Chapter 217: The Astragoths Stand Their Ground

Chapter 217: The Astragoths Stand Their Ground

The northern advance stopped when observers reported that the Astragoths ahead were no longer retreating. Several groups had turned around and taken positions directly across the goblin route of advance, while more approached from farther north. The groups remained separated by open ground rather than gathering into one large formation.

The northern commander contacted the officers at the front. "Hold your positions. We don’t know if they are preparing to attack or only trying to stop us. I don’t want anyone moving closer until we know."

The center officer raised his field glasses and studied the ground ahead. "Two groups have stopped directly in front of us. Another group is moving up behind them. I can also see two more groups farther north. There is more movement behind the rise, but I can’t see enough to count them."

The left officer joined the communication. "I can see two more groups from my side. They are coming from farther west and moving toward our left. There is still plenty of space between each group."

The northern commander considered both reports. "Stay where you are. Set the machine guns and keep the tanks behind the soldiers. If they attack, I want us ready before they get close."

The center officer checked the nearest group. "My tank already has a clear shot. We can hit them from here."

"Then fire. Keep the soldiers in place."

The tank fired and struck the Astragoths in front of the center. Several were killed, while the survivors moved away from the impact point without retreating. Another tank fired toward the group facing the northern left. Conventional artillery began striking Astragoths farther behind them.

The bombardment forced several groups to change position, but they remained in front of the goblins. More Astragoths continued arriving from the north and spread out behind those already facing the goblin line.

The first group in front of the northern center began moving forward. A second group followed behind it.

The center officer contacted the commander. "The first group is coming toward us. The second group is following. The first group is still far enough away for the tank to fire again."

"Keep the tank on them while you have a clear shot. Once they get close to our soldiers, move the tank onto the second group. The machine guns can deal with the first group after that."

"I’ll do that. The machine guns are ready."

On the left, one enemy group approached directly from the front while another moved toward the outer flank.

The left officer reported the movement. "One group is coming straight at us. The other is moving farther left. I can cover both, but I need to move the second machine gun."

"Move the gun. Leave the soldiers where they are. If that outside group turns toward your center, tell me before you move any men."

"I’ll keep the formation in place and move only the gun crew."

The second machine-gun crew reached the outer position before the Astragoths entered firing range.

East reported the same change shortly afterward. Several enemy groups had stopped ahead of the eastern center, while others approached the right from farther east.

The eastern commander contacted Noah’s field command. "The Astragoths here have stopped retreating too. Several groups are facing our center. More are coming toward the right. They are still spread out, but they are moving toward us."

The field commander looked at Noah. "North and east are facing the same problem. West and south still have smaller groups moving away."

Noah checked the four forward positions. "North and east stop where they are. West and south can finish their current advance, but they stay close to the formations beside them. I don’t want them creating another exposed side."

"North wants to attack before more Astragoths arrive."

"No. Their tanks can already hit the enemy, and the machine guns are ready. If they advance, they only make it easier for the Astragoths to reach them."

"I’ll send more ammunition and replacement soldiers to north and east."

"Keep the replacements behind the front. Send them forward only when a formation takes losses."

The field commander checked another report. "The northern artillery crews are asking about the rocket artillery. The enemy groups are still spread out."

"Then don’t use the rockets. Conventional artillery can hit the separate groups."

The first northern Astragoth group entered machine-gun range, and both center crews opened fire. Several creatures fell, but the survivors continued toward the soldiers.

The center tank fired once more, then shifted to the second group farther back as the first attackers closed on the goblin line.

The center officer contacted the commander. "The first group is close now. The tank has moved onto the second group. Both machine guns are still firing, but some Astragoths are getting through."

"Keep the RPG teams behind the soldiers for now. Move them only when the Astragoths reach the line. I don’t want them crowding the machine guns."

"I’ll keep them back until we need them."

The nearest creatures continued through machine-gun and small-arms fire. One fell before reaching the soldiers. Another reached the left side of the center formation and killed two goblins before nearby soldiers concentrated their fire and brought it down. Several more reached the same area.

The center officer raised his voice over the gunfire. "They reached the left side of the center. We are still holding, but we lost men there. The second group is also getting closer."

"Replacements are already coming to you. Put them on the left side first. Keep them inside the current line."

"That should be enough. The soldiers here can finish the remaining Astragoths from the first group."

The replacements arrived while the first attack was still being cleared. The local officer divided the fresh soldiers between the damaged left side and the center. No one was sent ahead of the existing line.

The second Astragoth group continued approaching under tank and machine-gun fire.

The northern left was also fighting. Several Astragoths survived long enough to reach the soldiers at the front, while another group continued toward the machine gun on the outer flank.

The left officer contacted the commander. "The front group is close now. The tank has moved onto the group behind them. The outside group is still coming toward the second machine gun."

"I still have replacements behind you. I’ll keep them there until you take losses."

"That’s better. I don’t want to use them too early and put them on the wrong side."

"Call for them when you need them."

The outside group reached the soldiers behind the machine gun. The goblins killed the first Astragoths that broke through, but several soldiers were lost during the close fighting.

The left officer contacted the commander again. "Send the replacement group now. I lost enough men on the outside that I can’t hold another attack there with the same strength."

"They’re moving to you. Keep the soldiers at the front where they are."

"I will. I only need the replacements on the outside."

East entered heavy fighting before the northern attack ended. Two Astragoth groups advanced toward the eastern center, while another approached the outside of the right formation.

The right-side machine gun already had a clear line on the outside group, so the eastern commander kept the formation in place.

The right officer reported the situation. "The outside group is coming straight toward my right machine gun. They have not turned toward the center."

"Then keep everyone where they are. Let the machine gun work. If they change direction, tell me before you move soldiers."

"I’ll hold the right where it is."

The machine gun opened fire while a tank behind the formation engaged the groups farther back. Several Astragoths fell, but the survivors continued toward the right.

Noah received reports from north and east as both directions became fully engaged. Neither had lost ground, but casualties were increasing.

The field commander summarized the situation. "North is fighting at the center and left. East is fighting at the center and right. Both are still holding."

"What about west and south?"

"West still has scattered Astragoths pulling away. South has no large group directly ahead. Both commanders want to continue."

"Let them finish taking the ground they are already moving into, then stop."

"West still has room to move farther."

"I know. But every step forward makes their supply route longer. North and east already need replacements and ammunition. I don’t want west and south too far forward if the Astragoths turn on them too."

"I’ll have both stop after their current movement."

The northern center came under heavier pressure when the second Astragoth group entered machine-gun range. Several creatures fell, but enough survived to continue toward the soldiers.

One Astragoth reached a machine-gun position and struck the crew before nearby soldiers killed it. Two crewmen were down, and the weapon stopped firing.

The center officer reported the loss immediately. "One machine gun is down. The weapon still works, but I lost part of the crew."

"Do you have anyone nearby who can operate it?"

"I have replacement soldiers behind the position. They can use it for now, but I need trained crewmen sent forward."

"Use the replacements now. I’ll send a proper crew. I don’t want that gun sitting unused."

"I’ll put two soldiers on it until the crew arrives."

The machine gun resumed firing after a short interruption.

East began taking similar losses. Several Astragoths reached the right formation despite tank and machine-gun fire. One killed several soldiers before an RPG struck it at close range. Another reached the edge of the eastern center and was killed by concentrated gunfire.

The eastern commander contacted the right officer. "Can you handle another attack without taking men from the center?"

"I can handle another group from the same direction. The outside is weaker now. If another group comes around the right while the center is also fighting, I will need more soldiers."

"Fresh soldiers are already coming. Put enough on the outside to restore it. Keep the rest behind the center."

"That will work. The next group is still far enough away for us to place them before it arrives."

Conventional artillery continued striking Astragoth groups farther from the goblin positions. Some groups moved away from the impact areas, while others changed direction and continued toward north and east.

The enemy remained too spread out for rocket artillery. North was also using replacement soldiers faster than east.

The field commander checked the latest reports. "North is using more replacements, but neither line has moved back."

"Send the next fresh group north. The group after that goes east unless the situation changes."

Another northern observer soon reported three more Astragoth groups approaching. One was moving toward the center, while two were heading toward the left. Open ground still separated them.

The northern commander joined the communication. "Can you see more groups behind them?"

"There is movement farther north, but the rise blocks most of it. I can’t give you a reliable number."

"Then don’t guess. Keep watching. Tell me where they are going when you can see them clearly."

The commander then contacted the center and left officers. "More groups are coming. Center has one. Left has two. Check your ammunition now and get your replacement soldiers into position before the Astragoths reach machine-gun range."

The center officer replied, "Both machine guns are working again. The replacements have filled our losses, and the tank has a clear shot at the next group."

The left officer reported next. "The outside position is restored. Both machine guns are ready, and we have enough ammunition for another attack."

"Good. Stay where you are. Make them cross the same ground as the previous groups."

East reported another set of Astragoths approaching its center and right at almost the same time. The eastern commander kept every formation in place. None of his soldiers would move forward to meet them.

The next northern groups entered artillery range while the earlier fighting continued. Conventional shells struck the group heading toward the center. Several Astragoths were killed, but the survivors continued forward. The two groups heading toward the left spread farther apart after another artillery strike, forcing the machine-gun crews to cover separate approaches.

The northern commander kept his soldiers in place. Tanks fired while the Astragoths were still far enough away, then shifted to the following groups once the attackers reached the forward positions.

Replacement soldiers waited behind the center and left. They would only move into the line when casualties created an opening.

On the eastern front, the right formation received its replacements before the next Astragoth group reached machine-gun range. The officer restored the soldiers around the outer machine gun and kept the remaining replacements behind the center.

The field commander updated Noah as the next attacks developed. "North and east are no longer advancing. West and south have also stopped after securing their new positions. Every direction is holding now."

Noah looked over the map. "Keep ammunition and replacements moving to north and east. West and south stay ready. If Astragoth groups start moving toward them, I want those commanders prepared before the attack arrives."

The rear formations continued sending fresh soldiers and ammunition toward the two active fronts. The portal remained behind the original perimeter, so every replacement still had to travel from the rear to the forward positions.

Northern machine guns continued firing as the next Astragoth groups closed. Tanks engaged enemies farther back, while conventional artillery struck additional groups moving toward the fight.

Another report reached the northern commander. More Astragoths were moving behind the groups already engaged. One additional group approached the center, while more movement was visible behind the northern left.

The commander kept the same orders. "Track every group you can see. Give the artillery confirmed targets. The center and left stay where they are. Nobody moves forward."

The report reached Noah shortly afterward. None of the northern or eastern formations had been pushed back, but more Astragoths were still approaching both fronts. West and south remained in their newly secured positions and prepared for the same kind of attack.

The goblin advance had stopped, but the ground taken during the counterattack remained under goblin control. North and east continued defending those positions while ammunition and replacement soldiers moved forward from the rear.