Chapter 208: Advancing the Line

Chapter 208: Advancing the Line

The first northern rifle formation entered the depression as soon as Noah approved the advance. They passed through the northern bend and climbed the far slope instead of stopping at the positions used during the previous defense. The second formation remained inside the depression until the lead officer confirmed that the exit was clear and his men had enough room to spread out above it.

Beyond the depression, the terrain consisted of gently elevated ground separated by shallow channels. Several Astragoth groups were still visible farther north. Some continued retreating, while others had stopped near the next elevated section and were watching the goblins come forward.

The northern commander contacted the officer leading the first formation. "Take the gently elevated ground directly ahead of your formation and divide your men across the western end, the center, and the eastern end. There’s a shallow channel running toward your western side. Keep the western group facing the channel instead of the northern slope. Anything moving through it could reach the elevated ground without entering the center’s line of fire."

"We’re almost at the top," the officer replied. "The center is clear. I can see several Astragoths north of the next channel, but none of them are moving toward us yet. I’ll put one group above the western channel and another on the eastern slope before I bring the rest of the formation up."

"Do that first. The second formation will stay below the elevated ground until you can cover the route they’ll use."

The leading formation reached the top and spread across the northern face. Riflemen on the western end took positions above the shallow channel, while the eastern group watched the open slope. The center faced the largest concentration of Astragoths farther north.

Once the officer reported that all three positions were occupied, the northern commander sent the second formation through the depression. Machine-gun crews followed after both rifle formations were in place. One gun was set behind the center of the new line, while the second remained near the northern exit of the depression to cover the route behind them.

The Astragoths changed direction before the goblins could advance again. An observer on the elevated ground reported three groups moving back toward the new line. The largest was approaching the center, a smaller group was entering the western channel, and another was moving toward the eastern side.

"The western group is dropping below the bank," the observer said. "If they stay in that channel, the center gun won’t be able to see them. The eastern group is still farther away."

The northern commander answered without moving any units. "Keep the center gun on the largest group. The western rifles already have the better position over the channel, so they handle that side. The eastern group can stay where it is until those creatures come closer. I don’t want the machine gun changing direction while the largest attack is still coming straight at us."

The main Astragoth group crossed the open ground first. The machine gun opened fire, followed by the riflemen in the center. Several creatures fell before reaching the lower slope, but the rest continued forward.

The western group stayed inside the channel and avoided most of the machine-gun fire. The officer on that side shifted more riflemen toward the point where the channel ended.

"They’re still below my line," he reported. "If they keep following the channel, they’ll come out directly under the western end of the elevated ground. From here, my men can fire as soon as they start climbing."

"Stay on top," the northern commander replied. "Don’t go down after them. They have to expose themselves to reach you. I’m keeping reserve riflemen behind your right side in case more come out of the channel than you can stop."

The first Astragoth emerged and started climbing. The western riflemen waited until its upper body cleared the bank, then opened fire. The creature fell before reaching the top. A second climbed behind it and made it farther, but repeated shots stopped it below the firing line. The remaining Astragoths turned back through the channel rather than continue the climb.

At the center, the main attack had reached the lower slope. The machine gun continued firing at the creatures still crossing the open ground, while the riflemen targeted those already close to the elevated ground.

One Astragoth climbed high enough to strike the upper edge with its tail. The nearest riflemen moved behind a higher section of stone while an RPG team came forward.

The center-left officer contacted the commander. "One creature is directly below my position. The machine gun can’t turn onto it without firing across my riflemen. I can give the RPG team a clear shot if I move the front group behind the next shelf."

"Move them back and give the RPG team the lane," the northern commander replied. "Keep the machine gun facing north. There are still several Astragoths crossing the open area, and the gun is the only weapon covering all of them at once."

The front riflemen withdrew far enough to clear the shot. The RPG team fired into the Astragoth below the elevated ground and stopped it before it reached the top. The riflemen returned to their positions and resumed firing while the center machine gun continued engaging the remaining attackers.

The central group eventually withdrew beyond the shallow channel. The northern commander waited until his observers confirmed that no other Astragoths were approaching before contacting the field commander.

"We have the first elevated position. The center and western attacks have both pulled back. I can move farther north, but my eastern side will be exposed if we leave this position before the eastern force catches up."

The field commander contacted the eastern commander. "North is established beyond the depression. Where is your leading formation now?"

"We’re past the old throwing position and approaching a raised slope farther northeast," the eastern commander replied. "I can also see Astragoths crossing in front of us toward the northern fighting. If they keep moving northwest, they’ll reach the northern force from the side."

"Take the raised slope and stop that group before it gets there. Once you’re in position, tell the northern commander where your left side ends. He’ll adjust his eastern rifles to cover the space between both forces."

The eastern commander sent two rifle formations forward. The first moved along the higher part of the slope, while the second stayed behind and covered the exposed right side. The machine-gun crew remained farther back until the leading soldiers were clear of its firing lane.

The Astragoths ahead had been moving northwest. When they saw the first eastern formation approaching, they stopped and turned toward the goblins.

The leading eastern officer reported the change. "They’ve stopped moving north and are coming toward us. We’re still short of the raised slope, and my second formation hasn’t reached my right side yet. If I keep moving, the first unit will meet them before the rest of the line is ready."

"Stop where you are," the eastern commander replied. "Set the rifle line on your current slope. I’m bringing the second formation up behind your right. We’ll take the raised position after this group is dealt with."

The first formation spread across the slope and opened fire. The Astragoths continued forward until the second formation reached the right side and added its rifles. The machine-gun crew waited until both groups were clear of its lane, then fired into the largest part of the attack.

Several Astragoths tried to move east around the rifle line, but the second formation already covered that route. After taking losses in the center and on the right, the surviving creatures turned north and withdrew.

The eastern commander waited until his observers confirmed that the group had moved beyond the next slope. He then ordered both formations forward. They occupied the raised position, and the machine-gun crew moved up behind the center.

He contacted the northern commander directly. "My left side is established on the raised slope east of you. I can see the eastern end of your elevated ground. There’s open ground between us, but anything crossing it will enter rifle range from one side or the other."

"I can see your position," the northern commander replied. "I’ll move my eastern rifle group forward and slightly east. That will close the easiest route between us without putting either force too far ahead."

"Make that move first. I’ll hold here until your eastern side is in place. Once that’s done, we can advance without leaving an open approach between us."

The northern commander shifted his eastern rifle group forward, while the eastern force moved its left side slightly northwest. The formations remained separate, but their firing lanes now covered the open ground between them.

Noah listened to the reports beside the field commander. The northern force could continue moving without leaving its right side exposed, while the eastern troops were positioned to stop Astragoths trying to move toward the northern line.

"Have them continue," Noah said. "North moves first. East keeps its left side close enough to support the northern line. If either sector runs into a larger enemy group, both stop until that attack is finished. I don’t want one commander moving forward while the other is tied down."

The field commander passed the order. The northern commander sent one rifle formation beyond the first elevated position, where the soldiers crossed open ground toward the shallow channel the Astragoths had used during the earlier attack. Another enemy group was already gathering beyond it.

The Astragoths attacked before the goblins reached the far side. The leading riflemen took positions behind the near bank and fired across the channel. Soldiers behind them spread left and right rather than crowding the center. The machine-gun crew was still moving forward from the first elevated position, so the rifles had to stop the opening attack alone.

The leading officer contacted the northern commander while directing his men. "I have one large group coming toward the center and another moving toward my left. We can hold the near bank for now, but I want the machine gun here before the second group reaches the channel."

"The crew is already moving," the commander replied. "Keep your center rifles where they are. Extend your left side with the soldiers behind you instead of pulling men out of the middle. Hold the channel until the gun is set."

The Astragoths reached the opposite bank under rifle fire. Several entered the channel and tried to climb the goblin side. The lower terrain forced them to expose their bodies as they came up, allowing the riflemen to concentrate their fire on each creature.

The machine-gun crew arrived behind the center and began setting up while the riflemen adjusted their positions. As soon as the firing lane was clear, the gunner opened fire on the Astragoths still approaching from the north.

The attack weakened within several minutes. The surviving creatures stopped trying to cross the channel and withdrew toward another elevated section farther north. The leading officer did not follow them. He sent observers toward both ends of the channel and waited for reports before moving again.

The western observer saw no new group approaching. The eastern observer also reported that the nearest Astragoths were continuing north. Only after receiving both reports did the officer move his rifle formations across the channel. They established positions on the far bank before the machine gun followed.

The eastern force advanced at the same pace. Most Astragoth groups ahead continued moving north rather than turning to fight, but one group began moving west through the open space between the northern and eastern sectors.

The eastern commander saw them first and contacted the northern commander. "I have a group moving toward the space between our lines. They’re closer to my side, so my left rifle unit will engage first. Keep your eastern rifles facing north unless the Astragoths turn west."

"My observers have the same group," the northern commander replied. "We’ll leave them to you while they stay on your side. If they cross west of the open slope, my eastern rifles will take them. That way we aren’t both firing at the same targets while ignoring our own fronts."

The eastern rifles opened fire. Several Astragoths changed direction after taking hits and moved west, bringing them into the northern rifles’ sector. The northern unit joined only after the creatures crossed into its firing lane. The survivors abandoned the attempt and retreated north.

The goblin advance continued through several more positions. Rifle units moved first, checked the terrain ahead and to both sides, then established firing positions before machine guns or additional formations followed. The northern and eastern commanders kept their lines at similar distances from the plateau so neither force moved beyond the other’s support.

Astragoth resistance became less organized as the goblins advanced. Small groups still turned back to fight, but they no longer attacked the whole northern or eastern line. Rifle units stopped most of them before they reached close range, while machine guns were used when larger groups approached across open terrain.

The northern commander eventually reached a broad elevated section beyond the second shallow channel. His leading formation occupied the top while another unit covered the western approach. The eastern commander halted on an adjoining slope close enough to support the northern line.

Neither commander continued beyond those positions. Their observers could still see Astragoths farther north and northeast, but most of the creatures were moving away instead of turning back to attack.

The field commander contacted both officers. "Hold where you are. The enemy ahead is withdrawing, and I don’t want either sector crossing another elevated section without knowing what is behind it. Put observers forward and find out where the larger groups are going before you move again."

The northern commander answered first. "I can still see scattered movement farther north, but nothing large enough to attack this position. I’ll keep the main rifle line on the elevated ground and put observers on the forward edge where they can watch the next channel."

The eastern commander followed. "Most of the movement on my side is heading northeast. I’ll hold this slope and keep my left side watching the space between us and the northern line. If another group turns back, we’ll see it before it reaches either position."

The gunfire became less frequent after that. Riflemen still fired at individual Astragoths that approached too close, but there was no longer continuous fighting across the front. The northern force now held positions beyond the depression and the second shallow channel, while the eastern force had moved well past the old throwing position.

Only after the fighting began to subside did the field commander receive another report from behind the front. More formations had entered Planet X-317 from Eldrath, and their officers were waiting for new assignments.

"Send them toward the front," Noah said. "Keep them behind the leading northern and eastern units until the observers locate the next large Astragoth force. The units already holding the new line stay where they are."

The field commander passed the order. Far behind the new positions, fresh goblin formations left the plateau and began moving north and east toward the expanded battlefield while the remaining gunfire continued to decrease.