The Rolling Storm (Siege of Eyerce) [Diria-Verak]

[Artsy Astra]

On a cold desert night, Veraki blood continued to run hot. Their conquest was going swimmingly on all fronts, even with the Dirians putting up a staunch if disorganized defense. The assault was to take place at night with infantry screening and occupying the defenders, before air and armor units struck shortly after. Veraki infantry crept to the edge of town, and on queue, fired flares into the sky. The night now illuminated began chattering with more than crickets. Machine guns and engines roared, tracers usurped the stars, and ghostly shapes were visibly overhead when a flare passed close enough. 

While efforts across the front began this new twilight offensive, a Veraki company prepared itself for its participation. "Come morning, we dine in Eyerce!" A Veraki captain exclaimed, followed by the cheers of his company. His and many others would advance as planned and wait until contact was made to call in other elements. The Siege of Eyerce was in full swing.

[30,000 Light Infantry, 16,000 standard infantry, 30,000 Carabineers, 60 Light Tanks, 150 Tankettes, 300 Field Artillery, 400 Mortar Artillery, 10 CAS Aircraft, 10 Light Bombers. 

[KyferLegs (Diria)]

By the time of the invasion, the 8th Division had suffered heavily from its intial defeats during the opening days, then weeks of the war. However, by the time of the Siege of Eyerce, the Dirians, and the Government had recovered from the initial shock, and the conscription laws kicked in, with hundreds to thousands being recalled and drafted into the country's defense. What also had been solidified was the Dirian attitude toward its Veraki invasion, which was total contempt. Through the villages and cities Verak currently occupied, there were no happy cheers or congratulations; instead, the Verakis were greeted with broken water pumps, destroyed power stations, and burning fields. In the Dirian mind and ethos, Verak would have to pay for every step it took. Thus, by the time the Veraki's had made it to the gates of Eyerce, a city with numerous surrounding villages, the battered remains of the 8th Infantry Division 53rd Regiment had been mainly reinforced and stabilized with the backing of the 2nd Infantry's 21st Infantry Regiment's and 9th Guards help, which had dispatched two battalions, and a company towards Eyerce. More support was soon to arrive, with the 8th's 3rd Brigade, comprising of the rest of the 53rd, funneling into Eyerce, and the 52nd and 54th Infantry Regiments dispatched to the Etaroh fronts and were tasked to defend Eyerce's flanks so an encirclement of the city didn't happen. Furthermore, the 2nd Calvary's, 1st Brigade, 11th Calvary Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions had begun to drive itself with the 2nd Armored, 1st Brigade, 6th Armored Regiment, 1st Squadron.

Nevertheless, within Eyerce proper, the highest-ranking official was a Lieutenant Colonel named Valente Atay. Farther away from Eyerce, a Colonel named Avci Imbesi gave orders through a one-way phone line or motorcycle runners from Regimental HQ. By the time the Veraki's started, the Dirians had prepared the best they could. Unlike previous engagements, the local army group had taken strides in organizing itself. The defenders in Eyerce and their officers or non-commissioned officers had readied themselves for more independent tactics, which Lt Colonel Atay ordered. The Dirian defense emphasized attrition, stalling the Veraki attackers, and avoiding or planning engagements against enemies of high concentration, that or direct frontal engagements unless required or in an advantageous position. Both Lt Colonel Atay and Colonel Imbesi had agreed that engaging Veraki on its level field would end in defeat. Instead, they'd engage the Verakis in erratic and partisan engagements. Later, defense, or combat, had a level of offense employed to it but required the ladder mentioned flanks of Eyerce to be secured. Thus, the initial priority was stalling the Veraki's enough for reinforcements to enter and let other Regiments secure Eyerce's flanks. As ordered or advised, the current objective was to engage, lure, or neutralize Verakis through the openings of the city's structure's attics, windows, or doors and use the city's sewer system to fire from or emerge from drains or reposition troops, furthermore, following emphasis was placed onto the sewer system or cellars to shelter against artillery, mortars, or aircraft if the threat was significant enough. Including more local tactics; in theory, one could do hit-and-run tactics against armored vehicles, and some defenders quickly improvised, mainly a pair of 6 trucks with 25mm Infantry Guns or MGs on their beds.

However, even if the reasoning behind the independent tactics of every squad would eventually end in an engagement that may cause Veraki's a severe headache if it worked, some Dirian officers worried that simply letting the Veraki's walk into the city would result in the Veraki's realizing the trap. Thus, Colonel Imbesi made a controversial choice, and that was employing a battalion on what was to believe, the most likely route Veraki attackers would take. This battalion would be ordered to hold long enough until spotters or reconnaissance believed that Veraki had committed its forces to the city's siege. The battalion then would fall back, using the city's dense urbanization to escape or rejoin other defenders. Finally, weaponry was another controversial tactic due to supplies; local troops foresaw that the cities' supplies would be dedicated to the army. However, another controversial call by Colonel Imbesi ordered civilians to be supplied with small arms that defense programs had earlier collected or other weaponry the Regiment considered unwarranted surplus, with the Regimental HQ hinging its bets on being relieved by en route reinforcements.

Currently Within or in Front of Eyerce:

53rd Infantry Regiment = 4,000 Standard & Heavy, 10 Field Artillery, 15 Mortar Artillery.
21st Infantry Regiment = 2,000 Mixed, 5 Mortar Artillery.
9th Guards = 200 Light Infantry.
Varying Well-Armed Malitias = 1,300 (Conscript/Light)

Total = 4,500 Standard Infantry, 2,250 Heavy Infantry, 750 Light Infantry, 10 Field Artillery, 20 Mortar Artillery.

Flanks or Rear Outskirts of Eyerce:

53rd Infantry Regiment = 500 Standard & Light.
52nd Infantry Regiment = 5,000, 10 Field Artillery, 15 Mortar Artillery.
54th Infantry Regiment = 5,000, 10 Field Artillery, 15 Mortar Artillery.
Varying Well-Armed Malitias = 1,000~ (Conscript/Light)

Total = 5,250 Standard Infantry, 5,250 Heavy Infantry, 1,000 Light Infantry, 20 Field Artillery, 30 Mortar Artillery.

Starting to Move Towards Eyerce:

11th Calvary Regiment = 2,000 Mixed Motorized, 10 Field Artillery, 5 Mortar Artillery, 5 Howitzer Artillery.
6th Armored Regiment = 4 Armored Cars, 2 Tankettes

Total = 1,750 Standard Motorized Infantry, 250 Heavy Motorized Infantry, 500 Light Motorized Infantry, 4 Armored Cars, 2 Tankettes, 10 Field Artillery, 5 Mortar Artillery, 5 Howitzer Artillery.

[Artsy Astra]

The Veraki invaders would begin their assault, as planned, at night. With only infantry in the main force, they hoped to shock and surprise the Dirians with a quiet creep toward their line. General Lombardi had emphasized that his grand plan would ensure their effectiveness and that it should be followed to a T. Veraki's crept as close as possible before opening fire and lighting the night up with flares and tracers signaling the attack. Most of the force would crash into the Dirians line in front of Eyerce (25,000 Light Infantry,  16,000 Standard Infantry, 20,000 Carabineers) ,  while the flanks mostly faced Tankettes (60), Light Infantry (15,000), and (10,000)Carabineer infantry. Night had forced the Veraki Air Force to stay grounded as they were confident but cautious about trying strikes at night. Come dawn they would begin supporting the assault. Tanks were mostly held in reserve as the infantry officers at the front wanted to prove themselves to Lombardi, delaying the colored signal flare that would indicate to their armored support to come in.

Artillery sounded off in the distance as Veraki crews were ordered to soften up the city firing with reckless abandon. A handful of (roughly 2 dozen) gas shells were used to study the effects as the siege went on. They targeted the initial skirmish area and in inner city.

In General Ignazio Lombardi's command tent, impassioned shouting could be heard.
Lombardi leaned on his ornate meeting table. It was engraved with epics of ancient Imperial soldiers in battle along the sides. Drinks and maps littered its surface. He leaned forward into the light illuminating the table from the single hanging bulb.

He looked a mix of serious and cheery. Red tinted his cheeks as he was clearly tipsy, but he retained a strange composure about himself.
I:"I am counting on you in this Luigi, don't go mucking it all up now that we've finally got these ferals under our heel! Capire?" The mustached man said with fervor.
L:"Certo, certo. Calm down cousin. We will do fine! You sound like father sometimes."
The younger man, Colonel Luigi Disinfesta, barely gracing his mid 20's would pace at the other end of the table. Drink and academy stress made him appear slightly older, but he had his youthful spark and immaturity well in tow.

I: "I might as well be your father you jumpy roditore! If he wasn't bound dirt he'd be here telling you the same thing."
L:"Regardless, relax. We stand at the cusp of victory, our family will be well adorned for spearhead thing. I still have my eye out for that new rug you want."
I:"True little cousin true. I wish you luck, but dont forget what your job is, hm? I do not wish to send a letter to Nonna of you death at the hands of chicken thieves."
They would share a chuckle as the time grew near for battle.

[KyferLegs (Diria)]

At the start of immediate hostilities in Eyerce proper, the Veraki's encountered a sole battalion and a few dozen militiamen. Despite not their primary objective, these defenders attempted to fight using buildings or occupying a hasty perimeter of foxholes in a plaza surrounded by said buildings. It was apparent now and beforehand that they faced an extreme numerical disadvantage, and the position would become treacherous. The battalion eventually deemed their duty of committing the Veraki's troops within the city accomplished and withdrew into the bowels of Eyerce proper. The infantry took turns attempting to suppress Verakis and give room for exposed members of the battalion to retreat, as all using alleys or other structures disappeared into the complexity of Eyerce density. However, irregular militias uninformed of this strategy had engaged the enemy within their homes and were now mostly alone. Regardless of the first defense, the main Dirian forces appeared to have abandoned the city, an occurrence the Verakis had encountered before with Rein, a city just south of Eyerce. Yet, the battalion was occasionally sighted in isolated numbers. Sporadic irregular attacks would attempt to hamper Veraki's efforts after the retreat. Eyerce proper consisted of many worrying hints: the power was cut, and it was not distinguishable whether the Dirians were using self-inflicted blackouts to mask its movements or Veraki artillery strikes had cut power. Other utilities had been sabotaged, with neighborhood water pumps bent and destroyed, power substations torn apart, and seemingly random roadways blocked off with junk and materials the Dirians or locals could scavenge.

Nevertheless, after some time, the Veraki had reached the thresholds the Dirian defenders waited upon and were hopefully caught off guard. Pursuing surprise, the Dirian Army fired a handful of flares over suspected Veraki positions over what the Dirians considered the most prominent attack routes. The tight roads of Eyerce, which were now to be utilized as kill corridors by Dirian troops, would hope to provide ample danger as the Dirian defenders greeted the Veraki with flurries of rifle and machine gun fire and occasionally grenades and firebombs. The city would spring to life, as the flares and resumed combat were the cues for most of the Dirian defenders within Eyerce, as explosions from mortars and supporting weaponry, intermixed with gunfire, were meant to overwhelm the attackers, who would have to distinguish the defenders' positions between bright muzzle flashes and whistling mortars. The directions of such unrelenting defense seemingly shifted to another place whenever it paused briefly. Furthermore, in areas previously pretending to be unattended or possibly overlooked, other secondaries would go off, most likely landmines or saboteurs in hiding waiting for their moment.

In truth, all hell broke loose as the Dirians desperately defended the city and tried to be indistinguishable from enemy eyes, requiring constant movement and concealing their positions against the wrath of arriving Veraki artillery or gas shells that proved immediately fatal. The city's sheer size and limited use of gas shells by the Veraki's would hope to keep immediate casualties low. Still, lingering gas cut off neighborhoods and military choke points, forcing the Dirian army to wait for it to blow away, hunker down, or take longer routes around inflicted areas. The gas also imposed a mental toll, with no means of defending oneself against it besides fabric one could scavenge; the Dirians officers hoped that the Veraki wouldn't recognize the dilemma.

Although the Dirians hadn't expected the gas or sheer magnitude of artillery and aircraft, they, in a sense, overestimated the quantity of Veraks ground attack. Tanks were nowhere to be seen, something the Dirians invested a great time in closing roads and producing makeshift firebombs with local help. Without the tanks, something that had frightened and hampered Dirian morale allowed confidence to escalate, even endangering operational integrity. Dirian squads and irregulars attempted to use the surprise of their tactics and the lack of armored support of the Verakis to move around through the city's alleys and affluent sewers, get between or behind Veraki lines, and use the flanks to their advantage. Further chaotic scenes appeared as trucks fitted with machine guns or infantry support guns engaged in risky maneuvers to suppress Veraki's positions, even at risk to the truck's reliability, considering Veraki gunfire could cause punctured tires or damaged parts.

Despite the hopeful successes within Eyerce, the flanks and outskirts of Eyerce were more problematic for Diria. The Dirians had expected Verak to attack the flanks of Eyerce to capture essential roads and railways but with fewer numbers than the city. The amount of the predicted equivalence of both side's numbers was inaccurate. The Dirian Army had yet to be conscious of the full scope of the attack. Still, it wasn't that unprepared due to prior preparations. On these flanks and outskirts of Eyerce, the Dirian army's primary strategy was to utilize the terrain and village housing, ditches, trenches, and foxholes with a combination of artillery and mortars hidden farther back between village buildings and forestry, separated by four layers of operational areas. The 1st layer consisted of static defenses, mainly trenches, pillboxes, and gun emplacements. The 1st layer's secondary objective was to provide time for the other defenders to prepare themselves. The 2nd, having open ground with parts of forestry and shrubbery, was primarily focused on using the terrain to the advantage. Open landscape allowed troop movements and areas hidden in foliage or behind hills allowed ambushes. Additionally, the 2nd layer had been mapped out by artillery, expecting it to fall quickly to Veraki forces. Next, the 3rd layer, comprising a local township, a separated part of the Eyerce administrative reason, the immediate outskirts consisted of sharpshooters and heavier infantry, taking defenses within houses and areas that didn't directly expose them to artillery. Finally, the 4th layer, where most of Diria's supporting fire, like artillery, utilized surrounding buildings and forestry as cover against barrages or bombings. Yet, as the 1st layer encountered its first engagements with Veraki, issues arose. Despite better organization than in previous engagements, communication was spotty due to contradicting orders reports during the defense, and Veraki tankettes inflicted lower morale on soldiers.

( Last wall of text, I promise, just setting the scene.

[Artsy Astra]

Casualties:

Verak: 600 Light Infantry, 200 Standard Infantry, 20 Carabiners, 5 Tankettes.

Diria: 200 Militia, 550 Light Infantry, 400 Standard infantry, 250 Heavy Infantry.

[Artsy Astra]

While the attack was initially a success, Veraki infantry were slowed when faced with tough resistance from the locals. The Dirian Army did its due diligence, but there remains a certain zeal in fighting for one's actual home that cannot be easily replicated. Despite their crippling barrage, many defenders emerged from the broken splinters and rocks to fight back. Many were cut down before they retreated deeper into the city. The defenders in the small fort were nearly surrounded, with only a handful of survivors escaping as some stayed behind to cover their retreat. Poor coordination and lack of discipline resulted in many conscripts deaths before the final defenders in the compound were killed, regardless if they surrendered or not. The infantry began pushing towards the edge of the city under smoke barrage cover. Light infantry continued to lead the charge pushing past buildings and only clearing a few, as standard infantry cleared them properly and covered them as they moved. Gas was also called in once again, the Verakis donning their masks.

The flanks showed great progress. Enemy artillery had knocked out a few Tankettes, but it was no matter. The surviving vehicles pushed forward with the infantry attempting to rout who they could and punish those who showed discipline. Gas shells were again used this time in greater numbers witnessing their success in the main offensive.

With the day having arrived, the air force began recon of enemy artillery positions and other hideouts within the city. Some fighters would be called in to strafe positions at the flanks, but the main offensive remained supportless beyond artillery. Sheerly due to Luigi's hunt for glory.

[KyferLegs (Diria)]

As the edge of the city was engrossed in combat with the Verakis, the Dirians, having been pushed from initial frontline compounds and fortifications, quickly responded with a short barrage of variations of mortars and artillery on their former position, but only after their troops had mainly withdrawn. However, as local defenders counted the numbers of those who had survived, it became apparent that Veraki had cut down many or had forced many into the status of MIA in the confusion. Nevertheless, the predominantly standard and heavy infantry of the Dirians continued to hunker down in the well-known and mapped-out urban environment, continually employing ambushes and corridors saturated with either automatic fire or sharpshooters. While scurring into cellars and sewers, whenever Veraki fire support, planes, and gas became too intensive on the combat effectiveness of the squads engaged.

Verak beat the Dirian flanks ruthlessly. The sheer number of Veraki forces alongside their fire support, mainly gas, proved devastating. Quickly, Dirians, from militia to heavy infantry inside the more static fortifications, were flushed out from gas or began unauthorized withdrawals out of fortifications and, in some instances, closer to secondary positions. Yet, despite the setbacks, the line still considerably utilized pop-up tactics as Veraki tanks and infantry got close, and as they did, the Dirians laid a combination from bolt action to anti-tank rifle fire, depending on what defenders in combat had. Nevertheless, the situation was tense, and despite growing casualties, the Dirians were still ordered to keep the first layer held despite their suffering against the combined arms of the Veraki attack, which many local forces decided to overlook their orders and send out frantic messages through telegraph and runners asking authorization to retreat to the second layers.

---

Major General Shahin Treglia was leaning over a map of the corridor the war had made itself into from the Emsgan Basin, where Eyerce was, and up to Loch Rel, whom he occasionally engaged in telegraph messages with in forever ongoing arguments over manpower and resources. Nevertheless, for now, he had received a blank check on what he needed to hold Eyerce and its flanks. Yet, as he muttered orders and demands to the officers around him, a frantic runner, his helmet with goggles strapped on, made himself known, and on his shoulders and arms were the ranks of Lance Corporal.

"Sir!" The runner shouted to all the officers in the room but mainly took priority in gaining the attention of Major General Treglia, whom he looked nervously in the eyes.

Treglia put down the regular old stick he had held to push objects on the table, tap at friendly and enemy positions drawn on the map, and point to officers he was addressing commands to. "At ease, what is it, Corporal?" He spoke with a hint of puzzlement. The apparent battle-torn Lance Corporal was an abnormal sight to see this far up, at least this soon in the conflict.

The Lance Corporal looked around, internally embarrassed, knowing he had skipped an entire chain of command. Nevertheless, he was given his order, and if he didn't come back with a response, his Captain would have his head. Thus, he spoke. "Sir, I can't find Colonel D'Oria of the 54th Regiment. Do I have permis-."

Treglia looked around at all the officers and staff he had around him. He knew where Colonel D'Oria was, a few miles closer to the front. He wondered who told the Lance Corporal to come here or how the Lance Corporal got lost, but alas, here they were. "Just tell me, Corporal, I don't bite."

The Lance Corporal took a deep breath in. Not once had he expected to be talking to a General, but he uttered. "Captain Tosun of Able Company of the 54th Infantry Regiment is requesting to pull back to the second layer of defense. They're under constant indirect fire, and Veraki gas shells hav-"

Treglia sneered. He shouldn't have let the Corporal talk as they went on about the misery and suffering his company was going through. He looked down at the map, observing the railways and roads that linked Eyerce to the north. If that fell, Eyerce would be effectively cut from supply, and this couldn't happen. He raised his hand to the top of his nose and shook his head. "No, Lance Corporal, tell Captain Tosun to hold that position at all costs, and if he can't, then dig up a new trench. Oh, and Corporal-" Tregila pointed to the map and the position of the encampment further down the line. '-Next time, report here when Captain Tosun advises you to give a message. Now scram."

The Lance Corporal peered at the map, tracing the route through his head, nodded, saluted, and hastily made his way out of the building that Major General Treglia had taken much of his time in already. At least Eyerce was going better than expected, and parts of the 2nd Calvary and 2nd Armored were roughly a day out from being able to join the fray. If they could hold then, the mobilizing interior would have plenty of men for him afterward. Nevertheless, his future scheming had to wait. For now, he had to keep the line holding. Looking at his posse of secretaries and aides, he gestured them closer and picked the closet first. "Send a telegraph to Solis, tell them about the gas. The egg heads up there should know something."

He then gestured for the second one to come closer. "Tell Colonel Imbesi of the 53rd to keep up the good work. Also, inform him of the center's situation, as discussed earlier."

Finally, he gestured for a third one to come closer. "Get a message to Colonel D'Oria, tell him to remind his battalions where his encampment is. I don't need any more strays." Treglia then looked back down to the map and once again began to mumble to the officers around him.

[Artsy Astra]

Casualties:

Verak: 300 Light Infantry, 150 Standard Infantry, 40 Carabiners, 2 Tankettes.

Diria: 400 Militia, 880 Light Infantry, 520 Standard infantry, 360 Heavy Infantry, 8 Field Artillery, 12 Mortar Artillery.

[Artsy Astra]

Gas barrages would ramp up in the city as Veraki infantry walked through the sickly clouds into Dirian positions, leaving those succumbing to the barrage to their fates. Veraki Air power would continue to harry forces on the outskirts of the city as much as possible. Recon flights continued spotting Dirian artillery where possible for counter-barrage fire or CAS.

The flanks would continue to be pelted, but ran into issues with the gas when the wind suddenly shifted sending it back into their own forces. Still, they pressed on and applied constant pressure. Support elements did much of the same for the flanks as the main city assault force.