Kilscar Orvain Islands

 Would it be possible for them to lose this upcoming engagement? Yes it would be possible. On the mainland the Vestrisians pressed the advance on their Gantron brethren. Whoever defeated their new mercenaries on the island occupied by the Kurneon Prime had some advanced technology in terms of weaponry, and vehicles. All his superiors would blame him for this defeat. Even though these Kurneons were mercenaries they still fought for the Imperial Gantronese. His rank was a Colonel who answered to a High Colonel. Above High Colonel were General, Grand General, General-Daimyo, Shogun General, and Shogun (Warlord). These seven higher ranks of the Gantronese were those of authority who had to answer to the main council. For his rank, Dahdon Konu was to answer to High Colonel Ashin Zugeren. Konu had command of the 674 Gantronese soldiers on this island and partial command of the 1,756 Kurneons. Looking at the list of the casualties sustained he noticed these mercenaries were worms, Orcs, Golems, brutes, Goblins, Tessars, reptilians or lizardmen, trolls, monsters, demons, spawn, spider creatures, and a variety of different humanoids gathered in this battalion of former Order of the Beast. 

Looking at the reports he was surprised that a smaller force of 208 managed to take out a large battalion that was almost a brigade size. For the Gantronese this turned into a crippling defeat. The following few days the Vestrisians pushed further into Kilscar Orvain outskirts. High Colonel Zugeren warned Konu to retake the island asap. He was coming in with a force of 2,028 Gantronese troopers, and collaborators. Along with this brigade he is bringing some firepower. A team of 6 tanks, 5 artillery pieces, and 4 armed boats. One of their patrols and spies, a sentient snake that he'd rather cut up and eat or discard. Over a week passed by since this new force of fighters defeated the Kurneons. Now he is hearing reports of reinforcements coming in for them. A battalions worth of Kilscar Orvain militia, gunslingers, bowmen, Uxane fighters, fighters, and warriors from Magesar. This battalion of 367 included rebels from the north, and soldiers of Oceanrest Var. Just 50 warriors from Oramatra tribal lands arrive to help. Only 64 Uxane Renegades from other tribes come to bolster the defenses up to 689 troops. From what the snake told him more were coming to help. Kuno knew the Vestrisians were likely still licking wounds and waiting for the right time to counterattack outside Kilscar Orvain. These defenders were healing their own wounds as much as possible while setting up defenses. Whoever those Kurneon mercenaries were they did not bother with defenses. That explained why they fell so quickly to such a small force. 

Unaware of when Zugeren would arrive with reinforcements Kuno still kept sending spies four of whom never returned. That sentient snake abandoned them for something else. He had to rely on an outcast Troglodyte-Lizard hybrid who came back six days later to report these defenders now had Vestrisian reinforcements. One small battalion of 267 Vestrisian Marines, and Infantry sent to help the defenders. A final unit came to aid increase the defenses. Finally revealing themselves, a small force of 114 Dark Elves came only to kill Gantronese forces. He recalled a report of a Gantronese High Colonel giving chase to the Dark Elves in the mountains past the cities of Rednight Fangsir. He lost approximately 1,083 soldiers to these guerrillas in those mountains, and eventually his head. That was well before this conflict with the Vestrisians began. Another hunted them down into the jungles losing almost double what the other lost. Forced to give up that chase they focused efforts on conquering the Unknown Lands while dealing with border attacks from three free states, East Koriv, Eoth, and Grussia. 

Looking at 1,070 defenders for this island Kuno urged High Colonel Zugeren to get reinforcements and some bombers to strike at them. Their combined force of 2,754 were still likely to fail in this attempted assault. Zegeren silenced him that very morning. Through Zugeren's eyes it was time they struck back at the Vestrisians and take out these gathered resistance fighters. Just when he though the High Colonel was going to cut his head off the officer relented. Allowing a few more days of planning and a force of 697 Gantronese troops and loyalists rushed to aid them in reclaiming this island. Under the command of a young Colonel this battalion blindly rushed in via ocean bound transports with 56 Vehicles, one artillery piece and one Zeykos aircraft. This forced High Colonel Zugeren, and Colonel Kuno to launch their attack from the south while this Colonel attacked from the west coast. Some 1,070 defenders met an invasion force of  3,451 Gantronese. Expecting no other Gantronese forces to come to their aid they went forward with the invasion. After the first day of the invasion two more battalions joined them, 1,023 Gantronese, and 1,000 loyal Aquanne Hitto. Some report from the south entailed the Aquanne Hitto starting to betray their empire. Now attacking with a full brigade of 5,000 Kuno, and Zugeren sat in the command tent waiting for the end of this battle. 

For three days they received reports from the battle with some units successfully taking ground, and other units getting wiped out. A stalemate ensued between these forces on the Kurneon Island it's new name. It lasted for a few more days. Kuno, and Zuegeren received an extra brigade of 1,434 troops, 5 tanks, 8 AA tanks, and 3 Zeykos air fighters. Due to Zugeren's higher rank he did come with a total of 43 Oni bodyguards. On the ninth day they received word that Kilscar Orvain signed a pact to be neutral in this conflict. It was not clear if they were going to claim any territory yet. This was the second time they lost Kilscar Orvain. Through manipulation they managed to seize Kilscar Orvain again, but only for a few months. Forces on Kurneon Island were being reduced on both sides whether the soldier became KIA, MIA, or wounded casualty. Others became POW's, something the Gantronese found distasteful. What became unhelpful was the Vestrisian Fleet destroying their fleet.