13 minutes ago.

“Missile away.” (Ballet)

“Old man!” I shouted, and the tank started accelerating.

“Go! Go! Go!

Rapier squad, operation ‘Tsirkul’ ‘ starts!

All units, open fire!”

The tank flew across the no-man’s-land, from the main camp to the Northern wall.

Together with us on the move, the remaining enemy forces rushed to the North, right into the killzone.

Operation ‘Tsirkul’ ‘ has two objectives: to take down the towers that block the resistance’s movements and provide the enemy with good fortifications to slow down any possible breakthrough; the second objective was to concentrate the enemy forces and rain down fire to cause as many casualties as possible.

This time I ignored the possible civilian casualties, hoping that the enemy soldiers were chasing out the civilians for the past days. Aerial recon and the GRU infiltrations estimated the concentrated troops to be up to 5000 men, the majority of the garrison, so it was worth any collateral.

With Valencio’s permission, the walls and the adjacent area will be devastated with everything available: aviation, artillery, and the MLRS.

By the time we drove closer the artillery was pounding the area for 5 minutes, I saw clearly the multiple traces of smoke and explosions occurring on the other side of the wall. However, most of this beating was still directed at the adjacent city buildings.

The allies were not standing still either: they assaulted the walls, trying to climb them. They were supported by gunfire from AGS crews, as well as by the grenade launchers firing at the wall.

“Jester, load HE!”

Bu-bu-bu-bum

I joined in too, firing the Kord.

“Ready!” (J)

“Fire!”

“Shooting!” (J)

BOOM

The shell hit between several enemy soldiers.

“Fire machine guns at the enemies by the ladders!”

“Understood.” (J)

Tra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta

Bu-bu-bu-bum

After few shots the gun had to stop firing to avoid hitting the allies. The troops were about to climb on the wall and the fire was shifted from mowing down the defenders across the wall to clearing the assaulted area.

‘NEOOOOW’

The planes that dropped their ordnance also joined in, strafing the wall as they flew by.

Rain of lead fell on the enemies from above, and hail of bullets shredded the enemies from below. Under our covering fire, the enemies were forced away from the siege ladders. The allies climbed on the walls and slaughter began.

Bodies were falling from the battlements, ladders were pushed off, falling together with the troops, and the people who got lucky to stay on the wall were sandwiched between the arriving reinforcements and the enemies pushing back the assault.

Mortar shells were still landing on the wall, killing indiscriminately, and the earthshaking explosions of the heavy artillery were blowing both the walls and the people on them, or, if the shells fell further away, showered the walls with shrapnel.

Bu-bu-bu-bu-bum

“Rapier squad to Beril-Main! Main objective is fulfilled! Falling back!” (R1)

“Copy.

Looks like we are done. How does the wall look to you? Think they can make it?” I removed the hand from the Kord control stick. Jester looked through his optics and answered: “That’s a slaughter…! They better retreat too!”.

“Sounds like it is time.”

I opened the hatch and stuck my arm out. I held a flare which I lit and threw away. The glow and smoke was supposed to attract the attention of the allies and signal the retreat. There was no planned signal to keep assaulting.

Slowly the allied soldiers started climbing down from the wall, pushed back by the enemy. When some areas of the wall got cleared of the friendlies, the machine guns opened up again.

Bu-bu-bu-bu-bum

Tra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta

We tried to cover the retreat. But some ladders were still broken and pushed away, falling together with people.

Today’s bloody assault was over. Prematurely.

Despite this opportunity being missed, the operation was undoubtedly a success. Enemy casualties were estimated to be several thousand, while the allies lost around 500 men.