Battle of the Northern Crossroads

[Greywall]

Late 1930

The 3rd Army had marched from Juaz confident now with the arrival of General Taronki's reinforcements at their back resting in the town likely draining its local resources with the large deployment. General Falalu sent scouts ahead to keep eyes in front for rebel activity, the slow pace of his own deployment was due to his hesitation to do so without proper support. Unlike Yakando he was a properly trained military officer and felt Yakando's impulsive charge into Le Troi was dangerous, now Frannerre and Ashinara were involved making the situation much more complicated. 

As the bulk of the 3rd Army reached the crossroads riders from the North would report, "Sir we're tracking enemy movements from Do'rville" Falalu gave a confused look, "Rebels?" he asked but the scout shook his head, "Franch, lots of them, thousands at the very least." The situation was now worse than Falalu predicted, Frannerre was now outright invading the North, "Send riders to Juaz, ask for reinforcements and tell them the enemy is close. Get our Infantry on the top of the hills and start digging in, get the artillery set as well. These damn rolling hills will make it hell for us." The scout rode off to relay the orders, Union troops began digging ditches just enough to fit in to fire from while artillery guns began getting set snug well into the hills surrounded by infantry divisions. Falalu also lucked out with some cavalry units but wanted them to remain in reserve and protect the outer flanks. 

Falalu set up a command tent at the Southern rear line, requesting for supplies to be steadily sent from Juaz along with an additional 50,000 light infantry and 200 more artillery guns. "If this is where the battle line has to be, then so be it." Falalu took deep breaths as he read steady reports coming in on handwritten notes from his companies and platoons, despite his obesity and appearance he was a competent military leader who let the political lackey Yakando do the dirty work of enforcing Union law. But now came a real fight, one he intended to win and break the tide of the war. 



Blue are infantry divisions 10,000 each
pink are carabineers 5,000 each
yellow are field guns 100 each

[callmedelta]

General Lex looked over the defenses his men had prepared at the crossroads, the mid-morning sun already beating down on them. For the past three days, his 19,000 men strong force had set to work preparing defenses for the 4,000 men who would be left behind to garrison the position while the rest marched on to Le Troi. The crossroads were hilly, making a more traditional long series of trenches impractical. Instead, small trenches were dug at the tops of the four tallest hills, each a hardpoint with five artillery guns, one Gatling Gun, and a company of 200 soldiers to guard each hardpoint. Four smaller hills around each hardpoint were also defended by a company, while at the same time under the umbrella of the artillery they were defending. The hills chosen were in as straight a line as could be managed. The rest of General Lex’s men were camped on the flat road the men on the hills were watching over, getting the last moments of rest they could before they continued their march to Le Troi. They had the remaining 15 Gatling Guns and 75 artillery guns down in the camp with them, the artillery hitched up and the Gatlings disassembled to march.



“We've left most of our food provisions here with you,” General Lex told Lieutenant Colonel Courbet, “We’ll be taking just enough for a march to Le Troi and a march back, in case things turn for the worst. With any luck, we’ll be able to return here with General Tauroneo’s army and relink with you for a march on Juaz. If you need more supplies-” the General’s words were interrupted by the thundering boom of an artillery gun going off, soon followed by five more. The entire camp quieted, save for the shouting at the artillery base that fired. Soon the shouting was picked up by the rest of the army in a wave, ‘Union’ the only consistent word between the mess of shouts.



The two men dashed up the nearest hill, trying to get the best view of what was going on. The massed units made it easy to tell what units were approaching, infantry, carabineers, and artillery. The amassed army stretched as far as the two officers could see. General Lex knew that his forces wouldn’t be able to hold them off forever. At the same time, marching to Le Troi with the 15,000 men ready to move would not only be dangerous, but it would leave the 4,000 men entrenched here to die. They would make a stand here.



“Lieutenant Colonel, get to your artillery pieces, and get them firing on the Union’s own. I won’t let them shell our men here to oblivion,” General Lex commanded. Courbet saluted before running to join the artillery. Lex, for his part, ran back down the hill to where his men were waiting, tense, not quite sure whether they would be helping here or retreating back to Do’rville. They all looked up to him, standing most of the way down the hillside. “Spread these orders!” Lex shouted, “Gatling crews, get your guns assembled. 20th Division’s remaining battalions are to take up defensive positions on the road, with the 19th’s Artillery behind them! 19th Division, get your men on those outlying hills and get those trenches dug! Move! Move! MOVE!”


Map of beginning of battle



Light Blue: Union Infantry. Dark Blue: 15k Franerri Infantry, Artillery, and Gatling Guns prepared to march. Grey: Artillery and Gatling Gun hardpoints. Red: 200 men defensive positions.

Map of Franerri movements



Light Blue, Grey, and Red: Unchanged. Pink: 75 Artillery guns on the road. Dark Blue: 15k Infantry, split into three groups, 5k to defend the Artillery on the road and 5k to reinforce each side.

[Greywall]

The battle began, Falalu ordered his field guns to fire from their advantage point at the Frannerre to inflict any damage. His own forward infantry would use the ditches made to line and take shots at Frannerre infantry, his plan was simple have the long range guns hammer the Frannerre trenches and soften them up. After several hours of artillery barrages he ordered the four forward infantry divisions forward, two down center while the outer two moved to advance on the Frannerre flank. Once the Frannerre engaged the infantry assault he ordered his two calvary units to ride past the far left and ride flanks and wrap around to hit the Frannerre from behind. The sheer numbers of the 3rd Army would be used to out position their enemy. 

[Greywall]

Results


Union losses 209
Frannerre losses 234

[callmedelta]

Franerre’s own guns had not been silent during this time. The emplacements in the hills were able to fire in the Union’s own infantry, though the accuracy of these bombardments was iffy. The artillery on the road, meanwhile, wasn’t able to bombard any Union troops due to their higher positions. Instead, they sent half of their ammunition up to the hill emplacements, where they could actually be used. Under the Union bombardment, the infantry on the flanks flooded into the already prepared infantry pockets, the trenches becoming crammed with bodies seeking cover, while the infantry on the road dug what trenches they could. The Gatling Guns, now assembled from their travel storage, would be rushed to the frontlines, preparing for a frontal charge.

[Greywall]

The full frontal charge was called, thousands of UST infantry ran to the Frannerre line opening fire. The first wave a good 8-9 thousand would test the initial defenses followed by a relentless assault of bayoneted soldiers that would attempt to take the trench line. UST artillery fixed their gaze to the Frannerre center hammering if they could their artillery and gatling guns. Cavalry units made their move now coming back in from going around the Frannerre and attacking their rear line at full force. If Falalu's plan worked, he would have them encircled and slowly bleed them into submission.

[callmedelta]

The Union’s charge was met with artillery, Gatling, bullet and bayonet from both the forces in the center and on the flanks of the charge. Already mauled from Franerre’s own artillery bombardment, they should hopefully be able to turn back the initial Union force.

~

Meanwhile, at the Franerri rear

General Lex stood at the back of the Franerri lines, maintaining a sort of strained calm. It looked like there were only 30,000 Union troops assaulting their lines. That was double his own force, but Franerre had the advantage of a prepared position, even if the Union held the high ground. It would be bloody, but a victory here could be possible. It would likely result in the Army retreating from this position, but they would have blunted whatever spearhead was going for Le Troi. All around the General men worked to ferry more ammunition from the horse carriages the ammo had been stored for travel on to the front lines, while runners clamored around him to deliver reports from their section of the line and men with binoculars read the signal flags from each of the artillery bases.

When it first began, General Lex didn’t even notice the rumbling. With the continuous thunder of artillery firing and the chaos surrounding him, it was hard to hear his own thoughts. It was one of the ammunition runners who first noticed. The charging cavalry had on blue uniforms, just like the Franerri did, but the cavalry should have been staying in Do’-

CRACK

The crack of a rifle and the whiz of a bullet flying by caused the man to drop his ammunition crate and run, shouting about the oncoming cavalry. A few of the men unslung rifles from their shoulders and stared to fire at the oncoming cavalry, but most ran for the relative safety of the frontlines. It didn’t take long for the General to notice. He fired a round from his revolver into the air to catch the attention of the men, to no avail. A part of him wanted ti run with them, but Lex knew that would cause too much panic in the army. General Lex grabbed the nearest man with an officer's uniform and hurriedly shouted, “You! Get those retreating men in order at the trench, make sure this doesn’t become a full-on rout. Get some of those Gatling Guns turned around and firing on those cavalry. Move it!” By this time, some of the retreating soldiers had congregated around him. Lex didn’t like the strategy he came up with, but he didn’t have the luxury of time. “Get those supply wagons into a circle, and get every man still over there inside! We hunker down and let the cavalry charge right into a kill zone, where the men on our flanks and the artillery shoot ‘em to hell. Now get those horses!”

Even as he shouted the orders, General Lex knew that it was likely all for naught. The men at his side and the men firing from the rear were a total of 500, if that. If they were in the middle of that cavalry charge, friendly fired wouldn’t just be likely, it would be a damn near certainty. The General looked to where his aide with the signal flags had stood. He was already relaying orders to the rear artillery bases. That was a good soldier, but even good soldiers couldn’t save them now.

[Greywall]

Results

Union losses: 879
Frannerre losses: 678

Frannerre forces cut off from supply line.

[Greywall]

Despite the heavy fire from the trench line the UST infantry pushed forward, unlike the 5th army they were more or less equipped in the event of a major war not putting down revolts and uprisings. "Keep moving forward!" Officers would beckon their infantry, they would continue to launch assaults in order to strike the trench line directly and use their overwhelming numbers to close in and melee the Frannerre out of them. 

Meanwhile at the rear the UST cavalry ran into the Frannerre attempt to pull wagons to use as cover, the first section of riders would dismount to better retain fire, the cavalry units wouldn't press too hard with their main objective being to apply pressure on the rear line and cut off the flow of supplies. Falalu kept his artillery guns from firing to prevent them from hitting his pushing forces, they were primed and ready to fire in the event the infantry assault failed. 

[callmedelta]

At both the trenches and the supply wagons, soldiers affixed their bayonets, preparing for the oncoming melee. At the trenches, a few Gatlings Guns had been turned around to meet the charging cavalry with word from the few reinforcements that had retreated from the supply wagons, but most were still focused on the charging infantry. The artillery guns raced to shoot off all of the shells they could before the melee began.

~

Meanwhile, at the artillery bases

Lieutenant Colonel Courbet looked through his binoculars at the scene unfolding down below. Men were affixing bayonets, the enemy would be on them at any moment. His artillery guns fired towards the center of the charging Union infantry instead of the spearhead, lest they hit their own men. Quickly looking over at the other bases, they were doing much the same. The infantry pockets were pouring fire into the unrushing mass as well, but it seemed never ending. A Union shell exploded near the top of the hill his base was situated on, sending up a spray of dirt. Damnit! This situation was fucked beyond belief. If he didn’t do anything soon, the trench and “I want our guns firing danger close when the Union gets in the trenches, 50 meters on our trench lines and 75 on the wagons. Get those range calculations done quick,” the Lieutenant Colonel called out.”

“Are you insane?” one of the artillery crewmen called out, “One fuckup at any step on our part - we miscalculate the range, too much recoil misaligns the gun, hell even a strong enough gust of wind - and we’re shelling our own men!”


“Shut up and soldier, soldier! Or I’ll have you written up for insubordination after this battle, if you even survive.”
“I’d rather be insubordinate than fire on our own men! You’ll get courtmarshaled if you even survive.”

“It’s my call to make,” Courbet said, “If you won’t go through with your orders, you can take your carbine and get on this hill’s trenches.” The upstart artilleryman did just that. “Now, does anyone else feel like being insubordinate?” The remaining artillery crew lept into action, while his aide with the signal flag relaid the orders to the other artillery bases.

[Greywall]

Results

UST losses 834
Frannerre losses 1298

Frannerre artillery strike has destroyed their forward defenses

[Greywall]

A deafening silence filled the battlefield, pillars of smoke and cascading dirt filled the air following the Frannerre artillery strike, UST infantry that survived were utterly dazed and confused. Some walked around emotionlessly grabbing missing arms and limbs, the silence was broken by moans and screams. Hundreds killed in a matter of seconds due to being bunched up near the front, those near the blast completely stunned by a wall of raining fire. Slowly the sounds of moans was drowned by screams coming from the South as more UST infantry unaffected by the blast charged ahead but slowly lost some steam as they saw the utter carnage. Meat strown about, the ground soaked in blood and burned oxidized gunpowder.

Some began throwing up, UST commanders weren't known to care for their troops but this was...

"The enemy line is open! GET IN THERE!" shouted an officer from the rear, pushing the UST infantry forward into the burned horror show of destroyed bodies. Rifles fired without orchestration at any Frannerre they saw in front of them as the UST assault continued.

At the rear, the cavalry who were dismounted continued to lay suppressing fire, only intending to keep the sense of being surrounded in the minds of the Frannerre.

General Falalu couldn't believe the Frannerre tactic, it had slaughtered many of his troops but also inflicted harm on their own soldiers. "These Franch are daring, i'll give them that."

[callmedelta]

The Franerri Frontline

The front was absolute chaos. Between the charging Union and Franerre's artillery strikes, any sense of coordination had been utterly broken. Some soldiers kept fighting the Union, some broke for the safety of the Franerri positions on the hills, some surrendered to the Union. Some just stood in a daze, used whatever they could get their hands on to stop the bleeding from their wounds, or just cowered, curled up, and cried. The only soldiers with any sense of order were the artillery crews and the forces who had retreated from the rear of the line, who had been far enough back to be unaffected by the bombardment from the hills. With the front line in ruins, about half of the artillery crew abandoned their artillery to join the forces from the rear in doing the best they could to defend the remaining guns, who continued to fire away into the charging Union infantry.

~

The Franerri Rear

Even through the charging cavalry, General Lex could see the Franerri bombardment. He didn't know how to feel about it - whether it was a disgusting, pragmatic, genius, foolish, some combination of the four - but more importantly, General Lex didn't have time to feel anything. If the frontline no longer existed, then they didn't need the supplies he was trying to guard. That wasn't to mention the fact that he may be getting bombarded next. "Break for the hills!" the General cried out, "Get those wagons moving to protect us as we move!"

~

The Franerri Hills

Lieutenant Colonel Courbet stood by the artillery crews, watching them work. They had been hesitant at first, but with the metaphorical and literal trigger pulled, they soon fell into the rote, mechanical work of reloading the artillery pieces, for better or worse. By the time Courbet felt confident enough to step away, he was just in time to catch General Lex's attempted breakout. There was little Courbet could do for him now. The 2,000 men on the flank Lex was breaking towards were already firing into the charging cavalry, but they all knew that leaving the trenches and trying to help would just be suicide. 

[Greywall]

Crossroads results

UST losses 345
Frannerre losses 490

[Greywall]

UST infantry sensed the breaking of Frannerre defenses and began pouring into the Central defensive positions, the UST infantry line enclosing their grip. "That's it! Push forward!" yelled officers as Franch prisoners of war were dragged to the ground and forced into the dirt. All infantry companies were ordered to push forward without stopping to capture all Franch soldiers, artillery and officers. 
Waves of dark blue uniforms came at the remaining Frannerre prepared to take their ground.

At the rear, noticing the push Southside forces were making, the dismounted cavalry units ordered a slow push of their own. Pressing into the Frannerre rear line and firing into the wagon, "Hit the wheels! Disable them!" the 10mm rounds of the rifles would attempt to break the wagon wheels forcing the Frannerre to a halt and further complicating their attempt to escape. 

Falalu grinned watching from afar, "Send riders to Juaz, tell them we have the Frannerre beaten, we will be ready to march to Do'rville soon." A Union rider would be sent East to Juaz to deliver the message as Falalu watched his army tighten its grip around the Franerre.