TFA3 4.2 – Retreat
Once the sun fully set in the west, Sergeant Tommy and his team came out of their hiding hole in the edge of east cliff, and returned to their firing position just right above the sentry platoon who guarded East Track.
A moment later, the advance of Makai Guard’s ground element appeared in the distance. With calm eyes, Sergeant Tommy and spotter on his team observed it. It was moonless and starless night and the advanced was carried out without torch. Even so, with the help of long-range low light camera that’s almost a hundred times more sensitive than human eyes, they could see the night as clear as a day.
The spearman and swordsman with ease reached the supervisor office, and then spread out and took position around it. The closest groups were only a few dozen meters from the foot of east cliff, and clearly showed a sign that they were ready to climb the East Track.
Around 700 hundreds meter behind the sea of foot soldier, thousands of footbowman took position. They calmly sat in the ground, hugging their footbow on the chest, and would need only a few seconds to switch into firing position. Most of all, from their current position the footbowman could send a salvo to the peak of Penna Hill with ease with ease.
Actually, the sight of tens of thousands of hostile took position so close to east cliff had made Sergeant Tommy worry and nervous as hell. He really wanted to make the move first, eliminated the opposing element that already entered the effective range of Molotov cocktail, and got over it.
Unfortunately, he didn’t receive the green light to engage yet. He had to wait until tonight biggest threat, the opposing catapult, also entered the range of Molotov catapult. That way, the platoon of Molotov cocktail could deal a fatal blow to Makai Guard.
In tonight advance, Makai Guard brought a dozen giant catapults and it took six triple-horned buffalos to tow each catapult. Slowly but surely, the giant catapults made their advance. Until finally, they reached a distance of 1600 meter from East Cliff, a perfect range for Molotov Catapult to hit them.
As the crew of giant catapults made preparation for the salvo, Sergeant Tommy radioed Command Center. “Archer 0-1 to Command, do you copy?”
[We heard you Archer 0-1, go ahead.]
“Opposing catapults have entered Molotov catapult’s line and range, do we engage or stand by?”
[Archer 0-1, we will engage, be ready to provide target’s grid designator.]
“Receive and understood, Archer 0-1 on standby.” After taking a deep breathe Sergeant Tommy turned his gaze to AWM 338 shooter under his command. “Once chaos descends on the opposing formation, try to hunt and eliminate their officers as many as you can.”
““““Aye,”””” Sergeant Tommy’s men calmly replied in a half whisper while cold gleam flashed in their eyes.
---
Other than volunteer from best bowman brigade, Viscount Rattel and General Khartoum also sent 2nd Tuscan Molotov Catapult Detachment to Jack Sparrow. Two weeks ago this detachment completed their training, and its members were eager to test their capability.
When Viscount Rattel and General Khartoum informed them that they needed to send two batteries of Molotov catapult to Jack Sparrow, the whole detachment instantly volunteered themselves. In the end, Viscount Rattle and General Khartoum had to send the whole detachment because no one was willing to let a go the chance to taste their first combat mission, even after knowing there was a high possibility it would be their last mission.
This afternoon, as soon as Makai Guard showed an intention to approach the east cliff, the 2nd Tuscan Molotov Catapult Detachment immediately received an order to set up firing position 300 meters from the edge of east cliff wall. Wasting no time, Captain Karrak and his men carried out the order.
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In total, Captain Karrak and his men had to set up 32 Molotov catapult. Fortunately, Molotov catapult was not complicated weapon system. So, they finished the job in no time. After that, Captain Karrak just casually stood behind the firing line, while munching a piece of energy bar. Then, a radio call from command center came in.
[Command to Batter 0-2, do you copy?]
“Command, I heard you loud and clear, do we have fire mission?”
[We do, be ready to received target’s grid designator in a moment.]
“Roger, Batter 0-2 on standby to receive target’s grid designator.”
Wasting no time, Captain Karrak told his men that they had fire mission. A moment later, they received the first target’s grid designator and wasting no time they launched the first salvo of Molotov cocktail.
---
In the rear line of Makai Guard’s battle formation, General Tarran sat on top of his horse. From the sour expression in his face, it was easy to tell that his mood was not good. Well, it was understandable as no one would be happy if they were asked to launch a distraction to enable a sneak attack, but the unit who carried the sneak attack got neutralized almost instantly.
“Damn it,” General Tarran cursed softly as he fixed his gaze on East Track on the east cliff wall.
Brigadier Norr who positioned his horse next to General Tarran immediately turned his gaze to him. “General, will Grand Commander Migal sent another climber.”
“No,” General Tarran firmly replied. “It seems TF Amethyst can truly see at night. It’s no use to try another sneak attack.”
“We will retreat then.”
“That’s what I hope for,” After taking a deep breathes General Tarran added, “But Grand Commander Migal wants us to mount a full-scale attack.”
Brigadier Norr nodded and calmly said, “We are already set in position. Let’s just launch it.”
“That will be a bloodbath up-hill battle for us,” General Tarran weakly said. “It’s very easy to defend East Track.
On the other hand, other than destroyed two-third of opposing fire spears, our Riders failed to inflict meaningful damage on their ground element. Opposing ground element in Penna Hill is still in their top condition.”
“General, are you expecting we postpone the attack until tomorrow, when we can combine our ground attack with air raid from our Riders?”
“Sort of, but unfortunately,” General Tarran dejectedly said. “I just received an update that right now, TF Amethyst is conducting visit and destroy to our Cloud Hawk’s pen in rapid pace. If they carry it for a whole night, we won’t have available Rider for a while.”
“Honestly, General, never did I imagine we will face this kind of dire situation right in our doorstep,” Brigadier Norr weakly said.
“Yeah, Makai Royal City is fucked as soon as TF Amethyst put their insane artillery in Penna Hill,” General Tarran casually said. “And our Riders, the only card we have to turn the table have failed.
Most of a---”
General Tarran didn’t finish his sentence as suddenly, from the peak of Penna Hills 32 pieces of burning object climbed up across the night sky, made a big arc, reached its highest climbing point, and then dove down in full momentum.
Blaaar Blaaar Bla-bla-bla-blaaaaarrr!!!
The burning objects fatally hit the footbow formation and formed a chain of fireballs. Chaos immediately enveloped the footbow formation. At the same time, the second salvo had already in the air, and then hit the catapult formation. Only 14 out of 32 burning object scored direct hit on the catapults, but it was more than enough to set each catapult into fire.
“Damn,” General Tarran cursed weakly. “That’s must be the Molotov catapult that halted Battle Group A’s advance.”
“What a remarkable firepower. They neutralize our catapult with only single salvo,” Brigadier Norr said with complicated expression, and then he urgently added, “General, we have to launch the attack now.”
“No, sound the retreat signal. We have to make sure our men can retreat before they are trapped in sea of fire,” General Tarran calmly said.
“But General, it’s against Grand Commander Migal’s order.”
“I will take full responsibility.”
“Understood, General Sir,” Wasting no time Brigadier Norr carried out the order.
When facing an opponent with such insane fire power, General Tarran fully realized that time was essential. No matter what he wanted to do, be it attacking or retreating, he had to carry it out as fast as he could.
Therefore, he was content that Brigadier Norr didn’t waste some time to argue with him, and just put every drop of his attention to organize the retreat. In the end, most of the combatant managed to retreat to rear line with total lost around 20% including some seasoned officers.
As for the punishment for his insubordination, General Tarran didn’t give a damn about it. It would definitely end his career as the best field general in Makai Guard, but he would gladly accept it. In short, he believed he did the right thing tonight.
*****