[X] Assault north, catch Feds in a pincer
You feel tired but there is still work to be done today.
Orders are given for a temporary rest. The lower ranks can relax until the reinforcements arrive. They can't get as worn out as you.
Raeder's battalion arrives a couple of hours past noon. Greetings are said, you haven't seen each other since departing Merovia.
After a short pause the whole force prepares to move out. Hundreds of troops bustle waking comrades and getting ready for the combat ahead. You leave a small garrison behind at the base as a trip wire.
Word must have spread about their precarious situation, as you find recently empty rear encampments and artillery parks.
Soon your forward elements spot movement ahead. The situation evolves into a running battle as the enemy tries to harass your advance without getting into a solid fight.
Given the general direction of the battle you have a good idea whats happening.
The Federation commander realises their position is untenable and is trying to withdraw. Extricate their force from the region and save what they can. It will be a harried retreat as they try to escape east.
You drive forward with renewed vigour, determined to punish them for their caginess. Your pace comes as a surprise as several squads get cut off. A short fight ends as the full force of Raeder and Surena's units compel them to capitulate.
A short time later Giraud's scouts spot a logistics convoy made up of mostly non-combat personnel. Another quick engagement captures a dozen vehicles and prisoners.
Afterwards, the Federation force continually bleeds small numbers of troops as they try to cover their retreat. Occasionally they leave a damaged tank behind to try and unsuccessfully slow you down. You have a good feeling about this, the prospective northern force must be pressuring them greatly.
Then your advance abruptly grinds to a halt.
Retreat disruption - South
Roll = 12
Some quick thinking junior officer comes up with the idea of laying mines behind them. Hiding in the village paths the locals call roads they catch your vanguard force unprepared. After an irreplaceable light tank gets mission killed, the engineers get bought forward to sweep the area.
Fortunately there was no enemy force present to exploit your moment of weakness. But your advance slows to a crawl for a crucial forty-five minutes.
That stunt probably saved their artillery and a few hundred soldiers. You encounter few organised groups of Federation personnel after that apart from stragglers.
Eventually it starts getting fairly dark and you decide to cut north to meet up with allied forces. No point risking friendly fire after nightfall.
You fire a flare into the twilight sky to give some warning and receive an answering friendly flare.
Soon you sight some very welcome troops in the distance. It appears they are even from your brigade. Soldiers on both sides give their greetings as they recognise each other. Once you get within speaking distance you realise this is Vorbeck's battalion.
Retreat disruption - North
Roll = 68
In addition to that there are a lot of prisoners, many hundreds, maybe even a thousand. The other force must have had more success against the Feds, clearly savaging them.
After hailing Vorbeck she directs you to the Field HQ. Soon the troops become unfamiliar, being of other brigades. Some even wearing strange uniforms of naval infantry. There are a lot of forces present, which was a relief given the worst case scenarios in your head.
Colonel Pydan is a man twice your age, he looks at you with casual warmth as you approach.
"Ah Colonel Hapsburg, I assume you're the reason why the opposing force abandoned the field. You did good work today," he smiles but makes no motion to get up from his chair.
"I did what was expected of me, nothing more," you feel exhausted.
"I assume the main base has fallen then?"
"It has, pretty much intact," irritation is rising up now, overcoming the tiredness.
"Thats splendid then-"
You decide to stop playing along now and cut to the point. "There is the matter overall command, we share the same rank. To offset this I was given a provisional promotion."
Pydan's genial mood vanishes, "you weren't directing the troops on the beaches. You did not lead them, I did."
You have gotten maybe four hours of sleep in the last three days. You don't want to deal with this
bullshit right now.
"I appreciate that, but I was indisposed at the time given my transport landed at the far edge of the landing zone. Nevertheless I was given command by General Hall."
"A temporary rank meant to last until the other waves landed," he counters dismissively. "I received no such order given I was in a separate chain of command".
"You were detached to be a part of General Hall's army. Of which I given command of the vanguard" You point out.
"Your actions speak louder, you were rash, haring off and abandoning the rest of the force." He does not want to budge.
"I saw an opportunity and took it! We shortened the length of the defence by several days at least." You are beginning to think starting this was unwise, you are too tired to think properly. But you don't want him setting the pace now.
Command issues are the last thing this small force needs. You have enough threats present from the Federation to add internal difficulties. It seems to be an opinion you both share.
Pydan finally speaks, "Its clear we are at an impasse. Why don't you take a rest and we'll meet again tomorrow morning."
"Very well Colonel," you stalk out with as much grace as you can dredge up. You're not sure how to resolve this.
You are bone-weary now and simply want to drop. For a moment you think of the comfortable seats on the car, now back in Merovia. Then your thoughts turn to something more relevant. The radio. You could use that to settle this matter and confirm your position. Getting Hall directly on line would resolve things quickly.
You pause in your line of thought. You can't be sure that Hall will support you though. It's now somewhat clear that he offered command as an incentive to join the first wave. Now the situation is severely derailed you don't know how he'll act. He could tell you to obey the older officer.
Perhaps you could approach Baumann. You did get him out of a pinch. He owes you, despite being unpleasant. If you can get him on side then you could strong arm Pydan.
There are others of course that may be better avenues to approach. They might have more information.
[] Use the radio
[] Approach Baumann
[] Approach your subordinates
[] Approach the naval infantry commander
[] Write-in
AN: Bleh I'm almost as tired as Rudolf, this update dragged on.