Battle of Checkpoint Archer

The Battle of Checkpoint Archer was a military engagement between Second Republic forces and Commonwealth forces near the city of Lodz during the Mike Pence Crisis and wider Warsaw Crisis.

The engagement was one of the largest of the war and saw the beginning of NATO hegemony over Poland. It was one of the few points of open warfare between the major backers of the Warsaw Crisis. It was one of the only places that saw NATO in direct combat with the IA.

Checkpoint Archer was one of many checkpoints along the frontier between the Commonwealth and Second Republic where an unofficial truce held the two nations from fighting. Checkpoint Archer became a symbol of the division within Poland, especially after a confrontation a few days prior at the checkpoint between Ukrainian and American tanks was widely shared online. The checkpoint became a highly militarised position with barbed wire, trenches and pillboxes being constructed in addition to the highly fortified checkpoint zone.

### Background

Checkpoint Archer became a highly militarised zone following the end of the Siege of Warsaw which saw a NATO victory. Images of Belgian and American troops atop the city hall sparked unrest across Commonwealth occupied areas. After the end of the battle, NATO and the IA turned towards a larger and more expansive campaign of gaining complete hegemony over Poland, especially now that the Republic of Poland looked largely defeated. As a result, areas such as Checkpoint Archer became highly fortified and looked more than ever a possible flashpoint of a future conflict.

### First Shots

Guerillas from a variety of militias frequently smuggled supplies through the checkpoints. Large convoys of trucks were often disguised as refugees. A convoy of refugees was attempting to leave the Second Republic into the Commonwealth and due to the large volume of refugees, there was a large queue as American troops checked through each vehicle. In one vehicle, guerillas sympathetic towards the Commonwealth were attempting to smuggle a large shipment of rifles. As American military police approached the vehicle, the guerillas, realising there was no escape, attempted to save their own lives. They sprinted from their now abandoned vehicles and attempted to sprint across the heavily fortified no-mans land in between the zones before being fired upon by American military police. It would be these first shots that would spark the beginning of the battle.

### Flashpoint Archer

Immediately Commonwealth troops returned fire and managed to provide enough suppressing fire for the guerillas to successfully cross. This signalled the beginning of the wider battle. With reports that Mike Pence's plane being shot down, chaos ensued. American artillery opened fire on Commonwealth positions and several American tanks began advancing whilst supported by infantry. Ukrainian tanks quickly met them as they rushed to help stop the advance. Whilst taking extremely heavy casualties, Ukrainian armour reinforced by artillery and Commonwealth infantry was able to contain the American spearhead.

Ukrainian tanks were no match for the highly skilled and technologically advanced American opponents and very soon, casualties reached their breaking point. Very soon after the battle began, British jets began strafing Ukrainian positions and after intense fighting, Ukrainian armour was forced to retreat and regroup. As a result of their loss in armoured support, Commonwealth infantry was also forced to abandon their positions and retreat.

### Hungarian Counterattack

As the Ukrainian and Commonwealth forces retreated to a reserve position, Hungarian infantry supported by heavy artillery mounted a counteroffensive to halt the American armour. However, the Hungarian infantry, only lightly experienced and only experienced against usually ineffective forces, struggled to stop the American advance. It is with this engagement that saw the majority of casualties for the Commonwealth and IA. Hungarian infantry experienced heavy casualties following sustained fire from American armour and artillery. After a prolonged engagement that left many Hungarian troops demoralised and shaken, soldiers began to break and flee from the front, effectively sealing the victory for NATO and Second Republic forces at Checkpoint Archer.

### Aftermath

After the news that Mike Pence had died broke, NATO and Second Republic troops withdrew back to Checkpoint Archer. Bodies were collected and prisoners were taken. The Hungarian infantry division that saw such heavy casualties was withdrawn from operations within Poland completely as was the Ukrainian armour division.