Strike Witches:Afrika Chapter1
Hot.
It's so hot, I won't stop sweating even if I just stood around quietly, and if I move around, I only start sweating more.
And not only that, the sand around my feet is like a burning hell under the blazing sun. I feel like an egg in a frying pan, sunny-side-up.
This is Tobruk, a strategically important city in Africa. Ever since the time of the Roman Empire, it has been an influential colony in Cyrenaica, and a central meeting point for caravans. Even now, there is a fortress and the largest port in Cyrenaica, and even an airbase, so it is where the Afrikakorps of the Joint Human Forces have been stationed.
Although the city is situated 3000 km from the opening of the Mediterranean Sea at Gibraltar, the city is still easily supplied ny the Principality of Venezia from the Isle of Crete not far from the coast. Because the Neuroi try to stay as far away from the shore as possible, it's relatively safe to resupply the forces stationed in Africa so long as a proper route is chosen.
However, the foremost defensive line against the Neuroi at Halfaya Pass is a mere 140 km away. A distance that a land battle type Neuroi, or even worse, an aerial type Neuroi, could cross in a moment's time.
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The Neuroi appeared out of nowhere in 1939, when they began a serious invasion against humanity. Their first troops came flying from around the Black Sea, coming out from the Neuroi nests floating in the air.
The European countries held out for as long as they could, but Ostmark, directly in the line of the invasion, was the first to fall. In winter of the same year, the invasion of Suomus in Northern Europe began, and by 1940, the entirety of the Karlsländer forces were fighting grueling defensive battles along the former border of Ostmark.
Against the overwhelming power of the Neuroi invasion, the Karlsländer forces faced defeat after defeat, and in June, Berlin fell to the Neuroi. The dogged determination of the Witches in holding back the Neuroi allowed the evacuation of the populace and the imperial family to the industrial capital of Neu Karlsland in South Liberion to be carried out with some success. However, with the defeat of the strongest military force in Europe, the neighboring country of Gallia was like a candle before the wind.
Meanwhile, the Neuroi which headed south from the Black Sea arrived in Egypt in September, 1940. The Britannian forces, fearing the loss of their communications network to India, shored up their defenses, but with their main focus on the defense of Gallia, the Britannian forces were severely undermanned.
Unsurprisingly, Egypt soon fell to the invaders.
Some of the Karlsländer forces aiding the retreat from Europe headed to the aid of Britannia at their request, and fell back to the south, crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Cyrenaica. At the same time, the Royal Army of the Principality of Romagna dispatched military support as well, and the Joint Army known as the Afrikakorps was established.
On the seas, the main forces were provided by the Royal Navy of the Principality of Romagna and the Britannian Navy, with logistical support from far-off Liberion and Neu Karlsland on the New World. Even with additional manpower and supplies, humanity was barely able to force a deadlock on the situation. This was due in large part to the shortage in Witches. Most Britannian Witches, in particular Air Infantry, were reserved for the defense of the main Britannian Isles; only some Armored Ground Infantry were dispatched to Northern Africa.
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