The effective blast radius of an average 81mm mortar was around 35 meters. And that was more than enough to chew an enormous hole in the bandits and their assaulting force.
The blast was not an accident. In fact, the further forces immediately halted their snowmobiles and stared slack jaw at the damage.
To the perception of the raiders, who had relied on small arms and speed to force their previous enemies into submission or death.
Their tactics were crude and required less preparation and sustainment than sheer intimidation to succeed. Until now they had never encountered a force that was both capable and willing to resist them..
But they had miscalculated. And they understood that as they watched a large explosion rock the center of their formation before they even reached the enemy's walls.
This was all the proof they needed that the assault they had embarked on was actually a suicide mission all along.
