"There is no more retreat today. They are about to take down the bridges. Walls are being erected on our backs."
- Journal of Royalist Löwe Commander, November 2, 2024.
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Heiflitz
Near Heiflitz City Hall
19th Tank Battalion
November 2, 2024
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Prul watched with his binoculars as another Putschist LSS Mech that attempted to climb a building and attack them was disabled by one of his Löwes. For a brief moment, the frontline was silent, as soldiers on the ground moved the wounded and munitions to their front ranks.
He gave the order to move back, his Löwe Command Vehicle driving into the cover of an apartment building that overlooked the damaged City Hall west of their position. This battle was really taking its toll.
"3rd Platoon, do retreat to the block east of your position posthaste," He ordered over the radio, checking his physical map of the city for reference. "Those LSS Panthers aren't going to reduce their tempo of attacks. Don't let them get to your flanks. Move now!"
"Copy that, Colonel. We're moving."
He dropped his radio and left the turret of his Command Vehicle. It was rubble and ruins all around him, with dismounted mechanized soldiers huddled in their holding positions, mere rubble or broken buildings that they used for cover.
He passed through three men too, who were operating a mortar. He gave them a brief look as one of them dropped the mortar shell into its barrel before they covered their ears as they fired.
Dammit, we're getting overrun. He told himself, as he passed two M3 IFVs parked beside the ruins of an apartment that was firing burst after burst of their autocannons on a distant skyscraper, while soldiers took potshots at it with their rifles. He didn't bother to duck though, even when he could see bullet impacts hitting the walls and the road. He merely walked without fear, without a care for his life.
After all, why would he duck? He was an Orlish officer for goodness sake!
He stopped at the street that overlooked the B-3 Highway, one of the major highways that cut through the Heiflitz City Hall up ahead. It was an open shooting field, as one of his Löwes just opened fire at an LSS Mech that made the mistake of attempting to cross the highway, the APFSDS round liquidating it off its combat utility. He shook his head at the enemy's rookie mistake, before approaching the Löwe, its Commander still looking out on its turret hatch with his binoculars.
"That's some good shot, son." The Löwe Commander said out loud, unaware of Lieutenant Colonel Prul's presence. "Acquire new targets-"
"Lieutenant Kluge!" He called over, and the man on top of the Löwe's hatch turned around to meet him, lowering his binoculars. "Seems like your brother really wants the city center tonight."
"Eh, ol' Oswald's probably in a tight deadline, Colonel." He joked, and the two laughed in response. "I know my older brother hates being late to his superiors."
Lieutenant Colonel Prul looked back at the currently delayed evacuation to Halia. His battalion was one of those unfortunate ones to be assigned on rearguard duty. If General Oswald Kluge didn't like being late at capturing this city, he sure was the same. He wouldn't like his battalion to be late at crossing the bridge.
"We all do, Lieutenant. We all do."
"Sir, what's the plan?" Asked Lieutenant Kluge. "Why'd the 3rd reposition? Now we have no overwatch over their section of the highway."
"They are targeting their position with arty. No solution. I expect this section is next."
"Goddess' mercy, we'd lose this perfect holding position, Colonel." He shook his head. "No way in hell should we give it up. We're feasting on their vehicles and troops from these positions. We wouldn't be able to stop their push if we back off."
"I recognize that, Lieutenant. Think your Platoon can keep hold of this position?"
"Goddess willing, sir." One of their Löwes on another street opened fire, and the two looked at a building that was turned into rubble. Another Löwe opened fire, and Lieutenant Colonel Prul perfectly saw an enemy Löwe tank that was attempting to cross being stopped, even though the second shot bounced. It had no choice but to back off and hide. Indeed, this was way too good of a position to give up.
"Well, if that's the case then we're only holding out till noon around here. That should be enough. This position is taking the attention of their arty after all."
The Lieutenant gave a firm nod in response.
"Alright, sir."
Prul turned around, just as his radio buzzed. He took it immediately, recognizing the voice of the transmission.
"Lieutenant Brezhen?"
"Colonel, we've withdrawn from the City Hall," the man said. "Hostile forces already took control and are taking shots from the building."
"Are the explosives set?"
"Do we have approval?"
"Carry it out, before they find out." He looked back at the Heiflitz City Hall, which was being peppered by M3 IFV autocannons from his side. "Now!"
"Copy. Jackson! Set the charges!"
In moments, the Heiflitz City Hall, a towering hall with its signature ivory pillars and its emerald-tinted glasses detonated in a boom that silenced everything else. The thing completely collapsed as if it was nothing, most likely burying multiple platoons of Putschist soldiers dead. Only a few remains of its foundations were left standing, obscured by a thick smoke.
Andrew Prul smirked. They scored again. Putschists Zero – Royalists One.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"Good job, Lieutenant Brezhen. Now relocate to our positions, out."
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Halia
Near the Emerald Bridge
"Would that affect the withdrawal?" Asked Amelie, as they watched repair crews on the Emerald Bridge from the vantage views of an office building. "Don't we still have other bridges?"
"Obviously," William replied. "Emerald Bridge is the largest one. The other bridges are too tiny to have the capacity to transport multiple multi-ton armored vehicles. It's probably going to take until nightfall before this is all finished."
"But aren't we running out of SAM interceptors?" She looked straight into the parked REGAL SAM systems that defended the bridges. They were scattered alongside the buildings, near the bridges. She had already seen them once early morning when they foiled a Putschist air strike. Very effective, but she feared that if they ran out of SAM interceptors, her troops on the other side would be screwed.
"Indeed, our logistics divisions are moving as best as they can to delay that. A shipment of interceptors did arrive last night but that wouldn't last long either."
"That's bad."
"Really bad. I already ordered them to speed up the evacuations as they can. General Holl's rearguards are also slowly falling back. We're using rigged explosives in buildings, mines, and snipers to slow them down, but time…yep, time is running thin for HEICOMM."
"The rearguards…" She looked back at the city, imagining those men dug deep in the rubble, fighting back under heavy fire as they retreated block by block. "They're in the greatest danger, no?"
"Always has been, Amelie. Rearguard duty, much like being in the vanguard of an assault, is a dangerous assignment." He crossed his arms, looking at the far skies. Amelie looked at his distant gaze, wondering what he was remembering again. "You can't just retreat, Amelie. When you're assigned that duty, you must, at all costs, delay the enemy. The fate of the entire formation would be in the hands of your abilities. And you will be outgunned, outnumbered…outmatched."
She could see tiny beads of sweat that he wiped out before he breathed out something he must have held for way too long. He shook his head and looked back at her eyes.
"It's ugly, Amelie," He said, taking a deep breath. "Ugly in ways I wouldn't want to describe."
"William, are you alright?" She gave him a pat on the back. "You seem…distressed."
"I'm fine…" He looked down. "Just nothing. Just a stupid memory. Nothing."
It must be something in the Great War. Amelie thought to herself. Another awful memory of his. He did serve in Liebnich after all. That front was filled with tales of terrors she could hardly read for herself. It must have been her question about the rearguard being left behind. And thus the unsavory question in the back of her mind. Did William find himself assigned to a rearguard action back there? She could only pity him.
That must have triggered something. Amelie patted his back to relieve him. Goddess, I'm so insensitive.
"It's alright, William. I'm sorry for that…"
"I'm fine," he removed himself from her, and Amelie moved away a bit, keeping her hands to herself. "I just need a glass of water. Oh…and…you should probably go back to the Queen's Bunker. It's not exactly safe here."
She looked back down at one of the other bridges. Multiple Löwe tanks and HMLVs crossed it before they scattered forward to the roads up ahead. Her presence wouldn't change a thing out here. They would evacuate themselves as ordered. She just needed to wait for the results.
Still, this is the closest I've been to the frontline. It's…truly awful here.
"Alright…I'll be taking my leave then," Amelie replied, and William gave her a nod. "Thank you for your work."
"You're welcome, Amelie."
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Heiflitz
Near the H-3 Bridge
November 3, 2024
It was already one in the morning when most of the formations of HEICOMM left Heiflitz for Halia. Ever since six o'clock yesterday, General Holl had relocated his command staff and post near the H-3 Bridge to better oversee the withdrawal.
It was a lengthy process, as his brigades had to cross it during the intervals of absent Putschist aerial presence. As night fell, he oversaw hundreds after hundreds of his infantry crossing the bridges.
The worst moments came when a strike succeeded. Fortunately, most missiles that managed to get past their air defense were fast ones that weren't carrying much explosive fillers. Still, those missiles left bridges damaged and hard to cross, or reduced structural integrity, forcing Army Engineering to take their sweet time to repair damage.
These hiccups filled each moment, and he remembered shouting in anger once when an HMLV made a wrong turn, popped its tires, and blocked the crossings. Or when a friendly mine detonated on the roads near the bridge on one of their Löwe's, which required a recovery vehicle to clear.
Indeed, it was headaches after headaches.
It almost looks beautiful, he remarked as he looked at the ruined Halian skyline. The dark night should have left it in full pitch-black darkness, but the fires from Heiflitz and from the bombings in Halia itself kept all permanently lit. I wonder when I'll see it again from this direction.
Much of his command staff already left for the other side. In fact, there wasn't much left in Heiflitz except for their special rearguards. General Holl wanted to be the last one out of the city, however. But, with his near-empty post and empty road, he wondered what was the point of waiting.
He should cross already.
He looked back to the south as he heard another rumble of tank threads approaching his post. It was a Löwe Command Vehicle, driving forward alone, with the Royalist tricolor on the side of its turret. Atop its hatch, he recognized one of his officers, saluting him as his tank drove forward.
He returned the salute.
"General Holl!" Lieutenant Colonel Prul called down from atop the turret. "What's with the holdup? Don't you wanna cross the bridge?"
General Holl smiled in response.
"I want the honor of being the last man out, Colonel."
The man chuckled in response, shaking his head.
"Afraid that ain't possible, sir. Some of our boys, infantry, are still holding south of us to man the rigged explosives and traps. But they're going to cross soon enough too, on foot. Shouldn't be too much of a danger for, sir."
"So you want me to come aboard?" He shook his head as he laughed again. "Ain't happening as long as some of our boys are still here."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." The skies finally turned silent, with the last SAM launch already being minutes ago. "You should go now. Things are clear."
Lieutenant Colonel Prul sighed from atop the hatch, clearly distraught at General Holl's insistence to stay.
"You know, we can't just lose a fine General, sir."
"I appreciate that you view me that way."
"But if that's the case, then your orders are to be followed." He gave him a salute. "Good luck, sir!"
The Löwe Command Vehicle finally moved forward, making its way into the bridge, all while Lieutenant Colonel Prul kept his salute. General Holl watched as they slipped away, and as a temporary farewell, he saluted them back as they disappeared into the distance.
He sighed to himself. He would cross the bridge later. He lit up a cigar from his pocket in his mouth as he looked at the Emerald Bridge. Regardless of what happened, for the most part, he succeeded.
HEICOMM will live to fight another day, that he was sure of.
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[https://i.ibb.co/2gg44v0/Battle-of-Heiflitz.jpg]