Tank Commander Adalet Chapter

The battle for Dorntalla was the fiercest tank battle he had ever experienced. It was also the longest battle recorded in history that involved tanks and other types of armor. Commander Temel Asil Adalet perched himself on the turret of a Dragon tank he commanded. His crew cleaned the tank, scrubbing the dust and ashmarks off the turret, tracks, and the engine so it would run with little trouble the next morning. They had to clean around him before he sat in the seat to let them clean the spot he previously sat on. When it was cleaned he ordered one crew member to refuel the the tank while the rest of them went to get supplies and ammo for the tank. The last time they go supplies was a month ago. It was just an hour ago before they cleaned the tank when a crew member discovered they had just three rounds left for the turret. Commander Adalet had four men under his command to run his Dragon tank. There was a driver to driver it, an engineer to fix the mechanical problems, the gunner for the turret, and a loader who loaded the shells for the gunner. The loader also fired the secondary machine gun on the tank. Temel served three positions, he served as the commander, the spotter, and the top machine gunner whenever he was in the safety of the turret.

Temel looked around them seeing hundreds of tanks scattered around the area. There were a few towns and villages insight. Each settlement was surrounded by a score of tanks. Most of the tanks around them were already destroyed from the previous battle. Slaad tanks, Dragon tanks, and a few Chimera tanks located here and there were amongst the destroyed tanks. There were far more Slaad tanks destroyed in the field then theirs. The kill ratio was hundred to one despite the superior numbers of the Slaad tanks and the Gantronese artillery.

Most of the artillery were found on the edges of the settlements. Gantronese forces had them hidden behind buildings and in the streets aimed at the south. A few were aimed at the entrances to the towns. The Vestrisians were lucky that the Zema Ilam here rose up in rebellion against the Gantronese. Those Zema Ilam who inhabited the towns and villages killed the Gantronese and commandeered scores of artillery pieces. Those same people turned the Gantronese’ weapons against them when the Vestrisian forces arrived.

 Temel’s Dragon tank had an artillery piece to its left twenty feet away. Ten feet away on their right were a couple of Chuul tanks. Behind them was a mix of CHuul tanks, Dragon tanks, and Chimeras. All the Chuul tanks were destroyed along with a few Dragon tanks. There was another Chuul tank fifty feet in front with smoke still rising from where it was hit. It was charred from the flames and blast from an enemy round hitting it. This tanks no longer had a turret. It was blown off when a Vestrisian tank shot it in the midst of the battle and pursuit.

If Temel or anyone else looked at the field behind him they would se an entire field covered in destroyed tanks, artillery and the aftermath of the prolonged battle over Dorntalla. Thousands of Gantronese bodies also littered the field. They would even see more settlements and flesh eating birds like crows or vultures that circled above them for weeks. These flocks of birds pecked at the flesh of those who lay dead on the field. It was rumored amongst populace and the men that the destruction from the battle extended all over Dorntalla from Nevkamuu all the way to the southern part of Zekmar. Commander Adalet and the tank army he travelled with were now deep in the southern part of Zekmar. Temel and his crew came all the way from the unknown lands. They went through Borvados and the strip of land that was for some reason part of Morgladr. From that strip of land they took transports to the coast of Dorntalla. Getting through those areas was easy and straight forward. Even the trip across the strait was easy and the landing was like a walk on the beach. What was hard was getting out of the unknown lands and fighting through Dorntalla.

He did not dare think of the godforsaken lands they entered five years ago. That was when they were defeating the Gantronese and Mulzan and their superiors wanted to investigate the Unknown lands. There they found some Gantronese presence where they were. It was this year they exited those lands around the same time they are attacked again. This time the Republic and its ally were attacked in several places. The Nazdar struck first launching an invasion with a horde of allies from some underworld and a mountain range he can’t remember the name of. Months later they are invaded by the Gantronese who retook Zekmar and Dorntalla. The enemy took over most of the Gaskouth Ladai coast and pushed into Nevkamuu from Dorntalla. Another few months pass and they are attacked again.

Even though they were winning against the Gantronese in Gaskouth Ladai and Nevkamuu, Al-Dadoria and the Boathrin Kingdom come under attack. Gontrellan, Nazdar and Gantronese fleets launch an invasion on multiple islands. From some reports over the radio they all heard most of the invasions failed, but two islands of Al-Dadoria were taken. That was a blow to the Republics while they were fighting the Gantronese in Zekmar. He pondered for a moment how the defenders fought and tried to hold on. The Gantronese and Nazdar probably overwhelmed the first island together and then launched the bulk of their forces on the main island before taking the second island. Thinking of Al-Dadoria’s defenses gave him a head ache since the islands were a loss to the Vestrisian Republic. Temel looked down and saw that his crew was finished with cleaning, refueling, and resupplying the Dragon tank. All four of them rested on a few tank cushions they managed to salvage from other tanks. They turned the salvaged cushions and turned them into a couple of couches. After the battle crews went all over the battlefield scavaging whatever parts they found useful. Some managed to find tanks with cushions that weren’t burned or destroyed. It was better than looting the settlements around them, since those were still inhabited by the Zema Ilam. Such actions would sever the alliance with the Zema Ilam.

Temel reflected back on their journey starting from some hell hole swamps and marsh next to a city full of crazed cannibals unaligned with them or the Gantronese. Both the Vestrisian Republics and the Gantronese invaders were enemies to this cannabilistic society within the unknown lands. Temal thanked Al-Hana they had pulled out of such a nightmare. It was no wonder it they were called the unkown lands. Every outsider who entered the place was either sacrificed after receiving great hospitality. Others were executed, killed then eaten or ambushed out of nowhere. There were several accounts that reached their ears concerning a few diplomats and soldiers gone missing. Later on their fates were discovered from those captured or mutilated bodies were found in the swamps.

Fortunately, the Vestrisian forces were able to make some allies who guided them through the swamps and jungles of tall grass. Those guides took them on trails that strayed from the territories of the cannibals and murderers. Many of the guides were from other city-states who were at war with the cannibals. While he was there Temel found it settling to know not all of these people were cannibals. It was enough for Temel and his crew to get their tank through the bamboo forests in Borvados. In the tall grass of this unknown world it was not possible without cutting through it every inch of the way. Several tanks were lost because of the natives had booby traps set up and mines laid out. Over the course of five years they lost thirteen thousand if not more brave souls in the unknown lands.

Temel tried to suppress those memories with other thoughts of the past. His mind went to the long battle just fought last week that turned into a pursuit they were still on. For one long month and half the 2^nd Vestrisian Armoured Field Army butchered its way through Dorntalla and into Zekmar. A hundred thousand foot soldiers charged with the tanks as they demolished waves of Chuul tanks. Temel chuckled when he recalled the very first day of the battle for Dorntalla.

The Gantronese were in full force scouring the entire region of Dorntalla. Every Gantronese in Dorntalla were in search of Vestrisians and Zema Ilam who continued to resist. There were still a significant amount of Vestrisians and Zema Ilam who fought on even though most of their positions were overrun. None of the Gantronese commanders bothered to secure the coast. Their orders to destroy the enemy made them focus on hunting the enemy to leave themselves blind of other armies coming in. This allowed the 2^nd army to land on Dorntalla and takes the coast with ease.

Opportunity struck and the entire 2^nd army began their assault three days after their arrival. As the Gantronese search an army of Dragon tanks stormed in as one massive wave that pounded the Gantronese artillery, machinegun nests, Chuul tanks and outposts all across Dorntalla. Their sudden assault caught the blind enemy off guard. Many Gantronese infantry died in the first assault while the survivors ran for their lives to bolster the next group, which killed them all for retreating. Only surviving CHuul tanks gave a fierce fight, but were soon over powered. Some managed to escape while others tried to keep up the fight on the move in retreat. The ones who fought on forced the Dragon Tanks to pursue the retreating Gantronese for a whole day. As they pursued the Gantronese they came across more Gantronese forces from artillery teams to more CHuul tanks. There were plenty of infantry with anti-tank weapons, which gave the Dragon tank divisions headaches. A few Dragon Tanks were destroyed, but many of them were damaged as a result. About a thousand tanks had to be repaired before the rest of the army could move on. This went on for a week as each battle was getting fiercer every day. By the second week Muzad, Zema Ilam, and other Vestrisian Armour entered Dorntalla through Nevkamuu. That assault came as a surprise for the Gantronese who did not expect an attack from Nevkamuu. Nevkamuu was mostly a desert but somehow the Umber Hulk tanks and Chimera tanks traversed the desert.

Temel heard from other Commanders that on the second week the Umber Hulks and Chimeras ran into the bulk of the CHuul tank army, which was aided by artillery and infantry. Both tank types crushed the CHuul tank army and their support in a three day fight. That week they had to stop for eight days then move on for another push into Dorntalla. During one of these mass pursuits of the Chuul Armour and Infantry the Dragon Divisions linked up with the Umber Hulks and Chimeras. For two more weeks both armies joined up and forced the Gantronese out, killing countless infantry and tank alike as they pushed their way to the borders of Zekmar.

It was on the fourth week when they had the Gantronese Chuul tanks trapped at the border. The Zema Ilam living along the Zekmar and Dorntalla borders rose up against the Gantronese. They took over their positons and fired on the Gantronese using the Gantronese’ own weapons. The heaviest fighting was on the border where numerous Gantronese fell and CHuul tanks were shot and destroyed every minute. Scores of tanks were killed each minute as the battle raged on over the borders. This one fight lasted for two days and at nightfall the remnants if Chuul tanks made it out.

It was just this morning when they found a large number of artillery teams and CHuul tanks waiting for them at this very spot. The morning battle was swift and fierce with tanks shooting at each other for hours. Temel’s tank destroyed ten CHuul tanks and demolished five artillery pieces. Commander Adalet was becoming renowned for his kills on the field. He pondered over the various kills he made this past month. In each engagement he outgunned his opponents each time, shooting while moving around. At one point in the battle he maneuvered around an unsuspecting CHuul tank that was too focused on other tanks, and shot him in the engine. His victim blew up in a large explosion. Seeing this explosion lit his eyes up with satisfaction.

He even recalled one foolish enemy tank that tried to make a run for it after shooting at him. Unfortunately for the Chuul tank his shot missed Temel’s tank by four feet. He ordered for their turret to aim for the moving target that was trying to get away. It was taken out once the turret locked on and fired one round. That was the one he was looking at with the smoke still rising from it. There were a few more kills he added to the ten he got from this battle. The battle here ended with a few Chuul tanks and Gantronese infantry fleeing before them.

For the remainder of the day they all sat idle waiting for new orders to move on the Gantronese forces located near Zelhinan. Rumors were starting to spread amongst all the men in the tank divisions. These rumors started not long ago, most came from radio broadcasts and local travelers who went from town to town. Temel heard such rumors being spoken of amongst his own crew who must have gotten them from others. The Commander himself even heard these rumors from officers, and infantry talking amongst themselves whenever they passed his quarters or tent.

Such rumors included rebels coming down from the mountains they saw on the way to Dorntalla. These were the mountains he saw while he was at sea. They were the large mountain range that separated Zekmar, Dorntalla and Mulzan from the Unkown lands. To the cannibal kingdoms and city-sates these mountains were known as the Galacho Zoxo Mountains, but to the Zema Ilam and Borvados they were called the Vegud Nepa Mountains. There were other names to these mountains that signified death and more horrible fates would fall upon those who ventured those mountains. These names made his skin crawl and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up whenever he thought of them or whenever someone mentioned them. These rebels who were coming down from those mountains attacked numerous Gantronese positions. The same rumors included how long these rebels have been raiding and ambushing the Gantronese.

Other rumors were about some mass jailbreak along the coast that released an army of prisoners held by the Gantronese. If this was true then the Gantronese would have to split their forces and fight on three or four fronts in Zekmar. Everything was going well for the Vestrisian Army and her allies for these past few months. As he watched the smoke from his latest kill evaporate, Temel listened to his crew chat to each other. When he listened closely he heard them mention the rumors to themselves.

“I heard something about resistance rising all over Zekmar, and the people rising up attacking Gantronese troops everywhere.” Unan said to the crewmembers Jan, Sentas, and Mosa.

“If there is Unan then it will be small resistance springing up all over Zekmar.” Jan replied.

“Bah! It does not matter! The Gantronese could be sending in more men as we are sitting here!” Sentas scoffed.

“The more men they send the more men we kill and they waste Sentas!” Unan responded in a mock tone.

Jan laughed with the others, but the fourth one remained quiet even the Commander who was watching them from the top of the turret. It was Mosa who was the quiet one who did not speak this time. To the crew it seemed strange for Mosa to be this quiet. He was never a quiet fellow.

“Mosa why are you so quiet today? You are the loudest and talkative of us all. What is wrong?” Jan asked the fourth crewman named Mosa.

Mosa shrugged and told them the truth. “I guess it’s just that Borvados is breaking away from the Vestrisian Republic.” He said to his comrades.

“Borvados is breaking away from the Vestrisian Union?” Temel broke into the conversations.

“Yes Commander, the nation of Borvados wants to break away from the Vestrisian Union. That is what Mosa just told us.” Jan answered looking up at their Commander.

“Mosa, aren’t you from Borvados?” Commander Temel asked Mosa.

“I suppose so, I mean I am from there sir, but my loyalty lies toward the Vestrisian Union.” Mosa stated to his fellow crew members and Commander.

“Why is that Mosa? Weren’t you born and raised in Borvados as well?” Unan asked, questioning Mosa’s reasons for not showing loyalty towards his native land.

“Borvados may be the country I was born in, but I never felt welcomed there. Odd enough as that is, no one showed me true respect and friendship there until I joined the V.A.V.R. I had found a home there and a true family who loves and respects me.” Mosa told them.

“So did the Vestrisian Army give you a home to belong to and a family in the Vestrisian Republic?” Jan asked him.

 “I understand that Borvados does require every child born there to show loyalty to their birthplace. Yet you showed none of it towards Borvados and your own family even though it was required of you by law.”

Temel looked down at the Borvados native knowing the crewman felt like an outcast within his own country. When Mosa joined the Vestrisian Vestrisian Army he found more embrace than he ever had from his own family. Even at a young age the Borvadosian had little to no love from the people he lived with except from his mother who showed to him whenever they were alone. That was all the love he ever spoke of to his own Commander when they fought side by side in the unknown lands. Commander Adalet would have continued asking Mosa about Borvados’ reasons for leaving the Union except a Major approached their tank. This Major rode on a new vehicle called a jeep that was produced in Kaniima.

“All tanks prepare to role forward! This is the final push to Zelhinan!” the Major yelled as he passed them. He then turned to another crew and shouted the same orders to them.

“You heard him, get this beautiful steel beast up and ready! We’re rolling out now!” Temel commanded as he took his seat in the turret and closed the hatch.

His crewmen did as he commanded them and followed his lead entering the tank through side doors and other hatches on the tank. Commander Adalet felt the engines turn on as it rumbled causing vibration in the tank. He now had three Dragon tanks under his command plus two Chimeras, which were given to him two days ago. He originally started with one tank and acquired a few more under his command as he proved his skills at leading and commanding in the battle. As commander he looked out again to check if the other tanks were ready to roll out. Once he popped his head out and signed to each commander they signed back saying their tank was ready. Temel gave the signal and all five tanks rolled out following another line of tanks that formed the vanguard.

Behind them was another line of tanks forming up one of the rear lines. Each line was in rows and columns of tanks. Dragons, Chimeras, and Umber Hulk tanks all made the rear lines of thisone wave. To their right were four Umber Hulk tanks each one flanked by Dragons and Chimeras on each side. Those giant Umber Hulk tanks were good for bombardments, taking out Wyverns, demolishing nests, and sinking ships. The Dragon and Chimera tanks worked as anti-infantry and anti-tank armour. Chimera tanks had superiority in terms of speed, armor, power and the number of barrels over the Dragon tanks. It was not to say the Dragon Tank wasn’t powerful, for it still proved its worth since the start of this entire war.

As Temel rode on top he put on his headphones to listen to commands, updates and other reports over the radio. When he put them on and switched the radio on he heard numerous voices at once, static, and commands shouted. These were all the sounds he heard as the drowned out the engines. Over the radio he heard that their next target were lines of trenches, artillery, Tanks, machine gun nests, and countless infantry waiting for them. These were the barriers between them and the city of Zelhinan.

He also heard something about resistance and rebels shooting down Wyvern transports in Zekmar. These transports the rebels were shooting down were bound for Zelhinan. Each of these were carrying cargo of supplies, weapons, ammunition, tanks, artillery and infantry to the front lines in the center of Zekmar. As he listened to all of this he wanted to say something like the state of Borvados was leaving the Union. He imagined someone asking him why and him say it was because it was not part of the Vestrisian continent. An even more true answer would be along the lines of diplomats and representatives of Borvados were killed somewhere in Naatidra by Nazdar scum. The Commander chose not to say any of this, fearing persecution, and court martial from his superiors.

The next day they passed a large lake with the city of Zelhinan standing next to it like a mountain range. To the west of this lake the 2^nd army ran into a large bastion of Slaad tanks whom fired the first shots at the front lines. Temel ordered his crews to aim their tanks at one of them and fire over the vanguard lines, returning fire. In seconds everyone exchanged fire with the enemy tanks pushing towards their positions.