Into the Valley of the Shadow at Ilovaysk (Counterstroke)

[Jim von Krieg]

Along the valley's northern end, Colonel von Krieg strains to elevate himself just a bit further from the Mk-IV's hatch.. From just below the crest of the plateau he peers from his binoculars at the large formation of Ivan's armor... His reconnaissance elements have done an excellent job..

An outer screen of T-34s with the monster KV-1s in the middle moving south.. Damn... those big Red Army beasts are always difficult to deal with because of their thick armor plate..

Ivan's formation is moving slowly to the south along the road leading into the valley... Good, good... the troops are in position and Ivan is driving straight into our kill zone...

Just to the east of the road, a large convoy of trucks parallels the movement of Ivan's armor... It is creeping across the snow covered fields... Seemingly unconcerned about the danger they face... Unexpected... A slight smile emerges on the normally stoic von Krieg's face... their commander will regret his foolish choice not to march into the fight...

Behind Ivan's armored column, more tanks, SP Guns and trucks follow...

Across the radio net from von Krieg's reconnaissance elements screening the southern end of the valley, another large formation of Ivan's armor is reported moving in a southerly direction parallel to the valley...

One problem at a time... Colonel von Krieg takes a deep breath in a momentary pause as he mentally reviews his plan in his head... then he furiously barks out orders over the net... ALL elements move forward to engage...

Switching to internal comms... von Krieg focuses on the task at hand... Gunther sabot... Hans... bring us forward onto the plateau...

von Krieg's Mk-IV slowly crests the rise onto the plateau and it's panoramic view of the large enemy formation... Petrol engines all along the valley rim belch their large exhaust clouds as they push their panzers uphill and into battle...

As the panzers brake to a stop, the gunners across von Krieg's formation squeeze their triggers... the quiet morning is shattered by the cough of multiple gun tubes sending rounds downrange tearing into Ivan's formation...

In the distance, bright red flashes and plumes of oily black smoke erupt across the snowy white plateau... the peaceful winter morning is no more...