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"Battalion Firing Command Post calling Artillery Companies A and B, new target firing position, 2-1-6, all units using grenades, instantaneous fuses, time on target, ready to report! Over!"
"Company A, ready!"
"B Company, ready!"
"Fire!—"
Standing on the adjacent street, the captain looked smugly at the street he had marked. Under the firepower of the two 105mm howitzer batteries called in by the battalion headquarters, smoke and dust rose up like a crematorium, bringing joy to everyone.
“Great, sir,” Jonathan’s excited voice came through the radio unexpectedly. “We’re gonna get it.”
“Very good, very good.” The captain smiled and then fiddled with the PDA. “Hmm, let me see how to send a message to their princess.”
"Huh? Boss." A soldier next to him was stunned. "You're just telling them our next move like that?"
"I'm telling you, even the dumbest general would understand, right? We've come all this way and we still don't understand what we're supposed to do. Then go home and shovel manure."
……
The Reichstag building in Berlin is anything but quiet.
"Your Highness Elizabeth, new information: Fort Bern has fallen, and the American forces are about to take complete control of the city."
"I understand, I understand... You may leave..."
"Your Highness, what I mean is..."
"Do I need to repeat how chaotic the war is right now?"
"This……"
“Come, Kelly,” she called to her brother, “show Duke Sassler.”
“Well, now Edward III’s army needs rest again, and we only have two corps and seven armies left to use.” The prince scratched his head. “We’ve deployed two armies on the western front against the British and to repair the coastal ports; on the eastern front, we’ve used one army to suppress Rügen Island and Szczecin; on the west bank of the Oder River, we’ve used one corps and one army to counter-suppress the Soviet army from crossing; and after deducting the army defending Berlin, we now only have two armies and one corps left to fully engage the combined American and Soviet ground forces…”
"The Soviet army is now advancing a huge salient along the south of Berlin, close to the east bank of the Elbe River, towards Berlin." Elizabeth slowly came over. "I believe you, Duke, understand the significance of this salient's reappearance. Three months—I hope you've already grasped the enemy's tactics. This time, we are outnumbered again."
"Sister, this is a huge problem. With the loss of Fort Bern, it seems... even the army groups fighting the British will have to retreat..."
"what?"
“Yes, yes, I’m serious, come and see!” Kelly grabbed her sister’s finger and drew it along the direction of the Soviet and American attacks.
“Sister, let me now consider the worst-case scenario… This operation by the Soviet Union and the United States is absolutely a ruthless move. The Soviet army will cut off our connection with the west bank of the Elbe as much as possible east of the river and begin to encircle and annihilate all the troops south of Berlin. Then the American army will move north along the Elbe, going a step further than the Soviet Union’s success, extending 200 kilometers north and south, and stopping all our troops deployed on the British front in one fell swoop…”
"My God..." Elizabeth was startled by her brother's words, "The US military, the US military..."
"According to our information, the United States and the United Kingdom have a very close relationship, and they will provide assistance in any case."
"What should we do, Your Highness?" the Duke asked anxiously as he approached. "Our forces are stretched thin. Bernburg has fallen, and there are no major cities along the Soviet salient to defend. We can only rely on sheer numbers. As for the Americans, we either have to hold Magdeburg, or... we have to abandon all operations west of the Elbe against the British and retreat on a large scale."
"The Oder River... the troops on the west bank of the Oder River..."
"Absolutely not, sister. If we let the Soviet troops cross the river, Berlin, Berlin will be finished!"
"What should I do then..." Elizabeth's eyes unexpectedly welled up with tears. "Why, why did Edward III's army have to come at this time... Why haven't the extra troops my brother promised arrived yet..."
“Sister, calm down, calm down, look at me…” Kelly held her hands to her chest, her eyes firm. “Don’t worry, I will help you resolve this crisis… Sister, you haven’t slept well for a long time because of the bombing by American and British planes. So please get some rest and leave everything to me… okay?”
She summoned her sister's guards and escorted her to her bedside. As soon as she turned around, Kelly heard that new news had arrived.
"Your Highness, uh, there's a written report from the garrison at Bainburg... wait, that seems to be it."
"Let me see..." He glanced at the contemptuous words above in disbelief, then gritted his teeth. "Delete it, delete it quickly... I can't let my sister see her. I have to protect her, even if it's just for today..."
……
"My dear princess, hehe, I seem to have forgotten your name? Enough of the small talk, I'm a captain in the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division, and the 3rd Armored Division is currently with us preparing to plant the Stars and Stripes on Fort Bern. Do you need me to take a picture of you with your PDAs? Haha, I think this gift is quite valuable, so I specifically wanted to find you this time to ask you for a favor: Valentine's Day is in a month, and I want to hear you deliver the gift when we arrive at Magdeburg."
"What gift do you want to ask? You can ask the Soviets, or the Nazi dogs who have already been killed. Last April, the brothers of the 4nd Panzer Division were in Magdeburg, listening firsthand as the Soviet army, with thousands of cannons, pounded Berlin into hell like a ramming machine. So we've given up on dreaming of planting the Stars and Stripes on the Brandenburg Gate. Instead, could you Britannian brothers do us a favor and treat our ears one more time? The price won't be too high. How many of those Nazi beasts died? I'll give you a 20% discount on the cost of their lives. Oh no, forty, oh no, sixty. Or, how many years has your emperor lived? I'll give you a discount based on that! Hahahahahahaha!"
Section 266, Chapter 196: HBE Reporting Names (Part 1)
The scythe and hammer, along with the Stars and Stripes, were destined to become an even more terrifying force than the Black Knights' Ikaruga.
Even the city hall of the Tokyo concession had to set up a large conference room specifically to contribute to these matters.
The meeting room was set up like a classroom, with a lectern, a large electronic screen that was not yet turned on, and dozens of tables arranged in rows, with a student of the rank of colonel or lieutenant sitting at each desk and chair.
"Tsk, you can have it."
Before they came in, each person had a different photograph on their desk. According to the guard at the door, it was a battlefield scene from Sector 45—supposedly the idea of the officer giving the lecture that day. He also told them that once they came in, no one was allowed to leave until the end of the get out of class.
"Is this photo a composite? Is the battle in District 45 really that terrible?" The officers in the room were passing photos around. Some were still nonchalant, while others were becoming increasingly uneasy. None of them had ever passed through the portal that stood in the city hall. Not only them, but their respective army groups and legions could only get a general understanding of the trivialities of that world through certain means.
They are sitting here out of necessity—either they joined voluntarily because they saw the intimidating scene, or they were forced to come by strict orders from their superiors, the generals.
……
Well, the gossip has finally arrived.
"Okay, everyone." He didn't ask anyone to stand up or salute, except for a shout from the guard at the door to keep quiet. "Let me introduce myself. I am Lieutenant Colonel Tarcus Caronville, former Supreme Commander of the Expeditionary Vanguard of District 45, and currently... well, let's not talk about the current position for now. Over the next few days, I will be responsible for teaching you about our two major adversaries in District 45: the United States and the Soviet Union, their weapons and tactics in the war, and the countermeasures we can and should take. This will benefit all of us, at least it will allow you to survive a few more days on the land of District 45."
"Tsk tsk..." There were clearly disdainful voices below.
"Of course, I understand what many of you are thinking. After all, everyone has a first time, and everyone makes a mistake once. I can't expect everyone to understand every word I say, but at least I hope that when you breathe your last breath in District 45, you won't forget that someone taught you not to make this mistake before."
"Alright, after saying so much, I think some of you are probably urging me to get to the point, right? So let me introduce you to the weapons and equipment that have always struck fear into the hearts of many."
The electronic screen turned on, and the lieutenant colonel displayed the first picture of a tank.
"The Soviet T-34 tank, officially codenamed 'Buffalo,' is the most common and most concerning land enemy we face right now. Its size and quantity are on par with our tanks from the past, as well as those of the Chinese Federation and the EU, but we need to be particularly careful about its combat capabilities, of course, I mean in actual combat."
"Looking at its performance data alone, the Bison is not a troublesome enemy. A single tank gun can withstand everything from the KMF to command vehicles, and its armor can be destroyed by the large number of armor-piercing rounds that have been replaced. Its speed is also considerable. But precisely, this is not the part that frightened the soldiers of the expeditionary force."
"According to our reliable operational summary, the Bison will not engage us in isolated combat, nor will they swarm into the city streets. Instead, they will launch several large-scale attack waves across the Great Plains, our most challenging terrain, to assault our defenses, which the Soviets already consider weak. What puzzles many knights the most is that the Bison will even launch a counterattack against the KMF at top speed when it approaches at high speed, contrary to their usual practice."
"Yes, it was an impact, and a physical one at that. Soviet tank crews, even some fanatical knights, saw it as a formidable enemy. As long as the KMF had a machine gun, they wouldn't brake, and they wouldn't even bother firing the cannon. They were there to ram them and crush them with their tracks. You can hear a lot of veterans talking about this in the 45th Sector camp later on—mad cow disease. This psychological barrier that made KMF pilots always keep their distance from the T-34 to avoid close combat was already commonplace."
"Lieutenant Colonel, may I interrupt for a moment?" At this moment, a captain stood up to ask a question, "You mentioned earlier that in the eyes of the Soviet army, our defensive capabilities are woefully inadequate. What do you mean?"
"You'll understand this when I mention Soviet tactics later. For now, everyone just needs to remember one thing: [Bison are our most common enemy on the Great Plains, and they are by no means an enemy to be underestimated. If you encounter them—no, if you encounter them—then I'm sorry, please ensure you have both numerical and firepower superiority. Otherwise, what you leave behind in their path, besides the carcasses of a few bison, will be yourself and the bodies of your comrades, without changing the course of the battle.]"
……
"Alright, next up, the Soviet IS-2 tank, tactical codename 'Megacerops'." For some reason, Caronville gasped as he looked at the photo of the IS-2.
"Well, you need to be even more careful with this behemoth. Its tank cannons alone can erase the concept of taking cover from the battlefield. I'm sure you all have photos of their masterpieces on your desks. I'll add a little more information: the Black Prince Legion has a batch of Sunderland-type tanks with flashing shields, the Sunderland Crabbe type. One of the pilots instinctively used his shield to block a direct hit from a Rhinoceros. Last time, his comrade survived a hit from a Bison, but KMF's arm was ruined; this time, the Rhinoceros ruined his entire body and even left a hole in the ground."
"We couldn't even piece together the fragments of its aircraft later on, which gives you an idea of how terrifying such power would be to anyone. And what's even more terrifying is its armor. According to our current intelligence, the only thing that can threaten the frontal armor of the Giant Horned Rhinoceros is the armor-piercing rounds of assault guns. Even the UL rounds from the machine guns on its sides are useless against it. This is why the KMFs are now using more and more recoilless rifles."
"However, there are a few things you can reassure yourselves: compared to the bison, the giant rhinoceros is relatively rare, and most of the time it attacks alongside Soviet infantry or in herds of bison, so they don't appear in large numbers at once. But you must be careful to report to your superiors immediately if you spot a giant rhinoceros on the battlefield, because this means that our enemy, the Soviet Union, considers the location of the giant rhinoceros a key point on the battlefield. Secondly, unlike the bison, the giant rhinoceros has a machine gun on its roof, which can threaten most of the armor on the KMF. When you approach it, you must be careful to see if any figures emerge from the roof of the tank."
“Well, you might be wondering now…” the lieutenant colonel scratched his head, “what lesson does the giant rhinoceros teach us? Well then be prepared, because the next enemy, the one you should be most wary of in land battles, will make you understand the meaning of despair even more than the giant rhinoceros did.”
……
As they spoke, when the photo of the tank's round, shield-like turret and protruding, wedge-shaped frontal armor was shown, the whole room faintly emitted a sound like teeth baring as if being pricked by needles.
“Ah, it seems you’ve already heard of the Minotaur.” Caronville’s lips curled slightly, a wry smile as if he had expected it. “Ah, but don’t worry, what I need to tell it is very simple.”
"Ok?"
"When encountering the Minotaur, abandon all tactical plans on the ground. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless you understand what I'm about to say, my summary of the giant rhinoceros and Minotaur: [I only hope you can make the wisest decision at the most appropriate time: if your KMF cannot approach them and survive under heavy enemy fire, then selectively consider destroying their tracks and immediately withdrawing while calling for air support. In the name of Her Highness Elizabeth, Supreme Commander of the Expeditionary Force, any soldier who blindly approaches a high-risk enemy target will be deprived of the right to have a monument erected in their honor.]"
“Don’t exaggerate, Lieutenant Colonel.” A major seemed stubborn. “Do you think I don’t know? The technical staff said the giant rhinoceros weighs at least 45 tons. Such a heavy body thinks it can bypass the KMF? I don’t believe it…”
"I don't believe you can safely drive through an engagement distance starting at 500 meters, braving enemy fire that never comes alone, just to try and outmaneuver them by taking a tricky route and then aiming at their side armor. Oh, and before that, you'll have to face Soviet artillery and aircraft relentlessly attacking your and your unit's location. You might die before you spot the enemy, or before you prepare to fight back. Of course, your outstanding performance is more likely to result in you dying like a dog under the enemy's focused attention."
"This is outrageous, Lieutenant Colonel. Don't you know the consequences of looking down on people?"
“Of course I know,” Caronville shrugged casually. “It’s just following in the footsteps of those rebellious elites who looked down on tanks over the past few months, and also in the footsteps of those who looked down on the United States and the Soviet Union for their inferior electronic technology. I don’t really mean to discourage you, Major, I only have one question: what’s your current landline?”
"Gloucester, what's wrong?"
"Excuse me, but right now in District 45, there are the Knights of Agincourt, the Knights of Nislock, and the Knights of Fey, all dressed in Vincent's uniform. Even the elites from these three orders who are fortunate enough to pilot seventh-generation fighters wouldn't dare say that with such maneuverability alone, they could take the enemy general's head amidst a sea of soldiers on the land of District 45. Major, may I ask, are you in command of the air force? If not, I think your uniform and aircraft already prove that you are not one in a million. If you are, then you can forget everything I said before, but next time you must listen carefully."
"Tsk..." The major sat down with a look of dissatisfaction.
……
"And the Soviet army also deployed heavy self-propelled artillery on the battlefield. They were not as flexible as tanks, but the damage they caused was not much better than smashing tanks in our faces: ISU-152 and ISU-122 self-propelled guns. According to the prisoners of war, they were modified from the chassis of the Rhinoceros. Their main battlefield mission was to take over the role of howitzers and smash heavy firepower on our heads, or fire directly at us, leveling our KMFs and tanks, along with the buildings. That's how it was... Oh right, their code name was the same: Polar Bear."
"You can make a note of these last few Soviet units. They're not key targets, but encountering them isn't a good thing. The SU-76 self-propelled howitzer, codenamed 'Skunk,' is usually used to provide fire support for Soviet infantry. It's also one of the few that can be withstood head-on by assault guns at a sufficient distance. Its armor is thin, and UL shells can take it out head-on. [As long as you're sure there are no ambushes around it, then go ahead and attack with confidence. Ah, of course, not on foot.]"
"Then there are the SU-85 and SU-100 self-propelled howitzers. The soldiers in District 45 said they haven't encountered them much. Their combat capability is nothing more than a T-34 without its turret. However, it's important to pay attention to the difference between the two: the number after SU indicates the caliber of the cannon in millimeters. The SU-100, on the other hand, has far more terrifying destructive power. Both share the same tactical codename, 'Chinese Alligator' (CA). Deal with them the same way you deal with the Bison. Cheer up, because there aren't as many of them as there are Bison."
"Huh?" someone asked, puzzled. "Lieutenant Colonel, why use the same code name? After all, aside from the similar size, the firepower of each tank is still different."
"It's not very meaningful, because whether the SU-85 attacks the KMF and assault guns or the SU-100 attacks, the result is the same. We currently have no way to change this fact, and the same goes for those things that start with I—these are the exact words of the officers and soldiers on the front lines."
"Lieutenant Colonel Caronville." At that moment, an officer came to the door, muttered a few words to him, and handed him a USB drive.
"Oh, just received the news." Returning to the computer at the lecture hall, he uploaded the new content. "Because it seems the US ground forces are increasingly inclined to compete with the Soviets, here's an additional update: We have confirmed the US main battle tank—the M4 Sherman. According to information provided by prisoners of war, its combat capability and numbers are similar to the Bison, but they are all equipped with a heavy machine gun on their roofs, which infantry often use to fire at KMFs when coordinating with them. You will be heading to the battlefield in Area 45, and you will likely be assigned to the front lines to resist the US forces. So, please be prepared to help more soldiers spot other US armored vehicles, and don't die on the way to the front lines. This is a heartfelt warning from US warplanes."
"Alright, I'll be showing you some battlefield footage from Area 45. While you're watching, you can ask me any questions you'd like to share about today's lecture. I'll be back shortly..."
Chapter 197, Section 267: Superior People Like Scum
Caronville was called out by an officer, leaving behind a classroom where footage of Sector 45 was playing on a loop—a spectacle more chilling than any horror movie.
"Ah, long time no see. Still sitting in the lieutenant colonel's seat, huh?"
The lieutenant colonel remained silent, watching him quietly—two months ago, this guy had interrupted his original plan to relay the rumors about German Tiger II tanks from American prisoners of war to the generals and officers, and he also looked down on this young man from a commoner background.
"Alright, it seems you want me to get straight to the point, right? Well, here are two things to tell you: First, I have an invitation from Her Highness Elizabeth, the Supreme Commander of the 45th District Expeditionary Force. She hopes that after you have completed the training of this group of officers, or better yet, you can take some time to visit Berlin. Your Highness, the Seventh Princess, I understand from your Duke that you are quite outstanding."
"Judging from this, it seems that the battle in District 45 has reached a critical juncture again? That suits me just fine."
"Don't you think you're just making trouble for yourself? You're too lazy to risk everything in the comfortable 11th district, but you insist on going to the 45th district, where you're practically guaranteed to die. Why are all of Duke Sassler's subordinates like idiots? The more 'outstanding' they are, the dumber they seem."
“Well, there’s no way around it. Wearing a military uniform is for fighting. Flattering others and relying on their power, living a life of comfort—that’s the last thing I’m good at. Perhaps you could teach me sometime.” Caronville paused. “Speaking of which, sir, I’d like to ask about my former subordinates…”
"Tsk, go ask him yourself later. But I can tell you something now: we've cleaned up the mess you left behind by mistreating your guests today, heh."
……
What Caronville didn't know was that a few buildings away, Davis and Stasevich's two groups were led to the front of a recently renovated building—their clothes were still the same blue and white color scheme with gold metal badges bearing six-pointed stars on their chests.
“Hmm…” Davis nervously looked around: there was a row of rather high steps in front of the building, with Britannian soldiers standing guard on both sides and a few people dressed as reporters. On the exterior wall facing this side of the building, there was a pair of symmetrical red banners, and as for the roof, it seemed that several people dressed in black could be seen holding a red flag, lingering in front of the flagpole.
"Hey, these dogs have opened a new grocery store, huh?" Taylor grinned crookedly.
"It's not that simple, buddy. Don't you notice something's off?"
"what?"
"The higher-ups summoned a few of us, and those old Russians too. What about the Germans?"
"The Germans...they haven't shown up for days. Maybe they got food poisoning and all went to the public toilet for diarrhea a few days ago. But boss, don't you think there are more and more guys getting arrested lately?"
"The higher-ups are planning to move those Russians to a more spacious place. By now, there must be at least five thousand of them... We're not much better off. Look at the people who were brought here, what kind of clothes are they wearing..."
"They're all from the air force, you know. I bet they all got caught after parachuting... So this damn empire is getting better and better off in our country, right? Fighting the Russians and also messing with us. I heard Berlin is safe so far, huh."
The two were still whispering when they saw the cameramen and reporters on both sides starting to move forward. At the same time, a familiar nobleman gracefully stood in front of the microphone at the top of the steps and cleared his throat.
"Ah, alright, please be quiet. Distinguished guests, journalists, ladies and gentlemen, and all those who have volunteered to serve Britannia, today I have an important announcement to make to the public. Since the Black Knights' return, the security of District 11 has been greatly affected, which is a disgrace to the Empire's reputation and has also had a very negative impact on harmonious coexistence with the people of District 11. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, we need a special method, and a special group."
"Now, let's give a warm welcome to the new capable officers of District 11."
As he led the people around him in applause, he looked back and, amidst the clicking of camera shutters, the gate opened, and a group of dark figures strode out in orderly fashion.
"Holy shit..."
“Blyat…”
Despite the profanities uttered in two different native languages, they clearly saw the faces of the people. Heading straight for the microphone in the center was Karlstadt, sporting a sinister grin and a somber outfit: a peaked cap, tie, jacket, trousers, boots, a white shirt, and a belt. A red armband on his left arm caught the eyes of Davis and Stasevich, instantly conjuring up images of something repulsive.
Then look at the two men who followed him forward—Gunther's slightly chubby face, with a mustache, and a hint of murderous intent in his eyes; Henrik, on the other hand, quietly wore a monocle, looking worried, but the more worried he was, the more flustered the timid and guilty were than the other two.
……
"Good morning, Area 11." Karlstadt slowly took out his speech and began his speech in front of the camera in a steady, German-accented English.