Gallia
2nd September 1935
"This is Irene Ellet reporting live from the CBS radio station". The sound of Irene Ellet play through out of all of Gallia. The whole nation was waiting on scattered reports of a cease fire between the Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance and the Atlantic Federation to be deemed true or false. If the reports were indeed true then this war would be far from other. Thousands upon thousands of Imperial soldiers would flood into the country and defeat would be certain. The only question was how long it would take for Gallia to fall.
"Due to scattered reports of a cease fire between the Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance and the Atlantic Federation, we sent one of are reports to a press meeting with the Atlantic Federation's ambassador Jean Townshend. Here what he has to say reporting live at the meeting.
"Today is a great day for the two super powers of Europa. Today are nations will have peace in our time and the endless bloodshed between are great nations will finally come to a end. On this day the Second Europan War will go down in the history books as the day it end.".
" Today I can put my hand out and shake the hand of the man next to me, and have no worry about the possibility of him placing a knife in my back. Today the Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance and the Atlantic Federation can shake they hands in friendship".
The report then went silent and all that could be heard was the whispers of a the usual upbeat Irene Ellet "What. How?". Like that the nation of Gallia's population and armed forces knew what was coming to their very door steps soon. The full might of the Imperial army!
...
Gallia
Bruhl
Town Hall
2nd September 1935
Due to this radio report the town of Bruhl was alive with the sound of panic as everyone tired to find out what there were doing in a hard to defend town, with no man made defences in sight. Everyone but Captain Varrot who had just received her orders on what 3rd regiment was supposed to do. The orders in question were delivered by telegraph and read defend Bruhl till new orders received.
That bastard was using us as bait was Varrot's first conclusion and initial ideas on the telegraph. The General was surely using the militia forces to limit the number of Imperial troops that could march straight into Randgriz as the Imperial forces would have to leave troops to deal with the militia forces or they supply routes would be under threat and possible sneak attack from behind. What could she do? If she went against orders she would surely be court marshalled for not following orders of her commander . If she stayed then she would be getting everyone under her killed effectively. At best it was a damn if you don't and damn if you do situation.
The town of Bruhl had very few defences and staying with a limited force that could easily be surround and put under siege didn't seem like a very inviting situation to be in. If the 3rd regiment did manage to hold out against a Imperial attack then it would be the lack of supplies like food and water that would finish them off. As Varrot couldn't see a commander that had left them out for bait as the kind of person to supply her regiment so any chance of outside support would be limited at best as well.
It was a strange feeling really to be honest. Yesterday it looked like the end of the war was nearing and soon the Second Europan War would be over and the Gallian people would be celebrating in victory after their victory of beating back a super power for a second time and in keeping their independent nation independent.
Now Gallia was preparing for a renew offence with a attacking force that swamped the Gallian military by one to ten. To make matters worse a commander who only held his position due to his noble birth was leading the defence of Gallia. Even a tactical genius would find it almost impossible to turn this situation around. The worst part was she had to break the news to her regiment still as the order was sent directly to her alone.
Hundreds of ideas like saying that the orders were never receive crossed her mind but she knew even if that was true they would be punished anyway. The only option was to hold out and follow General Georg Von Damon plan as doing anything else would lead to cretin death at the hands of they own commander sitting in safety twenty miles from the front she guessed.
Varrot guessed she would have to relay the new orders to her regiment she thought as she started to prepare to leave her office in the town hall. But her plans of leaving where soon halted by an a emerging Largo stepping into her room.
"Largo?". The Captain was briefly confusion in the nature of his appearance but soon realised what it was probably about.
"Sorry Madam but there's being something on my chest that I want to tell you and I feel like now is as good as any chance, than just waiting for a new day to say it. Largo was mentally kicking himself for that opening line. But he was glad that he was finally taking his own advice that he had once gave to Welkin.
"Largo, what are you going on about?" Was he really doing this at a time like now. But as he said now was as good as any time to do it. As living the life of a soldier you never know when you're going to get another day. As any day could be your last on earth. Death could come from any direction or at any time it was just something that you learn to live with.
"Varrot. What I'm trying to say is...". Largo's voice was cut off by an explosion in the room that at that time was unknown to the occupations of the room. To people elsewhere, it was from an artillery barge that was currently laying waste to the city.
Largo just stood they in shock at what he had just seen. One moment he was about to confess his love for Varrot and was happy that the day had finally come when he had grown the nerve to do it but now he was staring at Varrot who was on the floor bleeding out of her mouth and chest. It was only Private Homer Peron who was serving as Varrot's messaging trooper for the day due to j=his light injures that he received in taking the town, stepping into the room that brought him back to his sense and the first thing his senses told him was to shout at the top of his lungs "ELEANOR".
...
Gallia
Bruhl
Hill overlooking Gallia
2nd September 1935
Half an hour before Imperial artillery strike
Two figures watch the peaceful town of Bruhl in front of them. Little did they know that this small border town would soon be throw back into the fires of war in a mere thirty minutes. The two figures in question was Welkin Gunther and Alicia Melchiott.
"So it looks like we kept are promise after all". Welkin spoke with his usual gentler nature back and with his usual positive emotion of happiness.. The main reason for this was not the fact that Welkin was back home, which was a big factor but that he had finally stopped blaming himself for everything that happen. In twenty nine minutes that would all change.
Alicia listen to Welkin words while nodding in agreement as she scattered some type of seed into the oncoming wind. Welkin quickly realising what the seeds where from decide to explain about the plant in question.
"You know that Lion's paws are a bit like you" The Lion's paws were a perennial plant only found in Gallia. The plant's small, white, star shaped blooms were the most iconic features of the flower in question.
"How so?" Alicia asked mostly wanting to see what type of metaphor or smile would make him draw this conclusion.
"You see that no matter how bad things get they always find a way of bouncing back. Remember when we left Bruhl and all the Lion's paws were dying out ".
"Yes of course I still remember that day. It was the day that I first met you" Alicia said with a smile to further support her point to Welkin.
" Look at them now. They look nothing like the things there once were. They still carried on even though the situation was dire and start a new"
"But Welkin don't all flowers have seeds that make new version of them? Why is the Lion's Paw so special and different from the rest?
Welkin stop for a moment and slowly turn his head so that he was facing Alicia instead of the town of Bruhl below them. "Because it's beautiful like you".
At the sound of Welkin's words Alicia turned a bright shade red as she blushed due to his comment. But this was soon interrupted due to explosion hitting the town of Bruhl one after the other. This cause the both Welkin and Alicia to dive for cover behind the hill as they realised what was happening. An artillery strike. The imperial invasion had regained its momentum and was heading straight for the town of Bruhl.
...
Gallia
Bruhl
Police centre
2nd September 1935
Five minutes till the artillery strike
Lieutenant Nonnenkof unlike the rest of the captured Imperial garrison in his cell was not worrying at all. He knew due to a conversation with General Jaeger only a few days before that rescue was coming. Nonnenkof was from not from the garrison commander like many of the Gallian troops that had captured it had thought. He was in fact from General Jaeger's heavy tank group 'Lupus'.
His real role was that of General Jaeger's eyes inside of Bruhl. During his weeklong stay he had been recording data about the local area like the suitable route to take out of Bruhl or in the case like now, where the most likely enemy command posts would be. This was due to the idea of cutting the head of the snake kills the entire snake. If they took out the commander of the town then it would surrender due to the confusion of who the successor who be.
This would also give the least amount of lose of live to both sides and insure that Jaeger's unit was as deep into Gallia territory as possible by the day's end. Doing this would also limit the change of Gallia troops simple executing any prisoner that they had captured in retaliation of the Imperial strike against Bruhl. The battle should be over before it has truly start Nonnenkof thought as a smile came across his face, to the discomfort of the two Gallian militia men guarding him and from their conversation with each other he had gathered that they were called Oscar and Emile.
He would be glad to be rid of them and to see them on the other sides of these steel bars he thought as a explosion in the distance caused hope in the Imperial soldiers and confusion in the Gallian militia men. Now all he had to do was wait for the pan to fall together and hope that none of his guards were to trigger happy or this operation and live would be over for the garrison and himself.
...
Gallia
Bruhl
Makeshift Vehicle warehouse
2nd September 1935
Five minutes till the artillery strike
Zaka was currently working on the Edelweiss due to it taking minor damage in the liberation of Bruhl, also the tank needed it's ragnite fuel cells changed over, while having a observing Rosie watching him at work. But in reality the only reason that Zaka was making this repairs to the Edelweiss was to keep himself from thinking about what was to come in the coming months. In keeping himself actively doing thing, then the thought of the up and coming doom could be put to the back of his mind
"So when do you think we're be moving out?" . Rosie asked wishing the kill the silence that had remain for over five minutes.
"I don't think we will be. We currently being used as a meat shield by the guys at command at the moment to buy time for them to build a more defence line around a more important area like Randgriz castle for example".
Silence again covered the room as Rosie analysis the words that Zaka had said. That was until an artillery round landed right next to him and Rosie. His first thoughts were to run but running wouldn't help. To the shock of Rosie he jumped straight on to the round and waiting for his last seconds of his life to end.
Zaka closed his eyes as he waited for the end...
"Zaka what are you doing? You know that's a blank right? " With the sound of explosion all around the city they must of been lucky to get a blank Zaka thought as he looked down at the round which was missing its head and was indeed a blank as Rosie said. But elsewhere people who not be so luckily and their rounds would in fact be real.
...
Gallia
Bruhl
Imperial Base
2nd September 1935
If someone had told Radi Jaeger that using a mass artillery strike on a small village like Bruhl was needed over a year ago he would of called them crazy. But now here he was doing it. All he had to do was take the town without showing off his new heavy tank group 'Lupus'. As soon as he showed off his hand then the Gallia forces would make sure that where ever his force went that they would be a wall of Lancers waiting for him and showing his trump card at the first hurdle was not something Jaeger was planning to do.
Jaeger did how ever see this kind of tactic as cowardly as with his huge force he should be charging into the town not waiting around it for the enemy to surrender due to him killing off half the Gallian force due to a artillery strike that his enemy couldn't do anything about. This strategy had the 'demon of the empire' written all over it and that was the part which he hate the most.
How he was now becoming something like the man who had taken the freedom of his nation. Kingdom of Fhirald. Also he was using the same tactic as Gregor had used against his people. Cut the head off the snake and the rest falls.
He still remember the turn of the First Europan War quite clearly. It was the day that Gregor took command of the Imperial forces in Fhirald. He was like nothing that had ever been seen before. His tactics were unlike anything the Fhirald army was able to mange against. The pure carnage he cause was something that still strikes fear into many enemies and allies that were there.
The worst part was that on the deciding battle Jaeger had a change to kill Gregor! It all start due to a almost suicide charge by Jaeger's cavalry company straight into Gregor's command centre. But while the charge was suicidal and all of Jaegar's man died in the fighting, Jaeger still managed to slash Gregor in hand to hand combat with his sword. While the slash was a crippling wound to Gregor's leg it didn't kill him. Gregor then trick Jaegor into believing that if he spare his life the Imperial forces would withdraw from Fhirald.
How stupid he was for believing it. As soon as he dropped his sword Gregor's body guards rushed into the room and tackled him to the ground. The only words Gregor said to him was that "If you had killed me, then you would of won this battle".
Gregor's words still haunted him till this very day. The thought of if he had killed him always across his mind. Would of the Imperial forces left his country if he had done the least honourable thing and simply end the life of a injured soldier/commander that was in no shape to attack back? Would he be back in Fhirald in joining the freedom of his own country and might of he been back on the battle field helping his former Gallian allies instead of flying the Imperial banner in the sake of the slightest hope of freeing his nation.
In a way he almost hope that the Gallian forces would surrender quickly. That way he could have the least amount of blood of the very nation's people he had once fought with.
Jagear turned to his driver who was standing next to him in front of their custom version of the Lupus. "Tell the artillery to come to a halt and send out an messenger to the enemy commander to meet he in the middle of the front road coming out of this town".
The soldier in question was Johann Oswald the driver of Jaeger's personal Lupus. "Yes sir. Are we going to try and get Lieutenant Nonnenkof and the others back Sir?"
The main reason for this concern was that Oswald and Nonnenkof were two of the few soldiers that remained in Jaeger's command since the start of the war, as the rest were usually moved to other units. All of the soldiers in question had often speculated that it was of Jaeger's none Imperial birth and because that he might try and convince his soldiers to join him if he ever deflected to the other side.
"Of course we are. I'm not going to let him rot in a prison cell for the rest of the war. His very good at what he does. Now go pass on the order. This artillery strike is giving me a headache". And like that the guns over Bruhl went silent as Jaeger awaited the Imperial commander.
...
Gallia
Bruhl
Remains of the Town Hall
2nd September 1935
"What do mean Captain Varrot isn't available at the moment" An angered Faldio asked Homer who had just returned with Largo from taking the person in question to the medical centre set up after the liberation of Bruhl.
"Sir didn't you hear she had an direct hit from an artillery shell in her office and is currently in the medical centre. Sir if you don't mind me saying she's in no fit shape to be leaving an hospital bed at the moment". Why did this gut have to take his angry out on me Homer thought to himself as he was assault with a wave of questions.
Largo coming to Homer rescues and broke up the young officers on slaughter of questions. "Sir instead of complaining to a private why don't you organise a meeting between the commanders of each squad on who will go to the meeting as the bases commander".
"Ok. I guess it's just the stress getting to me" Faldio said in a weak laughter to try and hide how he really was feeling. Scared, tired and confused were all words that could be best used to describe what Faldio was feeling at the moment.
Ten minutes later at the town hall.
"Has anyone heard news from Welkin yet". The room was silent. "Then were just have to start without him then. Faldio couldn't believe that Welkin wasn't here. Now of all time, why did he have to go on a walk about.
"We all know that were in no situation to try and hold off this force but on the other hand I don't like the sound of surrendering to an Imperial army officer. I think that we should at least hear out what the Imperials have to say and even if that's just to but use some time to prepare a defence if needs be".
Vyse Inglebard the standing in commander of Squad 3 due to their commander being killed in action in the artillery strike. Took the lead next "I agree with Faldio were in no same to hold Bruhl at the moment so we might as well hear what they have to say, if nothing else".
The room was silent as the 3 Squad commander's of Squad 1,3 and 5 thought about possible choice for the up and coming meeting with the Imperial commander. Seeing that the room was silent Faldio took the lead again "I think that it would be best if I go alone to the meeting and act like I am the commander of our forces so that the enemy don't figure that were in a state of confusion at the moment. Any objection?" The two other commanders in the room both nodded their heads in agreement as what else could they do?
Faldio left the room to hear cheering outside the building. He quicken his pace to find out what was going on and soon got his answer. There Welkin was slowly walking to towards what Faldio could make out was the Imperial commander. He was too far out to stop now. So the fate of the whole of the Gallia forces in Bruhl rested on his shoulders.
...
Gallia
Bruhl
Meeting point between the two commanders
2nd September 1935
"Long time no see Welkin. It's a pleasure to meet you on the field of battle friend".
"Jaeger? What are you doing here?"
"It's easy to see. No. My troops are taking Bruhl for the Imperial Empire". Why would he ask something that he knew the answer too? He was a strange man.
"No not that. Why are you fighting for Imperial army?"
"To one day reclaim my home land from the Imperial forces by any means need"
"What by strengthening the Imperial empire and taking the land from an nation that you once called allies by. You take the freedom of one nation as a payment for the freedom in yours. Where's the honour in that. You say that you fight in the code of chivalry but your actions aren't support that. Not by a long shot".
"Enough. Having a battle of words will not solve this situation. I'm here to offer you an unconditional surrender. If you refuse then i will be forced to take this town by force or other means. The last words of Welkin's sentence had really struck a nerve in Jaeger. He was reassuring himself that what he was doing was for the greater good. As surly Gallia would fail even if he wasn't leading an attack but if he joined in his nation could be free again and he could repay his nation for his foolish mistakes all them years ago.
"You know Bruhl is my hometown and I've already left her once in this war. I'm not planning on leaving her again unless I can insure that all of my troops would get back to Gallian lines safely. And before you say that you can do that, don't lie we both know that Maximilian wouldn't allow it. So that's why I turn down your offer of 'surrender'. I hope that freeing Fhirald is worth breaking all of your codes and moral you lived your life by."
"Welkin. The reason Fhirald fell was because I blindly followed them old fashion codes at a time when they are outdated at best". Welkin want to further press Jaeger but he knew that he wouldn't say what he had done to cause his nation to fall at a time like this. What Jaeger had done would give Welkin much food for thought over the coming days as he turned his back to Jaeger and return to 'his' troops below him.
It was on that day the 2nd of September that the siege of Bruhl started. This would be only a small scaled event compared to what else would be Happening in Gallia. But the events of the siege would change the course of history as we know it all down to the actions that would take place in this small border town.
...
Author's notes: So this chapter was a bit on the small size because the next chapter will be the siege of Bruhl and instead of covering it in multiple chapters I might just do one big chapter to cover it all. As I think people would prefer just to get it all in one go then like one part Friday and the other Sunday.
Another update is the fact that I should be doing an update about the progress of the story on my profile every two days so don't forget to look at that if you wondering about where I'm at with writing each new chapter. Plus this story is now at 110 ten view so I would like to say thank you again to all of you for continuing to put up with me going on for about half an hour in the Author's notes. Sorry.
And to keep with the usual theme, all reviews, favourites, followers and PMs are really helpful as they help he understand what you the audience want in this story. As the story is being written for you. Also if anyone wants anymore sections on cretin characters then feel free to tell me as I like having these little parts that help break up the story at bit and there usually quite fun to write too.
As always hope you enjoyed the new chapter :)