Assegaf and Chaniago were crouched behind the safety of the barricade, watching a convoy of Fascist Alliance tracked vehicles passing through Brawijaya Street across the river.

They were eight hundred metres away from the contested zone; an area roughly encompassing the south-western part of the Surabaya-Mojokerto metropolitan area. In recent weeks Republic forces have managed to seize the main highway to the north, cutting off Fascist Alliance forces in Mojokerto from outside support. Those unable to escape the oncoming siege would be destroyed later through battles of attrition.

Chaniago couldn't imagine how Pulorejo used to be the city's most scenic neighbourhood. Coffee houses and restaurants of every kind once dotted the streets, providing much needed avenues for Mojokertans to unwind and relax after a hard day's work. Now it was little more than a ghost town, its residents having been evacuated ahead of the recent Republic offensive. Bullet-pockmarked buildings stood silently over the path leading to Pulorejo Bridge, each bearing witness to the ferocity of the fighting. Meanwhile, rubble of various shapes and sizes strewed the way, hewn out of the empty husks of surrounding buildings through constant gunfire and shelling.

A few more seconds of silence passed before Assegaf called his forward headquarters. "Major," he said, "what's our status?"

"Sir, our forces are in position," Laksono replied.

"Acknowledged. Commence the attack."

Chaniago held his breath as a barrage of rockets streaked across the bridge and towards the unsuspecting enemy vehicles, saturating the area with loud explosions as they hit their targets. Some of the vehicles swerved in the opposite direction upon realising what was going on, but they were quickly annihilated as a second wave of rockets arrived to finish off the remaining enemy presence.

Several companies of mechanised infantrymen stormed across the bridge shortly afterwards, followed closely behind by a few APCs and Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks. They belonged to the 13th Cavalry Regiment, an elite unit placed under Assegaf's command as part of the Tenth Army. It was also the Indonesian Republic Army's first dedicated armoured unit at the regiment level. While the IRA had traditionally relied on infantry units as its backbone, the acquisition of new equipment for the past two decades in response to the changing strategic situation in the Asia-Pacific necessitated changes to military doctrine down to the operational level. Though the Civil War had sapped the IRA of its full strength through mass defections and desertions, it also provided opportunities for new military doctrines to be put to the test. The Battle of Mojokerto would be no different.

Chaniago watched as Republic soldiers stormed the buildings along the river following the rocket barrage. Sounds of gunfire echoed across the area as they tried to clear the buildings of enemy presence. Meanwhile, the mortar teams took up positions behind the safety of the lines, providing fire support by lobbing high explosive rounds on enemy positions in the distance.

Chaniago decided to put aside his binoculars for a moment. Looking to his right, he noticed Assegaf was still observing the battle; his gaze focused on a black plume of smoke rising above Kauman District a mile away. Curious, Chaniago returned to his binoculars, wondering what could have grabbed the Brigadier's attention for so long. It did not take him long to notice a group of enemy troopers jumping out of a building whose interior was almost completely engulfed in flames. Judging by the scene, he deduced Republic forces must have set it afire when its defenders had refused to capitulate.

"Our forces seem to be doing well," Chaniago remarked.

"For now," Assegaf said. "But we mustn't underestimate the Fascists' ability to play the long game. We don't know how they would respond to our attack."

Chaniago nodded in agreement. He still hadn't quite come to terms with the fact that his first assignment had taken him to the battlefield. Upon receiving his commission as Assegaf's aide, Chaniago assumed he would be tasked with administrative duties, only to find out he would be needed much closer to the front. Still, he tried his best to remain calm – amidst the constant sound of gunfire and explosions and the cries of dying soldiers.

Once more Assegaf's comlink signalled. "Assegaf here."

"Captain Djatmiko reporting," the voice on the comlink said. "Kauman District is clear of enemy presence. We have them on the run."

"Very good. Anything else?" Assegaf asked.

"There are still rebel forces concentrated around the Main Square and the District Command HQ in Majapahit Avenue," Djatmiko said. "I plan to clear those areas before they can call for reinforcements."

"Very well, Captain," Assegaf said. "Proceed at your discretion."

"Yes, sir. Djatmiko out."

Chaniago looked on as Assegaf put the comlink back in his pocket. "So what's next?"

"Return to HQ and run a check on our intelligence reports," Assegaf said. "Inform me once you're finished. I'll be inside the war room."

"Yes, sir."

-----------

Inside the Fascist Alliance forward headquarters, Ivan Febrianto and his officers watched the battle unfold through the viewscreen.

"Republic forces have successfully crossed the river," said Major Harry Setyo of Battle Group Bangor in hologram. "The 901st Battalion have sustained heavy losses while defending the bridge. Of all my units only the 130th Battalion are in fighting shape, but they're under constant pressure from the enemy as I speak."

Just as I thought, Ivan said to himself, seemingly brushing aside Setyo's concern. So this is how Assegaf conducts his battles. The Arab relies on constant, aggressive attacks to throw his enemies off-guard.

Ivan had spent the past week learning about Assegaf in great detail, forming a clear mental picture of his opponent in the process. Like him, Assegaf was assigned to the Black Berets and served with distinction before the Civil War. In addition, his treatise on the importance of strategic deterrence in modern warfare was well received by the top brass a few years before the war's outbreak – a feat considering the Indonesian Armed Forces had traditionally emphasised defensive operations.

A pity an officer of his calibre had chosen to remain loyal to the Republic...

"Sir?" Setyo prompted him after a few moments of silence.

"Hold your positions," Ivan said at last. "The city must be defended at all costs."

"But sir," Setyo protested, "Republic forces outnumber us by almost three to one. My troops are in danger of being overwhelmed."

Ivan stared at him. "Remember what you yourself said back in Lombok. Never tell me the odds. I expect you to do the same here."

Setyo knew better than to argue at this point. Ivan may have earned the reputation as a tough and ruthless commander, but he always delivered results and expected his men to do the same. Still, he needed to know how exactly Ivan planned to deal with the ongoing crisis.

"And what if things go wrong?" Setyo asked.

Ivan paused the live transmission and turned towards Setyo. "I have additional forces at my disposal. Trust me, everything is under control." The words came out of his lips strong and clear, enough to restore Setyo's confidence.

"Yes sir." Setyo ended the call.

Upon Setyo's departure, Ivan pressed a few buttons on his console and up came the holoimage of Major Shandy Malik of Mandala Battalion. "Republic forces are planning to attack the railway station," Ivan said. "Move your troops south and intercept once they come within range."

"Yes sir."

-----------

Assegaf listened carefully as Laksono began his briefing on the military situation in Mojokerto.

"Enemy forces have been pushed back to the city centre." He points to the left-hand side of the map, his expression holding eagerness and satisfaction. "Following our successful crossing of the river, the Fascist rebels were forced to redirect their efforts to stop our advance, leaving their southern flank vulnerable. As per your orders, Major Prakoso and his forces are heading towards the railway station, where the Fascists have concentrated much of their remaining forces in the south."

Assegaf looked at the map. "Good. Mojokerto shall fall into our hands tonight."

"It better be, sir," Laksono said. "The Fascist bastards know they're losing the war. That's why they're making things as hard as possible for us. The sooner we finish this, the sooner we get to leave this godforsaken place."

Seconds later they heard the sound of heavy footsteps echoing across the adjacent corridor. The door slammed open as Chaniago came rushing into the room, his right hand holding what appeared to be a document folder.

Laksono turns towards the direction of the door, fixing his gaze on the flustered officer. "Lieutenant! You can't just break in like this!"

Chaniago pays no attention to him. Staring down at the floor, he stands with his body leaning forward, his hands resting on his bent knees. "Sir, take a look at this." His voice holds dread and consternation, punctuated by his intermittent panting.

"Let me see," Assegaf said.

Chaniago straightens his posture and looks up. Hurriedly, he walks over to Assegaf and hands him the document containing transcripts of intercepted enemy communications. He then points to the last line."They know we're planning to attack the station."

"I wasn't informed," Assegaf said. "Major," he turned to Laksono, "tell Prakoso to break off his attack at once."

"Yes sir."

Assegaf picked up his cap and stormed out of the room with Chaniago trailing close behind. "Sir, where are you going?" the latter asked.

"To get to the bottom of this. Come, follow me."

-----------

Shandy Malik stood inside the turret of his Harimau Mk.II Medium Tank, watching his troops take up positions behind the buildings just fifty metres away from the railway station.

Looking through his binoculars, Malik watched as a group of Republic infantrymen advanced towards his direction. He had wanted to attack them at the first opportunity, but instinct told him to hold back. For the moment, he and his forces will stay out of sight until the rest of the Republic task force arrives.

The static from his radio transceiver distracted Malik from his watch. "Come in," he said.

"Sir," said the voice on the other end. "Hostiles inbound at nine o'clock. Your orders?"

"Hold your fire," Malik instructed. "Wait for them to come closer before we strike."

As soon as he had signed out, four APCs and two Leopard 2 tanks flanked by two squads of mechanised infantrymen appeared at the far end of the town heading towards their direction.

This is it.

Keeping his eyes closely fixed on the incoming enemy forces, Malik turned on his radio and contacted one of his senior commanders. "We have company. Prepare to intercept."

The commander replied in the affirmative. Closing the turret hatch above him, Malik instructed his driver to turn on the engine and get into attack position. Two other tanks – a Harimau Mk.II and a Leopard 2A4 – went along with him, both following closely behind.

Malik smiled to himself. Time to give the Republic forces a bloody nose.

-----------

"Sir, we've arrived," said Sergeant Iqbal, driver of the Leopard 2 tank assigned under Major Gesit Prakoso's task force.

Prakoso emerged from the turret to scan his surroundings. Most enemy units around the railway station had been sent north to halt the advance of Republic forces in the city centre. With their forces thinly dispersed along the front, the Fascists could not allocate enough troops to defend the area, leaving the railway station weakly defended.

A pushover, he thought. As it was with most Republic offensives in recent months. Months of constant warfare have attrited the Fascist ranks significantly, to the extent that the Republic was able to reverse all the gains they've made for the past four years in only one. Once Mojokerto falls, the Fascist rebels would lose a major foothold and supply hub in East Java, cutting off their forces in West Nusa Tenggara and the rest of the outer islands in one go.

Prakoso was about to head back into his turret and continue his advance when the radio transceiver signalled an incoming transmission. "Major, what's the situation?"

"Intelligence reports indicate a sizeable enemy task force heading your way," Laksono's voice said on the other end. "Break off your attack and pull back at once."

Prakoso was stunned with the sudden change in orders. He'd just spoken with Assegaf an hour earlier. His orders were to attack and seize the station just as the main Republic task force was beginning to establish a foothold in the city centre. Now another factor had presented itself and entered the equation, forcing him to adjust his plans.

A loud explosion erupted right beside Prakoso's tank just as he was about to relay the order to his troops. Another followed, and then another, with each successive explosion increasing in tempo and strength. Based on the infrared signatures on the tank's display, Prakoso knew at once what they were.

"Artillery strike," he shouted through the radio. "All units pull back!"

Black Beret – A nickname for members of the Cavalry Corps in both the Indonesian Republic and the Indonesian Imperial Armed Forces, who wear black berets as part of their service branch uniform.