Warfare's Final Frontier

Chapter 5 The First Day of Battle

(BM) "....and once we accomplish this task, then everything else will fall into place. Remember, Lieutenant Ben, a huge portion of this plan relies on your precise timing. If I can't stall the enemy for long enough, then we can only retreat, regroup, and make another plan." Baron warned everyone in the room.

(LB) "Understood sir, shall we get ready to meet at the rendezvous point?" Ben asked in an impatient way.

(BM) "Have the men eat their breakfast if they haven't already and then have them take down the camp. We leave in 2 hours."

(LB) "Just leave everything to me," Ben replied before ordering the others to do their respective tasks. In a few minutes, the officers had received their own tasks and left the big tent. They completed their jobs swiftly and two hours soon passed.

(BM) "All troops, forward march," Baron ordered as he whipped the reins on his horse. Thus signalling the begin of his army marching towards the rendezvous point. Baron, Lieutenant Ben, and the other officers were leading the army at the very vanguard. Given that not all the soldiers had horses, and they wanted the foot soldiers to conserve their energy they could only march at roughly the speed of normal walking. If they continued at this speed then they would reach their target location around noon, then march 2-3 hours to get to the city and start laying siege to it that very afternoon. They had just reached the halfway point to the city when a messenger whispered something in Ben's ears, Ben pondered for a moment before speaking.

(LB) "Sir," Ben said to get Baron's attention. "It seems our scouts have located a new point of interest in the terrain northeast of our current location, and the best part is that this one doesn't seem to be discoverable on the map," Ben exclaimed excitedly.

(BM) "A new point of interest? I'll have to go take a look then, you keep leading the march, Ben."

(LB) "As you command."

(BM) "Messenger, lead the way. 300 cavalry on me!" Baron screamed before galloping away with the messenger accompanied by hundreds of horsemen.

Messenger (M) "Here it is General Baron." The messenger respectfully said to Baron as they arrived at the foothills of a U shaped steep incline only a few meters high, and surrounded by many trees.

(BM) "Mmmmmmm" Baron replied in satisfaction. "Excellent work, this discovery could very well lead us to the path of victory if utilized correctly." Baron continued to survey the land around it and played multiple simulations within his mind to see how best to turn this newfound discovery into an exploitable advantage.

Officer Rick (OR) "Sir, if this terrain is so advantageous, and the enemy is unlikely to know about it will we change our plans to include this steep incline?"

(BM) "No, not yet at least. We'll stick to the original plan and use this place as a backup if we have to." After another little while Baron had finally figured out why he couldn't see this on the map, it's because the other places he had visited was cliffs and medium-sized hills whereas this place only had a steep incline. "Very interesting, all troops back to the main army" he shouted as he led them away. By the time they met with Lieutenant Ben they had already made it to the rendezvous point about 15 kilometers south of the city walls, neither side could see each other at this point. Baron approached Lieutenant Ben.

(LB) "Ah, there you are, how did it go?"

(BM) "It was magnificent, and I think you are right when you said that the enemy was unlikely to have discovered such a spot when even we disregarded it upon looking at the map," Baron replied while scanning the army. "Have the appropriate arrangements been made?

(LB) "Almost sir, we are organizing the last of the men as we speak."

(BM) "Good, when you are done take your men and get into positions I'll take the rest with me and lay siege to the city. If anything arises I'll send a messenger or two to your location to inform you of any changes to our plan."