Pont Urlaini
Fillician Interstate 85.AFillician Interstate 85.A was a great artery, boasting fives lanes in each direction, that stretched for hundred of miles, linking the northern ports to the Imperial capital. Cities and towns had blossomed around it, eager to share in the wealth that the great river of black asphalt held. In peace, goods imported from the wider world traveled along the interstate to the capital, while Fillician goods went in the opposite direction.
Of course, what had been a lifeline in peace, became a knife in war. Port Byustina had fallen. The red flag flew above that city, and the ships of the Fillician Navy at anchor there. The reds could have only one goal in mind, and that goal took them down the interstate.
Inside his command tent, General Anastacio Villanies traced a finger down the road on the detailed military map sprawled out in front of him. His aides were busy, adjusting the horde of markers representing all the factions at war over the carcass of his once proud country. He was a tall, refined, man--the epitome of aristocratic grace--but his well sculpted face was now marred by a heavy stubble. Around him, a mix of ponies, humans, and nekos moved about the command centre, adjusting the map, and passing reports about. A war might be on, but running a military still took an inordinate amount of paperwork.
“How are the dispositions of our troops?” Villanies asked, his finger still lingering on the map.
“Our recon forces are in position,” a maroon coloured pony spoke up, glancing down at the paper report he’d just been handed. “We’ll be checking in with them every 10 minutes, sir.”
“Very good,” Villanies replied, glancing back at the map. The reds would have to come down this road. They needed a quick victory, and lacked the material for a maneuver campaign in the field. The only way for them to get that victory would be to strike Jalostan, and take the capital as quickly as possible, hopefully overrunning the combined forces there before they were ready for an attack from the north.
It was his brigade’s job to stop them. To hold and secure this road.
“First and third regiments are dug in. Second’s in reserve, sir,” a short, black haired neko replied. His tail swung gently behind him as he saluted Villanies.
“And our flanks?”
“4th Airborne Regiment will be securing them, sir,” the neko continued.
“Good, very good,” Villanies replied, giving a low sigh as he eyed the map. All there was now was to wait for the reds to make their move.
And not so long afterwards, the remaining Loyalist troops were greeted with the firing of a large heavily armoured tank making its way towards them. A large red and purple flag with the hammer and a sickle glistening as it waved triumphantly in the wind. The now triumphant Snezana would lead this attack against the remaining central forces, her intent on demonstrating dominance in the north her key. The plan itself would be almost flawless, with the large majority of the forces focused with Jalostan, these wouldn’t be as well supplied nor as well trained as the rest, which Snezana snickered at the thought. She rode in a large helicopter gunship acquired shortly after the assault on the Arsenal, only bolstering her already large combat forces.
The command centre grew more and more hectic. The reports from the reconnaissance units streamed in, skirmishing with the first wave of the reds.
“They’ve gathered armour and helicopter units, sir,” the neko reported, tail twitching, full of nervous energy. “Our recon units are falling back to our main line.”
“Get our anti-tank forces ready to move. As soon as we know where their tanks are striking they will move to reinforce,” Villanies replied. “Make sure our air defence batteries are spread out to cover our front.”
The gunships approached faster, rockets now began to fire upon the Loyalist forces. The assault for the roadway now commenced, with trucks loaded with fighters, some technicals with high caliber machine guns and light and heavy tanks began to encircle the enemy. Snezana watched as her tail wagged for the inevitable battle now about to commence.
As the rockets streaked forward, missiles shot back, as infantry anti-tank teams opened fire. Streaks of fire leapt from clumps of bushes concealing teams and anti-air vehicles, racing towards the tanks and helicopters. Artillery roared, and shells slammed down around the technicals as the reds poured out. In the trenches carved out near the road, and the barricades along the road itself, the Fillician loyalist troops checked their weapons. Bolts clicked into action, and bayonets glistened as ponies, humans, and neko soldiers prepared for the enemy to close the range.
Whatever forces survived the counter attack now began to furiously fire back, numerous Kalashes and Fillician standardised assault rifles firing back, some of the surviving technicals firing a combination of heavy rounds and rockets firing. The tanks now rolled into the trenches as infantry tried to push the forces out of them. The forces consisted of wolflings, some nekos and likewise, ponies, brethren now slaughtering each other over ideologies.
In the command tent, Villanies could hear the sounds of battle in the distance, not just the roar of his own artillery. The enemy was pushing hard. “Commit the rest of our reserves!” he ordered. “And have our line begin to fall back,” he said, a frown on his face. The important matter was to hold the road, even if that mean falling back down it. So long as his brigade remained intact, the battle was won.
On the front lines, the battle grew tense. The infantry engaged each other at close range, the reds trying to storm the trench through a sea of machine gun fire and artillery shells, while the loyalist held their line against tanks and what seemed like an endless horde. Missiles streaked by overhead in both directions, striking tanks and helicopters on both sides.
Some of the violet and red starred helicopters fell into the trenches or nearby, blazes of fire now raging as a result. The resistant tanks lugged on after some shots, but the lighter ones exploded in a furious ball of fire, some of the ponies and humans commanding it running out in an attempt to save themselves from the brutality. Those who found themselves on the ground now fought hand to hand with the loyalists, rifle butts smacking those on the ground while shots rang out of the barrels. The situation was no better on the other side. A loyalist helicopter, flames streaming from it engine compartments swung out of control, before exploding high above the ground. A communist rocket found a weakpoint on a loyalist tank, and touched off its ammunition store. With a deafening roar, a tower of flame shot out of the tank, taking the turret with it.
“Pull back, first regiment will hold while second and third retreat towards Jalostan,” Villanies said, already rolling up the map. “We will bleed them every step of the way to the capital.”
In the skies, jet fighters now zipped and flew in the air, intent on destroying whatever artillery and heavy armament was on the ground. The jets themselves were modernised one fabricated by the Montesardi. Only adding to the already explosive firefight, missiles and bombs now fell over the battlefield from the aircraft, zipping quickly in the air. It was one of the few cards left up of Snezana’s sleeve.
Loyalist aircraft were swift to join, and the battle changed as the two air forces became more interested in each other than the ground far below. Contrails twisted and soared around each other, linked by the sharper lines of rocket fire. Missiles streaked out, and sleek planes became balls of fire, hurtling towards the earth as the battle below reached into the sky.
The battle seemed to have been a furious and nonstop battle over just one of the numerous highway systems of the nation. Yet, the strategic location to whoever held dominance would ensure victory over the opposing forces. Even with the chaos produced in the capital, most of the Loyalist forces held dominance over the roadways. If the PLF succeeded with this task, they would be able to invade the East with ease. Nonetheless, the furious battle raged on with significant losses on both ends. Nonetheless, the PLF’s doctrine on pushing them continuing.
