Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 4- First Capture

(X+36 hrs, 36 hours after the Numenor landings)

As the sun rises on the shores of Numenor, the island is in chaos. Word has spread across the island that an unknown enemy has landed on the northern shore. What remains of the Numenorean military is trying to marshall their forces to prepare to resist the invasion, but most of their military is on the eastern half of the island. Few military forces are in the area where the landings have taken place.

For the Americans, the invasion is so far going well. They have established a secure beachead, and all 11 divisions of the northern landing force are ashore. The process has now shifted to getting all of their vehicles, heavier equipment, and all other supplies ashore. In the meantime, Halsey has left the landing area and is now sailing along the northern coast of Numenor. His battleships and cruisers sailed along the coast, shelling towns and installations ashore while the air wings of his carriers were launching air strikes all across Numenor, though most of them were concentrated in the north to try and convince the Numenoreans that all combat operations would begin in the north.

Right now, the landing forces were mostly focused on keeping the beachead secured until all supplies were ashore. However, the VIII Corps, which had landed at the southern most beach of the landing area, was tasked with a new job. Right outside the current lines of the American beachead was a town that was confirmed to have a relatively heavy military presence. Therefore, the 28th Infantry Division has been detached from the VIII Corps to capture the town.

The 28th and 86th is a light infantry division. It numbers about 26,000 troops, and has a single battalion of 28 M4 Sherman tanks. They will also be going in with minimal air support, as there are currently just a pair of escort carriers in position to provide air support, and no airfields have been established yet. But, with how much they expect to outnumber the military forces, the American commanders are not too worried.

The 28th has already moved out and assumed positions around the town. The Numenoreans in the town have by now realized that the Americans have surrounded the town, and are just waiting for the assault to begin.

Outside the town, the Americans have prepared to begin their assault on the town. The soldiers of the 28th have dug series of trenches in case they have to dig in, while also setting up their artillery. Now, they are ready to begin their assault.

Outside the town, the 28th's commander, Major General Cota, lowers a pair of binoculars as he looks out at the town from a small tower that has been constructed as a lookout position. He looks down at the officers gathered at the base of the lookout tower. "Alright. Move out!" Cota orders.

The officers hurry to get the orders out to the division. As the troops starts getting ready to move, the division's artillery begins to fire. Artillery shells begin slamming into fortifications and barracks on the outside of the town. Lookouts keep careful watch for Numenorean soldiers to begin moving into view. Any time they see some Numenorean soldiers coming into the streets, the lookouts direct the artillery crews to focus their fire on the Numenoreans. Dozens of Numenorean soldiers are killed by exploding artillery.

Soon enough, the troops of the 28th begin to move. One of the division's infantry battalions leads the way into the town on foot. The division's tank battalion follows behind them, it's 28 tanks spread out and leading more infantry battalions into the town.

The Numenorean soldiers still in the town see the soldiers of the 28th beginning to advance towards the town. Although the Numenoreans can tell that the American division far outnumbers them, they feel that in close quarters combat they will still dominate the Americans, not yet understanding the weapons and firepower the Americans possess.

The Numenoreans try to spread out to lay some ambushes for the Americans, including stationing a number of archers on the roofs of the buildings in town.

However, as the Numenoreans are trying to move into their positions, they hear the roar of aircraft engines. Looking up, the Numenoreans see eight FM-2 Wildcats from the two escort carriers off the coast arriving over the town. The Wildcats are armed only with their machine guns, but with a full load of ammunition for the guns. As the Numenoreans, several Wildcats start coming down in screaming dives towards the town to make strafing runs on the Numenorean defenses.

The Wildcats streak low over the town, firing their machine guns at the archers positioned on roofs in the town. Dozens of archers are killed as 50 caliber machine gun rounds tear through their bodies. A number of soldiers down in the streets are also spotted by the Wildcat pilots and machine gunned, most of them killed instantly.

The Numenoreans realize quickly that being out in the open is a death sentence with the Wildcats flying around. The soldiers and few remaining archers start running for cover.

As the Wildcats continue hunting for more targets for their machine guns, the troops of the 28th enter the town. The leading battalion is all light infantry, almost all armed with M1 rifles, but also with a handful of submachine guns.

As the troops enter the town, they can see some Numenoreans watching them from their windows. At first, the town is relatively silent except for the sounds of the Wildcats' engines and the sound of crackling flames from a few fires started by the initial artillery bombardment.

However, the relative silence doesn't last long. Within a minute, Numenorean soldiers come streaming out of a building just inside the town that looks like a normal house but is actually used as a barrack.

The yells of the Numenorean warriors seem to be the spark that really ignites the battle. The American soldiers raise their rifles and start firing at the Numenoreans. The Numenorean's armor resist some of the bullets, but at the same time, it's not designed to resist 30 caliber rounds traveling at three times the speed of sound. Most of the Numenorean soldiers fall wounded or dead, and the few survivors scatter.

"Keep moving! Don't slow down!" one of the officers calls out to the battalion. The men continue their advance into the town.

Within the next few minutes, the division's tanks begin to enter the town. Ordinary Numenorean civilians stare in fear at the massive hulking machines as the tanks rumble down the streets of the town. Then, their fear of the tanks is solidified when one of the tanks spots a handful of Numenorean soldiers charging down the street up ahead and quickly kills the group with a shell from its 75mm main gun. The sound of the gun firing and then of the shell exploding sends fear through many of the Numenorean civilians.

The Americans continue their advance into the town as the Numenoreans try and regroup. Many of the Numenorean soldiers try to pull back towards the city center, but others start moving to more sneaky tactics. A number of soldiers hide in residential buildings or shops and wait for American soldiers to come past them in order to jump them from the side.

However, the Numenoreans underestimate the Americans' readiness and the power of their guns. With many having fought in Germany where this kind of tactic was often used, they are prepared for the Numenoreans to use the same tactic to try and make up for their disadvantages. As Numenoreans try jumping the Americans from the side, the Americans quickly fire at them with their rifles and pistols. The Numenoreans are able to resist being shot a bit better than any of the Germans that the troops of the 28th have fought before. However, it's not enough to save them. Any Numenorean that tries this is shot down, and only two American soldiers are killed by the Numenoreans. Several more Americans are killed by arrows shot by Numenoreans hiding on roofs or upper floors of buildings, but those archers are either killed by Wildcats or men armed with rifles.

Within the space of only about 25 minutes, the Americans have pushed all the way to the town center. All of the Numenorean soldiers remaining in the town have gathered in the town center, where a fortified structure stands as a bastion for defense of the town.

The Americans realize that the Numenoreans technically have the advantage here. However, they also know they can easily counter the Numenoreans.

The 28th's commander quickly move the division's tank battalion into the town square, arranging the tanks around the fort in a formation to protect the troops behind them from any arrows or other projectiles that might come out of the fort. The tanks stay motionless, guns aimed at the fort while more troops assemble in the town square and a translator to come.

Soon enough, one of the Faithful arrives in the square. A handful of the Faithful had been brought in by the Americans to serve as translators. As the individual makes his way towards the tanks, one of the Americans hands him a megaphone for him to use to speak.

The Faithful Numenorean steps forward and raises the megaphone to his mouth. He then begins to speak in the language of the Numenoreans, "I am speaking to all of the soldiers currently hiding in this fort. Please, brethren, save yourselves and come out unarmed and surrender. If you do not do so, the fort will be razed to the ground. They will do it. Please, these people do not desire to destroy Numenor, but to save it from those who would corrupt it. Please, my brethren, come out and surrender! I swear to you on my honor that you will be treated well. These are people of honor, and they will not kill you or mistreat you. If you have committed great crimes, you will receive fair judgment, but only from Numenoreans. Please, come out."

The town square is quiet for a few minutes as the Americans wait for the Numenoreans. As the minutes pass, the Americans are starting to get antsy, beginning to think that the Numenoreans are not going to come out. The tank crews start readying themselves to start firing on the fort when finally, the main gate into the fort opens, and the Numenoreans begin to walk out of the fort, dropping their weapons and putting their hands on their heads. The Faithful Numenorean breathes a sigh of relief and calls out, "Alright. Everyone, step forward. You will be restrained, but you will not be mistreated," to reassure the Numenoreans.

The Numenorean soldiers walk forward, defeated and angry looks on their faces, but not resisting as they walk towards the Americans. Some American troops keep weapons aimed at them while others move forward to take the Numenoreans into custody. Each Numenorean soldier is restrained and led away.

The Americans are able to quickly take control of the town. The Faithful Numenorean with them is able to help the 28th communicate their intentions to the civilians. The civilians are ordered to stay in their homes unless absolutely necessary, and food will be delivered to their homes if it is needed.

Already, on the second day since the landings, the Americans have already captured a town and established a firm holding on Numenor. The invasion is off to a good start.

And, I'll end the chapter there. I know, short, and somewhat short on details, but I wanted to get the next chapter up.

Next chapter will be up within a few weeks. Until it is up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!