The South Touli War

[callmedelta]

Inside Le Troi, the War Room.

General Tauroneo waited for the arrival of Major General Saunders and General Lishenko to join himself and Kendaya in what he had already termed 'the war room' in his mind. Once everyone had been assembled, Tauroneo began to speak. "We won a great victory today, but the war herself still remains to be won, and that is why I called you together. The first order of business I would like to raise is that of command. The actions of our individual soldiers and commanders - Franerri, Ashinaran, and Tafatu all - were all exemplary. But from what I've been able to gather, they've acted independently for the most part. This was to be expected, given the chaos of the battle, but in future engagements we need a more unified command structure between our forces, or at the very least better communication between them. I'm still waiting on the reports of casualties, but going into this battle I commanded 40,000 men. Once all of the reinforcements from Saint Parrson arrive, that number will become 110,000. There are an additional 40,000 men in Do’rville but I don’t know their status. I don’t know how many fighters you have to the Tafatu cause, Kendaya, nor the number of Ashinarans present, but given how we initially underestimated the forces the Union could bring to bear, we both may need to call for more reinforcements.”

“During the time we’re waiting on those reinforcements, I propose we spend it on three courses of action: evacuating civilians to Bellen, training the troops under your command, Kendaya, and sorting out logistics behind our supply trains.” Upon hearing General Lishenko’s idea for defenses, Tauroneo added, “And making defenses around the city. I didn’t think the Union would be able to muster another army for some time now, but we shouldn’t underestimate them.”

“Before I open the floor to discussion, there is one more key point we need to address.” The General turned to Kendaya. “As the commander of the Tafatu’s armies, as far as I’m concerned you are the relevant authority for this question. What are the Tafatu’s goals for this war? You want independence, but where do you draw the line? Is Bellen, Do’rville, and Le Troi enough? Do we march to Juaz? Veneshy? All the way to Noscovo and overthrow the UST? These are important questions you have to answer and will outline much of how we strategize going forward.” With that, Tauroneo let the floor open to discussion.

[aimway921]

"Indeed. We have already underestimated them going in, the number of troops they had has been astonishing," Lishenko commented. "I propose we leave some civilians - volunteers, perhaps - to help us in the non-combat roles - backline logistics, fortification construction, that sort of thing. If we have a hundred thousand people working on building that line instead of 10 thousand at a time, we'll have it built in no time."



"In addition to that question, what does Tafatu have in terms of an organized government? Do you even have one? Do you need diplomatic assistance in setting one up?"

---

As Yeeda woke up, he'd find one of his hands shackled to the bed frame with a heavy wrist iron. His tunic and shirt were removed, and his wounds were covered in a layer of white bandages. There was no red on them, indicating that he was out long enough for any bleeding to have been long since stopped. First thing he'd see would be an Ashinaran military medic next to his bedside. Identifiable from a regular soldier by his lack of combat field gear and a white armband, in contrast to the two guards who were sitting on stools, one by the door and one by the window, both who seemed to be fairly exhausted - perhaps from a long shift of being on guard - they were leaning on their rifles and trying not to doze off. 

"Zhovnere!" the medic called out to the guard by the door in Ashinaran. "Pozovy Sotnyka Dirku, v'jazen okynuvsya." ("Soldier, call Captain Dirka, the prisoner woke up").

The soldier quickly stood up, it seemed as if he was trying to demonstrate with his body language that he wasn't, in fact, just pulled from the verge of sleep, and with a quick "Tak tochno" ("Yes Sir") left the room. 

About 10 minutes later, the door opened again. In came an Ashinaran who's face Yeeda would probably recognize, remembering him from the surrender talks in the middle of no man's land during the battle. 

Captain Dirka was wearing a cavalry officer's uniform. While the same grayish purple as the rest of the troops, both infantry and cavalry, the gabardine tunic seemed to be a little less gray and more purple. Unlike lower ranking soldiers who wore low boots and puttees, the Captain was wearing knee-high cavalry riding boots, which echoed with every step he took as the iron heel-plate hit the floor. He had a thick leather belt and a cross-strap going from right shoulder to left hip, contrasting the canvas webbing that regular soldiers wore. On his left side he had a revolver hidden away in a leather holster, and just beneath it on straps connected to the belt was a saber. Yellow gorgets adorned his collar, with a blue horizontal strip on the bottom and 3 bronze stars in an up-pointed wedge formation above it, indicating his rank of Captain (Sotnyk, in Ashinaran). His left sleeve, just above the elbow, had a trident patch sewed on in in the same yellow color as the gorgets on the collar. The captain had clear, bright blue eyes, a darker shade of orange on his fur and very dark brown, almost black, fur on his hands, tip of the tail and tips of the ears.

"Well well well," Dirka said in Commons, as he pulled up a stool next to Yeeda's bed and sat down. "Look who finally decided to wake up."

[Greywall]

Kendaya shifted himself on the crutch as it began to dig into him, "We have to my knowledge a good 100,000 or more here, if we can arm and recruit, we could have potentially millions of Tafatu. But we need to liberate Tarafan, it's the central heart of the country and if we are to win. We have no choice but to take Juaz. It's the military center for the UST in the North. It'll be a hard fight, but once we take Juaz the UST won't be able to fight anymore, they lack proper logistical support for a prolonged war without it. As for government, i'm the leader of the rebellion, Aniyah is my second. We want a republic, but for now our people are settling for a military run organization till the war ends."

Kendaya rotated his head in pain, the long fighting now showing its wear on him. "Our goal is a free republic for Tafatu, we can't accomplish that with armed peasants. I'll need time to train our army proper, as for volunteers there's no lack of them here. This was our last stand, anyone here is a traitor and came to die for a free Tafatu. They'll help in building anything we need."

----

Yeeda still felt lightheaded when he heard Dirka, "the fox lived, shame. Looks like not enough of you died."

[callmedelta]

Tauroneo took everyone's words into consideration. "In that case, here is what I believe to be the best course of action. I want to send a small scouting force to Tarafan and ascertain the situation there. If the Union left a small enough garrison, we could strike before the forces retreating from Le Troi have enough time to regroup and call for reinforcements. In the meantime, if evacuating civilians isn't a concern, we should spend a season getting your troops up to a basic level of training, with any soldiers who aren't focused on that preparing defenses around Le Troi. By my calculations, by the time the full compliment of 70,000 infantry arrive we should have enough guns to arm an additional 70,000 Tafatu. In the time it takes to train and fortify the city, hopefully we will receive even more forces and guns from Franerre. Any questions or debates?"

[Greywall]

Kendaya shook his head, "we'll start preparing ourselves for the push East. The more guns and equipment we can get the better."

Rebels began arming themselves and doing training regiments while those who could not fight began building defenses around Le Troi and cleaning up the destruction from the battle. After several weeks Kendaya was now in command of a rebel army that numbered close to 200,000 armed men and women, though they were slightly nothing more than conscripts they could put up a fight. Aniyah would remain in Le Troi as the Tafatu representative to the Frannerre and Ashinara but Kendaya felt the time to avenge Tarafan had come, he informed the Frannerre and Ashinara that he intended to march on the town and retake it.



----UST----

Yakando was in a bad situation, he had barely 3,000 troops left from his initial 100,000 force and they were running low on supplies. Having arrived at Tarafan a couple days ago after escaping the battle of Le Troi his remaining command was utterly demoralized and it was difficult to get them to do much of anything. "I need a rider to get to Juaz, tell them we need support ASAP." he bellowed out, but his riders looked at him with disgust, their horses were starving and weak. Yakando's own horse had sustained a horrid leg injury fleeing the Ashinara.

"Insubordinate bastards! I'll have you all hanged!" Yakando left for the mayor's house, riddled with bullets from the battle last year as the locals barely had time to rebuild before UST troops occupied the town. A knock came at his door, "Come in!" one of the UST officers that remained walked in, "Sir we gathered the town watch but they barely make a hundred men, not that we even have the weapons or ammo to give them. We need to keep moving East sir. We can't defend Tarfan." Yakando filled with rage, he alone now held at his feet the worst defeat in UST history losing as many men as he did. "We are not leaving! We hold here, tell those useless bags of meat to start digging defenses, the enemy will be here!" the officer walked out not saluting him. "Unbelievable, I can't believe these useless cowards." Yakando walked to a desk likely used by the former mayor and swept his arm across it clearing it, "I have to get guns and ammo, I have to win somehow." He knew the moment these men tried to face the enemy they would break, so his thoughts now raced to falling to Ferville, a city that had remained neutral in the conflict thus far. He walked back outside yelling, "Get some rest! We're moving to Ferville tomorrow morning!" a small outbreak of cheers rang across the town angering Yakando further, his shame didn't matter these common soldiers. Unlike some officers in the UST, Yakando was appointed by his father on the council, more politician that warrior he was close to securing a lot of clout and power in the UST at Le Troi. "Damn Franch, Damn foxes, Damn them to hell. I would have won."


---South---

200,000 more troops all light infantry and 500 field guns began their march from Zaliboga to Veneshy, their deployment to reinforce Juaz and begin the military push Westward against the Coalition.

---Juaz---

Taronki's deployment were close to installing their defensive line, once they were finished, he intended to send 100,000 troops and 300 field guns to lay siege to Do'rville along with the remains of the 3rd Army. Confident after receiving reports from riders that the 3rd would win its engagement at the cross roads.

[callmedelta]

In Le Troi

Most of the Franerri troops split their time between assisting the training of the Tafatu and building defenses around the city of Le Troi. By the time the Tafatu were ready to march, the full compliment of 110,000 Heavy Infantry, 1,100 artillery pieces, 10,000 Dragoons, 5,000 Carabineers, and 6,500 Special Infantry support staff, as well as men enough to replace any losses, had arrived at the city. The other 5,000 Carabineers had been sent ahead to scout the city of Tarafan's defenses.

~

Outside of Tarafan

Lieutenant Colonel Jordane took a swig from his canteen, wiping the sweat off his brow with his sleeve. His 5,000 men were camped as close as they could be to Tarafan while remaining out of sight of the city. The actual scouts of this scouting force had circled around Tarafan for the entire day, and should be reporting back any minute now. Jordane traded out his canteen for a swig from a flask of whiskey, tucking it back in his uniform pocket as his scouts trotted into sight. 

"Lieutenant Colonel, Sir!" the man saluted, "Tarafan appears to be extremely undefended, perhaps 2,000 men in there according to our estimates. They're mostly survivors from Le Troi, and we think they're either retreating from the city or calling for reinforcements. We doubt they'd be able to put up much of a resistance." 

Jordane smiled. "Is that true now?" The head of the scouts nodded, not quite realizing it was a rhetorical question. "Well then men, who wants glory? Who wants to be a hero? Who wants to take a city?!" The 5,000 men under Jordane's command loaded their rifles and mounted their horses, riding for Tarafan.

[Greywall]

Yakando's men were enjoying their rest, a few watched from the ruined walls but if we're being honest, they were also drinking. Yakando had practically lost control of what was left of his army unit. He was in the stable feeding his horse some staled oats he found at a store they ransacked earlier. Many of the locals had hidden whatever they could outside the town meaning the 5th couldn't restore their lack of supplies by re-ransacking the town.

"Damn bastards all of them." he muttered to his horse, "You're the only one here worth anything". He checked and adjusted the saddle sliding his Berdan carbine into its leather holster when he heard it, a panicked voice "The..The...THERE'S HORSES COMING!" Yakando's eyes widened, "Impossible" he said as he rushed out the stable to see his men rushing to the Western wall, "Get to the wall! Arm yourselves!". Yakando went back to the stable grabbing his carbine and some ammo before rushing to the Western wall himself, his men aimed into the dark, but they could hear the riders coming. "How many?" Yakando demanded, "No idea sir!" Yakando gave a disrespectful huff, "Might be scouts, cut them down". He could hear his men muttering how they should run, but Yakando couldn't run, not now his name would be ruined beyond repair. "The moment you see them, volley!" he ordered, some of the men rolled their eyes at him but complied loading their rifles and aiming down sight.

[callmedelta]

Lieutenant Colonel Jordane rode at the head of his men, charging straight for Tarafan, the only subtlety or sophistication in their tactics being the sending of a brigade to the other side of the city to flank the defenders and any who may try to escape. "Hahaha!" Jordane laughed, the head of a galloping storm of men and horse. This was what he lived for, this was why he signed up for the army. To win glorious victory for Franerre on the field of battle, and vanquish her enemies wherever they may be. As the charging cavalry drew close, Jordane took his revolver and fired a round at the lights on the wall blindly, accuracy the furthest thing from his mind. They had drove the Union from Le Troi, they would drive the Union from Tarafan as well. 

[Greywall]

Second battle of tarafan results

UST losses: 234
Frannerre losses: 203

[aimway921]

Le Troi hospital


Dirka let out a quick smirk at Yeeda's remark. "You do know how to be grateful, don't you," he said as he stood up and approached Yeeda, resting his finger on the wound and lightly pressing down on it, not enough to tear through the stitches but just enough to deliver pain. "Perhaps we should put that bullet from a Unionite pistol we found in you back in, and see how much fight you still have in you after that, hmm?"


Le Troi City and Outskirts


Scavanging material from existing trenches, both their own and from what used to be Yakando's camp, Ashinaran infantry, employing the help of Tafatu civilians, began preparing a defensive line facing East. 

Several companies were tasked with clearing the rubble from city roads, as well as looking for any civilian survivors who may have been trapped in buildings destroyed by artillery fire.

[Greywall]

--Le Troi Hospital--

Yeeda gritted his teeth, it was coming back to him, Yakando shot and left him for dead. Betrayed by some spoiled brat and now in custody of the enemy. "I'd rather you left me to die."


--Second battle of Tarafan--

The rifle line fired a successful volley but that would be the only one as exhaustion and panic forced the UST troops to fire wildly. Yakando kept himself in the rear, his thoughts on reaching his horse and leaving the remains of his army here to make it himself to Juaz. After taking losses from the Frannerre some of them remained behind cover shellshocked, their officers no longer pushing them to fire back began asking Yakando to begin withdrawing now. After an hour of exchanging fire Yakando relented, "start pulling some of them off the front and lets make a break for Ferville."

A few hundred rifle men would slowly go to the center of town to set up a firing line for the rest to fall to so they could stave off the Frannerri attack long enough to escape.


--Rebels--

The rebel army now led by General Omani had departed Le Troi and began their march to Tarafan to retake it, Omani left with a force of 120,000 conscript rebel infantry armed to the teeth with Marrlan, Frannerre, UST and Ashinaran weapons.

[callmedelta]

Second Battle of Tarafan

By the time the few hundred riflemen had retreated, the 1,000 Carabineers sent to flank the city would be in position to charge, firing into the group of Union soldiers. The charging Carabineers at the front of the city would continue to press the assault, hoping to crush the Union between them. By this point, the front of the cavalry line had hit the wall and broke to one side or the other, trying to keep moving in an effort to remain a harder target. They couldn't scale the wall, and they couldn't exactly charge through it, but with any luck the 1,000 men to flank would do their job soon.

[aimway921]

-- Le Troi Hospital --

"Well, that wouldn't do anyone any good, would it?" Dirka said, as he let the pressure off the wound and stood up straight again. "We aren't some barbarians who rape and pillage our way through the countryside just because the people don't want to slave away in mines for some far away power. Killing innocent civilians by the hundreds, thousands even? Oh yes, we have heard of your 'Army's' exploits. Why do you think we intervened in this war?" Dirka was walking around the room as he was talking, all the while having motioned the medic and the guards to leave, which they have.

He then rapidly approached Yeeda, grabbing him by part of the bandage going over his shoulder, lifting Yeeda's head from the pillow, and looking him straight in the eyes.

"Touli is being torn apart. Foreign colonizers from the Old World sink their claws ever deeper into our lands, destroying cultures, enslaving people. Galra, Kumo, Gaelia... They are just waiting for a sign of weakness from any of us so that they can take the opportunity and gobble us up. And what do you do?! Turn your rifles against your own brothers? How can you even call yourself a Toulian after this?"

[Greywall]

Second battle of Tarafan results

UST losses 98 Frannerre losses 45

[Greywall]

Yeeda was stunned for a moment looking into the Ashinaran's eyes, but then started laughing, "This is how it's done fox, we were putting down a rebellion that threatened our way of life, and where was Ashinara? Our nation on the verge of collapse and both Ashinara and Frannerre stood idle. You invaded us, don't get it twisted! You escalated this! Now kill me or get out of my country fox!"


--Second Battle of Tarafan--

The UST troops began to realize they were being flanked, the retreat was being compromised and the will of the troops being broken. "Keep the firing line going!" Yakando yelled but he noticed some infantryman began swapping ammunition rounds among one another, 'they're running out of ammo!' he thought. He ordered them fire at the flanking riders as well. He slowly made his way to the stable, 'We can't win, dammit'. Yakando had made his mind up, he was going to leave his men again.