Codegease: Air and Land Warfare 1946

Page 137

"Hey, you..." Xixi'an wanted to advise her not to be so blunt and hurtful, but the major didn't seem to be listening at all.

"So you have any good suggestions, Lieutenant Vorian?"

"During this period, our expeditionary force has been troubled by two things: Soviet artillery and Soviet and American aircraft. The high-intensity and high-density attacks from both sides are a significant psychological blow to both the soldiers holding the front line and the reserve combatants in the rear. Therefore, I think we can change our offensive approach."

The major handed Angelie the pen and made room for her in front of the map.

"You mentioned that the number of assault guns in the army is quite considerable, so why not use them together with the Canterbury? First, we can deploy the Canterbury and the assault guns together at a relatively far distance, allowing them to unleash a prolonged barrage of fire on the enemy forces in the town."

"What kind of tactic is this? Is it effective?"

“It seems you didn’t fight alongside me in those towns where the Soviets were beating us so badly.” Angelie paused. “The Soviets’ daily mass offensive firepower coverage for a long period of time almost caused us to lose even Berlin. I think the fact that the enemy fought us like this proves that this tactic is effective. Although I know we may need to learn and modify it as we go, that’s not a reason for us to refuse to use it now.”

"Well, while we shouldn't resort to any remedy when we're desperate," the major chuckled, "when there's no effective medicine, trying folk remedies is a good idea. I'm open to it!"

"That's good. So we need to see if we can find out the Soviet forces' activity areas inside and outside the town before the attack, so we can select our strike points. The assault guns will bombard the town using indirect fire mode, and then the Canterbury will also use cluster munitions to turn the town into a sea of ​​fire. After that, we will use the KMF's clusters to launch an encirclement charge on both flanks of the town, trapping the enemy inside and then annihilating them."

"Of course, all of this depends on your troops: make sure to begin marching after nightfall, and under no circumstances should they be spotted by the Soviets before reaching their artillery positions. Control your lights and sounds..."

……

"Now, let's wait for the battle to begin."

As night fell, the countryside around Gramzo was quiet in the howling wind. Even the moon and a few streetlights were useless. The Soviet soldiers in the town did not notice at all that a large group of charred black steel was parked in the dark earth in the distance.

"Captain! Come back!" Griffin had wanted to drive his dark blue Vincent in front of Canterbury to enjoy the cool breeze and show off, but Angelie scolded him and sent him back.

"Haha, it seems the captain's mischievousness is indeed well-known within the Knights."

Griffin and Angelie were together, while the two newcomers, Gloucester and Ypel, were also squatting together. Juliet carried a shield and a machine gun, while Cishian carried a novel machine gun, which was larger than a regular machine gun.

"Ah, what goes around comes around." The group, who had been stuck in District 45 for too long, sighed in unison, "Now, it seems like it's our turn to light up the night sky."

Suddenly, a passionate command rang out over the radio, and the roar of motors raising the muzzles of dozens of assault guns was as loud as the rising sluice gates of a dam. The deafening roar of the cannons then ignited the earth. The night sky was abruptly adorned with fiery hues, the scattered sparks more magnificent and terrifying than a meteor shower, falling upon the trenches in and around the town, illuminating heaps of sand and dust that shot into the sky.

Finally, the most dazzling spark in the night sky rose over Canterbury. A thick fireball ascended into the sky, directly above the town's chaotic square below. In an instant, it dispersed into numerous tiny streams of fire that fell to the earth, carrying with them the heavy shells of the assault guns. Like a shredder, it buried everything visible and invisible in the town in the cold, sandy craters of the night sky.

"Oh! Hahahaha! Yahoo!" Griffin was so excited he almost jumped out of the cockpit. "Come on! Bomb it! Today's our turn! Hahahaha! Speaking of which, it's a bit of a shame Lilizia isn't here with us watching all this..."

The shelling would continue for a long time, so everyone could relax a bit. Only Angelie seemed worried, as if she was waiting for something.

Then, right beside them, a huge salvo of shells, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, cut through the airflow and crashed into the steel bodies amidst the chorus of assault guns. The once stable wheeled vehicles suddenly began to sway precariously, like large sailboats in a typhoon.

"The enemy, from where are we being attacked?" The major's questions filled the radio.

"Please calm down, sir. There should be a way to find where the enemy opened fire. Please give me some time. Also, I think you may be able to begin advancing."

"Oh? Is that so?" Griffin then received the order and finally drew the MVS sword from its sheath with a flourish, gripping it tightly in his hand until it turned crimson.

"Rise up, warriors of Britannia!"

He pointed his longsword at the town, which had been reduced to smoke and fire.

"An eye for an eye! A tooth for a tooth! From this moment on, we will show our enemies what it means for everything to be repaid in the end! Now, for victory! For honor! Let's go!"

"Charge! Aaaaaah!"

……

Chapter 151 Britain, Sunrise (Section 214)

"It's finally our turn."

The KMF and tanks surged forward, sweeping over the sandbag bunkers overturned by artillery fire on the outskirts of the city, and over the destroyed or abandoned cannons and heavy machine guns, like two hands grasping the dough in the middle called the town, inserting their fingers into it.

"Keep an eye on both sides, ladies." Griffin accidentally turned Vincent's car to the highest setting. "Pfft, this time I can hardly believe that what's going on in this town is what we did."

“That’s certainly rare,” Xixi’an replied first. “So, Captain, could you slow down? You’ve broken formation; isn’t that too much of a surprise to the enemy who’s trying to ambush you?”

"Huh? Damn, I got excited! Thanks for the reminder! Now, tell the squadrons behind to spread out and maximize their firepower on those buildings in front! Don't crowd together, it'll be easy to get friendly fire!"

"Ok!"

Seeing the hail of enemy bullets flying towards them, the captain quickly ordered everyone to scatter to both sides of the street. Bullets from guns struck their steel armor, and artillery shells pounded the walls and roads in front, behind, and to the sides. The KMFs, who had been cleaned before the attack, were once again soaked in the intense tide of the battlefield, and they resolutely put their weapons back in their hands.

"Ha! Looks like the enemy is tough!" Griffin shouted into the radio. "Shisian! Ipper and I are stuck! You and Juliet need to figure something out!"

"I'm doing it!" A pale blue giant figure climbed up the house across the street—it was Gloucester of Shishian. After throwing himself onto the roof with his grappling hook, he stepped onto the relatively sturdy roof beams and aimed his large twin-barreled machine gun at a group of Soviet bunkers.

"Let's eat!—"

As the bullets left the barrel, they streaked across the street like powerful clubs, striking the buildings as if they were hitting sand. The brick walls that had been blocking the KMF machine gun suddenly became vulnerable, with shattered bricks and plaster being peeled off with surprising ease, revealing the darkness inside the buildings and the vague, scattered figures of people fleeing.

"To be on the safe side, they'll be gone in a flash, sir. Are you lingering too long because of toys in the bunker? Heh."

"Damn, don't make fun of me like that! I'm doing this for safety reasons!"

"Oh? So you've considered my safety standing on the roof like this?" As she spoke, a rocket flew towards her from somewhere, but she dodged it with a backflip as she jumped off the building.

"Of course I've considered it. My consideration is that since the higher-ups have put you on my team, it must mean you won't be a burden, hey!"

"Next mission, Captain?" Juliet asked quietly as she approached the house to make sure it was clear.

"Wait a minute, let me check the map... It seems our tanks and infantry on the left flank are having some trouble. Come on, follow me, the enemy's flank may have been exposed to us."

As he was speaking, just as Griffin drove his landline to the front of the house whose outer wall had been blasted open, he seemed to remember something and stopped.

"Hmm..." He pressed Vincent's arm against the roof while placing his hand on the cockpit wall, his left eye flashing a purplish-red light once again.

"Heh, hiding in which corner, you fool?" With a flick of his wrist, Vincent's MVS sword sliced ​​a clean line through the brick wall in front of him, along with the blood-splattered gravel, leaving a fresh, metallic scent.

……

Outside the town, shells continued to rain down from the sky, planting fiery roses on the ground, right where the captain and his men had set out.

"Hurry up! Keep stalling! Don't just stand there like idiots!"

The major was directing several KMFs to use their grappling hooks to drag things—nothing but a Canterbury, missing a leg, with unsettling sparks constantly flashing from one side of its body like a leaking pipe.

Just then, a burst of air sprayed across the sky, and he could easily see a green light streak across the sky.

"Hello? Lieutenant Vorian? Is it really safe here? We can't possibly hide everything!"

The Gloucester who flashed by was Angelina's. She went back to get a wingback backpack and had just caught up with a group of helicopters flying forward.

"Wait a moment, Major. I just saw you. I'd like to know if you've been hit again?"

"Not yet! Only the initial KMFs and tanks, and this Canterbury tank were damaged! The rest are thankfully unharmed!"

"It seems these shells aren't very coordinated, are they? Please speed things up. I'll guide the air power to find the enemy's artillery."

As soon as the words were spoken, the distant land became deep and dark between several rising, intersecting pillars of light. Like the hands of an orchestra conductor, they swept across the sky a few times before fixing the light spots on the metal cladding of the KMF and the helicopter.

"Oh my god..." They quickly pulled the stick and swooped down to the ground to avoid being turned into fireworks by the anti-aircraft guns that followed closely behind. But the much slower helicopters were in a terrible state - one of them had just eaten the yolk of an egg and was blown in two, turning into the blade and handle of a cleaver, and finally becoming gray stars that exploded and flew on the ground.

"The enemy has many defenses. It seems we'll be quite busy. We'll have to consult with the rear troops more often. Wait a moment, warriors on the ground. Today, let's fight the enemy to the death and decide who is the strongest."

……

"Yes! Let's fight them! We won't live like rats forever!"

Back on the ground, the captain and his men worked tirelessly amidst a barrage of artillery fire to clear a path through the town.

"Watch your back!"

As Griffin turned around, Juliet rushed up behind him with her shield raised. Two or three booming sounds like shattering cones and flashing gun muzzle flashes smashed several holes in the shield of her machine, causing the mechanical arm to tremble violently.

"Ah... that's the sound of their anti-tank guns."

“Let me do it!” Immediately afterward, Ypel leaped up from behind Juliet, took aim in mid-air, and fired a shell that smashed into the room of the small house, setting it ablaze on the street and illuminating the road ahead.

"This is our future, everyone, keep up."

The rumble of tanks and KMF tires grew louder and louder, gradually transforming the frigid night into the warming sunrise, mingling with the smoke and fire that filled the town. The German land began to awaken from its nightmare amidst the whirring of machinery and the shifting of the sky.

……

As the sun rose, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the Britannian flag flying atop the Reichstag building in the heart of Berlin.

"Your Highness! There's good news!"

Elizabeth was standing with her hands behind her back at the window, watching the gradually brightening horizon, when an unusually excited officer arrived.

"The 92nd Independent Brigade reports that they have successfully captured the target town! The troops behind are ready to follow up with the assault!"

"So smoothly?" She led the officer toward the command center. "I want to know their casualties, and I hope it's not a hoax."

"The report states that the casualties are over 600, one Canterbury tank was damaged, and a total of about 18 armored vehicles and KMFs were lost. Of course, this is the loss of the brigade. The specific figures for the low-altitude support provided to it have not yet been obtained."

"More than 600 people, including infantry, right? That's really good news for the battlefield in District 45."

"Ah, indeed. It is said that they have adopted new tactics under the instructions of the Knights of Agincourt. Although they still need improvement, they have proven to be very effective. They have suggested that they be adopted in other regiments, brigades, and even divisions and army groups in the future."

"Of course! Reducing our casualties while increasing the enemy's bloodshed—isn't that a good thing? Hahahaha!"

As she spoke, she stepped into the command center, where several generals and dukes seemed to be waiting for her.

"Your Highness!"

"I know everything! No need for further explanation. Order the troops on the northern front to send all the forces of these two concentrated army groups to the front lines! Drive the Soviet army back into the sea as quickly as possible! Today we will show Britannia whether it has the ability to control the lands of these otherworldly nations!"

"Yes!"

“However, Your Highness,” Duke Sasler leaned closer and whispered, “the retreat of the Soviet troops on the southern front is not very significant yet. Would it be…” to recall the troops that were moved to the southern front?

"Are you suggesting that the enemy will figure out our movements and then take advantage of any openings?"

"To be fair, the possibility is not small."

"Let me summarize for you, Lord Aetias. I'm sure you mentioned in your previous report that the Soviet army showed a much greater enthusiasm for offense than for defense. They are unlikely to give up any opportunity to cripple us with offense when they are absolutely certain of victory. You have experienced this in the battles you have fought before."

"I understand all of this, but..."

"The Soviet army's previous attack can be identified as a diversionary tactic, so what are their intentions if they don't attack now? If they can really re-blockade Berlin like they did when they recaptured the 'Berlin-Kostchen salient,' why haven't they mobilized the large army that was supposed to be used to secure the city after so much time has passed? Are they looking for an easy target? When the Soviet army attacked those two corps from both sides, they were at their peak combat strength, and they still had to fight head-on."

"Your Highness..."

"Alright, that's all for now. Speaking of which, this major reshuffle might cause some delays."

"Ah, that's right. It seems that we are north of Berlin, and the Soviet troops are retreating faster than we are advancing."

"Oh?"

"The northern troops mentioned during their advances that the battlefield had become strange since the Soviet army lost Oranienburg. When they entered many villages and towns, they found that there were no Soviet troops stationed there at all, only civilians. They couldn't even find any hiding soldiers. Moreover, they could find blood-stained bandages in some places, as if the Soviet army had deliberately abandoned many places in order to retreat."

Where are these places concentrated? In the entire north?

"No, it's the further west you go along the meridian where Berlin is located, the more villages and towns like that there are."

"The west? Does that mean there's some area on the west side of the Soviet-occupied territory that they can't reach, so they can only communicate with friendly forces from the east?"

"Didn't the American planes come from the west?"

"That's possible, but I think if the US military can send such a large fleet of aircraft over Berlin, why don't they send ground troops? Is there another force sandwiched between the US and the Soviet Union? And this force hasn't shown itself to us yet. Perhaps it's waiting for us on purpose?"

"I don't know, but isn't it a good thing that we have one less enemy to put pressure on us? It is said that the troops that have reached the longest meridian span in the west have reached a river called the Elbe, which is about 100 kilometers away from here."

“I am aware that the situation between us and the Soviet army is not entirely easy right now. So, here’s what I’ve got an idea.”

"Please say."

"Tell all the troops that were originally scheduled to go west to slow down to a minimum for now. Also, tell them to be careful when they advance, especially the troops near the Elbe River. Without my orders, they are not allowed to cross the river to the west before they are attacked by ground troops."

"As ordered!"

The Holy Britannian Empire, 42 kilometers from the British-occupied zone.

Chapter 152, Section 215: Before the Enemy Arrives at Sea

The roar of artillery fire drew ever closer to Shchechin, which made General Kuznetsov somewhat uneasy.

"Report: The 96th Guards Infantry Corps failed to hold its forward position and has retreated to Ankram. Our advance has also been halted near Passwalk, and we are unable to continue breaking the encirclement."