Battle of the borderlands

[Greywall]

Xagreau Army vs.  Royal Southern Zedonian Colonial Army (RSZCA)

Fall of 1932

Xagreau Army                                      Royal Southern Zedonian Colonial Army (RSZCA)

30,000 Standard infantry                         30,000 standard infantry

10,000 Heavy infantry                             1,000 heavy infantry

200 Field guns                                        90 field guns

100 mortars                                           30 howitzers

                                                             50 mortars

                        



The Xagreau invasion force had largely crossed the border back into their home, General Boroko needed to regroup the armed forces for what was to come next the initial assault failed and now the Xaspeshi pressed on their Eastern border region, he barely got the report of what was now tailing him. Gaelic forces, he deployed three separate sections of the border ordering them to dig in and prepare to defend their homeland from the colonizers. It fed the idea that the enemy was now entirely a foreign menace just like Gentaki preached in the last two to three decades. The Xagreau relished in the idea of killing Gaelics who they viewed as the ultimate evil of colonial Touli. They loaded their single round rifles and prepared for the battle. 

The Gaelic army tracked the fleeing Xagreau and scouted their defense line, long range howitzers and field guns were being placed to soften the enemy. The plan was to shell the enemy position hard and advance the infantry forward to dislodge the Xagreau and force the war on their home territory. Much to command's frustration the airfield was not ready and the colonial air force was still in transit. But they needed to hit the Xagreau now and now allow them to dig in further or being up more troops to make the situation more difficult. 

Colonial infantry were stationed near the border, a wide-open tundra seven miles wide and 10 miles deep to reach Xagreau, the front waited laying on their stomachs looking at the field before them. Jelani loaded his rifle with two clips of 30-06 and fixed his slouch hat to where it wouldn't fall off of him. A bagpiper stood by ready to produce war music for his comrades. Then came the sound they waited for, shells traveling through the air and pulverizing the enemy dug in far off in the distance. After a few moments Sgt Mularkey blew a whistle followed by the unmistakable tune of a bagpipe, "Charge lads! Charge!" the loud deafening roar of men surging forth as the second artillery barrage flew over striking the Xagreau again filled the void of silence that was here before. 

As the waves of men charging across the field saw the pillars of smoke and debris fall ahead so came the enemy response, artillery shells flew and struck all around the Gaelics, "Get in the depression laddies! Get in!" rifle fire angrily surged at the Gaelics striking several as the men entered a depression for cover in the field. "Row up and open fire!" Jelani and several other Gaelic troops began opening fire enemy artillery fire continued to rain down pinning their advance, "Bring up the mortars!" Gaelic mortar teams set up in the depression and began firing off rounds rapidly, "This is our fall back line! We push on up from here! The other detachments are counting on us!" the Sgt relayed, this was the central strike force and the Northern and Southern strike forces could be heard in the distance firing and moving up. The bagpipe man started up again and the infantry surged forward meeting heavy enemy fire still as howitzer shells and mortars hit the Xagreau. 

Jelani fired his rifle moving up with cover like he was trained to do, using his comrades covering fire. He looked down his sights and spotted a dark silhouette and pulled the trigger. In a simultaneous motion, the bullet struck and dropped the figure quickly. Jelani knew at that moment, he killed a man, it gave him a rush as if he could see, hear and smell clearer than ever. That sensation ended when a bullet ripped right by ear making him know damn well he nearly died. Jelani's squad reached a ditch, likely used by a local farmer and dropped into it taking cover from the small arms fire and artillery all around them. "Wait here!" the sgt called, the Xagreau were putting up a hell of a fight, his force was far too exposed with the enemy artillery but it was too late to fall back, they needed to close the gap. "We're gonna surge at them again soon, get ready. Reload" 

Injured soldiers were pulled into the ditch where medics got to work, McVeigh's hands shook violently seeing blood and death for the first time. "McVeigh I need you to calm down and apply pressure to the wound!" the head medic shouted, McVeigh pressed his bare hands on the shredded leg of a comrade, blood gushing making his hands drenched with warm liquid as the soldier lost consciousness. McCollister and a few others were popping up and firing rounds, a spotter would flash a finger below his waist indicating a confirmed kill which left "WHERE IS GORDON!?" Jelani screamed in panic. Some of them looked around but remained quiet, Sgt Mularkey simply said, "if he's not here, he's behind us. The next group might find him." it was wishful thinking, as more Xagreau artillery struck around them in the ditch. "We gotta move up, get ready lads!" 

RSCZA forces charging at the Xagreau in the Mil'Nor border region

[Kira]

Arriving to support their Zedonian allies, the forces under Commodore Grant moved to join in the assault on the Xagreau's defenses. Morale was high, in both the men and Command's view on the war thus far. Grant had been reinforced with the freshest supply of Pomaz weaponry, the rail line aiding in it's quick arrival. The field guns were set along Zedonia's own, their fire being added as the infantry were sent to bolster the frontlines. With the initial assault already underway, preparations were made for the use of the Pomaz tankette's and armored cars, with the Valderan infantry sent to reinforce gains already made.

---

Garret Minz couldn't believe his eyes as his unit was rushed to the front. Gone was the usual landscape of farms, hills and grasslands, replaced with a scene of violence and destruction. His unit had been sent to the central assault, with orders to take the Xagreau's positions, full stop. Looking down to the rifle in hand, he considered what was going to be asked of him. He had never harmed another, and the fact he would be faced with doing so now didn't sit well with the man. The fact they had attacked first wasn't lost on Garret, but the comfortable life he had found in New Raltera had never asked him to do something like this. 

---

Valderan Forces (All infantry weaponry converted to Pomaz grade)
30k Standard Infantry
20k Standard Infantry converted into Heavy Infantry
100 Field Artillery
200 Pomaz Field Artillery

100 Pomaz Howitzers

700 Pomaz Trucks

100 Pomaz armored cars

50 Pomaz Tankettes.
50 Marrlan Howitzers
4k Carabineers

[Greywall]

Casualties

UKUG: 392
Xagreau: 732, 20 field guns

[Greywall]

Xagreau Army Royal                     Southern Zedonian Colonial Army (RSZCA)

29,268 Standard infantry                      29,608 standard infantry

10,000 Heavy infantry                              1,000 heavy infantry

180 Field guns                                              90 field guns

100 mortars                                                  30 howitzers

                                                                    50 mortars

Xagreau forces sent infantry over the top to push the Gaelics backward under the cover of their artillery pinning the UKUG advance, whatever the Gaelics brought with them however was hitting them hard. Waves of infantry surged forward dropping to the ground for cover and fired on the UKUG infantry moving up, the initial shock however wore out quickly as Gaelic model 4 rifles outpaced the single shot rifles. 

Jelani and his squad were deep in the ditch firing off several rounds with ease, after firing his last round he put two stripper clips of .30-06 easily into his rifle and set sights down on the advancing Xagreau. Sgt Mularkey fired his shotgun loading it with slugs for down range, "Keep at it lads!" enemy mortar rounds dropped all around kicking up dirt and forcing the rifle line to stop momentarily. 

"Oh for fuck sake, McWilliams! Bring up that fuckin' ZIX gun!" bellowed Mularkey, a large framed Gaelic soldier wearing a tartan ran up holding a ZIX machine gun and opened fire down range completely pinning the Xagreau. "There ya go!" the rifle line resumed pushing the Xagreau back. Suddenly artillery rained down on the Xagreau sending them back to their line, "That's alot more than what we brought!" Jelani called hearing far more rounds of artillery strike. Mularkey ran through the ditch and popped his head looking back toward friendly lines seeing more Gaelic soldiers move up but also seeing Valderans, "cavalry is here gents! McVeigh! You and the medics stay here watch our wounded. We're going over to gain ground, Jelani you and your fire team take the left flank and support Company B, the majority of us are gonna hit them with the rest of the platoon. Let's get it done!" The group jumped from the ditch and began advancing with reinforcements close behind as more of the RSZCA forces moved in toward the Xagreau line. 

Jelani and his group moved through a small thicket of brush finding some dead Xagreau, it was a wake up call to Jelani seeing the dead men shredded apart by rifle fire. He kept moving but felt...off. They didn't even seem real to him, like they weren't humans at one point but they were. They found more and more dead before being pinned by enemy fire and taking cover. "Dammit!" Jelani swore, he blindly fired his rifle with some of his men doing the same to dissuade enemy fire but it was to no avail. He would have to either fight his way out or wait for back up. 

[Kira]

The Valdaran Infantry and Calvary would push forward alongside the Zedonia charge, the trucks being used to bring the reinforcements closer to the frontline as the freshly acquired Pomaz tankettes began opening fire on sighted targets. The Mil'Nor were wrathful in their offensive, their native tongue being heard what could only be assumed curses and insults towards the in-between the shelling and gunfire. The armored cars were joined squads of machine gunners and heavy weapons specialists, their use specifically being targeted towards the trenches held by the Xagreau. 

---

 "GET DOWN!!!" 
Garret barely had time to react to the yell as a enemy shell blasted twenty feet behind the Mil'Nor, sending the man to the ground as his unit rushed for cover. Three had already died by his hand today, the only thing he could remember about it each time was the blowback of the rifle. The ganglank had fallen quickly after each time, Garret not having to time to even think about the act before orders came to continue the advance. Looking around himself as the dust cleared from the shell, the man's superior could be heard

"MINZ! GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR, WE HAVE A WAR TO WIN" The familiar gravely tone brought the man back to his sense, the sergeant busy providing cover fire as his unit did it's best to recover from the strike. "Take that slime Baxter with you and see what you can find ahead!" The lieutenant turned to give orders to the rest of the unit in turn, leaving the two to quickly move ahead.  Following Garret, Baxter spat towards the ground before he spoke, making sure they were well far enough away as they ran. "Rockmouth seems to have sent us to the gallows, be it by a bullet or cannon. Whadya say we g-"

Baxter's words were cutoff with a glare by Garret, the latter return into his gaze forward as he spoke
"We don't really have a choice here Bax, so unless you can get me a diamond from a coal mine would you please shut up and try to keep an eye out from something?" The other Mil'Nor kept his annoyance quiet, turning to check his surroundings instead of his possible future. As they jumped between cover during the advance, the Valderan war song could be heard coming full swing now by both the Xagreau and the Zedonian forces. As they moved forward and more Xagreau were spotted, Garret found each shot he took became a littler easier, with each kill mattering less and less. 

[Greywall]

Casualties

Xagreau: 4,003
UKUG: 2,001
Mil'Nor: 300

[Kira]

Valderan Armed Forces
-
19,800 Standard Infantry (-184)

19,964 Heavy Infantry (-36)
3,920 Carabineers (-80)

100 Field Artillery

200 Pomaz Field Artillery

100 Pomaz Howitzers

700 Pomaz Trucks

100 Pomaz armored cars

50 Pomaz Tankettes.

50 Marrlan Howitzers

---

The Valderan forces continued their advance, with armor tasked with taking out hostile field guns and defensive encampments. Heavy infantry took use of the machine guns and finer armaments in hand from Pomaz, with Carabiner squads sent to engage hostile stragglers as they neared the Xagreau fortifications.  The bombardment from the Valderan artillery was merciless, the crews harried to ensure a constant outpour of support fire.

As Garret pushed forward with his unit, the roar of the Tankette's engine came from behind him. The sound of the cannon was near deafening for the former clerk as it blasted away at a far away target, the veichle rolling ahead the Mil'Nor's unit as it lay down suppressing fire. He had counted another two bodies to his name already, Baxter joining the man as they settled into another crater turned foxhole. 

"I got sixteen, Garry! What's your score?" Baxter jested, a shell landing thirty feet behind them as a scream to take cover was quickly silenced. He'd get a quick look of disapproval from Garret before the other man moved to scan for targets. "Not something I'm keeping track of." He said, lining up another shot on a man before sending a bullet clean through the man's shoulder, another soon joining the man's body through his head before Garret took cover. "Your turn" He said, gesturing towards their foe as he continued "How about you make it seventeen?"

Baxter grinned at the other before scrambling to peak out of the foxhole. "Alright wiseass, let me show you how it's done" He said, peaking out to scope his own target amidst the chaos.

[Greywall]

Xagreau Army Royal Southern                Zedonian Colonial Army (RSZCA)

29,268 Standard infantry - 2,500 = 26,768                  29,608 standard infantry - 1,000 = 27,608

10,000 Heavy infantry - 1,503 = 8,497                                  1,000 heavy infantry -1 = 999

180 Field guns                                          90 field guns

100 mortars                                                      30 howitzers

                                                                   50 mortars

Xagreau forces were being slaughtered as Mil'Nor forces entered the fray, they simply could not match repeating rifles and now tankettes in the open field. They retreated hastily back to their trench much to the aggression of their officers bellowing them back. "Get back out there!" but nothing would make them go back after suffering the losses they took. Gaelic artillery guns were now zeroed in on their own artillery forcing them to halt and move them, which came at the worst time as Mil'Nor armor pushed closer their lines. Xagreau infantry fresh from the rear line were sent to push but were simply put, massacred, Gaelic light machine guns and rifle fire coupled with Mil'Nor armored support wiped them out.



"Here they come!" Jelani yelled, his unit fired cutting down several charging Xagreau. 'These guys have no idea what they're running into' Jelani thought as he cut down another helpless soldier trying to reload a single round into his rifle. The Xagreau sent a force of nearly 9,000 over the top to push the Gaelic and Mil'Nor back so their artillery could reset. Jelani and his unit had to fall back to grow ground between them and the Xagreau, even with their single shot rifles they had bayonets. Jelani was in the middle of a reload when he felt himself fall backward, a Xagreau leapt at him and was trying to stick his bayonet into him. As he looked around for help he noticed the others were struggling too. He grunted to push the bayonet away from him as the Xagreau cursed him calling him traitor right before his head was deflated by a .30-06 round killing him instantly. Jelani rolled to his rifle chambering a round and firing quickly killing another freeing a fellow soldier from the melee. "Gordon! You cunt! where have you been?" he yelled shocked at his lost comrade showing up with several Zedonian soldiers. "Second wave found me, had to lead these lads to ya somehow." Jelani shook his head in disbelief, the Gaelic forces received their second wave pushing hard with the Mil'Nor and repelling the Xagreau assault into the trenches. As the fighting raged and the UKUG-Mil'Nor forces broke through the last barrier to reach their enemy they began to feel a bitter cool wind come in, winter had arrived.





Meanwhile several miles east, the airfield in Northern Mil'Nor was finished. Gaelic bomber squadrons had their objective, soften up the enemy trench line and target enemy artillery positions. Some Siskin fighters also were deployed to strafe infantry out in the open and run recon.



12 Siskin fighters of the 11th Zedonian Fighter squadron

12 Siskin fighters of the 12th Zedonian Fighter squadron

2 bomber craft from the Cricon 88th squadron

10 bomber craft from the Ulster-Gaelian 45th squadron







Siskin fighter pilot and his commander in Northern Mil'Nor, the 11th fighter squadron is preparing to enter the war.

[Guest wall]

Casualties

Xagreau: 6,934
UKUG: 843
Mil'Nor: 400

[Kira]

Valderan Forces

19,668 Standard Infantry (-292)

19,906 Heavy Infantry (-58)

3,920 Carabineers (-100)

100 Field Artillery 

600 Pomaz Field Artillery (+400)

300 Pomaz Howitzers (+200)

1264 Pomaz Trucks (+600) (-36)

290 Pomaz armored cars (+200) (-10)

146 Pomaz Tankettes (+100) (-4)

50 Marrlan Howitzers

---

The Valderan winter assault had seen a redoubled effort across the entire front. With the arrival of the last two shipments of arms arriving at the front, the Mil’Nor would deploy more of the recent imports from Pomaz. The fresh guns and armaments were deployed in a renewed assault as the snows of winter covered the landscape. Pomaz officers were aplenty during the instruction of the vehicles use, per the terms of the agreements made for the tankette’s sale.

The speed offered by the new vehicles of war was aided by the establishment of the Valderan air force. Using the few planes sold to the nation, the calvarymen turned “Sky Flyer” as it was being called were sent to recon and attempt gunning runs on favorable targets. The forward landing strips provided by the forces under General Tyrann allowed gunnery targets to aim with greater precision, the Pomaz weaponry in particular being maximed in the use of it’s range.

-
Looking over the freezing bodies of Gaelic, Xagreau and Valderan soldiers, Garret at least took solace in the warmth his winter coat provided. Living in the snowbound wastes of the south, the Mil’Nor had learned to become comfortable in spite of the cold. It was early morning on the battlefield, his squad having stopped in the middle of a forming no-man’s land to rest the night before. Near frozen rations made his meal, and no welcome flame was to be found. His gaze turned back out to the snow covered wasteland that made up his watch for the night.

Xagreau bodies littered the battlefield, casualties of the past few days mixed in with the half rotting corpses of fall. The ratio of their dead on the field had drawn Valderan command to their officers, morale high as new waves of carnage were unleashed on the Xagreau. Garret had seen himself promoted from private to corporal, and while the increase in pay had certainly been a boon, the Mil’Nor hated the sights he found himself with. While no one he had really known had been killed yet, the death he’d seen lain out made no sense to him. “Hundreds if not thousands had been killed, just because some idiot thought he could kick the Mil’Nor out.”

As the corporal lost himself in thought, the whir of an engine grew in the distance, with cannonfire starting up once more with the coming dawn. His revelry broken, the young man moved once again to join his squad in the coming assault

[Greywall]

Xagreau Army


 Standard infantry 26,768 - 5500 = 21,268
 Heavy infantry 8,497 -1200 = 7,297
 Field guns 180 - 100 = 80
 mortars  100 - 90 = 10


Zedonian Southern Royal Army


standard infantry  27,608 - 650 = 26,958
heavy infantry  999 - 193 = 806
90 field guns
 30 howitzers

50 mortars



Xagreau forces were now utterly fighting a desperate battle to hold onto their defense line, the enemy had reached full range of the trenches and were pushing pressure directly onto them. Fresh troops constantly rushed to the line as the dead piled up and wounded struggled to get to the rear, medical teams were now utterly out of medical supplies. Several Xagreau soldiers wailed in pain from bullets, shrapnel and other horrors as doctors were left with almost nothing to work with. They hadn't planned the fighting to go on this long nor go this poorly, the medical team constantly sent command requests for more supplies from Jakka. Xagreau command now faced the fact that Gaelic and Mil'Nor artillery had obliterated their own when they heard an unfamiliar sound, when they went outside into the cool winter air they saw them, like angry demons flying in the sky Gaelic fighters began dropping down and firing their machine guns at the encampment. Utter panic set in as many Xagreau didn't know how to react never having seen an airplane before, but worst came when Gaelic bombers flew over dropping their payload deep behind enemy lines devastating the Xagreau forces. "For the love of gods! How do we fight that!?" Mil'Nor fighters came down as well sending Xagreau into cover and unwilling to come out as those unlucky enough to be in the open were cut down. 

UKUG forces brought up their mortar squads slamming the front trench and applying pressure on the front trench, ZiX machine guns pinned Xagreau infantry who were unable to fight back at the rapid firing guns. Jelani regrouped with Mularkey and his platoon. "Alright laddies! Lay down fire and give em' hell!" Jelani fired at the trench line knowing even if he didn't hit anyone it put the Xagreau in a desperate situation. Mularkey held his troops back laying fire down waiting for Mil'Nor armor to pierce the trench line and then send a massive charge to finally breakthrough the first line of defense. 

[Guest wall]

Casualties

Xagreau: 5,983
UKUG: 132
Mil’Nor: 331

[Kira]

Valderan Forces

19,500 Standard Infantry (-168)

19,874 Heavy Infantry (-32)

3,948 Carabineers (-72)

100 Field Artillery

600 Pomaz Field Artillery

300 Pomaz Howitzers

1250 Pomaz Trucks (-14)

290 Pomaz armored cars (8)

146 Pomaz Tankettes

50 Marrlan Howitzers

20 Siskin Biplanes (+20)

---

The battlefield was filled with the Valderan trucks and tankette's, the final objective within grasp of the advancing onslaught of firepower. Redoubled by the sheer numbers of Xagreau falling to their breakthrough, the once defending force was now eager to return the greeting given to them at Harrlowsburrow. Any possible surrendering foes were typically gunned down before intent could even be shown. If one was to describe how the Mil’Nor fought the Xagreau, the word ‘Merciless’ would suffice

~

High above the bloodbath, the second flight for Valderan fighters had been dispatched. Piloting a vehicle he had less then three days training in was Private Sugo, a former carabineer turned ‘Sky-Rider’. He had been assigned to assist the midday assault, covering for the morning flight while they resupplied as needed. Cloud-free skies greeted the airman this day, his training as a running gunner allowing better reflex then the average former miner found within the armed forces. Using a pair of imported Pomaz binoculars, Sugo made note of several Xagreau encampments along the line, their position to be later returned for artillery bombardment. His view of the landscape brought an awe in the sheer firepower displayed.

The former calveryman looked away, pulled back into his seat by turbulence as his orders came back to mind. Adjusting his flight path, the pilot looked between the maps and notes given to him about reported encampments. As Sugo’s flight approached the front proper, his flight leader would fire a red flare across the sky, the other plane diverting off to engage ground targets. Placing his equipment away and turning the flimsy flying engine towards the enemy, Sugo took a deep breath as he flew towards war. Although he had only machine guns at hand, the lack of enemy anti-air capabilities allowing for greater range of attack for the new pilots

~

“Hostile Field gun spotted!” Maykr said, the young tankette gunner’s finger hovering by the trigger. A crew of four manned the sleek Pomaz import, a independent gunner and loader operating instead of the regular human crew complement of three. Shuffling inside the iron beast, Sergeant Junir patted the Mil’nor’s shoulder. “Good find youngin, fire at will! These mongrels need to be punished for their acts against the Allfather and his people.”

The 40mm gun of the tankette was unleased on the paniced Xagreau defenders, frontal mounted .50 calibre machine gun providing suppressing fire at the driver’s discretion. Maykr was left blasting targets to his hearts content, burning through a good deal of the tankette’s ammunition as support was given to the infantry charging the Xagreau defenses.

[Greywall]

Xagreau Army


Standard infantry 21,268 = 16,285
Heavy infantry 7,297 = 6,297
Field guns 80
mortars 10


UKUG: 132

standard infantry 26,826
heavy infantry 806
90 field guns
30 howitzers

50 mortars



The Xagreau line was shattering, infantry were now facing a situation where they were now utterly outnumbered. Mil'Nor armored units pushed against the trench and shattered the cohesion they had. Remaining field guns tried to focus on the Mil'Nor armored assault but that only allowed UKUG ground forces to move up and push right onto their trenches. Hit squads with Bota shotguns entered their trenches slinging wide spread lead down the corridors of the trench tearing unsuspecting infantry down. Xagreau commanders knew the situation, they ordered a full retreat to the capital. 

UKUG forces sensed the utter collapse of enemy will and surged forward, Jelani and his squad who were before pinned down heavily were now cutting right through the Xagreau defenders. UKUG howitzers pulverized rear enemy lines but what made things even worse for the retreating Xagreau were Royal bombers coming back for another run after refueling and rearming, "Drop it, Drop it, Drop it!" the bomber pilot called out as several heavy bombs fell below decimating Xagreau infantry and field guns they attempted to take back. Xagreau forces utterly abandoned their artillery to escape the approaching Mil'Nor armored divisions. 

The fleeing Xagreau yielded almost total victory to the UKUG and Mil'Nor. 

[Greywall]

Casulaties

Xagreau: 5,343
Mil'Nor: 34
UKUG: 67