RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 43-7: Gunboat Diplomacy (Part 7)

RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 43-7: Gunboat Diplomacy (Part 7)

Although Auschwitz occupied a large plot of land, the 501st Division easily steamrolled through the city's defensive perimeter. This can be attributed to the effectiveness of the airborne division but one can't discount that the lack of combat readiness of the garrisoned regiments has easily tipped the scale in Belka's favor. Despite ordering a retreat to reconsolidate his force and even using suicide bombers, a wholly underhand tactic, the Sardegnian Colonel in charge finds that nothing he did manage to make a dent in this surprisingly powerful enemy.

Though the conflict has been raging for a couple of hours, the Sardegnian can't quite identify just who is the one that has been attacking. Survivor reports have been sporadic and chaotic, lacking much-needed clarification on the actual status of the attacking force. This, right here, shows a stark difference in the leadership of both sides. Whereas Belka encourages lead-by-example and frontline commanding, should one feel have the ability to do so, Sardegnian officers form a strict hierarchy. Commanding officers are expected to maintain a proper image and direct the warzone from the safety net provided by the grunts, all while feasting on whatever they can get their hands on. While this improves officers' survivability, in a chaotic battlefield scenario like Auschwitz's urban combat one, it can inflict miscommunication and delay in commands. The Sardegnian method of leading is also not a singular occurrence, Erusea and Ustio use it, with Rusviet showcasing it to an extent.

Even with the advent of advanced communication technology, high-ranking Belkan officers can still be seen sticking closely to their assigned units, armed and ready to join the fight if need be. Those sightings inspire confidence and morale in the troops, prompting them to fight with more fervor. The on-hand information, in turn, allows the officers to address any tactical issue that may prop up promptly. This aggressive leading method is quite unheard of in the military world. Belkan officers are trained till they become a different breed altogether. That said, the 501st Airborne takes it to the next level, with even their Majors and Colonels riding in IFVs or Ospreys a not-so-far distance behind the main force. Hell, the only reason why they aren't up at the frontline is because there's no need for them, yet. Currently, the 501st is dismantling the pockets of resistance with ease. Soon enough, they will move on to attack the area around the castle and the castle itself.

Knowing that competing with the airbornes in the urban jungle is hopeless, the enemy Colonel reorganizes his tattered force, placing them on the tall castle walls and the castle yard. Desperate, the armory is unlocked and guns are given to every single person in the castle, non-combatants, like military chefs, included. The latter even consists of a few willing prisoners, with the word 'willing' being stretched very hard. Lady Lyssa also throws in most of what she has, sending the Crusaders, handicapped as they may be, down to the castle ground and join the defenders. Even if they don't have access to their magic, their physical ability should still be retained, somewhat.

Such a thing can only be tested in actual combat. But before that, they wait... And they wait some more.

That said, B-rank and A-rank Crusaders are where things would be tough for the 501st. Stronger, faster, and more well-trained, these ladies would be tough to kill as a normal human would be hard-pressed to keep up with them. Given time, they can easily perform hit-and-run attacks to sow chaos in the mechanized convoys. There are already cases of these Crusaders popping out of cover just to chuck a few grenades and then run away, causing unnecessary damage and casualties.

That said, this is quite possibly the last card the Sardegnians can throw onto the table. Powerful as they may be, the high-ranking Crusaders' effort would just be like a drop of water in the desert, not enough to change the tide of battle. They just don't have the number to hold off an entire elite division that wants them dead. But that doesn't mean they will stop causing as much destruction as possible.

Well, Belka knows better, the Reich Marshal knows better than to let them run amok. Already, specialists that are perfectly made to counter threats like the Crusaders are deployed from the RMS August von Parseval. Before the pesky women can cause any more annoyance, these specialists have come from the air. Some deploy their wings, joining their brethren in the sky while others perform superheroes landing and cracking the pavement below them. Standing up at full height, these newly arrived armored figures towering above the mortals and even supernatural races like Beastman and Oni caught themselves lacking in their presence.

One of them, a figure with a skull helmet visor, surveys the battlefield, seeing the looks of shock on the faces of the Crusaders who were just about to deploy against the 501st. Smirking beneath the helmet, the figure chambers his 8-gauge shotgun. "Dibs!" He expressed the word jokingly for all to hear before turning the big tube toward the female combatant.

With the arrival of the Ravens, the game is set from this point onward.