Arc of Fire

Chapter 163: Start

On August 2, 914 Jules, at 0430 hours, the headquarters of the Second Armored Division of the Prussian Army.

General Heinz Wilhelm von Mauch glanced at his pocket watch and nodded at a staff member who was on the phone.

The staff member immediately gave the order, “Begin artillery preparation!”

As the staff member hung up the phone, the distant rumble of thunder could be faintly heard—the sound of the artillery from the Armored Cluster Command opening fire.

General von Mauch stood in front of the map, fixated on St. Ye Katerina Fortress on the map.

After a long silence, he said, “In truth, continuing our push to the east does pose a risk. Our supply line will be stretched to six hundred kilometers, and the infantry troops of the Central Army Group will be spread thin along the lengthy supply line, certainly leaving us vulnerable everywhere.

“If the enemy’s heavy troops advance north, they could potentially find themselves in a perilous situation.”

The chief of staff said, “The Southern Army Group is advancing too slowly. Even though it’s all open plains, and they have naval support, their progress is embarrassingly slow.

“To make excuses, they’ve even come up with a ‘White Horse General’, claiming he’s some kind of defensive genius, repeatedly holding back the charge of the Armored Cluster.”

General von Mauch frowned, “A defensive genius? Why haven’t I heard of him?”

The chief of staff said, “The information was suppressed by the higher-ups, and the Southern Army Group was reprimanded. The Imperial Propaganda Minister was furious and directly called to question the Southern Army Group, asking if they intended to undermine the propaganda that Ante is an inferior race.”

General von Mauch, already notable for his furrowed brow, now had wrinkles so deep as though they could hide a flea: “Get me the combat records related to this White Horse General, preferably the unembellished original versions.”

The chief of staff said, “Well… after all, this enemy isn’t someone our Army Group has encountered, and the related information was suppressed by the Empire, so we don’t know the details.”

General von Mauch cursed, “What’s going on? Don’t they know? Sharing information on an enemy’s outstanding commander’s style of command can effectively reduce our casualties.”

No one in the room answered.

After a struggle, the chief of staff said, “Perhaps we will encounter him, and you can personally test his mettle.”

General von Mauch snorted, “Good, this war has almost turned into another armed parade like the one with the Carolingians. If this continues, even if we encircle a million Ante Army at Argesukov, others will say we merely defeated a horde of primitives!”

On the southern front, the headquarters of the First Armored Division of the Prussian Army, at 0430 hours.

“Fire,” said General Ewald von Steyr-Mark, commander of the First Armored Division.

The staff member picked up the telephone immediately.

Moments later, distant thunders rolled.

Steyr-Mark asked, “Has the intelligence department still not found General Rokossovsky’s deployment location?”

“We’ve just received a telegram, commander. The Imperial Intelligence Agency’s Rabowell branch reports that Major General Pyotr Konstantinovich Rokossovsky is now serving as the senior operations staff officer at the Southwestern Front Army Headquarters.”

General von Steyr-Mark frowned, “What? Why would they place such a war general on the staff? Is this transfer even proper?”

The others in the command center exchanged glances.

The chief of staff suggested, “Could it be a namesake? Maybe a brother or something?”

“Hmm… Never mind!” General von Steyr-Mark shook his head, “If such a troublesome fellow has indeed been tucked away in the staff room, then our victory is nearly certain. The largest encirclement and annihilation battle in human history, this fight will no matter what be remembered in military history!”

Ante Army, Argesukov, the Southwestern Front Army Headquarters, 0510 hours, August 2, 914 Jules.

All the telephones were ringing. Every phone, as soon as the receiver was put back, would immediately start ringing again.

And those receivers that were picked up, without exception, had a staff officer shouting into them:

“Hello? Louder! You need to be louder!”

Amidst the constant calls for “louder,” General Skorobo frowned, looking at the deployment map of the Southwestern Front Army.

On this map, there were already six symbols indicating “suspected enemy intentions to attack.”

It was foreseeable that there would be even more.

The chief of staff of the Front Army came over: “As of now, we’ve confirmed that at least ten divisions are subjected to the enemy’s artillery preparation, and there are definitely more taking fire. I think the enemy has indeed launched a large-scale pincer offensive.”

The chief of staff suddenly stopped, as if deliberately caught on the rest of his thought.

General Skorobo said, “You want to say that the ignorant Rokossovsky got it right? Fine, I admit, he did predict the enemy’s moves a bit earlier than us, but his pessimistic ideas are utterly unacceptable!

“The enemy attack is an opportunity! Just during today’s daytime, if our three tank armies launch an attack, the situation will be reversed! We will drive the enemy back to their starting positions, and even reclaim the territories occupied by them!

“Rokossovsky, with his patchwork of a temporary force set up in the defensive fortifications at Orachi, will be of no use!”

Having said that, General Skorobo punched the table, indenting the wood.

Due to the excessive force, the surface of his fist cracked open, and blood spread across the table, even dripping down the edge.

The chief of staff, looking at General Skorobo’s hand, said, “The enemy’s air superiority might affect our armored counterattack…”

“We have the latest reinforcements in place, a squadron of destroyers! Let them cover our boys! The enemy will definitely turn to ashes before the steel tide!”

Chief of Staff, “Yes.”

Front Army Bishop, “There is another option, to retreat the tank army to Orachi. From the information I have gathered, Major General Rokossovsky has built a great number of fortifications there.”

General Skorobo, “Don’t you know the outcome of the Carolingian battle? Fortifications are useless! Now that the Air Force’s bombs can destroy bunkers and heavy artillery can flatten minefields! The era of relying on fortifications is over, it is now the age of armored corps clashing head-on!”

“Who uses tank troops for defense!”

Front Army Bishop, “Major General Rokossovsky fights very well; the Church considers him an expert in using armored forces for defensive combat.”

“He has victories only because our tanks have an armor advantage, not because he is that competent! After today, no one will take his achievements seriously anymore, because with our advanced tanks, such victories are like picking things out of a bag!”

General Skorobo stopped, took out a handkerchief, and wrapped his bleeding hand, “Put the northern three tank armies on combat readiness! Be ready to depart for a counterassault at any moment!”

Shepetovka, August 2nd, 914, at 1030 hours.

Major General Chesnokov, commander of the 6th Tank Army, personally climbed onto a tank and said to the tank commander, “You, get out! Let this old Tank Operator drive this tank!”

The tank commander immediately got out. Having once served as the head of the Armor Corps Academy, many of these men were his students and would execute his orders without hesitation.

Chesnokov stood on the tank, turned back to the entire Tank Army, and announced loudly, “Men! The time has come to make our mark! Numerous front-line examples show that the enemy cannot cope with our T34 tanks! They can only rely on the Air Force! But today—”

While he was speaking, a V formation of La-3 fighters swept across the sky, a full 15 planes!

Chesnokov saluted the planes and waited for them to pass completely before continuing, “This is just a part of the Air Force’s 5th Aviation Army that supports our operation; more fighters will join in. Today marks one of the rare occasions in this war when our army does not need to worry about the enemy Air Force!

“With less Air Force support, our tracks will crush the enemy’s skulls! Today is the moment to counterattack! Move out!”

After speaking, Chesnokov jumped into the tank, put on his tank helmet and headset, and ordered, “Driver, advance!”

With a duang sound, Chesnokov’s tank took to the road, roaring as it headed north.

They would soon be facing the Armor Division that had newly arrived at the battlefield.

Asgard Knights’ Armor Division “Anpula,” Division Headquarters, at 0830 hours.

Division Commander William Dietrich said to the Vanguard Commander, Major Mueller, “According to current intelligence, we have at least one enemy tank army in front of us, and they are equipped with the T34 tanks that everyone finds very troublesome.

“So our plan is very simple. After breaking through the enemy’s first line of defense, we will immediately set up the 88mm anti-aircraft guns. The anti-aircraft gun positions will be deployed here.”

William Dietrich slapped a little hill on the map with his riding crop.

“This spot has a good field of fire, but the bad news is, there are not many obstacles to hide our heavy anti-tank guns. So when you lure the enemy Armor Troops in front of the 88mm gun position, don’t just stop and watch the show. You have to outflank the enemy from both sides.

“You are responsible for attracting the enemy’s attention, allowing the 88mm guns to take out a large number of the enemy.

“Generally, before encountering us, the enemy tank troops have already been bombed to disarray by the Air Force. But better safe than sorry.

“Do not underestimate this tactic; we used a similar method to deal with the charging B1 heavy tanks at Carolingian.

“It’s a simple yet very effective tactic!”

William Dietrich stopped, looked at Major Mueller, “Do you understand? If so, repeat it back to me!”

Major Mueller nodded, “Upon encountering an enemy armor counterattack, find a way to lure them in front of the ambushing 88mm guns. While the 88mm guns are taking enemies out, we will outflank from both wings, drawing attention for the 88mm guns!”

William Dietrich nodded and continued with simple motiviation, “You are all handpicked elites. Look at the Zeus holding a lightning bolt on your emblems! You are the Guardians of the Asgard Kingdom! You should fight to the last man, the last round!

“Of course, this offensive probably won’t require us to fight to the last man, the last round. Alright, move out!”

Major Mueller saluted, turned, and walked toward the command room door.

William Dietrich followed, continuing to remind him, “The weaknesses of the enemy’s two new types of tanks are marked in the booklet. It’s okay to cripple them and then leave them to the infantry.”

The two walked out of the headquarters into the courtyard outside, just in time to hear the soldiers of the Division Headquarters’ Guard Armor Platoon preparing their tanks for departure, singing,

If Lady Fortune abandons us once more,

If we can no longer return to our homeland,

If bullets are fired at us,

To put an end to fate,

To cease life,

At the very least, our loyal tanks,

Will give us a steel grave.