Operation Tellemachus
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Operation Tellemachus (9 July 2043 - 15 August 2043) was a Selucid offensive operation in July 2043 against Allied forces in the Grand Granary salient during the Deseleni War. The deliberate defensive operation that the Allies implemented to halt the Selucid offensive is referred to as the Grand Granary Strategic Defensive Operation. The Selucid offensive was to be countered by two Allied counter-offensives, with the ERUAC forces for Operation Schwimmer and the rest of the Allied combatants on Operation Variable. For the Selucids, Operation Tellemachus was the final strategic offensive that they were able to launch on Erebonia. As the Kakoda Track Campaign of 2043 was taking place and the growing infighting between Selucid commanders, the Selucids were unable to have a united plan of conducting a fast moving offensive made to capture Heimdallr once and for all. The alert of the Allies in the Kakoda Track prompted a handful of the Selucid's manpower to be diverted to Asianna to assist Colonial forces there. The Selucid Empire's extensive loss of men, equipment, and tanks ensured that the Allied forces enjoyed the strategic initiative for the remainder of the war.
The Selucid hoped to advance into the weakest part of the Heimdallr Defence Ring, which was at the Grand Granary by splitting the Allied forces in two to prevent it from reinforcing the capital. The Grand Granary salient was 250 kilometres long from east to west. The plain envisioned an envelopment by a pair of pincers breaking through the eastern and western flanks of the salient. Seleucus I Michael believed that a victory here would force Erebonia to sue for peace and allow the Deseleni forces to make their moves on conquering the rest of Europa. It was also hoped that the Erebonian landmass and populace would be used for 'slave labour' in the Selucid armaments industry and the permanent resettlement of Deseleni's into Zemuria.
Unbeknownst to the Selucids, the Erebonian government had foreknowledge of the Selucid intentions, provided in part by the MI6, the intelligence transmitted by Pavlov & Craig, and the decipher of Deseleni codes. Aware months in advance that the attack would fall on the neck of the Grand Granary salient, the Allies built a defence in depth designed to wear down the Deseleni spearhead. The Deselenis delayed the offensive while they tried to build up their forces and waited for new weapons, and to also allow the ground to harden following the Erebonian spring rains. Unfortunately, this gave the Allies time to contruct a series of deep defensive belts. The defensive preparations included minefields, fortifications, coordinated artillery fire zones, and anti-tank strong points, which extended approximately 300 km in depth. Allied mobile formations were moved out of the salient and a large reserve force was formed for the following strategic counteroffensives.
The operation was to prove to be a failure for the Deseleni's, being unable to anticipate the well-prepared Allied forces for the operation. The salient proved to be a trap that once the Deselenis were close to completing the encirclement, Allied reserve forces moved in at two points for Operations Schwimmer and Variable. The Allies also conducted a coordinated artillery strike on certain critical enemy positions and advances, which gave the Allies a strong advantage during the defensive operation. The failure of the Deseleni's to take the Grand Granary salient ended all hopes of the Selucid Empire to annex the entirety of Zemuria. Operation Tellemachus was the last operation in which the Selucids conducted a strategic offensive against the Allies in Zemuria and Europa. From then on, the Deseleni forces began a defensive campaign, hoping to slow the Allied advance. The Deselenis would never again be able to mount a strategic offensive for the rest of the war.