Chapter 210: Preparing for the Assault

Chapter 210: Preparing for the Assault

The next groups from Eldrath brought equipment that had been left behind during the earlier advance. Transport vehicles carried additional machine guns, RPG rounds, rifle ammunition, and heavier support weapons toward the four defensive sectors.

Tanks followed once the officers confirmed that the routes were wide and firm enough for them to pass without blocking the infantry.

West and south received the largest armored groups because both sectors faced wider stretches of open ground. North and east received fewer tanks because their positions forced approaching Astragoths through narrower areas.

The field commander reviewed the assignments with Noah before the vehicles split off.

"I’m sending three tanks west and three south," he said. "North and east get two each. West will keep one behind the center, one at the southern end, and one with the reserve. South will keep two behind the main line and hold the third farther back so it can move toward whichever side needs support."

Noah studied the positions marked on the map. "Keep the tanks behind the rifles. I don’t want them so close to the front that the Astragoths can reach them in the first charge. Let the infantry and machine guns absorb that initial pressure."

"That’s already in the placement orders. I also told the sector commanders to keep the roads behind their rifle lines clear."

"Make sure the rifle officers know where those roads are. A tank can’t reposition effectively if our own soldiers are blocking its firing path."

The western tanks reached their sector first. One stopped behind the center of the stone shelf, another moved toward the southern end, and the third stayed with the reserve. The western commander met the tank officer beside the center vehicle and pointed toward the marked firing roads.

"This vehicle stays here unless I order otherwise," he said. "The southern tank covers the open ground beyond the end of the shelf. Both crews will hold their assigned positions unless I give a new order."

The tank officer nodded. "The gun has a clear firing lane from here."

"That’s what matters. Keep the vehicle ready and wait for orders."

The southern sector received its tanks next. Two were placed behind the main rifle line, while the third stayed farther back, where it could support the sector if needed. Additional machine guns arrived with them, and the southern commander placed one near each end of the sector instead of concentrating both at the center.

One of his officers studied the placements. "You’re putting both new guns on the sides?"

"The center already has one machine gun and a tank," the commander replied. "If the Astragoths come straight at us, that part of the line already has support. The eastern and western ends are more exposed. I want the new guns covering those approaches."

The officer nodded toward the eastern gun. "That crew has a clear road across the southeast approach."

"Then mark the limit now and make sure the rifle officer understands it."

North and east received their armored support shortly afterward. The northern commander placed one tank behind the center and another behind the western side. The eastern commander kept both vehicles behind the slope, where they could fire toward the main approaches without blocking troops moving between sectors.

Fresh rifle formations followed the heavy equipment. None were sent beyond the current defensive line. Some filled gaps in the forward positions, while the rest joined the reserves behind each sector.

The field commander reviewed the deployment with Noah once the new units were in place.

"Every sector has another reserve formation now. West and south have more riflemen because they’re covering wider fronts. I also split the RPG teams across each sector instead of keeping them together."

Noah asked, "How far behind the front are they?"

"Close enough to support either side of their sector. They’re not sitting directly behind the rifles, though. If the front gets hit by stones, the RPG teams shouldn’t be standing in the same place."

"Keep it that way. If something gets through, I want the nearest team to handle it. I don’t want three teams all running from the same spot."

Ammunition followed the troops forward. Each sector divided its supplies among several positions behind the front. Machine gun ammunition, rifle magazines, RPG rounds, and tank ammunition were kept apart so a single hit would not damage most of a sector’s supplies.

The western commander stopped beside one of the ammunition points and watched the crates being unloaded.

"Move half of that machine gun ammunition farther north," he told the supply officer. "Leave enough here for the center gun, but don’t put all of it beside the rifle magazines."

The supply officer glanced toward the reserve position. "I can move the extra ammunition behind the northern group. If the center gun starts running low, we can bring more forward without crossing the rifle line."

"Do that."

By the middle of the day, all four sectors had more firepower in place. Riflemen occupied the forward defenses. Machine guns covered the main approaches. RPG teams waited behind the rifles, and tanks sat farther back with their firing roads already marked.

The first report of changing enemy movement came from the north.

The northern observer contacted his commander. "The groups we were following have stopped retreating. Several are moving toward the same area beyond the next elevated ground. More are coming in from the northwest."

The northern commander moved closer to the observation position. "When they reach that area, are they continuing toward us?"

"No. The first groups are stopping there. I can count at least six separate groups moving toward the same position. I can’t see everything on the western side because part of it hides behind the elevated ground."

"Keep watching that side. If another group goes behind the elevation, tell me where it entered and whether it comes out again. I need to know if they’re gathering into one large force or several smaller ones."

The northern commander sent the report to the field commander.

Before Noah had finished hearing it, the eastern sector reported similar movement.

The eastern commander spoke over the shared channel. "The Astragoths northeast of my position have changed direction. They were spread across the slope earlier. Now several groups are moving toward two gathering points farther out. I also have more coming in from the east."

Noah looked at the field commander. "Get west and south before we move anyone. I want to know whether this is happening around the whole perimeter."

The western commander answered first. "It is. The group that withdrew from us earlier has stopped near the stone-covered ground farther west. More Astragoths are arriving from the northwest. They haven’t started toward my line yet."

The southern commander reported last. "I have fewer than the other sectors, but the same thing is happening here. The groups south of us stopped retreating, and another group came in from the southeast and joined them."

The field commander compared the reports. "North has the largest concentration. East is second. West is still growing. South has the smallest force we can see. None of them has started a full attack yet."

Noah looked over the four sectors again.

"I’ll tell the commanders to keep their troops within their assigned sectors unless we see where the main pressure is."

"That gives them enough freedom. Keep the sectors balanced until the enemy commits."

The order went out. Workers near the front stopped carrying materials through the fighting positions, while combat units returned to their assigned places. Machine-gun crews checked their weapons and ammunition. Tank crews entered their vehicles, and RPG teams moved into waiting positions behind the rifle lines.

In the north, one officer approached the sector commander.

"The western reserve is ready," he said. "Do you want part of it closer to the center? The largest enemy group we can see is forming there."

"Leave them where they are for now," the commander replied. "We still have enemy groups gathering west of the center. If I move the reserve now and they attack through that side, I’ll be sending the same men back while the fight is already happening."

"The center machine gun is ready, and the tank behind it has a clear road across the lower ground."

"Keep both where they are. We’ll move the reserve after the Astragoths show us where they’re actually concentrating the attack."

In the east, the commander kept his reserve near the middle of the sector so it could support either end. He then contacted the officer responsible for the northern side.

"Keep your rifles behind the front position. If the Astragoths come down from the northeast, hold your ground and fire from there."

"The machine gun behind us covers most of the open approach," the officer replied. "My rifles can stay below its firing road and concentrate on anything that reaches the lower slope."

"That’s what I want. If they spread farther south, I’ll send reserve troops toward you. Until then, keep your men facing northeast."

The southern commander checked his own line. He stopped beside the central tank and spoke with its officer.

"Stay in this position when the attack starts. Your gun already covers the southern approach. Hold here unless I give you another position."

"Both crews have the markers," the tank officer replied. "We’ll hold these positions. The reserve tank can support the line from behind."

"That’s why I kept it back. If one side takes heavier pressure, I’ll send it there. Until then, all three tanks stay where they are."

Observer reports became more frequent as the Astragoths finished gathering.

The northern concentration moved first. Groups that had been waiting beyond the elevated ground began advancing south. The largest body moved toward the center, while smaller groups spread toward the western and eastern approaches.

The northern observer contacted the commander again. "The main group is moving now. I also have smaller groups separating toward both sides. They’re still outside rifle range."

"Are they continuing straight toward us?"

"Not all of them. Several are slowing near the loose stones farther ahead."

The commander focused on that part of the report. "Keep watching those groups. I want to know whether they’re stopping for cover or preparing to throw."

The eastern concentration began moving soon afterward. Several groups advanced toward the slope while others followed behind them. West reported movement next, and south followed a short time later.

The field commander updated Noah. "Every direction has movement now. North has the largest advancing force. East and west are also coming forward. South is smaller, but its groups are moving."

"How close is the northern force?"

"Still outside reliable rifle range. Several groups have stopped near the loose stone."

"Then hold fire. I don’t want riflemen burning ammunition on targets they’re unlikely to stop."

The purpose of the northern groups near the stones became clear within minutes. Several Astragoths separated from the main advance and moved toward larger rocks scattered across the ground. They wrapped their tails around the rocks and dragged them into positions facing the goblin defenses while the main body continued approaching behind them.

The northern observer counted the visible creatures. "I can confirm twelve preparing rocks in front of the main force. There are more farther east, but the elevated ground is blocking part of my view."

The northern commander contacted his rifle officers. "The throwers become your first targets once they enter effective range. Don’t fire early. I want rounds hitting the creatures, not the ground around them."

One rifle officer replied, "I have four throwers in front of the center and another group closer to the eastern side. I can assign separate rifle groups to them so everyone isn’t firing at the same creature."

"Do that. Keep enough rifles watching the main force. I don’t want the whole line focused on throwers while the rest of the Astragoths keep closing."

The eastern sector saw the same preparation. Astragoths moved away from the main body and positioned themselves beside loose rocks along the slope.

The eastern commander contacted his officers. "Assign the nearest throwers to specific rifle groups once they enter range. Keep the rest of your men watching the main advance. If we turn every rifle toward the rock throwing Astragoths, we’ll lose track of what’s coming behind them."

A rifle officer answered, "I have four throwers directly in front of my position and several farther north. My first two groups can handle the closest ones without changing the rest of the line."

"Use those two groups. The others stay on the advancing force."

Western observers identified several throwers as well. South reported only a few, but its main group continued moving closer. The tanks and machine guns remained silent because the larger enemy groups had not yet entered the firing roads where the commanders wanted the heavy weapons to engage.

The field commander compared the latest reports with Noah. "North and east have the most throwers. West has fewer. South has only a small group preparing rocks, but its main force is still advancing."

"Keep every reserve where it is," Noah replied. "We still don’t know whether north is the main attack or whether they intend to hit every side at the same time."

The northern throwers finished preparing first. One Astragoth wrapped its tail around a large rock, lifted it from the ground, and turned toward the goblin line. Several others nearby lifted their own rocks while the main force continued advancing behind them.

The northern commander spoke over the sector channel. "Stay behind the fortifications. Rifle officers keep your assigned throwers marked. Machine guns hold until the main groups enter their firing lanes. Tank crews stay on the positions we set earlier. Nobody moves forward to shorten the distance."

In the east, the first throwers also lifted their rocks. Riflemen watched from behind the reinforced positions while the machine-gun and tank crews remained ready farther back.

The first northern Astragoth swung its tail and released the rock toward the goblin line. Several others threw within the next few seconds. On the eastern side, the first rocks also left the ground while the main Astragoth formations continued closing the distance behind the throwers.

The projectiles crossed the open terrain toward the goblin fortifications as the defenders remained behind their prepared positions and waited for the enemy to enter effective range.