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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Mar 7, 2022 9:05:26 GMT
The Divinian Second Army, four million strong, had all amassed in Southern Divinium, awaiting transport to their next deployment. The men had not seen combat in Duom; the war had ended before they even had a chance to ship out. But they had not been given leave to return home. Something had kept them there. Rumors, even with the tight lipped high command, crept their way down to the rank and file. Socialism had crawled into Placidia, ensnaring their Latin brothers in its clutches.
There were plenty of murmurs in opposition to the idea. Since when did Divinium care so much about what happened outside her borders? The Empress had kept them out of one major war. And Second Coalition… well that had been different. But this? It seemed to some like the start of an uncomfortable change. Were they meant to enter every nation in the world that didn’t agree with them?
However, others still relished the thought. The glory of conquest, just like the old Latins. The potential to make the nation greater than what it was. Many, especially the career military men, had bridled under the restraint of the old emperors. This new lot: Dymphna, Anthiese, Duke Estrana, they were bold. Divinium would not cower like it did when the Tholes threatened to invade, or like it did during the war over New Respite. Never again. It was even said, in the St. Helena Tribune, that the Empress had been murdered trying to foil an Asderaordian plot to establish socialism, state run slavery, in Divinium. Whatever personal feelings the men had, they were told finally, after a none too subtle morale meal, they’d be marching through Moderali territory to liberate Estraria from the Socialist government and bring her back to the Imperial fold. The Estrarians would be returned home.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Mar 10, 2022 21:15:13 GMT
The HEMS Kelpie, along with her sister ships, shuddered violently against the force of gunfire displacing water about them as they attempted to take the landing site in Estraria. It was a good port, and the best location for them to be able to cut the nation in twain, but the coastal battery had held out for over a day, returning fire upon the fleet with a vengance. The Kelpie had taken a shell in the thinner armor to the stern, and though the officers quarters had been wrecked, she could still maneuver fine. The same could not be said for one of the cruisers in her group. The HEMS Ilex had taken an unfortunate shell on her deck, piercing through and igniting the magazine below. The screech of metal twisting as the ship tore in half was sharp enough to be heard over the din of combat, further enraging her comrades.
After 26 hours of shelling, the coastal city eventually capitulated, and the Divinian forces had begun to secure a small frontal line on Estrarian soil.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Mar 13, 2022 3:48:50 GMT
Unlike operations in Duom, the Divinian army moved much more carefully through Estraria. Troop movement was swift, but in smaller numbers and with less extensive front lines. These people were indeed wayward souls, but at least they had souls worth saving. And they were Latins, like the rest of the far-flung league. It had been decided that they were indeed an apple worth plucking, however estranged their branch may be from the family tree. Civilians were in turn, treated with the utmost mercy and compassion when they surrendered, though military operations still remained as ruthless as anticipated. Instead of the usual slow and methodical approach, the Divinian forces cut a deep swath into Estraria, securing rail lines for the siege artillery and transport of men. In short order, the nation was effectively severed in two fronts, east and west. Despite these initial gains, socialist partisans did indeed vex the Divinians, even if the Estrarian army was continually pushed back on both fronts. Already 20,000 Divinians had been killed or injured. Though morale remained high, there was a notable lack of fervor among these troops. It was noted among the High Command that although the troops followed their orders, without the same drive as the war in Duom, Divinan fighting spirit dwindled. As such, extensive propaganda (and begrudging government promises to soldiers) were spread fiercely through the ranks.
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Mar 30, 2022 3:58:04 GMT
Ishurian Gap
Colonel Theris bounded from his dugout, rounding on his men as soon as the communications officer left him. As the Divinian forces pushed further west into Estraria, a long offensive front had been established to dislodge the enemy. In their haste, the northern section, twelve miles from him, had overtaken the Estrarian position. They had, however, failed to inform Divinian high command of this, creating a gap in their lines into which Estrarian troops poured. They had quickly overtaken the artillery positions further back, and now threatened to sweep the whole line in on itself. Quick maneuvering would be required, and so Theris ordered the 7th Corps Zouaves to abandon their forward position, and sweep back in before the Estrarian troops could set up. The Fusiliers from his artillery regiment would take up their place on the front, holding what they could. It would involve the men pulling back under the range of their own artillery fire, but with little time, the risk was a necessary one.
Theris met the zouaves and led the charge to plug the gap, overrunning the Estrarians in a bout of chaotic fighting in the trenches that devolved to hand to hand combat. A spray of Divinian Machine gun fire clipped him as he fought, and the colonel fell, wounded.
Two days later, Theris awoke in hospital. His left hand had been shattered beyond repair and he stared, dulled, at the amputated stump. In all, 6,000 Divinians and 11,000 Estrarians had lost their lives in the Battle of the Ishurian Gap
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Post by Emperor Florin von Marcum on Apr 9, 2022 21:47:53 GMT
Estraria
Eastern Divinian Front
1906
A contingent of the Estrarian People's Army had managed to remain on the run from Divinian forces as the bulk of fighting continued in the West. Living off the land, but lacking military intelligence from Estrarian High Command, they had been a menace to the Divinians throughout the conflict. On no less than three occasions they had managed to cut rail lines from the sea to Ishuria, bogging down the invaders and throwing their supply lines into chaos. Now, they had been cornered.
In the town of Histria, a small force of Divinian Zouaves had begun sweeping up the cobbled streets, searching for Socialist sympathizers. The Estrarians couldn’t have known the feint at hand. The Estrarian forces rained hell upon the light infantry from the buildings above, forcing unorganized return fire from the panicked invading men. They routed, and that route turned quickly into a stampede up the hills out of town. Emboldened, the Estrarians pushed on them, hoping to decimate the force. It was not until they breasted the hill, that the Estrarians realized their folly. Divinian Cavalry, frequently the topic of cruel jokes amongst the Divinians, were gathered in mass. They broke into a gallop at the men, who attempted to clamber back up the hill to the safety of Histria. It was not possible. The Estrarian forces were shattered against the wall of mounted men, who attacked with shot and saber. Among the notable cavalry commanders was one young Alexander Therin-Marcum, who had been given the command as a backhanded compliment, only to now properly earn his laurels.
It soon became clear to the Estrarian government that the Divinians were more than willing to throw away lives in exchange for victory. With their total success in the East, and continued progress in the West, the Estrarian government finally called for armistice to discuss terms of surrender.
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