194 – Cigarette Light (3) – Siege of Lunetsk
Among the special operations forces of the Soviet Empire to conquer Uk ran, the first unit to engage the Uk ranians was the 52nd Mixed Division led by Major General Oldek Mitaev.
An elite division in charge of the right wing centered on Edasa City, the main occupation base.
Originally, the mission was assigned to easily destroy and bypass the defense of the 6th Division, encircle and annihilate the defensive power of Edasa City along with the 7th Division (not sure) and the Motorized Infantry Division deployed in the center.
Unfortunately, it was unable to break through the defenses of the Uk ranian army, and instead became the first division to be incapacitated.
As a result, the division commander, Oldek Mitaev, had thoughts of putting the trigger in his mouth several times and dozens of times a day.
However, right after hearing the news that the Uk ranians had counterattacked, broke through the Barden Forest, pushed back the 4th Guards Infantry Division deployed nearby, and split the camp of the Special Operations Forces in half, my mind was clear. I felt like losing
It was because he realized that not only himself, but the entire Special Operations Force was completely wrong in the first place.
A new military doctrine created in haste. Even that, the proficiency of the front-line soldiers was low, and even the officers who were supposed to teach the doctrine in question were not clearly awakened.
Also, what about the poor equipment that is the opposite of the cool name of ‘Special Operations Force’?
While the enemy lined the wires with ‘chainsaws’ that fired dozens of rounds per minute and literally tore men apart, the Imperials were still using outdated lever-action rifles from eight years ago.
What the Uk ranians had done only a few years ago, now the situation has been reversed and the Soviet Imperial Army has been put in that position.
At this point, the situation of Oldek and the 52nd Mixed Division under his command was as follows.
Cutting off communication with allies.
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Enemy divisions facing the front are showing signs of turning to the offensive.
In addition to that, in the east, the 7th Mobile Brigade, led by the rumored Enoch Levandel, has swarmed the front line.
Therefore, he has only two options.
As it is, surrender to the 6th Division with a white flag, or carry out a final retreat operation with all troops—in other words, absorbing all troops from the 4th Guards Infantry Division, which had collapsed and fled.
The former would have to live as a prisoner of war who had abandoned honor as a disgrace that would remain for a long time in the history of the Imperial Army, but the latter had a chance to return to their hometown if they succeeded.
“Tell the regiment commanders to gather. In case of death, call a substitute and come to the highest rank among the personnel of the 4th Guards Infantry Division.”
“Okay!”
“Call the staff right away.”
Candles light up in the field tent, which was only under light control, in case it is attacked by an enemy aircraft.
It was only after the officers in charge who had been scattered across the frontline gathered together again.
Oldek Mitaev looked at them and declared.
“From now on, we will break through the road to Lunetsk.”
***
March 2nd.
Almost a week has passed since the outbreak of the war in Uk ran. The spirit of spring was slowly rising, but there was still only the cool air in the long stretched trench lines.
Soldier Reedwok was smoking a cigarette in silence in a shelter on one side of the trench. Beside him, other soldiers were also gathering in twos and threes and talking.
“f*ck, it’s only been a week?””
“I think it’s been a few years… ….”
“It must have been years since you couldn’t make rice cakes, would you like to spin a spider web?”
“This bastard suddenly sucks. Are you crazy?”
They all looked tired. I was grateful that I still had enough stamina to take even such a trivial joke, but it was unclear how far this could go.
In an instant.
A man entered the simple shelter filled with cigarette smoke. When Reedwok, who quickly checked his rank insignia, gave a loud salute, the seniors who were playing around in the back straightened their postures in perfect order.
“Glory to the motherland!”
“Sergeant Kirovs and 5 others are resting after finishing their duty!”
“Relax.”
“Relax!”
“Is everyone okay?”
“What is the problem? Your boss is here.”
Sergeant Rick Hanson. He was originally the one who commanded the entire unit with his outstanding charisma, but after the outbreak of war, he became regarded as a living god among the soldiers.
It was only natural that he perfectly transported ammunition to maintain the defense line even under heavy enemy fire, and delivered all wounded soldiers to the rear.
“But what are you doing now? Forward inspection?”
“It’s a scouting mission.”
At those words, the faces of the people gathered in the trench darkened.
Recon missions.
Life in the trenches was already hell in itself, but there was still a sense of security that ensured some level of safety amidst enemy fire.
But does a war end when people die in only one place?
At the beginning of the battle, the enemy suffered terrible damage and fell silent, but the fact remained that they, like themselves, were holed up outside the trench lines.
That’s why the headquarters of the division used to hire a few men a day to cross the no-man’s-land outside the trench lines and entrust them with the mission of carrying out reconnaissance of the enemy trench lines.
It’s necessary, but a de facto suicide mission.
If you get caught, you will be exposed to the enemy’s crossfire and it is not easy to escape.
Even though there are pits dug by artillery fire, there is only that much cover.
“Is there anyone willing to volunteer?”
“…… “
At the sergeant’s words, not only the recruits but also the veterans shut their mouths. Even with Rick Hanson accompanying him, there’s no way a soldier would want to step into a suicide mission on his own feet.
“Yesterday I was drafted from the 5th Company. It’s your turn here today. If there are no volunteers, I will select them myself.”
“I will do it.”
Leadworks, who was sitting in the corner listening to the story in silence, raises his hand.
“Leadwork, are you serious?”
I already had a certain amount of acquaintance with Sergeant Rick. Unlike the first day, which was just stupid, Leadwok faithfully performed the duties of a machine gunner.
“Yes, I would like to.”
“This is not a mission to just sit back and pull the trigger. You may die.”
“It’s okay.”
Leadwork’s eyes shone. He recalled the names of those who had been crumbling in the trenches over the past few days.
Yuri, Joshua, Sergeant Hunter, Sergeant Eric, Lieutenant Caitlin…….
And even the nameless supply soldier who gave him the last shot on the first night when the overwhelming army raged.
They died faithful to their duties. There was no reason for any of them to die. Even knowing death, he remained silent.
If this was the mission given to him, Rydwick was confident that he would gladly undertake it.
“…… It’s not a bad spirit. Then, by 22:00 today, you can come to the battalion headquarters in single military uniform.”
“Yes!”
“You have already become a real soldier.”
As Rick Hanson smiled lightly and disappeared, other senior soldiers soon approached and threw out word by word.
“Are you okay?”
“Haven’t you already seen all the things you can’t see?”
“f*ck you, crazy bastard. You don’t need anything else, so just come back alive.”
“Without you, who will be the machine gunner now!!”
As soon as the shelling started, the new recruit who was flustered stupidly became a soldier recognized by all the company members.
Comrades in arms.
Even if he crumbles on the battlefield, there are still people who will remember him here.
Thought that, Ridwok took his military uniform and left.
***
March 2 at 22:30.
Sherkiu Front, no-man’s-land.
There was no particular reason why this place was called a no-man’s-land. It was because it was truly a land of death where no life existed.
Craters left in the aftermath of the shelling are hollowed out like acne scars everywhere, and the smell of rotting corpses stings your nose as soon as you step on the ground.
I couldn’t tell if it belonged to the allies or the enemy.
The only ones that Rick Hanson and the others can recover are not those whose souls have already left and return to the dust, but only those who can prove their lives through moaning or whatever.
Besides, this time it was a reconnaissance mission, so finding such a person wouldn’t save him.
“Are you okay?”
“Okay…… There… ….”
Leadwock had to endure the feeling of nausea rising up inside him while looking at such a no-man’s land.
This smell was the scent of those he killed by pulling the trigger.
“Keep your mind straight. Sergeant Rick Hanson took good care of it, but he doesn’t disappoint you.”
“Yes.”
They moved slowly, deliberately, and stealthily at the same time.
The night on the front line where the moonlight did not rise was so dark that it was impossible to see an inch ahead, but rather it was extending the lives of the scouts.
I was truly grateful, except for touching someone’s skin that had cooled off from touching the ground from time to time.
“It is the enemy’s 1st trench line. Prepare for battle.”
Recon Captain Rick Hanson calmly draws his gun on orders.
A submachine gun that boasts overwhelming firepower at close range.
No matter how many of them they are, it’s all too easy to kill them if you pull the trigger first.
‘One, two, three. Enter!’
The crew received the hand signal and rushed into the trench line.
“??”
“Sir? No one.”
Surely, there were no human traces anywhere in the machine gun positions that had remained intact until yesterday. Could it be that the guard post was changed? If not that, a trap?
Rick Hanson’s head spun. In any case, the need for reconnaissance has increased even more at the point where the content has changed from what was previously delivered.
In the end, they chose to go deeper into Soviet’s trench line.
From the outpost, the rest post, and the headquarters, there was no trace of the enemies anywhere.
“Sir…… I hope this.”
“Damn it! Return to headquarters right now! It’s an emergency!”
The Soviet Imperial Army’s 52nd Mixed Division deployed in front of the 6th Division had already withdrawn from the front.
