Battle of the Northern Crossroads

[callmedelta]

The Franerri Frontline

The Franerri front had completely collapsed, Union troops streaming into the center road and quickly overwhelming what defenses the artillery crews could put together. It wouldn't last for long, however, as the artillery bombardment from the hills was gradually walked backwards onto more of Franerre's own positions, with crossfire from the hills continuing to hammer the Union flanks. The remaining artillery ammo would be set off, causing a massive explosion. At the hill pockets, the Union infantry would be forced to charge up hills pocketed by artillery craters, facing Franerri lead the whole way. But by this point, with the prolonged fighting that these forces were vastly underequipped for, the Franerri positions were beginning to run low on ammo. 

The Franerri Rear

General Lex was at the head of the movement of wagons when he heard that dreadful crack of wood. One of the wagons, about midway though the line, had it's wheel shot off. A gap had already formed between the two bands, and there was no way Lex's contingent could back up. If the cavalry didn't finish those poor souls off, their own artillery is. "Keep moving!" the General shouted. They were almost at the hills. The wagons would be useless there, and the hardest part of the retreat would begin.

The Franerri Hills

Lieutenant Courbet could see this situation was fucked. Nothing they were doing would stop the Union's advance, and he'd burned through any goodwill he had with the men ordering the artillery barrage. The only thing holding them together was the fact that retreating meant leaving the safety of the hilltop and trenches for the harrowing run down the hill away from the massed Union forces. 

[Greywall]

Battle of Crossroads results

UST losses 345 Frannerre losses 674

[Greywall]

The UST front began to wrap around the Frannerre forces, the East and West to be flanked and utterly surround the Frannerre. If they didn't attempt to retreat the UST would attempt to force them into surrender to destroy them entirely. "Send a rider, tell them to cease fire after one hour and demand their surrender." the General was convinced he had won, with this victory surely the war would result in a Union victory, he just now had to retake Do'rville.


After an hour of pushing against the Frannerre, the UST would order a ceasefire to allow the rider to approach the Frannerre as he flew a white flag. Pending the Frannerre didn't shoot him he would deliver the following message.

"To the Foreigner commander, you have been beaten. Order your men to throw their arms down and surrender. You will be treated fairly and escorted to Juaz. If you do not, we will kill every single soldier here."

[callmedelta]

The eastern flank

“Christ alive!” Colonel Clair shouted. Between the hail of Union shells and bullets, he’d spotted a movement of troops moving around his flank. He ran off to find Colonel Dubos, the pair of them the highest ranking officers still alive in the eastern trenches. It didn’t take Clair long to find him, Dubos bleeding out with a bloody cloth pressed to his stomach. That left Clair the man in charge.

He groaned. Fuck this! They were outnumbered, outgunned, and were about to be surrounded. The Colonel grabbed the shoulder of one of the men surrounding Dubos. “You!” he screamed at the soldier, “Spread the word and get the men ready. We’re getting out of this deathtrap.”

The 1750 men who comprised the rear pocket ordered up as retreated away from the encircling Union forces as soon as they could, leaving the dead, dying, and wounded to their fates.

The Franerri Hills

General Lex scrambled over the trench line, wincing as his wounded arm jolted from the action. He was alive, though. The last of his men who hadn’t been shelled by the same hills he now stood on or shot on their slopes scrambled over with him. Lieutenant Courbet was there as soon as Lex had climbed over, offering the General an arm of support. Both the men shared a solemn look. They knew their fates. The encircling armies could be seen from up on the hills, but there was no way they could make a break for it up here. By the time they’d hit the Union lines the already beleaguered and outnumbered force would have been too torn up by shell and shot to be able to make a dent in the Union lines.

“Courbet.”

“General Lex, sir?” Courbet asked, gently setting the man down. A medic rushed over to look at the wound on his arm.

“We’re fucked and everyone knows it. Spread the word, get them to the pockets if you can. Fire every last round you have at the Union. They can affix bayonets if they wish, but after they’ve fired the last they’re free to surrender.” Lex winced as the medic began work on the arm.

As Courbet spread the word, and runners began to carry it on to other parts of the tench network and onto the other hill based, Lex grabbed Courbet close with the strength only a desperate man has and whispered to him, “I’m too important to be taken alive, and I’d rather not use the bullet in my revolver if I have to. Switch me uniforms.”

One hour later

As the Union rider made his way up the hill that was formerly the main headquarters of the Franerri defenses, he would have been shot if the defenders had any ammunition left. The last shell had been fired twenty minutes ago, the last bullet ten. A tired looking man in a bloody General’s uniform and cap, one General Courbet, walked up to meet him. After hearing the terms, he spoke. “We…we surrender”

[Greywall]

Frannerre loses the battle

UST losses are 349

Frannerre loses 278, 6,000 are captured.
The remaining Frannerre forces escape for Do'rville due to UST incompetence.


Total losses of the Battle of the Crossroads.

UST lost 2,961
Frannerre lost 3,652
6,000 Frannerre captured

[Sophie]

----------During the Danger Close Artillery Barage by Franerre----------

Private Basile Touchard was a Franneri Infantryman. He was born and raised on his father's farm in Elenerre. He lived there quietly and happily for twenty years until a devastating letter came in the mail. Basile had been called up for conscription in the Franneri army. Then, less than a month after getting called up, Franerre joined the Tafatu rebellion. Basile was part of the infantry forces during the battle of the northern crossroads.

"Shells!" He heard someone scream over the shooting; soon followed were the screeching sounds of falling steel, then the defeating explosions. It was a never-ending barrage of hell. After the tenth detonation, only fifty feet away from Basile, he dropped his gun and crumpled to the ground, holding his head to his chest. Several minutes passed, and the shelling just wouldn't stop. He dared to take a peek upwards and managed to spot a shell falling from the sky. It was coming from behind them. From their own line.

This wasn't Basile's fight; it had never been. He didn't ask for this. He didn't sign up for this. For the longest time, he was only doing his duty because the other choices were jail or being shot, but now that he realized choosing to do his duty resulted in his own side attempting to kill him anyway, he was done. He kicked his gun away from him and began running. Away from the enemy and away from his own people. He just wanted to go home.

[Greywall]

The 3rd army had defeated the Frannerre, prisoners of war were being escorted to Juaz for processing and to be sent into the mines to slave away for gold and silver. Falalu also received reinforcements from the 8th army and given total command of the massive force. He would let his forces rest and relish in the victory before marching North onto Do'rville, it was in every intention to take back the city and begin an invasion of Frannerre.