Sticky wicket...

... for Major Vlasov.

The old Major was right - it was too damn'd quiet.

The Lovitznian chancellery has decided to put pressure on Maltovia, funding insurrectionist groups within its borders, and mounting nuisance raids on weakly defended outposts like Brnad. The aim isn't all-out war, just a battle of nerves. Three regiments of Lovitznians have been tasked with a lightening descent on Brnad to give the old enemy a bloody nose before returning back across the frontier:

Two regiments make their way through the thick border forest to mount a frontal assault on the old walls.

While the third, Guards, regiment makes a flanking move along the left river bank. They are tasked with cutting the only road into Brnad in order to prevent reinforcements reaching the tiny garrison.

Move two, and Major Vlasov's men react, tumbling out of their billets, while Vlasov sends a wire requesting help. Move three, and the Lovitznians are pouring towards Brnad where Vlasov's men are readying the Maxim. Vlasov realises that his garrison's only real hope is if the wired for reinforcements arrive. But that depends on the cards:

And the red ace is drawn !

Just in front of the very noses of the Lovitznian Guards regiment, Vlasov's hoped for reinforcements steam (literally) down the road, while half of the gunners' infantry support face the Guards' threat.

But it doesn't look good for them as the attackers' column thunders into the rapidly formed defensive line: