The Difference Is Like Between a Dog and a Cow

79 – Imperial Night (3)

Wheeyi—.

A sharp wind blew. I looked outside and beyond the fully open cockpit at the brightly rising moon.

It is a full moon. Considering that the invasion of Normandy was also carried out on the night of a full moon, the weather itself was not too bad.

‘Complete control of production facilities before dawn.’

I pictured the strategy in my head. In fact, Hearts of General is a ‘strategy-tactical’ game, but it doesn’t deal much with the tactical aspect.

For example, you can decide where to deploy your battalion and how to deploy it, but you cannot control individual soldiers to occupy buildings.

Isn’t that true even in reality?

Even if you don’t have to go all the way to the general and become a regimental commander who manages a few battalions, you won’t be able to move all the companies in your subordinate battalion, even the platoons, which are a lower organization than that.

So everything that happens in the Hearts of General game is described closer to Civilization or Crusader Kings than to RTS like StarCraft.

A group of troops occupying a city and occupying an area.

The problem is, however, that I am not a player who observes the whole situation from the air, but rather a horse that is at the tip of that player’s spear.

In other words, for now, we had to look at all operations from a tactical rather than strategic perspective.

Lemansk Arsenal, a facility of the Soviet Empire that I have seen in a game sometime.

Due to the nature of the rugged mountainous terrain, it is not a major facility where technology or equipment development takes place because guerrilla forces are active a lot.

Unless you’re conducting some kind of secret research that will be officially condemned internationally if you get caught.

I closed my eyes, recalled a topographical map, and drew the strategy on it.

‘On a night full of moonlight, the 1st and 3rd platoons fell first.’

The 1st and 3rd platoons, which were in charge of the spearhead, took care of all the guards at the north gate at the same time. In the meantime, the 4th Platoon proceeds westward to take control of the arsenal, then rejoins the additionally deployed 2nd Platoon.

‘An engagement broke out, but was quickly suppressed. The northern gateway opens and the mobile battalion waiting nearby enters.’

From noble mtl dot com

‘Soldiers woke up at the headquarters of the guard company after hearing the gunshots, and neutralized them with a pincer attack by the 3rd and 1st platoons.’

‘After checking the progress of the operations of the 2nd and 3rd companies, leave the gate closure and area control to the mobile battalion and enter the underground facility together. In addition to recovering the Pearl of Omen, securing other information assets.’

In my head, a series of simulations ended in an instant.

Let alone automatic rifles such as AK, semi-automatic rifles that can fire continuously would not have been properly supplied. CQB (Close-Quarters Combat) should be much easier than modern. Barracks, arsenals, outposts, and guard posts would be easily subdued.

Now, depending on how complex the underground facility is, the difficulty of the operation increases or decreases. It was either one.

‘Did it all depend on luck?’

I opened my closed eyes. I could already feel the fishy smell of blood and gunpowder tickling my nose.

It is literally a world away from modern assaults, in which operations were carried out using 100% of the information assets secured as well as the help of all kinds of advanced surveillance equipment on military satellites.

It’s like a blind man who can’t know the exact size of the enemy, the structure of the facility, or even the real-time situation, but the enemy is the same.

You wouldn’t think it would fall from the sky. There was no anti-aircraft gun that could shoot down airships, and even if they were attacked, there would be no separate line to quickly communicate with nearby units.

Should be a messenger or a messenger. The least developed form is a kind of blinker called a ‘gray light beacon’.

Because it is a signal that has not yet been supplied to front-line troops, there is no chance that it will be installed in the outskirts arsenal.

‘It’s a complete mess. People in the past must have had a bit of a headache.’

Both offense and defense. From a modern point of view, it is just regrettable that they are adopting an ignorant, uncivilized tactical strategy.

After this operation is over, I’ll have to hand over everything, including communications equipment, to the Technical Research Department.

I closed my mouth bitterly and turned my head to look at Roxanna.

“Will Roxanna stay here?”

“Yes, because we still have time to arrive. Doesn’t she have about an hour left?”

Guess who isn’t an airship holic. Roxanna Elim had been waiting in her cockpit ever since she first boarded.

“Yes, we have about an hour until arrival.”

Roxanna nodded and agreed with her as the pilot with her beard grew out with a delightful smile.

“Right. There’s nothing to do anyway, but the company commander is taking a break too! I will finish all preparations before arriving!”

Really, it feels like falling in love with an airship.

Isn’t that why she suddenly said that she would change her affiliation to Ttuk Air Corps? Roxanna Elim and her sergeant didn’t last long compared to the rest of the platoon, but she did, though she seemed a little disappointed.

Well, even if that happens, it’s not such a bad thing for Ukrnians.

At least, there is still more to be done for a military branch called ‘aviation’ to be established globally. Because the airship we are on board is not enough to build an air force.

If you train hard until then and keep improving yourself. Roxanna Elim could be the predecessor of the Ukrnian Army Air Corps.

Aside from her drinking disorder, her talent is enormous.

I thought to myself as I looked at Roxanne as she roamed around her cockpit with eyes still full of life.

***

1St company, 1st platoon, Rick Hanson sighed. Second practice. The opponent was a simple bandit last time, but this time it was a real Soviet Empire soldier.

You can’t be nervous.

Jjiik.

Tighten the brace on the gun, and check the bullets you are holding.

‘You have to keep your mind straight. It was just pure luck last time.’

It’s a pity that he got hit in the butt, but if he pierced his heart or head or even an artery, he would have died on the spot.

There was no guarantee that such luck would follow this time as well. Including until now, Rick Hanson had completed dozens of inspections since boarding the airship.

I was counting the last magazines in my pocket like that.

“Everybody stand up! Prepare to descend!”

A company commander in a jumpsuit passed by between the stretched corridors and shouted. A voice that lifts people’s spirits.

“Prepare for descent!”

“Check your equipment in turn, starting from the back. Practice!”

“No. 30, Nothing more than Egil Sakorge!”

“No. 29, Nothing more than Eugene Lantz!”

From number 30 to number 6 Rick Hanson. Company members screamed and shouted. Is it really put into practice now? Rick’s hand gripped the gun began to tremble.

The descent is not scary. Rather, when I flew in the sky, my heart was at ease.

All you have to do is look at the ground.

But the most frightening thing starts when you land on the ground. It was only then that the boundaries of life and death diverged.

“We are at the forefront. Focus on my orders.”

The platoon leader, Claude Lane, also spat out a word. Then, my trembling heart calmed down.

Claude Lane.

Enoch Levandel.

Looking at those two, my trembling feeling naturally calmed down. I couldn’t explain why, but what do you mean by something that can’t be explained?

To describe the most similar feeling, it was like seeing my father and mother. Even though Enoch Levandel is about the same age as Rick Hanson.

People who make you feel reassured just by being together.

“Rick, is it your turn on the other hip this time?”

“I have to go neatly and symmetrically!”

“Bastards. If you can’t speak.”

Of course, the colleague who threw out a nonsensical joke from the side helped relieve tension. Rick let out a thick swear word and burst out laughing.

A commander you can trust and follow.

The unit members are now like family.

That’s enough reason for Rick to jump into the sky.

“Everyone safely and see you again at the battalion, okay?”

“Yes, I understand!”

“Also, don’t use red and yellow magic as much as possible. So that the mages of each platoon can clearly remember.”

“I will keep this in mind.”

He reminded me of everything, even the last caution. Enoch Levandel slowly moved his gaze and captured the faces of the company members one by one.

Finally, the order was issued.

“1St Company. Descent!!”

At the same time, Rick Hanson threw his body into the sky. Properly mount his gun on his shoulder and position himself in the air. In a vision full of moonlight, he opened his eyes and looked down at the ground.

It took an instant for the land that was far away to come closer at the same time as the descent, but even so, I don’t feel afraid.

You trust the platoon commander and deputy platoon commander.

The firm belief that he will send them down safely before they are crushed to the ground.

As if to reciprocate that trust, a strange sensation that floats up just before falling to the ground surrounds Rick Hanson.

He landed softly on the ground as if his feathers had landed.

Click.

As I pulled the lever, a copper-colored blade was thrust into the chamber. After reloading, Rick Hanson inadvertently raised his head and looked up at him.

Comrades embroidered the sky against the background of the full moon.

The demons that had arrived across the mountains were coloring the night of the Empire.