Power Play. [PMT/GD/Closed]

[State of Ordena]

Wanderjarian Defence Forces Command Center,
Fort Botha
People's State of Wanderjar.

The state of affairs in Wanderjar had changed drastically since the Ordenite backed military coup de tat that had disposed of the Free State government. The leadership of the Free State had effectively become hostages within there own nation as they were on house arrest following the coup. The Wanderjarian People's State Movement were now effectively in charge of the country with Constand Visser at the head. Martial law followed in the wake of the coup de tat and no clarification on when it would be lifted was given and now a curfew from 7pm to 5am was now in place across the entirety of Wanderjar. In major cities and towns increased police scrutiny was now becoming the norm including the establishment of police checkpoints in which civilians would have to present there identification and in some cases have there vehicle and belongings searched. This was especially so in areas delegated for the Afro-Dienstadi's to reside in as they were seen as a major security concern. Travel from city to city or even town to town was now required to have certain paperwork in order to do so for civilians regardless of color.

The constitution had therefore under the new regime been suspended indefinitely meaning that all persons regardless of color and or ethnicity had now effectively lost there rights and liberties previously afforded to them under the Free State. Political repression was already underway as the main opposition party the Labour party was declared to be a illegal and now banned political party. It was said that the Labour Party leadership had been arrested not long after and that now the Nationalist Party remained as the sole political party in Wanderjar. However despite what all that had happened there were already plans in place to restore the Free State government and drive out the Ordenites and regain the freedom and sovereignty many felt that they had lost.

Several Wanderjarian Defense Forces officers and generals sat around a table looking at a plethora of maps concerning Wanderjar. These officers and generals came from all branches of the WDF including the Army and the Royal Navy and others such as the Airborne and Marines and among them was also an officer representing the Imperial Guard. This assortment of military brass all had one thing in common and that was there disdain for what had now become of there proud nation. Attempts had been made early on by the Ordenites and there collaborators to arrest those within the WDF who would be opposed to the coup but most had been able to avoid capture. Little had been done in the mean time to alter or restrict the day to day activities of the WDF which was what the conspirators in the room were thankful for and allowed them to meet unmolested.

"Do we have the full support of all the Army Groups? We must have the entirety of the Army at our disposal to take back our country from the Ordenites, they don't scare easily." asked one of the men in the room. The Wanderjarian National Army was the second most important branch of the WDF with the first being the Royal Navy. While it's size was small in comparison to other regional powers, in the case of within there own nation they were a competent force that would be needed to remove the Ordenites.

General Francois J. Roux who sat as the current Chief of the Army nodded his head. "The Wanderjarian National Army is one hundred percent without a doubt at the full disposal of the Free State. All Army Groups are accounted for including the reserves and 48 hours is all that we'd need to be at full strength." While it was elements of the Army that had participated in the initial Ordenite backed coup, they did not represent the majority of the Army and the WDF who considered there actions treasonous. The officers involved were already identified and were now under surveillance by the Wanderjarian Intelligence Directorate. There fates were now sealed and it would only be a matter of time before revenge was to be enacted on them ahead of the planned operation to reestablish the former government of Wanderjar.

"I'd much rather like to avoid all out conflict with Ordena." said General Marais Vorster who was currently Chief of Staff of the Wanderjarian Defense Forces. "However if it can't be helped then it can't be helped, before we go all in a message will be sent to them giving them 48 hours to leave the country. In that amount of time assuming they most likely don't leave our Army will be at full manpower strength for what is to come." The overall plan would carry on despite the 48 hour window for the Ordenites to leave the country with the Army and Royal Navy maneuvering into place in the expectation of all out war.

[Greal]

Sasha, Greal

It was late in Sasha as usual when they met. The capital of Greal never slept. A city of hundreds of millions of people in a massive grid of endless skyscrapers and an economy that kept going. The unending concrete magnificence and grandeur. And the noise of millions of commuters every second.

Three uniformed officers met with government officials in an unassuming room in the Zharkan, a massive building dedicated to the defense of Greal. The building was so massive it had it's own army and was rumored to be armored enough to even survive nuclear strikes. The Zharkan filled with endless bureaucracy and endless factional byzantine struggles across various departments. The officers had no markings or rank on them. They were from the Greali Intelligence Agency's Wanderjar department. Events were important enough that the department head himself was one of the officers. The meeting table was huge and U shaped and seemed to center around the main attendee, Minister of Defense Jeris Dovout. Dovout glanced at the tallest of the GIA officers and quietly said, "Please proceed Colonel Ruger."

Colonel Ruger looked at the dozens of attendees around him and immediately went into analysis mode. He could see staff from MoD, Greali Air Force, Foreign Ministry, the Greali Humanitarian Agency head, and of course President Watson's top Greater Dienstadi adviser Wilkins herself. It was unreal to have the attention of so many important government officials. Everyone wanted a piece of this pie of course.

Ruger began, "As we see with the events in Wanderjar, we weren't totally caught by surprise as our media wants the public to believe. Our people and traffic analysis noticed preparations for the coup quite early, but per the President's order we didn't interfere with it. If Greal intervened in Wanderjar it would cause serious issues and a regional crisis so officially we're hands off. Of course our country is now presented with a new problem. How do we treat the new regime? Refugees? Rebels to the coup?" The Foreign Ministry official twitched at the mention of "regime".

"Anyways as Minister Dovout has already pointed out", continued Ruger "Greali forces are now on heightened alert on the border, the GIA is working hard on identifying any kind of resistance to the new regime and we have some potential groups we can aim for that bears discussion." Ruger had map presentations of Wanderjar's border with Greal, capital, identified military bases, and endless other information on the wall displays in front of the officials. Ruger continued discussing the potential impact of the coup on Greali security and another longer presentation on Wanderjarian divisions closest to Greal and their known abilities.

"Well?"

It was sometime after the meeting had been dismissed. Dovout was alone with Wilkins and Ruger in the same room. Surrounded by maps decisions had to be made. Dovout gave Ruger a hard look and asked, "What about the elephant in the room?"

Ruger barely looked up, "You noticed I didn't bring them up? Yeah I figured you'd catch that." Ruger chuckled softly then looked back at Wilkins, "What does the President want in regards with the Greali in Wanderjar?"

"Well, the number of Greali in Wanderjar amount to about three hundred million problems." Wilkins had emphasized the word problems with a purr then ruefully continued, "Well the Boss says she's concerned about Greali minority being mistreated amidst the martial law and curfew." Wilkins paced the room from one side to another then looked at Ruger.

"Colonel."

"Yes?"

"What kind of contacts do we have with them exactly? How many factions or groups are there and how armed are they?" Wilkins asked. She looked like she was running all the scenarios in her head.

Ruger glanced at a tablet, "Well depends, which group are you referring to?" Ruger used his finger to scroll through a list, "You name it we got it. Unificationists who want Greal to annex them, Rurthian Greali whackos who are fanatical about their religion, second generation Greali-Wanderjarian kids who want to drive the Ordenites into the ocean, even some good old fashion monarchists." Ruger chuckled after getting to the bottom of the list and looked at Dovout, "Sir, this has all the makings of a major clusterfuck if we don't maneuver through this carefully. Last thing we want is refugee crisis pouring over the border." Ruger pointedly explained Greal's largest land border was with Wanderjar and it was tightly patrolled, but shooting refugees would cause some interesting political issues domestically and internationally. Especially if they were Greali refugees.

Ruger continued, "The Unificationists have very few arms as far as I know. Rifles here and there." Ruger then looked sharply at Wilkins, "You're thinking of changing that element?"

"Possibly. A chance to keep Wanderjar distracted internally? We love it." Wilkins frowned at Dovout. "Right?"

Dovout sighed then said, "But if we start arming and backing factions of our choosing it may cause issues. You will never know where those arms go to. And if Wanderjarian forces tumble onto it, we could get into a war."

"Not if we play our cards right." Wilkins grinned then looked at Ruger, "What's your Mokan liaison up to today?"

Lorrow, Wanderjar

Lorrow wasn't really much to look at from satellite photos as a town near the Greali-Wanderjarian border. The town itself did control one of the key roads into Wanderjar from Greal but other than that there was zero tourism, and the economy was mainly driven by logging companies who kept the town's treasury full as well as the endless amount of trucks that did business in neighboring Greal. Often the town was filled with truckers and their goods coming in. Lorrow was also filled to the brim with immigrants and expats from Greal. It was common to remark upon in Lorrow that over half the population had two or more passports. There was even a tiny Greali Trade Office in the middle of town staffed by a few economic officials from Sasha and they had diplomat privileges.

When the word came that the coup had happened there was quiet disbelief. Many of the older generation in Lorrow however waved it off, assumed things will go back to normal and that life would go on. They were disabused of this notion very shortly.

The curfew fell upon the town and the effects were drastic. The local economy grinded to a halt and many truckers who made their living were stuck. Truckers were forced to use their meager resources to book hotel lots and occupied fields and forests and waited. Police checkpoints had popped up around the town. When Lorrow learnt they had to get permits to visit even nearby villages or towns the reaction was of shock and anger. Lorrow's mayor vanished with the town cabinet. It was rumored they were shot.

Lorrow's police force wasn't very large to begin with. Normally they handled inspecting goods that came over the border and watched for smuggling of illegal goods. Not for enforcing martial law on a wide scale while border patrolling. When the coup happened some in the police force promptly deserted the force or were disappeared. Lorrow's police chief pleaded for reinforcements from whoever was in charge. But Visser's government was preoccupied with more pressing concerns such as repressing the Labour party workers and hunting down whatever people he deemed as traitors to help his Ordenite backers. One border town could wait after all.

When one Greali trucker started protesting his conditions at a police checkpoint and getting very pushy with his objections to the curfew, one police officer took it upon himself to knock down the man with his non-lethals. The officer was then surrounded by truckers and onlookers and beaten so badly his fellow officers fired shots in the air to retrieve him and fled to a nearby restaurant to hold their position. They requested for reinforcements from the main town department.

Lorrow's police department did have an armored vehicle with water-cannons so the crowd was dispersed but only after many injuries and two died in the confusion. Some in the town said they were shot, others said they were run over by police. The town went into overdrive. The two police stations in the town lost all their windows the first night to rocks thrown by town residents. Lorrow collectively held it's breath for what happened next.

It was during this time when Harold Chance met his fellow Greali Unificationists at an abandoned post office on the outskirts of the town. He grew up in Greal and only moved to Wanderjar to help his ageing mother but he became something of an advocate for the local Greali minority in Lorrow. Much of that quiet advocacy left Harold dismayed and depressed. When the coup happened Chance saw an opportunity. The others in the meeting were a bit surprised about Harold's sudden change. He looked very animated and highly energetic after years of passive political activity.

"Those Wanderjarian police scum always had it out for us," said big Owen, "We oughta teach them a few things about manners."

Harold smiled and said a bit softly, "It does seem that way doesn't it? Events are happening."

"Events?" Sharon in the back looked a bit uneasy about Harold's mention of events. "Harold, we need to stay low for now and hopefully the Wanderjarians will sort out their own affairs with the Ordenites. And things will go back to normal. Hopefully."

"Hopefully?" Harold delivered the this word with disgust. He looked up angrily now at Sharon. There was steel in his eyes. "They'll just continue to beat down on us and never deliver any real change. We'll always be the invisible underdogs and miserable. But don't worry, at least we'll continue to truck goods for our Wanderjarian masters. For a trickle of untaxed cash." Harold looked pained.

Harold looked at everyone else in the room, "I'm tired of this shit. I'm tired of being afraid. Of being treated as second class citizens. We need Greal back." The whole room stayed deathly still then all slowly nodded. The decisions that casually changed a peaceful movement into a violent one were sometimes ones that barely were noticed by history.

Harold pointed at the flag of Greal, "That's our true home. So Lorrow will become Greal." Big Own echoed, "Lorrow IS GREAL."

"How armed are we?" asked Anthony, he was one of the Greali truckers that regularly brought in intelligence and other things for the group.

Big Owen looked glum at the mention of armed. "We have a few rifles that we made out of smuggled parts. But we need way more than that. A few rifles won't stop the Ordenite junta or the WDF if they come for us."

Harold now looked like much happier, he triumphantly said, "I happen to know somebody who can get us access to the police armory. But the rest is up to us." And so they planned.

[State of Ordena]

Oostzeestad,
Falkenhausen-Kaserne(Falkenhausen Barracks),
Wanderjar.

Falkenhausen Barracks had been one of the original Ordenite military installations existing in Wanderjar for years as both the Greater Ordenstaat and what was formerly the Free State had close diplomatic relations stemming into a mutual defense agreement. It was this installation that hosted the Ordenite Landmacht who intervened in the previous San Castello Civil War and helped drive the DIENPAC out of much of the troubled country and into the depths of the jungles bordering South Greal. Over the years as the Free State dived more and more into geopolitical and economic stagnation and as Ordenite influence in the country increased, previous restrictions on the amount of troops able to be hosted in Wanderjar were lifted. Soon after the Ordenite Landmacht were hosting an entire Army Group within the country and eventually there numbers matched those fielded by the Wanderjarian National Army. Despite concerns and protests among the WDF and politicians in Wanderjarian government circles, they were waved off and the build up was allowed to continue.

The Ordenite Luftmacht and the Marine would also see there respective numbers in country also rise as several air and naval bases would be constructed. Joint military exercises between the WDF and the Krijgsmacht were a normal occurrence and WDF and Krijgsmacht officers frequented the others schools. The beginning of the conflict in the distant region of Varathron with the invasion of Dietsland by Fortress Automailia, a client state of the Unified Authority now required an even more grander build up in the country. A build up that would require the construction and establishment of a multitude of facilities and installations for the marshalling of forces the Krijgsmacht desired. The construction would see it being sourced locally as the Visser government looked to soak up the unemployed in what was termed as a public works project. All the while Falkenhausen Barracks had been chosen as a vital command and control node for the conducting of the war effort in Varathron and would soon see many high ranking Krijgsmacht officers coming and going.

The overall commander of the Krijgsmacht in Wanderjar was Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Fürst a military careerist having led Ordenites into battle countless times over the years. As of recent he had been away on business back in Berlina taking part in several meetings with other Krijgsmacht top brass concerning the war. He had only a few hours ago landed at the airport in Oostzeestad and then driven to Falkenhausen Barracks. The barracks was one of the largest Ordenite military installations in all of Wanderjar and hosted countless soldiers and there war machines and equipment. The barracks its self contained adequate air defenses in the chance that an enemy decided to launch an attack by air or with certain munitions from which the installation's air defenses would be able to destroy.

The main entrance to the installation consisted of a high metal fence with a guard post with personnel present to check any and all visitors. Once the vehicle the Generalfeldmarschall was riding in came to the main entrance they were waved in as there time of arrival had been given to the guards on duty at the time. The vehicle then proceeded through the Barracks passing row after row of housing meant for soldiers currently on base. The vehicle would come to a brief stop at a intersection as a Panzerkampfwagen Löwe IX Main Battle Tank drove by them as Hermann's vehicle continued on eventually stopping outside of a parade ground with various buildings surrounding it. On the parade grounds standing in formation was a Landmacht band and accompanying honor guard all dressed in ceremonial uniforms and wielding ceremonial Ordenite bolt action rifles. It was a long standing tradition within the Landmacht that arriving high ranking officers such as the Generalfeldmarschall should be properly greeted in such a fashion.

The Generalfeldmarschall having his passenger door opened for him would exit his vehicle standing before the honor guard company and band. The Leutnant who presided as the commanding officer of the company with his ceremonial saber by his side took a step forward and turned towards the men before him. He would then relay a set of commands to the company in preparation for the start of the small ceremony.

"Honor company!"

"Stand still!"

"Attention! Present! Rifles!" The entire company brought there rifles up and the flag bearer also brought there flag up as they stood at attention. The Leutnant then turned and faced forward with his men. The Landmacht band then began to play the Ordenite national anthem as Fürst removed his officer's cap and saluted while the anthem played. Once the anthem had ended the Leutnant issued more commands to his men "Report!", "Eyes!" , "Left!" the company turned it's gazes to the left where Generalfeldmarschall Fürst was standing. As the leutnant begun to march with saber at his side towards him the band begun playing a marsch. Once the Leutnant was within a few feet of him the band stopped playing as the Leutnant raised his saber once with the Generalfeldmarschall giving a salute.

"Herr Generalfeldmarschall!, the Honor company of the Landmacht has come to greet you." he announced as Fürst saluted him again and held the salute as he walked by the company with the band resuming the playing of the marsch as he went by. Awaiting him by the entrance to his headquarters were several of his adjutants all looking to relay information to him about military matters concerning Wanderjar. He would soon be a very busy man as events transpiring elsewhere were to come to his attention.

Downtown Bloemfontein,
Wanderjar.

Downtown Bloemfontein one of the busiest places in the capital city with all sorts of business being conducted and people from all walks of life being present. Due to the martial law and the resulting curfew which went into effect from 7pm to 5am, it was much busier then usual as many sought to get what they needed to get done before the curfew. Across the street from a busy restaurant was a parked car with two individuals sitting inside. One of them held up a pair of binoculars as he watched the establishment while the other sat with a detonator in his lap letting out a short sigh while looking out of the window as people passed by however the windows of there car were sufficiently tinted to prevent anyone seeing inside. Both of them wore plain civilian clothing and were agents from the Wanderjarian Home Intelligence Group which handled domestic intelligence gathering but were also the nation's secret police. The WHIG despite the initial coup de tat disposing of the Free State did not completely switch sides and back the Ordenites and Constand Visser. It had been hard at work gaining intel on all who were involved in the coup and tracking them, all of which was done as part of a Black operation. The operation in question was devised to destroy the coup through systematic killings of all of the coup plotters including Constand Visser himself. Therefore opening a power vacuum in which the possibility for the Free State to return could occur.

"What's the time on your watch?" the agent in the driver seat asked putting down the binoculars. The other in the passenger seat brought his arm up and looked at his watch.

"5 pm." He responded as the agent in the drivers seat peered back through his binoculars. "He should be coming out any second now." A minute would pass before there target would be seen coming out of the restaurant and heading towards the parking lot. The target's vehicle had been previously rigged with explosives which once the agent with the detonator flipped a switch the target and his vehicle would be blown apart. The target in question was a Colonel in the Wanderjarian National Army and one of the coup plotters who collaborated with the Ordenites to overthrow the Free State, he was marked for death.

"He's going to his car now. Get ready with that detonator." The agent in the passenger put his finger on the switch which would set off the explosives and waited for the okay to do so as his fellow agent watched with binoculars. The target would make it to his car as he unlocked it with his keyless remote and entered. The agent in the driver seat put up a thumbs up for his fellow agent as he flipped the switch on the detonator and the Colonel's car burst into flames abruptly. Car alarms blared and smoke bellowed from the explosion as the agent's vehicle started and they quickly drove away.

[State of Ordena]

Wanderjarian Defence Forces Command Center,
Fort Botha
People's State of Wanderjar.

48 hours. This was the theoretical amount of time it would take to bring the Wanderjarian Army up to full combat readiness in the onset of war. Fortunately for the Wanderjarian Army there mobilization would not be paid very much attention to by the Ordenites who were dealing with their own war abroad. A message had been relayed to the Ordenites themselves that they had at the very least 48 hours to remove all Ordenite military personnel and hardware from the country of Wanderjar or hostilities were to be initiated to return the nation to a democratic government. Little if any public reaction from the Ordenite government was noticed however the Ordenite Army in Wanderjar were already stirring with the news that open hostilities with the Wanderjarian Defense Forces was coming. Of course the Wanderjarians did not simply do nothing during the 48 hour window given to the Ordenites, its Army had during this time been maneuvering its forces to pre-determined staging areas across the country. In the wake of the initial coup by the Ordenites, much of the Wanderjarian Army's supply and ammunition depots were put under the oversight of the Ordenite Army. The Military Intelligence Directorate of the Wanderjarian Defense Forces had been keeping tabs on the movements and activities of the Ordenite military since the coup had occurred. They had found that while these depots were occupied by the Ordenite Army they would not be difficult to overwhelm and one of the main objectives was to seize the supply and ammunition depots before going on a wider offensive against the Ordenites.

It was found that much of the Ordenite Army was focused at the Wanderjar-New Garrack Border and the eastern coast neighboring San Castello. Denying the Ordenites access to the rest of the country would be another main objective as they assumed that once hostilities began the Ordenites would seek to re-occupy the country. Therefore the first phase would consist of the deployment of airborne forces to seize and secure supply and ammunition depots. In the meantime maneuver elements of the Wanderjarian Army would move to occupy major cities including the capital, borders with neighboring countries and the Great Escarpment, a major terrain feature. The Royal Air force and Royal Navy would seek to deny aerial and naval supremacy to the Ordenites as their planes and warships made their presence known.

Off the Coast of Wanderjar.

It was becoming ever more apparent that the situation in Wanderjar could not be steered away from out right armed conflict. The Wanderjarian Defense Forces had now openly attacked the Ordenite Krijgsmacht with airborne troops conducting lightning raids on army supply and ammunition depots across much of the country. These depots belonging to the Wanderjarians had since the coup d'etat been under the supervision and guard of Ordenite military police. The enemy had made quick work of the Military Police and now occupied these depots allowing the Wanderjarian Army to worry less about potential supply issues when hostilities broke out. It was now being observed through satellite and other reconnaissance methods that the Wanderjarian Defense Forces were now deploying en masse and it looked as though war was now imminent. A direct order from the Krijgsmacht High Command was soon issued that all Ordenite forces in Wanderjar be brought to full combat readiness as soon as possible. Battle plans were hastily devised as the Krijgsmacht would now have to defeat the WDF and secure the entirety of the country. The Wanderjarian Royal Navy would see itself become a high priority target to the Krijgsmacht as their defeat would mean that its naval lifeline to the rest of the Greater Ordenstaat would be able to remain intact.

In the 48 hours given to them in the ultimatum to leave the country the Krijgsmacht had brought a considerable amount of it's forces present in the country to full combat readiness. Deception tactics were utilized in order to mask or deceive the Wanderjarians about their intentions which would prove to be effective as there was no further escalation. It was already being observed that the Royal Navy had been maneuvering within its own territorial waters and their movements and placements had been under observation for quite some time. Naval Group Wanderjar had made maneuvers of its own but did not look to provoke the Royal Navy. The Ordenite Marine presence in Wanderjar consists of three Fleets and due to the war in Dietsland there was planned construction to build up additional infrastructure to be able to accommodate more of the Marine.

Midnight had struck for the majority of Wanderjar with the night sky blanketing the landscape and the sea. Despite the rise in tensions between the Greater Ordenstaat and the Wanderjarian Defense Forces with both navies out at sea, the night was still relatively peaceful. However this relative peace was nothing more than a false sense of security as the Ordenite Marine in Wanderjar would soon conduct a first strike on the Royal Navy. Operation Eastern Storm was the devised Ordenite Krijgsmacht operation to secure Wanderjar and render the Wanderjarian Defense Forces unable to conduct offensive or defensive operations against Ordenite control over the country.

A multitude of electronic warfare capable aircraft had taken off from aircraft carriers and airfields heading in the direction of the Royal Navy out at sea. These included Taifun Multirole fighters equipped for electronic warfare, along with Dornier Multirole Maritime Aircraft that also were outfitted with electronic warfare pods and other avionics. Once these aircraft were within range of the Wanderjarian vessels they activated their electronic warfare pods and avionics and began detecting and jamming them. The aircraft also utilized a computer program which had now started to attack computer networks and communications belonging to the Royal Navy. This preliminary electronic attack had now rendered the Royal Navy essentially blind as a false picture was presented to them and their communications were kept relatively inoperable keeping them from properly coordinating with one another.

Several waves of Taifun Multirole fighters and Rächer bombers were now in the air and heading towards the Royal Navy, loaded up with anti-ship missiles and other munitions. Simultaneously The combined 3 Fleets of the Ordenite Marine in Wanderjar were preparing to launch a significant missile attack of their own and as the Taifun's and Rächer's came within range of the Wanderjarians and launched there payloads, the missile attack from the Ordenite Marine surface vessels and submarines began. The once relative peaceful night had now been tarnished with sounds of explosions and missile impacts. The Royal Navy had been severely blindsided as they attempted to defend themselves in the ensuing chaos as ship after ship took direct hits from anti-ship missiles and other munitions. Despite the fact that the majority of the Royal Navy was in open waters, there still remained several naval bases which housed enemy naval vessels and infrastructure for the Royal Navy and would need to be destroyed. Rächer bombers armed with air to ground munitions would seek out these naval bases and deliver their payloads onto them as explosions erupted along the coast line.

The attack persisted as the Ordenite Marine used the chaos to maneuver it's forces and continue to hit them hard. The Royal Navy was now desperately trying to rally themselves to fight back the aggressors as they were able to fire back. Several Ordenite vessels were struck by Wanderjarian return fire with said vessels either sinking violently or left a floating blaze of fire. However these losses were deemed understandable and it did not break morale, the Marine still had another ace up it's sleeve as it began deploying a vast swarm of Unmanned surface vehicles carrying explosive payloads in which would be detonated upon the USV's striking their targets head on. The USVs only previous combat deployment was during the First Krasnovan War when a similar swarm style attack severely damaged the Red Star Union's only Aircraft Carriers, leaving them vulnerable enough for destruction by Ordenite missiles. They had seen limited use in the following Krasnovan Wars having been sent back to R&D for further development. They would now make their return to combat as their swarm closed in on Wanderjarian vessels which due to their low profile and speed made them a difficult target for onboard weapons systems.

The swarm was devastating for the Wanderjarians as these combined with on-going missile attacks overwhelmed them. The attack would continue for over 2 hours before the guns and missiles fell silent and all that remained were the steel carcasses of the Royal Navy. It would not be known for some time just how many died in the attack but their were still plenty of survivors clinging to emergency rafts but were left to their own devices by the Ordenite Marine. Some Wanderjarian vessels were able to escape the carnage and limp their way into Macabean waters of the neighboring nation of San Castello. The first phase of Operation Eastern Storm had now been completed and soon the rest was set to unfold.

[State of Ordena]

Northern Wanderjar

Operation Eastern Storm had began as a first strike was being conducted on the Wanderjarian Royal Navy out at sea. Simultaneously however a coordinated ground offensive was getting under way on land in Northern Wanderjar. The border with New Garrack had for some time been under the responsibility of the Ordenite Landmacht as due to the on-going civil war occurring in Morrdh. Now due to events within the country the Ordenite forces here would partake in a ground campaign to secure the country and defeat the rebellious Wanderjarian Defense Forces who threatened to engage in hostilities if their demands were not met. So instead of meeting their demands the Ordenite Krijgsmacht opted to completely destroy them and directly occupy the country. The overall strength for the offensive was concentrated in the North with 3 of the 5 Army Groups positioned there along with the attachment of the 43rd and 70th and 62nd Shock Armies meant that nearly 5 million personnel would be involved. All the while the remaining 2 Army Groups and the attached 57th Shock Army would secure the coastal region and work their way down the border with San Castello with their overall objective being to reach the militarized border with South Greal.

The Wanderjarian Army had already mobilized and were deployed throughout the country with Army Group North positioned in the path of the main axis of advance. Much of their concentration was near and around the city of Pietersburg in which resided over 15 million people. Pietersburg also referred to by the Planol population as Polokwane which translates to "Sanctuary" was to be the first objective in the ground offensive to secure, especially it's international airport which was located due north of the city. The airport would serve as a launching platform for deeper penetration of Wanderjarian airspace by the Luchtmacht once the offensive began to push deeper into the country. It's importance was also to secure the N1 Highway which connects the border with New Garrack with most of Wanderjar's major cities and it was within the best interest of the Ordenites to utilize this major highway for its operations.

The Wanderjarians had made their front line where the N1 and R71 highways connect. The Wanderjarian 1st Army had constructed a trench system and other defensive positions in which these were occupied by their Infantry corps. Three Infantry divisions were arrayed here including their armored regiments which each division had attached while the accompanying Armored Division was positioned further back and would be utilized to push back enemy breakthroughs and counter attack. The Armored Corps of the 1st Army also was kept in the rear closer to the city and were positioned on it's flanks. If and when the enemy did breakthrough the first line of defense then the Armored Corps would be the fist of the major counter attack that would smash them and then drive deeper into the enemy and sow chaos. The two reserve infantry corps were also positioned near and around Pietersburg in fall back lines consisting of trench systems and if it became absolutely necessary then they would take positions within Pietersburg its self and look to cost the enemy in brutal urban warfare.

While the Wanderjarian Defense Force had been mobilizing and deploying they had also been gathering gun-owning citizens most of which were White Wanderjarians to form militias of their own to aid in the defense of their homeland. Due to the extent of nationalistic fevor among many Wanderjarians the WDF were able to raise many volunteers in which would be organized into battalion formations. These volunteer battalions would primarily take up positions within their own communities, cities and towns from where they lived. Due to the fact that their was a conscription law in place known as 'National Service' many of these volunteer battalions consisted of individuals who had previously in their lives had served in the Armed Forces. Which would mean that despite not having all of the necessary equipment and armament a regular army formation had, these formations would serve their purpose as light infantry and conduct asymmetric warfare.

The first explosions erupted not long after midnight as Ordenite anti-radiation missiles struck Wanderjarian RADAR and SAM sites. Not long after did wave after wave of Taifun multirole fighters and Rächer bombers begin to fly through Wanderjarian airspace towards preplanned targets. These targets included troop concentrations, defensive positions, command and control and other military targets of opportunity. Cruise missiles soon followed striking at similar targets however would be primarily targeting logistical nodes, military bases and air bases of the Wanderjarian Air Force. The Wanderjarians would react rather quickly as they began scrambling ‘Springbok’ Fighters in order to begin intercepting the Ordenite war planes. The air war had now started as Taifun's and Springbok's danced in the skies looking to shoot the other down first all the while both sides anti-air also looked to down the others aircraft. From initial reconnaissance conducted by drones and previously inserted Jagers special forces SR units their was little in the way of resistance between the border with New Garrack until they reached the section of highway in which N1 meets with R71 and thus the 3 Army Groups begun to advance.

Musina was a sizable town right on the border with New Garrack boasting a population of 50,000 people. Much of the town's residents were still asleep or at least in doors due to the curfew in place with martial law having been enacted ever since the initial coup had succeeded. The streets were practically empty as the sounds of engines and tracked vehicles could be heard fast approaching the town. Entering the town from the north came a reconnaissance platoon in Nachzehrer reconnaissance variant APCs and a single Keiler Infantry fighting vehicle. Over head the sound of helicopters could be heard as Tiger-6M attack helicopters flew over the town while additional convoys of Ordenite landmacht vehicles began to pass through the town. The war in Wanderjar was well under way as by morning citizens in the affected areas would awaken to see Ordenite military vehicles and troops in their communities.

[Greal]

Lorrow, Wanderjar

A few days later sometime in the evening Harold and his fellow Greali Unificationists were to do an attack on police armory to steal weapons.

Harold's people had scrounged up some rifles and pistols from the years of smuggling from Greal. The weapons weren't exactly in great condition but that wasn't a problem. As long as they killed the guards outside that's all the rifles needed to do. Some of the Unificationists had done conscript service in Greal so they weren't unfamiliar with the weapons.

"That's the problem." Sharon pointed. Harold and some of his people were in a building adjacent to the the armory.

Harold cursed softly, the armory now had at least eight guards, double the amount he was expecting. Was the police chief warned? Harold had to bury that thought and focus on the mission.

"Doesn't matter, we have a plan." The others stared grimly and nodded. They started moving to their positions.

"They started on the other side." said somebody behind Harold. Suddenly he could hear in the distance an explosion. That was the scheduled car bombing near the town hall that was to distract Lorrow's authorities. Then another bombing that impacted a nearby electrical station.

"That ought to distract the cops." Harold chuckled, then looked at Big Owen who had a bolt action rifle in his hand, "Will your guys come through?"

Big Own laughed grimly and said, "My boys will come through." Big Owen had convinced a bunch of truckers to block one of the roads leading to the town and to start a riot. Another distraction.

"Okay, 30 seconds." Harold double checked his little pistol.

The police officers were doing a routine guard duty at the armory. Sure the number of guards were doubled, but nothing much had happened and they were bored. Most of them looked forward to their night shift ending so they could go home and sleep.

Suddenly one of the Lorrow armory guards heard a whine in the distance, but it sounded like it was coming from the sky. He tried to make out what it was, but the light pollution and night made it hard to see. Then suddenly he saw it. It was a quadcopter drone diving at them. The officer's first thought was it was dangerous for drone users to race them around the town and picked up his radio to call it in. Then he realized to his dismay the drone wasn't stopping.

The drone hit the ground narrowly missing the guard and then exploded. The Unificationists had modified a typical racing quadcopter drone to carry explosives and the operator was to basically ram it into the guards or the ground in order for the trigger to go off. It went off spectacularly with a loud bang. The two guards at the front were down immediately. Harold didn't hesitate and immediately went to the armory's front with his crew as gunshots suddenly rang out. Big Owen and Sharon and others were shooting at the police guards. The Lorrow police guards were taken by surprise and some were taken down while others ducked for cover. Alarms were ringing all over the armory.

Harold waited behind some police cars at the front until he heard tires hitting the road fast. It made him smile. Suddenly a big red van crashed into the front of the armory destroying the entrance door which was sealed by the alarm. The 4 ton van had no trouble breaching the sealed entrance. More shots rang out. Two more police emerged from the front and fired towards Harold's direction. He heard a shocked cry of pain as one of the Unificationists were shot in the chest. More gunfire was exchanged.

More shots rang out, and Harold cheered when he saw a police officer die after peeking out from cover to shoot at the windows. Big Owen was finding his targets it seemed. Harold made a mental note to never piss off that man.

The police finally were all down and Harold led his remaining crew into the building. The layout was fairly simple and they soon found the weapons.

"Hurry." Harold said urgently. He had a fair idea how long it would take for the police to send reinforcements to the armory. The blocked roads would help buy time, but Harold had no desire to linger.

His crew broke the gun cage locks with pliers and cutting tools and started collecting weapons. It was eerily quiet besides the building alarm still going off.

Not a bad day's work.

Later...

Lorrow was in a stage of uproar. Now with events happening outside the town around Wanderjar and the Ordenite movements internet was suddenly cut off. The town was now under full on curfew, no one allowed after 6pm. Dozens were arrested.

But the attack on the police armory was a shock. Eight police officers and several civilians dead. Lorrow's police chief had a fairly good idea that it was probably the work of Greali immigrants but he was in dismay with how the attack went. No one was caught. The attackers had taken essentially a whole army company's worth of weapons and vests. He once again begged for some kind of aid from the nearest Wanderjar military unit.

Lorrow police took out their anger on a Greali trucker camp the next evening. By morning several of the truckers were dead in their tents, their bodies beaten and tased. Full on protests and riots were nonstop. More police abandoned the town. Rumors kept spreading, ranging from a full on invasion by Greal, to Ordenite forces nearby about to napalm the town, to Wanderjarian units would gun down everyone that didn't display loyalty.

A group of Wanderjarian-Greali mixed families were also protesting at a village near Lorrow. They called for the return of Wanderjar to rightfully rule the country and out with the Ordenites. The RWs they called themselves openly clashed with other ethnic minorities and further threw the region into unrest. Roads were now littered with burnt cars and signs.

Sasha, Greal

"So things in Wanderjar have gotten a bit worse?" Minister of Defense Jeris Dovout was the master of understatement.

"Yup." Colonel Ruger.

"Alright, move these army groups to the border. Have to worry about things spilling over." Dovout laid out a list of Greali units. Essentially 150 Greali army divisions would be put at war footing and high alert on the Greali-Wanderjarian border. The minister had essentially started a massive deployment that would put the border bases into overload for the next few days. "Anything for Foreign Affairs?"

A MOFA official looked grim and said, "We could try putting out peace feelers towards Wanderjar and Ordena maybe? But not sure what that'll accomplish."

"We need to try for appearance's sake." said the President's adviser, Wilkins. Dovout nodded in agreement.

The MOFA official merely sighed and replied, "We'll draft something up within the hour. We could maybe ask President Watson to call her counterparts in the GD to get further cooperation. Generic diplomacy that won't solve things." Then the official looked at Dovout, "We're not thinking of going over the border, are we?"

Dovout shrugged and said, "That's up to the Boss. Probably not though."

[Morrdh]

JHQ Athlone
Liskeard Military Area
New Garrack

Tensions between New Garrack and it's southern neigbour of Wanderjar had a long long history and provided enough ground for a sizeable military presence both sides of the border. Despite the odd skirmish, outright conflict was practically unheard of in this part of the world. Sheer paranoia kept an army dug into the dusty, arid plains and during times when tensions seemingly ran high additional units were brought in only to whittle away again when the crisis failed to boil over. Even with the ongoing troubles within the Commonwealth of Morrdh, a strong presence remained on the border especially after Ordenite forces were deployed to Wanderjar.

Now another crisis seemed to be brewing south of the border, one seemingly stemming from the very same Ordenite forces. It sparked a series of high level meetings amongst the command sat located within the main bunker in the complex known as Joint Headquarters Athlone, the main command center for the Liskeard Military Area which control the Commonwealth military presence along the border. It was a tri-service command featuring elements from the army, air force and some representation from the navy but it was directly responsible for the defence of the border region. But with the aforementioned troubles, JHQ Athlone could only draw upon so many resources and it had had to fight tooth and nail to keep hold of frontline units thus leaving few options to pursue.

The general consensus was to raise the alert state to 'Black Special', meaning a high chance of an attack but no defined threat. Additionally, surveillance efforts of the border and into Wanderjar were stepped up with an increase of SIGINT sorties flown by Iarrthóir (Seeker) R.2 electronic reconnaissance aircraft to intercept and collect electronic communications to try and build-up a picture of what was happening in conjunction with other intelligence gathering efforts. There was also aggressive border patrolling by air force and navy units, especially against possible intruders, but they stayed firmly north of the border. Where possible, more radar and SAM units were deployed as part of a stiffening up drive.

Then it was the waiting game to see what would unfold.