The Final Stand

[Artsy Astra]

With Nellrae quickly falling and the order for retreat approved the last of the Marrish forces that had been garrisoning areas inland were deployed in full and the fortifications they had constructed manned. The full reserve of:

Infantry; 40,000 Heavy, 15,940 Standard, 14,260 Special (5K Beast Hunters), 2,000 Motorized, 2,000 Bicycle, 1,070 Field Arty, 1,240 Howitzer Arty, 1,300 Mortar Arty, 105 Siege Arty,



Armor; 60 Armored Cars, 380 (100 TM-32J)(250 TM-32) Tankettes, 140(20 TM-14A1) Landships, 40 Heavy Tanks,



Air;56 Recon Biplane, 2 Recon Triplane, 20 Fighter Biplane, 10 Heavy Biplane, 6 Bomber Biplane, 9 Torpedo Biplane, 8 Flying Boats, 12 Transport Biplane, 20 Mono Interceptor, 1 CAS plane.

Was deployed and garrisoned in the city or the immediate areas surrounding it in anticipation for the defense of Harbaville. 3 Super Cruisers, 15 Light Cruisers, and 10 Heavy Cruisers stood by in the port to act as fire support for the Army and Marine elements. The cities militia was called upon to rise in its defense, over 60,000 patriots decided to stay and defend their homes. Civilians were evacuated to Vester Harbor and Atlantis, refugees from Nellrae, particularly scholars, were evacuated to the Ux Voshoz island after an official request was put in to harbor those who may be harmed in the fighting. All that remained in the city were those who wished to stay and fight. The cities normal denizens were typically replaced with soldiers lest a militia remain in their home area. The fortress that capital had been turned into now stood ready for the storm. Some of the fortifications had not been finished but what was ready was manned.

Marrish Soldiers on patrol in the area surrounding the city, vigilant for Jaegers and other infiltrators.



Army troops stationed on the cities outskirts in makeshift fortifications.

[Greywall]

Jaegars began prodding Marrish defenses before the massive descending wave of metal and aerial assault came bearing down on the Marrish capital. Waves of Medium bombers flew over head dropping carpet bombed payloads across the city as long range siege guns and howitzers began pulverizing the outer defenses following scouting reports.

The Grinvel army had come, a massive force unlike anything seen in the war so far, the mass of motorized engines and armored units deafening the Marrish countryside as 400,000 bypassed the capital west and went straight for the Southern border into Koi, their target would be Termingrad. They left a massive cloud of kicked up dirt, dust and exhaust as they columned their way into the Koian nation. 

Bearing down on the city of Harbaville was nearly 500,000 Grinvel troops, supplemented with armor and air support. Mueller would break the Marrish here, destroy their republic and win the Great War by funneling the Grinvel army into Koi destroying the last of the Koian military. 

Grinvel moved several infantry battalions of the 56th light motorized and 34th standard motorized to swiftly secure country roads leading into the capital from the North and forming a crescent cut off to the rest of the Republic by pushing East and West in the open country. Mueller believed the Marrish would focus their primary defenses in the city itself and wanted to shell it into oblivion rather than send soldiers in. He would send nearly 20,000 standard infantry in behind the motorized groups to slowly push Southward around the capital as massive artillery barrages shredded the city apart. He intended to break Marrlan here and forever, not simply take the city but leave it a ruin for all to see. 

Grinvel armored units avoided the city this time, moving out in the country to cut off vital supply lines with the infantry assault. Attacking the city would be thousands of light infantry and armored cars, their attack withheld as artillery rounds slammed the city. Their objective was to contain the Marrish inside. 

Grinvel forces move to secure the surrounding countryside of Harbaville

[Artsy Astra]

Dale Welles
Journal Entry Vaylien 1st, 1935 

They're here.

Flatrood is nothing but a pile of rocks and dirt. Months we fought for it for nothing. It's rails torn up and left to rot. We left Nellrae, burning. It's great halls and gathering places bombed out craters, the universities and cultural exchange centers rubble. A crescendo of explosions and thuds echoed as the traps we left the huns went off, but they were still hungry and now their here. Gunther's head has been somewhere between some type of deep sadness and profound rage. He was near catatonic on the drive out of Nellrae, I can hardly talk to him sometimes now, but I wont stop being there for him. Even in the end. They opened up with shelling, worse than Flatrood. If it weren't for these forts and bunkers I'd be as good as the pulverized shit they shove into cans. When we get out, our orders are to reman what we had to leave outside. At least we got the civilians out already. We potemi, Libertatem vel mortem.



Marrish forces in the city would hunker down in the fortifications they had made months prior waiting for the bombardment to let up. The Airforce saddled out almost immediately upon sighting of enemy air contact, and what few AA guns that hadn't been destroyed yet were manned and began to return fire at the enemy above them. Recon flights would be readied to look for enemy artillery positions, some (20) recon bi-planes were pressed into a more direct role to engage and enemy bombers alongside the fighters. Marrish bombers would move to assist front stabilization efforts to the East and West of the city.

Army units in the area around the city reacted as fast as they could to the encirclement attempt, with Marrish medium tanks and tank destroyer armored cars finally seeing action after rolling off the production line. Half of them rushed to support defensive actions to hold back the intruding armor alongside pre-existing tankette and heavy tank units. All Marrish motorized infantry in theater moved with these elements alongside 5,000 Standard Infantry and 25,000 Heavy Infantry following them in. Telegram lines to koi would light up with the report of enemy forces passing the Marrish line ASAP in an attempt to warn their Southern Allies, as well as request assistance from anyone who could.

The Marrish Army and Navy would begin counter barrage fire, a duel of thunder would sound out as thousands of artillery guns went off. All cruisers in the bay joined the destructive chorus, in particular the 3 Super Cruisers "RNV Shurpis' Edge" "RNV O'Rourkes Wrath" and "RNV Pileus Fist" stood out amidst the ear shattering barrage as the loudest. Their 12 inch guns thundered in defiance against the invaders.


Rough Map of Harbaville's layout and defenses.
Black square = Fort
Green Diamond = Improvized fort
Orange Building = Captial Building
Red Triangles = Minefields


A dull thud shook the command bunker surrounding them as MHC, the Senate, and the Pionare herself stood around a map. Ash trays were filled to the brim with spent butts, and the room held a haze around the ceiling that mixed with the dust shook loose from the bombardment overhead. Telegram operators in the next room were almost as loud as the shells striking the Earth above them as reports flowed in and orders went out. No one took pause, not a somber face was visible. Only determination. The Senate nor the Pionare had any intention of leaving, they would fight or die here. All or nothing.

[Greywall]

Casualties

Grinvel: 100 light infantry, 50 standard infantry
Marrlan: 400 civilians, 300 standard infantry, 40 bicycle infantry, 20 heavy infantry, 10 armored cars.

[Greywall]

Grinvel fighters were already in the air when Marrlan sent their airforce to contend with the bombing runs, intense dogfighting in the skies of Harbaville slowed bombing runs to a certain degree but runs were still made with smaller groups following the initial strike. Grinvel sent large squadrons of Luebrok fighters in every category, the old biplanes and new A-11 included. They had new airfields in Central Marrlan thanks to forcing Bordhan PoW's to construct them to hit the capital. 

On the ground, Grinvel artillery never stopped as shells continued to rain down with massive stockpiles having been shipped to Nellrae and reaching the front, the ground violently shook as thousands of artillery guns fired on the city itself. They would only readjust to counter battery the marrish as enemy shells were returned back, striking the Grinvel forces. Grinvel front line troops continued to remain outside city limits to contain enemy troops. 

The outskirts was where the action was for the battle so far, firefights in the open country erupted, Grinvel light infantry engaged enemy forces establishing lines of contact and immediately sending runners to the rear lines to bring up vehicle support and better infantry. 

Mechanized units swiftly arrived to reinforce where the Marrish hit, bringing better armed and trained infantrymen and rapid firing mounted machine guns on their trucks. The fighting grew more and more intense as soon it became too much as Grinvel forces messaged the following. 

"Enemy forces overwhelming position! Send additional troops and armored support! Register mortar strikes at the following lines." 

Grinvel mortars would fire to give some relief before nearly 30,000 heavy motorized units, 20,000 standard motorized units, 300 light tanks and 100 tankettes were sent to shore up the assault line. The firefights became full fledged warzones from this point, the fight to surround the capital became one of brutal might. 

The Marrish naval guns from the bay presented the biggest threat to the Grinvel attack force, Mueller ordered several Luebrok A-5 torpedo bombers to prepare for an all out assault on the bay, 20 A-5 bombers nearly all the remaining models of this aircraft would be escorted by 40 Luebrok triplanes, 40 A-11 mono fighters and launch the assault in the next day in the early morning. 

Marching on foot were 20,000 light infantry and 10,000 heavy infantry to secure the roads into Koi, building trenches and makeshift defenses so the invasion force heading South would be undeterred. 

Grinvel light infantry attacking a Marrish position in the Western countryside of Harbaville

[Artsy Astra]

The Airforce fought desperately to contain and repulse what they could. Recon plane pilots began engaging slower bombers with rifles, medium machine guns, and pistols they brought with them. In extreme cases, some would club and ram the Grinvel aircraft with their landing gear.

Marrish forces continued to apply pressure as Heavy Cruisers were ordered to shift fire to the opening Eastern front. The Western advance was slowed and orders moved to stabilization. They wanted to prevent an encirclement, not draw the ire of the larger forces heading south. No further armor was sent, but another complement of 10,000 Heavy infantry was moved to assist. If they could establish a line, they would hold it and begin digging in as best as possible. The Valkyrie projects fruit would make an appearance as well, the assault train would roll into a decent position to provide fire support as well to engage and provide support. The bombardment trade continued with no sign of stopping.

Marrish AA batteries would continue to assist air elements as best they could, but they had no proximity or altitude fuses, requiring direct hits for the explosive payloads to have any form of effectiveness.

[Faust]

Answering the Marrish call for reinforcement, Nevarra's focus on mobilized infantry saw swift redeployment from stationary guard and from quieted fronts. A mass movement of;

10,000 Standard Infantry Regiments
5,000 Special Infantry "Nevarran Rangers"
40,000 Dragoon Infantry Squadrons
20,000 Bicycle Infantry Squadrons
15,000 Standard Motorized Regiments
5,000 Heavy Motorized Regiments

The units would be en route and gradually deployed, secured by Nevarran transports and the combined seawalls of Nevarra and Marrlan either side across the bay. General Jorge Aros would be assigned to manage this deployment and work with the Marrish Army to defend and/or break up the Grinvel siege on Harbaville. A good portion of the soldiers could do with some training in the more temperate and wet climate of Marrlan but there would hopefully be time for that as Nevarran reinforcements descended on Marrlan.

[Greywall]

Casualties

Grinvel: 200 light infantry, 80 motorized light infantry, 100 standard infantry, 10 triplane fighters, 5 A-5 torpedo bombers
Marrlan: 2,000 civilians, 400 standard infantry, 200 heavy infantry, 5 mono wing fighters, 1 super cruiser sinking.
Nevarra: 50 standard infantry, 20 bicycle infantry

[Greywall]

Grinvel

Artillery barrages continued, decimating the Northern section of Harbaville leaving several buildings collapsing against heavy bombardments. More Grinvel medium bombers and CAS bombers began strikes along the Northern half of the city seemingly not targeting anything just dropping their payload wherever they could. Mueller seemed to understand that overwhelming firepower would be needed to take the city, he also seemed willing to destroy Harbaville in its entirety if it meant victory. His forces were close to reaching the Southern border entering Koi when Nevarrans showed up. 

"Fucking desert rats. Can't they die on their own homeland?" It didn't matter to Mueller, more death to mark the beginning of the new world after all. He committed more troops to the encirclement of the city, pushing an astounding 50,000 standard infantry into both flanks, with heavy artillery support raining down on the defenders and close armored car, tankette and light tank support. The massive increase in deployment saw Grinvelian troops begin a harsh assault on Marrlan and Nevarran positions, increased firepower to overcome the naval gun support that was slowly forcing Mueller to consider a mass push into the city itself. He had superior numbers and so far superior armored numbers, the battle was already won in his eyes. 

The Grinvel aerial assault on the coast successfully knocked out one of the Marrish super cruisers but failed to impact the rest, the aerial assault was forced to retreat back to friendly lines. 

Grinvelian rifleman aiming down sights during the battle of Harbaville

UKUG

General Fogham was situating his troops along the Eastern countryside, 30,000 troops of the Marrish Expedition force arrived in conjunction to the Koian expedition force to aid in fighting off SU advancement across Ouhiri. Gaelic infantry battalions joined Marrish forces right when the Grinvelians began their assault, "Come on laddies! Send the Cabbage dobbers back north!" a commander called out, as several kilted riflemen rushed to the fighting. 

Our focus today is on the 321st Rifles, holding a culvert against a Grinvelian assault. 

"Err they come! Set up the machine gun!", several Model 4 rifles fired striking Grinvelian infantry attempting to move forward toward the culvert. "Bring up nades! Throw em if ya got em!" Some threw grenades at the approaching Grinvelians creating large explosions that rocked the infantry. Despite that and the efforts of placing a machine gun down the unit was still under heavy assault. 

"Captain! they're cutting around us!" 

Captain Farrow turned and saw several Grinvel infantrymen attempting to go around their position, "Cunt bastards! Millie! Brown! take some men and head em off! Kill those dobber fucks!" the captain ordered sending a few men after them. It didn't take long for mortars to start falling around them, "Call in for support! Tell'em we're fuckin strapped to our balls in cabbage eaters!" a runner began rushing off to the rear. All Farrow and the 321 could do was hold ground, "You bastard fucks hold this watery ditch as long as you can!" the culvert was likely part of Harbaville's infrastructure channel water out of the city. The concrete arch and deep cut into the natural soil made it an ideal defensive position, but the Grinvelians were quickly overrunning their position. 

"We're getting surrounded!", sure as hell the Grinvelians were now firing from a near perfect 180 degrees at the stuck Gaelic riflemen, "Fire at em! Don't let up!" Farrow called, as bullets kept his own head under cover. A well placed mortar shredded several of his men hunkered into the culvert tearing them into pieces, "Oh fuck!" the men were getting rushed, "If we die! We die our way!" Farrow called firing his revolver and striking a Grinvelian in the chest. As the men were pushed into the bottom of the wet feedway several bullets tore into the Grinvelians sending them reeling back to their line. "Sir! One of our own!" Farrow climbed up to see a Wolva light tank and his runner, the top hatch flung open as a red haired thick eyebrow man popped out, "You about got ate there Farrow, you Olga boys are suppose to fight better than that" Captain William Grant grinned with his missing front tooth amused at his own joke. Farrow shook his head, "You lazy sods in those metal cunts, why don't you chase em!" Farrow smiled back as his men laughed in relief. 

Grant shook his head, "Can't the Wolva can't cross that gap, gotta find another way." He grabbed the hatch and nodded to Farrow one last time, "see ya later, ya fuckin' knob" the tank turned heading further along the battlefront, Farrow took stock of his men. He lost several, he had few left and had to hold until replacements or reinforcements arrived. He began reloading his revolver, "Get a rotation in, start sleepin now, cause we're in it for a long night." 

[Artsy Astra]

With the "Pileus' Fist" Sinking in the bay, her guns echoed off twice more before the crew began to abandon ship. The airforce continued its desperate campaign against the Grinvish aircraft as the Super Cruiser billowed smoke into the sky above. Sialors were quickly picked up by patrol boats and other small vessels and transported to the shore. They took up arms and joined the flanks or were whisked away deeper into Marrish territory.

The arrival of friendly forces greatly bolstered morale. The Marrish policy of intervention and outreach had continued to pay off, earning the friends who had rushed to the republic's side in its need.

Marrish forces on the flanks held on with their Gaelic and Nevarran counterparts against the overwhelming odds. Marrish tanks tried to make their mark in earnest, the Canner and Cougar shoring up infantry where they could. The Cougar acting as a mobile bunker directly providing support to infantry positions and engaging enemy armor. The Canner acted as QRF, moving between positions to engage enemy armor and infantry in areas before shifting to other positions.

[Faust]

Nevarran reinforcements under General Aros upon landing in Harbaville would focus initially on getting acclimated while under Grinvel stress. Men and women on rotation at the frontlines attempting to repel assaults while finding more and more purchase for Marrish and UKUG ordinance. The Rangers had come to vanguard in efforts to sabotage Grinvel arms or armor, relying on their training to make very few but often necessary maneuvers eithers in the heat or combat or during an interim for both sides in order to harass Grinvel entrenchments. Meanwhile the rest of the incredibly mobile infantry moved around as needed and were quick to respond to a call for aid and bolstering either to hold up a front or to help minimize casualties in retreat.

[Greywall]

Casualties

Grinvel: 300 standard infantry, 150 heavy infantry, 2 monoplanes, 4 medium bombers, 10 light tanks, 4 tankettes, 10 field guns.
Marrlan: 1,850 standard infantry, 900 heavy infantry, 200 special infantry, 90 field guns, 30 tankettes, 30 landships, 10 armored cars
Nevarra: 200 special infantry, 50 bicycle infantry, 20 dragoon infantry.

[Greywall]

Harbaville was reduced to a pillar of smoke and ruin, months of Grinvelian shelling turned the Northern section of the city into torn apart rubble as the Grinvelians denied the Marrish a direct fight. But the need to move in was coming and coming soon. To put Marrlan out of the war would make the conquest of Koi all but done. 

Mueller had a plan, using the excuses given to him by the Orthorians he brought in 100 cannisters of chlorine gas and had them launched all across the city. In one single horrific move, Mueller committed a massive atrocity gassing the capital of Marrlan to thin its defenders out. 

On the outer countryside the Grinvelians fought an intense open battle with the Marrish, Nevarrans and Gaelics. Their armored corps smashed the enemy lines allowing infantry to advance and slowly continue to surround the capital. Grinvelian forces were confident in the coming victory. It seemed all but assured, with the gassing finished over 100,000 standard infantry were preparing to storm the city with over 100 light tanks, 20 tankettes, 30 landships and 10,000 mechanized heavy infantry. 

Young Grinvelian infantryman observing enemy movements in the Marrish countryside

UKUG

Gaelics in the city were caught off by the gas attack, sending them reeling and running. The gas wiped out entire divisions of Gaelic troops slaughtering them without a chance to fight back, at the outer countryside they were slowly being pushed South. Farrow informed Marrish command that holding their ground wasn't possible. They needed more assistance, wolva tanks were forced to avoid engagements with Zhest tanks that made the smaller light tanks into metal coffins, the Gaelic flank was extremely compromised. 

[Artsy Astra]

Horror and despair are the only things that could be used to describe what happened within the city.

Shazzak troops who were not fortunate enough to be issued a gasmask began to choke and sputter before literally melting into piles of cloth and meat where they lay. Civilians and soldiers alike were reduced to volatile puddles of bubbling flesh before even that was burned away by the hydrochloric acid the high water content of their bodies had created when mixed with the chlorine. Screams of the damned erupted into a chorus of suffering. What infantry survived the gassing returned to their posts where possible with their masks equipped, Beast Hunters unaffected by the gas replaced their comrades and steeled themselves for what was to come.

The flanks held on as best as they could, refusing to give as much ground as possible. Despite losses they would hold off as long as possible, some positions that were being overrun outright called for fire on their own positions hoping to draw the Grinvelians into an explosive grave. Marrish air units continued to run CAP as their bombers and other CAS aircraft attempted to soften up and disorganize enemy forces. Recon planes continued to do their best to find enemy units and mark them with flares or report their posiions when they landed. A contingent of them also continued to act in an anti-air role engaging enemy bombers with their small arms.

[Faust]

A decisive shock was delivered to Nevarran morale as clouds of gas descended on their lines or the ones in which they reinforced. Horror stories exchanged by those who could even speak and comprehend the shelling followed by the chorus of choked up screams and the fields of suffocated bodies that now laid lifeless in entrenchments. An equipment demand was sent back to Nevarra scheduling a priority need for gas masks and/or some form of filter apparatus and many were now wary about going out under the open sky. Nevarra continued to rely on the air and equipment support of Marrlan and Gaelia, continuing to fill their role in providing a hail of bullets against Grinvel when they can.

Plans were also discussed in Aros' command center about revitalizing entrenchment construction and doctrine and was soon brought up to Marrish and Gaelic Command as well. It wouldn't do anything to help if soldiers came into contact with chemical agents but rather the plan was to keep in mind methods of sectioning off their defenses to close off the spread of gas or other chemical agents.

The many in the Nevarran rank were rattled but not completely broken by Grinvel's tactic, Aros taking this opportunity to give some direction and hopefully relight a fire by giving a speech about turning this prolonged conflict into a testament of Nevarran will and to eventually get back at Grinvel for the unjust suffering they've caused to soldiers and civilians alike. Of course, not everyone was convinced but at this time many of them were looking for something to cling onto and the idea that they will make it long enough to see the Reich pay retribution for this was good enough.

The Rangers we're pulled back from special operations and instead worked in tandem with sappers to scout out sections of the city that may have been sparred from a blanket of gas, the goal now being to prepare some fortifications for what seemed like an inevitable push into the city, urban combat being something which they could more effectively wear down if it ever came to it. Other divisions continued as normal and moved where needed in order to exchange fire with Grinvel.