Occupied Egypt
March 2017 A.T.B.
The destruction of United Europia's central supply point, which both stored and provided a steady supply of supplies to the front and rear wards, proved to be like a puncture of the heart to the body. The blood, pumped and motivated to move through the core of the body, was destroyed. The red blood cells lost the ability to supply fresh oxygen to the cells, as a result of which the body began to die very quickly and it was inevitable at this point. Such a medical-biological comparison was the best in this particular case. As if that were not enough, the commanders of battalions, divisions and corps have, for the most part, plunged into total chaos, due to a lack of supplies of supplies to enable them to continue this fight. In the great majority of cases, a retreat to the north has been ordered, chaotic and devoid of any semblance of order. Only a few commanders and their subordinates decided to fight to the last soldier, with the overwhelming and much better organized troops of the Holy Britannian Empire. It also happened that officers who did not order a retreat were either blown up with grenades or run over by tanks or other vehicles, all at the initiative of their subordinates, who were much less willing to die for the republic. Although General Ciano Badoglio did his best to control the chaos that ensued, his authority completely collapsed and the commanders of the retreating forces acted on their own. Nobody had any centrally organized control over these vast masses, except the commanders of individual formations and staff officers. It was one big mess, impossible to comprehend. As if all this was not enough, many divisions and corps did not have enough fuel to effectively retreat northwards towards Cairo, where troops would regroup and re-establish a stable front line that could withstand the pressure of the empire through a long time, or it may even enable a counterattack. As for the formations that did not have enough fuel, the other way around, they were always circled and then, depending on the circumstances, either broken up or capitulated by the commanders. Regardless, however, the effect was always the same, columns of hundreds of captives that literally piled up on the roads. The Order of Michael and Knights of the Purple Rose were strongly involved in eliminating cut-off formations, and they started the smashing operation with 100% efficiency and without the need to use artillery fire. Especially effective was Lucius vi Britannia and his unconventional method, which was primarily to tempt the commander of United Europia to surrender, and when that did not happen, the Purple Prince only then ordered combat operations, which, however, were not something often encountered on the battlefield . Prince Lucius ordered the KMF battalion and the royal guard subordinate to him to make quick maneuvers in front of the enemy's positions. There was only one goal, to force the opponent to waste ammunition until it was simply impossible to continue the fight. Although this tactic seemed to be extremely risky and dangerous for the pilots themselves, it usually brought results and I will spend the last weeks doing just that, maneuvering before the positions of the encircled enemies, which almost always ended without losses, and in the worst case the destruction of one or more machines . However, there have never been any fatalities. Prince Lucius was personally responsible for taking back the surrender of XII. Panzer Corps, 112th Infantry Division, 73th Infantry Division and 37th Panzer Division. In total, there were about forty thousand prisoners. Although such losses can be considered low, it should also be mentioned that the size of the formation in those times was not as great as it was a hundred years ago, when one group of the army could count four hundred thousand soldiers, or often even more. The main reason was the new technologies that allowed fewer staff to perform the same tasks. Thus, the era of great divisions, sometimes having even twenty thousand soldiers, is gone forever.
However, Lucius was not the only one to excel on the battlefield. The Grand Master of Order of Michael, Sir Shin, has also had great success. The best proof of this was the quick surrender of two infantry divisions. Another and noteworthy success of this man was the breakdown of the 8th Panzer Army without major losses.
It is fair to say that the period of the few weeks during which the EU army plunged into chaos and disorganization was the best, most peaceful moment of this campaign. Entire formations of the empire could move freely along the front lines and were not in the least exposed to enemy counterattack, artillery fire or air support.
In addition, the development of Knightmare Frames projects and variants, based on KPR-00 and later KPR-01, was finally finalized and was in the deep implementation phase. Lucius had the ability to personally oversee the combat and field tests, and he couldn't have been more pleased.
The KPR-01 Mass was a very good basic machine for carrying out simple construction works, defense and supporting logistic or engineer companies. The variants, on the other hand, were also great. The KPR-01 / S Stormtrooper was characterized by an incredible level of mobility, while maintaining quite a lot of firepower. He is armed with one short one-handed sword, one assault rifle and two Slash Harkens. The Stormtrooper turned out to be an excellent weapon for assault and offensive operations.
The KPR-01 / SC Stormcommander was in many ways remarkably similar to its less advanced version. This time, however, it was decided not only to improve all Stormtrooper systems, but also to expand this concept to a level that was not initially planned. Stormcommander was characterized not only by increased mobility, but also much better radars, sensors, and constantly active Factsphere sensors. The armament of the KPR-01 / SC was also much better than the KPR-01 / S, because the Stormcommander was equipped with the experimental Energetic Machine Gun based on the Dober Gun as standard equipment. Visually, the design was based on an old Britannian submachine gun, the Thompson M1A1. I completed the offensive capabilities, it was prototype and consuming much less energy than the Beam Saber, Maser Vibration Sword, in the halberd variant. Additionally, the newest Knights of the Purple Rose machines had their armor changed in relation to the KPR-00. Chief Engineer Carl Tallgeese decided to borrow a new armor layout from the prototype Z-01, which was much more graceful and less bulky, which provided additional mobility on the battlefield.
The idea behind this development of Knights of the Purple Rose machines was simple. The company was to be made up of ten machines and commanded by a Captain in Stormcommander, while a Lieutenant, two Sergeants and six Privates would have Stormtroopers at their disposal. The commander could, thanks to his machine, provide support, obtain data from the battlefield and effectively give orders to subordinate people. This combination proved successful in the recent skirmish over the city of Maghagha, where the KMF battalion of Knights of the Purple Rose clashed with the survivors of the III Corps, supported by three Knightmare Frames battalions. The result of the battle was a quick and decisive victory over the exhausted enemy, deprived of appropriate equipment.
However, that time had passed, and now Lucius and Sir Shin were summoned to Ricardo Citadel, where a conference was currently taking place, attended by all the major commanders of this campaign. The main assumption was to define a strategy for the coming days. The situation began to change slowly as the front gradually approached Cairo.
To the meeting, Lucius took the commander of his guard, Captain Ciaran de Revil, and Colonel Garma Zabi. In fact, these two had been part and parcel of his entourage for several weeks. As for the other participants, Sir Shin took Dame Rowe with him as usual. Chief General Cornelia had Sir Guilford and General Darlton with her as usual. Another participant in the meeting was Colonel Florian Jark, responsible for logistics, General Sir Valerian Cassio, who commanded the vanguard of the ground forces, General Patric Wolf, the commander-in-chief of the air forces in this region of the world.
Everything took place in a specially prepared conference room, and the participants of the meeting were placed around an oval table with an electronic screen in the same shape. The room was designed to be a versatile place with a small number of decorations. Like the rest of the military and the rest of the citadel, everything has been designed with functionality in mind, not luxury and glamor, as some administration facilities do, in individual areas.
"Gentlemen, I greet you and thank you for coming in such a short time." Cornelia li Britannia welcomed everyone, but the courtesy did not last long and the Chief General got to the point very quickly. "The purpose of this meeting is to choose a strategy for the coming weeks and in the face of the new situation."
After these words, her eyes fell on General Darlton, who nodded his head.
"Thank you, Your Highness." He replied, then proceeded to explain details that might have eluded some of the assembled. "Our offensive towards Cairo has slowed down, and the direct result is fierce and well-organized resistance from EU troops."
For a better picture of the situation, the General reached for the console and activated the screen, which a moment later began to display the map, with the exact locations of all the empire's formations marked on it. Also, an overview of United Europia positions is displayed, as well as the names of units that have been identified by scouts and intelligence.
"As you can see, the EU's defense is now concentrated in the city of Beni Suef." Darlton continued, and moments later proceeded to better visualize the situation. "In the part of the city on the right bank of the Nile, the 65th and 14th Infantry Division are deployed, supported by the survivors of the 21st Panzer Division. Meanwhile, on the left bank of the river, the city is armed with battle-hardened VI Panzer Corps, 27th Panzer Division and three other infantry divisions. About fifty-five thousand soldiers, and the city itself, was additionally converted into a fortress, with numerous walls inside and anti-tank turrets. However, the areas and smaller towns around the city were manned by battalions and shelves from various broken divisions. That's all for my part. "
After these words, General Darlton sat down, and the entire conference room fell into a brief silence, which was, however, very quickly interrupted by a grunt from General Sir Valerian Cassio.
"Your Your Highnesses, gentlemen ..." He began in a hoarse and old voice, even though he was only fifty-two years old. "In our current situation, I propose the simplest solution, which is undoubtedly the quick occupation of smaller urban centers around Beni Suef, and the deployment of artillery. What we should do next is start shelling the city, both from the ground and from the air. "
"Indeed ..." Interrupted slowly and calmly, General Patric Wolf, who, as always, was more than ready to issue orders to support his colleague's ideas from the academy. Both officers attended New Colchester during one and the same semester, hence their friendship and support for their own ideas, which has been shown many times. "In this case, such action will enable us to achieve victory without incurring too great and unnecessary losses that could only adversely affect the morale of our soldiers. Given the prospect in which it becomes possible to throw Europeans out of Egypt, we cannot waste this opportunity or allow ourselves any negative factors to emerge. "
Considering the fact that their opponents must have been tired of a very long and chaotic retreat, this approach was absolutely rational. Cornelia was even willing to agree, as were her knight and General Darlton. However, in the room, there was one man and two of his subordinates who had doubts about it, backed up by intelligence reports.
"Such a solution would have produced results only a week ago, when enemy formations were plunged into total chaos and unable to conduct a coordinated fight." Prince Lucius cut in, and the Colonel and Captain nodded, while Sir Shin smirked at his words. This statement also ruined a fairly good mood among the other officers assembled. "Currently, the enemy will be able to launch quick counterattacks, using artillery and air support. Simply put, our chance to easily push the EU out of this part of Africa. "
"What are you talking about, Your Highness?" General Valerian Cassio asked him, clearly surprised by his large dose of skepticism about the plan that the aging officer found most effective in this situation. "I can swear you're paranoid, for your own good ..."
The general did not have a chance to finish, because he was interrupted by a firm look from the Prince's side that silenced him better than any words. As for the others present, Cornelia seemed interested, as did Sir Guilford and Darlton. Meanwhile, General Wolf and Colonel Jark, just exchanged somewhat confused glances, but preferred to remain silent and let things go their own way. As for Prince Lucius, he decided to expand his doubts in such a way that none of the gathered would have the slightest doubt as to his observations.
"Paranoid?" He repeated and asked with some distaste in the tone of his voice, but no sign of aggression. He was undoubtedly irritated, but he did not show it as openly as one might expect. Lucius remained stoic from the outside. "Being careful or judging facts based on intelligence is not paranoid. We made a serious mistake when we decided to destroy all isolated and resourceless EU divisions, while believing that someone much more capable would not appear in the place of the commander-in-chief in Egypt. . "
Rather, most of those present were surprised by such words from a man who was widely regarded as the architect of recent victories.
"If we could concentrate our best forces right away on a decisive offensive towards Cairo, we could be on the verge of ending this Campaign." Lucius continued, wanting to show his point to the fullest. "We have to look at things through the prism of cold rationalism and logic. It is not possible to end this campaign quickly, in the face of the efficient reorganization by our enemy. In addition, the forces stationed in the city of Beni Suef were reinforced by three armored and elite divisions. UE unit, Wywern Zero. "
"Where did you get such accurate information, Grand Master?" Cornelia squinted at him, curious to say the least where her younger half-brother had obtained this information. Although the Chief General had no hostile intentions towards him and had no intention of pushing him either, the temptation to learn about this source was too great. Especially when faced with some other factor. "If my memory serves me correctly, then OSI has not sent any report that could confirm your claims. All of them are at this point nothing more than speculation. "
Several people nodded in almost unanimous agreement to the Chief General's views, including Sir Guilford. However, Lucius himself only smiled, but he did it so indistinctly that none of the gathered people would notice it and interpret it as an act of malice.
"I thought you knew me much better, Chief General." Purple Prince replied, already having an elaboration on the subject in his head. "My spies were able to bring me all this information. They, too, informed me about the change of the commander-in-chief in Egypt. "
His words caused some consternation among the audience, as no one knew about this fact. Seeing this, Lucius decided to continue his story and informed the audience of the details of this news. In fact, he has already been in a situation several times when he has informed officers in command or in charge of facts unknown to them. Always, Lucius had some moderate, but still fun, letting them know.
"Who is this new commander in chief?" Colonel Florian Jark finally joined the conversation. A thin man, he remained aloof most of the time and clearly not eager to argue. "
Before answering, Lucius adjusted with a few quick but sophisticated movements, adjusting the collar of his desert variation of the Knights of the Purple Rose uniform, which he felt had become a bit sloppy. It was only after a while that he decided to get to the point.
"Recently promoted to General, Franz Malcal Junior." At the same time, Purple Prince pulled out a file from a folder that he had put on his desk before the start of the meeting, and inside there were several pages about the man he mentioned. "The oldest representative of the extremely wealthy Malcal family and heir to fortune, and most of the assets. He is responsible for carrying out this reorganization. It was also him who prepared and perfectly organized the defense around Beni Suef, the breakthrough plan of which is impossible to implement. I will say more, an attempt to implement General Cassio's plan would only result in enormous losses, and perhaps even opening up to a counterattack by the enemy. "
Lucius purposefully did not pursue this, and allowed an unspoken question to hang over the people gathered here. Cornelia only had a fast-moving mind and was eager to end that guesswork much faster than the others.
"Which would not only result in serious losses, but also in the destruction of our progress made during all these weeks." She finished for him, and there was a distinct grimace on the Second Princess's lips.
However, before Cornelia could say anything, General Cassio spoke once more.
"With all due respect, Prince Lucius, but what is the chance that this report and this assessment of the situation is correct?" He asked, staring steadfastly at the Purple Prince. "It is possible that such a report was released on the initiative of an enemy with the intention of deceiving us and possibly slowing us down until they can gather reinforcements and carry out a complete reorganization."
"I have complete confidence in my informants who have never let me down before and have always expressed doubts if any information could be uncertain. In this case, something like this never happened. " Lucius replied impassively and without looking into the General's eyes. In fact, he had complete confidence in his personal intelligence, managed directly by Mariemai Khushrenad, who proved to be extremely competent and thorough in this matter. In fact, Lucius has sometimes thanked God for this acquaintance, which has enabled him to accomplish some spectacular feats in the past. "I will repeat again. We have no chance of successfully carrying out such an operation, so a precise and well-coordinated assault will be necessary. "
"It's not just a matter of well-organized enemy defense." A clearly concerned Colonel Florian Jark cut in, and the information he presented a moment later was an argument that convinced both Generals that their idea was inadequate. "The shortage of artillery shells is also a problem. Simply put, the supply of raw materials, components and weapons for the new Knightmare Frames to be used by Knights of the Purple Rose has been given priority over the supply of artillery shells. We were unable to reduce the supply of Rifles, Ammunition, Food or Energy Fillers because of their enormous and basically essential importance to our divisions. I decided on something with a slightly lower demand, but that does not change the aforementioned fact. "
All heads at that moment turned to Prince Lucius, and the reason was perfectly obvious and it was impossible to deny the implication that was apparent from the words of the logistics officer. A particularly aggressive look, his half-sister gave him.
"It looks like this little Knightmare Frames development project of yours for Knights of the Purple Rose has caused quite a bit of trouble that prevents us from permanently using the simplest and most effective tactic in the coming battle." a scary twinkle in her eyes, not to mention her tone of voice. She had a reason for her behavior, and it was above all a desire to avoid unnecessary empire soldiers. Behavior characteristic of any rational commander who wants to avoid unnecessary losses of his own. "What do you have. to tell me, Grand Master? "
"Only this little project of mine can guarantee us a total victory in this battle, Chief General." Lucius replied, a smile on his lips that, under the specific circumstances, was a sign of the certainty of his words and the absence of any sign of panic. "I considered the possibility that prioritizing the development of Knightmare Frames on the frontline and just trying to do something like this could be disadvantageous. Regardless, however, it will have an effect both in the short and long term. Right now, Panzer-Hummels and Panzer-Wespes stand no chance with the KPR-01 variants introduced into use. In the long run, this will enable us not only to maintain a technological advantage over the enemy, but also to enlarge the gap that currently separates us with United Europia in this particular aspect. "
Cornelia and all the people gathered here had no choice but to accept his explanations and the reason he prioritized the development of Knightmare Frames. It was clear that, in order to continue the streak of victories, the empire had to continue to focus primarily on technological advancement and continually evolve in this area. Stagnation meant slow death, by giving up the field to their enemy. Regardless, however, such a selection of priorities created the problem right here, and solving it was absolutely crucial at the moment.
"But aside from the long-term benefits, we still need to focus on the current problem of conquering this fortress city as quickly as possible without suffering too great a loss." Chief General stated in response, then gave each of those present an unequivocally appraising look. "Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this problem before the enemy can get additional support from Europe?"
"I have two solutions." Lucius spoke. He did so almost immediately, which made it clear to everyone here that he had most likely developed this plan some time ago in advance, expecting similar circumstances. Once again, this man proved to everyone his great intellect and the ability of a real planner. "The first is, as I said before, a quick and focused assault on Beni Suef. If we had managed to perfectly synchronize the action of ground forces, air force and artillery, the city would undoubtedly collapse after a few hours. After a maximum of ten hours. "
"But that would have secured us an insignificant tactical victory and allowed us to attack Cairo." He was interrupted by Cornelia, whose fears were shared by the rest of the people gathered here, who clearly had no intention of making anything so short-sighted. "Even if we were able to capture this city this way, we would end up wasting a lot of time that the enemy might spend on bringing in additional divisions from Europe here, or preparing a proper defense in Cairo."
"I know that, so I also have a second and much riskier plan." Lucius replied, unfazed even in the slightest. However, adding the statement that the second plan is much more risky clearly disturbed everyone gathered here. "The main idea is to quickly destroy enemy defenses in these smaller urban centers around Beni Suef, surrounding the city on three sides, and then sending two forces towards the only places where the enemy can deploy newly dispatched divisions. Alexandria and Port Said. If we manage to capture these cities and, above all, their ports, not only will we cut off the enemy's ability to retreat or transfer new divisions, but it will also be impossible to send supplements or return to the continent. This in turn ... "
"... He will force our enemy to either recapture the seized ports or retreat towards El Alamein." Cornelia interrupted him, undoubtedly pleased with such a plan, the best proof of which was the proud smile on her lips. There was even the slightest doubt that the woman was extremely proud of the unquestionable talents of her deceased idol's son and the awareness that the boy she knew had enormous and still untapped potential. "But it also opens up the possibility that the formations involved in these battles will be cut off and swept away if the enemy manages to find out what our intentions are ..."
"They won't know." This time it was Lucius who interrupted her, and the firm tone of his voice indicated full responsibility for these words and assurances. In fact, the Purple Prince and his two adjutants have considered the potential for such a situation on numerous occasions. "They will most likely recognize that we are going to surround the city and will most likely send reserve forces to the rear so they can react quickly and try to break the lap. However, they will not realize that our goal is completely different. "
"I think I can understand why you are going to do this and not the other way, Your Highness." The smug Order of Michael Grand Master began the conversation. As soon as he heard the plan, his mind began to work almost immediately. "The plan is so bold and bold that the enemy simply won't even consider that our ultimate goal is to seize the ports deep behind the front lines." After these words, his smile faded and there was a kind of introduction to the next words. "However, this does not change the fact that in order for the opponent to be unable to discover our intentions, we must fully prepare something else that could provide a perfect cover and prevent our intentions from being fully read."
"That is correct." Lucius said in reply, but before he could say anything else, someone else returned to the conversation.
"Our vanguard could make a mock attack on Beni Suef, which could effectively distract the enemy." General Sir Valerian Cassio spoke. He quickly realized in the face of logical arguments that his plan was impossible to implement, and as soon as possible began to support the most logical plan that could guarantee the fastest possible victory in this part of the world. "Meanwhile, Factions Luxembourg and Vasa could occupy the side suburbs of the fortress city. I believe that such a solution may prove to be the most desirable and an effective cover for the operation. "
"Resolved." Cornelia replied, clearly pleased with the outcome of this meeting. "While some details will need some fine-tuning, we still need to figure out who will be tasked with capturing these two cities and their ports."
Lucius shifted his gaze to Sir Shin in a flash, who nodded briefly and almost in a way that was extremely difficult to see. It was a confirmation that both of their orders must get involved in these operations.
"Chief General ..." Purple Prince began almost immediately after receiving the approval of Sir Shin. "I think Knights of the Purple Rose and the Order of Michael will be the most suitable formations for this operation."
"I also have to agree with the opinion of Grand Master vi Britannia." The blue-haired knight put in calmly and matter-of-factly. "Our two orders in Egypt are the best formations the empire has at its disposal, and we have the best machines available. We will be able to defeat our enemies without any major problems. "
"Exactly." Lucius said. "I personally estimate that if we only start this operation in two days, with the fastest possible uptime, we should be able to take Alexandria and Port Said in ten to fifteen hours."
His words caused quite a lot of consternation among the audience, all because of an extremely bold statement about the rapid seizure of cities. While something so bold might have been a complete success, if only one point was destroyed, capturing and holding the city was another matter entirely. Even Sir Guilford and General Darlton entered into discussions on this subject, despite the fact that they had been silent a moment ago.
However, Cornelia had a different opinion and was already more than willing to grant permission for this daring operation. After all, there was one more detail that she wanted to know that could potentially be quite a problem.
"What about the infantry that could take the city and strategic points?" She asked, her demeanor making it clear that the answer was to be given immediately and could not be even the slightest evasive.
"It will be dropped near both cities, along with transporters and supplies for Knightmare Frames." Lucius replied. "What he proposes is not only to infiltrate enemy lines and capture strategically important points, but also to carry out a landing behind enemy lines. All this will enable us to acquire and maintain these ports. The enemy will most likely not even attempt a counterattack due to the risk of suffering too great a loss or completely encircling what is left of their army group in Egypt. The First Corps of Knights of the Purple Rose, and the Order of Michael, will ensure a total victory in the coming battle. "
Despite the fairly high risk involved, the other officers here endorsed the plan because of their overwhelming reluctance to miss the chance to push United Europia out of Egypt and thereby gain a foothold to attack the Middle East. It was an open secret that the Emperor personally urged both the Prime Minister and the Chief General to seize the Middle East as quickly as possible for reasons which the two and those aware of it could only presume.
The meeting continued for about an hour and some details were agreed on the subject of logistics and procurement. It cost the logistics officer a few wrinkles in his old age and a severe headache for the rest of the day, but eventually those assembled found a reasonable solution. It was decided to supply the fighting knightly orders from the air, and this in turn forced the addition to the list of targets, the destruction of the two largest EU radars in northern Egypt. But it was nothing that modern-day knights would not have been able to do. On the contrary, given the low bodyguard, it would be one of the simplest goals of this operation.
When all the details of the transportation and a few other matters had been completed, Princess Cornelia concluded the meeting with an extremely quick thank you to everyone who had contributed, and headed back to her office with her two most trusted friends. Lucius also rushed to return to his quarters as soon as possible and merely saluted everyone else as a goodbye.
The Purple Prince and his personal entourage returned to the office of the former after a few minutes of fast and unadventurous walking. Lucius immediately took his seat behind the desk, while Garma and Ciaran took the two vacant seats opposite.
"It was definitely quick, Luc." The purple haired Colonel, who smiled on his lips, decided to remind him of how much time he and a few other Knights of the Purple Rose officers had spent trying to find the best way to end the campaign and the whole war. "Rather, I expected you to wait a while and let all these people tire you out a bit before presenting a plan for which we only had to spend a few minutes."
"I was tempted to do this, Garma." Lucius laughed in response and a mischievous flash adorned his purple eyes. However, this brief flash faded as quickly as it appeared. "Regardless, however, I am going to raise a few more points with you before we move on to our next operation."
Without even waiting for an answer, the Purple Prince began asking questions as quickly as possible.
"Has Carl finished the job on this new variant of the KPR-01, which was supposed to be perfectly adapted to use the Foldable Cannon as main armament?"
"Not yet." Garma answered him almost immediately, automatically running his fingers through his hair. "However, he managed to complete his extremely long and arduous construction work on KPR-01 / SCT."
"A machine that uses a specially adapted sniper rifle with high-explosive shells as the main weapon?"
"Yes, Luc." Garma remembered all the reports and details about this new machine, which had already been tested, fine-tuned, and of which several would be used in the Order's forthcoming operation. "Scouttrooper variant, another successful development of the machines based on the KPR-00. In this particular case, Carl and his engineers did everything in their power to create the perfect machine for both reconnaissance and silent support of our battalions or KMF companions. "
"Perfect support tool." Lucius summed up pleased with the results, but he thought of one more thing as important as the functions of this new type of machine. "How many pieces have been built so far and are available for use in the next operation, Garma."
"Fifty-seven, Luc. Overall, eighty-five have been produced, but the others I have not mentioned before have not yet received the appropriate equipment that would give them a combat value. "
"I see." Lucius nodded, although he hoped for a little more, the number fifty-seven was still more than enough to support him effectively. "We will use these machines and their pilots as support, concentrated in small branches. Three each, except for the last one, who will accompany constantly as a support for me and my Royal Guard. "
"That makes sense." Garma approved this and no other use of the new machines. After all, he would prefer to see a slightly larger grouping of these Knightmare Frames. "However, I would prefer each squad to have five machines. This could bring us clear benefits in terms of maximizing combat effectiveness."
"That would be too much." Ciaran put in. He was one of those officers who saw fit to divide power rather than form huge formations that would be difficult at best to command. "The force has to be properly distributed to be effective enough. Otherwise…"
"Command and management becomes as much a problem as fighting the enemy." Lucius finished for him, then leaned back in his comfortable chair and wondered if such an increase would be advisable. After a brief moment of reflection, he made his decision. "But I think you may be right Garma in this case. Teams of five of this type sound a lot better and can deliver far better results on the battlefield than just three. Meanwhile, the other two will join my guard and support us. Now let's move on to the tactical issues and what enemy forces we may encounter on our way. "
Egypt
United Republic of Europia
March 2017 A.T.B.
Fort Naguib was a relatively quiet place, at least compared to the rest of the sites in Egypt that were on or near the front line. Although the hangars and depots could be very busy, the technicians and soldiers assigned to logistics were doing everything in their power to prepare the machines for the upcoming operation, at least the ones that were to be used by Delta. Meanwhile, the pilots practiced their skills in simulators and tried to polish them. The new members tried to get the best results while the veterans gave them advice.
The reason for such a move and such preparations was the decision by the new Egyptian Commander-in-Chief and Wyvern Zero to proceed with the operation to destroy the Britannian Knightmare Frames factory, built by the empire behind the front lines, near Ricardo Citadel. Each of the Delta units was informed about the general objectives of this operation, but the details were agreed between Leile and her older brother, the commander of the newly formed Army Group Egypt. This new formation was created on scraps of what was left after all these weeks of the EU division in this region of the world. It wasn't much, but it would have to be enough to stop the empire's troops, which, since their catastrophic defeat a few weeks ago, had seemed almost unstoppable.
In Leila's office, the General and the Colonel discussed a few final points before this meeting was about to end. They both decided to take their positions on a small sofa in front of a small coffee table.
"So we have to not only destroy the factory, encountered prototypes, but also kill or kidnap the entire engineering team, and Chief Engineer has absolute priority in this?" She asked when she fully realized the implications that followed from her adoptive older brother's previous words. While she might be intelligent, she wasn't that good at playing puns and reading their dual meanings.
"Indeed, Leila." Franz replied, but his uniform had changed somewhat. First of all, his usual shoulder pads and collar markings were replaced by generals' ones. The uniform itself was enriched with a white coat with golden epaulettes. "While the factory and other engineers are extremely big of a problem, Carl Tallgeese himself is the mastermind behind this Knightmare Frames development for Knights of the Purple Rose. We must kill him to slow down and destroy this project before it is too late and our army is completely powerless against the might of the empire. "
"I understood, Franz." Leila answered him calmly, though she didn't really feel like embarking on a mission to assassinate an enemy engineer. You might call it a soft heart, but the fact was that the blonde Colonel was reluctant to undertake missions that would normally be assigned to killers or saboteurs from Intelligence. Leila was first and foremost a soldier and considered herself a woman who was guided primarily by a certain soldier's set of values. "But you must know that I do not like the order to kidnap or kill a man."
Her older brother's eyes seemed for a moment to be human, somewhat absent. He was undoubtedly wondering about the answer, which he gave after a few seconds of reflection.
"You say you don't like the order to kill or kidnap a man." He replied calmly. "But still, as a military man you kill tens or even hundreds of people directly or indirectly."
"We're talking about a different situation ..." She tried to somehow counter-argue the words of her stepbrother, but he would not allow it.
"No, we're not talking." He flatly denied, looking straight into his sister's eyes. "As military, we kill every day, no matter in what form or by what methods. We kill, and we will undoubtedly kill more as this war continues. It is our piece of bread, as is obeying orders and our duty of loyalty to United Europia. "
Leila did not respond to his arguments, as she was well aware that her brother was absolutely right. After all, admitting it out loud was not easy, nor did she feel like doing it. It wasn't long before she took a deep breath, mastered her emotions, and decided not to bring it up anymore. Instead, she chose to move on to something much more essential. There was still a question of how to properly execute the operation to destroy the underground facility that was located far behind the front lines.
"How exactly am I supposed to do this task?" She asked, and her words surprised Franz, who clearly did not expect such a choice of words.
"You?" He asked in response. "You were rather saying: How is Delta going to accomplish these missions?"
"Not." Leila replied, almost immediately and without heeding any possible next words from her foster brother. "I'm sick of sitting helplessly in the command center while my people are dying and giving their lives for the EU. Besides, my presence among them will strengthen morale, which will be extremely necessary in the face of a series of defeats. "
It was all true. In fact, the blonde-haired Colonel was fed up with watching helplessly and from a safe place people die, endure the hardships of fighting, die for the republic, while she watches everything from a safe place. The argument about strengthening morale was also true and sincere. It was an open secret that some divisions were deserted almost every day, and Leila had no intention of letting it happen in her Special Forces. Wyvern Zero might not be 100% effective, but they always obeyed command, whatever the situation. Nevertheless, a serious obstacle appeared very quickly.
"I absolutely disagree!" Franz practically exploded as soon as he heard his younger sister's intentions. While they might not be a bloodline, they still cared for each other and were family in the fullest sense of the word.
It took a moment for Franz to control his emotions and his next words were much calmer. "I absolutely disagree with something like that. What if you fall? I can't let that happen because you are my sister and I won't let you risk your life unnecessarily. "
"I have to do this." Leila replied firmly, ignoring even his objection and his sincere concern. "Whenever there is an operation and the people for whom I am responsible are killed, I cannot be with them and I am limited by a convenient command center, miles from the front lines."
"But this by no means means that you have to risk your own life." He looked almost pleading and extremely pathetic. The definitive proof of how much he cared whether she would die or remain alive. "I don't feel like giving speeches at your funeral, or listening to other people's lips like General Smilas or my father."
"You know this won't happen." Leila answered him with a knowing smile on her lips, and she squeezed his warm hand, but there were some scars on it. They were wounds from many battles, many of which had not healed very well. "You have my word that no matter how hopeless the situation may be, I will never get killed and will be careful."
"I can see that nothing will convince you to change your mind." He stated defeated and somewhat resigned, but managed to remain relatively calm. After a moment he grasped his temple with his thin fingers and sighed heavily. "Okay, do as you see fit. Nevertheless, take care of yourself and come back alive, Leila. "
"I'll be back safe and sound, you have my word, brother." The blonde-haired Colonel replied firmly. "But now, we should get back to the operation."
"Yes we should." Franz replied, then leaned back on the sofa and got to the point. "Let me put it bluntly, preparing it was neither easy nor even more enjoyable. First of all, I thought for a long time what kind of vehicle could be big enough to move a hundred Knightmare Frames, supplies and technicians to the vicinity of the factory. Ultimately, I opted for the Desert Fox type land cruiser. Ideally suited to desert conditions, and has quite ample cargo holds and crew quarters. "
"Desert Fox type." Leila repeated quietly, then tried to remember everything she remembered about the Land Cruiser, that she could remember.
Basically, the land cruiser concept was coined during the Second Europian War. Initially, they were to be a new generation and type of tanks that would be able to dominate literally any battlefield. However, due to the enormous demand for raw materials in the construction of such beasts, the need for time, manpower and high failure rates, the project was eventually abandoned. The concept of these machines was reverted only twenty years ago, after the accession to the throne of the present Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire, Charles zi Britannia, who began the rapid rebuilding of the country after the Emblem of Blood, increased the central government's control of the areas, and began the rapid expansion of the empire's army. United Europia's staff and planners very quickly realized that they needed something that could give them an edge in the conflict that was looming and in fact was on the horizon, and the best proof of this was the imperialist-Darwinist rhetoric of the new Emperor.
Ultimately, General Staff in cooperation with experts from the Wilhelmshaven shipyard, using modern technologies, constructed the first and full-fledged land cruisers in the history of the modern world. In fact, they were usually machines with artillery and armor almost the same as on standard warships. While the optimism was undoubtedly great, most land cruisers, especially those of the largest size, ended their service in South Africa at the beginning of the war with Britannia. The reason was simple, land cruisers were free and made a rewarding target for either aviation, artillery, or Knightmare Frames pilots, whose pilots had anti-tank guns as equipment. Simply put, the concept of land-based battleships that can destroy anything in their path simply proved to be a miss and consumed too many resources. At least to remake some units and upgrade to Fox type.
"If my memory serves me correctly ..." Leila began when she remembered all the information she remembered about this particular class of land cruisers. "... It's a Fox type, specially designed for the transport of troops across the desert. To this end, it is able to literally dive under the sand, like a submarine under water. Additionally, it has been constructed to accommodate up to one hundred and thirty-five Knightamre Frames and some support gear. "
"You're right, Leila." Franz replied smiling at this display of his adoptive sister's very good memory. "Indeed, the Fox type was launched as it was, on the initiative of General Smilas, who values a much more subtle approach than an expensive and impractical show of strength. The Rommel, as your Land Cruiser is called, should be more than enough to transport you and the Delta across the wild outskirts of the Western Sahara, provide you with enough supplies, allow you to get into a convenient position, attack and then retreat back. "
Leila thought about it for a moment and decided to analyze it all in her head as she used to. On the one hand, the operation was extremely risky and could have ended in her death, and that of the rest of the Delta squad. On the other hand, the destruction of this factory, the elimination of the Chief Engineer and his engineering team, even if reluctant, might have given EU scientists and engineers the necessary time to develop much better and much more effective machines.
Despite all the uncertainty and high risk, the young Colonel decided to take the trouble with her men, and a small smile fell on her face, directed at her foster brother, who reciprocated him.
"When are we going to start this operation?" She asked after a few seconds.
"In two days, and the journey should take about five more." Franz replied. "In the meantime, I would like to inform you that new divisions and two corps will be dispatched soon."
"Really?" A surprised blonde asked, who definitely did not expect that the Chancellor and the War Minister would ever agree to such a thing. At least not after the disastrous recent weeks in which many experienced soldiers and officers were lost. On top of all this, there was also a question of public opinion, less and less favorable to the continuation of the war for the peripheral area, which, in addition, was waged in a completely inept manner. "Rather, I expected the Chancellor and the government to be inclined to withdraw from this continent, which is virtually worthless in the eyes of the public, not after it has been so taken over by the empire. Especially since Britannia has seized the most important sources of raw materials. "
"I was also surprised that it was decided to respond to my request and send in support, but apparently they are not going to give Africa back easily." Franz admitted with a shrug. "In fact, everything seems to indicate that members of the government have decided to change their tactics to maintain power in the republic."
"What do you mean exactly, Franz." The blonde teen's watchful eyes narrowed as soon as her stepbrother mentioned something like that.
"I mean, the Chancellor now intends to rebuild his support among the people through resolute action and military success." General Franz presented her situation without any enthusiasm, despite some amusement at such a level of naivety on the part of the Chancellor and his entourage. Africa. "He seems to be counting on sending backup to make a difference, but he seems to be ignoring the fact that citizens hate him and that Britannia has a technological advantage over us. If you ask me, we should have withdrawn from Africa to Europe long ago and organized a defense there. "
"Are you going to move the war to Europe?" Leila asked, both surprised and to some extent extremely appalled.
"No, but I say that something like this would be much more desirable than fighting in a remote territory." Franz replied, completely unfazed by her words of indignation. "If the battle was already taking place literally inside a fortress called Europe, and a large proportion of citizens could learn firsthand and experience the horror of Britannia's war, perhaps many more people would understand that the empire must be stopped if we are to save values, for which so many have given their lives. "
Leila looked down at the ground. "Sometimes I wish I was able to do more and make a difference. Change for the better, of course. Perhaps you will consider it a lust for power, but sometimes I really start to desire it when I see what hands fate and people have entrusted it with often. "
"Sometimes I have these thoughts too, and I mean nothing but a coup d'état, taking power over the republic and cleaning this cesspool of all the carcasses that led us to this situation." Franz replied, almost snarling, and his expressions on his face and eyes became definitely more threatening and promising revenge. After a while, however, he took a breath and returned to his usual gaiety. "But whatever our desires, we must take care of our responsibilities."
After these words, Franz stood up, stretched his bones and put the cap on the head that had been lying on the table until now. It wasn't long before he began walking slowly and unhurriedly towards the door, his foster sister following right behind him.
"That's true." Leila nodded at him as she continued walking. "Aside from our meeting, he is going to meet with the new Delta commander who is waiting just outside the door."
Franz was genuinely curious about this and tilted his head slightly towards his younger half-sister. "Who is it actually?"
"Initially, I was going to assign this position to the next officer who was still alive after the fight, and that someone was Captain Akito Hyuga." Leila chose to answer this question by telling the whole story so that her brother had the right context. "However, he rejected these offers, much to my surprise. Instead of accepting these offers, he proposed someone else for the position. That someone was Lieutenant Peter Kowalsky, now Major and Delta Commander."
"Peter Kowalsky." Franz repeated his name, and his thought made it clear that he was trying to remember if he had ever met a person with that name. As a military man with many years of experience, he met many people, especially because of his constant relocation to the next fronts and battles of this war. "I once met the commander of one of the Knightmare Frames battalions, Major Peter Kowalsky, but his fate is unknown to me."
"If he knows, the man was demoted and sent to Europe after an incident involving his battalion that was about to open fire on one of the retreating convoys. However, the battalion and the rest of the pilots were tired after the day of combat and could not tell enemies from allies. Needless to say, how it ended in the end. "
Franz nodded grimly, and there was no need to say a word more about it. In fact, he has met and heard of many in which friendly fire has had very serious consequences, even despite obvious mitigating circumstances.
Noticing the extremely awkward silence that followed Leil's last words, Franz decided to pause and end the conversation.
"If that's all, then I must return to my headquarters in Cairo to oversee the defense. With the rest of the Wyvern Zero troops at my disposal, I think the defense should be much easier despite having such powerful enemies. "
"I sincerely hope it will." Leila replied, a smile on her lips. In fact, she hoped Wyvern Zero would prove extremely useful in the coming battle, thanks to the recent Reformation and despite the lack of a single force. "In the meantime, I will complete my preparations and make sure Delta is able to complete its mission without a hitch. Although I still have quite a few doubts, I will do my best to save the republic. "
"I know Leila." Franz replied with a smile on his lips, then turned and decided to leave her a single kiss to say goodbye. The blonde-haired teenager blushed as what had just happened reached her brain.
"I hope above all that you will come back safe and sound, otherwise my life would be much poorer without you being around." These were his last words before he left her office, closing the door behind him.
Leila stood for several seconds, completely unable to take any action or move. The last time her foster brother gave her a kiss on the cheek was four years ago, after his return from the front. The emotions connected with this moment came back for a short while, definitely stronger than before. Although it was extremely strong, it did not last long, all due to the sound of a knocking on the iron door which was heard quite loudly in the office.
"Please come in." Leila invited the waiting Major and the Captain inside. It didn't take long for the trio to take their place behind or in front of the desk.
Personally, the young Colonel did not yet have an opinion on them, but she could not overlook some of the character traits with which she had contact already during the first joint meeting. Akito was quiet, almost imperceptible, and made extremely short, perfunctory statements that were undoubtedly insightful. There was no doubt that he was a highly introverted person, which Leila personally found charming, at least to some extent. Peter, meanwhile, was something completely different, and his extroverted personality was almost palpable. Indeed, the gray-haired teenager was the true life of the party, who was able to bring comfort to literally everyone. Leila personally appreciated his unusually warm mood as well as Akito's insight, so the blonde Colonel was more than pleased to be able to spend time with these two.
"Major, Captain." She greeted them with a loose salute as they took their seats. "I would like to say it now and straightforwardly that today we will be talking about the details of the operation that I mentioned to you two weeks ago and which was finally approved by General Smilas. I am fully responsible for the implementation and I have decided to appoint the Delta Battalion for this mission. "
Leila used the new name Delta and the other teams acquired after the Wyvern Reformation. From now on, the W-0 could basically be treated as a Regiment of several battalions, one hundred Knightmare Frames each, only half of which needed pilots as the other half were unmanned drones. It is true that this created a serious demand for technicians and auxiliary personnel for only one battalion, but the assumption was to make it easier to concentrate the great force in one place on the battlefield. Given that the empire's great technological advantage had to be made up for in some way by the EU, this was the best solution at the moment.
"It is undoubtedly a prudent move." The thoughtful Major commented as soon as he put his hand to his chin. "Given the technological advantage of Britannia over United Europia, destroying the Knightmare Frames development project is a very rational move. Despite the high risk of the operation ending in disaster, it is something worth taking in this uncertain ..."
It took a short while for Peter to notice the others and found them staring at him as if he was a bit freaked out. The main reason for this was not so much because you were thinking out loud, but rather because you were immersed in expressing your thoughts aloud.
"Sorry, I didn't notice that I started saying it all out loud." He muttered awkwardly, and Leila and Akito chuckled at that. The other one did it very quietly and with a vague smirk on his lips, which was an improvement in his old attitude anyway.
In fact, Akito had changed a lot, influenced by his friendship with Peter. The extroverted and talkative Pole turned out to be someone who was extremely successful in getting the young Japanese man out of his comfort zone, which was closed to all people around him. This has not yet taken place to the extent that one might expect, but it was nevertheless a considerable and unmistakable progress.
"Nothing happened." Leila, still amused, replied, then cleared her throat, calmed her emotions, and decided to get to the point. "But back to what's important, our mission is to destroy the factory, the prototypes, kill the Chief Engineer and others involved in the development of Knightmare Frames."
"In other words, destroy the entire project and those responsible for development?" Akito asked rhetorically, his piercing eyes almost seemingly piercing the Colonel's soul. "So what exactly is this plan going to be about."
"I kept going until you interrupted me, Captain." Leila answered him quickly, but without any unnecessary hostility or malice. "The plan is to transport the Delta to the rear of our enemy through the use of a specially adapted land cruiser. This machine is to enable us to transport unnoticed near the place where the factory is located ... "
The young Colonel continued to explain the plan carefully for a few more minutes. Both officers staying with her could not hide their surprise at the boldness of this undertaking.
AN: And this is new chapter. I encourage you to comment or leave a review.