Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.


Chapter 6- Advance

(X + 9 days)

As the sun rises over the plains of Emerie, the dawn silence is shattered by a series of explosions. Amidst American lines, hundreds of artillery pieces fire their next volley of shells. Hundreds of shells impact the Numenorean lines across the battlefield, killing hundreds of Numenorean warriors.

The current battle in Emerie is being fought between a large Numenorean army and a combined American force of the 3rd Infantry Division and 442nd Infantry Regiment. Although the Numenoreans had more numbers, it was far from enough to offset their technological disadvantage.

With the invasion of Numenor almost a week and a half underway, the Numenoreans had finally begun to understand how some of the Americans' weapons worked and formulating strategies to stand against them, including the use of defensive trenches. But with their understanding still far from complete, their strategies only served to slightly minimize casualties.

The artillery crews of the 3rd Infantry Division hurry to reload their weapons for the next volley. As they do, a full squadron of P-47 Thunderbolts fly over their lines, heading for the Numenorean lines. The Americans had managed to put up temporary airfields on Numenor in the territory they held, allowing the Army to bring in fighters that were staged out of the airbase in Valinor, giving them greater ability to provide air support for their troops. Aircraft had also proved a valuable terror weapon against the Numenoreans, who were still struggling to grasp the concept of aircraft.

The Thunderbolts separate into pairs to start their attacks on the Numenoreans. Each Jug is armed with a full load of rounds for their machine guns, as well as 10 rockets. With no threat to the Thunderbolts whatsoever existing here, it feels more like a training run to the pilots.

Each Thunderbolt pilot sets himself up, descending to a low altitude and keeping themselves flying a steady course to maintain their aim on the Numenoreans. Once they are ready, the Thunderbolt pilots nose down slightly and squeeze their triggers, unloading their weapons on the Numenoreans, firing one to two second bursts from their machine guns and occasional volleys of two rockets at a time. Despite their heavy, well crafted armor that is praised as some of the best in Middle-Earth, the Numenoreans are ripped apart by the piercing machine gun rounds and the explosions of the rockets. Several hundred Numenorean warriors are killed in just a minute by the P-47s, and many more are badly wounded.

The P-47s climb to position themselves for further attacks. At the same time, radios of the battalion commanders amidst the 3rd and 442nd bark to life with a firm order, "All infantry and tanks, advance. Artillery, lay down covering fire."

The artillery of the 3rd continues firing as tanks, trucks, and jeeps begin advancing across the battlefield towards the Numenoreans, the infantry not able to board a vehicle following close behind on foot. As they go, the P-47s stay perched overhead, ready to assist where necessary.

It doesn't take long for the Americans to reach the Numenorean lines. The tanks, which had already been firing their main guns on occasion to sow further chaos among the Numenoreans, now open fire with their machine guns as infantry begin to jump out of trucks and jeeps and attack the Numenoreans, firing down on them with their rifles or jumping down into the trenches to attack with knives and pistols. Despite their incredible strength, the Numenoreans cannot stand well against such ranged attacks. Although they are still far superior to the Americans if they can get in close enough, the Numenoreans realize that the massive advantage the Americans have in technology may be more than they can overcome.


(Eldalonde)

In the city of Eldalonde, the chaos that had erupted in the city days earlier when the Americans first landed in the city has faded. The city is now under martial law, with about half of the 82nd Airborne currently assigned to occupation duty within the city. Most of the citizens of Eldalonde have been confined to their homes for most of the day, save for emergencies. Any food or other supplies needed is delivered directly to homes by soldiers of the 82nd. The Americans have at the same time been trying to slowly establish good terms with the Numenoreans and demonstrate to the Numenoreans that they are not truly their enemies.

At the former citadel of Eldalonde, which served as the head of government activities and a defensive command post, General Walter Krueger, commander of the 6th Army and of the overall invasion of Numenor, has set up his field headquarters. The building is manned by his personal staff and a few Faithful Numenoreans who had been brought in to help with the war effort to give the Americans the first hand knowledge of Numenor they needed to help boost their campaign.

In his war room, General Krueger is going over the most recent reports of the situation in Numenor. Although the invasion has only been going on for 9 days, the Americans have been making good progress. In the west, the Americans control Eldalonde, its surroundings, and have advanced to the Emerie, where they are now engaging a small Numenorean army. In the east, things have gone just as well. The Americans now control the northern half of the Orrostar and have advanced to the borders of Almar and Arandor. And, according to the most recent reports, the III Corps has reached the port city of Romenna, and the battle for the city has commenced.

All other parts of the invasion are going just as well. The new temporary airfields on Numenor have allowed the Army and Marines to bring in fighters and bombers ashore, including P-47s, P-51s, Corsairs, Dauntlesses, and A-26s. At the same time, the B-29s operating out of Valinor were continuing bombing raids across the island. And at sea, Halsey has his fleet positioned off the northern coast and is pounding Numenorean settlements and defensive positions, while Admiral Kincaid has his warships doing the same thing off the southern coast.

General Krueger is very confident in the war effort at this point. All of his forces, numbering 17 divisions and several independent regiments, are now ashore on Numenor, his and Halsey's aircraft are continuing to pound the Numenoreans across the island, and the Third and Seventh Fleets have Numenor completely cut off, with no hope of escape or reinforcement by sea.

All of the pieces are moving into position. And once the 3rd Division wins at Emerie, and the III Corps has captured Romenna, he will be fully ready to advance his forces on the capitol and hopefully seize control of Numenor.


And, I'll end the chapter there. I know it was short, but I hope it was still okay.

So, I did a little research, and from what I could see, the central region of Numenor is about 250 miles across, and each of the five points of the island is about the same. So, from the eastern landing sites to the capitol of Armenelos I would guess is a distance of at least 300 miles, with a distance of at least 400 miles from Eldalonde to Armenelos. For comparison, the distance between Los Angeles and Phoenix in the United States is about 370 miles. So, with few obstacles, I imagine it wouldn't take the Americans long to reach Armenelos.

Next chapter will show the 6th Army beginning their assault on the capitol of Armenelos, and it will be much longer than this one. It should be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review and stay tuned