Imperial Capital Esthirant
The battle rage on, several explosions echoed in the Esthirant including the thick black smokes that obstructing the sky.
Hundreds of Parpaldian musketeers swarmed the aristocratic area in attempt to reinforce the forces over there that currently being beaten badly by ASEAN raiding team. However, the choppers of ASEAN forces are keeping them at bay.
It's a chaotic sight. The chaos such this level are barely inside the parameters of the plan, it's somehow manageable but still all jumbled due to the Emperor's announcement of withdrawal towards the parpaldian inland city of parneus.
The plan of ASEAN militaries are simple and pretty straightforward plan; destroy any threats surrounding the Esthirant, secure a beachhead, land forces, encircle the Esthirant, put some pressure, have the second phase start with the infiltrating units to initiate the operation to capture the higher ups of parpaldia including the emperor, they planned to paralyze and decapitate the command chain of parpaldia in one go.
They are currently keen to capture the Emperor however they are redirected to capture the fleeing high ranking officials and some of the members of Imperial family of parpaldia.
But right now, most of the phase one of ASEAN are mostly executed with success but on the second phase is not something could be called decent at all. Every infiltrating units of ASEAN are on the run for the Emperor and it's high ranking vassals as many of them are trying to escape from Esthirant before the main force of ASEAN reached the city.
The initial conception of the ASEAN officials towards the Emperor that he will base his judgement on pride alone which heavily attributed on the so-called superpower status of the Empire on this world, so in a nutshell he won't leave or cowardly withdraw from the city, thus making the operation easy. They believe that once the operation began to capture the Esthirant via the combined air and naval assualt and subsequent landing of the marines, some of the Parpaldian high ranking officials should definitely stay on the Esthirant together with the prideful Emperor and be captured (including the city itself) by subsequent Landing force--The basic reasoning is, in the new world. Once the capital of a certain nation falls on the hands of hostile country, It could be said this, as a good shaming apparatus or propaganda against them to demoralize it's constituents and accelerate it's collapse, and much more the effect of their own emperor being captured by enemy forces.
Considering all the values, the ASEAN got it right. However, they never expect a cornered rat to fight back and continue to resist.
"Hold right there! Don't resist!." One of the units of ASEAN cornered and captured another big shots of parpaldia.
"This is A Group, North of the imperial palace area. We captured 3 more Parpaldian VIP's with some lower executives."
"Same here, D Group, in aristocratic area. We have captured 1 VIP's and several underlings."
"What is the next directive?."
"For group G and L, Tag along with the incoming mechanized battalion from western gate, for the rest nothing change, capture and mop up anything on the vicinity."
""Roger!""
ASEAN 1st and 3rd Composite Mechanized Marine Landing Battalion (1st & 3rd CMMLB)
The landing force of ASEAN run towards at the Esthirant, due to the reports of the emperor's sudden disappearance in the palace, the insiders can't locate the emperor, so they are been hurriedly deployed, at the speed of 27 kilometers per hour, they are kicking dust that could be seen kilometer away, ingesting some fear on the Parpaldian who saw them coming but the artilleries of parpaldian who should protecting the capital are silent, none of them attacks the approaching ASEAN forces in the western gate. If it's just a regular enemies, the cannons of parpaldia should already roared to life to protect their capital from hostile incursions however majority of them are no longer exists after being obliterated by gunships and overrun by the soldiers of ASEAN inside the capital.
The imperial army cannot contain the rampaging soldiers of ASEAN inside the city much less putting some resistance on the additional hostile forces approaching the capital.
"This is Major Truyen Minh, addressing to all of elements of 1st and 3rd mechanized marine battalion, I am your field commander as per ordered by higher ups. Any types of insubordination against my orders or misgivings on this mission, will be automatically subjected to court martial. To update everyone, I got a new orders specifically on what we should do against the parpaldian forces inside the Esthirant; blast through towards the palace, we are authorized to exercise maximum tolerance, don't harm the civilians for no reason, and if your life was threatened by armed civilians--you are allowed to use lethal force if necessary,
Lastly, we don't have any practical knowledge about the schematics of the palace, leave the capture of the emperor or any high ranking officials inside the palace to the infiltrators here, we will only giving some rear support and security for the perimeter, that would be all."
In the end words of the commander, all of the vehicles under his command accelerated at 50 kilometers per hour.
Upon nearing the gates, some of the surviving or hiding Parpaldian musketeers, from the initial attacks of separate helicopter unit that currently roaming on the airspace, they opened fire immediately in attempt to stop the ASEAN Forces but they are been cut down by machine gun fire or autocannons by the armoured vehicles of invading force.
Upon entering the gate. They are been welcomed by terrified citizens of Esthirant whom are running away from their ranks, they are desperate and confused where to run; to go further in the Esthirant which riddled with the infighting forces or outside which being encircled and patrolled by iron insects of ASEAN.
"Major, another update."
"Go on."
"The number of the cannons supplied by Milishial have been confirmed by our Intel and friendly country to be numbered around 100. Nearly identical to the values we estimated initially. We already destroyed about 60 or 70 of them, there are indications that there are at least 5 of them in the palace, thus the remaining 20 of them are cleverly hidden and scattered throughout the city which cannot be seen by our air cover to eliminate."
"I see, hundred of them eh? But still, why so excessive in parting some modern gift on a very underdeveloped country."
"Should we slowdown our advance for extra precautions, Major?."
"No, maintain as is, if we slowdown, we might become more vulnerable target, also the roads are too narrow which making us virtually sitting ducks here."
"Affirmative Major, continuing on the update, our Intel and foreign source are confused by the Milishial sir."
The staffs and agents of ASEAN and Muish Intelligence agency, are currently scratching their heads on why the Milishial are committing such large cache of modern weapon on the most looked down, warmongering, and underdeveloped superpower in the new world.
"There are more coming, seems our friendly country managed sniffed another weapon shipment, it's still under verification though, which will coming from a certain port of Pandora and moved via land route towards the territories held by parpaldia."
"This is getting ridiculous, what's the point of those shits supplying the Imperialistic country like Parpaldia? They would likely going to jeopardize the secrets of their technology, ha... how the higher ups deal with the Milishial?."
"They are considering on attacking the weapon supply convoy of Milishial once they entered the territory of parpaldia, they are planning on a open retaliation it seems ."
"They escalating it further? Come on, this country is already a pain on the ass, they are adding more?."
"Well before that major, our consulate got in touch with the Milishial, they ask for a statement on the regards of the suspected weapon supply to Parpaldia. However, the statement we've got is kinda, they denied any involvements on such allegations. When the last ships of Milishial Empire departed from the Parpaldia, they guaranteed that they have no longer single citizens left behind there or recognized a single entity that connected to them. Basically it's like cutting tail when cornered. So they don't Admit a thing about the presence of Milishial derived AA and cannons here in the parpaldia."
"Hmm...dea--" the line of the major was cut off due to something cutting through the air, a recognizable noise resounded on the area and then moments later, one of the MRAP of ASEAN eerily stopped and exploded a few seconds later.
This event forced the ASEAN forces to momentarily stop. Sounds stupid but the roads of Esthirant was too narrow and not suited for motorized use like in the modern countries such as ASEAN , Mu or Milishial. So the cover of the marines are almost non-existent.
"Fuck! Attack!? 12th platoon look for survivors! Other Infantry screen the surroundings! Find the parpaldian artillery and eliminate it!." The major, threw several orders for the situation.
"On the second floor of that green building! A concealed cannon of the 3rd window on the right!." Upon locating it, some of the Infantrymen fired their rifles towards it, to disturb it's loading or aiming process.
"Eliminate it! Fire!." The Major, ordered so.
The cannons, autocannons, and machine guns of the stagnated armoured forces of ASEAN swivels their turrets towards the position of parpaldian cannon. However before anyone could fire, the parpaldian fired their second shot, it didn't hit any ASEAN vehicles nonetheless they hit some of the marines who are screening the armoured vehicles, killing them in an instant.
In retaliation, the ASEAN forces peppered the building thoroughly, debris flew in the sky due to intense-overkill machine gun and cannon fire which caused the wooden building and any of the structures behind it to collapse because of the sheer firepower unleashed by their opponents in short span of time.
"Cease firing! Move our infantry forward! After clearing the way, our armoured units soon follow up and lastly put the casualties on the rear!." The marines followed the orders and carefully screen the surroundings.
"Major, i think it's overkill." His adjutant said his opinion, upon the state of destruction got by the infrastructure that been nested by parpaldian forces.
"Well... We overdid it. There should no civilians occupying there, but if there is, I'll take the responsibility."
"I don't think you will be held accountable sir, it's just an unfortunate event, we got surprised, there's no telling on the combat, we even lose of our men here- A collateral damage."
"Hmm... Is that so, have a separate unit to check if there's civilian on the buildings that we've destroyed."
"Yes Major."
Meanwhile, in the vietnamese naval infantry units perspective.
Some of the ASEAN Infantrymen run towards the alley or sidewalk to look for any Parpaldian artilleries laid wait in ambush. They are mixed of Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese unit but they are only grouping on their respective nationality due to the difference of doctrines and awkward scenario they getting on how to deal with the higher or equal ranking soldier from other military of member states of ASEAN.
"Contact take cover!." Dozens of Parpaldian musketeers opened fire in the balconies, windows, or just popped out in secluded area.
Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!
The marines have taken cover then retaliated, the firefight ensued for a minute before the parpaldian began to flee due to the rate of casualties they received was too ridiculous, so they opted to withdraw and find another ambush spot. However, they are persistently chased by ASEAN infantry, cornering some of them and forcing the rest to cower in fear or run from the place.
"RPG!."
They ducked and then, a fireball flew overhead and exploded a few meters away from the soldiers, in follow up, the naval infantry retaliated, eliminating some rare mage employed by parpaldia.
"Hey Trang! How the fuck is that an RPG?!."
"If I shouted fireball! it's awkward and won't feel as threatening as RPG!."
"Cut the chatter! Another one!."
They fired on the Parpaldian's whom trying to take position to attack them, after eliminating them, they storm some houses turning it into a limited scale house to house fighting.
"Notify the Major! There's another cannon over there!."
"Destroy it!."
"Roger!."
They hastily positioned themselves and fired their grenade launcher, destroying the parpaldian cannon however it sparked a chain reaction, after it ignited the HE ammunitions, destroying any nearby structures.
"Oh shit not good!."
"It's alright there's no civilians either way!."
They rapidly repositioned and the armoured forces followed up, then in linear view, their target--the imperial palace of parpaldia could be seen.
"There's the palace! Up ahead! Move!."
"Friendlies!" Few moments later, some of the insiders of ASEAN linked with them.
Compared on the residential and commercial area, the aristocratic and the surrounding of imperial palace are relatively silent. The early mop up operation of the separate helicopter unit and it's load of reinforcements, immensely contributed on devastating blow on the defending Parpaldian on this area which nearly annihilated them.
"Hey before storming the palace, we should really brought some T-54 or T-59 then crash it on the gates and take some selfie as souvenir."
"That was an Imperial palace not a presidential one's."
"It's still the same."
While they are chattering, the PT-76 Fired it's main guns, destroying the window with mounted cannons protruding on it and a Thai AAV-7 smashed through the gates and disembark it's remaining load while firing it's autocannons on the Parpaldian musketeers inside the palace.
The helicopters also positioned on the top of the palace then rappel some infantries straight on the upper floors of target. The combined assualt of ASEAN on the palace are too unconventional for the Parpaldian's to respond effectively. Thus they are in panicked on how to deal the forces rappelling down from above and the armoured behemoths armed with cannons and machine guns that wrecking havoc on their ranks.
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Note*
*Cutting the chapter limit to around 3k from my usual 5k word count. ( Reason, well to lower my burn out in writing if I could resume the things here from then I guess?)
*This should be a 5k word chapter, but I cut it down it to half and transfer to other chapter, having two more chapters instead of one.
*Got a mental block, can't write anything despite in front of my phone or Mac.
*Some people seems misunderstood that I'm planning to capture the grade alaster then commissioned it in the ASEAN but sadly it's too Impractical to be any use. Too big, too expensive, and just nothing but a huge hulk of target for antiship missiles of HME, RE or AE. At the best, if the ASEAN managed to capture one, they will likely gonna turned into tourist attraction like Iowa class in the museum rather than frontline. (For the anonymous that commented but immediately deleted it after I replied: I don't any malicious intent to post this but this is just for clarification bcoz you deleted your comments.)