The Opening Act

[Sophie]

Thanks to the efficient scouting and intelligence gathering of the Elenrians and Kumo months prior, the first and second Elenrian Prefecturial Army had near-pinpoint maps of the Franerri defenses. These maps were handed to both armies’ massive artillery regiments. Within an hour of notice, two-thousand one-hundred-and-fifty-millimeter howitzer batteries announced the presence of fighting action with a titanic barrage of shells. They targeted every known emplacement: every known machinegun and every known artillery emplacement. Once all emplacements targeted were shelled at least two dozen times. They replaced and washed their barrels before swapping to shrapnel round to batter every known inch of Franerri trench.

Especially heavily targeted were mile-wide sections of trench in twenty-mile-wide intervals to clear a path for the advancing soldiers. After four hours of shelling and nearly a million shells fired, the infantry began its advance in the wake of still-cooling shards of shrapnel that lay bout, buried in the earth. Their plan was to get in through the destroyed sections and encircle the remaining line of soldiers. Other infantry units would be approaching the surviving trenches from the front, hoping to pin them down and hold them until the flanking units. They would not push or attempt to break through their line. They would only engage from the cover of trees, rocks, or shell impact sites. If they were met with any major resistance, they would pull back and call for heavy artillery strikes. Dragged by taratects were the seventy-five-millimeter field guns, and they would be used to engage the trench lines from the front. Nearly every squad of soldiers had a field gun to accompany their advance, keeping at a range of five kilometers from the enemy.

In the south, a much fiercer push was made. Backed up by fifty landships and fifty tankettes, the infantry pushed hard after the massive artillery barrage. Infantry Kumo were allowed to ride on the armored vehicles so long as they mounted the machine guns attached to the hull. For the most part, though, the vast majority of infantry marched alongside the armor.. The armored vehicles themselves were primarily loaded with High Explosive shells, and for any targets they didn’t see themselves, an infantrywoman would bang on the hull before yanking open a hatch and calling out a target to her compatriots beneath.

[callmedelta]

Franerri Command, Toubonne. 

It was readily apparent this war would be as much of one as timetables and train schedules as much as one of bullets and bayonets. Initial estimates said the trains could get 7,000 Standard Infantry to the front a day, but with the threat of a Kumosenkan naval invasion in the south, that number was reduced down to 5,500 souls a day going to the Elenerre border. Much of the rail lines connecting the starforts together blown apart along with the forts by Kumosenkan’s initial artillery bombardment, and so they gathered at the city of Elenerre itself, joining the 10,000 Standard Infantry and 1,000 Field Artillery stationed in the city of Elenerre itself, which had thus far been spared the Kumo shelling. 

The Frontlines 

70,000. Souls. Four. Hours. 

No one in those trenches, no one in the Franerri command could have predicted the initial bombardment to last that long, to be that powerful. Great Starforts, expected to hold out against bombardment for weeks, crumbled in hours. The men, material, and artillery inside destroyed, though it wasn't much like the long range artillery in the Starforts could do anything to stop the ongoing Kumo bombardment. And yet, the men held in their trenches. What else were they supposed to do? To retreat would be to abandon the most defensible location they had in the flat open Franerri terrain. To retreat would simply be to be torn to shreds by the seemingly endless artillery bombardment. The only exception to this was the very rear lines of artillery and their small garrisons of reserves, able to abandon their comparatively less dug-in positions to escape the bombardment, hoping to return when the onslaught had ended.

[Artsy Astra]

While Franerre weathers the majority of the bombardment, the instant it lets up in some areas a large mass of men begins departing. The conscripts quickly broken by the overwhelming Kumo firepower. Some men simply dropped their rifles and ran while other coordinated in small groups to desert, dissolving into the woods keeping their guns to hunt and protect themselves.


Casualties:
Franerre: -6,407
Kumo: -326
Elenrian: -704

[Sophie]

"Push!" An order every officer was giving echoed up and down the front. Soldiers were making way for the especially heavily hammered areas with the intent of encircling positions along the battered trenches. Every squad of Kumo had a runner who when the squad was engaged by any real resistance would run back to a radio post and call in artillery strikes on their grid position. All squads pushed forward to engage and if they met no resistance at the first trench line, they were to push forward until they met resistance.

Only two areas of the push acted differently. In the far northeast soldiers were ordered not to go near the city of Elenerre within a minimum ten-mile radius of the city limits. An especially hard push was made to get around and encircle the city. A significant portion of the artillery and field guns were dedicated to aiding the push in doing so.

The other differing area was the south. With the aid of armor, the push was never to stop and fall back to call for artillery. The land-based warships were to provide fire support to push through any resistance. Taratects drew the field guns to further act as indirect fire support for the south. The field gun operators rode taratects to keep pace with their moving artillery pieces so they could set up, fire, and move with speed.

[callmedelta]

The Center Line

Wherever the Franerri line still existed, resistance was offered. Artillery and rear-line units that had retreated from the barrage came forward to meet the Kumo threat. Morale across the lines was shaken, but had actually improved upon seeing the Kumo attack. This was something they could stop, something they could confront head on and turn back, rather than simply cower in their trenches and bunkers against artillery.

Elenerre

With fleeing stragglers from the defenses around Elenerre trickling in and reporting the movements of the Kumo army outside the city, General Raphael Cailleaux's position grew ever more dangerous. His meager force could hardly attempt to keep the city's access open. But that may not be the worst thing. The Franerri Army had prepared for this. Stocks of both weapons and food were high in the city and her forts, meaning that, unless Kumosenkan attacked the city itself, his men could hold out for some time. Enough time, perhaps as it was, for the rest of the Franerri Army to rally and break the surely oncoming siege. That only left the preparations.

Any artillery that could be moved and supplies of both food and ammunition were moved from the forts to storehouses in the city proper. If the forts were isolated, all of those stockpiled artillery and supplies would be lost, and that was an unaffordable loss General Cailleaux was not willing to pay if he could afford it. Meanwhile, anyone willing to fight older than the age of 14 was given rifles and ammunition from the city's armory. Anyone who wouldn't do direct fighting was set to work preparing the city for a siege. Barricades were erected and reinforced along all main thoroughfares in the city. Elenerre would be a fortress, and Kumo would pay for every single cobblestone in the streets if General Raphael had anything to say about it.

The Southern Line

The southern parts of the Franerri line were in the worst shape by far. They hadn't even been given the comparatively small break in fighting the rest of the line had been given. Much like the Center Line, they held to their positions still, using the few grenades the soldiers had been supplied with to try and stop these metal beasts. At the very least, they did have one saving grace - large pits had been dug near the front of the trench lines, meant to serve as a way to attempt to funnel the spiders into kill zones and to contain the bodies after a failed assault. These ditches, however, made the trenches much harder to approach for tanks. But even if the tanks couldn't be stopped, the Franerri infantry could still take shots at the flesh and blood beasts that rode on their backs or marched next to the tanks. Especially in this region, the spider's large size worked against them. Franerri trenches were thinner. Where perhaps two or three Franerri soldiers could stand abreast only one Kumo could, and there were plenty of small passageway trenches that were even smaller than that.

But the soldiers of the Southern Line had one more saving grace. The angels on their shoulders. The Experimental Royal Franerri Army Aviation Corp flew north from their bases across the River Taln. With the southern attack being the closest to their base of operations, it was only natural they would do their best to try stop any Kumo attacks from breaking through in that sector using their Lusatian MAFB VII ground-attack fighters.

[alxeu]

All along the line, Franerri resolve continued to be insufficient compared to the determined resolute attacks of the Kumo assault. In the center, those forces that had rallied soon broke again as casualties mounted, many opting to retreat, disorganized, to whichever town was nearest. However, though morale was terrible, without the cataclysmic bombardment all along the front, casualties, though not yet even, were far more favorable than they had been with just the initial bombardment.


In the north, near Elenerre, the Franerri garrison of the city pulled as much equipment into the perimeter, and broke open what supply caches it had to arm the civilians. Those a few thousand would wind up being armed, the officers who oversaw the equipping of the populace would send reports regarding the nervousness, and, in some cases, disobedience shown by the populace. Though everyone armed did agree that the city must be defended, many did not want to defend from the front. Some of the emergency units indicated that they would not fight if they were not assigned to defend the districts they lived in – this proved problematic as not every residential district was on the city’s perimeter.


Along the southern front, the fighting on the ground was very much in Kumosenkan’s favor, and those units closest to the armored support would gain the most ground, as the attempts to slow these behemoths paled in comparison to just how effective the armor was in shattering through Franerri lines. The one saving grace of the Franneri forces was that there weren’t more of them.

The aircraft proved more ineffective than hoped. Training had encouraged a bombing height above what was accurate – this was in part because that’s what Lusatia had suggested the bombing height be, in part to protect Franerre’s investment. These factors, along with the fact there were a mere ten bombers, meant the bombing run had muted results outside of reviving the morale of Franerri ground forces that saw the bombing attempts. Furthermore, they were in range of the top-mounted machine guns of the Kumo armor, which meant that once the Kumo units realized they were under attack from above, suppressing fire targeted the aircraft, downing one and causing the others to decide to break off the attack.


Casualties:
Franerre: 4,189 soldiers, 1 airplane (+2,782 soldiers, 1 airplane)
Kumosenkan: 1,147 soldiers (+821 soldiers)
Elenria: 1,620 soldiers (+916 soldiers)


Desertions:
Franerre: 8,400 soldiers (+3,400 soldiers)


NB: "Casualties" as they were understood from the first post have been split into "Casualties" and "Desertions." Casualties represent killed, wounded, or missing soldiers who are permanently lost. Desertions represent soldiers who have fled their post and are theoretically recoverable, but are unlikely to return to service while morale is low and defeat seems inevitable.

[Sophie]

North

Absolute brutality. The heavy infantry pushed hard around the city of Elenerre. The ten-mile radius was being enforced harshly. A single squad that had accidentally violated the barrier was immediately discharged from the war and given an immediate assignment in Midway. However, the rest of the army progressed fiercely. Machine gun emplacements were quickly set up and pointed straight at the city. Artillery was pulled along with the infantry. Half of them pointed in towards the city, and the other half out to defend the infantry holding the encirclement. Fierce fighting with absolutely no let-up. Ignorant of the Inselni's abilities, Kumo officers were shocked to learn that they could breathe real fire. Their flame allowed the Kumo army to clear out rubbled defense structures and standing defense structures with ease. The fuel that allowed them to breathe flames stuck to the skin of the fighting humans bringing upon them the worst death known to sapient kind.

Upon learning this many Inselni were co-opted into specialized engineering support squads who were experts at demolishing fortified structures. The fire also worked wonders against trench lines, making clearing them a breeze. Once the Inselni lit the trenches aflame the defenders were forced out of them. With this level of brutality and the abundance of artillery strikes the North army was able to complete their encirclement of the city of Elenerre. The Lieutenant General in command of the northern fighting hopped on the radio as soon as she got word the city was surrounded. "RBS Mzukarakana, this is Lieutenant General Riko Sasano. Elenerre is surrounded. Ready for the payload."

A matter of hours after the call was made a parliament of ten planes appeared in the sky. Ten Gyorai Class Torpedo Bombers flew over the army and finally to their target. The entire city of Elenerre. Now in position, the planes began to drop their payload. But it wasn't explosive. No, they carried a capsule filled with papers. Over the city, the capsules opened. Tens of thousands of pamphlets fell from the sky onto the people below. They all read the exact same thing written in Franerri:

"Citizens of Elenerre! Your city has been completely surrounded by the overwhelming strength of the Kumosenkan Royal Armed Defense Force. We have generously avoided waging war on your city. However, this generosity is not limitless. We know that the King's army still resides in your streets. Should a single shot emerge from the city, our generosity ends and we will rain artillery from the sky and sea until your homes are nothing but rubble. The King is using our kindness as a weapon. Hiding his guns in your windows, forcing your sons to fight for his greed. Free your city from his grasp. Demand the soldiers among you to leave your city. Do not let them use you as their shield. Until all the Armed forces within the city surrender to Kumosenkan, no imports will reach the city. Not by land. Not by sea.

Soldiers who hide like rats amongst the innocent. Find your heart. Find the morals that your king has stolen from you. Drop your arms and encourage your friends to do the same. Walk out of the city with your hands raised high. Bring a white flag. The Kumosenkan Royal Armed Defense Force will treat you fairly. You will be given a hot meal and free transit home as soon as possible. Your only other choice is death. Your death, and the death of the civilians you use as your shield."

The Lines

The push continued without any easement. News of the Inselni's ability and their incorporation into engineer squads spread, ironically, like wildfire. With their fire and the support of the artillery to clear any heavy resistance, the push continued. Officers were practically foaming at the mouth at the carnage.

The South

"Aircraft!" A private screamed as the planes fist buzzed overhead. She screamed at the land-based-warship on her right to no avail. She climbed onto the armored vessel as it continued forward. She banged on the side hatch until a head popped out. "Aircraft! One-o-clock!"

The operator gave her a thumbs up, shouted something inside the hull, and then mounted the side machine gun. Another head popped out and mounted the other. Two infantrywomen mounted the top two machine guns. All four guns began to fire upward toward the aircraft. All other LCL-29s in range of the enemy aircraft did the same. Cheers erupted from LCL-29-35 when tracers from their guns lit up one of the planes and the engine caught fire. Celebrations spread as the plane impacted the ground.

"HQ this is LCL-29-35. First Armored Battalion has engaged enemy aircraft with great effect." The land-based-warship called home on her radio. "Expecting further air assaults to follow. All armor still operational."

The field HQ that received the call immediately called out to the Yayuri fleet. "Admiral Takayama. This is Lieutenant General Shion Konagaya. Our army has engaged enemy aircraft in the sky. Requesting you send a detachment of ten Mukō Class Fighter to fly covering missions for our army."

"Aye-aye General. Dispatching Parliament one to grid square FA-335."

"We have a nice highway on the Elenrian side. Anyway, we can borrow those fighters for a while? We can use the staol for the Land Based Warships to fuel them."

"Not happening General."

"They have a long flight time to cover my LBWs. It would be easier for them to take off from here."

"You're not taking my planes, General."

The Land Based Warships and the infantry in the south continued their hard push forward with the support of artillery and the fighters covering them for as long as they could.

[callmedelta]

Elenerre

General Raphael Cailleaux read over the reports. They had enough food and equipment stockpiled safe underground in the city to last for a year, and freshwater coming from the sewers. If it came down to a siege, they could last for some time. But that was the hard part, wasn’t it? Making it a siege. If Kumo wanted to shell his city, there wasn’t much choice the General had in the matter. Even if they just wanted to march straight into the city, well, 10,000 men and some militia would give Kumo a fine bloody nose, but a bloody nose wouldn’t save the city. No, no, the more he thought about it, Cailleaux knew his situation was untenable. 10,000 soldiers and some civilian militia couldn’t stop the army Kumo had coming in a conventional fight. The key word there being conventional.

The barricades would be manned by the most experienced three quarters of his soldiers and the civilian volunteers would be given what rushed training could be afforded. The civilian population would be evacuated to the sewer system underground, along with the 2,500 of his conscripts that had been taken from the city of Elenerre itself along with the civilian militia. Weapon caches were seeded throughout the city, small batches that would hopefully be able to sustain individual cells far beyond when the city fell. Kumo may take the city, but they would never conquer it. Cailleaux just had to make sure they took it, and that Kumo could never know peace there.

One week after the leaflets were dropped, a runner with a white flag left the city for the Kumo lines, bearing a letter.

“To whom it may concern in the invading Army of Kumo Bastards,



The leaflets you have dropped upon our city have been the subject of much debate amongst my staff and I. We are all in agreement that we shall fight to the last bullet, of which we have many. The only question among my officers is whether or not we shall affix bayonets and continue to fight then -- a strategy of which I am in favor of. You are sorely mistaken if you think His Royal Highness forces his soldiers in this city, stripping the people of their morals. Nay, it is the citizens of Elenerre and their morals, a concept I believe you may require an honorable man to give you some education in, that keep our soldiers fed, clothed, and ready to defend their city.



If your Empress, a spawn from the depths of hell itself, wishes to turn the city of Elenerre into rubble as you claim, I would imagine you must be honored to oblige her. I believe the only determination we Franerri will have in the matter is how red our streets will run with Kumo blood before you control this vengeful pile of rubble. In other news, I must earnestly thank you for providing our city with enough paper to wipe our rears with for the duration of this siege. Food, water, and bullets we have plenty, but if you don’t bombard our city into ruins, I fear the stench of the unwashed citizens of our city may have won your siege for you.



In short, there will be no surrender. Not if you take Elenerre. Not if you take the entire Notch. Not even if the flag of Kumosenkan flies over Pareau and your soldiers march through every city in the nation.



General Raphael Cailleaux.”
A few scant observers were left topside to ensure it was a barrage that came, and not Kumo soldiers marching. Everyone else hid belowground in the sewers, waiting for the bombardment to come.

The Northern Lines

The situation was untenable. Where the lines hadn’t broken they were dangerously close to. A general retreat was called. The Franerri field guns still active were ordered to fire every shell they had then sabotage their guns. Every unit that could still be reached, all uncommitted reserves would be retreating to further inside the country. Behind them, the Gendarmerie set the Franerri infrastructure ablaze.

It was a simple equation of two halves. The first was immediate. The Franerri army was dangerously close to routing. Any further pressing by the Kumo forces could lead to a full breakdown in order. There were little natural boundaries or defensible positions after the frontlines fell. The second was long term. Kumo sought to conquer Franerre to exploit and for imperial prestige. How could one exploit a region they would need to invest potential millions into to see any reward? What glory was there to planting one’s flag in a fire pit and claiming it a great victory? Scorching the earth was the solution to both problems.

As for the soldiers who could not escape, in total an entire fourth of the remaining Franerri army on the border; they were left to their fate. May God help them, for no one else could now.

The Southern Lines

For the forces facing the Kumo tanks, a general retreat was called. The survivors were to go north and regroup with friendly troops who had been stationed further north than the tank breach, but had been spared the Kumo push the north stretch of the line had. With any luck they could swap out with the comparatively fresh troops and push in the lines behind the tanks and infantry. It was a good thing they had decided to retreat, too -- two of the surviving MAFB’s would be sticking around to act as artillery spotters for guns on the Franerri side of the river, staying out of the tank’s range. Once targets had been sighted, the planes would land and pass on the coordinates to the guns, who would saturate their predicted grid coordinate and a generous surrounding area with fire. They aimed for Kumo artillery first, then infantry, then tanks.

Bartels Line Strategic Command, Saint Issoudeaux, Central Elenerre

Field Marshal Michael Franson looked over the reports. He didn’t think his stomach could have felt any worse than when he heard the news, and yet here he was. In the center of it all, with no proper troops in the city itself, falling back on all fronts, and with the presence of any reinforcements in great doubt. With the war turning in such dire straits, drastic action needed to be taken. The word went out to every city in Elenrre. Every single rifle and bullet that could be scrounged would be thrown in the hand of anyone willing to fight, or dispersed and hidden away to keep them safe and available to any good Franerri citizens who would take up the fight one day. As for the divisions retreating from north, simple orders were given: disperse into brigades, strike the spiders where they are weak, and deny them a head on battle.

The La Evron Airstrip

Much debate was had when the planes touched down back at La Evron. Their first attack on the tanks had been a failure, but strikes on bridges in the east had been reported. Eventually, a decision was made: two of the planes would stick around La Evron to act as artillery observers, while the remaining seven of the planes would rebase further east and take to the skies over the bridges, guarding against any further Kumo attacks.