Zapad-81

Soviet time 31 August 1981.

In a castle in the elf kingdom, a guard rushes in.

"My lord! Urgent information came from the front line. The orcs and undead have launched their assault on us. The attack was several times more intense than we expected. The first line of defence temporarily blocked their attack. But we can't guarantee how long it will last."

At the highest point of the castle, a tall and golden-haired elf frowned, looking at the faint flames of war in the distance and the energy waves formed by various magic.

"What is coming is coming."

He is the high king of the elf kingdom, King Eldarion Syltharion.

"Did you send the news to Prince as well? What was the USSR response?"

"I did. Prince mentions that he is still waiting for the USSR's response, but it will most likely take some time even if the USSR decide to assault the orcs."

"Ask him to urge them. The elf kingdom can give and do everything we can for the USSR as long as they can help us before we die. Ask the Grand Magister and General Duskblade to come and see me. We must hold as long as possible."

Arkhangelsk,

Aerindral was anxiously wandering toward the KGB officer's door. He needed to tell them about this immediately.

"Goddamm it. I have already told them about the news for a few months. Why did they not do anything?"

According to his assumption, if the Soviets could have prepared earlier, they would have informed him and set a time to attack the orcs together. After all, doing so can greatly reduce casualties on both sides and increase the results of the war.

He never expected that within a few months, after he told them the news, they did nothing and did not inform him of their plans.

An officer walked out of the office.

"Lieutenant, the time has come. The orcs and undead have launched an attack on us, from the latest news, we can't hold much longer. May I know when the USSR launched the attack?"

Listened to the news, the Lieutenant did not show much expression and replied calmly.

"Oh, is it? I will tell my supervisor about this and I will let you know the decision after they've discussed it."

Finished speaking, the lieutenant wants to return to his office but is stopped by Aerindral.

"Lieutenant, there has been no news since I last told you., is it possible for me to know what is the USSR's plan for it? How long will it take for the Red Army to prepare for the battle with the orcs? Lieutenant, you must tell me this, my country can not hold long from their attack, I believe it will also be a strategy loss for the USSR if the orcs can get all the resources from the elf and dwarf."

"Mr prince, you are also a prince of a country. Think about it, will you tell your plan to a country that you don't understand well? Even if it is the enemies of the enemies. Just be patient, latest by tomorrow earliest by tonight I will tell you about the decision of the central committee. In a month, the Red Army will do something to help you all."

Moscow,

Andropov, Ustinov, Orgarkov and the other high-ranking officers of the Red Army gather, discussing the upcoming offensive plan.

"The time has come, Comrades, Orgarkov, I believe you have come out with a great plan for the upcoming war." Andropov is the first to speak. 

This is the first war that was conducted after his success as the general secretary, it must be done fast, precisely and successfully.

"Yes, Comrade Secretary. The General Staff named this plan 'Zapad-81', just as its name, we are going west. There will be approximately 2 million soldiers from the ground and air forces joining this operation, compared to the man we mobilised last time, it is only 20 per cent of it. However, their combat effectiveness is much higher, these two million soldiers have received intensive mountain training over the past two years in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Caucasus and the Ural mountain."

"Considering that we are fighting in mountains and jungles, this operation will be fought with a large number of light infantry accompanied by a small number of heavy types of equipment."

"In addition, we have also found out the reason why their tunnels are not affected by various biological weapons, fire, etc. It is still the same thing, their magic array. As for the countermeasures, we have also thought of it, but I want to keep it a secret. This will be a powerful weapon, which can make these magic arrays ineffective for some time. As for how long this time is, it is not yet certain."

"Finally, one of the main objectives of this plan is to end the orcs problem in three months. Again, our enemies are not only the orcs and undead, according to the KGB intelligence, the other human kingdom may be our enemies as well in the process. So, no matter whether we are done with the orc's direction or not after three months, there is a very high possibility that another war will happen."

"No matter what, we must destroy the whole orcs kingdom in this war, if we can't do it, it will be a fail military operation."

"Let us focus on the orcs and undead first. We will discuss the human kingdom once further information has been gathered. And I suppose that it required quite a lot of strategic equipment, maybe Comrade Ustinov you can boost the production for these few months, making sure our army has sufficient equipment to use by that time." Andropov said.

"I am doing that Comrade Andropov." Ustinov reply.

"Another question, how long will it take for us to gather our troops and finish the preparation? I hope that it won't be too late, our elf allies can not how much longer. Of course more importantly when will be the time to launch the strike."

"4 days. Within 4 days we can deploy all the 2 million troops to the border and ready for battle. Over the past few months, we have been stockpiling various supplies and ammunition. So the only thing we need to do next is to transfer our man and equipment ." Ustinov continues to explain.

"For the first and second days, we will transfer all the troops from their bases to the border by train and transport plane. Those who remain in Ural and Central Asia will be transported by plane and those nearer will be by train. Instead, we are already doing it now. The third day will be a day for our troops to rest and do their final maintenance. The fourth day is just an extra day in case there is any accident."

"Of course, such a massive and rapid mobilization of troops cannot be concealed from the enemy, so we will directly do it in the name of military exercises."

"As for the time to attack..." Ustinov looked at everyone around and said.

"There are two opinions in the army, first say that we should do it immediately once our army is ready so that we can the sudden strike effect. While the other thinks that the time we launched the assault depends on the battle between the elf and orcs."

"They think we should wait until the moment when most of the orcs have left the mountain and entered the territory of the elf, making the battle easier. I am more towards the second option, or at least we have Intel of where most of the orcs gather so that we can nuke them and eliminate as much as we can."

"No matter what, Comrade Secretary you are the one to decide it."

Andropov thought for a while, and decided to give the question back to Orgarkov, he knows he is not professional in these military strategies.

"Comrade Orgarkov, what is your thought?"

"I am going for the second option. I prefer to observe the battle between the elf and orcs first, then only we decide which way to attack. If they can hold firmly their position, making heavy casualties on the orcs, then maybe we can just confront them on the border, and then one day launch a sudden attack without warning. If they are not able to do it, then we can just follow the second option."

"Alright, you are experienced, since you said so, then we will go for the second option."

On the other side,

"Mr prince, I have good news for you. The central committee have decided to send the army to support the elf within one month." The lieutenant tells Aerindral.

"Great, that is very great. What can we help the USSR, we will provide everything we can to help you all."

"Of course there is." The lieutenant then gives him a map, a map of the orcs kingdom.

"We need to know where are most of the orcs gathering at, your territory? Their mountain? Or anywhere. If the elf can provide related intel about this, fewer elves from your side and soldiers from our army will die."

Aerindral looking at the map the lieutenant provides, the map is very detailed, even the Elf Kingdom does not have. Aerindral of course could not understand the power of technology, satellites from space could provide everything on the ground to the Soviets.

"I may need some time to do that, it is not easy for us to find it out. I will give you the information you need in a few days."

"You better hurry up, I believe the elf kingdom might not be able to hold for another few days."

The request of looking orcs gathering point has been send back to the elf kingdom.

"Elyndra, can we do that?" King Eldarion asked his Grand Magister Elyndra.

"It is difficult, but we can try. But doing it takes some resources, the front line may lack some magical support."

"General Duskblade, the Soviets need at least another month to begin their attack, can our army hold for a month without the help of some magic."

General Duskblade thought for a while and answered.

"Hard to say, my lord, currently the orcs did not put in any of their massive destructive weapons, at least there is still no news of those that appeared in the last war. They only use all their large conventional weapon like the catapult and ballista. I'm worried that if they find that they can't take down the first line of defence in a short time, they will start using those massive destructive weapons, and they may reach our city in a month."

"These orcs are like crazy, even crazier than last time. We are suffering heavy casualties on the front line. There is a lack of manpower on the front lines right now. I am afraid that if there is a lack of magical support, once a breakthrough is made, it will be difficult for us to stop them from advancing to our city."

"Is it possible to draw some troops from the Undead to supplement them? After all, their strength has been damaged more seriously than that of the Orcs. Even their Dragon Knight are rarely seen."

Duskblade silence for a moment, 

"Possible, we can try for it, I believe it is ok for one month, but it will not be good for a longer time."

"Then let us just do it. Try to find as much as possible, give it to the Soviets, and let's see what can they do about it. Elyndra, how long will it need to be done?"

"A week my lord."

"We do not have a week, three days, within three days I need you to get it done."

"Yes, my lord." Elyndra was a little helpless, but she had to obey the king's orders, and if she worked harder, she might be able to complete it.