With the devil at your back is an optional combat mission in Chapter 8.
Briefing[]
At Khalan, Captain Langer receives a report about the Reds setting up numerous camps and blockades nearing Vladivostok. Whilst the information itself is nothing new, there is also mention about a large camp near Praktichi, where a large group of reinforcements is preparing to move into Vladivostok.
Nearing the camp, your squad spots an enemy supply train from their hiding, prompting most of the Reds to flock there, leaving the village defenseless. This is the opportunity for your soldiers to move in and take control over the settlement.
Walkthrough[]
They lied about freedom (7,500 XP)[]
Your soldiers set up camp on a hilltop, and as the supply train moves in, Vlastibor Svoboda names two objectives: control the village, and if possible, destroy supply trucks. Pick up the fuel stash and move down the hill, then follow the railroad tracks to the northeast.
Capture the first watchtower, revealing more of the rail track and the destroyed village. You will see that the entrance to the supply train is heavily defended with a myriad of heavy weaponry. Just a little to the east there is a main road crossing through some stockpile yards. Destroy the small squad closest to your position, then scout the other yard just across.
You will find a heavier garrison here, and most importantly an unmanned Armored Car. If you are quick, you can make a run for it and dispatch the nearby soldiers, who will be preoccupied sounding the alarm. After these guys are history, disembark the Car and clear the rest of the courtyard.
Scattered soldiers will be just behind in a depot area, and a patrolling Scout will also have vision over the southwestern area; kill them. The guard and a chest next to him at the depot will have a total of 4 Keys, one of which opens a sealed area with munitions and grenades: get these.
Approach the second visible watchtower from the depot area and eliminate the Sniper there. More of the area will be visible, as an improvised barricade hides a few soldiers with a Heavy Machine Gun in front. Capture the tower and after annihilating the garrison, you will get an idea about the defense of the Red's supply train.
Finally, move into the village and overwhelm the small squads on lookout with your firepower. Locate another Armored Car by one of the squads: it can be fueled from the small yard closest to your starting position, where another Red squad camped.
Regulated market (7,500 XP)[]
Proceed to the stockpile area where you cleared the garrisons. In the middle of the courtyard there is a capture point: control it with your Armored Cars. You can control with the vehicle too, so don't bother having infantry around.
License and registration, please (10,000 XP)[]
Just as you finish decapturing the point, Vlastibor informs you about four trucks entering the area. They come in from two paths outside the map, and their path converges at the second watchtower. Immediately dispatch your armored cars and send one on each road. The trucks are helpless against your firepower, as they have no reinforcements, so just fire away.
To the left further up the river bank, a small dock hut can be found where a small group of Reds reside. It will be brought to your attention that a Red officer must coordinate the soldiers and therefore should be killed. Try not to alert his subordinates, or he will move closer to the main objective. You can also find a Key near the campfire at the very edge of the map.
From this point on, you can exit the mission area.
Put it to the torch (10,500 XP)[]
You can optionally assail the supply train station and blow up its centre. It will be somewhat easier to take on the camp, as the destruction of the Red trucks will prompt the Heavy Tank and two Armored Cars along with a dozen soldiers to move out and investigate. They will end up retaking the warehouse and actively patrol it, so you can just sneak by them.
Grab both of your Armored Cars and drive right to the entrance, then fire away, picking off soldiers on the elevated positions (preferably those not in cover). Eventually your vehicles will succumb to the oppressive enemy firepower; pack your belongings and run! As enemies come after you, occasionally stop and focus one or two stragglers, then run some more. Repeat this until no enemy is pursuing you.
Move in with one of your soldiers to the platform and pick up the Explosives just next to the objective, then blow it up. The enemy won't react, however you can still commence a cleanup routine if you want a few more stash pickups. Exit in the far eastern area to complete the mission.
Aftermath[]
Your strike on the Red's camp is a large blow to their supply lines. Just before your soldiers would leave, they search through the trucks and they find high-tier weapons among the crates.
Your reward is a Lewis Machine Gun, two Pattern 14 Rifles and a whopping four pieces of M1916 Automatic Rifles.