Kantarian forces have achieved unexpectedly substantial results recently on the Central Front. After anguished contemplation, I ordered offensives on two fronts since there was promise of inflicting a second defeat on the Bengarians and at least causing heightened attrition to the Wesitarians. The main effort was the Central Front, with two panzer armies and a massive number of cannons being employed to decisively defeat the still-disorganized Bengarian forces in front of our new line. We have driven the Bengarians across the Kotorei River and inflicted severe losses to their military, and now we are planning yet another offensive to once and forever cross this river and line of fortifications which have stymied us so many times before. If we fail, it will be almost inconceivable we will prevail utterly on our continent by or soon after the Winter Solstice. If we succeed, it will be catastrophic to enemy morale and we will be well situated to attempt encirclement of the other foe from the sea and the east.

Our military did virtually nothing for several days after my last entry on the 30th because our field units once again had been driven to acute exhaustion and disrepair from the actions demanded of them. It seemed as if us strategists were more active than the regular forces, as we had many staff meetings to decide what the next actions should be and when. There was great disunity within the council regarding this. Some advocated doing nothing substantial from then until autumn, some wanted just a follow-up offensive in the Center to attempt to precipitate a collapse of Bengarian resistance which might be exploited before the arrival of summer, a few felt we should attempt sizable offensives on all three fronts and try to overwhelm them strategically, and a few others felt we should try to storm the Kotorei River within a week or so. The first two were the main camps, and there was much debate and analysis before there was anything resembling a consensus. I considered first idea too conservative but would have gone along with it had a clear majority decided this, and the last two seemed foolhardy and I would have never agreed to them without substantial success or intel indicating otherwise. Thus, the main debates centered around whether to remain in our fortifications for most of the summer, or to sally on one or both and attempt another victory while they were still recovering and vulnerable relative to us.

"I think it's imperative to attack the Bengarians in front of us at the Progress Line and attempt to push them across the Kotorei River." Perredine declared during our third major meeting in as many days. "They're disorganized and not as stable as we are at that front."

"But we are low on supplies from all of the adventures from before, and we're still replacing lost panzers from our offensives in February. Do you have any idea how many shells my department went through just protecting our Progress Line? It will take far more than a few days to replenish our supplies and even to meaningfully start replacing lost weapons." Supreme Marshal Shorin cautiously responded.

"My units will also need to be replenished and repaired, but I believe we have enough strength to have another go at them in a few days. If it proceeds poorly we can always go back to the Progress Line." Supreme Marshal Shinkema of Central Combatant Command somewhat gently opposed.

"If we do this, other needs will have to be postponed. I have all of you demanding this and that urgently, and not even the Wesitarian war machine could meet all of these needs quickly." I cautioned with palpable frustration.

"I need more supplies to get this new base operational with any semblance of efficiency, a base most of you naval officers said was critical to our war effort. Most of the fleet continues to be resupplied and repaired at Marietta because, more than two months after taking the islands, I have been given only enough to get to half of what was expected by now." Intermediate Marshal Larien interjected with a great deal more palpable frustration. "Also, when are we going to discuss pay raises? Roketsune is terrible to work for and Lucien spends all his time modeling and fornicating with Pederast-In-Chief over there!" he continued, all but the base demand being exaggerated and facetious.

Perredine and I burst into laughter at the outburst. Larien was invited because our decisions consistently thwarted his efforts to expand the base, and he also really did want his pay raised. "He's upset his pre-teen cutie is about to make more as a very part-time erotic model than he does working all day and being under the threat of invasion and such. We actually do need to pay our staff more, in all honesty. I move that we increase pay of marshals by 50%, and similar measures for those below marshal after this invasion question is decided and I fornicate with the otterboi prancer cub." I explained with my characteristic mixture of seriousness and absurdity.

"Do you literally spend all your free time masturbating and yiffing? Every time I hear of your leisure activities, it entails one or both. I have this mental image of you having seduced the entire bridge crew and any children they have, and I'm sure others have the same." Shorin contributed. "Also, I agree with the proposal."

The measure passed overwhelmingly, of course, so we returned to debating the invasion. I was leaning towards authorizing an offensive to encircle Bengarian units and reach the river, but I made no formal decision until the next day. Of course, when I did, it meant various demands- including Kaleusthes's expansion- were deferred due to lack of industrial and logistical capacity. We were going to have one more go at the Bengarians and attempt to reach the river once more. When we could at least earnestly attempt to cross it was another matter, but we could at least establish frontline entrenchments on our side of it if we were successful enough. Over 7k panzers were deployed to the front in preparation, as well as 130k mounted infantry, and various other types of assets. The troops that had participated in the last offensive barely had time to recover properly before being sent out again, though they would have more panzer support this time. I toured the Progress Line while the front was peaceful, appraising the newly constructed defenses and speaking to various personnel. Many officers questioned the wisdom of assaulting the Bengarians in full force up to the southern bank of the river, and I sympathetically explained to them why they were being made to do this. The troops overall were somewhat weary from having been in combat so long, but also very spirited.

On 4 May, intensive bombardment from aircraft and artillery began on various segments on the Central Front deemed operationally important to us, and panzers began trading fire with opposing positions to contribute to confusion and destruction. Many units needed another day of rearmament and resupply, so they were kept in their new defenses until the following morning. While this was transpiring, on the Western Front, we attempted to provoke the Wesitarians into attacking what we made seem like dangerously understrength frontal positions, with fleeting but significant naval sorties launched to facilitate this outcome. Despite causing significant damage and even landing a couple of tactical nuclear weapons, the Wesitarians did not assault our lines in force and also declined to meet our naval forces with theirs. They did manage to strike our fleet with a few nuclear missiles in response, which counterbalanced any damage we may have caused them. We actually were not aware they had that missile capability they demonstrated, and the missiles did not destroy any vessels, so we informationally profited from this diversionary venture at least.

The next day proved to the Bengarians our general intentions. We by now had 560 Pathforger super-heavy panzers, and we elected to send 400 of them to the Central Front to provide suppressive fire and cover for weaker units who otherwise would face destruction by both the frontline positions and the Kotorei Line on the opposite river bank. Under the largest hailstorm of explosive ordnance our esteemed Shorin could muster- the size of which impressing even me- they led the initial breakthrough assaults starting in the morning. 2,400 heavy panzers, 2,200 of the medium and rapid Cavaliers, 2,400 of the venerable super-rapid and long-range Skirmishers, and 9,000 personnel carriers containing 130k infantry gallantly departed their staging areas and launched one of the greatest cavalry thrusts of this war. They had the support of 6,900 mobile artillery and 1,200 static artillery, thousands of aircraft, and 30k paratroopers. There were well over a million regular army forces along the front in addition to all others listed, and most of them would be deployed in combat in some form, while the Bengarians somewhat outnumbered them in that regard but had fewer panzers and field artillery. The weather was merciful cool- even pleasant- for the charging infantry on the first day, and it would be below levels where heat casualties would be a major factor over the next few days. It was as if nature itself was collaborating with us.

While we were displeased with the comparatively poor results in the West, we were not finished trying to worsen the Wesitarians' position there. For three days, our naval forces en masse sortied against the enemy navy and static defenses and whatever infrastructure was in range. As we were under great pressure regarding supplies, our field units launched limited offensive maneuvers, leaving most of the action to the fortifications and navy. Supreme Strategist Taneru was no longer able to ignore us, and so massive fleet conflagrations took place for three days in a row while huge formations fought heroically on the adjacent front. Our logistical capacity was pushed to the brink of collapse from the simultaneous exertions, but our crews just managed to keep up. While she wasn't aboard the flagship and the flagship hasn't even been seen by us for a while, I did relay to her my appreciation for her support via the international channels on the 5th.

"I even have you praising my capabilities and style of dealing with Terrans. I am such a talented prancer!" I exclaimed with an idiotic grin and twirl of my body, holding Kaleusthes while doing so.

"And very humble, too. You shouldn't be so meek and hesitant to proclaim your superiority over everyone. Well, except me. We both know I'm the best." she responded with an amused smirk.

I stuck my tongue out and made a loud sound like Lucien and other children his age and younger typically do, "Anyway, your government is pretty friendly with Terrans, relatively speaking. Didn't you raise any hackles with your response?"

"A few, but they need my and my staff's services and few here want anything to do with those unenlightened savages, anyway. I actually had stated years ago I would need to be replaced before this military would ever take in volunteers we don't know well. I know it may not always seem this way to everyone, but we have honor, too." she stated unapologetically with a defiant smile.

"Oh, I know you all do, though you all are, as the Terrans sometimes say in similar circumstances, on the wrong side of history." I responded with some trepidation due to the bluntness of what came to mind.

She sighed heavily and nodded, "We are. We had a difficult choice to make for our nation when Likuria went to war for you all. I don't blame Likuria for what it decided to do and I was upset with our ally, but our country did have strategic interests we couldn't ignore. We had to declare war to protect our country..." Her countenance changed from remorseful to cheerful as she abruptly pivoted, "Anyway, how do you find the time to oversee the war effort and yet facilitate a cub's modeling career, AND maintain all the other liaisons you do?"

I grinned very broadly and goofily, "Well, obviously, I deem all that to be critical to the war effort and thus I can yiff ravenously while on duty. I don't actually oversee anything else and have Perredine do the real strategizing."

She feigned a tone and expression of understanding at my ridiculous explanation, "Ahh, right, I see now! Very clever. I thought you should know before I attend to MY strategist duties, I think Lucien is more popular here than he is over there. I must have heard of his magazine exploits half a dozen times today."

I let out a maniacal fit of giggling as I clutched my plushie, "What do you think? Isn't he the cutest boy ever?!"

"That's not my fetish, but he's certainly adorable and pretty. And dotted on and molested to no end, knowing you."

While it was lovely to converse with my rival once again, we both had business to attend to. On the Western Front, while we achieved no critical successes and incurred some damage, the enemy was thrown on the defensive. I was actually somewhat reckless with the fleet and dispensed with a couple of precautions I probably should not have, and I was chastised for this at one of the council meetings. But, no disaster happened at sea and we put the Wesitarians under substantial pressure, limiting what reinforcements they could provide. About 1/3 of our forces were based at Kaleusthes, which was the highest number so far and much assisted our offensive efforts.

The primary effort was on the Center, and Takomen in general was fixated on this area most. Our spearheads had caused substantial damage during the first day and had conducted major breakthroughs in two areas. The panzer units were able to survive the counterattacks from fortifications and units well enough to remain on course in the enemy's rear. The Bengarian strategists elected to keep most of their forces in the forward defenses and attempt to reverse the momentum of our lead units, rather than conduct a general withdrawal immediately. It was certainly a strategy that had merit and a chance of success, especially with the Kotorei Line firing massive shells at point-blank range and routinely striking our units which were often within sight of the river. Our field armies were kept within the defenses until the next day since we weren't even sure we would succeed and did not want to encourage them to retreat before encircling them. The next day would show us whether we would succeed.

Likuria was not faring as well as we were. A couple of grand armies and assorted other units confronted the Wesitarians near a major frontier city which was Likurian, and the result was disastrous. They lost 240k troops and 1,600 panzers in the span of a day, and the remainder were sent careening back to their defensive works to regroup and prevent further losses. We were notified of this right as our offensive intensified and we were asked for assistance, but I had to inform them our forces were fully committed and engaged by then. Cometai seemed understanding but disappointed nonetheless.

The Bengarians conducted steady shelling overnight and overwhelming counterattacks the morning of the 6th. Unfortunately for them, they ran out of armored reserves and the cavalry units were at last able to complete a major envelopment on the eastern section. Several field armies were sent out to rush the besieged garrisons to attempt to shock them into capitulation. By approximately 15:00, 165k Bengarians were forced to surrender. The lead units there came under more intensive fire to cause delays and general revenge as a consequence, and the Bengarians were ordered to conduct a fighting withdrawal as best they could- through our units if necessary. Shinkema and I decided we ought to commit to a generalized offensive given the collapse of a massive segment of the frontlines, and thus over a million infantry rushed dutifully at their beleaguered foes. Three armies on the western section were enveloped in the evening and somehow had the courage and stamina to charge at our rear forces in the open. As we had fewer mounted infantry there and the Kotorei Line poured devastating close-range fire on our forces near the river, 2/3 of them broke out of the encirclement, though half of the original force became casualties of some sort by the next morning. The remaining Bengarian armies withdrew towards their lines with comparatively little interference from the evening through the night.

As artillery strength was not affected by the ground debacles, the counterfire remained nearly unabated and caused heavy casualties and worsening exhaustion of our forces. Almost at the last minute, we elected to proceed as we had planned for the 7th rather than order a delay. As on the two previous days, our soldiers who were still capable charged across the field to take ground and aggress enemy positions at my command. Various units were cut off and forced to surrender, but the remainder of the Bengarian forces completed their withdrawal across the river and the destruction of bridges, and gains were more modest. A major counterattack caught us in one section by surprise and caused severe losses to panzers and carriers, and thus another 65k who would have been taken prisoner broke out. Despite their badly weakened state, their extremely powerful fortifications on favorable terrain across a major river would have made any sort of crossing by us in our state suicidal, and they knew this.

Our efforts intensified on the coast. Their naval forces were put on the defensive and we were seeking to further weaken their forward positions and the supporting infrastructure, so our fleet mobilized one last time and various ground assaults were mounted at opportune places and times. We were coming dangerously close to our critical ammunition thresholds for the navy and even the flagship was left with 10% of its normal stores before retiring, but our presence was acutely felt.

The front fell quiet after midnight on the 8th. The Bengarians had taken over 400k casualties to our 180k, most of the former being captured and thus gone forever. They had withdrawn across the river and both sides were very low on ammunition. There was little that could be done besides rest, and everyone had very much earned it. I informed Cometai our offensive operations had ended and our heavy bombers could be sent over to their continent once or twice to help disrupt the enemy now. He welcomed the gesture but said only about half were needed once at this stage. Other than the sorties across the ocean on the newly taken enemy positions, our military was quiet.

After another major council meeting, we decided to begin bombarding the other side of the river intermittently at a rate which was substantial but still allowed us to stockpile munitions faster than we expended them. They had already opened up on our forward positions again after frenetic resupplying, so not returning the favor would have been very destructive to our morale. We also were hopeful within 1-2 weeks we might launch a campaign to actually cross the river and stay on the other side once and for all, and to facilitate that weakening of fortifications would be necessary. Frontline infantry has been feverishly entrenching where there are no or few defenses under cover from panzers, howitzers and point-defense weapons. Fortress cannons from two lines and a majority of field artillery have been bombarding hardpoints and other cannons for much of the 10th, most of the 11th, and so far all of today. Both sides are sending what they can produce here to surpass demand and stockpile for future operations. However, we have also been coming under attack on the Eastern Front, and we are in danger of losing territory that we suffered so much to gain if they can maintain and intensify their pressure while doing the same here.

We have major aspirations on the Central Front. We plan to sustain a prolonged and moderate, or shorter and extremely intense, bombardment primarily with artillery during the next week or so. If we can knock enough guns out of commission without taking worse losses ourselves, we would then deploy our specialized light riverine infantry divisions to the frontline. At several places they would silently cross and engage the enemy while also setting up pontoon bridges to pave the way for heavier units to cross. Simultaneously, 50k or more paratroopers and several hundred airlifted panzers would land at key areas to the rear to disrupt reinforcement, assist with encirclement, and give the Bengarians something else to shoot at. We don't have amphibious panzers in large numbers because they're not well suited for regular missions, troops cannot generally cross a river that size without some sort of craft, and crossing with craft is dangerous and woefully inefficient at best. Thus, our lead marine units and brigades of regular combat engineers on our side are going to have to construct bridges for our regular units to cross to give the invasion any chance of success. Those units will inevitably suffer atrociously high losses securing their objectives, but there is no other way. They are still reeling from their failed defensive and we are running out of time to use our field armies without rampant heat casualties. If we cannot penetrate this natural and highly strengthened line when we attempt this, this war will probably linger for months more at least. That would be unfortunate for the whole planet.