Three days ago, during a full-scale enemy offensive, he risked an ambush by having his armored forces, camouflaged behind some ruined buildings and with artillery support, plus Lacroix’s special squad, suddenly strike. They successfully destroyed a Knight Titan’s shield generator, but at the cost of six Lion Tanks, thirty armored personnel carriers, and over two hundred soldiers.
Moreover, due to the high losses, despite having created an opportunity, they were unable to deliver the final blow and had to watch the shield-less Knight Titan successfully retreat.
Still, the results of the battle could be considered acceptable.
The Knight Titan had sustained some damage, and afterwards, it didn’t dare to appear on the frontline, only able to fire missiles from the rear.
Henceforth, only facing the onslaught of one Knight Titan, the pressure was greatly reduced.
However, after fighting like this for seven days, they had nearly reached the end of their resources.
“Report to the commander comrade, the enemy’s attack has been repelled.”
“Report the casualties.”
“Yes! Company 37.5.2 from the south is gone, and when Troop 3 went to assist, they didn’t find anyone alive… Troop 3 itself is now down to only 17 men… As previously requested by the political commissar, their designation has been preserved, and command integrated into the battalion headquarters.
Currently, the 37th Brigade no longer has any companies intact, all have been placed under battalion-level command. The sapper battalion, logistic support battalion, all have been committed…”
“The main body of the 34th Division holding the eastern and northern fronts has suffered severe damage, acting division commander Major Gaius has fallen. Major Meyev has taken over the command, and he already is the third acting division commander for the 34th…”
Perbov listened with an expressionless face.
Apart from the enemy being repelled, there was no good news in the other reports.
But his heart had already become somewhat numb.
It had been like this all along, especially in the last two days, always this kind of news.
They had repelled the enemy’s attacks time and again, contesting every house and even every piece of rubble with the enemy. Now, they were truly close to the brink.
The thirty-thousand-strong force he had brought with him, it’s possible less than thirteen thousand were still alive now, and most had injuries.
Although the loss of personnel was devastating, the situation in other areas was even worse.
Out of a total of thirty-six Lion Tanks from two combined brigades, only the last one was operational; out of a total of four hundred artillery pieces, three hundred and twenty had already been destroyed. Even with the remaining eighty, considering the current artillery shell inventory, they could fire at most six more rounds.
There were less than a thousand rounds of artillery shells left.
All the rocket launchers had been used up, mortar shells were also running low, and even bullets had to be carefully collected from the bodies of fallen soldiers in order to keep going.
It could be said that, apart from food reserves—which were still plentiful temporarily because they had driven away the suburban townsfolk and left behind all the food—all other war materials had reached their last critical stage.
Yet, it was only the seventh day.
One day short of the eight days the governor had asked for.
What to do?
Perbov didn’t know either.
Seizing the momentary lull in battle, he left the command post.
Leroy didn’t try to stop him; the political commissar was already lying down asleep. One of his ears had gone deaf, and he also hadn’t slept for twenty-three hours. He needed to rest for a while.
Once outside, Perbov looked up at the night sky, filled with guilt.
He couldn’t help but reflect: had his tactics over the past seven days had too many faults? Was it his command mistakes that had led to the present situation?
“Could it be… that I’ve let down the governor’s trust?”
“But no matter what, on the last day, I will personally take up a rifle and go to the front lines. Even if we can’t hold until the eighth day, even if the Luman People take our position, it will only be after we are all dead!”
He swore through clenched teeth.
But just then, he saw in the sky, long trails of flame streaking across the night.
———— Experience tales at empire
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As for the political struggle… it still needs to be written, you can’t ignore it. But I’ll try to condense it and quicken the pace.