World War Equus: Tales of War

On the borders of the Crystal Empire, two forces clash in a bloody battle that would define the entire Crystal front. The Griffon 4th Army was certain they would be victorious in defeating the tiny empire which didn't even have time to train an army large enough to repel them. On the snowy fields outside the first border town of the Crystal Empire, the Griffon Army learned the lesson their ancestors learned years before. Why they should fear the greatest ally of the Caroleans, General Winter.

Shining stood inside a trench outside the village of Tensin, watching the horizon with minor interest. The 10,000 Caroleans he commanded were stationed in a massive multi-tiered trench line that stretched across the entire valley Tensin lay in. Most of the trenches were hidden in forests but Shining knew if the Griffons brought their tanks to bear against his forces, the Caroleans wouldn't be able to hold them back. This was their one and only chance to defeat the Griffons or they would steamroll all the way to the capital. He couldn't let his new kingdom burn after they earned their independence. Shining smiled at that. He was a King now, King of the Crystal Empire. King definitely had a better ring to it than Captain. He shivered as a strong gust of wind and snow blew through the valley. General Quartz was pleased to hear that they would fight the Griffons during winter, saying that they would never beat the Caroleans greatest ally, General Winter. Shining was expecting an actual general being what he referred to, but he actually meant the winter itself. The uniforms of the Caroleans didn't camouflage very well, nor were very insulated, but his soldiers barely even shivered in the cold. They sat or stood in their trenches, waiting for the enemy to get into range and be torn apart by their sheer zeal and numbers.

A scout dropped into the trench Shining stood in. "Griffons spotted on the horizon sir! Initial counts say about 20,000 Griffon soldiers heading our way! Ten infantry divisions amounting 10,000 strong with 10 Panzer divisions counting 5,000 strong, the rest being auxiliary units and artillery companies." Shining cursed his luck, they had an equal amount of infantry and even more armor than he hoped they could win against. He weighed his options. Moving the 10,000 out now would be near impossible without them being caught by the advancing Griffons, but they couldn't hope to beat back a force that outnumbered them 2-1. A look of determination filled his face.

"Bring this order to all the men. The Caroleans will hold this valley to the last. We may be outnumbered, but we are fighting for King, Country and almighty God above! We will stand tall and beat the Griffons back to their capital, and I'll be the first to break down it's doors." The scout nodded and ran off towards the front line. Another thing that initially confused Shining but he took solace in, was the lost religion of the Caroleans. They believed in a mighty being known simply as God, and they worshiped this deity who they believed would protect them in battle and in daily life. They even had a prayer they uttered before the went into battle to steel their resolve and bring them peace in death. Shining learned this was the reason these men were so feared in ages pass. They were unafraid to die and fought like savages with a death wish. They didn't care if they died, as long as they served king and country before they fell. Shining knew a force like this was what Equestria and her allies needed, and he himself would lead them to victory.

The radio in his command trench crackled before a voice came through. "We have sight of the enemy! Stand tall Caroleans! On this day, we send the Griffons back to the hell they come from as we righteous few march onward to their homeland. Join me in prayer brothers, as we begin our march to heaven." This next part was slightly confusing but still made sense to Shining. It was tradition to speak the Carolean's  prayer in their native tongue, and Shining did everything he could to follow in Equestrian. "Fader vår som är i himmelen helgat varde ditt namn tillkomme ditt rike ske din vilja såsom i himmelen så ock uppå jorden, ge oss bröd ock idag och förlåt oss våran skuld." After the short prayer, there was a loud "Amen", that nearly shook the valley with the voices of the men who responded.

Shining moved quickly through the trenches towards the section that the original radio communication came through from. He passed hundreds of Caroleans preparing their weapons and finishing personal prayers. He made it to the 2nd Carolean Regiment's position, the ones who made first contact with the Griffon forces. He saw the forward squads of Griffon Grenadiers looking around the valley quite warily. Likely the ones who knew the history of the Crystal Empire and the Caroleans. Shining looked at the 300 soldiers that made up 2nd Regiment. He raised his sword and yelled out a command to his men. "READY!" The Caroleans stood at attention along the trenches while the Griffons started to look around nervously, trying to find where the enemies were hiding. "AIM!" The Caroleans aimed their M1 Garands downrange toward the 100 Griffons caught in the open, who were starting to look more and more nervous with each passing moment. Shining dropped his sword while yelling "FIRE!". The Caroleans let loose a massive volley of rifle fire. The 100 Griffons were torn apart by the initial wave, followed by a second and third. Not a single Griffon survived the three volleys. The Caroleans let out a mighty cheer seeing the first skirmish of the war end in a decisive victory. Shining smiled as well. The morale of his men was high and the Griffons had no idea where their forces were located.

Hours passed before the main Griffon force made contact with the Caroleans. Before the main force struck, seven different scout forces attempted to find the enemy lines, and each one was utterly destroyed by the volleys of the Caroleans Garands. Over 800 Griffons were killed, and not a single Carolean was wounded or killed. That's what made the next assault so disheartening to the Caroleans. The 4th, 5th and 6th Regiments made up the center flank of the Carolean lines. By the end of the day, each of these regiments and the Griffon 10th and 14th Grenadier divisions would be scattered across the snowy fields.

"We have made contact with the enemy! 2,000 strong!" Shining shot up at that. They were fighting scout forces up till now, not a full out assault force! "They are moving into range soon, we will hold but we need reinforcements along the center now!" Shining checked his map for which units were on standby in the area. He let out a frustrated groan. The closest forces were the 7th and 13th regiments and they wouldn't make much of a difference.

He grabbed the radio handset to relay his orders. "Center, hold out until the 7th and 13th regiments are moved into position to relieve you, then fall back to the reserve trenches. But no matter what, do not let those Griffon bastards into the trench before the reinforcements are ready. That's an order!"

There was a pause. "Yes sir! We will hold the trenches till the last until the relief forces are in range." The radio cut out. Shining rubbed his forehead. He had a duty to bring as many of these Caroleans home as possible, and as the day wore on, he found it to be less and less sure of the potential to grab victory from the jaws of defeat. He marched out into his command trench, lifting a pair of binoculars to observe his center flank. He could see Griffon Sdkfz's moving through the snow, but many seemed to be getting bogged down in unseen ditches. He watched as the Infantry abandoned the trapped vehicles and continued their march towards the Caroleans. It seemed one division of Griffons was holding back to aid the half-tracks that were stuck in the snow as the other division made their way onward. The griffons marched through the snowy fields. Shining glanced towards the Carolean line. 4th Regiment were lining up along the main line as 5th and 6th were holding farther back. As the Griffons got in range of the Caroleans, the order was called.

"READY!" The griffons moved to action, forming their own line facing where they heard the order called.

"AIM!" The griffons aimed their assortment of rifles and SMGs towards the Carolean trench line. The Caroleans stared back at them.

"FIRE!" Massive volumes of fire tore across the field. Shining smiled seeing the not a single Carolean was killed after they finished their last volley, but not enough casualties were taken to dissuade the griffons. They reformed ranks and aimed towards the trench again. But the Caroleans didn't form rank in response. They simply attached bayonets and waited. The griffons made slowly advanced, unsure whether or not their numbers forced the enemy to retreat or if they killed them all. They broke rank and began a slower and scattered advance forward. As the center of the griffon force reached a few meters of the Caroleans, a resounding cry rang forth.

"CHARGE! FOR KING AND COUNTRY!" The Caroleans burst from their trench with a mighty war cry.The 300 men tore through the griffons. Griffon soldiers were impaled by bayonet and shot down as the 4th Carolean Regiment charged through their scattered and unprepared line. The Caroleans cut down a third of the surviving griffons when the rest regrouped and returned fire. Some griffons charged in with their own bayonets or ceremonial swords as the center of the field became home to a massive battle. Soldiers being cut down left and right from bayonet and sword. Caroleans double teaming larger griffon opponents before being cut down by rifle or SMG fire. Shining observed one man with his rifle in one hand and sword in the other. He fought off Three griffons before being stabbed in the back by a fourth. Eventually the Griffons were beaten back and began to retreat. The Caroleans formed rank to shoot the ones retreating, but a trio of Half-tracks rolled onto the field. The MG42s on the Griffon Sdkfz's tore the Caroleans apart. They attempted a retreat but the sheer firepower of the MG's and the fire from the vengeful griffons cut the rest of them down. Shining observed the field. 300 of the Empire's best lay broken and bloodied in the snow as over double that number of griffons lay among them. The history books would praise this as a victory for the Empire and Shining, but why did it feel like they lost more than they gained?

The Griffon division that held back met up with the survivors and made to advance towards the trenches. They got to where they reached last, before being set upon by an even heavier volume of fire. During the massive battle in the field, the 5th and 6th Caroleans moved into the trench. The Griffons responded with their own fire, but the advantage was held by the entrenched Caroleans. Eventually, the Griffons stopped firing, instead seeming to wait for something. The Caroleans took this time to reload and pray fro their reinforcements. Whistles filled the air as a trio of canisters fell in between the two forces. A gray smoke filled the field, the Caroleans held firm, waiting for whatever the Griffons threw at them. A cry came from the smoke. Over 1 400 Griffons charged forward, the Caroleans responded in kind. The forces smashed into one another as a melee broke out. The Caroleans held the advantage as they were trained in bayonet charges and counter charges, but the numbers of the griffons began to win out. As the griffons began to gain ground. A shout came from behind the Empire's line.

"READY!" Shining moved his vision over to the trenches. The 7th and 13th were formed up, rifles readied and waiting for orders. They couldn't be doing what he though they were doing!

"AIM!" As his soldiers lowered their rifles towards the massive gathering of soldiers in the center, the Griffons began to retreat. They couldn't be caught in another volley, and they knew it. The surviving members of the 5th and 6th formed a rank and lowered their rifles. waiting for the full order.

"FIRE!" The 5th and 6th let loose hell on the retreating griffons as their Sdkfz's responded in kind. The last remnants of the 5th and 6th Caroleans fell on the field.

"FIRE!" The 7th and 13th let loose their shots towards the griffons. A few of the Sdkfz gunners fell and most of the infantry fell with them. Seeing almost their entire assault force scattered, the griffon forces began to retreat. Shining watched them run all the way to their edge of the valley before he spoke into his radio.

"Gather up the dead and wounded, see how many we can save and we lost. Capture any surviving Griffons and give them the same treatment as our own, let's see how many we both have lost." He looked upon the field once more. This was a victory, to be sure, but how many more victories like this could his men take?

After the crushing defeats around Tensin, the Griffons 4th army dug in, waiting out the winter that tore away their superiority. The total casualties of the Battle of Tensin were 2800 Griffon soldiers killed or wounded, and 900 Crystal Caroleans killed. The battle was seen as a victory over the Griffons but the Caroleans and King Shining Armor saw it as a Pyrrhic victory, as those 900 Caroleans were lost in but a single day, a loss not seen since the infamous battle that haunts the Carolean force to this day, a battle outside a griffon town known simply as Poltava.