Gotterdammerung; November 16th

GeneralMajor Siska Muller, 2.PanzerDivision. Assigned 1st Corps, Soviet Army of California. Siska took a few deep breaths to collect herself. She was the highest ranking officer of the VolksArmee present… in a way it was an honor, but also a bit of a curse. She cast a glance at the tall handsome figure of Colonel General Reichenbacher as he spoke with Major General Tanya, coordinating the corps artillery battalions.

"Calm yourself Siska… The Colonel General is not here to watch over you like the Stasi, but to command the battle…" I muttered quietly. She cast a quick glance around her headquarters. Not even a member of the NKVD… only a few members of the Colonel General's personnel guard, a trio of Spestzanz near the entrance, monitoring everyone that entered the tent.

I walked over to the table, nodding to the General as I looked at my division's deployments. The General had been hands off so far, allowing me to maneuver my division as I had pleased with occasional input regarding comsec.

My lead regiment, 3.PanzerRegiment was currently creating temporary fighting positions along the California aqueduct as The rest of the division filtered through cajon pass, a painfully slow advance compared to what I wished.

Truthfully I wanted nothing more than to punch straight down the highway, not ceasing my advance until I was able to establish my headquarters in Barstow itself. Unfortunately, the plan called for a simultaneous advance with 7th Motor rifle division, and they were currently stalled by a few small hordes in the mountainous town of Big Bear as they maneuvered around the lake.

So, with that unfortunate reality, my 2.PanzerDivision was simply waiting in order to advance. Piron was already racing towards its first objectives, and he reports filtering from 1.PanzerDivision's recon screen likely indicated they wouldn't face any real opposition until they arrived at Edwards air force base.

My Division's recon screens were still freely advancing though, some raced across the country while others worked to clear and reconnoiter the highway for the main elements to advance.

"General, why do you think we haven't come across any resistance yet?" The Colonel General's question shocked me from my stupor. I straightened, facing the man to see his beautiful blue eyes staring back at me.

"Likey our foes lack enough strength to form a complete screen mein Commandant. Though they likely already are aware of us crossing the pass." The General nodded, turning to the map.

"Alright, so what would you be doing in our enemies shoes?" he asked.

I stared at the map. "I would mount an immediate counter attack, destroy and bottle our forces in the pass."

"Yet they haven't… why is that?" The General muttered to himself.

"The air force hasn't seen a single aircraft in the sky since 0200… there's only forty miles between us and Barstow… from here at least." I remained stock still, hands clasped behind my back as the commander leaned over the table, a frown creasing his face as he examined our deployments.

Several officers glanced at either myself or the General while I waited. Finally he paused and stood straight as a runner came up. "Frau GeneralMajor, General Roman reports that the far end of the pass is blocked by a landslide, he is rerouting his division back, unless instructed otherwise his division will also use the Cajon pass."

The Colonel General traced the mountains and cursed softly. "It's the best call… if he went south… that would be almost an entire day lost."

His eyes met mine again, that intense gaze… I briefly felt myself getting lost in those eyes. "General, Advance and secure Barstow."

I saluted the Colonel General. "Jawohl, mein Kommandant!"

"Break down this headquarters! Inform 3. Panzer Regiment to advance, the rest of the division will follow." I shouted as the tent sprang into activity. Equipment was quickly packed and stored into vehicles. I waited a few minutes, long enough to confirm my orders were relayed before I walked over to my command tank.

I looked over to the side, watching as the Colonel General spoke with my executive officer, they argued for a moment before my executive walked over to me as the General climbed up the tank. "GeneralMajor, Colonel General Reicenbacher insisted…"

I pursed my lips, a frown creasing my face. I nodded. "It will be fine Oberst, For now stay with the headquarters company, I will ensure the Kommandant remains protected."

My executive officer saluted as I climbed up on my tank, dropping into the turret and placing the headset over my cap. The whole tank rumbled as it came to life. "Panzer, Vorwärts!"

2.PanzerDivision sprang to life again. Tanks and IFVs roared across the aqueduct. Columns of vehicles plunged into Hesperia and Victorsville; it was unlikely that the Mojave river was flooded this time of year, but it was better to assume it was. My tank raced along the interstate, as I waited. I was crossing the aqueduct when the word trickled to me, lead elements had crossed the interstate bridge over the river, it was dry.

A small smile played across my face, I almost relayed the news to the General, then remembered he was in the tank behind me, listening to the same coms as i was. I frowned slightly, clenching my fist so tightly that it slowly turned white. I glanced at the small picture of the General next to the forward vision port.

I smiled at it. I'd have to thank my assistant for getting it for me. The picture was taken near sunset, the General had been on a stroll through a park by himself at the time. I shook my head and focused on my task. A pair of hinds roared above the column, laden with anti tank missiles.

At best speed Barstow was less than twenty minutes away. It wasn't long before the reports from the recon elements came in. The recon platoons were probing defensive positions near the Outlet mall and probing the heights themselves. Meanwhile the 3.Panzer regiment was exiting the interstate at the exit to Outlet center dr and spreading out for a general advance on the heights.

Apparently they could see down into the outlet center from that position, and the whole regiment was forming a firing line, tanks sending rounds flying downrange as the infantry advanced. Self propelled howitzers stopped and set up their firing positions, lobbing rounds onto the Barstow heights. I listened to the reports coming in with a growing apprehension. I looked through my vision port, ahead I could see a growing cloud of dust, the occasional black plume mixed in.

Soon enough I came up on the exit, I directed my driver to take it,moving up onto the small hill. Ahead the regiment was advancing. Dozens of vehicles were burning wrecks, T-72s and BMPs littered the field. Random bursts of automatic cannon fire came in from the ridge line with a TOW missile thrown into the mix here and there.

Overhead a flight of SU-25s roared over the ridge, plastering the whole length in cluster and napalm bombs. A missile raced up from the ground, taking one of the planes as the squadron turned away.

My tank came to a stop. I scanned the ridge, spotting a flash of autocannon fire. I quickly lased the target. "Gunner, missile, tank, 5 thousand meters."

"Jawohl!" the gunner shouted as he cycled the autoloader, the missile was loaded and the breech slammed shut.

"Fuer!" The tank rocked as the missile flew downrange, the gunner kept his face pressed tightly to the sight while I watched it slowly hone in on its target. A flash of white smoke briefly obscured the target as its turret slewed back to match our bearing. The vehicle started backing away as the smoke quickly obscured it. I cursed as the missile vanished into the multispectral cloud.

I started scanning the rest of the battlefield before me. Infantry were storming the outlet mall, BMPs generously spent ammunition on buildings that so much as threw a single bullet from their interiors.

More artillery began to plaster the ridgeline, smoke rounds began to enter the mix as the 3.Panzer regiment began advancing through the outlet mall. I keyed my radio. "Sierra 6, Twilight 6."

The General responded instantly. "Twilight 6, send traffic."

"I intend to hold here as the attack develops, will send 1.Panzer regiment north of Barstow to threaten Fort Irwin." I waited a few seconds before the General replied.

"Good copy, keep informed, will coordinate with air support and corps artillery to smooth advance." he replied briefly. I felt a small smile play across my face. Already I could look ahead as the 3.Panzer regiment started advancing on the heights.

Already the lead elements of 1.Panzer regiment were starting to arrive. I would orchestrate this battle, show mein Kommandant the strength of the VolksArmee.