Rolled 11, 3, 4, 7 = 25 (4d12)

You saw little of the rest of the battles, and heard few reports. It was not long at all before all of the compounds were reported cleared or taken, and save for the snaps of a few stragglers skirmishing, all of the enemies here had either been destroyed, surrendered, or fled.

The Gash was yours. For now.

The assault had been brutal, in spite of its speed. You listened for if the costs were worth the time saved.

>2d12 casualties, with another 2d12 determining ratio. Smaller is dead or incapacitated, larger is total.

Fourteen casualties reported; new ones, at least, ones from the other companies included. There were others before unaccounted for. All but three had been mortally wounded. Nothing could be blamed for that but bad luck, though.

Adding up the numbers in your head, combined with the casualties from the other parts of the operation, that put the total for this battle at sixteen tanks knocked out, twenty seven infantrymen killed. The casualties from the knocked out tanks hadn’t been counted yet, though, so more casualties could certainly be expected. If you were to guess, you’d put the amount at roughly sixteen to twenty there as well. Most of the tanks were two man guntracks, and other tanks likewise had arrangements that made the likelihood of suffering multiple casualties from one armor piercing hit as a rather low possibility.

In the meantime, though, you had little time to decide what to do next.

>Focus on repairing disabled vehicles.
>Focus on looting enemy equipment.
>Try to do both (rolls will be lower than what would be given for focusing on one)
>Other?


>https://pastebin.com/UagT0hnh
>past threads in pastebin. Twitter is @scheissfunker for announcements and some other bullshit

>>2283993
>Focus on repairing disabled vehicles.

Mostly, get em running again, even if they cant be used for the upcoming engagement, they can be used to ferry wounded back and later as makeshift transport.

>>2283993
>>Try to do both

>>2283993
Try doing both

On one hand, it would be good to repair the armor you had, but on the other, this was an enemy base, and a significant one at that. There were sheds, crates, even carved out makeshift warehouses in the quarry itself! There could very well be loot that was better than your gear, but there was no way to know for sure.

So you went with the indulgent option. Half of the battalion would focus on recrewing or repairing whatever knocked out vehicles they could before the assigned screens saw the enemy approaching, and the other would comb through the base for whatever they could find.

>Roll three sets of 1d4 for repairs; the combined total will be what was able to be put back into action.
>roll three sets of 1d100 for loot; one roll per post with this, if you will.

Loot Chart:
1-10: Spare Communications Equipment
11-30: Explosives
31-70: Small Arms Cache
71-90: Heavy Weapons Cache
91-100: Tank

Rolled 2 (1d4)

>>2284445

Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>2284445

Rolled 4 (1d4)

>>2284445

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>2284445

In situations like these, if you're around and nobody's rolled for ten minutes, you can go ahead and roll again if you like, to keep things going.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>2284445

Rolled 4 (1d4)

>>2284445

A goodly number of the tanks only required simple work, which you could accomplish on the fly. Many of them, in fact, only required crews to step in, or in the case of some, re-enter them, after giving themselves basic medical treatment. The thin nature of Republic Armor appeared to have saved more than a few lives…and much of your limited time. All in all, ten tanks were able to be repaired, turning the total losses from over an entire company of armor, to a mere platoon and a half. 2nd Company’s eviscerated platoons were much healthier looking now, armor-wise, while the losses of the other companies were…manageable.

What was found in a brisk search was intriguing as well.

The first find had been nothing unusual, at least by the standards of what you were looking for. Packed boxes of rifles and submachineguns, some machine guns as well. Evidently, with the lack of local threats recently, the Death Heads had felt safe in stowing equipment here as well. In some ways, it might have been safer; the rebellion going on in Todesfelsen, after all, was headed by its home guard and civilian laborers. A military outpost may have been a good place to keep materiel out of the hands of other factions.

Either that, you thought as you inspected the labeling, or the same factions keeping things here were the primary channel to the southern cities. All of the weaponry was of Caelussian make, as were the painted symbols on the crates, but manifests were in plain New Nauk, and kindly labeled the suppliers. Zoutpoort, one of the fabled Southern Cities, was the source. Bought from the Caelussians, shipped here, these guns had come a long way; as had their ammunition, which was also easily found. A good thing, since the Caelussians were hardly courteous enough to adopt western munitions.
>1st Battalion’s infantry complement is now better equipped
Much more prevalent, however, was a simply unreasonable amount of field guns. In addition to the 2.5cm and 3.7cm guns captured in the trenches, there was yet another three sitting in the depths of the quarry, freshly assembled, but apparently unable to be put into position at the time of the attack. This would have been quite something on its own, but there was another three guns hiding in the base, mountain guns, a six centimeter type from Naukland. With those and the 2.5cm guns, you wondered how many places the southern cities bought their equipment from.

You also briefly wondered if Signy’s lofty opinion of Naukland’s democracy would change if she found out that they evidently sold weapons to brigand mercenaries. Perhaps it would be a sweeter reality to assume that, perhaps, these were instead mere copies built by the Netillians, whose arms merchants were notoriously corrupt.

These were all rather lightweight guns; simple to tow, possibly even simple to fit into the turrets of the guntracks, with some effort. You would have loved to cart the 10cm howitzers back with you as well, but they had been meticulously assembled inside or somehow lifted into the structures, and had never been meant to be moved out of them, from the looks of them. They would have to be destroyed, tragically.

“Kommandant,” a Republic soldier addressed you while you were inspecting the loot, “I’ve been sent over to ask what to do about the, uh, prisoners.”

“Yes?” you looked to him instead of the cannon you’d been eyeing. “Did you bring any suggestions from your superiors?”

“Ah, no,” the Republic man lifted the front of his cap and scratched his brow with the same hand, “Really, what the question was, was whether you want ‘em shot or not, but that didn’t seem…y’know…”

“What do you normally do?”

“Well, shoot ‘em, or hold ‘em ransom. Don’t think we can do the latter if we win, sure as hell can’t if we lose.” The Republic Soldier offered. “’sides, there’s enough of ‘em that transport’s a pain in the ass, unless we really spread ‘em out. Might be sixty or more.”

It was noticeable that he didn’t mention slavery; though you would have thought it common among the bandit kingdoms, the Guillotines, whose gang had formed the bulk of the new Republic Army, had apparently been as principled a folk as people in this land could hope to be, morals reinforced with draconian punishments. To the point that their former leader had no real choice but to step down when threatened by Signy and Loch to expose his crime of attempting to rape the former; rape, you had been told, was punished with death in Guillotine lands.

That said, this was a thorny situation. From the sound of things, prisoner transport would slow or even sabotage your own efforts. Reports had told you that the two battalions from Todesfelsen had begun to move out, so you had little time to organize such an effort, if you wanted to.

>It has to be done. You can’t just leave them here, they’ll tell of your composition, and possibly your plans. Arrange transportation, the delay be damned.
>Let them go. Executing beaten enemies wasn’t something that would look good on this scale; it would encourage the enemy to fight harder, like in the Emrean War, where execution of prisoners contributed to the reforming of broken Reich lines.
>This isn’t your responsibility; tell the messenger that his superior can do as he likes.
>Other?

>>2284761
>>It has to be done. You can’t just leave them here, they’ll tell of your composition, and possibly your plans. Arrange transportation, the delay be damned.

Either this or we shoot them all honestly.

>>2284761
>>Let them go. Executing beaten enemies wasn’t something that would look good on this scale; it would encourage the enemy to fight harder, like in the Emrean War, where execution of prisoners contributed to the reforming of broken Reich lines.

Sixty guys can't do much to us in the grand scheme of things, and some of them will undoubtedly not want to fight us again and will make themselves scarce. And the ones that do rejoin the ranks probably won't feel very confident about facing us again and might even sabotage the morale of the others by running early. After all, if they do get beaten again what are the chances they'll be lucky enough to survive twice?

>>2284846
>>2284811
>>2284761
Actually changed my mind. If they have any officers or anyone that isn't a simple grunt, take them. Release the rest.

>>2284761
>Let them go.
Our composition doesn't really reflect the Republic army. Let them think it's full of m/28s. And what can they know of our plans? Right now we're looting, so it looks like just a raid.
>Quickly interrogate the highest ranked of the prisoners. Ask questions that'll make him think we're just after easy loot.

>>2284761
We didn't loot a single mortar! Really! If there's one thing here that can tell their walls to go fuck themselves, it's that.

>Let them go. Lock them up inside bunkers or tie them to the stocks, or whatever. Let the enemy spend time and manpower recovering them. Place a couple in rubble to make them go and rummage through every structure to look for survivors.

>>2285562
I haven't tallied everything. The loot is extra on top of what can be easily found, so the mortars are included with the guns in the trenchworks. But thanks for reminding me.

Let em go

>>2284855
I'll support this anon

also, is there enough time to demo some of the fortifications as well as the heavy guns?

“We can’t carry them back,” you told the Republic trooper, who tensed up, until you added, “Shooting them all isn’t a good option either. It wouldn’t look good to the rest of the world if our victory had that sort of stain on it. Let them all go…except for anybody important looking you find. Officers, leaders. We’ll take them.” The Republic soldier nodded and was about to rush away, but you stopped him. “Wait. We’re not taking them, but we’re not going to let them go, on second thought. Lock them in closets, shove them in boxes…make them a pain to rescue.”

“String ‘em up?”

“No, no, nothing of that sort. Inconvenience, not torture.”

“Righto.”

You sighed as the trooper ran off, and went to look over preparations to destroy whatever couldn’t be taken.

Destroying the fortifications came next. Had this been a neat, tidy battle line of the Archduchy, you would have simply asked your company captain to ask for engineers from battalion headquarters, and a troop of combat engineers would have arrived to do the job. Here, however, there were no combat engineers, no demolition experts, so the hooligan’s methods were employed instead. Gasoline was thrown about, ammunition was soaked, fires were set everywhere, and soon enough, the air above the base was soon choked with thick, black smoke, and the crackles and pops of secondaries exploding in the heat. The surrendered enemies, you had made sure, had been stored in places where they wouldn’t burn or suffer; to wit, they’d largely been shoved into the cave warehouse and locked inside.

The base satisfactorily burning and whatever could be conveniently looted either loaded onto vehicles or trailing behind them, the battalion was soon on its way back east, to link up with the White Eyes battalion, and soon, with a third battalion of Republic infantry. The total loot was, only counting the heavy weapons and not the numerous captures of small arms and ammunition, seven 2.5cm cannons, three 3.7cm cannons, three 6cm mountain guns, as well as a triplet of mortars and their shells; 6cm ones, rather light but still not pleasant to be shelled by. A decent haul, but who could know if you would have time to organize them properly? Most of the Republic troops who had operated heavy guns before were the mechanized experienced Guillotines, who to be fair were in no short supply, but even then their experience with field guns would likely be nill. It was better than nothing, at least. As well, whatever communications equipment that could be found had been ripped away, though not all of it was conveniently sized or easily stripped.

As delightful as coordinating the retreat would have been, you had other matters to attend to that you’d prefer not wait. Such as that of interrogating a prime prisoner; the second in command of the base himself, the leader having managed to flee.

Before that, though, a final message to Todesfelsen’s fort.

Better now? Gash razed, looted.

Better for rebels. Watch yourselves. Column of smoke visible from far. Comms say you’ve good and agitated the reaction force. Are you leaving?

Yes.

Good. Tell Loch scenario C is taking place. Mercenaries drawing attention, not as much as you have. Enemy thinks you’re an easy target. Out.

Scenario C? Just how far down the alphabet did Loch plan for, you wondered. Nevertheless, you confirmed that request, and went back to rearranging your platoon plus’s affairs. Von Metzeler was placed in command of your tank (Maddalyn was not happy to see his return to your vehicle, but she would have to find it in herself to forgive you) and the platoon, while you placed yourself in the cramped confines of the PzA-19 with the Gash’s former second in command.

“So,” you opened with him, “What did you think of our raid?”

“Who are you?” the Death Head lieutenant asked, “There’s a couple hogs with you from what I’ve seen. You mercs?”

“We’re the Republic of Vang,” you declared, “And we needed weapons, so we took them from you. I hope you don’t mind.”

The enemy officer snickered, then laughed darkly. “Hey, hey, I might not be the best informed or educated guy, but I’ve got a nose, and I know what fuckin’ bullshit smells like.”

He coughed once to silence his humored outburst, then continued. “So lemme get this straight. You want to loot our shit. Do some pillaging, steal some gear. So you go for the toughest place we’ve got outside of the city? You don’t hang around and wait for caravans? Try to scope us out, maybe see if you can get around here or his the truck line before you get shot at by all the guns here? Then when you’re done, you set the whole mess on fire so everybody knows something’s gone down as far as the eye can see? Bull mother fuckin’ shit. You’re not here to steal anything, that’s just a bonus. You’re daring somebody to come and try to kick your ass. You’re a dog, pissin’ on a wall so everybody knows he’s been there, that that place’s his. Well, congratulations. It worked. Two expies plus, coming out here to kick your ass.”

He was admirably defiant, if nothing else.

>Interrogate the prisoner; ask whatever you will.
>Two battalions? Why two? Is that all you can spare?
>This would be a lot easier if you surrendered. Could I convince you to appeal to your allies to see reason?
>Tell me who you were with. Who’s in position to end up on top, that is, if we somehow don’t win?
>Other?

>>2286744
You didn't have demolition equipment anyways; the plan never really required any, since Loch's idea is to defeat the main body outside of the city and let the dominoes fall after that. The White Eyes have them, but mostly because that's just their thing instead of being dedicated demolition experts.

>>2286792
First off
>Two battalions? Why two? Is that all you can spare?

I think the only way we're gonna get usable info is if we piss him off or get him to brag about the enemy coming after us. Reasoning won't work.

Questions:
>So whose the chickenshit boss coming after us?
>If he/she is such hot shit then why aren't they the Death Head Leader?
>Considering what we've seen so far I doubt his Southern reject tanks could even catch up to us right?

We might as well end with by asking him if he's willing to help get any of his faction members to abandon the Death Heads. Offer money, release, membership in the Republic since I doubt he'd believe us if we threatened to kill him, considering our intimidation skills couldn't fluff a teddy bear.

>>2286792
seconding
>>2286843

>>2286843
Supporting as well

“Two battalions?” you guessed at what an expie would be. Presumably referring to an expeditionary battalion. “Why two? Is that all you can spare?”

The enemy officer smirked at you in the dim orange lamplight. “All we can spare? Not necessarily.” His smirk faded steadily, though, as he thought more deeply. “…You pack of weasels, you knew’d this happen, didn’t you? The Republic’s a good fifty kilometers west, yet you arrive just in time…” The officer pushed his palms into his knees, stretched and groaned, then let himself back. “Hoo boy, if you knew all along, maybe we are screwed.”

“Maybe,” you said with mock doubt, “Or maybe not every one of you is.”

The Death head’s eyes wandered from the ceiling back down to you. “Back in the navy, I would’ve taken offense at that. Hell, a year ago, I’d smack you. That’s then, this is t’day. The city’s sliced like a pie and dropped on the floor. What’ll you offer me?”

Considering your past experience with Anya, you doubted that you could threaten the man with his life. He’d probably just call your bluff. Where a man could be stout of heart, though, they could be flawed of character; and he’d just asked you to try and appeal to his greed.

“Maybe you’d like a commission,” you offered. The man had revealed military history; he would appreciate such things, surely. “After all of this is over, you can be rewarded for your good behavior that way. Perhaps a stipend on top of that, as well?”

The man didn’t even try to barter. “Sure, sounds good. I’ll take all that.” He crossed his legs, “Not like I’ve got much choice right now, eh? Heh heh. Tell me. You’re from the Republic. ‘s it true that your boss is a little girl?”

“A young woman, yes, of twenty years,” you corrected him firmly, “She’s called Cyclops.”

“I know what they’re called,” the officer said, “Sheesh, tho’, beaten by some little girl. She cute, at least?”

“It’s not my place to say.”

“Not much fun at parties, huh?”

“You’re awfully social for somebody who’s been freshly taken prisoner,” you pointed out, annoyed.

“Hey,” the officer scratched at his nose, “I learned the hard way what bitchin’ about this’ll do to you when I got picked out of a minesweeper wreck years ago. If you’re offerin’ to be nice, I’m not going to try and change that.”

“Your earlier rudeness notwithstanding.”

“’Course.”

“Then I’m sure you won’t be averse to answering some questions, then,” you adjusted to this new compliance, and the submissive officer splayed out his hands, as though in request. “Who’s the chickenshit boss coming after us?”

“Arek, calls hisself Ironside,” the lieutenant told you readily, “He’s a stubborn guy, not all that clever but he’s rough and tough. The sort of traits that draw a certain kind of guy to you, yeah?”

“Of a sort,” you conceded as the PzA-19 rolled over a hearty hole, bumping both of you into the low ceiling. “If they’re so good, why aren’t they the new king or whatever of Todesfelsen already?”

“He’s no good at politics. Real old sort of person, has that rural eastern sort of belief, that you can’t be high up without deserving it. That, and of course, every other expie boss wants to be the big cheese. Don’t ask me how it happened, but one of the bosses got bagged, so their guys went to Arek, since the second in command’s the same sort of eastern stock. Thing is, they’re coming out to kick your asses ‘cause they see an easy win. Two on one, maybe even three, with better gear? That, and they’d be able to say they protected the city while it was fighting with itself. Big good boy points right there, he’d have a pretty firm claim to be the head after that.”

“Three on one won’t be enough,” you put forth false confidence, “Unless they intend to suffocate us with their southern bootleg trash heaps.”

The captured officer laughed hollowly. “Come on. I know what you’ve got. Unless you’ve got a few more battalions of these things, or twice as many of men tucked somewhere, they’ll run right over you. I know what you’ve got with you. Guntracks, the sort you don’t use unless you ain’t got a choice. The only reason I think you might win still is because nobody’d try something like this unless they thought they could.”

“Lieutenant,” one of the Bat Company crew addressed you quietly. You coughed, but the prisoner still heard.

“A fellow lieutenant? Well, isn’t that nice. Wait, you’re probably an army lieutenant, yeah? Better start giving me salutes, soldier. Heh heh.”

“…Lieutenant,” the Bat Company man repeated himself, “The White Eyes commander’s asking if you want a screen covering the rear.”

“A screen? Against two mechanized battalions?” you asked, “Daring.”

“Saying that it’s too obvious that this is a trap if you go too far without fighting,” the Bat Company man said, “Say they know the risk, but this’s what they’re good at, and it needs to be done. Either that, they says, or we turn around as soon as the dust storm hits.”

“And when will that be?”

“Twenty minutes, maybe. News is slow, at least according to the HQ relay, but rumor’s saying it’ll be all day.”

“A dust storm, eh?” the Death head Lieutenant said to himself, “if one of those is brewing up, maybe your junk can force a close quarters brawl, where the fight’ll be decently even. Either you’ve got a devil’s luck, or your Cyclops is a damn wizard.”

>Reply to the White Eyes request with an affirmative; you need screens, and a rearguard, at that. If they can delay, then that would certainly be appreciated.
>Deny the request. If the enemy commander’s not the subtle sort, he’ll chase you across the country just for that elusive victory. You’ll take him with all of your men, not just feed him the Republic Army piecemeal.
>Offer to turn and fight yourself; you’re a much better match against the enemy. The terrain’s become shallow hills, you can mount a sort of defense, especially with all the captured equipment. Much better than the skirmishing the White Eyes could do.
>Other?
Also
>Any other questions of the enemy officer?

>>2287340
>>Reply to the White Eyes request with an affirmative; you need screens, and a rearguard, at that. If they can delay, then that would certainly be appreciated.

>>2287340
Also find out what these two mech battalions are equipped with.

>>2287340
>>Reply to the White Eyes request with an affirmative; you need screens, and a rearguard, at that. If they can delay, then that would certainly be appreciated.

We need to mount our guys up in the m/32's.
Hopefully whatever is coming up to reinforce us is ready to march.

Did we turn back our following foot infantry? Might be worth the effort to tell them to dig in and get some field fortifications up, drop off the towed gear and get our tankers back into the m/32's.

Also ask him what sort of equipment the two battalions will likely ride in on. If its more t-15's and t-8's laugh at their pitiful armor

>>2287340
>>Reply to the White Eyes request with an affirmative; you need screens, and a rearguard, at that. If they can delay, then that would certainly be appreciated.
How far to we need to retreat until we link up with the main force?

>>2286792
Tie his arms and legs to two tanks and have them drive apart then jizz on his entrails

>>2287340
>>2287456
This Arek better be bringing more then just T-15's and T-8's, I've washed away paper tanks, slagged the skull, made Squeak squawk, and broken Anya's armor.

>>2287340
>Reply to the White Eyes request with an affirmative; you need screens, and a rearguard, at that. If they can delay, then that would certainly be appreciated.
They can then use the dust storm to disengage and retreat.
>Detach a couple of guntracks to tease Arek with a dust cloud on the horizon.
I'd like to lure Arek to the main force, but he has radios, so it wouldn't be prudent. Better just to string him up and lure him away from the battle.

>>2287564
Supporting

I'll be starting up again in a couple hours.

>>2287461
The "main force" being the link up point at Wossehnalia, about five kilometers, maybe a bit less to just squat outside the city.

>>2287474
As a reminder, T-15s are hardly made of paper. If they show up, it wouldn't be a good time for you, if you lack m/32s. You're likely thinking of NfK-5s.
I know lately there's been a lot of numbers and letters and not much pictures but I'll see if I can't amend that.

>>2288293
By paper tanks I was sorta referring to the Red Tide, snce Anya called it a Paper Tiger, and I guess those tanks we could penetrate with the hull and coaxial mg's

“Tell them I approve of that plan,” you said to the Bat Company rifleman, “We need screens, and a rearguard, at that. The more they can delay our pursuers, the better.”

“Aye aye, Lieutenant.”

It was a strange feeling to be still referred to as that rank, despite nominally being in charge of this entire Republic host. Only in Sosaldt, you supposed. “Also,” you added, “Tell the 1st Battalion to reinforce 2nd platoon back up to full with 3rd platoon, then send the two tanks left after in 3rd platoon to support the White Eyes. They’d appreciate the extra firepower, and it’ll help the illusion.” After that was sent on the way, you went back to squeezing more information out of your prisoner. “What sort of equipment do Arek’s men use? Tanks and such. If they’re expeditionary battalions, do they use the usual Blood Suns issue?”

You’d already asked Anya about this, but it was good to get information from multiple sources; especially considering her and this man were likely from different factions, and at the very least this officer was closely affiliated if not allied with the force coming to meet you.

“Usual blood suns issue?” the officer repeated your words. “You mean the mix of big boxes and little boxes? Sort of. There’s some other stock floating about, since usually the Suns liked to have their gear back after we were done. You’d be surprised how much can be accepted as written off as combat losses, though. That, and all the expies came back now without giving up their gear, but Arek’s more a local operator. Less gear that has to look the part.”

If that were the case, the southern cities must have been absurdly rich indeed to let expensive materiel simply fall to the wayside without significant investigation. The reference to Arek’s area of operations would at least mean, you hoped, that there would be fewer T-15s than normal. Out of all the tanks you’d heard of the Death Heads having access to, those were the most threatening of all, especially since your m/32s were in the process of breaking down. The guntracks were no match. Neither were most of the other vehicles, against the frontal armor. Even your m/32s had difficulty damaging their armor at combat range, save for the lower front plate and an area of turret under the gun that proved to be an unforeseen weak spot. Fighting them at close range, should the dust storm arrive, would be more advantageous, but that little changed the fact that most of your mechanized equipment lacked proper cannon, and thus would be unable to harm such enemies in a tank battle. Meanwhile the T-15s, even with mere high explosive ammunition, could demolish the tin can guntracks.

The Republic’s 1st Infantry Battalion, named the “Guillotines” in honor of their heritage, and also to distinguish them from the 1st Armored Battalion, was busily finishing preparations to move out when you arrived. The trucks had already left, having deposited their load of soldiers and gear before heading back for the next load. Many soldiers were stretching themselves and inspecting their equipment; from the look of the way some of them grimaced while locking out their limbs, they hadn’t had an enjoyable trip. You wouldn’t have been surprised if they had been stacked like wood in the trucks. Rapid movement of this sort was unusual even for normal armies; Loch must have had a master logistician in his council of elusive gentlemen as well. What wouldn’t he have, after all?

“Lieutenant,” you said breathlessly to Von Metzeler as he waited outside your tank for you, “Could you handle preparations to return those tank destroyers to their original owners? I am going to see if we can rouse our old metal friends from their sleep.”

“If you would,” Von Metzeler said calmly, though you sensed some relief in his voice as well, “That would be much appreciated. I think that I need not mention my disdain for my previous mount’s lack of armor protection, much less the inability to escape this country’s dust in such.”

“Yes,” you agreed, “Also, my radioman…”

“You may refer to Maddalyn Von Blum by her name. We all know whom she is.” Von Metzeler cut you off. “Yes. I have had her sent to Bat Company’s medical personnel. She was recalcitrant to follow my orders on that point, but she could see the sense of it beyond her distaste for my…discipline.”

“Good, good,” you muttered, “Well then.”

As you turned to leave and inspect your vehicles, in their place with the mechanics, Von Metzeler cleared his throat and you looked back over your shoulder.

“If I have heard correctly,” Von Metzeler said, stoic and level as ever, “You were wounded in the previous battle.”

“Temporarily.”

“You are one of very few I know who would be so apathetic to such a matter.” Von Metzeler said, hands behind his back, “Do remember that you are not only the commander, but also a husband and an only son. There are others more suitable for reckless sacrifice.”

“Lieutenant, are you telling me to sit out the next battle?” you joked as you turned slightly, waving a finger.

“I would not impugn your honor so,” Von Metzeler did not share your tone, unsurprisingly. He was as lighthearted as a morgue. “I simply ask you to remember your subordinates’ duty to you.”

“I will,” you said back to him, “So long as they do not forget mine, to them.”

The mechanics were only slightly less grim concerning the prospects of the armor now, though they assured you they had taken some liberties with the m/32’s engines to make them work, albeit over a shorter period of time. In summary, lifespan traded for running at all. You also had them look over your own tank, which had chuffed out shortly after arriving, the beginnings of the classic m/32 “teapot” screech leaking out as it did so.

>Roll 3 sets of 1d100, DC 60, to determine if the m/32s will start. The first is yours, the other two are for the rest of your platoon.
>One reroll may be taken, at a DC of 40

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>2288678

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>2288678

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>2288659

File: Killme.jpg (78 KB, 500x739)

78 KB JPG

>these rolls

>>2288807
No kidding.

You get one reroll though! Need to roll under a 40, and I presume you want to knock your spooky tank back into action.

Dice gods just hate us or is this quest

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>2288812
>>2288678
check em

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>2288812
Alright then, here you go. Gott mit uns

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>2288832
>>2288834
Oh boy which one

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>>2288834
>>2288832
better

>>2288839
WHY

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>>2288839
fuck nevermind

We might have to draw them into Wossehnalia, where the sandstorm and streets would make for a far more effective battleground then the open field, especially now that we only have 1 m/32 operational.

Can we signal the Iron Hogs to disengage and hit Arek in the rear or flank? We might also have to tow the m/32's into a fighting position and just use them as a fixed emplacement.

>>2288876
I'm thinking the same thing. I feel like we're way better equipped then them for close quarters combat anyway. They don't have flamethrowers do they?

>>2288883
The thing is though, even at close quarters were still at a huge disadvantage in armor, our guntracks and tank destroyers can all be disabled by basic mg fire, while the t-15's iirc were immune to mg fire.

In close quarters, we can atleast have the guillotines go back to a fighting style their used to, and possibly use the buildings to cover infantry as they rain down moltovs and at grenades onto the t-15s

>>2288896
Close quarters would play to our advantage by minimizing the value of their armor. Since this is (not really) early 20th century, I somewhat doubt the Death Heads have great training in combined arms and properly supporting their armor with infantry.

One m/32 started out of three, despite there seeming to not be much difference between the health of the triplet, judging from the noises their beleaguered mechanisms made. Much to your chagrin, the one was not your own.

“Can’t you try something else?” you urged the younger mechanic as his upper end was buried in the engine of your tank. “I need this thing moving.”

“Yeah, hold on,” he rose out of the engine, and said down to his elder, “Ay, kick it again!” The other mechanic began cranking the manual start, and the engine began to slowly churn as another aide tried to turn it over, and hope began to build…only for there to be a loud popff, and a plume of steam and oily fumes before the engine fell silent again, a deep bubbling sound rumbling from somewhere in the depths.

“Judge above, damn us all,” the mechanic swore as he stuck his head in and listened, “…I know what’s wrong. So damn close to getting it.”

“Can you fix it?” you asked, holding onto some optimism.

“…How much time?”

“As little as possible.”

“Half an hour, maybe forty minutes. If I'm really good and really lucky.”

No good. You shook your head. “It won’t do. I’m expecting the fight to start sooner than that. I could transfer over during the fight, but I’m not confident that the opportunity will present itself.”

“Well,” the mechanic offered, “the gun’s still good, and even though the power traverse’ll be dead without the engine, you can still move it around with the manual. It’s armor and a gun. Be a shame to leave it here. Or, since I know the problem, I can rip the part out of the other tank. It might do better. If it doesn’t, though, the part’s a pain in the ass to put back in properly. It’ll certainly mess the donor up.”

>That’ll have to do. Let me get some “volunteers” to tow these things.
>No, just keep trying. Every minute will feel like an hour, but I need tanks, not bunkers.
>I’ll risk changing the part around, if you think it’ll help. [Get a DC50 repair reroll, disable other tank]
>Other?

>>2288937
>>That’ll have to do. Let me get some “volunteers” to tow these things.

>>2288937
>No, just keep trying. Every minute will feel like an hour, but I need tanks, not bunkers.

>>2288937
>No, just keep trying. Every minute will feel like an hour but I need tanks, not bunkers.

Were the overall commander here, time to command.

Also pass on to Loch that were on scenario c or whatever

>>2288937
>No, just keep trying. Every minute will feel like an hour, but I need tanks, not bunkers.

The enemy is going to have tanks that can go toe to toe with us normally, bunkers are just asking to get blown up[ by those T-15s.

>>2289014
I agree with anon, let's update Loch about the situation, message from Fritz and overall status update.

>>2288937
>>No, just keep trying. Every minute will feel like an hour, but I need tanks, not bunkers.

Also update Loch.

“No,” you said, “Just keep trying to get them back working. Every minute will feel like an hour, but I need tanks for this battle, not bunkers.”

“Ayo,” the mechanic saluted, “Well, we’ll keep at it. Make you a bet. Fifty strossmarks if we fix these up in time for you to use them.”

“A small price.”

“Is that an acceptance?”

You left him hanging on that one. If he actually followed through, though, you’d consider retroactively accepting that bet.

-----

With the 1st Battalion, had also come the general command structure of the Republic. You found Signy, Loch, and Brucker, as well as a smattering of Loch’s other aides waiting at the command post.

“Ah, just in time, Von Tracht,” Loch greeted you first, with that coy smile still smeared on his face. “How goes the war?”

You told him. His glamour dimmed, if only by a little.

“I see,” he said, his mouth a straight line, “Early, but I suppose it could not be helped. And of the fortress?”

“Scenario C,” you said automatically.

Loch’s lip curled a little bit further down. “Hm. Not unexpected.”

“It…is still all according to plan?” You felt compelled to ask.

“Not the best plan,” Loch admitted, “I would have preferred that we have more time, that we were able to mobilize the entirety of the army before this, but if every piece fell into place for every general, there would be no great commanders. Any child can read a book. A leader must adapt and act.”
You felt the need to interject with your plan of tactics. “Since we’ve been able to draw the enemy this far, I think that, because of the inferiority of our forces, we should receive them here in the city, and commit to the defensive.”

Loch’s expression reversed, humored once more, and he laughed a closed mouth, soft chuckle. “Von Tracht, where has your ambition run? Our mission here is not to defend, nor is it to survive or resist. We are here to win a great victory for the Republic. There is only one option, and that is to attack.”

“Attack?” you said doubtfully, too surprised to increase your volume to match the incredulity of the proposal, “With only one and a half times their numbers, possibly only one to one? With their superiority in equipment? Do you have yet another secret plan up your sleeve?”

“Goodness no, Von Tracht. Merely tactics. I believe Lady Vang can explain, no?” He laid out a hand to Signy, who had been listening intently, and who also seemed surprised the floor had been handed to her. “Think of the game, my lady.”

“Ah!” Signy realized, “Yeah, right. Okay. The game. Psychology.” Signy sputtered, trying to collect her thoughts, “See…if a mobile force engages a less mobile force, both of them are stopped, right? If one stops the other. So even though we only have half their mobile force, if their mobile forces are fixed by our foot troops, we have the advantage of mobility. The initiative. But…” Signy lost confidence as she said the next thing quietly, “Can our people really do that? They aren’t game pieces…”

“No,” Loch agreed, “Not by themselves. With a great enough commander, though, sheep may be turned to lions, and war becomes but a chessboard, and if the enemy is low enough, even their commander is yet another piece. I would have loved it to be otherwise, but I see no choice. I will take the field.”

This proclamation was met with a wave of shock from Loch’s aides.

“My Lo…Loch! You may not! You cannot!” came the protest from his shadow, Rune, “This battlefield is far too great a risk!”

“Indeed!” Brucker also shouted, “Allow me to take command of troops!”

“Gentlemen!” Loch shouted back, and all were silent. “I am taking the field. That is final. I shall not have defeat fall upon the dream of Sigmund Vang because I was too craven to risk my life. Is that understood?”

Silence greeted him.

“Good.” Loch smiled broadly, “Besides, I will not be without my usual guards. All will be fine. Tell Fritz that I am on my way, as well. Do handle coordination with him, won’t you, Brucker?”

Loch split from his group, with some bodyguards in tow, his shadow as well, and he beckoned you along.

“With respect,” you murmur to him, “I believe I defeated you, are you so great that you have the right to be so confident? Even…”

“Von Tracht,” Loch smiled broadly at you, “There was never any contest between us. If you had forced the matter, we would not be talking today.” He poked you in the chest good naturedly, “Trust me, as my men do even as they protest against my decision. We will win, and it will be an indisputable victory. The Silver Lances would be jealous of what we will accomplish here.”

“…If you are certain,” you acquiesced.

“Good. Now, go make yourself ready for battle. You have not yet begun to fight.” Loch slapped you on the back and sent you on your way.

The matter now, was to choose your new flagship, as it were. With your m/32 out of commission for now, there was only one functioning m/32 currently available to you. It was nominally Von Metzeler’s, not that he had taken issue with being reassigned earlier. However, if you wanted to show some solidarity, you could choose to take another mount…you could even take Von Neubaum’s tank, as it was in less a state of mechanical distress.

>Choose your new command tank. You choices are the m/32, the T-15, an m/28, or the PzA-19 or an NfK-5 platoon command variant if you’re feeling ballsy.
>Alternatively, you can demand one of the Iron Hogs’ P5-21Es, though they might be loathe to give them up without proper compensation.
>Other proposals can be made, as well.

>>2289343
>T-15

Its Metzelers tank, and the T-15 should be adequate

>>2289343
Take the T-15

I forgot, what did we ever do with the extra vehicles we had.

Ive forgotten if we ever took anything other then trucks from the valley ambush, and it wouldnt hurt to field Anyas armor now if they are a step up from what our guys are using

>>2289378
The T-15 and T-8 SPG came from the valley ambush. Anya's tanks are the NfK-5s.

>>2289343
T-15

>>2289343
>T-15

Ballsy is good but not dying is better.
Besides we don't need THAT much mobility right?
Right?

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Sorry for delays, I thought I'd throw together a quick drawover of the NfK-5t model, so that there's a better idea of what it looks like than...well, the shoddy distant battle scene ones. This one has the Republic quick paintjob thrown on it, the original colors still present in the black-grey below.

Turns out to not have been so quick, at all. Thanks hand cramps. One day I'll hold a pen like a normal person.

Working on the next update now.

>>2289564
Learning to draw from the shoulder is hella hard.

Your platoon made a quick shuffle. Von Metzeler was returned to his m/32, with a wordless nod of gratitude from the fellow Lieutenant, while Von Neubaum made sarcastic remarks, but didn’t directly protest his change of vehicle assignment.

“Thank you kindly, commander,” Von Neubaum said with the enthusiasm befitting a man gifted with an ugly knitted sweater, “I’ve always wanted to command a death trap. One without a radio set too, so the last thing I’ll hear is the sweet sound of your radioman refusing to shut his mouth.”

You didn’t bother challenging that; Von Neubaum, you’d learned over time, was just fond of deadpan complaining. He was a competent officer otherwise, so it was easier to simply tolerate it.

The first thing you noticed upon entering your new tank was how spacious the interior was; you’d grown used to the cramped space that m/32’s turret offered, and being able to move about without bumping into anything proved somehow more difficult to get used to than you expected. What was less comfortable were the ready racks of shells stored about the turret; the m/32’s shells, though technically no less safely stored, at least didn’t breathe down your neck with their potential to kill you instantly with a bad penetration. You quenched the concerns that thought brought about with the knowledge that this beast’s armor would be near impervious against most of your opponents, at least from the front angles; you knew that well enough from fighting these things.
Against the lighter opponents, you knew you were set. Besides smoke shells (which you figured would prove pointlessly redundant in the upcoming dust storm) every single shell was a high explosive shell…save for one black tipped one. You couldn’t read the Twaryian markings, and wondered what it was. An armor piercing shell? Perhaps. Its tip had a ballistic cone just like the high explosive shells, so the warhead offered no clues from the outside. You supposed you would find out when the time came. There was for certain enemies in the oncoming twin battalions that would prove less vulnerable to high explosive shells from the T-15’s 7.5cm cannon.

Speaking of…

“How is the gunsight, Stein?” you asked your gunner as he settled into place.

“Haven’t looked yet. I’ve been distracted.” Stein replied. When you looked into his place, you saw why; one of Von Neubaum’s crew had stuck up near a half dozen pictures of attractive young women in revealing beachwear; scandalous, unsubtle, but appealingly so…

“Commander?” Stein asked.

“Yes.”

“The sight is…well, it’s not as good. It’ll do.” Stein sighed, “I’ve gotten rather used to those nice Reich lenses on the old tank. This thing’s okay, but the markings are all eastern, it has different readings…I’ll get used to it.”

“I see,” you accepted that as a necessary cost. “Darling?”

Jorgen snickered at that, but Maddalyn didn’t respond for a few seconds. “…y-yes?” she eventually called back.

“Will you be able to use that radio?”

“It’s different, but it doesn’t seem to work any different,” Maddalyn replied, “Only…where’s the thing that lets us talk to each other through the headsets?”

You didn’t know that yourself. A concerted effort proceeded until you found what to look for…hidden under a photo of a woman in an atom suit. They were new, you thought, had they truly become popular enough for photos like this to be easily accessible? No matter. Your intercoms were soon hooked up; a luxury, truly. You’d heard most Caelussian gear eschewed such luxuries. The Twaryians must have disagreed with such cost cutting priorities. Understandable, since they faced off so often against the more advanced Ellowian army. Not for much longer, though. You wondered how many days were left in the outflanked eastern country’s lifespan; would Ellowie perish before any could so much as write a sternly worded warning in support?

“Richter?” Maddalyn asked over the intercom, “Could you…come down here?”

When you made your way down-refreshingly easier to do than in an m/32- Maddalyn crawled up and whispered to you, “What about…you know, the shells…is it alright for them to be back there? What if…I don’t know, we need them?”

“Do you think we will?” you asked her back, tone low.

“Not for…you know, but it is a strong weapon…I’ve heard the things on the radio, that this fight will be hard, I just think…”

>They’ll be safe back here. I have the mechanics working on the tank, too; they’ll bring it up along with the shells, nice and where we know they are.
>Perhaps. I’m guessing you have some idea to tack them onto these other shells, if you think we can use them with these in the first place.
>We can take them, just to keep them safe, if it’ll give you peace of mind.
>Snog her
>Other?

>>2289681
>>Perhaps. I’m guessing you have some idea to tack them onto these other shells, if you think we can use them with these in the first place.

>>2289681
>We can take them, just to keep them safe, if it’ll give you peace of mind.

>>2289681
>>Perhaps. I’m guessing you have some idea to tack them onto these other shells, if you think we can use them with these in the first place.
By the way, is Maddy aware of the Oblitaire?

>>2289770
You told her, yes. She just didn't give them much consideration; presumably her plan is less to flaunt the might of the hellfires, and more keeping them as a last resort, as well as within sight.

At the very least we need to make sure that no one else can load the hellfire shells

>Perhaps. I’m guessing you have some idea to tack them onto these other shells, if you think we can use them with these in the first place.

“Perhaps,” you said, “I’m guessing you have some idea to tack them onto these other shells, if you think we can use them with these different ones in the first place.”

“Well…” Maddalyn fidgeted contemplatively, “Sort of. I know how they come apart, and the important bit is much easier to…stick onto something else. That, and, I don’t want anybody accidentally shooting them.”

“Of course. I’ll go get them.”

A short trip later and you and Stein had retrieved the two Hellfire shells, and stored them in the depths of the T-15. You put yourself back with Maddalyn, and told her such.

“Ah, good,” Maddalyn relaxed, “I’m sorry to bother about that, it’s just,”

“It was no problem,” you reassured her, then glanced down to her bandaged hand. “Did that get treated?”

Maddalyn nodded shortly. “Mm-hm. They washed it and put stitches in it. The doctors got angry when they figured out that it was a bite. I couldn’t tell them why I did it…they must have thought I was crazy.”

You didn’t know if you’d call the medics doctors, but alas. Thinking you ought to inspect their work anyways, you took Maddalyn’s wrist and brought her hand up closer to your face. It had been cleaned, and tightly bound; no longer was there any hint at how ugly it had been earlier, deeply gouged and running with red, bandages clogged with thickened blood.

“Does it hurt badly?” you asked next, “We can get something…”

Maddalyn pulled her wrist just out of your grasp, and slid her wounded hand down into your palm, stroking your fingers with her own. Her fingers then slipped between yours and tightened their grip, her thumb stroking your index finger.

“It’s…” she smiled at you ever so slightly, sky blue eye half closed, “It’s all better now.”

You weren’t in the right mindset for his.

“Yes,” you wiggled out of her grip, and she cringed with pain as you accidentally knocked against her wound, “ah, crap….well. We should…”

“Eiboss,” Malachi babbled from beside, “Kannuiiolldhandstuu?”

Your throat cleared itself. “Yes, we should get ready to move out now, if we’re all ready. Can’t keep our dear enemy Arek waiting.”

Your fiancée couldn’t hide her disappointment, but you were soon back in position and out of her gaze. All that occupied your thoughts then was how much a pain in the ass it was that the T-15 had no commander’s cupola.

As soon as you announced your readiness, Loch began to fill you in. His voice was somehow…different over the radio, in a way even more familiar than before. You’d definitely heard it somewhere before, but you couldn’t place exactly where.

“Without an effective reserve,” Loch said after the usual greetings, “Todesfelsen’s loyalists, for lack of a better term, have been forced to contract their lines, and our supporters are beginning to reform their lines. Several warlords are still staying their hands; likely waiting to see if they should throw in for one side, or the other. I am sure that I do not need explain the influence our coming victory will have on these spectators.”

The others at the command level to respond agreed.

“White Eyes,” Loch said next, “I need a situation report.”

The White Eye on the radio responded clearly and quickly. “We are holding, but we lack the arms to contest their advance over open ground. Some of them were cocky, and paid for it, but weak points in the terrain are being exploited, and parts of our group are surrounded and cut off. We hold nevertheless. This command post itself is isolated as well, but if help is coming…”

“We will be there shortly,” Loch reassured him, “Do not lose hope. This is in fact a great tactical boon. As broken up as you are, this means that the enemy is just as scattered around and in between.”

This was true. In a situation such as this, opposing forces in the rear lines could still put up quite a fight before the isolation from the rest of their line took its toll. This could be taken advantage of by any counterattack. There were many situations in war history where stout defenders spoilt the momentum of an advance- and more than a few of these supposed last stands allowed for the besieging side to be outflanked because they had been fixed in place.

Of course, without wide access to radios, you had no information besides rough guesses of where these pockets were, or how well they were doing. At least the difference between the uniforms of the White Eyes and the Death Heads was as plain as that between night and day.

“Our first action,” Loch explained over your battalion’s network, instead of the whole army’s, “Will be to disrupt our enemy’s northern flank. The weather will become quite awful soon, and if we make a convincing feint and move quickly enough afterwards, we can tease this Arek of the Death Heads to redeploy to this supposed threat, after which we may pinch away the south, and crush them while the larger aspect is confused.”

“Go on,” you indicated your understanding.

“Make your formation as wide as you can when you make your attack, after going about far enough to the north to not draw particular attention, perhaps three to four kilometers, then direct your frontage to them.” Loch said next, “Such is the only way we will make our numbers appear greater than they truly are. Were we to truly attack, a different formation would be more ideal, but this is a mere feint. Do remember, we are tempting them, threatening; casualties from a true assault will not do at this stage in the game. Is that clear?”

“Err,” Hielder, the battalion commander hesitated, but you responded more confidently.

“As crystal.”

“Good. Lieutenant Colonel Hiedler, inform me of any changes in the situation, and update Von Tracht as well. I expect our dear Strossvalder’s attention to be entirely consumed in the fight to come.” Loch cut out after that, presumably to explain other aspects of the plan to the other battalions.

The first step of the plan was simple, easy, even. When it came to formations, a battalion was simply a much, much bigger platoon. To summarize gracelessly, a company of platoons. So you made your maneuver in an extended column; once the lead company reached the limit of its advance, each company after would turn ninety degrees to the south, and like magic, a column transformed into a line.

The only question was where your place in the line would be.

>The eastern flank, closest to your own friendly lines. It would be best to retreat back around your infantry battalions after the feint was executed, and you needed to make the link to your allies the strongest.
>The center; after all, the enemy might try to split you apart, and part of this feint would be to keep your forces together.
>The western flank; you didn’t have to go back round your own forces, Loch had kept the option open to you to make a far flank, and enclose the eventual south pocket from two sides sooner.
>Other?

>>2289681
>We can take them, just to keep them safe, if it’ll give you peace of mind
>Quick snog

As Richter mused earlier we will be just as dead if we get hit hellfire shell or not

>>2290512
>>The center; after all, the enemy might try to split you apart, and part of this feint would be to keep your forces together.

>>2290507
>Her fingers then slipped between yours and tightened their grip, her thumb stroking your index finger.
Oh shit it's too intense for me.

>>2290512
>The center; after all, the enemy might try to split you apart, and part of this feint would be to keep your forces together.

>>2290512
>The center; after all, the enemy might try to split you apart, and part of this feint would be to keep your forces together.

>>2290509
>His voice was somehow…different over the radio, in a way even more familiar than before.
Is Loch the Archduke's son?

>>2290583
I was kind of thinking he had something to do with the Reich

>>2290594
I thought so too. But this thread in particular have made me think otherwise.

>>2290594
Whatever it is, he's a 'my lord'.

Honestly I'm not interested and I will be glad to never see or hear from him again. Would that the story will allow him to disappear...

>>2290644
What if it's 'My Liege' ?

>>2290644
I legit thought it was a "my love" on first read.
Long day

>>2290703
Well, Loch *is* canonically pretty dashing...

Next update will be in a couple hours, have to run some errands and set up the whole coming fight and all.

>>2290583
Loch does not sound like the Crown Prince Strossvald, no.

>>2290583
>>2291179
He is actually the man on Strossvald FM reading radio dramas at 7pm on Saturdays.

>>2291188

Everyone needs a hobby.

You placed yourself, and 2nd company whom you joined by extension, in the center of the line formation. The companies were thusly laid out nice and evenly, in numerical order from west to east.

The march was brisk, and as Loch predicted, the enemy was sparse this far out. Sometimes skirmishes erupted with pickets, but your whole purpose in this movement was to be discovered and reacted to; an early discovery was to your advantage here.

The enemy was kind enough not to disrupt your movement; a stroke of luck, perhaps, or maybe they just hadn’t had time to react properly, or you had been seen as something to put off until later, or perhaps you’d just made it into position before a reaction force popped over the intermittent rises. No matter. The streaming cloud of dust that had choked you and each following company in return faded, as each company formed its own pillar turning about and heading south. The respite in oncoming filth was only a lessening; the taste of clean air yet evaded you, as the beginnings of the forecasted dust storm blew up from the south. It was only midday, yet dark clouds were creeping upon you with startling speed; low, red and grey clouds made of dirt, the sort that bore no rain or nourishment; only black mucus and crusted clothes.

There was the wind itself, as well. While carrying its earthen cargo, its force had gone from a chilly autumn zephyr, to a howling bluster that pulsed in and out like the breath of a sleeping titan, each direction threatening to tear your cap from your head, which you held onto with desperation as the air did its best to unwind your scarf as to better asphyxiate you with foul particles, both carried from afar and freshly blown off the ground, rustling the dry stems of wild grasses.

All this was combining and threatening to cut your vision; it had already been reduced to scarcely a hundred meters, the shallow hills already vanishing slowly into a swirling maroon haze, and it didn’t look like it was going to get any better.

This was good for the foot soldiers in the Republic’s fighting force. The reduced visibility also reduced the threat of enemy vehicles, though the coughing and shrinking of your mounted grenadiers would have indicated that the trade for misery was little worth it. Though the tank crewmen, in some part, were saved from the rough conditions, it was yet to be seen if the reduced visibility would help you, or hurt you.
You hoped for the former. Yet expected the latter.

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The sounds of battle had been omnipresent during your movement, but as you turned about, you could swear some of it was moving closer- a pocket attempting a breakout, perhaps?

As the companies stopped, you strained your ears, while also calling for any reports from your fellows. You heard the unmistakable grind of tread to the south, around what dimly appeared to be a hill, heading between you and the closest fighting. There was also what was described as “something” to the southeast. Said “something” had been unusual, you were told, because it had stopped making noise; not the particular noise it was making.

There was nothing for it now, you thought as the terrible visibility seemed to level off a bit. It was time to make your presence known.

>Advance cautiously, dismounting infantry to increase visibility. (Effective increase by fifty meters due to dispersal.
>Maintain your speed but spread out your formations, while still being close enough to communicate by signal flag. (Increase visibility by double)
>Keep close and compact; a tighter force that would be more imposing against whatever you encountered (No change)
>Other?

>>2291647

>>Advance cautiously, dismounting infantry to increase visibility. (Effective increase by fifty meters due to dispersal.

>>2291647
>>Advance cautiously, dismounting infantry to increase visibility. (Effective increase by fifty meters due to dispersal.

>>2291647
>>Advance cautiously, dismounting infantry to increase visibility. (Effective increase by fifty meters due to dispersal).

Is it possible to dismount the infantry but continue to move at a semi-rapid pace? To take full advantage of our numbers and the confusion of the storm we should penetrate the enemy lines as quickly as possible and infiltrate amongst them before they can identify us and fix our position. The units that make contact with the enemy can then engage them and fix them in place while the units that continue to penetrate can fall back and encircle the enemy. Advancing too cautiously here will just give the enemy more time to react and organize a defense from their scattered forces.

Alright I'm back now.

>>2292018
It is, if you want. I can make that an option in the next movement.

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You gave out the command for all mounted infantry to go further on foot; with them dispersed around the tanks, visibility shot up, while maintaining general formation integrity. Still, though, the lack of the sounds of battle about you were disconcerting, in a way, while the battle went on to the south. Sometimes, a crack rang out and a bullet that was far too wide hit somewhere amongst your people. It never could do anything but frighten some people, being completely unaimed, but it let you know that somebody hostile was out there. Perhaps they were as tense as you all were.
The sound of enemy armor, it was reported, was moving around the hill 3rd and 4th company were traversing the edge of, whilst the eastern sighting had no further updates; presumably they were waiting for you.

You realized then, that no sightings or hearings of enemies had come from straight ahead. Did you have an opportunity to penetrate deeper into enemy lines without interference? What a shock that would give them! Perhaps, you could even reach the beleaguered White Eyes, the sounds of whose resistance were coming closer and closer…

>No. You should defeat the enemies in your path, first; leave none behind you. Charge into them.
>The more sudden and destructive your appearance, the further in, the better. Squeeze between these two hills and attempt to slip past your foe in this hellish storm.
>Lay ambushes for these enemies, and for those who don’t come, assault them.
>Other?
Also:
>Leave the dismounts behind on contact, and allow them to deal with the enemies they encounter while the mobile elements continue ahead; you’ll link up with them again on the retreat.
>On contact, stay with the grenadiers; you can’t risk being separated from them in this weather.

You have taken some of the the captured enemy anti-tank guns with you, and the captured mortars are with the battalion HQ. Each company save yours has two 2.5cm anti-tank guns for the dismounts to use, with another one at Battalion HQ, and if you leave the infantry behind, the guns will be cut loose for them so that they can resist mechanized attack. The heavier 3.7cms and mountain guns were given to the other infantry, who don't need to move as much.

>>2292088
>The more sudden and destructive your appearance, the further in, the better. Squeeze between these two hills and attempt to slip past your foe in this hellish storm.
>Leave the dismounts behind on contact, and allow them to deal with the enemies they encounter while the mobile elements continue ahead; you’ll link up with them again on the retreat.

>>2292088
Our job is to hit and fade so that's what we should do. There are PLENTY more of these assholes to fight ahead.

>No. You should defeat the enemies in your path, first; leave none behind you. Charge into them.
>Leave the dismounts behind on contact, and allow them to deal with the enemies they encounter while the mobile elements continue ahead; you’ll link up with them again on the retreat.

>>2292088

Why not both?
>1st and 4th companies charge straight into the enemy positions on their respective flanks
>3rd and 2nd squeeze between the hills and fall back onto the enemy flanks assuming 1st and 4th make contact; keep pushing further south if not.

>>Leave the dismounts behind on contact, and allow them to deal with the enemies they encounter while the mobile elements continue ahead; you’ll link up with them again on the retreat.

>>2292088
>The more sudden and destructive your appearance, the further in, the better. Squeeze between these two hills and attempt to slip past your foe in this hellish storm.
>Leave the dismounts behind on contact, and allow them to deal with the enemies they encounter while the mobile elements continue ahead; you’ll link up with them again on the retreat.

A quick surprise attack that really puts the fear of god into them and then a quick retreat back to infantry support.

>>2292088
>No. You should defeat the enemies in your path, first; leave none behind you. Charge into them.
It's fucking armor on our flank. We can't just leave it be.

>On contact, stay with the grenadiers; you can’t risk being separated from them in this weather.
The aren't well trained and we have poor communications.

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Sorry for the wait. I'll be coming back round and running once I get dinner made and eaten.

In the meantime, a mountain gremlin.

That took a while.

I'll be updating soon enough, though it's pretty late at night.

You had to keep your advance quick and mobile, but at the same time, you couldn’t leave enemies behind you. There was nothing for it. No choice but to try and take care of both problems at once.

“Have 4th company swing around the hill west,” you instructed Battalion Command, although 4th Company was on the same net, “While 1st Company investigates the contact seen to the southeast earlier. 2nd and 3rd will push on south. Rejoin us on the line as soon as possible with your tanks, offload your grenadiers before you attack your targets. Move south as soon as possible; leave your dismounts to clean up after you win. We’ll do the same for any contact. Signal for encountering friendlies is to flash our lights three times quickly, then once for long. If you find any isolated friendlies out there, they’ll recognize this signal.”

You repeated your commands just in case, just to make sure everybody understood while you had relative peace. After that, you split from one another, the dense storm causing even silhouettes to fade away as the company to your right faded off to handle their objective.

You pushed forward, feeling unsettled at the looseness of the lines, if you hadn’t encountered anything yet. More sounds revealed themselves; yet more mechanized forces to the southeast, far. Meanwhile, the sounds of the earlier battle still raged to the southwest. Would you be able to reach them, or would the enemy prove too thickly organized for it to be reasonable to break through?

“zz…z..nemy cont…armor…opening fire!” 4th Company’s transmissions were impeded by the hill, slight as it seemed, between you. However, the sound of their ambush was not. “…round…ree or f…maybe five.”

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A platoon, about, then. If they were of the lightest types encountered, even 4th company’s light vehicles would make short work of them at this close range in an ambush. If they were along other lines…well, they had anti tank cannons and the advantage of initiative. They would be fine. You’d have to trust them even if it had been a whole company, somehow.

Soon after, more shots cracked out, and 1st company reported their contact. Though their transmission was buzzy, it wasn’t as bad as that from 4th company. They reported nothing significant; a squad, if that; perhaps eight to ten people. They were well hidden, though, and the grenadiers had been offloaded as the tanks charged forward, so you were told.

That left you (2nd company) and 3rd company free to press on, however. The question was, where to?

>Investigate the hilltop to the south; it would be a good position against the approaching force from the south, and it would offer better visibility. Any enemies unseen there could be cleared rather simply with weight of mass.
>Make for the battle to the southwest; you were in the area, and they were your allies, you had to help them, no matter the risk.
>Make for the southwest ditch, and set up an ambush for the approaching mechanized force; after hitting them, you could pursue them some, then leave, satisfied with the damage you’d done.
>Continue forward until you hit something, then keep going; the further you go, the more you’ll spook the enemy.
>Other?

Rolled 4 (1d6)

Rolling for enemy armor contact with 4th Company; 1 is medium, 2+ is light.

>>2294515
>>Make for the battle to the southwest; you were in the area, and they were your allies, you had to help them, no matter the risk.

Once we've relieved the friendly unit we'll have more forces with which to fall back on any enemies we missed and encircle and destroy them.

>>2294515
>>Make for the battle to the southwest; you were in the area, and they were your allies, you had to help them, no matter the risk.

>>2294188
What is Fie so disgruntled with?

>>2294515
>Make for the battle to the southwest; you were in the area, and they were your allies, you had to help them, no matter the risk.

>>2294532
People keep calling her stupid, and she doesn't like being called that.

Also somebody forgot to put sugar in her coffee. If there's not a pile of sweet sludge that failed to dissolve at the bottom, then it's not enough.

Anyways I'm working on the next update.

>>2294576

She hated them because they told her the truth.

Okay scratch this for tonight, I'll be starting up again midday tomorrow. It's late and the preparations I needed to make aren't going fast enough to reasonably go through with it til later.

Have to do the finishing touches on a new enemy model, maybe two or three, depending on how quickly I can get the others done.

Sorry for the delays, I should be running anew in about an hour and a half. Though not for long; I'll be volunteering at the theatre at 5:30 my time til 10, so that'll annihilate my evening. I'll try to get what I can done anyways.

In other news, I finally fixed up the miscellaneous basic information pastebin.

https://pastebin.com/k8yuNeuS

Right now it has short country summaries and encountered/mentioned vehicle descriptions, in case anybody just entirely forgets, needs a refresher, or if they're not caught up, I guess. None of this is need to know material if you've read the whole thing up to this point and remember everything, though.

If there's other sorts of info people want, I'll work on putting it up there.

>>2295796
>>If there's other sorts of info people want, I'll work on putting it up there.
All important females' 3 sizes, likes/dislikes, and fetishes
Maybe military doctrine for each nation, I guess?

>>2295885
Knowing that military doctrines of all the nations would be cool.

“Continue Southwest, over that crest,” you guessed at what the terrain was; even that wasn’t as simple as usual to do in these conditions. “We’re going to see what’s happening over there. If it’s a pocket of White Eyes, we’ll break them out.”

“A rescue and backup both,” 2nd Company’s commander concluded.

“Indeed.” You said, “Whatever we find up there, we smash into with all we have. We’ll figure out what to do after that once we have our allies firmly in our hands. 2nd Company, keep eyes out east. I don’t want that mechanized sound, whatever it is, sneaking up on us. Just in case we encounter the worst.”

“Aye aye, kommandant.”

Your platoon took a somewhat sideways route up the slope, to ease the strain on your resident m/32’s worn internals, but soon enough your whole company was up the hill. Flashes of explosions were faintly visible some distance away, briefly silhouetting shapes.
The companies were driven forward, and as you closed in, you put together a decent idea of what you were up against…at least, seemingly. It was an utter mess.

Platoons were mixed into one another, making distinguishing difference formations difficult. However, you were relatively certain that the whole mess was roughly a company, with foot troop support. Exact numbers were difficult to get; they were at the very edge of your visibility, and even though the terrain over the crest had turned respectably flat, the enemies themselves were at the edge of another depression, seeming to shoot down into it from the look of the flashes. If there were more down there, you couldn’t see them. You did have two companies to their one, though from the height and breadth of the silhouettes and the approximate range, these were tougher vehicles than the light ones encountered by 4th company that were being dealt with. They were too obscured to pick out for sure.

If you engaged from here, you would definitely be firing upon their rears, but it would be tough shots, and your gunners wouldn’t be able to correct fire, being unable to see where their shots were hitting. That could mean you could alert them without doing damage and they’d respond, and your brief advantage would be lost.

Alternatively, you could risk detection, and move much closer, until you were sure of all your shots. The din of battle near them could conceal your movement as it had thus far, and if you were to close right up on top of them, the risk might be worth it…though that would mean your panzergrenadiers would have to set up their guns in the middle of a firefight, should you bring them up with you to counteract enemy infantry. Which would be a good idea, in this weather.

>Stop here, set up all guns, and engage at a distance.
>Go up as close as you can, and engage only when you can see the whites of their eyes, ideally with all guns dismounted.
>Leave your dismount guns here to start engaging from long range once your fight starts, but otherwise close the distance.
>Other?

>>2296083
>>2295885
Doctrines, sure. I can work on that.

I don't really know how to approximate sizes, though, and since they're drawn I'd be concerned about them being wrong guesstimations.I might put it up as a meme joke anyways.

>>2296156
>>Go up as close as you can, and engage only when you can see the whites of their eyes, ideally with all guns dismounted.

>>2296156
>>Go up as close as you can, and engage only when you can see the whites of their eyes, ideally with all guns dismounted.

>>2296150
>>Go up as close as you can, and engage only when you can see the whites of their eyes, ideally with all guns dismounted.

>>2296156
>>Go up as close as you can, and engage only when you can see the whites of their eyes, ideally with all guns dismounted.

Almost 100% sure we'll get caught but to find infantry in this form getting too close will be impossible without ground pounder support.

Tanq, you said youve never played Valkaryia Chronicles back in the original run. Is this still the case? Post steam ill gift it to you

>>2296156
>Leave your dismount guns here to start engaging from long range once your fight starts, but otherwise close the distance.

Right, back now. Looks like it's turning into a knife fight. I'll see how far I can get with what night's left.

>>2297501
No, I have it now, and played it. It's fun. Haven't completed it though, it's on my backlog. I got raped on the Batomys mission and left off there due to a combination of it having been a binge and maybe a bit of asspain. I had the bright idea of "oh, I'll put some guys here to intercept the reinforcements! Cue Selvaria. Cue demolition of blocking force. And the Edelweiss.

>>2296150
>>Go up as close as you can, and engage only when you can see the whites of their eyes, ideally with all guns dismounted.

Rolled 77, 72, 65 = 214 (3d100)

“Listen all,” you said, directly hooking yourself into the net as usual. “We’re going to get as close as we can before we engage. Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes. If they start reacting to us, we’ll stop and shoot, but before then we’re going to get as close as we can. Understood? Then, charge!”

The roars of the engines that followed, while good for morale, made you cringe somewhat as you hoped to keep your advance more subtle than that.

However, it wasn’t that much louder than the noise made as it was by simply going forth. Perhaps, you hoped, over the wind, the fighting, and the simple stress of combat, you would go unnoticed, your penetration this far unanticipated even as your forces fought further north
.
>There are three rolls made for the enemy here. Each roll failed means you’ll have come that much closer without them reacting. Each subsequent roll is easier. In order, the checks are DC 30, DC 50, and DC 70 roll under. Closing distance depends on the number failed, not order of failure, so even if the first is passed, the others must be passed to to decrease distance before detection.

>>2297578
Am I doing it right?

>>2297606
Doing what right?

No rolls from players are needed here, that was for enemy NPCs. I'm working on getting the next thing ready.

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It was an odd thrill, to see how close you could get to your enemy before they turned. Every slight movement, a threat. Every trick of the eye brought about by the storm, a surprise, then a relief, as the dreadful illusion was revealed to be but a daydream.

It was your bad fortune, you noticed coming up upon the group of enemies you were to clash with, that there appeared to be practically none of the more fragile sorts of tanks. The blocky forms of T-15s were apparent, as well as those of a tank you’d not seen in action before now; though it was supposed to be a common sort of tank that had a tendency to pop up near everywhere; the ubiquitous AdG Volcan Custom, specifically, a pair with the Naukland upgrade kit. There was no mistaking it. The way the vehicles rose so high off the ground compared to their brethren was a telling feature; the Emreans, as inexperienced with armor design as the rest of the world at the time, overestimating the practical rise off the ground needed to adapt to terrain. You sighed to yourself roughly as you counted through each of the foes; your fight would be a tough one. At least yours would be easier than if one of your allies had encountered the same. Their machine guns wouldn’t have stood a chance against these better armored types.

You were very close indeed when the enemy noticed you, and with a great grinding and throwing up of dust, they turned about as you came to a halt, preparing to fire. A moment later, the storm was competing with your companies’ fusillades when it came to pure elemental fury, as cannon and machine gun spat forth hate. Grenadiers leapt off and unhitched their guns, pushing them into place as the foes affront frantically repositioned themselves.

The platoons ahead of yours had done so with annoying efficiency; their better armor now obscured most of their lighter allies. However, they lacked the initiative, and even though you hadn’t caught them with their backs to you, they were still finishing movements and laying their guns as your platoon was about to fire…

>Pick your targets, as well as your platoon’s. If you want, you can request other assets to fire, so long as they have a radio. Your 15cm gun carrier is behind you, ready to respond if you wish to call them forward, for example.

>Your platoon assets are, concerning advising whom to shoot at what:
>You- T-15
>Von Metzeler- m/32-47
>Von Walen- m/28-45TD
>Krause- m/28-25
>Von Igel- m/28-25
>Von Neubaum- m/28-45TD

I'll be leaving this overnight, and I may come back next morning. My Saturday's really full though, so I don't expect to run long at all.

>>2297655
Should mention, too, that location of shots should be dictated too. Even a high explosive shot can be disabling in the right place, and with enemy heavy armor, even at point blank range, it may be best to aim for weak spots anyways.

>>2297655
The two tanks on the left look to be annoyingly angled so we should focus are fire on the 3 visible ones facing us head on.

The two on the right look like T-8's so our 13mm guns will cut right through them, if were in range of course. Have Krause and Von Igel target each just to make sure their put down, but their hull guns and coaxial should easily do the job.

Von Neubaum and Von Walen target the middle T-15, hopefully they can take it out on the alpha.

Von Metzeler and Us target the leftmost T-15, hopefully we can get some sort of penetrating shot at this angle.

Im not to concerned about the Volcan Custom, iirc their guns cant penetrate our armor, I could be wrong though, in which case switch us to target that one.

The tank hidden behind the T-8 looks like another T-15.

>>2297683
I support this anons idea

And goddammit there really is another tank behind that one isn't there.

Are the panzergrenadiers packing any anti tank rifles? Maybe they can go for the weakest armored tanks. I don't see any infantry from this angle.

>>2297683
supporting

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Right, so I woke up pretty recently.

>>2297683
As a reminder, perhaps if you want to change any plans, this is a picture of a T-8.

And you're right up in their faces, at least when it comes to relative engagement range, so yes everything is in range.

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heh

Man I really don't know. Tonk fighting and strategizing isn't my thing

>>2298133
"shoot em' good" is usually good enough

>>2298719
Yeah that's fine and all, until the QM wants us to write up plans of engagement.

Speaking of, tanq I looked at the tonk pastebin and there's not a whole lot to it that'd help me make tactical decisions. Most of the text is fluff that has no bearing on decision making. I want to know how thick their armor plates are and what types of shells can penetrate it, if the tracks are armored, turret swivel and depression etc.

"This is a new tank it's very strong" doesn't tell me much about which tank with which cannon I want to fire at it, since I don't know whcih one is able to penetrate or not.

>>2298781
>Speaking of, tanq I looked at the tonk pastebin and there's not a whole lot to it that'd help me make tactical decisions.

Alright, I'll do something about that.

I don't want to give any exact specifications, but I can give general information.

Don't forget that you aren't forced to only use that pastebin, that's only really meant to be a quick reference for quick things. You can still ask whatever you want and I'll answer it to the best of in character knowledge. After all, some vehicles don't exactly have public data on them, or they haven't been encountered enough to be in any manuals.

Right now, though, for a general idea of these tanks, the Volcan Customs are resistant to 13mm fire, but this close up they're vulnerable to light cannon, unless their armor has been improved upon manually (a decent chance, being where they are), though since you're up close, it shouldn't make much difference.

The m/28-13 is also vulnerable to light cannon fire to the hull at this range, though the turret is more resilient.

The T-15s are near immune to frontal fire from about anything you have save the 4.7cm, at least from the usual places to shoot on the front. The 4.5cm will need to aim for weak spots (you've learned in the past that one such place is underneath the gun, and in general, the armor is weaker in places less likely to be hit, such as the turret join and lower front plate). The 2.5cm and lower are unlikely to be able to do much at all significant from the front.

Anyways I'll be updating soonish now, after I eat.

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You had given your orders for target priority as all in your party had come to a stop; while the enemy was still reeling from your sudden appearance, you were already opening fire.

Target priority as far as you were concerned went to attempting to immobilize the far left T-15; without armor piercing rounds, as far as you knew, anyways-the mystery shell hadn’t been risked yet-you couldn’t attempt a direct shot on the armor itself. Preventing it from maneuvering would have to do. If Von Metzeler’s gunner’s aim was true, it wouldn’t matter, but it was good to be sure.

“Go for the right tread,” you told Stein, “Easy target. Keep it from moving. Are you alright with that gun?”

“Well,” Stein admitted, “I’ve never shot one of these things before. The sights are foreign and weird, but…they’re point blank. If I miss them I’ll forfeit my annual salary.”

Not exactly reassuring, but Stein was right; they were right there.

Meanwhile, you would be having the tank destroyers in your platoon attempt to destroy the other heavy tank. They’d have to aim for weak spots, but those were easy to aim for at this distance. Hopefully the sights on those guns weren’t “foreign and weird.” The elements you could count on, at least, were your old m/28s- they would fire at the Volcan Customs, which, despite their better guns, were only about as well armored as the significantly smaller and much more nimble m/28s on their hulls.

>Roll for deviation; 2d2 for direction, then up to 3d100 for deviation degree, one d100 per post; if multiple are rolled in one post, only the first is taken. D2 is first come first serve, the d100s are averaged. Due to unfamiliarity with the weaponry, as well as the weaponry having different stats, gunner skill is 30 instead of its normal degree. However, due to close range, total deviation is halved.
>Roll for hits of allies too- 4d100, DC 70 roll under, degrees of success by 10 measuring quality of hit.

Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d2)

>>2299528

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>2299528

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>2299528

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>2299588
>>2299587
wow

>>2299528
for 1 ally roll

Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>2299528

Guess I'll roll for an ally as well

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>2299528
Deviation roll

Rolled 31, 88 = 119 (2d100)

>>2299528
Ally hit rolls.
Just remove the second roll if someone else wants to roll the 4th die

Rolled 41, 43, 8 = 92 (3d100)

Uh. Crud. I forgot my own rules for deviation. They're sets of 2d100, not 1d100.

...Well, we'll see how the verts are, then!

Rolled 5 (1d100)

I'm all sorts of fucked up today, it seems. Another ally roll was needed.

Leaving off right before the resolution to rolls, I know, but I've got to be off for now. I'll return later tonight.

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>2299528
For ourselves, its gotta be at least a below 20 for it to even help enough but still gotta try...

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Stein bit his lip, and breathed in in preparation for your command.

“Fire.” You said levelly.

The force with which the cannon’s action jerked back was surprising to behold the first time; it was only the tank’s weight, surely, that kept the recoil from rocking the vehicle. Quite forceful, for a modified field gun. Or was it that your perceptive was warped from using smaller cannon?

Without any periscopes, you were forced to peek precariously over the tall turret, and ducked as shrapnel from your shot at the enemy whizzed around you; but you were soon back up to watch the rest of the platoon hit. Von Metzeler had done well; he had directed his gunner to aim for the exposed turret ring of both your targets, and had pierced it expertly. Your own hit had smashed into a sturdy road wheel; the explosion was impressive, but the piece wasn’t much deformed, though perhaps some damage had been done to the treads if you were lucky.

“Damn,” Stein complained from below, “Picked the right level by luck, seems he was going more’n I thought.”

Really, with the turret ring penetration both immobilizing the turret potentially as well as likely creating a mess inside, that tank shouldn’t bother you much more anyways. You took a hopeful look to your own tanks internals to see if anything explosive or flammable would have been struck; no good, not at this angle, unfortunately.

The other T-15 had been similarly defanged with a pair of expert hits from those mounted on tank destroyers. A great outcome, really; the heavy T-15s were the tanks you had been most concerned with. The foes to the right were less simply handled. Krause must not have trusted his gun to pierce the turret mantlet of his target. Instead, a 2.5cm shell had been put through the driver slot, though as the tank had already stopped, it did little more than inflict suffering. Von Igel’s shot must have been hurried; a shot for the turret had instead glanced off the side, the angle too sheer to do damage.

The enemy had come to a stop, and was beginning to lay their guns. You had stolen the initiative, certainly, but could you keep it..?

The first enemy to start laying its guns was the…was that an m/28-13? What on earth was one of those doing here? More surprising things could have happened; after all, the Guillotines were in possession of four hulls. Its turret was rudely decorated with a crude approximation of breasts, the 13mm machine guns forming the nipples. All in all, you couldn’t think of a worse vehicle to potentially be killed by, so you ducked lower within the tank.

It swept over your tank, obviously seeing the futility in engaging you, seeming to turn instead to your tank destroyers; Von Walen’s, in particular. The armor screens were only bulletproof, you knew; at this range, they wouldn’t stand up to a hail of fire from twinned 13mm machine guns…

>You’ll have to hope your platoon is fast enough to reload. (Do nothing; roll opposing initiative roll.)
>You’d protect them; those guns wouldn’t work so well if they were blown up. (Use Jorgen’s Ace Loader ability to ready another shot right away)
>You had a big mobile wall of steel, and the threats to you were gone; show the enemy that you’re the biggest boar in the woods now. (Advance forwards and obstruct.)
>Other?

>>2300749
>You had a big mobile wall of steel, and the threats to you were gone; show the enemy that you’re the biggest boar in the woods now. (Advance forwards and obstruct.)

>>2300751
>>You had a big mobile wall of steel, and the threats to you were gone; show the enemy that you’re the biggest boar in the woods now. (Advance forwards and obstruct.)

>>2300751
Also if possible call in for fire support from the SPG. Maybe the artillery fire will force them to move and disrupt their aim.

>>2300751
>You had a big mobile wall of steel, and the threats to you were gone; show the enemy that you’re the biggest boar in the woods now. (Advance forwards and obstruct.)

>>2300751
>>You had a big mobile wall of steel, and the threats to you were gone; show the enemy that you’re the biggest boar in the woods now. (Advance forwards and obstruct.)

Seconding all

Building a wall.

I'll start running this evening after the last show for this weekend, so about 8PM EST. I know it's late, but things are probably better when I'm not trying to cram things in between times.

>>2301552
Change of plans, the show's done, but I'm going out for dinner after. It won't be too long, I'll be back in tine to run more than I did yesterday.

>>2303078
Yes it's me Anon look at me phone post

Alright.

Updates resume in about half an hour.

“Forward!” you said over the income to your driver, and thankfully, Malachi instinctively knew who you were talking to. The T-15 lurched forward like a crouching bear, tonnes of steel leaping to life as what must have been twinned engines rumbled behind you. The vision blocks in the sides of the turret were unsatisfactory for general observation of the battlefield, but they were good enough for you to know when you were between the enemy m/28 and your own charges. As the tank destroyers were about to pass, you ordered the driver to a halt; just in time to hear 13mm fire splatter against your vehicle’s turret, pattering sharply like deadly hail.

Maddalyn screeched in shock at the sound. “A-are we all right?!” she wimpered.

“As long as we’re not on fire,” you said back over the intercom, “We are indeed all right. Keep on what you’re doing.”

“Same target?” Stein asked as you settled to a stop, protecting your allies with your armor.

“No,” you replied, “See them? They’re sitting still, turret’s not turning. We can focus on another.”

“Right. Who, then?”

Hm. The logical target was the m/28, though you’d presume Von Metzeler would try to shoot at that next…if he had a good angle. Judging from what you could see, he wouldn’t. Additionally, he might judge it best to finish off the tank he shot earlier. It was also impractical to engage the other targets, the T-15’s large turret slewed too slowly for that to be ideal. You could probably damage the m/28’s guns with a high explosive shell, though you doubted a hit to the turret would cause spalling or more than a rough shock to the crew. The m/28’s turret facing was thicker than its hull, and m/28’s front hull facing was rather small to target with a high explosive shot, even if that would only have the potential to cause spalling, not that that wasn’t dangerous in itself. Of course, you could also charge it, to try and intimidate them. The m/28 certainly couldn’t reverse as fast as you could make for it; would this be a situation with which to ram, even? This tank was certainly much more massive…

These thoughts flashed through your head like lightning, broken by your loader speaking up.

“Kommandehrrrr,” Jorgen spoke to you, “Te fahhnny shell. Want to uuesse et?” He held the black tipped shell in his grip, ready to load the gun once more; rather, it was already loaded, he simply hadn’t closed the breach in case you changed your mind.

“Hold on,” you said, “Gunner, target that m/28. Do not fire until my order. Now, Jorgen…”

>No, keep that there. We can try to disable its weapons.
>Go ahead and replace it. I’m not taking chances with that particular vehicle.
>We’re not using our gun for this one. Driver, maneuver to ram. (Chance of damaging your vehicle slightly; will severely intimidate enemy. Likely a bad idea if the intent isn't to muck up formations.)
>Other?

>>2303629
>>Go ahead and replace it. I’m not taking chances with that particular vehicle.

>>2303629
>>No, keep that there. We can try to disable its weapons.

The last thing we need is to find out its a smoke shell or something and we muck up the engagement

>>2303673
I'll say that it's definitely not a smoke shell; there's a few of those laying about, but this one is different.

>>2303629
>>Go ahead and replace it. I’m not taking chances with that particular vehicle.

>>2303629
>>No, keep that there. We can try to disable its weapons.

It's only an m/28 and doesn't even have guns that can damage us, I don't see any need to waste a super special shell on it.

>>2303629
>No, keep that there. We can try to disable its weapons.

While getting closer to hit them with our sword is appealing to the Knight in Richter, our rear armor is not nearly as good, and our allies are not that well known for aiming well...

>>2303629
Just use regular HE. It would be really unfortunate to run into Ironside Arek and finding out he rides in something heavier and we're down our ap shell

>>2303629
>>No, keep that there. We can try to disable its weapons.

>>2303629
>No, keep that there. We can try to disable its weapons.
A hit with a heavy shell can jam the turret, and that's what I think we should go for.

Sorry, fell asleep in chair. I wasn't tired, really.

File: tcqscene117.png (1.29 MB, 2600x1014)

1.29 MB PNG

“No, keep that there. We can try to disable its weapons.” You told Jorgen.

“Aim for the guns, then?” Stein asked.

“Naturally. Fire when ready.” You adjusted your throat microphone to talk to Maddalyn, “Get that 15cm on the wire. I want them up here as soon as possible. Most of our opposition’s been disabled in the first stroke, and I need that monster firing on the other lines. Are there any updates from the companies?”

“Ahhh…” Maddalyn hesitated, “Not yet.”

“Firing, commander!” Stein shouted to you, and the action kicked open, though your attention wasn’t on the shot. You hoped his new knowledge of how the sights functioned would make this shot true.

Suddenly, another shattering ring, like your tank was being attacked by a horde of colossal bees.

“Agh!” Stein recoiled, “They’re shooting at our gunsights! I can’t…” Stein regained his confidence as he peered into the scope again, “I’ll…I’m firing now!” The din continued, though; it was doubtful that they did not know your intentions to shoot them.

>Roll 2d2 for deviation, up to 3d100 for deviation degree. Total deviation is still halved, but thanks to the disruption by the enemy guns, the reduction amount is still 30

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d2)

>>2304204

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>2304204

Goddamnit I fucked up my own system again.

It's up to 3 sets of 2d100.

Sheesh.

>>2304207
We can just make the second the same as the first for this one.

Rolled 88, 87 = 175 (2d100)

>>2304204

Rolled 30, 70 = 100 (2d100)

>>2304204

Rolled 80, 96 = 176 (2d100)

>>2304204

File: tcqscene118.png (1.26 MB, 2600x1015)

1.26 MB PNG

The shell went out, and you watched it the best you could…as it ricocheted off of the commander cupola of the target. Suppressing a groan of dismay, it couldn’t avoid being noticed that the fire from the enemy had stopped; either out of surprise at being hit and unharmed, or merely because the drums had been emptied. In either case, the m/28 began to reverse behind their stricken ally and downhill. The T-8s, not less obscured by their allies, began to move forward too, away from you.

A potential disaster had been avoided for your tank destroyers, but while these events had played out, the rest of your platoon had been fighting; and you hoped that they had maintained the initiative and not allowed the enemy to fire off their reply.

>Roll 2d100 for allied m/28s engaging AdGs: DC roll under 50. Failing will prompt counterfire.

>>2305068

Rolled 77, 50 = 127 (2d100)

>>2305092
fuck

Rolled 30, 91 = 121 (2d100)

>>2305068
Guns forward, people.

Rolled 45 (1d100)

The fire you had heard hadn’t been distinct; it was different sorts of rounds kicking off at once. You listened for a report on the radio, peeking out the top for good measure…

>Rolling for enemy initiative hit; DC 60 roll under, degrees of success for hit.

One of the enemy tanks on the right of your platoon’s attack had fired, that much was certain. The shot had pierced Von Igel’s m/28 through the lower hull, though Von Igel hadn’t reported the damage yet, so you had no idea if anybody was wounded, or if the damage would merely be to the tank’s front mechanisms.

Meanwhile, Krause had managed to take another shot before his enemy.

>roll 1d100, DC 70 roll under

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>2305148

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>2305148

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>2305148

You peered at the AdG that was Krause’s opponent, searching for the wound inflicted upon it. The dust made it difficult to spot, yes, but the lack of action of the enemy vehicle, as well as the smoke that began to pour out the hatches, indicated that there indeed was a hit; there it was, straight through the port for the enemy gunsight. A ridiculous shot. Even more ridiculous was that, you had no idea where the ammunition storage was on an AdG Volcan Custom, but there was almost certainly an ammunition fire starting, as the remnants of the crew poured out, choking and smoldering.

“My driver and radio operator have been wounded,” Von Igel announced over the radio, “Somebody kill this guy!”

“Calm yourself,” Krause snapped back at him before you could respond, “We can handle him.”

You would be surprised if the enemy had much fight left in them; the lighter element was already retreating; rather, advancing away from you, and the tank that had shot Von Igel’s vehicle seemed to be having second thoughts as well, as they likely saw what happened to the rest of the platoon. The T-15s, though disabled as far as weaponry went, had been unharmed when it came to driving capability, and they were busily reversing.

“Company updates?” you prompted your radio operator. Rather, Maddalyn.

“Er…”Maddalyn said cautiously. A sort of apprehension you didn’t much like the sound of.

>Roll for 1st and 2nd company performance. 2d100, lower better, to be rolled against coming rolls. Initiative and infantry give a -15 bonus to friendly roll.

Rolled 23, 45 = 68 (2d100)

>>2305185

Rolled 75, 73 = 148 (2d100)

>>2305196
Pretty good. Opposing roll make.

Rolled 46, 39 = 85 (2d100)

>>2305185
tanq are these rolls you are taking best of three, average of all or first roller?

>>2305203
First roller so we can get to a decision instead of more rolls sooner.

Though I don't think that's a bad thing for you at the moment.

“There’s…” Maddalyn hesitated, “2nd Company Commander says, he’s made a breakthrough. That the other enemies he encountered were ‘weak’ and that they were able to punch through in two places…”

Remarkable. Two penetrations?

“They did a lot of damage, and managed to overrun their enemies while destroying them…almost complete destruction. 2nd Company wants to know if they can get a second parade.”

You’d have to see. “Enough on them. What about 3rd?”

“They engaged, and they didn’t do as well, from the report, but they still forced a retreat.” Maddalyn rattled off what she could analyze from what was undoubtedly rough reports from undisciplined allies, “They’re saying they can see White Cloaks, whatever those are, ahead, and both companies want to know if they can chase down their enemies, keep going.”

This flank attack had gone incredibly. There were surely casualties to be marked from this scale of attack, but to have driven a better armed enemy from before you was a promising start to this battle. Perhaps better than Loch had imagined. If he had known how well this “diversion” would start, would he rather you dive straight into the heart of the enemy’s flank instead?

“What about 1st and 4th?” you asked, ambitious ideas forming in your head. Both of those contacts had been small, and had whole companies to face them. Surely they’d been easy pickings.

>same as before, roll performance. Mostly for the sake of it; DC 90 for both roll under. Averaged if more than one.

>>2305215
dice+2d100

Rolled 27, 85 = 112 (2d100)

>>2305221
I'm going to kill myself.

Rolled 29, 4 = 33 (2d100)

>>2305215

“1st Company’s attack was successful,” came the report. You still weren’t used to hearing such words being said in such a pitch. “Insignificant damage. The weight of fire was apparently enough to force disengaging or destruction, and they were able to take that position. 4th’s ambush…worked. It looked dicey at first, but the enemy wasn’t expecting their numbers, and were overwhelmed. Four enemy tanks disabled, crews captured.”

“Excellent.” You replied, “Commend their performance, and tell them to keep pressing south.”

Stein had taken the initiative on firing while you coordinated; apparently infantry had finally been sighted, identified, and engaged. With the rest of the Death Heads’ line here crumbling, you doubted they were doing anything but retreating or preparing to.

“Richter?” Maddalyn asked. You almost corrected her and insisted to be referred to by position, but you caught yourself. “The other companies, 2nd and 3rd, they want to keep going? The Hiedler man, says he wants to hold back.”

>Let them. We’ll chase down the stragglers and cause chaos.
>No, we’re too dispersed. I don’t want to be caught with half our strength elsewhere if a counterattack begins. We can link up with these White Eyes and plan from there.
>Other?
Also
>roll 2d3-1 for armor casualties. First roll taken. Lesser roll is for 2nd company, greater for 3rd.

Rolled 3, 2 - 1 = 4 (2d3 - 1)

>>2305250
>No, we’re too dispersed. I don’t want to be caught with half our strength elsewhere if a counterattack begins. We can link up with these White Eyes and plan from there.

Rolled 2, 3 + 1 = 6 (2d3 + 1)

>>2305250
>No, we’re too dispersed. I don’t want to be caught with half our strength elsewhere if a counterattack begins. We can link up with these White Eyes and plan from there.

>>2305263
Damn(

Rolled 3, 3 = 6 (2d3)

>>2305250
>>No, we’re too dispersed. I don’t want to be caught with half our strength elsewhere if a counterattack begins. We can link up with these White Eyes and plan from there.

The enemy force is considerable, the dust storm will mess with our formation, our allies aren't very organized/disciplined and the overall commander wanted us to draw them away.

Let's get a full accounting before any major attack. And this Ironsides fella sounds like someone who would send a huge counterattack rather than regroup and retreat so we may be able to accomplish our goal even better if we get him to chase us.

>>2305250
>>No, we’re too dispersed. I don’t want to be caught with half our strength elsewhere if a counterattack begins. We can link up with these White Eyes and plan from there.

Let's regroup with as many pockets of White Eyes as we can and then reorganize and check in with Loch if possible.

“No,” you replied, “Have all companies come to our position so we can reorganize. This dust storm hampers our organization enough, without hotheads charging off on their own. The enemy’s also much larger than us. Our ability to win here was practically a fluke; I want us to link up with the White Eyes ahead and take stock of our forces.”

After that, the battle began to wind down, though small skirmishes persisted. The forward elements of 2nd company that had pressed up around and passed you obediently formed on line again, as did 3rd company. For all their enthusiasm, it was reassuring to see that they still believed that victory had come about because of your decisions, rather than their own. Perhaps some commanders would appreciate subcommanders who were more independent, but that was a luxury for a better trained, more professional army.

Casualty reports came in while you set up your perimeters and reabsorbed the once beleaguered White Eyes. 2nd Company had only suffered one tank knocked out, technically two, if you counted the damage done to Von Igel’s tank. His stricken Driver and Radio Operator were no longer combat capable, either; they had been sprayed with spall, and they sat outside the tank covered with bloody wrappings, huddling against the chilling gusts under ponchos in the shadow of their tank while Von Igel and his gunner inspected the damage from inside and out.

3rd Company had suffered three tanks knocked out. It was to be expected; the majority of your forces’ armor was inferior, after all, but it could have been much worse if you hadn’t broken the enemy so soon.

In the meantime, inspections were done on the knocked out vehicles to see how bad the damage had been. Much of the enemy, from reports, had been made up of simple NfK-5ts, or even the less complex unmodified variants with no turrets, which had been unable to turn to counterattack in time, so you expected to be able to reman most of the vehicles, if their crews were still able. Even if that wasn’t the case, the grenadiers would always be happy to get out of the storm.

>roll 1d4+1 to see how many tanks are immediately recoverable. If a full 4 is rolled, the +1 will be applied to reduce damage to Von Igel’s m/28

Rolled 2 + 1 (1d4 + 1)

>>2305315

Rolled 2 + 1 (1d4 + 1)

>>2305315

Rolled 2 + 1 (1d4 + 1)

>>2305315

Gee I wonder what the average will be.

Three of the knocked out tanks were able to be repaired. One turned out to be, upon closer inspection, on fire, and your own platoon’s m/28 had suffered damage to its forward transmission. Entirely repairable, if you had access to a mechanic and a safe workshop out here, but you lacked either of those things. It would have to be towed, or abandoned.

As that was happening, you had the leader of the White Eyes you had rescued bring you up to speed.

“Name and rank,” you requested. When the White Eye looked at you blankly, his cloak flapping in the wind, you sighed, and said, “Fine. Name, and whoever you’re with.”

“That doesn’t matter,” the White Eye said with sudden exasperation, “We were a hundred, and we’ve been cut down to thirty or so. We got separated from our boss’s people, but our last command was to try and break out, so that’s what we did. Barely! Thanks to you.” The white hooded fighter waited a bit, presumably for a comment from you, but when none came, he went on excitedly. “Please, you’ve got to help Battalion Command! They’re a bit far in there, but we made it this far, there can’t be much in the way. With your tanks, you could, you know…I mean, Boss Viska’s an awful pretty girl, if you save her and her group, she might, you know,”

“Base temptations are unneeded,” you cut him off. Stein emerged from your tank from behind as you said this.

“Commander!” he said loudly over the wind, “Princess says 1st Company called, they spotted the enemy armor contact from earlier moving north for where their battle was. They avoided them to come here.”

“Good!” you shouted back, “Good on them. Tell them to keep doing that!”

You turned back to the White Eye, who was turning his head over for appeals that would work. Eventually, he simply settled on, “Please commandant, command had a whole ring of people around them, the couriers that came out said they’d be the last ones out, it might be a last stand!”

Reflexive heroism might have compelled you to charge onward, to rescue the light voiced lady, but you had tactical reality to consider. The armor contact now to your rear and east was still of unknown size, and you had no way of knowing for sure in this weather how true the White Eye’s claim of an easy route was. Furthermore, by wiping a company off the map, you had to have gained the ire of the enemy command structure by now, if not soon.

Then again, you had your battalion, and momentum. Perhaps you could cleave through the enemy before they could reorganize, and come out with more allies than you’d ever planned?

>It’s unfortunate, but you have no choice. Your strength of numbers and equipment are simply insufficient to try a move that bold. You would head back the way you came, perhaps engaging that armor contact on the way out.
>You came this far, why not press onward? The battlefield was yielding before you like butter before a knife, and your will could be imposed upon the enemy right now. Southwards!
>Try to contact Loch for advise on this manner; perhaps with an update of the tactical situation from you to him and him to you, the best decision could be made right there, though he might not make a decision you approve of…
>Other?

How long will it take to contact locke?

>>2305419
Not long enough to be a time concern.

>>2305408
Man i don't know... On one hand they willingly put themselves in this situation, knowing full well the risks. We might drive into a death trap. On the other, it seems like a shitty thing to leave them to their fate. Richter is a bit of a pessimist but he still has a history of taking risks for his friends and allies.
And on the other foot, if we call Loch we can pretend that it isn't our fault if they die.

>Tell Loch that we are moving to assist, get an update on the battle. He'll do something about the battle lines if he still wants to win the war

>>2305408
>other
>inform locke you're going to help the white eyes and get an update on the battle, if he says to pull back though do so

>>2305429

Seconding. Hopefully he can arrange a distraction or take advantage of our exploits. We shouldn't leave the White Eyes force to be annihilated.

>>2305453
Gotta give up a pawn to capture a queen

>>2305429
This works.

It is a vain hope but maybe Viska-senpai will notice us as well.

You motioned for the cloaked militiaman to wait and you clambered back into the T-15.

“Radioman, put me on command frequency. I want to talk with Loch.”

Such was done, and you found yourself preoccupied once again with the western enigma.

“Oh, my,” he addressed you as Maddalyn handed you over, “I am graced by Hell Gitt’s legacy in the making. Whatever may I do for you?”

“I have executed the feint, and we have inflicted great casualties for few of our own,” you told Loch, “and-“

“And you are ready to withdraw? Do not let me keep you, then. Or was there something else?”

You explained your situation, and Loch listened intently, interjecting an out of place humorous aside where he felt.

“So we are in position to…attempt to break out these people,” you finished, “I want an update on your situation, because I think that there is an opportunity that we can exploit here, instead of going along with the original plan.”

“Ah ha ha,” Loch laughed sardonically, “I never thought you to be the sentimental sort. I thought your people considered such folk vermin, as most do?”

“That’s not-“

“Indulge me, Von Tracht,” Loch trampled over your protest, “Is this over the woman? Viska, I believe it was?”

Maddalyn coughed.

“I would rather you not make such crass implications at a time like this,” you felt your lips thin out, “I would especially appreciate you not to make such comments when my fiancée is operating our communications.”

“Pardon me,” Loch said with noticeable insincerity, “It is simply so difficult to be uptight when the plan has taken a splendid turn. I must ask you several questions, though. You are aware that the basis of the plan is utilizing this rare opportunity of severely reduced visibility, to make disengagement and maneuvering freely an easy task? And to strike where the enemy is weak, rather than attacking their strength? To allow their strength to exhaust themselves against our line, rather than against our elite?”

“Yes,” you groused impatiently, “I am saying that there is an opportunity…”

“There is indeed. Yet you want to drive deep into enemy lines to rescue the White Eyes Battalion Headquarters, the direction their forces are also moving in order to intercept you? I would wager they mean to finish off the core of the resistance behind their lines before dealing with you. If you are confident that you can accomplish the mighty task of breaking through and reaching the besieged volunteers, then I will not stop you from trying. However,”

Loch’s tone became deadly serious, the sort of tone you hadn’t heard often, “Hostmaster Viska reported that she volunteered for this eventuality, and received your permission to attempt to hold out, in order to delay and disrupt the enemy. They volunteered to sacrifice themselves. Your men did not. I hardly need to inform you of the worthlessness of a sacrifice made for the sake of the doomed, do I?”

You met that with silence.

“Good. Do as you will, Von Tracht, but do it competently, and quickly. I will direct the forces under my command to do their best to convince our mutual foe against moving to meet you too quickly, should you decide to be daring. Their commander is brutish, but he does not seem to be a fool. Such folk are easy to bend to one’s will. Should you decide the risk to not be worth the lives of your men, then we shall proceed to the next step of our original plan. Whatever you decide, inform me now.”

>I choose to be daring, then. I’m looking at the possibility of retreating, but victory is mooning me as I do so. (Make the attack southwards)
>They knew their place in the plan, and I will not forget mine. The few will fall so the many may win. (Retreat north)
>Other?

>>2305777
Go break them out.

When we volunteered for the night attack, command made every preparation to extract us. If we sell the most dedicated lives so willingly without at least trying, then this Republic is doomed when Richter and Loch leave.

>>2305861
Dis

>>2305777
>>They knew their place in the plan, and I will not forget mine. The few will fall so the many may win. (Retreat north)

>>2305777

Well I see this going two possible ways. One, we reach the White Eyes and manage to break them out and withdraw before their main force arrives, in which case we've successfully rescued our allies and wasted the enemy's time maneuvering to no effect. Or, we're forced to engage the main enemy force, in which case we can use the weather to draw them into a prolonged battle and distract them while Loch goes on the offensive against their weaker elements while their main force is occupied. If Loch can take advantage of our distraction to sow sufficient chaos among the enemy lines and further disrupt their forces it could prove even better than the original plan of waiting for them to attack us. Right now we still have the initiative while the enemy is attempting to secure their rear, and I see no reason to surrender it.

>I choose to be daring, then. I’m looking at the possibility of retreating, but victory is mooning me as I do so. (Make the attack southwards)

>>2305777
>I choose to be daring, then. I’m looking at the possibility of retreating, but victory is mooning me as I do so. (Make the attack southwards)

Officially we are also rescuing the leader of the White Eyes, I can't imagine the people they left behind back in the Republic would look favorably on letting them die.

But really I just want to save an Angel.

>>2305777
>>I choose to be daring, then. I’m looking at the possibility of retreating, but victory is mooning me as I do so. (Make the attack southwards)

Resuming updates soon

You thought back to your limited period of service, to the support your own nation gave you in the past. Even for a special mission with high chance of failure, every precaution was made in order to extract every life, lives that similarly trusted the Archduchy that they were not being sent on a suicide mission. You had learned much about the people of Sosaldt and their odd intricacies, but you were still certain that heroism was largely a rare trait, yet these White Eyes, despite having been apparently little more than smugglers, believed in the Republic enough to lay down their lives for it. How could such people be allowed to die, while others remained unharmed? How long would the Republic survive without such people?

“I choose to be daring, then,” you replied to Loch, “I looked at the possibility of retreating, but victory would be mooning me as I do so.”

Maddalyn coughed again, more harshly.

“I don’t think your fiancée likes your crude comment very much.”

“I’ll take your return to sarcasm as approval, then?”

“We shall see,” Loch left you off, “Do be quick, will you? Lord Wossehn has planned a victory feast for the survivors.”

File: tcq_dustbattle4.png (2.67 MB, 1400x1200)

2.67 MB PNG

Your battalion was reformed. No longer was your formation such to draw attention; you’d already done that. You now formed a proper battle column, built for flexibility and to attack, then maneuver around with reserves. A more classical formation could be an echelon, you supposed, but breadth would be against you. Without the threat of artillery and the problem of lacking visibility, compactness would be much more beneficial than usual.

The White Eyes band that you had rescued, effectively a platoon, lingered by. You weren’t sure yet whether to take them with you or to send them on their way towards safety; they’d certainly fought hard enough already, but it was possible that you would have need of their manpower.

You had also had their leaders brief you on their experience. Apparently, they had begun withdrawing from the south, a good kilometer from their battalion HQ, after being threatened by a large, unknown group. As they retreated, they had been caught by enemy armor, from which they retreated successfully, before the group you engaged (they said it could be a different one, or it could have been the same; they didn’t know, and you presumed the worst, that it was a different one and that the old one was still lurking about) caught them from the north and began fighting.

Even then, there was still the armor formation up north that you’d passed by, barely audible now but still present. You hoped they would still dumbly proceed north, instead of tracking you down.

Now, though, you had to decide your method of movement.
>Mount up all troops to maximize speed; you didn’t have time to appease a sense of caution. You’d go around any contact. (reduce visibility by 50)
>Maintain current disposition; there were still enemies about, and it was preferable to get the drop on them. (Maintain current visibility)
>Other?
Also
>Take the White Eyes with you
>Send the White Eyes northwest and back towards friendly lines
If you want to change the formation, you can do that as well, if you like.

Also, there's the matter of Von Igel's tank. Unless stated otherwise, he'll be keeping out of action as a reserve, considering his crew is down by half due to injuries even considering the loss of his vehicle.

>>2305777
>>I choose to be daring, then. I’m looking at the possibility of retreating, but victory is mooning me as I do so. (Make the attack southwards)
This republic is doomed as that anon said, if the outsiders exploiting their army leave them to die. What fool would trust Signy after we leave?

>>2306567
Can any white eyes replace his crew, and can we steal any of the tanks we fought? Simply driving them in front as shields would suffice

Actually if any are able to drive, send them off North by taping down the gas pedal as a diversion

Booby traps optional but encouraged

>>2306567
>>Maintain current disposition; there were still enemies about, and it was preferable to get the drop on them. (Maintain current visibility)
>>Take the White Eyes with you

>>2306608
Seconding

>>2306580
The White Eyes aren't much more mechanically inclined than the average peasant; which is to say, not much. Chances are most of them don't even know how to drive, since their smuggling operations aren't very mechanized either, from what you've heard.

You could scrounge through the enemy knocked out things for a replacement, but I'd keep in mind with the different colors, the poor visibility and the close in combat, friendly fire's already a decent risk even without having the colors of your enemy with little in the way of identification, save maybe improvised flags.

Also, a knocked out tank has already had its armor compromised.

>>2306600
You could try that, though it certainly wouldn't be very courteous to anybody up north. So long as you told command that you just released a flock of empty vehicles.

However it'd also take some time to set up, so it would depend on if you think it's worth that.

>>2306567

What if we send one company forward at max speed with the rest trailing behind? That way if they run into shit we can flank and destroy the enemy with the itbrr companies without our entire battalion being ambushed at once, and we still will be moving fast enough to have a chance of beating the main enemy force to our objective.

>>2306623
Could send the empty tanks straight at the enemy movement to the east too I suppose, it should give them pause. Hopefully they think they kind of trick is pulled to help a retreat, not a mad charge

>>2306567
>Mount up all troops to maximize speed; you didn’t have time to appease a sense of caution. You’d go around any contact. (reduce visibility by 50)
We can detect contacts by sound
>Take the White Eyes with you
>Send a single captured tank North on autopilot
All it has to do is to be loud.