POV Smith
I'd had to wait a week for the Lobau to return to normal before I was willing to venture a crossing. In that time the 2nd battalion of the 33rd was called up to reinforce 3rd brigade. I'd need every man, woman… hell I'd take the old and infirm at this point.
Colonel Ponatoski sketched a perfect salute as the army marched across the Lodi bridge. Just yesterday her brigade had finished its slog north and had secured the far bank. "Sir, I pushed out scouts to report if any of Golmor's troops came snooping."
"Very good colonel." I returned Ponatoski's salute and moved further from the road so the columns marching across could continue uninterrupted.
No doubt on the far shore my brother, summoned from his comfortable lodgings in the rear, was enjoying the political repercussions of the campaign so far. Thousands of prisoners, of the 66th, 11th, and the 49th in particular… as well as the knights and their case.
"Golmor won't have sat still while we waited on the Lobau." I grunted and looked at the troops crossing, it was likely to take all day and much of the night.
"Rumors swirl that she's gathered several regiments and mercenary companies at Ivarstead. Approximately fifteen thousand." Ponatoski reported.
I winced at the number, so she'd gathered the principal of her strength to crush me? Joy of joys… At least I'd successfully prevented the ten thousand west of the Lobau from ever reinforcing her army. Though that victory had cost me in both manpower and garrisons I was forced to leave behind. My own army was now reduced to six and a half thousand, even with the reinforcements to 3rd brigade.
I'd started with eight thousand… to be reduced so much so quickly. Perhaps I'd have to wait and rely on reinforcements from her majesty. Maybe David could scrounge together some reinforcements from somewhere… maybe some of those noble ladies that fuaned over him could spare a few hundred for garrison duties?
Perhaps what would help me most was some good light cavalry to scout… there were a great many flaws in the system I'd devised and they were rearing their heads at the worst possible time. I could beat an infantry or cavalry charge, but any other situation would require a… delicate ability to maneuver that I just hadn't trained the army for. I lacked skirmishers, though I had taken steps to rectify that… I had no cavalry bar a single company to scout… and they were off to the south.
Regardless, it would be tomorrow before the army could reasonably march. I didn't want to separate my brigades as I'd done prior with Golmor moving closer. And she was moving closer… I'd brief the colonels later tonight, but I was waiting on a clarification of strength from the special ops fellas to give me concrete numbers to work with.
I watched with mixed pride as the battalions marched over the river. This was possibly the best army Monrovia had ever seen… maybe not… but perhaps the most disciplined. I could rely on the ranks, and they at least trusted me to lead them to victory.
My attention was drawn away as a messenger rode towards us, the rider and mount spent from the ride. Bringing the horse to a stop they took a long drink from my offered canteen.
"Sir… a whole regiment is marching down from the north. About two thousand!" They got out in between gasps of air.
I frowned. "How far?"
"They could be here by evening if they march as they have." The messenger replied.
"You did good work. Go get some rest, see to your mount." I dismissed the soldier as my staff edged closer.
"Sir, shall I stall their advance?" Ponatoski asked with a hard set grimace. I grinned wryly.
"Hell, if you think you can whip them good enough to surrender the field by all means colonel. Go give them hell."
She nodded and spun her horse around and bolted away. I smiled after the colonel. She was the only colonel I trusted enough not to need my supervision.
Though still this surprise was unwanted. I hadn't thought the lord guarding the roads from the north would move south so aggressively… At least I hoped it was the 57th regiment. If it wasn't then I had a large problem to solve. Hurrying the troops across wouldn't help any… if at all.
I'd have to rely on Ponatoski defeating, or at least delaying their advance significantly enough for the rest of the army to cross the river. Golmor was at least a three day march to the east. Perhaps this was just a bad bit of coordinating their maneuvering on their part?
I moved further into the town and set up my headquarters. I waited as scouts brought back reports and messengers from Ponatoski informed me she'd chosen to make a stand on a hill two miles north. I sent word to my brother, at least he'll be somewhat informed.
But now that I'd set up my headquarters I had to set about the menial tasks of command. Overseeing the vast pile of administrative sludge that came flying at my desk called paperwork. Orderlies brought in more by the minute as I shifted through what I had to. This massive manure pile… was this my brother's revenge? I wasn't even dealing with the paroled prisoners… why were… oh… this was the captured equipment.
Fuck. I didn't need to know what every soldier had on them! This could have been condensed and shortened and presented to me in a few documents. Why was it separated by individuals? God damnit!