A "Birthright" Returned

[Artsy Astra]

Verak

A thunderous chorus could be heard across the border as Dirian border guards perked up at their posts, curious. Their ears scanned in all directions in front of them like radars, and their eyes squinted as they looked on at the opposing border post. The gate was open. ALL, the gates were open. The song continued and the post commander sent a messenger back to alert his command for what to do, and just as the chorus reached its high a new thunder could be heard. Screeching and explosions soon followed for 2 hours. Once the screeching and hellfire stopped the growl of foul machine was barely perceived as Veraki tanks surged down the road firing wildly at anything that moved. The lighting armor on tracks stunned and routed some Dirians before Veraki men filed out of their open gates. An advanced group would surge ahead and an orderly formation of men marching and singing approached behind them singing the same song as before. Riding atop a Gurrecane to the men's side was General Ignazio Lombardi. As he crossed the border he ordered his tank to stop, as he got out and stood atop his command tank. He turned to the infantry and raised a hand and they stopped singing and marching, all eyes now centered on him. “My friends! The rightful owners of this land, our forefathers, smile on us this day! Look upon our grand legio! Look upon our grand success! We will achieve this and more today! We shall restore what was lost finally, and rid ourselves of these mere dogs.” He’d gesture to a bloodied and dead Dirian and order a man to hoist him up. “These feral mockeries of men will fall like wheat to our threshers! You grand hunters are here to cull them! Five hundred Vrectaca to the man who will make a coat for me of these pelts! Now go. Make our ancestors proud!” A roar of vile and disgusting cheers would cry out from the horde of men as they continued their march with such a small force screening for them in a pure show of confidence.

In the northern half of Verak, a similar blitz would play out, this being more air-heavy as Nevarran positions would be overwhelmed with bombs and machine gun fire from an almost never-ending stream of planes as infantry combed through what would remain of the shattered defender's positions. Officers would spur their men on, promising ‘Ophiran ”snakeskin” boots’ to their underlings. As the aircraft screamed overhead their, early engines sounding more like an angry tractor than a proper machine of war, raked the Nevarran positions constantly as the overzealous infantry marched in formation to a distance of 600 meters while taking sporadic fire before finally breaking and engaging in smaller units. The sneers and jabs came in their foreign tongues as the distance closed and the defenders grew smaller in number. The planes continued their rolling offensive chasing the few that remained as they retreated and the infantry surged into their fortifications rooting out or killing more than capturing those who were left.


Abbadon and Shaum Shela

“I swear they said the food would be good still!” “I know, this is peasant gruel. Disgusting! We are of the king's war band surely they would give us something reflecting our status!” Two Shaum Shelan soldiers would complain to each other in their camp. They had been deployed at the border of Diria for days now and they had finally begun to break out their actual rations for wartime use. Their glorified police status was starting to show. “Alarm and to arms!” An officer would shout in the middle and all the men would scramble to their feet with their equipment. “It is time!” He said as they gathered around. “We rid our border of the dogs today! Our eastern cousins are here to do the same!” Cheers all around could be heard as the ‘army’ could only daydream of the glorious stories they had as children. Clearly, it would be a cakewalk, a grand adventure they would all be a part of. “Forward, we blitz them today!” The cavalry would saddle their horses, the infantry would form up and march as the thunder of a thousand or more feet would sound across the dunes.


The war in the South had begun.

[KyferLegs (Diria)]

P.S. - This is a brutal summary of a larger piece of writing. If you are a curious masochist who wants to read 6,995 words or a moderator who wishes to see more in-depth info on these summaries, I implore you to ask me in the proper channels to receive a Google Document link to such.

Further note - I have received permission to post this early. However, due to the lack of this post being reviewed by a moderator beforehand, it is subject to change whenever it gets approved or denied.

Fasai: Moderately defended, some static fortifications, mainly furnished trenches, dugouts, or pillboxes, remain active in areas around the Veraki spearhead. However, on the border itself, the 3rd Infantry Division and 7th Infantry, its prominent defenders, held out temporarily despite their lack of organization due to seasonal rotations that Diria was partaking in. The 3rd Infantry Division, out of the initial invasion, suffered the most casualties, especially with the 12th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, and 4th Battalion; however, with the 37th Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Battalion a close second but they were able to retreat with minimal casualties with the assistance of the 12th Regiment, 4th Battalion. Furthermore, the 11th Guards had a company scattered in the Veraki invasion and had yet to regroup within occupied territory. Other divisions like the 5th Calvary "Motorized" Division and 1st Naval Infantry didn't see any combat but remain close enough to respond or have prepared defenses.

Etaroh: Heavily defended, Verak lucked out entirely on its breakthrough by catching the 8th Infantry off guard. The 8th Infantry, having been the primary defender of the Etraoh border, quickly overran its concrete fortifications and pillboxes and was caught off Guard by Verak. The 1st and 2nd Battalions received the worst, having been absent from the border, besides the 1st Battalion's Charlie Company, which is considered KIA or MIA. Shortly after, Veraki quickly pushed past and engaged the 1st and 2nd, preparing defenses and, routing them and causing them to fall back to a nearby city where elements of the 2nd Infantry Division had begun to prepare for the incoming Verakis. The 8th Infantry Division, 53rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, having been posted farther south of the 1st and 2nd, was able to muster a defense despite still organizing itself on the border. However, due to clogged or downed communications, the 3rd became unaware of Verak's spearhead and was subsequently encircled. The 9th Infantry, having been posted farther North and on a smaller line, was in a similar situation as the 3rd Battalion but had both of its Battalions, the 9th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 55th Infantry Regiment, 3rd and 4th Battalions, were able to organize and hold with fire support from the distant 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 26th Field Artillery Regiment. Nonetheless, having received news of the spearhead, the leadership retreated to avoid becoming encircled. Other divisions, like the 9th Guards, saw some combat due to their policing roles on the border, and the 2nd Calvary (Motorized) Division and 2nd Armored Division responded but had yet to see action.

Shrand: Heavily Defended, Verak's luck had maxed out in Etraoh but plummeted in Shrand. Being the most defended part of Diria, due to its importance to the present Dirian state, the nation, over 22 years, had built up heavy lines of fortification that had developed the name the Perda, or the Curtain, in recent years. The isthmus was left open but filled with traps and firing sectors mapped by artillery far away. Thus, when Verak attacked and engaged the 5th Guards, who had a company acting as border security and defeated after alerting the Perda, Verak then marched into the isthmus proudly, only to be met by landmines and artillery fire that seemed unfairly accurate. To the elements that didn't get bogged down, they had the first up-close chances to the Perda that sent current Veraki attacks running from its grey fortifications, with the 1st Infantry Division employing whatever it could drive the aggressor away. Thanks to this, the 4th Infantry, 3rd Calvary, and 1st Armored didn't see any combat but quickly assumed positions and transferred elements east. Furthermore, the 1st Calvary and some of its parts were close to the border to have responded to the initial invasion.

Sandalun + Burin: Lightly defended, the border sections of Sandalun and Burin were the lightest protected of the areas that Verak attacked. However, Verak couldn't expect that the divisions in this region would fight against the odds as much as they did, even in defeat. Nonetheless, border areas still had a defense, usually dugouts, foxholes, and pillboxes. Nevertheless, Dirian defenders still faced casualties. The 13th Infantry 3rd Brigade, 97th Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion had been able to defend the most eastern sections of the Dirian border with Verak with artillery support from the 49th Field Artillery Regiment. However, the 15th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade, 109th Regiment, 1st Battalion on its front, having faced an increasingly dire situation, quickly retreated with assistance from the 15th Infantry's 1st Artillery Brigade, 55th Artillery Regiment, and subsequently giving up land to Verak. Wishlist the 4th Calvary (Motorized) Divison, not having been on the border, quickly has started to make its way to the front.

[Artsy Astra]

Verak:

Nevarra Invasion Force:
230,000 Light Infantry, 210,000 Standard Infantry, 100,000 Heavy Infantry, 100,000 Carabineer Infantry, 100,000 Light Motorized, 300,000 Standard Motorized, 200,000 Standard Mechanized, 1,000 Armored Cars, 1,000 Light Tanks, 2,000 Tankettes, 20 Medium Tanks, 110 Heavy Tanks, 3,000 Field Artillery, 1,500 Howitzer Artillery, 2,100 Mortar Artillery, 1,000 Siege Artillery, 500 Flak Artillery, 500 Anti-Tank Artillery, 40 Light Fighter Bi-planes, 10 Bi-Plane Recon, 30 CAS Planes, 50 Light Bombers, 20 Medium Bombers.

Diria Invasion Force:
110,000 Light Infantry, 150,000 Standard Infantry, 100,000 Heavy Infantry, 100,000 Carabineer Infantry, 400 Light Tanks, 1,000 Tankettes, 20 Medium Tanks, 100 Heavy Tanks, 3,000 Field Artillery, 1,500 Howitzer Artillery, 2,100 Mortar Artillery, 1,000 Siege Artillery, 500 Flak Artillery, 500 Anti-Tank Artillery, 50 CAS Planes, 50 Light Bombers, 20 Medium Bombers, 100 Light Fighters.

Shaum Shela and Abbadon:
(Trying to find their sheets)

[Faust]

The Nevarran Response

Despite the sudden blitz and skirmishes by Verak, the south-western portion of Nevarra still remains one of the more heavily defended parts of the country. Even though Nevarra, of course, was not prepared for a sudden war of this scale they were fortified against their southern neighbors due to frequent hostility between the nations in the past both martial and diplomatic. Confident that the Eastern Kingdoms and Amali would heed the call and take on Detti, the crown has ordered a full commitment of resources to the southern front. The Nevarran Defense and Garrison consists of the following; 

411,500 Manpower of Infantry and Artillery, the full 3,000 of the Elite Guard Platoon will be evenly split between the capital "Savelas" and to garrison the central city often nicknamed the Eye-of-Death "Lleijon"
25,000 Tribal Cavalry are raised to answer the call and to follow reinforcement to the southern position. 
30,000 Manpower of Mobile Infantry are sent. 
4,900 Manpower of Transport and Armor are sent. 

The Nevarran Navy is actively set and will patrol, reinforce, and secure the ports of neighboring allies in the Gulf including Koi, Marrlan, Maiz, and Ux Voshoz. 

The Nevarran Air Force both multi-wings and mono-wings are set in attempt to help alleviate Veraki air raids. 

[Greywall]

After a prolonged stalemate along the desert fronts, General Manucci would be assigned under Giuseppe to crush the Nevarran and Dirian forces. 

Dirian front

The Dirians had held fiercely, their urban sprawl in the Eastern half of the country while the vast open deserts fell to occupation by Verak, Galra, Abbadon and Shaum Shela. While Diria was mostly occupied, the desert tribes and more rural Dirians were now becoming a problem. They raided and attacked with hit and run tactics causing logistical issues in SU occupied Diria. The Eastern front was a meat grinder where Diria held strong against the Veraki forces even with Galran support arriving North the cities simply didn't fall. 

Manucci changed tactics here, using more gas deployments in the urban areas, if the CN were willing to use gas so should the SU. 400 cannisters of chlorine gas would be deployed to kill off Dirian fighters in the East while rapid moving tankettes and armored cars would be sent to patrol the desert to lure out raiders and kill them. Manucci with approval from Giuseppe and the Emperor delivered formal surrender terms to the Dirian Federation, demanding they accept Veraki occupation and renounce their independence. 

General Manucci, Verak's new general for the desert campaign

Nevarran front

The mighty clash between Nevarra and Verak became a massive wide open stalemate where both sides hammered the other, Manucci prepared for a breakthrough however, ordering all 1,000 howitzers and 1,000 siege guns to fire full salvo on the Nevarran lines before a large scale armored assault was commenced. 500 light tanks, 1,000 tankettes, 100,000 standard infantry moving on foot all moved toward the Nevarran lines with reserves backing the assault up. Veraki air unit also moved in to secure air supremacy and launch attacks on Nevarran supply lines. 
Veraki fighters found themselves fighting over the skies of the desert for air supremacy as the massive assault took place below them. Manucci intended to break Nevarra's batteline to secure a path to their rich oil fields and force the Nevarrans to pull military support from other fronts.

Veraki forces assault a Nevarran position in the desert

[Faust]

The borderlands between Nevarra and Verak have been an ancestral point of contention between the two powers. Sandstone castles and other fortresses of Medieval and even Classical Nevarran history occupy a great range of space as historic points of infrastructure meant to repel southern advances into the Granarha. These ancient bastions have come to life once more, often built on great mounds, plateaus, and flattened mesas to get full range of the surrounding realm. Of Nevarra's forces that were out either fighting in the Sierra Grande or on an expedition repelling the Reich in Harbaville, a large force still remained in the homeland;

-25,000 Cavalry Warriors
-80,000 Light Infantry
-25,000 Special Infantry (Rangers)
-80,000 Dragoons
-5,000 Light Motorized Regiment
-15,000 Heavy Motorized Regiment
-1,000 Field Artillery Manpower
-3,000 Howitzer Artillery Manpower
-2,500 Mortar Artillery Manpower
-100 Siege Artillery Manpower
-1,500 Armored Cars
-150 Tankettes
-250 Landships

It was no coincidence that Nevarra kept the bulk of her forces at home for as long as she could, simply biding time for the Veraki Assault. Though Nevarra was beginning to re-explore their air doctrine they were admittedly worried about aerial confrontations. Still, they couldn't sit by and allow Verak to have an uncontested hegemony over their skies. Hanger doors across the front opened and entering the skies above the desert were;

-20 Light Fighter Biplanes
-11 Heavy Fighter Biplanes
-11 Light Fighter Triplanes
-11 Heavy Fighter Triplanes
-30 Monowing Interceptors/Light Fighters

Additionally, 20 Reconnaissance Biplanes and 10 Reconnaissance Triplanes were deployed for the sole intention of scouting information about Verak's assault. 8 of Nevarra's Biplane Bombers were waiting on standby ready to enter the sky once an opening presented itself though relying on aerial reconnaissance reports. Nevarra possessed more resources to meet the assault but still kept some in reserve in the off-chance they needed to be redeployed to another front.

Fielding this operation was General Isabelle Garcia and as the assault began, Nevarra focused on defense, maneuverability, and flanking moreso than making a straight charge and counterattack. Though Nevarra had more bodies it was undeniable that Verak had more guns and so with this in mind the soldiers made use of the disguising terrain and fortresses that weren't completely shelled in order to let the Veraki wave crash a little bit, letting the situation play out in order to determine a counter.

[Greywall]

230,000 Light Infantry, 210,000 Standard Infantry, 100,000 Heavy Infantry, 100,000 Carabineer Infantry, 100,000 Light Motorized, 300,000 Standard Motorized, 200,000 Standard Mechanized, 1,000 Armored Cars, 1,000 Light Tanks, 2,000 Tankettes, 20 Medium Tanks, 110 Heavy Tanks, 3,000 Field Artillery, 1,500 Howitzer Artillery, 2,100 Mortar Artillery, 1,000 Siege Artillery, 500 Flak Artillery, 500 Anti-Tank Artillery, 40 Light Fighter Bi-planes, 10 Bi-Plane Recon, 30 CAS Planes, 50 Light Bombers, 20 Medium Bombers.



Manucci wasted little time once his forces made contact with the Nevarran army, having infantry and light armor establish zones of contact before having artillery zero in to allow time for reinforcements to arrive. A broad advancement on Nevarra would begin with four strike zones being the main campaign goal. Manucci used cavalry and armored cars to make swift assaults on Nevarran positions to probe for a weak point. Rather than the forced static front Manucci wanted, the Nevarrans were forcing his troops to fight a fluid and fluctuating front which the Veraki leaned heavily on cavalry and vehicles to make up for the massive shifts in the front line. 

In the skies above the desert a larger than expected air war between the two sides began as Verak aircraft reported more Nevarran planes than expected delaying vital aerial support to the ground assault. Manucci would have to accept for the time being, a difficult ground war across the vast hot deserts of Nevarra. 

Veraki forces advance in Nevarra, X marks Manucci's primary focal point in the new offensive.




Veraki infantry invading Southern Nevarra

[Artsy Astra]

//Posting this for Kai as he's asked me to come on to manage the military half of his country. All posts made by me on Diria's behalf have been run by and approved for posting by Kai prior.//

With the cities under near constant gas bombardment, Diria's army had to shift in response. With the CoN gasmasks plan being disseminated, it needed to buy time for their production. The army booby trapped multiple buildings, some rigged with enough explosives to level a whole block, before outright receding in response giving themselves time to recover wounded and regroup before launching a counterattack in an attempt to shock the invaders. Using every avenue of attack they knew. The sewers, the alleys, the roads, even hopping between buildings or making makeshift bridges between them for ease of movement. Artillery echoed as they engaged pre-designated kill zones as the infantry supported by what little armor they had clashed with the enemy.

In response to the demand for surrender, the envoy was promptly shot where he stood by an AT rifleman. The man's torso popped like a grape as he fell in a messy heap of what remained. Diria would accept no such delusion, and suffer no tyrant.

AT rifleman would prioritize targeting of tracks, the sides gun manlets, engine decks, and drive sprockets. All critical components required for tanks to effectively move and engage targets. Disabling such components would require the crews to bail out, giving Diria the chance to steal the vehicle for their own repair and use while depriving the enemy of its armor.


Model 1927 Spalluz (20x138mm AT Rifle)

Forces on the Eastern Front:
10,000 Conscripts
30,000 Light Infantry
60,000 Standard Infantry
50,000 Heavy Infantry
2,000 Special Infantry
500 Field Artillery
200 Howitzer Artillery
300 Mortar Artillery
5 Siege Artillery

[Faust]

As sand and smoke kicked up into the air, the Nevarran army would keep endeavor to keep a fluid defense doctrine in response to the sudden Veraki assault. Applying the use of their ancestral fortifications when they could but also making use of the significant mobility of their troops and transports to navigate the dune hills and rocky outcroppings. Nevarran artillery returned fire on Verak's position and as aerial fighters engaged Verak for supremacy the bombers that Nevarra had available would take the sky. Not all were deployed at once, rather going one at a time in order to not pull all attention and when they completed their runs (if they were able to) would cycle out with other bombers and return for repairs.

The familiarity Nevarrans had with their home terrain caused them to set up vantage points where they could, sharpshooters looking out over contested zones which the Veraki attempted to push through with the snapping sound of Nevarran rifles whistling in the air. The flattened design of Nevarran landships allowed them to blend in somewhat into the terrain and to also fire upon the legions with little fear of overhead attention. Nevarra was giving it their all, even more than in Harbaville. This was their homeland of course, but regardless it was still a desperate attempt. Nevarra, like many others, we're not anticipating a war of this magnitude and it showed with how outnumbered they were in arms and ordinance. Still, with R&D rolling out new equipment such as the CN-RESAIRS gradually making their way to the front as well as new Gas Masks, Nevarra was slowly adapting to the overwhelming capabilities of their enemy.

[Greywall]

Casualties

Verak: 450 standard infantry, 10 tankettes, 5 light tanks, 5 monoplane fighters
Diria: 1,500 conscripts, 500 standard infantry, 100 light infantry, 20 field artillery
Nevarra: 300 cav warriors, 400 light infantry, 20 tankettes

[Greywall]

Nevarran front

"Break the Nevarrans now" 

Manucci had his orders, something stirred in the East and he needed to win the Desert War sooner than later, the mass stretch of the Nevarran front became a display of modern warfare as vehicle units and Nevarran fluid line defense frustrated traditional Veraki commanders. Veraki artillery began large scale shelling on the Nevarrans and attempted to coordinate with their armored units and infantry in attacking the Nevarran defenses, Verak's mass of vehicles became their best weapon. Bringing heavy machine gun fire and steel plate to support large infantry battalions with ease. 

Slowly the Veraki began to push the lines further North, the massive mechanical horde was making progress, but still with this success was the concern haunting Manucci. What was happening East?

Veraki infantry rising out of man made trenches to assault Nevarran troops

Diria

Diria lost territory but inflicted heavy losses for it, large scale urban fighting mixed with Veraki forced to clear out rigged buildings and left over bombs slowed down their advance. AT rifles were also taking away armored advantages leaving tanks ruined or disabled in the streets of Dirian cities. Infantry found themselves in a kind of enclosed hell trying to remain in cover and fight off Dirian defenders they seemed to find everywhere despite the gassing. 

The messenger being turned into dog food by an AT round cemented how Verak would treat Diria going forward, like rabid animals. Civilians caught in the open were now shot and killed, looting in occupied areas was in full swing as personal belongings now were being taken in mass with homes being raided by Veraki soldiers. 

Verak prepared a large scale aerial bombing campaign to level several Dirian cities, 30 light bi plane bombers and 20 medium monoplane bombers would begin their runs on Dirian positions West of the frontline. 

Verak prepares its own terror bombing campaign

[KyferLegs (Diria)]

The conditions imposed on Dirians under occupation who weren't actively under siege or providing constant resistance to their foreign occupiers were characterized by resignation and contempt. To those fortunate Dirians, survival was their priority, and the Veraki's, despite their hatred of the Dirians, would have had to make do with the reality many of them would exist behind the frontlines. However, with the new development of Veraki's messenger being turned into abstract art, the already well-established tense malevolence between Dirians locals and Veraki occupation authorities finally reached its breaking point.

Veraki looting, executions, raping, offenses, and more swept across the frontlines and occupation zones like a plague. Families were torn apart, innocents perished, and the lack of accountability, responsibility, or guilt of the occupiers pursuing their revenge and frustration at the front's development squeezed the citizens of Diria. However, with the chaos also came the realization and curiosity of the nature of the premature acceleration of activity by Verak, and so spread the stories of why it had happened. Stories, truths, and myths were passed by word of mouth, message, radio, or note, and the inhabitants of the occupation zones achieved an epiphany of the highest charge: Verak was lashing out pathetically due to its inability to cope with the reality they weren't prevailing.

Thus, as Verak's hostility ramped up in its depravity, so did the Dirians. Affirming Verak's beliefs, for better or worse, and in what the Dirians considered their righteous retribution, so did they, too, use enormity. With the trampling out of the vintage where the grapes of wrath were stored, the Dirians once again revolted, and citizens became partisans. Beleaguered groups across the occupied nation opened stashes, vicious attacks on Veraki authorities and occupiers escalated, and numerous acts of mass protests occurred at a drastic rate. Supply lines were targeted, Veraki garrisons away from the front now were targets of the locals, and the events transpiring continued to foster hatred and acts of violence between the two. At the same time, resistance cells abruptly saw a surge in numbers, new groups forming or others combining, and others used the period of chaos to spread and interconnect.

[Faust]

The Nevarrans avoided deeply entrenching. If forced to choose between holding out and draining Verak's reserves or remaining fleet and adaptable, Nevarra stuck to the later. Aware that Verak was operating under a doctrine of superior firepower they couldn't hope to outgun the Empire in these confrontations. Though the Kingdom was behind, equipment-wise, they were capably relying on their environment and tactics used in preparation for another push made by Verak after the initial blitz at the start of the war. "Nests" were dug out in the sand and communications between these subterranean abodes were established with a mix of radio systems to an even more analog "colorbox" communication that linked a small number of nests together.

Among the tricks used by Nevarra to delay Veraki pushes of ground forces were "false paths" using abundant access to sand to cover platforms that would break under substantial weight into deep wells filled with razor-wire at the very bottom. Not only did their tactics exploit the value of the terrain but the design of Nevarra's landships made them a menace. Though becoming outdated, Nevarran landships were very flat and painted to disguise with the rocky-dunes of the Kingdom itself. Their compact design exploited both blending into terrain and even in some cases, piling sand around them to further aid in camouflage or cover. Honorable tactics of full-frontal engagement had been lost to the Nevarrans long ago when facing the Veraki Empire at its geographical height. Since then, Nevarra has continued to deter conquest into her heart by taking into account her advantages. Of course they may have made Nevarra rather one note but swiftness has become their answer to offensive doctrine. While they can't hammer the Empire with the same firepower, the army makes use of their mobilized forces to pull the attention of Verak every which way that they can.

[Greywall]

Casualties

Verak: 800 light infantry, 250 standard infantry, 90 heavy infantry, 300 carabineer infantry, 200 light motorized, 20 light tanks, 30 armored cars, 30 tankettes
Diria: 2,000 conscripts, 400 light infantry, 450 standard infantry, 200 heavy infantry, 30 field guns, 10 howitzers
Nevarra: 350 cavalry warriors, 1,000 light infantry, 200 special infantry, 2,000 dragoons, 30 tankettes, 200 armored cars, 30 landships, 100 light motorized infantry

[Greywall]

Nevarran front

Nevarra was pissing Manucci off, the bloodiest fighting of the war so far and he was no closer to breaching into the desert realm than he was from the beginning. He inflicted heavy losses on his enemy but so did they, it was reported that some fighting carried on for three straight days using hundreds of thousands if not millions of rounds of ammunition. 
The fluid defense was working for Nevarra, rendering the heavy mechanized frontal assault for Verak mute and void. So it would have to come down to a war of attrition, something Manucci didn't have time for, reports came in that Pomaz and Amali were pushing against Eastern forces and that those fronts were priority now. Meaning he would received no further troops or new armored divisions. 

He needed to breach now, so he coordinated his motorized forces to puncture through the line instead of pushing it back even, he would drive toward the nearest settlement and force a confrontation in the open. If Nevarra refused to fight in the open like he wanted he would burn their home instead. 

Diria

The only way to describe the Dirian urban front was to pull something out of the pages of the US war on Iraq. Brutal building to building fighting, Verak was preparing another gas assault, the Dirian defense in their homeland frustrated the Legio so much it had them shooting at everything that moved, sometimes their own men, the rolling bombing campaign over much of the Dirian cities did their purpose in destroying several sections of the city and killing Dirian defenders but still the Veraki faced intense urban fighting. 

Despite Diria's hardlined defense, the Veraki military was still gaining ground. Taking heavy losses and now with the Eastern front needing most of the new armor and equipment, the Veraki would lean heavily on infantry and weapons of mass destruction. 

Veraki infantryman and reporter, new Veraki documentation of the Dirian battlefield is recording a brutal new type of warfare.