Civil War

Chapter 32

Just a quick author's note before I get into this chapter. Throughout this story, if a battle seems more detailed, especially in terms of where it's happening, chances are its because its in a place I've been before and know really well. I mention that now because some of the action in the next few chapters will be so detailed because I know Utah pretty well.

Chapter 32

(March 6, 2027)

As the sun rises past midday over the Rockies, in the south of Utah, the city of Cedar City is under siege. Explosions rock the border of the city as the city's garrison tries to fend off the loyalist units attacking it.

The US campaign against Deseret has been underway for two days now. In the east of the state, the 4th Infantry had moved quickly, capturing Vernal and Price, and were still heading for Utah County. Meanwhile, in the south, some loyalist units had captured the major city of St. George and smaller cities of Bluff and Monticello. However, the main southern force had run into some trouble.

After capturing St. George, the main southern force had begun heading north of the city to capture Cedar City. However, they ran into a much heavier garrison than expected. Hundreds of troops, some artillery, and even some special forces had been sent to Cedar City, where they were supported by the local militia that had been raised following Deseret's declaration of independence.

The early success had left the commanders of the southern force rather confident, and encouraged them to move on to Cedar City quickly. However, they did not take into account the geography of the region and the fact that the defenders would know it better than them. The I-15 ran north from St. George to Cedar City through a canyon and between hills. The 2nd Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment, a new regiment formed with men from the Utah National Guard and military veterans who had volunteered to return to service, along with the artillery and militias, had set up a series of ambush points in the canyon leading towards Cedar City.

The battle for Cedar City had begun the day before when some of the troops and militiamen of Deseret engaged the loyalist forces as they came up through the canyon. The ambushes had been incredibly effective, killing or wounding hundreds of loyalist troops. And even though they had had little air support themselves, it hadn't mattered much, with loyalist air support being mostly ineffective against the defending troops.

Of course, the defense had not been perfect, and slowly, the defenders had been forced to pull back towards Cedar City, even though their losses were still minimal. Some fighting was beginning to enter outer parts of the city, but for the most part, the defenders were still holding the loyalist forces outside the city.

Just outside the city, Sergeant Levi Thompson, a Sergeant of the Utah National Guard who had then continued his service in the Deseret Army, ducks to avoid shrapnel from an exploding artillery shell. He rapidly waves over several of his platoon-mates, who rush through the bushes they're hiding in over towards Thompson.

"I just got orders. They're gonna start some artillery fire in our area, and want us to pull back to clear the area," Thompson says to the young soldiers.

"Yes, sir," one of the soldiers says quickly.

"Sergeant, are we actually getting reinforcements?" one of the other soldiers asks.

Thompson sighs a bit before he says, "I doubt it. Most of our troops are being kept up north to be ready to hold off the 4th Infantry, and the air force is still too busy fending off loyalist air attacks. Any help we're getting is all up to the civvies here in Cedar."

The soldiers just nod. Thompson throws one of his grenades out to try and keep loyalist soldiers from advancing on their positions. Then, right as he is about to order his men to start pulling back ahead of the artillery bombardment, he hears something. The distant roar of jet engines. However, it sounds a little deeper and louder than fighters.