NOVEL NEXT RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 7: Case Yellow (Day 2 – Zero Hour) – Edited by Yovis
By securing the Meuse bridgeheads at Sedan, the Belkan Reich has achieved a cornerstone for a push toward the Erusean Channel. By taking Sedan, Army Group A has also ousted the 55th Infantry Division out of the region. The 55th, battered and bruised heavily, is now forced to retreat to their rear with the hope of regrouping with friendly elements. The Ustian Loyalists did plan for a scenario in which Belka would seize Sedan, even if it sounded so impossible in their minds before Case Yellow. Thanks to the backup plan, the Loyalists have the 71st Infantry Division that can be called into action around the Remilly-Aillicourt area. Given enough time, they can activate the sizeable X Corps stationed in Bulson to contest Sedan. However, the most immediate threat is the Loyalist 71st for they are a mere stone-throw away from the 10th Panzer Division guarding Southern Sedan. Since Sedan is considered a linchpin in Case Yellow, the enemy mustn't be able to cause any disruption. Even with the pontoon bridges, sending more than three Panzer Divisions across the Meuse is a time-consuming process, much less the rest of Army Group A. A traffic jam may happen if the Loyalists are to threaten the bridges with a massive attack from the 71st. Understandably, this is something I absolutely won't allow.
As such, a clone of mine is already on her way to put a damper on the Loyalist 71st Division alongside elements of my 404th's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team. Having been roaming these parts for an entire day before the fall of Sedan, the 1st ABCT is now in a prime position to intercept the incoming Loyalist reserves force. Due to the lack of working radios, lackluster training, and the Fog of War, the 71st finds itself being deployed in small, uncoordinated waves rather than one cohesive division. This is something that my 1st ABCT will utilize to the fullest for the 71st has split itself into a buffet of bite-size meals.
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"Overseer to Platoon, the enemy arrives right on time. Company in strength." Using a laser designator, I spy on the Loyalist formation that marches in the dark. They're not fully motorized, with many of their infantries traveling on foot. The only notable threat is a Char B1 section, two tanks, leading ahead.
From my vantage point, the marching column looks like a Christmas tree with how the Loyalists turn on all the lights on their vehicles. "Heads up, I think I spotted the enemy commander on a jeep, fourth vehicle from the tail. Painting it now."
I activate the IR laser on the designator, pointing the beam at the car carrying an officer arguing with his subordinates walking on foot.
"2-1, got good visual on the lase."
"3-1 here, eyes on."
"4-1, we see the vic."
Currently, I am still hanging with the Stormtrooper Platoon that helped the 1st ABCT infiltrate past the Maginot Line. After accompanying the 7th Mechanized on a raid on a Loyalist supply base, this Platoon splits to preemptively set up an ambush beyond the 10th Panzer Division's position in Southern Sedan. Our ambush location coincides with a marching Company-sized element of the 71st Division. Though they outnumber us and even have a pair of heavily armored tanks, these do not offset our ambusher's advantage, not to mention we are technologically superior.
I glance at the time being shown on my HUD. "Funnily enough, we've less than 30 seconds left till the start of a new day. Stick to the game plan, ladies and gents. I will lead the 1st Squad to target their commander. 2nd and 3rd will attack their front and rear. 4th will provide suppressive fire. The Night Witches aren't covering our asses because they're needed elsewhere, so we need to do this hard and fast. Courage, and honor!"
"COURAGE, AND HONOR!" The motto is shouted by everyone in the Platoon.
I glance to my sides, seeing Erika and Lola dutifully guarding my flank, with the latter holding up a detonator. The Loyalist Company, as expected of them, is marching on a paved road to get as quickly as possible to the frontline. Anticipating this, I already had Lola deploy some explosive charges ahead of their path. Since these Loyalists don't bother to recon the road, don't blame me for giving them a rude awakening. Ironically, the time when the lead Char B1 will ride over the burrowed explosive charges coincides with 24:00 hours. So when I start the 5-second countdown, it also means 5 seconds to a new day of warring.
I raise my left fingers before retracting them, one by one. When the timer runs zero, Lola grins beneath her helmet before pressing the detonator, twice.
CLACK CLACK
Driving above the explosives without any suspicion, the Char B1 is nearly lifted off the ground by a combined blast. Though heavily protected against contemporary weapons, the Char B1 never got impressive armor for its lower hull. As such, the large explosion rakes through its platings and into the confines of the crew compartment. The shockwave from the blast then easily ravishes the crew while destroying anything critical, including the ammunition for the B1's two main guns. Ultimately, the lumbering Char B1 then implodes on itself, bathing the nearby soldiers that escape the initial detonation in fireball and fragments. Even the tank behind it is not unscathed, with a large piece of armor somehow lodged in the upper turret, nearly decapitating the surviving B1's commander. The luck of this second tank does not last long, however.
Before the Loyalists can even react properly as any trained unit will, the second B1 is hit from the side by a well-placed Panzerfaust, launched from a forest flanking the road. At the same time, another rocket hits the rear line of the Loyalist Company, this time hitting a fully loaded infantry truck. The two explosions prove to be debilitating for the disorderly and densely packed Loyalist soldiers. Those in or near the burning wrecks are immediately killed, with many injured of varying severity. Worst yet, the ammunition cook-off from the two blazing Char B1s adds to the chaos, causing a total collapse in the chain of command. The Loyalist commander jumps out of his car, trying to reassert some semblance of order while dropping low behind a truck. His attempt fails, as expected.
Soldiers, frightened and minimally trained, do not heed his command. They shove each other off their trucks, only to immediately run away or fire blindly into the surrounding treelines. The Stormtroopers fear not of the latter, however. We all are well-armored and in good cover, thus giving us the peace of mind to pick out prime targets to hunt. Less than ten seconds after the explosions, the entire Stormtrooper Platoon beset the enemy with a hail of bullets. Owing to their role to provide suppression, the 4th Squad is equipped with three MG1s, dishing out an absolute metric ton of lead. Their machine guns sweep the flank of the Loyalists, cutting down any soldier that finds themself out of cover. 2nd and 3rd Squads simultaneously box the enemy formation in by attacking its front and rear. These two Squads prevent any attempt of the enemy to escape from those directions. Finally, I led the 1st Squad to move past our foliage covers, our guns raised perpendicular to our bodies. We fire at the droves of enemies that run in our direction, thinking that it's safe. Panicking from the three-pronged attack, the last thing these Loyalists expect is for us to reveal ourselves, thus forming a perfect encirclement. At this point, we must have cut down 1/3rd of their number. For tonight, we remove suppressors if possible and use supersonic loads for our guns, opting to go with maximum shock and awe.
Aiming my MP9SD, I fire a quick burst toward a Loyalist scampering on the ground for his gun. The man dies instantly as two bloody holes appear on his chest. Changing my aim, I hold down the trigger, suppressing some enemies hunkering by a large rock before they can fire at us. Erika, escorting me to my right, picks up my duty when I need to reload. She stops when Lola switches to her underbarrel grenade launcher to end that swath of enemies.
"Yeet!" Lola laughs before firing her 40mm grenade launcher.
Seeing the explosion that eliminated both the cover and the enemies behind it, I would have laughed if I hadn't been busied with my reload. Instead, I opt for a smirk as I smack the charging handle of my MP9SD, letting it ride the rest of the way home. Then, it's walking and gunning till we reach the edge of our forest. Here, I opt for something different. Slinging my MP9, I pull out my USP with my left hand while using my right, I unsheath a splendid rapier. Yup, this is the very same rapier that I was gifted on the very first Victory Day Parade.
"Courage, and Honor!" I shout the motto, an action mirror by others of my squad.
I literally charge the Loyalists, leading my squad into a hectic CQC. Though, in my honest opinion, it's a one-sided slaughter with the Stormtroopers gunning down surrounding resistance with impunity. Advancing deeper to the last known position of the enemy commander, I am flanked by Erika and Lola. Together, we dash, fire, and cut down hostiles on a path of flame and blood.
Suddenly, an enemy charges from behind a truck with a bayonet stab. I divert the blow with my left wrist guard before proceeding to slash the neck of the offending soldier. As the first man collapses, I use my USP to engage a pair of Loyalists who are right behind. Two bullets, two headshots, two more bodies. Taking cover behind the truck, Erika uses it as a bracing point to shoot at another group of enemies from behind. This group is pinned down by Squad 4 and unable to react in time when Erika flanked them.
"Empty!" Erika announces over comms, leading Lola to reply.
"I got you, girl!" The trigger-happy dwarf fires another grenade that lands on a truck some thirty steps away. It promptly explodes, harming the Loyalists using it as cover. Once Erika is ready, we continue on our path.
I soon lay my eyes on the commander's car, now being flanked by two trucks. Presumably, the Loyalist has rounded the wagons around himself for protection. If he had been any bit more competent, he would have been able to organize a breakthrough attack to carve a path to survival. Unfortunately, the man is not good enough to do so, and now his fate will be sealed.
I order. "Erika, Lola, cover me!"
"Understood, Marshal!" Lola replies before firing off a grenade in the distance.
"Go!" Erika shouts, crouching to snipe some Loyalists engaging others of the 1st Squad.
I dash forward, my armored footfalls seem to alert the guards of the enemy commander. Raising my USP, I empty the last of my magazines, aiming to suppress rather than kill the guards. When the bullets impact the hood of the vehicle, the pair of infantrymen behind it flinch, ducking down instinctively. I use the chance to swiftly eject my spent magazine before boosting myself off the ground with a powerful step. Jumping over the truck and the two rattled guards, I land behind them before swinging my rapier horizontally, cutting their necks. Understandably, my landing in their midst isn't taken kindly by the commander and his remaining guards.
I drop myself low to the ground, pivoting on my feet before stabbing through ribs and into the heart of a Loyalist trying to bash my helmet.
"Should have fired instead, mate." I comment before pulling his body to block two incoming rifle bullets.
Kicking away his profusely bleeding corpse to knock over two bodyguards, I dash to the side using my rapier to divert the muzzle of another Lebel rifle upward into the sky. When the bullet is fired harmlessly to nowhere, I bring the blade down to cut the neck of the one holding up the rifle. My left hand, not idling all this time, has already loaded a spare magazine. However, I am forced to jump back to evade a raging Loyalist commander with a swinging knife. I toy with him for a couple of steps backward, dodging his wide-open slash before cutting away his wrist tendons. The man just has to make it so easy.
As the Loyalist commander falls screaming bloody murder, I release the magazine catch on my USP, allowing it to chamber a live round. My instinct blares its alarm though. Putting my mind under time dilation, I watch as the world goes in slow motion. In the corner of my eye, I see a bleeding soldier from afar aiming his rifle at me. Somehow, he is not yet killed by any of the Stormtroopers. Though it's understandable as to why this is the case. The neat part is, it's already fired. Ignoring the muzzle flash of that rifle that is still expanding in my view, I focus on the projectile that is heading toward my side. Even if I can see it traveling, it doesn't mean I can react to it... Normally.
To avoid the fate of being knocked over by a freight train, I sacrifice a bit of my Time to create a localized temporal field. The field allows me to move faster than what normal physics dictates. In short, I cast haste.
Swing my rapier diagonally from right to left, I slice apart the bullet, making it so the two fragments are diverted away from anywhere harmful. They do scrape on my armor, but it's not really a big deal. The collision between my blade and the bullet did look nice in slow motion, however. Nice little sparks are indispensable in life. Under the shocked gaze of the shooter, I just point my pistol at him and end his life for good. Directing the muzzle at the pair of soldiers I knocked over earlier, I also shoot them in the heads, their bodies falling limp on the floor.
Ultimately, in less than thirty seconds, I managed to kill a squad of bodyguards in a swift melee. Now that only the Loyalist commander is alive and the Stormtroopers are mopping up the rest of his Company, I step up to the man. Surprisingly, despite the pain marring his features, the commander spats near my combat boots. Seeing his defiance and unwillingness to surrender, I decided to give him an honorable death at least.
BANG