World in conflict: CH7 The 7th Sentinel Battailion
During the past two weeks the soviet military trained the southerners how to use weapons, some learned quicker than others but overall, about 12,576 of them were ready for combat (we achieved this by training in huge groups at a time, and since they already used primitive guns it wasn't that hard for them to adapt) . The soviets even had trained some that were able to operate tanks, and artillery quite effectively, due to this surprise, Krilillovich happily sent over more tanks. The soviets in total had about 50 tanks, 130 artillery pieces and 20,790 men from the 42nd red army stationed there. It was now time for the Gora offensive (means mountain in Russian).
The Kremlin received word of what was going on and sent in two 1K17 Szhatie tanks. The "tank" used an intense laser beam to melt enemy vehicles. This was created by focusing light through 30 kg of artificial rubies which made the whole system very expensive to produce. The optics that produced the laser were placed at the end of a silver coated spiral which helped amplify the beam and increase convergence. The energy to power the laser was provided by a generator and an auxiliary battery system. The lenses themselves were able to operate in different environments as well as take on multiple targets independently from each other. It was also equipped with a 12.7mm NSZ machine gun to defend itself against attacks by infantry and air.
The past few weeks we were there were quite eventful, first of all, we began construction of a runway and fueling area for the An-124s and TU-95s, this was done quite quickly, due to the number of people, or should I say sergal help. After that our forces brought in fuel storage tanks, ammunition crates and gun storage boxes. One major event was that the southerners sent over and ambassador to tell, the northerners to surrender or be destroyed. Not surprisingly the ambassador returned in... well... pieces... with a note attached saying they would rather all die than give up. Victor was surprised at this (as well as disgusted). And began preparing for a retaliatory strike on to a Northern base located in the Lyvank Mountains.
Or military preparations began with the arrival of the new 1K17 tanks, after there arrival our military sent out planes to do a high altitude surveillance of the Lyvank Mountains. About 14 hours later the pictures were developed, we were all brought together on a briefing. On a makeshift projection screen, we saw the massive army.
Victor: The northerners have amassed an army of about 170,000 over the past weeks with more pouring in. It seems they are making preparations for a massive siege, presumably at Gold Ring. We have also made a discovery that they may have been developing long-range artillery.
Victor points to the group of massive cannons at the middle of the picture. The guns from the image seemed to be about the size of a small house.
Victor: This weapon is strikingly similar to the Karl-Gerät, I am sure that they have developed a smaller version of this from old German blueprints. We estimate this weapon has a range of about 25 miles, but I am sure we are well out of its range Because if we were within range we would be under attack right now.
Victor: First our bombers will hit the mountain with incendiary driving them out as well as dropping cluster bombs and, then our Katyusha launchers will rain down a barrage of rockets on their positions, thus weakening there positions and hopefully knock out most of there anti-vehicle weapons. Then our spetsnaz from the first shock army will be parachute down about one minute after the artillery has stopped, they will hold that position and destroy the support bunkers here and hold until the 42nd red army arrives along with the southerner's 1st Sentinel division and will be resupplied via air drop, from there they will fight their way to the mountain with the assistance of our Mi-28 gunships and mobile artillery, once they are within range of the base the two 1K17s will open fire on their defensive positions, taking down any heavy artillery. As well as taking out the remaining defenses and bunkers. Finally, we will send in follow-on forces with more tanks and artillery to finish them off. If all else fails we will have a group of Tu-95s on standby with Kh-101 cruise missiles. And a reminder, we are sure the enemy has traps in the nearby forests and could possibly have set up pockets of garrisons. This is why our attack will be under the cover of darkness. Each one of our transports and tanks are outfitted with cameras, and a few of you will be selected to receive 1PN38 night vision scopes. If you are captured destroy the scopes, they cannot fall into enemy hands. Our assault begins at sunset. That is all, you are dismissed.
With all that said everyone started preparing for the fight ahead.
Around noon a group of Tu-95s took off, to bomb the bases as planned and continued around the clock, few hours had passed and two An-124s arrived to pick up the Spetsnaz from the 1st shock army as well as drop of some supplies at our base in Gold Ring. Immediately after the planes left a massive group of Mi-26s along with Mi-24/28s started arriving, we loaded up in the Mi-26s helicopters, about 90 of us could fit in at a time so it took a while to load up. Within a few minutes, we had filled up all of the Mi-26s and began loading up in the Mi-24s, soon after we were airborne. The rest of our army would be traveling by land, due to us lacking the huge quantity of helicopters needed for such an operation.
As we flew out of the city, we could for the first time see how massive it actually was. As our trip continued onward I saw the landscape change from an arid desert to a more savanna type of landscape with small bushes dotting the landscape. As the helicopter flew past the hillside we were coming up on a group of northerners (about 20 of them) most likely militants.
Victor: Pilot fire on that convoy.
Pilot: yes sir!
Our helicopter fired off 4 of its S-5 rockets and fired its GshG-7.62 Gatling guns, the rockets hit there targets killing most of them and the gun, although fired for a few bursts shredded the surprised northerners. leaving their bodies sawed in half from the bullets. there blood staining the land.
1 hour had passed we were coming to the landing zone. The sun was already set and the night was creeping across the sky, in the distance, we could see flashes of explosions in the tree line.
As we made our descent toward the landing zone we encountered some ground fire, mostly small arms and when we landed the firing stopped...
Victor: okey comrades get out you night vision scopes and prepare for an imminent attack. they know our positions and will be watching us, be alert...
As we got out of our transports they started to leave toward our base to pick up more soldiers. The Mi-24s started to take off much later due to them carrying most of the ammunition. As they started to take off we came under heavy fire.
First off a type of AA gun nailed one of our Mi-24s causing it to crash land on our LZ killing the pilots and a few of our men.
We returned fire with our guns, some people were able to set up mortar firing areas, while most of us near the front took cover and returned fire. Others threw grenades while I took aim with my night vision scope. That is when I truly saw the scope of the attack.
It seemed to be hundreds of northerners charging at us, these northerners had some type of upgraded armor, because it took me about 4 to 5 rounds to take one down. Instead of just 1-2 bullets like earlier battles.
The surviving Mi-24s, fired their missiles and kept them at bay, as I saw through my night vision sight, many northerners being cut down by the hail of rockets, then the Mi-24s switched to their 30mm autocannons and cut down about 100 of them, after they ran out of ammunition, they left and headed back to our base. This air cover gave us enough time to set up some defensive positions... and as soon as the fighting started it stopped...
Out of the 500 that landed with us about 467 remained in fighting condition, some were killed during the initial attack, some from the enemy's mortars.
It would be along night as the next batch of 500 troops would arrive in the next 2 hours, and the follow-on forces wouldn't arrive till sun rise. Due to this Victor called about 8 battle ready t-72s that will be para-dropped via An-124, it would be awhile before they arrive.
We scoured the perimeter in search of any stragglers but I spotted none, its as if they disappeared back into the forest. It wasn't long till we found some survivors. They seemed to be deserters as they just gave themselves up when they saw us. We brought them back and searched them. And brought them Victor and Anton who were both discussing strategies.
deserter 1: We were forced to fight... At the penalty of death!
Deserter 2: they threatened to kill our families!
Palov: Well go tell that to my dead brother! He was killed during that crash!
Palov pointed his gun at the two.
Me: Comrade, calm down they are no good to us dead, we keep them alive.
Deserter 1: I promise I didn't kill anyone!
Palov: fine, you live... for now...
Palov lowers his gun. And gives the two a cold stare, like he wanted to kill them.
both Anton and Victor walk over toward us, Victor pulls out his Makarov points it at deserter 2s head.
Deserter 2: please don't kill us!
Victor: I won't if you tell me your positions...
Deserter 1: we don't know! we are just engineers from our city! We just work on vehicles, until we were forced to build weapons!
Deserter 2: We were forced into this! all they told us was to attack your positions to the south of our location and the 7th Sentinel Battalion was sent to attack your 1st attacking force!
Victor: Ok, now stay right here!
Victor raises his gun up
Anton: Victor! They didn't- POW POW POW!
As the shots ring out the deserter yelps,
A sergal falls out of a tree within his grasp an elongated rifle with a scope, with three bullet holes in his chest.
Victor: Sniper... A stupid one, I could see the refection of light in his scope...
the two deserters look behind them and look at the dead sergal in shock.
Anton: I believe you have some much-needed information, as you said you two are engineers correct? and your names, please?
deserter 1: Cyrus
desrter2: Kadin
Anton: well Kadin and Cyrus, what did you work on? more specifically what type of weapon?
Cyrus: it's a weapon that has the capability to take down your flying machines...
Kaden: It was mostly built to take down your machines in groups of 3, it would use 3 or more to take it down using triangulation. Each Sky lance is equipped with a burst of 5 rounds. and-
Anton: ok, we get the point... Now, how many of these do you have?
Cyrus: I don't know, about 50?
Anton: shit...
Victor: Well we should hold this position till the 2nd batch of troops arrives.
After about what seemed to be forever, the 2nd bach of troops arrived, they took our dead and wounded and replaced them with battle-ready soldiers.
Anton (now talking to Kuznov a radio man): Kuznov! Get into contact with the 1st shock army!
Kuznov: ok they are online
Anton grabs the radio mic.
Anton: This is Anton of the second division of the 42nd red army! Was any your planes shot down?
Radio: No our plane landed fine! We are advancing toward your position!
Anton (now talking to Victor): How could they LAND without a runway?
Victor: pass me the radio...
Victor picks up the mic,
Victor: Did anyone from the 28th army make it along with colonel Eisenhower?
Radio: yes! they landed fine!
Victor: May I speak to commander Eisenhower?
Radio: I am commander Eisenhower of 28th army!
Victor: cut the crap you filthy animals, I know your not our men, the 28th red army is in Belarus and Eisenhower is an amerikanskiy leader!
Victor turns off the mic.
Victor: shit! the Northerners got to our men!
From here our orders from our commanders (Anton and Victor)were to make our way north-west toward our special forces unit.
What we found along the way was a lot of dead sergals, and huge blast craters, then we found about 20 our men from the 1st shock army hunkered down in a massive blast crater (presumably made by the northern artillery guns). They told us they came in under heavy fire and one of the planes crashed in the forest while they were bailing out. After they said they were pinned down by a massive attacking force with some type of bullet-resistant armor and were basically over ran and were down to hand to hand combat. Then nearly wiped out.
Yankov (commander of the 1st shock army): They seemed to be an elite unit, they came out of nowhere, and slaughtered us! We tried calling in an airstrike but they shot down our jets too...
Victor: it seems we have underestimated our enemy...
Yankov: yeah no shit... How long till those tanks come in?
Victor: sunrise...
Yankov: you got to be kidding me! And what are those things doing here?!
Yankov points to the two northern deserters, both seem slightly taken back by the word thing.
Yankov: what type of armor are you two wearing anyways?
Cyrus: an iron composite?
Yankov: Bullshit! Pass me your helmet!
Yankov places the helmet down on the ground and fires 3 rounds in the armor the 3 bullets ricochet off harmlessly leaving small dents.
Yankov: that's titanium steel! We are so screwed without those tanks!
Anton: I guess we hold until morning, don't worry we have a radio, we have Tu-95s about 1 hour out.
Anton: Yankov. Did you at least take down some of the anti-air emplacements?
Yankov: yes we were able to take out almost all of the anti-air but we were over run after that... They were the 7th sentinel Battalion, right now as we speak they have a small company about 600 strong at the crashed An-124, over that ridge in the huge field about a half mile away.
Anton: ok good now since we have the numbers we can counter them... for tonight we avenge our fallen... And since Victor called in some tanks to be airdropped and an airstrike coming we should be good, we strike soon...
Meanwhile, at the crash site, Commander Mazus and his men are scavenging around the crash site for soviet tech. And some Russians were tied up and blindfolded on their knees. The scavenger team Kaz and Mal are in the An-124 rummaging through some crates and bent twisted metal.
Kaz: We should get out of here! There could be hundreds watching us! In fact, they could be planning an attack already!
Mal (scoffs) : They are cowards! You heard the reports from the rest of our squadron! Plus we have the best fighters armed with the best equipment in all of the worlds! They wouldn't dare attack us on our holy land, not like this... Adding to that we even killed one of their machines!
Kas: I guess your right.... We could take them on...
The two sergals rummage around in the wreck of the plane not knowing of the impending attack...
BOOM! a loud explosion through the air. As about 15 more soon follow it destroying nearby bunkers and AA guns.
Kas: I told you this was coming!
Mal: Well let's get the hell out of here!
The two sergals run out of the wreck and see a group of 3 An-124s heading ward their direction, amidst the chaos some serials call to arms, while others holler in pain, Commander Mazus starts yelling at his subordinates to start firing on the three targets but to little avail, since nearly all the AA guns were knocked out by the long-range KH-101 missiles. As the sergals continue firing the guns start to overheat.
Mazus: get that gun firing or we are all dead!
Subordinate: The weapon needs cooling if we fire off another round the chamber will blow up!
Mazus: I DONT CARE FIRE AT WILL!
Subordinate: yes sir!
The gun fires off 2 more shots then explodes, detonating the rest of the rounds sending rogue rounds blowing up in random places, killing numerous soldiers.
Mazus: God dammit! Start wasting the prisoners, we already have lost!
The An-124s reach their drop point and release all 12 of the battle-ready t-72s right on the sergal positions, thus killing some and running others over as well as firing HE rounds into nearby buildings, as that happens, what was left of the 1st shock army lead by Yankov charge at the disoriented enemy, along side the two battalions from the 42nd red army. The 7th sentinel battalion starts to radio in some reinforcements, but the reinforcements are unreachable due to the constant bombing by the soviet air forces. The 7th sentinel battalion is now in full retreat and on the run.
Mazus: Stay and fight you, cowards!
Mazus tries to keep his battalion fighting but to no avail, and soon stands face to face with Yankov. Yankov aims his gun
Yankov: Prepare to die!
Click*, the gun is out of ammo, he throws the gun to the ground and draws a combat knife.
Yankov: I've been waiting to avenge my men and I will kill you, the way you killed them.
Yankov gestures to the executed soldiers of the first shock army, with stab wounds to their chests.
Mazus: you think you can defeat me? I've trained under General Kadd for 10 years and I've never lost a sword fight! How can you a puny little shit beat me with no armor? (Mazus stands about 6 feet in full steel armor with some pieces painted red and black color scheme, Yankov, on the other hand, is about 5"7')
Mazus draws his Glaive.
Yankov: well my ancestors built weapons like those, and we were able to perfect it, unlike your blade, it is a shit one!
Mazus swings down Yankov doges it with ease and steps on the blade of the Glaive and moves in for a hit with is the knife but is kneed in the chest by Mazus, knocking him down. Mazus retracts his blade and tries to stab Yankov in the head, Yankov move to the side with the blade nearly missing his head. Mazus raises his spear and drives it into the ground again, but get it stuck in the hard soil and tries to pull it out, seeing this as an opportunity Yankov slashes at Mazus but Mazus blocks it with his armor and disarms Yankov.
Mazus: I don't need these weapons to defeat you! I'll break your neck in half myself!
Yankov: Well go on ahead!
Mazus rushes forward and Yankov nails Mazus in the snout with his left hook, Mazus stumbles back in pain while Yankov is shaking out his hand from the unexpected hard target.
Yankov: Hard brick head you have...
Mazus: You broke my snout!
Mazus pinches his snout and a loud cracking sound is heard.
Mazus: I don't need this armor to beat you!
Mazus removes his helmet and chest plate and throws it to the ground.
Yankov: your funeral...
Both Yankov and Mazus rush each other with Yankov nailing Mazus in the gut, Mazus sweeps Yankov. And Yankov Stumbles back up and nails a good one on Mazus chest causing him to stumble back. Mazus round houses Yankov but Yankov grabs a hold of Mazus's leg and tries to put him off balance, Mazus falls over and get back up and lands a few good hits on Yankov. Yankov in a last attempt tackles Mazus with Mazus biting his left shoulder, they both fall to the floor, Yankov grabs Mazus neck, pull it back and starts to beat down on him, But soon after he is punched square in the face, the two get up Mazus is a bit stumbly and Yankov in one hit finally knocks Mazus out and he falls to the ground.
Both Mazus and Yankov are a bloody mess, Yankov walks over to Victor and Anton who are at a makeshift table discussing terms of the surrender by the North's 7th Sentinel Battalion , everyone looks at him in surprise, seeing his black/swollen eye, some missing teeth, a broken nose, and huge bite mark on his left shoulder, and walks over to them with a slight limp.
Anton: what did you do comrade? did you wrestle a bear?
Yankov gives a slight grin and says: No, for if it was a bear I would be wearing its fur, and I would be unscathed. But I single-handedly took out a sergal general!
Victor: comrade you do know the battle has been over for like a few minutes now right? The 7th sentinel battalion surrendered to us and we are now discussing terms of their surrender with them.
Yankov: I still won!
Victor: yeah... uh huh... Are you okay? Do you need a medic?
Yankov: no I'm finneeee... I just cant breath out of my nose but still in fighting shape!
Yankov proceeds to shift back his nose and a crack can be heard along with blood splattering out a little.
Anton: well now... Just take a seat someplace....
Meanwhile, the rest of the soviets, start rounding up the 7th Sentinel battalion and forcing them into one place, then were are corralled in groups to be transported to the south.
A few hours pass and midnight comes and goes with dawn approaching some of the soviet scouts found a nearby eastern sergal village that used to be under Northern occupation, they were welcomed as liberators, and were offered many gifts (mostly food), but were politely turned down. And the soviet scouts started to uncover the atrocities committed by the north, by finding mass graves, with the earth stained red with blood and hundreds of thousands dead, killed by the north.
As the follow-on forces arrived, this war was going to be the start of a war of attrition... With the use of a weapon so horrible it would bring shock to the north and bring the Rain Regime to its knees. By a simple message sent back to Moscow, It was being readied on to a rocket and would be sent directly to the Northern Capital, A sacred war has begun....
The first time I saw the enemy... I saw nothing but malice and sin...
The evil and malevolence of those primitive beasts...
- Soviet Soldier in the Gora offensive from the 1st shock army
The day we were liberated, was a day of hope...
-Eastern Villager
Our fields that were once green...
now cry red... when the giants came...
These skies once blue... let fall...
Silver rain... when the Eagles came...
But this land... Once life...
Now know only PAIN...
-An account by a Northern soldier during the bombing of the Lyvank Mountains.