Chapter 18: The Crisis of Crow Fortress (2) (1/2)

Chapter 18: The Crisis of Crow Fortress (2)

“How unfortunate that things didn’t work out Frederic’s words, Marez queried anxiously at his side

“What shall we do? At this rate, aren’t things going to deviate fro been semi-forced into this affair, his restlessness was exacerbated now that a spanner had been thrown into the works

“No need to fret We predicted so”

“Do you have an alternative strategy in y? Why would we need one?”

Frederic for with confidence and spoke

“If ere to count every last ht at this moment, it would amount to around 300 They can barely function as a defense with a force that sh to seize this fort”

“But Crow Fortress is a fort that is blessed with natural defenses If Commander Nelson were to call on other forts for reinforcements on top of that, then…”

This pronorance, as he answered

“Such a thing won’t happen Mobilizing troops in the winter of the Grey Mountains is no easy task The follow-up forces trailing behind us would rather be joining us first And besides…”

Glancing at Louis, Frederic laughed as he continued

“That fort should already be in a state of complete isolation Is that not so?”

Marez could not quite understand this insider talk between Frederic and Louis

“With all due respect, did the two of you do sole lot of reinforcements as that fort has been perfectly isolated,” Frederic assured with an expression overfloith confidence

“daeons have been…" Nelson bit his lower lip

After closing the gates, deploying the defenders, and entrusting their command to Kerber, Nelson had sprinted to his office at once This was so he could send eons to other fortresses to request for reinforce troops in thetask, but noas not the tis If just one of the ten fortresses were to fall to the enemy, the power equilibrium that had been maintained until now could very well collapse

The systeanically constructed so that if one of the two or three fortresses would send reinforcele one was to collapse, it would form a hole that the enemy could pressure The commanders of the other fortresses were also well aware of these circumstances, so it was expected that they would dispatch reinforce Nelson when he returned to his office was the sight of all the eons, dead

“Louis… looks like that bastard poisoned the pigeons’ feed and water before he left”

Nelson despaired at the loss In this situation, even if he were to send a rider, there was aler would be able to fool the eyes of the enemy and make it all the way to another fortress

In other words, Crow Fortress had been flawlessly isolated by the enemy at the present e to retch, but there was next to nothing he could do right now

“Attack! That fortress ht as well be empty! Don’t cower and attack!”

As Frederic’s order was given, a force of approximately 700 troops rushed in to assault Crow Fortress Of those, around 300 do a fort that they were sided with as recently as yesterday But…

“Attack! Those who disobey my orders will be cut down immediately!”

Louis Walker threatened and spurred the but follow orders after the few that had actually disobeyed had been summarily executed as promised And so the battle coet close to the fort!”

Nelson shouted orders left and right as he co troops in person fro near by firing volleys of arrows at them But the enemy raised their shi+elds above their heads and stoutly pushed forwards

“Do not fear There is nothing the enemy can do except fire arrows”

“shi+t…”

It was exactly as the ene like nory would have consisted of firing arrows as cover, while troops would position theht

The fort’s walls were barriers h humidity of the Grey Mountains meant that they did not need to worry about fire attacks, the strength and height of the walls were nevertheless inferior to a cobblestone wall That hy they had adopted this tactic of dispatching forces to the front to prevent the ene the walls, while others provided cover fire from the watchtowers

However, that was currently not an option

Counting every last ht now, they were a force shy of barely 300 er force into even smaller detachments was the surest way to shoot themselves in the foot The best they could do at this very ainst the eneh whateverthe axes Hack down any bastard that tries to hook themselves up!”

Ene closer and closer to the lookout towers, even as Nelson tried his utmost to commandeer in the midst of this

Yet he, too, knew all too well There was a li they could last like this

“The fort’s walls are made of wood – press the attack It is destined to fall!”

Unlike castle walls made from stone, there were bound to be more and more durability problems with the fort’s wooden ramparts if the enemy continued to approach and batter the!</e the wooden walls of the fort could be heard from every direction From Nelson’s perspective, the din rese up a house

“shi+t, attack the the fortress!”

Nelson’s subordinates frantically moved into action as he barked his orders They too ell aware With such a small headcount of allies present, they were finished if they were to lose what little positional advantage the fort provided therels!”

“Know your place!”

Being fully aware of the critical nature of their situation, the soldiers desperately fought back Nelson also personally picked up his weapon and joined thehis coive up! Let’s show the Republican bastards e’re hts with us!”