2.14 - Opening Strike
Northern Coalition Camp, 5 km west of Magwurt City.
2105 hours, April 1, 2025
After a warm bath and a sumptuous dinner, the three leaders of the Northern Coalition then enjoyed a dance performance of several young women with sensual looks.
"It's disappointing, they didn't launch any ambush even though some logistical convoys moved around without escort. They also didn't try to attack the blockade that we established."
Baron Eslei responded to Baron Mhors' complaint by saying.
"Don't spoil the atmosphere, this is the last time we can relax before the battle begins."
"Baron Eslei, what do you mean by battle? Two waves of attacks and Magwurt City walls will collapse."
Viscount Grakh smiled broadly before adding.
"Besides, we can still relax when the attack to soften Magwurt City defense is launched, and only go to the front lines when the main attack is launched."
Without warning Viscount Grakh then grabbed one of the dancing girls, and placed it on his lap while his hands moved to every corner of the girl's body.
Baron Mhors and Baron Eslei immediately followed in Viscount Grakh's action. Not long after that, a repetitive panting was heard from inside the tent along with the brutal laughter of the three leaders of the Northern Coalition.
- - - - -
The southern wall of Fort Cambia.
0508 hour, April 2, 2025
General Balthor looked at the iron chariots that took up position 1.5 km from the south wall, just above a 50-meter high mound with a fairly wide peak.
From his position, he saw two people dressed all in green standing beside one of the iron carts. One observes Fort Cambia using what appears to be binocular, while another stands beside the first person enjoying a cup of drink.
"You said they've been there since sunrise?"
Captain Phiere who was standing beside General Balthor immediately answered.
"According to the guard who saw them for the first time, it's likely they had been there since before sunrise."
General Balthor frowned before saying.
"Send a cavalry squad, kill a few of them and interrogate the rest. Make sure they know the price for spying on Fort--"
Siuuuuu siuuu siuuuu. . . !
General Balthor instantly narrowed his eyes when a plume of smoke appeared from several iron chariots, along with a long whistle that approached in a flash.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
For a moment General Balthor's heart stopped beating after a chain of deafening explosion rang out behind him. One of the explosions was even so close to his position. Luckily, his bodyguards immediately made sure he took cover behind the city walls.
With a body shaking violently, General Balthor looked at the messy kitchen, horse stable, and logistic barn.
Before long, the long whistle was heard one more time, followed by an object that fell on one of the logistics warehouses roofs, and a moment later a huge explosion gushed out of the warehouse.
The alarm bell immediately sounded along with the panic that enveloped the entire fortress.
Several Centurions managed to gather their squad members and lead them towards the defensive wall. However, on the way to the defensive wall, explosion after explosion hit the squad and killed most of its members.
At the same time the attacks on the logistics warehouse, horse stable, and kitchen continued.
General Balthor instantly realized the target the opponent was aiming for, and he knew he had to thwart their intentions no matter what the cost, or the Northern Coalition contingent that was attacking Magwurt City would lose logistical support.
The invasion of Magwurt City involved more than 100 thousand personnel, where along the incursion corridor there was not a single agricultural land or settlement that could be looted. Losing logistical support can lead to a disaster worse than defeat, which is wiped out.
Cold sweat immediately flooded General Balthor's back, as he remembered that last night Viscount Grakh had sent word that the Northern Coalition had arrived in front of Magwurt City, in full force and was about to launch its first assault this morning.
'Damn, how could this fortress take a fatal blow at such a critical moment?'
General Balthor gritted his teeth before he shouted out an order.
"Send cavalry and Riders right now! Kill them immediately!"
"General, you must immediately take cover to a safe place. I will bring their heads to you."
Captain Phiere said steadfastly before rushing towards the Tarai Air Corps' 2nd Rider Squadron barracks.
- - - - -
TF Passer, small mound 1.5 km south of Fort Cambia.
In the TF Amethyst doctrine, In addition to carrying a communications specialist or battalion staff, LAV Command usually also carries a Support Coordinator & Air Officer, who is in charge of coordinating mortar firing solutions, and requesting artillery strike or airstrike.
The fire support can be requested manually using radio, digitally by utilizing a network-centric between platforms, or simply by marking targets using the laser designator carried by LAV Command.
Inside LAV Command, Lieutenant Flores sent target coordinates to the LAV Mortar crew. Early this morning, with assistance from Reaper he managed to identify important targets such as logistics warehouses, kitchens, barracks, wells, armory, and horse stables.
Of course, once the attack started he also got additional targets such as the concentration of defenders.
Lieutenant Flores was engrossed in sending the target coordinates, when he saw a small crowd on top of the south wall. Seeing that the crowd seemed to be escorting a high-value target, Lieutenant Flores immediately aimed at the crowd.
Generally, 120 mm mortar is fired with 4 mortar grips over an area of 200 square meters. However, for the target that he aimed, Lieutenant Flores chose to use only 1 mortar, and waited until the target was between the two walls.
Therefore, If the target was not killed by the shock wave and fragmentation generated by the explosion, he would still be killed by the shock wave that was reflected off the wall.
Coordinates were immediately dispatched and a moment later, Lieutenant Flores smiled broadly as he saw his target hit hard and not move again.
However, that smile was immediately replaced by a broad grin as he saw a large number of cavalry moving towards the east and west gates, at the same time dozens of Cloud Hawks were airborne from one corner of Fort Cambia.
"All Passer, be advised, cavalry is approaching from 10 and 2 o'clock, followed by riders from 12 o'clock."
[. . .]
"Repeat, cavalry is approaching from 10 and 2 o'clock, followed by riders from 12 o'clock."
[Roger.]
[Roger.]
[Roger.]
Apart from LAV Shorad, all LAVs belonging to the TF Passer are equipped with an M240 medium machine gun mounted in the mount behind the driver. As soon as Lieutenant Flores announced the arrival of the opposing cavalry, the gunners immediately got ready.
At the same time, the LAV Shorad crew was also preparing to welcome riders that were already visible in the distance.
- - - - -
2nd Squadron Barrack, Tarai Air Corps.
Throughout the journey, Captain Phiere kept asking where the attackers of Fort Cambia got such strong firepower.
He knew that 2nd world authorities like Kingdom Makai had fire trebuchet that could burn their targets, but this was the first time he had seen an artillery weapon, that could make a building explode from inside and shatter to pieces.
Luckily, from the start he understood the target that the attacker was aiming for, so he could choose a relatively safe route and arrive at the barrack safely.
Relief filled Captain Phiere's heart as he saw 2nd Squadron's Cloud Hawks still intact and the Riders were ready for battle.
"Captain, we've installed your Cloud Hawk saddles, and the Riders from the Darpha and Liqua Air Corps are just getting into the air."
Captain Phiere nodded slightly without thanking the crew for working so responsively. Right now every second was precious so he had to make the most of it.
"The target is taking up positions 1.5 km south of this fort. We still don't know their artillery capacity, so attack from the maximum height with flaming arrows."
"" "ROGER!" ""
The Riders of the Tarai Air Corps 2nd Squadron answered in unison before climbing onto their Cloud Hawks, and without delay they immediately took off.
Captain Phiere was in no rush to catch up with the two squadrons of Riders who had preceded him. Instead, he wanted to use the two squadrons in front of him to confirm how the enemy would fight, and before long that wish was granted.
First, he saw the dotted line showering the two cavalry units coming out of the east and west gate. The vanguard of the two cavalry units immediately collapsed, while the ranks behind them chose to turn around.
"Cowardly bastards, at least drain their fire arrows even if you can't get close."
Captain Phiere muttered before turning his head towards the opponent's position, where a thicker glint suddenly shot out towards the Riders of the Darpha Air Corps and Liqua Air Corps who were approaching from two directions at a very low altitude.
Captain Phiere was sure that the enemy fire arrows did not hit the Riders of the Liqua and Darpha Air Corps, but he could vaguely see small explosions around them, and suddenly several Cloud Hawks took a sharp dive and hit the ground hard. While the rest were desperately trying to fly away, but their efforts were fruitless.
Without delay, Captain Phiere gave instructions to the 2nd Squadron members.
"2nd squadron attention, do not fly too close, it seems our opponent uses fire arrows that can explode and scatter deadly splinters."
[[[[Roger]]]]
All the members of the 2nd Squadron replied in unison, and they had just spread out in all directions when in the distance, a number of fire spears shot into the air while leaving a long smoke trail.
'They also have fire spears that 2nd world authorities use.'
Captain Phiere was very curious, but he didn't panic at all. Fire spears were dangerous, but if their trajectory was known they could easily be avoided.
'Moreover, the opponent is shooting from too far away and there are too few."
"Evasive maneuvers!"
Captain Phiere's orders went through the communication crystal calmly, but a moment later his heart was beating fast as the dozens of fire spears that approached his position, changed direction following the maneuvers of the 2nd Squadron members.
"Attention, the opponent is not using a normal fire spear, but a guided fire spe--"
Boom boom boom boom!
Of the 20 members of the 2nd Squadron, 18 of them were hit badly and fell to the ground while leaving a trail of smoke. The other two Riders survived because somehow, the fire spears missed and flew away before exploding in midair.
The two survivors then flew at full speed towards the northwest, while cold sweat flooded their backs.
*****