Whatever these insurgents were doing wasn't working in their favor. They either planned this poorly or did not seem to care. Around the time of dawn they launched the second wave. In this second wave they brought in more men, and something else that was never used since the Villanus Era of 130s A.N. to 1347 A.N. It was because she had never seen towers made for sieges in action, Brynn was confused. A total of 23 siege towers were dragged over as well as 41 mantlets, and 7 siege ballista. Dinotzi Thumb's defenders received reinforcements of 227 Dragoons and 126 Country Guards, 14 Rangers, and 6 airborne troopers. Having these reinforcements bolstered defenses by adding more fire power. Major Jakab's Dragoons brought a mobile heavy machine gun, 8 light machine guns, the carbines, TM 13's, E-7 rifles, and grenades. All the Rangers and airborne troopers brought along E-7's, sub machineguns, anti-tank rocket launcher, and a couple of mortars. With all this fire power they destroyed the second wave.
Hours of silence went by allowing some defenders to get an estimate of 2,336 more casualties for these insurgents. When checking their own they found ten volunteers dead. They were either cocky youth or clumsy aging men. As they received fresh water from other noncombatant volunteers the attacking insurgents launched a volley of bolts, arrows, bullets and other projectiles. Nearly covering the width of the fort this volley suppressed the defenders. Fire at will spread across the ones who wielded guns among the attackers. Brynn's part of the defenses returned fire in unison with them and the defending soldiers. Dragoons, infantry, paratroopers, and Rangers unleashed their own hell on these attackers. She shot 8 of these attackers as her Country Guards killed 353 or so. She could only estimate another 1,000 attackers died within a few minutes or more. Their siege towers were rendered useless by mortars and artillery where the soldiers defended. She started to lose a few more Country Guard before she spotted aid on its way to them from the north west. Past the lines of insurgents she spotted 4 objects rolling this way. Using her binoculars she got a better look at their reinforcements. Three hundred fifty five Country Guards rode towards them parallel with 4 tanks joined by 30 troops. She watched these reinforcements come in from the flanks of these attackers.
She could not describe this siege battle in much detail. They were holding their ground while the attacker pressed the attack. Whoever these insurgents were had them besieged. Just hold them back was the only goal in mind until aid came to relieve them these defenders were done until now. She allowed her men to fire at them attackers if they wished. Brynn watched the other Country Guards, tanks, 30 troopers, and another group flank the insurgents. From the southwest only 39 Orc sentries, 6 Manic de Nors Elves and another tank type marched in. Jakab plunged forth with his 226 Dragoons from their position. Now these insurgents found themselves boxed in. One full hour passed as the insurgents became trapped. Half of what was left managed to escape the trap. He fellow defenders put pressure on these attackers forcing 344 to become prisoners.
Eager to end the siege Jakab and the newly arrived reinforcements gave chase to those who escaped. Seeing no enemies continuing this siege, Brynn took fifty of her Country Guards to help round up prisoners. Those who stayed behind bound the prisoners up quickly with cloth, ropes, and shackles. While in pursuit they found the insurgents racing to some forest to the southeast. There 227 Dragoons, 405 Country Guards, 4 tanks, 36 paratroopers, and nearby troops found the rest of the insurgent attackers. Cornered against the woods, the remnants of these attackers faced two options. Either they surrender or face death at this very spot. Among the insurgents they found Nazdar and their Grevaskii slave soldiers, that is what the VUVR soldiers called the collaborators to the invaders. From the woods and flanks a squad of 14 Forest Blight Rangers attacked them. Nine Dragoons opened fire, 4 infantry-rangers scared them. Three more tanks rolled in from the west with 263 reservists.
Close to 1,071 or more surrendered tallying the total of prisoners to 1,415. One they rounded the rest up the Major and other commanding officers left it up to the Country-Guard to search the forest while they covered the flanks. Gathering her own Country-Guard Brynn picked up information on some 13 jesters found among these insurgents who refused to perform for nobles. One band of 36 adult lizardmen with 28 lizard spawn youth were found among this insurgency. These insurgents also held hostages such as 36 half-elf monks, 161 citizens, 16 travelers, 14 nobles, 45 workers, 17 lawmen, and a single witch. Going deeper in familiar forests she found 42 lodges, ranger houses, treehouses, and homesteads. Five ruins were used as hideouts by 34 succubus', and incubus'. No one got back to base until it was dark. Bringing in the demonoids she learned they would be sent back to Syrianos. How they got here was not much of a mystery. There were aliens among them, which meant ships and aircraft brought them over. Most likely smuggled them over. At dawn they returned to the forest with the weapons her Country Guard were rewarded with. Maplebee, her owl stayed behind to sleep the day away.
"I cannot believe this is happening. Every Castarian who fought against the V.U.V.R. capitulated." Brynn pointed out as they moved on foot, leaving their horses under the care of volunteers. She stepped over an arched exposed root with another Country-Guard Captain ahead of her.
"Let's see that was about 8 years ago. It is likely the ones who surrendered still held a grudge. Many of them laid their arms with a bitter taste in their mouths. As for the ones who became conscripted into the military, they are either at the front or dead from the Zegrav Conflict." An Elf Captain named Edwyrd Olalyn, who commanded the 105 Country-Guards. He held his bleach white hair in a warrior's bun bound in a blue-ribbon band. Some parts of his hair still had a raven and grayish tint to its color.
"Then why are they going after-" she caught herself, rethinking what she was abut to say. Brynn realized this was an insurgency of the Castarians. "How do we end this insurgency, uprising, rebellion without massacres?"
"You will know, because the vast majority of Castaria rebelled against that Czarist dynasty." Captain Olalyn answered her. Several shots were fired up ahead causing the whole battalion to stop and crouch down. A few more shots broke the brief silence, followed by more shooting. When it was over the battalion of Country Guard moved. On their flanks were the 283 Dragoons and footmen. The Rangers, Paratroopers and Blight Prowlers covered their right flank. Behind them were the reservists protected the far rear. As one the Country-Guard companies moved on to the site of the shooting.
Reaching the site they the Captains came across the aftermath of a skirmish. Just one of their own lay dead from the first encounter, 8 Gnolls lay shot up, and four insurgents lay dead 27 paces away. At the entrance to a poorly made campsite lay a dead Tessari-Orcspawn and a Wizard who was shot. Two figures on their knees claiming to be a Black Lion Knight from Spenos, and a Rehonp from Badraan. One flat pie Chef and his family of 4 became their(insurgents) prisoners along with a friend who repaired ship propellers.
One of them handed her 4 Republic Eagle bills, 8 Republic Wreaths worth half an Eagle, 5 Republic Cogs worth 5% of a single Eagle, 4 Oaks that are equal to 1% of an Eagle, and 18 Republic stars that are worth 75% of an Eagle bill or coin. This amounted to 26 Republic Eagles, and 80 sirins in currency. Both of them refused to take this reward. Instead of giving them money he was offered to cook for them. Pressing further into the forest they came across two old bridges dating back to the years of the second Czarist Dynasty, the House of Saigu. It ran out of traditional male heirs then gave way to Castaria's 3rd Dynasty the Sabina-Ariadne House. On the other side of these bridges over the Megrove, and Zaldo rivers. Sending a scout the Country-Guard found no threats up ahead. Looking up at the sky they saw the sun was going down behind them.
"The sun is setting over our backs once more. Rosefire see the Country-Guards make camp. I will have mine set up barriers to these bridges." Captain Olalyn ordered her. He might as well be a Major because of his past experience.
Brynn had her Country-Guards and others make camp while Olalyn and volunteers set up barriers. Not long afterwards the Dragoons came down from the north east. Major Jakab came with a force of 282 Dragoons after catching 219 and some alien humanoids off guard. This revelation from Jakab took them by surprise. An alien faction helping these insurgents against the V.U.V.R. Were these aliens starting an open rebellion using citizens of the Vestrisian Republics? Neither Brynn nor the other commanders needed to ponder long. It was obvious who it was, the Nazdar invaders. Jakab detailed what happened in a brief explanation.
"Backing those 210 insurgents and collaborators we engaged was a company of 171 lizardmen, horsemen half breeds, Mages, Elves, Ghouls, snake people, and Orcs." Jakab informed Brynn, Olalyn, the other Captains and the Airborne Lieutenant.
"Does all of this connect to the attack on Dinotzi Thumb?" she blindly asked Jakab.
"Yes it does Captain Rosefire. If you paid any attention or had a closer look at the attacker's dead casualties you would find Nazdar troops posing as agitators alongside collaborators." Jakab answered her. They sat around the small furnace in the command tent of Major Jakab.
"Our reservists will cover the rear flanks, the paratroopers and Rangers will cover the southern right flank. As for the tanks, they will need refueling." Major Jakab told them making it sound like they already knew that bit.
"Will they be coming back?" Olalyn asked the Major. The look on his face appeared concerned over the fire power these insurgents likely received from the enemy, the Invaders.
"Yes they will, they have to." the Lieutenant replied, a male Elemani of 24 or 26 years old in a paratrooper's uniform of Khaki-green color. His military issued boots were the standard modernized leather laced black boots.
His name was Garnen Glassfoot, a Vestrisian fair skinned human with a hint of Zegrav, and brown hair. The other two Country Guard Captains Dobovoi, and Kriski sat with them as well as Jakab's Captains. They wore similar uniforms with different pins and badges. Dobovoi was a male Castarian with a strong build, pronounced chin, a heavy brow, green eyes, wavy nose, grey streak in his hair. He also possessed scars on both sides, an arrow scar on his neck, and a birth mark in the shape of a rune. He wore a linen kosovortka shirt with rolled up sleeves, runic patterns at the buttons, and neck. For trousers he wore equestrian riding pants tucked in sturdy boots. He kept to himself most of the time unless it was something important, or it suited his interests. Kriski was a thinner male with long black hair Uxane and Castarian facial features. A nomadic mustache rested on his lips filling a part of his oblong hard that had a spear chin. Kriski donned a mocha colored tunic and hide skin trousers. This hide skin trousers had boots attached to it. He had his hair in two thick braids that draped over his shoulders. Wearing a tan wide brim hat Kriski showed patriotism towards the new V.U.V.R. On his hat was a badge with the V.U.V.R emblem of a gold anvil with a pitchfork, pickaxe, wrench, and sword crossing through it. Captain Kriski had more respectful attitude for traditions. One involved respecting fallen heroes and knights of Castaria. He explored this region before and knew about three Red Crusaders laid to rest near the bridges. Their graves were marked by mushrooms and red stones in representation of their order.
"It is clear we have an open rebellion in Castaria. This could spread to other parts such as the mountain states of New Vattoram, Zegrav, and Ottante. As you have all witnessed aliens fighting among the insurgents, there are more. You can tell this is an invasion and insurgency. Details on who they are who the leaders are will be unknown to us until we find them. We must crush this insurgency and send the invader packing." Jakab briefed them, drawing their meeting to a close.
Every Captain and Lieutenant were dismissed for the night. Brynn got up to leave when she spotted a strange tower shield in Jakab's tent. She was about to turn around and ask Jakab when Maplebee swooped in. Her owl landed on her shoulder. Nuzzling with her Owl for a moment Brynn left the Dragoon Major's command tent. Returning to her own camps Brynn found 6 Glenning Gloomstalkers (large mammal lizards), and 26 beaked wormoid snakes roasting. Both species prowled this part of Zegrav and Castaria as predators. However they still made for a fine meal. Each of the beasts her men hunted were prepared, skinned, and place on spits. As she approached the fires Brynn was offered a piece of each type of beast. She fed some to her owl companion, Maplebee. Tomorrow would either be a suppression of an open rebellion or the start of a civil war.
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