Siege of Vraks - The Crisis of 1st Korps (255.815.M41): Following the Krieg breakthrough, the enemy abandoned not only its outer defence lines, but also the northern line, itself a spur of the second defence line, now felt to be undefendable due to the situation on the ground; outflanked to the south, and faced by a recuperated Krieg 1st and 30th Line Korps. Pinned by enemy attacks to the front, any defenders could quickly be cut-off by the advance of the 12th line korps. Instead of risking a catastrophic defeat by holding onto untenable ground, the defenders withdrew furthers. The 1st and 30th line korps found the northern defence lines abandoned, and were soon pushing forwards against light resistance from rearguards, snipers and the inevitable harassing artillery fire. As the 1st line korps moved south and eastwards, it was also encircling the second defence line. So far, in over two years of war, the 88th Siege Army had been constantly on the attack. But at 255815.M41 the strategic position changed as the 1st Line Korps closed in from the north towards the second defence line, its was subjected to the enemy's first concerted offensive of the war.The northern defence line might have been abandoned without a fight, but the ground between the two positions had been identified as the scene of a strong counter-attack. The 19th Siege regiment was occupying overnight positions in sector 60-53. There was reported movement of enemy vehicles throughout the night by Krieg sentries, and, in response, harassing artillery fire was increased in an attempt to impede whatever the enemy were planning. Expecting a local counter-attack the forward companies were reinforced, and a general stand-to was issued at dawn. The newly dug trenches were lined with men, lasguns at the ready. The enemy responsed with a sporadic barrage of artillery shells, before they unleashed a tornado upon the Imperial defenders. A mass of concentrated artillery fire thundered over the 19th regiment's positions, rolling like a storm of thunder from the ocean. Amongst the heavy shelling came smoke shells, spouting thick white clouds that obscured the battlefield. Behind the smoke came the first wave of enemy attacks.Through the dust and smoke the growing noise of approaching engines sounded like the forges of hell opening. Enemy tanks opened up with their main guns, the shells flying into the front trenches of the Krieg guardsmen. A series of explosions tore bloody gaps in the crowded trench lines. Soon the vox-net was inundated with reports of squadrons and enemy tanks and Chimeras all along the 19th regiment's front. The Vraksian Renegade Militia troopers swarmed forward, bayonets fixed, knives, axes and fighting blades in hand. They charging recklessly as the Krieg guardsmen returned fire with Lasguns, Heavy Stubbers and Heavy Bolters. The enemy were like rabid dogs, hunting in packs as bullets and tank shells destroyed the 19th regiment's trenches piecemeal.One after another, the Krieg units were overrun, and onwards thundered the enemy tanks. Watching through his magnoculars from his command post, Colonel Adal, commander of the 19th regiment could make out the fighting through the drift of smoke and dust thrown up by the bombardment. As reports filtered in of positions being overrun, he watched as the enemy tanks engaged and destroyed his forward positions. In desperation, Adal ordered his reserve companies into the line to try to stem the momentum of the enemy assault. The Colonel requested reinforcements from higher command, but reinforcements were unavailable. He must hold his ground with the forces at his disposal. The fighting continued all day and by mid afternoon murderous artillery fire had started again from both sides.During the day 19 quad-launchers and heavy mortar positions had been overrun, and in many cases the enemy turned the guns around, using them until the ammunition stores were gone. As night dawn, both sides continued to harass one another with probing attacks, but the situation was confused, as there was no longer a clear front line, just a chaotic mess of units. At dawn the enemy attack renewed, and the 19th regiment's own artillery replied in kind. Soon the blood-soaked enemy moved forwards, fighting from trench to trench. The first attack was driven off, the Colonel himself, lasgun in hand, firing from behind sandbags. A second attack as also held, but the shallow trenches to the left and right were now in enemy hands, and the Colonel and his defenders were isolated. His second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Dyneh, was killed when enemy tank fire destroyed Adal's command dug-out. Down to just 80 men, communication to the rear was soon severed. He ordered the wounded to be evacuated as best as they could, and divided the survivors into two groups. The first unit would break out and take new of the enemy breakthrough back. He would command a rearguard and hold for as long as possible, until either relief arrived or he was overrun and killed. He knew there was little hope of rescue, but the taciturn Colonel would fight as long as possible.The Colonel's group battered survivors fought on bravely, until the Colonel himself was killed when the enemy brought forwards a Hellhound flamethrower tank to smoke them out. Of his fate nothing was ever known, his body incinerated in the blasts of super-heated Promethium that finally destroyed his command outpost. The second line had also been breached with the loss of the command post. The 19th regiment's position was not saveable. Though they no longer had a commander to co-ordinate the regiment's actions, isolated groups of survivors fought on, but as a cohesive unit the 19th regiment was a spent force. In the chaos of the retreat much of the equipment and stores had to be abandoned. It was now left to the 1st line korps to salvage what they could from the sudden fury of the enemy assault.After two days of grueling fighting the enemy had their breakthrough, and 1st line korps was forced to make a tactical withdrawal, as its entire position was in danger of being compromised by the collapse of the 19th regiment on its left flank. First and foremost the enemy attack had to be stalled, delayed as long as possible to buy time for the other regimens to reposition themselves. 1st korps gathered elements of the 7th Tank regiment and the surviving Death Rider companies of the 19th regiment. They threw both of these elements into the enemy's path in the hope of delaying the advance. It wasn't enough to stop it altogether but any time it bought the 1st korps was now vital. Orders were issued to the other regiments to withdraw, whilst the 261st regiment would need to turn its flank and dig-in as best it could. This lost ground as a major setback to Lord Zuehlke's campaign timetable. The enemy had now seized the initiativeOn the third day, the enemy tanks continued to roll forwards as 1st Korps had at last repositioned some forces to meet the enemy. In all, 52 tanks of the 7th Tank regiment, Leman Russes and Macharius Heavy Tanks, had been positioned, against an estimated enemy attack that still had over a hundred, although their numbers were growing all the time if reports were to be believed. Eventually the enemy armoured thrust was seriously blunted, due in no small part to days of multiple delaying actions by valiant Krieg tank commanders, and with each day the enemy captured less ground. After three more days the counter-attack had been stalled, but it had cut a swathe through 1st Korps and forced it to give up much captured ground. The 19th Regiment had been shredded in the first two days, over 80,000 men of the regiment had been captured or become casualties, including its commanding officer. Enemy losses had also been heavy, especially in armoured vehicles. All along the frontline, attacks that should have weakened the enemy only seemed to have emboldened him. Enemy defences had been organised, and now the second defence line would be much more difficult to crack.