Operation Pulse

Operation Pulse
Part of the Corum War
Map of the operational area, showing major troop movements
Date IX-XV.1750 AN Location Western Corum
Belligerents
East Zimia and the Wallis Islands	Confederacy of the Dispossessed
Commanders and leaders
Electra Penguinwaffels	Unknown
Units involved
East Zimian and Wallisian War League 5th Brigade 6th Brigade 2nd Ground Attack Wing	Local forces

Operation Pulse (Sangunese: パルス作戦 Parusu Sakusen) is a military operation by East Zimia and the Wallis Islands in western Corum.

Background

The inland city of Assek in western Corum had been the capital of Monovia from 1588 AN to 1602 AN, before falling to the Bassarids in 1695 AN. Under Bassarid rule, the city was administered by the regional investor of Corum Electric until the collapse of the Haifo-Pallisican Imperial Trade Union in 1719 AN. Assek subsequently belonged to the Çakari riyasat (princely state) of Jaihabar between 1722 AN and 1739 AN.

The Florian invasion of northern Corum in 1747 AN led to renewed instability in the region. East Zimian forces in Western Corum were initially content to remain behind the Corum Electric Fence, a defensive barrier protecting their enclave from the Confederacy of the Dispossessed in the Green; however this attitude began to change after the Florian advance slowed in 1750 AN. The authorities in Corum Electric City grew increasingly concerned that the pause in operations would allow the Dispossessed to regroup and rearm in the south, and ultimately pose a threat to Western Corum. At the same time, the Florian occupation of the coastal region had substantially decreased the manpower needed to secure the northern half of the Fence, freeing up a significant number of troops for offensive operations.

In mid 1750 AN, Queen Mina II appointed her daughter, Princess Electra, commander of the East Zimian and Wallisian War League's 2nd "Corum Electric" Division. The princess quickly set in motion plans for an advance into the interior by elements of her division, with the ultimate aim of securing the city of Assek and ensuring the safety of its Gamesman population.

Planning

The recent Florian invasion was heavily analysed in the early stages of planning for the operation. East Zimian leaders were confident that many of the problems faced by Florian forces could be mitigated: unlike the latter, their troops had been recruited locally and so were familiar with the terrain and people of the continent, and their supply routes would be considerably shorter. A stiffening of elite cyber-enhanced undead soldiers, together with extensive use of locally-manufactured drones and quadwalkers, would help to maintain a high operational tempo. Moreover, it was expected that the majority of opposing forces would be deployed in the north against the Florians, leaving them vulnerable to a rapid advance from the west.

Order of battle

 East Zimia and the Wallis Islands:

• 2nd "Corum Electric" Division
  • 5th Brigade
  • 6th Brigade
• 2nd Ground Attack Wing

Battle

Initial breakthrough and logistical struggles

After nearly a month of preparations, forward elements of the 5th Brigade crossed the Fence on the morning of 20.X.1750 AN. The ground forces were preceded by a swarm of aerial drones; this enabled potential targets and bottlenecks along the lines of advance to be readily identified, allowing the leading quadwalkers to surprise the former while the human soldiers following behind were rerouted to avoid delays. As predicted, there were few hostile forces to contest the initial breakthrough and by the end of the first day, East Zimian forces had advanced a substantial distance beyond the start line.

Although enemy resistance increased after the first few days, geography was to prove a more determined enemy. Despite their rugged design, the legacy L-10 personnel carriers suffered numerous breakdowns, increasing the burden on support elements. By contrast, the limited number of gravimetric supply vehicles quickly proved their worth, allowing much needed supplies to be rapidly moved forward over even the most treacherous terrain.