Chapter 211: The Astragoth Assault

Chapter 211: The Astragoth Assault

The first wave of stones reached the northern defenses before the Astragoths came within rifle range.

Dozens crossed the open ground and fell across the center and western parts of the sector. Some struck the ground in front of the fortifications, while others hit the packed earth and stone protecting the riflemen.

One tore away part of the center wall. Another landed behind the front line and scattered loose stone across the route used by the reserve. ℯℯ𝘭.

The soldiers nearest the damaged position moved behind the intact part of the wall and kept watching the approaching enemy.

The eastern sector came under bombardment soon afterward. Its throwers were spread across a wider front, so the stones landed over several parts of the slope.

Some struck the front defenses, while others landed behind the rifle positions. One impact damaged the edge of a firing position and forced the soldiers there to move a few steps toward better cover. The main Astragoth formations continued advancing behind the throwers.

Northern observers reported the largest enemy groups to the artillery crews behind the sector.

The first shells landed among the throwers in front of the center and the Astragoths moving behind them. Several creatures were killed immediately. The rest spread out before the next shells arrived, but they did not stop advancing.

Eastern artillery began firing soon after. Observers there had identified two large groups moving toward the northern half of the slope. Shells landed behind the throwers and broke up the first formation. The survivors moved toward the center and northern side instead of staying together.

Another northern volley of stones followed. One projectile struck the damaged center wall again and collapsed more of the packed earth.

Another landed between two rifle positions and blocked part of the route behind them. Soldiers using that path moved around the debris while the men at the front stayed in place.

By then, the nearest throwers had moved close enough for reliable rifle fire.

The goblins opened fire in assigned groups. The center riflemen focused on the throwers directly ahead, while the western groups targeted those supporting the attack on their side.

Several Astragoths were hit while lifting stones. One managed to release its projectile before falling. Another dropped the stone beside itself after repeated shots struck its upper body.

The number of stones reaching the northern center began to fall, but the main force behind the throwers continued forward. The largest group headed toward the damaged center defenses, while another formation moved toward the western side. Smaller groups continued toward the eastern end of the sector.

Northern artillery shifted farther back as the leading Astragoths approached the goblin line. The crews targeted the groups following behind instead of the creatures already near the front. Several shells landed among the middle of the advance and forced the Astragoths there to spread out, creating gaps between the leading and following groups.

The center machine gun opened fire when the first large group entered its lane. The western gun joined a short time later. Both weapons focused on the densest groups still crossing open ground, while the tanks fired at the formations farther behind.

The first Astragoths still managed to reach the lower ground beneath the northern defenses. Riflemen shifted their aim toward the closest creatures while the machine guns continued firing past them at the groups still approaching.

The northern commander contacted the officer responsible for the center. "Keep the machine gun on the group in the open. You’ve got three creatures below the wall now, and the rifles are in a better position to deal with them. Move an RPG team closer to the damaged section, but don’t clear the lane unless one of those things actually starts climbing."

The center officer looked over the wall before answering. "Two are directly below us. The third is moving toward the broken section on the left. The rifles still have clear shots at all of them. I’ll bring the RPG team behind the center so they can step forward if the wall gets threatened."

"That’s what I want. Keep your rifles where they are until you need the launcher. There’s no reason to weaken the front before then."

The eastern assault reached the lower slope while the northern fighting continued. Some Astragoths advanced toward the center, while others moved toward the northern side. Their remaining throwers kept launching stones over the advancing groups.

Eastern artillery continued striking the formations farther back. Machine guns opened fire as the first large groups crossed the exposed approaches, and the tanks targeted the concentrations following behind.

One artillery shell landed among a group moving toward the northern side. Several Astragoths were killed, but the survivors continued downhill in smaller numbers. The machine gun covering that approach picked them up as soon as they entered its lane.

A few still reached the lower slope. The eastern riflemen stopped firing at distant targets and focused on the closest creatures. Two fell before reaching the front earthwork, but a third continued climbing after the machine gun could no longer fire without crossing the riflemen in front of it.

The officer on the northern side contacted his commander. "One has passed the machine-gun lane and is still climbing toward us. There’s another group behind it, and the gun still has a clear line on them."

"Leave the machine gun on the group behind," the eastern commander replied. "Your rifles can handle the one on the slope. If it reaches the earthwork, bring the RPG team forward. Don’t swing the machine gun across your own position."

The riflemen kept firing until the Astragoth stopped below the defenses.

The western sector came under heavier pressure at nearly the same time. One enemy group approached the center of the stone shelf, while another moved toward the southern end. Western artillery struck the formations behind them, and the center machine gun opened fire on the leading group.

The tank covering the southern approach fired at a larger concentration moving toward the exposed end of the shelf. The shell killed several Astragoths and scattered the rest, but enough survived to keep moving.

The southern officer reported to the western commander. "The tank broke up the largest group, but I still have several coming toward the shelf. They’re spread out now. If I turn the machine gun onto all of them, I’ll leave the center uncovered."

"Keep the machine gun on the largest group," the commander said. "Use the rifles on the ones that separate from it. If several reach the lower edge together, tell me before they start climbing and I’ll send another rifle group down to you."

"I can hold with what I have for now. I’ll call if the line starts getting crowded."

The southern sector received the smallest assault. The open ground there allowed the goblins to see the Astragoths from the moment they began moving. A few throwers sent stones ahead, but most landed short or struck the outer earthworks without causing serious damage.

Southern artillery fired into the center of the advancing force. The center tank targeted the largest group that remained together, while the machine guns on both sides engaged Astragoths spreading away from the middle. The attack began losing numbers before most of the creatures reached rifle range.

North continued to face the strongest pressure. Several Astragoths reached the base of the damaged center defenses, and two moved directly toward the section that had taken repeated stone impacts. The northern artillery had already shifted farther back, and the tanks kept their fire away from anything too close to the goblin line.

The center officer called the RPG team forward when one Astragoth began climbing through the damaged earth. "Launcher to the center opening. Front rifles move behind the intact wall on the right. Stay there until the gunner has a clear shot."

The RPG gunner stepped into the opening and checked the ground ahead. "The riflemen are clear. I can see the target below the broken wall."

"Take the shot, then move back so the rifles can return."

The RPG struck the Astragoth before it reached the top. The gunner stepped away from the opening, and the riflemen immediately moved back into position.

Another Astragoth followed the same route, but the rifles were ready for it. Several groups concentrated their shots on the creature and stopped it below the fortification before another RPG was needed.

Farther west, two Astragoths reached the lower edge at nearly the same time. Rifle fire slowed the first, but the second continued climbing. A nearby RPG team moved into position after the western riflemen cleared part of the lane. The RPG stopped the closer creature, while the riflemen brought down the other before it reached the top.

The eastern sector also began facing close attacks, though fewer Astragoths reached its front. Several creatures climbed the lower slope after surviving machine-gun fire. Rifle groups focused on them one at a time while the heavier weapons continued firing at the groups farther back.

The northern commander committed part of his reserve when casualties created gaps in the center and western positions. He contacted the reserve officer and gave him the two locations that needed men.

"Send one rifle group to the damaged center and another west. Keep everyone else where they are."

"The center group can move behind the machine-gun position," the reserve officer replied. "The western group can use the route behind the elevated ground. Neither group will have to cross a firing lane."

"Use those routes. When they arrive, they report to the officers already there. I don’t want anyone choosing a position on their own in the middle of the fight."

The first reserve group reinforced the damaged center, replacing wounded riflemen and adding more fire to the broken section. The second moved west and strengthened the position facing the lower approach.

The eastern commander also committed part of his reserve after another group of Astragoths approached the northern side of the slope. West sent reinforcements toward the southern end once attackers reached the lower edge of the shelf. South kept its reserve in place because its front was still holding.

Noah received reports from all four sectors as the assault continued. The field commander stood beside the map and summarized the changes.

"North has moved part of its reserve into the center and west. East sent one rifle group north. West reinforced the southern end of the shelf. South hasn’t touched its reserve yet."

"Keep the remaining reserves inside their own sectors," Noah replied. "Every side still has enemies moving toward it. We don’t take troops away from one front until we know that attack has stopped."

"The artillery still has good targets behind north, east, and west. South has fewer groups left at longer range."

"Keep the guns on the formations feeding those attacks. Anything already close to our defenses is for the troops at the front."

Northern artillery continued firing on groups moving toward the center behind the first wave. Eastern shells struck another formation trying to reinforce the northern side of the slope. Western crews fired on Astragoths approaching the southern side of the shelf.

The first clear reduction in pressure appeared in the south. Groups behind the leading attackers stopped moving forward together. Some Astragoths turned back after artillery and tank fire broke up the formations in front of them. Others remained scattered across the open ground and stopped advancing.

The southern machine guns continued firing on the creatures still coming forward, but fewer targets entered their lanes.

West began weakening next. The southern tank and nearby machine gun had stopped most of the Astragoths approaching the exposed end of the shelf. Riflemen continued engaging the remaining attackers, but no new large group arrived behind them.

East remained active longer. Astragoths were still advancing toward the northern side of the slope, but each new group was smaller than the one before it. Artillery had broken up several formations before they reached machine-gun range, and the tanks continued firing at the groups still crossing open terrain.

The northern sector remained the hardest fight. Riflemen continued firing at creatures below the damaged center, while RPG teams stayed near the sections where the cover had been broken. The center machine gun remained focused on the groups farther out, and the tanks and artillery targeted the formations behind them.

The number of fresh attackers gradually dropped. Groups following the first wave had already taken artillery fire before reaching the front. Those that continued forward then passed through tank and machine-gun fire before reaching the rifles. By the time they arrived near the fortifications, they were coming in smaller groups with wider gaps between them.

The stone bombardment weakened at the same time. Most of the throwers that had moved close enough to hit the defenses accurately had been killed or driven back. The remaining throwers were farther away, and fewer of their stones reached the goblin positions.

No goblin formation moved forward to chase the Astragoths that began withdrawing. Riflemen continued firing only at creatures still approaching. Machine-gun crews kept their weapons covering the open approaches, while tanks targeted enemy groups that had not yet turned back.

The southern attack stopped first. West was left with scattered Astragoths still moving across the approach, while east continued facing smaller groups near the northern side of the slope. North remained active, but fewer creatures were reaching the damaged fortifications.

Observers continued watching the ground beyond the immediate fighting. More Astragoths remained farther from the goblin line. Some were moving away from areas already hit by artillery, while other groups remained gathered behind the positions used to launch the first assault.

Noah kept every sector in place. Artillery crews prepared more rounds, tank crews remained inside their vehicles, and riflemen and RPG teams continued holding the damaged parts of the defenses. The first assault had weakened, but enough Astragoths remained beyond the front to launch another attack.