Interlude: Memento Mori

Captain Arnošt Svatoš of the Alpha Company of Delta Battalion, First Guards Regiment, had been sent in ahead of the rest of First Guards that were already unloading in the city of Nova Salona. Nova Salona was effectively functioning as the Capital and Headquarters for the Provisional Senate of Calinius which was being headed by Senators appointed by the Sons of Albano and approved by the growing New Ålborg Military Authority on Calinius, currently being led by the newly-promoted Brigadier General Marius Frankowski.

It had been decided that in detached operations, brevet promotions to Brigadier General would be handed out to the most veteran and senior commander in the detached force for the duration of the Operation, in order to clear up the chain of command while maintaining a certain level of strategic flexibility. Arnošt wasn't totally sure how well that would work in practice, but he was sure that the kinks would be ironed out between this operation and the upcoming Invasion of Von Strang's World. At any rate, wondering about how Command's ideas would play out in actuality was above his pay grade as a Captain. It wasn't his job, so he put it out of his mind for now.

What was his job was infiltrating the forward defenses of the City of Nova Epidaurum in preparation for the Sons of Albano to assault the City while First Guards handled Nova Narona. With those two cities in hand, the Province of Nova Dalmatia would be in the hands of the Sons of Albano, leaving a gap in the Loyalist Defenses that would allow a drive all the way through
Meditullio Province and right into Capitalinus. The problem was that Hansen's Roughriders had fortified Nova Epidaurum to Hell and Back. It was the job of Arnošt and his men to map out the defenses, sabotage whatever they could, and paint targets for air strikes ahead of the offensive.

Currently, Arnošt was hunkered down in between a pair of rocky hills just to the east of the City. The hilltops were pre-sighted for the enemy's artillery just in case they wanted to try and gain the high ground for bombardment. Arnošt had tested that already using military drones, however, they seemed to only be paying attention to the High Ground and not the valleys below. The drones were key to Arnošt's strategy for recon. They had been worked up to look like a mixed group of combat vehicles and APCs. In actuality, their guns were hollow tubes and sheet metal, while their armor was largely a plastic shell painted over with radar-absorbing paint to appear to be a bigger threat. They'd been remotely guided from half a kilometer out and destroyed.

The next test of the defenses was another series of drones made up to look like Combat Vehicles testing defenses on the west side of Nova Epidaurum. Arnošt's drone operators had driven them into what appeared to be a minefield. They exploded without being shot at, at any rate. Sure enough, an hour after they withdrew the remainder of their drones, a bunch of Conscripts were herded out by men in the Uniforms of the Cohors Callinius to plant new mines and refresh the minefield. That was twenty minutes ago.

Now, Arnošt had his drone operator, Sergeant Kalinski, driving the last of the mock-up drones around to the south of Nova Epidaurum using the radio guidance system while he used the optics of his Varulv Power Armor to keep an eye on the Defenses. As soon as the drones came into sight, a quartet of hidden LRM Emplacements came to life and fired, massacring the last of the drones.

"Looks like they've got a minefield to the West, Artillery sighted on the hilltops above our position, and Dismounted LRM Carriers set up as emplacements to the South." Grunted Sergeant Kalinski.

"I'm willing to be that if we tried attacking from the Bay to the North of the City, there'd be naval mines there as well." Nodded Arnošt.

"It doesn't really matter too much. We need to take the City to proceed, so we'll take the city." Shrugged Sergeant Kalinski.

"Sergeant, who has the Laser Designator?" Questioned Arnošt.

"That'd be Elina, Captain." Answered Sergeant Kalinski.

"Get her up here, please. We need to paint those LRM Emplacements ahead of the attack." Commanded Arnošt.

"At once, Sir." Nodded Sergeant Kalinski before heading back to find Elina.

Elina, or Lieutenant Elina Jalkanen was a recent graduate of Officer Training School. She'd gotten her spot due to the casualties of the Oberon War and had a lot to prove. She always volunteered for special assignments accordingly, so it was no surprise she'd been the one to volunteer to take the Laser Target Designator for painting targets. The Irony of it was that Elina was actually fairly good at whatever special assignments she volunteered for. That quality was why she'd been sent to the Special Forces, after all.

If only she'd stop being so eager to volunteer for things, she might avoid burnout, which was deadly in the Military. She'd almost been caught by stray shrapnel while they'd been testing the enemy's artillery earlier, though she'd managed to successfully paint the pre-sighted battery of six Sniper Artillery Cannons in use by the Battalion that Hansen's Roughriders had in Nova Epidaurum. It's why she'd been sent back to recover for a bit while Sergeant Kalinski and Arnošt kept testing the defenses. That kind of recklessness would catch up with Elina someday if she didn't settle down, Arnošt was sure of it.

As Sergeant Kalinski came back with Elina, Laser Target Designator hefted over her shoulder, Arnošt nodded at them. The Buccaneer Arms Astrolabe Laser Target Designator was a three-foot-long pseudo-rifle, only instead of firing ammunition or weaponized lasers, the beam it fired was a targeting marker. All Elina had to do was aim and fire, just like they all learned in basic, and their Aerospace Forces would immediately home in on the targets with their Buccaneer Arms Spar Laser Guided Long Ranged Missiles.

"You rang, Sir?" Queried Elina.

"We've found more targets for you to paint." Answered Arnošt.

"Oh? Where?" Asked Elina.

"I'll point them out to you. Paint them with the Astrolabe and then have everyone pack up camp. The show is supposed to be starting in thirty minutes." Ordered Arnošt.

"Cutting it close, Captain. Lieutenant Foley and his team are still fifteen minutes out." Frowned Sergeant Kalinski.

"Did they plant the charges on the Comms Tower?" Questioned Arnošt.

"They planted them in the sewers under the tower. The whole structure should collapse as soon as you give the word." Affirmed Sergeant Kalinski.

"Casualties?" Queried Arnošt.

"None, Sir." Reported Sergeant Kalinski.

"Then why are they so far out?" Asked Arnošt.

"Apparently, Corporal Steindl spotted a patrol and they had to go to ground. They can't move any faster without giving the game away." Answered Sergeant Kalinski.

"Nothing for it then, they'll just have to catch up on the march. Have Sergeant Stolpe inform them before he packs up the Comms Unit. Tell them to meet up with us at Villa Rufinus. We'll wait for them for twenty-four hours before heading back to base." Commanded Arnošt.

"Yes sir." Agreed Sergeant Kalisnki, heading back into the ravine between the hills they'd been using for their camp to relay the orders.

With that done, Arnošt turned back to Elina. The Young Lieutenant was practically vibrating with excitement at another chance to prove herself, something that Arnošt could tell was true even from within her Varulv Power Armor. With a sigh, he figured it would be best to simply get on with things and trust that this time wouldn't almost kill her like the last time had.

"All right, Elina. I'll point out the targets for you, and this time, don't move when I say to stand still. I don't want a repeat of the Ricochet Shrapnel Incident from earlier." Warned Arnošt.

"That was a freak accident, Captain! I know better now, I can handle it." Insisted Elina.

"Fine, let's just get this over with. We need to move soon and I don't have time to run down how bad that would have been for you if it played out just a bit differently." Sighed Arnošt.

"I mean, it worked, didn't it?" Shrugged Elina.

Feeling a migraine coming on, Arnošt decided to ignore Elina's remark in favor of pointing out the quartet of LRM Emplacements they'd seen earlier. Two were hidden in warehouses, the doors of which slid open before they fired, while the other two were camouflaged with netting to look like parked aircars. Elina painted the targets with the Astrolabe and soon the Camp was a flurry of activity, packing away any hint that they had been there. Eventually, with fifteen minutes left before the offensive was set to begin, everything was packed away and Arnošt's detachment was ready to bug out.

"Captain, Lieutenant Foley's still five minutes out." Reported Sergeant Stolpe as he shouldered the heavy Comms Unit onto his back with a series of straps, a feat of strength only made possible by the Varulv Power Armor.

"Unfortunate, but we can't wait for him any longer. We'll wait up for him at Villa Rufinus." Admitted Arnošt.

And with that, they headed out, making their way carefully through the countryside toward Villa Rufinus, a small town that had been secretly in the control of the Sons of Albano since before the Operation began. They'd wait for Lieutenant Foley and his platoon for twenty-four hours there. After that, they'd likely be declared MIA. It was a shame, but that was just how timetables worked in Military Life.

Fifteen minutes into their journey, however, there was a roar as a series of Spar Missiles streaked into the defenses around Nova Epidaurum, causing massive pillars of flame to blossom behind Arnošt's group. At the same time, another explosion sounded out from a small hilltop tower, the Nova Epidaurum Comms Tower collapsing in a spray of dirt and ferrocrete dust. It seemed their mission was a success. If the Sons of Albano couldn't pull this off now, then Arnošt figured the Grand Duke had backed the wrong horse. That wasn't for him to decide, however.

He would simply take his team to Villa Rufinus and await further orders there. . .

XXXX

Tribune Marcus Tiberius Linneus of the V Cohors Callinius growled as reports poured in from all quarters of Nova Epidaurum. The Rebels had struck a number of key defensive sites early on with Long Range Missiles, throwing their Mercenary Allies into disarray. Of the Battalion that had been stationed here, it was primarily Combat Vehicles and Infantry, with a Company of Battlemechs to stiffen them. However, much of the infantry and some of the Combat Vehicles and Battlemechs had been hit early on by missile strikes.

Ordinarily, such strikes wouldn't be a problem. Long Range Missiles generally couldn't operate at that level of distance accurately. Unfortunately, someone must have let the exact coordinates of their defenses slip, because that was the only way to get that level of accuracy from dozens of kilometers away with LRM Strikes. At least, that was how it was for Combat Vehicles, and Tribune Linneus had been assured it was much the same for Battlemechs.

Now with the following assault and subsequent uprising, Tribune Linneus was all but certain they had spies in their midst. That was nothing new, after all, the So-Called Sons of Albano were very popular amongst the Slaves and the Lower Classes, who were often one bad day's work away from becoming slaves. If he'd had the time, he would have ordered a spy hunt followed by a round of crucifixions for the guilty parties. Unfortunately, he didn't have the time with the massive assault currently going on.

And what a fight it was turning into! The Zealots of the Sons of Albano had managed to be equipped and trained to a standard that was quite high and had routed III and IV Centuria in attacks on the Industrial District. They'd then freed the factory slaves who had immediately joined the attack with whatever weaponry they could scavenge from corpses. V Centuria also was badly battered and routed after the attack on the Communications Tower where they had been stationed.

That left I and II Centuria, plus the rest of V Cohors' Mercenary Allies. Thankfully, those Mercenary Allies had rallied after the initial missile strikes and sallied forth in their Battlemechs. The enemy advance had been stalemated after an hour and forty-five minutes of fighting, thanks to that. Now, Tribune Linneus was trying to figure out a way to re-establish communications with Legatus Balbus at his command post in Nova Tusculum further back over the border in Meditullio Province. If he could just get communications back up with the Legatus and his command staff, he might be able to draw reinforcements from the Reserve Cohors.

As Tribune Linneus sat trying to figure out that particular issue, the Commander of their Mercenary Allies stepped forth. Major John Qaffad was a veteran of the Succession Wars and it showed in his stance. His Warhammer bore the scars of numerous engagements scuffing the paint as well. The Major was suited up in a cooling suit and had his Neurohelmet tucked under his arm. As Major Qaffad approached, it suddenly occurred to Tribune Linneus that Hansen's Roughriders would have comms of their own he might be able to use.

"What news?" Questioned Tribune Linneus.

"The Enemy hasn't just struck here. Forces from New Ålborg have hit Nova Narona with overwhelming force. The battle was hard-fought, but VI Cohors was wiped out and VII Cohors was decimated and put to flight. Major Von Albrecht's Heavy Mech Battalion was defeated and had to withdraw." Reported Major Qaffad.

"What of VIII and IX Cohors in the reserve? Were they not called up?" Queried Tribune Linneus.

"They were. Apparently, they were subjected to bombardment by Aerospace Fighters that shot them to pieces and sent them scurrying back to Nova Tusculum. If the enemy turns their conventional forces on us from Nova Narona, it's unlikely we'll be able to hold out after spending so much blood and effort to stabilize the front after the attack from the Sons of Albano." Informed Major Qaffad.

"You want to order a retreat? To leave the City in the hands of the Rebels?" Asked Tribune Linneus.

"Major Von Albrecht is falling back in good order to Tusculum. He's gathering any broken troops and stragglers he can get as he does so. If we do likewise, we might be able to stabilize the situation. If not, well, we're exposed out here now that Nova Narona's fallen, and when Nova Epidaurum Falls, that opens a massive gap the enemy can rush right through. We might be able to block their thrust by concentrating as much force as we can at Nova Tusculum, but even with us there, that'll be a tough fight. Without us, Nova Tusculum doesn't have a prayer." Summarized Major Qaffad.

"And if Nova Tusculum falls, then the way to Capitalinus is wide open. The Capital only has the Praetorian Cohors to defend it. I doubt they'll be able to withstand the assault on their own." Sighed Tribune Linneus.

"There's a chance that support from the Ramblin' Wreck might be able to stall the Enemy before they arrive, but it's slim. The Enemy has Aerospace Assets of their own and they're a lot more powerful than the one Union Dropship and a handful of Aerospace Fighters that managed to escape the battle in Orbit." Frowned Major Qaffad.

Tribune Linneus could only groan in frustration at the situation. When Consul Corvinus had been assassinated three weeks ago and the initial surge of Rebellions ignited, they'd been on the backfoot, but then Hansen's Roughriders arrived to take up the Senate's Contract. The week and a half that followed had seen a major rebalancing of the initiative as the Heavy Mechs of their New Mercenary Allies had allowed the Cohors Callinius to strike back with a vengeance. It looked like things had stabilized.

Of course, then the Forces of New Ålborg arrived, squashed the Roughrider's Aerospace Section, and sent their remaining Dropship and handful of surviving Aerospace Fighters scrambling for the dubious safety of the Capitalinus Spaceport. Now, this latest offensive threatened to take the initiative away from them on the ground as well as in orbit. All in all, the past three weeks of conflict had seen more military casualties than the past dozen rebellions combined. Honestly, it seemed as if every time the Cohors Callinius or Hansen's Roughriders managed to stabilize the front, a new enemy offensive threatened to undo it all in a single stroke.

Tribune Linneus growled in frustration at the unfairness of it all. He'd been a State Security Tribune that had been pressed into leading V Cohors after their original commander, Tribune Ficinus, had been slain in a Rebel Bombing during the initial spate of uprisings. He wasn't cut out for this sort of large-scale combat, not when his entire career had been spent hunting down fugitive slaves and putting down lightly armed rebels. Major Qaffad, though, he was cut out for this. Tribune Linneus would defer to his wisdom, no matter how much it rankled at him to leave a City in the hands of rebels and slaves.

"Very well. I agree, sound the withdrawal." Acquiesced Tribune Linneus. Major Qaffad nodded, tossing off a salute in the Lyran Style instead of the proper Callinius Style, but Tribune Linneus would give him a pass. Then, Major Qaffad turned on his heel and went off to relay Tribune Linneus' Withdrawal Order

In doing so, however, he had no idea that he had just played into Brigadier Frankowski's hands. . .

XXXX

Brigadier General Marius Frankowski was happy enough at the sight that greeted him he could kiss somebody. He wouldn't of course, that would break all sorts of regulations, but as he stared out of the cockpit of his Rampage Assault Mech at the City of Nova Tusculum, brimming with what had to be every enemy unit still capable of putting up meaningful resistance, he let out a short bark of triumph.

"They don't realize it's checkmate! They think that just because they have a couple battalions and some independent companies in there ready to fight, that we have to fight for the City." Chuckled Brigadier Frankowski.

"We aren't?" Questioned Gnaeus Albano from the cockpit of a captured Roughriders Marauder that they had seized last week after landing at Nova Savona.

Gnaeus and his brother Marcus were the main leaders of the Sons of Albano, Co-Consuls, as they called themselves. Gnaeus was more of an economic and political mind than a military one, however. He'd been in charge of stirring up funding and support amongst the rural populace. It was Marcus who'd been the strategist. Unfortunately, Marcus had taken a Subgun round to the shoulder and was currently sitting this bit out while the Docs worked their magic. Mind you, thanks to Star League-Derived Medical Technology, Marcus would make a full recovery with zero loss of feeling or movement in his arm, but it meant that Brigadier Frankowski was stuck with the other Brother for this leg of the operation.

"No. We aren't." Confirmed Brigadier Frankowski.

"Then why are we here?" Queried Gnaeus.

"We can't advance without doing something to the forces in Nova Tusculum, or else they'll be free to stab us in the back when we move on Capitalinus." Reminded Brigadier Frankowski.

"Surely you don't mean to raze the City?" Asked Gnaeus, aghast.

"No, we'll simply be putting a blocking force in place here to pin them down in a siege. In the meantime, Beta Battalion of First Guards will advance to Capitalinus along with your best two Battalions. You and I will be leading them in an assault on Capitalinus while the rest keep the main remaining enemy forces cooped up here." Explained Brigadier Frankowski.

"I see. One sharp shock to shatter their knees." Nodded Gnaeus.

"And if we're lucky, we can capture enough of the Senate to force a surrender." Concurred Brigadier Frankowski.

As four Battalions made to besiege Nova Tusculum, setting up siege lines and pickets, Brigadier Frankowski led the Combat Vehicles of Beta Battalion of First Guards onward toward Capitalinus. Following him were the Cohors Republica I and Cohors Republica II of the Sons of Albano, being led by Gnaeus Albano. Brigadier Frankowski was dubious about Gnaeus' command ability in a firefight, but fortunately, the fighting for Capitalinus wound up being barely more than a skirmish.

It turned out that there was only a single Cohors left in Capitalinus to defend the Senate and Capital. That Cohors was a mixed Cohors of Combat Vehicles and Infantry. All Brigadier Frankowski had to do was fire his Gauss Rifle a few times to destroy a couple of SRM Carriers, Scorpion Light Tanks, and one Thumper Artillery Piece and send in his forces. The Enemy routed less than an hour after that point.

The Senate Surrendered the next day. First Guards had only taken seventy-five casualties in the entire time they were actively fighting, including six mechs or combat vehicles damaged and requiring repairs, or around five percent casualties. The enemy took far more, even amongst Hansen's Rough Riders, though they fought well. Ultimately, however, it was in vain. Calinius surrendered after three weeks of revolt and one of heavy fighting.

That made the surrender just in time to be a Gift for Grand Duke Poniatowski's Coronation as Prince of Rasalhague. . .

XXXX

AN: So yeah, there wasn't really ever any doubt that Calinius would fall it was always going to happen. It just so happened that the way it fell had more to do with poor strategic thinking and bad morale on the part of the defenders than an outright massacre. The Cohors Callinius effectively had rock-bottom morale by the time that First Guards arrived, after all. Meanwhile, Brigadier Frankowski effectively tinned the Enemy up in Nova Tusculum like sardines while he led a smaller force to the fight that won the war.

It's textbook War of Maneuver Stuff. Of course, it helped that there were some pretty neat Spec Ops Shenanigans going on as well that we saw part of during the first POV in this chapter.

At any rate, the next chapter will be Jozef's Coronation as Prince of Rasalhague to finish out the month.

Stay tuned. . .