Battle of Hauthkaj Irradiated Zone (RWU vs Rebels)

[Empire of Ezria]

Battle of Hauthkaj Irradiated Zone

Belligerents: Revolutionary Workers Union vs Royal Ayar Monarchists

Overview:
Upon making contact with the Royalist Forces, a massive bombardment was ordered from space. Unfortunately however, many of the structures (designed to survive nuclear bombs and much worse) and buried deep underground took little in the way of damage. The Revolutionary Troops will have to dig them out. The ferocity of the resistance became apparent as soon as RWU troops entered firing range of well entrenched Royalist guns. An artillery duel has now begun to develop between the two armies as the RWU inches closer.


RWU:
--2 Planetary Garrison
--1 Infantry Division
--1 Armored Division
--1 Artillery Division


Royalists:
--1 Infantry Army
--2 Planetary Garrison
--1 Artillery Division

Post Order:
-RWU
-Monarchists
-Mod Mark

[Revolutionary Workers' Union]

RWA Sledghammer artillery in position at the edge of the Irradiated Zone

The Royalists had entrenched themselves well. Field Marshal Kazamar respected that. However, there was no question of this respect translating to defeat. Covered in radiation-proof armor as he overlooked the rows of new Sledghammer artillery batteries, he gave his orders.

The infantry were to advance cautiously in loose formation, with the intent of drawing out enemy infantry fire. As Royalist infantry positions were identified, the Sledghammers would reduce them to dust.

Meanwhile, the tanks would advance behind the infantry, also in loose formation, and await further orders while watching their flanks.

Counter-battery fire would be handled from space. The enemy artillery had made the mistake of firing: Now their positions had been exposed. The dreadnought, battleships, and frigates of the Revolutionary Workers' Navy would provide far more destructive counter-battery fire than could the Revolutionary Workers' Army.

Kazamar grinned as the Sledghammers established their firing angles. With a loud boom, thousands of disks flew into the air, travelling hundreds of miles until they exploded into thick, hovering clouds of mirrors. The RWA artillery was then free to fire at any section of the immense cloud, sending a pillar of light and heat downward to meet their targets.

[Empire of Ezria]

'' Revolutionary scum advancing on our position! We will hold to the last! '' The comm line went dead after that as Duke Charan allowed a scowl to paint his features. The tactical map showed that his troops were taking quite the punishment but we're holding rather well in the face of the massive assault. The boom of Hydra artillery pieces (outdated but still quite effective) dueling with their Sledgehammer counterpart was a frightening sound to behold.

'' Begin the withdrawal. The 39th Infantry will hold a rear guard action while we begin our withdrawal underground. Is the weapon ready? '' The Duke said, his hardened gaze sweeping over his subordinates.

'' Almost sir. It is entering it's final priming stages. ''

'' Good. '' He said with a firm nod before stepping down into the depths of his command bunker where an access tunnel lead out. It connected with numerous other tunnels that stretched for miles underneath the earth (and connected by a series of mag trains). The base was a massive one, and most of the day to day activities were being conducted underground. The rebel dogs had stumbled upon a hornets nest indeed.

[Empire of Ezria]

Moderation Mark:

The use of the dreadnought and her support ships was like trying to kill a fly with a bazooka. Orbital bombardments were not meant for pinpoint accuracy, they were meant to swathe an entire area for miles in fire from the sky. And that is exactly what they did, the second volley struck down (with slightly more accuracy) now that the enemy artillery pieces had been painted. Unfortunately for the Ayar, they didn't anticipate the sheer range an orbital bombardment would have as an entire regiment of the planetary garrison armies that had been leading the attack disappeared in a storm of molten fire. But the continued bombardment had the desired effect of suppressing the enemy guns, allowing the infantry and artillery to close.

What followed next was bloody hand to hand fighting as the Revolutionary troops attempted to get into the cramped complex. The halls were choked with enemy soldiers and makeshift machine gun nests. Clearing it would mean a high price in blood, but grudgingly the Royalists were slowly pushed out. Little did they know that the bulk of the enemy were attempting to flee. It wasn't long before the Red Horde discovered snaking tunnels in the base that ran on and on. It would be up to the commander of the RWU on whether to continue on after their hated foe or decide that enough blood had been shed.

RWU:
--2 Planetary Garrison (1 at 70% effectiveness)
--1 Infantry Division
--1 Armored Division (90% effectiveness)
--1 Artillery Division


Royalists:
--1 Infantry Army (65% effectiveness, fighting tenaciously)
--2 Planetary Garrison (WITHDRAWING)
--1 Artillery Division (DESTROYED)

[Revolutionary Workers' Union]

Revolutionary Militia Private Indi Ramak had never seen so much blood. The drills and exercises back on New Dignity were nothing like this. Yet, she pressed on.

"Cover me!' she yelled above the screams of three Ayar bleeding out on the ground, atop a pile of their already-dead comrades. The poor fools of an entire squad had run straight past the corner without thinking, and a Royalist machinegun had cut them to pieces. Now the Antoviyan scum would pay.

Sprinting with her head down, Indi loosed out shots from her pulse-laser carbine in one hand while she pulled back her other for a special surprise: a Red Cocktail. She didn't feel the gaping hole from her stomach to her spine until after the nest went up in flames.

The Ayar soldier collapsed. Her vision and hearing began to fade, and searing pain began to grip her abdomen. She knew what was next, and she knew she had had it coming. Indi grinned: To watch those pigs burn alive, it was worth it.

_____

Kazamar remembered the days of tunnel fighting from the Revolution Wars, but this time the tables were turned. He wouldn't make the mistakes the Antoviyan commanders he had fought had made.

The Armored Division was ordered to move back to the Sledghammer positions; its presence by the tunnels simply made it an easy target for hit-and-run attacks.

Meanwhile, all Human, Graal, and Dronavi soldiers -about one third of the Revolutionary Guards and one tenth of each division of Militia- were ordered out of the tunnels. For them, unlike Ayar and Centricus, a tunnel collapse could mean death. These soldiers above would play a light infantry role, advancing in loose formation, identifying any surface activity for the artillery to pulverize, and keeping their distance from any Royalists they spotted. This would stave off any surprise flanking maneuvers and give the RWA eyes onto any enemy retreats to the surface or yet-undiscovered surface emplacements.

The rest of the Infantry, both Revolutionary Guards and Militia, would press on in the tunnels, carving their bloody way to victory.

[Empire of Ezria]

'' Have the bulk of the troops completed their withdrawal and nukes been loaded? '' It had been hours since the first attack by the Revolutionaries, using the mag train tunnels deep beneath the earth the Royalists had been steadily using the trams to escape to other Royalist strongholds throughout the Irradiated Zone. Though this by far had been their largest base of operations.

'' Yes Duke Charan but we still have many more troops continuing to evacuat-- ''

'' We don't have time to wait! I want the weapon remote detonated, now! '' He roared at his adjutant, Charan was sick to his stomach. He did not enjoy condemning thousands of his men to a certain death but if it meant he could take many of the Revolutionary pigs with them, then so be it. The general slumped back into his seat, the tactical map suddenly blooming a bright orange as nuclear fire ripped its way through the tunnels to consume all in its path.

[Empire of Ezria]

Moderation Mark

After Action Report:
The use of a tactical nuclear weapon ripped its way through the tunnels and through the interior levels of the massive facility, thousands died in the blink of an eye. However, the majority of those on the surface were free from the damage of the blast since the bulk of it was contained deep underground. That wouldn't stop the pursuing force of People's Militia and the Royalist rearguard force being immolated in the explosion and encased under tons of debris as the tunnels collapsed. While many of the Royalists had been killed or captured, even more had managed to escape to other strongholds throughout the era. The destruction of the tunnel system behind them meant that the RWU couldn't pursue, but the assault on the compound had revealed even more startling from senior prisoners. The Royalists had nuclear weapons, and they were intending to detonate them in the new capital of the Union.

Result: RWU Victory

RWU:
--1 Planetary Garrison (DESTROYED)
--1 Planetary Garrison (50% effectiveness)
--1 Infantry Division
--1 Armored Division (90% effectiveness)
--1 Artillery Division


Royalists:
--1 Infantry Army (DESTROYED)
--2 Planetary Garrison (WITHDREW)
--1 Artillery Division (DESTROYED)