One by one, Margaash deployed his fighting units, in an almost chess-like manner. Each time, Nicholas Meyer issued a recommendation with a counter deployment, always basing his suggestion on the data being produced by the Analytical Engine. The data literally flowed into his consciousness, visible at the bottom of his visual field. Meyer was certain that the Analytical Engine was tapping directly into the fundamental operating system of reality itself. Surely, this had to represent the greatest scientific discovery of all time! The operations of reality, reduced to a complex series of mathematical equations and calculating machines. "This is a great time to be alive!" shouted Lieutenant Meyer.

  After the brown bear chariots, Margaash sent three more units out onto the battlefield in front of the 427th, all of them towards the southwest section of the battlefield. A pack of dire wolves, being herded by hobgoblin trainers, went furthest to the south of the battle line. Hobgoblin javelin throwers were next, and a group of 80 hobgoblin hammer wielders went beside them, occupying the ground very close to the centre of the 427th battalion's area of responsibility.

  Nicholas read through the line and saw the numbers, which he relayed to Professor Babbage, enabling him to input the data into the Analytical Engine:

  Hobgoblin Hammer Wielders____________Hobgoblin Javelin Throwers________________Dire Wolves

  Strength:____80 hobgoblins_____________________60 hobgoblins_____________________100 wolves, 10 trainers

  Leadership:_6__________________________________6__________________________________5_____________

  Fighting skill:6__________________________________6__________________________________5___________

  Attacks:_____1 per hobgoblin____________________1 per thrower______________________1 per wolf, 1 per trainers

  Quickness:__2__________________________________2__________________________________4 for wolves, 2 for trainers

  Power:______4__________________________________3__________________________________2 for wolves, 4 for trainers

  Defence:____3__________________________________3__________________________________3 for both

  Speed:______4__________________________________4__________________________________4 for both

  Wounds:____1__________________________________1__________________________________1 for both

  Armour:_____5+________________________________none_______________________________none

  Weapons:___Battle hammers___________________Throwing javelins___________________none

  Special abilities:none___________________________30 metres thrown javelin____________wolf swarming

  The Analytical Engine whirred and the wheels turned. Steam whistled out the top of the machine as the technicians sweated, and the professor furiously entered the numbers dictated by Nicholas Meyer. Major Schwarzkopf marvelled at the scene, realising that this form of battle planning was nothing like he had ever seen before in his military life. Until this moment, Schwarzkopf had viewed force deployment as a game of following hunches and educated guesses. As he looked at the rest of the commanders, atop Gallows Hill, he noted that all of them were deploying their own units, using the old fashioned 'by guess and by golly' method. The 304th commander was issuing deployment orders to his units, on the southern flank. To the north the 128th commander was deploying his units. Schwarzkopf prayed to his god, Theodor, that both flanks would hold and a victory for the Flying Eagles in the centre of the battlefield was in the offing. Time would tell. The one man who caught Schwarkopf's attention, most of all, was General Paulus. Paulus moved from battalion commander to battalion commander, offering advice and issuing orders. However, he always seemed to keep one eye directed towards the goings on around Analytical Engine #16. Even Paulus was caught up in the moment. Was this the first day of a new age of military history? Everyone on the hilltop that day, was considering the possibility.

  "I recommend the deployment of our Halberds, our Handgunners, and our Outriders, north to south, Sir! All three units should be able to hold the line, against that opposition!"

  I concur, Lieutenant Meyer!" agreed Schwarzkopf. "Hartmann! Send the rest of the outriders to deliver the deployment messages, and tell them to rejoin their unit, after they do that."

  "Yes, sir!" responded Hartmann. The deployment looked like this:

  Hanoverian Halberds__________________Stalsburg Handgunners__________________Brunswick Outriders

  Strength:______100 halberds__________________________100 gunners_____________________________20 light cavalry

  Leadership:____7______________________________________7________________________________________8_________

  Fighting skill:__3______________________________________3________________________________________4_________

  Attacks:_______1 per halberd__________________________1 shot per rifle____________________________1 per rider

  Quickness:____3______________________________________3_________________________________________4_________

  Power:________3______________________________________3_________________________________________3___________

  Defence:______3______________________________________3_________________________________________3________

  Speed:________4______________________________________4_________________________________________8__________

  Wounds:______1______________________________________1_________________________________________Warhorse 1, Rider 1

  Armour save:__5+____________________________________none______________________________________5+

  Weapons:_____Halberds +1 to power__________________Rifles have 100 metre range________________sabres

  Special abilities:none_________________________________none_______________________________________cavalry charge

  Experience points: 9,445______________________________7,591_______________________________________3,652______

  "Those match ups look favourable to me, Lieutenant Meyer!" commented Major Schwarzkopf.

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  "Margaash is committing his elite troops!" shouted Erich Hartmann, his eye glued to his spy glass. "The Siberian brown bear cavalry is entering the battlefield, as well as the hobgoblin crushers!" The Flying Eagles had been warned about the crushers. Margaash promoted the biggest and strongest of all hobgoblins into a special unit of broadsword armed veteran fighters. The crushers often fought next to the brown bear cavalry to support their charges, and they were a powerful attacking force in their own right.

  Nicholas Meyer raised his spy glass and scanned towards the centre of the battlefield. Sure enough, enormous brown bears, carrying powerfully built and armoured hobgoblins were exiting the cover of the forest and entering the grass covered plain. There were 30 of the brutes and each wielded a formidable battle axe. Worse yet, one of the mounted hobgoblins appeared to be a magic user. A second unit of giant hobgoblins on foot could also be seen advancing into position from the forest, The crushers! Was this really going to work? The statistics that came into his mind were ridiculously powerful, and the sheer mass of the units were intimidating. How could a unit of human soldiers, or those mounted on horses, possibly hope to stand up to such beasts? Yet, when he looked, the outcome predictions looked favourable. The Analytical Engine estimated a 72% chance of positive battle outcome for the Wolf Knights, provided that they were accompanied by Oxheart Mooseantlers, Goldenrod Echinacea and Major Schwarzkopf. Another 5% was to be added if the Mongolian rocket company was deployed in support of the heavy cavalry. Meyer read out all of these numbers to Major Schwarzkopf. And the Thuringian Swordsmen stood a respectable 60% chance of success versus the crushers, provided Eagleclaw Wolverine and Warm Hearth Flamebringer pulled off their spells.

  ________________Hobgoblin Brown Bear Cavalry_______________________Hobgoblin Crushers_______________

  Unit strength:__30 Siberian Brown Bears and riders___________________90 crushers_______________________

  Leadership:____7_____________________________________________________6_______________________________

  Fighting skill:__3_____________________________________________________3________________________________

  Attacks:_______Rider, 1. Bear jaws, 1. Claws, 2.________________________1 per crusher_____________________

  Quickness:____3_____________________________________________________3________________________________

  Power:________Rider, 4. Bear, 7._______________________________________4________________________________

  Defence:______6______________________________________________________4______________________________

  Speed:________7______________________________________________________4_______________________________

  Wounds:______Rider, 1. Bear, 4.________________________________________2______________________________

  Armour save:_4+______________________________________________________5+___________________________

  Weapons:_____Heavy war axes, +1 to power____________________________Heavy broadswords, +2 to power

  Special abilities:Bear control__________________________________________none___________________________

  As Schwarzkopf scanned the battlefield, it looked to him that every possible deployment had been made by the hobgoblin leadership, at least in this section of the battlefield. Of note, Margaash himself had not made an appearance. Perhaps he was waiting for some sort of strategic reserve to arrive? There was no way to know that, and so Meyer felt the need to act now on what was known. General Paulus had promised assistance from the 282nd battalion, stationed in Kaunas, if it became necessary. He thought about the situation for a moment, then came to a decision. "I will join with the Wolf Knights and bring the rocket company along to support us! I will direct the Thuringians to attack the crushers! You will answer directly to General Paulus now, Lieutenant Meyer! Hartmann! Work with Meyer, and keep an eye on us! If necessary request a commitment of the 282nd! I am off!" With that he galloped down the hill on Gunther's back.

  General Paulus noticed Major Schwarzkopf's departure and made his way towards Nicholas Meyer and the Analytical Engine. "How are things going, son?" asked the General of the Blau River Regiment.

  "Pretty well, Sir!" answered Nicholas Meyer, nervously. So much depended on the unit placements that Nicholas had recommended. Many men's lives hung in the balance, and the fate of Kaunas was uncertain. most of the population of the frontier town had been evacuated in advance of the appearance of the hobgoblin hordes, but what would those people have to return to, if the Flying Eagles failed?

  "Well, just know that I am here to support you, and learn from this machine of yours. Let me know if you see an opening or an opportunity to deploy the reserves. The last time we fought, Margaash kicked our butts! I am counting on your regiment to inflict some revenge on those goons! Keep me informed, Lieutenant Meyer! And you too, Lieutenant Hartmann!"

  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Down on the battlefield, Lieutenant Jaeger was getting antsy. All of the other units in the battalion, with the exception of the Mongolians, had already received their orders to advance into position for battle. The left and right flanks were occupied, but the centre was still wide open, and Jaeger could see the brutish hobgoblins riding their brown bears into their jump off positions, directly in front of him. The ranges between the forces were still significant, maybe 500 metres. Jaeger doubted that even the horse cavalry cannons could throw a salvo s far as any of the opposing ranks, but things could change in an instant as the bears were capable of closing ground quickly.

  Suddenly, Lieutenant Jaeger heard galloping horse sounds from behind him, and he turned hopefully. Schwarzkopf! He was waving and shouting towards the Thuringian commander, Lieutenant Michael, ordering him forward. No doubt about it, this was the time to go! "Knights of the Wolf Order, take to your mounts! Form up around the Lady! Our time has come!" he shouted, waving his right arm in an enthusiastic circle, urging immediate action.

  Schwarzkopf turned his attention towards the Wolf Knights. "Lieutenant Jaeger!" commanded Major Schwarzkopf. "We are to advance into the centre position, and take on the bear cavalry! They shall be a difficult opponent, but we will prevail!"

  "Yes, Sir, Major Schwarzkopf," replied Jaeger and with great skill, borne of considerable hours on the practice field, the Wolf Knights formed a triple line of cavalry, eight knights across. The front row contained 5 Knights, as well as Oxheart Mooseantlers, Major Schwarzkopf aboard Gunther, and Lieutenant Jaeger. The second row held seven more Wolf Knights and tucked into the middle of the line, Lady Goldenrod Echinacea with her Banner of Goddess Protection. Eight additional Knights completed this powerful unit.

  The Wolf Knights, the Thuringians and the Mongolian rocket company formed a powerful centre, for the Flying Eagles:

  _______________Wolf Knights___________________Thuringian Swordsmen________________Mongolian Rocket Company

  Unit strength:__20 heavy cavalry_______________100 swordsmen_______________________20 crew

  Leadership:____7______________________________6_____________________________________5_______

  Fighting skill:__4_______________________________4____________________________________3_______

  Attacks:_______1 per soldier, 1 per warhorse_____1 per soldier_________________________1 rocket launched per 2 crew

  Quickness:____3________________________________3____________________________________1_________-

  Power:________3________________________________3_____________________________________5 for each rocket

  Defence:______3________________________________3_____________________________________2_____________

  Speed:________8________________________________4_____________________________________2______________

  Wounds:______1 per soldier, 1 per warhorse______1 per soldier__________________________1 per crew man________

  Weapons: __2 handed broadswords,+2 to power-__Swords_______________________________solid fuel Chinese rockets

  Armour save:__3+_______________________________5+____________________________________none________-

  Special abilities:Cavalry charge__________________none__________________________________ranged attacks up to 200 metres

  Experience points:18,776_______________________15,894_________________________________7,453______

  Specialists: ___Oxheart Mooseantlers___________Eagleclaw Wolverine___________________none_______

  _______________Goldenrod Echinacea____________Warm Hearth Flamebringer__________________________

  With the units deployed, Major Schwarzkopf surveyed the hobgoblin units across the other side of the field of battle. Never in his life, had he seen such a formidable array of sheer killing power. Were the Flying Eagles in, over their heads? Siberian brown bears? Hobgoblin crushers? These foes were the stuff of legends and his battalion was about to engage the brutes in an all out battle. Schwarzkopf looked around him, his gaze catching on those who would surely be vital contributors to the outcome of this battle. Mage Wolverine! Mage Oxheart! And especially the Lady Echinacea herself, and her magical battle standard, flowing like the finest silk, in the cool breeze. Suddenly, hobgoblin horn blowers sounded their calls. The battle was on!