Rise of a Kaiser

Chapter 41 - Storming Ironhold

"I'm sorry Feild Marshall. I had to order a retreat, the walls were to strong to break through with tank shells alone. And their magic users were incinerating our men. I didn't want to lose the entire division. " Dressler reported gravely, he was very disappointed in himself, he held his cap with both his hands and dipped his head.

"Don't worry Colonel, you were only meant to test the enemy defences. I didn't expect you to take the fort." Freida assured the bashful Colonel. "I support commanders with sense and care for their men, and those who keep and understand the nature of their orders. You did everything I asked, do not worry." Dressler then saluted awkwardly and went to inspect the damage to his tanks. Freida sighed.

"What is it Field Marshal?" Jade asked.

"This means we have to sit in for a seige. This will take a while." Freida sighed.

"Well, you had better give them a hard pounding then." Jade mused. At that point, Reinhilde drove down a hill on the motorbike and stopped infront of Freida and Jade.

"Are the artillery observers in position?" Freida asked.

"Yes ma'am, they've just finished relaying the first batch of coordinates to the fusiliers." Reinhilde reported.

"Very good, tell the artillery to commence the bombardment at one o'clock." Freida ordered, Reinhilde nodded and drove off. "We have ten thousand guns aimed at that town, if that doesn't do something I don't know what will."

"Freida, why does the Heer have so artillery  peices?" Jade asked.

"Well, our military doctrine encourages two approaches for Commanders in the field: mobile warfare (blitzkreig) and superior firepower. Blitzkreig is more appealing to our commanders and this involves motorised vehicles and tanks to outflank and confuse the enemy. When this doesn't work superior firepower comes into play. This involves the mass use of artillery to pummel and weaken the enemy. Artillery is important as it can knock out positions that armour nor infantry cannot if air support is unavailable." Freida explained. "If we don't have artillery we either have to utilise a Grand Battleplan doctrine where we just sit and wear the enemy from bunkers and trenches, and if still nothing works then we have to utilise mass assault which involves human wave tactics. The Kaiser detests the last resort as it is a terrible loss of life and sometimes for so little reward."

Jade nodded, back in Ironhold soldiers and civillians alike were drinking alchohol and toasting their recent victory. Kayara was in a huff as drunk soldiers are 100% more likely to get killed than regular soldiers: this was Wilhelm's law. Kayara at least read up on German tactics and strategies unlike most other Persian Generals. But that's they were all killed and why Kayara was promoted. 

"What's wrong General? You should celebrate, blow of some steam of the stress you've had." Margan said, holding a small tankard of beer as he spoke. 

"First a man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes a man." Kayara said bluntly. 

"You should loosen up a bit, you underestimate the effect a drink has on a soldier's morale." Margan remarked.

"The German Army has one hundred thousand troops behind those hills, and they're just sitting there. What are they waiting for? Surely they must have launched another attack?" Kayara questioned, she put her hands on the battlements and leaned on the wall. Margan looked back and saw Trytas fraternising  with a bunch of women, Margan found that detestable as behaviour like that could easily turn into something you would regret. Kayara's eyes started to close as dark settled on the land. But then as she and Margan were about to fall asleep, Margan was leaning on the wall, but she saw streaks of light coming from behind the hills and alot of distant bangs along with it. "Margan look!" Kayara exclaimed and shaked Lord Margan awake. The streaks in the sky kept coming, and they were not stopping. Maragan and Kayara looked at the shells in terror as they began their deathly decent. "Everyone! Take cover!" Kayara shouted and everyone started to scramble to cover, those who were drunk however, were reduced to crawling on the ground. With a deafening scream the shells landed inside the town and the high explosive rounds did their work. Bang after explosion after aftershock occured. Thousands of shells landed inside Ironhold, the constant explosions had an agonising effect on Kayara's ears and eyes, when it became too much she started screaming, but no one heard her as everyone, even Margan was covering their ears.