Spanish Campaign of 2056 (DM / Invite Only)

[Communist Espana]

November 19, 2056
6:00 am

King Louis-Philippe I and Queen Veronica of Navarre have sided with the King-Emperor against Prime Minister Pantellria. Having decided that an alliance is needed between the dynasties of the Borbòn's and the Volonté's, Queen Veronica has sent 7,000 soldiers to invade Communist Espana. In charge of the Queen's Navarrian Army is Marshall Henry Cortes Jr, grandson of the famed General Cortes of Espana.

Now the nation waits to see how the Prime Minister will react to the news that the King of Espana's mother is invading the country.

[Kingdom of Derita]

November 19, 2056
6:03 AM

Crown Prince André of Derita stood on top of a barren hill looking over a valley filled with soldiers and trucks and tanks moving through. They moved along a like that of a River flowing over green and red landscapes. Next to him stood his cousin, who was a few years older than him, Louis-Antoine II who watched with his struggling characteristics if his hawk like eyes.

Crown Prince André looked to the Duc d'Angoulême and squinted.

"When shall we reach Madrid?"

"Oh, in a few days time my dear Imperial cousin."

"Really? Only a few short days?"

The two young men started walking down the hill to the side were their heavy command center vechiales waited. The Duc d'Angoulême nodded, his arms crossed behind his back

"Yes, yes.You know your grandfather once conquered all of Espana in a mere Three Weeks."

"The Three Weeks War?"

"Yes. Louis-Philippe of Navarre and Supreme Commander Blé both fought in that war, though that was before they were a King and the Supreme Commander."

"Oh."

André paused and looked Louis-Antoine.

"Do you think it will take us three weeks?"

The Duc d'Angoulême smiled and slapped André's back with his hand, leading him forward.

"My dear Imperial cousin, we will have Madrid by Christmas."

"A present for the King-Emperor."

[United States of Conner]

le tag

[Communist Espana]

Dante Pantellria was resourceful if nothing else. His attack on Lisboa had been done in the spur of the moment, a rash act that was relatively supported only because the Spanish People feared the threat of a foreign monarchy taking over. Even though King Jean-Pedro I was King Charles II's brother.

But now he had Lisboa under his control, but a Deritain-Navarrean Army marching through northern Espana, he had to move quickly. Espana had suffered before at the hands of Deritain commanders and such a fate could not be repeated. Pantellria had been but a child near 40 years earlier when the Three Weeks War had befallen the country. No matter what, such a disaster could not be allowed to be repeated now.

He mobilized 20,000 troops to move from Madrid north towards the frontier in Catalonia.

Prime Minister Pantellria meet with the Señor Diego President of the National Assermbly and Señor Francia over the issue. He of course started the conversation.

"We must act quickly comrades. The Deritains have sent some of their best commanders to lead this invasion and we must keep them out of Madrid. Headband knows that if they capture the capital, we are done for"

"Yes, I have meet with the National Assembly last night, but I fear that the senators and representatives are not all in agreement over the whole thing. While most support you Dante, some notable men fear the bullets of the Imperial Army."

"That is to be expected. This may escalate too quickly than we can handle."

"There is another problem, there have been calls to accept the ultimatum ... And more so to set Charles free."

"The King?"

"Yes, they think the King Charles is need to unite the people. After all, much of southern Castile is made up of his supporters."

"Filthy royalists"

Both Pantellria looked at their third comrade, Señor Francia. The hard line communist, the most radical of the three clearly didn't like the issue at hand.

"You know it to be true, they are royalist, they adore the King. Only their stations keep them from it being publicly revealed. No doubt they act as spies for the Imperial Army.

The three most powerful men in Espana looked at each other nervously, a spy? A spy could make winning impossible. But none of them said their true fear. Could one of them be a traitor?

[Kingdom of Derita]

November 19, 2056
10:15 AM

Louis-Antoine II lead his army to the first city they knew of Spanish Garrison. He wasn't sure of the exact number of troops at the garrison, but to be sure, he advanced with 24,000 troops.

Outfitted in the latest up to date combat gear, the soldiers marched forwarding camouflaged formation, staying low and sneaking up onto the town. Louis-Antoine wanted the capture to be quick and small and to be a complete victory.

Behind the advancing lines Crown Prince André ordered that missiles be launched forward to weaken up the Spanish defensive forces.

[Communist Espana]

November 19, 2056
10:20 AM

General Micheal Ferranganza was in charge of the 11,000 men in the Marnesia Garrison. However, 4,000 of them were outside of the garrison in the nearby city of Liedo, reporting to Governor-General Alberto III of Catalonia. The Governor-General himself was a man of neutral standing in the issue between the Deritains and the Spanish. He himself was from Naples rather than Communist Espana.

General Ferranganza meanwhile was against the Deritain's dreadful and uncalled for attack, coined by them as the Spanish Campaign. He was informed that there were rumors of an advancing force of the Imperial Army and he ordered that those available were to move to the garrison and to prepare the guns. Along the walls to the north and the eastward face to be prepared and machine guns were placed down to fire on those who choose to attack.

[The Royally United Provinces]

Winston Palace, Winston, RUP (7:10 am)

The Empress rose. She stretched and yawned. Empress Aubrey dressed herself. She made her way down the stairs to the dining room where breakfast was served to her. Perfectly on time. As if it had been done thousands of times before. The Empress finished her breakfast and made her way to her study. She sat and began reading in wait. She was to speak to a school of children around the age of her sons Roman and Jean Pedro II. Her book was about a young General who overthrew his government. A story about Leo Wessex. Of her own family. The story of how her family came to power. She looked up as she heard a knock on the door to her study. She welcomed them inside. A young Imperial Guard officer entered.

"You Imperial Majesty, your motorcade awaits you in the courtyard."

"Thank you," the Empress answered as she stood. She exited the room and was surrounded by the officer and three other guards. They escorted her out to a red carpet leading to a modified Rolls Royce. A tank. A rolling fort. She sat down inside as the back door opened. They waited for a minute before the Empress' own two balls of joy bounced out the door. Both Prince Imperial Roman and Prince Jean Pedro II dressed in suits. The climbed in with their mother and the door closed. Police sirens blaring, national flags flitting on the cars.

Winston Elementary, Winston, Fairfield, RUP

"...and so I'm proud to introduce our Empress, her highness Empress Aubrey!"

Aubrey walked up to the spotlight of the stage.

"Hello," that was all she could say. Imperial Guards pulled her aside where advisors were waiting. Even more guards were waiting there.

"We are sorry to interrupt. His majesty the Emperor's nation has been occupied. Her capital at least. The Prime Minister of Portugal captured. His majesty is safe here in his Senate chambers under military guard. Senate has convened and is expected to approve a declaration of war on Communist España. The Atlantic Fleet is on standby not to far off the coast. The Defense Ministry is ready to call on an active field army to deploy."

"Very well," the Empress sighed, "Reschedule this visit. Get me to the palace. I need to be in the situation room. Get Roman and Jean Pedro to a safe place under protection." There was hesitation. "Did I stutter? Let's go!" Everyone set in motion. Kids were sent to class to be informed of what happened. Roman and Jean were bribed with Ice Cream on the way home. Word was sent around the nation.

[United States of Conner]

Ascension Base, Iceland
6:30 AM
Major Carlos Martinez had been sitting with his feet on his desk when an aide burst in.

"Major Martinez?"

The Major sat up and turned down the blasting heat, a necessity for this Mexican-born officer who found himself in the frozen hell known as Iceland. Fitting. Martinez glanced at the soldier's ID. "Orbital Recon? What's up?"

The aide passed him a file. "Duration soldiers have been spotted crossing the Spanish-Deritan border. This image was taken about fifteen minutes ago."

Martinez stood up. "Have you forwarded this to command?"

The aide nodded. "My superiors have sent it to StratCom. I got a message back to relay all intel to you, as the high-ranking air major onsite, and to tell you to prepare a strike force."

Martinez nodded. "Thank you, soldier. I'll get right to it."

2.5 hours later (9 AM)
Major Martinez was already getting a headache. He had been running around the base for almost two and a half hours, overseeing preparations, pilot selection, and ammunition loading. Now, Martinez stood in the observation deck, looking down upon the hanger bay as fighters and bombers were lined up. Through the glass, Martinez could hear the bellows of the flight controllers through the glass.

"Load Counter-measures!"

"ECMs loaded."

"Flares loaded."

"Munitions check."

"Munitions good."

"Ammunitions check."

"Rounds good."

"Air-to-Air ready."

"Check Propulsion."

"Fuel good."

"Engines good."

"Pilots check in."

When all forty-four pilots had checked in, one of the orange-vested flight controllers turned to the deck. "Standing by for authorization."

A man standing next to Martinez grabbed a radio off the wall. "Go for flight."

The controller turned back to the planes and began to wave his batons as another spoke into a bullhorn. "All planes, we are go for takeoff. Proceed out of hanger and hold course. Good luck."

As forty fighter jets zoomed out of the hanger followed by two sleek, stealthy cargo planes, Martinez strolled back to his office. There, he logged on to his computer, went to the highly encrypted Defense Department intranet, and spoke a command. "Computer, Major Carlos Martinez, requesting update on Operation Soaring Eagle."

The monitor delayed the words, "Connecting", for about fifteen seconds, during which time Martinez reached into the mini fridge by his desk and popped open a bottle of sparkling water. At that point, a female voice came over the speakers.

"Major Martinez. This is Lauren Robinson with STRATCOM. The fighters launched from Ascension Base under your command are one of three bombing groups that will perform a series of hit-and-runs on Deritan tank columns. In addition, the two high-speed transport planes will drop a squad of SWORD snipers tasked with decapitating the command of the Deritan force. Following that, air-based forces will be dropping in alongside allied forces within twelve hours, accompanied by the helicarrier Devestation. Light naval battle groups and troop carriers will reach the battle zone within two days, carrier battle groups within two and a half. Forces will engage and push back Deritan forces and secure España."

Martinez nodded. "Thank you, Lauren. Cut transmission."

Ninety minutes later (10:30 AM)
Skies over Marnesia, España, approx 100 miles away from Deritan battle group

"This is Raptor 1-1. I have thermal readings in the approximate location of the Deritan force."

"This is Raptor 1-3. Can confirm."

"This is Raptor 1-2. Standby for lock."

"Lock confirmed. All pilots stand by and prepare munitions."

"Standing by."

"This is Raptor 1-1. JDAM pilots are within range. Release payloads."

"This is Raptor 2-1. JDAMs away. Turning back."

"This is Raptor 1-1. JDAMs on target. Standby ... cluster munition pilots are within range. Release payloads."

"This is Raptor 3-1. Cluster munitions away. Turning back."

"This is Raptor 1-1. Guided anti-tank and anti-vehicle missile pilots are within range. Release payloads."

"This is Raptor 2-1. Payload away. Turning back."

"This is Raptor 1-1. Payload away. Turning back."

As the last of the fighter jets peeled off and began to head back at supersonic speeds for their home bases, the airbrakes on the 2,000 pound bombs deployed, bleeding off the supersonic velocity they had begun with. When the computer within them was satisfied they were on target, the airbrakes folded back inside the device and the bombs cruised towards their target. Meanwhile, the cluster munitions, which were targeted more towards infantry and light vehicles, split open about a mile away from their target. Finally, the missiles, which targeted light tanks, artillery, anti-air, and the like, finally ran out of solid fuel about a mile away from their target. Their engines disabled as this cloud of death shot towards the Deritan battlegroup.

The strike was not designed to wipe out the army. Far from it. It would soften up the army significantly, it was true, but it was not designed to take out the command and control of the task force. That fell to both the Spanish armies on the ground and the two SWORD task forces on the ground, which currently were inside two helicopters that had dropped out of the cargo planes and, now undetectable by any radar, their thermal, infrared and visual cloaks preventing any detection of them, were zooming through the Spanish forest, about to take up position on a ridge 3 miles away from the Deritan battlegroup...

[Communist Espana]

Winston Palace, Winston, RUP (7:10 am)

The Empress rose. She stretched and yawned. Empress Aubrey dressed herself. She made her way down the stairs to the dining room where breakfast was served to her. Perfectly on time. As if it had been done thousands of times before. The Empress finished her breakfast and made her way to her study. She sat and began reading in wait. She was to speak to a school of children around the age of her sons Roman and Jean Pedro II. Her book was about a young General who overthrew his government. A story about Leo Wessex. Of her own family. The story of how her family came to power. She looked up as she heard a knock on the door to her study. She welcomed them inside. A young Imperial Guard officer entered.

"You Imperial Majesty, your motorcade awaits you in the courtyard."

"Thank you," the Empress answered as she stood. She exited the room and was surrounded by the officer and three other guards. They escorted her out to a red carpet leading to a modified Rolls Royce. A tank. A rolling fort. She sat down inside as the back door opened. They waited for a minute before the Empress' own two balls of joy bounced out the door. Both Prince Imperial Roman and Prince Jean Pedro II dressed in suits. The climbed in with their mother and the door closed. Police sirens blaring, national flags flitting on the cars.

Winston Elementary, Winston, Fairfield, RUP

"...and so I'm proud to introduce our Empress, her highness Empress Aubrey!"

Aubrey walked up to the spotlight of the stage.

"Hello," that was all she could say. Imperial Guards pulled her aside where advisors were waiting. Even more guards were waiting there.

"We are sorry to interrupt. His majesty the Emperor's nation has been occupied. Her capital at least. The Prime Minister of Portugal captured. His majesty is safe here in his Senate chambers under military guard. Senate has convened and is expected to approve a declaration of war on Communist España. The Atlantic Fleet is on standby not to far off the coast. The Defense Ministry is ready to call on an active field army to deploy."

"Very well," the Empress sighed, "Reschedule this visit. Get me to the palace. I need to be in the situation room. Get Roman and Jean Pedro to a safe place under protection." There was hesitation. "Did I stutter? Let's go!" Everyone set in motion. Kids were sent to class to be informed of what happened. Roman and Jean were bribed with Ice Cream on the way home. Word was sent around the nation.

King Jean-Pedro I of Portugal, Emperor Consort of the Royally United Provinces rushed from his chambers upstairs and through hallways to catch his wife. He was horrified when he had been informed that the Spanish Republicans had occupied Lisboa. He was angered that he was so helpless and useless.

All his like Jean had felt a small bit inferior to those around him. He was the youngest son and child in the Spanish-Navarrian Borbón family. Most of all was he often felt inferior to woman subconsciously. His mother, Queen Veronica was a overpowering woman. His niece, Queen Caroline was deadly cool in her actions. Even his wife, Empress Aubrey was one if the most powerful woman ever. With such a thing he felt that he needed to try harder to prove himself to them. Even his oldest brother King Charles felt more powerful than him.

Due to this, the King of Portugal found that he would not take this lightly. He would talk to King Charles, he would talk to his mother and father, the King-Emperor or any other person he needed to do get his kingdom. But first he needed to speak with his wife.

He summoned two guards to take him to the situation room, often he stayed out of Provite Politics, as not to intrude to much on her, but this was Portuguese business as well.

[Kingdom of Derita]

November 19, 2056
10:22 AM

Gunfire ripped through the air in Manresa. It was immediate chaos and a ravaging battle. Tanks and armoured cars rushed forward through the streets of the city. Tanks pushed forward, taking the brunt of the Spanish gunfire from their counter attack and therefore shielded the camouflaged infantry behind them.

Marshall Bon Ardien, incognito of course, lead the army task force with lightening speed. They had just reached the Spanish Garrison walls when the Connerian's airstrike happen. All around them explosions erupted from the ground as men and women were through to the ground injured. Bon Adrien saw that one person was dead, and raged hit him hard.

The tanks fired upon the garrison at point blank range to rip through the concrete and metal structure. Anti-aircraft weapons fired off to make sure to remove a possible threat from them.

---

Crown Prince André, in a safe location from attack messages the Governor-General of Catalonia. He wished him to order the garrison to surrender and allow them passage.

[North Timeria]

Tag

[Communist Espana]

November 19, 2056
1:22 PM

Governor-General Alberto III, being a man of reason sent word of his choice back to Crown Prince André. He had agreed to allow them passage, but it actually no longer mattered.

General Ferranganza, seeing his troop would be trapped in the garrison in a siege, or worse, over run by the number if Imperial troops ordered a quick retreat from Manresa to safety to Teressia and Rubi. General Ferranganza claimed it was a tactical measure. His troops abandoned and bombed the garrison before fleeing the city to Teressia and Rubi. Ferranganza himself went to Mollerussa.

His men in Lérida left and moved forward to the tiny village of Castillneau de Seanas and Golmés to protect the town of Mollerussa, blockading the road that went through the towns. The force was half and half, with one section off in Golmés to the south and Castillneau de Seanas to the south. Stretched I between them was soon harried wire, traps and squad patrols armed to the teeth to halt any military advance.

November 20, 2056
11:45 AM

In Madrid Prime Minister Pantellria over viewed the results of the quick and small Battle of Manresa, Ferranganza confirmed that 43 soliders had died and 1,080 had been injured.

[The Royally United Provinces]

Winston Palace, Winston, RUP

"Our only option is to use the North Atlantic Fleet and wait for the Robbert the Great and her fleet to move in and take the city. The Atlantic Fleet isn't supplied to do a landing and to bring to to port to be supplied is going to take too long," Admiral Jacobs finished just as guards opened the situation room doors and allowed the Emperor inside. The Generals, Admirals, and other officers and soldiers stood at attention. Empress Aubrey had them stand down. She hugged her husband and kissed him.

"Are you okay?" She questioned and they sat down, "We've been planning our attack on Lisboa. It's not too good. Our nearest fleet is undersupplied in men and other items to make a landing and take Lisboa back. The Flagship Fleet is outside of Winston Harbor waiting to load up and ready for some type of landing." She looked at the tactical map on the tv screen. She looked twice at an army base in Northern Portugal tucked away in a remote area. "Unless,"

2 miles outside of Lisboa, Portugal

"What's our ETA?" Echo One called out.

"One minute to drop," the pilot answered back. Echo team had been dispatched from Northern Portugal not long before. They were a Detatchment-7 (DET-7) team ordered that night to get to Lisboa and assist and train local militia until the military arrived.

The helicopter went into hover outside of the city where a local militia was told to meet the soldiers. "Go, go, go!" They fast roped into a tree line. Each one taking a position to for 360°. The helicopter pulled off to base while the men moved up the tree line. They spotted the cabin where they were supposed to meet. The six operators slithered across the field. The stacked up at the door. One opened it and they yelled and peeked inside."DET-7! Lightning?!" they waited for their answer. One operative prepared to throw a flashbang. The others prepared to breach.

[Communist Espana]

Emperor Consort Jean-Pedro slammed his fist down on the table that they were all situated at in fiery anger.

"That vile man has crossed the line! I will kill I swear. This war will not end well for him I swear."

The King of Portugal stopped and calmed himself down. He wanted to rush off to Portugal and take command of the army himself. But he knew that would not be good. He decided to wait, to see what his wife had up her sleeve.

---

He Portuguese Milita of Vale Do Forno was a group of one thousand people, 123 of them former officers of the Portuguese Army. They were holding a meeting at the eldest of them's house in the suburbs, Commander Josua Canecas, who was 57.

Several people jumped in horror at the sight of the Provite soldiers, but many held strong, several men brandishing guns almost fired off at them but one woman, one of only three in the entire group jumped to the front and stopped them. She yelled in Portuguese at the two groups of people.

"Wait, wait. They are friendlies!"

She stopped and greeted them.

"I am Angela Troni, we are the Portuguese People's Milita of Freedom. We are to act against the Occupation of Lisboa."

[Kingdom of Derita]

November 21, 2056
7:51 AM

Marshall Bon Adrien was horrified by the Battle of Manresa, a total of 500 soldiers had been killed in the attack, 5,000 injured. It was a terrible amount in Bon Adrien's opinion and the bodies were sent back to Derita to be burned honored soldiers. The Marshall, furious and his troops filled with rage and blood thirst rushed towards Lérida. However scouts informed Marshall Bon Ardien that there was an army situated in Golmés and Castillneau de Seanas. The Marshall decided to out maneuver the opposition. He moved his army into the village of Bellpuig, close to the front line and had his troops mix in with the population in taking abandoned homes and paying off others to harbor their men and hide their tanks and cars. This was discourage attack from the skies, he doubted the Republicns or such would risk massacring innocent civilians.

Crown Prince André and Louis-Antoine II meanwhile moved to make the campaign move along quicker. The Crown Prince moved wit a small task force to curve round the army of Generl Ferranganza towards the city of Capellades, it was neither close to the of the army of the republicans in Teressia and Rubi nor that of the troops and armies and generals of Mollerussa and Golmés and Castillneau de Seanas. André found that it would be better not to fight head on with the Spanish, but rather make deals with those not dogs of Pantellria. Crown Prince André then decided that more control was needed over the northern of Espana ad he had Louis-Antoine II meet with three ships that moved to Barcelona.

The Duc d'Angoulême ordered that the ships seize the port of Barcelona, sending word to the mayor of the city t surrender peacefully and allow them to land and hold the city under the King-Emperor's protection.

The Duc d'Angoulême ordered that spies in Madrid meet with King Charles of Espana. He needed to know that the King was prepared for if the war reached Madrid and that they needed to be sure he could support them. The stability of the Spanish Throne was a great concern. And if Charles could not hold it. Than perhaps a Dertain could.

[North Timeria]

"Thunderman 1 you are clear for take off... Once airborne form up with the rest of alpha strike group and head towards target." The YZX engines fired up and the catapult launched the plane into the air. Thunderman formed up with his group and headed towards his target. As they flew over the sea the Espana's coast grew closer. The stealth aircraft could evade radar detection and would need to to reach their target.

---

Manresa wasn't far and their targets wouldnt put up much of a fight against them. They targeted Derita's army and bridges they went across the Cardener river. Their main targets were armored vehicles and artillery units. Once in range they released their weapons and loitered around the area for a short period. Once the smoke cleared they would mark targets for a second strike.

[Communist Espana]

King Charles II of Espana meet with his informant in the Royal Madrid Palace. It had once been a god like building, towering over Madrid and acting as it's shining glory, but that had been 3 decades earlier when he had been just a babe. It was still beautiful, charming and lovely, but so much had happened here.

King Charles had been horrified to be trapped in the palace, he had after all spent the first nine years of his life trapped here with his brother, the current Prince of Asturias and his mother, the current Queen of Navarre. How sad and how terrifying those years had been. Of course there had been good days. Good weeks. But to know that you couldn't leave or else you would die... Well let's say that there was a reason Queen Veronica preferred the Madrid Été Palace.

Now, 33 years later the same had befallen him and his children. He had nearly been reduced to tears as the guards moved around the palace. His eldest daughter and eldest child Princess Mary helped him. Her younger brothers were not far from the age that he had been when he had been trapped here.

However there was a key difference. Prime Minister Pantellria was not too cruel. He allowed King Charles randomized time slots were he could go outside of the palace for up to an hour. Charles enjoyed this, though he rarely left the safety of the grounds of the palace. The only other person allowed to do so was his daughter, 16 year old Princess Mary. She, a devote Catholic ofte went in her hour of time to pray in a nearby church.

King Charles was in his office, located in the eastern wing of the palace on the ground floor when the Spanish-Génoise spy entered. 15 staff members were also prisoners here in the palace and this man, a short barrel of a man named Sir Benedict Jules had posed as a sixteenth staff member in the kitchen, allowing him the ability gotta do back and forth from markets to the palace. And allowed him to give Charles information.

Sir Jules entered the office throwing three letters onto Charles's desk. The middle aged King looked down at. The letters through his glasses interested and then back up to Jules. Sir Jules hissed at the King of Espana.

"You need to get your shit together."

"Excuse me?"

"You may not have to worry about the Prime Minister much larger if the Deritains get their way. The King-Emperor is pissed."

"Christopher? Angered? I never knew he had such emotions."

Sir Jules sat down on a yellow chair looking exasperated from his little message and fit.

"Well you managed to get him upset. The Duc d'Angoulême demands that you take control of your army. He claims that your weak and you don't care enough for your throne. He..."

"He what?"

"He says that if you can't sit on your throne, then perhaps a Deritain can. He goes so far to reference your mother, Queen Mother Veronica, a Deritain."

The King of Espana sighed. Even his allies were trying of him. No matter, he would not allow himself to fall victim of this attack. He would prove to everyone that he would rule his nation. King Charles II straighten his glasses and grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen wrote a response. If the Duc d'Angoulême and the King-Emperor believe he wasn't strong enough to be King, he would show them. He handed the letter to Sir Jules. Then wrote a small note as well which he spoke with in dead seriousness.

"Tell them to prepare my Royal Scottish Army."

[United States of Conner]

November 21st, 2056
7:31 AM
SWORD Operator Preston Anderson shook off the sleep haze that came with sleeping a flight from Iceland to Spain and stood up from his bench. All around him, men were standing up as the voice of the pilot came over the intercom. "All operators, T-20 minutes to drop. Standby." Anderson dipped his hands into one of the ice water buckets sitting around the plane and splashed his face with freezing water. Feeling a bit more awake, with water running down his t-shirt, he headed to the plane's armory to get geared up.

He always loved big SWORD operations like this. His forte was working in teams of three or four, usually no more than five. Operations like this, when you had thousands of elite killers assaulting a target, usually varied between beautiful and stunning. He stood with a smile on his face as another operator checked his armor, and he did the same for another man. Next, he grabbed his assault rifle - under barrel grenade launcher, jacketed rounds for increased impact, holographic targeting sights, laser marker, and extended magazines - his sidearm, a bag over his bag carrying more ammunition where a shotgun would usually go, double the flash bang grenades and no frags - no indiscriminate weapons excepting anti-vehicle measures - and finally, his SWORD helmet. As he slid the impact-resistant shell over his head, his visor came down and turned the whole plane into a field of red, blue, and yellow. Due to the nature of the operation, every soldier would be using thermal cams.

There was also a camera mounted on Anderson's helmet. Though usually, one member of the squad was in charge of videotaping, command wanted as many people as possible recording the Deritans using civilians as human shields.

At that moment, the voice came over the intercom again.

"All operators, T-1 minute to drop. Standby for drop, begin equipment check."

At that point, the operators hastily organized into four line. Their leader, legendary Operator Jordan Nako, walked to the front of the bay and spoke loudly.

"Morning ladies and gentlemen. You know our objective. Let's get to it. Weapons."

The click of a rifle being checked echoed throughout the room, and the bay was filled with a chorus of, "Check!"

"Armor."

"Check!"

"HUD."

"Check."

"Drop in five, four, three, two, one ... go!"

At that moment, the light turned green. With that, Nako turned to the opening cargo bay and jumped out, followed by his team. All around them in the air, people and vehicles were dropping with such stealth they couldn't possibly be detected. Regardless, the planes were jamming all radar, radiation-using, and heat-seeking equipment in the area.

About twenty minutes later, the entire SWORD strike force of a thousand men, as well as assorted vehicles - light tanks, machine gun trucks, and armored vehicles, were ready to assault. Checking his weapon again behind the equipment being used to mask their heat and visual signature, Jordan Nako spoke over the radio. "Execute."

At that point, the cargo planes turned their turrets towards the town of Bellpuig. Almost in unison, the planes belched massive shells towards the town. About a hundred feet above the ground, the shells broke open and released massive numbers of smoke grenades. Within five seconds, the entire village was covered in opaque smoke.

Nako barked into his radio, "All teams, link HUDs to device Charlie and move it! Engage anything marked hostile." The device Charlie, technically called an Advanced Armor Scanning Device, was scanning heat signatures for the armor matching that of a solider. Those that showed up positive would be marked on the SWORD HUDs. Nako hopped on to the side of a truck, rode the five hundred yards to the village, hopped off and took cover in an alleyway, and opened fire at the first Deritan soldier he could see. All around him, men were engaging confused Deritan infantry with automatic weapons and vehicles with automatic grenade or heavy rocket launchers.


Not too far away, on a hilltop but outside Bellpuig, a team of snipers took up their mark. The leader of the group, code named Alpha, whispered through his mic. "Targets acquired." Those targets were Duc d'Angoulême and Marshall Bon Adrien, two commanders of the Deritan armed force in Bellpuig. The second man, Bravo, whispered back, "Confirmed. Open fire for non-lethal in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... execute."

With that, two suppressed sniper rifles sent two bullets at supersonic speeds to the locations of two different men. The bullets arced in the air as predicted, both heading straight for certain parts of the body that, while not being fatal, would cause good injury and knock both men out for a while.

[Kingdom of Derita]

Bon Adrien, seeing that the Connerians were savages did something that was shocking. He abandoned the Spanish civilians to die. The Deritains retreated south from Bellpuig and moved swiftly towards Golmés, deciding that Pantellria's army was both more important and weaker. As they retreated from the city, Marshall Bon Adrien was shot in the legs and collapsed. Several troops helped him up as he gritted his teeth.

"I think my leg is broken!"

He declared as they transported him to safety. Meanwhile in the ruins of the city of Bellpuigs the remaing soldiers, only 145 men, helped to evacuate the civilians, protecting them from gun fire. They fired back, hitting the joints in their armour at the neck to cause injury or death. After saving what they could of civilians, they two retreated.

In Barcelona Louis-Antoine II, who had not been at Bellpuig, was swiftly informed of the attack on the city. The Duc d'Angoulême was horrified to hear of the savage attack was was assured by his men that the army had been only relatively harmed and the reporters safe, transported north back to the safety of Fiox. Louis-Antoine II decided that this was the last straw. He ordered that a new ship leave. He would end this war before the month was over if he had to.

[The Royally United Provinces]

Emperor Consort Jean-Pedro slammed his fist down on the table that they were all situated at in fiery anger.

"That vile man has crossed the line! I will kill I swear. This war will not end well for him I swear."

The King of Portugal stopped and calmed himself down. He wanted to rush off to Portugal and take command of the army himself. But he knew that would not be good. He decided to wait, to see what his wife had up her sleeve.

---

He Portuguese Milita of Vale Do Forno was a group of one thousand people, 123 of them former officers of the Portuguese Army. They were holding a meeting at the eldest of them's house in the suburbs, Commander Josua Canecas, who was 57.

Several people jumped in horror at the sight of the Provite soldiers, but many held strong, several men brandishing guns almost fired off at them but one woman, one of only three in the entire group jumped to the front and stopped them. She yelled in Portuguese at the two groups of people.

"Wait, wait. They are friendlies!"

She stopped and greeted them.

"I am Angela Troni, we are the Portuguese People's Milita of Freedom. We are to act against the Occupation of Lisboa."

Winston Palace, Winston, RUP

Aubrey was a little taken back. Normally she didn't see her husband in such stress and anger. "Don't worry. We've already sent one DET-7 team in to ready a militia. On top of that, the Atlantic Fleet has already been dispatched to the harbor. We caught it in a good position. It's patrol route had it a few miles away from Lisboa. An invasion force is loaded up and moving in." She grabbed his hand. "It's all going to be fine."

Just as she finished, the situation room phone rang. Prime Minister Percy picked it up. "Hello?"

The man on the other side answered in a calm manor. "This is echo one, we have made contact with the local militia and are proceeding with the mission." The phone abruptly hung up.

"Echo team has made contact." He relayed. "They said they would proceed with the mission."

---

Outside of Lisbon, Portugal

"Captain Louis Carmein." He stuck his hand out. "We are the soldiers sent to train you and your men and assist in combat."

He looked around. "We need to get to work." He cleared a tabled and lay down a tactical map.

"Two fleets are inbound to Lisbon. The Atlantic fleet reported in that it is nearing its position. The invasion force is soon going to convene in Lisbon. Our job will be to send teams of fighters to tease and wither down enemy forces so that once the regulars arrive, they can cut through them no problem. From there we will join them in battle." He pointed to the map. "We will need patrols through the forsests and teams to go and harass enemy patrols. Specifically in small teams. You hit them and go. We can't afford to engage them in any assult. They are way better trained and supplied. Tomorrow we will begin training. Are we clear?" The Captain looked around the room. Observing the people in the room. He hoped it wouldn't be a futile try at weakening the enemy.

---

Lisbon, Portugal

Admiral Gordan stood at the front of the RUPS Leon. He stood as if he were a statue depicting a legend. The wind blew his coat along with it. He stepped off the bow and made his way back to the command center. Along the way soldiers saluting him. Under his feet, the power and hum of the engines. He reached the command center and sat down. The engines calmed as they reached their destination. The admiral piped up, "We let nothing in or out. If you spot and enemy target, call it out. Captains will report to me and I will give orders to fire."

The city lay before him. His orders simple. Stay and pick off enemies until an invasion force arrives. Then return to patrol. But that was not in the admirals nature. He wouldn't be the one to leave before the fight. He wanted to stay and fight. The unknown question would be "is it worth it?". The repercussions could truly cost his career and the rest of his and his family's life. He shook the idea off. He walked he deck the RUPS Leon clearing his head. Something he did before naval battles his whole time in the navy, but this time, he was still beating himself up over thinking.

[Communist Espana]

November 22, 2056

General Ferranganza, seeing the retreating Imperial Army from Bellpuig advancing towards Golmés, ordered that they attack. In Mollerussa the garrison there and the airfield was made to prepare for reinforcement of the I dying battle of Golmés. The thousands of troops in Golmés and in Castillneau de Seanas converged forward in hopes of hitting the Imperial Army off guard. While the Republican soliders rushed forward in squads, shattered out in different formations to meet the larger force, General Ferranganza himself stayed in Mollerussa to be safer behind the front lines of the battle.

In Lérida Governor-General Alberto III ordered the surrender of Barcelona without a fight and moved his troops west and south to the cities of Vinarós and Catalayud, putting them under the command of Governor-General Estabon Ragiafel, a republican who would defend his region of Espana to the death and the other, Governor-General Regio de la Garimzo, a royalist, but not approving of the Imperial invasion of Espana.

General Alberto III, aging and grey haired, felt that he was losing control of his army. He felt this war to be pointless and unneeded. But then a thought came to him. He looked over at a map. He relished that in the frontline from Terressa and Rubi to Castillneau de Seanas that they had lost track of one of the Deritain's armies. Where the hell had they gone?

---

In Madrid Prime Minister Pantellria was suffering the same thing. In Catalonia that old man was so neutral that he had practically through open the back door for the Deritains to waltz right into the the nation. Meanwhile the rest of the governor-generals were confused and neutral. Meanwhile in Portugal everything was falling apart that was completely terrible. His soldiers had fired onto civilians in Lisboa and had killed three government officials. It was a PR disaster. The Occupation of Lisboa and the banks of the Rio de OTejo was becoming a dreadful task. Pantellria felt no choice but to reinforce the standing army there, ordering 2,500 more troops to add to the 8,000 soldiers there in Lisboa.

---

In Lisboa it was pure craziness. The commander in charge off the occupied city was Commander Sebastian Heimterriez. Heimterriez was a sadistic man and enjoyed himself as he laid down the harsh law against the Portuguese. He fortified the city and had artillery and tanks positioned in the likely case of a siege. His artillery was 205 in number and his tanks at 53. His headquarters were the late Prime Minister Gertboni's offices. Heimterriez ordered that curfews be I acted and anyone outside past the time of 5:00 would be arrested and possibly charged enough to be executed. Guards and officers patrolled the street of the city, shooting windows and breaking glass at random. Cement barriers were out up in different places to serve the army in case of a mob.

Commander Heimterriez was in his office, the Portuguese Prime Minister's office, rightfully so Inês's office, but Inês was in Porto and not in charge of Lisboa. He was ordering that three soldiers burn down a flower stop on the Main Street in uptown Lisboa, the owners had attacked and wrestled with a Spanish soldier, resulting in the owner's husband's death. Heimterriez deemed it needed to teach the old woman a lesson and ordered the place burned down.

Shortly after issuing this order, Colonel Regio Aretha entered the office and handed him a slip of paper. It told him of how the Provites had moved a naval force outside of Lisboa. There were also rumors of the Queen of Great Hyruke sending a fleet to attack the city as well. In the suburbs north of Lisboa militant insurgents were preparing an attack and in Porto Inês was corresponding with King Jean-Pedro I.

[Kingdom of Derita]

The Imperial Army under the command of the injured Marshall Bon Ardien was was enraged by the attack in Bellpuig and still were injured and confused rushed into the battle. Marshall Bon Ardien was transported away from the frontline to be tended to. The Marahall, veteran of the Peninsular War and Great Northern War was bleeding and his legs practically useless at the moment.

---

The Marshall gritted his teeth as two men carried towards a hospital tent hidden away from sight, sensors and panels placed around them to hide them from thermal scanning and visually identification from the enemy forces. He looked down at his injured leg, a jagged piece of metal sticking out of his leg, blood covering his tanned colored trousers. The two men,young soldiers who were veterans as well, they had served during the Deritain occupation of the city of Madrid in 2054. How ironic he thought about how just two years earlier they had been in Espana protecting the city of Madrid and now here they were rushing back towards in it to this blasted Republican country. Several miles to the west of the camp site of the hospital the battle raged on.

---

The Battle of Golmés was a a savage one. The Imperial Army fired off round after round of bullets. They fired machines guns from behind the safety of placed cars and metal or concrete Barriers, attacking from various different angles. The imperials' tanks went into a V shaped formation and charged forward into small groups, aiming for the areas in front of the the Spanish soldiers. In one area of the battlefield they fought in hand to hand combat, the well trained soldiers of the King-Emperor's nation's flock neutralized and killed their weaker Spanish Republican soldiers. Those who could took the Spanish weapons and gathered them.

---

They ran across soft ground of clay and grass to the hospital tent and set their commander down and the doctor and the two nurses rushed over to him. In was in the next two moments that Marshall Bon Ardien past out from the medicine as they worked on him.

[Communist Espana]

General Ferranganza could hear the road of the battle of Golmés ripping through the acrid chilly air of northern Espana from miles away in Mollerussa. He decides to meet with the commanders of the army at the Base in Mollerussa, he and a team of three got into a car and drove towards the base.

In Golmés the small battle was soon turning into carnage as the Spanish fought in small isolated bubbles, holding tight against the Imperial Army. Those that became too isolated were slaughtered, while others stood strong and pushed back he enemy in a back and fifth tug of war in the city.

[Kingdom of Derita]

Far above the death and destruction burning like wild fire over the once innocent fields and roads and homes of the city of Golmés, far above the thin clouds and column of smoke that rose up from the burning ground, above the stench if death and blood mixing with the hard asphalt and dirt which bodies of the Spanish enemies fell onto flew a single group of Deritain Supersonic jets.

They were pure white, with lighter undertones and sensors put together that his them from both those below them and from the sight of enemy computers and gadgets. It was the latest supersonic planes in military possibilities, moving hundreds if miles faster than regular planes. The three jets shot through the sir under command of Commander Guy Farabanks, sent to destroy the military base in Mollerussa, the de facto headquarters of Catalonia military command.

In a terrifying arc of speed that smashed windows to pieces and through people off their feet, the zoomed past the city of Golmés and over to Mollerussa. The only thing that informed anyone that they were near was the sudden blast of a ear shattering shriek and glass exploding. In a quick fly by they fired off missiles into the Mollerussa base, setting fire to it instantly and then they curved around, circled back and attacked the airbase as well, hitting all aircraft it could and bombing the warehouses.

Their task over, they disappeared in to the north.

[Kingdom of Derita]

As the Battle of Golmés continued and the airstrike of Mollerussa was carried out, Crown Prince André and his army moved through the un defended slot between Golmés and Terressa and Rubi. The Crown Princecof Derita had found that Governor-General Alberto III and General Ferranganza were both simply old fool who wasn't fit to lead an army. The two generals of Catalonia, sent to stop the Imperial Army had left open a gaps that André's army exploited to the fullest possibility. They were lucky. Bon Adrien's army had taken the brunt of the Spanish attacks, leaving Crown Prince André's well rested and with a high sense of moral. They were full of food, though they had lost some supplies earlier in the day, but not enough to seriously harm them for the rest if the campaign. The Crown Prince's army had been delayed unfortunately by the North Timerian air strikes that had happened earlier, with several hundred injured and a devastating 36 men dead. It was a terrible loss for the Crown Prince and he swore not to lose a man more as his swift soldiers rushed across the Elbo River. They had been wise enough and prepared at the Cartoner River to set up a temporay bridge, allowing them to cross and continue forward, dismantling the bridge afterwards. Now they moved in an arc past the rest of the battles and armies south of Lérida towards Madrid.