File: Operation04_EastTurnOpen.jpg (891 KB, 1535x1107)

891 KB JPG

Countess Haile Margareta Rendsdottir-Hageldorf assumed she knew a great deal about the world. After all, she was a well-educated noble lady, whose estate possessed a grand library, and both the instruction of tutors over the whole of her life as well as her academy education ensured that she could confidently hold her head high over most, whose education often that which was given by default for the common good. Additionally, she held a certain amount of knowledge that was quite restricted to the rest of the world- a privelidge of her ancestry and relations. Yet nothing had prepared her for what she saw now.

Resigned to having her attempt at sacrifice be foiled and made into what could be called an abduction, she had little to do but look around and try to figure out what was happening- when something crawled out from the crystal spires- some bending, some cracking and breaking, as something forced its way upwards- and soon, it had revealed itself, towering, looming over all.

It was huge- a mountain that walked, with great pale eyes that stared from both beside a tentacle-laden head and floated beside it. Ethereal flames orbited it, darting like fireflies, and shadowy images blurred near it. She could barely stand to squint at it- eyeing it felt like looking at the sun, albeit through a thin cloud.

An intense hunger suddenly clawed at her stomach- a pain from inside her head, as a pair of syllables reverberated in a deep tone that clanged inside the head like the banging of dropped steel.

”LA MOUTT.”

Nobody had to be told to flee- the question was whether this awe-inspiring terror had the capacity to prevent them from doing so, as its hunger radiated so fiercely that they might already be being eaten alive, in a way…
At least, that was what those near enough to hear thought.

Lieutenant Giovanni found himself and his vehicle quite alone- far from any fight. Even though another one had been expected- all there was here was quiet. The sound of waves lapping up on the shoreside. Nothing here- but that made it little different from everywhere else, in a way…

-----

File: Operation04_WestTurnOpen.jpg (1.5 MB, 2009x1428)

1.5 MB JPG

The drenching of the mist and fog ended- Major Sanen Yule looked into the fading mists, and ill liked what he saw- the thundering and rumbling from afar was nothing compared to the Twaryians and Revolutionaries that were right there.

Yet- Lieutenant Lutzow-Spelinger had pushed straight up the flank. For now, there was little in the way of what remained of the Battalion in its primary mass. There was plenty of hope to be able to get out…as long as they could outfight the enemy that was now in their midst- both enemy and friend seemed just as confused at each other’s appearance- as well as, perhaps, where they had found themselves.

Somehow, Lieutenant Ferrari had driven straight through a geological formation. Yule didn’t question how. The officer didn’t know either- claiming that they had simply driven through the mist as fast as they could.

Radio communications had been out while the fog had descended- now they were back. Yule wasted no time in outlining the tactical situation- there was no positive spin to put on things besides that escape was possible. The enemy had closed in now- and more were surely just about to arrive. The northern contingent had escaped- their radio signal was patchy at best, and it wasn’t certain anything was even transmitting. Some absolutely awful transmission was blocking off anything coming from further east than Lieutenant Krogh- a warbling, screeching wail that drowned them out but nobody else. There wasn’t time to worry about that, or them- just like everybody else, they’d have to fight their way out, and nobody could be asked to wait around or go back now.

>Turn is Open.

-----

The last thread of Operation 04 is here- https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5709549/
I can repost the info if needed, but everything relevant is still in the old thread. Sorry for the delays in getting things started here again- it's time to finish this.

Rolled 9, 1, 9, 4, 6, 1, 2 = 32 (7d10)

>>5750092
>Initiative
>5x 5cm AP at Krasnyy
>Move 3x NE to aa9
>Spotting

>>5750092
Could you repost the rules PDF? Can't access it from suptg.

>>5750091
Big balls time

<<SPLIT TELL MY SISTER TO LIVE WELL>>

>Flare to get the attention of the crabs
>Run down the road hopefully with the crabs very close behind me

File: ashendawnmanual_4-min.pdf (5.99 MB, PDF)

5.99 MB PDF

>>5750102
Sure.

>>5750097
>Using 2x Mortars to smoke aa8 and 9

File: panzerjunk33.png (549 KB, 635x429)

549 KB PNG

Rolled 4, 5, 3, 10, 5, 9, 8, 6, 3, 4, 10, 8 = 75 (12d10)

>>5750092
Freya felt a cold shiver run up her spine, one that made the icy pain in her chest flare. It wasn't the usual smell of smoke and iron on the air but the message was the same; there's something here that will kill you.

When the call for contact right came, Freya poked her head out of the tank's hatch and gave the command to prepare fire. Even so she waved her arms with hat in hand, trying to motion for the Twaryians to move further northwards.

"Come on, you dense bastard... Run! Don't make me shoot you again."

------

Fire
>Give the Twaryians a chance to heed her warning, but if not...
>Spotting
>Initiative
>Fire x1 2.5cm Cannon at Combat Cars
>Fire x3 2cm Cannons [Multiattack] at Combat Cars
>Fire x1 13mm Machine Gun [Multiattack] at Combat Cars
>Fire x1 8mm Machine Gun at Combat Cars

Movement
>Move 1 N
>Move 1 NE
>Move 2 N
>Deploy Smoke Racks

Rolled 7, 4, 6, 1, 6, 3, 3 = 30 (7d10)

>>5750092
"One last slog before freedom eh? And it's the cockroach at that. Well, you know what they say. When you're going through hell, keep going. Platoon, to glory! Forward!"

>Initiative (radio)
>Fire 4x 5cm cannon, 1x 13mm Pintle Gun (multi-attack 2) at the cockroach
>Move 2 NE

>>5750154
Cancel this
>Move HQ N,N,NW,N

>>5750097
Move N,N,NW (Or N,N if I can't share a tile with HQ)

Rolled 6, 2, 9 = 17 (3d10)

>>5750092
>Initiative
>Spotting
>Fire at Krasnyy
>Move 2N, 1NE

>>5750092
Are the 16cm guns on cooldpwn?

>>5750287
They are not. Though one should keep in mind that the HQ can't use its fire support and also move on the same turn.

File: Smoke.png (3.14 MB, 1420x953)

3.14 MB PNG

Here's my suggestions for smoke by certain infantry platoons (D-4 and D-7 mostly.

>>5750514
also if D-6 could smoke SE of his position to save C-5 from getting shot in the flank by T-16Bs which would instantly wipe her that would be good.

Rolled 3, 8 = 11 (2d10)

>>5750092
I take it back, I don't want to see the crab anymore.

Also I think I'm supposed to be on the tile north of where I'm at, at the edge of the lake and forest unless that spot is out of play. Assuming I can still start there then:

>Turn
>Invoke DIVINATION one last time on the biggest crab speaking Emrean at me
Rolls: spotting, init
>Fire: Arc a flare right above the Twaryian tank facing me across the lake. Pile in and lock the hatches to ward off the soul sucking
>Move: Starting on Z37 move N, N to Z35
---
No idiot humor could drown the fear clawing at his throat. The sheer PULL the gigantic abomination had over him was nearly enough to topple him out of the turret.

He always thought you could get away with one ballsy move per mission. Well, there were no amount of balls to get away from this one. If the massive creature (surely a prank played on him by the Judge) wouldn't consume him, then those cannons that had materialized across the lake would pulverize him.

"One last joke then," he croaked. With shaking hands, dropping flare shells like wet spaghetti onto the top of the cupola he somehow loaded his pistol.

Walter aimed toward his human foe and fired. The giant crab was, paradoxically enough, probably too smart to fall for charging away, but it might be enough to cause the Twaryians to panic and fire at the monster if they thought it would be successfully lured.

Probably not, but either way why not go out with a fizzle.

With a snort, he turned to Haile inside the cramped confines of his rolling coffin, "Sorry bosslady. You might have been better off getting captured. But good news! Your ploy worked, everyone else is getting away."

>>5750544
Hang on I see what I did:
Last move-
>Move 2 NW to Z47, same facing

The right move order but the wrong map spot destination. I leave it up to you tanq where I end up.

Just make sure I leave a good looking crater wherever I die.

File: 00021-1789025120.png (502 KB, 640x512)

502 KB PNG

I described the op to a friend of mine and he's been having a whale of a time spitting out crazy AI images at me all night. Enjoy.

Rolled 9, 4, 8, 4, 3 = 28 (5d10)

>>5750092
Not sure how I ended up where I am but I should be SE of where I am going by my movement. You moved me West instead of South yeah, I should be at R17 facing East.

[Previous movement below.]
>>5748808
>Fire and Maneuver South
>Pivot facing East

[Actions]
>Initiative +1 from Radio. +5 Initiative Total.
>Fire on the tanks to my 2SE, 2E. -2 DEF to them because they're full flanked. +4 ATK

Rolled 7, 1 = 8 (2d10)

>>5750092
>Dismount
>Roll Initiative and Spotting
>Throw smokes in z11, z12, y13, and x13
>Mount up, move NE, NE, and dismount, ending in aa10
>Dig in

Rolled 7, 2 = 9 (2d10)

>>5750092
>Initiative and spotting
>Move NW, NW, N, NE to T22

Rolled 10, 3, 6, 10, 4 = 33 (5d10)

TURN 2-1 Order

What the fuck was happening? That was the thought running through Ingrids mind as she fruitlessly stared at the fog. It seemed to have creeped into her mask.

Suddenly hearing the roar of engines ahead, through a sudden and rowing break in the fog Ingrid shouted contact as the form of enemy tank destroyers took shape.


“Enemy armor close front, fire fire fire!”


ORDERS
Initiative
Use Peacefields
Fire at enemy a right in front of me. 4 m24/Ks at +5 Attack vs ??? Def
Move North X3
Begin digging in

Rolled 10, 2 = 12 (2d10)

>>5750092
>Initiative
>Spotting
>Move NorthEast
>Move North
>Move North

>>5750092
>move 1x N, 1x NE into bb10

File: Gasduo.png (377 KB, 660x1600)

377 KB PNG

Rolled 10, 6 = 16 (2d10)

>>5750092

Her flesh was chill, each breath billowing mist as the specter of death rode on their heels. She clutched a flower of stone, her eyes locked upon the steel leviathan which had nearly sealed their fates as it began a slow descent into the shallows, its guns blissfully silent. Her heart grew numb. If there were more of their bodies left than bone fragments of Zufalligdorf and her crew she had seen no sign of them as they streamed through the trees towards salvation.

A pang of hunger suddenly struck her, but not from within. The False Bloom she clutched in her palm shuddered. Somewhere out there powers beyond the station of mortal men had acted and even from so far away she felt as if a furrow had been left in her soul. The primal fear of animals rose upon her as the tides lapped upon the shore and she selfishly wondered if, for a second time since the war began, she would be cursed to survive as her fellows fell besides her one by one until only she remained.

The mist began to lift, and with it the silence which allowed these thoughts to plague her mind departed. Behind her was the bulk of what remained of the Hageldorf Battalion. In front and besides her were the last hurdle between themselves and survival. Self pitying thoughts were cast aside as she began to shout orders, to escape the closing jaws of the mouth of hell.

>Turn

>Spotting
>Initiative (3+1(Radio)-1(Chemical Protection)=3)
>Free Dismount before firing phase
>Smoke Grenades on X10
>Remount
>Move 2 tiles North to X9

Rolled 10, 8 = 18 (2d10)

>>5750092
>Initiative
>Spot
>Fire: Deploy Smoke
>Move: 2E, 1NE, Pivot North

Rolled 5, 5, 2, 2, 1, 10, 2, 7, 1, 3, 10, 10 = 58 (12d10)

Honestly I don't know how I managed to do it (mostly) every day while on full time, I must have been out of my fucking mind.
Anyways.
The positioning has been corrected where pointed out, and I'll get to the turn resolution next morning. For now-

Initiative and Spotting for-

1- Fenix Krasnyy
2- Western T-8DIIs
3- Western TO-16s
4- Western Vitelians
5- Eastern Twaryians
6- Crabs

File: D-7 bot 1.png (1.69 MB, 882x796)

1.69 MB PNG

Rolled 3, 4 = 7 (2d10)

>>5750092
>init
>spotting
>dismount
>smoke D-13, D-7, HQ and C-5 with rifle grenades (see image)
>mount up, move NE, NE and dismount again

Last minute botwave here we go.

Rolled 6, 3, 2, 6, 10 = 27 (5d10)

>>5750092
>init (radio)
>spotting
>shoot T-8s to the direct NE, right next to C-5 with 3x 5cm
>move NE, NE (south of D-4s current position) and pivot south

there's an uncomfortable amount of tanks looking at C-5 Im going to be honest. Also hopefully a good init roll here can be shared to those who need it.

Rolled 7, 6 = 13 (2d10)

>>5750092
>init
>spotting
>dismount
>throw one smoke SE of D-6s current position (2 North of the T-16Bs)
>mount up. move NW, NE along the beach

>>5751758
Also, throw some smoke on J-5s position. Cover for everyone!

File: Operation04_EastTurn1_Shoot.jpg (1.51 MB, 2009x1428)

1.51 MB JPG

>INI Dreamer- The Dreamer surveys these mortal morsels…
>INI 15- R-11 Li-Shen- Deploys Smoke.
>INI 13- D-13 Becker- Deploys Smoke.
>INI 13- J-9 Fuchs-Attacks aa10 RAGV SV 20/30-75s. ATK 3 vs DEF 3+1, 6+ to Hit. (PEACEFIELDS TOKEN ACTIVATED) 2 Hits, 1 Crit. PRC 5 vs ARM 4. Two targets destroyed.
>INI 12- J-5 Wesker- Attacks Fenix Krasnyy. ATK 8 vs DEF 3, Auto-Hit. (No Flank due to Hard Cover on Flank), PRC 6 vs ARM 5. 1 Damage to Target.
>INI 12- D-6 Wester- Deploys Smoke.
>INI 12- C-2 Sikorsky- Attacks Fenix Krasnyy. PRC 5 vs ARM 5, requires Crits to Hit. No Hits.
>INI 12- J-7 Black- Attacks V19 Twaryian TO-16s. Front Flank- ARM -2. ATK 4 vs DEF 3, 4+ to Hit. PRC 7 vs ARM 3-2, +3 Extra Damage. Three Targets Destroyed.
>INI 11- R-3 Unterbrust- Initiates a standoff…
>INI 11- D-4 Gauthier- Deploys Smoke.
>INI 11- X35 Embraced Living Stones- Hunts D-8 Vilgerson. ATK 3 vs DEF 2+2, 6+ to Hit. (Rolled 2, 4, 4, 4) No Hits.
>INI 9- Fenix Krasnyy- Attacks C-3 Lutzow-Spelinger. ATK 6, 5 vs DEF 1. Auto Hit. Three Hits. PRC 6, 5 vs ARM 4- Extra Damage on First Attack. (Vehicle 4 hit for 2, Vehicle 1 Hit twice for 2).
>INI 8- C-3 Lutzow-Spelinger- Attacks Fenix Krasnyy. PRC 5, 1 vs ARM 5, requires crits to hit. No Hits.
>INI 7- C-5 Martins- Attacks X14 Twaryian T-8DIIs, ATK 4 vs DEF 4, 5+ to Hit. One Hit, One Crit. PRC 5 vs ARM 2, Extra Damage. Two targets destroyed.
>INI 6- X14 Twaryian T-8DIIs- Attacks C-5 Martins. ATK 5 vs DEF 1+1, 2+ to Hit. (Vehicle 1 requires Crits to Hit). (Rolled 9, 9) PRC 4 vs ARM 3, 1 damage to Vehicle 3.
>INI 6- X17 Twaryian T-8DIIs- Attacks R-11 Li-Shen. Attack blocked by smoke.
>INI 5- X9 Fenix T-8s- Attacks D-13 Becker. Attack blocked by smoke.
>INI 5- Z14 RAGV AB 14/29s- Attacks R-11 Li-Shen. Attack blocked by smoke.
>INI 5- aa10 RAGV SV 20/30-75s- Attacks J-9 Fuchs. ATK 3 vs DEF 1+1, 4+ to Hit. (Rolled 2, 8) One Hit. PRC 4 HE-AT vs ARM 3. (Vehicle 3 takes 1 damage and is knocked out)
>INI 4- Z15 Twaryian TO-16s- Attacks C-5 Martins. ATK 5 vs DEF 1+1, 2+ to Hit. PRC 4, Vehicle 1 Requires crits to Hit. (Rolled 3, 9, 7, 2) (Vehicle 2 hit for 1 Damage)
>INI 4- V19 Twaryian TO-16s- Attacks J-7 Black. ATK 5 vs DEF 1+1, 2+ to Hit. (Rolled 9) One Hit. PRC 4 vs ARM 1, Extra Damage. (Vehicle 4 is hit for 2 and knocked out)

File: Operation04_EastTurn1_Move.jpg (1.55 MB, 2009x1428)

1.55 MB JPG

>C-5 Martins, Unexpected Encounter with AB-14/29s!
>D-3 Ferrari, Unexpected Encounter!

-----

On the other side of the peninsula, nobody knew anything about gigantic living stones, ethereal flame, spirits, or anything that may as well have been the ramblings of an overactive imagination- their problems had truth enough to them without the folk tales of the Huldraviklands creeping into their perception of reality.

Most of the action was blind firing- some shots traded, but the majority of successful deployments of ordinance were smoke, laid down to prevent more incoming. Shots splattered against armor- some finding more purchase than others, but as the battalion continued to move, Yule took heart in the fact that the losses were still mounting more quickly on the enemy’s side than the battalion’s.

What there was less heart to take in was that the enemy was now and truly well in amongst the formation. Ahead, that rot-hearted Twaryian ace that had hounded the battalion since its first operation was forming a wall, along with his castoff forces, barring the oh-so-close line of retreat. The heavy tank destroyers that once made a mockery of such machines as the T-15 were in far fewer quantity now- and Yule had no plan for them, besides their slow speed making the superior maneuverability of the battalion a clear advantage. Fighting them might not be avoidable with how little space was no being shared with so many foes- but so long as the battalion flowed through them like water, knocking out the faster foes, then if what Lieutenant Lutzow-Spelinger reported was true, nothing could prevent getting off this Judge-forsaken peninsula, to what future, he dared not hope overmuch about…

-----

File: Operation04_WestTurn1_Shoot.jpg (926 KB, 1535x1107)

926 KB JPG

There was a measure of validation allowed to Splitterschwert, as he glanced through the commander’s cupola vision blocks at the terrifying mountain that strode remarkably quickly forth- white orbs seeming to search, tendrils coming from its great crustacean mouth grasping, reaching like shadows lurching forth. According to every folk tale, evil spirits hated steel- but creatures of the depths were also said to avoid the sea, leaving that domain to the sea spirits and devils, yet here this thing was on the coast.

It was impossible to deny that this thing was flesh and blood- and stone, and crystal, all manner of things better off left unknown- it could very well be that this was some mad hallucination, but that chance wasn’t taken, as he hid inside the steel shell that had some home of defending against such evil sorcery as this.

A great ball of light seemed to race towards Splitterschwert- a heat radiated through the tank as something suddenly buzzed against the hull. He would have looked- were it not for a remarkable sight- that of the great, gigantic crab’s face being struck by an explosive shell and recoiling as though punched- more, it appeared, out of surprise than being hurt, as subsequent explosions blew out from its shell, and it planted its claws firmly into the earth, rearing up even higher…

File: Operation04_WestTurn1_Move.jpg (928 KB, 1535x1107)

928 KB JPG

The ground seared with flame and light of ethereal, unreal shade, and whorled into the creature, from which the Nauk officer swore he could hear the same rumbling voice, in an unknown language, speaking, commanding, single syllables in a chain, an incantation perhaps, though not one heard with ears. The flames then out in front of it. Splitterschwert shielded his eyes from a blue sun that flashed for a moment, then raced forward. He did not look to see where it hit, or what the damage was- the woods were near, and the potential of any escape from all of this.

Vilgerson’s platoon had gone ahead- the radios had failed somehow, and he couldn’t be heard, but judging from the fact that where he had been located, there were now Living Stones, extremely agitated ones, though no sign of any bodies or half-eaten trucks. That meant that there might not be anything in the way of fleeing…

Flee he would have to, soon, as the Living Stones spun in place at the noise of his tank- and whatever was stuck on his hull hadn’t gotten any less angry about the matter, either.
-----

>Turn is Open

Sorry about this taking longer than usual. There wasn't something particularly hard to deal with, just was tired today.
>>5750673
That's pretty darn neat there- though it seems like the time period's been adjusted quite a bit. Though that's the nature of a word-based description fed through an algorithm's interpretation- pretty interesting how you get varied results like those artists who tried reconstructing animals based solely on oral account.

>>5752332
Hey tanq I changed my move, so I should be behind D-13.>>5750208

Out right now so I'll do my move proper when I get back.

Rolled 10, 1 = 11 (2d10)

>>5752328
>Ini
>Spot
>Fire: Only if there is a valid target (in this case there isn't one? Please shoot if there is. Kinda in the middle of a in game life or death situation)
>Move: 1NW
>Resolution: Dig in

File: 00018-1822716218.png (527 KB, 640x512)

527 KB PNG

>>5752332
>though it seems like the time period's been adjusted quite a bit
Yeah, it seemed to have a hard time producing tanks and crabs together at all without defaulting to just the one or making giant purple vehicles with pincers, so I skimmed out the best.

>>5752342
Extremely Clutch. Praise the Judge and pass the ammunition.

>>5752328
D-7 is dismounted by the way.
>>5751758

Rolled 5, 5, 5, 8, 5, 1, 5 = 34 (7d10)

>>5752331
>Initiative (radio)
>Fire 4x 5cm cannon and 1x 13mm Pintle Gun (multi-attack 2) at T-8 to my direct front
>Pivot N, Move NW, N (leave)

>>5752328
For what it's worth, the T-8's on my rear exhibited a 5 mov movement. Pivot N (1), Moved NW N NE (3), Pivot E (1). They should be facing N. Doesn't really help me at all but it might cost them movement / facing for next turn.

>>5752328
Can I use Wesker's radio roll for initiative instead of mine, or is that not allowed?

>>5752340
*On top of HQ, sorry I've been informed you can stack

Rolled 5, 9, 9, 2, 1, 7, 5, 4 = 42 (8d10)

>>5752328
>Initiative. +Ini from radio range
>Spot
>Fire: Fire Vpk-2 (3x3.7cm) at the AB-14/29's to my North West feat. Bellona
>Fire: Fire BM-2 (1x13mm Multi 2) at Soldati D'assalto NE and [Suppress] them with 8mm machine gun
>Move: Pivot West, Move 2SW, Pivot North

Rolled 6, 1, 6, 8, 9 = 30 (5d10)

>>5752331
>Initiative +3 from not moving. +7 total?
>Activate Mirage Aspect to save Vehicle 4
>Fire on the TO-16s with Vehicle 4
>Fire 3x on the tanks to my 1SE, 3E
>Reverse South West

>>5750155
I hit the Pastas in the side but the lone Ian's got my number. Would you mind taking him out? So long as I survive I can cover the escape and make the Ians bleed.

File: R-1 Balling 2.jpg (378 KB, 1400x1600)

378 KB JPG

Rolled 9, 4, 6, 3, 6 = 28 (5d10)

>>5752331
First the unexpected encounter
>initiative
>spotting
>shoot the AB-14/29s with 3x5cm

Rolled 10, 3, 5, 1 = 19 (4d10)

>>5752331
okay, and now for the normal turn
>init
>shoot the T-8DIIs right in front (South) of C-5 with 3x5cm
>Prepare F&M
>Try to block movement past us as best as possible

HOLD THE LINE

Rolled 10, 3, 9, 6, 10, 4, 2 = 44 (7d10)

>>5752331
>>5752340
>Initiative (using the radio roll of 10, +2 from EXP, +1 from company radio bonus)
>5x 5cm AP at Feniks T-8
>Spotting
>Move N, NE (ending X7)

>>5752412
Meant to tag this >>5752367

File: Smoke 2.png (1.58 MB, 921x676)

1.58 MB PNG

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d10)

>>5752331
>init (+5 stats +1 from radio, grab a 10 from J-5 or C-5 for a total of 16)
>spotting
>rifle grenade smoke on the marked locations (see picture, the smoke on C-5 is to make it so it lasts longer)
>mount up, move NW, NW on top of the HQs current location.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>5752331


>Turn

>Spotting
>Free Dismount before firing phase
>Reserve Fire with Grenades and Flamethrowers
>Prepare Fire and Maneuver
>Dig in

>>5752331
>Mortar Smoke on Z3,Z4,aa4,aa5,aa6,bb6
>RF16cm Howitzers,facing South

File: smoke.png (1.59 MB, 974x735)

1.59 MB PNG

>>5752511
and pic

>>5752412
Modifying it slightly, I'll go N,N,NE (ending X6)

Apologies for all the amendments and such tanq, this survival business is pretty intense where you're trying to guess how the enemy will react.

>>5752331
>Follow the road as far as possible to the north

"Holy I shit I think we sicked a buncha crabs on those twaryians"

>>5752631
if possible use flares to agitate even more crabs!

File: panzerjunk34.png (841 KB, 698x534)

841 KB PNG

Rolled 10, 9, 10, 10, 6, 3, 6, 9, 3, 10, 10 = 86 (11d10)

>>5752331
Steel and fire waits in front of her. Hopefully the Twaryians she'd left behind her take not firing on their countrymen as an olive branch of sorts. Into the fray, and may she come out on the other side.

------

Ah, smoke should be dropped on my tile from the racks.

Fire:
>Initiative
>Fire x1 2.5cm Cannon at Vitelian Tanks
>Fire x3 2cm Cannons [Multiattack] at Vitelian Tanks
>Fire x1 13mm Machine Gun [Multiattack] at Vitelian Tanks
>Fire x1 8mm Machine Gun at Vitelian Tanks

Movement:
>Move 1N
>Move 2NE
>Pivot E
>[Road] Move 1E

Rolled 6, 3, 7, 9, 10, 2, 9 = 46 (7d10)

>>5752331
Rolling for the surprise encounter. I have a feeling I'm going to die here. (Which unit am I even in the surprise encounter with? Do I pick? Does it matter? Does any of this matter?)
Rolls are initiative, assault weapons, flamethrowers

Rolled 6, 2, 3 = 11 (3d10)

>>5752774
Forgot the extra attacks for the assault weapons (and this is assuming i'm in the surprise encounter with the infantry ofc)

Rolled 10 (1d10)

TURN 2-2 Order

The explosion that rocked Emil's vehicle still rang in her ears as Ingrid clung to the cupola. When the fog had rushed in, she had assumed it would permit their safe escape. Instead, it had just as suddenly departed and they were in the thick of it.

“Break west, break west! Head for the trees! Smoke inbound1”

Fuck they were going to die. She had begun to believe the judge would not see them today. She was a fool. A bloody fool that had gotten Emil killed. Otto and Emil,Totmann and Eberhardt.

It was all too much. Too much. She had to keep things together though. She had to. There was no other opinion. None. The judge would not find her wanting today or ever. They had to keep moving.

ORDERS
Initiative
Move W > NW (Ending X8)

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>5752331
And my regular turn in case I survive the surprise encounter. Might help if I remember to roll initiative this time, sort of important.
>dismount (I guess I probably had to be already for the surprise encounter)
>throw smoke grenades into aa11, aa10, z10
>mount up
>move 1x NW, 2x N into z8

Rolled 5, 1, 6, 5, 4, 4, 6, 7, 1, 1, 5, 10, 5, 9 = 69 (14d10)

>>5752331
>>5752328
It doesn't show on the map so I will say here just to be sure that I should be dismounted and dug in at my current location from my >>5750799 move.

>Roll Initiative and Spotting (+2dice)
>Attack Tywarian Infantry in bb9 with Assault Armament (+8 dice) and Machine guns (+4 dice). Knife fighter activates on attack.
>Mount up, move NW, move NW, and dismount in y8
>Dig in

File: Operation04_EastTurn1_Amended.jpg (1.54 MB, 2009x1428)

1.54 MB JPG

Alright, amended turn, though I should have had this posted much earlier today considering.

>>5752340
I have shifted this move as stated.

>>5752350
And I have dismounted whoever should be. I think.

>>5752358
I've also adjusted the facing on those T-8s. I believe I know what happened there, when I got their sprites, I forgot to flip them after putting them down.
>>5752362
You are within four tiles, so it is permissible.

>>5752382
Your Mirage Aspect has already been used this battle, against the submarine's attack before.- the change of scope isn't counting as a new one.

>>5752412
I'm obligated to tell that I don't think you have a shot on them- what with the forest tile to the front and right of you.
>>5752621
It's perfectly fine, there's a lot to keep track of, obviously.

>>5752666
The smoke has been placed.

>>5752774
>Which unit am I even in the surprise encounter with?
The infantry, I'd say.

>>5752391
I have thought of many uses for crabs. Slamming one into somebody's head is somehow not one of the uses I considered.
Though the shape of this one >>5752344 might be more useful for ball applications.

File: ShotsNotBlockedVsBlocked.png (1.99 MB, 1380x672)

1.99 MB PNG

>>5753087
>I'm obligated to tell that I don't think you have a shot on them- what with the forest tile to the front and right of you.

Really? It seems like a more viable shot than those you let go through last turn onto Krasnyy.

>>5752358
>Use Wesker's Init roll of 10

>>5752820
I screwed up my movement (forgor pivot)
Move NW>NW (End X7)

File: Surely there are no more (...).png (1.71 MB, 767x1107)

1.71 MB PNG

Rolled 9, 9 = 18 (2d10)

>>5752331
>Turn
Rolls: spotting, init
>Fire: FLEE
>Move: Avoid crabs, move N, N, NE, NE to Z31

>>5752391
Sports ball suspiciously shaped like Walter's head, but the best part? He's dunking on M A G I C.
---
Walter was maniacally laughing. He couldn't stop sputtering and wheezing. Every time he'd start to wind down, he'd look back at the dwindling crabs rampaging and start giggling again.
It was only when he registered the magical bees angrily grinding into his tank that he popped back into reality. The dishevelled Lieutenant tried to lean as hard as he could into his sightline to figure out what the hell was trying to sting him.

"Shoo!" he shouted impotently at the glowing spots at the edge of his visor port.
Suddenly, an alarmed warning from his driver snapped his head around to the front as an old foe reared it's bejewelled head.
"Shit!" exclaimed Walter as he rode out of the fire and into a much closer fire.

Rolled 6, 4, 2, 10, 3, 9, 3, 5, 9, 4, 3, 9, 10 = 77 (13d10)

>>5752331
>>5753087
>Initiative and spotting
>Dismount
>Fire x6 AT rifles and x5 rifle grenades at
>Smoke U22
>Mount up and move E, SE to V23

Rolled 1, 1, 2, 1, 2 = 7 (5d2)

>>5753824
explosions

>>5753824
>>5753827

shit shoot at apc's in v22

>>5753169
If I were to try really hard to justify both, it's a matter of that angle, really- any "around the corner" shot angles are extremely uncomfortable for me to have to decide on, and I compromised on the last one by not having it be flanking shot, as the cover was on said flank. Meanwhile the "interception" angle for the latter is very early. Though to be real, you're right- I shouldn't have allowed that shot to go through, even if there wasn't much consequence for it in the moment.
Frankly, when it comes to cases like this, when in doubt, and trying my best to not get annoyed at having to break out the measuring sticks and lines and ratio of visibility like somebody's trying to weasel out a hit over a toy castle piece on tabletop games Seriously this method of testing the limits of rules is probably the biggest pain in my ass this whole skirmish, the deciding factor is- if this were happening to a player, how pissed would they be?
Now, these enemy units are not players- player units are by design special over them, and nobody feels down if some faceless enemy grunt gets knocked over, so it's not a question of advocacy for pictures on a grid, but it helps put things into perspective or what is allowed- when I'm not being inconsistent as I often am having to deal with these on different days and feelings on how things should work in edge cases. So, in the former example, if I sprung that on somebody, they might be a bit annoyed, but not particularly upset.
If I sprang the latter on somebody, I can't imagine that they'd be anything but extremely angry about it.
I know this is something that affects your unit in particular with whether it's allowed or not, but the most I'm willing to budge on this is taking the previous turn's damage point off. I've been letting some things slide where the rules didn't seem exactly clear on it even when I thought they were, but I really don't feel like negotiating every reach of a shot when we're likely two or three turns from this being over.

Rolled 6, 3, 4, 7, 4, 10, 10, 7, 3, 7, 10, 2 = 73 (12d10)

Anyways, time for initiative and spotting.

This is for-
1- Sudden Encounter Rolls against Ferrari and Martins
2- Krasnyy+Feniks Band
3- Twaryian Vehicles
4- Twaryian Infantry
5- Revolutionaries
6- Crab

>>5752331
Quickly doing J-4's move:
>Move NE, N, N

File: 1693595640037745.png (781 KB, 680x530)

781 KB PNG

>>5754059
I think some sort of a ruling/convention on how the legality of given shots is adjudicated would have alleviated the confusion and the frustration (on both ends). For example, I don't know if that's how you did it, but to see if a shot is legit or not I would draw a line from the center of the tile edge the shooting unit is facing to the center of the target unit's edge like you see in picrel. Lines of sight/fire are always a pain in the ass in skirmish, so having something like this handy to resolve weird shots would be helpful if you run something like this in the future or use this system or derivative thereof in the main quest.

Also quickly botting D-6 so he doesn't just stand there:
>Move 3NE (these beach/water tiles are weird. If this move can't be made because of water/terrain, just do NE move and E pivot)

>>5753461
You can move one more tile with the partial road bonus.

>>5754059
Seeing as you're concerned about the player PoV on shots going through, I'll share how this all looks to me.

- Subjectively, it looks like it should be a possible shot, and at the very least looks more possible than the Krasnyy shot.
- Objectively speaking the line from one unit to the other is more uninterrupted in this case, especially if you draw from the edge of the tile like C-2 does.
- You have stated that you want Krasnyy to die.
- You have also stated that you expect many players to die and have been disappointed by your failure to kill many off so far.
- The Krasnyy shots going through help bring him closer to death.
- This shot going through will almost certainly kill my character.

I understand your logic for this case, but that doesn't ease my frustration or the nagging doubt in the back of my head given how all of this is playing out.

>>5754152
like C-4 does*

>>5754088
>>5753461
Works for me!
Amending move to add 1 more Move NE to end turn on aa30.

File: Operation04_EastTurn2_Shoot.jpg (1.49 MB, 2009x1428)

1.49 MB JPG

>SUDDEN ENCOUNTER- C-5 Martins wins Initiative. Attacks Z 14 AB/14-29s. ATK 4 vs DEF 3, 4+ to Hit. Two Hits. PRC 5 vs ARM 2, Extra Damage. 4 Damage to target.
>SUDDEN ENCOUNTER- Initiative Tie- Superiority to Greater EXP- Twaryian Desantniki win Initiative Tie. Attacks D-3 Ferrari, ATK 4 vs DEF 4+1, 6+ to Hit. (Rolled 10, 10, 9, 10, 9, 6, 9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 3, 6, 1, 10) (D-3 Is Wiped Out)
>INI 16- R-3 Unterbrust- Attacks V18 RAGV AB 24/32s- Rear Flank, ARM + DEF, -2. ATK 5 vs DEF 3-2, Auto-Hit. (Attacks besides 2.5cm cannon must roll crits to Hit) 4 Hits. PRC 3 vs ARM 4+-2. One Target Destroyed.
>INI 16- J-5 Wesker- Attacks aa8 Fenix T-15s. Rear Flank, ARM + DEF, -2. ATK 8 vs DEF 3-2, Auto-Hit. PRC 6 vs ARM 5-2, Extra Damage. 2 Damage to Target.
>INI 16- D-4 Gauthier- Attacks bb9 Twaryian Desantniki. ATK 4 vs DEF 4+1, 6+ to Hit. (Knife Fighter- All Hits Crit). 5 Crits. 10 Damage, 1 Target destroyed.
>INI 16- D-7 Lehrson- Deploys Smoke.
>INI 15- bb9 Twaryian Desantniki- Attacks D-4 Gauthier. ATK 4 vs DEF 4+2, 7+ to Hit. (Rolled 6, 10, 4, 6, 8, 6, 10, 5, 10, 9, 7, 8) Three Crits, Four Hits. (Squad 1 takes 2 damage, Squads 2, 3, 4 are Destroyed)
>INI 15- W17 Twaryian Desantniki- Deploys Smoke.
>INI 14- C-2 Sikorsky- Attacks X6 Fenix T-8s. Rear Flank- ARM+DEF, -2. ATK 4 vs DEF 3-2, 2+ to Hit. PRC 5 vs ARM 1-2, Extra Damage. Target Destroyed.
>INI 13- J-7 Black- Attacks W16, U18 TO-16s. ATK 4 vs DEF 3+1, 5+ to Hit. Three Hits. PRC 7 vs ARM 3, 3-2- Extra Damage. Three Targets Destroyed.
>INI 12- C-3 Lutzow-Spelinger- Attacks bb4 Fenix T-8s. ATK 4 vs DEF 3, 4+ to Hit. 13mm requires crits to hit. Target Destroyed.
>INI 11- R-11 Li-Shen-Attacks RAGV AB 14/29s, Attacks, Suppresses bb14 Soldato D’Assalto. Rear Flank- ARM+DEF, -2. ATK 4 vs DEF 3-2, 4+1, 2+, 6+ to Hit, 5+ to Suppress. One Crit, One Hit on AB 14/29s. One Hit on Soldato D’Assalto. PRC 3 vs ARM 2-2, Extra Damage. Two targets destroyed.
>INI 11- C-5 Martins- Attacks X14 T-8DIIs. ATK 4 vs DEF 4, 5+ to Hit. One Hit. One Target Destroyed.
>INI 11- D-1 Krogh- Attacks BM-ATs. ATK 2 vs DEF 5+1, 9+ to Hit. 3 Hits, 2 Crits. Target Destroyed.
>INI 11- Y34 Embraced Living Stones- Hunts R-1 Splitterschwert. ATK 3 vs DEF 4+1, 7+ to Hit. (Rolled 2, 2, 4, 8) (Metal Chewer- Does damage regardless of armor) (Vehicle 2 is hit for 1 Damage)
>INI 8- bb14 Soldato D’Assalto- Attacks R-11 Li-Shen. ATK 4 vs DEF 4+1, 6+ to Hit. PRC 2 vs ARM 1. (Rolled 2, 8, 3) One Hit. (Vehicle 1 is Hit for 1 damage)
>INI 8- V21 Soldato D’Assalto- Attacks D-1 Krogh with Assault Armament and Machine Guns. ATK 4 vs DEF 4, 5+ to Hit. (Rolled 1, 4, 3, 8, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 5, 4, 4) Two Hits. (Squads 5 and 2 hit for 1 damage)

File: Operation04_EastTurn2_Move.jpg (1.48 MB, 2009x1428)

1.48 MB JPG

>INI 8- Y12 Twaryian T-8DIIs- Attacks D-7 Lehrson- Attack blocked by Smoke.
>INI 8- Y14 Twaryian T-8DIIs- Attacks C-5 Martins. ATK 5 vs DEF 1+1, 2+ to Hit- Lead Vehicle requires Crits to Hit. (Rolled 3, 7, 9) (Vehicle 3 is Hit and Knocked Out)
>INI 7- aa8 Fenix T-15s- Attacks J-9 Fuchs. Attack blocked by Smoke.
>INI 7- W16 Twaryian TO-16s- Attacks J-7 Black. ATK 5 vs DEF 1+1, 2+ to Hit. (Rolled 10, 1) One Crit. (Vehicle 3 is Crit and Knocked Out)
>INI 6- Z14 RAGV AB 14/29- Attacks C-5 Martins. PRC 3+, Attack against lead vehicle requires crits to hit. (Rolled 8) No Hits.
>INI 6- bb10 RAGV SV 30/20-75- Attacks D-4 Gauthier. ATK 3 vs DEF 4+2, 8+ to Hit. (Rolled 1, 5) No Hits.
>ARTILLERY- HQ Mortars Deploy Smoke.
>REACTION FIRE- HQ Howitzers attack T-8DIIs. ATK 2 (Direct Fire from Artillery) vs DEF 4, 7+ to Hit (Rolled 1, 4, 2, 10, 2, 8) Targets Destroyed.
>D-8 Vilgerson, R-1 Splitterschwert, J-4 Giovanni, C-3 Lutzow-Spelinger Escape

-----

The shifting of the tank, jerking back and forth like a ship in the sea. The buzzing in her ears. The Lieutenant laughing like a fool, be it because he was mad as the recon often were or because something actually amusing was happening…on top of having her plot at self-sacrifice utterly foiled by men she had not long ago though she controlled the fates of.
It was all too much for the young Countess.

“Move!” She reached up to tear Splitterschwert from his seat, but he was a stout, strong, and somewhat overweight man- she was reminded of her weakness when she hung off his coat like a kitten at play rather than pulling him down to take his place. Gritting her teeth at her own impotence, she demanded again, “What is happening!?”

She was ignored. The crew might have respected her in a different time, but as the sound of wrenching metal and groaning engines churned, perhaps she wasn’t even audible. It was only after the vehicle drove forward further, unmolested, that any clue of what was happening was revealed from the talk of the crew.

“Radio still out, cue ball?” the other resident of the two-person turret demanded of the officer. Splitterschwert grunted in the affirmative. “At least it sounds like the Bat-Ears are having fun with that crab.”

“…Open the top and let me out,” Haile said, suddenly feeling ill, “I feel sick…”

“Hey, boss,” the gunner said, “The Countess is about to puke on our floor. We need fresh air.”

“No!” Splitterschwert’s mood shifted on a dime, “That’s what the shade on the outside wishes us to do. That hatch stays locked tight, even if there is so much puke that we drown in it!”

Nobody felt safe, or valiant, but the wayward forces of the Battalion to the west would soon find out that the foe was far too distracted to account for them…though there were too few of them at all to hope to fight through anything. They scurried like rats in the dark, perhaps just like them, never to be found by anybody if they could help it.

-----

Tanks ahead, tanks behind. Lieutenant Lutzow-Spelinger, despite that logic would tell him he was facing death, felt exhilaration. The tip of the spear- unstoppable. Maybe it was knowledge that, even if he fell here, he would be a legend. Yet if he made it back, he had thought before this battle, it would have been all he might have wanted to return home, and see his family look upon him, rather than the eldest son, and beam with pride.

He gave the command to fire, and waited for an attack to his back. His up-armored tanks had defeated near every opponent they had come across so far, but he knew that they were not invulnerable to the flank, even from puny, practically pathetic T-8 types. He waited, felt his sweat go cold…

…Yet the anticipated strikes never came. Instead, a call from the Ellonauk came over the company line. Some assuredly half-mocking line about how he should not have raced ahead so far. Ellowians, ever believing they were the masters of the battlefield.

Well, he thought, if the opportunity to continue to menace the battlefield undefeated presented itself, he was going to take it. The tip of the spear once more- pushing now beyond the enemy’s grasp.

-----

A roar of cannon. The m/24-32s leading the way had affected a breakthrough- just in time, as the rear fell away, enemies maneuvering around what must have been a last stand by Lieutenant Under-Arms Martins. The flank crumpled, with Lieutenant Gauthier barely escaping a Twaryian surprise attack that had taken away most of the infantry positioned along with him. Lieutenant Ferrari was not responding, and was assumed to have shared the fate of the rest of his platoon.

He expected Lieutenant Wester to appear from the smoke- but instead, a pair of Twaryian tanks lurched forwards. They had been prepared for, however- the hasty unslinging of the heavy artillery, the Countess’s gift to the battalion now, had ensured somebody was prepared to take on what came up from behind. The advanced T-8s were no match for the heavy gunnery- and were flattened by direct hits. Behind them, the t/24s of Wester’s platoon appeared- though they were not alone.

Nobody after him could be waited on. Not with escape this close. Yule frankly hadn’t expected this outcome- but when the Judge weighed a kind hand upon you in life, there was no purpose in second guessing divine judgment, as some might think it.

This would be it. Enemy T-15s loomed, a final obstacle to escape. There was little chance of destroying them- a wall of mortar smoke assuredly hoped to block the way, and that sort of tactic might be necessary to get out with whoever could at this point. Anybody behind…they would have to slip out some other way.

-----

>FINAL TURN OPEN

So the thing I said I wouldn't budge on...well, I reconsidered it. No hard feelings I hope.
This being the last turn means that, depending on your situation and position, a foregone conclusion can be assumed, I think. We'll handle that in the ultimate wrap up, rather than as a turn, I think, as the last of what'll need to be decided on a tactical level will probably take place this turn.
Also, I'm definitely pretty worn out. Maybe it's how close we are to the end of things after this many months, maybe it's just because of an extended phase of blah and ennui. Either way, I don't see much reason to extend things further on the map past this turn unless people particularly need it to be so.

...Though now that I notice it, the half-faded smoke on the map should be gone. So act as if that is so.

>>5755098
Thanks for running this tanq, excited for the epilogue in terms of the wider geopolitical/plot reprecussions. Have a deserved rest after this is done.

Will do movement and RP later

>>5755095
Casimir gazed with satisfaction at the smoking wrecks of the T-8s in front of him. He had come to this battlefield expecting to die; now the chance of life was but a couple kilometres more, and he would grab it as shamelessly and greedily as a drowning man would a floating log.

A pity the red bastard would live through this, but there would be time. The drums of war were sounding all over the eastern half of the continent, and the final reckoning with the easterners and their Caelussian puppet masters would come, whether sooner or later. For now, they just had to make this final effort and Judge willing see their families and loved ones again.

"Driver, gun it!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Move NE,N,NE (escape from battlefield)

Also doing the HQ move while I'm at it:
>Move N,N,NE,N

>>5755094
>Question: Those T-15's east of me have 2 Move and yet seems they've managed to get in the forest without paying said 2 move when they've pivoted+moved

File: panzerjunk35.png (925 KB, 618x670)

925 KB PNG

Rolled 9, 5, 4, 4, 3, 10, 6, 9, 7, 4, 2 = 63 (11d10)

>>5755094
Just one more good push. She'd done it before and, Judge willing, she'd see it done again.

------

Fire:
>Initiative
>Fire x1 2.5cm Cannon at Combat Cars
>Fire x3 2cm Cannons [Multiattack] at Combat Cars
>Fire x1 13mm Machine Gun [Multiattack] at Combat Cars
>Fire x1 8mm Machine Gun at Combat Cars

Movement:
>[Road] Move 2E
>Move 1E
>Move 3NE

Rolled 1, 5, 2, 8, 2, 10 = 28 (6d10)

>>5755120
Just in case I have a shot on Krasnyy, otherwise ignore this
Init, 5x 5cm AP

>>5755146
Hm.
No, you're right, that's not a legal move. They'll be stopped back at their start position before pivoting.

>>5755163
Also use Northwesterlies, so a total of +5 with whatever radio INI is rolled

File: Smoke 3.png (1.11 MB, 674x686)

1.11 MB PNG

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>5755095
>init
>dismount
>smoke C-2, J-9, J-5, D-4, D-13 and D-6 with rifle grenades
>mount up, move N, NE, NE

The last stretch. It's been an amazing ride tanq, thanks for everything.

Rolled 6, 3, 6 = 15 (3d10)

>>5755095
>init for radio
>shoot the TSU-8Ds with 2x 5cm
>don't F&M
>move S, S, SE, pivot E with the help of partial road bonus

Lets make an honest attempt at getting away at least.

>>5755174
I believe C-5 should also get a +3 to initiative for standing still (although that doesnt help anyone grabbing her init roll obviously.)

Rolled 2, 3, 4 = 9 (3d10)

>>5755094
>Initiative
>Spot
>Fire: Well theres really only 1 target. ONLY DO THIS IF I FIRE BEFORE THE SMOKE FROM D7 ARRIVES.
>Move: NW, N, Ne
>Escape?

Rolled 4, 9, 9, 7, 5, 2, 4 = 40 (7d10)

>>5755094
>Ini
>Spot
>Fire: All weapons on the AB 25/32's (Its the only valid target?)
>Movement: Pivot East, 1NE, 3E
>Resolution: Abscond

>>5755094
Botting D-6
>Move NW, 3xN

>>5755095

I would like to use my Reserve Fire to smoke up Y8, Y9, and Y10 with Grenades.

How’re we doing, people? All mud and road out here.

>>5755538
You can't actually do that with reserve fire. Reserved fire has to be against a target enemy.

>>5755093
I was so close, and got so far, but in the end, it didn't even matter. At least now I can finally shuffle off this mortal coil and be spared the burden of continuing to live on the earth alongside Twaryians.

>>5755644
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrHXMhrs6Qg

>>5755644
To be fair those attack rolls were disgusting. 13 out of 15 hits on a 6+ lmao, even before crits

Rolled 5, 6, 5, 7, 8, 4, 1, 5, 1, 4, 7, 4 = 57 (12d10)

>>5755095
>Initiative
>Dismount
>Fire x6 mgs, x5 grenades at dirty notalians
>Smoke x22
>Mount and move E, E, NE to y22
Ride!

Rolled 1, 1, 2, 1, 1 = 6 (5d2)

>>5756195
explosions

>>5755098
Technical question, would a m/24-32 (or more accurately the m/32 turret) be able to mount the Caelussian 5.5 without significant issues, or would it face the similar ergonomic compromises as fitting the 4.7 cm gun did on the 32B?

File: are ya escapin lad.jpg (94 KB, 2009x1428)

94 KB JPG

>>5755644
Just came here to drop this and see how the lads are doing

File: are ya escapin lad.jpg (65 KB, 1175x805)

65 KB JPG

>>5756346
Alright, and now without the giant empty void

>>5756346
They do be escapin, it looks like

>>5755644
Typical vitelian, leaving his half-breed spawn fatherless.

>>5755093
It will be interesting to see who made it in the end too bad i messed up and forgot the smoke rules.
Oh well at least i'll see what came after our heroic efforts.

>>5756348
Abandoning your children may seem cruel, sure, however you should consider that the alternative is staying and condemning your children to be raised by a Vitelian, which is arguably worse.

>>5756720
Sound like a case of whether you want cancer in your right or left lung to me, between being raised as a pasta or a batear.

File: I'M ALIVE.jpg (197 KB, 2009x1428)

197 KB JPG

>>5756346
Pretty good, I hope we actually get away, Judging by our losses we probably will be captured

Rolled 7, 9, 9, 1 = 26 (4d10)

I'll do this early since there's not much left anyways-

Initiative and Spot for-

1. Clifford
2. Twaryian Vehicles
3. Pasta Soldaten
4. Lasagna Tanks

>>5756305
>Technical question, would a m/24-32 (or more accurately the m/32 turret) be able to mount the Caelussian 5.5 without significant issues, or would it face the similar ergonomic compromises as fitting the 4.7 cm gun did on the 32B?
The latter. The 5.5 is actually bigger than even the 4.7 is, so it'd be a real pain in the neck without modifying the turret or its layout- or doing something like flipping the thing on its side, even. The T-16B, after all, has a new turret to facilitate the gun.

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>5755095
>Roll Initiative
>Throw smoke East in z8
>Mount up, move NW, NE, N, ending in y5
It was a nice ride while it lasted.

Rolled 2, 7, 8, 2 = 19 (4d10)

>>5757153
That wasn't eight dice...

>>5756882
https://youtu.be/nbt5FF3g394?si=QdQ0XkDmSgh_urlp

Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>5755095
>init
>move NW, NE, NE (or something, get out of here!)
>escape?

Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>5755095
>init
>smoke Y10, Y9, Y8 and W9
>activate F&M to move NW
>mount up, move N, NE, N
>escape?
>mount up

>>5757490
another +3 initiative for D-13 aswell thanks to having stood still I believe.

>>5757153
>The T-16B, after all, has a new turret to facilitate the gun.
A terrifying possibility: upgunned C-Vs. If the 16/III chassis can take a whole new turret and gun, then surely this new type has some room to grow. They probably don't need to do that (yet), since the 5.5 is enough to deal with almost anything it comes up against.

>>5757153
Is there any particular reason the Twaryians don't use the Caelussian designations of their vehicles (e.g. C-III/T-16B)?

>>5757691
>Inb4 its just a spoofing method technically

File: Operation04_EastTurn3_Shoot.jpg (1.62 MB, 2009x1428)

1.62 MB JPG

>INI 15- R-3 Unterbrust- Attacks Combat Car Mortar Carriers. Target Surrenders.
>INI 13- Y12 Twaryian T-8DIIs- Attacks D-6 Wester. ATK 5 vs DEF 4, 4+ to Hit. (Rolled 9, 4, 5) Three Hits. PRC 4 vs ARM 1-2, Extra Damage. (Empowered Seawind Token Activation- -2 to Enemy To-Hit Rolls) One Hit. (Squad 2 Hit for 2 and Destroyed)
>INI 12- Y15 Twaryian TSU-8Ds-Attacks C-5 Martins. ATK 3 vs DEF 1+1, 4+ to Hit. Shock 5 vs ARM 3, 4. (Rolled 8, 1) One Hit. (Vehicle 1 Hit for 1 Damage)
>INI 11– aa5 Fenix Krasnyy- Attacks C-2 Sikorsky. ATK 6, 5 vs DEF 1, Auto-Hit. PRC 6, 5- First attack has extra damage. (Vehicle 3 Hit for 2, Vehicle 5 hit twice for 2)
>INI 11- X15 RAGV AB 25/32- Attacks C-5 Martins. ATK 5 vs DEF 1+1, 2+ to Hit. PRC 5 vs ARM 3, 4. (Rolled 10, 9, 2) (C-5 Wiped Out, C-5 Martins KIA)
>INI 12- D-7 Lehrson- Deploys Smoke.
>INI 10- D-1 Krogh- Attacks V22 Soldato D’Assalto. ATK 2 vs DEF 4+2, 9+ to Hit. No Hits.
>INI 9- R-11 Li-Shen- Attacks X15 RAGV AB 25/32. Rear Flank, DEF + ARM, -2. ATK 4 vs DEF 3-2, 2+ to Hit, 13mm requires Crits to Hit. Bellona- Crits on 9s. 1 Crit, 2 Hits. PRC 3 vs ARM 4+-2. Four damage to target. One Target Destroyed.
>INI 8- J-5 Wesker- Attacks aa5 Fenix Krasnyy. ATK 8 vs DEF 3, Auto-Hit. PRC 6 vs ARM 5. Hits Krasnyy for 1.
>INI 7- V22 Soldato D’Assalto- Attacks D-1 Krogh. ATK 4 vs DEF 4+1, 6+ to Hit. (Rolled 5, 9, 5, 2, 9, 7, 2, 3, 3, 2, 9, 8) (Seawind Token Activated- -2 to Enemy Rolls) 4 Hits. (Squad 4 takes 2 Hits and is Destroyed. Squads 2 and 3 take 1 Damage)
>INI 7- C-2 Sikorsky- (Northwesterlies Token Used- +2 Initiative) Attacks aa5 Fenix Krasnyy. PRC 5 vs ARM 5, requires crits to hit. One Hit.
-----

The T-15 groaned under the weight of its wounds, its modifications, a dead man walking- and Krasnyy planned to perish with it. To take as many people with him as possible- in a storm of blood and fire. That was ever what he had been set to, since the Judge had marred, yet not killed him, with the weapon his own people had deployed.

A series of strikes on the enemy tanks- they were badly wounded too. Come, he thought, this final showdown will finally decide whom is the most worthy of master of this war…

…Only…

The mist rose, and when it fell again, there was no enemy to be found. Not even the sound of them.

Only the waves washing back and forth over the sands in the distance, and the wind whistling a soft song for the fallen.

Ivani Krasnyy climbed out of his tank, and stood atop its turret- stared out to the sea, eyes half lidded.

“Krasnyy?” His second in command asked over the radio, “What do we do now?”

The red-haired man took his masking off and felt the breeze. Listened for the land to tell him what he did not know. What it seemed nobody knew, that he could think of, except the dead. “Bring the T-15s around to our allies,” he decided, “We cannot pursue them in these vehicles. Either we are cleaning up, or we are no longer fighting today.”

“Really?” a doubtful response. “I copy.” A resigned signing off. Not what any of his band had hoped for.

The platoon went off- as did the other remaining one. Krasnyy’s tank remained, however- and he went from standing, to squatting, to sitting- then to laying down on his back and staring at the cloudy sky.

He had never felt so lost in his life.

-----

File: Operation04_End.jpg (1.29 MB, 2009x1428)

1.29 MB JPG

OPERATION 04- VICTORY?
After Action Report Summary-
Combatants- Hageldorf Combined Battalion, 2nd Desantniki “Sturmabteilung Aleksandr,” Revolutionary Expeditionary Force Alba, Fenix Company.

Enemy Vehicle Casualties-
>Desantniki Squads-16
>Kusaki Squads- 1
>T-8- 8
>T-8DII- 5
>TSU-8D- 6
>TSU-15- 3
>T-16- 3
>T-16B- 8
>TO-16- 6
>BMT- 3
>BM-AT- 8
>BM-PM Mortar Carriers- 4
>RAGV Soldato D’Assalto Squads- 15
>RAGV Revolutionary Arditi Squads- 8
>RAGV AB 12/27LF- 6
>RAGV AB 14/29- 18
>RAGV AB 20/30X- 16
>RAGV AB25/32- 10
>RAGV SV 20/30-75- 6
>RAGV SV 20/30-105- 8
>RAGV Mortar Carrier Trucks- 4
Projected Enemy Casualties Including Infantry (Twaryian)- Approximately 270 KIA or WIA
Projected Enemy Casualties Including Infantry (Vitelian)- Approximately 370 KIA or WIA

Friendly Vehicle Casualties-
>m/28V- 1 (3 Captured)
>m/24-32- 5
>NEKV-7K- 1
>m/24k- 7
>t/24- 5
>m/31k- 6
> Infantry Squads- 33
Friendly Casualties Including Infantry- Approximately 390 KIA or WIA (MIA not accounted for)
-----

The battle had ended- save for a small holdout on an island off the peninsula- and the Twaryians and western Revolutionaries were licking their wounds. Collecting the wounded, theirs and their foes’, recovering what machines could be- but the land itself seemed to insist that they depart without any spoils, as the mist rose and fell threateningly. Not to mention the local wildlife- and “phenomena.”

The Lieutenant Colonel of the Desantniki had just received a bizarre report from his Heavy Assault Company- apparently, they had taken losses after the Vynmarkers had somehow agitated a colony of giant Living Stones, including an absolutely colossal one that was bigger than any animal known. Somehow- only two tanks had been lost, but the company had been forced to retreat in a disorganized fashion- and let slip away a number of the enemy they were pursuing.

Ridiculous- and indeed, the battalion’s senior medical personnel had determined that the men were displaying signs of being under the influence of hallucinogens- assuredly unaccounted ones from the odd environment- as well as combat fatigue. In other words, the demands of combat medication upon their bodies could be taking its toll.

Except that the Kusaki, the Biters, corroborated such an accounting of the events. Not in detail- as they had only helped to rescue crews fleeing from their overwhelmed vehicles- but they did note what seemed to be a giant creature that spoke over the wind. The radios of the unit had all failed during the described events, so despite them claiming to have reported the occurrence, nobody heard them.

Just a sign from above to get out of this wretched place as soon as possible, the Lieutenant Colonel thought with a curse. Their target, reported as sighted, had continued to elude them as well. The Kusaki had been sent to search for the cloaked girl anyways, but nobody had any delusions about being able to find her. Either she had escaped, or was out of reach of anybody now.

An adjutant rushed to him, saluted, and breathlessly explained a new development. Apparently, the Revolutionaries were “acting unbecoming”, regarding attempts to collect enemy prisoners, wounded, and dead. Particularly regarding the women. A group of the second-line “rejects company” had confronted them over this matter- and both sides were obstinate- the particular group of Vitelians apparently being the personal “guard” of sorts of their fallen commander, the new commander unable to control them for whatever reason.

Well, the Lieutenant Colonel thought, of the two groups, one had decidedly more armor than the other. He instructed the adjutant to not bother him with it- and let the Revolutionaries learn a valuable lesson about whose war this was.
-----

The Hageldorf Combined Battalion couldn’t be called such anymore- it had no more Hageldorf, was divided, and was not of sufficient strength- but while it was no longer an official unit of any note, it might be said that the people who had made it up had managed to escape the Huldravik Peninsula- their unknown mission completed. Their fame amongst their enemies outmatched any other singular formation, their final battle against the elite of the East and West both would nevertheless be their last as that particular unit.

The fates of those that day, who did not fall in battle, however…

Those that fled northwest managed to find their way back to friendly lines, the diversion of the battle and the disorder of the Twaryian’s halted advance allowing them to drag their way back to friendly lines more or less unharmed, aside from the damage taken in the Huldraviklands. Once there…
>You rejoined with the forces of the Grand Council Army- This war was not over yet.
>You left for the Zuide, for Mittelsosalia, the Red Dust. Your war was over…for now.
>Other?

Such a straightforward escape was impossible, however, for those who slipped out in other ways- or, in the case of the enigmatic Black platoon, did not escape at all. For their part…
>You vanished from the pages of history, in the short term- rumor had it that the Countess, merely calling herself by Haile Rendsdottir now, was organizing something in the occupied lands- perhaps even over in the heart of Caelus…
>You surrendered- thankful to be alive, hopeful that the Twaryian prison camps were nothing like they were rumored to be.
>Other?
Black-1 may only choose to surrender or fight to the death, obviously.

>These are for those of you who survived as individual choices. It'll be taken into account for the final epilogue writeup.

>>5757927
question can jonah user the crates of weapons and maybe supplies he buried behind enemy lines to get the hell out of dodge?

>>5757927
Using the caches of weapons he prepared after rescuing the sky queen from the twaryians Jonah kept his men armed and fed enough to rejoin her sister whatever her endeavors may be. After all Vilgersons watch out for their own and his mother would be mighty sad if they were to lose either of them.

if that is not possible
>Use the arms and weapons jonah cached to help whatever haile is doing.

Damn, no escape for the wayward Panzerjager.
Oh well.

>>5757927
>You vanished from the pages of history, in the short term- rumor had it that the Countess, merely calling herself by Haile Rendsdottir now, was organizing something in the occupied lands- perhaps even over in the heart of Caelus…
Fucking around with Haile is how he got into this mess, maybe fucking around with Haile is how he'll find his new path in life.

>>5757927
So for those who us who left with Yule, if we stay we'll be dispersed to different units on the front?

File: Ashen Dawn Epilogue OOB.png (112 KB, 2490x743)

112 KB PNG

Also have this (minus the people stuck behind enemy lines, I put R-3 and R-11 in the latter category as well but it could be argued they can go into those who got out alright)

File: Ashen Dawn Op4 Start OOB.png (154 KB, 2243x972)

154 KB PNG

>>5758158
And op start (orange is KIA/POW, green is escape to friendly lines, blue is Haile's group)

File: Freya Blumenthal.png (635 KB, 943x1016)

635 KB PNG

>>5757927
She was glad to see the mortar trucks surrender, as she hadn't wanted to fire another shot today. Her patchwork platoon circled around the Twaryians and quickly set to capturing what equipment they could and dismantling the rest. Seizing mortar tubes, shorting radios with their flasks, commandeering the sidearms of the crews, but all the while Freya simply watched.

It had been known but unspoken for some time what the Lieutenant had decided on for the band, so once the surrender was handled she make in clear in words. This was her last ride with the recon platoon. With any platoon at all if she could help it. Her time with them had been some of the best she'd known, but it was long overdue for her to move on from the battlefield and from her mercenary name. From here they'd ride to a planned rendezvous, and then go which ever way called to each man and woman of Recon Three. Adieu, adieu, parting is such sweet sorrow.

But there was still one thing that gnawed at the back of Freya's mind, like a loose string on her collar. An ace who had seen the battles she had, though maybe they hadn't always come face to face. She gave the okay for her platoon to carry on without her, she'd follow soon, taking a cap from one of the surrendered Twaryians and climbing into the lone Combat Car in her charge. There was mist enough to obscure who was truly inside, and none would pay much attention to a lowly BM-2 as it skirted through the tree line.

All alone at the end of it all. The tank with the red turret, its commander lying down and watching the sky above. She brough the car as close as safety would allow before stepping out.

"You there. You're the other one, aren't you? From the battle at Grabak. I'm Freya. Unter... no, Blumenthal."
The rose still bloomed on her lapel, the parting gift of the first Ace she'd faced in the war.
"I've never seen someone so sad to have lived another day. Hell, I'd say you were hoping to die with that big red target painted on... Care to share a drink and a tale or two? Look like you could use it."

------

>Let the rest of the platoon vanish to wherever they please, with plans to join them in obscurity... after one more stop
>Meet with one final Ace, Ivani Krasnyy

>>5757927
>Other
>You left for Ellowie, land of your ancestors. Your war was over…for now.


*Sometime later, in recently annexed eastern Mittelsosalia*

As the group of Ellonauk refugees sat around the tables of the tavern they were in, Casimir yawned with tiredness. It had been a long journey out of Vynmark with the war still raging on; thankfully no-one had challenged their demobilisation papers- a final gift of the Countess’s influence, wherever his ex-commanding officer might be right now after her disappearance mid-battle.

The decision to stay or leave had been a difficult one- while Ellowie was the land of his ancestors, and once again one with a rightful King on the throne, Casimir had been born and raised in Vynmark like the rest of his community. This country had sheltered and nurtured the exiles for generations, and the repayment of that debt was indeed one of the reasons he like many others had chosen to take up arms for the GCA.

Ultimately though, he had been swayed by the opinions of those closest to him- his family. He had finally reconnected with the latter once the remnants of the Battalion had rejoined friendly lines; his brother Stanislaw had been wounded in action and sent behind the lines, whilst his father Jan continued to serve- as a regimental medical officer the chances of him getting involved in active combat was low to begin with.

Both had encouraged him to return north. Best for one son to remain with Mother and Katarzyna, they said, plus Aleksandra was expecting. To survive all that had transpired and to leave his children-to-be orphans would be too much to bear. He and his men’s old homes in northeastern Vynmark were impossible to get to now anyway, miles behind enemy lines- who knew when they would be able to return, if anytime soon?

So, his platoon had turned in their m/24-32s, made their farewells to their comrades and headed north into Sosaldt.

These lands had just been recently annexed by the Republic of Mittelsosalia, and the increased military presence in the region meant that the journey down the Eastern Funnel would likely not be as potentially hazardous as it might have been even a few years earlier. He stared down at the meal before him. A simple yet hearty one really- a common plate of pierogis and kielbasa for him and his crew, and each with their own bowl of piping-hot barszcz. Judge willing, they would soon be in Perlowieza, and his men could finally afford to splurge more of the wartime pay they had received.

>>5758266
As he scooped another spoonful of soup into his mouth, Casimir idly considered his future options. There had been some hopeful talk within the Battalion camp of Nauklander intervention after Halcini, with the successful delivery of the Caelussian Paramarines. So far nothing groundbreaking had reached the ears of their group yet, but they had time now to see how things panned out.

Back to the Gendarmes, most likely, the lieutenant thought. Hell, maybe I could even swing a promotion out of it, with the deeds the Battalion has done. With the monarchist cause in Ellowie still relatively shaky even with Wladyslaw XI’s agreement with the government-in-exile, loyalists would always be welcome, especially ones who had served during the Revolt such as he. It would also mean a second chance against the eastern invader; while at present the liberated Ellowians gazed warily at the occupier across the Border Zone as they struggled to rebuild the free half of their country, Casimir doubted the current geopolitical situation would last in the long-term. This war had shown that Twaryi and their Caelussian patrons behind them were eager for further expansion into Vinstraga; the second act of something much larger.

No, the easterners had grander plans than that- this conflict would either end with the Caelussian domination of Sosalia, or the Twaryians once again pushed back into their swampy corner of the continent, Casimir was confident. Time was of the essence, yet it was desperately needed for the nations of the region to re-arm, he thought, against a foe who perhaps would soon even eclipse the Grossreich in terms of their threat soon for the eastern half of Vinstraga. The Ellowian army was in dire need of rebuilding much like the GCA after all with the loss of so much heavy equipment in the wake of Alpha Two. Perhaps the knowledge he had gained from these few short weeks of combat would be useful, especially with the new and dangerous models of Caelussian equipment being fielded to the Twaryians…..
But that was for the future him to worry about. For now, it was back to the land of his ancestors, to trade blue for grey again as a Sikorsky once rode for not the Grand Council, but for a King- just as his ancestors had loyally served over the centuries.

Their war was over for now, but the final reckoning of free Vynmark and Ellowie against the heretic had yet to come.

I return from work.

>>5757691
>Is there any particular reason the Twaryians don't use the Caelussian designations of their vehicles (e.g. C-III/T-16B)?
As >>5757808 says there is a small amount of obfuscation, but the Twaryian models of vehicle are also not exactly the same as Caelussian ones. They're much rougher and simpler of make, even if they use the same template, and when Caelussian made materiel enters the Twaryian armory- they just designated it the same as their local stuff. One thing they are rather good with, albeit with the help of Caelussian engineers and inspection standards, is parts compatibility.

>>5757503
>If the 16/III chassis can take a whole new turret and gun, then surely this new type has some room to grow.
It does- though the C-V is most likely to be the next step in development for the Caelussians at least, which has even more potential.

>>5757936
It wouldn't be easy- but the caches would help. Depending on where "out of dodge" is.

>>5758115
>So for those who us who left with Yule, if we stay we'll be dispersed to different units on the front?
It's possible, though more likely you'll get dumped right into the defense of Sodrakron. Depending on your background you might have pull on where to go, though. I trust you all to know your characters.
Or if you don't, no judgment, though for those without political significance or particular connections, they'll probably be thrown where it's most dire.

>>5758204
Oh no, it's her real name, it's truly the end now.

>>5758283
>It's possible, though more likely you'll get dumped right into the defense of Sodrakron. Depending on your background you might have pull on where to go, though. I trust you all to know your characters.
Or if you don't, no judgment, though for those without political significance or particular connections, they'll probably be thrown where it's most dire.

Alright, more reason to leave, the Naval Infantry can finally have their moment of glory then :P

>>5758283
Have the Zuide cities ever considered joining up with East Valsten? It sounds they're more culturally similar than they are to the inland regions of Sosaldt.

>>5758301
>Have the Zuide cities ever considered joining up with East Valsten? It sounds they're more culturally similar than they are to the inland regions of Sosaldt.
They are rather economically linked- given that the East Valsten Union Mark is the widely accepted currency of Zuide and Sosaldt in general, but East Valsten would, or rather could, not accept the Zuide cities in the state they are now because they don't follow the laws of the Union of Valstener States, and this fact is something that is taken advantage of by all of the Zuide's trading partners. For their part, the Zuide very much value their economic independence- and their control over the pursestrings when it comes to being able to cause economic disruptions, and profiting from the movement of contraband.
TL;DR they're more useful to certain powerful parties in their present state.

>>5757927
Ulf was sitting on a grey outcrop looking over the coast and sea. His recon hat was nestled comfortably next to him and the brimy sea breeze whipped his wild hair as his grey eyes scanned the horizon, as if trying to find an answer to the many questions that haunted the fate of him and the men who served with him these crazy past weeks.

Well, the sea was silent, he concluded, that salty bitch. He reached into his pocket to fish out his cigarettes, only to find one remaining stick of tobacco. He muttered some curses to himself and then stopped, a strange sense of melancholy washing over him.

" 'Ere I am, bitchin' 'bout bein' left with one ciggie, while other men 'ave been left with nothin' but a few hours o' life." He chuckled bitterly as he thwirled the cigarette between his finger before putting it between his lips and lighting it. The last cigarette always tasted the best, he thought, especially this one. This one had the taste of finality, as if Lady Luck was telling him that he escaped a grizzly fate today. Fuck, the smoke was delicious.

"Boss, we movin' soon?" Young Eriksonn suprised him, Ulf throwing a quick glance at him. Aye, he called him young, but his face has taken up a hardbitten look, a rough scar marring his forehead, his baby blue eyes hard as flint. Ulf let out a grunt and took up his hat, carrying it in his hand while following Eriksonn to the vehicles where the men were resting from their escape.

He stood before them, feeling naked without the hat on his head, becoming awfully aware how much it made up the man he has become.

"I ain't gonna force yer hands. If ye wish to leave, yer free to go. I know plenty of ye 'ave families you might want to see, peaceful lifes ye want to live." He takes a drag of his cigarette and lets out a cloud of nicotine with a deep sigh, his cool grey eyes scanning the rough men facing him.

"I'm goin' west, first the Dust to settle some things and pull some connections and then it's off to Zuide. I ain't slavin' for the bloody Grafs anymore. I'll die on my own accord, as a free soldier. If ye want to leave, now it's yer time to make it known." He was faced with a silence that felt like it lasted for an eternity before Eriksonn broke it.

"We're with ya Ulf, ain't none o' us pussyin' out now." Men nodded their heads, others vocalized their confirmations, but all were in unison.

Ulf smirked slightly and brought the cap to his head, the gaudy thing sitting proudly, his persona finally complete.

"Then, lads, let us ride."

>You left for the Zuide, for Mittelsosalia, the Red Dust. Your war was over…for now.
Time to become hardbitten mercenaries. Anyone else up for some foreign exchange? Was thinking about forming a mercenary company, would be a fun adventure.

>>5758158
>>5758169
This is missing my camo btw

>>5757927
>You rejoined with the forces of the Grand Council Army- This war was not over yet.
>Seek to reorganize an armored formation, and utilize it where it would be most effective to beat the bat-ear back. (Not necessarily where it is most wanted)

Through his journeys with the Battalion, Gunther had learned much, and much about armored warfare. In particular, it was made very apparent to him why some theorists believed in concentration of force to be the most effective usage of armor. The Hageldorf Battalion wouldn't have been able to do half of its incredible feats if it were dispersed among a wide front, and it was able to take advantage of enemies that had a lack of concentrated armor, particularly in the battle of Kobberhus.

Gunther's thirst for battle and glory had been gorged in these heroic times, but the cup of the Landgraf was deep. This war was not over yet, and if he would have anything to say about it, its outcome would not be as certain as the bat-ears must have assumed. Using the Lutzow-Spelinger name and background in the Battalion, Gunther would do his utmost to leverage his prestige and title to gather those largely impotent, scattered assets of Vynmark's armor that he could, and put them to proper use.

To aid in this end, he would use his ample connections to make sure the incomprehensibly stellar achievements of the Battalion, with its surviving records and all the corroboration of those who survived and made it this far, were processed and made as public as possible. The name of the Hageldorf Battalion would inspire awe in the citizens, dread in her enemies, and renew the resolve of the beleaguered militia. And perhaps more importantly, give Lutzow-Spelinger that extra weight to his name to enact his plans, and perhaps too to those who would work with him.

Gunther would meet with those he could, particularly those officers of the Battalion, including Major Yule, to see if they would aid in this re-consolidation. The more Heroes of Hageldorf he could get behind his message, the more effective it would be.

>>5758363
We can say I passed you my tanks I guess, not like I'll be needing them.

>>5758367
Much appreciated; may Ellowie restore its rightful lands from the hordes just as Vynmark shall, in good time.

>>5758355
C-4 is cooking something along those lines, you guys can figure something out when he posts.

>>5757927
>Other?
>You received a promotion for you efforts against the twaryian offensive and gained quite the reputation as one of the last remaining Panzerjager aces. Though this would also bring about a bit of a change...

Various times later after the escape of the Huldravik Peninsula.

It was about time to return. The 1st, then 2nd set of defensive lines, Grabak, Kobberhus, the Petrekorans, Jagterfisk, Halcini and the Huldravik Peninsula. Through this journey Leif had managed to survive and emerge victorious.

Through this he was able to meet an impressive set of people. Of common to noble birth from here and beyond the maelstroms. He didn't know if he would make it this far despite the harsh road but there was still a long way to go.

Despite this, he had managed to at least achieve a greater part of the goal he had set out on. His achievements and survival had made him to be one of the most successful officers coming from the panzerjager program. Albeit for The Hageldorf Battalion he became one of the last remaining alongside Fuchs. Perhaps later on he could share a drink with his friend Giovanni since he knew that the vitelian descendant was just as resilient as himself.

Of course, he'd go set about making sure what was left by the dead wouldn't go to waste or be forgotten. Von Totman's diary and notes on his experience and tactics as an infantry officer was copied, edited with Wesker's own add-ons on panzerjager tactics and knowledge he gained with the help of the late Vix, Gunther and Sikorsky on the Cuirasser side of things and even from those of the Recon platoons before they went who knows where for some. A hefty record to say the least but perhaps a great insight in the learning curve about the reality of the current battlefield on Vynmark and perhaps of future fighting. The least the battalion could do was pretty it up and submit it for wider distribution. "In memory of a long list of Officers, Soldiers and Mercenaries that gave they're blood, sweat and life for Vynmark's continued life." They would at least attempt to get Von Totman's family of Landgraf's involved to help.

A few letters came to him upon the week or so after the escape. One from his family that expressed happiness at his continued success and they were most definitely proud. It seemed that Leif had received not only a promotion but a probationary position at the intel office whilst seeing about the possibility Lutzow-Spelinger was trying to make. Perhaps it was a last present from Haile or maybe it was on account of his expertise displayed with radios. Either way it was an opportunity for the battalion.

Until the next fight, he would make sure to keep in touch with those who far flung themselves from Vynmark. Until then, he'd make ready. A talk with Major Yule would come eventually even if they're relationship hadn't exactly started on the right foot. Perhaps now the Majors opinion had at least swayed a bit even if Leif was but one descendant of Twaryi.

>>5758283
We have truly become the Ashen Dawn: Panzer Commander Skirmish now

>>5758283
Strosseld I believe, Jonah just wants to get back home to his family and maybe help franny with whatever wacky stuff she wants to do considering she's finally out of jail.

File: Dead_Captured.png (478 KB, 1281x995)

478 KB PNG

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>5757927
>Turn
>Invoke DIVINATION on, oh wait
Rolls: Pour one out to my homies no longer here

File: Char Hours.jpg (17 KB, 360x264)

17 KB JPG

>>5758478
We lost some real ones but it wasn't in vain feet king

>>5758478
Don't forget your actual choice

File: I am rather humble you know.png (601 KB, 708x442)

601 KB PNG

>You vanished from the pages of history
and
>rumor had it that the Countess, merely calling herself by Haile Rendsdottir now, was organizing something in the occupied lands- perhaps even over in the heart of Caelus…

Considering how the countess (little c now, she doesn't have an army to stop me) can't stand Walter for any length of time it's for the best if he doesn't stick around. However, his unit probably would stay to help her escape and organize.

Also, the total WIA/KIA of our Operations.
---
You save two damsels in distress, and look where it gets you.

"You just cost too much to feed."
His family was nothing but a memory, that bridge burned from both sides after he had left for Sosaldt, not so long ago.

"It's not us Walter, it's You."
His unit had politely but firmly mutinied against him after the shenanigans he had pulled in the last operation.

"You literally kidnapped me. I'm taking command now."
He watched as Haile-1, Haile-2 and Haile-3 rode off. He had no ties left to the homeland he had almost died for.

And so, Walter shuffled quietly through foreign lands, his purpose discharged. All he had left was the clothes on his back, useless reams of backpay and a a flare gun.
Yet. Not lost. The experience had changed him irrevocably. His world had been upturned. It was so much bigger now.

He wandered, traveling along coastlines, away from the land anchoring his feet. Pestering pilots and airlines for anything they knew, "One ticket to Hemelsberg and Himmelsdorf please." They laughed. He seethed.

Next stop would be the rumored haunts of the infamous Sky Pirates. The Free Folk. We'll see if there's nothing but disappointment there as well.
Yet. A smile inched across his face. He'd keep looking up until he found it.

---
>>5758485
The search continues. The Holiest of Heels and Ankles is still out there.
>>5758492
Perish the thought, although it's more "What can I get away with"

>>5758518
where is that from?
=======


Jonah stopped his truck and dismounted from his truck, he never had to do this kind of thing before but for once he was thankful that his family had a long and storied history and crime. He put on a civilian disguise looking as dirty as possible and made a note of where he was, the twaryians may be in charge but maybe 'the family' has some strings left to pull for him so he can get out of dodge and re-unite with his sister.

"You sure you don't want to stay?" Hans who had taken up jonah's position as unit commander had also dismounted, though he wasn't donning a disguise like jonah.

"Yeah, I gotta make sure that my sister doesn't get herself into shit again. Though if you want to do me a favor you can hand me a gun and some rations. Gonna be a long way to the nearest town after all." Jonah turned to see that karl had joined hans as well in seeing jonah off.

"I know you want to go home, but we need you man. You're the best guy we got to lead this unit I mean could you imagine Hans in charge!?" Karl put a hand on jonah's shoulder and looked him dead in the eye
"Look man we need you. Besides you got us in this mess now it's your turn to get us out."

Jonah was taken aback, for once karl made a point. It was his recklessness that got them into this mess running now wouldn't be a terrible thing to just leave them to whatever fate haile has in store for them.

"alright fine, I just need to send one last letter" Jonah walked back to his truck and took the wheel with hans taking the shotgun seat with karl in the back inspecting and cleaning the arms they had recollected and buried.

After taking the left on the crossroad Jonah left a letter with a 'family friend' that owned a farm in the now occupied naukland
'Dear Aunt Githa
This is Jonah of the naukland branch, I'm assuming you've heard by now from my mother if she managed to get into your neck of the woods that Naukland branch of the vilgerson is in disarray and a power struggle will ensue that will most likely end with my mother and granny vilgerson in the crossfire that's why I'm humbly asking you for a favor. Take care of my mother and watch over my sister, please.
Sincerely, your humble nephew Jonah'

"Alright, that's done. let's go rendezvous with haile and pick up a militia man or two. She probably has a wild mission for us to join" Jonah punched it down the country roads

since walt's unit is going might as well join in
>You vanished from the pages of history, in the short term- rumor had it that the Countess, merely calling herself by Haile Rendsdottir now, was organizing something in the occupied lands- perhaps even over in the heart of Caelus…
>Aid them with the weapons caches to aid her and hopefully reconstitute my unit, Militia men are a dime a dozen after all

>>5758478
Beautiful. Genuinely.

>>5757927
>You rejoined with the forces of the Grand Council Army- This war was not over yet.
I am not a wordsmith, but I do now that Lehrson will never return home while the war is going on. He still loves his country. He will try telling what happened to people in the battalion in his book and publish it in the meantime, but it will likely just be a collection of of things people in the battalion did. It will not be a band of brothers type book, nor the pacific. It would be a gathering of multiple stories, fragments, dates when it happened and would have sidenotes by Lehron to give his own opinion on the matter

>>5758555
*Slight correction on the letter
I meant vynmark branch not naukland

>>5755538
What's the plan Becker, you and Fuch did well for somebody who just joined near the end. Anything you wanna do in particular? Totmann got some good players in.

>>5758283
Me and maybe a couple other commanders want go sneak into the Twaryian Occupied zones to start an insurgency.

Maybe Franny because she was already planning on going AWOL to start a criminal empire and is a Penal unit.

Would Yule be willing to help us rob a Vynmark supply depot or maybe a supply train to help arm us? Maybe a supply train/deport designated for the Navy or would we need to raid it ourselves?

>>5758322
So with the wrap up in mind coming up, I would like to ask how's the current political climate in Vynmark like at present with the Twaryians knocking on Sodrakon's doors.

Have the blame games for how they got to this point begun? Will there be enough pressure for the Grand Council to grant political concessions assuming Vynmark survives this (which it likely should)?

(This can be all answered later in the main wrap-up, but I figured I might as well bring it up since there's been quite a bit of player discussion in discord about it, as well as in their write-ins about basically how the GCA was underfunded by the Council)

Great job everybody. Best of luck to those who made it.
Tanq thanks for game it was a wild ride from start to very end. But yea it has been nice to play these past months. Maybe i'll take a look at some of your upcoming quest in the future

I think at least me and Totmann will keep on haunting this cursed piece of land. You guys know where to find us after the conflict ends.

>>5757927
>You left for the Zuide, for Mittelsosalia, the Red Dust. Your war was over…for now.
Gauthier braced in the back of the truck that carried what was left of his platoon for the bullet that would lead him back to the Judge, but as the truck continued to shake and the sound of combat grew more and more distant, he slowly realized that bullet would not come today. As the rage of combat gave way to the now practiced monotony of a retreat, Gauthier was confronted by a wave of guilt at the outcome of the day. It was he who was supposed to have died to get his men to safety, not his men who were supposed to die for him.

Had he failed them, he thought, was he doomed by Fate or worse to fail those he was supposed to protect, supposed to provide for? There had to be a better way, a better life and a better future than just going back to have Command issue him a new platoon just to do it all over again. So, in the back of that shaking truck, among the spilled blood and scattered shell casings, a plan was formed.

Anyone who did not want to go was dropped off with the wounded when the Battalion slowed to consolidate itself. Those that were left would be reported as dead and when the opportunity came in the night, would separate from the Battalion and make for Sosaldt, Mittelsosalia, whatever it was calling itself today. The men with families would hopefully be able have their pension provide for them in their absence, for as long as there was a functional state left to pay that pension that is.

Gauthier knew the Red Wastes, he knew the smuggler's crossings they could use to slip unnoticed away from this execution of a war. Like his father before him he would seek the freedom of the badlands and hopefully, maybe, somewhere build a future for the people in his care. If the dusty plains of Sosaldt could be reborn in the flames of war and revolution as Mittelsosalia, then maybe they could reforge Albert as well.

>>5758687
>Would Yule be willing to help us rob a Vynmark supply depot or maybe a supply train to help arm us? Maybe a supply train/deport designated for the Navy or would we need to raid it ourselves?
Yule would not, even though he is no fan of the Navy himself. Though you can certainly try your roguish selves.

>>5758707
> I would like to ask how's the current political climate in Vynmark like at present with the Twaryians knocking on Sodrakon's doors.
It is...interesting. As is the global climate. Or at least, that between the two continents (there's more of course but they're out of the scope of this). As you've said, it'll all be concluded on in the final write up.
I greatly appreciate all your write ins, needless to say. It's frankly more than I expected!

On a side note, I've heard tell of a potential interest in a follow up to this, but on the other side. That...isn't something I think I want to do for some time, at least, since skirmishing turned out to be way more effort than a normal quest. However, I do have a lot of the materials that would be needed- I'd just need to make a conscious effort to iron out all the wrinkles and rule uncertainties that have cropped up so everything is nice and neat. Something I'd want to do anyways, and that I couldn't have done without everybody's rigorous testing.

>>5758941
Right, the people that escaped North (Raine, Von Bern, Leo, Franny and Fleet Feet) are on a discord server coordinating a fluff post. Looks like Von Bern wants to try running for the Grand Council and using her family to extend aid to the Veterans of the war.

It's gonna be a lot of fluff, I hear Leo's post hit the 4chan character limit and he wrote that before the group scene where we say goodbye to each other was planned.

>>5758941
For me, a quest/side story from the Twaryian PoV would be...*interesting* I suppose, but it kinda runs into the issue of where to place it without basically negating the efforts/sacrifices of either here or the quest proper (Ellowie)?

Honestly think Caelus would work better, though I recall you've said you don't really want to touch the place for now.

We've done the land, we've done the air, naval aside when?

>You rejoined with the forces of the Grand Council Army- This war was not over yet.

Oberleutnant Ingrid Fuchs had in the crucible of that last battle realized the importance of a well timed, and well placed sacrifice. Her fellow commanders and soldiers had sold their lives dearly for the battalions escape while reaping a terrile toll from the invading enemy.


The impact of a well placed death is what stuck with Ingrid. So, as they raced North West, she began to wait for her time and place. This war was not over, and many more would have to die before it was. But if she was able to make her sacrifice as impactul as those she carried the bodies of, she would be able to see the Judge, head held high.

So she and her platoon rejoined the Grand Council Army. She ensured that Totmann and Eberhardt received honorable burials and that their sacrifice was recognized. And she waited for her time.

>>5758941
Is there any part of Sosaldt that isn't full of dust and actually decent to live in?

>>5758283
It was a somber night, too many good men and women lost but at the same time, Raine was happy to count his blessings. A lot more commanders lived to see another day. Totmann, Jonah, Martins, some of his closest comrades were lost during the retreat but part of him desperately clung to hope that he'd meet them again. Now wasn't the time for that though, he would think about that later.

Sitting around the crackling campfire with his remaining comrades, he raised a mug of whatever swill he and his men could find while trying to muster a smile after everything that had happened.

"Well lads, we made it out."

He took a swig of the diluted alcohol. It should have tasted like victory, especially when their odds were originally so low, but it left him with a bad taste.

"We're probably gonna get separated so I just wanna say you have been the finest, bravest and most batshit insane lads I've had the pleasure of fighting alongside."

His voice was tinged with pride, finally changing into a warm tone when talking about the rest of the men. Yeah, this was it. The higher-ups were constantly screwing them over but the men and women beside Raine reminded him of why he fought. For his lads in the thick of it, in the trenches and the forests against overwhelming odds.

"We went through hell together. Not just us, but the rest of the battalion. Most of you I consider my brothers and sister but we'll likely be split up after this. I-... Tonight we say goodbye to a lot of people, we'll say goodbye to this battalion. I want to say one final toast to my comrades and if any of you have any final words I wanna hear them."

My day's gonna be busy so I can't coordinate this post as well. Von bern and Franny have posts ready but I'll let them post it themselves. Leo and Fleet Feet are also getting some posts ready

>>5758355
Fiskersonn if you wanna give any final words I'd be happy to hear from you. I know we never really spent much time together personally, especially not with this group but still. You're a great man.

File: sample_bb36c23f20c153ef88(...).jpg (299 KB, 850x1200)

299 KB JPG

>>5759363
>>5758283
Isolde stared into the fire with blank, glossy eyes. People change after witnessing and doing the things she did. Different people cope differently, some hardened into monsters or broke down into empty shells forever changed by the fires of war. The young noblewoman was no different. Her plans were simply to stay near the rear and support those in the front but more often than not she found herself too close to the vanguard in the effort to keep them alive.

She’d fought in the frontlines, firing her pistol wildly while the veteran retainers of her household died keeping her alive. She had become hardened after the battle of Kobberhus Castle, Stoic during Operation Nacht Tag and clung desperately for survival during these last few moments of escape. Some would consider Isolde Von Bern a completely different woman from the previous soft-hearted girl running to the front lines to save whoever she could but they were wrong.

A sob escaped her lips, choked and quiet at first. Then a single wet tear ran down her face. Von Bern tried her best to keep it in but overwhelming emotion flowed through her as wails of sorrow filled the camp. In many ways, the young daughter of the Von Bern household had changed but the soft-hearted woman was always there. Always desperate to save any life she could.

After a few minutes of crying, she composed herself until her sadness was more manageable.

“The Grand Council has failed its soldiers.”

She said in a soft, almost fragile voice.

“It tossed under equipped men to blunt the Twaryian’s tide of steel while the higher-ups debated on what to do. They watched as their fortresses fell, confused at the idea that a foreign enemy might actually be a threat.”

File: sample_99ca7a39a10cb21318(...).jpg (94 KB, 850x516)

94 KB JPG

>>5759418
She took a nearby bottle, gulping it down and ignoring the burning of her throat before speaking again in a louder tone.

“Judge Damn It! They spent all their money on some cocksure navy that was blasted out of the water immedietely. Our greatest asset against the Twaryian’s heavy equipment were sloppy seconds and we’ve had to make do while the enemy fields their best against us!”

After all the sorrow, all the sadness and tears there was only indignation. Only anger. Maybe it wasn’t the grand council’s fault but it didn’t matter. Von Bern knew the men around her fought themselves bloody to do their mission and she needed somebody to blame.

“Damn it all! Never again!!! With the name of the Von Bern household on the line, I offer any survivors from this war work under our household. Even if you do not swear fealty, I swear this on the judge above and all the spirits that will evaluate me. The Von Berns will do whatever it takes to arm and train the soldiers of Vynmark and we will offer any aid we can to all those who suffered to protect their country”

>Try to run for the Grand Council
>Offer veteran aid and work to the soldiers of the first Vynmark-Twaryian war along with mass training in the Von Bern territories.

File: sample_c207d2130173c5bb9f(...).jpg (227 KB, 850x1206)

227 KB JPG

>>5757927
Franziska Vilgerson cheered Von Bern on as she complained against Vynmark's politicians while making drunk promises to all those around her. She was one of the few that never lost her smile, nor her laughter no matter the situation. It wasn't because of some well built sense of character or because she had some large overarching goal even when all the guns were silenced.

No, Franny never lost her humour due to the simple fact that the Vilgersons are just built different. They were, every single one built in equal parts crazy and loyal. Charging headlong into the jaws of hell one day before going to work mundane jobs or taking orders the very next. All Vilgersons became legends, whether they wanted to or not and all of them found excitement in equal parts from both the astonishing along with the everyday. Operation Ashen Dawn was just another chapter of history, the family was involved in.

"I don't have any words to tell you guys to say goodbye."

Her tone was boisterous, louder than you'd expect from such a thin looking woman.

"All those speeches crap, I'll save those for the others. All I wanna say is that I'm writing a book about the awesome life of Franziska "Fuck It We Ball" Vilgerson. It's gonna be filled with mystery, action and suspense, also I'm gonna tell everybody I fucked Prince Basill because that makes the book more interesting."

She looks around, looking over the reliable Infantry Leaders, The cocky mercenaries and the wildcards that appeared near the end to cause chaos.

"If anybody has any requests to their characters in the book, feel free to tell me now. Hmm Leo you're already a maidenless hunk of muscle, I wonder how we'll make you more interesting. Maybe we turn you into Yule's estranged younger brother or make you a character for the confirmed bachelors. Raine and Von Bern, making you a couple would make the story more interesting and Fiskerson? I don't know you're already interesting enough you probably don't need any spice."

>The plan is to rob Vynmark supplies with Raine and go AWOL into Twaryian-controlled territory using old Vilgerson smuggling routes (iirc the occupied territories mostly exported tobacco and I figure there's been some distant relatives that have backroad routes smuggling shit there.). Obviously we're keeping the assault tanks when we go AWOL, preferably we rob the Navy of a bunch of 3.7cm Autocannons.

>I assume Raine's gonna call up a lot of his buddies, he seems like the type with a lot of friends. I think he's mentioned in Discord or the thread that he grew up a bandit so he'll have even more criminal contacts.

>>5758941
tanq going to add if haile does anything morally dubious like say a terrorist plot that would kill a good bit of innocent civilians, Jonah is going to try and talk her out of it, if that doesn't work then he'll just shoot her in the back no questions asked.

>>5759609
Not to worry about that Jonah, we promised them warcrime during Op2 if they kept advancing. Let Raine and me commit acts of mass murder in your guys' stead.

Can't have an insurgency without a bit of warcrimes right.

>>5759615
>>5759609

Don't listen to him Jonah we'll only Warcrimes the Ians specifically. Innocent people... well we can't make any promises but mass bombings of civilian centers aren't exactly on the docket.

Hmm a false flag would be pretty useful though but I'm sure we can think of something without involving civvies too much.

>>5759615
>>5759623
Y'all are cool I'm just making sure haile doesn't do anything too stupid or atrocious.

>>5757927
take 2, this time with paragraph spacing
>You left for the Zuide, for Mittelsosalia, the Red Dust. Your war was over…for now.
>rest up, create abominations, form merc company, come back for seconds

The fraction of the Hageldorf Battalion that broke out of the peninsula through the center came to a brief stop to rest, with a platoon of six T-15s bringing up the rear. Their lumbering nature was not the only reason for this, as their commander had elected to be the one to dissuade any would-be pursuers. Kannenpflanze had only relaxed enough to take of his chemical protection an hour into their flight from that hellish peninsula. Now though, things were finally quiet and he could feel safe with his head out of the cupola. No echoing gunfire, no rolling artillery barrages in the distance. A measure of peace in a war-torn land. Granted, they were quite deep in the enemy rear.

Alongside the gas mask and the cape, Leo had also dispensed with the breastplate of the Cuirassier Panzer commander. Of all the uniforms he’d worn up to this point, that one had to have been the silliest. Or the most “faggy and retarded”, as Lieutenant-under-Arms Vanzetti had put it. The Sudvitel exile would surely give an arm and a leg to have traded places with Leo and had another crack at the Utopians. That said, he was most likely dead or captured, along with the rest of the ad-hoc company Leo had come to crew the Landgrafs’ panzers with. His second was far less melancholy over their likely fate, “Look on the bright side, Lieutenant. We get to keep all the money.” Minus the admin fees and transportation costs for the six T-15s he was bringing back with him, of course. Not bad for around about two weeks’ work with no overhead.

And so, the contract was done and he’d soon be back to the Zuide Confederacy for some well-deserved R&R, as mercenaries were wont to do. No, not this time. He would rest enough for his mind and body to recover, of course, but he already sensed a restlessness in his soul. It wasn’t bloodlust or thirst for glory. Leopold had found himself entangled in something much, much bigger than him, than any single person and the force it seemed to exert on him was as inexorable as that of gravity. To stay idle for any significant stretch of time would be impossible. Kannenpflanze was going to return to Vynmark, no question about that. As such, he’d have to dedicate his time and resources to preparations.

Though he’d grown attached to the machines, Leo couldn’t deny the many deficiencies the T-15 had, especially on the modern battlefield. He had six of them at his disposal and Arsenal South workshops were right there. Sure, Johann’s tank had almost given up the ghost in the final moments of their escape and probably wasn’t going to be good for much more than spare parts, but Leo had some radical modifications in mind and a testbed hull would be useful.

>>5759682
Some basic upgrades to sights and engines, as the bare minimum? An actual cupola and extra armor for a command variant, perhaps? Would swapping the 7.5cm for a 5cm save enough space for a co-ax? How about gutting the bow gun assembly for a flamethrower (with the fuel in a towed trailer)? How big a gun could the hull take if you nixed the turret altogether? He was fixing to find all of that out.

Six tanks were well and good, but a proper company would make his second trip to Vynmark even better. It would be great to enjoin some of his comrades to join him in Zuide, but, if not, he knew a few guys through the Contracting and Recording Authority who’d be looking for a job. Aside from metal and capital, the next most important thing for a brand-new mercenary company was branding. He considered the issue as the watched his crews trying to tension the tracks on Johann’s tank. The crest of the von Kannenpflanze zu Kiesgrubeplatz came to mind: a crimson manticore on a black and yellow backdrop. Leo sneered at the thought. He wasn’t going back home to Kalderhauslands if he could help it for more than a few reasons and slapping that crest on everything left a bad taste in his mouth. A modification was in order here, as well. A manticore with a peaked cap and a tanker’s headset on. Yes, perfect. A bat dangling from its maw, perhaps? A company needed a name, too. Leo didn’t consider himself the most creative sort and, at this point, he was well and truly spent. Manticores was hard enough sounding name for a group of mercs and would thus suffice. Someone more creative than him could take a crack at it later.

---

At another stop some time later, his second called him to an officers’ meeting at the head of the column. Leo wished Major Yule was here, because something was bothering him immensely and he seemed like the man to ask. How the IMEs ended up in Twaryian hands was no great mystery. Like just about everything else, they got it from the Caelussians, naturally. But how did Caelussians come across weapons that, as far as Leo knew, were restricted to Emre and the Grossreich? It was absurd to think that the Emreans would ever pass the technology to create such terrible weapons to Caelussians, of all people, but the only other option had even more terrible implications. The setting sun bathed the land in crimson as Leo walked past the column of parked vehicles, his blood turning to ice in his veins. Caelus and the Grossreich working together? Impossible, the Imperials wouldn’t dare. But what other explanation was there? Worse, if Naukland were to intervene and impose a blockade, would there be a possibility of a Grossreich response? Leo set his jaw. Something terrible was coming and there would be no hiding from it. How many more utterly oblivious lives were to be snuffed out? Truly, man was nothing more than the plaything of forces far beyond his comprehension, set to vanish into dust with all of his wants and passions without ever knowing why.

>>5759363
Leo joined the others around the fire. Farewells were in order, but his mind was elsewhere. Though his mercenary career was brief, Kannenpflanze considered himself inured to death. He was a professional, after all, and sometimes the other mercs he fought alongside were scum that the world was better off without. It was different with the Battalion. He had grown quite fond of his fellow officers in the unit, yes, but the sheer volume of deaths and how suddenly they came was what shook him. He’d watched Niel and Degenhardt die within minutes of each other and then Vix being struck down following his lead during the breakout.

Many more were lost, including the battalion commander, and Leo wondered if he could’ve done something. Obviously, he held no delusions of martyring himself and single-handedly turning the tide, but greater audacity on his part might’ve helped. Or perhaps caution at Halcini and a resultant fully-intact command would’ve allowed for more risks to be taken. He shook his head. This line of thinking would eventually lead him back to the Panzer Academy days and how he should’ve actually taken advantage of the (free) education. The cup in his hand with the swill Raine’s men had scrounged up was untouched. He sniffed and it before sipping. Utterly vile stuff. He grimaced and took another sip. Vilgerson’s jab snapped him out of the brooding—something he was doing that more and more lately, he noted.

“Maidenless, you say? Hah, do as you will. I could make suggestions on that front, but I think it wouldn’t do to besmirch the memories of the lost like that.” He shook his head. “Too many good men and women lie dead. Many fought for their country, some—like myself—merely for money, and others for reasons only they are privy to. At the end, however, it only matters that they fought well and hard against great odds and didn’t shirk when the foe presented himself. May the Judge grant their souls rest and contentment in recognition of their valorous deeds. A toast to their memory.”

He took one more sip from his cup before setting it down. With how his stomach was protesting, to take another sip would court disaster. “This is goodbye, then, isn’t it? Though I am leaving for Zuide, my part in this war is far from over.” The drink and the presence of friends had managed to dull Leo’s apprehension regarding the future. “Make no mistake, I will return. Those of you that are staying, do try to stay alive. Do not rob me of the honor of fighting alongside you again.”

>>5758355
“You are leaving much to chance, striking out into the wastes as a mercenary with just two vehicles and a GCA regular’s savings for capital. You know your way around a fight far better than I, clearly, but you’ll still be starting quite small. What say we put our heads and assets together, see what we come up with? I’m certified by the South Sosalia Private Military Contracting and Recording Authority, by the by. Could get you started on that. What do you say?”

>>5758941
Hey tanq, since we're done mind giving the (base) stats for all the stuff we've faced? Thinking of compiling it into an in-universe doc.

Fiskersonn was sitting around the campfire with the other commanders and soldiers, his cap covering one of his eyes while the other gazed into a metal mug filled with cheap hooch. He contemplated drinking it, such stuff was the kind old people said you go blind from and there was a no more useless thing than a blind recon officer. He then shrugged and took a sip, the booze burning his throat. Definitely among the worst he has ever drunk, but it will do.

His eyes than followed the comrades he fought with. A diverse bunch, all smart, strong or lucky to survive so far in the war. He watched Raine, that rebel rouser from the Dust, give his toast and call to final words. Ulf picked himself up, cocked his hat so that all could see his face and turned to the present company.

"Ain't gonna mince words or give some sappy eulogy. We were in a shit state o' affairs, we made it out and now we're 'ere. Ain't nothin' to be more proud about than to survive another day." He raises his beaten metal mug to a toast.

"So, a toast! For the footsloggers! The poor bastards stuck in those metal coffins! And all other miserable cunts forced to eat shite for the High Command! Yer brave and insane, each one o' ye! Cheers!" He downs the rest of the alcohol, the damn liquid lighting a forest fire the whole way down.

>>5759421
His eyes mellowed out at the sight of Von Bern, the young noble lady sticking out like a sore thumb among the mud and rough soldiers of the battalion. She reminded him a lot of his sisters back home, the thought filling him with a longing he considered far gone after so many years away. He slightly shook his head, as if trying to shake off the memories and spoke plainly and somewhat quietly to the girl.

"Thought ye a foolish noble girl who wanted to play soldier, I did. Thought wrong, Von Bern. All can kill, that's for sure, but not anybody can offer a healin' hand." He tips his hat, a grin tugging on his lips. "Ye 'ave the gratitude o' the entire battalion, that's for sure." He then chortles in a jolly way, breaking his somber tone and raising his voice.

"Imagine! A noble girl who could be their granddaughter with more battle experience than the entirety o' High Command! The Lords will shit themselves from shame when ye appear 'fore them! Can't wait to hear 'bout it."

>>5759593
"By the Judge's heavy balls, a compliment from the Vilgerson firecracker? My, my, this really is amongst the luckiest days o' me bloody life." He snorts, amused by the wild girl's antics.

>>5759698
He turns his head slowly to Kannenpflanze, a serious expression plastered on his face. Young, headstrong and an annoyingly long noble name. If he didn't know him, he would probably christen him "blueblood cunt" and be done with him. But, he knew better and he knew the man put money where his mouth is. He took the man's hand and gave it a firm shake.

"Ye got yerself a deal, Kannyboy. But we're partners, aye? Ain't gonna stop listenin' to one noble so that I can start listenin' to another." He clears his throat and continues.

"Thought o' a sigil? Banner?" He nodded his head slightly after hearing the manticore suggestion. He took hold of his chin then, deep in thought.

"Ever heard o' the legend how Seafoam Blossoms come to be? Ol' folk say it's pieces o' souls left by sailors who died on the sea, a part o' them always floatin' among the waves, hopin' to be found by their family. Some call 'em soul-tatters 'cause of it." He lets out a wistful sigh. "Why not a skull with a flower bloomin' from its mouth. Would look interstin'. And the name? Tatter Skulls maybe? Fuck I know, we'll make it up along the way."

I'll be doing wrapup tomorrow- thanks all for your write-ins!

>>5759224
>Is there any part of Sosaldt that isn't full of dust and actually decent to live in?
There's less dust in many parts, but it's such an indicative trait of the central region that the reputation spreads out plenty. All in all, though, it's not particularly pleasant anywhere but the coast- its appeal is elsewhere than the climate and natural beauty, as it were.

>>5760125
> since we're done mind giving the (base) stats for all the stuff we've faced? Thinking of compiling it into an in-universe doc.
I have cards for a bunch of stuff, but not all of it- so yes. I can include the sprites too, though they're definitely not high fidelity, since, you know, they didn't have to be.
Excepting parts where I don't have the stuff and forgot about its stats and traits.
Though I'd definitely want to shift some stats around if I were to do things again.

>>5760611
tanq how much cool stuff did we miss like the castle? in op 1 could we have found something interesting in the village if we took the time to search

>>5760611
Darn I wanted to do more RP but I think people suddenly got busy rip.

I think the plan is for me and Franny to start gathering our contacts to prepare to insert into the Twaryian controlled territories.

Franny mentioned possibly knowing smuggler routes from her family and Raine doesn't have much of a name for himself but I like to think he has a lot of friends in low places. Common folk, Militiamen and Blue Collar salt of the earth people.

If possible we wanna rob some Vymark supplies, maybe a train in the backlines that people wouldn't expect to get hit. Maybe officially go MIA with Von Bern's help since she's the medical unit. Also I'll ask her in discord but I'm pretty sure Von Bern wouldn't mind setting us up with some equipment.

>>5760611
Great, thanks.

>>5760781
Related to this, but what's the in-game reason for the 14/29s having PRC+? Ammunition? A Squeeze bore maybe?

>>5758555
Huddled around a dimly lit lamp jonah looked at the last jar of moonshine from home he had managed to save up. He took a deep breath before taking a sip of it savoring the last flavor of home he'll taste for a long while or ever.

"Karl, Do you miss your home from....shit where did you come from" Jonah looked up at karl who was keeping watch while the others rested.

"Nope because Karl Svenson doesn't have a home or exist. My name's actually Heinrik, uhhh I deserted my logistic posts so I could murder people. Yeah I was mostly here just to shoot people. Kinda disappointed to be honest because I think I've fought more tanks, crabs, And armored cars than I did people." Karl genuinely sounded disappointed meanwhile karl and hans were taken aback.

"Wait wait, so What is your full name? And what the hell were you gonna do when the war ended" Hans pulled up a seat next to karl, It was rather strange when they thought about it. As unhinged as karl was he was the most organized out of all of them when it comes to their inventory of weapons and he always seemed to be the most well stocked in the unit.

"Heinrik Schweimark, Also no clue I figured I'd hitch a ride to the next war and just shoot people there. Wherever there's war I just hope I can be there fighting ya know. Also don't worry I ain't no spy, Don't got the talent for it my da said" Karl stroked his chin he genuinely didn't think much about what he was gonna do, well he rarely ever does but it tends to work out for him in the end.

Jonah sighed then let out a wry chuckle, It was a surprise to be sure but on the other hand Karl has always been an absurd and trustworthy person. Well he's goten this far with them He figures he can trust them

"What about you guys what are you gonna do? And uhh...I dunno do you guys want to join me on my war galavant?" Karl turned to hans and jonah.

"Sure why not, Not like I had much waiting for me back home." Hans sighed and thought about what was he gonna do back home, This war was better than slaving away in the same factory his family has been in for generations.

"Nah, I got family to get back to and I can always just find another job being a clerk or an accountant somewhere else. I dunno maybe settle down or start seeing people after picking up the pieces of my life if my stuff just happen to get shelled" Jonah took another sip of moonshine, It was going to be difficult to rebuild, Often times when you dip in 'Family business' Its fairly hard to drag yourself out of that mire.

"But My dear friends we are being presumptuous. We might not make it out of this ride alive after all." Jonah handed the drink over to the others as they talked the night away and maybe debate on what their final recorded words shall be if they made it to the history books.

>>5757927
Sometime after the toasts were finished and the partying done, Franziska Vilgerson came to Raine in private to have a talk. Some of the men would think she had untoward plans for the evening, especially after her attempt at Prince Basil and the red flush across her face from drinking wouldn't help if anybody saw her but she had no such plans for the night.

Slipping into his tent, the female Vilgerson spoke in a sharp whisper.

"Alvin, you awake?"

Raine should have been asleep by now, exhausted as he was. Early into the Operation he'd lost too many good friends and near the end he'd had to leave behind even more. Part of him wanted to close his eyes and rest but he just couldn't, too many thoughts rushed through his mind that made it impossible.

He stayed late into the night, trying to put his thoughts into ink. An old friend of his was always writing things down whether it be statistics, plans, or theories. Alvin sometimes wondered if it would have been better if Totmann made it out instead of him but he shook that thought away. The truth was Vynmark lost too many heroes during Ashen Dawn and now he was stuck here, trying to write down his experiences onto paper like his comrade before him.

Looking up from his small table, Alvin craned his neck towards Franziska.

"I'm up Franny, What's up?"

His eyes carried a hint of sadness but his eyes seemed to carry a steely determination beneath it all. Alvin Raine was tired but he had never once lost the will to fight.

"You going night crawling around camp? Let me just tell you this again, I don't exactly see you that way plus Jonah would kill me haha."

"Hahaha" Franziska laughed. It felt nice just shooting the shit and messing around. The night was young and part of her wanted to just keep talking till the sun rose. Maybe some other night, just not tonight.

>>5760849
>>5757927
"I'm gonna be going AWOL Raine." The female Vilgerson's voice broke their cheery mood. "I have to look for Jonah. Vilgerson's don't die but... I don't know. I know he's alive out there I- I don't know why I'm telling you this."

She didn't. Maybe it was because Alvin was the only friend she had left or maybe she was looking for help from anyone. Maybe she just wanted him to stop her. No. That last part, she didn't want anybody to stop her from looking for Jonah.

"I don't hide the fact I'm from a penal unit. I was planning on running the moment I got on the field but lo and behold during my first deployment my little brother and an old friend showed up."

"I don't think I'm gonna get that lucky again. I don't trust the cunts up top not to throw me away now that I don't have Haile or anybody to back me up."

Alvin Sighed but not really in disappointment, more in relief "Yeah I figured you weren't gonna last too long here."

Under the candlelight, Raine stared straight into her eyes with utter determination and spoke plainly.

"I'm going AWOL too. I'm going back into the territories we lost and I'm gonna go look for everybody."

There was no turning back, not now and not ever. The commander carried too many regrets but the fire in his heart burned all the same.

"Whether it be the occupied Eastern Territories or Twaryia itself. I'm gonna keep fighting, I'm gonna look for every single commander we left behind during Ashen Dawn. Caroline Vix, Vivian Martins, Roman Orlik, Reuther von Totmann, Jonah, Ilse Anna Dagenhardt, Fredrica Von Zufalligdorf"

It was a childish hope but often times childish hopes and powerful wills were all it took to keep men and women moving forward against impossible odds.

"I refuse to believe those brave men and women are just gone without finding proof, we don’t know if they got taken as prisoners but I refuse to believe that’s just it. I'll take the fight to Ian, make him bleed, make him regret even setting foot on Vynmark and if we can't find our comrades then I'll make sure to carve the names onto the heads of every single Twaryian bastard I can find."

He stood up and extended his hand towards her.

"Come with me Franny, we've got work to do."

>Alvin Raine is going back into Twaryian Controlled territories and is starting an insurgency.

>>5757927
>Franziska Vilgerson is stealing her three assault tanks and following Alvin Raine in his insurgency after some time.

>>5757927
Sorry this was pretty impromptu tanq I had more plans for actually outlining a plan on what I was gonna do like Leopold but life got super busy. We'll probably just try to rob a supply train in the backline that's lightly guarded for supplies.

I'd fucking love to have robbed the Navy pricks but the lore nerds in Discord told me we probably won't have a chance rip. We'll have to get Franny's 3.7cm autocannon tanqs later.

>>5760852
>>5760850
>>5757927
>Isolde Von Bern diverts any resources she can spare to helping Raine's Raiders set up during their early stages.
>Also she'll be receiving any intel they can gather about the backlines and passing it off to Wesker.

Behold, I have escaped over-time hell. I will now pass out after leaving the very obvious course of action for Wester to take.

>>5757927
>You rejoined with the forces of the Grand Council Army- This war was not over yet.

>>5760611
Wester's return reminds me, is anybody else getting medals? Either way, what sorts of medals does the GCA give out?

>>5757927

Sorry for late, writing is suffer.

>You rejoined with the forces of the Grand Council Army- This war was not over yet.

The Judge had called for many upon high that day. That so many, including herself, had been able to escape from what many had accepted to be their fates was perhaps in equal measure a sign of fate and doom.

The fruit of victory tasted bitter nonetheless.

Her men bathed in a small creek at the edge of a hamlet the remnant of the Hagelsdorf Battalion had chosen to briefly resupply in. They would be on their way in an hour at most. Modesty demanded that she not join them but she indulged in sitting on a rock by the waterline and enjoying the gentle flow of the stream at least up to her knees. She knew in her heart that these people probably did not care about such things anymore. Of course she would be subject to the casual rowdiness most young men acted upon like second nature, but as far as they were concerned she was of Vynmark just as they were. It was refreshing, to be more than a bauble in a long winded insufferable social game, half-blooded child of a respectable man and a vagrant zealot. Here she was Leutenant Clara Becker.

Clara blew a loud whistle to her men. It was good practice to commemorate those passed on when it was possible to do so and they seemed to have taken to what she had been doing since they left Huldravikland to do so. She broke a stick of incense in half and returned half to a shirt pocket. Faces came to her through the dark as she closed her eyes.

"Private Louis Kleist, I thought there might be a stone where your brain is supposed to be, and it must have been true seeing as how I've never seen someone drink as much swill and remain standing as you."

Her flint struck and the smoke began to travel upon the waters. Somebody from second squad called out, "Loaned out his belt to me once for inspection by Hoffman. Saved me from a chewing out, even if he did it for the candies in my next MRE.". More people spoke on after. Not everyone had much to be said for them whether their whole squad had been wiped out or if they were just quiet. But it was important to remember the departed regardless. It meant somebody would remember us.

Becker thumbed over the embossed rose of her incense tin. Let there be peace before I have to bury all my boys.

The war went on.

Ah, life. The joy of it. Say, sergeant, you happen to be willing to ride off with me? No? Patriot, are you? Well, that figures I figure.

As for me, yes, quite, war and all. I assume if I stick it out maybe my commission will finally come through proper and I’ll get my hands on those promised tools. Yes? Yeees? Not a *single* one of you are nodding, thanks for the vote of confidence.

My name? What do you mean? I told you my name, I’m sure. Anyway, what’s for dinner?

>… What, you think I’d let Haile disappear off on her own? That’s silly.
> Yeah yeah midnight ride and a war and other side of the continent and I’m going to stop you right there, we’re coming along.
> First I’ve gotta make sure this Totman manual Wesker is submitting is up to snuff though. Fine man, Totman, but he got a bit lost in fire and maneuvering and I think I can suggest a thing or three.

> Also I do have some actual writing, life got a bit occupied. Let me see what I can scrounge up.

Will we get an updated map with the wrap-up?

>>5760611
How's things going?

Somebody was speaking to the Red Ace- it had felt like he had just laid back, but when he checked his watch…it had been longer. He turned his head slightly- though he already knew what sort of person it might have been- nobody besides a Vynmarker would try to talk Old Nauk at him. Yet if they did not know who he was, why would they speak like he understood?

Either way, he did know Old Nauk. So he turned his head the rest of the way- satisfied his curiosity as to how this person even got here, dressed in that uniform- lacking the tone of hair and point of ear. A huge woman in many ways- but not somebody Krasnyy heard of. Somebody who wouldn’t have been seen. Perhaps that was impressive, if she had indeed been around since that first encounter.

The offer was ignored at first- because Krasnyy recognized what was on her lapel.

“That is Alexey Rozov’s token,” he said, cool and bemused. Blumenthal did not seem the sort to wear what she could not claim as her own- a feeling he had learned to trust. “So you were the one who took him down. I do not think the two of you would have gotten along, if that presumption is the root of your sentiment. He was not particularly respectful of women.”

The Nauk woman gave him a sly smile- there was a look in her eye that said she already knew- and respected such men better than Krasnyy did. He snorted out his nose, and Freya said, “You got a name, at least, gloomy boy?”

Krasnyy stared. She knew who he was- he got that feeling too. Nevertheless. “I am Captain Ivani Krasnyy. Krasnyy is my true surname. It suits me well. I have been called the Red, but now, I am called Fenix, after the fiery bird of legend that is born again in the inferno.” He had not bothered to hide his face- he had forgotten about it in the moment, but the woman had not recoiled at the appearance a good portion of his face had taken up, where the Inferno Mass Explosive had seared its way through crack and gaps, already opened from the shells before in that battle. “You were about to say another name, before Blumenthal. You have another title?”

Freya smirked at that, and laughed. “Unterbrust.”

“Unter…” Krasnyy blinked. “I see.”

“Hard not to, isn’t it?” Freya’s smile softened. “You haven’t shot me or had me seized, you up for that drink, then?”

“You have not come here to fight, and alone, are incapable as you are unwilling, at present. There would be no point in your defeat by arms or capture. Not for me.”

“Haven’t answered my question. Any of them, really.”

“I do not drink.”

“And you act like it. You at least drink water?”

“…” Krasnyy got the idea. “If I am to tell something like this, I would rather not talk down to you.”

Easy enough. Freya’s height made it an easy matter to climb up even the tall and boxy T-15, which had no accommodations to aid in ascending it- like it was a test of sorts to its crew, who hadn’t installed such despite the other modifications clearly present. “The story about the dreary look, then.”

“Fine then. I have no orders that I intend to follow at present now anyways. Truth be told, I do not mind living- but my belief has always been that to truly be a warrior, one must accept death. This day, I accepted its coming- and it refused me. To be a soldier is to accept that you will die in battle. I have always believed anything else is self-deception. To fight and die, or to live and submit yourself to the strong.”

“You didn’t do the latter, though, huh?” Freya pointed out easily- even if she thought he sounded rather too preachy.

“I have already experienced that life,” Krasnyy said, “I grew up in slums. My own blood gave my sister up for the wealth of a foreigner. The emptiness in my stomach was better than the tainted taste of our bread, that bread bought with my sister’s dignity, her innocence. To die would be better- so I accepted such, and joined to battle the Heretic, even if my spite for the Heretic was small compared to that of Caelus. Better to fall at the hands of those who may be friends were they not Heretics, then to grovel at the feet of the Federation’s oh-so-generous table. Yet now, I’m forced to consider that, with all the times death has evaded me,” Krasnyy crossed his legs and leaned forward to rest his chin on his knuckles, giving the misty shore a pensive look. “Perhaps I am being told by the Judge Above that I am not meant to be a soldier, a warrior. To go against such is not what I should do. Yet I cannot think of what else I would do than fight, now. I would not wish to fight alongside any besides those I do now- it is them, or to a place I have long left behind. So I feel…at sea.”

Freya had been there before. A quiet moment was broken up by the sound of artillery cannon- then their impact somewhere south.

“Your stray comrade, one in the great-cannon tank destroyers. He has chosen his fate, it sounds like,” Krasnyy said, “Perhaps I should have gone down to him to share in it…but such is not for me, it seems.”

“The Judge decided otherwise,” Freya said. Though somewhere inside, she wondered if he might have gone down there, were she not here to talk.

She could take it as a compliment. Sometimes a man was more open to listening to certain words when the right lips spoke them...perhaps also considering what was below the jaw being waggled, too.

-----

On the outskirts of the grand city of Sodrakron, impressive fortifications had been dug in and built up with what little time there was- they were hastily constructed, and surrounded by the rubble of demolished buildings that were torn down to not block fields of fire. Mines had been laid, and craters from bombardments littered the land already, but the defenses were yet untested. There were no doubts about the fate of those who would be the first to try. For in the deep trenches and bunkers were the elite of Vynmark, now finally made to go into a proper battle in this war rather than skirmishes and raids. Their coats were a deep blue-green, and nobody who had ever been their enemy made the mistake of underestimating the Grand Fleet Naval Infantry.

With such a reputation, much grumbling was made still by the men about why they were only now fighting. They themselves had little satisfactory explanation- other than the assurance that the Twaryians would have to be broken here. Yet it seemed, from rumor on the front, that if they had gone forward sooner, then the enemy might have been broken before...?

Captain Brunns wasn’t much thrilled to be digging ditches to hide in while Twaryian rockets rained down, their users refusing to come close. He knew that the initiative was precious in a modern war- from personal experience. No officer in the Naval Infantry was suffered to have no combat experience- even if the nation was at peace, there was an expectation to go out and find a fight somehow. Brunns had cut his teeth in Sudvitel- and he was ready to live through the Battle of Donom Dei again- or, considering what that was like, die in it.

Reports of mechanized audio contact. So the Twaryians were sending their tanks- overconfident of them to do so without a preemptive bombardment. Perhaps a scouting force? No matter. The 2.5 centimeter guns were ready in their ambush positions, gun shields removed so that they would sit lower, be harder to see. The Bat Ears wouldn’t know what hit them…and he was eager to see the results, as he himself had moved up to oversee the first battle.

That the Naval Infantry had their nerves probably saved the first group through.

“Hold fire!” Captain Brunns shouted. These tanks were not the night-hue of Twaryi- but the grayish blue-green of Vynmark…

A surprising amount of them, too. A company, with all sorts of different sorts of vehicles, though a fair few were the newest model of tank, the m/24-32. A model that was supposed to be all but wiped out at this point.

An armored command car, obvious up close from its squad form and lack of armament besides radio antennae, followed up the tanks- a man jumped out as it slowed to a halt just outside the trenches.

“Alright,” a tired, lanky man stood over the guns with his thumbs in his pockets, “Who’s in charge here. We’ve had a long trip.”

“That’d be me,” Brunns climbed out of the trench, “Captain Brunns, 2nd Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Grand Fleet’s Naval Infantry. Who are you supposed to be?”

“Major Sanen Yule.” The man said coolly, distantly. “The Hageldorf Combined Battalion, I suppose you’d call it. I am the acting commander of what remains of it.”

The Hageldorf Battalion? “I’ve heard of you,” Brunns said, a bit impressed. “So a whole battalion of you after this?”

The Major shook his head. “This is all of it, I’m afraid. All in one batch. We broke out with much sacrifice. Including that of our patron, as far as I know. There’s other people who might have made it out, but we’re all that’s made it here, far as we know.”

“A damn shame,” the Captain said, “We’d have made good use of all that gear you’re said to have.”

“Anyways,” Yule’s eyes wandered, “The men are tired, we’re low on fuel and ammunition, and we haven’t eaten a good meal in days. Get me a line to your commanding officer. I don’t think we’ll have much time to straighten ourselves out, but we’re not ready for more of the sort of fight we’ve already been going through…”

-----

It had taken a couple of days for Haile to accept what had happened- the new situation she was in. It wasn’t the dirtiness, the rough company and resultant hesitation at decorum. As she’d said dully, wrapped up in her own head- she had discarded her titles when she intended to throw herself at the feet of those who cared not a whit for it. She was no Countess- not for now. The troops still considered her their leader though, somehow- and it would be an insult to their struggle and sacrifice to not rise to the occasion.

It was easier said than done to fight in guerilla war methods, though, she realized as she took what the “raiders” had into account. No matter. If she had learned anything, it was how terribly strong the right thing at the right time could be. Vynmark might not be freed by her actions- perhaps it might not even be changed. Maybe her death had merely been delayed. Yet when she had surrendered her life to fate, her comrades had come around and pulled her away.

…Well, the one man who’d done that in particular seemed to have been exiled. Maybe she was too rude to the man, but he hadn’t seemed particularly upset to be adrift, either.

“This is where they said they would be, yes?” Haile asked one of the former recon men- the tank they rode was terribly battered, but anything was better than nothing. They’d gotten lucky finding a fuel source in the form of abandoned vehicles, but mechanized materiel was very demanding of sustenance and maintenance. The more people there were, the easier that demand was to fulfill.

“It’s what they said on that encrypted broadcast. Back to Kobberhus.” The radios were not being used to transmit- but they had happened to receive a seemingly random broadcast that was made once, then only one more time a couple of hours later.

“I see.” Haile said, and touched her face. A flash of discomfort- an oddly petty sort of one. The situation, of course, meant she had had no makeup or hygiene done since before the Huldraviklands. “Do I look presentable for a meeting?” she asked.

The recon officer shrugged. “Ask the Vitelian. Far as I’m concerned anybody dressed in a Recon cloak looks better than dressed in tights and the dress thing.”

“…I see,” Haile didn’t think about that too much. “Let us be off again, then. Perhaps it is not time for some of us to have gone our separate ways yet, after all.”

-----

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V72V-aZOaGM
The Hemelsberg was lit in the glow of a dawn above the clouds- a sea of warmth that shone upwards, the hum of gentle breezes a reassurance of peace. Perhaps, signs from the Hemelsberg itself, as the rains had faded into mist with the return of the Sky Queen. The world below was apparently in turmoil, but to the Free Folk, what mattered more was this moment. This calm after the storm.

Velecacia herself, of course, was not to be found in the streets of the villages and the great sky port of Himmelsdorf, but was instead cloistered away in the carved caverns of the high mount, in the eerie silence of the mountain’s heart. None but the Heaven’s Rangers who guarded the glades knew where in the forests might take them to where the Queen resided- any who drew near were guided away.

A ranger entered the caverns- undisturbed by the quiet, following the glow of paper lanterns into the center of the caves.

“Queen of the Sky,” he announced himself with a bow before he even entered the Queen’s…throne room, as it were, though there was no chair there to sit in and receive visitors- the queen merely sat cross legged on the mosaic tiles, a softly glowing ceiling of pure crystal above. “Are you alright?”

“I am,” the Sky Queen said, her eyes closed, black wings wrapped around her- she was contemplating something with ink and pen and parchment. “…Thou art Jan, yes? I apologize. Thine kin was one of mine guards. I failed to return with him in mine presence.”

“He understood the risk. I’m proud of him, and he has a shrine in the festival back in Johanneslicht. You know, the town on the other side from Himmelsdorf.” The ranger stepped closer. “You ought to visit some of the events, at least the one in the sky port. I think the people’d like it. Give them as much of a kick from all the ale they could drink to see you.”

“…Fear not. I will go to them. I must first prepare proper respects to those whom rescued mine person, whom gave their blood and toil, so that I may be here at all.” The parchments to one side were densely scribed with names, deeds, descriptions. “I spoke to many. I search mine memories now to record them. Thine deeds will be wrote in stone, and never forgotten by the High Mountain…”

The Ranger shifted from one foot to the other. “Everybody’d be happy to help, but er, how long will this take...?”

“Another day, perhaps two. I am close. Yet I intend to speak of mine companions who walk the ground, so they may be recognized for what they have done.” Velecacia’s eyes remained closed as she wrote. “Yes…the mountain doth remember, but man may forget. Thou wouldst not mind more days of festivities, no?”

“’’Course not.”

-----

May 16, 1933- 0325 Hours
Far to the north- the Capital of Naukland, Stor Ankomst.

The capital of the Naukland Republic was quiet in these hours of the morning- the sea fog was high and the loudest sounds besides the seas and winds were Black Terns and Ahvaland Cormorants shrieking at on another in their endless war over the city’s leavings. The Coffee Houses would not even think of readying to open for another two hours- their oddest hour patrons slept in still.

One of the few people who were up and about besides watchmen and rag pickers was the elected leader of the country, the Princeps- Folketsprins, Sven Lund- and he was as interested in learning why he was roused as he was incredibly annoyed. The Foreign Affairs Minister, Erik Aresson, had sent a capital police officer straight to his home, and not even the officer knew what business it was- only that it was of dire national importance.

Lund was not fond of the Lighthouse Hall- the rather humble place where the elected Princeps was meant to carry out their services as executive. It was not chosen for its aesthetics- but because it was storied, and old- albeit equipped to a barely acceptable degree with modern amenities and communications devices.

A stressful place, but at least the view from the office was lovely.

The Foreign Affairs minister and a few drowsy attendants, dressed in deep blue suits just as the Princeps was, waited outside of the Principate Office- Lud was greeted, with a paper cup of coffee. A testing sip- terrible as could be expected of a Yaegir. Those folk, no matter how far from the forests they got, never lost their taste for awful coffee, oily and infused with sour berries.

The dim lights of the Principate Office flickered on, and the Princeps closed the door behind the visitors after they entered, before going to his grand desk- clean and neat, topped with blue-black stone. “I hope,” he said with a rough, grumpy edge in his baritone voice, “That you didn’t wake me at this Judge-forsaken hour to share this forest brew with me.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Aresson was often humorous, in the carousing way a diplomat ought to be- but he had no joke or smile prepared now. “I would rather that be the case. A package from the embassy in Sydtrone arrived, Folketsprins Lund,” Foreign Affairs Minister Aresson set a folder on the table between the two, “It was preceded by transmission over land line, of course, but the information’s nature demands…more than a telegram. The embassy’s private courier aircraft rushed the evidence in question up here. This report summarizes it. Please read it thoroughly.”

The Princeps picked it up, still eyeing his advisor oddly, before placing a pair of reading glasses onto the bridge of his high-ridged nose and reading through the document, a frown deepening further and further as he went. He set down the pages with a scowl. “This is…a problem.”

“Quite.” An incredible understatement from both men. The presence of Caelussian troops on the continent, combined with their active involvement in a war, was a blatant breach of the Overseas Noninterference Treaty. A violation whose consequences were not vague in the slightest- even if none had assumed they would ever be enacted. The benefits of not risking such seemed simply too great. Yet here they were, the unthinkable staring them in the face and waiting to see what they would do.

“How widespread is this information?” the Princeps asked tautly.

“The Praetor implied that the details of the information is being kept under control,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said, “but that it would only be a matter of time before it spread all over.”

“Hmph. There’s not really a choice, then.” Princeps Lund stood up, “This is utterly terrible. Why in the world would they do this? With their overtures towards cooperation and trade, the thought of the population, nobody is ready for any part of this…” He pinched his brow, “We will have to call an emergency session of the Nauk Kongressen. Is this known to the Senatsledare?”

“A dispatch was sent to fetch him from his home, sir,” the Foreign Minister said, “The Federation Embassy has not said anything of this. I recommend we give them a chance to explain themselves.”

“We cannot afford to show a weak response to this transgression,” the Princeps said, “Waiting for them to prepare an explanation before we act, when they have already acted themselves? The Kaiser is already of the mind that he can act unopposed, Caelus hardly needs to be convinced of the same. Anything less than the harshest reaction will show the Federation, no, the entire world, that our guarantees are worth less than the paper they are wrote on. Suicide for our administration and the party even if fate sees nothing else change because of this. Send this information along to the Admiralty. Before the Kongressen, the Navy needs to raise steam and plan for sustained long term patrols, at the very least. If we have no Maritime Exclusion Zone, the Federation will take as long as they like to address this. That is not an option.”

“With respect, Folketsprins,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said gravely, “This is not a decision to make in haste. It is practically a declaration of war…something the people of this country are not prepared for in the slightest.”

“Perhaps not. Yet Vynmark was similarly unprepared.” The Princeps reached for a bright red telephone at his desk, but his hand paused, and returned to his forehead once more. “I too, am unready. Perhaps Henrik would have made himself a problem at some point, but the Federation too?”

His hand stayed at his head for some time- the silence was thick as fog.

A small clinging of metal as the red telephone was finally lifted, and a number dialed in.

“The Judge has seen fit,” the Princeps said under his breath, “To test our resolve.”

-----

The War for Vynmark, as it was first called, was not expected to last long, or be particularly consequential. A Sosalian war was normal. Twaryi was aggressive and expansionist, for now- and Vynmark would likely capitulate. The cartographers would redraw the borders of their maps and not much would change. Yet, even though the war was anticipated to end in one month…
It showed no signs of ending any time soon. Vynmark proved surprisingly stubborn- and surprised even their opponent, whose advance slowed, then stopped, as the Siege of Sodrakron began, and territorial gains were consolidated as overstretched Twaryian forces found themselves facing determined resistance by a foe that should have been beaten twice already- and they were already out of energy themselves. The reprieve that the Twaryians needed, however, Vynmark needed even more desperately.

The myriad former members of the Hageldorf Battalion clumped together in some cases, went their separate ways in others. Lieutenant Wesker found himself away from the frontlines entirely- Isolde Von Bern went down the path of politics, her status as having been part of a storied unit a boon to such an attempt at advancement, as the Grand Council of Landgrafs found itself in upheaval, with many having lost their lands, and others having been embarrassed in the war one way or another. It would not happen until the elections- but the wise sorts had prepared long in advance for the changes to come.

When some left the army, they left Vynmark as well. Others might not have been in the army anymore- but they fought for their homeland, their friends, to simply fight, still- though the Twaryians had learned from Ellowie important lessons in dealing with insurgency. Those who continued the fight found themselves no longer facing the Twaryians, but occupiers of a different sort, from other lands- even collaborators, who had been waiting for the chance to fight for their own vision of another Vynmark, and win.

For those who remained in their place as fighters in the Grand Council Army, though many different fronts demanded a return or a dispersal, the core of the battered battalion was organized into the heart of a new formation. The Hageldorf Combined Battalion had become famed for the destruction it had wrought, and forward thinking analysts and veterans from the unit both attempted to reforge what had been there before- though with little in the way of fresh armor, the New Battalion looked much more like the enemy they had fought before, albeit still bearing the colors of their nation on top of Twaryian and Caelussian import steel.

Yet such shifts in the conflict were still expected. Still mundane to aspiring chroniclers watching the conflict.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTbTljeommg
The Stor Ankomst Accords that were said to protect the continent of Vinstraga from overseas interferences were seldom thought about- and never expected to be properly enforced. For all that Naukland claimed to be guardian of the continent, it was not seen as more powerful than Emre, certainly not more powerful than the Grossreich- when a test such as that which appeared in Vynmark appeared, many expected the bravado and bluster of a people overly proud of a distant past to fall through in the face of cold pragmatism. A loss of face- but no need to square up against an entire other continent, either.

These speculations proved grossly inaccurate. Within but two weeks, Naukland’s fleets were enforcing a Maritime Exclusion Zone that did not need to encompass the whole sea- merely the southern routes which fed Twaryi and the Caelussian Federation’s primary trade routes with Vinstraga- and Vynmark’s navy aided them in doing so. Caelus was shocked- but did not back down.

In four months’ time, the Federation overseas would cease attempting to bypass the increasingly effective enforcement of the Exclusion Zone with crafty sailing and blockade running. Federation Navy ships would once again enter the zone escorting trade fleets- and impose themselves. They thought to call Naukland’s bluff.

It was no bluff. It would be undeclared for two weeks after the first battle, but the unthinkable had begun over something as seemingly small as captured paratroops. The Caelussian Federation was at war with the self-proclaimed guardian of Vinstraga…and none could anticipate the course of history from there.

-----

“So, it begins, Ganze. Was this a part of your plan? Because I certainly wasn’t aware of this twist.”

“It was not, Loch. This is quite a stumble by the Caelussians, actually. And a serious problem for us. Naukland has not just targeted Caelus in its declaration of its exclusion zone- but all.”

“All save for the pirates, I imagine.”

“But you do see where the problem lies.”

“Of course. But what can we do about it but move to our other options?”

“They are more important than ever. If they do not resolve in our favor though…then there will be no choice but to seize our people’s future by force.”

“Our people have been ready for that, Ganze. Perhaps to us it was merely an option of last resort, but to the rest, they act in the old adage of Von Skarnhorst…”

“…A sword sharpened but never used belongs to the man whom, whether wise or strong, both or neither, is nevertheless held in contempt by both king and common man.”

“The time for that sword being drawn may approach quickly, Ganze.”

“When the time comes for it, Loch. Remember too, the wisdom from the far west. A hawk does not happen upon its prey by surprise. We will not act as Caelus has. The timing to draw this blade will be anticipated long before the hand grasps the hilt.”

-----

That'll be it, folks. Though this thread'll definitely be up for a while yet- so long as it is, there's no reason to not have more talk or whatever, though the story is definitely concluded.

>>5762241
Sorry about the delay- there was a lot to wrap up, and a lot of block to smash through. Considering the events at play.

>>5760753
>how much cool stuff did we miss like the castle?
Not much I'd say. The maps weren't made to explore- especially considering the time there already was. Anything like that that would have been interesting and unmentioned would have been taken care of in the mini-ops in between. It'd be different if this was a more deliberately constructed deal like a game or something, but as is, this was already a lot.

>>5760820
>what's the in-game reason for the 14/29s having PRC+? Ammunition?
It's an intermediary in penetration levels. As said before, it's a bit of a test of variable penetration with range, in a way, along with being an in-between of numbers. Just something that's more powerful than the usual caliber.

>>5760854
That's fine- the smaller scale things I think I can trust to you all.

>>5761114
>is anybody else getting medals? Either way, what sorts of medals does the GCA give out?
Decorations in the GCA are recommended by the nobility- so considering your sponsorship, almost assuredly, at least on a unit level if not personal. The most prestigious sorts are the Laurel Wreath Shields- a decoration that looks how it sounds, made of a different ostentatiousness depending on the level of recognition from bronze to gold with diamonds- though the gold with diamonds has never actually been awarded, as the Glittering Laurels are an artifact of Nauk Imperial history reserved for those that saved the Emperor and a Legion both from destruction. Besides that, one can count on the usual wound badges and recognitions of meritous service, the latter being the Round and Ribbon of a series of linked brass rounds at the end of a sea and sky hued ribbon.

>>5761768
>Will we get an updated map with the wrap-up?
I hadn't intended on it- given that there's stuff that still has to happen on the rest of the map, I think, that hasn't been decided yet.

>>5762693
Thanks for running tanq. Fantastic epilogue, looks like the Big One will be happening sooner rather than later.

Are the Emreans getting dragged into this as well, what with their previous negotiations with Naukland? Or only when the Reich makes their own move?

Wonder how the Major's part of the IO is reacting, since they seem to be some of the few groups in Strossvald whom take Caelus seriously. An unexpected windfall?

Damn I feel so vindicated for doing basic guerilla prep. Sad that I didn't get to join haile by the looks of it, just the recon boys are in on it by the looks of it. Also the big funny has begun! Let's gooooooo

And there it goes. Naukland vs Caelus as the Twaryi-Vynmark war starts dragging on. For the latter the question will be who can make good their losses and rebuild offensive potential first, as well as who can sustain the bitter fighting to the end. For the former... well, we will just have to see I suppose.

It was a fun ride tanq, happy to have made my little mark on this world.

>>5762693
>This is quite a stumble by the Caelussians, actually
I keep hearing that this course of events is bad for Caelus, but I don't see exactly how. Could you explain a bit on that? To me, it seems like they are quite powerful and in not too bad a position to start rolling up this side of the continent, especially considering the recent war torn state of many of the nations here.

>Folketsprins
>Senatsledare
>'Stor Ankomst'
You hate to see that just after waking up.

So that's the end of that then. This was somewhat entertaining I guess, especially since it had continuity which is something almost all Skirmish games lack.
Sadly though it became obvious in Op 2, with the introduction of Assault Armaments and Flamethrowers, that if you were playing Dragoon as Anti-Infantry and didn't pick Knife Fighter you would be doing fuck all the whole game. Really took a lot of fun out of the game trying to play the Veteran Soldier when you would struggle to deal even a single point of damage sometimes while green militia men would delete whole units every turn with no issue.

It is what it is, I guess. I would've probably felt more inclined to RP more if it didn't feel like I took up a slot that could've been better used by quite literally anything else. I ended up dragging my feet in OP3-4 partially because of work, but mostly because it just wasn't fun for me to participate. Didn't want to complain during the quest (Lord knows we already had too many alterations to the rules mid-game) because it would've rained on other people's parades, but it should've had a limit placed on how many attacks it could turn in to crits instead of it being able to potentially turn 18 hits into crits.

>>5762828
Yeah I felt that, I kinda kicked myself over the head thinking there would be more infantry than there were tanks but I somehow ended up always in combat with something armored which kinda sucked ass for the most part because I tended not to bring AT rifles.

>>5762708
>Are the Emreans getting dragged into this as well, what with their previous negotiations with Naukland? Or only when the Reich makes their own move?
Unknown at this point. The Emreans of course care much more about the Reich than Caelus.
>Wonder how the Major's part of the IO is reacting, since they seem to be some of the few groups in Strossvald whom take Caelus seriously. An unexpected windfall?
It definitely is a shakeup, even if the event is rather unprecedented.

>>5762713
>Sad that I didn't get to join Haile by the looks of it
The intent was that you all joined up together again- though I didn't want to lock people into it if they didn't see themselves doing that in particular.

>>5762826
While the Caelussian Federation is extremely powerful- this is not the outcome they wanted. Their ability to project said power is not nearly as great as what they have on their homeland, and in any case, outright conquest is not their MO. I'd rather not just lay everything out on the table, but for example what Rufia said was offered in the deal last op would have been a preferred outcome- Caelussians aren't Twaryians, they don't see forceful military takeover as the ideal solution. They have enough to deal with on their own continent and in their own federation.

>>5762828
>>5763003
I apologize for that, there's several major things I'd have liked to change around in retrospect, but the infantry was definitely not something I came away satisfied with. They need more tweaking- I had some ideas, but they didn't end up being implemented. The drawback of trying to keep things simple, since the strengths of infantry would most likely show through if they were given separate options instead of basically acting mechanically like vehicles do.
When it comes to overpowered abilities though I think the tanks were the worst by far. T-8s are meant to be the primary tank encounter, but the amount of materiel just immune to that, combined with Goliath Novus being so strong, sort of put the kibosh on having that, which I think would have given infantry more to do.

It is appreciated that you powered through nevertheless, but I'd say it would have been fine to say if you wanted more for you to do. Having to test out how the systems actually work is an important step in developing games after all, and this is no different.

>>5763131
On the tank side, I agree that GN was definitely the runaway best trait. Feels like there was a pretty no-brainer build for a few reasons:

- The EXP gap means that until the Company Radios came about meant that as a Cuirassier most of the time you'd lose the INI battle. Plus without the EXP 2 DEF bonus a lot of stuff was basically auto-hit (especially this op), so usually you'll get hit first and the round is very unlikely to miss.

-Thus with the above factors high ARM is the way to go.Without the ARM 4 from up-armouring the m/24-32 specifically you get penned by anything equal or better than a T-16 from the front, and the enemy has a lot of them. And of course the stock m/24's 37mm isn't going to cut it against those types either.

-GN gives you a lot of peace of mind when it comes to manoeuvring; after getting it I have to admit there was quite a bit of mental load taken off not having to be concerned with potentially ending up getting flanked.

Obviously from an RP standpoint pretty realistic showing how the GCA's armour park is vis-a-vis the Twaryian one (would likely be pretty different if we were Silver Lances or even Netillians imo) but from a gameplay view it feels like one of the few ways to make yourself able to tangle with enemy vehicles heavier than a T-8.

>>5763143
Which also means that every Cuirassier that isn't in a 24-32 is driving paper armor trash. The other classes had their means of surviving: Jagers fought from range and had the team tank for them, Dragoons were absurdly tanky and replenished between missions, and Recon had very high initiative and flexible spawns. A Cuirassier in anything except a 24-32 is going to get chewed up very quickly, and the lower EQP tanks don't even get much to make up for it. They are just extraordinarily bad vehicles that would suffer even against T-8s, and would have essentially no role outside of being a worse Dragoon. That's why you saw every Cuirassier pick 24-32s except one guy, who switched out after op1. I think that's why we had so few Cuirassiers, there was basically one main viable build: go 24-32s, and get either GN or uparmor. All the other classes had many different ways you could potentially play them.

>>5763146
Yeah it's hard to act as an anvil for the rest of the unit when your tanks can't....tank (heh) enemy fire too well.

>>5763131
Balancing game is hard thing to do especially when pretty much everything affects everything. But i think you pulled it of well in the end. There will always be something to fix but it's an process and in the end you will find the best way for that time.

>>5763131
eh maybe drop more objectives for infantry to take such as holding a building, searching it, you know things that infantry can do but tanks can't. However that's fairly complicated so yeah I feel that.

>>5763148
fellas I think you were the anvils and the infantry were the tanks. ye have that armor and firepower to just trudge around in the open

>>5763164
We only had the armor and firepower to do so because we were all in 24-32s. We couldn't do any of that in even EQP 2 tanks.

>>5763168
nah y'all we're just built different, too good for the twaryians