Countdown | ATTN: Sondria

[Gristol-Serkonos]

Countdown: The Story of JTF Section 20

July 1st, 2014
Ravensca, Crown Land of Vâlcea
Sovereign Empire of Gristol-Serkonos

Shadow One, Insertion Team Leader,
Clandestine Activities Division
Imperial Military Intelligence: Section 5

---

Since the unification of the Empire, the separatist group Vâlceanti Libertii has continued to strike on government military installations and cities across the Crown Land of Vâlcea. It has been a trouble-child of the Empire of Serkonos before its unification. The former capital of the Vâlceanti Principality, Vâlcean nationalistic sentiments ran high in this land. Civil unrest were later quelled during the 1960's when the communist groups were suspected in supporting the Vâlcean nationalists. During the 1970's to 1994, were a period of stability and peace in the area when the separatist group Vâlceanti Libertii were crushed following their offensive into Drăgășani. Today, the Vâlceanti Libertii continue its operations in the Crown Land and surrounding areas.

Six months prior, a Special Forces team infiltrated a Vâlceanti Libertii-controlled compound where they discovered the operation called GENESIS. Details were sketchy, but the operation called for blueprints of the nuclear power plants in Rien-Stadt, C.D. and the bomb necessary to cause a reactor meltdown. Unfortunately, the SF team was killed in the compound, delivering only 25% of the operation to Fort Cortana. The information Fort Cortana received was not enough, after an exhaustive two months of intelligence gathering has led them to a second compound. Deciding it will be an IMI-5 operation, they sent two teams, and make sure it will be delivered in full.

"Shadow One to Reaper. Patrol detected on the perimetre, prepare to take them down on my mark." a female voice ordered from the radio.

Two soldiers were patrolling the perimetre of the compound, two sniper scopes from SR-78s were trained on the soldier's heads. The two soldiers were idly chatting, talking about their sexual exploits and the women in the nearby town. The snipers soon confirmed their targets and reported back to Shadow One. "Good, weapons free." Two silenced rounds quickly covered the distance, killing their targets as Shadow Team sprung into action. Two operatives grabbed the fallen insurgents and hidden them on the foliage. Opening a drain, one by one, Shadow team entered inside the compound. Avoiding lights as they entered the two-story building on a backdoor, they released their safeties and engaged the insurgents inside the building. Clearing out the main floor with their silenced sub-machine guns, the team silently eliminated the insurgents in the second floor. Shadow One approached a table with maps and blueprints, her eyes widen as she found their objective. "Raider, this is Shadow One, we are ready for exfil." When she heard the acknowledgement from Raider, she ordered her subordinates to gather the evidence, she peered through the window and saw the rest of the insurgents in the compound reacting to chaos in the main building.

"Reaper team, we are going to need overwatch here. The hornet's nest has been kicked!" Shadow One spoke through the radio "All of you, gather the evidence. Quickly!"

The insurgents ran across the compound towards the main building and opened fire at them on the second floor. Quickly shattering the silence that filled the room before. Two operatives returned fire, forcing some of the insurgents to take cover. Reaper team began helping out, taking out the sniper that was laying at the back. Kicking the door to the veranda at the back, the team rappelled to the first floor. Shadow One led the way, as the rest of the team followed close. The insurgents stormed the building from the front. "Shadow team, you have multiple hostiles storming the building at the front!" Reaper One reported.

"Agh!"
"Shadow Three is down! Shadow Three is down!"
"Where the fuck is the evac?!"

A gun battle soon ensued, with Reaper providing sniper fire, the remaining Shadow team quickly formed a defensive formation at one corner of the compound. Shadow One lined up her 4X telescopic sights on one lone insurgent before firing her DMR-212. Shadow Two was busy treating Shadow Three's wound as Shadow Four covered the medic. When the Raider approached with the two AHG-332 ground attack helicopters and a AHT-390 transport helicopter, the battle was about to be over. "Dammit, RPG! EVADING!" An RPG from an insurgent slammed on the tail-stabilizer of one of the the AHG-332s. The helicopter spun out of control as it crash-landed in one of the barracks of the compound sending plaster, brick, and roof tiles flying across all directions. The second AHG-332 swooped around the crash site, using its mounted chain gun and missile pods to quickly take out majority of the remaining targets. A second explosion rocked the compound as the downed helicopter exploded. Having failed to rescue the two man crew of the helicopter, Shadow team mounted the helicopter and left the compound.

---

July 7th, 2014
Conference Room, Populae Palati,
Central District, Rien-Stadt, C.D.

The sun rises in the capital city of Rien-Stadt, C.D.

The city's residents are about to start their day, traveling to work on their cars or the public transport. But today is something different as the countdown to the 93rd anniversary of the End of the Red Revolution was starting in 13 days. City organizers along with members of the Rieshistagi, the country's central government has been making invitations, including the Crontorian president for their country's efforts during the conflict and their aid in the victory of government forces during the fall of 1920 and winter of 1921. The Diarchs are expected to be in the parades, along with the entire government cabinet.

In the Populae Palati, the Diarchs and the Imperial Cabinet sat down on the conference room. They were recently briefed by three IMI-5 agents about a potential terrorist plot in the capital. It is taking them a while to digest the plan of a separatist group to strike at the heart of the Empire. They were not expecting the Vâlceanti Libertii to strike at Rien-Stadt, as the government troops were confident in keeping them in Vâlcea. Shifting her seating position, one of the Diarchs spoke first, "So what are our options?"

"We can always send the special forces into these targets, strike them all at once." said the Chief of Defence, and head of the military.
"I would expect them to make changes in their plans." the Defence Minister said "IMI-5 has found the intel, I say we instruct all the DMI departments them go find them."
"What about the Crontorians? They already said they want to participate in the military parade, and FARECOM is now stationed along side our own in Luminaa." the Internal Affairs Minister added. "Will we keep them out?"
"IMI-5 could always use their help, since IMI-6 is currently watching over the conflict between the Ngati Onekawa Nukanoa and their northernly neighbour." Petro Calroni, the Lord High Chancellor said.
"Plus you know the Crontorian foreign policy, they love to have their hands on every single thing in Sondria." added Olberti Sevansencu, the foreign affairs minister. "This terrorist plot to strike the capital would certainly grab the attention of those Old Worlders."

"So that's it then." the second Diarch, Emperor Lorei IV Esteria spoke "We involve the Crontorians in an internal matter."
"It is worth considering we don't have a choice, your Imperial Grace." the Lord High Chancellor said, "The Crontorians are more than willing to help."
"Make the call with the President." with Empress Annika I Felvaron silently nodding in approval, Emperor Lorei IV stood from his seat in the front of the table and walked off. It was typical of a conservative-minded Serkonosean to avoid help from anyone when an internal matter arises, relying on proven methods to accomplish the objectives. This distinguishes them greatly from the more liberally-minded Gristolians, who welcome new ideas to solve internal matters. "We leave this to you, Lord High Chancellor." with those words, Empress Annika left the room.

With the diarchs gone from the conference room, Petro Calroni activated the teleconferencing console.

He will need to call President Cranico.

[Crontor]

Sondria;
Imperial Federation of Crontor;
Administrative District of Crontor;
Columbia Province;
Vienna;
Crontorian Federal Building:

The news of a high priority phone call from High Chancellor Calroni had caused quite a stir in the Federal Building. The Office of Communications, which handled incoming official communications directed the call to the Office of Foreign Affairs, which, following verification of the call, directed the High Chancellor to Cranico’s Chief of Staff, Annabel Salderosa. A tall, lean, no nonsense brunette, she had started as an intern on his first political campaign and had been a political ally of Cranico since his first political run decades prior and had stood by his side ever since. A sharp wit and extensive knowledge of Crontorian and foreign politics had made her a valuable asset. Having served as Cranico’s Chief of Staff since his election to Senator, she had made a career out of the position and played her part well.

Most standard diplomatic overtures were directed through the Ministry of State and were there handled by Minister of State Suderity and his staff. Depending on the matter in question, appropriate action would be taken. This would be assuming that the Central Intelligence had not already flagged the matter and turned over the information to their paymasters at the Crontorian Military Pyramid or contacted the President. Calling President Cranico directly meant there was an emergency that needed immediate attention and could not be allowed to be swallowed up in the bureaucracy of his cabinet. As well organized as Crontorians were, even they made mistakes, even though they would never own up to it.

With the High Chancellor holding on the phone, Chief of Staff Salderosa unceremoniously pushed her way into Cranico’s office where she found President Cranico sitting with Prime Minister Cremmington, Minister of Reconstruction Alice Vants, Minister of Transportation Kyle Dentris, Minister of Commerce Devon Blake, and Minister of Provincial Affairs Anthony Tierney. Cranico removed his glasses and put down the folder he had been blankly staring into, not so subtly weathering the stream of complaints pouring from Minister Tierney about the lack of attention paid to provincial matters in Vrontor. Putting a hand up to silence him, Cranico turned, “Annabel, got something for me?”

“Yeah, I got High Chancellor Calroni from Gristol-Serkonos on the phone. He wants to talk to you and says its urgent.”

Cranico frowned and turned to his cabinet, “Sorry boys and girls, looks like provincial infrastructure needs will have to wait a few minutes, sit tight and Annabel will bring you snacks.”

“Cut the shit Cranico,” snapped Annabel, “he didn’t say what he needs and I suspect it’s a little above my pay grade.”

“I’ll take the call in the conference room,” said Cranico making his way out the door to the conference room, stopping at Annabel’s side as he passed and then whispering, “don’t worry about pay grade darling, we’ll get some drinks after work and see where that leads us.”

Annabel smiled devilishly as she closed the door on the mumbling Ministers and Prime Minister Cremmington and followed her boss to the conference room where a phone lay waiting. Sitting down with Annabel beside him, opening a notepad, he accepted the call, “High Chancellor Calroni, a pleasure. How can we help you today?”

[Gristol-Serkonos]

Conference Room, Populue Palati,
Central District, Rien-Stadt, C.D.

“High Chancellor Calroni, a pleasure. How can we help you today?” President Cranico's voice spoke through the console.

The conference room was silent, all the eyes are focused on the Lord High Chancellor as he leaned on the table closer to the teleconferencing console.

"President Cranico, pleasure to meet you. I am sure you have received the invitation to Rien-Stadt for the 93rd Anniversary of the Red Revolution? I am sorry to say that we have recently have encountered problems. In order to explain what is going on, I have brought in our intelligence liaison." He motioned towards the IMI-5 liaison, who then spoke up.

"President Cranico, I am Sylvie van der Stadt, Imperial Military Intelligence, Section 5. I am here to brief you about our current situation." she inputted commands on the console, bringing up information on Operation GENESIS. "This is the Vâlceanti Libertii, a separatist group aiming at a full separation of the Vâlcean Principality from the Empire through whatever means. This separatist group was later crushed in 1998, following the raid of their headquarters in Bulzeşti. However in 2013, a squadron of the 401 Field Commando Group was killed in action following their raid of a compound with suspected ties to the crushed organization. While the intel that was supposed to be analyzed by IMI-1 and 2 were incomplete, further investigation by IMI-2 and IMI-1 has led them to Operation GENESIS. The Operation calls for an attack on the Empire's power grid and military installations across Vâlcea and a target in Rien-Stadt. Following 401 FCG's attack at the compound, we have seen the rise of attacks perpetrated allegedly by the Vâlceanti Libertii across Vâlcea and the surrounding territories." Sylvie inputted another set of commands, revealing a second set of information regarding Operation GENESIS.

"This is our intel we gathered recently from the IMI-5 raid on one of their compounds. Among the intelligence we gathered is the blueprints for a CANDU nuclear reactor and the operational manual with details highlighted that would cause a nuclear meltdown. Not to mention there are certain astronomical conditions that point to a date: July 20, 2014. Based on the significance of this date, which is the 93rd anniversary of the Red Revolution, IMI-5 has speculated that it will be on Rien-Stadt."

With Sylvie finished briefing the Crontorian president, Lord High Chancellor Petro Calroni spoke once again. "In the interest of military cooperation, Mister President, both our nations should be truly concerned about this problem. You have troops coming in here for the parade and you as well. I have been speaking with my cabinet and we have decided that this should be a joint-operation between our two nations. Most of our intelligence operatives from IMI-6 are still trapped in that crossfire between the Ngati Onekawa Nukanoa and Paraksani. We may be officially allies in the past and the present, but my people must know we could trust you Old Worlders regarding matters in our side of the region." Calroni blinked, pausing to sip on his tea before continuing. "Will we be able to count on your assistance?"

---

Later that same day....

Stonebridge Cross, IMI-5 Headquarters
Laurenne District, Rien-Stadt, C.D.

The streets remain busy as ever as the rush hour continued. Citizens minded their own business, some rushed off to work while some were tourists idly strolling the city, enjoying the summer weather. A black executive car pulls up in the front of the Stonebridge Cross. Out came the Director of IMI-5 and his secretary, who was walking with him, giving him files for today's agenda. A double-decker street car rolled in the middle of the headquarters when it all of a sudden blew up.

The blast tore apart the facade of the Stonebridge Cross and the surrounding buildings. The glass windows of headquarters shattered into the interior, injuring and killing some of the IMI-5 personnel.

Dark smoke rises on the horizon of the city, soon it will be in the news across all of Sondria.

The Empire was attacked.

[Crontor]

Sondria;
Telraina;
Crown Land of Serkonos;
IGSDFB Puolarmetsä:

In the dead of night, three C-17 Globemaster III’s touched down in Serkonos. There was no welcoming committee, no grand march of soldiers, and certainly no forces marching in rank and file rows off to battle. What there was, even in the dead of night, was a hive of activity on the base. Intelligence briefings, provided by a detachment of Central Intelligence Service personnel based in Fort Bastion, had indicated that this was one of the largest military facilities in the nation. It was more than likely going to serve as the base of operations for the Crontorian mission here, a mission whose success was unclear to the men and women stepping out onto the tarmac.

The men and women of the Crontorian Ranger Guardsmen were not here on a great mission of liberation or grand mission of national defense. They were here to hunt down and eliminate members of the Valceanti Libertii separatist group operating here. Usually, the aims and objectives or even actions of a separatist in a group continents away wouldn’t have registered more than a passing glance at the Central Intelligence Service and would have certainly not been addressed by anyone in the Crontorian Armed Forces.

But this was not the Imperial Federation of Cranico’s predecessors. This was an empire that had taken its borders and stretched them, had built bridges to nations near and far, and then in some cases, used those bridges to negotiate or force policy favorable to the Imperial Federation. It had not been easy. It had not been clean, but the Imperial Federation had reached an unforeseen level of power and influence. This growth had spurred a massive rethinking of both the foreign policy bureaucracy and the intelligence establishment. What had once existed as three expansive and storied ministries was folded, reformed, and repurposed into just two; the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Defense.

Most striking of these reforms, many of them part of the post-Newcastle shuffle pushed by Cranico in the National Defense and Reconstruction Act, was the merging of intelligence and defense. The result was quickly made apparent. Intelligence had become an extension of the military in the Imperial Federation and this relationship had only worked to make the work of both establishments much easier. In cases such as the declared war on terror, of which this separatist group now found itself locked in the crosshairs of, the partnerships merged by the intense cooperation by such agencies as the CIS and special forces groups within the CAF was absolutely vital.

A full third of the mission, dubbed Operation Vulgar Falcon, or twenty-four of the seventy-two personnel deployed by the Imperial Federation were agents of the Central Intelligence Service working alongside forty-eight Crontorian Ranger Guardsmen. Their mission was vital to the mission. The Guardsmen were the best soldiers the Imperial Federation had to offer, the elites of the Crontorian Armed Forces. While they were some of the best soldiers in the region, to drop them into every trouble spot around Sondria and expecting concrete results was simply unattainable. This was something the Imperial Federation had learned fighting for centuries in Beblis. To effectively fight an enemy, especially an insurgency, one had to fully understand their enemy. The politics, wants, needs, culture, religion, motivations, and history had to be learnt, understood, and evaluated. Teams of Crontorian Ranger Guardsmen were assigned to specific Operational Combat Commands around Sondria, where they were regularly briefed and taught elements of local nations, cultures, and people. But this wasn’t good enough. Very rarely did a team of Guardsmen ever deployed on a mission without CIS support, whether it be personnel, management, or coordination.

In this case, as the seventy-two personnel unloaded their gear and vehicles, having brought eighteen Growler ITV-LSVs, the three teams of CIS personnel compared their notes. All were trained intelligence operatives, schooled in covert operations and in this case, the history and culture of Gristol-Serkonos. These men and women were also trained in combat and while not as potent as the Guardsmen, able to hold their own. But they were not here to spearhead the military operations but ensure that the mission was carried out in the most effective manner both considering the history, manner, and methods of the separatists and ensuring that the Crontorians did not offend the local populace in any manner.

The news of the bombing had caught the CIS off guard and they were not a people accustomed to being caught off guard. With the president due to attend ceremonies in Gristol-Serkonos, the job and mission of the Crontorians here had just grown far more complicated. The word from Fort Bastion was that following the attack, President Cranico had immediately ordered two Expeditionary Strike Groups to Fort Bastion to provide security. Obviously leadership was concerned, and this concern was reflected amongst the teams as they waited for further orders.

[Gristol-Serkonos]

A few hours ago...

Stonehaven Castle,
Crown Land of Nathanii

The bombing of IMI-5 Headquarters in Rien-Stadt threw the agency in disarray. Forty-five high-ranking officers including Director of IMI-5 are dead including seventy civilians. The government implemented a lockdown on the city and the highest echelons of the Imperial Government were moved in a safe location in the city including the Imperial Diarchy. From the temporary headquarters in Pietarsaari, the government enacted a state of emergency across the central regions of the Empire. The defence alertness was also raised to IDAS-Level 3, with partial mobilizations across the military is being organized. Agreements between the Imperial Government and the Crontorian counterpart allowed Crontorian troops in IGSDFB Puolarmetsä. Initially, it was agreed by the Imperial Defence Council that the military will take care of the situation in cooperation with the Crontorians, but IMI-5 interim director Mathis Edeline pressured the IDC to leave it to them. "It is a fight we intend to finish." said Edeline to the IDC "And will end it with or without the Old Worlders."

The day-to-day operations of IMI-5 were moved to Stonehaven Castle. Located in an isolated region of the Crown Land of Nathanii, the castle was purchased by the Rieshistagi in 1997 and was retrofitted with the latest communications and security equipment. An AgustaWestland AW149 Helicopter landed on the castle courtyard. The doors slid open to reveal a man wearing a business suit accompanied by a military officer and a female secretary. The man wearing the business suit asked to summon the CAD teams into the conference room.

Located below the keep of the castle, the shooting range was frequented by the members of the Clandestine Activities Division of IMI-5. The Shadow Team were testing their new assault rifles recently acquired by their armourers. They were test-firing the newer StR-221 assault rifles, based on the SRSS Bulldog 762 Gen-4 platform, their newer weapons fire at 700 RPM, it is considerably faster than their standard StR-301, a weapon based on the Heckler and Hoch G3A4, which fires at 600 RPM.

An IMI-5 officer entered the firing range and called upon the Shadow Team.

"Shadow Team, Director Edeline wishes to speak with you."

---

Present Time...

IGSDFB Puolarmetsä, Crown Land of Serkonos
The Sovereign Empire of Gristol-Serkonos

Sitting on the seat of an M-907 MRAP as the rain poured in the evening, the base commander watched as the C-17s land in the runway. Beside him was his adjutant, who was viewing the live news report on Lord High Chancellor Petro Calroni's resignation and news of the election of Cynthi Valtorum through her smartphone. It was rather uncharacteristic for Calroni to resign, he was a conservative that has extensively supported counter-insurgency operations in Vâlcea. Rumours that the members of the government were pressuring him to reconsider his decision against the separatists and push for a peaceful settlement. Calroni continued to refuse their to believe the rest of the coalition. He knows the Vâlceanti Libertii will not negotiate anything less than independence. And he is damn well sure the rest of the government coalition does.

As the Globemasters approached the hangars, the base commander ordered the driver to bring them closer. The MRAP drove closer towards the tail-section of the three Globemasters to see the Crontorians unload their equipment. Opening the rear door of the MRAP, he pulled his coat to straightened it and put on his cap. "Time to meet these westerners." the base commander mumbled as he emerged from the vehicle.

"Welcome to the Sovereign Empire of Gristol-Serkonos, I am Lieutenant General Ukko Mesikämmen, Imperial Gristol-Serkonos Army and Base Commander for IGSDFB Puolarmetsä. Who is your commanding officer?"

"Puolarmetsä Tower, this is Four-Seven-Niner approaching secure airspace."

It was no sooner than few minutes after the Crontorian Ranger Guardsmen landed when two Trumann MH-300 heavy transport helicopters landed in Serkonos. In these helicopters contain 60 operatives from the elite Clandestine Activities Division of IMI-5 clad in their Advanced Combat System and are prepared for combat. During their trip to Serkonos, they were already briefed about their upcoming operations with the Crontorians and their first target in the Crown Land of Vâlcea. Being the team involved in the recent operations against the separatists, Shadow Team was designated as the lead squad of all the operatives. Dismounting from the helicopter, Shadow One ordered the teams towards the barracks where they will meet their operational partners. Shadow One and her second-in-command chose to remain outside and approached the three Globemasters.

During their flight to the base, Shadow One instructed the teams to read the profile of the group of Crontorians assisting in the operation. According to IMI-2, they were the elite group in the Crontorian Special Forces, with experience in fighting insurgents in Beblis for centuries. Their experience with insurgency will surely contribute to the success of the operation. But this is not Beblis, and the Vâlceanti Libertii has fought government forces long before the unification of Gristol-Serkonos in 1891. The separatists long fought the Serkonosean power in Marlenne since the 1419, their long line of revolutionaries fought Serkonosean Armies in a prolonged warfare with mixed results for the separatists. Despite their intent on prolonging the war with the Serkonoseans, they are always destined to lose.

The Serkonoseans maybe the more conservative bunch in the Sovereign Empire, but they are persistent. Their desire to bring the rowdy Vâlceans closer with the rest of the Serkonosean Empire remained strong. By 1890's their grip in the region has diminished, their hopes of a separate and free Vâlcea remained far away. With a new leadership, they sided with the communists during the Red Revolution, and their desire to fight was re-energized with the increase in aggressive activities against IGSDF installations in the 70's and the 80's.

With the bombing of Rien-Stadt and Calroni's resignation from the Chancellorship, the Sovereign Empire maybe facing its darkest times since the Troubles of the 70's.

And they will need all the help they can get.

Shadow One and her subordinate approached the Base Commander and his adjutant and did not spoke a word as they await for the Crontorians to respond.

[Crontor]

Sondria;
Telraina;
Crown Land of Serkonos;
IGSDFB Puolarmetsä:

“Commanding officer? That would be me.”

From the grouped Crontorian Ranger Guardsman, a single soldier stepped forward. Standing tall and proud, all of the Guardsman were sporting MARPAT Woodland camouflage over a complete AEGIS armor set. Their Galea helmets, also shaded in matching camouflage, covered their entire faces, giving the group an almost robotic look, their features largely indistinguishable from one another, just a large group of large, fearsome looking, soldiers. All were clutching Echeron A5 Battle Rifles, standard issue in the CAF, but with a myriad of added features such as silencers, laser sights, and advanced scopes. These men were the best of the CAF and were showered in the best of its equipment.

The Guardsmen who had stepped forward removed his helmet and saluted to their hosts, “Lieutenant Martino Reed, Sixth Guardsmen Regiment, First Company. We understand that you have a bit of problem involving guerillas? Well, today is your lucky day. Pest control has arrived.”

“As you can see we are in the process of unloading equipment. We should be ready to move within the hour. I was instructed to let you know that we are in constant contact with FARECOM headquarters and they are on standby to give any and all support we are going to need, but as I understand it, you guys are good at what you do.”

Turning to beckon towards the group, another soldier stepped forward, but equipped far differently than his counterpart. Still wearing the Galea helmet with MARPAT Woodland camouflage, he lacked the battle rifle, sporting a silenced pistol in the holster with another strung across the chest. A silenced McMillan Tac-50 Sniper Rifle hung by a strap on his back. Unlike the Guardsman, who was adorned with FARECOM patches and CAF designations, this soldier was completely devoid of any markers. In addition, they did not remove their helmet or salute.

“This is Dale, he is the leader of the CIS agents attached to this mission. I have been told that he looks forward to speaking to you guys extensively about the guerillas and their tactic.”

Dale nodded in agreement. Nothing more, nothing less.