Two days ago the Italians launched a surprise attack on the frontiers of the Aqsopian Empire. The Emperor, Haillie Ridiquluz, has called upon the League of Nations for support and sanctions against Italy. The Italian forces are concentrating their efforts on this front on reaching the capital city Addit Allup and the Imperial Palace. In the initial attacks they bombed the defensive positions with Chlorine gas bombs and used the fearsome flame throwing tanks. The Aqsopian regular forces suffered badly but the unprepared and unprotected irregulars fared worse. They were terrified by Italian gas, artillery and aircraft and the first line quickly fell. Since then there has been a steady advance on the capital. News from the other fronts is sketchy but it seems that the Italians and their askaris are advancing everywhere.
Lt Col Mekkem Turnbaq is holding the vital town of Yindhi Sche'iht with his depleted battalion and a half battery each of anti-tank and artillery guns. Racing up the road is Ras Behri Krem with a reinforced company of motorised troops with a light tank and 2 armoured cars. Advancing on them through the pass is the advance guard of the invasion commanded by Tenente Colonello Avanti with his 4th Askari battalion, 2 Lancia Armoured Cars and a battery of 65/17 howitzers. Close behind is the fretting Superiore Pomposo with his Blackshirts, 2 motorised companies, a scout platoon, a MG company, a fast tank company and a medium tank company.
The valley
The Town of Yindhi Sche'iht and the leading Italians - the defenders are concealed but have not had time to dig in.
The Italian advance guard
The Italian Commander and his mistress watch the battle accompanied by his standard bearer and a servant carrying a tray of iced limoncello.
The Italian Askaris launch a spirited attack on the hill which grinds to a halt under concentrated Aqsopian rifle and artillery fire. Both armoured cars suffer near misses. The CR32's bombs miss but force a morale throw.
The defending Aqsopian armour deploys in an unequal struggle against the Italian forces.
The Blackshirts surge past the Askaris and flank the hill position. The defending antitank gun scores a hit destroying a CV35 but the valiant gun crew fall to concentrated machine gun fire from the CV35s
Even with artillery and armoured car support the Askaris cannot break through the thin line of defenders.
Blackshirts run into soft ground and their trucks bog down. The infantry dismount and charge forward.
A ferocious charge by the blackshirts defeats the demoralised defending company.
In an exchange of fire the light tank and the leading CV35 go up in smoke while the CR32 strafes the reserve company transport.
The second Cr32 successfully bombs an armoured car but is damaged by MG fire.
The Blackshirts break though and the defenders begin their withdrawal.
All the way back the Askari mountain guns keep them under steady but inaccurate artillery fire.
Covering the retreat the Prince Haille Rizqui in his Bristol Bulldog attacks the Askaris on the road
In a spectacular but inconclusive air battle the Prince covers the retreat very successfully.
The losses were quite heavy on both sides but the Italians were able to recover most of the damaged vehicles. The Aqsopians withdrew on the next line of defence ready to try to hold the invaders again.