Summoning Our Country - NHS Kai

Chapter 24.6: Into the Ranks of the Enemy

NOTE: After a 3 month absence (2 weeks if you were following the Emissaries series), we're back. While I'm afraid to say that this is another GVE chapter (two at that), this was something that the Team wanted to do to showcase more of their capabilities and, admittingly, do our own chapter/s that's all just about warfighting. This is also a chance to give better justice to Leifor (who in the original just disappeared after the GVE clapped them) and do some cleaning on the previous GVE chapters (currently WIP). More importantly, I'll announce that the releases will be slower, just like with the NHS translations, so bear with us.

Discord: https://discord.gg/wEp44XuaT3

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NOTE: We've created a document wherein you can view the different references of the various military hardware mentioned in this chapter, which you can view here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m8IGI1y_Cos3E_TaBD5eWW-imh8jbHFkXu005RWjmFk/edit?usp=sharing

Cent. Calendar 13/08/1639, west of Havro, 9:00

On this unassuming day in the middle of Aureit (Month 8), a battering ram was well on its way to prying open the gates of obstinate resistance. It was the second day of Unternehmen Rammbock, a Gra Valkan offensive against the last organized bulwark of the Leiforian military. Here, several dozens of kilometers to the west of the major city of Havro, a column of fast-moving armored vehicles bearing mottled black, green, and brown camouflage patterns moved against a strong gust of wind that blew across the hilly terrain of eastern Leifor. They were a company from one of the mechanized infantry battalions of the 86th Panzergrenadier Division, one of the thirteen divisions tightening the noose around Havro. Traveling on a winding, semi-paved road that took them through hills both shaved of trees and covered in them, the ride was just about as bumpy for the men inside.

"Goddammit. My ears are starting to pop."

Otto Eichel, one of the grunts sitting inside one of the M.Fz. 452 Schildkröte infantry fighting vehicles, aired out his complaints in front of his teammates. The one sitting next to him, the more seasoned Luther Mayer, picked his ears with his pinky in agreement.

"Don't be so special, koffer. We all are."

Ignoring his direct senior's dismissal, Otto went straight to ask their assistant team leader, Reinhard Wolff, who was sitting in front of them on the opposite row of seats. His sagging eye sockets and blank stare would dissuade anybody from talking to him, but not their team's resident greenie.

"Hey, Unteroffizier! What did they say about the altitude in this place again?"

Despite his unyielding stare, Reinhard was at least kind enough to entertain the young lad's innocent question without tossing in a quip.

"1,200m. Flat."

"Say what?!"

Otto let out a scream in disbelief, his wide-open eyes an indicator of his genuine surprise.

"Gods. Why are we even here..."

Seeing his junior sink in his seat, Luther wanted to find out what was the matter, even if it likely meant that he was going to go on a rant about something again.

"Where are you getting at?"

"I mean, why are we even out here on these godforsaken mountains fighting kids and old men with guns who'd turn tail and run at first sight of a fucking Schildkröte? Didn't they say back before we landed on Leiforia that the fighting's gonna end once we take the city? It's been two fucking months since then! Then they said the same thing when we led the charge against Sanders. 'Oh! The Leiforians will have lost the will to fight by then! They will surrender!' And where are we now? Like, now they're saying we need to take Havro. Man, what the fuck is a 'Havro'? Is it delicious? Can I eat it? What's the point of us having this 'Havro'?"