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Posted by: The_Hunter 14 Nov 2014, 18:41

"New target: Infantry fighting vehicle, two o' clock, seven-hundred metres!", tank commander Jennifer Wagner relayed to her crew as she peeked out of the open top hatch of her Leopard 3A2 battle tank after her optics had been damaged by a barrage of 30mm rounds. They had come from a Russian BTR combat vehicle down the boulevard. The loader prepared a high-explosive anti-tank shell while the gunner brought the Leopard's mighty 125mm smoothbore cannon to bear on the target. "Now, blast that fuckin' thing!", Wagner exclaimed into her headset as she slammed her fist on the roof of the tank while shielding herself behind the armoured hatch, before the deafening report of the gun shook the entire vehicle.



Seconds later, General Orlov and his men hit the ground and covered their heads as the high-explosive anti-tank shell found its mark: The BTR fighting vehicle behind them was smashed open by the impact and jets of flame burst out of the vehicle's hatches as they got blown off. The sound of cooking ammunition was accompanied by the brief, horrifying screams of the three crewmen inside, who had not managed to evacuate their vehicle from its fortified position in time when the German tanks swung into the main street ahead.

"This is useless, General! They're chewing us up!", said Captain Sasha Dimitriyev while he picked himself up from the pavement and clapped the dirt off his battle dress. Four days earlier, the European Continental Army had initiated its much anticipated offensive on Berlin, where General Aleksandr rallied his troops for a final stand. With the city's outskirts surrounded by several divisions of German, French, British and other Western troops and American fighter-bombers dominating the skies, it would only be a matter of hours until the German capital would be liberated. Three years ago, the Europeans had held onto the vital city for over a week and even after high command had given the order to retreat, a crack detachment of German troops put up a fanatical last stand in the government district that lasted for more than sixty hours before their positions were overwhelmed. Now, their defiant resistance provided a vital moral boost to the Europeans, who were determined to retake Berlin before General Aleksandr and his forces would have the chance to beat that record, no matter the cost.

"This is Oryol to Chernobog, please come in", General Orlov spoke into the radio while the opponents continued to converge on his field command post on the Ernst Reuter Square in in the west of the city. "Come in, Chernobog...For fuck's sake! Aleksandr! Do - you - read!?"
"The lunatic isn't answering our calls", noted Sasha while he stocked up on magazines and grenades. The Germans were making a relentless advance on the Russian line and their assets were numerous: Leopard tanks, Panther IFVs and Panzergrenadiers - it seemed as if the entire hardened remnant of the Bundeswehr was bearing down on Orlov and his men. But the seasoned General remained calm even under this onslaught, for he had seen worse during his ill-fated journey to Africa - and unlike the GLA, surrendering to European regulars was at least an alternative. He peeked through his binoculars to assess the situation when a disturbing sight caught his eye: Amidst the rubble of bombed out buildings and black clouds of smoke, he could see a company of young Russian infantrymen running straight towards the tanks with little more than AKs and RPGs.

"What are these boys doing out there? Who is in charge of that unit?", the General wondered in shock as he failed to recognise the soldiers as proper regulars; they looked untrained, disoriented and much too young; frightened. Many of them were probably just a mere 18 years old at most.
"Must be another batch of rookies that came with the reinforcements this morning", Sasha replied. "Look, Sir, that man in their middle - it's a Shock Trooper!"
"This is insanity! That bastard Aleksandr is herding them straight into the meat grinder! Someone tell them to get the hell out of our line of fire immediately!"

The conscripts ran out onto the boulevard under a hail of gunfire from both sides while the Shock Trooper kept pushing them: "This is your opportunity to prove your worth to the glorious General Aleksandr! You came here today as boys but you will return from this field of honour as men!"
One of these regrettable soldiers in name only took up position in a crater and shouldered his rocket launcher, an old surplus RPG-7 with a single-stage HEAT warhead, while the advancing tanks and Panzergrenadiers drew near. He aimed for the turret ring of the menacing Leopard and fired. The rocket sped towards the tank, but went off course and demolished an abandoned café instead.

Meanwhile, Wagner signalled one of the foot soldiers over to her. "What are your orders, Frau Hauptmann?", the sergeant asked anxiously as he hitched a brief ride on top the tank which moved forward at a slow, cautious pace.
"Be advised, we're gonna cut a breech through that infantry up ahead. Have your men push forward immediately afterwards and leave the rest of your platoon to cover us as we roll on!"
"Will do, Frau Hauptmann!", the sergeant confirmed before he jumped off and rejoined his men in the attack. "Weber and Demir, move up to the leading Leopard and close the flanks! Seidel, Brunner and Peters, rally your groups on me and prepare for assault!"
"Driver, halt! New target: Infantry with AT weapons, out in the open, eleven o' clock, one hundred meters!", Wagner instructed her crew. "Load canister - Feuer frei!"



The tank returned fire and a wave of steel balls swept across the street. Half of the conscripts out in front went down bleeding and screaming in pain while some of the survivors panicked and tried to run, only to get picked off by the Shock Trooper. "Deserters and traitors will be executed! Your weakness is a disgrace to the leader! You can die a coward, or die a hero with your hands around the throats of these Western bandits!", he yelled out in a vain attempt at inspiring his hapless subordinates through sheer intimidation. As their enemies drew closer, the conscripts opened up with their assault rifles. Some of them burned through the entire magazine out of pure desperation while others simply froze up in fear, unable to even disengage the safety. The soldier with the rocket launcher fired another round directly at the advancing tank, whose reinforced nanofoam/composite armour absorbed the impact with seemingly no effect. Realising the hopelessness of the situation, the young man dropped his weapon and curled up in the crater weeping until he simply disappeared underneath the massive steel collossus.

One after another, the conscripts got picked off by the advancing infantry or surrendered before them. It was at this point when the Shock Trooper quietly abandoned the unit and ran towards Orlov's position, waving his arms to identify himself as a friendly.
Without comment, Orlov handed the binoculars over to Sasha as he set eyes upon this cowardly sham of a man. He walked straight towards the Trooper and knocked him to the ground with his own rocket rifle, grabbed his right leg and stomped on his knee, producing an audible crack.
"You got these kids into this mess - You wasted their lives for your 'leader' and now you're gonna stay here and die as well, you disgusting pig!"
The older soldiers of Orlov's unit observed the morbid scene in a collective spirit of silent agreement. After four years of brutal atrocities and countless instances of Shock Divisions snatching victories from the Russian Army to claim them as their own, the regular rank-and-file troops of the Federation had come to despise Aleksandr and his murdering horde of savages as much as the Europeans did - perhaps even more so. They all remembered the pyrrhic victory over the Be-Ne-Lux countries, the blood-soaked failure of the invasion of England and the haunting memories of ECA Operation Pandora; now, the second battle of Berlin marked the point at which many Russian soldiers decided to no longer tolerate the leadership of the masked psychopath. By now, they all just fought for their own survival and hoped for something, anything, to finally put an end to this fight which had lost its purpose long ago.

Orlov stood above the wounded man and quietly watched him roll on the ground in agony, clutching at the fractured bone that protruded out of his trouser leg in a rather grotesque manner. He knew that the Europeans would either shoot him on the spot or go out of their way hang him from the nearest lamp post the instant they recognised him as a Shock Trooper. After a long moment of tense silence amidst the carnage of war, Sasha slowly approached his long-known superior and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Sir......The men and I will not begrudge you for what you just did, but you have to make a decision. This position will be overrun within the next few minutes. What shall we do?"
"I want you to fall back to the bridge at the Charlottenburg Gate and demolish it to delay their advance", Orlov ordered in a thoughtful tone as if he was improvising a new plan on the fly. "Once you are done, I want you to take the men to safety. Fall back behind the Polish border or surrender to a European patrol, it's your call. Tell everyone on your way to either follow you or make their own decision. If any of Aleksandr's people try to stop you, kill them. They will not keep us from ending this bloodshed here and now, is that understood, Captain Dimitriyev?"
"Understood, Comrade General...But, with due respect, what'll become of you?"
"I will confront him", the General replied stoically and walked off to the east, towards the Spreebogen, where General Aleksandr's supreme headquarters was located. The hour of truth had come.

Posted by: Thelord444 14 Nov 2014, 18:47

Horrrrrrrrray!

Posted by: Kalga 14 Nov 2014, 18:52

The recycler has been reviewed! It is a glorious day!

Posted by: sino301 14 Nov 2014, 19:05

it shall be glorious!

Posted by: Umpfelgrumpf 14 Nov 2014, 19:08

Nice story, and I can't wait for the recycler truck and it's cool stuff .

Posted by: Svea Rike 14 Nov 2014, 19:11

I hope that Shock Trooper gets gutted and hung on the front of the tank to show those bastards we ain't playing!

Damn it, that Recycler is damn fine but I was hoping to see some units now. Hopefully the next update won't take so long.

Posted by: BlackRangerXIII 14 Nov 2014, 19:22

Posted by: Omnius64 14 Nov 2014, 19:27

Berlin is (almost) back to control of the ECA again! HOORAY!

Loved the story & images. AND FINALLY THERES A PREVIEW OF THE GLA RECYCLER AT LAST!

Im hyped for 1.85.

Posted by: X1Destroy 14 Nov 2014, 19:27

So..........it's done now? Only play testing and AI left?

Awesome.

Posted by: Kicknut00 14 Nov 2014, 19:45

Today is glorious day we must rejoice for this preview.

Posted by: Mr.Kim 14 Nov 2014, 19:47

Pffff... big deal. It's not a surprise anyway.

Posted by: z741 14 Nov 2014, 19:51

Isn't Mars supposed to do the lore?

Posted by: Mr.Kim 14 Nov 2014, 19:57

Not just AI, my guess is there are few more stuffs left not reveals yet.

Posted by: Eternity 6 14 Nov 2014, 20:03

Will the Recycler truck be in the upcoming stream or is it still being tested ?

Posted by: GDIZOCOM 14 Nov 2014, 20:33

My favorite part about the story is that shock trooper hurdling all the conscripts to their death


"For General Aleksandr! "

Posted by: MARS 14 Nov 2014, 20:34

I still do but no one ever said I always have to post them. It's usually more convenient for TH to do so since would also tell me when we put out an update.

Posted by: Mizo 14 Nov 2014, 20:37

Am really enjoying the story line here

Posted by: SoraZ 14 Nov 2014, 20:42

Neither.

Posted by: Maelstrom 14 Nov 2014, 20:58

Awesome story, avesome units.

Today was a good day. Thank you SWR !

Posted by: Omnius64 14 Nov 2014, 21:08

Panther IFVs? what are those? there will be the Wolfram exlusive IFV in 2.0?

Posted by: Composite armour 14 Nov 2014, 21:45

Damn straight!

Posted by: Dangerman 14 Nov 2014, 22:18

Awesome update, nice to finally see the recycle truck being unveiled and what it (obviously) it do.

I recall Aleksandr was said to pull of a crazy stunt that will put his infamy in history, is that time close?

Posted by: z741 14 Nov 2014, 23:30

I still want to see more lore. Im a Campaign/Comp Stomp kinda guy

Posted by: Admiral*Alex 15 Nov 2014, 0:32

I think it was been too long sense we've seen an update like this I forgot what I should look forward too. Love he update Mars/Hunter as usual.

Posted by: emin96 15 Nov 2014, 0:58

Awesome update.Recycler is awesome

Good job!

Posted by: Oliver 15 Nov 2014, 1:09

I love that leopard image.. Is it possible to make the AI use this system (or the recovery russian system)?

Posted by: Neo3602 15 Nov 2014, 2:14

Great update, I'm wondering if the image with model of a Leopard tank with someone looking out of the hatch was a one off made only for this update or if it is something we will see again as an in-game ability or some sort?

Posted by: teslashark 15 Nov 2014, 5:19

Just saying, does skinheads actually have guts? Plumbing and sack doesn't count.

Posted by: HoneyBee 15 Nov 2014, 6:22

Orlov !
The Shocktroopers will remember !

Posted by: __CrUsHeR 15 Nov 2014, 10:50

Very good the lore of this update, brings to mind all the drama of the fall of Berlin in World War II in the end of the Third Reich, then you feel the emotion of the reconquest by Westerners and the deserved punishment of Alek and Shock Troopers, while the drama of the Russians for their "daring dream" have ended and their ambitions have been lost in the wind - analyzing by a romantic point of view and not ideological.

How about making the Leopard image in an HD wallpaper? It would be wonderful and would certainly be on my desktop.

Finally we were officially presented to the Recycler Truck, is very beautiful and will be very useful since it can be produced at the Hideout.

Posted by: blgmgl 15 Nov 2014, 11:38

I hope Gen.Orlov wouldn't get shot by ECA sniper on his way to Aleksandr.

So is this it for Russia? Can I presume that they're done in Europe?

Time to fall back and defend Russian border, or more likely, Moscow?

Posted by: Omnius64 15 Nov 2014, 12:10

>How about making the Leopard image in an HD wallpaper? It would be wonderful and would certainly be on my desktop.
I agree. I LOVE THAT IMAGE!

>So is this it for Russia? Can I presume that they're done in Europe?
>Time to fall back and defend Russian border, or more likely, Moscow?
More like just making peace, and each other returning to their territories before the war.

And then SWR would go to the GLA/CHINA stuff, I suppose.

Posted by: SiR Chaff 15 Nov 2014, 12:30

The devs have clearly stated many times that there will be NO western troops marching in Moscow or even Russia's border.

Posted by: The_Hunter 15 Nov 2014, 14:08

Here is the highest res availible on that leopard graphic.

Not realy big enough for wallpaper material but you could use it for that regardless.
Also the Binoc version of this was indeed specialy made for this update

Posted by: Kalga 15 Nov 2014, 14:11

So... GLA invades and takes over Moscow (as well as other major Russian cities) via massive assaults via covert tunnel networks build in total secrecy in previous decades? What? What do you mean there won't be insanity like what EA does on a regular basis...

Posted by: Barry 15 Nov 2014, 14:11

I am literally like monitoring forum 24/7,31/12,nothing happens except stupid polls or retarded "balance" suggestions,I get without internet for two days,and this happens...
This update reminds me of those good old days when we were anticipating 1.8 two years ago.
Great stuff,and how usually comes along with this kind of updates I get curious about crapton of things,
one of them being will ECA sniper get some other abilities by the time of 2.0 ?

Posted by: nikitazero678 15 Nov 2014, 14:17

So, the ECA Heavy Sniper is a "bigger" cousin of the USA Pathfinder that can damage light vehicles but must be deployed to fire, and, the GLA Recycler Truck is a special, I assume initially unarmed, vehicle that can turn the GLA enemies' vehicles' own weapons against themselves by salvaging their weapons and can repair nearby friendly vehicles... Well, that's awesome!

Can't wait to see them in action once 1.85 is a go!

Posted by: __CrUsHeR 15 Nov 2014, 14:37

Already on my desktop, very appreciable.

Posted by: Svea Rike 15 Nov 2014, 14:41

That picture's background, is it City 17 from Half-Life 2?

Posted by: IPS 15 Nov 2014, 14:45

yep.^^

Posted by: Megazord 15 Nov 2014, 15:33

Nice update!

Quick question though: are Heavy Snipers stealthed in any way?

Posted by: EricCartman3470 15 Nov 2014, 16:09

Nice update!
I love that heavy sniper team!
The recycler is also a beauty, I'm looking forward to see the scavenge upgrades on it

I knew I've seen that background before!

Posted by: teslashark 16 Nov 2014, 1:45

They are not inflitration or forward recon soldiers, but portable base defenses.

Posted by: Mr.Kim 16 Nov 2014, 1:59

Basically, the Heavy Sniper is long range fire support(with arm Anti-Martial rifle) infantry and can't garrison in the building.

Wish have a desktop that picture.

Posted by: Planardweller 16 Nov 2014, 13:34

Yay, an update! Glory to SWR!

Some questions:
Will heavy snipers be able to enter Pandurs?
Can you tell us, which general will use BTRs?

Posted by: Jester 16 Nov 2014, 13:45

IIRC BTR is for Orlov? Someone will have to clear that up.

Posted by: Planardweller 16 Nov 2014, 14:03

I think so too, but i would prefer a clear answer.

Posted by: Die Hindenburg 16 Nov 2014, 15:38

NO WAY, the BTR is extremly generic. And ROTR has already the crawler which is pretty much a BTR (and not achinese apc btw)
IF you SWR guys indeed include the BTR, well it be then better be not just another transporter...
Why you want the BTR anyway? This design is so fucking generic, too many apcs have that design.

Posted by: Planardweller 16 Nov 2014, 15:56

There are many BTR-variants, for all it is worth, it could be a command vehicle. It could be BTR with say inbuilt automatic grenade launcher/ AT missiles and 30 mm cannon. Considering that RF absorbed Ukraine in-lore, SWR has a lot of variants to choose from, or invent its own for 2.0 purposes.

Posted by: MARS 16 Nov 2014, 16:01

Anyone ever considered that whatever BTR we'll end up giving to Orlov (according to current plans) will not be directly based on a real vehicle but rather a fictionalised composite design that we'll create ourselves, to fit the purpose we want to have for it in-game?

Posted by: Barry 16 Nov 2014, 16:03

Watch your fucking language boy.
There is already crapton of things that are more generic than adding unique infantry transporter to a general that is about rapid deployment.



Weren't they made by GAZ while in Soviet Union ? That is stationed in Russia rather than Ukraine.

Posted by: __CrUsHeR 16 Nov 2014, 16:04

I like that, nostalgic and modern at the same time, pleasing most of the public.

Posted by: Spejjarn 16 Nov 2014, 16:10

I <3 story updates!!!! That render of Leo in city is awesooome!

Posted by: Planardweller 16 Nov 2014, 16:20

Yep, but Ukraine kept some of the production (in Kharkiv AFAIK) and introduced its own variants (BTR-3 and BTR-4 with various modifications). At least it went easier with tanks, we kept the t-80 and turned it into t-84 and later Oplot, while RF went for t-72 and turned it into t-90. Though, that happened mostly because how design and production was divided in USSR.

Soviet union had a va-a-ast military complex and liked to keep its eggs in different baskets, especially when these baskets were closer to the theoretic warfront in the west.

Mars

And, btw, thanks for confirmation about Orlov getting BTR.

Posted by: Die Hindenburg 16 Nov 2014, 18:13

As long it does not 8 wheels and does not have the ultrageneric chassis of an crawler, BTR-80, BTR-90, ATOM (that new russian APC) and countless other 8x8 APC but instead a perhaps more blockier (fitting the ROTR) architecture, perhaps more like BRDM1/2 inspired, its fine. But please not another 8x8 APC, give it 4x4 or 6x6 or even, althrough its extreme 10x10, just not 8x8...

Posted by: Barry 16 Nov 2014, 18:35

Does that really matter ? It would be not much different than Pandur visually in 6X6.

Posted by: Die Hindenburg 16 Nov 2014, 18:55

How about BRDM-1/2 inspired BTR or like the belgian/irish BDX, which in my opinion are underrated, they uglyness really contribute to their design?

Posted by: Col._Sandfurz 16 Nov 2014, 20:24

Great story, as usual!

What I am most excited is:
1. Is the Leopard 3A2 a special version only for Wolfgang?
2. How will the Panther IFV look like? Like a Pandur on steroids? I'd love a more traditional IFV like the current Puma IFV of the German Army more (ingame it would translate into a Bradley on steroids)
3. Are Pranzergrenadiere a new Infatry-type, exclusive to Wolfgang? IMHO that would fit perfectly, as Panzergrenadiere are the very incarnation of mechanized Infantry as their only transport are IFV, unlike US Infantry for exaple, who could ride in Bradleys, Strykers, Trucks or Humvees. Aditionally they are a own branch of the gernam ground forces.

Posted by: teslashark 16 Nov 2014, 20:25

They forgot that BTR is just a shorthand for armored troop transporter...

Posted by: MARS 16 Nov 2014, 22:06

1. The A2 is mainly there to suggest that the ECA continued to upgrade its hardware during the war (the Russians would do that as well) in a way similar to how many vehicle models also evolved during the years of WW2.
2. Can't disclose that at this time, but the Panther will be based on a design of our own, by IPS specifically.
3. Chances are that we will use that name for a special infantry unit that Wolfgang is -currently- planned to have.

Posted by: Bergzak 17 Nov 2014, 4:30

The recycler truck, it's glorious!

At least we know SWR's making awesome progress.

Now we await what magic the truck does. I believe the Recycler's magic has not materialized yet, given the amount of modelling and coding.

Posted by: Darky 17 Nov 2014, 10:09

Good read.

Posted by: katmoda12 18 Nov 2014, 15:36

Interesting addition!! The release is coming closer and closer!!

As ever a few questions:

Heavy sniper needs to deploy in order to fire his rifle?

Recycler trauck mechanic replaces the scarp mechanic that every Gla vehicles has by default? (i've seen some comments on this that's why i'm asking.

Posted by: Mr.Kim 18 Nov 2014, 17:54

- He will automatically deploy if they close.

- That's classified.

Posted by: SoraZ 18 Nov 2014, 19:02

Nope.

Posted by: Die Hindenburg 18 Nov 2014, 20:00

The recyler mechanic is completly seperate from the salvage system. Its more like crossteching.
When a specific other factions unit is destroyed by an GLA unit, it may leave a special creat that can be only collected by specific GLA vehicles, which gain a modified version of the original owners weapon. Is that a explaination?

Posted by: Mr.Kim 18 Nov 2014, 22:37

Not quietly, but we don't know or no any specific information about Recycle Truck's new mechanic yet.

Posted by: SoraZ 19 Nov 2014, 0:01

Nope. As The_Hunter explained several times before, all T1 and T2 vehicles (ECA T3 counts as T2) leave specially-marked salvage crates that function just like any other and can give GLA vehicles power the normal way. You can ALSO use a Recycler to recycle them and unlock new upgrades for certain units and the Recyclers themselves. These upgrades work like the ones from the Manticore protocol for Leopards etc, in case of having multiple choices they are hence exclusive and always case-to-case, not global. They may or may not cost money.

Posted by: Mizo 19 Nov 2014, 19:03

More micro for the GLA then