A Slight Misunderstanding (Border War/Closed/PT)

[Neu Engollon]

[OOC: Please do not post unless you are Kalarin, or have permission. This is a closed small border war that took place in 1920-21. If you wanted to send an official communique from your government, please TG me for permission. Otherwise, unless this escalates, we won't have any outside forces involved. Thank you.]




A FEW kms NORTH OF GOERTENTHAL
NEAR THE KALARIN - NEU ENGOLLON BORDER
NOVEMBER 24, 1920

Lieutenant David Guyner led his platoon, the 4th, down through the hills and over a saddle. They didn't travel in a straight line column, rather staggered with several men working through the pines abreast of each other. The point men kept watch, but more out of habit than any perceived danger. There was not much underbrush to worry about along this stretch of the border, and just a light sprinkling of snow on the ground. In some parts, and especially deeper in the winter, they were patrolling on skis, but the deeper snow hadn't come yet.

They had a few more kilometers to patrol for the day, visiting the OPs that were sprinkled around these forested foothills. Then they would turn in back at Goertenthal, leaving tomorrow for the 5th Platoon of Gamma Company, 25th Alpen Regiment to handle. To their east, 7th Platoon was also doing their prescribed duty, but closer to the Thal Fluss, or the Zambeza River as the Kalarinians called it. They were alternating with 8th Platoon on their sector. Here, there was no river to delineate the border, but most often there were a few posts about. Guyner paused, then scampered ahead a bit, catching up with their lead man for the moment.

"Fermer! Stop! Sergeant Ralutto, scusta, but...did we...did we see a post yet?"

"I'm...not sure, Sigher. I think so. I know we didn't walk past it, though."

He looked at the Sergeant and the other lead men that had stopped. They looked at him, earnestly and with some curiosity from underneath their charcoal gray field caps that had their ear flaps down. They wore their dirty, off-white snow camo battle smocks, but most didn't bother to wear the matching overalls that were issued with the battle smocks, instead they wore their regular charcoal gray, heavy wool trousers. Only two, including the Sergeant, had their NEG 1916 Rifles unslung and at the ready. The NEG 1916 (Neu Engollon Gewfus Model 1916) was a domestically made bolt action that took the best features of the Mauser Gewehr 98 and the Springfield M1903 and put it into one well performing rifle. But it did no good slung on a patrolling trooper's back. It was tough to impart battle readiness sometimes to a peaceful, neutral militia.

"You men need to have your rifles at the ready while we're out here on patrol."
Some of the Alpen troopers looked at him still in consternation. English had not yet made universal usage, especially outside of the cities. The farm folk still relied heavily on their Frandit.

"Ver Gewfus. Out." He mimed a rifle in front of him. He didn't carry one as officers generally only carried sidearms. Only officers of the Neu Engollon Defense Militia were issued the Lugers. They were surplus, bought from confiscated German arms through the Allied powers at the armistice two years ago.

"Yes, sir."

"Ja, sigher."

"Anyway, we missed a turn here." He pulled out his map from the cylinder case slung at his hip, opposite of the holstered Luger.
The Sergeant grabbed one end of the map to stretch it out, coming around to look at it, at the Lieutenant's side.

"Ah, ja...Quan vas accadu?"

"I don't know how it happened, Sergeant. We've done this route dozens of times. Now, I'm sure we're still on our side, but we need to work back up that last hill, through the wash...I think." He said, tapping at the map.

"Ja. That wash, Sigher...Sir, scusta (sorry). That is definitely where we went wrong. We go back...hauben."

"Up indeed. Sergeant, lead the way."

The Sergeant and Lieutenant walked through the idling men, working their way towards the rear. The Lieutenant paused to roll up the map and stuff it back in its cylinder case.
At the moment, Private Henschlep was at the rear, looking back the way they came. As Sergeant Ralutto lined up level with him, he pointed up towards the southwest ridgeline.
Speaking quietly, he said:
"Sarge, who is that up there? 7th Platoon?"

Ralutto followed the young private's finger. Dark shapes moved up on the ridgeline. He gasped.
"Gah, Dieu..." He looked back at the Platoon, "Unbas!" He motioned for them to duck down.
"Why didn't you say anything before, Private?"

"I thought it was a couple goat herders."

"There's more than a coupl-..."

"The others just appeared now, Sergeant."

The Lieutenant, having re-seated the map, crouch walked fast the last few paces up to the other two men, passing other Alpen troopers that had finally unlimbered their NEG 1916s.
He pulled out small field glasses, looking up at the figures on the ridgeline.
They started to drop from sight, but he still caught a glimpse.

"They're not ours."

"Then they're...but the border's back that way!" The Sergeant pointed back down the hill, towards where they were originally going to head.

Corporal Demaux spoke up, "Should we hail them, sir?"

"I..."

[Kalarin]

Kalarin-Neu Engollen Border

St Kampest halted the platoon, his 10 man patrol was doing its regular border patrol. A sprinkling of snow on the ground and a brief chill in the air was the only change to the relatively peaceful lanscape. A good posting for the 12th Jakoban Light Infantry. The great war had been brutal on the unit. Trench warfare had not suited the fast moving lightly armed units. His men carried Snubbers, a shortened variation of the KA-13R a design based off the British Lee Enfield, while not a 10 shot rifle, the rifle was well balanced and had performed well during the war. The snubber was lighter and shorted, better for the fast paced action the unit had been used to.

The posting was welcomed by the unit, the flat rolling plains of farmland and woods had offered rest for a worn out unit. Even the patrol was more of a light stroll than an alert patrol itself. The 2000 men of the regiment had been given the whole sector to patrol, easy peasy.

Jis men had been patrolling along a series of foothills, the Zambeza River offered a natural boundry but areas overlapped and made it diffcult to see which side they were on. "Halt here lads" he ordered. The men welcomed a rest and leaned up against the rocks on this hill. Skara had spotted something further down the hill, the scout had keen eyes and always spotted something unusual on their patrols, brown Yao Guai, wolves, birds. While a animal lover today was different, Skara had an unusual serious look and was frantically signalling him to come over.

"SIr!!!" he whispered, the sound of urgency was clear now, he scrambled up the hillside to the top overlooking a range of smaller hills. He pointed down to a lower hillside, "down there sir, spotted them a few minutes ago coming out of the tree line." It took a couple of moments for his eyes to adjust to the snow glare when he saw what the scout had been so frantically pointing at. Another patrol, they usually used the hill as a marker for the border but these were on the Kalarin side. Neu Engollens.

It was then he knew they were spotted, the rest of the platoon had followed him up believing that Skara had found something again. He could feel the nausea rising in him, it was moments like these that things go wrong. The Engollens were now looking up and a pause had descended.
"Don't raise your rifles, but keep 'em ready, Tomsky gimme your scope I want to get an idea of numbers". The men were rusty but still managed to get in position.

Tomsky handed him the scope off his rifle, Tomsky wasn't supposed to have a scope but currently he was willing to let it slide, he looked down at the foreign patrol, "lets see what these guys do."

[Neu Engollon]

KALARIN - NEU ENGOLLON BORDER
NOV. 24, 1920

Lt. David Guyner paused for a few more moments and looked up at the hill/ridge.
He needed to come to a decision quickly. A situation like this could get out of hand fast.

Corporal Demaux again, "I think they spotted us, sir."

Guyner and Sgt. Ralutto both looked at the Master of Obvious for a brief annoyed moment.

"Really? You think Corporal?"

Sergeant Ralutto vocally reined in his junior NCO, "Shut yer bofa*, Demaux! No more outta ya."

The Lieutenant motioned over to Corporal Seitzmann. Even though Neu Engoleens were drilled incessantly on marksmanship whether they were conscripts or active duty, every Platoon usually had a designated sniper that rated above and beyond normal sharpshooting standards. Seitzmann not only rated top 10 in the NEDM shooting competitions, but he was also a top biathlete, having competed in Vantelira, Sahsahlah and other large biathlon competing nations. He carried the Geweil 16, the sniper modified version of the NEG 1916 that used a Mauser scope. Seitzmann crawled over to the Platoon leader, taking care with his well polished and cleaned rifle. He usually kept it in a canvas cover that he'd modified to easily snap off and drop if necessary. But now the Geweil was out and ready. The cover folded away.

"Corporal Seitzmann, I want you to take Perniggi and hook around to that hill just to our east, that is about level with their ridge. Do you see the one I'm talking about?"

Seitzmann nodded.

"I trust your judgement, we can diffuse this, but just be ready, in case...you know."

"Ja, sigher. I'll be ready."

"Good," They moved off, "Sergeant Ralutto, I want you to take four men, fast movers, and move the opposite way, to our west. Don't take too long, but get to good cover, if you can."

"Do you think it's a good idea to split up, sir?"

"We still have over thirty men here with me. Kalarinian patrols are small. We'll be fine."

"And...if it's not just a patrol that wandered onto the wrong side?"

"Well, we'll cross that bridge then, which is why we need to find their flanks if they're a scouting probe, Sergeant."

"Ja, sir. The logic is good."

"One last thing, save one fast runner to get to OP 43, the closest transmitter." When would they get these new radios to all the units? The Morse clackers are so ancient now. "Don't send him yet, though. I want to make sure this blows over and we have all the information. Just get him ready."

"Ja-bon, sir."

The Lieutenant nodded as Sgt. Ralutto's group started off. He would give them a few more minutes.
"Cover me, Private. Corporal Demaux...ach, nevermind...Sergeant Schiele, keep the men down and spread, and ready. We need get back further to cover and out of ridgeline sight, just in case."

"Oh, I think they're ready, sigher."

Lt. Guyner had his pocket watch out, as he gazed down he muttered,
"Accorzu (OK), not too ready. We don't need this to go mal."

He stood up and straightened up, tucking the watch into his bandolier pouch. He walked a few steps out, glancing left and right as the little gullet passed the hill and started to rise. He didn't really expect to see Seitzmann or Ralutto's team, but it reassured him to do it anyway. He cleared his throat. Kalarinians didn't seem like a bad lot. They'd even waved on a couple occasions when their patrols had passed each other near the river. Ok, here goes.
He started to stride more confidently, watching his step as the shale shifted in some spots. He held out his hand.

"Bien-welk! Welcome to Neu Engollon, paisamis!"


* 'boma' means mouth in Frandit, 'bofa' means gaping hole.





BAD TERZEL AIRFIELD

Lt. Col. Theodor Real guided in his triple decker NEF FKT1 in for a landing. There were a few slight bumps, but over time, they were smoothing out the strip. He taxied in and brought the plane to a slow gliding halt. It felt nice to be in the plane that was von Richtofen's favorite during his exploits in the past war. It was possible the Red Baron had sat in this very one.
The NEF FKT1 was in reality, a Fokker Dr.1 Triplane, acquired from them, with some slight modifications and improvements to make it a part of the NEDAF. Also, a few of the squadron's NEF FKM2's (Fokker D.viii Monoplanes) were up and about, doing training flights, and would be down within the hour.
The rest of the 205th's Fokker contingent were at Kembach, along with the NEDAF Caproni bomber fleet of five, newly christianed the NEF CAB2's.

Of course, the Confederacy would have purchased anything Real recommended. He felt they needed the best that had been flown on both sides. Hence, the Sopwith Camels lined up at the other end of the field, known to the NEDAF as the NEF SPB1 model. He pushed up his goggles and looked them over, smiling. He admired Britain's Mannock and Bishop, just as much as von Richtofen.
He witnessed both the Fokkers and Sopwiths in action, as an interested neutral observer, being tolerated by both sides.

He had gone to both sides of the Atlantic to witness tests and trials before the Great war. It had been in the last few years that his mission, direct from the Federal Council President to catch Neu Engollon up to the rest of the world and form a military air wing, had really found fruition. The NEDMAF, split off from the Militia and renamed the NEDAF in 1917, had been born.

With so many surplus jagflugaervons (fighter planes) available and cheaper, they now had two full squadrons and were building up for a third. The 205th 'Red Kites' were his most cherished babies, and he'd reluctantly let Major Renvier go to form the 206th Black Kites, based closer to the capital. Between Bad Terzel and Kembach, the planes of the 205th 'Red Kites' Squadron kept vigil over the whole of northern and eastern Neu Engollon. They were on watch always, both dreading, but secretly hoping for the chance to prove their meddle in real battle. A difficult feat to accomplish in a neutral nation.

This was Real's first flight back since returning from yet another observation across the Atlantic. He was keen to try out some new tricks he had been fortunate enough to watch, including the famous Rickenbacker himself, perform. A new sport was taking hold in America called barnstorming, pioneered by bored veteran US pilots. It had some other applications beyond mere sport and civilian folly. The FKT1 was a little unwieldy for the maneuvers he hoped to test, at least until he got the hang of them, so he would be borrowing one of the FKM2s for tomorrow.

His crew came running up to greet him and work over the bird.
He itched at his scalp underneath his leather flying helmet and climbed down out of the cockpit.
"Don't be banging too much on the old girl, Chief. I put her through the wringer already up there."
He needed one of those Burgunden Breus, and he would be buying for the flight or whoever was in the OC.

[Kalarin]

The tension hung on the air like smoke as this lone soldier ascended towards their position. Kempest could feel the nerves in his patrol. Being outnumbered 3:1 isn't a nice feeling. But this was different, his hand was shaking something that hadn't happened since he first went over the top in 1914. He had only been 16 then, surviving the war was a strange feeling. Outlasting so many friends and even family, the men with him were all survivors, thats what made them tough. They had been through hell and the great war and come out the other side.

"Skara keep an eye on them, no one do anything rash and for gods sake keep your rifles low" he ordered, even with their commanding position on the hill the numbers were too great. "If shooting starts we pull back and head for the OP". The OP was a small barn they had fortified. 3 patrols operated from it and it was well positioned for a stand. Sandbags and logs provided adequate cover but its clear line of sight and narrow approach meant it could only be attacked directly from the fron. A river forked on either side covering their flanks.

The climb would be a hard one for the NEU Engollen, not only was the side steep but it was covered in loose shingle. What may seem like a secure foothold could easily brak away with too much pressure. "I think he's their officer" Skara whispered to him, he had considered meeting him half way but it would leave him too open to the rest of the foreign patrol and he didn't doubt their marksmanship. Instead he would wait, any advantage was needed at a time like this. The men were keeping their cool. He needed to be their, the reassurance of his command. The war changed men, moulded them into machines responses that seemed unatural in 1914 had become second nature. Each one was a powder keg waiting to go off. In battle it can be a life saver, but here, now when even the slightest wrong move can spark conflict. That was dangerous.

The officer was begining to struggle on his way up. A couple of times he had slipped on the loose rock and now he was closer he could see the man pushing himself on towards them Certainly brave by any account. He slipped again, then again, the rock repusling him.

The third time was different, he slipped but instead of sliding down as he had done before, he fell backwards.

The next moment all hell broke loose. Bullets began hitting all around them from the NEU Engollens, he watched Private Smitts fall clutching his throat as blood spurted from his wound. "Run, jesus run!!" his men began reutrning fire dropping one of the foreigners, "Your three" he pointed, "take reargaurd keep close but give us some cover" they each nodded before lossing off rounds towards the enemy. "Skara take point and gimme your rifle" the scout handed him the rifle before running ahead of the patrol. The men moved quickly away as he joined the reargaurd. "Cmon lads mad minute here" he shouted firing rounds off into the enemy, Alster fell back holding his shoulder screaming. "Back, back help him" He watched his men run, sprinting down the side of the hill back to safety.

[Neu Engollon]

KALARIN - NEU ENGOLLON BORDER
NORTH OF GOERTENTHAL

Sergeant Gianni Ralutto and his team tried to be quiet as they scooted to the next hill. They had decided that haste was more important than stealth as the Lieutenant had not given them much time to get set. As they fast crawled up the crest, he was already almost to the middle of the basin looking up at Kalarinians.
They spread out, finding cover around the pines and rocks and getting set. They were not quite level with the Kalarinian occupied ridge, but they weren't as far below as the bulk of the platoon.

On the opposite hill to the east, Corporal Seitzmann and Private Perniggi sidled up to a nest of rocks that afforded a good view of most of the soldiers of Kalarin. They had the highest, most protected vantage point of any of the NEDM soldiers. The Lieutenant had chosen well when he sent his prized sniper, Corporal Seitzmann up on the hill. Private Perniggi had extra stripper clips ready to hand over to the Corporal. He would also act as Seitzmann's second and observer.
Seitzmann sighted in on the figures across the way, some were mostly obscured by trees, but even then he saw a shoulder, top of a head or even a butt sticking out too far from cover. He intended to do the most damage if it came to that.

Lieutenant David Guyner continued to try to navigate the loose shale and rocks that separated the gulley from the ridge above. He didn't remember it being so difficult to move through when they'd been going the other way. He slid, but regained his footing.
He pondered their predicament and if he was making the right decision. What if we are the transgressors? What if we passed the mark...the post, and are out of Neu Engollonian territory? What he was certain of was that the Kalarinian patrol leader was not coming down to meet him after being hailed.
He knew he had coverage from his men behind him and that gave him confidence. He needed to diffuse this and get the intruders on their way back home.
They were the intruders...they had to be. He almost slid out again, but caught himself.

He felt the rock he pushed up onto break away and start to spill him down, it let out a loud CRACK! as it broke. At the same moment he realized what it sounded like, it was too late. He felt that feeling in his gut as he groped at air and fell back. Rounds whizzed over his head.

CRACK!

The Lieutenant dropped to the ground from a Kalarinian round. He didn't see a puff of smoke or flash from one of their rifles, but that meant nothing. They could have more hiding on the next hill that he didn't see. It took only a split second for Seitzmann to register it all as he blew out a puff of air, steadied and let loose on his first target. Blam. In the throat. He shifted a hair and squeezed again. This time it was a miss. Shots from the others of 4th Platoon made the now enemy soldiers dance and scamper, making his shots more difficult. One of the others got a hit on another of them. He just saw it as his scope centered on the man. His shoulder fountained blood.

Sergeant Schiele reacted as heard the pop of the rifle and watched Lt. Guyner fall. Immediately the men went into action blasting away up at the ridge. The NCO in charge of 4th Platoon waved to his designated runner, Private Doertzen,

"Go! Go! Get out of here, Private. Get reinforcements for us!"

The terrified Private Doertzen scampered back and out towards OP 43, racing for the squad there and the Morse transmitter they controlled.

Next he looked to the machine gun crew of the patrol. They had been in the final stages of assembling and setting up all the parts of the Hotchkiss gun and checking fields of fire before the Lieutenant was felled. He nodded to them, they didn't have the best channel to send covering fire, but it was better than nothing.
They opened up on the ridge to keep heads down, and maybe inflict some damage.

Corporal Demaux took a round in the chest and grunted, his large girth falling back as he tried to somehow force the round back out of his body with frantic flailing. Then he lay still.

Sergeant Schiele waved on the others to advance on and up, finding cover and hammering out a couple shots at a time, as their comrades looped around them and repeated the process. They would work their way around the basin that way, avoiding the open ground and not taking the direct path through.

Sergeant Ralutto's team kept their fire up until their targets disappeared behind the ridge. Then they also advanced to chase the Kalarinians. The bastards had killed the Lieutenant. They would cut down every last one of them.

Lt. Guyner lay on the ground as the chaos bubbled around him. There was no putting the cork back in the bottle. They, the rest of the 4th Platoon of Gamma Company, 25th Alpen Regiment, were convinced he was dead and taking their revenge out on the innocent Kalarinians. Or had they shot at him and missed? It didn't matter now. Somehow, he was still alive despite being the most vulnerable of the patrol, sitting out in the open in the middle of the crossfire. His side was in immense pain, having smacked hard into a bunch of sharp rocks. He could feel sticky wetness along his right side, where the sharp shale had torn in through the battle smock and uniform tunic. He flipped over and crawled hands and knees, to scoot back to his men. A bullet drilled him through the back and punctured his lung. He collapsed to the rocks, wheezing and rasping as his lung collapsed within his torso. Things went dim as he fought for air. This was not the day he had expected at all.

[Kalarin]

It was late when Kempest and his men reached the OP, Lt Hekk was already debriefing Skara who had gone ahead. The injured were being moved into the medical tent and Doctor Rykarsem was already examining them.

The command tent was bustling with men as they listened intently to Skara story. When he had finished Hekk he looked over at the sargeant. "Is this all true?" he asked. There was a curiosity in his voice aswell as a stern command. Everyone was now looking at him, dirty and tired it was the last thing Kempest wanted. "It is sir, all of it. They fired at us and we shot back. I ordered everyone to fall back since we were well outnumbered", Hekk sat back for a moment before looking to the map. The little lighting in the tent illuminated the map of the area, black spots represented each OP with a red mark for the town where a large number of thr regiment had been based.

"Men, we have a big area to patrol, so do they. It means that when events like these happen it doesn't get into the press because honestly apart from some cows and farmboys no one ever see's or hears it. And that is how I want this to stay. Anyone! seen, heard or even beleived to have spoken about this will be in a court martial so fast before you can even say court martial. Am I understood?" a unanimous reply of 'Yes sir' erupted from the men. "Kempest, Skara stay here, the rest of you back to work" quickly them men filed out of the tent and resumed their duties. Hekk pulled up another chair so they could all sit down. "All tight, tell me where this patrol was and when, Im going to double patrols along the borders and call in some more men. I don't want to cause a war but we have to know this was a one off. I'll put a call in to the Captain so he can get onto our embassy in Neu Engollen, maybe someone there will know what the hell is going on". Sargeant I want a full report with statments from all your men.

[Neu Engollon]

A HILLTOP
THE KALARIN-NEU ENGOLLON BORDER

Corporal Seitzmann had run out of targets. The Kalarinians had run, wisely, being far outnumbered by the NEDM patrol, but he still felt cheated. For certain, he knew that he'd killed one, beyond that, the tally was fuzzy. What was certain was that he no longer needed to cover his platoon mates as their heads bobbed in his scope while they scooted around the trees in his former target area.
As the all clear was waved from the formerly enemy held hill, he picked up the Geweil 16 and followed Private Parmiggi down the saddle to the high ground.
They stopped, changed direction and trotted over to the Lieutenant, who lay belly down not far away.
A large red spot spread across his back.

As return fire had died down, the Alpen soldiers had closed in on the ridge and the surrounding hills, trying to flank the Kalarinian patrol, but they had slipped the closing trap.
Sergeant Schiele led the main contingent of the platoon. There was no light dusting of snow here anymore. It was muddy ground with boot prints all over. In spots, crimson tint showed on the rich brown earth. Sergeant Ralutto and his squad arrived. Immediately he sent pickets further out to guard against a counterattack. A couple of the soldiers remained behind to attend to a couple of the wounded and Corporal Demaux. Like the Lieutenant down below, there was not much they could do for the unfortunate Corporal, other than carry his body back.

Battlefield first aid was a relatively new concept that some soldiers on the Allied and Central Powers sides', and had gone through the Great War, had been forced to learn the hard way. Like many other hard lessons learned during the recent slaughter, Neu Engollon was benefiting from them without having been through the punishing bloodbath itself.

"Sergeant Schiele, we need to rally the men and get back..."

"Hey there!" A figure moved towards them, the two NCOs looked down unworried and expectantly. Whoever it was had passed through their pickets with no problems or alarms raised. It was Lt. Fitzhoff, the 5th Platoon leader. More of his platoon followed behind him.
The Lieutenant was amazingly adept at navigating the hill, and he talked as he chose his footholds.
"We got the word...Private...Doertzen reached OP 43...You have...every transmitter going off across the Northeastern sector. What's the status here?"
Lt. Fitzhoff had reached the summit and returned salutes. "Am I hearing this right? Did you start a war? Why are you here?"

Sergeant Schiele stared hard at Sergeant Ralutto.
"Ralutto here took us past the pos-..."

"NO! No. No, Sergeant Schiele. We didn't pass a post, Sir. No post. We were on the right side and Lt. Guyner went to tell them. They shot him down. We retaliated and drove the Kals from our land, Sir..."

"Sergeant. Stop. Right now. All of us are standing in Kalarin. Do you realize that? Your precious post is waaaay back there..." He looked down at the bloody spots in the mud and snow. "You have shed Kalarinian blood in Kalarin."

"They shed first blood, Sir."

At this, Sergeant Schiele reluctantly nodded. "Accorzu (That's right), Sigher. They dropped Lt. Guyner without a word. He was trying to hail them and they shot him down."

"Hmmm. That is troubling. Hopefully this can be smoothed over, but right now, all the patrols are on alert and the word keeps spreading. By now, it might have traveled the hotline to Telleursville. I doubt it, though. That takes a while and a few layers of merd...Regimental may be calling tanks or maybe they are scrambling planes down at Bad Terzel, who knows?"

The Lieutenant knelt down to look at and pick up one of the brass cartridges dropped from a Snubber rifle.
"We should probably try to rein this in, knowing what we know, but I hope it's not too late."
Fitzhoff looked at the Sergeants as their eyes widened, registering the import of the last hour and the events it had set in motion. He really had shared more than was worthy of their pay grade, but he was only repeating what the Major had told him before he rushed the Platoon out. Every chance they could get to de-escalate things, the better. Too many in the NEDM were itching for a fight, no matter who the enemy or what the reason. So much to prove for so little reason in a peacetime militia.

"Let's first, retreat back to the proper side, then we need to be checking on all the OPs and make sure they're still there. We can spare two of your squads to take the wounded and dead back."

"Ja, sigher."

25th ALPEN REGIMENTAL HQ
GOERTENTHAL

When the Captain was done giving his briefing, The Lt. Colonel dismissed him.

"Ja-bon, sigher."

For a moment, Major Jacques Plaison and Lt. Col. Giacomo Buccatero sat in silence.
Buccatero got up and walked up to the map on the wall.

"Why now?"

"It was a small patrol, sir, not an invasion force."

"Well, not yet, but what if it was a probe? What if their other probes encountered no resistance and they're trotting around in our foothills there, having a ball and clearing the way for the main force? From what I heard, they shot down that platoon leader right away, no questions..."

"Well, sir. There were a lot of mistakes in that message. Is it possible something got missed?" He held up the original Morse transcript from the outpost, again looking over the sloppy message.

"I think it shows how panicked they were. They were under attack, Major. Not having a lark."

"Yes, sir."

"I want the 8th Cavalry..."

"I already contacted Colonel von Riedel, sir. The NE ST-21s are being fired up, stoked...and all that." Neither the Major nor the Colonel had any idea how tanks were started. They were still used to horses from when they first entered the Militia.

"Good, we don't need them all right now, but it's good for them to be ready. Also, artillery...We should get some of those guns of the 164th rolling closer to the border. We would need to counter their tanks and hit some of their infantry formations...And Bad Terzel?"

"Not yet."

"Well call Colonel Real, too, dammit! I want patrols up and out. That should have happened right away. We need the 205th Squadron up there. We need to see what they're doing."

The chastised XO only nodded. "Won't that maybe antagonize them to do the same, sir?"

"They probably already are, Major. What if they have bombers on their way to Schwartzgarten? ...Just do it. I will try the lines to Telleursville. Maybe the President will lean on the Kalarinian Ambassador and figure out what's going on.
Hopefully, they fixed the line since that storm."

Lt. Col. Buccatero, besides being the Commander of the 25th Alpen Regiment, was also the sector commander. He had full right to call on his sister units for support, until he heard otherwise from higher up, Northern Command at Burgunden or even NEDM HQ in the capital, Telleursville.
The Major felt like he was the only one in the Headquarters feeling like things were spiraling out of control.

[Kalarin]

It was mid morning when they reached the site of the firefight from the evening before, Kempest and two patrols along with Hekk were observing for movement. "It was here sir" said Kempest, "they opened up on us without warning, we were right here on this bit of the hill". Hekk looked inquisitively at the map and then back to the site. Well I can conclude that they were on our side of the border, you did the right thing Sargeant. You'll be happy to know the Colonel is a sane man, he has aked for some more reinforcements and the planes are now flying over to scout, patrols have been doubled and the Home Gaurd is on the look out for anything suspicous. Although what those old men and children hope to do is beyond me.

They laughed, the Home Gaurd was the civillian wing of the army. Like a milltia they filled several roles from a sunday shooting club to supoport for the police. Mostly middle aged and older men it was mostly ex soldiers who wanted a bit of nostalgia.

Clear up the copper, and check for any signs of movement. Sarge a quick word. Hekk led him slighty away from the rest of the men, "Now what I said last night still stands. You hear any of this lot speaking and you tell me. The papers will jump on this, so for gods sake keep em quite. No one will be allowed to leave unless its a patrol or I aprrove. Its lockdown!" Hekk gave him a look before returning to surveying the scene.

Kempest pondered for a moment Why had they fired? Te man slipped. He never saw him get hit at all

It didnt matter now, the Colonel would most likely already be ontp high command about the incident.

[Neu Engollon]

THE NEXT MORNING
WEST OF THE THAL FLUSS/ZAMBEZA RIVER
23km SW OF TERRION, KALARIN

They crept along the hill, keeping low and keeping lookout. It was a combined force of 4th and 5th Platoon of Gamma Company, 25th Alpen Regiment. Corporal Seitzmann and Sergeant Castigliano, the 5th Platoon sniper, took turns scoping out the other side of the river through their Mauser scopes mounted on their Geweil 16 sniper rifles. Lt. Fitzhoff, the 5th CO, also used his field glasses, shielding any reflection with one hand. Sergeant Schiele, the acting CO for the 4th did the same. He actually used the field glasses recovered from the killed Lt. Guyner. As the men moved on Sergeant Schiele started to talk to the Lieutenant,
"Sir, what do we do if actually spot any Kalarinians? I mean...do we start shooting?"

"No, Sergeant, of course not. We just...make sure they stay on their side. That's all. We keep an eye out for large troop formations. Tanks, artillery and..."

A plane's buzzing could be heard as it flew closer. Then there was a louder buzzing as it was joined by more. They were definitely over Kalarin, keeping to their side of the river. The two men swiveled their field glasses up to the sky. Eindeckers! Or at least the Kalarinian modified copy of the Fokker Eindecker.

"...planes."

"Don't we have our own up, Sigher?"

"Yes...and there they are." He pointed up and over to the south. Almost as if on cue, more buzzing came up as a flight of NEF FKT1s grew larger from dots to distinguishable flying contraptions of wood, metal and canvas. All the men had stopped to watch, still marveling at the wonder of powered flight, only about 10 years or so in it's infancy. As the NEDAF's own adapted Fokkers got closer, they could see the royal purple, gold and crimson of the roundels on the wings of the Dr.1 Tripledeckers.

"This could get interesting."

"Accorzu. Indeed."

IN THE AIR
OVER THE BORDER

Lt. Colonel Real spotted the Kalarinian formation just a little before the rest of his squad mates. He waved to them and they all banked, taking a parallel course to the river. They would let the Kalarinians pass by as they headed the opposite direction. Hopefully, things were still on a course for diffusing the situation, but this would be one of the tests. They would be ready if the Kalarinians tried anything.
They had done test runs with the MG 14 parabellums mounted in the FKT1s just yesterday and they had performed beautifully. But this would be no simple barrel shooting ground run, were something to go south. Still, he was confident in his Red Kites.






THE SAME MORNING
NEAR THE THAL FLUSS
KALARIN BORDER SOUTHEAST OF GOERTENTHAL

Colonel Hans von Reidel stood on top of his tank and looked out over the column of NE ST-21s. They were on a downward slope and so he could see towards the back, and the trucks that carried the extra ammunition and supplies. Major Kammitzen was leading another column towards Wurzemburg. The rest of the tanks were in reserve. Hopefully, this was all just an exercise, but they had to be ready, just in case.

They were fairly new machines, replacing the NE ST-4s that had been the first tanks for the Militia. They were really just modified Strv m/21s bought from the Swedes, which were in turn, copies of the German LK II used towards the end of the Great War.
They also used NE FTs, modified French Renault FTs, which were less reliable machines, but had been cheaper for the Confederacy to fill out their Cavalry Regiments, or 'Armored' Regiments as they were now supposed to be called. Even though they still employed horse mounted dragoon scouts. He had a company with him now to scout ahead and keep away enemy infantry and watch for their artillery. Until they linked up with elements of the 25th Alpen, he had little infantry protection.

Captain Armando Donato waved from his horse, a few yards away. The horses still were apprehensive to get near the large, loud behemoths. Hans sighed and climbed down, walking towards the Dragoon Captain. He looked up at the Captain, who had his gray wool field cap at a rakish angle and wore a non regulation scarf. His men waited patiently behind him. They carried the Negunbas, the shortened carbine version of the NEG 1916. The tankers were equipped with the Negunbas, too, but usually they stayed in their clips on the inner walls in favor of the Mauser and Luger pistols.

"Sorry, sir. The horses, you know..." He patted his steed's neck tenderly.

"Yes, I know. So, any signs, Captain?"

"We saw something near the Fluss, but they ducked out of sight pretty quick before we could get any numbers."

"So, they're hiding from us...Smart, but that also means this hasn't blown over yet. Any of their tanks?" The Kalarinians used KA-DZBs, modified copies of the Mark VIII.

"No, no sight, no sound, Sir. I have another couple squads up ahead, but our flank and rear are clear, at least on this side of the river."

"Good. Okay. Keep up the scouting, Captain. We need to get to Goertenthal before..." He checked his watch, "Noon."

"Yes, sir. That shouldn't be a problem."

"No, I wouldn't think so. Carry on." Captain Donato turned his mount around and led the rest of the squad back East towards the Thal Fluss, or the Zambeza River, depending on what side of it you stood.

[Kalarin]

The horn blared out across the camp. Men rushed from their beds to get into the small square. In the center Hekk stood on a pile of sandbags. Next to him an elderly man stood, slightly hunched but in full militaria. "Attention!" the shout went up, they all stood there is various states of dress. The elderly man chuckled slightly before waving his hand, at this the men stood at ease. "The Neu Engollens have made movements on our border. I am Colonel Strauzz, from now on I will be overseeing this sector. I have ordered the 9th Hussars, 7th Dortmunder and 32nd Guards to all be transferred here. This has been given priority by command and I expect you to act as professionals. I have read the briefs and I will be briefing all officers in 3 hours time." When he finished he simply climbed down and walked into a tent. The men stood in silence for a brief moment, "dismissed!" they all walked away, some silent while others talked frantically. It was big news. The Hussars had the new tanks and they all wanted to see them in action.

[Neu Engollon]

TELLEURSVILLE, GENEVA CANTON
NEU ENGOLLON

The Presidential House sat on a slight slope overlooking the capital. Presidential Drive led down to the gatehouse that faced the entrance to Paix Rue. The streets bustled and this was a big boom time for the city, as it sought to become as major a hub as Burgunden. Trying to shed a quaint, backwater central European image, horse drawn carriages were denied access to the city in all but the most essential capacity. Pic-Pics, Mosers, Citroëns and BMWs trundled through the streets on their thin wheels that looked only a little bigger and thicker than a bicycle wheel. There were quite a few bicycles as well, fighting for space on the streets. Crews worked on adding floors to new business centers in the downtown financial district.

Back up on the hill, Council President Maximillian Tell looked out the window and tried to get his normal sense of uplifting pride at the sight of his nation becoming a modern industrial juggernaut. He could only shake his head as he looked at the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"So, Minister Bagatti, you're telling me you can't get a hold of the Kalarinian Ambassador?"

"Well, Mr. President, we've had some difficulties. But we've also heard that he's trying to get an appointment with us and reach you, as well. We have been able to telephone our ambassador in Navarro and let him know to seek out their leader, also. I'm not sure what the trouble is, but the sooner we can talk..."

"The sooner we get this nonsense behind us."

The Minister of Defence, also in the room along with the Minister of Justice, while the Confederacy President, a job that was a bit more ceremonial, was out on diplomatic visits. Defence Minister Sauerkoff broke in:

"Yes, Mr. President. It's very unfortunate, but in case there is serious ill intent, we've gone ahead and mobilized what units we have near the border."

"How about those new planes of Colonel Real's? And the tanks, those big steel barrels, we will need those, I should think...but really, we should try to rein this in if we can."

Minister Sauerkoff continued,
"Yes President Tell, it's all taken care of, but I guess we need to look at if we should start a mobilization call up now. It will take some time in case of war, so the sooner we start the process the better."

President Tell sighed. Neu Engollon had enjoyed peace for over a hundred years, the public would not take a flimsy excuse to break the peace and the nation's neutrality lightly. His relatives, all descendants of the famous Wilhelm Tell, one of the founder Neu Engollonian fathers, had fought during those bloody Napoleonic campaigns.
"Okay, let's not alarm the people, is there any way we can start the process without actually calling up the reservists?"

"Well, yes, sir, a couple preliminary steps and paperwork, but it won't get us very far."

"It will have to do for now. We can't create a civilian panic."

"No, Mr. President."



BAD TERZEL, NEU ENGOLLON

The tanks and mounted dragoons of the 8th Cavalry arrived just outside Bad Terzel, between the town and the border region. Another company of the 8th, consisting mostly of NE FTs, continued further north towards Goertenthal, close to where the river broke off and continued to flow into Kalarin. Artillery was slowly being towed by Moser truck or by horse drawn carriage towards the border. Patrols of the 25th Alpen Regiment continued to heavily scour the forests and foothills of the border region for anymore 'infiltrating' Kalarinians. They crept and pushed ever closer to the river. Across the eastern sector, without being told why, reservists were called up to join their active duty counterparts at the military camps from Wurzemburg to Kembach and Taziano. Two other regiments were being mustered and pulled together to possibly fight, the 4,000 man strong 11th Infantry Regiment under Colonel Denis Mouval and the over 3,600 men of the 29th Alpen Regiment led by Lt. Col. Otto Gempetti. It might take some hours to get the Regiments moving, unlike some nations that could need days to field armies, Neu Engollon maintained a minuteman type militia that was able to grab their own gear from home and show up in their designated defense sectors on short notice. Now is when that preparedness would pay off. Despite the desire by those in the capital to not create a panic, on the other side of the country, in the border towns of Bad Terzel, Wurzemburg and Goertenthal and all over the eastern end of Grisbenden Canton, people were starting to get nervous as all their young men disappeared to their stations. All the tanks, horses, trucks and troops went by and through, covering the surrounding hills and roads, told of something malicious in the air, a threat from the Kals, as they called their near Eastern neighbors.

OVER THE THAL FLUSS

Real's patrol turned around, looking to make sure the Kalarinian planes kept on their side. As they banked, they unknowingly strayed over the river into Kalarin and some AA guns started to open up from their side. Some were in the 75mm range, but several machine guns and even some of their Snubber rifles could be heard popping away.
One of the NEDAF Tripledeckers earned a decent hole in their aluminum wing, but they were able to maintain easy control, with so many backup ailerons to keep it aloft and functioning. Had the hit been from a bigger shell, like one of the rounds thudding out from the 75-77mm guns, the FKT1 would be strewn across the trees near the river or in a field right now.

Colonel Theodor Real led his flight of NEF FKT1's into a shallow dive, wiggling his wings to let them know it was time to give back. They slowly built up speed, but strangely, the opposing flight of Kalarinian fighters did not break into evasive, hostile maneuvers. They kept cruising south at a pretty level flight, probably heading to an airfield near Salin. Real shrugged. They probably hadn't gotten the message yet. He had scarce info on how the Kalarinian air operated, other than the 5th Air Brigade was usually the one stationed in this area and they used mostly Fokker Eindeckers, or their modified equivalent thereof.

The FKT1s kept on and cleared their guns, getting ready to buzz the enemy patrol. The flight from the Red Kites squadron came in hard and fast with M14 guns blazing. Parabellum rounds lanced out to the Kalarinian planes as the next round of the conflict began.

[Kalarin]

Over Kalarin

Capt Marhe watched the Red kites move towards them, their own Eindeckers turned to face them as the first tracer rounds sped towards them. The Eindeckers returned fire at the Red Kites, soon they were dog fighting, plane against plane as the carnage unfolded around him.

The first planes began to fall, first some of the red kites before he saw an Eindecker burst into flames. Soon he spotted a target, some NE pilot who was behind one of his own men. He began to ascend, climbing to get above the pilot whilst keeping track of the direction. Once he got to the right altitude he began his descent. Building up speed he lined up the sights with his target. Marhe opened fire, the burst of gunfire ripped through the enemy plane before it lit up into a fireball plummeting through the air. More eindeckers were falling, one, two and three all in quick succession. "Pull back, pull back lets lead them into the AA guns" he ordered. The remaining eindeckers pulled back turning tail and running back to the air field. Some of the NE planes followed them while others held back realizing the trap. Soon the AA guns opened up ripping into the NE fighters. They soon realized their mistake and pulled back out of range. The men did not cheer. The first air engagement had been costly, many had died with others injured. Marhe's plane was relatively undamaged from the battle, some of the others however had not got off so lightly one barely looked able to fly the fuselage was so badly damaged.

Khulak
Kempest stood to attention as the new troops paraded past. First came the Blue Bloods. They had been one of the first regiments to get the new 'tanks'. The people cheered and awed at the death machines as they rumbled past the lined up troops. Hekk watched in a sombre mood. Partly from lack of sleep planning the accommodation for all the men sent into the region, and partly because he knew that it only meant one thing. Escalation.

The civilians of the town had never seen tanks, he had. He had seen the destructive power just one of those mechanical monsters had. Bullets bounced off their armour like stones. Barbed wire and earth mounds did little to halt their relentless advance, only the most powerful mines had any hope of denting their thick steel plating. While they moved unfaltered against their foe, the guns would open up. Machine guns to clear infantry. Cannons mounted on the top to blast away any stronger opposition. Thankfully they were slow. Gave you a chance to run for your life.

Tanks had changed war. No longer the old battles of lined infantry and cannons, cavalry charges and bayonets. Tanks didnt worry about such things. Were inbound by the laws of mortality that came to the living. Bullets to them were nothing. Nor swords, nor bombs.

[Neu Engollon]

OVER THE RIVER

Despite the maneuverability dominance of the NEF FKT1, which was basically a modified, updated Fokker Dr.I tripledecker, over the Eindeckers, they were not exactly going in shooting a fish in a barrel. As they went in on their first gun run, the Eindeckers turned and were able to take on their attackers. Real watched this, not really too surprised that the Kals would be able to master their machines, eking out tighter turns than spec'd for the Eindeckers and taking advantage of their speed. The Kals would not be taken from behind.

Despite the amount of drilling and training, and the superior machines they flew, there was just no matching good combat experience, which the Kals had during the Great War and the Neu Engollonians did not. Still, the NEDAF gave as good as they got.
The barrels of the MK14s burned hot as they shot through the propellers with the help of the interrupter. Real was able to score two victories, the most out of the squadron, but his victory was short lived as he watched the Red Kites being torn up in return.

As many planes went down in flames due to Kalarinian bullets as ground fire, but no matter how they were taken out of the fight, it was a big loss just the same. At best, the match could be considered a draw, as the Kalarinians broke and bolted for their base, the NEDAF pilots did the same, trying to keep their wounded planes aloft. One of the NEDAF pilots just made it over the border before his plane pancaked hard to the ground. Due to the cramped cockpits and length of the MK14 machine guns being so far back, his head was smashed against the butt stock of his own machine gun, snapping his neck.
He was recovered by troopers from the Theta Co., 25th Alpen who rushed to his aid upon seeing his FKT1 come down.

Lieutenant Colonel Real led the rest of the survivors of the 3 flights of the Red Kites back to Bad Terzel. His own plane shook a bit as the amount of holes in it made it increasingly difficult to keep command over the ailerons and elevators in the Jagflugaervon (fighter plane). Upon landing, they taxied and then jumped out, joining their crews in inspecting the damage and marveling at their close calls and random victories. They had lost almost a quarter of their number in the bloody engagement, yet still they had strange exhilaration coursing through them from all the adrenaline.

ON THE RIVER/BORDER

The men of the 4th and 5th Platoons of Gamma Co, 25th Alpen watched the air battle unfold above them. The pounding of the AA guns seemed close. Lt. Fitzhoff made a decision that they would attempt to take out the guns nearest the river. Not that they could reach them in time to make a difference, and knowing that the air battle would be long over before they reached the gun sights, but at least to exact some revenge. He left a squad behind to meet the NE FT tanks they were expecting of the Company from the 8th Cavalry. The rest of the men followed him as they went towards a shallow part of the river. They would bypass the nearest bridge, which would surely have Kalarinian soldiers guarding it. They scoped out the opposing ridge line overlooking the Thal, looking for signs of the enemy and not finding any.

Marksmen stood on the nearest bluffs, pulling overwatch as three columns of men attempted to ford the Thal Fluss/Zambeza River, which was merely a stream at this junction. A few men were waiting to cross as the first crossers were already scrambling up the Kalarinian side of the bank.

[Neu Engollon]

THE PRESIDENTIAL HOUSE
TELLEURSVILLE, GE CANTON, NE
NOVEMBER 26, 1920

Foreign Affairs Minister Bagatti spoke to President Tell, but he wasn't entirely sure he had his full attention,
"Mr. President, the Kalarinian ambassador has ultimately refused to speak with us, and our ambassador to Kalarin has been sent packing for home. While their ambassador hasn't left yet, and we're not about to ask him to, the Kalarinian embassy here in Telleursville is on lock down. They won't even answer the door. I think we're past a negotiating point here."

Defense Minister Sauerkoff spoke next,
"Unfortunately, our military commanders, who are given a certain amount of free rein to do what they feel is necessary to guard our nation, have taken it past that point without our being able to stop them. That sir, is the current situation. Last word through the telegraph stations, and the new radio set, is that some of our planes clashed in the air. There were substantial losses to both sides. They are mobilizing a local retaliation with some of the tanks and some units of the 25th Alpen Regiment, to hit the Anti-aircraft sites that did damage to, or took down our planes."

President Maximillian Tell fumed.
"So what you're saying is that I'm now just an observer of this? When I'm supposed to preside over the Confederacy, as the duly elected head official, none of our armed forces are listening to me? Ridiculous. Goddamned ridiculous! We are not a military dictatorship. I don't want to remove officers in the middle of a war, but when this is over, some serious actions will need to be answered for, by our Northeastern command. They fumbled us all the way into an all out war, dammit!"

"Yes, sir...I know, I..."

"Nothing to say, don't bother. Minister Bagatti, I want you to head up there, to Schwartzgarten, I guess...head up there. If you can get over the border and take a delegation to Khulak, even better. We need to keep trying to reach the Kalarinians. Maybe we can salvage this at some point. We need to reopen dialogue somehow."

"Yes, sir." The Foreign Affairs Minister replied, "I will do my best."

"...and, Sauerkoff, I want you to try to rein that clown, General von Spielkommert and his staff in, or at least keep them from making it worse."

"Yes, Mr. President." The Defense Minister nodded in affirmation.

Federal Council President Tell sighed. It was time to have a big session of the Council and let them know the full situation.

[Kalarin]

Khulak
"Sir Sir they're crossing over en masse" the boy ran in to Hekks tent panting. The Captains looked over at him, the boy was red faced and drenched in sweat. "Sir the Engollens are crossing the Zambeza". Strauzz was seated facing the entrance, the elderly man stood up and slowly moved to the panting boy. "Tell me son, how many are coming". The boy looked up at the colonel took and gulp of air before relaying his information. "A large column sir, tanks, infantry the lot. I didn't get a chance to count numbers butit seems they're coming in force....... sir". They pondered for a moment before looking at the colonel. "Tell the blue bloods to prep, I want the infantry in full combats and a scout plane to try and get numbers. We need to act fast as they'll head straight for here. What men do we have in the area?" Hekk scanned the map for any nearby villages, "Sir my regiment has some platoons in the area, I can send a runner to Kempest, he went down to Olpack with 800 men to fortify the area." Hekk knew it was not much to stop the Engollen advance but if they could stall them long enough to mobilize their forces it could save the city. "Ok them captain get onto your men in the area, set up a line and await reinforcements..... Dismissed"

Near Olpack
"Quick march" the shout went out to the 12th Jakoban as the 800 men moved out, the other 1200 were posted along the sector and all were being moved to the road east from Neu Engollen. From where the regiment had been sent it could only mean that they had pushed into Kalarin. Luckily the troops stationed in Khulak could push them back but it would take time to start the tanks and call in the men. The attack must have caught them off guard. They could only hope that they could stall the attack long enough for the reinforcements to arrive or the tanks would make mincemeat of the light infantry.

It took almost 4 hours to march from Olpack to their destination, a line blocking the Engollen advance some 30 miles west of Khulak, they had placed as many sandbags and rock emplacements as the could using the hills around the road to provide some over watch, it might stall their advance but not stop it, they weren't heavily armed enough. Some rifles, machine guns and a couple of mortars for 2000 men to stop a whole column.

"Alright boys, sit tight and keep calm" he knew the words wouldn't mean much to the newer recruits, those who hadn't seen war. The older dogs knew, he had said it every time the Germans went over the top in the great war, every bombardment, gas attack.... it seemed like a cruel joke, like they had never left the war at all. Some of the men prayed, others ate or drank, some sang songs quietly comforting themselves. One lad was shaking, the unmistakable first shake of battle. Everyone got it the first time, the adrenaline pumping through your body, you feel embarrassed but its uncontrollable. "Listen to me lad, you'll be fine. Your scared aren't you, good. Fear will keep you alive, keep you on edge, keep you smart. Don't try and be a hero. There's a reason they all live in songs and not retirement." The boy looked at him, like a young child to a father, Kempest doubted his words would do a lot to calm him down.

Khulak

The sound of frantic preparation had engulfed the city, men were rushing to their barracks or to their posts. Vehicles were being checked, guns cleaned, combats rushed on as the officers barked orders. Strauzz felt a sense of nostalgia, that feel of the past, from the great war. It sickened him. He didn't want another war like that, he hoped that the Engollens would turn around and march back with not a single bullet fired. The men back in Salisbury might complain, no great victory for the papers. He had seen enough of them in the great war to know what a great victory meant. Thousands dead in a bloody field. Hekk had rushed off to join his regiment on the line, he liked the man some of the other officers were pompous and self centred always describing their 'heroics' they were cowards like everyone else. Still pissed themselves when the chlorine gas was hanging on the air or after a two day artillery attack. Still bled the same as every other grunt in the army. He knew the Engollens wouldn't turn around. It was the same sort of people pulling the strings their. War hungry lunatics with no care for the cost of prestige and petty glory.

Strauzz straightened his uniform, drew his sword and walked to address the men.

[Neu Engollon]

5 km EAST OF THE BORDER
IN KALARIN

4th and 5th Platoon of Gamma Company, 25th Alpen advanced, having been able to swarm the first AA gun position, they moved towards the next one, working their way south and east, further into Kalarin. 5th had taken the most casualties, leaving 17 bodies scattered around the sandbagged defenses circled around the Kal 37mm AA gun aka 'The Flaming Onion'. Unable to hold the position and unwilling to wheel the captured gun back into Confederation territory, they had spiked the gun, destroying the barrel.

Two squads were strung out back towards the border, ready to lead in the reinforcements as they poured over into enemy territory. Counterattacks were starting to get organized by the KIF troops. The 12th Jakoban Light Infantry had taken the brunt of the thrust from the NEDM, and they were raging mad, ready to take revenge for their own losses inflicted by the 25th.

From Bad Terzel, the 7th, 8th and 3rd Platoons of the 25th Alpen fast marched, following the path of their brother platoons, they faced withering fire from scouts and forward elements of the 12th JLI that hadn't been driven back. The 12th JLI of the KIF still held several bluffs and ridges overlooking the advancing NEDM troops. Standard doctrine of the Alpen Regiments was to take and hold all high ground, but the small force of the 4th/5th did not have the troop strength to do so. They kept moving parallel to the border and south, just east of the initial Kal border fortifications.

Soon, dragoons of the 8th Cavalry followed the Alpen Regimental soldiers, then a company of the NE ST-21s, ready to take on their opposing numbers, the KA-DZBs of the 9th Blue Bloods. They fortified the invasion corridor before the Kals could swarm the two guarding squads. Now 5 NE ST-21 tanks and some infantry were able to bolster the corridor. Three of the dragoons had their horses shot out from under them, one man being crushed and suffocated by his own horse as they fell back down a rocky slope.

Back with the 4th/5th Platoons:
Lieutenant Fitzhoff sat back on the hill, scratching his scalp, lifting up his helmet to do so. The NEDM had helmets that looked from the front like the French poilu style, but had a slight Teutonic coal scuttle flare in the back. He checked the action on his Luger pistol, and slid out the magazine. Then he popped it back in.
The 4th and 5th were taking a small break before their next assault, chewing hardtack and taking a few swallows from their canteens.

Sergeant Ralutto approached him, having sent out scouts to continue leapfrogging on ahead. He had his NEG 1916 slung over his shoulder.
"You know, Sir, at this point...With our momentum, we can take even more than just a few AA guns. Right down that road a few klicks is Olpack. I don't see why we don't just knock out their logistics there and seize the town when the reinforcements get here."

"Because Sergeant, we may have made a mistake...Crossing the border again, we didn't have authorization."

"We were defending our planes from ground fire, sir." Ralutto was adamant.

"Accorzu. But, what are we doing now? This has turned into more than a punitive attack, Sergeant. We are leading a full scale invasion. Within a few short hours, the whole of the 25th Alpen, and probably a good part of the 11th Infantry and 8th Cavalry will follow. The 29th Alpen will be hitting north from Goertenthal."

"Yes sir, and before we left, they were starting to collect pieces from the 164th artillery in Bad Terzel and Goertenthal."

"Yes, we will need them if we stay here. The Kals are liable to start shelling us with their own artillery soon enough. This nuttiness is all due to a bad exchange a couple days ago. All in a day's work, eh, Sergeant?"

BAD TERZEL AIR BASE

Colonel Theodor Real swore. "Cozzfick! They really want us back up again?! We just got pummeled up there."
He looked out over the squadron of NEF FKT1s that were lined up. A couple of the modified Fokker planes would not be taking to the air again, and it was a miracle they had been able to land in one piece.
More than a couple others had indeed not come back, probably being picked over by the Kals in fields outside Silan right now. Good pilots were lost today, and the madness was not over.

"Colonel, don't shoot me...I'm just delivering the message sir, but it looks like they need support with a full assault, the whole of the 25th and part of the 8th are crossing the Thal/Zambeza Fluss. We are at war now. They need you Colonel."

He sighed. "Get off your high horse, Sergeant Major. We're heading up. Just make sure the crews have enough time to check over the birds. Did anyone wire the rest of the squadron up at Kembach?"

"Yes, sir. They're on their way. By the time your flights get in the air, they will be joining you. Also, the bombers are being moved to here while you are gone. Just...in case, you know."
The five Caproni Ca.45 bombers of the 205th Red Kites Squadron, redesignated the NEF CAB2, were the only bombers currently possessed by the NEDAF.

"Ugh. This is outta hand. Let's get it done Sergeant Major."

"Yes, sir."

CIAVNO

The 29th Alpen Regiment meanwhile, were loading up on the Trans-Alpen line. They filled every car and more would be loading up on the next run. By daybreak tomorrow, it was hoped that most of the other Alpen Regiment posted to Grisbenden canton would arrive in Goertenthal, and by then it would be clear if they would thrust due East to Silan and Khulak with the rest of the 8th Cavalry, or punch north to Terrion.

[Kalarin]

Heavy fire was hitting the JLI on the ridge, Hekk knew they only had to hold for a little longer before the reinforcements would arrive and push back the enemy. "Keep firing dammit" he shouted as men ducked under a constant barrage of small arms fire from the infantry below. Their position had helped them hold this long in face of such an assault. The casualties had been severe but the training and experience was showing them men were rhythmic with firing and reloading. The mechanical efficiency was almost scary.

Hekk watched as more NEDM troops advanced towards them, "TANKS!!" the shout went up as the first NEDM as 5 ST-21's moved into view. The first tank shell hit near him sending up rock into the air. "HOLD YOU SON'S OF WHORES" he barked as the men dived for cover with more tank fire hitting their position.

"SIR SIR, its the Colonel he wants co-ordinates for the artillery" said his adjutant, the young boy looked pale with fear as he his head out of the trench. He quickly blurted the co-ordinates to the boy. "Tell him he needs to hurry up they are bringing up troops and we are running low on everything.

Several positions had been overrun but the regimental flag had become a rallying site for the last ditch hold, NEDM seemed to be swarming them now hundreds more coming with each dead.

Suddenly the noise of battle was silenced as the screams of the first artillery shells shot over head and into the NEDM, men and earth was erupted into the air, there was a moments silence as he saw the carnage unfold before the deafening BOOM of the exploding shell. More explosions erupted among the NEDM who seemed dumbstruck by the sudden shelling. The Blue Bloods moved into view and engaged the enemy, more explosions ripping into them. The shelling stopped as the reinforcements hit the NEDM troops from the sides.

"HURAHHHHH!!!" the cheer from the men deafened him as the NEDM retreat turned into a panick stricken rout, runnimg men were gunned down or beaten down as the men went into blood lust, he watched one boy bayonetted by two troopers before shot. It almost sickened him at what was happening before his eyes. The Jakobans had been utterly decimated, the air force was in no fit state to fight and wouldn't be for weeks and the NEDM had been pushed back to the river.

Salisbury
"Minister I need this sorting now, we may have pushed them back but I need a solution, this isn't yet a battlefield victory. The NEDM were pushed back but we still need to regain ground. From what I gather one regiment has been reduced to little more than a fifth of its origionl size and we are pooling men into the area. What is going on?" the president was frustrated. He had a limited picture while his own ministers seemed to withhold much of it.

"Sir with all due respect we did kill many of them" everyone in the room knew this wasn't the answer he had wanted. He wanted to be told they were on the line to the Engollens and it was all being sorted. In actual fact it was quite the opposite.

"I don't give a damn about how many we kill or maim or capture, I want this ended, as of now your sole task is to conclude this affair before it goes into full scale war you hear me! Do it or I'll find someone who will" the young minister nodded before taking his leave. General White moved up to his desk, the President had returned to staring out of the window again. "White, how did this happen. These snakes I call ministers tell me nothing. I'm the damn president." he had turned to him "What in the blazes is going on?" .

"Sir it seems there has been an escalation in the fighting between our troops in the area and more have been moved in"

"On whose authority, I'm the president and usually when we get attacked I'm supposed to be told!"

"With all due respect sir none of us have any real idea as to whats going on, the last telegram we got was from Colonel Strauzz saying he had spoken to some of the other regiments nearby and had gathered an army ready to face the threat."

"Tell Strauzz he is to pursue no further action until I have met with the military chiefs."

[Neu Engollon]

THE ROAD NORTH OF OLPACK

The 25th Alpen fought valiantly as more platoons piled into the gap on the road to Olpack, but they paid for their costly error of not securing all of the high ground as the Jakobans poured fire down. Squads were sent up to assault the ridge lines, taking some of them, but the costs became steep.
Marksmen traded shots, the sharpshooters of the 25th Alpen using their Geweil 16's to good effect on their opposing numbers in the 12th JLI. It wasn't enough.

As the rest of the 25th Alpen Regiment started to cross the border, the Kal infantry were rescued by artillery, that began to rain down fire on the advancing Regiment. Men were torn to bloody shreds as the rounds landed, well spotted by OPs on the hills that were still held by the Jakobans. They must have had telegraph wires strung back, in order to have them bracket so well without hitting their own troops.
Two of the NE ST-21s were immeditately split open by direct hits. They had only managed to take out one of their true enemy, a KA-DZB of the 9th Blue Bloods. The officers were able, just barely, to turn the Regiment around into an orderly retreat as they neared the border.
The first few minutes had been horrific close in combat, with the use of bayonets frequent. The NEDM troopers had held off the Jakobans from pushing past the border in their counterattack by not only using their own bayonets, but entrenching shovels that were used as battle axes. It would be one of the bloodiest battles the Neu Engollon Defense Militia would ever fight, and their first defeat since the French invasion over a hundred years ago.

Eventually, it was discovered that only one of out of the five NE ST-21s made it back over the border from the Battle of Olpack Road. The mounted dragoons suffered heavily as well. One horse came back with the dismembered legs of its rider still in the saddle. The 25th had taken a beating, but they had avoided total annihilation or capture, to fight another day.

The Red Kites of the 205th arrived too late to help, but were able to keep the Kalarinian forces from overwhelming the 25th by doing several strafing runs along the hills and back towards their artillery positions. Again, they took some damage, with one of the tripledecker planes going down to AA fire near Olpack. Colonel Real swore as the newer pilot had flown right into a crossfire alley of AA guns to be shredded.

The platoons of the 25th that hadn't made it over the river before the rout were ready to back up their retreating comrades. The border was sealed as concertina wire was strung up back from the bridge that crossed the river. Several other places where the stream was shallow or narrow saw more barbed wire strung below the overlooking hills. The NEDM's own artillery of the 164th, much too late to do any good during the small invasion, were put into concealed positions to cover the passes around the border, from Taziano all the way to the Khulak road. A mobile battery was put into a clearing for retaliatory duty. AA guns were pushed up from Bad Terzel.
There was no rest for what was left of the weary 25th as roving patrols were put on constant duty to guard against the feared counterattack. While seizure of Olpack was a miserable failure, the 25th Alpen could take heart that they had accomplished the original goal of elimination of several of the Kalarinian AA guns.

Several hours after the Battle of Olpack had concluded, the 'Retaliation' Battery of the 164th and some other scattered guns begun to lob shells at suspected enemy positions over the border in and around Olpack, hoping to hit back at the enemy artillery and keep their forces off kilter.

NORTH EASTERN BORDER AREA
NEAR GOERTENTHAL

While any hope of progress was given up on in the southern Bad Terzel-Olpack sector, focus and reinforcements were sent north, towards Goertenthal and towards the center at Wurzemberg. Another attempt would be tried to punish the Kals for their insolence. It was hoped that a two pronged attack towards both Salin and Terrion would yield at least one town that could be held for what purpose was as yet, unsaid.

The 11th Infantry Regiment, led by Colonel Mouval, joined the 29th Alpen under Colonel Gempetti, in building up, with the rest of Col. von Riedel's 8th Cavalry that hadn't joined in the Olpack Battle, or weren't holding the defensive line there. This time, they would be able to counter the effective Kal artillery with the 164th Artillery Regiment, or the bulk of it. Again, some guns were held to the south for defense. Much of the movement was at dusk, to keep some small semblance of stealth and subterfuge. This caused the loss of a crucial extra day and a half as accidents occurred and platoons were lost down wrong roads.

The borders had been sealed so that no Kalarinian infiltrators could run back to report, but obviously, they knew that it was a matter of time before some word got back. It was hoped that the feint would be focused on by the enemy in the attack of the two towns, while the other town was overwhelmed. The Caproni bombers were prepped and ready, at their new base in Bad Terzel, along with escort by the Red Kites they would be back in the air in two days time.

TELLEURSVILLE

The Government of the Confederacy was desperate to catch up and rein in the Militia which had far outpaced them in events and actions. The Federal Council President, Maximillian Tell, was driven mad in frustration to have no control over the ballooning conflict. Minister Bagatti was unable to reach his counterparts in the Kalarin Government, a large due part of that being the NEDM's sealing of the border.

Bagatti was stuck in Schwartzgarten, the largest city near the border. Schwartzgarten was gearing up for full scale war, with many Militia reservists trying to link up with their companies, while a stream of civilians from the border towns looked for refuge, even though the enemy had yet to really set foot over the Confederacy's frontier or lob one shell over the line. The Government needed to buckle down on the war panic that was starting to seize the Northeast end of the nation.

[Neu Engollon]

SCHWARTZGARTEN

Minister Bagatti had arrived in the largest city in the canton of Grisbenden and it hadn't been easy. His train had been delayed many times and diverted to siderails as supply and troop trains had been given top priority. Finally, he had arrived with a small group in tow to go about reining in the NEDM which was far out of control. Schwartzgarten, a large city in comparison to the small border towns of Goertenthal and Bad Terzel, was where a large part of the war preparation was now being centered.
It was now apparent from talk in the streets and among the support units jamming the streets of the small burg that General von Spielkommert, the Commander of the Northern sector had fully taken over.
Not only had he brought the Militia and other Defense Force apparatus to heel in the war machine that was roaring to life, but he was starting to commandeer all the local Confederation officials to do his bidding. It was the General that was blocking communication from the Northeastern battle front to the capital in Telleursville.

The man was way over the line and it could bring the Confederacy to the brink of disaster. When millions of enraged Kalarinian soldiers poured over the border, it would have a lot to do with the way General Kurt von Spielkommert had poked the bear numerous times. To be fair, there seemed to be many other preceding actors that had set the wheels in motion. By the way the 25th Alpen Regiment were being lauded as heroes, the Minister was quite certain their bumbling and maneuvers had started this affair, also the 205th Red Kites of Colonel Real seemed to have paved a path of destruction over the Thal Fluss, or Zambeza River, depending on your orientation on the map.

Soldiers tromped about carrying their gear, NEG 16s slung on shoulders, their grey wool overcoats snugged tight as the cold snap was setting in. Their earflaps on their grey wool field caps down, sometimes mashed down under their poilu style helmets. They had patches of the 11th Infantry or the 29th Alpen Regiment on their sleeves. Other reservists from other units were also about, learning that they had been forced into a new unit, the 11th or 29th, per the General's orders.

Bagatti stood outside the commandeered Burgermeister Hall looking up at the NEDM service flags that fluttered from upper window balconies. Two Alpen troopers blocked any further progress up the stairs and into the lobby. He spoke calmly as his aides shrunk further behind him. He had a bit of girth to him, but not that much.

"Do you know who I am, Sergeant? I guess you, as many others, need a reminder that I am the highest ranking member of the Government in this part of the Confederacy at the moment...Not, General von Spielkommert. The madness must end. I have no wish to see you and your comrades lying broken in...never mind, just let me through. In the name of the Confederacy of Neu Engollon, I demand it."

"We are in a Martial Emergency, Minister, therefore, I must ask th-"

A NEDM officer walked down from the heavy wooden door,
"Let him through, the General gave it the okay. Sorry for the wait, Minister. The General has been extremely busy."

"Of course he has. Lead the way, Captain."
A couple minutes later, they stood before the desk of what had been the Burgermeister (Mayor) and now was given over to the large commanding figure of General von Spielkommert. Behind him was Lt. Colonel Giacomo Buccatero, the 25th Alpen Regimental commander, fresh up from Goertenthal.

"General, Colonel, I'm glad you're both here. That will save me a trip. I think you must realize why I'm here. This has gotten way out of hand and you need to stop it. Stop mobilizing more troops, stop bombing or raiding, or whatever it is you're doing, just-"

"Minister, I think maybe you don't realize that we didn't start this. This was an orchestrated Kalarinian front against us, an attempt to infiltrate saboteurs through our lines and pave the way for an invasion force."

"Hmmm...yes, I suspect your proof of this is rather thin, General. This is the Confederacy of Neu Engollon, we have had over one hundred years of peace. One...Hundred...Years. Wrecked and thrown away over some silly mistakes on both sides. Peace can still be had, but we need to start now. Right now. We need to get in touch with the Kalarinians and get this under control. We are a neutral nation and we don't take offensive action against our neighbors, General. I heard we invaded a town of theirs?"

"It was not an invasion, Minister. Rather, a mere punitive, preventive raid. To stop their AA guns from firing at our planes. The town, Olpack, was not taken."

"Again, I seem to not believe you, other than you failed to capture Olpack."

General von Spielkommert tented his fingers on the desk, at a loss to continue. Finally he broke the silence,
"Minister Bagatti, I'm afraid that I can't let you leave the building. We will have to keep you under arrest, to keep you from interfering with operations. This is a Militia matter now, we are well beyond talking with the Kals, other than accepting surrenders. They had their chance." He nodded as two NEDM soldiers came up and lightly held the Minister's arms.

"I...I see. Well, will you let me call President Tell, at least?"

"No, I'm sorry."

HOURS EARLIER, DURING THE BATTLE
THE ROAD TO OLPACK

Lieutenant Fitzhoff led the men of the 4th and 5th Platoons of Gamma Company, 25th Alpen through the trees, they scaled the hills with their heavy tread boots that were issued to the mountain warfare soldiers. Rounds zipped around the trees and occaisionally found their mark, with NEDM troopers folding and collapsing, their NEG 1916 rifles tumbling to the ground before followed by a white smock coated body. Just ahead, Sergeant Ralutto led two squads as they drove on, clearing the way. They had bayonets fixed and were using them to effect as they stuck KIF soldiers that jumped out from behind cover. Shots rang out, fired at almost point blank at times. With little time to reload, men were clubbed with the butt ends of rifle butts, both Snubber and NEG 16. Entrenching tools were drawn out and unsheathed, swinging to deflect Jakoban bayonets and chop at exposed arms.

Fitzhoff fired as a Kal charged at him, unloading two rounds from his Luger at what turned out to be no more than a rosy cheeked boy. He fell, his breath making whispy vapors as a gurgling told of shredded lungs. Then they heard it. The escalating screech of incoming artillery. A round impacted down the road, towards where Iota Company were massing. Hollering was heard, then more hits and screams cut short. The NEDM hadn't been shelled since Ney's Gaulic invaders pounded at them over a hundred years before. Although in theory they knew what was happening and had trained accordingly, panic still took over and broke the ranks of the 25th Alpen Regiment, where the Kal defenders could not. More rounds rushed in, following their destructive predecessors. Gamma Company remained safe, so far forward that they were too entangled with the enemy to be targeted by their big guns.

Fitzhoff watched as like a wave, their reinforcements so recently over the bridge, started to fall back towards it.
"No! No! Where are they going?"

A tank out on the road below took a hit and poured out thick black smoke and flames. A tanker climbed out, his coat smoldering. The long coat, so impractical in such a tight space, became hooked underneath the hatch below. The lad started to scream as his legs roasted. Then, an unnatural motion happened as what could only be his cooking comrades below him in the NE ST-21 tried to shove him out of the way, not realizing he was as good as belted in. One good shove knocked him forward and into the open hatch, knocking him dazed. His limp torso continued to bob up and down from the pushes below. Then the frantic shoves became more infrequent, then stopped, as the other tank crew were overcome. The knocked out tanker slid down with no pressure on his backside, to join them in the pyre.

Sergeant Schiele had watched it all, feeling helpless and in massive shock. He kept hearing his own name in his mind, but realized it was coming from next to him.
"Schiele! Sergeant Schiele!" Lt. Fitzhoff was almost in his face. "Get it together, man. I need you to take Corporal Seitzmann and keep a rearguard going. We have to fall back. Keep sniping any KIF that poke their heads up."

"Yes, sir."

Schiele and Seitzmann, along with a 5th platooner with another Geweil 16 took to the trees, moving forward as the rest of those that still stood of Gamma Company moved back. They ducked down as renewed fire raked the trees. This from a machine gun; what sounded like a Vickers. The man from the 5th Platoon spun back, two rounds finding him. He dropped the prized sniper rifle. As Corporal Seitzmann tried to return fire, Sergeant Schiele crawled over to retrieve the scoped sharpshooting long arm and scooped it up. He took cover as bark and twigs rained down, shredded by the KIF gun. As it happened, Seitzmann was able to knock the gunner out. They fell back again, as the rest of 4th/5th was already moving down the hill.
The machine gun started to chatter again, manned by another Jakoban Light Infantryman from the 12th. It was time to leave.

Schiele remembered the grenade and pulled it out, popping the fuse and priming the explosive rock in his hand. He nodded across to Seitzmann as the Corporal gave covering fire. He stood up and hurled during a lull, having probably let it cook down to the last 3 seconds. It detonated right away. Not able to see, Schiele could hear that there was no answering fire, not from there anyway.
More rounds thunked into the trees and dirt as the opposite ridge, now cleared of NEDM, was instead sprouting with KIF soldiers.

They fell back, and again, then yet again, working their way to the bridge and coming in range of the falling shells, as the JLI kept the last couple ridges but didn't advance, letting the artillery do its work. Lt. Fitzhoff and other surviving officers tried to take headcounts as their respective platoons scampered back over the bridge with shrapnel bursting overhead.
The 25th Alpen left dozens, maybe hundreds behind in the hills surrounding Olpack Road as they slunk back defeated over the Zambeza/Thal bridge.

[Kalarin]

Near Olpack

Kempest limped to the summit of the hill to survey the battlefield, smoke still hung over the burnt out remains of vehicles and the smell of burning flesh hung on the air. Chaos. That was all he could think, the ground around him seemed to epitomise chaos. Scenes he had not seen since the great war now flooded back into memory.

The day had been won, yet at a great cost. The Engollens had been pushed back with their force weakened from the assault. He watched wounded and dying NEDM troopers being stretchered away to be seen to. "Sarge Sarge we did it, we pushed them back" shouted one over enthusiastic corporal. "No lad, we haven't done much other than bloody their nose. Plenty more where they came from. They know now how we fight, our strengths and our weaknesses. That was a probe, trust me." The boy looked downed by his comment Kempest didn't care, he needed to know the truth, getting over confident would just lead to more chaos he had seen that time and time again sduring the great war.

"Attention!" the shout went up as all the KIF troopers stood to attention, Hekk marched forward, he was no longer the clean cut man they had known. He was bloody and dirty, big tears through his jacket revealed his shirt and a tear on his trouser showed off his partially burned leg. Still he walked with an arrogance that came with being an officer, a nose up look. Stopping at the end of the line of what remained of the 12th Jakoban he lifted up a beer glass before cheering. The men joined in cheering, as did it seemed the other regiments. Ale kegs were opened as the men celebrated their victory, it did achieve disdainful looks from the orderly shifting bodies and the various troopers being sent to secure other areas.

"Get more ale these men are thirsty"

Khulak
"What is this nonsense" shouted Colonel Strauzz as he finished reading the message, "without approval my left arse cheek I will". His adjutant Willam ran over to calm him, "Sir it'll be fine, I'm sure the President knows what he's doing".

"I'll tell you where that rat can stick this letter, pretentious boy. Thinks he knows war, I was there"

"Don't worry sir I'm sure we'll be able to sort it"

The boy looked over at the other officers observing Strauzz's rather lud tantrum. He was old school and hated not being in control of his troops. It didn't detract from his skill but certainly made serving under him a pain. Willam adored the man, not only for his renown but for his fatherly attitude towards the adjutant. Still the outburst had many of the officers looking quite intently at the Colonel "What do you lot want bget back to work" he shouted to them as the group dispersed back to the days work.

[Neu Engollon]

SOUTH OF BAD TERZEL

They stood, having wheeled their battery of guns up onto the plateaued hill. Tau Company was the farthest forward of all the 164th Artillery Regiment batteries left to defend the Bad Terzel sector. Lieutenant Jean-Pierre Lenaux paused as he heard, distantly from over the river, the sound of celebrating coming from the Kalarinians. He checked his watch, then looked back up at the smoking hulk of the NE ST-21 tank that was just visible in a clearing through a gap in the hills. Little whisps of black smoke still escaped from it. He would avenge their comrades from the 25th.
"I will give you something to celebrate, dirty Kals!"
He pulled the watch back out.
"Load up!..." He watched as the hand ticked closer, then he heard booms, further to the northeast. Delta Company had jumped the gun, so to speak. "Cozzfick! FIRE!" He quickly dropped the watch in his pocket and brought his fingers up to his ears.

THOOOMMM! FWWWOOOOMM!!

The battery of 105mm guns launched their projectiles up and over the river, towards the Olplack Road, sighted in to the positions that had been briefly in NEDM hands and fallen back into possession of the 12th Jakoban Light Infantry. Delta and Rho companies joined in with their guns as well. It would be a sustained barrage, with each piece firing off 7 rounds before being packed up to move to another position. After all, there was no need to stick around for a return barrage from the enemy.
The NEDM Artillery Lieutenant smiled as he pictured the rude interruption to the Kals little breu party that their rounds might be causing. The sound of horrific yells was heard now instead of the raucous celebrating. The sound of impacts and shattering trees could also be heard as the 105 shells had their way.

SCHWARTZGARTEN CITY HALL

Minister Bagatti stood in the upper floor room in the Schwartzgarten City Hall which faced out onto a sprawling garden and grounds in back, rather than the front drive which led out to the downtown main street of the burg. He heard the constant clatter of hooves, boots and tires on cobblestones in the streets even from this far back in the building. It was incessant and went on for hours as the troops of the NEDM continued to file off to the train station or board trucks for the road to the border. Bagatti had the suspicion that more than just 3 Regiments had been mobilized, but he couldn't think of what other units fell under the Northeastern Command. Defense Minister Sauerkoff would know and should be here instead of him.

Other than locking him into the room, they hadn't really done much to turn it into a cell. He had a four poster bed and some Louis XIV chairs, very regal dressers and furniture. Were he a younger, stronger man, he would break up the chairs and make weapons...and then what? Fight off the whole Militia? At some point, General von Spielkommert would make a mistake and Minister Bagatti would be facing someone that would listen. Either that, or President Tell would send help up, in the form of the southern command, or the elite DGC. Some branch of the NEDF not corrupted by this power hungry General would come to the rescue. They had to. It was treason, plain and simple, a complete derailing of the system and it would eventually have to be answered for, or the Confederacy was done and bankrupt.
He sighed and sat down on one of the chairs, putting his head into his hands. It was December now, he hoped to be able to see Christmas with his family back in the capital. Soon, the new year of 1921 would hopefully bring a better year and an end to the madness that was gripping this end of the country.

WURZEMBURG

The 11th Infantry Regiment was almost massed, their numbers of reservists that hadn't been able to link up were replaced by Militia Soldiers from other units that hadn't yet been called up. 2 and 1/2 companies of tanks from the 8th Cavalry, as well as several batteries from the 164th Artillery were gathering and pushing east of the town, towards the river and the border. Towards Silan.

GOERTENTHAL

Further north from Wurzemburg, the 29th Alpen Regiment was also almost ready to deploy forwards, they would drive up over the border towards Terrion, with the dragoons of the 8th Cavalry, a small complement of tanks and the rest of the artillery not deployed further south would join them. The constant air patrols of the 205th from Bad Terzel would join in support of the two pronged assault, some heading towards Silan and some towards Terrion.

Back towards Bad Terzel and Olpack, the battered 25th Alpen would continue to probe, drawing the focus and KIF reinforcements from Khulak to them for optimal success of their comrades up north. The three companies of the 164th Artillery continued to hammer at identified positions of the 12th JLI and 9th 'Blue Blood' Hussars, getting updated reports from scouts and pilots bold enough to brave the Kal AA fire.

All across the front, orders were transmitted by telegraph, by runner and by the new radio system, to ensure that all units were clear and there was no chance of missed instruction. General von Spielkommert wanted to make sure that all went smoothly according to plan.

[Kalarin]

Olpack Road
The celebrations were over, at first the scream of the NEDM shells was almost unnoticed. Suddenly explosions ripped into their position, earth was thrown into the air as cheers turned to screams. Men lay dyin, others injured. Fires now roared where the beer had been. One lad was almost engulfed as the beer turned to flames. Kempest was thrown forward as a shell landed behind him.

"Not a moments rest, damn them!" shouted one soldier as the remaining Jakobans scrambled from their position. Men sprinted down the hill as more and more shells landed into the already scorched earth, "Kempest, help me for gods sake help me" it was Hekk. He had been caught in the fire from the ale and now one side of him was utterly scorched while the other remained almost untouched. Kempest lifted the man, another shell threw them forward again as the sound of men dying filled the air.

Tanks and trucks on the road burst in searing fireballs as 107mm shells landed in them, crews desperately ran to escape their fates, around them the whole army scattered like ants in face of the shelling as the NEDM had done so to theirs.

The men sheltered in the shadow of the ridge as more joined and huddled in what appeared to be safe from the shelling, groups appeared in the intermittent periods of silence, many carrying their injured. Then the next round filled the air and the carnage would resume again. The NEDM seemed to care little about where the shells landed, some even in their own injured.

"Wheres our damn guns?" Kempest asked the injured captain, Hekk looked around with before looking back to the sargeant.
"Probably getting into position now, Strauzz may have underestimated their willingness to fight"

Tanks were filing past as well as those trucks which had escaped the shelling, the rear end were scorched and others damaged and too moved into the relative safety of the ridge.

Olpack
The colonel had decided he should inspect and congratulate the men, however the shelling had forced him to halt in the town for fear of himself being hit. "Shut up fools I've been under barrage before" he belted before Willam could bring him his wine.

"I want the artillery to start returning fire, and someone get them boys back here" he ordered as officers hurried away.

"But sir?"

"But what Willam, those fools in Salisbury have no idea, if we don't act now those lads are dead"

Willam paused, sometimes you had to break the rules......

Oplack Road

Hekk lay injured, Kempest had become the de facto Captain of the 12th Jakoban now he was injured. Damn that shell he thought, damn it and damn the man firing it, one shell, one bloody shell his left leg was gone from the knee down, his left arm was broken and badly burned. In fact the whole left side of him was badly burned with bad being a major understatement. His hair was singed away as was most of the face on his skin, his hand had only three fingers with 4 fused together into two large fingers. He must have looked hideous.

It was times like these you think about the consequences of your actions, who would love him. A freak, a crippled freak.

[Neu Engollon]

BAD TERZEL SECTOR

Tau, Delta and Rho Companies of the 164th Artillery Regiment, NEDM, finished firing off their set number of rounds, and started to pack up to move to their next positions. Rho, during the barrage, had gotten alternate orders and instead of moving to their secondary position, they were to pack up and head north to Wurzemburg to support that upcoming campaign. Delta, having finished first, already had horses towing the artillery down back trails to the next position.

Tau Company was the last, having taken longer and, being the farthest forward of the the three batteries, the artillerymen lingered to see their handiwork, as they alone were able to have a good view over the river of some of their grisly work on the 12th Jakoban Light Infantry. Lt. Lenaux did nothing to rush them along, himself being fascinated and distracted as he saw years of training being put to use actually tearing asunder human bodies of an enemy. It was gruesome and horrible, but he was riveted to the scene being played out scant meters down the ridgeline and across the river on the Kalarinian side.

A darker, heavier feeling hit his gut as he saw, first a truck bearing a red cross, smoking at the side of the Olpack Road, then Kal corpmen running with stretchers, some of them obviously filled with non-Kalarinian uniformed men. Men in grey coats or snow camo smocks.
The initial cross-border force had not made it back with all the troops of the 25th Alpen, and now it became obvious that Tau Company had inadvertently fired on their own wounded troops by following their orders. All black thoughts of this vanished as a worse calamity came to be. His crew and the others of Tau were still removing wheel blocks and loading up ammo crates as the first Kalarinian response rounds came screeching in to find them still at their initial positions.

I should hope that I accomplished some good for the Confederacy and made my parents proud., was Lt. Lenaux's last thought before a 155mm shell found him and his crew at their 105mm piece, obliterating it and the crew surrounding.

IN THE AIR OVER THE RIVER

They were up in the air, yet again, putting the strains on barely patched together NEF FKT1's. They were paralleled by another flight of the Red Kites, this one consisting of FKM2's, modified Fokker D.viii monoplanes. Colonel Real watched behind him, picking up on subtle cues that a week of war had already instilled a tighter, harder discipline on the flying fighters of the NEDAF.

Their primary mission was to gather as much intel and recon from the border as possible, with the secondary mission being to knock any of their opposing numbers out of the sky. This was the official line, but in both their commander, Theodor Real's mind, and those of all his pilots, the primary and secondary missions were most certainly reversed. Their priority first and foremost was to eke out revenge on the Eindeckers of the Kal 5th Air Brigade. If they so happened to gain some photos of the Kal river positions and surrounding town defenses, so be it. That would be an additional bonus to their day.

Real squinted through his flight goggles, checking the action on his MG14 Parabellum gun, he smiled a grim smile. The old girl needed to be fed some Kal blood to make her happy.

Yes! He was a real Swiss Flying Officer and considered the 'Father of the Swiss Air Force'. In this universe's Switzerland, he only served a short term as Chief of the Swiss AF, from its first two years of inception 1914-1916. He died in RL in 1971. In this multiverse, who knows...

THE THAL FLUSS or ZAMBEZA RIVER BORDER

The 11th Infantry and 29th Alpen continued to inch forward on secondary roads, as well as the highways, toward the river bridges, with their accompanying tanks and artillery scattered in among the foot units. H-Hour approached, for the early morning hours of the next day, when they would make their respective pushes towards Silan and Terrion.

Colonel von Reidel, commander of the 8th Cavalry rode in his modern NE ST-21 near the front of the column north of Goertenthal on the road to Terrion. He saw Captain Donato and his mounted dragoons up ahead as the equestrian fighters skirted off the path, around the foot soldiers of the 29th Alpen. The old cavalry still have their uses. They probably need to make the most of their last hurrah in modern battle. Neu Engollon might just get its own Charge of the Light Brigade in the next couple days, he mused from his cupola.

[Neu Engollon]

ALL ALONG THE RIVER

At 737 AM the next morning, the surviving artillery batteries along the southern flank opened back up on the Olpack Road. Mostly untargeted, the rounds were randomly landing from the furthest reach of the guns to high spots closer in to the river border.

The moment was at hand, and by telegraph, the coded words were slipped by along with the regular traffic that was zooming between the various units in the Northeastern sector. The NE ST-21s were fired up and continued to move towards the bridges which had been under watch by advanced units of both the 11th Infantry and 29th Alpen. Two flights of the Red Kites were ready to return back to base, while the rest of the Squadron was up at a pre-arranged time.

By the time the tanks started to close towards the river, the Fokkers and Caproni bombers were nearing the river, as well. A flight of NEF FKM2's accompanied the NEF CAB2 bombers as they flew out south of Silan. While they had been able to stay above the AA fire near the river, it was as they tried to skirt the Silan defenses that they ran into trouble. One of the NEF FKM2 (Fokker D.VIII) escorts took a hit on its wing. It tried to stay aloft and finally had to head back to the border, once again back through the Kal AA fire, lacking the ability to hold elevation. It was on the second run through before the river that it was downed, nose diving short of the border and killing the pilot instantly.

The rest of the attack formation flew on. Their target was not the smaller burg of Silan, but the troop formations and logistics that had been gathering near Khulak. The central hub for reinforcements of the Kalarinian troops. As the city came into the horizon, they began to search for the large concentration of tents, tanks and vehicles of the KIF.

EAST OF WURZEMBURG

The 11th Infantry Regiment of the NEDM were led by scouting squads. Their job was to search out small anti-tank artillery and do away with them. The two bridges east of Wurzemburg were being watched by the KIF, and they were ready. As their shots pelted down on the Neu Engollian soldiers, marksmen that had crept forward sighted in on them and returned fire, keeping their heads down. The two bridges were captured, with the loss of six men. Elsewhere, through pre-cut gaps in the wire, the NEDM troopers swarmed down and over shallower parts of the river, working their way across as more of their comrades also covered them with fire. One squad was wiped out, hitting an unexpected heavy pocket of KIF defenders. While shooters kept them engaged, two other platoons circled and flanked from other crossing spots, eventually shutting down the resistance. The first of the tanks, a mix of ST-21s and NE FTs were also rolling over the now secured border and adding their punch to the attack, helping to break up knots of Kal defenders. To their credit, the Kalarinians were loathe to surrender, opting to fight to the bitter end in most instances.

It was on the final stretch before the Silan road that this fanatical determination took the most casualties on the NEDM. In final desperation, AA guns were fully depressed to their lowest elevation by the Kalarinians. As the Neu Engollian Defense Militia swept down from the hills, the positioning of the AA gun barrels was enough to tear into the front ranks of the advancing 11th. It was here that dozens of the 11th Regiment lost their lives, before finally overtaking the guns with help from the tanks and a final artillery barrage.

As two companies mopped up the holdouts, the bulk of the 11th, with their allotted tanks and artillery, mounted up onto the precious trucks and rolled on, the road looking open to Silan. Phi and Delta Companies took a flank and headed off road, hoping to flush out any other defenders, while the NEF FKT1s flew cover above.





NORTHEAST OF GOERTENTHAL

Lighter resistance was encountered by the 29th Alpen as they started out on their prong of the assault, taking some lead losses at the river as they attempted to cross. The dragoons of the 8th Cavalry charged across with mixed success, taking out some KIF squads, but one small troop of mounted dragoons found out why horse charges against set machine guns was a bad idea. They were wiped out in short order. Revenge was taken as the Alpen sharpshooters furiously worked the bolts of their NEG 16s, pumping rounds out and blazing through stripper clips. Skill was matched, but the Kal defenders did not have the numbers to hold off the Neu Engollian specialized soldiers and their armored support. Many more NEDM troopers fell, their blood soaking into the pine studded hills, but they eliminated the threat.

The rest of the 8th Cavalry's tanks, those that were not on the attack on Silan or guarding the approaches to Bad Terzel, started to catch up to the rampaging Alpen soldiers as they put paid to the Kal opposites. Colonel von Reidel, the 8th Commander himself, rode in one of the tanks. A small number of foot soldiers stayed with the tanks near the road, while the rest stayed under cover of the trees moving forward and around the foothills near where the initial incident had set the ball rolling for the conflict. Another flight of NEF FKM2s engaged the Eindeckers of the 5th Kal Air Brigade, determined to hold the line and keep them from strafing the troops below.

Predictions had been that this would be the lighter defended of the three sectors, Olpack, Silan/Khulak and Terrion...and predictions so far had been correct. The company of artillery opened up on reported enemy tank and gun pit positions as one of the famed Alpen Regiments of the NEDM swarmed up and around, ever advancing. It would not be far to Terrion at this pace.

SCHWARTZGARTEN CITY HALL

Minister Bagatti startled from a doze as the door burst open, a brief, quick ratcheting audible as it was unlocked.
General von SpielKommert stood there, looking proud and resplendent in his Militia black dress uniform.

"I just wanted to share with you, Minister Bagatti. It is a glorious day for the Confederacy! We have begun the attack to take the infidel towns and fields of the Kals! To take what rightfully belongs to us."

"Wh-WHAT!? Are you insane? You're attacking them? Why? We had a chance to pull back from the brink. Wh..."

The General lost a little of his beaming smile, but still held a smirk. He huffed.
"I knew a useless diplomat like you wouldn't understand, but this is what our country needs. Growth. Expansion...and a perfect casus belli. I was hoping for such a reaction, though. It is amusing."

"Your days are numbered, General. The President and the Council will have your head."

Von SpielKommert guffawed out loud this time,
"Ha! No, it is the days of you and your bloated bureaucrats that are numbered. Soon we can clean house as we take control during the 'emergency', and we can get in a government that will truly understand the need to spread our wings. I grow bored of you and I have a war to watch over. Let the Sergeant know if you need to use the toilet or get hungry. Bon Pommitti, Minister."
He disappeared more quietly than his appearance, leaving Bagatti still speechless and frozen in the middle of the room. The NCO in grey wool gave a little apologetic bow, wincing, then closed the door and re-locked it. I have to get serious about getting out of here. It truly is worse than I ever imagined.

After some communication with Kalarin and his being bogged down RL and uncertain of when he would ever be able to post again, I was given the go ahead to wrap up the war and bring this awesome thread to a close.

SILAN-KHULAK

As anticipated, the battle plan worked almost to the letter.
The 11th Infantry Regiment made it to Silan, backed by the artillery and armor elements. Reinforcements of the KIF consisting of the 32nd Salisbury Guards and the 7th Dortumer under Strauzz were able to rush to block the NEDM forces, despite some losses due to artillery and aerial bombing. The battle in and around the town was fierce and the 11th was eventually driven back with heavier losses than they had suffered crossing the border on the road to Silan. Colonel Denis Mouval led an orderly retreat Northwest with the remnants of the 11th, plus the accompanying surviving tanks from the 8th Cavalry. There weren't many left after the Kalarinian counter attack.
They formed the southern flank of the 29th Alpen's attack on Terrion.

In support of the hopeful capture of Silan, the flight of NEF CAB2 (Caproni) bombers and their escorts overflew the outskirts of Khulak, blasting the rail lines and depots that were supporting the KIF troops moving on Silan. As the bulk of Strauzz's forces had already engaged the NEDM 11th Regiment, the bombing strike was ineffectual in causing any significant change to events further west, but it did put a scare into the residents and officials of Khulak. One bomb overshot it's military target and crashed through 3 houses, killing 15 civilians. 2 NEF CAB2 bombers were lost, one to AA fire and one to an attacking
Eindecker of the 5th Kal Air Brigade. The Eindecker in turn was shot down by one of the escorting NEF FKM2's of the Red Kites Squadron. One NEF FKM2 (Fokker D.viii) was lost in another engagement with the Khulak protection force of the KAF. Soon after, the NEDAF armada withdrew back towards Bad Terzel, to repair, refuel and rearm.

OCCUPATION

Meanwhile, the other major prong of the assault sliced through the lighter defenses near Terrion to quickly overtake the town. The 29th Alpen, with the rest of the 8th Cavalry and 164th Artillery, dug in around the town and started to fortify. The road was held and supplies poured in, including militia reinforcements that would hold the road.
Taken by surprise, the town had not been able to evacuate. For one of the rare handful of times in history, Neu Engollian forces administered foreign captured territory. Kalarinian citizens were treated fairly and left to their own, for the most part. The ruling town council was kept to pass along NEDM occupational policy. Still embittered by the surprise occupation, the Kalarinians formed a resistance. They were finally prepared to strike during the final stage of the war, but never got their chance.

Colonel Strauzz, urged by leaders in the capital, led a counterattacking force, with the newly arrived 2nd Kal Foreign Legion that had come up from the Southeast of the country. The 7th Dortumer was left to defend Silan while the 32nd Salisbury Guard, flanked by the 2 KFL, spearheaded the attempt to retake Terrion. Three major thrusts were repulsed by the NEDM defenders, the 164th Artillery and backed by 8th Cavalry counterattacks that circled into the KIF lines. These were the last mounted charges of the 8th Dragoons. The horse troops were cut down mercilessly by the Kalarinian machine guns. Captain Armando Donato was killed in the final charge. There would never be another cavalry charge in Neu Engollian history.

A tank battle between the NE ST-21s and NE FTs of the NEDM 8th Cavalry and the KA-DZB tanks of the KIF 9th 'Blue Blood' Hussars on the plains south of Terrion commenced. It was short, brutal and indecisive, with the Neu Engollians not winning a clear victory, but the Kalarinians unable to advance and cut off the supply road. The NEDM held bulge stayed in the invaders hands. The NEDM lost 17 tanks and the KIF lost 14.

OLPACK-BAD TERZEL

During the initial attacks across the border, the remainder of the 164th Artillery had opened up on the Olpack positions of the 12th Jakoban Regiment and supporting forces. KIF artillery fired back and they dueled for the better part of two days before the NEDM guns fell silent. Minimal casualties occurred on both sides.
To take the pressure off Terrion, the 12th Jakoban bolstered with replacements, went back into action under the firm leadership of Captain Kempest. KIF Sappers cut openings into the wire and they went on the attack, pushing over the border towards Bad Terzel. On the heights leading into the town, a bloody battle occurred with the still recovering 25th Alpen Regiment and the 12th Jakoban, who were now old adversaries. Overwhelmed by the coordinated attack, the 25th withdrew and Kempest's 12th was able to take the town. The nearby airfield, home of the Red Kites, was still held by the NEDM. The remaining planes were evacuated to a strip north of Goertenthal or to Kembach. With reinforcements sent south, Bad Terzel was finally retaken after a week. Heavy losses occurred once again and the 25th Alpen Regiment was in danger of no longer being an effective fighting force.
The counter invasion had the desired effect of diverting reinforcements away from Terrion and forcing the NEDM to fortify Bad Terzel and Taziano in fear of another attack.

TELLEURSVILLE & SCHWARTZGARTEN

Gone into a panic over the complete disappearance of the Foreign Affairs Minister Bagatti, President Tell sent inspectors from Pine Park, the special investigative division of the National Gendarmes to the east to fact find out the full state of the war. Alarmed by reports and the growing power of General von Spielkommert, Tell took extreme measures. The NEDM-DGC was mobilized and headed to Schwartzgarten to put a stop to the mini coup. After some scuffling, the cabal surrounding the rebelious General dissolved. Von Spielkommert was arrested. Minister Bagatti was rescued from his house arrest. General von Spielkommert would eventually be quietly executed for treason against the Confederacy, the first since the Napoleonic Wars over a hundred years ago. His name was wiped from any historical or official records. Connections were re-established with the Kalarinian Government and negotiations were quickly enacted.

THE END OF THE WAR

The 29th Alpen Regiment was never dislodged from their small bulge into Kalarinian territory, with Terrion being the tip of this bulge. Having held out for months against repeated attacks, they finally were ordered to withdraw by the new commander of the Northeastern Command of the NEDM, General De Viroux. Terrion was handed back to Kalarinian authorities. Likewise, any KIF troops over the border near the southern sector are pulled back to Olpack and across the Zambeza. The original border of the two nations is restored and hostilities are officially ended on March 23rd, 1921 by treaty.

AFTERMATH

The NEDAF had lost a huge amount of planes and was unable to replace them right away. Even Col. Real had been shot down at one point, but survived to fly in combat a week later. To their benefit, technology had greatly improved and by the time they NEDAF were able to buy replacement planes, they could take advantage of the newer models coming out of Germany, Britain and the US. The Alpen Regiments learned greatly from their exposure to modern warfare and incorporated the hard lessons into their doctrine. The Cavalry still relied on horse borne scouts for a time, but they were phased out by the arrival of the Second World War. The lost tanks were likewise not replaced for some time. The influence and power of the NEDF overall was greatly diminished and it took time to regain the trust of the Confederate population.

The two governments of Neu Engollon and Kalarin strove to improve relations and have regular summits to discuss issues, especially in regards to the border area. Trade was increased and in time, ill feelings faded towards former enemies. It took more time in Terrion and Bad Terzel to forget that they had been under foreign thumb. Memorials and cemeteries dot the landscape on both sides of the Thal Fluss/Zambeza River. Anniversaries are observed and the leaders of both nations lay wreaths on the graves of each others' soldiers.

Stricter controls were put on the reactive powers of the Neu Engollon Defense Forces in order to avoid a similar war from breaking out in the future. The diplomatic corps was built up and now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rivals the Ministry of Defense for largest budget in the Confederacy, with the Ministry of Finance coming in at a close third.

President Maximillian Tell lost the next election by a landslide. The famed Tell family lost a lot of prestige for their failure to stop an unpopular war, but as analysis and investigation of facts revealed Tell's inability to stop events, the Tell family regained some respect in the Confederacy.

The border is now clearly marked with fences and bright yellow stone markers where the river can't be used as a demarcation line.