Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 25- Across the River

(January 4, 2020)

Sergeant Andy Walker ducks and rolls to avoid an arrow flying right at his face. Walker quickly pops up and fires his carbine at the Orc that fired the arrow at him, killing the Orc. Another Orc charges at Walker and swings its sword. Walker has to use his carbine to block the sword, then draws his combat knife and lunges at the Orc, driving the knife through its neck.

Walker quickly swivels his head around, making sure there's no enemies too close to him. He then glances back towards the river. He feels a bit of relief as he sees the temporary bridges being assembled very quickly. Hopefully, the bridges will be finished soon and the 13th Armored Division will be able to cross the river.

Sergeant Walker is a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne Division, currently engaged in the Battle of the River Teiglin.

The battle had been raging for almost a week. Morgoth's forces had attempted to hold the 6th Army on the southern side of the River Teiglin, but fierce Allied attacks had driven them back to the river. However, Morgoth's forces had made crossing the river pretty difficult, and for the last few days, much of the battle had been just exchanging artillery and catapult fire.

However, the commander of the 6th Army, General Michael Garrett, had made a decision to get the Americans across the river. One of the three assigned corps of the 6th Army was the XVIII Airborne Corps, which was comprised of the three airborne divisions in the Army; the 11th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions.

Garrett's plan called for the biggest airborne operation since WWII. Several hundred transport planes drawn from every air force deployed in Middle Earth. A brigade from the 11th Airborne and two brigades from the 82nd Airborne, numbering 22,000 paratroopers, would be flown in by almost 300 transport planes, almost the entire transport fleet in Middle Earth. Also aboard the transports would be two parachute battalions of the British 16th Air Assault Brigade, which had been detached from the 2nd NATO Army to join the XVIII Airborne Corps. This would mark the first time a major ground unit from another nation joined the ground campaign.

At the same time as the paratroopers were landing, almost 200 Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters would be bringing in troops from a brigade from the 101st Airborne, numbering 5,000 men. After this initial wave, helicopters would continue shuttling the 101st Airborne across the river until the entire division of 36,000 troops was across the river. British helicopters would also be shuttling the rest of the 16th Air Assault Brigade across the river. At the same time, the transport planes would return to the airfields where the rest of the airborne divisions were waiting and pick up two more brigades from the 82nd, numbering almost 20,000 men, to drop across the river. By the time the second drop was completed, General Garrett had planned for over 80,000 troops to be on the other side of the River Teiglin.

The goal of the XVIII Airborne Corps was to secure the other side of the River Teiglin, allowing the rest of the 6th Army to set up temporary bridges that would allow the rest of the army and the Host of Valinor to begin crossing the River Teiglin. However, Garrett knew this would be difficult. Because this was all airborne operations, the troops would have almost no heavy weapons, and the only artillery support would be from the other side of the river. Also, the Chinooks bringing troops across the river had such a tight schedule they didn't have time to bring any vehicles across. The men of the airborne units had to hold with relatively light weaponry and air support until the rest of the army could begin crossing the river.

The first combat drop and arrival of the first troops from the 101st had occurred almost 20 hours ago, and the troops had been fighting almost continuously since then. The rest of the airborne troops were now on the northern bank. The airborne troops had taken some heavy casualties at the start of the landings, but there were now 80,000 troops on the north bank, stretched along a 21 mile stretch of the river. Morgoth's army is pressing hard against their lines, and the troops are struggling to hold the lines until the bridges are complete.

The main help to the troops has been their air support. Over sixty attack helicopters, four squadrons of fighters, and half a dozen B-1 bombers have been making repeated attack runs on the Orcs and their allies. The ferocity of these air strikes had managed to keep significant numbers of Orcs occupied and away from the Allied troops.

Sergeant Walker is reflecting briefly on all of this before he sees another Orc charging at him. Walker empties the last few rounds in his magazine into the Orc's head. Walker quickly rips the spent magazine from his weapon and jams a new one into his carbine.

Immediately, Walker's heart drops as he sees troll charging right at him. However, he quickly pushes that aside and pulls a grenade off his belt. He quickly pulls the pin and throws the grenade at the troll. The grenade bounces off the troll's stomach, then explodes, badly wounding the troll. Walker takes advantage and charges up to the troll as it falls to its knees, then empties his magazine into the troll's head at point blank range. The troll falls down dead, blood pouring from its head.

Walker rushes over to the troll's body. Although the troll's body is still leaking blood, and smells terrible, Walker realizes he can use it for cover to continue fighting the marauding Orcs.

Walker takes cover behind the body of the troll. He quickly rips out the empty magazine from his carbine and fits a new one into before snapping the carbine into combat readiness. He then turns and rests the carbine on top of the troll's body. He scans his surroundings, and quickly spots several orcs trying to sneak up on some of his comrades. Walker aims his carbine and fires several two or three round bursts, killing all of the Orcs relatively quickly.

Suddenly, Walker sees another troll charging in his direction, and it seems like it's seen him. Walker fires a burst from his carbine to try and stall the troll before he starts sprinting away. The troll chases after him. However, a few seconds later, an Apache attack helicopter flies towards them and fires a Hellfire missile that hits the troll on the head, killing it instantly.

Walker is about to turn back around, however, he quickly sees several Orc archers aiming at him. Spotting a small trench that some troops had dug for cover, Walker sprints at the trench as the Orcs fire their arrows, diving into the trench to avoid the arrows.

Scrambling back up into a crouch position, he sees there are actually two more men, both men from the 82nd, also in the trench. "Hey, man. Nice of you to join us down here," one of the other men says.

"What's up?" Walker says before he pokes his head back up out of the trench.

Right then, there's a rumble nearby. Swiveling his head, Walker looks to the friendly side of the river, and can see artillery from the 34th and 39th Infantry Divisions firing across the river at Morgoth's forces. With dozens of M109s and M119s on the other side of the river, the howitzers are firing in pairs or trios every few seconds, keeping up a constant barrage of fire on the Orcs.

Walker refocuses his attention on the side of the river he's currently on. He and his two new buddies see a platoon sized group of Orcs moving in the direction of the trench. The three of them aim their carbines and pour rifle fire into the Orcs, killing all but one of them and sending the last one scrambling away.

"Alright, boys. Let's just sit tight here for now," Walker mutters as he looks for any more enemies close by.

(Short time away, 6th Army Field HQ)

In his field HQ, General Michael X Garrett, 6th Army commander, is looking over reports on the ongoing battle.

With a major portion of the XVIII Airborne Corps on the north bank of the river, the construction of temporary bridges have been able to move forward at speed, and many of the bridges are nearing completion.

However, unknown to most of the 6th Army, Garrett had used the other army under his command, the Host of Valinor, to good effect. Soon after the start of the battle, Garrett had ordered a significant force of Elves across the river far to the west of the battle. The Elves had crossed in a small flotilla of small boats. Now, the Elves, numbering about 42,000, is closing in from the west. They will be able to attack Morgoth's right flank at about the same time the 13th Armored Division and 1st Infantry Division will be crossing the river.

However, the key is timing. Garrett knows that for the most part that the Airborne troops on the north bank are just trying to hold their positions at the moment under the relentless attacks they're facing. He's going to have to hit the Orcs hard to allow his next wave of forces. He has an attack planned, and he's just hoping it works as planned.

(A few hours later)

Walker ducks to avoid a volley of arrows fired towards the trench, then pops back up and fires his carbine, killing one of the orc archers that just fired at him.

Walker has been sitting in this trench with the other two paratroopers from the 82nd for a long time. The three men were starting to run a bit low on ammunition, so they were trying to be a bit more selective with the use of their weapons.

Walker drops back down into the trench, looking at the other two men from the 82nd. "We better get a break soon, or I don't know how much longer we can stay here," Walker says.

The men nod. Right then, Walker hears the rumble of artillery beginning to fire in volleys, but more intensely than before. Then, above the sound of firing artillery, Walker can hear the rumble of approaching jet engines.

Walker pokes his head up out of the trench. Looking onto the other side of the river, he sees the artillery of the 34th and 39th Divisions, along with rocket launchers, firing relentlessly towards the Orcs. At the same time, along the entire length of the river that the orcs are inhabiting, a large force of aircraft is crossing over the river at just 5,000 feet. In front are 16 B-52 bombers and 10 B-1 bombers. They are being followed by over 150 fighter bombers, including A-10s, F-15Es, Tornadoes, and Mirages.

As shells and rockets being fired from the Allied side of the river are crashing down on the Orcs, the bombers open their bomb bays. At the same time, Walker notices something, and grins broadly. The last sections of the temporary bridges have been fitted into place, and the lead tanks of the 13th Armored Division are crossing the last bit of the bridge and onto the north bank. General Garrett's timing has worked out perfectly.

As the first tanks cross onto the north bank, the bombers begin dropping their bombs. In seconds, almost a thousand tons of bombs are raining down on the Orcs. Explosions begin tearing through the Orcs as the bombers streak over Morgoth's armies. They are quickly followed by the fighter bombers, adding almost a thousand more tons of bombs to the attack. The fighters then loop around to perform a long strafing run before they turn to head back to base.

The air attacks and artillery barrage give the 13th Armored and 1st Infantry, which is crossing to the west of the 13th's position, the perfect opportunity. Dozens of tanks charge into the front ranks of Morgoth's army to relieve the pressure on the airborne troops on the ground. As the minutes pass, more and more tanks and armored vehicles reach the north bank and join the battle.

At the same time, to the west, a formation of F-15Es fly at low altitude over the Elven army in a diamond formation. Informed prior that this was the signal, the Elves begin their charge into the right flank of Morgoth's army. The Orcs, with their attention focused across the river, are caught completely off guard by the arrival of the Elves, and begin crumpling under the Elves' charge.

Smoke begins to fill the sky over the River Teiglin in a haze. The Allies' main attack across the river has reached its next phase. If it works, victory will be theirs.

(Four days later)

In his field headquarters south of the river, General Garrett is looking over some aerial photographs. They were taken by a Predator drone a few hours ago. They are all photos of the remnants of Morgoth's army, now retreating north.

The attack across the river four days ago had worked, driving Morgoth's forces back from the bank of the river allowing the rest of the 6th Army and the Host of Valinor to begin crossing the river. Once sufficient forces were across, the XVIII Airborne Corps was pulled back to allow them to rest, while the IV and XII Corps pressed the attack.

The battle was declared officially over around midnight the night before, just about 18 hours ago, when the IV and XII Corps ceased their pursuit of the remains of Morgoth's army.

The Battle of the River Teiglin was over, and Allied forces were now across the river, able to continue their advance north towards Tol Sirion. The battle had come at a cost. The Allies had sustained about 11,000 casualties among the 6th Army and 1,500 among the Host of Valinor. Most of the casualties among the 6th Army had been sustained among the XVIII Airborne Corps prior to the river crossing.

However, they had caused immense casualties against Morgoth's army. It was estimated over a million Orcs and dark creatures had been committed to this battle, and the Allies had caused around 800,000 casualties.

Garrett is confident in his victory and his plans for the future, but he knows things are probably going to get more difficult soon. Morgoth's situation is growing more dire. The 4th Army has control of Hithlum and is standing by to cross the Ered Wethrin at any moment. The I and V Amphibious Corps are moving north through Doriath and closing in on Nan Dungortheb. The 1st and 10th Armies have reached East Beleriand and the 1st Army is starting to move north. And now the 6th Army and the Host of Valinor are closing in on Tol Sirion, about to cut off another major pass into Beleriand. The Allies have over half of Beleriand under their control, and are tightening the noose around Morgoth. Garrett, along with the other generals commanding the campaign, are getting concerned regarding this. Despite the more territory they hold and their growing superiority, the Allied commanders are concerned what Morgoth might do if he grows more desperate and feeling cornered.

The war is turning further in the Allies' favor, but it is far from over.

And, there we go. Sorry it took so long. My life got insane for about a month, and I'm starting school up again, so updates will be less frequent, but I wanted to make sure to get this one up. Next chapter may take a week or two. Until it's up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!