"Attention all units," he picked up the wireless radio, "the enemy's rocket artillery launch site is right ahead; speed up and charge through!"
Henry distinctly felt an increase in the tank engine's output.
Soon, Revenge for the Heroic Brother rushed past a row of hedgerows and spotted several trucks dragging multiple rocket artillery, preparing for retreat.
Podoliskov grasped the anti-aircraft machine gun and swept fire, killing two truck drivers in succession.
The truck dragging the artillery overturned into a ditch on the roadside, and the gunner on the truck stumbled down and tried to escape.
Henry also opened fire; his years of war had made him accustod to operating the Thread Cutter.
"Flight scale weights" caught up with the fleeing Prosen gunners and shattered their upper bodies from behind.
The remaining Prosens all surrendered, raising their hands with weapons and kneeling on the ground.
Henry shouted in Prosenese: "Walk backwards! We don't have ti to capture you! Move back on your own!"
The tank then caught up with the fleeing Prosens, flattening the makeshift rocket artillery launcher, and soon caught up with the overturned truck.
After so bumps, the tank drove over the wreckage of the truck, ignoring the blazing fire caused by the leaking fuel.
Podoliskov asked, "What did you just say?"
"I told them to move eastward, that we don't have ti to capture them. In Prosenese propaganda, either they claim we lianians foolishly try to hack tanks with cavalry sabers, or they call us an inferior race without will to fight. A Prosen Officer just yells 'Move back, we've no ti to take you', and lianians obediently walk backwards."
Podoliskov: "But aren't you always resisting?"
"Yes," Henry looked proud, "the resistance never stopped."
————
lania Capital, Viswawarsie.
Helman suddenly grabbed the radio, listening intently to the broadcast in Antenese.
"What's wrong?" asked Helman's child.
Helman: "Marshal Rocosov of Ante has ordered an attack; apparently aiming straight for Viswawarsie!"
The child was thrilled, "Are we going to be liberated?"
Helman shook his head, "No, strategically speaking, if they actually break through the Prosen Southern Army Group, they should encircle from the north as that would yield maximum benefit. I think this might be a feint by them; that Rocosov enjoys these maneuvers."
Child: "Aren't they coming to liberate us?"
"I don't know. Perhaps the United Kingdom has so agreent with them." Helman gave a bitter smile, "It's not the first ti we've been used as bargaining chips."
At that mont, a knock sounded downstairs.
Helman shut his mouth and even changed the radio channel, filling the room with the soft sounds from the puppet governnt's radio station.
Soon, a robust young man climbed upstairs, removed his hat, and sat down in front of Helman: "Captain, our radio received a coded ssage. The governnt in exile from the United Kingdom wants us to initiate an uprising."
"Now?" Helman looked surprised, "Starting an uprising now would just complicate things for the Anteans. They are certainly planning to encircle from the north."
The young man asked in confusion, "What about the Anteans?"
Helman: "They've launched an attack on the Southern Front. They might perform an unprecedented encirclent that would make the Prosens' achievents from three years ago look pale in comparison.
"The United Kingdom definitely doesn't want that; they hope for Prosen and Ante to both suffer."
The young man still looked puzzled, "What does our uprising have to do with this?"
"If we rise up, the Anteans must co to our rescue. If the uprising fails, the United Kingdom has an excuse to claim that Ante isn't truly interested in liberating us. The governnt in exile will thus gain legitimacy, regardless of what kind of governnt Ante supports in lania, the governnt in exile can still hold its ground."
The young man cursed: "Damn it, these United Kingdom dogs! But if Ante doesn't co to rescue us, then they are just as bad!"
Helman shook his head, "Anyway, we can't rise up now. We should wait until Ante has defeated Prosen's Central and Northern Army Groups, and their spearheads turn towards us. Then, it wouldn't be too late to start the uprising in coordination."
"But..."
"There are no buts," Helman interrupted the young man.
"Those people living cozy lives abroad, how could they possibly understand our struggle and its brutality? They are safe in the United Kingdom, or even hiding further away in the Federation!
"But I am with you! With each sacrifice you make, I take the sa risk! I know how brutal the enemy is. So listen to , wait for the right mont!"
The young man nodded, "Alright, I'll relay your advice to the committee. But I heard soone is supposed to parachute here later tonight."
"Oh? From the governnt in exile's high ranks in the United Kingdom capital?" Helman's eyebrows twisted, "Feels like they're bringing a storm of blood and violence."
"Hopefully not," said the young man just as Helman's wife brought up a tray of fruit.
Helman: "Have so fruit, these are good items circulated in the black market, supplied by a Prosen nad Sindler. He's different from other Prosens, more flexible in his dealings."
The young man looked worried, "Could this be a spy from the Imperial Ministry?"
"If so, we would have been wiped out already," replied Helman, "This Sindler, he is helping us rescue captured comrades and find hidden traitors. He's definitely trustworthy."
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