Joint Military Exercises (IC, Closed)

[The Soodean Imperium]

Joint Military Exercises in the Soodean Imperium
OOC Thread



OOC: This will be the "IC" thread for the Joint Military Exercises originally planned by The Wealden Republics. This is my first experience with a "Military Exercise" RP, and I don't consider myself an "expert" by any means; but I'm at least above average, and I'm going to try and keep this to a respectable standard of realism.

Overview:

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This Military Exercise is designed to simulate a combined airborne-amphibious operation, followed by a mechanized advance further inland. The troops and tanks are real, but instead of using live ammunition, their weapons have been fitted with laser designators that will record a "hit." For the most part, you will be expected to RP as commanders directing the movement of your forces. Both sides control one Regiment-sized unit, with the exception of BLUFOR's multi-national brigade and the Soodean Imperium's two Mechanized Infantry formations. As I've said on the OOC thread, I'd really appreciate it if you divided these Regiments into individual Battalions for greater tactical flexibility.

Map:

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This exercise will take place on the coast of the Soodean province of Krestaslin, within a larger "special district" reserved for military operations. The battlefield is 30 kilometers by 30 kilometers. Construction teams have built three simulated "towns," but there are no civilians living in the area. The terrain is rocky and muddy, with a large number of ridges and forests. The land slopes upward as you go further inland, with more mountainous areas on the left and right flanks. Currently the weather is overcast and foggy, with a chance of rain. These conditions will limit long-distance visibility, so try to seize control of high ground to get good vantage points but keep an eye out for patrols and ambushes - or, try to make use of them yourself.


"Strategic Points:"
A: small airfield, suitable for light transport planes and fighters
B, C, D, H, I, J, L: Communications posts, useful to maintain strong radio contact with troops.
E: village of Chernogorsk
F: town of Nagorno
G: village of Kesseret
K: power station. Destroying this will cripple OPFOR's communications.
M: Surface-to-Air Missile Battery. Until destroyed, it can hit any high-flying aircraft within 23 kilometers (approximately the distance to points H-E-B-C)
N: OPFOR's headquarters.
O: large airfield, which is home to an Aviation Regiment of Tu-22M3 anti-shipping bombers (these planes will not take part in the exercise)

Objectives:
BLUFOR:
- Primary: seize control of the Airfield (point O), whose bombers pose a threat to the BLUFOR navy.
- Secondary: capture or destroy the Power Station (point K) and the SAM battery (point M), to make the advance easier.
- Tertiary: capture the Communications Outposts (B,C,D,H,I,J,L) which can be used to maintain commanders' contact with troops.

OPFOR:
- Primary: prevent BLUFOR from seizing the Airfield at all costs.
- Secondary: skillfully employ counterattacks to destabilize or reverse BLUFOR's advance.

Troops involved:

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OPFOR defense:
- Mechanized Regiment (The Soodean Imperium)
- Motor-Rifle Regiment (The Soodean Imperium)
- Mountain Cavalry Regiment (Herand)
- Armored Infantry Regiment (Roski)
- Multirole Fighter Squadron (The Soodean Imperium)

BLUFOR offense:
- Vanguard Battle Group (CNA)
- Mechanized Infantry Regiment (Gebeta)
- Armored Regiment (Imperial American Republics)
- Assault Regiment (Icatus)
- Mixed Brigade:
- Heavy Infantry Battalion (Guerro)
- Mixed Battalion (Pey)
- Light Infantry Battalion (Anm vo Bantu)
- Mixed Battalion (Albion Islands)
- Airborne Battalion (The Wealden Republics)
- Air Support (Betattan and others)

Rules:

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1) No Godmodding. If I think you have done something godmoddy, I will bring it up on the OOC thread and give you a chance to retcon it. If you can provide a really convincing reason why it's realistic, then I'll let it stay; but if you make flawed arguments, or refuse to retcon it, then you'll be kicked from the thread and your troops withdrawn or handed over to another player. For the record, everyone here is allowed to bring possible godmods to my attention on the OOC thread, but only the OP (me) can make the final decision on kicking a player.
2) Think tactically. Okay, this one's more of a suggestion than a rule, but it's still important. Ideally, I'd like it if this exercise were used as a chance to practice battle-level tactics, NOT as a chance to show off how well you can steamroll things by spamming tanks, planes, and super-soldiers. You won't be kicked for not being a military genius, but at least make an effort to flank the enemy instead of rushing at them head-on with everything you have.
3) This isn't about winning. Ideally, no NS RP should be about winning, but about making a good story. This is especially true in this exercise, because neither your troops' lives nor your national interests are at stake. If you're losing, don't withdraw in a rage; keep playing to the end, out of courtesy to your teammates and your opponents.
4) Let's keep this realistic. I won't hold this thread to the same high standards that go into my main RPs, but I still expect a fairly high level of Military Realism. That means no giving your soldiers invisibility camo, no using F-22s to strafe ground positions, and so on. For more information, you can consult the NS Military Realism Consultation Thread.
5) Let's keep this MT. I've decided to restrain my biases and allow some limited advanced technology here, but please keep it fair and realistic. If you expand your technology to the point that it gives you an unfair advantage over others, see Rule 1.
6) You can't use all your planes at once. This is kind of nitpicky, but it becomes a problem in NS a lot. This isn't World War II, where a carrier launches all its planes in one huge wave. I'm not going to go into the details here, but in modern warfare you're rarely going to need more than two dozen for a single mission. Sending up fifty at a time to all bomb the same target will be counted as a godmod.

To discuss problems, ask questions, and so forth, go to the OOC thread.

[Herodas]

Colonel Philomena Psomi
They have arrived a week ago.
More then three thousand soldiers with the equipment and horses of a whole Mountain Cavalry Regiment, sent to a maneuvre in the Soodean Imperium. They were the 18th Mountain Cavalry Regiment of the 15th Mountain Cavalry Division, directly from Illion, packed into transports and sent to the foreign country with the appropriate poststamps.
In this exercise, the Herodans were on the defender's side, defending a 30 by 30 kilometres wide patch of land in the province of Krestaslin in a special area. The maps and impressions provided gave Psomi quite a good idea about the area: Rocky and muddy, with ridges and forests - in short, no area for tanks, but for infantry and cavalry.
Luckily, they were both.
Their horses were a very special breed, not the sturdy mountain ponies she was used to, but massive, versatile, attractive and calm horses of the Aspendos-breed, of which thousands upon thousands of horses were registered. They were usable as riding horses, for dragging things, as sport horses and usually came with the most ideal colours of their trait: brown or black-brown.
Psomi's own horse, Floges, was tending more into the red-brown, and she loved him, the only stallion in her life.
However, she was the first to admit, that horses had no place in modern, open field warfare, in the war of armoured formations against other armoured formations. However, in areas such as this, they were ideal. Tanks and armoured vehicles were confined to small patches of land and the streets, while horses could move without much hazzle through the forests and over the muddy fields (a cavalry charge like in the good old days was still out of question, although her soldiers still had sabres and knew how to wield them). And when the enemy APCs failed, the poor beggars had to carry their stuff around by themselves, while the horses could not only carry three times the load of a normal soldier, but also said soldier himself and that even faster then a normal man could ever attempt to be.
In short, in this kind of area, horses were superior.
That didn't mean, that they didn't have vehicles with them, quite on the contrary.
And as she approached her own small headquarters on horseback, coming from an inspection of the positions taken by two of her artillery batteries, she couldn't help but smile. The enemy would have a rather rough time with her and her soldiers, that was for sure.
I. Btl. was at position O, supplies at the ready, helicopters, too, and the infantry company taking positions to secure the large airfield, all assisted by the engineers, who would then be loaded to help II. Btl. with the same task.
II. Btl. had half of their Leonidas-APCs, an infantry company and a battery of five guns and an artillery surveillance radar at position H, manning and defending the Communications post up the ridge, while another infantry company and the other half of the APCs were securing the crossroads south of point H. The last mounted infantry company had splitted itself into it's five platoons, laying in ambush... somewhere.
III. Btl. positioned half of the APCs near point I, together with two mounted infantry companies and a considerable artillery component: a battery of guns and two of artillery rocket launchers, together with tracking radars and a secured supply route for their own trucks. The last mounted infantry company, the last gun battery and the other half of the APCs was positioned at point C.
The Anti Air Company had ten of their guns with each Btl., securing the troops from threats from above - and they even had radar tracking of targets where more then one tracking radar was.
Psomi dismounted by her command post right beside point I, where come of her officers had assembled. She had thought about taking the 2nd Company from this Btl. to put them into an ambush somewhere, but they were most likely better of here.
First point of hard contact would most likely be point H, as she as the enemy would first seize the airfield at point A to guarantee the CAS even if the own carriers were sunk - and then would work from there. The only other option was to land near point B, where the crossroads there lead to C and into a long way around everything else.
But since the enemy had a large striking potential at his disposal, he could also land at both points. That would be ideal for her positioning, while the large area north of B provided, at least on the map, ideal conditions for tanks.
It would be a mess for men, horses and machines.
Hopefully, the sabres weren't going to be needed.

[Imperial American Republics]

With the enemy Anti Air batteries defending 23 kilometers of the battlefield, The Imperial American naval and Air Force aircraft would have to hold off on their attack and the major fighting force of Imperial American Army soldiers would have to hold off until the AA was dealt with.
The Imperial Marines Units onboard the IARN Dauntless were still preparing to deploy and awaiting word from the other battalions.
They were ordered to split into two separate groups and advance along the Southern end of the beach head and advance onwards to Objectives B and C. They were expecting dense enemy opposition and as such would be equipping themselves with 8 fifty round clips and AT4s. Some squads also issued out additional M243s and the more capable Javelins. They were notified that the terrain wouldn't allow for much air or armoured support and as such, they would have to be able to hold off against enemy armour and hardened defences until the Air Defence radars were neutralized.

Effectively taking out the Air Defence radar in these locations would hopefully create a gap in the air defences and the effective range of the Anti Air Battery and allow the first wave of IAR Air Force and Naval aircraft to move further in and weaken the OPFOR defences.

Besides the Air Defences which inhibited the IAR's air capabilities a bit, another major issue was the terrain. The muddy, rugged surroundings were "unfavourable" to say the least for the use of Main Battle Tanks and IFVs and as such, these units would mostly help clear and hold the beach head until further notice from High Command.

To better give them an edge, IAR High Command decided to launch two of their drones from the Dauntless and scope out the first 7 kilometers ahead of Objectives B and C.

At 0800, The Drones were launched into the air via a catapult system on the aft end of the LAV and began their journey into the main AO.
after a bumpy 35 minute journey over the sea, they finally arrived at coast and flying in an interloping counter clockwise course, began surveying and "marking" potential targets for the assault.

While the drones were conducting their reconnaissance mission and the troops were finalizing their preparations, The IAR Commanders were discussing the other objectives. They resolved to take care of the southern coast and both Objectives B and C, but noted how to ensure air supremacy, one of the other allied units would have to take control of Objective A. Doing so would allow the allied forces to gain a much wider strategic advantage over the battlefield and allow for the landing of troops, supplies, and tactical air units.
Another major objective which the IAR Commanders wanted to see obtained was the large mountain range which sat in the middle of the coast. they felt that taking such a vantage point would increase the accuracy of their BVR Howitzers and other artillery support units tremendously.

[Gebeta]

GBS Fharbhanti CV57 acting Gebetan FHQ

General Agustus stood over the table that was active. It had a old style paper map, as compared to the electronic display that was favored.

He was looking particularity at Objective Alpha and Beta, whether which one needed his forces. He was leaning towards Alpha. His reasoning was that in war, a airbase so close to the front could jeopardize his men, and his allies.

He looked closer at the terrain in his selected area of operations. It was open, but narrow, with large elevation on the left and right sides. No enough to bottle neck his men, but would be a problem.

"How is the weather" He asked. A aide replied "Still fog. Expected to get worse with rain." The weather could help mask his force landing, but they had to move quick. If they didn't they would be unable to make use of the LCACS. That would force him to use the LST, slower and more vulnerable. Not to mention the longer time needed to transfer the combat units to them.

Another consideration that came into play was what would he be up against. They had no clear intell on the OPFOR positions near the airbase. Was the airbase defended with anti-tank units? Or was it lightly guarded. Were the OPFOR anti armor helicopters based there. He would base them there, so that they can quickly move to repel any landing. All of these questions would need to be answered one way or another.

"Can you get me a signal to the rest of Blue Force commanders. We need to coordinate our assault on the front." He said, as he went back to the map.
If he could get a recon unit up on the adjacent elevation, he might have a chance of getting advance warning on any coming attack. At the same time, OPFOR might be thinking the same way, watching for the LCACS coming onto the shore. Another consideration, where are the field guns from OPFOR. Would they be taking advantage of the small amount of room in the area around the airbase. South West of the airbase was what appeared to be rocky terrain along the coast, that gave way to a beach. If they landed when it was raining, the tracked units could get bogged down.

[Roski]

General Ivan spun around lazily in his chair, bored to death because of nothing to do.

Then, two men, soldiers, walked into the General's room, looking worried. Surprised by the entrance, the General immediately stops spinning. He ends up facing the wrong way. "God dammit" he muttered, then turned the chair to face the soldiers.

"Sir, the other leaders speak of the possibility of an attack. They fear the airbase at the sea may come under direct assualt." They said, stumbling over their words, looking like bafoons. The General, upon hearing this, pulls out his map. He looks out the window, and makes a decision.

"Move the 13th Artillery Corp to objective N. This is an important division. Bring the 21st Infantry to I, leave the 1st Armoured at the airbase on O, and move the fifth armoured to D. This will increase defencive abilities."

The soldiers walk out, remembering the orders. They call out the orders on the radio.

Meanwhile, the General attempts to make contact with the other leaders

[Guerro]

"Quite a view, ain't it, Lieutenant?" Admiral Jared Frensde was on board the GSS Klesy, a Guerrian aircraft carrier off the coast of the Krestaslin. He was sitting on a lawnchair (No, seriously) overlooking the Soodean Province where the military exercise will take place. Alongside him was his most trusted Lieutenant, Roger Dellard.

When Dellard didn't answer, the Admiral turned to look at him. He was daydreaming. "LIEUTENANT!" This startled Dellard.
"Sorry sir." the Admiral laughed.
"Still thinking about your daughters birthday? Don't worry. This is the best possible place you could have been assigned to. No casualties here."

Dellard started to relax at this thought. He was to happy to see his daughter for her birthday for the first time. Unfortunately, he had to "show up" by video camera, but his presence was known. It could have been worse. He could have been assigned to Aronia.

The Admiral looked back at the beautiful view of Krestaslin. "Tell me, Lieutenant, how is everyone doing?"

"Well, morality is incredibly high. No one is really taking this seriously at the moment, and there "practicing" by playing laser tag."
The Admiral heard the laughter, woops, and chatter of Guerrian soliders behind him. They were practicing with the laser designated rifles they were given. It warmed the old Admirals heart to know that his troops were in high spirits.

Just then, a solider ran up to him.

"Sir, a message from Gebete. They want you to meet with General Agustus about tactics being used by Blue Force."

The Admiral looked at Dellard, then at the solider.

"Tell him I am on my way."

[Betattan]

After leaving days ago, but seemed like weeks on the water, the fleet has finally reached its AO. The 3 carriers carried planes of all nations, and were in fact packed tight. Admiral Hagen was in the bridge of the biggest aircraft carrier, the HMS Dauntless, in it was around 50-60 jets and helicopters of varying nationalities. The carriers were only the core of the fleet though, around them was 5 destroyers, 5 submarines, 5 corvettes, 5 cruisers, 5 cargo ships. In the horizon they could see the GUERRO NAVY.

The Admiral spoke in a deep monotone voice, "Contact their admiral to show our existence."

A seaman replied, "Yes sir." then turned to carry our his order.

Among the crewmen on the fleet was 350 wolves, which were the equal to the united states Navy SEALs. They would be used mainly for relief efforts of allied nations in this exercise. Usually they were carried by Knight Hawks, which the fleet had 10 of, other helicopters were available like a transport Chinook, and attack Comanche's. All were on standby to receive orders on what to do. From what the Betattanians knew, a amphibious assault group would take a spot on a beach to clear a path tanks and so on. The plan wasn't clear though, because it was relayed way before the exercise even started. Everyone just sat, or strolled around their respected ships, waiting to be contacted on what to do.

[Guerro]

"Admiral, we have a radio call from the Commander leading the Betattanians. Their fleet has just arrived."
The solider pointed behind Admiral Frensde, where he saw a large fleet.

"Good work. Tell them to head to the Gebeta meeting area. We'll meet there, and dicuss tactics."
Before Frensde could dismiss the solider, he Dellard interrupted him.

"Actually sir, there has been a change of plans. Tactics and meeting will be held here, on the Klesy.
The Admiral looked at him confused.

"Here?" The Admiral said. "Why?"

Dellard spoke with confidence. "Apparently, they want a area with a lot of space to test tactics. Because the Klesy is really only here to transport troops and tanks, it has a lot of space left. This makes it ideal for testing."

A smile started to form on the Admirals face. "Fantastic. Tell the BLUEFOR commanders to meet here on the Klesy."

Dellard saluted, then started walking to the Comns Room to tell the operator about the order.

[Betattan]

The admiral listened to the transmit to meet at the Klesy for a discussion of tactics. He looked around the carrier deciding who to bring with, he decided on 4 wolves to use as body guards, and to participate in any drill they may run. He walked out of the bridge, and talked to a pilot of a Knight Hawk to transport them, he agreed to like he had a choice. The helicopter spinning up was really the only noise on the carrier since they have arrived at the AO. Everyone watched as the helicopter loudly lifted off the deck. It banked and was now heading to the Klesy, the wolves were engaging in conversation about their days in training, the admiral just looked blankly out the side into the water. They would arrive in an estimated 2 minutes.

[Haguenau]

e₂: this post contains a bunch of ooc and retconned stuff

OOC Disclaimer: I am unaware of any sign-up policies, so apologies if I am meant to sign up in the OOC thread or what have you. I assume as soon as I post info here I'm included, but let me know immediately if I'm wrong and I'll rectify as soon as I can. I've also taken the liberty of taken a few unintrusive assumptions that I hope nobody will mind.
e: And I literally just noticed the "closed" tag, so I'm currently bashing my head against the table. If I'm not invited, let me know and ignore this post, but in my defence, I was one of the first responders to the interest thread :V

With all accords regarding the Military Exercise in order, the Second Royal Expeditionary Strike Group set off on its naval voyage to Soodean land some time before the exercise begun. It was not until the vessels were at the UKH borders, however, that a twisted fate was announced to the group: they will be training on the defensive, and not on the offensive, at is had been assumed. This would mean their amphibious assault training will become useless and the ESG will have to adapt to a completely different situation than what they are trained for. They were to disembark on land before the exercise begins and coordinate with OPFOR.

By the time the exercise was launched, all the units had landed and moved inland. At the sound of General Ivan barking from a radio, the CO of the Expeditionary Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Bécancour replied with a thick French accent.
"This is Lt Col Bécancour, Commanding Officer of the Second Royal Expeditionary Strike Group's Ground Combat Element. Our forces are spread thin over various units, as such we request full coordination with your units. We currently have a Armored Platoon on the road near point Hotel; infantry, sappers, and 155mm howitzers stationed at November; a small number of VTOLs, transport and attack helicopters either at November or in the air; and light armored recon throughout the region. Please advise on your current situation and plans of action."

Having sent the message, the realisation of how unprepared his forces are for such a situation finally settled within the CO. Bécancour swore to nobody in particular that if he'd ever find out who is responsible for sending his amphibious force to set up a defence, he'll punch them in the face.

ORBAT:
The Ground Combat Element is fairly standard in configuration, assume it has a bit of everything with a focus on recon. Namely, it's about 1~2k soldiers manning everything from a few attack choppers, MBTs, and 155mm howitzers to Humvees and utility vehicles. I'll split this up into more distinct units in the near future. Keep in mind these soldiers were heavily trained in amphibious assaults and are firm ethnic frenchmen, both of which may cause issues in OPFOR operations.

[Gebeta]

General Agustus boarded one of the three waiting SH70s on the deck of the Fharbhnti. The helicopter started to lift off, the rest of the fleet barely visable in the fog. The ships were painted a light grey, so they blended in. He could make out the black hull Nuecom class ships, anchored to either side forward of the GBS Zeus, a battleship.

He was headed to the GUERRO NAVY carrier.
Not much was in the works though the GBS Deshronka, the youngest ship in the fleet was a center of activity. In her hull, rather than carrying F32s, she was loaded with Marines and their weapons, as well as LCACs.

Agustus heard the pilots talking to the Comms in the Guerro Carrier.
"Guerro Carrier, this is Gebetan SH70 inbound. We are 10 minuets out from your potion. We will be flying green lights. Do you receive?" The helicopter shook as a gust of wind hit it.
Agustus didn't notice as he watched the Gebetan fleet vanish into the fog.

He was wondering if any other commander would be present. He had his mind set on taking objective Alpha. Taking it would eliminate OPFOR air Assets at the front, as well as allow for transport planes to make drops of heavy equipment. The Gebetan call sign for the airbase was Objective Hawk Nest. Hopefully the Special Forces would be on hand soon, so they could scout out the landing area as well as the defending OPFOR forces.

[Albion Islands]

Admiral Versos Moro silently studied the charts and intelligence he had been provided. This was his first major operation as an admiral of the Albion Islands Imperial Navy and he wanted to impress.With the increasing probability of a civil war in his home region, HQ was participating in as many war games as it could find.

The naval forces contributed by the Albion Islands consisted of the amphibious assault ship AINS Harpoon and its frigate escort AINS Victory. Due to the large size of the forces and aircraft, the plan to piggyback off the ships of other nations was abandoned and it was decided that the crew of AINS Harpoon would benefit from using it in a war game. AINS VIctory would not participate in the war game and was simply acting as an escort to and from the war game.

As Admiral Moro walked past the flight deck of AINS Harpoon he overheard the men playing with their modified weapons. He turned around upon hearing the statement "Well look at that, I shot myself." Admiral Moro stared into the face of the soldier who had said that. His face was young and inexperienced, probably only just out of school on his compulsory military service tour.

"Sir, your presence is requested on the Klesy by our fellow BLUFOR commanders" stated Lieutenant Korbich.
"Very well then," replied the admiral. "We shan't keep them waiting. Prepare a chopper to take myself and commander Cornelius to the Klesy."

[The Soodean Imperium]

OOC @Haguenau: I'd be glad to have you on board, but first you're going to have to post on the OOC thread (and I think you already did... only you didn't confirm later on when I revived the thread). It's partly outside your control, there's a lot of confusion since the original OP didn't have time to stay OP and then somehow I ended up in charge. I guess you're (re) accepted... I'll add your troops to the map the next time I edit it, if that's all right with everyone else.

OPFOR Headquarters
Point N

Major-General Viktor Udaloy stood over the map, looking at the locations of the troops. As Field Marshal of the 48th Motor-Rifles, he would normally have an entire Legion at his disposal; but today, his only duty was to coordinate the movements of two Regiments, one Mechanized and one Motor-Rifle. It was hardly an ideal situation, especially without the Legion's specialized additional assets, but it was still one he hoped to make the best of. Udaloy was a "home veteran," and his Legion - the Red Wolf - had been put through above-average training since the 2005 Military Reforms. While years of training had conditioned him to avoid overestimating his abilities, he still felt a surge of eagerness at the thought of giving this simulated enemy a nasty shock.

An aide rushed up to the Major-General, clicked his heels together, and saluted. "Sir, the First Motor-Rifle Regiment reports that their forward units are in position. The Towed Artillery Battalion is still getting its guns emplaced, but will be done in a few minutes."

"Excellent. Show me the layout of the troops."

At his Field-Marshal's order, the aide walked over to the central table, where a map had been rolled out and covered in troop markers. To the uninformed eye, it was nothing but a mess of red rectangles, but Udaloy saw a perfect military order in the formation: a thin recon screen in front, supported by a detached Motor-Rifle Company... a First Echelon force made up of battalions from the Motor-Rifle Regiment, with its Tank Battalion switched out with a Mechanized Battalion... behind it the Artillery Battalions, one stationary and one self-propelled... and in the very rear, two paired units of a Tank Battalion and a Mechanized Battalion each, both formations hidden in patches of forest. The formation was sturdy, compact... too compact. Who was guarding the flanks?

"Get me the wire comms," he ordered, pushing past a lower-ranking officer to the telegraph station. A furious expression on his face, he began hammering on the telegraph key. Technically speaking, he had no authority over the other nations' units; but he was here to command a full Legion, to coordinate the efforts of multiple Regiments. Anything short of that would be below a Major-General holding the position of Field Marshal.

From: Field-Marshal Udaloy
To: General Ivun
What are your tanks doing over by the airfield? Send the 1st Armored along the road to Point Elena, and send the 21st Infantry southwest into that patch of forest. The infantry will contain their advance if they enter the central plain, and the tanks will sweep them down from the flanks. And move up the artillery while you're at it, they can't hit anything from that far back.

From: Field-Marshal Udaloy
To: Colonel Psomi
Why do you bring Mountain Infantry and not put them in the Mountains? Send the First Cavalry down to point J and await further orders. The only way the enemy will make it to point O is by cutting through our first line of defense, which is exactly what they'll do if you hold back like this. And consider moving your other units there, too - we can get a lot more done if each commander focuses on one sector.

[Anm Vo Bantu]

Nakuge Infantry Regiment, Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Company, Few weeks before the military exercise

"ALARM! Everybody wake up!"

It was company's duty NCO, Corporal Seifilov.

Tired mumbling filled small barracks:

"I want to sleep. Medical officer said I have not to participate any physical exercises."
"What the hell is happening?"
"ungh"
"Berigov! Wake up! It is war or something! Wake up!"
"war?"
"I'm not sure, but we have next night training at thursday! this must be something weird!"

"COMPANY! We will leave after one hour! Everybody packs their personal equipments! Officers, NCOs and drivers must be in company's classroom at 01.30!"

"Oh lord! It really is a war!"
"It might also be surprise exercise or something. I have heard nothing about wars."
"I want to sleep"
"Berigov, f**'k you and wake up! We are in war!"
"umm, what..."
"I think captain is just punishing us. You all were too slow in the last assault exercise."
"Somebody has stolen my left boot! Where is it! Where is it! This is not funny at all!"
"It is under your bed..."

After two and half hours company was ready to leave. Drivers had heard that company will go to Maglaidelungka, capital city of Anm Vo Bantu. Soon the whole company knew their destination. They also heard that 2nd Infantry company, 2nd AT-platoon, some parts of signals- and engineer company and supply company would leave. Nearly whole regiment was mobilized, and soon everybody had heard rumours about war or communist uprising.

Light Infantry Battalion HQ, Maglaidelungka

This would be the largest exercise during Lt. Colonel Bouc Sccar's career. In fact, this would be the largest military exercise in the history of Anm Vo Bantu. Sccar, vice commander of peacetime infantry regiment and commander of temporary Light Infantry Battalion was quite surprised, that Infantry Regiment formed the backbone of training unit. "Elite unit" like armored company would be more likely participant of large international exercise like this. However, it would be too difficult for lacking logistical units to transport tanks and IFVs overseas, so infantry regiment and Lt. Colone Sccar got excellent chance to show their skills.

Now they just waited. Anm Vo Bantu does not had any paratrooper units (Sccar, who was captain in paratrooper unit during the communist regime had always demanded funds for special training and paratrooper units, but current government was more interested about large conventional army than special units). For STOL aircraft like Do 228 it could be possible to use airport A, but as long as it was controlled by OPFOR, they had nothing to do but prepare for incoming challenges.

[Herodas]

Colonel Philomena Psomi
Psomi smiled as she took in her and her allies' positions around the map. In the fog, she could hardly see the small simulated town Nagorno, where Soodean troops had taken positions. The horses however were unfazed of their mechanisized counterparts, completely unimpressed by the vehicles.
They were used to it.
"Colonel?", a radioman said from his device, plugged into the larger array at position I. "Engineers are with II. Btl. now, assisting the digging in."
"Good.", the commanding officer replied and looked at the map - so many young men and women, some of them even old enough to be her own children. In a sense, the regiment was in fact that, but since this was "just" a maneuvre, the threat of death wasn't that high, but still there, for example, if a helicopter had a malfunction or a man fell of his horse.
It wouldn't be nice to explain such a thing.
"One more thing, we have received communication from one Field-Marshal Udaloy of the Soodean forces.", the radioman held out a piece of paper over his shoulder, quickly grabbed by her second in command, Major Leander Nafsika, and handed over to his Colonel, and, according to rumours, secret love interest (however, confronting him with this resulted in the cutest blush ever witnessed by human eyes).
"Thank you, Leander!" Psomi took the sheet and quickly scanning over it with Nafsika at her shoulder, peering at it.

[...]

From: Field-Marshal Udaloy
To: Colonel Psomi
Why do you bring Mountain Infantry and not put them in the Mountains? Send the First Cavalry down to point J and await further orders. The only way the enemy will make it to point O is by cutting through our first line of defense, which is exactly what they'll do if you hold back like this. And consider moving your other units there, too - we can get a lot more done if each commander focuses on one sector.

"Quite an unfriendly person, isn't he?", the Major asked.
His Colonel snorted. "Even General Springensfelder was nicer!", she agreed, before she looked him over. "But he has a point and as highest officer of our allied forces on his own home turf we have to bow to his orders as good manners demand. The infantry company of I. Btl. moves up to point J and inform the Field Marshal, that the rest of I. Btl. is helicopters and corresponding supply elements as well as an engineer company."
"Yes, Colonel!", the radiomen replied and began to relay the messages.
"Shall I take command of the troops at point C and move them up to J as well?", Nafsika asked quietly, getting a sidelong glance of his Colonel, who then bowed down to the map.
"It would be for the better, I guess...", she mumbled, "At least as long as Captains Lefkada and Paskos got their differences sorted out!"
A small round of laughter was shared at the thought of the Commanding Captain of the 11th Company and the Captain of III. Btl.'s APC-Company, who both took position at point C, and their legendary rivalry, which had ignited at, as absurd as it sounded, Captain Lefkadas' daughter falling in love with one of Captain Paskos' men, getting her pregnant and then dying on her before marriage (to put it in Field Marshal Salta's words: "Stranger reasons for fighting had been invented in Lakedaimon...").
Lieutenant Kastos of the artillery battery stationed at the point was most likely trying to calm things down as much as she could, but knowing the shy young woman, she didn't have much success in it.
"Then I will see you, Philo." The Major patted her on the shoulder, before exiting the command tent to mount his own horse for the short ride.
"With it or on it!", his Colonel called after him.

Changed Lefkadas' Company from the 13th (now the artillery company) to the 11th.

[Imperial American Republics]

On the IARN Dauntless, the marines were finishing the preparation of their kits, designating one or two personnel within the Platoon to act as an ammo carrier, carrying surpluses of ammo for the intense confrontation which they expected on the beach head and various points further inland. Many troops also began to equip themselves with M203 Grenade launchers to improve their attack capabilities.
They also got the 20 technical officers to make sure their "Network Centric" HUDs were online and prepared for the operation. The guard units which still lacked such systems took this time to familiarize themselves with the NC's capabilities, sending messages, working the map, sending orders to simulated air, ground, and naval support units, and more importantly marking targets, something that was sure to become common with the coming assault.

On the Flight deck the pilots decided to dismount their aircraft and further coordinate with one another. They debated about how much stand off range" they would have to attack the ground targets and how they could effectively deal with the AA. They took into account that the aircraft they would be using had the standard flares and jamming suites, but also that I carried the important DRFM systems which would help them in just these type of situations, but still they didn't want to risk it.
While the F-27 pilots stayed commit to their standard load out of 24 BVR Long Range missiles. The F-29 units would split, one group would carry a more air to ground attack arsenal of 20 long range laser guided AGMs and 8 Air to Air missiles while the other could have a more "mixed" arsenal, consisting of 18 laser guided AGMs and 10 Air to air missiles. They would all use their 30mm to handle the expected armoured units. Another idea which they mulled over was the inclusion of the UAVs, whether they would be armed or not was still debatable, but through using the UAVs NC capabilities, the pilots could use them to further scout the area and potentially neutralize targets.

While the air boys decided their strategy, the aircrews finding that they had a few more hours, began rushing around the hangar and flight decks, scrambling the make last last minute inspections and more importantly ready up and relocate additional supplies which were to be used after the first tilt rotors and fighters took off. Doing this would save them valuable time and help the operation be conducted more smoothly. To ensure that the crews were well rested and effective, they were divided into two groups. As of now Most of them were busy toiling away at their duties to prepare for the operation, but later on they would be split- one group would work during the day and the other would assist during the night. While one group was on "Active Operations", the other would be on "Passive Operations", learning about key things like Ship & Crew safety, minor damage control operations, and Ship Defence.

The Drones had returned and had gathered a priceless amount of data and strategic visuals on the enemy positions. It was noted that the enemy was moving in from their initial deployment points and that those forces moving through the centre of the Beach head would engage a majority of the OPFOR force. The terrain still had to be analyzed by geographers to find a suitable place to land the vehicles and to find a less rugged area for them to advance. Such investigation would probably take another 4 to 5 hours and as such further delayed the possibility of an "early" allied attack, at least by the IAR.

While the main force worked out the rest of the kinks and finalized their weapons, the Seal unit was finalizing their kits for their rapidly approaching departure. High Command decided it would be beneficial for the entire assault force to have a "Pre-assault unit" be inserted and scope out the area, hopefully taking out a few shore defences or at least help with the relaying of information and establishing vital channels in the immediate AO. So far, the contingent totaled 35 Operators, many of them armed with SOCOM Model M27s, equipped with laser targeting, forward grip, suppressors, extended clip magazines, and under mount M203. Also accompanying them would be a few "heavy" units, using the Javelin AT weapon system and the M243 Machine Gun, and to take out potential shore defences or make defendable positions, a few demo charges.
Their objective as of yet was to head to the beach head on Rigid inflatables armed with GA19 MGs and survey the area, waiting for further orders.

[Anm Vo Bantu]

From: Lt. Colonel Sccar
To: All other BLUFOR commanders

Light Infantry Battalion is ready to be transported into operational area. Tranports can not begin before BLUFOR controls airfield A, BLUFOR has air superiority and OPFOR's AA-units near the airfield are destroyed.

I would like to know what is your opinion about the needed support in early battles. Light Infantry Battalion can not fight as independent unit in early phase. This is why I need to know how my troops could support other battalions. For example, if other BLUFOR units does not have sufficient air defence, we can start our transportations with AA-platoon (Stinger). We can also support BLUFOR's anti-tank warfare with AT-platoon (APILAS) or our signals platoon can help to establish working communications network in the occupied area.

[Betattan]

From: Captain Harold Melonnski

To: Lt. Colonel Sccar

From what we in Betattan understand, no conflict has been reported yet.
So how would the AA in the Airfield be taken out already, unless you undertook an operation you told no one.
Please have your commander RSVP to the invitation to board the carrier of Guerros fleet, and discuss
tactics. After all the reason for this exercise to use teamwork not be a lone wolf.

[Anm Vo Bantu]

From: Captain Harold Melonnski

To: Lt. Colonel Sccar

From what we in Betattan understand, no conflict has been reported yet.
So how would the AA in the Airfield be taken out already, unless you undertook an operation you told no one.
Please have your commander RSVP to the invitation to board the carrier of Guerros fleet, and discuss
tactics. After all the reason for this exercise to use teamwork not be a lone wolf.

OOC: My english is not very good, so I apologise if you misunderstood something.
I just wanted to make teamwork by asking what kind of units we need in early operation. I have not sent any troops into the area, I was just discussing what kind of troops I would send, when we control the airfield A.

I will propably write my answer for that invitation later, at now I am bit busy.

[Consolidate Nations Alliance]

General Samuel Jackson
ANS Paladin, CNA Command Ship

"General on deck!"

As the command went out all the troops snapped to attention. 1st Lieutenant Tayla Redmont saluted the General. "All present and correct sir, your command" she said, stepping to the side. "Soldiers of the CNA, welcome to the Joint Military Exercises! We are here today to work with a few other nations. I trust we will all learn a thing or two from those one the BLUFOR side, and even out opponents on OPFOR. Keep in mind, OPFOR is lead by our national ally, the Soodean Imperium, as such we do not need to impress them, and they know what we are capable of with a small force, but then we are well aware of how they operate as well. This brings an advantage to both sides. Field commanders, you have your orders. Dismissed!" he said. The commanders of each group gave the orders to their troops.

Helipad, port side of the Paladin
Tayla and her Seraph Squad walked to the MRH-90 helicopter, which was parked right beside one of the Chinooks. "So our orders are to land, with the leader of the 3rd Combat Engineers, take one of their trucks up to point D while going around A? Assuming we can do that without much of a challenge, how are we meant to move a semi through that terrain?" Hanna, Tayla's second-in-command, and the team sniper, asked. "We only have to worry about protecting the truck, which is half Kelly's job anyway as it has some vehicular armour in the back so it can be armoured up a bit" Tayla said. The Seraphim nodded and climbed into the transport helicopter. "I just hope we can fly low enough to get in without being seen" Tayla added. It would be a challenge, but if anyone could do it, it was the Vanguard Battle Group.

Helipad, starboard side of the Paladin
General Samuel Jackson walked to another MRH-90, one that would take him to the Klesy, the main ship of the Guerro fleet where the tactics meeting would take place. He made sure the Paladin's computers could transmit to the Klesy so the live feed could be beamed across to keep everyone up to date on the occurrences and tactics changes. This helicopter, designated Spear 2-1, was the first to lift off, the others would wait for the moment.

[Roski]

What are your tanks doing over by the airfield? Send the 1st Armored along the road to Point Elena, and send the 21st Infantry southwest into that patch of forest. The infantry will contain their advance if they enter the central plain, and the tanks will sweep them down from the flanks. And move up the artillery while you're at it, they can't hit anything from that far back.


These orders are followed, knowing that this nation knows the territory best.

The artillery moves to Objective I, for better defencive positions.

[Guerro]

Admiral Frensde turned around on his chair to meet the eyes of the BLUFOR Commanders that had shown up.

To the left of him, the Betattan Admiral. (Who had not given his name.)
In front of him, General Aqustus of Gebeta.
To the right of him, Admiral Moro of the Albion Islands.
There were others who weren't there, but hopefully they'll listen to any plan they come up with.
In front of all them was the map of the area. In red were the OPFOR troop locations.

"So boys, wants the plan? Any suggestions?"

[Imperial American Republics]

Admiral Frensde turned around on his chair to meet the eyes of the BLUFOR Commanders that had shown up.

To the left of him, the Betattan Admiral. (Who had not given his name.)
In front of him, General Aqustus of Gebeta.
To the right of him, Admiral Moro of the Albion Islands.
There were others who weren't there, but hopefully they'll listen to any plan they come up with.
In front of all them was the map of the area. In red were the OPFOR troop locations.

"So boys, wants the plan? Any suggestions?"

Rear Admiral Shipley stood stoically on the bridge, looking hawkish at the island which lied in front of him and a group of sailors who were making a few adjustments to one of the Six MK 4 Phalanx CISWs that lined the side of the ship.

"Jennings", he shouted across the bridge.
Rising immediately from a console, a pale and freckled husk of a sailor who looked more like a skeleton appeared.
"Sir, yes Sir" he cried to the top of his lungs, while desperately trying to suppresses his startled demeanour.
"Get comms. and patch me in to the Guerran Ship! I belive they're discussing the course of attack."
"Aye Aye Sir!" Said Jennings.
After about 5 or 6 minutes of fiddling with his console, the Admiral was on a secure air frequency with the other leaders onboard the Guerran Vessel.

Using a voice translation programme, the Admiral began speaking and it was translated into Guerran.

"Good day gentlemen.
This is Rear Admiral Shipley of the Imperial American Republics Imperial Navy. I am serving the head commanding official for the Imperial American Republics for the duration of these exercises and would first off like to start by stating how I hope this joint exercise not only help bolster our nations' defencive capabilities, but also helps foster closer ties and new bonds for All of our representative nations!

I was notified, late apparently, of your meeting onboard the Guerran Capital ship and despite my absence, would like to help with strategizing this assault. I'll try to skip the theatrics and semantics and hit my main Three points which I believe are crucial.
One: Enemy radar and how it bolsters the enemy SAM capabilities, potentially limiting our capabilities. Two: the Terrain and using it to our advantage. and Three: The importance of "Clandestine Actions".

Gentlemen, I have faith in ALL of our men and women (maybe) who will be storming the beaches, but feel that TRUE air superiority will be crucial to taking our more "hardened" targets. As such, I say we send what reduced radar signature aircraft we have and any ECM/ Jamming aircraft to "preoccupy" the enemy radar and targeting systems. I also have my own initial plan to handle the enemy radar instillations. (Should you want this info TG me). Following my mission, I plan to cut the radar operation zone and open a "gap" for allied aircraft. The Air phase for this operation should be short, seeing as to how we haven't observed a substantial enemy air force, so Air targets should be a "Secondary" target. I would love to leave the air defence role to the nation who brought the air defences.

Second, the terrain here appears to be a typical European type climate with moderate to sever elevation inclines (mountains) and dense forests. MY UAVs and naval surveillance units depict a sizeable mountainous area in the "Centre" of the beach. I believe that if we take that and position our longer range support assets, we can strike into the more "Significant" areas further north, Greatly enhancing our tactical and strategic position in the field.

This may not concern your forces, but the forest may hinder armoured units like tanks and heavier IFVs and APCs so I suggest we all work on clear roads to take. I'm contemplating sending a team of Imperial Army Engineers along with a Seal detachment to help clear a way through the brush for our forces, but i'm still deciding. Though there are some "natural" avenues, this could slower the pace of our advance a lot more than if we had a clear roadway.

Finally, To those of you who I've communicated to privately, I believe that Special units should be inserted before the main attack, strike at crucial frontal areas and act as Frontline Coordination units for the main force. In addition to this, our drone force will be at our disposal and the data collected will be shared (we simply need a few technical details from your nations), and this will help further strategizing and monitoring both friendly and enemy troops."

Whpping a few beads of sweat from his head the Admiral finally finished and gave a short departure speech

"Alright gneltemen, I hope I helped get the ball rolling on a few things and am awaiting further response. I'd like to note that this is again not the final plan and for security purposes, some of the more Major details were left out, but should you need them message me Privately and if you have any ideas or concerns of your own, lets address them together!

Thank you and this is Rear Admiral Shipley Signing off!"

After this the Admiral finally signed off.

[Herodas]

Major Leander Nafsika
His mighty steed walked down the small increase, through which the street went. He had taken the more or less scenic route, looking at the Soodean (and therefore allied) troops along the way from the antennae at I, through the small town Nagorno (it reminded him a little bit of one of the farm-villages in Tintinoi) and along the elevation through a small forest (where he found Lieutenant Georgios Atokos' 7D-Platoon of II. Btl. in ambush) and to the relay at C.
From the distance, he was able to hear two people arguing: Captain Myriam Lefkadas, single-mother to a sweetheart of a heartbroken daughter, Captain Elias Paskos, single-father to his APCs and their crews, and Lieutenant Hera Kastos, the shy commander of E-Battery. With the three soldiers were, besides E-Battery, Lieutenant Damian Chios' C-Troop with it's five truck-mounted AA-guns, the APCs and soldiers of 12A-Squadron and 11A-Platoon.
And now Nafsika had the responsibility of calming to raging parents up about a situation, which shouldn't need any calming for the controlled warriors and soldiers of Lakediamon. Kastos on the other hand was a daughter of Aitolia, while Chios came from Trikolj - it showed very much so, since it appeared, that no one wanted to listen to the Lieutenant trying to calm things down, the Captains using the argument of her not being a warrior soul.
This was the moment, which was chosen by Nafsika to announce his presence to the soldiers: "If the Lieutenant is it or not is question, which has to be answered today, but until then, all four of you answer to me. Understood?"
After the first words, the soldiers snapped to attention, even Chios, a typical laid-back Army-AA-officer. "Yes, Sir!", the officers answered.
With a nod, the Major dismounted. "Prepare the troops for the march, we head out to Position J in order to reinforce Captain Tholeto's position."
Immeditaly, the soldiers went to work, packing up the equipment and leaving behind several surprises of the explosive kind (for this execise not filled with nails but with flour), not failing to report this to the Soodean headquarters.
Half an hour later, the very mixed group of soldiers was on it's way, on horseback, APCs and artillery guns. It was a strange procession.

[Gebeta]

General Agustus

The General sat quietly. He had decided to make things move faster, so he brought along his PDA to translate.
He liked the idea. It would allow them to know the force make up of opfor. Agustus was not new to this type of war, having been in the invasion of Deshrenkov, he knew the risks.
"I agree with the Admiral" He said. His translator went to work. It, as the Admirals translated to Guerran.
"I can speak of only my objective with certainty. That would be Alpha and Delta. Both are vital to this effort. My main focus is the airbase. Eliminating it will neutralize the OPFOR air close to the front, mitigating the risk of air attacks from helicopters and any jet capable of using that field. At the same time, capturing it will allow the landing of cargo planes with heavy units and supply. The airfield is however flanked by elevation plus. Not sure how much it is, but elevation plus no less" he said, waiting for the translation to catch up. Secondary objectives include Echo, but that is a far fetched objective due to the low intel of OPFOR units. My forces can set up and hold Alpha until reinforcements can be brought up, making a possible two way attack on Delta and Echo, in hopes of thinning OPFOR." He said. He was annoyed that this was a, by Gebetan orders, a "W Scenario", for his forces. In other words, most of the advance technology Gebeta had was useless due to EMP or something, but Gebeta was still making a effort to assault the front lines. As time went by, it was assumed Gebeta would be able to bring back on line the networks that the technology relied on.
The General finished his assessment by saying "Is there any other things that should be brought up. As I said, I can only give you what I know about my sector. I assume that Bravo and Charlie are objectives for the other battalions Also, could a Spec Ops get to Kilo? That would help in disabling OPFOR radio comms, perhaps allowing for a strike at Hotel using low level SEAD."