Cannon Fire Arc

Chapter 867: Chapter 11: Eck’s Opportunity Arrives_3

Erwin Rommel nodded: “That’s good, now let’s hope the enemy really has only a million troops left.”

————

“Three million soldiers ready to move out!” Admiral Little John said, puffing on a cigar to Allied Supreme Commander General Eck, “And super Pershing tanks! This time there’s no way Prosen can push us into the sea!”

Eck: “Actually, if we wait a little longer and let the Prosens move more troops to the Eastern Front, our chances of success will be greater. If we attack too soon, the Prosens won’t be able to redeploy the troops, and maybe Rocossov will end the war this year.”

Admiral Little John: “What, you think my attack speed will lose to that of Kutuzov?”

“It’s Rocossov.”

Admiral Little John waved his hand: “Antean names are so long, who can remember them! I say we land tomorrow, and then race them.”

“They need to occupy the heart of Prosen, cross all of Eastern Europa before they reach Prosen territory. Once we land and pass through the Low Countries, we’re in the heart of Prosen! We have the advantage, Eck!”

General Eck said solemnly: “However, Prosennia is closer to them. When the Plathen Emperor was planning this new capital, he deliberately placed it far from the coastline and Western Europa to prevent the United Kingdom from easily threatening it.”

Admiral Little John: “Then why didn’t he put it in the mountains of Bavaria? That’s even further! Or just choose Vilna as the capital!”

General Eck: “Anyway, D-Day will be sometime in August. We need to give the Prosens more time to move their troops. Complaining to me won’t help; better pray the weather forecast gives good weather soon, maybe just after August we can land.”

Admiral Little John put on his helmet: “Damn politicians! I just know it was Leonard who demanded the delay! If not for him, we would’ve landed in June!”

General Eck looked at Little John, smiling: “Look on the bright side, we might beat Rocossov to Prosennia after all.”

Little John: “No! That’s cheating! Even if we reach the outskirts of Prosennia at the same time, I’d let him enter the city first! Understand?”

After a brief pause, the stubborn admiral laughed too: “But if we reach Prosennia and he’s still stuck on the east bank of the Oder River, then no more Mr. Nice Guy!”

Everyone in the room laughed.

————

Back at the Eagle’s Nest.

During the meeting break, in the lounge, General Moochi whispered to Celtic Marshal: “What do you think?”

“Men have ears everywhere, best not to think.” The Celtic Marshal said.

Marshal Erwin Rommel also joined in: “Light me a fire.”

The Celtic Marshal nodded, took a deep drag to light the cigarette.

After lighting his cigarette, Marshal Rommel just held it without smoking and said in a deep voice: “Ever since the passing of Lord Giles, hasn’t His Majesty become increasingly hysterical.”

The other two looked at Marshal Rommel with expressions saying, “Damn, you’re brave to say that.”

Erwin Rommel continued: “The Laufer Operation will nail the entire empire to the pillar of shame. If he succeeds, fine, but what if Rocossov ignores the operation and continues advancing north?”

General Moochi: “Maybe then, he’ll be guilty like us.”

“Maybe.” After a brief silence, Erwin asked back, “Would he care?”

The Celtic Marshal: “He might not care about that, but if the Resistance is forced to rise up because of this, Rocossov may also change his attack objectives because of these.”

Marshal Rommel: “Do you think so? He’s the commander-in-chief who personally orders thousands upon thousands to the field to die, remember his orders in Abawahan.”

“No, he won’t change his attack objectives out of kindness. In the end, what matters is our fifty divisions being redeployed. This damned Laufer operation should stop, it’s only bringing us infamy and serves no purpose at all!”

General Moochi: “Then why don’t you go advise His Majesty?”

Erwin fell silent.

The Celtic Marshal: “Let’s just do what we ought to do and let the rest go as it will.”

————

July 21, Melania Capital, in a house on the banks of the Vistula River.

Helman silently smoked, in front of him representatives from each district were fervently discussing.

“We can’t bear it any longer! They are systematically slaughtering children!”

“Helman! We must revolt!”

Helman: “Can an uprising defeat the Prosen garrison? Tell me how!”

“We can gather guerrillas from surrounding villages and cities, then we’ll have the numerical advantage!”

Helman: “What about weapons? Do we have enough weapons?”

“We can seize the enemy’s arsenal and distribute weapons! And we’ve been preparing for an uprising, haven’t we been stockpiling weapons?”

Helman: “The reason we haven’t rebelled so far is because the stockpiles aren’t enough! The Prosens have seized several of our arms depots in a row; right now, neither our manpower nor equipment allows for an uprising!

“We should wait for the Ante Army to come and then act together! We should act suddenly when the Prosens retreat, planning to destroy railway hubs and bridges, protecting the bridges and hubs instead, that’s the correct course!

With our assistance, the Ante Army can quickly liberate all of Melania, reach the Oder River banks! There lies Prosennia!”

After Helman finished speaking, someone sneered: “I get it now, you’re an Ante lackey!”

Immediately someone objected, grabbing the speaker by the collar: “Bastard! Without Helman, we wouldn’t have held out this long! Watch your mouth!”

Helman: “Enough! Alright! Everyone having complaints against me is normal. Our top priority isn’t uprisings, but covering and evacuating children not yet captured, hiding them.”

“As for the captured children, since the Prosens’ goal is to provoke us into acting, they won’t kill them all at once. We’ll find a way to save the captured children.

“Rushing into an uprising might actually play right into the Prosens’ hands.”

The previously fervent assembly calmed down a bit.

Then, the person who called Helman an Ante lackey said: “Can’t we ask Rocossov to send a force to stop the atrocities? He has so many troops, surely sending hundreds of thousands to liberate all of Melania wouldn’t be a problem?”

Immediately someone agreed: “Yeah, Rocossov has forces composed of Melanians, called the Melania People’s Army, have them march towards us, Prosen is already at its last!

“Right, let the Melanians save their own children!”

“I think it’s called the Melania People’s Army, let them do it!”

“Contact Rocossov, he will save us!”

Helman: “Quiet! Alright, quiet!”

He shouted several times before the room quieted down.

Helman: “Rocossov’s forces are encircling the Prosen Central Army Group and Northern Army Group, spreading forces will only please the Prosens!”

“We’d be pleased too! Prosen’s downfall is only a matter of time, what’s giving up a few entourages?”

“Right, I see this Rocossov just coveting prestige! He wants to be Ante’s top general, surpassing Suvorov!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Quiet!” Helman shouted, “I will send envoys to explain the current situation to General Rocossov, maybe he will have the capability to aid us. Everyone remember, no uprisings, we must protect the children not yet captured!”

At this moment, intense gunfire sounded outside.

“What’s going on?” Helman questioned.

Everyone looked at each other confused.

“We don’t know, all district leaders are here, and an action couldn’t be unbeknownst to us!”

The gunfire outside intensified.

Suddenly someone rushed into the meeting, shouting: “Something’s wrong! The Third District’s brigade has arisen! They’re besieging the armory!”

“What? The armory?”

Helman questioned: “How many are participating in the action?”

“Over a hundred!”

Helman fell silent.

“Helman, we can’t wait anymore! Act now! Or we’ll just watch over a hundred people sacrifice themselves, maybe even be completely exterminated!”

“Act now, Helman!”