Six hours have passed since we left Pharkis. We have covered 450 kilometres of the 520-kilometre distance. It was midnight, and we were on the general supply line. As we climbed a hill, I was able to see the fight raging 70 kilometres from our position. The explosions and tracer bullets were lighting up the sky.
"It really is hell," Alfred said.
"Yes, we can see it all the way from 70 kilometres," Tegris said.
"We will be there by sunrise." Lieutenant Ilfir informed us.
The time passed as we saw the constant fighting. After 5 hours, we were there. We could have reached faster, but we had 6 special, newly developed, double cannon Igris-12 Main Battle Tanks. They were for my group only.
As the sun rose, we went through the farthest artillery line. This unit was equipped with the longest-range artillery cannons, the Arkin-165. Each had a minimum range of 25 kilometres. And they were firing. The bang and recoil shook the ground.
After a while, we reached Targalian defence headquarters. The base was 6 kilometres from Targalia. It was made in case Targalia falls. But the top brass was using it as their command base. We went inside, and the captains and I got out of our jeep.
"Major, General Yarna is waiting for you on the roof of the central building."
A lieutenant spoke as I got out of the jeep. I nodded, put on my cap and began to follow the lieutenant. The soldiers were running here and there. Tanks were coming and leaving the base. The long-range artillery cannons were firing constantly. Walking through all the chaos, we reached the building and then the roof. The general and two major generals were standing there looking towards the battlefield through their binoculars.
"You are here," The general put off his binoculars and turned towards me. "I think the supreme commander gave you something which you are supposed to give me."
"Yes, sir," I said and handed him the sealed file.
He took it, broke the seal, and opened the file. He read it, folded the paper, and put it inside the file.
"So you are sent with your own 350 soldiers, and you only answer to me." He nodded.
One of the major generals began looking at me with a weird expression. Obviously, he wasn't happy with this order.
"You have 30 minutes. Prepare your troops and then join Colonel Felmer. He is in the command post on the western coastline."
"Yes, sir," I said, saluted and left.
I walked back to the armoury, and my troops were unloading all the equipment.
"Ilfir, and Alfred, prepare your squads. We will go to the command post on the western coastline and join Colonel Felmer. The rest of you will remain on standby. Falker, prepare the Irgis-12 tanks."
"Yes, sir," Falker replied and headed towards the tanks.
On my orders, Ilfir and Alfred began to prepare their equipment. I went inside the central building and to my new office. I placed my things and began to arrange them. After arranging the maps and the files, I sat in my chair and began to wait for the time to pass.
I still remember the moment from one year ago. The day when both Ferry and Michaela were killed. When they gave back the corpses, I didn't feel any pain when I saw Ferry. Just emptiness and nothing else.
I still remember the blood-red face of Michaela. The moment he fell on me and I lost consciousness. I remember the bullet that pierced his heart and then hit my chest. I remember it all, but not the pain I may have felt.
I was lost in thought, then suddenly someone knocked on the door. It was Alfred.
"The soldiers are ready. They are waiting for you."
I picked up my cap and wore it. "Okay then, let's go."
Alfred and I went outside, joined the convoy, and left for the western coastline.
The war hasn't stopped a bit. The constant explosions were now clearly visible. After ten minutes, we reached the command post. It was 3 kilometres away from the enemy lines. The artillery, the tanks, and the machine gunners were all visible and constantly firing.
Once we stepped out of the jeep, Major Argis came running towards me.
"Send out your troops and come inside. It is unsafe in the open."
"Okay," I replied and signalled my troops to move out.
"Stay at a distance of 800 metres and engage the enemy. Don't get any closer." I ordered Alfred and Ilfir.
They nodded, saluted and left the post.
I followed Major Argin and went inside. Colonel Felmer and Major Werner were there, studying the terrain and sending orders to the captains on the field. Colonel Felmer turned and saw me entering.
"Well…You are here."
I walked up to the table. As usual, there was a map and many small pieces having shapes of cannons, tanks, and troops.
"It is shocking to see the private, whose advice was rejected by me three years ago in Egnisk, is now standing here as a major." Major Werner smiled at me.
"Yes, here I am," I replied to him.
"The Dormisian and Barkilisian navy is constantly bombarding the coastline. The ground units are pushing us back. They number almost 520,000. The rest are attacking Targalia and the Eastern coastline. The western wall of Targalia is weak, so they are more focused on the western coastline."
"I don't think they will take it down," I said.
"The wall? Why?" The colonel asked.
"They are not going to take it down. They are rather scaring us, so we eventually abandon the city. And taking that chance, they capture the city. Hence, it prevents us from retaliating. And if we destroy the war in response, we become vulnerable to Velkarian and Phoenixian forces."
The colonel, the majors, and the staff began to look at me. They were a bit shocked, though this was common sense.
"Who is commanding the enemy forces?" I asked.
"The assistant of General Argen, Lieutenant General Rokhnir Millet." Major Werner replied.
"Now, I am sure they are doing this," I replied.
"You have fought them, so I will believe you." The colonel replied. "I have given you the situation. As you are better when you command in the open, go outside, climb the tower and command your troops."
I nodded and left. The situation was far worse than I imagined. If Rokhnir is really here, then they should leave the city walls and use them as a shield to attack the ships from inside using the artillery. But I am not the general. General Yarna is.