Battle of Gravax (DRAW)

[Empire of Ezria]

Battle of Gravax

Belligerents: Revolutionary Workers Union vs Graal Hegemony

The RWU has landed it's own invasion forces twenty mile's to the West of the Esharan positions near the crumbling mining town of Gravax, the still smoldering ruins of the rebellious city of Skraag still off in the distance. Responding to the landings, the Graal have deployed a large swathe of their armor hoping to keep the RWU bottled up while the Esharan's are overwhelmed at their own landing zones through sheer weight of numbers. In order to link up with the Esharan's, the RWU will have to breakthrough a heavily reinforced line of Graal defenses.

Forces:
Revolutionary Workers Union

102nd People's Militia Division (100,000 Soldiers)
Unit Type: Infantry
Training: Basic Training (II)
Division Kit: Anti-Tank

103rd People's Militia Division (100,000 Soldiers)
Unit Type: Infantry
Training: Basic Training (II)
Division Kit: Anti-Tank

102nd Revolutionary Guards Division (100,000 Soldiers)
Unit Type: Infantry
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Mechanized

103rd Revolutionary Guards Division (100,000 Soldiers)
Unit Type: Infantry
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Mechanized

104th Revolutionary Guards Division (100,000 Soldiers)
Unit Type: Infantry
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Mechanized

Kazamar's Veteran-Vanguards (100,000 Soldiers)
Unit Type: Infantry
Training: Elite (IV)
Division Kit: Air Mobile Division

1st Sickle Division (5,000 Tanks)
Unit Type: Light Armor
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Tank Destroyers

2nd Sickle Division (5,000 Tanks)
Unit Type: Light Armor
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Tank Destroyers

101st Sledgehammer Division (10,000 Guns)
Unit Type: Artillery
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Mechanized
PRICE = 7 GDP/10,000 Guns

102nd Sledgehammer Division (10,000 Guns)
Unit Type: Artillery
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Anti-Air Battery

103rd Sledgehammer Division (10,000 Guns)
Unit Type: Artillery
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Anti-Air Battery

1st Harvester Wing (3,000 Aircraft)
Unit Type: Aircraft
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Vertical Liftoff Capabilities

2nd Harvester Wing (3,000 Aircraft)
Unit Type: Aircraft
Training: Professional Soldiers (III)
Division Kit: Vertical Liftoff Capabilities

Total: 600,000 Soldiers, 10,000 Tanks, 30,000 Guns, 6,000 Aircraft

Forces:
191st Infantry (100,000)
Unit Type: Infantry (1 GDP)
Training: Conscripts (1 GDP)
Division: None.
Price: 2 GDP

281st Infantry (100,000)
Unit Type: Infantry (1 GDP)
Training: Basic Training (2 GDP)
Division: Mechanized (2 GDP)
Price: 4 GDP

282nd Infantry (100,000)
Unit Type: Infantry (1 GDP)
Training: Basic Training (2 GDP)
Division: Mechanized (2 GDP)
Price: 4 GDP

1st SNOG Armor (5,000 Heavy Armor) (20% TRANSFERRED TO CORFU = 1,000 Heavy Armor)
Unit Type: Heavy Armor (3 GDP)
Training: Basic Training (2 GDP)
Division:
Price: 5 GDP

15th Artillery (10,000 Field Guns)
Unit Type: Artillery (2 GDP)
Training: Basic Training (2 GDP)
Division: Mechanized (2 GDP)
Price: 6 GDP

Total: 300,000 Soldiers, 4,000 Tanks, 10,000 Guns

Posting Order:
RWU
Graal Hegemony
Moderation Mark

[Revolutionary Workers' Union]

Landing Zone Hammerfall, 101st Sledgehammer Division

Lieutenaint Iyanof slid down from the turret he was manning into the cramped main body of his Sledgehammer-M11. Unlike the standard M2, the M11's compact inner space and powerful engine allowed it a degree of mobility true to the label of Self-Propelled Artillery, making the 101st the first RWU artillery division to leave its transports. On the down side, the moment the commander slipped down from his turret, he was cramped within inches of the face of every one of his crew. He could practically feel the bristles of their fur against his.

"Listen up, comrades," Iyanof began, his speech quick but clear and crisp. "We've managed to land in one piece, and in one formation. That means our work is simple. General Vilodor's orders are to hit the enemy artillery with everything we have to clear the way for the Harvesters.

"Our transports spotted them on the way down, so there's no guesswork on this one. Comrades, that means that we must expect of ourselves nothing less than precise and immediate destruction for the enemy." With that, the Lieutenant climbed back into the turret, opening the hatch to get a view onto the battlefield.

With deafening WHOOSH, WHOOSH, first the 101st, then the other Sledgehammer divisions let loose a barrage of mirror-filled projectiles, filling horizon ahead with what seemed like massive clouds of glinting specks. Without stopping for breath, the Sledgehammers followed with their their real payloads: red beams cut across the mirror-filled sky, sending down moving pillars of fire through the enemy artillery positions. Once they were dealt with, the beams would shift their angles less discriminately, aiming to cause maximum destruction and disturbance in the larger Graal formation of infantry and tanks.

_

104th Revolutionary Guards Division

"DIG THOSE FOXHOLES! DIG!" roared Major Hannara as her division rushed to clear out ground with their shovels and pile sandbags in front of halftraks and APCs. Those already dug in manned their weapons, waiting for the inevitable Graal onrush.

She threw her head sideways to face a band of officers in front of her, their fur drenched in sweat from the searing heat. "The colonizers may be barbarians, but they aren't stupid. They know we have the advantage in fire support, and if they don't retreat, they're coming straight for us. Go make sure every comrade soldier of the 104th is digging in, now."

Without a word, the officers dispersed to their respective units.

The strategy was simple: hold the line. With superior numbers, the RWA was able to extend its line, and therefore its field of fire, without spreading too thin. If Graal tried to match the firing line, their shallow formation would be broken like a twig by a determined counter-attack. The 104th was holding the far right flank; behind it was the 2nd Sickle Division to act as a flanking, enveloping, or support force when needed. On the other side of the line were the 102nd Revolutionary Guards and the 1st Sickles, similarly arranged. The middle of the line was held by a combination of Guards and Militia; behind them were the Sledgehammers, the Harvesters, and Kazamar's Veteran-Vanguards.

In short, every section of the line was ready to be reinforced. If her soldiers would just dig in right and if this hellhole of a planet didn't get any hotter, Hannara was sure that they would make it through. Most of them, at least.

_

1st Harvester Wing

"This is General Andrasa Vilodor. 1st and 2nd Harvester Wings are to take off immediately and engage enemy ground forces, focusing on the heavy tanks. Now is the time of reckoning for the Imperialist Autocrats of the Hegemony."

"Okay Harvesters!" announced Wing Commander Iensi Jakor as six-thousand metal hulks lifted up, pounding the earth beneath into clouds of dust. "Enemy artillery has been engaged by our own, so anti-aircraft fire should be minimal. But, if any Graal guns are still active, be sure to keep your distance. And remember, concentrate on the tanks. If we knock them out, the battle is ours."

[Theopolis]

GRAAL 7TH ARMY

STRATEGIC OVERVIEW // Battle of Gravax

When the Revolutionary Workers' Union armies landed without error, they found nothing but the grueling heat of Sorguth Prime to greet them. The behemoth sun of the Gruul System lumbered overhead, and for miles the desolate geography offered no form of shade, save for the mining town of Gravax to the southeast and the primary settlement of Primerus to the east, surrounded by smaller suburbs as well. Their landing zone was huge, but the Graal weren't going to give battle without at least numerical parity, an option now offered by the victory at Corfu. The Battle of Sorguth Prime was now considered won. With the Esharans now seeking an armistice and -- at the bare minimum -- a way to reduce Esharan casualties, meant that the Graal Home Army was going to be attached to the 7th Army that was destined to do battle with the Communists of the Union and allow for a much better chance at victory at Primerus.

The Graal 7th Army[/color] was ordered on a rapid forced march back eastward as soon as commanders received the first reports of victory at Corfu. Initially dug in, the soldiers of the 7th packed up and began to head east long before the Ayar themselves began to head planetside (Later investigation would reveal the long logistics line of the Ayar was the most probably reason that the Esharans dropped in, were defeated and began evacuating before the first Ayar even touched down). The Communists, omce they landed and began either aerial sorties or a forward advance would inevitably come upon the ditched positions of the 7th Army: Long, empty trenches, trench beds where the infamous SNOG Main Battle Tank once lumbered. Even within the first days the harsh climate of Sorguth Prime had begun to erase traces of where the Graal hunkered down.

The 7th Army was initially hailed as victors, as many of the Graal of the Home Army, the Defenders of Primerus, the Slayers of Corfu dug in to trenches and bunkers near the outskirts of Primerus assumed they were returning after handing the Workers' Union forces a sound defeat, but as the returning troops slowed from their jog, finally within city limits and dropped their gear, nearby troops moved to aid them.

" How do the rats fare in hand to hand? " One of the troops shouted, but the Graal he spoke to was not impressed. Hunched over and heaving, the Graal heaved once more onto the desert sands, wiped his mouth than spoke.

" The rats have come from their hole much larger than the Gnatar thought. To give battle would be a good Graal death, but not a Graal victory. "

Somewhat stunned at the news, the gathered Graal defenders moved aside to clear the road and allow the fatigued 7th Army to find it's rest. The column of marching soldiers and SNOG tanks lasted for several hours. While somewhat of a flimsi nightmare, the Graal 7th Army would become the primary army on Sorguth Prime as the Graal Home Army was reorganized to fold back into the 7th Army. As those beleaguered soldiers of the 7th Army recovered -- they were sent to reinforce the hundreds of thousands of trenches, pillboxes, trenches, artillery batteries, sniper nests and defensive positions within and near the western edge of the cities smaller suburbs.[/blockquote]

[Federation of Varium]

Inside and around the city of Primerus the Graal dug in and waited. They ate and rested and repaired their damaged equipment in preparation for the coming RWU assault. Primerus meanwhile was being turned into a fortress. Trenches and bunkers were dug outside, fire-lanes were set up, and every building was fortified. The graal had the tactical advantage. The ayar had a nightmare of urban fighting waiting for them. Moral meanwhile was moderately high for the Graal. They had beaten the Esharrans, but the sudden and unfought withdrawal of the seventh army had caused minor consternation among the rank and file. Officers wernt about consoling the pups that this would contribute to a greater Graal victory, not defeat.

On the RWU side moral dropped further and further the longer the ayar remained out in the harsh desert, sweating themselves to death in their thick fur coats. Commissars and officers did their best to keep the patriotic fervor going, but they had their limits. All this was before they began the march to attack Primerus.

*The Graal have successfully withdrawn the entire seventh army, giving them much more troops and equipment to hold Primerus with. with proper application of firepower and attrition they may emerge victorious.

*The RWU forces have arrived in full, but are alone for now and face a long march to reach their target. The will need overwhelming firepower to capture it.