Serenierre
Established Nation
Saro Province - Frontline
Upon the completion of the first phase of Operation: Marrow, the commanders of the two regiments had decided to shore up the defensive perimeter and to allow their troops a slight breather before continuing onward with the assault. The news of an additional regiment arriving in Adsubia by the 11th of March had also allowed the two regiment commanders to feel that the push would be better achieved with a firmer footing in Saro. Trenches and pillboxes had been dug into the terrain and a proper defensive line had been hastily set up with the robust efforts of the Communist soldiers. The territory which had been conquered by the red banners of the revolution had many villages and settlements which stood shaken by the suddenness of the Serenien charge. To calm them and win over their hearts, the two colonels, in their respective quadrants, had distributed foodstuffs and supplies to these communities.
For the second phase, it had been decided to focus on the push to the east, which would allow for a shorter access point from Serenien shores. The western flank was to be entrenched deeply in the newly constructed defensive positions and the radical push was to be made in the eastern direction. The heavy guns from all three regiments would be placed in a way to break the BNA's lines in that eastern direction. The heaviest of assaults on the selected locations would allow the Revolutionary Guardsmen and their fellow communist allies the opportunity to encircle those point and then create a gap big enough to break the line. Only when the enemy's positions there were broken and that advance guaranteed, would the western flank commence an assault to push them further back - even if only by a bit.
The strategy was premised on the basis that given the lack of any important city in the eastern direction of Phase 2, the defensive lines that the BNA was taking advantage of were weaker here than the head-on assault into Saro, itself, which of course would open the road to the cities of Treviso and Valera. The main thing that the Revolutionary Guardsmen were aiming for was to reach the coast. Then they could shorten their supply lines and continue onward to the bloodier battles that lay ahead in Treviso and Valera.
Fortresse de Villesen
Villesen, Serenierre
The residence of the Generalissimo was the ancient fortress at the heart of the city. The very heart of power in the People's Republic. Philippe Serazin sat in his private study reading some of the latest reports from Borovanger. The reports detailed the advances that had been made and the strategy being adopted by his two brave colonels. He had already decided that upon completion of Operation Marrow, the two commanders would be awarded the Medal of Merit, 2nd Class, for their brilliant execution of the plan. But despite the successes of the Revolutionary Guards, he had been mulling over the idea of a direct Serenien military involvement. He knew that while defeating the Saro based Borovanger National Army would be easy enough, the fight against the Prometheists and the ever aggressive fascists in the northern front of Borovanger would be quite the struggle. But, of course, he had wider concerns to think of. He knew he had to play his cards right. Perhaps, he would listen to Elisabeth Martinique's suggestion. He still had not made up his mind. Much depended on the successes of the Revolutionary Guards.
He was thoughtful. He hesitated before picking up the phone and dialling the number of General Delacourt's private residence. "General, it's me." There was no need to say anything else. Everyone recognized that voice.
"Comrade Chairman, it is my honour to receive your call."
"I am reading the report from the boys over there in Saro. Good stuff. So, has the 71st Regiment arrived?"
"Yes, Comrade Chairman, it has arrived today and will be in position by next week."
"And how many more regiments do you have on hand Comrade General?" Serazin asked him. He could tell that Delacourt had stopped short of what he was about to say.
"Uh, I believe," he stuttered for a second, trying to remember, "I would say maybe four more regiments, excluding the three already in Borovanger and the fourteen engaged in domestic deployments."
"I want you to prepare all four of those regiments. When our boys break through the BNA's lines, I want them ready to deploy immediately. I will talk it over with Chief Commissar Martinique, but I need you to prepare those four regiments under the most urgent of basis. How many men would that be?"
"For the four additional regiments? Uh, I would say 16,000."
"Hmm, we'd need to have the Propaganda Commissariat amp up the noise on encouraging volunteers and raising hysteria against the Borovanger fascists and royalist scum to justify that kind of volunteer involvement. We are on 12,000 already, no?"
"Yes, Comrade Chairman."
Philippe was quiet for a moment. Before continuing, "Irrespective of these political considerations, I expect you to proceed as a soldier under my direct command."
"Yes, sir, comrade-chairman I will do my utmost to have them ready."
"Good." Philippe hung up the phone and called another number.
Headquarters - Directorate 44
Villesen
The red phone in the office of the Directorate's chief was connected only to three other phones; the Generalissimo Serazin, Chief Commissar Martinique, and the Chairman of the Commissariat for People's Deputies. It was never ignored. And that afternoon was the same. It had been the leader of the revolution, Phillippe Serazin calling the chief to enquire about the intelligence agency's latest information about enemy positions in Saro. The agents of the Directorate 44 had been successful in creating a well developed network of spies and informants across the war torn country - albeit at a high cost in terms of money and the lives of some of its more indiscreet agents. The Directorate chief had informed him of the latest sweeps of high altitude reconaissance operations conducted by the jets of the agency over Saro Province and of naval patrols by other means. Serenierre's hawk-like gaze was upon Saro.
Upon the completion of the first phase of Operation: Marrow, the commanders of the two regiments had decided to shore up the defensive perimeter and to allow their troops a slight breather before continuing onward with the assault. The news of an additional regiment arriving in Adsubia by the 11th of March had also allowed the two regiment commanders to feel that the push would be better achieved with a firmer footing in Saro. Trenches and pillboxes had been dug into the terrain and a proper defensive line had been hastily set up with the robust efforts of the Communist soldiers. The territory which had been conquered by the red banners of the revolution had many villages and settlements which stood shaken by the suddenness of the Serenien charge. To calm them and win over their hearts, the two colonels, in their respective quadrants, had distributed foodstuffs and supplies to these communities.
For the second phase, it had been decided to focus on the push to the east, which would allow for a shorter access point from Serenien shores. The western flank was to be entrenched deeply in the newly constructed defensive positions and the radical push was to be made in the eastern direction. The heavy guns from all three regiments would be placed in a way to break the BNA's lines in that eastern direction. The heaviest of assaults on the selected locations would allow the Revolutionary Guardsmen and their fellow communist allies the opportunity to encircle those point and then create a gap big enough to break the line. Only when the enemy's positions there were broken and that advance guaranteed, would the western flank commence an assault to push them further back - even if only by a bit.
The strategy was premised on the basis that given the lack of any important city in the eastern direction of Phase 2, the defensive lines that the BNA was taking advantage of were weaker here than the head-on assault into Saro, itself, which of course would open the road to the cities of Treviso and Valera. The main thing that the Revolutionary Guardsmen were aiming for was to reach the coast. Then they could shorten their supply lines and continue onward to the bloodier battles that lay ahead in Treviso and Valera.
Fortresse de Villesen
Villesen, Serenierre
The residence of the Generalissimo was the ancient fortress at the heart of the city. The very heart of power in the People's Republic. Philippe Serazin sat in his private study reading some of the latest reports from Borovanger. The reports detailed the advances that had been made and the strategy being adopted by his two brave colonels. He had already decided that upon completion of Operation Marrow, the two commanders would be awarded the Medal of Merit, 2nd Class, for their brilliant execution of the plan. But despite the successes of the Revolutionary Guards, he had been mulling over the idea of a direct Serenien military involvement. He knew that while defeating the Saro based Borovanger National Army would be easy enough, the fight against the Prometheists and the ever aggressive fascists in the northern front of Borovanger would be quite the struggle. But, of course, he had wider concerns to think of. He knew he had to play his cards right. Perhaps, he would listen to Elisabeth Martinique's suggestion. He still had not made up his mind. Much depended on the successes of the Revolutionary Guards.
He was thoughtful. He hesitated before picking up the phone and dialling the number of General Delacourt's private residence. "General, it's me." There was no need to say anything else. Everyone recognized that voice.
"Comrade Chairman, it is my honour to receive your call."
"I am reading the report from the boys over there in Saro. Good stuff. So, has the 71st Regiment arrived?"
"Yes, Comrade Chairman, it has arrived today and will be in position by next week."
"And how many more regiments do you have on hand Comrade General?" Serazin asked him. He could tell that Delacourt had stopped short of what he was about to say.
"Uh, I believe," he stuttered for a second, trying to remember, "I would say maybe four more regiments, excluding the three already in Borovanger and the fourteen engaged in domestic deployments."
"I want you to prepare all four of those regiments. When our boys break through the BNA's lines, I want them ready to deploy immediately. I will talk it over with Chief Commissar Martinique, but I need you to prepare those four regiments under the most urgent of basis. How many men would that be?"
"For the four additional regiments? Uh, I would say 16,000."
"Hmm, we'd need to have the Propaganda Commissariat amp up the noise on encouraging volunteers and raising hysteria against the Borovanger fascists and royalist scum to justify that kind of volunteer involvement. We are on 12,000 already, no?"
"Yes, Comrade Chairman."
Philippe was quiet for a moment. Before continuing, "Irrespective of these political considerations, I expect you to proceed as a soldier under my direct command."
"Yes, sir, comrade-chairman I will do my utmost to have them ready."
"Good." Philippe hung up the phone and called another number.
Headquarters - Directorate 44
Villesen
The red phone in the office of the Directorate's chief was connected only to three other phones; the Generalissimo Serazin, Chief Commissar Martinique, and the Chairman of the Commissariat for People's Deputies. It was never ignored. And that afternoon was the same. It had been the leader of the revolution, Phillippe Serazin calling the chief to enquire about the intelligence agency's latest information about enemy positions in Saro. The agents of the Directorate 44 had been successful in creating a well developed network of spies and informants across the war torn country - albeit at a high cost in terms of money and the lives of some of its more indiscreet agents. The Directorate chief had informed him of the latest sweeps of high altitude reconaissance operations conducted by the jets of the agency over Saro Province and of naval patrols by other means. Serenierre's hawk-like gaze was upon Saro.