Deep Cracks [Closed, AoD only]

[Vistulange]

It had been quite well for the last few weeks. Apart from several instances of saber-rattling against the Grand Alliance - especially the British - life went as it usually had. Of course, something had to go wrong. That something was the former Vistulangean ally, Stacytopia. While the VKP Central Committee had already viewed the fledgling empire with suspicion as they had built Valcourian-licensed ships and had smuggled Grand Alliance goods into their country, they had never thought they would host North Vistulangean separatists.

That was exactly what they had done. Unwilling to lose Stacytopia, High Chancellor Anton Sokolov - the de facto leader of the world's largest country and one of the superpowers, he had signed an Overriding Decree - the first, actually - and dissolved the already rubber-stamp legislature of Vistulange, the Presidium. Having assumed absolute control of the country with the National Committee of Defence - headed by the High Chancellor with the Minister-President and four military officers, he had declared war on Stacytopia.

While the objective appearant was to simply topple Empress Stacy and wipe out the North Vistulangean separatist movement, the VKP intended to do the same as they did with Malizien: Install a faithful and loyal Collectivist regime to secure the seas north of Vistulange. There were no documents or files on this plan. It was top secret, even within the highest Party echelons.

Vistulangean State Telecom and Communications - Ministry of Surveillance
Vistulastad, Innlandet province

Three Ministers stood before a console. Behind them was an entire room of technicians tapping the keyboards of their computers. The decision was a big one - Vistulange would turn off its connection to the outside world - the Internet - and only use its own domestic Intranet, which was, for the most part, maintained with wired connections only.

"Minister Tupolev."
"Ah, Sakharov. Good to see you've made it. Mendeleyev, too! Perfect. So, what are we waiting for to turn the switch?"

It had already been planned. Three keys were necessary to cut the link between Vistulange and the internet - the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Surveillance and the Minister of Infrastructure. Aside from that, written authorization from the High Chancellor was also necessary. A blonde, tall woman walked up to Feodor Sakharov and handed him a sealed letter - an eagle with a star above the head was on the seal - and then walked away. Sakharov opened the envelope.

"By my authority as the High Chancellor of Vistulange,

I am hereby ordering that Contingency Plan No. 5 be implemented, effective immediately.

Anton Sokolov
High Chancellor of the Collectivist Republic of Vistulange"

That was it. Together, they flipped the keys at once and sighed. While cyber-warfare was now out of the question for Vistulange, at least they were protected from it. And with conventional weapons, the Collectivist Republic was invincible.

[Stacytopia]

The Military Command Bunker - Under the small island in the wake of the big western island

Empress Stacy the First sat at a table. She was dressed in a Spetnaz combat uniform, but without the equipment a Soldier would have.
She was glaring at a world map. All the nations that had declared war against Stacytopia were Yellow. Vistulange and Scandinavia were red, and, Stacytopia was green. There were a lot of papers on Stacytopian and Hostile strength on the table.
After an hour of so she got up, opened up a small box of aspirin, took a pill, and sighed.
"F*ck..."

All around Stacytopia one would see soldiers and their equipment. The Spetnaz were usually at the most important locations. While normal footsoldiers were tasked with the defences of lesser important things. Most of the military reserve could be recognised by their winter camoflage uniforms, as they used the ones normally used in the winter by Professional soldiers.

[Malizien]

Supreme Command of the Armed Forces
Eisenwald, Malizien

There was a tension that weighed heavily on everyone present while Malizien's general staff discussed its course of action. Under normal circumstances, their conversations would have taken place in a closed room, with only the generals and their personal adjutants present. Today, however, Malizien's Chancellor had deigned to join them in person.

Edmund Stürm listened to the conversation around the round table from one of the many elevated desks surrounding the table - a place ordinarily reserved for the adjutants. He had opted to forego the suit he usually wore, instead wearing his military uniform. Today, Stürm had opted to dress as a commander-in-chief, rather than a TV-celebrity.

The meeting was coming to a close. The generals managed to conceal their interest, but many of the adjutants' eyes began to drift away from the dying conversation and towards the silent autocrat.

By the time they had finished, all eyes were turned to Stürm. He spoke;

"Now that we have taken all security precautions that are in our power to take, it is time for us to formalise our declaration of war:"

"The Collectivist Republic of Malizien hereby declares war upon the rogue state of Stacytopia in answer to its acts of treason against the Collectivist Republic of Vistulange and the Hammerfest Pact in harbouring secessionists and terrorists. The Collectivist Republic of Malizien hereby pledges its troops to the cause of restoring regional peace and stability, and the arrest or termination of the hostile forces in Stacytopia that seek to cause mayhem and fear."

[Corumm]

Ministry of War
Mirzak, Corumm

The declaration of war on Stacytopia had caught the military top brass by surprise, the Chancellor had told them his reasoning was that he could not let the Vistulangeans have complete free reign on Stacytopia and only troops on the ground might allow him to prevent a new government completely beholden to Vistulastad.

As the war on Fasilco was far from resolved this second front would stretch the logistic capabilities of the army. Plans were hastily made for an initial deployment of 100,000 personnel to be mustered at Korell and subsequently transported to Nordlandet and from there join the Vistulangean invasion forces.

General Gerrel Milet was chosen as commander of the expedition.

[Vistulange]

Akershus Citadel - Missile Supreme Command
Innlandet, Vistulange

The elevator doors opened with a relatively silent 'whoosh'. Out came four black-clad, trenchcoated and gas-masked soldiers, followed by a single tall man with heavily graying hair and a white goatee: High Chancellor Anton Sokolov. His heavy black coat covered his perfect suit with the white shirt and black tie. Marching up to his ministers and generals responsible for the start of the invasion.

"Kamerat overkansler. We are ready with the preparations and can move as soon as we have executed Operation 667."

That was Marshal Aleksandr Lomonosov, the Chief of the General Staff. A well-built man that wore a plain uniform with several medals adorning his chest, Lomonosov was the ideal Vistulangean officer: Hard-working, solid and ruthless.

There were other men there, as well: Peter Korolyov, the Minister of War; Leonid Prokhorov, the Minister-President and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Each of them saluted Sokolov and took red keys from their pockets, grunting. Lomonosov and Sokolov did the same, walking to a console. Sokolov and Lomonosov placed their hands on a scanner, after which a computerized female voice asked something in Russian. Sokolov bent forward, speaking in his powerful yet gravelly voice.

"Да."

The console's screen flickered open to show a map of Vistulange with red dots everywhere, though they were focused around Sørlandet and Innlandet. They all indicated silos - all with armed nuclear missiles. Sokolov nodded and made a gesture, placing his own key into its slot. The other men did the same.

"On the count of three, comrades. Three. Two. One. Flip."

Whereas a nuclear attack would probably involve at least a few dozen warheads, this time only a single missile was launched.

"Begin Operation Collectivist Freedom, Marshal Lomonosov. We have brought you time, limited time. Do not waste it."

Sokolov turned around and marched back into the elevator with his Blackwatch bodyguards, leaving the men there. The nuke wouldn't head to Stacytopia, no - it would cruise into space over the rogue state and detonate, causing a massive EMP.

Northern Sea
LPV Anton Sokolov

"Begin Operation Collectivist Freedom!"

The entire armada set forth, the Vistulangean jets launching off the supercarriers two by two, set to bomb Stacytopian vessels from miles away. The battlecruisers also started to sail, trying to get within range to unleash their chemical weapons into the Stacytopian jungles. The invasion of Stacytopia had officially begun.

[Corumm]

Nordlandet province, Vistulange

The temporary camp of the Corummese Expeditionary Force had been hastily erected to house the sizable force. General Gerrel Milet had been instructed to delay the start of combat operations for several days after the Vistulangean departure, there was no sense in sacrificing Corummese men when the Vistulangeans were so eager to soften Stacytopian defenses themselves.

At least that was Chancellor Chen's reasoning.

He personally felt uneasy having to continue conjuring excuses for the probing of Vistulangean representatives about why his force was still not moving.

For the moment he contented himself with watching the arrival of the old batteship Munificent, a relic of the Iron Coalition war but still a potent asset against shore defenses.

[Corumm]

Nordlandet province, Vistulange

General Milet had just started to get accustomed to the brutal Vistulangean cold when the dreaded and awaited orders arrived from Mirzak : Initiate combat operations, proceed with all haste to secure Stacytopian beachheads, disregard caution.

The necessary orders were relayed down the chain of command and the camp was dismantled as quickly as it had been established. Munificent was sent ahead to rendezvous with the Vistulangean navy and assess the situation on the Stacytopian coast.

The troops marched grim faced into the ships, the tanks, the APC's and the artillery loaded efficiently and within hours the fleet had been turned into a floating military base ready to depart for the unknown jungle perils of Stacytopia.

[Stacytopia]

The Military Command Bunker

A Lieutenant got up from his seat and yelled through the command center: ''ICBM Launch!''. The Empress made her way over to the screen to see a small dot fly over towards one of the beaches, before dissapearing. ''What happened?''. The young man replied: ''According to it's altitude, It's an EMP.'' to which she said. ''Well, we know where they will be landing, I want the naval forces to be reinforced around their area, bring in mobile artillery as they probably fried the existing ones, drive in additional equipment, now.''

The small fishing town of Urnosk.
It was just a small town, one would have to go through a small jungle road to ever reach it, but it was widely known for it's big beaches. Lieutenant Colonel Elisa Andreas was sitting at her seat in her office of the local headquarters when the EMP hit. There was a short flash before all equipment inside and outside the room burnt. ''Fuck!''

A Mi-24 helicopter, which was patrolling the beach, fell out of the skies and hit the beach, all occupants were dead on impact.

The same fate happened to a Tu-95 naval patrol bomber which was patrolling the seas, it got taken away by the waves, never to be found again.

[Malizien]

Northern Sea
MKM Protektor

"Begin Operation Collectivist Freedom!"

As the gargantuan Vistulangean war machine lurched into motion, the order to move resounded throughout the Malizean fleet. Countless tons of modified Vistulangean machinery set forth to deploy millions of troops on Stacytopian soil. Largely untested, it was time for the Malizean arsenal's baptism by fire.

[Forenet Skandinavien]

Reykjavik Military Harbor
Reykjavik, Scandinavia

The five admirals exited to command center. Their carrier groups were to attack Stacytopia from the north and launch a Scandinavian invasion. Leading the attack was Admiral Zygfryd Clay. He would serve aboard the FSK Sammenhold, flagship of Carrier Group Fehu. With him were Admiral Anton Lamprecht, Admiral Robert Bernhard, Admiral Sjurd Bohuslav, and Admiral Lene Maegan. They would serve aboard the FSK Frelse, the FSK Kejser Frederik, FSK Fremskridt, and the FSK Modet, of the carrier groups Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz and Raido respectively. Current estimations showed that they would be able to leave in three hours.

[Stacytopia]

Urnosk looked empty, the Spetnaz had left into the jungle while some troops of the reserves stayed behind. The only road from the town into the jungle and beyond was blocked at multiple spots, trees, burned down civilian vehicles. It would take time to clear.

The Vistulangean aircraft approaching the Stacytopian ships were met on their way by fighter jets of various kind. They would not be dropping their payloads without a fight.

[Vistulange]

"We've got two bogies on direct approach. Do we engage?"
"Negative, negative. Launch your missiles and disengage."
"Copy."

The Vistulangean jets fired their anti-ship missiles, which immediately fell to the sea and started to cruise towards the Stacytopian ships. Breaking a sudden turn, the jets disengaged - no Vistulangean jet was so worthless as to use in a dogfight. Besides, the payloads had been dropped, so there was no point in sticking around.

Meanwhile, the battlecruisers turned their guns towards the Stacytopian fleet. They were now in range.

"Directing fire to Stacytopian vessels, ja!"

The sea turned black with smoke as the battlecruisers began to fire all at once, raining death and fire onto the fleet. The AA emplacements fired towards the sky, hoping to hit any Stacytopian aircraft that ventured near the armada. Jets constantly lifted off from the three supercarriers, patrolling the skies for hostile aircraft. So far so good.

[Dayaar Mongol]

Choibalsan, Dornod Province

Mongolia's navy was a joke. A bad one. But, that didn't stop the Khan from promising to support the revolution in Stacytopia. A wicked country, as he saw it. A nation built on the greed and selfishness of a sole individual, whose Cult of Personality knew no bounds. He saw it as a Populist state, or as he preferred, a "pseudo-Socialist" state. He saw no evidence of the proletariat cause in this Populist state, and he knew he would be doing the world a favor by assisting in the Populist regime. Since Mongolia had just joined the Hammerfest Pact, this was a golden opportunity to increase relations with nations he saw as guided by the people's revolution and it's policies. By the hand of Lenin, the corrupt government in Stacytopia would be brought to an end.

Despite the Mongolian People's Navy lacking a great number of sea-worthy warships, it did have plenty of landing craft. What ships the MPN had quickly escorted the dozens of dozens of dozens of Aist-class and Zubr-class LCAC's to the shores of Stacytopia. All it really had, at least of note, was 5 Kirov-class battlecruisers. Each one held 3 Mi-24's, and in them, the best of the Mongolian People's Marine Corp's most elite men. The plan was to begin a naval bombardment of a single Stacytopian coastal city, and quickly follow up with the attack helicopters which would deploy their troops, take the beaches, and allow for amphibious landing of for more Mongolian Marines. The people waved Mongolian flags furiously as they watched the ships depart the ports of Choibalsan.

[Corumm]

The Stacytopian coast was finally within shelling range of Munificent's heavy guns, the designated landing zone was a tranquil beach with a settlement named Urnosk not very far inland, according to satellite images.

If there were defenders they would surely be stationed there.

The ominous sound of the rotating guns transfixing on the stretch of coast broke the otherwise quiet scene.

"Fire!"

The guns thundered a a steady pace, turning the coast into a veritable inferno of smoke and fire

[Stacytopia]

As the first shell hit a house in Urnosk, the house went ablaze. A few seconds later the other settlements in the village started burning. The town was abandoned and the settlements were filled with incendiary bombs and other flammable fluids.

There was no one to be seen.

In the meanwhile, the only battleship of the fleet fired back at the Vistulangeans while the other ships fired Anti-ship missiles. The Vistulangean jets succeeded in sinking a Frigate and a Destroyer.
The Stacytopian fleet was outnumbered.