Events on the other side of the front. And diplomatic events.

While you and your companions were risking their lives during a military expedition that was designed to undermine the enemy's supply routes, some unknown (for you) events were taking place.

Armed units of the Aryan Coalition became active around the ruins of the city of Atlanta.

The troops of the commandant of Fortress Jackson had long had fortified outposts in the south of these ruins. But now they began to attack the positions of competitors on the eastern edge of the ruins and even on the northern edge of the ruins. Outposts of the Orange Kingdom and outposts of Axeman-City were suddenly attacked by well-armed and coordinated units of whitestarists.

To make the attacks effective, underground communications (sewage, remains of the destroyed ancient subway) were used.

Within a week, the troops of Harold Matthews (commander of Fortress Jackson) captured almost all the strongholds on the outskirts of the ruins of the ancient megalopolis...

The fate of many of those captured was terrible...

Mutilated corpses were hung en masse on poles along the ancient, almost completely destroyed asphalt roads...

Some of the captives were "lucky" - if their skin color was white, the soldiers of Matthews offered them an offer to join the armed forces of the Aryan Coalition.

And many accepted this offer out of fear of a painful ****.

Detachments staffed with such "volunteers" were usually used by the command of the Aryan Coalition for the most risky military operations. They tried to **** the "newcomers" to participate in the most brutal acts so that there would be no way back for these people. In addition, the troops of Fortress Jackson occupied part of the territories that previously belonged to the recently defeated local gangs of raiders (Hellhounds, Earcutters, Gray Knives). This meant that the area to the east of the ruins of Atlanta was also controlled by the subordinates of Harold Matthews.

Fierce battles took place along a wide front line.

The troops of the "Allies" tried to restore their positions and counterattacked.

Alas, they had almost no success in the eastern and central directions ...

The enemy had significant fortifications based on the buildings of the outskirts of Atlanta.

In addition, the troops of Matthews had unexpectedly effective weapons.

It seems that this cruel commandant had been preparing for war for a long time and had been collecting large stocks of high-tech ancient weapons in advance, forcing his subordinates to plunder the ancient ruins.

As a result, a stalemate developed on the front of this bloody war. On the eastern front, a successful military expedition by the forces of the "Allies" helped to undermine the supply routes of the troops of the Aryan Coalition.

On the western and central fronts, the troops of the Aryan Coalition managed to take fortified positions and push the "Allies" out of the area around the ruins of Atlanta.

Counterattacks by the troops of the Orange Kingdom and detachments of the Axeman-City encountered fierce resistance and brought nothing but heavy losses.

Against this background, the Circle of Five was **** to pass a law on the mass mobilization of the population into the army. After all, mobile mercenary units were no longer enough to conduct military operations in different parts of the front.

The mobilization affected most of the ordinary inhabitants of the Axeman-City. Those who did not have the wealth to buy themselves out of the mobilization military service. And this caused a riot...

In the port quarter of Axeman-City, a crowd of indignant poor people, overcome with fear of being sent to war, broke into one of the buildings of the local law enforcement agencies. The building was captured, all those who resisted were torn to pieces by the angry crowd. People seized weapons...

To suppress this riot, influential families that are part of the Circle of Five had to make a lot of efforts.

The city streets and squares were flooded with the blood of the rioters...

And, of course, this event did not contribute to the desire to continue a full-scale war in the south.

There were rumors that one of the reasons for the riot were secret agents of the Aryan Coalition and their propaganda among the poor inhabitants of the slums...

How were all these events perceived by the authorities of the Orange Kingdom?

King James II of the House of Orange-Nassau was furious...

The plans for a quick vassalization of Port-Williams never came to fruition…

Instead, some members of the royal court contributed to the fact that The Orange Kingdom got involved in a costly and long war with extremely uncertain prospects.

News of the loss of outposts in the western ruins of Atlanta!

News of the unrighteous of Axeman-City not being able to reliably control their own plebs!

King James II expressed his royal disgrace towards some of the court nobles whose advice had led to this.

And the king was also very displeased with his relative, Princess Sapphire.

If she thought that the king would not be able to find out about her secret machinations and whims, she was very much mistaken…

What was happening on the opposite front line?

A week's journey south of Fortress Jackson, in the wooded and hilly terrain, there was a fortified fort that would be extremely difficult for an unprepared traveler to find.

There were not many buildings on the surface of the earth.

Most of the local inhabitants lived in the underground rooms of the local bunker.

In the most secure room of this bunker, at a depth of about a hundred meters, a meeting of a group of people took place, who clearly looked like they were the ones who ruled and directed the destinies of ordinary people.

At a large round table, among a dozen white men, sat the one whose name was Harold Matthews ...

What did he look like?

A large bald man, about 40 years old, sat in one of the large chairs. He was dressed in a loose dark blue shirt. His muscular arms lay on the table. Tattoos were visible on his arms: "AB", "SS", "666", a three-leaf clover.

The man's face expressed determination and alertness. A large chin with a small black beard. Broad cheekbones. Black eyes. Several old scars are visible on his white skin (one scar just below his left eye).

At the head of the table sits an old, thin man with a short gray mustache. He has a bald head, a clean-shaven chin. On the outside of the palm of his right hand is a swastika symbol.

His gray eyes look around at those present with an expression of calm.

"So, Harold has given us all his understanding of the situation... Does anyone here wish to speak?" - the hoarse, old man's voice is slow and phlegmatic.

"My troops bore the brunt of the battles and suffered the greatest losses! The village of Sterlingville belonged to me and it was sacked! Then, due to the thoughtless actions of Matthews, these bastards sacked my city! I barely managed to escape! I demand compensation!" - the heavyset man on the right side of the table shouts angrily.

His brown eyes are fixed on Matthews with a clearly hostile attitude.

"Ahem... Oliver... Doesn't the fact that your own town was plundered by subhumans indicate that you were not well prepared for the inevitable manifestation of the Racial Holy War?" - the old man with the gray moustache looks at the screamer with narrowed eyes.

"I... But... During the siege, there was treason, mr. Kernt..." - the heavyset man mumbles.

"Treason... The loyal sons of the Aryan Race have lived for centuries among the traitors of the Great White Race... It is our duty to always be ready to resist treason and defend ourselves steadfastly... If you allowed yourself to be deceived by traitors, this is a sign of weakness, Oliver..." - the old man's monotonous voice sounds cold-blooded.

Harold Matthews can hardly contain his smile...

His main rival and competitor among the participants of the Senate of the Highers has just been publicly humiliated...

"But what should we do now, Mr. Kernt? Should we all send troops to continue the full-scale war with the subhumans?" - one of the dozen men asks the old man.

"The Racial Holy War is a process that has been going on for centuries... We must act wisely... Only the subhumans are driven by animal impulses and uncontrolled emotions... Let our enemies fall victims to false calm and carelessness... Let a so-called "peace agreement" be concluded... We will accumulate strength... Our power will increase with time... And in years to come, we will strike a new crushing blow to those who are unworthy of existence..." - the old man slowly says the words, looking at each of those present.

"Thank you, Mr. Kernt, for your wise advice... I fully support your proposal..." - says Harold Matthews, raising his right hand up.

One by one, all those present raise their right hands up.

The last one was a heavyset man named Oliver, who continued to glare at Harold Matthews.

"Well... We have come to a common decision... We will send a peace proposal to these subhumans... Let it look like a compromise peace agreement. All sorts of little things like stopping raids on caravans and exchanging prisoners - we will agree to this... We are also not interested in Port-Williams... We renounce our claims to it and the lands close to it - let the subhumans from Axeman-City and Orange Kingdom deal with this territory themselves, divide their influence among themselves, build strongholds there... However, our troops were able to take advantageous positions to the east and west of the ruins of Atlanta... Therefore, in accordance with the peace agreement, these outposts will now belong to the Aryan Coalition... The forces of Fortress Jackson will ensure control there... As well as over part of the territories of the recently destroyed local gangs of raiders..." - mr. Kernt lays out the essence of the peace agreement.

At this time, commandant Harold Matthews is thinking: "Commander Cozens has done me a favor! A sudden betrayal and a night **** on Stonewall-City! Ha! Ha! How fortunate it all turned out - these subhumans trusted him and did all the dirty work that I could not delegate to my guys! Now that stupid scum Oliver Barnley, who was my main competitor, will not be able to restore his influence in the Senate of the Highers for a long time!"