June 1940 - The Rouben Counteroffensive

[SAIGO-NO-HEATS]

"...Following their victory at Vitry, the Vaasan army was in high spirits. The city had long been an important stronghold to the Agen resistance and it's loss was no doubt seen as severe blow to the forces of Age by both sides. Despite their overwhelming victory however, pocket elements continued to antagonize the garrison forces at every opportunity. In response to this, the Vaasan 1st army was divided into two parts, the first was left behind in Vitry to help suppress the remaining resistance, while the second would continue to chase the retreating Agen divisions as they pulled back towards Rouben.


The Vaasan field army dispatched to the town descended quickly and found little resistance as they entered, with all but a token force having already evacuated.  This second, seemingly decisive victory continued to galvanize the Vaasan troops, who almost immediately upon capturing the city pushed on to Junien believing they'd find nothing but a ragged band of survivors pushed to the sea.


What they actually found was a fortified line of Trenches, machine gun nests, and pillboxes stretching for miles, as well as constant harassing strikes along their flanks that forced the Vaasan army to dig in and fight. However, this was not the end of the Agen strategy. Sources from around the city had tipped off Age's high command to the fact that the Vaasan forces had left only a minor garrison behind in the city and a task force was dispatched from the main army group with the goal of retaking the city and cutting off supplies for the rest of the Vaasan field army. A victory here would effectively cut the Vaasan 1st Army group in half in a single stroke, and change the tone of the war for months to come."


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Roland gazed over the map of the city splayed across the hood of his jeep as his platoon made their final preparations for the assault. Rouben was lightly defended compared to most of the Vaasan line, but attacking head on like this still felt suicidal.


With a sigh, he took off his beret and scratched his head a bit. Despite Captain Paumer's brilliant idea of charging up the road bayonets fixed, it looked like D company's actual role was going to be following and supporting the tanks from G company as they broke into the city.


The sudden pounding of artillery pulled Roland away from his thoughts. If they were shelling the city again then it was almost time to go. He folded his map and walked over to where his troops were gathered.


"Sgt. Hollander, are we all prepared?"

 

[Lucya Kunzenov]

With a grunt of effort, Hollander drew all of his nearly seven feet into the position of attention. He had been sitting on top of a tank's turret, to observe the barrage. "Roger that sir. We're as ready as we will be." he replied with a nod, hopping down onto the ground so he didn't tower over Lux quite as much. "We're short on vehicles, so 2nd squad is going to ride on top of the tin cans until we get close enough to dismount." Hollander added as he tucked his crimson beret into his back pocket. 


"In addition, we need more grenades, and machine gun ammo." he mentioned. "All the barrage is doing at this point is giving them more cover." Hollander said in his deep accent as he dug out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, the miniature cigar looking like a doll's replication in his massive hands.


"I'm putting Corporal Donovan and a team of three in front, to scout out what's ahead, and to look for mines. Not that we'll be able to use the tanks in the city anyway." Hollander paused, letting the smoke from his cigarette pass through his lips. "That's all there is to it. D Company is ready to go." he concluded. As he waited for the officer's orders, he looked down at the lieutenant expectantly, not yet sure how to work with his immediate superior. The both of them had been flung into D Company from their previous units not all that long ago, and now they were being sent into enemy territory with a force of conscripts and battle worn survivors of earlier engagements. Neither were ideal.

 

[Samurai Jay]

James and his irregulars sit inside a basement as they prepare for battle. Paint is being applied, ammo passed around, prayers spoken and a bottle of Dover vodka is almost half way gone along with some empty rations in the middle of the room. They spent the first hour setting up booby traps ahead of them everything from mines, grenades with tripwires and in one of there proudest moments they rigged a flamethrower up to several tripwires and even a pressure plate so if someone broke any of them the flamethrower would activate. James spoke up looking around at all his friends. "So do you lads think we will meet our new officers before this battle,"


Mike speaks up while cleaning his MG- "hope not I want to show the vassan officers how the Hounds of war handle these things." the rest of the squad laughs at that and a few give of a fake howl that sounds eerily similar to wild wolves.


James snickers before slapping Kim on the back of the head lightly. "Oi shut it you lot the enemies might be nearby." his men chuckel and go back to cleaning and preparing for battle

 

[Samurai Jay]

after a bit james signals to kate to lean over so he can grab the radio from her pack he quickly keys in the radio frequency with her help before radioing back to command. "this is corporal James of the Dover irregulars code named Hound, we request assistance and more explosives, the enemy is moving up armor and we don't have anything to take it on head on and we only have three anti tank grenades left after you ordered us to booby trap the front lines. Also are we getting our senior officers or am I to take charge, over."


(Any vass people want to reply )

 

[Historical Storyteller]

9th Assault Battery, Section C
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July 22, 1940
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The Town of Rouben
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From far away, the Agens rained death and destruction upon the Vaasan garrison stationed in the town of Rouben. It came without warning, the artillery fire took the Vaasan soldiers by complete surprise and they started looking for cover in a desperate attempt to shield themselves from the awesome power of a modern weapon. Mighty shells sailed soared through the skies before dropping down on streets and buildings, unleashing the fullness of its destructive potential.


Nobody was spared from this little inferno once they were caught in it. It was a hell of its own that delivered a payload of suffering. Cats and dogs and men were killed or grievously injured by these explosions or they were hit by a shrapnel flying in the air. Screams of pain were drowned out by the deafening noise of mortar fire, while most men were frozen with fear in their hearts. In times like these, people unfamiliar with the brutality of combat have their fantasies of glorious battle shattered by the grim reality of war and the pain that defines it.


Somewhere in the township of Rouben, the soldiers of Section C were doing business as usual, conducting a routine patrol in the streets to keep the peace but most of all to keep the soldiers from the boredom that is born from idleness. After all, idle hands are the devil's workshop, and men with rifles in their hands with nothing to keep them busy would come with all sorts of dangerous ways to amuse themselves. Nothing is more terrifying and childish than a grown man playing with a weapon of war.


Gustav led them through the wide concrete roads and through narrow corners, they walked until sweat gushed from their foreheads like a waterfall. It was good exercise, but they would be exhausted when the real war would come knocking on their door. That was the worst case scenario, if the Agen soldiers snatched Rouben from their hands their forces would be cut off in the days to come. Yet his trust in the strength of the army prevailed over his misgivings, and he was positive that everything was going in their favor.


The weather's rather lovely today. The sun is high up in the sky though I can still smell the stench of a corpses strewn about the streets, and not to mention the shit certain people and animals were kind enough to leave. Sergeant Gustav thought, he was used to marching long distances and he was not visibly fatigued by this morning stroll. Secretly, he loved to walk around in the morning and he was glad that his platoon commander gave him patrol duty. So his happiness was coming at the expense of the rest of his squad, but he made sure that they did not know this. He was not stupid, in fact, he was deviously clever in his own way. He told them that they were doing this for their country and that every sweat they dropped would save a gallon of blood.


My feet are so hot that I might as well be walking on fire. I am so thirsty that I can drink the piss of beggars. I am suffering so much that I believe that I am in purgatory.  Private Leonard Kiefer thought, the poor bastard looked as pale as a ghost and as thirsty as a vampire that had not tasted blood for centuries. He was reaching his breaking point and Sergeant Gustav was not taking notice of his fatigue. But in reality, Gustav did notice this but pretended to be ignorant of the private's condition for nothing could get in the way of his morning walk. The inhumanity described here happened every day, and the spirits of the men were slowly being broken. However, the soldiers were indeed reaping the benefits of their patrols for were now more used to marching long distances.


I wonder if we can kill the sergeant since he is making us suffer so much. Lance Corporal Waldemar Falkenwrath thought, he too felt the unbearable strain of the patrols. They have been walking around the entire town for hours now. Sometimes, if they were unlucky, they would bump into several Agen soldiers and engage in a shooting match with them until the enemy withdrew from their position. There were rarely any fatalities on either side because everybody was so keen on not getting shot.


Everything was going along smoothly until they heard the distinct sound of mortar fire whistling through the air and crashing right on buildings and streets. Gustav took immediate action and told everyone to seek cover, so the men and boys scattered for cover. They crawled behind fences, jumped on the ground and lay on their bellies, and smashed into a nearby house for protection. And for some inexplicable reason, a certain man thought it was best to hide under a lamp post. However, one of the men didn't quite get what was happening and he was standing there like an idiot.


"GET OUT OF THE WAY YOU IDIOT!" Gustav shouted at the top of his voice.


"Oh, all right, sir." Private Volker Sternberg casually strolled over to one of the houses and lay his back on one of the walls. He was so calm and relaxed that one might have figured that he was at home with his family instead of being in the middle of a warzone. Volker reached into his pockets and produced a cigarette and a lighter, and he started smoking.


Gustav and the rest of Section C were all looking at him, peering from behind the fences, the lamp posts, the windows of their houses, and the streets. Volker was clearly insane. Well, besides the man hiding beneath the lamp post.


"Volker, what the fuck?" Gustav said.


"Don't worry about the shells, if they hit you they hit you. If they don't hit you then they don't hit you." Volker said and continued smoking.


"Those are fucking shells, man." Private Wednesday Waxweiler said from below the lamp post. This time everybody turned to look at Wednesday, for a moment they thought he concluded that he was insane like Volker, but in the end they changed their opinion and branded him as an idiot instead.


"Heh, they're a nuisance at best, pal." Volker replied casually.


Well, Section C just discovered who was the resident lunatic and the section's idiot.

 

[Commissar Darman]

As Artillery fell upon the city of Rouben. Corporal Ahlborne watched a building crumble. From the looks of it. The small two story building was a shop, most likely clothes from the shattered mannequins strewn in front of it. Watching the dust settle, He couldn't help but admire the destructive beauty of it all. there was just something about it that just seemed to speak to him. That no matter what man does. It all must come to an end one way or another. and in that end, everything will return to dust. Stepping out of his cover, Adrian began skirting from street to street, keeping his body low as explosions sounded all around him. 


Any sane person would seek cover and wait out the bombardment. But for him, this was actually quite normal. But still, Finding his new section and being out of the streets would be nice. Rounding a street corner. Adrian came upon the men of Section 3 trying to use whatever they can for cover. One of them was even using a lamp post. Mentally shaking his head. Adrian just jogged past them, glancing at the man having a smoke break. 'Now that man has a death wish' Adrian thought as a round landed on the building next to him. Forcing him to dive to his belly and throwing debris all over him. 'I guess it takes one to know one.' Pushing himself back up against his better judgment. Adrian adjusted the two Model 3s on his back before carrying on.


It didn't take long for him to reach his intended destination, and Luckily it was still intact, somehow. Letting out a sigh of relief, CPL Ahlborne enter the building and immediately hes not impressed. "No sentries." He sighed. "Otto we might actually have our work cut out for us." Adrian mumbled to himself. 'just hurry up and get here with our supplies.'  hearing some commotion from the basement. Adrian stood at the doorway " Section 2, Report!" Yelling the order before Descending. AL in hand, just in case. Stopping at the last step. Adrian observed the soldiers of his new section. 'god, they're kids!'

 

[Samurai Jay]

James stands up hearing the order to report and speaks up. "Section 2 at full strength sir. Everyone we had this morning is accounted for. But we are low on ammo and explosives. We also booby trapped the feild there advancing through and some of the outlying buildings as ordered before we lost contact with command. Now were just waiting for them to come to us after the bombardment ends."


Over in the corner the rest of the Mike and Shamus look up before going back to their card game and in the middle is a wheel of cheese and some alcohol from Dover, one is obviously smuggled in and the cheese looks like they "confiscated" it from somewhere.


Kate and Vall are over in the corner checking there equipment while Kim is takeing apart and putting a Doven bolt action rifle together. Everyone has war paint on and Adrian can see a half finished bottle by the girls that is corked up.


James sighs and sits down after he gives his report and goes back to looking at the picture in his locket before speaking up once again. "So want a drink, I'm guessing your either the other corporal or our sergeant, welcome to Hound squad the irregulars who came from Dover. Pull up a seat and have some food. No sense getting all fussy about the bombardment untill they stop and we can head up." he adjusts the wolf pelt attached to his helmet and pops a cracker with some cheese into his mouth.

 

[Historical Storyteller]

9th Assault Battery, Section C
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The Town of Rouben, Streets
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The outpour of artillery shells obliterated everything in it wake, and everyone felt the real fear of being killed. For many of them, it was the first time they realized that if they were struck it would all be over for them. They did not even have a chance to fight; they were just picked out by those massive guns from a few miles away. It was as if they were fighting a ghost, for the enemy was invisible and they were helpless and exposed. There was a certain supernatural undertone to war, because your life and the lives of other men were so dependent on things beyond a single man's control. It revealed how fragile your life and how little a man could actually do even if he were a man of great energy and talent. The overwhelming psychological pressures of the battlefield drove men to seek rituals that would soothe their anxieties. They sang and prayed to keep themselves from falling apart. They turned to drugs and alcohol and others would think of girls to pass the time.


When reality was too much for them, they all depended on their fantasies to make their misery bearable. The madness of their lives shielded them from the insanity of war, and they surely needed to rely much more on that madness to sustain them throughout the war. It did not matter which struck their fancy, nothing was so innocent now that it could not be blemished by the evil in men's souls. Deep-seated emotions and hidden desires were awakened, and many prayed to God for He alone could protect them from danger, many cried for their loved ones from Vaasa for they missed them so much, many suddenly thought of their sweethearts and wondered if it was the last time they would see them, while one of them was smoking peacefully in the middle of the disaster. That was Volker, and he seemed to be having a good time.


The dust kicked up from the ground and the soldiers were forced to inhale the musty air. Smoke rose from the craters which the shells struck. When the wind blew the smoke and dust filled some of the men's throats and they coughed vigorously to keep it out of their systems. The distinct smell of gunpowder made them dizzy and they found it hard to focus on tasks. Section C watched as the landscape gradually changed before them. The streets were being torn apart and the buildings were demolished. And it did not stop there, it looked like the Agens would continue this for a while just to make sure that they wouldn't have to fight too many enemies. After all, this was a strategic position and the lives of millions of men rested on the fate of this battle.


For several minutes they stayed there, fixed in their positions, waiting for something to happen. Gustav thought now was the appropriate time to act and they could not dilly-dally around like this for long. They had to regroup with the rest of the platoon and figure out what to do next. Surely, the Lieutenant was aware of this latest development and he was prepared for a fiasco like this. So Sergeant Gustav rallied his men together and they would march back to their headquarters where the Lieutenant was stationed.


Before they would go to headquarters, they bumped into the building which contained the members of Section B. The door was open and there were voices inside, so Gustav decided to investigate what was going on.


"What the-" Gustav was surprised to see James and his irregulars drink themselves senseless in the middle of battle. Alcohol dulled the senses, and no one was allowed to drink on duty. Gustav was infamously strict when it came to regulations and everyone in the platoon must have heard of that.


"Who is in command here?!" Gustav stepped in the building with a stern expression on his face. His gray eyes rested on the members of Section B, and his face was starting to become cherry red.


Who do these people think they are? Men should always be ready for battle as soon as possible. Soldiers cannot steady their rifles properly when they are drunk. These drunken idiots will soon be dead when the enemy overruns their position. I must discipline them for such behavior cannot be tolerated in our ranks! Everyone must sacrifice the pleasures of life in order to be prepared for the toils of war. Nobody will drink on my watch. Gustav looked like he was getting ready to scold everyone in Section B, he seemed to forget that there was an artillery barrage just outside for he was so intensely focused on the drinking Dover irregulars.


Corporal Immanuel Everhart was right beside Gustav and was ready to lend his assistance whenever possible. He was Section C's second-in-command and he was the nicer and less straight-laced of the two. Unlike Gustav, he only joined the Vaasan Army so he could get a job while Gustav joined so he could serve the country. They were still different in many ways yet Gustav and Immanuel were brothers-in-arms and they have fought in the early spring 1939 campaign together.


The Corporal did not want to speak for he knew his companion well. Gustav would keep rambling on about honor and duty, and that soldiers should be strong and have the discipline to always be ready. It would go on for a while, but once Gustav was set there was no stopping him. Immanuel thought he would only interrupt if he thought it was necessary.


While the Corporal and the Sergeant were busy, the rest of Section C were having other ideas.


I wonder if I can snag a beer or two while the Sergeant isn't looking. Private Jasper Kauffman thought, he was the section's alcoholic and he had been deprived of drink for days. He could kill for a sip of beer now, but now stands before him the finest of all wine, Dover vodka. The temptation was hard to resist and he was seriously thinking of killing the Sergeant and Corporal just so he could get the vodka. Many of the other soldiers were thinking the same thing and they looked at the Dover vodka with earnest. Some of the soldiers were subtly gesturing the Dover irregulars to silently hand a few drinks to share behind Gustav's and Immanuel's backs.


The Privates of Section C were slowly walking towards the Sergeant to knock him out. No need to bash the Corporal, they liked him. Luckily for Gustav, the Lance Corporals came to his rescue and quietly quelled this rebellion by blocking their way. They did not want to attract the Sergeant's attention because he would get angry and shout at them again.


"But... the beer." Private Gerulf Biermann looked sourly disappointed.


"Hush now, if we don't have the Sergeant, then we wouldn't have someone to command us." Lance Corporal Adam Gabler said quietly.


"Corporal Immanuel can fill in his role just fine."


"Well, he's too timid to lead us. We're better off with Gustav."


"Fine."


The Privates backed off and the Lance Corporals started to relax their stance. However, Private Jasper Kauffman was nowhere to be seen and everyone started looking for him while the Corporal and Sergeant were talking. They haven't found him yet but sneaked away from the Section and he found a back entrance into the building. He was looking for a Dover vodka to snatch from the Dover irregulars.

 

[Samurai Jay]

James perks up again when he hears someone enter and within seconds various weapons are pointed at the door but they relax when they recognize the uniforms. ""What the, Who is in command here?!"


James sighs hearing this as he signals to the irregulars to clean up and they quickly push everything into various kits and bags they have by them. "that would be me I'm corporal James leader of Hound squad." he gets quiet then speaks up again seeing Gustav's rank. "well actually till we meet our sergeant it would be you since your the highest rank.' he glances around at his men making sure everything was packed up. "we were assigned to this location and got here two days ago but we didn't get to meet our commanders yet since ours were KIA a few weeks ago in a failed attempt to get behind enemy lines south east of Mer." he speaks the next part with noticeable scorn."The amadán (#1) commander of ours ignored our warning of something not being right and we basically walked right into a MG bunker."


Mike mutters off to the side as he puts the wheel of cheese into his backpack as he had the winning hand. "Chaill roinnt cairde an lá sin." (#2


Shamus sees the men signal about the alcohol and puts it in his satchel and nods to them speaking up making the rest of the irregulars laugh there asses off at what he says. "Is féidir linn a dhéanamh ar an trádáil don alcól ina dhiaidh sin a deacair dúinn a fháil go leor de seo cac mar go bhfuil sé."


Kim slings her rifle and takes a sip of alcohol before putting it in her bag. "James everyone is ready to fight and the pre rituals are done. we have nothing to fear in death anymore."


Vall and Kate stand up Vall making sure the medic symbol is showing on her helmet and bag while Kate makes sure the ammo bag she has is assessable to everyone on her back.


(if your wondering im having the Dover guys speak Gallic (Irish) and ill translate there speech at the bottom of the posts where they say stuff I don't think many people would understand them in Vass I can see some argon troops since its closer)


#1 dumb ass


#2 Lost some Friends that Day


#3 we can make the trade for the alcohol later its hard for us to get enough of this shit as it is

 

[Commissar Darman]

Listening to the kids report. Adrian Only grumbled but makes a quick nod. Around that time was when He finally noticed the alcohol. 'You've got to be kidding me.' Walking over and picking up one of the bottles, Adrian read the label. "good stuff." he commented before closing it up. " But from now on, no more drinking before a battle." 


Hearing footsteps from above Adrian turned towards to doorway, Hoping that it was Otto. But was sorely Disappointed when another Sergeant walked in. 


'oh, great' was that popped in his head right as he heard the dreaded words. "Who is in command here?" but before he could speak up, James took charge. Which was expected since it seems he is in charge of these Kids. but his explanation was sorta unnecessary. Moving up besides James, Adrian decided to speak Up himself. "Sergeant, Corporal Ahlborne. I was just reassigned to this Section along with the new Sergeant." He stated, shifting his collar near his OSC tattoo. Just saying that felt wrong, He should have died with them. "He should be here soon and we will deal with these kids in our own fashion." 


As Adrian finished talking, an Artillery round hit fairly close to the building, causing it to shake slightly and knocking dust into the air. which in turn forced Adrian to flinch slightly. 'Damn it Otto, where are you?'

 

[Hammer Troll]

After leaving the radio truck. Otto was already in a foul mood from receiving the debriefing from the recon teams. finally being to able to break away Otto decided to go inspect his new unit, also to make sure that Adrain wasn't getting to getting intro trouble that he would get drug into. As the City was being hammerd Otto stopped at what used to be a Deli from the look of the sign that sat charred above what used to be a building. Lighting a cigarette tried to get his bearings as to where his damn platoon was. " Vat in ze hell!?! You cant tell your left und right vith all zis destruction. Now vas is 2 blocks east....nien von block east thrid house on ze right ya?.......fuck it." Upon arriving at the house that B section was residing in he heading inside to me his troop. only to hear a commotion coming from down stairs.  As he stood in the stairwell listing to Sgt. Rules and regs from C section tear his team a new ass hole he decided to step in. "Sgt. Gustav, zes men und vomen are mien. and though i do appreaciate ze lession you und your corpral are trying to teach. Ve have a diffrent vay ve operate. and I thank you for ze over sight I vill take it form her Herr sergeant....Danke *lights cigarette*