Arc of Fire

Ante Tank 51st Army Temporary Headquarters.

Although it was called temporary headquarters, it was just a few telecommunication vehicles from the Federation arranged in a circle with a piece of tarpaulin fixed over the antenna to block the rain.

Corps Commander Korodov was holding a wireless radio handset produced by the Federation, listening to the report from the other end.

"General, my brigade is finished, but we have identified where the enemy counterattack is coming from. The coordinates... The enemy is here! General, don’t send any more troops! Our accompanying infantry are trying to delay the enemy!"

Korodov immediately marked the enemy’s counterattack position on the map.

The Chief of Staff immediately said, "I’ll send Tank Brigade 123 over!"

"No," Korodov shook his head, "No, let Brigade 123 continue their mission to clear the enemy’s artillery positions. Take as much fuel and ammunition as possible, keep moving forward, and don’t look back!"

After a brief pause, he said, "If we’re lucky, we might make it back to Abawahan."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole temporary headquarters fell silent.

Over the radio, the commander of Brigade 124, which had encountered the enemy, said, "We will delay the Prosen armored troops to the last man. The mud will help us too."

Korodov said, "Good luck to you. Davarish, good luck!"

"Thank you. Goodbye, Commander Davarish."

Korodov was holding the radio. He knew that the communication had ended on the other side, but he just wanted to listen a bit longer to the static noise, hoping to hear some more sounds come through it.

However, the radio went completely silent, leaving nothing but the rustling static.

Finally, Korodov put down the radio, looked around at the people nearby, and said loudly, "When I left, Front Army Commander Rocossov Dawasili invited me to dinner, and I promised him that we would hold fast on the West Bank. Even if we are down to one tank, we’ll disrupt the enemy’s supply lines and destroy their artillery positions on the riverbank.

"As for the enemy’s armored troops, we indeed can’t beat them, so whoever encounters them should just try to delay them to the last tank, the last man."

Korodov paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "Transmit exactly what I’ve just said to every brigade, every regiment, every battalion... every vehicle!

"So many good people, so many crews have been sacrificed. We are not afraid to sacrifice, we are only afraid of failing to complete our mission."

The Chief of Staff wiped the corner of his eye and raised his voice, "Quickly transmit the order! Make sure every vehicle hears it!"

At that moment, a communication staff member came down from the telegraph vehicle, "Front Army Headquarters has sent a telegram asking if the enemy has deployed armored troops for a counterattack."

Korodov said, "Tell Front Army Headquarters that we have been counterattacked, but tell the Commander not to worry, we won’t be bogged down fighting Prosen tankers; we will complete our mission and strive for victory."

"We will complete our mission and strive for victory. — Tank Army 51 Corps Commander Korodov." After Pavlov finished reading the telegram, he looked up at Wang Zhong, "This is a death signal."

Wang Zhong sat in front of the map, his back to Pavlov, staring at the position of the 51st Army on the map without saying a word.

Popov came over and patted Pavlov on the shoulder, "Issue whatever orders need to be given. The Commander has sent off many officers these days."

At that moment, Wang Zhong said, "Is it really okay for me to sit here? To send them to their deaths while I sit here?"

Pavlov replied, "Everyone has different duties. You are a symbol of victory. If you are sacrificed now, we might not be able to hold Abawahan."

Your journey continues with

Wang Zhong was silent for a few seconds, then shouted, "Yakov, go check the kitchen to see if there are any snacks that can keep my hands busy. I can’t calm down; I need something to distract me."

"Yes," Yakov immediately left the headquarters.

At the same time Yakov was exiting the headquarters, a communication staff member brushed past his shoulder coming in, "General, the fleet on the river reports that the pontoon bridge is blocking them, and they hope it can be dismantled."

Wang Zhong turned his head, "How many troops have they transported?"

Pavlov replied, "They transported the 16th Army Group, which has three Infantry Divisions bearing the Guards title; they have strong combat capabilities."

After a short moment of thought, Wang Zhong asked, "Can they land near the landing spot?"

"It’s impossible. The fastest way to get them into the fight is to dock at the inland port of Abawahan. Besides, the area around the port is already crowded with troops including Naval Infantry, anti-tank gun units, anti-air units, and combat engineers. Adding one more Army Group would really be too much."

Popov reminded, "And logistics are also lagging; after all, dismantling the pontoon bridge and relying on small boats to supply an Army Group is too strained."

Wang Zhong thought for a few seconds, then stiffened his face and said in a cold tone, "Dismantle the pontoon bridge, let the fleet pass."

Pavlov immediately began to issue the order.

Then Yakov came back, holding a small bag, "General, it seems the chef said he stir-fried some soybeans for you, to keep you occupied."

Wang Zhong took the bag, opened it, and was greeted by the aroma of fried soybeans.

He silently started nibbling on them.

October 26, Beachhead Position One, 0230 hrs.

The Naval Infantry were using their resting time to help the anti-tank gun units build bunkers when suddenly a Private Second Class ran over, shouting, "Everyone, come and see! The engineers are going to dismantle the bridge!"

All the Naval Infantry who were helping stopped. The veteran sergeant stuck his shovel into the ground and exclaimed, "You kid, stop spouting nonsense! This bridge is our supply line; it can’t just be dismantled."

"I’m not talking nonsense; it seems the bridge is blocking the transport ships, and they’re going to dismantle the bridge to let the ships through!" the Private Second Class waved his hands, "Come and see, the engineers are discussing how to dismantle it!"

The old sergeant waved his hand, "You guys keep working on the bunker; I’ll go see what’s happening!"

Saying this, he took the towel from his waist, wiped his sweat, and with a brisk step jumped out of the trench and walked toward the Private Second Class.

"This way! Hurry!"

Thus, the two quickly arrived at the beach.

The engineers were indeed having a meeting, surrounded by a group of Naval Infantry who were resting.

In such a tense situation, even the Military Chaplains turned a blind eye as long as everyone did their jobs properly.

The old sergeant had just emerged from the crowd when he heard a combat engineer sergeant shout, "We all oppose demolishing the bridge from this side."

The battalion commander of the engineers said, "But the order is to demolish the bridge. The sixteenth Army Group’s ships are blocked by the pontoon bridge. The ship convoy is large, and demolishing just a little bit won’t be enough. If we let them stay blocked on the river, once the weather clears and the enemy begins aerial bombings, it’ll be over."

The engineer sergeant responded, "We don’t oppose demolishing the bridge, we oppose starting from this side."

The battalion commander explained, "This way, the bridge equipment will remain on the opposite bank and won’t be easily damaged!"

"But we are combat engineers," the sergeant stood firm, "We want to stay on this side and fight."

The battalion commander looked at the young faces of the engineers one by one, "Do you all think this way?"

"Yes," a young private chuckled, "Wherever we can thrash the Prosens, that’s where we’ll go."

The battalion commander was silent for several seconds before saying, "Those who volunteer to stay on this side and fight alongside the Naval Infantry, step forward."

The combat engineers moved forward in unison, their boots even making a sound on the sand.

The battalion commander, shaking his head, said, "Now no one is left to demolish the bridge. First Company, you demolish the bridge, the rest of the battalion stays here."

Seeing this scene, the old sergeant firmly patted the Second Class Private on the head, muttering quietly, "I told you you were talking nonsense, making it seem like we were abandoned here."

"I didn’t know..." the private looked aggrieved, "I thought... anyway... just..."

Before he could find the right words, the battalion commander of the engineers bellowed, "First Company! My order is to demolish the bridge! Get on the bridge and start work immediately! The demolition must be completed before dawn to let the ship convoy pass!"

The company commander of the First Company, on behalf of everyone, asked, "What about you, Commander?"

"My forces are here," the battalion commander said, "I will fight here to the end. Carry out the order, Vasily Antonovich."

Company Commander Vasily Antonovich pursed his lips, saluted, then turned and commanded, "All of First Company, right face!"

East Bank, field hospital of the crossing troops.

Ludmila watched the nurses returning to the camp.

Yesterday, the nurses and the leading nanny decided that it would take some time to continue to move toward Abawahan to be effective, so they might as well help at the battlefield hospital.

So, the local church provided a small house as a dormitory, and the girls began their first internships.

Now, the girls who had just returned looked like wilted eggplants.

Ludmila asked with a smile, "How was the battlefield hospital?"

No one responded.

A few seconds later, a girl with small braids covered her face and burst into tears; her tears mixed with the blood on her hands.

The girl next to her comforted her while whispering softly, "I think I will keep dreaming about today for the rest of my life, in nightmares."

At that moment, someone outside the house shouted, "They are demolishing the bridge!"

All the girls looked up—even the crying one lifted her head to look outside.

Ludmila stepped out, stopping the person who had shouted, "Are they demolishing the pontoon bridge?"

"Yes, it seems like they need to let the ship convoy pass, so they have to remove the pontoon bridge, cutting off contact with the opposite bank!"

Ludmila asked, "Is it an order from General Rocosov?"

"Yes." The person who answered suddenly squinted, "Wait a minute, are you General Rocosov’s wife?"

"Yes," Ludmila replied with a look of great determination, "Please go to the engineer troops demolishing the bridge and tell them I want to cross."

The nurses in the house all stood up: "You can’t do this!"

Ludmila said, "We can’t let the troops feel like they have been abandoned— I mean, abandoned by General Rocosov. I know he wouldn’t abandon any unit, it’s just necessary to do this. I will replace him and be with the soldiers."

The nurses looked at each other.

The one who had just been crying wiped her tears and said, "Sisters, we should go too. Our training is for battlefield first aid, for emergency treatment amid gunfire, for carrying the wounded—not to hold their hands here watching them slowly pass away.

"We need to save them!"

The girls paused, then all became excited, "Yes! Let’s go too! Nanny will agree!"

Ludmila said, "If she doesn’t agree, I will persuade her."

At that moment, the nanny appeared in military attire, "Of course I agree, but I’ll go with you. You young ladies are unreliable; you need me. Since it’s decided, let’s set off."

Ludmila smiled, "Let’s move!"

Just then, the door of the dormitory’s small courtyard opened, and a Monk Technician entered the courtyard, "Ludmila Vasilyevna Davarish, we have received orders stating you are the Prayer Hand. Our Prayer Hand was sacrificed in the enemy’s artillery fire. Our Divine Arrow Team is responsible for providing cover for the logistics station supplying the opposite bank."

"Eh? I...," Ludmila pointed westward, toward the opposite bank.

Suddenly, Nelly came forward, "Ma’am, it’s enough if I go across. Everyone knows, I am the General’s orderly."

Ludmila reached out, grabbed Nelly’s face, and gently smoothed her bangs, "Nelly, my good Nelly... you are just an orderly..."

"I am old enough for military service, according to the conscription order, I should join the army," Nelly spoke softly.

Ludmila silently straightened her boat-shaped hat, "Alright, you can change into a military uniform..."

"No, I want to emphasize that I am the General’s orderly, so the maid outfit is perfect."

Saying this, Nelly gave a slight smile, "Don’t worry, ma’am, the star of victory will shine upon us."

Ludmila freed one hand to wipe a tear, "Yes, the star of victory will shine on us."