XIII Night Skirmish - 1

In the Chief's house. Hierd, Naturvege, the squad leaders, and Friedrich and Hadi sat on the dining room. Under the command of Hierd, a map dictating the surroundings of Venit Ille was brought and put onto the dining room table. 

"Unchean's not a one man army." Hierd started. "They'll surely bring upon the help of other lords in the area. This fight will last for months, nigh even a year. And of course, during the fighting, Auferstehen will break. We don't know what creatures lie dormant below ground, however, if push comes to shove, I will introduce several new armaments our soldiers will use in quick succession."

The room stayed silent, waiting for Hierd's next sentence. Hierd agreed to the silent wait and proceeded to talk; "As they will attack tommorow with an army whilst we have a company of soldiers with rifles. I wish to employ a rather... Unchivalrous move."

"Which is?" Questioned Heduc. 

"We move by night."

The room was shocked. 

"We attack!?" Exlclaimed Jeane. "But, captain. That leaves our village undefended! And any ambush from the sides will endanger the people!"

"That is why I had said that I will introduce several new armaments. However, to train to use these things in a day is hard enough as is. But I hope that we will get started on training them to use it. I will summon multiple trucks to traverse the terrain, whilst calling onto the new armaments I will order to my country. So have the soldiers stop patrolling the village perimeter and instead come to the training grounds. As this will be one of their last days training."

"Yes, captain." 

Hierd left first ahead of them and went to the training grounds, however, to avoid being seen by anyone, ran some ways off from the grounds, away enough so he can use his powers in secret. 

"I want twenty FG-42s along with twenty magazines for each FG-42."

[REQUEST GRANTED: 20 FG-42 MACHINE GUNS WITH TWENTY MAGAZINES]

They were laid neatly along the green grass ground, seeing this he then thought; "I want five M90 trucks like before, along with ten gasoline cans for each one of them." 

[REQUEST GRANTED: FIVE M90 TRANSPORT TRUCKS WITH TEN GASOLINE CANS EACH]

"There's already boxes of amunition for the Kar98ks, as well as the grenades, and MREs. I want to introduce cnow." When he said this, an image of the man he gave a marksman badge came into mind, Matthaus was perfect however he wished to also give him a dedicated sniper scope. "Give me five Anti-Material rifles, as well as ten Kar98ks with sniper scopes attached."

[REQUEST GRANTED: FIVE PTRS-41 ANTI-TANK RIFLES, TEN KAR98KS WITH SNIPER SCOPES ATTACHED]

He loaded one of the trucks with the all the things. Got inside and onto the driver's seat, driving it towards the training site, to which he saw that the soldiers were already there and waiting. Hierd saw Alrife waiting just by as well, figuring that he could drive one as well, he asked him to go get the other trucks of which were waiting just down the other side of the hill.

He got out of the truck and presented the mass amount of clutter in the truck's back. He pulled out one of each thing, the PTRS-41, the scoped Kar98ks, and finally the Machine gun. And with each and every thing he pulled out, the soldiers intrigue got higher every single time, and at the very last item, the Machine Gun, their mouths yearned to question Hierd of its use, as well as the other items. 

"You lot will be training how to use this gun along with the others in less than eight hours!" Yelled Hierd. "After a half day's worth of training, you will be alotted time to sleep. And once you awake, one will find that some will be staying and defending the village, whilst some others will awake and come to find that they will be part of an invasion of one of their settlements."

The soldiers murmured in their breath, 'a half day of non-stop training?' Some said; 'Hopefully it'll be fun.' And patriotically; 'Let's give it our all for our village.'

"I see that you all have mixed feelings about this!" Hierd started. "However! If you do not comply, our very village is at stake, think about your families, think about your loved ones, think about your friends! Think about your futures! If you do not train, if you wish to be tardy! You future-self will look down upon you in shame, and in regret!" 

The speech Hierd gave made them shut-up. "We will start first with the use of the machine guns!" 

For there were twenty of these machine guns, he alotted that for every squad (there being 18) three people will train to use the machine gun. The three men of every squad were picked by their respective talents (for the Ridge village troops have yet to be announced a leader yet). 

For the remaining people who were not picked, they were asked to train to use the Kar8k as they have had before. But, Matthaus was given the special version of the Kar98k, the one with the scope. The soldiers reveled in the idea of attaching a telescope onto a gun to see farther away and wanted ones for themselves, however the captain had stated that only those with the skill to shoot accurately at far distances are the ones able to use such modified weaponry. 

In Hierd's mind, Matthaus' training will help in the long term, as his training to become a sniper will then transfer to his using of the PTRS-41, of which the captain wants him to learn to do so to become an instructer for any future marksmen.

The soldiers who were picked were set onto the ground, and were asked to rapidly fire at the target which was a tree that was some distance away. They were confused, as they were obviously used to the single click and bolt of the kar98k, but Hierd said; "This releases a rapid fire of bullets, to control the fire that unleashes forth from the barrel of the gun, it is best to be prone, to be crouching and placed onto some ground with the two sticks at the front of the ground. Though it is possible to fire the gun like your designated Kar98ks, it has more power than that, and releases them in faster speed, so you must be crawled, as you are now!" 

Hearing this, the soldiers braced for the impact that the gun will do to their shoulders as had they when they had used the Kar98k. 

"FIRE!"

A click.

A rapid fire of thunder clasped the skies and too the clouds, disturbing whatever peace was left of the training field. The soldiers had stopped after some seconds, as they were used to only shooting five rounds. 

They were stunned, the fire that unleashed out of the gun they had just used was even more better than the Kar98k, however, it's use had most definitely hurt their shoulders. The spectators watched and were too blown away as if there was a gust of wind that flew and blowed their ears with the intense sound that the machine gun had emitted. 

"Listen!" Hierd's excordium started. "There are twenty rounds of ammunition inside each magazine, it is much more better than the Kar98k. However, is much more of a hassle to carry. With this gun, it has still the same principles, that you must aim with confidence but in desperate situations, fire the gun in all directions if needed! And because the machine gunners will be fitted with ten magazines, the ones using such guns will tire quickly, so this is a great gun with unfriendly handling!" He took a breath.

"Continue firing!" 

( * )

The message on this sentence contains the expanded map of Venit Ille and Unchean.

Hierd left the squad leaders and some of the village governors to supervise the training, whilst he went into the Naturvege's home once more to plan the night skirmish.

Friedrich and Naturvege were there. When they noticed the captain; they greeted him a warm welcome and they sat on the dining table once again. The gunshot from yesterday still was not fixed by the way. 

"I understand the role of the Ridge Village troops;" Started Friedrick. "That being that they will be auxillary and the ones to help when they are needed. In the addition of the machine gunners, We'd like to have our troops along the main road, watching the battle. And as our own apothecaries ready their medicine in treating the wounded, would they then go into the battle and replace the injured ones."

"That is fine, and is quite what they were made for." Commented Hierd. "However, I would like to know whether their use of fire arrows will decrease our soldiers morale."

"Fire arrows?" Naturvege looked at him with a confused face. "Do you mean... The fire type magic, captain? The fire arrow skill?"

"Wait, they don't know what I'm refering to?"

"No, what I mean is that they put fire at the ends of their bows."

Friedrick jumped in; "No man has ever done such a thing in this continent, its generally frowned upon to even use fire in war. However, such things as thunder-type and water-type magic have been used effectively."

"Magic..." Hierd's face became bitter. "I never thought of magic, if they use some cool ass AOE attack, my shit's dead."

"But not to worry, captain. Magic is a noble's commodity, and generally people who train to use it in an academy of sorts in the capital are able to fully use such a straining activity."

"Phew, shit, I thought my whole life was gonna burn apart." 

"But the lord, Peraux, might use his wind-type magic in this battle." 

"How so?"

"The lord has a reputation to use wind-magic to summon devastating whirlwinds, however, even that power, as I have been told, can lift men up and fling them around but not severely damage them. And that controlling such a power shall require without a doubt a person's force, too much, and you'd be crawling to bed, captain."

"I see... Shit works like some MMO game or some shit, good thing it's been nerfed in this reality."

"Friedrick, we need to aquire a map of the whole kingdom." He looked at him with yearning eyes.

"Unfortunately, captain." Hierd saddened. "We would be able to get one if we were a part of the merchant's guild. No man in this village is a merchant, and probably ever, neither had Unchean's lord; Peraux, ever gave the surrounding villages any maps for even his territory." 

*Tsk

Hierd angered. "The main path towards the city is covered in trees, we wouldn't be able to spot an ambush till' it would be too late." He looked to Naturvege. "Is there any other path that'd lead to Unchean?"

Naturvege had looked to the ceiling whilst rubbing his chin in a way to remember if there was or was not another path. But then, by the flick of a finger, he remembered. "In the eastern forest some ways east off the farm, there's a small forgotten dirt path that goes some multiple ways but ultimately does lead to Unchean." He thought something, to which conjured a question than an answer. "The trucks, can they fit in the path? That I don't know captain."

"We got another way in, either we go by path or I summon another vehicle, if things go awry, I'm gonna get chainsaws. Were chainsaws made in the 1900's? Fuck, idk anymore." 

"Anyhow, we've found another path, I want to use this path to infiltrate and scout Unchean, and hopefully, succeed."

Friedrich's eyes jumped up, he was confused yet too intrigued. "Suceed how? Captain?"

"Because they know that we are an actual threat and that we can kill multiple men by just the blink of an eye, they will deploy all their units towards the village, to hopefully subdue and control it." Hierd looked at the map, and with all three braincells, the neurons fired as much as it could. "Because the river blockades any advance from any side, they will most definitely want to take the farm that is across the river. Thus crippling the village's food resource. Weakening our men's resolve to continue any so what battle. And because the village of Venit Ille borders another kingdom, they would not be so stupid as to invade from that kingdom's side. I suggest we defend the farm with as much of our troops deployed there with as many mines deployed around the perimeter. Also of the bridge. If ever that our forces get overpowered and are forced to retreat towards the village, we will blow up the bridge."

"Blow up the bridge!?" Cried Naturvege. "We'd have lost a viable way to get across the other side if that's the case. And if the night scouting were to suceed, how would they come back?"

"How would they come back at all if our forces were overpowered?" Retorted Hierd. "The night scouting is more of an army. When Unchean sends all their troops to our village, the night troops will then invade the city of Unchean in one clean swoop. In this taking, we will use the fortification of the city to our advantage as they siege their own city."

"I see...." Commented Friedrick, "If they got word that the city was being invaded, they would turn back, thus the soldiers, if ever overencumbered, would be able to take back the farm!"

"Yes, and also, with the help of one more technology I will introduce, our soldiers will then advance forward to Unchean."

"That would spell death to Peraux!" Exclaimed Friedrick.

"Yes." 

Friedrick and Naturvege were intrigued as to what new technology Hierd said he would introduce, because of that, they pried open the topic. "What is the new technology you speak of, captain?"

"It is the radio." 

A moment of silence, until Naturvege broke it with a laugh. "I have heard of it! It is Germany's bestest of tech, one that could bring the voice of one person to another person with just the use of... Waves? In the air, using a gadget of some kind!" 

He put his hands under the table, "Give me a... SCR-300." 

[REQUEST GRANTED: SCR-300]

Hierd had smirked as he knew what kind of radio he wanted without being too broad, for he had read a book before about radios. After he felt the weight of said radio on his hands, he pulled it out and revealed it to the audience. They looked at it with obvious intrigue poking it with their fingers and looking at the knobs.

"Yes, Naturvege, that one. The usage of one, though I had not formally asked you to train how to use it, you must always be keen to pick up the phone-" He enacted what he had said. "To see if i am communicating with you, or not." 

"I see!" Said jovially, Friedrick. "What a simple yet at the same time, complex gadget!" 

"Please be mindful, not to turn the knobs and all the other things on the radio, and instead only fanagle the phone. If ever were our communication was altered, it'd drastically effect how the battle tommorow will outcome." He took a breath. "When you see that they are retreating, I want you to get to the radio and pick up the phone, of which you will then talk to me and say that they indeed are returning back to Unchean."

"Okay, that's easy enough as is , captain!" Noted Naturvege. 

"I will be one of the men that will be joining the night skirmish, acting as the one to lead. I will leave Venit Ille to your care, I will bring two of my squad leaders. And some of the artiliery squad."

"Thanks, captain." Commented Naturvege with a smile. "Wish you good luck."

"I hope so."

-AFTER A LONG TIME OF TRAINING-

As Hierd observed the soldiers being weakly, he gave them energizing hot delicious meals, I mean, if he didn't they'd be complaining and they would also be more tardy in the battle tommorow. Hierd had asked the soldiers of Ridge village to train to use the Luger more, the artilery squad to understand the consequences of unkept mines, and their effects. For the six M90 transport trucks, Hierd had ordered Heduc and Jeane to take the wheel (for they were the two squad leaders he was going to be inviting in the night skirmish). Then he ordered for his squad members to practice using them. 

To which, as they were practicing to use the trucks and manuevering in them in such quick time, the soldiers whoms't were practicing were onlooking with intrigue and wonder as they saw the iron hunks of machine move back and forward, left and right, sometimes going fast, sometimes stopping abruptly. 

Hierd himself had taught the drivers how to move the truck, what the steering wheel could do, as well as the pedals and the 'small club' that Verdel said, was in between the seats. They were fast learners, however, Hierd had an inkling, a thought that never escaped him.

"There's not enough time to train them how to use these weapons and technologies in just a single day. No matter how many words I say, or how many hours they waste today, If they forget, or that their muscles weakened in tommorow's battle. What good will the training today be for?" 

He brushed them off, for he knew that these soldiers were resilient and strong. How else would they have been battling the month of Auferstehen wihtout Hierd's intervention with the gun and machine? Wit and brain? No, strength and courage. However, it was not enough. 

He left the drivers to play around in the trucks, getting used to how they operate, he even left them a manual, I mean, they like manuals, for they were, as the many soldiers called it, 'The Captain's Expensive Rules.' Being that they thought these manuals would fetch millions upon millions of money, and that the knowledge, with they read rather intently inside, would give them understanding above any other.

He went towards the main road, of which there were many people wandering in fear around, but as soon as they saw Hierd standing mighty and proud yet at the same time lost and unsure, they looked to him as if waiting for a speech to be given, and so did he give. "People! Of Venit Ille or of Ridge Village. As you have undoubtfully known, or have yourself seen, Unchean, and it's lord wishes to invade this village!" 

The crowd had silenced and with their ears, listened keenly to Hierd's every sentence and word. 

"I will not let them invade and you be in their rule ever again! For in mine, had you seen more improvement than whatever that bastardly lord could've ever done for you!" 

They crowd made an agreeing silence.

"Your fathers, yours husbands, maybe even your brothers. They work tirelessly, in the training grounds, training to use their weapons! And understanding the fields! However, even with their heroic motives, they will fall short if not that you too shall help!" He took a deep breath. "No, I am not asking you all to join the training as too they have. But, if you have the will to, the power to, the courage to, please! O' Please! Help them, help us, help yourselves, and help this village in maintaining a peace that is seen in my rule!"

Silence. 

Eyes of the onlookers filled Hierd with doubt whether his speech really had worked. 

However, as he gave another look around, their eyse were filled with tears.

"We will help!" Said the men, raising their hands to the air. 

"We will too!" Women, the housewives had said.

"As will we!" Said the Ridge folk.

Hierd smiled. "Then to all who wish to help with the work that is to come in protecting the village, please come to the bridge, for we will fortify it!" 

"YEAAAHHH!!" 

( * )

With the cooperation of the Ridge and Venit Ille villagers, the bridge was barricaded with the help of wood and nail. Making spikes that'd deter a horse. Hierd was extra cautious when they crossed the bridge to fortify the outer farm and of course, the other side of the bridge. But thankfully enough, the mines were marked and very obviously seen, courtesy of the Artillery Platoon's intellect. 

Wooden spikes were all around the place, and there were several places along the farm fences and the river's banks where boxes of ammuntions were placed inside little quickly made wooden 'bunkers' that shield a person from the hail of an arrow. 

It was approaching dusk, and as thanks, Hierd had given the village a feast of meals to give to each and every one of them. Along with it, some orange drink that the villagers had loved to oblivion that they wondered if such a thing was so rare that only he, Hierd, a 'higher-noble' they call, could be the only one capable of buying such a thing. 

The village was wholly protected, and the soldiers were wholly tired. For they had just underwent a training of the new guns the captain had delievered. With it came newer ear problems, sore muscles, and irritating heat. To which, Hierd had given them another meal and sent them on their way home for them to sleep early.

The squad leaders, Alrife, the rest of the gang, as well as Matthaus stayed in Naturvege's house. Hierd laid down the brass-tax. Telling the plan to the squad leaders. While at some cases they objected the idea of it, when it neared the end, they contemplated, ultimately understanding the plan and accepting it's blatant stupidity. But Heduc questioned; "The mere sound of the trucks can alert the soldiers, wouldn't it?"

"We'll start walking after we've achieved a great distance near Unchean." 

"I see." Heduc then looked at Matthaus. "He, Matthaus, the one who achieved the marksman medal, what would be his position in this?"

As Matthaus was prompted, he introduced himself to everyone in the room. After his belated introduction, Hierd started; "He is percise, and so I would like to entrust him with being the one scouting out our castle." 

The room turned silent. Finding the awkwardness in it all, Hierd said; "We have a long day tommorow, and quite the furious one indeed. I'd like everyone to sleep early. I will awake the squad leaders who would by then ready the soldiers who will be joining the scouting."

"Yes, captain." Said Heduc.

"Goodnight, captain." Said Jeane. 

And what followed was a night of peaceful sleep.