Battle of Ferville

[aimway921]

The mass of infantry charged as fast as their legs could carry them. Soon they caught up to and overtook the Tankettes, which have stopped close to the light machine gunners and provided suppressive fire.

Multiple waves of tens of thousands of soldiers, their rifles with bayonets fixed, were just a few seconds away from jumping into the remnants of the UST trench and engaging in a new brutal bout of melee - except this time instead of defending, they were on the offensive. They were determined to finish this battle here and now.

Meanwhile, the cavalry has gathered for a decisive push along the flanks. They aimed to sow more chaos, to visibly demonstrate to the UST that their situation is hopeless and they should either retreat or surrender.

[Artsy Astra]

The Marrlan push would be like a mobile defensive line. The field guns and mortars were being directed by the men next to them when support was needed as they pressed forward. Leading the Marrlan charge was none other than Beast Hunter 1st Lt. Chet Meers and his platoon, as the Marines and Beast Hunters closed the distance while the Army maneuvered behind them and laid on the heavy fire they needed to push.

As they moved the reinforcements from home arrived. Another 4,000 standard infantry, 30 mortars, 50 Field guns, and 70 howitzers. 20 of those howitzers were the 200MM Coastal guns. They quickly set up and began firing at the UST trench line and a little behind it to catch any reinforcements attempting to shore up the trench's defenses. The standard howitzers joined in with the rest and carried the already loud song into a full crescendo. 15 of the new mortars and field guns were wheeled into the field to support the charge as the rest remained in reserve.

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UST

The UST front defenses were hammered hard, but Taronki brought a large force, infantry were funneled into place taking up machine gun nests and gatling guns as Ashinaran infantry charged ahead of the other Coalition forces. Meeting a wall of gunfire. UST trench defenses kept heavy gunfire up to repel the Coalition advance as their artillery fired back in spite of the growing enemy artillery threat. 

The Southern line was secured by the mountain range but the Ashinara would run into the Northern forces initially sent to fight the Frannerre, Taronki sent the bulk of his forces to the forward line as his position was slammed by enemy fire. "We hold this position, repel their assault and then we can fall back." 

After inflicting their wrath on the Ashinara, the rest of the Coalition seemed to finally caught up creating a brutal firefight against the UST front line.

Tafatu

The Tafatu assault caught up to the Ashinara who they saw were taking the brunt of the UST fire. "Get up there and support them!" Omani commanded, Tafatu troops rushed to support their Ashinara allies only to catch what they faced. Union soldiers fighting hard, as Yeeda stated these were the best soldiers in the Union. Tafatu field gun fire disappeared amid allied artillery fire kicking up columns of dirt and rock as it slammed into the UST line. The Union just kept putting men to the problem. 

[Greywall]

Casualties

UST: 8,435
Frannerre: 785
Ashinara: 5,462
Tafatu: 546
Marrlan: 345

[Artsy Astra]

The Marrlan artillery would slowly walk its fire back creating a barrier of shrapnel and fire between the trench and the rest of the UST line. The elastic defensive line would prepare probing attacks into softened areas of the trench after the mortars supporting the offensive began pelting the line trying to get as many shells into the trenches themselves, going for very high arcs. The Massive 200MM guns would shift fire and attempt to vaporize the heavier fortifications the Ashinarans were facing. Some squads would also, under covering fire, begin making dirt mounds to better cover themselves and the field gun crews. Marine and Army Shocktroops would also, if they were close enough, begin lobbing concussion and fragmentation grenades at the trenches.

[callmedelta]

With their side of the front clear of any artillery bombardments, the Franerri infantry would climb down into the trenches, bayonets fixed and shotguns raised to bring hell upon the Union. The Franerri artillery would shift it's aim to join the Marrlaner artillery if they could, not wanting to risk friendly fire on either Franerre's own infantry or other coalition members. At this point, however, the cavalry had a change of plans; instead of assaulting the trenches head on, as was the plan, they were going to flank even further around to the Union's backline and begin harassing any forces attempting to retreat from the battle or anyone else they could get their hands on.

[aimway921]

Having found no way to flank around the South side due to the mountains, the cavalry officers made the decision to swing around to the North and join the Franerri cavalry. The combined push would aim to get into far rear of UST positions - cutting off their way of retreat. A suggestion was also sent to the Franerri command - start swinging around the Northern flank, in order to envelop the Union force and lock them against the mountainside.

All machine guns in the field - the ones mounted in the tankettes and the light machine guns fielded by the Heavy Infantry would aim to suppress as much UST gatlings and MGs as they could to give the rest of the assaulting force some breathing space. One of the tankette commanders, meanwhile, seemed to have seen an opportunity - be it for a tactical breakthrough or for his own glory - but disregarding standing orders, he commanded his machine forward. The tankette rolled towards the trenches, with soldiers having to jump out of it's way to not get crushed. The tankette was aimed directly at what seemed to be the most fortified gatling position. If all went well, and the armor held up, the heavy machine would roll over the position, crushing the enemy gun, along with anyone crewing it. That sight has inspired several thousand troops in the vicinity, who continued the attack with a news surge of strength.

Yet another recon sortie has flown by, and bombardment against UST artillery continued. This time, however, half of the Ashinaran guns zeroed in on another target - Taronki's field HQ. It was clear that the head of the snake was ordering the rest to ignore the hopeless situation and stand ground - and so it had to be cut off.

[Greywall]

--UST--

The sheer skyfall of artillery fire was almost too much, infantry were pummeled only to be replaced. Union artillery fired attempting to return anything they could amid being bombed from the sky and long range artillery. The battlefield exhaustion was settling in, they continued to man the guns and rifle at the advancing enemy forces. An Ashinara tankette broke through causing machine guns to focus on it until field guns were ordered to fire at it as well.

The trenches were now shattered by heavy artillery fire, Union soldiers began pulling machine guns and gatling guns to the inner section of the encampment.

The rank and file of soldiers attempting to reach the crossroads had to set firing lanes against the flanking forces to allow troops to escape, wounded were to be left in the base. Taronki saw his front line wavering and knew it couldn't hold for much longer, he had to make a break for Juaz. "Start pulling our artillery guns, do a full salvo and leave the forward companies to cover our escape." The UST guns roared hitting advancing forces before being packed up and getting several companies to move East.


--Tafatu--

Tafatu infantry slowly moved up using craters for cover and pinning UST troops down with sustained fire. They took losses advancing forward, but they did little to impact the enemy defenses. But Tafatu command could tell the Union was looking to get out of the battle as the front line was shattered.

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Casualties

UST: 12,340
Frannerre: 945
Ashinara: 3,421
Tafatu: 894
Marrlan: 900

[Artsy Astra]

The Coastal guns would after a thorough bombardment shift their fire back to cutting the retreating forces into ribbons. The Army Marines and Beats Hunters would all begin attempting to enter the remains of the enemy trench network clearing out any who dared to stop them. The Mortars and field guns would move up again to better support the push deeper into the enemy line. The Normal howitzers would split between supporting coalition elements that called for fire if a messenger was able to be sent and supporting the main advance and joining in the lead wall.

[callmedelta]

The Crossroads

General Claude rubbed at his temples. His army had taken a camp at the crossroads between Ferville, Do'rville, and Juaz, waiting for the last bit of supplies to arrive before they marched on Juaz. They were preparing to leave camp when a representative of the army's cavalry, one Major General Levasseur, had to raise a concern as soon as they were getting ready to leave.

"Juaz has to be undefended; look at the armies the UST mustered to send to Ferville and Do'rville. With the casualties they've already sustained, the Union has to be nearing their breaking point. Ferville's nothing but a meatgrinder. To best help win that battle, we need to cut off the flow of supplies from Juaz to Ferville by seizing the city, which should be relatively easy with the Kithium invasion taking pressure off our front." General Claude argued.

"If Juaz is so easy to take, then my cavalrymen shouldn't be needed," Major General Levasseur argued back. "Where we are needed is Ferville."

"I already said, Ferville's a meatgrinder," Claude said, "Do you want to throw your men into a pointless battle when the Union soldiers will be starving and surrendering in a month from now?"

"Respectfully sir, he has a point," Major General Deloffe, one of Claude's aides said. Claude sighed. "If we are wrong and Juaz isn't undefended - there was a portion of the Union army that retreated from Do'rville after all - we may need the armies in Ferville. That's not to mention how some in Pareau might throw a fit if it was Franerre that took the final city in this war to liberate the Tafatu - not the Tafatu themselves."

"There are also quite a few in Pareau who would be overjoyed to see our army liberating Juaz first, Deloffe," Claude said, "But in the interest of getting this army moving, your cavalrymen may head to Ferville. Once the battle is over, you can tell the Tafatu that they need to hurry if they want to help liberate Juaz."

~

30,000 Dragoons and 30,000 Carabineers set out from the Crossroads towards Ferville, while the rest of General Claude's forces continued their march on Juaz.

~

The Trenches

Franerri infantry continued to pour into the trenches. The crack of rifles, the squelch of mud beneath boots and of bayonets in bodies, and the rare slamming chunk of a trench shotgun. The end was in sight, and moral was high as they charged every onward. With the trenches practically bursting with bodies both alive and dead, a more and more squads began to take up positions short of the trench and shoot at the retreating Union infantry rather than join the melee.

~

The Rear Lines

The cavalry engaged in probing skirmishes, searching for any weak points in the Union fallback line. They would rush into a point, fire off a barrage with their repeaters, and turn to leave if the battle wasn't immediately in their favor. Then, they would reload and try again on another point in the line. If a breakthrough was achieve, this retreat could turn into a full on rout.

[aimway921]

The airfield



A new squadron of planes has landed at the Ferville airfield. These were heavy Gaelian triplanes, and unlike the previous planes Ashinara has purchased, these were armed with machine guns. Within hours they had been refueled, and 5 aircraft have taken off in the direction of the battlefield.









Frontlines



The Ashinaran Royal Army so far has suffered the heaviest casualties among the Coalition. Many officers were ordering a halt to their troops. Seeing the enemy wavering and beginning a retreat, they would instead consolidate their gains and change to a defensive stance in the captured territory. Light Machine guns and the tankettes would be pulled up to keep laying on suppressive fire on the retreating enemy. Seeing them pulling into the inner section of their encampment, practically bunching themselves up into one big nice target for the artillery and the bombs, runners were sent to the artillery crews and the Franerri to relay new intelligence to the bomber plane crews: focus as much of their firepower on the central UST encampment.







UST Rear Lines



Ashinaran cavalry commanders would work together with their Franerri comrades to exploit weakspots in the UST fallback line. They were not the only ones trying to do that now, however.



Finding an almost perfect target in the thinly stretched line of blue uniforms along the road, one by one 5 brand new aircraft dove down for a strafe. Bursting with their machine guns, they would fly right above the Unionites before pulling up and circling for another run, repeating the procedure until they ran out of ammunition and had to return to the airfield to refuel and reload.



Ashinara entered this war with machine guns on horse-drawn carts. Now they had machine guns on flying machines and armored vehichles.







Tarafan



The train blew out a loud whistle as it came to a halt at the rudimentary station on the outskirts of the city. At the tail end it pulled 10 flatcars with something big, but covered in tarps. The only thing that could be seen behind those tarps were tracks on the bottom, and a small hole cut out in front of what presumably was a driver's viewport. One by one these contraptions would roll off the last cart down a metal ramp. Bellows of smoke puffed out from underneath the tarps as the things churned and turned Eastwards. Soon they got on the main road and began their way to Ferville, with a convoy of horse carts filled with fuel and spare parts following them.

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UST

The 70,000 strong forces sent to secure the crossroads ran into the Frannerre cavalry, a large-scale firefight broke out. "Send word to Taronki, our position in compromised!" The Infantry force would attempt to secure the roads but needed more support.

The UST main encampment was simply put, being hammered. UST artillery fired as reserve forces were being pulled East for the withdrawal, Taronki received word that the Frannerre were at the crossroads. His entire force was now at jeopardy, and he needed to secure his flanks. 20,000 or so would dig Eastern trenches in the event they could not break through the Frannerri. "Falalu's failure to hold Do'rville is a costly one, we are now completely exposed. If our Eastern detachment cannot shake the Franch off the crossroad we have to hold our own here." As Taronki instructed his officers another round of aircraft flew overhead. "Those goddamn machines, are we able to hit them?" one officer spoke up "No sir, we aren't versed in how to fight back those things." Taronki was frustrated, he had victory, he had the war over in his hands and now it was practically a point of losing to advanced weapons brought over from the old world. "Our artillery is our saving grace, have them remain and shell the enemy advance. Keep the bulk force here, I will wait for word on our Eastern assault before moving."

The lines between the main encampment and the Eastern force were under constant assault from Franch and Ashinarian cavalry and air strikes. The hazard slowed supplies and troops down but the UST maintained traffic for now.

On the frontline the brutal exchange of death continued as Union soldiers fought to the death to hold their ground. Kumo machine guns were particularly deadly, cutting down enemy advancements when possible.


Tafatu

Tafatu forces were bogged down in the brutal front, exchanging gunfire or in the melee they would be stopped by the more advanced machine gun fire given to them by the inner trenches. Artillery fire exchanged back and forth darkened the skies over head with kicked up dirt and smoke, it was hard to tell if it was midday or early morning with the lack of sunlight. The meat grinder took several Tafatu lives attempting to push forward on the line, it costly just taking a few inches in the battle.

[Greywall]

Casualties

UST: 3,951
Frannerre: 3,023
Tafatu: 2,094
Marrlan: 1,033
Ashinara: 2,845

[callmedelta]

The Crossroads

Seeing the surprisingly large force moving their way, the cavalry decided to resort to hit and run tactics, delaying and harassing the Union as long as they could. They didn't know whether these soldiers were retreating, redeploying, or what, but they were too organized and too numerous to risk charging for the time being, especially if they carried the Kumo machine guns. A rider was sent to Juaz telling General Claude that Ferville meatgrinder may be coming to Juaz.

The Rearlines

The cavalry retreated, for a time. They compared their experiences up and down the line, searching for the spots that were the weakest, where a breakthrough would be the most likely if the cavalry charged. Finally, a singular point was decided on, nearly in the middle of the Union's rear lines, only offset slightly towards the Crossroads. With a mighty trumpet call, resounding even over the constant shelling and spattering of gunfire, the 40,000 Franerri cavalry charged the Union line.

The Frontlines

The fighting was dirty and brutal, the stubborn tenacity of the Union defenders shocking the Franerri. Men charged into machine gun emplacements, many soldiers already having spent their grenades in the earlier fighting. The Franerri artillery moved closer to the Union lines, trying to get shots off on either the still intact Union artillery or the rear Union lines that didn't have any infantry attacking them. There was little more that could be done, other than pulling back and continuing to shell the trenches, letting the Union escape.

The Ferville Meatgrinder had truly earned her name.