“Unfortunately, in order to maintain our AirLand Battle strategy, this is necessary.”
Orders are orders. And this was absolutely necessary. Ordering them to ignore all pleas for help was the only card I had to play.
Down on the ground, the Imperial Army’s defensive line is being shredded like paper. The units that chose to hole up in their positions have become surrounded, strongpoints and all. All we can do in response is focus on attacking the enemy’s logistics.
The mud-slinging is brutal. While we blast apart the enemy’s combat trains and advancing follow-on units, the enemy likewise bombards every inch of our front line.
The future looks far from bright, even for those imperial soldiers lucky enough to survive within the ruins of their plowed-over positions. With the Federation Army surrounding them like a rushing wave, they are being slowly crushed, no longer able to implement their last-minute withdrawal orders.
Even the units fortunate enough to begin retreating without immediate support face a protracted and deadly game of tag against the tenacious Federation Army, trembling in fear of the loitering enemy air troops as they march, bitterly cursing that they have no air support of their own.
One can gloss this however they like, but the Empire is clearly on its last legs.
I know better than anyone that even if the main force avoids being destroyed in the East, it will only amount to a Pyrrhic victory.
But we can do little more now than see this through.
“Target acquired! An enemy fuel convoy… You gotta be kidding. Another self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.”
“And do we give a damn, Lieutenant Serebryakov?”
“I suppose we are used to this by now.”
As First Lieutenant Serebryakov’s comment indicates, the enemy’s supply units are obnoxiously enthusiastic about anti-air defense. For the mages engaged in this operation, heavy anti-air fire has become a day-to-day event.
These cargo trucks always have self-propelled anti-aircraft guns escorting them at the very least. At worst, even the trucks come equipped with anti-air guns, and this is despite the fact that the Federation Army has already secured air superiority. I doubt if even a ground army that completely gave up on even contesting air superiority would be as paranoid about the need for AA fire.
“At least it isn’t radar guided…”
The Federation’s anti-air fire may be thick, but when it comes to targeting and hitting mages, it still isn’t thick enough. A mage could still be shot down if careless…but this is still a level of fire where caution can win the day.
That makes what we need to do clear: attack immediately, thoroughly, relentlessly, and without mercy.
“All units, strike the ground in pairs. And watch out for each other’s lines of fire. I don’t care if we are an ad hoc unit! Friendly fire will not be tolerated!”
At my orders, the unit disperses to strike, displaying the kind of practiced skill that comes only with repetition. The men prepare for incursion.
Good. As their commander, I nod. We will soon be ready to descend en masse.
“Now then, it’s our turn… Let’s show some enthusiasm out there, Visha!”
“Yes, Commander. I’ll be sure to make up for Lieutenant Grantz’s share of enthusiasm as well!”
“I like your spirit, but why mention Lieutenant Grantz’s share?”
“It’s nothing. I said that for myself, really.”
“Come on, out with it,” I say, lending my subordinate an ear.
“I’m just worried you’re going to replace me with him as your wingman.”
Replace Visha?! Oh, of course. I nod. Come to think of it, Tanya asked Grantz to accompany her on that long-range reconnaissance flight.
“Aha-ha-ha, what a great idea! But don’t worry, I prefer the wingman I’m used to. You are the most dependable, Lieutenant. I am counting on you, as always.”
“I’ll do my best!”
“And I look forward to it,” I respond, before glancing toward the regiment.
They have finished getting into position. We can now proceed with our ground attack. Since we are a full regiment, I take extra care to confirm that everything is in place. There is only one order to give.
“All units, move out! Hit the ground targets!”
I fire an optical sniping formula toward the ground as I give the order, with First Lieutenant Serebryakov at my back. The flames from the ignited cargo vehicle serve like an insect lamp, luring the Imperial mages to their target.
The sounds of battle form a terrible symphony.
The scintillation of explosion formulas. The screams of what were once people, pierced by optical sniping formulas. The chatter of SMG rounds imbued with penetration formulas, the light and sound as the bullets rip into assault vehicles on the ground—there is a macabre frivolity to it that almost makes it hard to believe these sounds herald the doling out of death.
But it is still too slow! I attempt to whip the mages into a frenzy.
“Everyone, work faster! Every second counts! Think of your fellow soldiers! Be prompt and efficient!”
In theory, destroying the enemy’s supply lines is simple. But while the theory and the individual actions may be straightforward, execution is anything but. Every ounce of efficiency, every last drop, must be squeezed out wherever possible.
If striking logistics is the obvious move, then so too are its countermeasures.
“The enemy artery is thick! We can’t afford to surgically sever each and every supply route! We must hack through the whole limb—fast, magnificent, and rough!”
In all times and in all places, from neophyte to master, all agree: Destroying the lines of supply is a fine thing.
An army is a great consumer.
Even before combat enters the picture, unless soldiers are provided with proper food, rest, and leisure, an army will collapse. Once combat begins, munitions can disappear in the blink of an eye, fuel stores can run dry, and hospital beds, once so empty, can quickly fill to capacity.
Of course, the impact of cutting off an army’s logistic lifelines is immense. As time passes, an army that fails to maintain its supply lines will inevitably and rapidly begin to crumble.
Thus, even a layman can easily grasp the usefulness of attacking enemy logistics. Yes, it is a fine idea. That is why experts praise it as an idea. But practically speaking, one addendum must be made: it is a fine idea if one can pull it off.
Tanya recognizes that practical difficulty very well. As an obvious and orthodox approach, the countermeasures to having one’s supplies cut off are just as common and diffuse.
And therein lies the crux of the problem: How easy will it be for a single aerial mage division to completely destroy the supply train supporting an enemy army the size of the Federation’s—over one hundred divisions? The answer is simple: It will be impossible.
That answer should be obvious. The enemy is on guard for such attacks. Most importantly, there is a difference in scale between attack and defense. Under such circumstances, how much difference can the activity of one small but elite unit actually make?
We can celebrate our smattering of localized wins as much as we want, but it still begs the question: Is there any value in what we are doing beyond a twisted sense of military romanticism?