The Battle of Pontiac

The Battle of Pontiac was a decisive engagement in the Metro War. The battle would occur in the ruins of the town of Pontiac between the armed forces of the Peninsular Republic and the combined forces of the Motor City Unio n, Safe Arbor and the Red Star Army. These three organizations had pooled their forces to attempt to stop the relentless advance of the Peninsular Army. It would be one of the largest battles fought by the Peninsular Army and one of the largest post-apocalyptic battles ever fought in the region. Lasting nearly five weeks, the Triple Alliance would lose Pontiac but ultimately halt the Peninsular Army through sheer attrition.

Preceding Events
The Peninsular Republic had began its southern advance several weeks prior and managed get as far as the outskirts of greater Bloomfield, capturing one of the settlements that comprised the Motor city Union - Boomfield Town. This was the second large settlement they had captured, with Corvus Mills to the east voluntarily surrendering in return for its prominent citizens being given their freedom in the new order without paying the usual head tax. The ruins of Pontiac, which had had several small settlements of salvagers and caravan depots, became their next objective. The attack on Boomfield meant that the Peninsular Repubilc was officially at war with the Motor City Union. The MCU, whose army was lead by a veteran of the Peninsular War against the Testament of Old Flame, had unified for the express purpose of collective defense against the Peninsular Army. However, they had lost the battle of Boomfield and knew they would be unable to defend their other settlements. They proposed an alliance with Safe Arbor, who knew they would be a target for annexation once the MCU in the north and west of the city had fallen. Safe Arbor agreed, and brought with them their erstwhile allies the Red Star Army. The RSA had fought against the PR on two occasions, and were one of the most experienced fighting groups in the Greater Detroit Area. They saw a chance to inflict a loss on the Peninsular Army, and their leaders felt honour bound by their treaty with Safe Arbor to assist.

This force represented the largest army in Greater Detroit since Vault 36. Hundreds strong, comprising of veteran Red Star partisans, Safe Arbor guardsmen and the half mercenary half raider army of the MCU, it was a powerful but eclectic force. A council of war was convened, and the decision made to stop the Peninsular Republic in its tracks. The RSA had previously thwarted offensives by inflicting heavy casualties and bogging down large numbers of troops, demoralizing the PR and leading to it seeking weaker opponents. It was understood that the position of the junta clique leading the Peninsular Republic was tenuous and that their states functioning required constant conquest to feed its appetite for slaves.

Battles
Peninsular Troops, after resting for several weeks in which Boomfield and Corvus Mill were incorporated into the framework of the Republic, moved on Pontiac. It was large and fairly densely settled, though the town itself was mostly ruins. The Triple Alliance had taken control of city and moved it troops to outskirts. The first opening skirmishes would occur as scouts and pickets met and exchanged fire. With its enemies located, the Peninsular Army moved to confront them. Their generals had little problem fighting stand up battles, they knew from experience against the RSA it was guerilla warfare which would bog down their unwieldy formations and rigid doctrine, not any army an opponent could field. Its population dwarfed any opponent, and most of their troops were slaves whose death mattered little. As with those before them the PR hoped to simply overwhelm the Triple Alliance and destroy them through attrition.

After these initial failures the Peninsular Army pulled back, not attacking for several days. Triple Alliance troops repaired their fieldworks and prepared for the next phase of battle. They would face an unpleasant surprise as the Peninsular Army unleashed its newest branch. Several dozen artillery pieces, breech loading explosive weapons, and several crude rocket batteries, had been brought to the north of Pontiac. The PR had been perfecting its use of artillery for some time now, and now unleashed it against the unprepared enemy.

As the PR pushed into the city, RSA and Arb troops held out in a northern neighborhood. They would repel dozens of attacks, holding out for 11 days before an allied offensive broke the siege.