By December 12th, the Lostwolf Den Army was decimated, and survivors were limping across the boarder in full retreat. Those able to fight were immediately conscripted into the Reserve Forces and placed in reserve in aHalyia Proper for defense, as the bulk of the People's Army was quickly mobilizing. The Second Panzer Regiment, equipped fully with Panzer VI Tigers, was shoved up against the boarder backed by an Artillery Battalion and the 2 Infantry Regiments that were available.
On December 14th, the first Swiftencounter units hit the boardercrossings between aHalyia and Lostwolf Den. Sporatic engagements between defensive works and Swiftencounter Scouts resulted in sparse casualties on both sides. Armored Cars headed out across the boarder, in an attempt to locate the bulk of the invading forces. They would not arrive for 3 days.
In the early morning of December 17th, the Second Battle of the Line was begun as emplaced PAK-40 Guns fired on leading elements of Swiftencounter forces that attacked the boarder crossing and then crossed the boarder. An Armor Assault supported by Infantry and sporadic Artillery Fire on aHalyian Tank Positions quickly followed them up.
Artillery responded in Counter-Fire as Tigers pushed forward to plug the hole in the Pass that led straight down into the heart of aHalyia. The fierce battle lasted for almost a full 24 hours before the injured invaders withdrew.
Eight days later, on Christmas Day, they attacked again but found an impressive surprise when a formation of C-130 Combat Transports of the Hylian Royal Air Force began deploying Airborne Rangers behind them. The Rangers immediately set to obstructing key roads leading from the heart of Lostwolf Den to the Boarder.
Pushing in from the west came the bulk of the 3rd Army Division, including Sherman and M60 Tanks supported by Mechanized Infantry. Working with the aHalyian Militya, they flanked the Invaders, inflicting impressive amounts of damage with massed Artillery Fire and surgical strikes. The Third Battle of the line is perhaps the most massive Tank Battle in history.
The besieged Imperials were overjoyed, and immediately began planning a counter-attack. During this battle a Ranger unit had rescued Major Nightwolf, and being aHalyian born but having spent a lot of time in Lostwolf Den, immediately began planning a Counter-Offensive.
On January 5th, she got her wish. She was promoted to Colonel and given Command of the Second Panzer Regiment, with a resupply of Tigers, King Tigers, and Panzer Grenadiers. Joint Task Force Beta began their offensive on the morning of Jan. 6th, 2377. With support from the Hylian Royal Air Force in both Fighters and Light Bombers, she drove straight into the still-recovering Swiftencounter Mechanized Units. Following in her spearhead was a Mechanized Infantry unit from the Hylian 2nd Army, using Sherman Tanks for Infantry Support - a tactic perfected in the Succession War in Harotia.
By February, Nightwolf had re-taken half of Lostwolf Den, and was steadily marching toward the Capitol. Fresh reinforcements were streaming in from Hylian Landings in the Black Dragon R�gime to the west, an Ally who decided to remain Neutral, but allow Hylians to stage their forces there.
On the Festival of Garden Gain, Feb. 18th, the Imperials were celebrating the hope for Victory in the North. Men were enlisting in the truckload to avenge the deaths of their fellows in Cape Sunset, now knowing that the Darkangels were right in the paranoia.