RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 24: Case Yellow (Day 7 – Battle of Arras)

RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 24: Case Yellow (Day 7 – Battle of Arras)

The shock and confusion caused by the sudden elimination of Frankforce artillery spread far and wide among the Eruseans' ranks. Unexpectedly, frontline soldiers never get to see or hear any of their 25-pounders in action. For the first few minutes, the Erusean attackers can only stare ahead or look at one another unsurely. The overall planning was for their 25-pounders to constantly bombard the Belkans while the two attacking Columns marched on. Yet, their Artillery Batteries are all but silenced. Due to delays in battlefield intelligence updates, most Erusean soldiers and officers never knew what happened to their 25-pounders when they began their attacks at the appointed time.

As planned, Frankforce performs a two-pronged attack on Arras, splitting their forces into two Columns. At the heads of each column are the tanks from the Loyalist 3rd Light Mechanized Division and the Erusean 1st Army Tank Brigade. Consisting of 88 tanks with a mix of Somua S35, Matilda I, and Matilda II, the armored vanguards of Frankforce are forces to be reckoned with. Due to the slow speed of the Infantry Tanks, Frankforce's foot soldiers can keep up the pace with them. Marching right behind the mobile pillboxes, the lead soldiers of the two Columns raise their rifles in an arc. Instead of a normal barrel, the Lee-Enfield rifles are equipped with grenade launcher cups with smoke grenades slotted into them. Launching the grenades with successive popping noises, the non-explosive projectiles fly through the air, leaving behind streams of smoke that soon cover the paths forward of the two Columns.

"Smart of Franklyn to order his men to do that." Bryn comments while viewing the battlefield through the live feed from a UAV. "If they keep using rifle smoke grenades, they can completely cover up their advances. Theoretically, they can use the same tactic to leap-frog their way through the villages before ultimately encircling us. As long as they have enough smoke grenades, of course."

Yuki, who is standing next to her side and peering down at the holographic map of the areas around Arras, adds. "It's a good tactic, capable of blocking direct line of sight to their formations. Though environmentalists may hate it, this does prevent a contemporary Army from utilizing its heavy weapons properly. You can't aim an AT gun at a tank that you can't see, much less judge what the range is. Short of an intensive suppressive barrage, there's little way to effectively damage the two Columns with their tanks in the front."

"Fortunately, we are not a contemporary Army." Bryn comments, making Yuki smirk.

"Thermal imaging is such a cheat." Yuki chuckles. "We don't want them to get anywhere close to the villages, however. The denizens are already damaged as is."

Bryn nods before signaling the other staff in the Command Center to proceed as planned. "Let's welcome them in the open field then."

"General Franklyn is good, but he's unlucky to meet us." Yuki says. "The result would have been much different if we're to be on equal footing."

The Reich Marshal's words are punctuated by the beginning of combat between Frankforce and entrenched Belkan units around the villages of Marœuil and Athies. The Erusean Attack Columns, previously advancing stalwartly under the cover of the smoke screens, suddenly find themselves beset with accurate interception fire. Using thermal imaging sights, Belkan vehicles can see quite clearly through the smoke, if not having perfect vision of the Erusean tanks and soldiers. This allows them to lay down a hail of shells and bullets to greet the incoming Frankforce. Due to the intensity of the Belkans' attack, multiple Frankforce tanks are either disabled by accurate hits or outright destroyed by overwhelming firepower. Right behind them, the Erusean soldiers also receive their fair share of trouble. Large caliber bullets and airburst fragmentations bathe their squishy human bits, puncturing their torsos if not tearing their bodies apart. Screams can be heard coming from Frankforce's Attacking Columns as their advance is stopped dead in their tracks. Soldiers hit the ground, either dead or scared for their lives. They scurry behind the halted formations of tanks, burning or otherwise. The two Columns are pinned down, and their overall inexperience rears its ugly head as most of the soldiers are too stunned to react.

Witnessing and experiencing this dilemma, the remaining veterans in the Attack Columns try to stabilize the front. These brave officers and soldiers, formally under General Franklyn himself, crawl beneath the fields of fire to groups of frightened soldiers. They struggle to pass one sentence of motivation, one line of order, just so that the Conscripts can get a grip and be worth a damn. Even retreat needs an orderly mind to do so, much less staging an attack. It's a slow process and a dangerous one at that, but these veterans have their duty to maintain the dignity of the Royal Army. What's left of Frankforce's tanks, either the Somua S35s or Matildas, try to put up a semblance of resistance in the meanwhile. They're the Infantry Tanks, if they can't protect their infantry escorts, then what's the point of their existence?

If only fate was kinder to the man, he would have done something really good for his country. Alas, good Generals alone won't be able to stop the rise of the Reich this time around.

"Should we press the advantage?" Bryn asks.

Yuki shakes her head with a small smile, feeling not as excited as she should be after another victory. "Let them go, for now. No need to harry their retreat when they put up much more of a fight than the Loyalists. They get my respect for actually thinking things through, for once."

Yuki stops before moving to sit on a chair designated for her use.

"The next time we meet Frankforce again, I may not be as merciful as this time, however. Get the Attack Corps ready, we will set out to take Calais when the Loyalists are finally defeated over at Cambrais. By the time that happens, I guess Brussels is mere hours away from falling too. That will give Army Group B the opening they need to speed toward the Channel."

Bryn nods dutifully.

"I will make sure our Corps are ready, Marshal."

Yuki smiles gratefully.

"See to it in my stead, my dear."