For the primary time in its historical past since its inception, the 363rd Gamma Corps has been busy making ready for a battle engagement. Nevertheless, this wasn’t any common typical battle. As an alternative, it could possibly be a battle like none different earlier than.

On one aspect, there was the roughly 45,000 robust Drussian military which composed of just about each Gamma Corps battalion inside the Porrish areas in addition to the extra elite Omega Corps Battalions and Divisions. Gamma Corps had been equiped with normal problem Drussian tools whereas Omega Corps additionally had entry to experimental Drussian weaponry.

On the opposite aspect, there have been roughly 250,000 crusaders of a combined ethnicity. Their males hailed from mainly each Katholic nation excluding Demnark and had been apparently equiped with the most recent, most superior weapons developed by international nations to the southeast of the Meldean Sea.

As one might inform, the Drussians had been outnumbered by the crusaders by greater than 5 instances, it would not be unsuitable to consult with this example as a real ‘David and Goliath’ situation.

Solely this time, the ‘David’ on this situation was armed with a weapon that was much more lethal than a mere sling.

Wilhelm has lengthy misplaced observe of time as he went sleepless night time after sleepless night time micromanaging the state of affairs from the Gamma Corp’s entrance. Throughout the confines of his personal tent inside the Gamma Corp’s encampment, Wilhelm as soon as once more reviewed the state of affairs on his map.

If the studies that he has been receiving weren’t false, then every thing needs to be going based on plan.

As a result of crusaders outnumbering their Drussian counterparts, the Gamma Corps had been compelled to make use of a ‘scorched earth’ tactic. A stratagem that as its title would recommend includes destroying items and provides inside a specified area.

Farm crops had been burned, wells had been poisoned and warehouses had been both emptied or destroyed whereas small villages and cities had been forcefully evacuated. The previous was performed to limit the crusaders potential’s to resupply whereas the latter was performed to remove the possibility of crusader sympathisers doubtlessly becoming a member of the campaign.

After all, such a job would take an prolonged period of time with a variety of oversight required to handle the operations. As such, a variety of planning and foresight was required to enact these duties within the right areas in probably the most environment friendly manner attainable.

If one had been to foretell the unsuitable course of actions from the enemy, then they could find yourself scorching the unsuitable areas or they could permit Drussian property to fall into the enemy’s arms. Even the smallest, most minuscule mistake might value the Imperium of Drussia victory.

Regardless of all this, Wilhelm was positive that he had made no errors throughout the entirety of this defensive marketing campaign. Primarily based on the studies from his scouts, the crusaders have certainly crossed into the areas which had been scorched beforehand which promptly slowed their march.

Not solely had been the actions of the campaign slowed down significantly, however deaths because of hunger and illness and ultimately acts of desertion had been noticed as effectively. Though these deaths and desertions could not have any main impression on the campaign’s navy functionality, any benefit continues to be appreciated.

“Nonetheless trying on the map?”

Quickly, Wilhelm’s ideas had been interrupted by a determine who simply entered by the tent’s doorways.

There was just one individual inside the Gamma Corps who had clearance to enter into the marshal’s private tent with out making an appointment beforehand.

He was the primary lieutenant of the Gamma Corps… and Wilhelm’s youthful twin brother; Walther Aldrich Rommel.

In response to Walther’s sudden intrusion, Wilhelm turned his gaze upwards away from the map and in the direction of his brother as he spoke.

“You possibly can by no means be too cautious. Particularly when this can be a literal life and loss of life situation.”

“Sure I’m effectively conscious of that truth. I did not turn out to be the primary lieutenant of the Gamma Corps on a fluke.”

Though it was true that Walther shared related abilities within the artwork of warfare with Wilhelm, not like Wilhelm, Walther additionally had one other inherent downside that made him only a small step decrease than Wilhelm.

An issue that Walther was about to focus on together with his quick speech.

“It is simply that… I’ve these considerations too. We solely have 20 Gamma Battalions, that is solely 20,000 males towards what number of crusaders? Not solely are we outnumbered however we might presumably be outmatched in tools too.”

Walther sighed earlier than he continued to specific his considerations.

“Hell, you learn the studies right? The crusaders are armed with the most recent musket fashions and even cannons. However, we aren’t supplemented with any artillery or heavy weapons to talk off. Do you actually count on the boys to have the ability to put up a combat in such conditions? I implore you, please rethink this.”

As unhappy as it could be, Wilhelm knew that regardless of Walther’s abilities, he was nonetheless a somewhat… idealistic particular person.

Quickly Wilhelm answered his brother’s query in a solemn tone.

” I’m not ordering our males to combat, I’m ordering them to die. Within the time it takes them to die, the Omega Corps would have already cleaned this mess up.”

…

“My woman, we now have confirmed that the Gamma Corps have engaged the campaign’s vanguard. At this second, they need to be conducting a preventing retreat, solely slowly giving floor to the crusaders however by no means breaking underneath the strain.”

“Then give the order. Mobilise everybody instantly and inform them to await additional orders. The second I stroll out this tent is the second that everybody is able to transfer.”

Erika immediately authorised the Omega Corps to maneuver out the second she obtained the report from one in every of her brigadiers. As soon as the unique brigadier who gave her the report left the command tent to finish her orders, Erika turned her gaze in the direction of the opposite brigadiers within the tent earlier than she spoke up.

“Is every thing else so as?”

“However in fact.”

Glad with the brigadiers’ reply, Erika glanced across the tent earlier than she continued.

“Then let’s transfer out. Now we have a battle to win.”

As Erika mentioned this, she already made her manner out of the tent, and out onto the open fields of the encampment. After Erika checked and ensured that her look was pristine, she then obtained onto her warhorse and joined the marching military.

Just like the brigadier mentioned, solely the campaign’s vanguard which composed of roughly 60,000 males has engaged with the Gamma Corps military which solely composed of 20 battalions or 20,000 males. This was as a result of massive and comparatively uncoordinated nature of the campaign.

Out of all the crusading power, solely the forces of the vanguard military had been in battle formations whereas the remaining 200,000 or so crusaders had been remoted from the battle, as a substitute they need to nonetheless be marching in columns to ultimately reinforce the vanguard forces.

This is able to imply that mentioned 200,000 remaining crusaders might be susceptible to any assault on the rear and flanks. A indisputable fact that Erika was greater than prepared to take advantage of.

Nevertheless, the one manner for this stratagem to work is that if the Gamma Corps might successfully preserve the vanguard military preoccupied lengthy sufficient for the Omega Corps to sow confusion and route all the campaign whereas they had been nonetheless unaware and unprepared.

Primarily based on the studies, the vanguard power ought to consist of fifty,000 ‘elite’ Panish troopers and 10,000 Porrish troopers. Inside these 60,000 crusaders needs to be the commanding officers of the campaign, together with the chief of the campaign, Princess Stefanie.

Although the Drussian’s had been drilled for battle, there was little doubt that the Paniards imitated the Drussians and drilled their very own troops too, though Erika nonetheless doubted if it might evaluate to Drussian drilling.

In contrast to earlier than, not solely do the Drussians must cope with an obstacle in numbers however they could now not have their drilling benefit both even when the Panish drilling was an inferior reproduction.

On high of this, the Paniards and the Porrish had been very more likely to combat with a vindictive fervor which might solely enhance their preventing capability and capabilities. There was little doubt that the closest reinforcing crusading teams which composed of Ostrians would combat with that very same vengeful ardour.

The one actual benefit that the Drussians had over the crusaders was how the Drussians had been effectively fed and effectively rested when in comparison with the ravenous and drained crusaders. No less than, that needs to be the case if Wilhelm, the Gamma Corp’s marshal did his job correctly.

Ultimately, the result of this operation lay totally on how lengthy the Gamma Corps can stave off the crusaders. So long as the Gamma Corps can preoccupy Stefanie and her forces for greater than a pair hours, then the Omega Corps can rout her reinforcements with out her even figuring out.

Nevertheless, opposite to what one might imagine, this was not Erika’s largest concern. Whereas the truth that the result of this battle lay within the arms of the Gamma Corps was nonetheless one in every of Erika’s main considerations, it was not her fundamental one.

Her fundamental concern was the truth that Maxwell was fully absent from this whole defensive marketing campaign and as a substitute, he left all of the accountability of dealing with such an essential job to Erika.

At first, she simply could not comprehend why he would do such a factor. Nevertheless, with Sicilia’s assist, Erika was capable of get a fast grasp on his intentions. This whole campaign… it merely did not concern him. It did not concern Maxwell as a result of he knew that he might belief Erika to deal with it flawlessly for him.

It was an indication of belief in addition to an act of effectivity. As an alternative of being compelled to cope with the campaign, Maxwell might as a substitute stay in Maximinus and plan out his subsequent course of actions whereas proving that he trusts Erika whereas on the identical time, giving Erika an opportunity to show to Maxwell that he can belief her.

Nevertheless, the act of leaving every thing to Erika additionally doubled as a check. In keeping with Sicilia, Maxwell can be predicting that within the close to future, a number of fronts of battle are going to open and as such, he would wish succesful commanders to deal with these fronts whereas he critiques the larger image at house.

After all Erika needed to pay Sicilia again for such acts of kindness. Quickly sufficient, after the Omega Corps moved out, Erika shortly discovered Sicilia.

“So, is it practically time to half methods?”

Because the Omega Corps marched on a quicker tempo to be able to intercept the reinforcements in time, Erika needed to focus extra of her consideration on using her horse somewhat than Sicilia once they spoke.

Out of the nook of her eye, Erika caught a smile develop on Sicilia’s face as she responded to Erika.

“That’s sadly so.”

Erika returned the smile to Sicilia as she replied.

“I see. I have to admit that these moments with you had been extra pleasant than I initially thought they might be.”

“What I shock. I used to be considering the identical factor. I am undecided when you’re conscious of this however Maxwell at all times mentioned that I wanted a ‘woman’s night time out’ no matter that is alleged to imply. Now I can see why.”

Sicilia chuckled and barely lifted her shoulders in a joking shrug earlier than she continued.

“Granted this will have been greater than only one night time however I consider the intent was nonetheless there. Anyhow, farewell Erika.”

“Wait!”

Simply earlier than Sicilia might pull the reins of her horse to alter path, she was as a substitute stopped by Erika’s voice.

“That promise you made… You will preserve it proper?”

Sicilia remained silent for a second earlier than she spoke up.

“After all.”