None of our enemies shalt be exempt from our most righteous wrath! Behold, as we turn their own filthy weapons against them! By the end of this day, these foul, corrupt hypocrites will weep and beg for our mercy!
—Reloiux Dqwer
The Raid in Gresevokrad (Cruentusian War) was a battle of the Cruentusian War. It was part of a terror campaign initiated by the Death's Tongue Militia group against what it considered to be its worst enemies. Having attacked the Necasian Military, it now targeted the Srav Federation. Selecting the city of Gresevokrad, named after the famed Srav commander Ivran Gresev on the planet Dvion, the DTM planted a cell there and activated it almost immediately. DTM militants attacked a nuclear reactor in the city, intending to detonate it. Srav engineers managed to partly remove the reactor core rods, but nonetheless the DTM still succeeded in setting off the reactor, destroying part of the city, although the absence of the rods meant that there was no radioactivity. Remaining Srav forces in the city managed to consolidate and beat back the DTM; however, the Militia had succeeded in its goal of spreading terror amongst the Sravs.
Prelude[]
Immediately after striking at the Necasian Military in Lesangel, the DTM was already planning and setting up for a raid on the Srav Federation. It selected the city of Gresevokrad, mainly for its iconicness, and, like it had done in Lesangel, began smuggling in militants and loyal followers. Srav prisoners, brainwashed to serve the DTM, were also sent in.
To maximise destructive effect, the DTM targeted the Gresevokrad nuclear power station, a symbol of the city and of Srav industrial might, and noted that it was poorly defended. The DTM decided to minimise use of its bioweaon arsenal for the raid in order to leave survivors who could spread word of what it had done. Positioning militants and followers around the city, the DTM leaders gave the orer to attack as soon as possible. Striking quickly, the militants made a beeline for the power plant, taking the Sravs completely by surprise.
The raid[]
Attacking the power plant[]
The reactor detonates
Riding Stinger-class assault buggys, the DTM militants smashed through the gates to the plant, and mowed down the few Srav guards on position there. However, Srav engineers within the plant quickly realised what was happening and sealed off the reactor entrance, and set about disarming the reactor. Meanwhile, the Srav chief of militia in the city ordered reinforcements to the power plant. Srav Drapeznik gunships were quickly on the scene, but the DTM used RPG launchers to deter them. Molot-class anti-infantry platforms moved into position, their gatling cannons ripping into the militants, but rockets and concentrated fire caused them losses. Meanwhile, DTM munitions experts set up bombs at the power plant doors, and as the militants distracted the Srav troops they detonated them, allowing DTM saboteurs to move into the planet. However, Srav engineers had mostly disarmed the reactor, and quickly committed suicide to prevent the DTM from forcing them to rearm it.
Nonetheless, the key core of the reactor was still in place. Placing bombs on the reactor, the DTM sabotuers stepped back and detonated them. Overloading, the reactor exploded. A non-radioactive nuclear blast consumed the plant and everything around it in seconds, and then spread. Within seconds, a good part of the eastern part of the city was destroyed.
Pressing the advantage[]
Well done, brothers! Now, let us finish the job!"
"I killed four!"
"Concentrate, you fool! Oh, and I killed six!"
"Big deal! I killed ten!"
"I killed twelve!"
"Fourteen!"
"Shut up all of you and do what we came here to do! Oh, and I killed twenty!
—DTM militants banter amongst themselves
As the mushroom cloud rose above the city, the remains of the Srav militia rallied at their command centre as the population began to panic. More DTM militants, placed in the outskirts of the city, moved in, attacking Srav patrols who were trying to restore order. Going on the defensive, the Sravs consolidated around their command centre, but at the cost of abandoning civilians, who were left at the mercy of the DTM. Some citizens holed up in houses or large buildings, and the DTM responded by launching eborax grenades into said buildings, killing hundreds.
However, as the DTM wasted time by attacking civilians, the Sravs had consolidated and recovered from the initial shock. Drapezniks, backed up by Molots, went into the streets, taking out groups of militants. The Sravs quickly went from the defensive to the offensive as the DTM advance faltered.
The DTM retreats[]
As the Sravs began to push the DTM out of the city, the militant commanders realised that any further attempts to advance would be futile, so they worked on placing eborax and explosive bombs around the city. Noticing this, the Sravs dispatched bomb disposal squads accompanied by militia to disable the bombs. The militants fought to protect their bombs, but soon they were overwhelmed and most of the bombs defused. However, the DTM commanders quickly detonated the remaining ones, causing more damage to the city. However, the DTM were now in full retreat, and evacuated in stolen Klasnost-class transports. Although some of the transports were shot down, the last DTM troops had escaped, and their objective was complete.
Aftermath[]
These pathetic little rebels think that they can actually hurt us. Well, comrades, we will soon show them what happens when we are angered!
—Jasef Yuiln in a speech
Immediately after the battle, the Sravs worked on decontaminating areas infected by eborax and on putting out fires. With much of the city destroyed, there were plenty of homeless to take care of, and they were relocated to shanty towns and work camps. Angered by the attack, the Srav leaders announced that the DTM would be punished. Nonetheless, many Sravs were now terrified and in fear of the DTM. The DTM had succeeded in its psychological goal of spreading terror; however, it had angered two superpowers, and its leaders worked on thinking of a solution.