Chapter 205: Attack Through the Depression

Chapter 205: Attack Through the Depression

The northern observers spotted the Astragoths before the first group reached the bend in the depression. Their report reached Noah inside the starfortress as more enemy markers appeared on the tactical display. Dozens of Astragoths were moving south through the channel, while another group followed the eastern bank. The creatures were approaching the goblin positions above the southern end of the depression.

The northern commander had already alerted his rifle units. The western unit watched the channel where the Astragoths would appear after passing the bend. The middle unit covered the southern approach, while the eastern unit watched the slope below its position. The raised banks hid parts of the channel from view, so each unit had to keep its assigned route covered.

The field commander contacted Noah as the leading enemy group entered the depression.

"The observers are still counting new arrivals. Most are using the central channel, but another group is staying close to the eastern bank. If they keep moving south, they can climb directly toward the eastern rifle position."

"Keep the eastern unit facing that slope," Noah said. "What do you have ready behind the northern line?"

"The central reserve is still on the plateau. I can send riflemen north once one of the officers reports that his position needs help. The western and eastern perimeter commanders are also checking their approaches. Neither has reported another attack."

"Leave the reserve where it is for now. If the north needs support, send only what is required. I want troops available in case another Astragoth force appears on the western or eastern side."

The field commander passed the order to his officers.

The first rifle fire began moments later. Two Astragoths crossed an exposed part of the channel below the western unit. The nearest creature kept moving after the first shots hit it, but repeated volleys brought it down beside the bank. The second moved around the body and advanced several more meters before the riflemen stopped it.

More Astragoths emerged from the bend. Several continued through the center, while others moved toward the eastern bank. The eastern observers soon noticed that some creatures were no longer advancing directly toward the goblins. They were stopping beside loose stones scattered along the slope.

Several Astragoths wrapped their tails around the stones and began lifting them.

The eastern riflemen fired as soon as the first creature raised its body above the bank. Their shots forced it to release the stone and drop back. Another Astragoth completed its throw before enough rifles could turn toward it. The projectile struck the edge of the stone shelf occupied by the eastern unit. Fragments scattered behind the rifle line and wounded one soldier near the front.

Two goblins dragged the wounded man behind the adjoining formation while the rest of the unit continued firing.

A second projectile struck the middle position. The stone hit the front edge of the shelf, killing one rifleman and wounding another. Part of the formation broke away, forcing the surviving soldiers to move behind another section of cover. From there, they could still fire into the channel, but they had lost sight of the slope directly beneath the damaged shelf.

The northern commander contacted the field commander.

"The middle position has been hit. One man is dead, another is wounded, and the front shelf is no longer usable. The men have moved back, but that leaves the opening below them with fewer rifles watching it. I already have Astragoths moving toward that slope."

"Can you move anyone from the eastern unit?"

"I don’t want to. They’re dealing with the stone throwers. If I pull riflemen from that side, the Astragoths below them will have more time to prepare another throw."

"What about the western unit?"

"They have the clearest view into the channel. If I take men from there, more creatures will reach the southern end."

The field commander checked the reports from the other sectors before answering.

"I’ll send riflemen from the central reserve to the middle position. I’m also moving the machine gun from the upper western slope. The western commander still has his forward gun, and his observers haven’t reported any enemy movement toward their passage."

"That will cover what I need. Send the machine gun behind the middle unit. There’s an opening between two stone formations where the gunner can fire toward the northern bend without crossing the western or eastern rifle positions."

The reserve soldiers started north from the plateau. Wounded goblins were already being carried south through the same passage, so the reserve officer divided the route. Incoming troops stayed to one side while the evacuation teams used the other.

The first reinforcements reached the middle position before the machine gun. Several took cover beside the surviving riflemen, while others helped move the wounded farther from the depression. Their arrival restored enough rifles to watch the opening below the damaged shelf.

The Astragoths were already close.

One creature climbed toward the western rim and fell after repeated rifle volleys. Another moved through the southern channel and approached the opening beneath the middle unit.

The goblins fired as its upper body became visible. The Astragoth took several hits and continued climbing. When it reached the damaged shelf, it struck the stone edge with its tail. More of the formation broke away, forcing the nearest soldiers to move behind a second line of cover.

The middle officer contacted the northern commander.

"The Astragoth is directly below us. We’ve hit it several times, but it hasn’t stopped climbing. I have an RPG team behind the second shelf. If I pull the men away from the opening, they can fire straight down the approach."

"Pull only the men beside the opening. Keep the western rifles on the channel. There are more Astragoths coming behind that one, and I don’t want every rifle turned toward the same target."

"I’ll move the reserve riflemen behind the second shelf and clear the RPG lane."

The forward riflemen withdrew. Once the opening was clear, the RPG team stepped forward and aimed at the Astragoth as it raised its body toward the broken shelf.

The projectile struck the creature and exploded. Its body collapsed against the slope below the opening. The RPG team moved back to reload, and the middle riflemen returned to positions where they could fire into the southern channel.

The machine-gun crew arrived shortly afterward. The northern commander directed them to the gap behind the middle unit. The gunner checked the channel and had nearby riflemen move away from the firing lane.

When another group of Astragoths emerged from the northern bend, the machine gun opened fire.

Several creatures were hit before reaching the southern half of the depression. One collapsed in the center of the channel, forcing the creatures behind it toward the banks. That movement brought them into sight of the riflemen positioned above both sides.

The western riflemen engaged Astragoths climbing toward their rim. The eastern unit concentrated on creatures approaching the loose stones. The machine gun continued firing at enemies that stayed in the channel.

The attack slowed, but the stone throwing did not stop completely.

One Astragoth managed to throw past the eastern rifle position. The projectile struck the passage used by ammunition carriers, wounding one goblin and breaking enough stone to obstruct the route. The carriers stopped behind cover instead of trying to cross while more Astragoths remained near the eastern bank.

The eastern officer reported the damage.

"The supply passage is blocked where the stone landed. One carrier is wounded, and I still have at least two Astragoths near the loose stones. My riflemen can keep firing at them, but I don’t want the ammunition teams crossing that passage while the throwers are still active."

"Keep the carriers behind cover," the field commander replied. "I’ll send reserve soldiers to find another route around the damaged section. Your riflemen stay on the throwers. If they leave their positions, those Astragoths will get another chance to throw."

"That works. I’ll keep the eastern unit where it is and report when the stones are no longer being lifted."

Several reserve soldiers reached the damaged passage while the eastern riflemen continued firing. One Astragoth raised a stone high enough to expose its upper body and was hit repeatedly before it could throw. Another approached the same pile, then withdrew when the goblins concentrated their rifles on it.

The reserve soldiers moved the wounded carrier and found a route around the shattered stone. The ammunition teams used that path to reach a covered collection point behind the northern units. Riflemen from the middle and eastern positions collected fresh magazines without leaving the defensive line.

Noah checked the tactical display as another enemy group entered from the north. The goblins had already committed part of the reserve, moved a machine gun from the western side, and redirected ammunition carriers toward the northern battle. The remaining reserve soldiers were still on the plateau.

The field commander contacted him.

"Another group is approaching the bend. The northern commander isn’t asking for more men. The machine gun is covering the channel, the eastern riflemen have stopped the latest throwing attempts, and fresh ammunition has reached the forward units. I can still send the rest of the reserve north if the situation gets worse."

"Keep them at the center unless one of the northern positions is actually being overrun. The western and eastern sectors still need reinforcement available if another force appears."

"I’ll leave them on the plateau. If the northern commander loses another firing position, I’ll reinforce that position."

The next group entered the depression while the order was being passed down. The machine gun opened fire as soon as the leading Astragoths crossed the bend. Two creatures fell in the channel. Others moved toward the western bank, where riflemen engaged them before they reached the rim.

On the eastern side, several Astragoths tried to approach the loose stones again. The defenders fired before they could prepare another throw, forcing them back into the depression.

The attack continued for several more minutes, but fewer creatures reached the southern end. The machine gun stopped those entering the center, while the rifle units targeted Astragoths moving along the banks.

The retreat began when several enemies near the western slope turned north. Those still behind the eastern bank followed soon afterward. The goblins continued firing at targets within range but did not descend into the depression.

The northern commander kept every unit in place until the observers confirmed that the last visible Astragoths had passed the bend. Only then did soldiers begin moving wounded goblins away from the firing positions.

The middle unit could no longer use its original shelf. The eastern position had also lost part of its cover. Reserve riflemen remained north to replace casualties and occupy the new firing positions. Evacuation teams carried the wounded toward the plateau, while the machine-gun crew stayed behind the middle unit with its weapon aimed at the channel.

The field commander contacted Noah after receiving the casualty reports.

"We still hold the northern line, but I need the reserve riflemen to stay there until the damaged positions are repaired. The middle unit can’t use its original firing shelf, and the eastern unit has moved to another formation. The western and eastern perimeter commanders both report that their approaches stayed quiet during the attack."

"Can you still send troops beyond the perimeter if I order another advance?"

"Not without weakening one of the positions we’re already defending. If I take soldiers from the north, the damaged line will be short. If I take them from the west or east, those approaches lose their reserve support. I can hold the current perimeter, but I need fresh rifle units before I push farther."

Noah studied the friendly markers on the display. The Astragoths had failed to reach the plateau, but the battle had forced the goblins to commit troops that had been held in reserve. Another offensive would now require reinforcements.

The first wave had reached Planet X-317 in escape pods. The goblins now controlled the plateau and the approaches around it, which meant Noah could begin preparing the transportation connection for transfer from the starfortress to the planet.

He turned toward the Imperial transport officer in the monitoring room.

"I want to start preparing the transportation connection for transfer to the plateau. The field commander needs fresh rifle units before he can advance again. What do you need from him before your technicians can approve the destination?"

The transport officer brought up the center of the plateau on the display.

"We need a location large enough for arriving troops to assemble without blocking the existing routes. The northern ammunition passage is busy, and wounded soldiers are using another route back from the depression. The destination should not interfere with either one. We also need the field commander to confirm that his troops can protect the site."

"Start checking the equipment here. I’ll have him identify an unused part of the plateau. The current connection stays inside the starfortress until both sides agree that the destination is suitable."

"We can begin the equipment inspection now. Once his officers send us the proposed location, we’ll check whether the connection can be established there and how much space the arriving troops will have."

Noah contacted the field commander and explained what was required.

"I’m preparing to move the transportation connection to Planet X-317. I need a location near the center of the plateau where incoming soldiers can assemble without blocking the ammunition route north or the path used to evacuate wounded troops. Don’t move anyone away from the perimeter to secure the site yet. I only need the location inspected."

"I can do that without taking riflemen from the northern line. I’ll send officers through the unused parts of the plateau and have them mark a location with clear access toward the western, northern, and eastern sectors. Once the Imperial technicians approve it, we can decide on the number of soldiers."

"Keep the northern reinforcements where they are until the damaged positions are repaired. The transportation connection stays aboard the starfortress until the destination is approved."

The field commander began the inspection while Imperial technicians examined the transportation equipment aboard the starfortress.

On Planet X-317, the northern rifle units remained above the depression. Ammunition carriers continued supplying the damaged positions, and evacuation teams moved wounded goblins toward the plateau. The Astragoths had withdrawn beyond the northern bend.

Noah left the transportation connection aboard the starfortress while both sides prepared for the transfer. Additional goblin troops would not arrive until the destination on the plateau had been inspected and approved.