RM Vol 4: War – Chapter 48: Case Yellow (Day 13- Landfall)

    When low-flying UAVs finish mapping a safe passage for the Marines'' Pumas and hovercrafts, the High Sea Fleet sends in some of their surface vessels to set up an invasion corridor. Meanwhile, Grand Admiral Donitz''s U-boats patrol beneath the surface, watching for any active enemy warship. Other than providing security for the Marines, Belkan destroyers and cruisers also aid Erusean survivors who are still stranded in the sea. The humanitarian gesture is accomplished by dropping inflatable life rafts into the water alongside some supplies. Afterward, the Eruseans are gathered into large groups that float near the Belkan warships. The Belkans refuse to bring aboard the wrecked survivors barring those who are critically wounded, however. This is to prevent the Erusean sailors from trying to stage an offensive to capture or hinder the amphibious invasion. There''s also the consideration that smaller vessels like the Elbing-class destroyers lack large enough facilities to take care of hundreds of survivors.

    To enact order and to prevent any attempt at foul play, Belkan ship security units regularly patrol their vessel to prevent boarding parties. Despite the potential duress the action may cause to the Erusean survivors, Belkan security units still rack the charging handle of their vessels'' HMG-14.5. Mounted along the sides to act as anti-boarders and anti-piracy emplacements., these heavy machine guns are now used to police the Eruseans on their lifeboats.

    While this is a bit heavy-handed, current circumstances dictate this level of caution.

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    "Report! The fleet is in position, Admiral!"

    Tallulah nods grandly, arms crossed. "Good! Before the Marines get ashore, let''s give the Eruseans a wake-up all to remember us by..."

    After the explosive display that basically eliminates all of Addison''s front and rearliners, and with it Lord Gort''s reserve force, the Belkan Marines have achieved a buffer zone to cover their next batch of force deployment. Flying through the Fog of War, some Ospreys land to deploy numerous Marines, while others continue on their flight path. Ravens and Sea Witches, none of them need the Ospreys to touch down. These two elite units straight up jump out of the Ospreys'' rear ramps, either free-falling or unfurling their wings.

    While the Allied forces are still rearing from chaos, both at their front and back, the Belkan elites have already been deployed among their lines. With prejudice, these soldiers will hunt and eliminate high-priority targets. Munition dumps, messengers, officers, and even AA, AT, and armored vehicles... All are fair games, as long as the targets are still part of active combat units.

    Though the Allied forces expect to see the likes of Angels and Devils flying above them, they never anticipate seeing hulking armored supersoldiers, each with glimmering shields that absorb projectiles fired at them. Most of the Eruseans or Loyalists that come across a Raven straight up throw away their weapons and scatter like rats. The feats of strength and power that the Ravens conduct, when viewed at close range and being on the opposition force, are terrifying. Can you expect some grassroots soldiers to stand with courage against a skull-faced mass of metals and muscles that just punted a Matilda II through its front armor, then pull out the scared shitless driver before tossing him away?

    Yeah, I am afraid not... While the Sea Witches handle more delicate tasks like sniping enemy field officers or weapon crews, the Ravens can bulldoze through everything, using shock and awe to strongarm the opposition into being subdued. Nothing short of overwhelming firepower or a well-placed heavy weapon may bring a Raven down, and even then, they have to hit and eliminate the Raven''s protective barrier first. Feats that are easier said than done.

    Due to the mayhem caused by the Witches and Ravens, the already struggling cohesiveness that Lord Gort managed to hold together by hopes and dreams collapses entirely. Right now, it''s every man for himself, but even then, the Belkans are expecting the seizure of Dunkirk will be an arduous endeavor. Even with the damage they have taken, the Allied forces, or in other words the EEF, still have a sizeable presence in the city. Disarrays as they may be, their sheer numbers mean that the Belkans will have to clear out every building slowly and methodically lest they be surprised by roving or hidden enemy war bands. The process would have been made easier if they didn''t have to maintain their agreed-upon code of honor, but it is what it is.

    War is not just about the ultimate victory, after all, it''s also about how one conducts it.