Northwinds Campaign Chapter III
                                 Breakout at Tirsa


             "Tirsa and Operation Stormhammer was an unmitigated
             disaster.  The operation was political not strategic.  What
             was an onslaught became a cleverly baited trap that resulted
             in the deaths of two top generals" - Admiral Proudmoore
                  Northwinds, Crusade in Winter



             "Lovitar - Stormhammer was a slap in the face for us.  As
             soon as the orcs had been found, the lords and generals
             turned it into a political stepping stone.  Sensing a quick
             easy campaign, everyone started pulling strings to get it-
             like some sort of prize.

             Sir Lightbringer - Indeed, anti-orc sentiment was running
             high after the victory against the horde.  The whole land
             was mobilized at the time clearing the various pockets of
             resistance.   When northwinds was found, it was seen as an
             opportunity.   After our victory over the horde, we simply
             did not see these orcs as a threat.

             Deomar - But these orcs were different?

             Toram - Yes, they had lived in the frontier lands of
             Northwinds since almost the middle of the war in Azeroth.
             They had over the years, adapted to their circumstances.
             Therefore, by the time we reached them they had changed
             their tactics to adapt to the landscape.  Some of their
             basic concepts of tactics had changed, at least in some
             senses.

             Deomar - How did this affect the Alliance strategy?

             Lovitar - Ulu'k had been expecting an attack from the sea.
             He had cleverly designed both Tirsa and Gerrak to be
             cleverly baited traps for any attacker from sea.  When the
             generals landed at Tirsa they had expected a force half
             their size and a quick victory

             Toram - What they found were forces nearly three times the
             size of their own and a guantlet of treacherous towers,
             catapults and submarines.  They didn't even last the first
             day.  Blake was killed and a small part of the army taken
             prisoner.

             Lovitar - At this point the tables were completely turned.
             I was trapped.  Ulu'k counterattacked all across the western
             line(from citadel to the Csolution in the north) and from
             Rockwall in the southeast.  With our line collapsing all
             around us, I knew I had to break out to the coast and












             escape.   So I planned a breakout at Tirsa.  After all their
             defenses were designed for an attack from sea, not land."

                       Conversations Concerning Northwind



             Tirsa is an examination in taking fortified targets.
             Furthermore, these targets will be ready for you.  This is
             not necessarily a PUD that you can lose easily.  Rather, it
             is an excellent way of developing tactics to take fortified
             areas.