However, a luminous greenish bolt of lightning struck the small figure. I saw the figure fall in front of me but I did not care for his life. I looked directly into the doorway and saw the source of the beam. A rat with metal things attached to its body in unorthodox ways.
"Quast. I need to report this immediately to the general staff. We need all available reinforcements."
—--
POV Narrator.
A motorized division had enough firepower to overwhelm several infantry divisions with its speed and means. Here, however, there was no speed. The troops created improvised trenches and fortified points by firing at anything that moved and had hair on it.
The 203rd had to withdraw with Major Tanya von Degurechaff seriously wounded and being treated in Berun by the best doctors. Five more divisions were sent to the Quarantine Zone as the battle area was called. It lasted exactly 13 days and 12 nights until the rats waned in their offensive. In these days the imperial diplomats gathered all the facts and requested secret negotiations with Francois and the Legadonia Entente. The Kaiser's orders were clear. It does not matter that both nations Francois and Legadonia have treacherously declared war on the Empire. The Empire is facing a threat it has never known before. A ceasefire must be negotiated at all costs.