February 27th, 2016 of the Gregorian calendar
The sky over Deabis was chaotic as Ciwis, Avenger Humvees, newly built M163 Vads, F-16s, patrol boats, amd even drones all worked together to repel the Wyvern corps' attempt to burn Deabis like they did with Italica. These this time came from the interior of the Arbuscula Peninsula east on the other side of the gulf where the land was spared from the devastation of the war. The pilot pulled his stick hard as he climbed after scoring a kill with his gun. Brooks then focused on one below him going for a run on the city below, quickly diving down and sending the reptile to the ground in ball of fire.
He wondered how much men could fight with such bad odds yet fight on with fanatical determination in the face of certain death. The African-American continued on his rampage until he ran out of ammunition, calling out, "This is Black pepper. I'm out of ammo, heading to base, over." After getting conformation he raced back home where they hurried rearmed and refueled his plane before heading straight back to the fray, many copying his actions. This was simply so many, you'd think that dragons were taking over the world. Their number though began to drain fast and what he guess to save as many as possible retreated back home but they were pursuit and many more were taken down over the gulf. He let out a sigh as he once again turned back for Fort Cluster, seeing Deabis on the way. The docks district was on fire but it was successfully being contained, a hell of a better out come then Italica from rumors was all but ash say for a few buildings. Thousands of wyverns or rathers, pieces of wyverns floated across the sea in massive debris field that simply never stopped.
Back at Fort Cluster, the moment he climbed out of his plane he vomited all over the runway before heading to his quarters. He was so burned out that you could say he wanted to die, going on four sorties alone yesterday and two so far today instead of the usual one. The mission of Bellnahgo and the this new aerial offensive had taken a toll on his mental state, feeling guilt where achievement over an enemy should've been. Brooks shut the door behind him and plopped down onto his bed, only lifting his head to look at the picture of his wife right next to him. "Sweetheart..." He told the picture, picking it up. "I'm tired and I miss you more the ever."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, letting out a sign before walking up to it. Opening it he saw one of the rookie pilots under his command. "Hello Marsh, what do you need?" "Im sorry to disturb whatever that your doing, but you need to head to mission briefing." 'Oh god, another one?' "Right then, lead the way."
Later that day...
The aircrafts flew in a northeastern direction to the Saderan base of operation in Arbuscula, where attacks on various cities on the blue seaboard originated. Unfortunately unlike Fort Cluster or Italica, they had only the overly stretched fighter cover to protect themselves from these last ditch attempts to reverse Sadera's fortunes with the exception being Deabis whom powerful defenses made any raid suicide. A-10s from the 107th fighter squadron, F-15E Strike Eagles of the 334rd fighter squadron, and F-16s of the 55th squadron were chosen for this mission to destroy the remnants of any Saderan wyvern units after B-52s had carpet bombed wyverns on the ground resting to oblivion the night before, making the 55th involvement useless had not for the potential that reinforcements could be on their way.
"Targets spotted." Says one as the various strips, wyvern stalls, and cave entrances identified to house wyverns entered the range of their payloads. "Everyone, ready your loads!" Orders the group leader in his F-15 as the targets come closer. "Now! Rain hell boys!" At the end of the sentence, mixtures of AGM-65 Mavericks and GBU-15s are sent down to earth as the fate of the Saderan positions are sealed, not long after disappearing in powerful explosions. Even the 55th contributed by dropping JDAMs below. Brooks watched his JDAM from the small screen inside his cockpit hit a building, debis sent flying in all directions and leaving a smoldering crater in it's wake.
The force descended from four thousand feet to just over one thousand as the A-10s began their strafing runs. Air-to-air missiles dealt with any Wyvern that attempt to escape and dirt shoot upwards while supplies and watch towers were destroyed. The outpost that had once centered around large cave tunnels either natural or dwarf-made had been wiped off the map, thousands of corpses scattered for miles around.
Januses 27th, 688 of the Imperial calendar
"My lord, Pinder has been killed in the failed attack over the traitorous city of Tourmaren. Eyewitness accounts have suggested he died attempting to flee the battlefield after the majority of his force was killed." Zorzal slammed his fist into the armrest of his throne. "Damnit!" He exclaimed, "That useless bastard! Incompetent even after death, wish he was still alive so I could see him crucified. Pawodan who had informed his lord of the previous member of the war council continued on his report. "Im also afraid that many in the Wyvern corps have either refused to go on any more raids or plainly deserted. As much as twelve thousand have left to beyond the Knappai range but we still have three fourths of our strength at your disposal."
The attacks on Elbe and Toumaren were highly successful with possibly thousands engulfed in flame but there was a new problem emerging. The barbarians had located where they stored their wyverns, attacking then at night when they couldn't defend themselves. This had stopped the planned attack on Alnus, leaving their most important position perfectly safe. "Pawodan, I believe we must reallocate at least fifty thousand wyverns east of Telta to give air support to upcoming defense of the Capital with another fifty thousand riders pressed into service in the army."
This would significantly weaken the Wyvern corps but he was loyal to his emperor and to his nation. "Consider it done by lord." Zorzal then turned his attention to count Woody who was in charge of the defense of the Marias forest, where two hundred thousand men would turn the enemy advance into a meat grinder. "I also need men to be distributed to the city, seventy-five thousand to be precise." But Woody dispite his loyalty had some objections. "My lord, the more men in Marais then the more barbarians we can pin down that could be sent-" "Are you defying me?!" The emperor screeched, frightening everyone. "N-no my lord! I was simply making a suggestion, please accept my rudeness." He says as he kneels down in front of Zorzal. "Hmmm, fine...I'll give you my mercy once and this will be the last time you try to defy my orders."
"Now my dear Mudra, in addition to the men, woman without husbands or children must serve and I want you to find as many ladies from Sadera, Telta, propter, Mare, and Rekki as possible to fight and keep the men company. I have arranged Gimlet to send five hundred ogres to the outskirts where they'll do well against the barbarian vanguard units." He explained to his loyal general, certain that his military could stop his foes advance dead.
Januses 28th, 688 of the Imperial calendar
The Oprichki centurion watched as his men aim the catapults on a ridge overlooking a dam that prevented the Rho from spilling into the farmland west of the capital. "They're ready sir!" Said a soldier just underneath his command though he could already see that. "Good, time to save the empire. Release!" He shouted and a dozen boulders went flying before smashing into the target. As the structure failed a massive wave of water was unleashed upon a small village ignorant of the Oprichnina's plans, swallowed whole as the Oprichki were perfectly safe where they were.
He knew that only the northern part of the plains could be flooded and left the Imperial legions defending the legion trapped and without a way out. It was a needed sacrifice for the emperor. "Gods bless the emperor!" He said as the plan went into motion. 'This war is as good as won!' The Oprichki thought while the morning sun rose above his work, shining light on the atrocity that he had just committed.
February 28th, 2017 of the Gregorian calendar
He was shocked, the Ugarian plains had been turned into marshland as water from the Rho cascaded down south and preventing even the apcs from surrounding the capital as planned until the ground hardened once more. This left the dark and well defended Marais forest as the only real direction to attack from. The 75th ranger, 27th infantry, 14th infantry, 8th infantry, and the 11th field artillery regiments combined were assigned the grueling task of clearing the forest filled with at least a corps' worth of enemy combatants though they'd be supported by extensive air support by the 335th fighter squadron, 343rd bomb squadron, and 15th attack squadron.
General Kowalski knew his boys could succeed as the 27th had held their ground at Italica and the rangers of course swiftly led the charge across the southern Dumas against outclassed yet determined defenders on the snowy peaks and valleys. They had radically changed from sword wielding mobs to a large guerrilla force armed with crossbows, muskets, and muzzle loading cannons in just a span of a year; their tactics mutating as well. Drone footage had shown men leaving the forest for the capital city where the enemy would make their last stand but he knew the city was practically starving and morale was low. He could've just bombed it to oblivion had it not been for the Saderans literally forcing civilians back into the city either to be drafted into militias or as human shields, stubbornly resisting enviable defeat as always.
The operation to take Marais would begin on March third with a preemptive fire bombing of the area to destroy vegetation and whatever could be used as cover before the infantry moved in to mope up any resistance left. It would take a little bit but once cleared then the main road that passed through the area would be safe for supplies to head through, the end of the forest only being twenty miles from the Saderan capital.
He sighed as he finished reading the report, with the defenders of the western flank trapped with no hope of resupply they basically were no real threat, especially without their annoying air support that was being butchered at the moment. He decided to simply fortify his position so that if they foolishly attacked, they'd waste their numbers. Instead he for now would begin a propaganda campaign of dropping pamphlets urging men to surrender which would be benefiting for both sides.
Januses 28th, 688 of the Imperial calendar
Pawodan knew what was at stake, what would happen if he and the wyvern corps failed. Their numbers due to combat losses, desertions, and reallocation had been reduced to just over a hundred thousand for this campaign that that unfazed him. He knew that the next day his forces would go in a all out assault on Alnus to destroy the Gate against the emperor's orders. He knew the possible riches on the other side but starving out the enemy would be better, with additional slaves and god like weapons at their disposal. All wyvern activity would temporarily cease for the day, preventing needlessly wasting finite manpower. It wouldn't be the blouded army or the weak navy that would win the war, but the sacrifice and valor of his wyvern rides. This would be their greatest triumph of all time.