, she told her tanks to probe the enemy with bursts of machine gun fire. Afterwards, she ordered "Tsetseg, get your tanks and slowly surround the area. The rest of you, follow and make sure nothing is left out there.
------------------------------------
"Captain Annabelle reporting. The threat to the city and the refugees has been eliminated. We will continue our way to Pelemin as soon as we are done here. We also met with Captain Forge and are proceeding to their location after we are done here."
"Very good work, Captain. All right. Take care there. We'll be providing you further support from here. Consider your actions here as a positive achievement for you to look forward to a promotion."
------------------------------------
Just as the UWA continued their way towards Pelemin and the counterattack on the city was by all means wiped out, reinforcements as promised by Alondra and the worlds united by it arrived at Bzura Base.
The first to arrive were the Brown Stallions. Their mud-land camouflaged tanks and vehicles were coming out of their transport ships one after another. Leaving the massive vessels with them were several members of the First Regiment, the Knights, the United 93 and Blue Jeans. They too had tanks but only the Brown Stallions could serve as the dedicated armored division here on Telnarian.
By this time, their arrival also meant that Bzura Base was overflowing with both supplies and men but also with ships. Following the reinforcements though were also civilian volunteers. This meant something incredibly annoying to the officers, who didn't want to worry about non-combat personnel too much, but they understood that they were here to carry out the other part of their mission here: To help people.
Refugees were waiting outside of the base and in the city for the UWA. Volunteers and detachments of supply troops took care of them, urging them to form lines and wait for the distribution of food, water and other essentials. The lines were long but they didn't take too much of the time of the refugees while Bzura was being rebuilt by combat engineers alongside civilian contractors.
Around the city and the base, the strongest materials for fort building were dedicated to the engineers and workers attempting to make the area taken by the UWA safer. As planned, there would rise a wall several hundred kilometers long, hoping to encircle the city and the base, while its height would be, depending on the terrain, at least great enough to prevent intruders from getting in. The UWA hoped for the wall to be good enough to even house turrets and other defensive weapons while gates would be made for entrance and exit at roads and bridges.
Finally, the UWA got to work on restoring Telnarians communications with the outside world. While the UWA was sure that there were other communication centers all over the planet, it was here in Bzura that the first official transmission from the UWA to their allies and to the AGA and to other Auraxii systems was sent.
The message was simple:
THE CITY OF BZURA RISES AGAIN. THE UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA GIVES ITS PROMISE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. TELNARIAN SHALL BE A SAFE PLANET FOR REFUGEES. WE HAVE FOOD, WATER AND OTHER SUPPLIES YOU MAY NEED. THE CITY OF BZURA RISES AGAIN. DO NOT BE AFRAID. THE UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA GIVES ITS PROMISE...
It would repeat again and again, the UWA hoping that this message would be useful. So did Admiral Searing and General Cascade. As their own campaign to secure this planet continues, so did the campaign of all of the United Worlds to provide them the means and the foundation for success.
"You too, Admiral. All right, so I've given your proposal lot of thought. I'm okay with letting you try and establish a second base along the road to Pelemin. However, I am afraid that I must concentrate on getting my men to defend Bzura from the incoming Auraxii. We are afraid that they are indeed hostile. So in any case, you are on your own for a little while."
"Thank you, General. That's a concern but I am sure that I can handle this case for now until you are freed up. I'll have to mobilize my Naval Infantry. May I, however, borrow some of your tanks? I will sorely need them. Reconnaissance recently confirmed that the area that I selected has some significant Auraxii groups that are hostile. They told me that these Auraxii are leaning towards criminal."
"You have them, Admiral. Make sure that those bastards either die or pay for their crimes with great justice. I'm giving you command of the Kharaxos Armored Regiment. They will do very well for you."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nine hours after the battle of Bzura...
"Captain Client Forge, Entry # 099, start recording.
Our colonel has told us that we will be leaving for a large area occupied by small groups of Auraxii bandits and raiders. We were told that there are no civilians. Every Auraxii we will face out there is going to be a hostile. We either capture them alive or kill them as quickly as we could in order to secure the area. If we accomplish this, when we do, this shall allow Admiral Searing to establish the second base she needs to make operations here quicker and better.
I will have to bring the Fifth Tank Battalion from the Kharaxos Regiment. The colonel also told me that I have to lead the way. All I hope, even though I am commanding a tank in the safety of its turret, is that we will make it. Meanwhile, Admiral Searing said that her own naval infantry is going to drop into the area. I pray those hardcore women and men would make it through without too much issue. If they've been from Satembi, this would end in less time than I think it would."
---------------------------------------------------
THE ROAD TO PELEMIN
(i.imgur.com/i1H8KMk.png)
The time was good. As the sun started to let her light fade from the face of Telnarian, Admiral Searing immediately ordered her first elements to move out. On the other hand, General Cascade sent out the Letizia Armored unit to the road in order to meet the incoming Auraxii as reconnaissance aircraft continued to shadow the approach. Both officers kept each other in check as the Admiral had moved some of her ships to support her operation.
Included were 2 Daman class destroyers and 1 Delaporte class heavy cruiser. They were there to support the ground units, namely Searings very own Apugmar Battalion and the borrowed elements from the Kharaxos Regiment. Meanwhile, Searing selected the Akumalan Battalion to drop into certain points of the area. In support of all these units, the ships would provide accurate fire down on the heads of the Auraxii.
----------------------------------
"Good evening, Major Liliana. Admiral Searing would like to inform you that you have been chosen as the commander of the elements of the Naval Infantry and the Kharaxos group. Congratulations.
Moving on to the briefing, Admiral Searing wanted you to enter the area after the ships have conducted their fire missions against the enemy. Once you are in the area, Searing wanted you to make sure that there are no more threats to the first shuttles that she will send down from those ships. The shuttles then will begin releasing personnel and equipment as well as supplies to begin establishing the base. Make sure that this does not come under attack from any other enemy forces that may be nearby. Good evening, Major Liliana.
Your men now stand ready."
---------------------------------
BEGIN MISSION
---------------------------------
CAPTAIN CLIENT FORGE
5TH TANK BATTALION
KHARAXOS ARMORED REGIMENT
UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA
OPERATION LIGHT IN THE BLACK
UNDER THE COMMAND OF ADMIRAL SEARING
---------------------------------
"Captain Forge! Get your tanks moving out now and lead the advance! Do not stop until you reach the marines. Make sure you get there in time. Roll out and roll quickly now!" The radio demanded, the voice of Major Liliana fading out as Captain Client grabbed the hatch and then slowly brought it down to a close as his Contestar tank started to accelerate out of its camouflaged position, being the first armored fighting vehicle to leave for the area. It was nicknamed Searings Landing.
Forge was a human who lost his eyes long before. Due to that, he now had artificial eyes that, according to his doctor, gave him better eyesight, night vision, the ability to magnify at large distances and what else. Forge however took time to get used to it. Forge used his eyes to lock on to what he needed to do. His gunner, Radhika Rozalija (also nicknamed Rady), chuckled as she returned from watching her Captain get inside to looking through her sight, adjusting the gun with the joystick while the loader, Anastazie Lawan (nicknamed Ana), took care of loading the gun with its first round of the night: High Explosive Anti Personnel
The driver, Renata Orinthia (Rena), was having the time of her life, being in a separate compartment from the rest of the crew and the tank. She was able to get the tank to cross into the area very quickly, running over a wall of trash and then destroying a line of fence. Searings Landing was going hot.
In the darkness of the night, their tank, which was named Cornelias Ring, was able to make very great use of itself. It was so fast that it kicked up the dust as other tanks did, creating their own wall of particles that got in the way of those still behind them. Nevertheless, the tanks advancing with Forge were going to do a very beautiful job.
------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the Naval Infantry, who dropped into the area a while ago, had to deal with things at a disadvantage. Scattered, lightly armed and under serious attack. Even with the support of the ships in the skies, the UWA marines had to hold their positions and wait for the tanks to rescue them.
With them was Major Liliana and hundreds of her men. They were able to destroy the only radio station that was in the area and was in use by the enemy. They also captured and were holding one of their camps. But despite that, it was not enough to give them any advantage at all.
Major Liliana and her radiowoman were attempting to make contact with other groups but could not as they constantly took fire. Machine guns often tried to penetrate the thick stone and wooden walls they were sitting behind as the other marines protected them, firing their own machine guns back. Close to the camp, a company of marines were launching grenades at the enemy from the north, from where most of them were. The company was situated at the reverse slope of a small hill.
Everywhere was just a sight of dead bodies or ruined tents and makeshift structures for the enemy. Marines were also trying to make good use of the portable mortars they brought with them, shooting 81mm rounds into the sky for them to fall upon the heads of the enemy. It was fortunate, however, for the marines that their enemy had limited night vision equipment. But even that could not stop the marines from taking casualties.
With Major Liliana were a dozen wounded girls and their dead lieutenant. She shook her head as they weathered yet another burst of machine gun fire, the bullets just uselessly attempting to dig through the cover they had. Major Liliana rose from her place, scanned for a target, saw the Auraxii machine gun team reloading and then fired a few times before returning to cover. The machine gun never spoke its fiery rounds again.
And just in time once more, the armor came with a dramatic volley of HE or canister. Enemy personnel were either wiped out or forced to retreat. The rest that were struck by the main guns of the Contestars rushing deep into the area were simply destroyed...or exploded to great effect.
Liliana could not hold back her laughter as she greeted the tanks with the firing of a flare into the sky. She gave it six seconds...and then it burst into flames, creating a beautiful shower of violet. And from the skies, it allowed the rest of the ground units just waiting to enter the battle to finally do so.
------------------------------------
"This is Major Liliana, Admiral Searing. We have secured the area. We are currently tracking fleeing Auraxii. Should we give chase?"
"This is Admiral Searing. Hold the area. We'll let one of the ships take care of those fleeing Auraxii. We're sending a few drones to watch them and see if they can bring us to their friends if they have any. On the other hand, I have to tell you that there are some Auraxii coming from Pelemin. It seems that Pelemin is a city of vices. We will have a harder time taking that one. Casualties?"
"So far, I lost a lieutenant and some girls. I counted 6 bodies. I have on the other hand a dozen injured. I am so sorry, Admiral."
'Do not apologize. Anyway, do your job now: Get the base running and protect it from the coming enemy. Admiral Searing out."
------------------------------------
"Captain Forge, you have done a great job as far as I've heard from the Naval Infantry Major."
"Yes, Colonel. But it was only a small job. It's the least anyone else could do."
"Heh. Suit yourself. Anyway, you and your crew and your unit has a lot more to do. Listen up now.
The city of Pelemin is populated by both violent criminals and desperate deserters. Although there are some civilians, we determined that the body of Auraxii heading towards Bzura were just fleeing the city. They didn't want to stay there longer and when they heard about us, they hurried along. We learned too that a strong force of Auraxii, with a bunch of tanks and other armored fighting vehicles too, are going after them. Your job? Get there and make sure they don't mess with those refugees."
"Understood, Colonel. We'll make that happen."
------------------------------------
Sometime later...
Evening turned into a cold, windy night as the moon gave her light. However, it was a paradise for Forge and his tanks...as well as some detachments of Naval Infantry. As thanks from Liliana, these girls and boys rode on the Contestars as they sped cross country towards the road to Pelemin.
Meanwhile, General Cascade gave permission and ordered Captain Annabelle Atkinso, a human woman with silver, curly hair and wide amber eyes, known for her previous service as a tank instructor, to lead her tanks to advance along the road into Pelemin. It was time now to attack and capture it.
It was now or never.
------------------------------------
CAPTAIN ANNABELLE ATKINSO
QUEEN HERMINE BATTALION OF THE DIVISION OF THE QUEEN
UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA
OPERATION LIGHT IN THE BLACK
UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL CASCADE
------------------------------------
The first four tanks were pushing their engines to the limit, going as fast as they could to intercept the Auraxii vehicles and men going after the crowd of refugees that were getting closer to Bzura. As they sped, the rest of the tanks followed, men and women from the Naval Infantry Corps riding on the backs or on the turrets while the rest rode on trucks. There was no time to call for IFVs or APCs.
They had to get there fast and Captain Annabelle was getting very tired with having to glance at her wrist watch. She reached for it and turned it off before returning to looking through her commanders sight. She was glad this kind of tank came around for the UWA, having the best stabilizer she has ever seen. Annabelle watched as her tank sped through the plains, sometimes crossing over small hills or sliding down sharp slopes. Thanks also to a well designed and well made chassis, she didn't have to worry about banging her head against her own tank.
It took a while more but they eventually reached where they should be. As the Contestars and the trucks spotted the Auraxii heading through the road with all their headlights on and noisily, the UWA chose to attack.
Annabelle gave the order over the radio "Pay attention, girls! I want Tsetseg to take six and cover the flanks. Prue! Grab four tanks and make sure they don't get through. I'm taking the rest. We'll eat them out! Let's go!"
Tsetseg obeyed and took six tanks from the formation to the left and right flanks while Prue and her girls turned around and made sure to establish themselves 2000 meters away from where Annabelle and her own women were. The Captain popped out of the turret and, with a pair of powerful binoculars, scanned for targets.
But as she did, she heard the sharp sound of a tank round passing close to her head. She turned and in just a few seconds, she saw the round hit a part of the road and explode. She gave how it hit and how it ended up hitting the road a quick study and then concluded: That was a SABOT round!
They've been spotted! Annabelle turned around to face the front and was greeted with a burst of machine gun fire. Luckily, she threw her binoculars down back into the turret and dove back inside, closing the hatch while her tanks engaged, firing their main cannons as well as letting out bursts of machine gun fire. Annabelle then ordered "Driver! Reverse the tank!"
As her vehicle reserved, she felt the hull sound as machine guns fired at it. Meanwhile, she took the liberty of now being in the safety of her war machine to check the status of her tanks. They were all okay for now. But another shot from the Auraxii TR-8 Avenger against one of her tanks made that invalid.
That SABOT round gave a really hard beating for the tank commanded by Titan, one of her students. Her transmission was disabled and her loader was injured. Titan reported as the UWA and Auraxii exchanged tank fire in the darkness of the windy night
"Captain! I've lost my transmission! My loader got hit in the legs. We're trying to stop the bleeding and get her clear. But we'll take a while, we could use some cover!"
"Titan, reserve your tank and get to cover. We'll cover you until you're good to go!" Said Annabelle, now ordering the rest of her tanks "All tanks, fire at will! Keep engaging the enemy. Use what you can!" She then turned to her computer and began with a storm, trying to get a lock on on the tank that was firing first. She got it, gave the targeting solution to her gunner and then went to her commanders sight to guide her gunner in aiming at it. It took a few seconds but that was all she needed for her tank to finally fire back, seeing a APFSDS round hit, penetrate and damage the turret. She then said "Hit the turret again! Do not let it fire once more!" Then she left her crew alone to take care of the threat while she radioed Bzura
"This is Captain Annabelle. We are at the road to Pelemin. We are requesting artillery. Coordinates will be transmitted to you soon! Please take care of it!"
Another round hit Titans tank, bouncing off the turret thankfully. Titan fired back but missed. Annabelle had her tank shoot back once more but missed and instead hit a part of the hostile convoy. The other tanks were able to pen the Auraxii tank and render it useless, forcing the crew to evacuate while a few more tanks from the Auraxii side stepped forward, firing but missing or their rounds bouncing off. These were M40 Kursk tanks. While the UWA studied the Auraxii long before they came here, this was the first time they would go into combat against the tanks of another faction in the galaxy.
Annabelle consulted her computer again, grabbing coordinates from where the enemy fire was coming from and gave it to Bzura over the wireless link they had. Once done, she ordered her tanks "All tanks, reverse from the enemy by 1500 meters immediately!"
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UWA artillery, no matter how heavy or light it was, was more or less supported by power modules. This allowed them to propel their rounds faster and harder. And in this case, it proved devastating once more when batteries stationed close to Bzura fired at the coordinates provided, their 155mm and 105mm HEAT and HEAP rounds flying out of the barrels of the established guns. Along with the heavies fired a dozen 122mm rockets and several volleys of 100mm howitzer rounds.
All of these were synchronized and focused on both the coordinates given by Annabelle and on anywhere within a kilometer radius. This was why she had her tanks get out of the area of effect, the UWA artillery soon hitting the Auraxii. Rockets and heavy and light howitzer and field gun rounds hit their trucks, infantry and armor. Explosions and bright flames took the night and the winds blew the smoke and fire all around.
Annabelle counted 40 seconds on the barrage and after it ended, she told her tanks to probe the enemy with bursts of machine gun fire. Afterwards, she ordered "Tsetseg, get your tanks and slowly surround the area. The rest of you, follow and make sure nothing is left out there.
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"Captain Annabelle reporting. The threat to the city and the refugees has been eliminated. We will continue our way to Pelemin as soon as we are done here. We also met with Captain Forge and are proceeding to their location after we are done here."
"Very good work, Captain. All right. Take care there. We'll be providing you further support from here. Consider your actions here as a positive achievement for you to look forward to a promotion."
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Just as the UWA continued their way towards Pelemin and the counterattack on the city was by all means wiped out, reinforcements as promised by Alondra and the worlds united by it arrived at Bzura Base.
The first to arrive were the Brown Stallions. Their mud-land camouflaged tanks and vehicles were coming out of their transport ships one after another. Leaving the massive vessels with them were several members of the First Regiment, the Knights, the United 93 and Blue Jeans. They too had tanks but only the Brown Stallions could serve as the dedicated armored division here on Telnarian.
By this time, their arrival also meant that Bzura Base was overflowing with both supplies and men but also with ships. Following the reinforcements though were also civilian volunteers. This meant something incredibly annoying to the officers, who didn't want to worry about non-combat personnel too much, but they understood that they were here to carry out the other part of their mission here: To help people.
Refugees were waiting outside of the base and in the city for the UWA. Volunteers and detachments of supply troops took care of them, urging them to form lines and wait for the distribution of food, water and other essentials. The lines were long but they didn't take too much of the time of the refugees while Bzura was being rebuilt by combat engineers alongside civilian contractors.
Around the city and the base, the strongest materials for fort building were dedicated to the engineers and workers attempting to make the area taken by the UWA safer. As planned, there would rise a wall several hundred kilometers long, hoping to encircle the city and the base, while its height would be, depending on the terrain, at least great enough to prevent intruders from getting in. The UWA hoped for the wall to be good enough to even house turrets and other defensive weapons while gates would be made for entrance and exit at roads and bridges.
Finally, the UWA got to work on restoring Telnarians communications with the outside world. While the UWA was sure that there were other communication centers all over the planet, it was here in Bzura that the first official transmission from the UWA to their allies and to the AGA and to other Auraxii systems was sent.
The message was simple:
THE CITY OF BZURA RISES AGAIN. THE UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA GIVES ITS PROMISE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. TELNARIAN SHALL BE A SAFE PLANET FOR REFUGEES. WE HAVE FOOD, WATER AND OTHER SUPPLIES YOU MAY NEED. THE CITY OF BZURA RISES AGAIN. DO NOT BE AFRAID. THE UNITED WORLDS OF ALONDRA GIVES ITS PROMISE...
It would repeat again and again, the UWA hoping that this message would be useful. So did Admiral Searing and General Cascade. As their own campaign to secure this planet continues, so did the campaign of all of the United Worlds to provide them the means and the foundation for success.