Jelbanian Forces
White ; The White Horde
Led by President-Atabék Krsyijkai Jeztri
~ 12,000 men
Red ; The Red Horde
Led by Bék Kezkai Sagzi
~ 9,500 men
Black ; The Black Horde
Led by Bék Karo Mrjkai
~ 8,500 men
Green ; The Green Horde
Led by Bék Wrntukai Jeztri
~ 3,800 men
Deltarian Forces
Dark Grey ; 3rd Army-Group of the Great Czarist Army
Led by Generál Eugen Kováč,
~ 320,000 men
Light Grey ; Tactical Reserve of the 3rd Army-Group
Led by Generál Gabriel Biskup
~65,000 men
The Great Jelbék Assault
Only one year into the ten-year ultimatum, Jelbania has launched a surprise attack into Deltaria. Despite advice to consolidate his force into a two larger Hordes and attempt to punch through the Deltarian lines at a weak point, President-Atabék Krsyijkai Jeztri has ordered his troops to be spread fairly evenly along the border, spreading them so thin that the gaps between divisions sometimes stretch into miles. His orders are for a massive push, along the entire front, with armour and cavalry directed to punch through the lines in several dozen different places, expecting that the following infantry will fix the Deltarian Army long enough for the armoured divisions to wheel around and flank them along their entire rear. On December 1st, 3521, the Great Jelbék Horde advances.
The Aerial Bombardment
A massive bombing of the Deltarian fortified lines is called on as the first stage of attack. Six wings of three MAG-20 Fighter-Bombers each are deployed, and every single one of them almost immediately veers off-course, headed for Cobura, Zardugal, Vanuku, or anywhere else the pilots can attempt to defect and claim amnesty. Realising that the mass-defection was clearly organised beforehand, Jelbék commanders immediately order the grounding of the remaining Jelbanian airforce, and the arrest of all remaining pilots. Fighting breaks out between Jelbék commanders and Jelbanian pilots, airbase guards and technicians, and the Jelbéks are quickly overwhelmed. Airbases across the entire line raise the flag of surrender and await the Deltarian advance. There will be no Jelbanian air support for this campaign.
In the White Horde
President-Atabék Krsyijkai Jeztri leads the largest horde on the easternmost side of the line, as the right-flank is considered the most honourable and befitting the commander of highest status. Despite clearly seeing his air support abandoning him, he orders a charge directly into the Deltarian lines, galloping out in front of all his troops, eager to be the first man to claim a kill. His mare travels forty metres into No Man's Land before detonating a DvSK-38c anti-personnel mine, shredding most of her body and sending her careening into a small trench, trapping Jeztri under her carcass with both of his legs shattered. The rest of the charge passes him, but falters barely a quarter-way into No Man's Land, breaking under Deltarian machinegun and artillery fire. The few survivors retreat in poor order back to their fortified positions to await a counterattack, leaving their President to lie screaming in agony under the weight of his own horse. Although just a short distance away from the Jelbanian fortifications, nobody attempts to launch a rescue for their President.
In the Red Horde
Bék Kezkai Sagzi raises his mace to signal the charge, and is immediately struck in the head by a sniper's bullet. His replacement officer, Brno Sagzi, panics and sends an order down for the Red Horde to abort it's charge, and take up defensive positions instead, in readiness for a Deltarian counterattack. Unfortunately, around a third of the Horde has already started their advance. Caught in No Man's Land without support or numbers on their side, they're cut down quickly, barely a dozen metres past their trenches, and rout directly back into the remainder of the Red Horde. With panic and confusion all around them, the entire Red Horde breaks and begins a desperate retreat north, in no kind of order whatsoever, and leaving the entire Red Line completely open and undefended.
In the Black Horde
Bék Karo Mrjkai is shot four times in the back by an unknown Jelbanian soldier before the order to charge ever reaches him. The Jelbanian enlisted men, without prior planning or foresight, immediately turn on their Jelbék captains and commanders, making short and bloody work of the outnumbered men. Bronson Mackay, an ex-Colonel now demoted to Sergeant, assumes command of the Black Horde. He orders his men to take up defensive positions, raises a white flag of surrender, and awaits the Deltarian advance in hopes of negotiating the capture of himself and his men, but willing to fight if given no other option.
In the Green Horde
Bék Wrntukai Jeztri, the youngest living son and heir of the President, receives the order to charge, but gives no reply or reaction. After a long twenty minutes of staring vacantly into the sky, he throws his carbine and sabre to the ground and abandons his Horde without explanation. He rides northeast, alone, towards the great Pelimorese Steppes, the lands of his people. With the Jelbék officers unsure of what to do next, several Jelbanian petty officers quickly assume command, and organise a retreat-in-good-order towards Calvaire, in Rilmos. After a few awkward minutes, the confused and abandoned Jelbék commanders sheepishly follow them north.
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Estimated Casualties
White Horde - ~1,200 killed or wounded, 2,380 broken
Red Horde - ~850 killed or wounded, 8,700 broken
Black Horde - ~50 killed or wounded
Green Horde - ~40 broken
3rd Armygroup -1 killed, 3 wounded (all friendly fire incidents)
Tactical Reserve - no casualties
