Chapter 7: Assigned for the Caucasus Campaign

On January 5, 1915, as the Ravens arrive in a small village in Ottoman Empire, the Captains meet up with Commander Nikolai to form a plan to siege the city of Erzurum, Belldricks wants to go head on the Ottoman defensive position, Koba tells him "please don't be on a rush Belldrick, you get yourself killed, even you called yourself a savage, please think twice", Belldrick understands in frustration but he will just follow the orders from Koba to avoid conflict between the two strong men, Commander Nikolai is terrified on what he heard from the two Celestial begins during their argument. The Russians officers are honored to meet the Ravens in person, like they are the heroes of Mother Russia, now they all have a peaceful conversation with one another, begins to drink vodka. The Russian Celestial sensory group now detects a Ottoman movement at 59 yards ahead of them, alerting the Ravens to be on guard. The Ottomans did not see the Russian camp, so they are in relief, Koba suggest to use the Air Force to bomb the walls in Erzumrum, Commander Nikolai agrees with the suggestion, now trying to contact the Imperial Russian Air Service for support, the high officials in the Air Force agree and will send 73 planes with 338 guns to action.

In January 10, 1916, the winter begins to be heavier than the last days, the Russians have the better edge for the offensive, The Air Force is filled with one of the Celestial beings with a Russian Citizenship, able to use their sensory abilities to see through heavy snow, taking their flight to the walls of Erzurum, fires their energy bombs to the city, causing the Ottomans to deploy at once, as the enemy is in position, Nikita orders 35,000 Cavalry Soldiers to push through the Turkish line, they succeed by slashing through their defensive position, killing more Turkish soldiers, Koba gives the signal to 5 Platoons to move forward to the city.

Meanwhile inside the Headquarters in Erzurum, The Ottoman High Command did not expect The Russians for heavy winter operations, now he will give his best shot to destroy the Russians during winter. Seven days of a brutal fighting later on January 17, 1916, Captain Gregory Zhukov with Captain Dmitri commands the 13 platoons to siege the Azkani village filled with Ottoman soldiers, firing that resulting 3000 deaths for the Russian side in 5 hours of fighting, as Greg and Dmitri manages to kill 4500 Ottomans along with the Russian soldiers to secure the position, now they are hold because their is a heavy gun striking at them, kill more 1500 Russians in 2 hours, Greg transforms into Celestial progress to destroy 26 heavy guns, killing 6000 Ottomans with the assistance of Dmitri in another 3 hours of fighting. The winter becomes more harsher, The Russians were very prepared for the battle, Oleg and Koba arrives at the Azkani village to destroy Anti Air guns that is preventing the Air force from attacking, Koba and Oleg are pinned down by a Energy Beams by the Astral Beings from the Ottoman platoon, Oleg uses his telepathy ability to order the airstrike, 12 planes destroy the building, killing 67 soldiers inside, Koba orders his assign platoon to move forward. Nikita and Belldrick reunites and begins to launch their heavy offensive in Koprukoy, they begin to kill more Ottomans, causing them to retreat in trauma. Belldrick kills them with his superhuman strength to smash the ground to prevent them from escaping.

Koba is about to enter a enemy building, as he goes to a big hall, he is surrounded by 25 Astral Ottoman officers, Koba is in Wing Chun stance, one attacks him with a Spinning back kick, koba deflect it and snaps his neck. Then three officers use a blade to cut him, Koba transforms to Celestial progress, shocking the officers, the four keeps punching him but he deflects them calmly, snapping their necks with his palm, one jumps to pin Koba, he use Celestial Air Palm Strike that kills him. Seventeen officers are charging up their energy blast toward Koba, he will use his ultimate skill, Koba now charged up, the officers fires their blast, as he scream, "PROMINENCE CANON!!!!!", as the large beam is able to penetrate the blast, officers screams in horror as they are already about to die, only one remains, not giving up for their empire, desperately punches Koba's face, put his fist has a big bruise, telling him "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU", Koba replies " I am the Lionheart, leading my men to victory", lifts him up, now using his Palm to hit his head 13 times, killing him off the ground. Nikita and Belldrick enters the building, finds Koba with dead bodies of a Astral Ottoman officers, shocks both of them as they sense Koba's energy here. Belldrick is jealous of Koba because of his superhuman strength is far more superior compared to Belldrick. Nikita says his Power level increase to 270,000 when Koba is Celestial Progress mode, Belldrick wants to spar with him after the mission is finish, Koba accepts. They move forward to Erzurum as the Russians are advancing as well.

One Russian journalist saw the whole fight without everyone in the area noticed, writes a story about the Lionheart taking on 25 Astral Beings alone. The story in the newspaper is published in Russia, Satisfying Tsar Nicholas II of his creation. The people are intrigued, cheering for their heroes to keep on fighting in the front. Ellie sees many children pretending to be the Lionheart, as her Father read the newspaper, he is amazed on how The Lionheart bravely took them on by himself, Ellie thinks its just a fairy tale to give Russia hope for the war, as she is about to study for her Board Exam, she thinks about Koba, eager to see him again. People in Russia are starving, they protesting in the streets, the soldiers arrive at the scene to stop their advance, now the people will face the consequence for rebelling. The Tsar is tired of the people complaining about their low supply of food, land and stuff.

As the battle continues for 8 days, on January 26 after the siege of Koprukoy, The Russian Air Force strikes the parts of the city in flames to get the Ottomans out of their defensive position, Now they are out, The Russians and their Cavalry begins to raid the area, as both Ottomans and the Russian clash in a brutal battle, as they slowly killing their objectives, the Raven keep on getting their killing spree against the Ottomans. In February 11, 1915, the Ravens heard more footsteps coming from the Ottomans, killing them without alerting more enemy reinforcements, now 17 or more officers were brutally murdered by the Ravens, giving the Russians the chance to strike harder than before. Now the most defensive fortress in the city, now is under Russian threat, using the Ottoman artillery against the Ottomans to destroy the wall, now heavy Russian platoon of 1000 men surrounds the area against the 350 Ottomans, giving their last breath to fight, The Russians breach the wall and begins to take down more Ottomans one by one. In three days, The Russians overrun the area, killing the last remaining troops of the Ottoman Third Army. Now the Astral being known as General Gobek of the Ottoman Third Army was the only one left, this time Belldrick will take him on, as the two clashes, Gobek uses his Astral skill Poison smog to kill Savage, but Belldrick remains clean, now uses his Lariat strike to Behead Gobek to the ground lifeless, as the Russians cheers him on as Captain Belldrick declares victory for taking the fortress. It became clear that the Ottoman Third Army's leaders that the town had been lost, resulting The Ottoman units to retreat from the fortified zones at the front and to evacuate the town of Erzurum.

On February 12, Fort Kara-gobek was taken by Oleg and Dmitri's Platoons. On the 13th, the Russians continued their attacks while the Ottomans are resisting to the very end. On February 14, Fort Tafet was taken, Koba, Belldrick, Gregory, Nikita and the Russians now penetrating through both rings of the city defenses. By February 15, the remaining forts surrounding Erzurum were evacuated. In the early morning in February 16, The Russians now occupies the city of Erzurum, Ottoman Units has successfully withdrawn and avoids encirclement, but casualties were already high, and 413 pieces of artillery had been lost to the Russians. Support units of the Third Army and around 300 or more are wounded at the town's hospital were taken prisoners of war. The Russians celebrates their victory in the city, looting more of the supplies, as a result of the casualties, the Russians lost 17,000 out of 160,000 men after the fighting, while the Ottomans lost 40,000 out of 80,000 men, 13,000 were taken as prisoners of war. The Raven completes their mission for the performance in the Erzurum Offensive, The Russian Air Force takes them back to the Barracks in Minsk.

The people hears the news about the Lionheart and his crew, celebrating their victory in the country, Ellie hears rumors that the Lionheart was born in poor family in St. Petersburg, Ellie ask the women on what he looks like, the ladies replies "he is about 6'2, very athletic build, mostly the dreamiest among them is his stoic figure" the ladies keep on screaming Lionheart in the streets. Ellie suspect that it is her lover, but she does not believe that it him, because the last time she remembered is that they are both the same height. So Ellie takes her board exams for 6 hours. The test result came in Moscow, she passes the test, in a happy girl in her life, she writes a letter to Koba and takes it at the post office. In Minsk, Koba receives a letter from his love while he was training, he is happy about the news, he is now more determine to strive his best for victory.

In Berlin, Germany, The Kaiser was shocked that the Ravens are getting stronger after the fall of Erzurum, Howitzer and Bloomberg tell him "do not worry my Kaiser, we will deal with the Lionheart and his team, we are thirsty for revenge against them for WHAT THEY DID TO US BACK IN CARPATHIAN, WE WILL KILL THEM ALL", The Kaiser loves to hear their determination, now assigns them to go to Lake Naroch in Russia for the next offensive, The Generals now are ready to strike back.