Invading Vimasdra: To the Borders

 Vullan was the prime target at the start of this war in the year 1839-1840 A.N. However it was now the year 1842 A.N. and their beloved VUVR was sending them to invade Vimasdra. Some said they already invaded in 1841 to begin operations to liberate territories. Inside the Caboose of the train Private Baralai Earthwire watched a big northern white bear roam about in New Vattoram. Seated next to the large Private Henry Barthelloson wasn't always the best riding companion. It had nothing to do with manners, except for bodily gas. He was unfortunate to sit where the large Private was always placed in case he farted. Looking out the window he spotted a large white bear roaming around in Bisdolan. Just from watching he could tell this bear was hunting a few dire beavers near a lake. Not too far was a mountain lumber mill. He was sure someone was trying to make a sketch of the scenery while in the train cars. That was up ahead of them. 

On their way to Vimasdra they passed some villages, farms, isolated buildings, roads, and cut through one town. It took a few more hours before they reached the borders of Bisdolan, and Vimasdra, Nazdar territory. Their train journey brought them to a city bordering the Nazdar Empire. Since the war dragged on into another year, the Nazdar started shelling parts of Vestrisian lands. Plenty of buildings appeared abandoned, destroyed, and in ruin. He spotted a brick city building in ruin, or two, an apothecary, donut shop, and theatre. Most of the inhabitants had either fled or were volunteering to clean up the aftermath. As part of the 166th Corps Baralai would not be surprised if they ordered for them to help clear the rubble. As an infantryman he felt expected to hold the line perform sentry duty, build fortifications, protect supplies, cover the flanks of airborne units, Ranger units, and launch mass scale invasions first. However the full Corps was not here at the moment. The 38th and the 52nd were already at this part of the borders launching artillery rounds at the enemy. In total just 6,569 of the 166th Infantry Corps arrived to aid 3203 of the 38th Artillery and Infantry, 3144 Infantry Troopers of the 52nd. Each expected more forces to come to the border tomorrow. To the south they had 258 tanks, Dragon MK I, MK II's, and Drake MK IIs. Up north they had a force of 72,797 Reservists and Rangers of the 557th, and 31st, backed by 443 all Drake MK IIs. As the train stopped so did the world for a few moments.  Air sirens came on signaling an air raid or bombing raid was approaching.  Every soldier dropped down or ran for cover. Sounds of aircraft engines entered his ears from the west and the east. Only catching a glimpse of the skies he had to wait like everyone else for the bombs to fall and the aircraft to swoop down. For nearly 47 minutes for the air raid to be over and their own craft to drive them off. During that dogfight in the air they could hear shooting from all over the place. 

By the time it was over everyone got up to discover they had rebels and enemy collaborators. Here their own line was attacked from various points. Kuruks, Humans, Half-Goblins, Goblins, Molorcs, Orcs, Gnolls, and beastmen lay among the dead attackers that numbered 1,015. As for their own casualties, 394 Vestrisians lay dead or wounded. Mot of the surviving rebels fled into hiding leaving 32 others behind to be executed. Getting a chance to wander around they found 141 enemy air craft downed, and 41 of their own downed all over the region. For the settlement's loses three more buildings were bombed, and 24 people died. Seeing everyone else was off staff members of noncombatant volunteer units prepared the train to head back. Private Baralai Earthwire followed his fellow soldiers over to the barracks that were constructed. It was just in time to see more forces pull in from behind the trains. By way of trucks, civilian cars, troop transports a corps of 53,273 troops accompanied by 708 tanks arrived.  Were they all going to rest after this? He hoped they would. That attack was sort of his first taste of battle. Although they did practice drills, and war games for two months some of them still did not feel prepared for this. Anyone who believes they are prepared for a battle or war will be called liars. You can stock up on weapons, ammunition, equipment and forces all you like. It would still not prepare you for the realities of a battle. Yet this was more of a skirmish, and guerilla tactics. 

Baralai and his fellow infantrymen were herded inside the buildings that remained intact. They passed a unit of 105 female rifles, snipers, rangers, medics, and Dragoons. As far as a 21 Baralai could tell this was more of a mixed unit. About two years into this war and they already had mixed units. He thought to himself. Looking at these ladies his eyes sort of fooled him into thinking these were lovely vampiric ladies with hints of Elvish, and Human. This had more to do with the lighting. When several of them spotted them they stood up revealing to be 6ft-7ft tall. Each one scratched under chins, pinched cheeks, poked some noses, played with ears, messed with helmets, and gave a few males kisses. Baralai found himself surrounded receiving a pinch on the face, a kiss from each one. One even grabbed him to shove into her massive chest. He felt like he was going to suffocate for a moment until she released him. His face blushed with red. Turning around he saw a cocky Corporal Blackjen smacked one of them in the buttocks. Doing that ended the flirting from those ladies as one of them punched him out. 

"Get Corporal Blackjen to the living quarters, Earthwire, Barthelloson." Lieutenant Bowerson ordered. 

"Yes sir." Baralai felt himself say as though he was programmed to do say those words. 

Forced to pick up the unconscious Corporal with Barthelloson Baralai felt someone grab his equipment for him. Weighing at 157 lbs, 22 year old Lieutenant Reese Blackjen felt heavier with his equipment still on him. With one of the female Sergeants leading the way they found their quarters were in a series of basements with tunnels connecting them to bunkers. Quartering underground was meant to protect themselves from bombs. According to some of the females they had been digging these tunnels and bunkers for ten years. Ever since the Nazdar arrived on Calorn technology appeared to have upgraded, and advanced to keep up with what the Nazdar were able to use. From old articles, and journals converted into magazines many Vestrisians learned about the conflicts between the two invaders. Choosing a bunk inside one of the basements or man made bunkers the 166th soldiers prepared for a well desired rest.  Their rest was interrupted by a call to the mess halls where they ate freshly cooked Yackdreth stew with onions, tomatoes, and leeks. Sitting with Barthellosson he felt like the envy of the unit. Most of the soldiers who were still single glared at him with envy. Baralai knew what it was about. He got respect from the ladies. Doing his best to ignore the lot he finished his meal. Nudging the big Barthellosson in the rib lightly he started to gather those who still had military love for him. 

Managing to get 20 fellow infantrymen he also gained an alliance with his own commanding officer, Lieutenant Beagol, and Captain Nolzur. All he wanted was to get out of there and sleep in one of the other buildings to avoid mistreatment from fellow soldiers over women. Or was it because he was forbidden from gaining respect for getting such attention? Baralai kept more to himself, but he still socialized with various backgrounds. One of his favorites back home was an Orc, his Elemani wife, and their Son in the town of Maccelsfield, Bisdolan. They left for a business proposition in Zome, Naatidra. He avoided going back there after they left three years ago. When this war broke out his duties to his family friend's business kept him from joining right away. For all of 1840 he worked as a Saddler, and surveyor for a Caravan company. Not the most promising of professions to the eyes of hecklers, but it did bring in some income. Gathering up what he needed Baralai and the gathered group masked his way to escape the hatred with a patrol job. In a group of  23 they set out to the border "patrolling" the region. None of them left without the words "Watch for snipers, and hostiles". At a crouch they crept their way to the borders after a 3 mile walk northward. Some of them got to know him a little more as they approached the borders between Nazdar Vimasdra, and Bisdolan. One of the "patrolmen" mentioned there being Dire Bears, and Dire Boars living in Vimsdra. That caused him to mention the Dire Beavers back home in Bisdolan. Sure enough they approached the borders marked by a sign with fence posts, and saw 2 Dire Boars prowling about the border. Getting down on the ground they also got to see a family of five Dire Bears burst from the patch of bushes and small trees. While on the ground they watched these large brown beasts kill the 2 boars and begin feasting them. 

One of the bears broke away and started sniffing around. It maneuvered itself to where the 166th soldiers lay in the grass, and small brush. All it did was sniff around when it got to a couple of them. Its large snout knock one of the helmets off before heading back to its meal. Knowing these beasts would attack them if they moved they waited patiently for them to drag the carcasses back to their den. This was an experience none of them would forget. Each one had to be fortunate to live in this part of the new VUVR otherwise they would get chased down. Large Bears would leave you alone if you lay still on the ground. When the coast was completely clear they got up to continue the patrol until Baralai said to go back despite his rank as Private. Brushing off dirt and any bugs that got on them the platoon of infantry spotted another group approaching this way. Most of them looked up to see this group coming in from the Vimasdran side. It gave them good reason to raise their weapons ready to shoot. Captain Nolzur barked out for them to stop. 

"He said stop! Halt you are approaching Vestrisian territor-" Lieutenant Beagol tried helping him only receive a spear thrown into his left rib. 

Twenty two of them opened fire on a group of 9 Troglodytes, 8 Gnolls, and a cave troll with 4 wolves for pets. Leading them was another figure on largest wolf they saw, a dire wolf. All the humanoid fighters were taken down instantly along with one of the wolves. The smaller one charged at a soldiers boot tearing his ankle. The Dire wolf went after two at the same time. As for the cave troll it went after Barthellosson who was barely ready. Charging the big Vestrisian this troll grabbed Barthelloson and swung him around like a doll. Gathering his courage Baralai fired on the troll using his T.M. 13 bolt action rifle. Putting two holes in the large greenish brown beast took it down quickly. Each wolf fell from being shot. With one wounded soldier and three dead their "patrol" had to end now. Picking up the wounded and their dead they blindly made their way back south along the borders. Along the borders from the point of their skirmish towards their lines they passed the usual foliage, rocks, patches of dirt, and some old dirt roads connecting the two regions. When they reached half a mile away from their nearest fortified positions Baralai's group found 24 campsite wagons sitting abandoned on the border. Veering to the left they ran into an actual patrol whom drove a Zedelet transport. A longer vehicle than the average truck the Zedelet acted as an armored troop transport. Some were equipped with machine guns while others had extra plates of metal or protection. 

Loading up the wounded and the dead they followed the Zedelet back to base. Returning to HQ they discovered more of their countrymen marshalled to the borders. Ordered back to their unit they reported what they discovered, and the encounter. Commanding the 166th Corps was General Phoenix Arrow who chose to promote each one for their bravery and taking out an enemy patrol. The robust, round General shook each soldier's hand. Each one of them received a small badge marking their bravery. Baralai felt stunned, he thought they would court martial him immediately. This was his idea. 

"I bet those Dire Bears were the size of wagons. One of our Rangers, an actual Ranger, Major Sibbids followed you there. Corporal Earthwire, it was you who persuaded them to join you....Just to escape the envy of your brigade! HA HA!" the General allowed himself to smile and slam a balled up fist on his desk. 

"Major Sibbids here, the tan half elf, checked the corpses. One of them was a Bisdolan-Vimasdran noble who was supposed to be locked up. Their name escapes me, but they were young and arrogant. One less influential needle removed from our sides. Get some rest, however tomorrow the invasion of Vimasdra begins." The General informed before dismissing them to rest before the invasion of Vimasdra.