Serenierre
Established Nation
Serenierre Occupied Territory - Province of Greater Borovanger
People's Commonwealth of Borovanger
30. June. 1957
The High Command of the 5th Shock Army had been established in a small chateau in the countryside of the newly occupied territories in Greater Borovanger. From this quaint location, General Renaudierre and his staff were commanding the invading forces all across the front. That morning, the General sat in his office with three secretaries busily working on the reports that had to be despatched back to the High Command in Villesen. The men under his command had succeeded in advancing up to the Bergante River. The quick advance to this point had been predicted in the planning stage, given the strategic and geographical weakness of the entire eastern bank of the river plains - purely from a defensive point of view.
General Renaudierre knew that two possible avenues were open before him in attempting to cross the Bergante River. Either break enemy lines in the north or in the south. Both were rewarding but both had their own set of risks. He had, in consultation with his subordinate officers, decided that breaking the Prometheist lines at the Isla del Santa Miguel, which was topped by the ancient abbey of the same saint, would be the better bet. There were several reasons for why the southern invasion route was thought to be better to forge a crossing into enemy territory. First and foremost, the river, itself, was calmer in the south. It was narrower and easier for the pontoon bridging brigades to erect their make shift crossings. Towards the north, if by fighting or sabotage, the Bergante Bridge was destroyed, the pontoon brigades would be hard-pressed to cover the distance with a strong enemy presence on the other side. The very presence of a river island made it easier for the thrust to continue from there. First, it was thought, the military would force pressure on the southern flank of the enemy's lines and once the Prometheists redeployed to support the southern units, the second prong would commence its attack on the defensive positions leading up to the bridge.
The General, in addition to deciding the strategy, had also gotten confirmation that a strict no-prisoner policy would be followed on the Isla del Santa Miguel. This was important. The Serenien Military was to be brutal. If the Prometheists wanted total war. They would have total war. No prisoners. No mercy. The orders from the High Command were clear and the General had no qualms about issuing it.
BATTLE OF ISLA DEL SANTA MIGUEL
It was clear, from signal interception and from intelligence reports, the Prometheists were digging in deep into the battle on the Isla del Santa Miguel. Advance reconnaissance teams also indicated that it seemed that civilians had been commandeered into digging the trenches and strengthening the defences of the island. Infantrymen from the Serenien military had spent the entire day setting up their own positions across the embankment opposite the island. The destruction of the aerial bombardment had left its mark. Thick black plumes of smoke rose high into the sky. The fire of the bombs had raged the whole night through.
With mortars and howitzers firmly positioned, the infantry units had commenced an aggressive volley of artillery barrages. Even the tanks, with their massive 100mm guns aimed at the direction of the island, fired without much restraint. Under the directives of General Renaudierre, there was to be no difference between civilian and military personnel on the island. Shoot, fire, kill. It was almost taken for granted that the bridges leading up to the island would be mined.
Lt. General Henri Lamont was the commander of the 12th Armoured Division and was charged with the task of invading the island. This specialised armoured division was geared for such operations which required amphibious undertakings. The
A major concern for Lt. General Lamont was the presence of potential landmines along the riverbank and fighters had been going over large strips of the embankment strafing the sand with their guns, blowing some to reveal where they had been cloistered. Clearly some minesweepers also had to go first before the non-armoured units made it across. Additionally, it was stated that prior to the commencement of the amphibious invasion of Isla del Santa Miguel, the heavy bomber air wing had to bomb the abbey and the fortress with napalm - a horrible chemical substance whose fire was particularly nasty and hard to extinguish.
BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE
The Serenien military was met with fierce resistance here. Several brazen and downright stupid Prometheist soldiers had attacked the tank tracks and shown a ferocity that had left the troops amazed at how hard they fought. Though, even that could last only so long. The Serenien Military here had received orders to slow down and grind on slowly, engage in as many skirmishes as possible and drain the enemy's strength. This battle would be particularly horrible. Given the closeness of the Bridge to the capital, the defensive preparations here were much better and were definitely slowing down the assault.
The infantry dug in deep to defend their gains and the armoured divisions were positioned as conventional artillery. The fighter-bombers were strafing enemy positions and dive bombing key targets. The skirmishes were aimed at keeping the enemy here under a stream of constant attacks - low-scale and low intensity but ever steady. The psychological impact from this, not to mention the physical damage, would be enough to weaken the enemy for when the actual assault would commence.
Valera, Province of Saro
Confederation of Borovanger
30. June. 1957
Capitaine Generale Rollet had returned to the frontline at this most stubborn city. Rollet had been promised cover by the Serenien Navy and that is what he had gotten. One
From Villesen, Rollet had been directed by his commander to ensure that he makes it clear to the BNA leadership that they would be spared if they surrendured before troops got to their location. The news had been broadcast on open frequencies and specific mention was made of the main commander of the BNA. If that man swallowed his pride, he could spare the citizens' and the troops' lives. It was a desperate situation for them. Though, it was also communicated to Rollet that upon the acceptance of prisoners belonging to the BNA high command, they were to be arrested and handed over to Directorate 77.
People's Commonwealth of Borovanger
30. June. 1957
The High Command of the 5th Shock Army had been established in a small chateau in the countryside of the newly occupied territories in Greater Borovanger. From this quaint location, General Renaudierre and his staff were commanding the invading forces all across the front. That morning, the General sat in his office with three secretaries busily working on the reports that had to be despatched back to the High Command in Villesen. The men under his command had succeeded in advancing up to the Bergante River. The quick advance to this point had been predicted in the planning stage, given the strategic and geographical weakness of the entire eastern bank of the river plains - purely from a defensive point of view.
General Renaudierre knew that two possible avenues were open before him in attempting to cross the Bergante River. Either break enemy lines in the north or in the south. Both were rewarding but both had their own set of risks. He had, in consultation with his subordinate officers, decided that breaking the Prometheist lines at the Isla del Santa Miguel, which was topped by the ancient abbey of the same saint, would be the better bet. There were several reasons for why the southern invasion route was thought to be better to forge a crossing into enemy territory. First and foremost, the river, itself, was calmer in the south. It was narrower and easier for the pontoon bridging brigades to erect their make shift crossings. Towards the north, if by fighting or sabotage, the Bergante Bridge was destroyed, the pontoon brigades would be hard-pressed to cover the distance with a strong enemy presence on the other side. The very presence of a river island made it easier for the thrust to continue from there. First, it was thought, the military would force pressure on the southern flank of the enemy's lines and once the Prometheists redeployed to support the southern units, the second prong would commence its attack on the defensive positions leading up to the bridge.
The General, in addition to deciding the strategy, had also gotten confirmation that a strict no-prisoner policy would be followed on the Isla del Santa Miguel. This was important. The Serenien Military was to be brutal. If the Prometheists wanted total war. They would have total war. No prisoners. No mercy. The orders from the High Command were clear and the General had no qualms about issuing it.
BATTLE OF ISLA DEL SANTA MIGUEL
It was clear, from signal interception and from intelligence reports, the Prometheists were digging in deep into the battle on the Isla del Santa Miguel. Advance reconnaissance teams also indicated that it seemed that civilians had been commandeered into digging the trenches and strengthening the defences of the island. Infantrymen from the Serenien military had spent the entire day setting up their own positions across the embankment opposite the island. The destruction of the aerial bombardment had left its mark. Thick black plumes of smoke rose high into the sky. The fire of the bombs had raged the whole night through.
With mortars and howitzers firmly positioned, the infantry units had commenced an aggressive volley of artillery barrages. Even the tanks, with their massive 100mm guns aimed at the direction of the island, fired without much restraint. Under the directives of General Renaudierre, there was to be no difference between civilian and military personnel on the island. Shoot, fire, kill. It was almost taken for granted that the bridges leading up to the island would be mined.
Lt. General Henri Lamont was the commander of the 12th Armoured Division and was charged with the task of invading the island. This specialised armoured division was geared for such operations which required amphibious undertakings. The
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would begin the assault. These amphibious tanks would establish the beachhead. His tanks would be supported by
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. And these APCs would bring over a brigade or so of elite commandos who would hold back the enemy. They would do this supported by the artillery assault of the infantry divisions from the other side of the riverbank and by aerial coverage from the Serenien Air Force. This would let the pontoon brigades to establish their crossing points and allow for greater numbers of soldiers to cross over to the island. A major concern for Lt. General Lamont was the presence of potential landmines along the riverbank and fighters had been going over large strips of the embankment strafing the sand with their guns, blowing some to reveal where they had been cloistered. Clearly some minesweepers also had to go first before the non-armoured units made it across. Additionally, it was stated that prior to the commencement of the amphibious invasion of Isla del Santa Miguel, the heavy bomber air wing had to bomb the abbey and the fortress with napalm - a horrible chemical substance whose fire was particularly nasty and hard to extinguish.
BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE
The Serenien military was met with fierce resistance here. Several brazen and downright stupid Prometheist soldiers had attacked the tank tracks and shown a ferocity that had left the troops amazed at how hard they fought. Though, even that could last only so long. The Serenien Military here had received orders to slow down and grind on slowly, engage in as many skirmishes as possible and drain the enemy's strength. This battle would be particularly horrible. Given the closeness of the Bridge to the capital, the defensive preparations here were much better and were definitely slowing down the assault.
The infantry dug in deep to defend their gains and the armoured divisions were positioned as conventional artillery. The fighter-bombers were strafing enemy positions and dive bombing key targets. The skirmishes were aimed at keeping the enemy here under a stream of constant attacks - low-scale and low intensity but ever steady. The psychological impact from this, not to mention the physical damage, would be enough to weaken the enemy for when the actual assault would commence.
Valera, Province of Saro
Confederation of Borovanger
30. June. 1957
Capitaine Generale Rollet had returned to the frontline at this most stubborn city. Rollet had been promised cover by the Serenien Navy and that is what he had gotten. One
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, three
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and seven
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had arrived from Monserans and had hammered the port of Valera and then proceeded to finally blockade the port and hence seal off the city from the sea as well. The success of that operation, combined with the ever brighter news of Serenien Military advances against the Prometheists, had emboldened the Revolutionary Guardsmen, who had thrown themselves into battle head first. The restraint had vanished from Rollet's men and they pounded the enemy pillboxes and bunkers and forced their way into the city. Even though the fighting was brutal and bloody as each block was fought for brick by brick, Rollet felt secure taking such bold actions here, given the fact that they were no longer the only Serazinist army in the conflict. The stalemate had to be broken.From Villesen, Rollet had been directed by his commander to ensure that he makes it clear to the BNA leadership that they would be spared if they surrendured before troops got to their location. The news had been broadcast on open frequencies and specific mention was made of the main commander of the BNA. If that man swallowed his pride, he could spare the citizens' and the troops' lives. It was a desperate situation for them. Though, it was also communicated to Rollet that upon the acceptance of prisoners belonging to the BNA high command, they were to be arrested and handed over to Directorate 77.