Civil War Arc Part IV: Battle of Dezlegrad
Two Days later, Pertland Industrial City
After the Scout Regiment officially became the first branch to align themselves with the F.L.A, news of their defection from the main military spawned a wave of Scout supporters to join with the F.L.A. Boosting their numbers drastically, for now, they were simply being trained.
Jean mounted a horse, strapped into full ODM gear, and a rifle was hung from one side of the saddle.
"Come on horseface!" Eren rode up to him, already mounted, "We don't have all day! The Army is already moving out to Dezlegrad!"
Jean hopped on his horse, "I'm telling you, you're suicidal." Jean whipped the reins, leading his horse out into the convoy.
Out in the streets, thousands of uniformed F.L.A troops in horse drawn wagons marched out for war.
Alto had explained the plan to Levi Squad in detail. The primary force behind this would be the I Corps, the majority of the troops would be concentrated outside the city in trenches in preparation for an MP cavalry charge. They - combined with the artillery companies - would force the MP advance to a halt. Then, three Cavalry divisions would move in rapidly with Titan support which would be provided by Eren, Ymir, and Alto and force a decisive victory.
Once Dezlegrad was taken, it would be the lynchpin of their supplyline to Ehrmich and - eventually - Mitras. Alto estimated that once Ehrmich was taken, there was only one city between them and Mitras.
Meanwhile, Mina rode out with the other girls of the Scout Regiment, dressed in green cloaks, they had similar loadouts to Jean. ODM Gear and a rifle, as well as several round of ammunition.
The Scouts formed up behind the rest of the cavalry.
"Scout Regiment!" Hanji called, "Move out!"
On the road to Dezlegrad
"Historia." Alto circled back to her on his horse as they traveled,
"Alto," Historia replied, "What do you want to talk about?"
"I'll be blunt, I want you to be Kaiserin - once this is over."
"Kaiserin?" Historia asked, "Why me? I mean - you're the one leading these men."
"And that's exactly why I can't be Kaiser. It'll look like this was one huge power grab, however, you have a story, people will rally behind you, someone who rebelled against her own father."
"I see." Historia smiled, Alto did have a post-war plan, then again, of course he did, he wouldn't be him if he didn't.
"I'll consider it." Historia nodded,
"Thank you." Alto nodded, and headed back for the front.
"I can't believe this…" Marlowe gritted his teeth, "A rebellion?! Don't these people know how much the Crown has done for them?"
"Tell that to the people who lost their homes during the breach of Wall Maria." Boris said,
Hitch yawned, "I just want this to be over with."
"That attitude is way too lax." Marco pulled up to her, "We're about to face an army,"
"An army made up of farmers and laborers. What are they going to fight us with? Pitchforks?"
Marco didn't respond to that, but simply rode on. "I hope so…" But he couldn't help the sinking feeling that they're woefully underprepared for this…
"Line up! Present arms!" Genltn. Kallen shouted to her troops, "Today, we face the Military Police! They are likely much better trained, supplied, and more determined than us!" This earned more than a few laughs, everyone knew that while the second might be true, the first and third definitely weren't. Many MPs weren't actually those in the top ten, but rather people who'd gotten in illicitly or simply through being a noble.
"But, in all seriousness. The enemy we're about to face isn't to be underestimated," Kallen said, "We must be cautious, our enemy is indeed better supplied, and more importantly, it's possible we may encounter the Anti-Personnel Squad."
Several soldiers stiffened, they knew about the AP Squad, comprised of the best of the best from every branch, as well as hardened criminals and murderers. They were even rumored to be led by Kenny the Ripper himself.
"The soldiers in that squad are indeed much better trained and equipped. And are not to be taken lightly, do not attempt to be a hero. Leave the APS to the Scout Regiment to handle."
"However, we have something that neither the MPs, Nobility, or APS have." Kallen paused, "And that is that we have something greater than ourselves to fight for. We're not fighting so that we may be free, we're fighting so that our wives and mothers, our husbands and fathers, so that they may be free. And we will keep moving forward with them in our hearts, and as we step over our comrades bodies, as we're cut down, we will remember that our lives we're not meaningless, that those that come after us will remember our sacrifice, and will remember the burning fire in our hearts." She pounded her right arm over her chest and heart as she put her left diagonally high in the air and shouted
"Sieg Eldia!"
The warcry was echoed by thousands of soldiers,
A warcry the world had once feared, but had long forgotten.
A warcry they would soon come to fear again.
"We're here." Hitch said, she pulled out a pair of binoculars.
"What the…?" She wondered, all around Dezlegrad was a system of trenches.
"They dug out all that?" Boris said in surprise. "Just who are these peasants?"
As if in response to his question, a signal flare was fired as the MPs continued their advance.
And all hell broke loose.
MPs were suddenly shot off their horses as sharpshooters in the enemy lines picked them off. Soon, the scattered gunfire became a line of pure death as the entire trench line opened fire. With little natural cover (the FLA had been sure to remove it all), the MPs - completely taken by surprise at the appearance of a well-trained and equipped enemy - broke into panic.
"F-fall ba-" Captain Dennis began to shout only to be struck in the throat with a bullet.
Hitch whimpered in fear, "S-Stay in your positions!" Marlowe shouted at the panicking MPs and Garrison, "Drive forward! Charge!"
And then, there was a sickening whistle as cannon fire began to rain down on them.
A group of MPs were blown to bits by an HE shell from an FLA cannon, suddenly, Hitch's horse was impaled through the side with a barrage of hot shrapnel, instantly felling the poor beast.
Screaming, she wound up trapped below the horse. She tried to move, but the horse was too heavy.
"H-Help me!" She screamed, "Please! I'm trapped!"
No one bothered, the MPs and Garrison, she realized, we're more focused on saving their own skin.
Just like Stohess
"Hitch!" Marlowe shouted, he slid over to her. Trying to lift the horse off her, she began to feel the weight lighten somewhat as she began to slide her legs out.
Suddenly, another shell detonated near them, and they had to duck.
"M-Marlowe, I'm scared." Hitch whimpered,
"It's alright, I got you." Marlowe whispered, groaning with effort, he pushed the horse, and Hitch finally wriggled free.
The first thing she did was bury herself in Marlowe's chest, "I-I want to go home…" She sobbed into his chest,
Suddenly, Marlowe swept her up, and whistled as he run, bullets whizzed by them,
"Don't worry!" Marlowe said, "I'll get you through this!" He slid under a wagon whose contents had exploded, sending it flying over their heads.
Hitch finally looked up at Marlowe's sweat beaded face,
'Thank you, for everything.' She thought to herself.
"What the hell?" Obst. Charles Dumarque wondered, "How are peasants-" He spat, "-beating us?"
"Sir…we underestimated them. They have artillery and are fortified-"
"Then respond with our own guns?! Where are they?!"
"They were some miles behind our own convoy," The adjutant looked around, "Strange, they should be here…"
"Then take a rider…and tell those lazy sons of bitches to hurry it up-" Charles said angrily and then three massive thunderclaps, and the sound of hundreds of hooves.
"P-please…let me through." A bloodied man made it through to where Charles was, "He…needs to be warned-"
"Enough! See a medic!" An MP tried to stop the man,
"Wait!" Charles came over, "What is it?"
"It was…an ambush. Artillery Companies…completely wiped out, they had…cavalry…and titans."
And with that, he died.
Charles let the man fall out of his arms, 'No…it can't be…this can't be happening!' He began to panic, and then he looked behind him, and his heart fell into fear.
Hundreds of Scouts and FLA Cavalry we're bearing down on their position.
They were trapped.
Marlowe watched the Scouts and FLA approach.
'Dear god…it's true.' Marlowe thought in shock, the Scouts had indeed betrayed the Government.
He watched as the Jaw Titan leapt upon a group of MPs, and with one swipe of it's claw, slashed them all to pieces.
The Attack slammed his fist into an MP bold enough to take a potshot at it as the Flare unleashed a devastating torrent of fire from its mouth roasting dozens of MPs alive.
"Marlowe! Hitch!" Marco rode up to them, "We need to run!"
"But where?" Marlowe asked, defeated. "We've been encircled. And the enemy has titan shifters. Three of them." He looked around, "Where's Boris?"
Marco's face fell, and he pointed to a mutilated body, it's face contorted into a permanent O of shock and horror.
Boris was dead.
Hitch turned away, unable to look at it.
Suddenly, a white flare shot into the sky, drawing their attention away from Boris' corpse.
"A surrender signal?" Marco gritted his teeth, "Are they serious?! They let us all die, and then they just give up after what - an hour!?"
"Marco…look around us." Hitch muttered, "We came here with over 3,000 men and now we have…what, maybe less than fourteen hundred? This wasn't a battle, this was a slaughter."
Excerpt from the c.910 book "The Eldian Civil War In Detail"
The Battle of Dezlegrad - more infamously known as the Dezlegrad Massacre - lasted an hour and thirty minutes, and was a complete rout for the Reiss Faction.
On paper, it seemed like an uneven line up, despite their superior size, many of the FLA soldiers present were under trained compared to the Military Police and Garrison forces - with many only having up to 2 months training - along with having fewer artillery pieces to support them.
However, time is not necessarily equal to quality. Underestimation of the F.L.A by the Reiss Faction, the notorious incompetency of Charles Dumarque, and an overall incompetent Military Police regiment, who were hastily gathered and had no experience either open field combat or Anti-Personnel Combat - compared to the rigorous multi-faceted training the FLA troops experienced to make up for the lack of time contributed to the crushing defeat of Governmental Forces at Dezlegrad, and formed an opening for an advance into Ehrmich.
Battle of Dezlegrad
Combatants; Royal Government of Paradis Island
Garrison Regiment
- 2,000 Stationary Guard
- 60 Field Cannons
Military Police Regiment
- 1,500 Military Police
- 60 Field Cannons
Combatants; The Eldian Kaiserreich
Scout Regiment
- 300 Scouts
Titan Shifters
- Jaw Titan
- Attack/Founding Titan
Freiheit Liberation Army
- 6,800 F.L.A Soldiers
- 90 Field Cannons
- 600 Calvary
Titan Shifters
- Flare Titan
Leaders: Royal Government of Paradis Island
Garrison Regiment
- Oberst Kingston Halman
Military Police
- Oberst Charles Dumarque
Leaders: The Eldian Kaiserreich
Scout Regiment
- Section Kommandant Hanji Zoe
Freiheit Liberation Army
- Generalfeldmarshall Alto Burke
- Generalleutnant Kallen Lyndser
Casualties: Royal Government of Paradis Island
Garrison Regiment
- 1,210 Stationary Guard killed
- 469 Stationary Guard wounded & captured
- 321 Stationary Guard captured
- 90 Field Cannons destroyed
Military Police Regiment:
- 956 Military Police killed
- 357 Military Police wounded & captured
- 187 Military Police captured
- 90 Field Cannons destroyed
Casualties: The Eldian Kaiserreich
Scout Regiment
- None
Freiheit Liberation Army
- 10 Cavalry killed
- 56 F.L.A Soldiers killed
- 14 F.L.A Soldiers wounded
Alto pulled himself out of the steaming flesh of the nape of the Flare Titan, and looked around him.
Military Police and Garrison lay dead around them, men and women he'd shared a barracks with.
But they'd won…hadn't they?
So why'd it feel so…hollow?
"You're destroying yourself, and I can't watch that." Kassandra's words from a few days ago came back to haunt him, was she right? Was this a self-destructive crusade?
He shook his head, it was too late now. He'd dragged these people into this, and now it was his job to pull them through to the other side.
"Herr Alto!" Kallen called up at him, "We've rounded up the surviving Royal Forces, we estimate they're somewhere just under fourteen hundred men."
Fourteen hundred men, which meant that less than half the force sent against them survived the battle.
"We'll use them as auxiliary forces." Alto said, "They're utilizable manpower, and we need every body we can get."
"Jawohl!" Kallen saluted before riding off.
The Attack Titan came up to him, and growled, before lowering his head, and Eren pulled himself out of it's nape.
"'They're utilizable manpower'" Eren mocked,
"Don't patronize me." Alto said cooly,
"Then treat them like people, not tools!" Eren argued,
"I'm not going to argue with you." Alto shook his head, "We need to move quickly,"
Eren tch'ed, but Alto made it clear the subject wasn't up for further discussion.
One day later…
Hptm. Alexander Le'Chuan approached a group of men and women sitting around a campfire.
"Hauptmann Alexander." Zeke saluted him, "I trust your reconnaissance has been successful."
In response, he tossed Zeke a newspaper
DECISIVE F.L.A VICTORY AT DEZLEGRAD
At 8:00 AM on the morning of July 13th, 845 FLA & Scout Regiment forces engaged and defeated a combined Garrison and Military Police force of approximately 3,000 men…
"A civil war?" Evangelica gasped,
"It would appear so," Zeke said,
"Sir, with all due respect, this is our best chance to strike." Alexander began, "The Eldian Military has bigger problems now,"
Zeke folded the paper, and handed it to Reiner, who began to skim it. "I see…" He nodded, "You're right, as ever Hauptmann. When can we strike?"
"You know where Annie is?" Bertholdt asked eagerly.
"Yes, she's being held in the Military Headquarters in Stohess. She crystalized before she could be captured, she's safe. For now."
Bertholdt breathed an audible sigh of relief. Horrible scenes of Annie's suffering had filled his head, it was a relief that nothing was being genuinely done to her.
"We leave immediately, we need to strike while the iron is still hot." Zeke ordered.
"Jawohl Warchief!"
Road to Ehrmich
Historia looked out over the convoy,
"I want you to be Kaiserin - once this is all over." Alto's words played on a seemingly never ending loop in her head. Even if she did accept the position, was she even qualified?
"Hey girl." Ymir rode up to her,
"Ymir…" The taller girl never failed to elicit a smile from Historia, her casual cynicism and ability to crack a joke in and about any situation was what she found truly enchanting about the girl.
"You okay? Horse-sick or something? You've looked constipated ever since after the battle."
"You think so?" Historia said mirthlessly, she knew Ymir knew that something greater than horse-sickness was on her mind.
"Seriously, what's up?" Ymir asked,
"Alto…asked me to become Kaiserin." Historia confessed,
"Woah!" Ymir reeled in surprise, "That definitely isn't horse sickness." Ymir replied,
"Yeah…I'm just thinking about that."
Ymir thought about her answer for a moment, then said: "I don't think he asked you that question lightly."
Historia raised an eyebrow and Ymir continued,
"I mean, he isn't planning to sit you down and just control you like a puppet. He genuinely believes you have what it takes to lead Paradis Island"
"I know that, and that is what makes this all the harder."
"You want my advice?"
"I wouldn't be talking to you if I didn't." Historia replied,
"Alright, I say do what you want to do, that's what he's really asking you for."
"Do…what I want to do?"
"Believe me, I know what it's like to be forced into a position I don't want, and it cost me everything when it happened. If you lie to yourself then you'll only end up losing it all." Ymir looked Historia dead in the eyes, "Choose what you truly want to do, without anyone forcing you. That's all Alto - no, that's all what any of us have the right to ask for."
Historia thought about it, then smiled, "Thank you, Ymir." Leaning over, she gave Ymir a kiss on the cheek, causing the girl to blush red.
Historia smiled, 'I want you to stay with me forever…Ymir.'
"Impossible!" Gerald shouted, "Annihilated you say?!"
"Yes." Sannes nodded, "Completely wiped out. Not one returned, they we're all either captured or killed."
The Assembly looked panicked,
"Calm yourselves gentlemen." Rod Reiss ordered, "We still have Kenny's Squad."
"With all due respect - Kenny's Squad is only good for Urban Combat, we can't utilize them in this war-"
"I won't worry about that." Kenny said from the shadows, "They're walking right into our home turf. They're attacking Ehrmich next."
"How do you…?" Gerald asked,
"Unlike some of you, I took the liberty of placing an agent within the Scouts."
"A spy?"
"Yessir!" Kenny chirped, "And they have no idea."
Three miles outside Ehrmich
"Why have you called us here?" Hanji asked,
"I'm here to tell you, it's very likely that there's a spy within your ranks."
"What?" Hanji replied,
"Every member within the F.L.A has been vetted thoroughly, we have no associates of the enemy nobility here."
"What about Rosalie?" Jean asked,
"The exception that proves the rule." Alto said dismissively, "However, don't worry, I have a plan."
"What is it?"
"As you know, we'll be assaulting Ehrmich, however, it's very likely Kenny Squad will be there. So, we'll give the spy bait, we'll break up the Scout Regiment into different groups of 10, tell them they're the only ones infiltrating the city, and we'll see who the Squad goes for. Levi Squad will send one member to watch each. To see who ends up dead and who doesn't."
"You're telling us to start sacrificing members?!" Eren demanded, "What kind of sicko-"
"We have no choice!"
"No choice, that's your excuse for everything isn't it?!" Eren yelled back,
"Well, do you have a better idea?" Alto hissed,
Eren fell back, he didn't.
"Exactly, you know this is our only option."
"But…" Petra raised a small voice,
"I agree with the brat." Levi said, "We need to smoke out the rat. And this is the best way to do it."
Eren gritted his teeth, and stormed out.
Alto looked down, "Prepare to leave at 0930 hours tomorrow morning. Divide the groups and draw up a list tonight."
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