Smoke on the water

[Ralkovia]

Eternal Spring Palace
70 Miles Away From Raskovia

Josh meandered down the corridor his long Capacet¹ lingering behind him, like a phantom he wandered the halls gracing the cold, gray tile of the western tower. Several times he had fallen asleep only to be awakened by the most horrid of nightmare, defeat. His dreams of his fleet sailing across to aid the Griffincrest tainted by the invisible specter of the Leistungi and Salzland submarines. Here in his mind no matter what he ordered whether it be to change course, to fire back, to use countermeasures, it still ended with his fleet sinking to the bottom of the brine. Somehow he would survive, stuck in the vast flat ocean struggling to kick his way from the icy water only to be confronted by a Leistungi submarine, he would draw his Suden Metsästäjä² and fire wildly at the steel gray sub only for it to grow a jaw and a myriad of sharp teeth and swallow Josh up.

A cold chill ran down his spine, if he couldn’t even succeed in his dreams how could he hope to have a chance at victory. He paced the halls looking for answers, solutions, some sort of plan that he could use to attain victory. Still Josh felt the oncoming’s of malaise, a far cry from the Emperor’s typical sangfroid. It was the same feeling as taking a test that you had never studied for, his stomach felt like it was about to drop, his legs felt wobbly, and his head hurt.

By 4AM Josh had found himself in the Palace Archives searching through old battle texts, the rattle and banging of Death Guard moving stools, chairs, and ladders to reach the books had woken up the whole Palace. It was not long before the sound of dogs barking, servants carrying trays, and the crackle of gunfire for a prisoner’s execution.³ Naturally, while the rest of the palace had been woken up by Josh, the young Emperor had finally fallen fast asleep as he tried to read an ancient text of The Battle of Treknay-Rako Sea.
It was only a few hours later that Josh was awoken by the sound of a jackhammer, needless to say he was not a happy man. He knew that the palace was going through overhaul when he had decided to sleep here for the night however he had had no idea it would be this noisy.

“Why couldn’t they do something quiet, like painting, painting is nice and quiet,” Josh complained to his Spectra as he got ready for a meeting with the High Ministers and other positions of authority in his government.

The Grand Council to the Glorious Emperor

“My Emperor, we still face challenges with the Western Tribes, any movement of forces will destabilize colonization efforts. We cannot afford to remove units from that sector,” spoke Tantropmi Yllaersi yugsiht Renaldo Benetolo, which roughly translated to Per Vizier Renaldo Benetolo.

He was a heavily built man, who had seen the best and the worst of the Empire in his long career. He had been in the Service of the Emperor’s father and had worked under the several ‘Puppet Kings.’ He was the current governor of the Ralkovian Colony of New Orderia and had been put in charge of several Legions⁴ of Death Guard whose purpose was to destroy the rebels in New Orderia. His scar, courtesy of a Balkovian soldier, was already flushed with blood in anger.

He had lost several Packs⁵ in the mountains and the complete destruction of a Ralkovian colonial village under his watch and he desperately needed reinforcements, yet the Emperor was taking these reinforcements and most of the original force away and trying to replace them with a larger force of conscripts.

The High Minister of Defense, Machial Trenv, a man who had been in service for only a mere 6 months, smashed his fist against the table catching the attention of all those. It was not unheard of for someone’s speech to be interrupted by the opponent; in fact the smashing of a fist against a table was quite uncommon compared to how most of the interruptions were fist fights.

“RENALDO, it is not our problem if you are having trouble with the uncivilized mob you call ‘an elite guerrilla force,’” Machial said reading through a report by Renaldo. With the nod of the Emperor’s head, approving of the interruption, Machial continued, “The Emperor has given you ample time to deal with the threat but we are going against highly trained nations. The Death Guard and all accessories to their function must and WILL be transferred over to JASTACOM. We have already moved Death Guard from more important posts, than G-d knows what you’re calling high priority fighting. I suggest you stay your tongue, your theater of conflict is about as essential to Ralkovian supremacy as honey is to an ant hill. I am a firm believer that we can replace all Death Guard units acting as police with actual policemen and G-ddamn the consequences. The worst case scenario is mild rebellion which we will deal with accordingly either through the use of explosives or simply by flooding the nation with conscripts. A battalion of untrained monkey could fill in for the jobs of what most of the Death Guard are doing. So far we have mobilized almost 40% of the Ralkovian navy and over 22 million troops for the defense of Griffincrest and its homeland of Blackhelm. Of the 22 million troops more than half are conventional and without proper numbers of Death Guard we risk losing a battle quicker than the Balkovs at the battle of Treknay-Rako.”

The eyes of every person at the table instantly shifted over to the Emperor. Eyes half closed, he nodded his head, a pleasant smile on his lips at the reference to the battle. With a tired yawn he spoke, “I believe…G-d only knows what I believe, I just have to agree with Machial. We have an excess of volunteers with my call to arms and even then we can always draft the undesired of the nation and as
Machial stated most of the Death Guard are acting as police heh. Too stop this little show the Delian League wants to pull off we are going to need to put our strongest foot in the door. I already replaced the Death Guard at Tyrn Island with conventional troops, the War Governor with my brother Prince Clovis, and removed all major fleets in the region and told them to head home. The last reports,”

Josh yawned again trying to stay awake before he continued, “the last reports indicated that everything was exemplary in Tyrn and that native rebellion had been entirely put down. I don’t see the reason why we can’t replace the Death Guard with conventional and conscription troops.”

“Sire,” High Minister of Territories spoke, “about Tyrn island…your brother has declared independence and has mobilized the natives to armed rebellion. He has killed off several thousand of the colonizers and has made it known he has a Tyrnian bride, she is somewhere between here and Tyrn in a plane. The island itself is in complete chaos.”

The room became so quiet as to hear a pin drop. Josh’s eyes snapped open, a look of anger and surprise, adrenaline flowed to his muscles as he balled his hand and smashed his fist repeatedly against the table, until his hand bloodied and broken cut through the mahogany which gave a loud snap as part of it fell.

“HE- DID- WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Josh screamed at the High Minister as he looked for something else to break. A Spectra Death Guard immediately ran over and grabbed the young Emperor before he could do anything else. Josh had ordered the meeting to reconvene in the Grand Communication Room where a video conference with Josh’s brother was to be held. The situation was tense as the large screen flipped on.

Prince Clovis was in all terms of the word, pretty. He lacked any masculine features and for a 20 year old man looked to be like an abnormally tall 15-year old. Clovis was not in the least bit homosexual but he fit the role, girlish-like blonde hair with soft baby blue eyes, thin red lines encompassing the outside of eyes. His skin was rather white lacking the tan accustom to one being out in the sun. Prince Clovis had been second in line to the throne being the third oldest of Joshua the first’s children, Princess Rose had abdicated for a chance to live her life with some foreign prince. Now on-screen he looked at his brother and gave him a smile with his pearly white teeth that Josh promised himself he would have smashed in before he executed his brother.

Prince Clovis had been accused of being ambitionless and lazy; he had never had any goals in life other than to wait out Empress Maria’s inevitable down fall and hope to get some position where he could once again live the easy life. Josh had always tried to get his brother to get some sort of drive in life and do something, he had even appointed his brother as governor of Tyrn hoping he would build some sort of port or construct some great monument. Instead his brother had taken his position and used it as a stepping stool to launch himself, as a thorn, into the Emperor’s side. Enraged, Josh tapped his fingers against a new mahogany table. He muttered a few words to the High Minister sitting closest to him about Clovis being an ungrateful bastard, never moving his own gaze from that of his brother.

“Why?” Josh said trying to keep his cool posture, his eyes narrowed awaiting his brother’s answer.

“Why what? My sweet brother,” responded Prince Clovis, his smile growing wider by the second. He knew how to push his younger brother’s buttons and watched as the young man burst into an angry tantrum.

“YOU G-DDAMN KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY WHY. YOU INSOLENT BASTARD!!! YOU’RE A FUCKING TRAITOR. I WILL CAPTURE YOU AND THEN…AND…and then I will have you impaled and crucified. I shall have your still living body dragged through the streets. Finally I shall personally smash your head in with my fist and your corpse strung up in the cesspool,” Josh said, his anger had exploded but in his head something snapped for a moment as he continued the threat he smiled, taking on a truly frightening tone. Everyone in the room felt the back of their necks tingle.

“Josh, my little brother, you should not use such foul language. I will not argue with you or even talk to you if you behave in such an unwarranted tone. We are after all merely discussing the reason that I have allowed Tyrn to be free,” replied Clovis with his own smile.

“You listen to me, and you listen good. I have trusted you, you have been my confidant for the last 3 years. I have had no secret with you. You stabbed me in the back,” Josh began to grind his teeth, a look of absolute disgust apparent on his face, “You betrayed me, you have humiliated me nationally for appointing you governor of Tyrn. I have tried everything to help you and you, a puny worthless scum are no greater than a fly on my radar. However you have suddenly turned to a blip and I will crush you with the same weapons I use to crush true enemies,” Josh said, a sneer forming on his face.

“Joshy poshy, you remember when you tried to beat me in Halafet⁶…I only had, in defense of my capitol, 3 infantry, a single cannon, and 12 ships. And you, ‘Yoshi’ had 25 infantry, 12 cannons, 5 ships and 10 settlements. You thought it would be an easy win and that I would be crushed like an ‘insolent bug’ and I destroyed your infantry and captured your cannons. In only 5 turns I had you surrender 8 of your settlements and razed the rest. It was only a turn later that I confronted you at your capital and you thought you could defend yourself by using your bonus cards to raise an army of 12 infantry, 4 cannons, and 3 ships, including your all important Flagship, what was it called…the Callous…was its name I think, while I attacked you with 5 infantry, 2 cannons, and 6 ships. You remember at the end of the game, me replacing the colors of your flagship and making you surrender before the majesty of my army. These seem to be similar circumstances, so how do you think you will fare against me 6 years later?’” Clovis said mentioning a board game from a long ago childhood memory.

It took Josh not more than a second to respond, his sneer of disgust changing to a small smile, “You forget Clovis. This time I have guided missiles.”

“So be it, by the way, I met up with your first girlfriend. I had her raped and executed by Tyrnian natives, you remember her Susan Wellington. Just look at it this way, you won’t have to call her and check up on her anymore. I hope you don’t mind little brother. Let me leave you with a little tip, keep your love interests off an island in rebellion,” Clovis said laughing.

“So be it, by the way, I met up with your wife and the rest of her family. I had her plane forced down and delivered to me. Just look at it this way you won’t have to talk to her or your mother-in-law. I hope you don’t mind Clovis,” Josh said with his own laugh. The camera panned out to show an olive skinned woman being wheeled in from outside the conference room.

Josh got up and walked over to the woman as he admired the work that he had ordered to be done. She was absolutely beautiful despite the fact that she was standing on a platform where hundreds of wires surrounded her, however the surprise was not the wires but the fact they were attached to fishing hooks embedded in her skin for a Poe-like torture device. She was still breathing and quite alive, her eyes opened wide as she tried to scream for help to Clovis, only for Josh to pull a fishing hook attached to her tongue. Her eyes welled up in tears as she tried to put on an appearance of bravery which ended when Josh tugged two more, each one attached to one of her eyelids. The ripping of tissue as the thin skin gave way to the pull of the hooks made her give a blood curdling scream.

“FARA!!!” Clovis cried as he saw his beloved wife placed in such a macabre device.

“Let me leave you with a little tip, next time you rebel, make sure your loved ones are on the island before you start rebelling,” Josh laughed as he pressed down on a button, the fishing hooks began to pull as they were wound around a drum, the contraption pulled her skin, muscle, and ligaments apart. With a loud tear all the fishing hooks pulled at once ripping everything attached to them apart.

“Oh but wait, I’m not going to hold a grudge so I’ll leave you with another tip. Never ever ever betray a crazy person, especially if that person has the ability to mass produce torture devices. On the side, this is uh called the rules of escalation, you kill my friend aaannd I kill your wife and her entire family,” Josh said speaking to Clovis with a smirk on his face.

“Thank you, thank you all for attending the show. The Devils Fishing Pole, courtesy of the High Minister of Torture, that concludes today’s episode of Torture Time with Josh,” Josh said calling the High Minister of Torture up. Josh’s facial expressions had changed completely around the time that he had yelled at his brother. Josh had serious issues with betrayal and it had caused him to change tact and attitude. Something violent had been drawn up from deep down in Josh’s heart. He hated betrayal, he hated treason, he felt any sort of deception was horrible and was aimed at him personally, that was why the penalties were so harsh and cruel.

“Meeting adjourned. Brother I have a much worse fate for you. Are you familiar with the movie ‘Pinhead?’” Josh said as he poked the pulsating veins of the still-living woman. Several of the High Ministers immediately left the conference hall as they ran to the nearest rest room to empty the contents of their stomach.

“Machial, split the fleet up I want overkill on Clovis. I think 25% will be fine to send to help Blackhelm. I want to crush my brother like a fucking bug. I will have my death guard hunt him down and bring him back to me where I shall make a public example of him. I will slaughter him in front of national television and I will show them what the crime for treason is so I will never have to reiterate myself. HAIL RALKOVIA!”

The rest of the High Ministers stood up and shouted at the top of their lungs, “HAIL RALKOVIA, HAIL THE EMPIRE, HAIL THE GLORIOUS EMPEROR!!!”

Excitement brewed in the air, along with the blood of a poor woman whose only crime was falling in love with Josh’s brother. It did not matter to Josh however as he walked out of the room, slowly stumbling to the lobby where he passed out on a couch in front of a secretary.

Machial did as he was told, encouraged to follow Josh, not wanting to end up as the dying woman on the floor. The fleet was split as 22 million men suddenly turned to 18 million. The amount of Death Guard in the fleet was suddenly cut in half. The Emperor had just disadvantaged himself further, G-d only knew what he was thinking.

---

¹- 13 foot cape. Ceremonial nightware, each foot represents a tribe of the Raskov dominion
²- Wolf Hunter in Ralkovian
³- Most of these palaces have massive underground tunnel networks that are used as prisons.
⁴-10,000 Death Guard
⁵- a platoon of Death Guard
⁶- An ancient game that has been played by Ralkovians for years. Literally meaning 'Tiny War' it is played like the board game risk however there are several pieces: artillery, infantry, and ships and several settlements in between. A settlement can be defended to the last man and it is razed so no one can use it or you can surrender it for the time being for capture later on. Each settlement gives a player points to raising a unit of soldier of ships. Garrisoning soldiers in a settlement for periods of time also builds up experience which gives a player an advantage when facing raw recruits of the opposing player. It is extremely popular in Ralkovia and her colonies and is played in several other countries as well. Huge tournaments are held for this.

[New Chalcedon]

OOC: I'm afraid I'm going to have to recant my position in this war. When I promised Blackhelm my support I did so without realizing that numerous allies of mine were involved in the conflict, as oppose to nations I have no contact with. As a result of the numerous damages that such a move would cause to me, I'm going to retconn my position. Sorry to everyone involved, and the frustrations and bewilderments that my positions have no doubt caused.

Why don't you do an IC backflip? It's not uncommon for nations to pick a side in a dispute, and then realise that they can't afford the cost of it.

[Mokastana]

Admiral Miguel Peron stood on the deck of the MNS Liberación, soon to be the flagship of the Mokan fleet being deployed to Nova. Of course the Dagora Doctrine would have to be recognized, so the fleet would not be entering Nova waters. Things were hectic on the Liberación as Peron tried to organize his fleets and pick a suitable rendezvous location. Already allies of the Fegosian Union had made formal declarations of war and it would only be a matter of time before a Mokan declaration was heard. Admiral Peron, Primary Admiral of the Atlantic fleet, was working hard to make sure his fleet was ready for this combat. Admirals up and down the mainland coast as well as a few from Wellovia were forwarding their information to the Liberación informing him of their progress in preparing for deployment. Besides a few Air Patrol Flotillas and Wolf packs at sea, most of the fleet was in port resupplying.

The Mokan fleet had grown since its last war, and so had its enemies.

Marine divisions were being called back into action and the Pacific fleet was on high alert. While the Griffencrest problem was suppose to be only on one coast, Juventud knew that the corporation had assets around the globe, no portion of Mokastana was going to be exposed. Admiral Peron continued receiving incoming messages until Primary Admiral Jorge Fernando came on the main link expecting updates.

"Peron, how is my east coast doing?"

"We have 7 Flotillas ready to deploy by tomorrow, luckily we have been preparing this for some time and all offensive fleets will be ready for deployment within the week."

"Good, send me the details, are you ready for this?"

"Aye Aye Sir."

A warning light went off as a special bulletin appeared next to Admiral Fernando, it was from Mokastana City. The President's announcement was coming in, both officers quit speaking to watch the speech.

Around the Federation Nicolas Villa appeared on TVs, Public Screens in squares, briefing rooms and websites. The Red Star of Mokastana faded from its white background to the President's desk inside the Presidential Palace. President Villa sat looking somber and ready to tell families around Mokastana that their loved ones were about to go fight.

“My fellow Mokans, yesterday our allies declared war against the Blackhelm Confederacy and more importantly, the Griffencrest Corporation. In response to this the Mokan Navy is preparing to deploy to Nova to join the Coalition against these terrorist disguised as a business. Admiral Miguel Peron will be leading the Atlantic fleet to lead our forces to fight against these fascists who have been pirating oil and natural resources from third world nations ever since the age of our unification.

When rumor and story broke out in the previous months about possible war with Blackhelm the Socialist Workers Army and other organizations worked hard to help inform the public of what this would mean. No doubt you have seen the posters and heard the news reports on the damage that has been done in the name of Capitalist progress. Even though I am a socialist by belief, I acknowledge that it does not work all the time, and that much of the Federation does not share my views. However all economic views should hold humanitarian values, irregardless of how it operates. This is why I ask you to join us in the war.

Lucius Blackhelm, The Chancellor of the Blackhelm Confederacy sent the alliance against him a letter. Many of you may have read it and scoffed, but in it he asks me to look hard at those being sent to fight this war, and the families they leave behind. Now I am looking hard at each and every one of you, and I apologize with my deepest sympathies for the many of you who have lost loved ones in conflicts and those who may lose one in the future. I have lost both my wife and child in conflicts so I understand your pain. I wish I could change the
course of history without bloodshed, but unfortunately there are monsters in this world who only understand when force is used on them.

And let it be known that I will not hide in a bunker while your loved ones are away, as of tomorrow, I will be resigning from the post of President of the Federation to join the Volunteer Corps and resume my previous position as Generalissimo of the Socialist Workers Army. I will fight along your brothers, sisters, husbands and children. I will work with our commanders to ensure that every man who can comes home. My brother Charles Villa will assume the roll of President until an election can be held. Thank you and God Bless us all."

OOC: probably not my best, but I blame it on my flu

[Leistung]

Short the sleep the foe is taking;
Ere the morrow's morn is breaking,
They shall have a rude awakening,
Roused by Harlech Men.

BMS Aue, Second Fleet flagship
Hafenstadt, Leistung

Winter had come early to Leistung, and with it, the ushankas once again retook their positions atop the heads of the Republic's men in arms. Thousands of black and blue hats shuffled into lines in Hafenstadt, a chill in the air causing many of their wearers to sling their rifles over their shoulders in favor of the warm standard-issue mittens. It seemed as though the only things more numerous than the ushankas were the flags -- tens of thousands of miniscule Nordic crosses, enormous banners draped over the sides of vessels, and every size in between.

The sailors had already begun a rendition of "Was ist des Leistung Vaterland", and their voices mingled with those of the civilians who had stormed out in droves to watch the fleet leave port. Foghorns sounded every minute on and off, and by the time the song had ended, no one had even noticed how heavily it was raining. Even the General Staff, holed up in the BMS Aue with the Chancellor for the second time in as many hours, found reason to feel patriotic. For once, a war had come which not only needed no explanation, but one which every level of society supported. From the politicians to the factory workers, the doctors to the bakers, an outpouring of patriotic sentiment flowed which was unmatched in recent history.

Chancellor Zeiger turned from the porthole window to face a room full of Leistung's premier military minds. The aged faces of Admirals Fuchs and Beckenbauer were immediately visible, as was the former's signature red sash and rows upon rows of crosses and ribbons.

"Our Sumguian allies claim to have 'plans' for Emperor Josh and his ilk," Ziegler began, holding his contempt back only for the benefit of Minister Zimmermann, who would surely have had a massive coronary had he been aware of the Chancellor's feelings toward Basset and the Hegemony. "Frankly, I care so little for these that I will not bother to indulge you all in them. Suffice to say they do not involve his death, and as such are far from satisfactory." One of the low-ranking admirals in the back of the room snorted and was immediately silenced by one of his superiors.

"Our primary objective in a strategic sense is to halt the advance of the Ralkovian fleets to the Blackhelm Confederacy," Beckenbauer continued, rising from his seat. "To accomplish this, vessels from the Norfolksinslen and Weiterland will rendezvous with our own fleets from Hafenstadt and Eisleben and set a course due east. Considering the position of Nova and the Blackhelm Confederacy, Ralkovian fleets will either have to risk passing our vessels or circle the entire globe, where our submarines can whittle their numbers down and where, at journey's end, they will still be forced to contend with our fleet, which will have had ample time to anticipate their movements."

"Quite simply, we have no intention of landing soldiers on Confederacy soil," Ziegler continued, taking over from Beckenbauer's military explanation. "However, our navy is our most valuable asset to the allies, and by halting the Emperor on the high seas, we deny Griffincrest millions of potential bodies. "Our fleets will depart in one hour's time, to be met by fleets from the southern territories. It has become clear that Ralkovia will not bow to our demands, and as such, we should prepare for military operations to be commenced immediately thereafter."

OOC: Quick post before I leave. I'll be back home tonight, where I may or may not add on to this.

[Emperor Nero]

Neroian Empire

With no signs that the impending war would be averted by diplomatic means, the order was given to begin Phase I of Operation Salvation.

The operation began with more of a whimper than a bang. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a simple travel advisory urging citizens to avoid the Blackhelm Confederacy. A few hours later, state new agencies ran reports that the Imperial Air Force was supplying transports to evacuate Neroians from the war zone.

While the Empire did intend to evacuate their citizens from the Confederacy, the egress also served as a convenient cover story for the start of the Imperial airlift campaign. Transports would leave the Empire laden with vital military personnel, and return with civilians. Among the first units deployed were combat engineers and air force ground crew, who would make preparations for a much larger airlift operation.

Naturally, common sense precautions were taken to prevent discovery of the duplicity. The transports were loaded and unloaded in hangars, where it would be difficult for satellites to observe their activities, and flights were scheduled in such a way that the transports would only be in the Confederacy during the wee hours of the morning.

Hue Naval Base
Neroian Empire

Under the cover of darkness, eight Ohio Class submarines crept out of port without fanfare.

In the coming weeks, the two squadrons would make a roundabout journey to western Nova, where they intended to provide the Empire with cruise missile strike capability and a deterrent against nuclear attack.

Their voyage would be a long one. Putting a premium on avoiding the numerous fleets converging on the Confederacy, their path to Novan waters was inefficient at best. The submarines would round the northern tip of Magellan (my continent), then head west and southwest until they arrived west of Novan waters.

Waypoint Bravo
International Waters

Vice Admiral Leotus surveyed his surroundings as he stood on the deck of his command carrier. Taking a deep breath, he savored the smell and taste of the ocean air. Life was good. Clear skies and smooth sailing lay ahead, and Task Force Zulu was making good time. It certainly was a welcome change from monsoon season back home.

Of course, the Admiral knew the euphoria of being back out on the ocean wouldn’t last. An imaginary line had been crossed, and a pound of flesh was required to make it right.

Thankfully, as the Admiral’s mind began to wander to darker thoughts, a young officer interrupted him to inform him of the fleet’s arrival at waypoint bravo.

“Excellent. Instruct the fleet to set course for waypoint charlie, and maintain condition orange.”

[Gc1mak]

OOC:Hmmm,Is anyone else here using Lyran Weapon?Oh and Anemo I am glad to see Japanese(Language),are you Japanese(Race)?
Norinawa's street,one of the city in Ansari Empire filled with chinese
Thousands of protestor are moving through the street,holding lots of signs and shouting in chinese,protesting about Ansari Empire unwilling to take action against Griffrincrest Corporation after Ansari Empire's Government Channel broadcasted thousands of video about the invasion of smaller nations by the corporation,the chinese living in Norinawa was mostly supporting communism,or at least they are anti-corporatism,but all these protests was actually a part of the AE's plan to get an excuse for declaring war on Griffrincrest Corporation,the protestor shouted in cantonese and mandarin,

"反帝國主義!反支持帝制者!反黑舵聯邦!反格里芬鳥冠-公司!向黑舵聯邦和格里芬鳥冠-公司宣戰!"
In simplified chinese:
"反帝国主义!反支持帝制者!反黑舵联邦!反格里芬鸟冠-公司!向黑舵联邦和格里芬鸟冠-公司宣战!
Anti-Imperialism!Anti-Supporters of Imperialism!Anti-Black Helm Confederacy!Anti-Griffin Crest-Corporation!Declare War on Black Helm Confederacy and Griffin Crest-Corporation! (OOC:The helm you use on ship,the crest of bird)

The horribly mistranslated name of Griffincrest Corporation and Blackhelm Confederacy appeared on the signs the protestor was carrying,of course with the chinese word '反' before them,or maybe a few english vulgars that the chinese happens to learn,the protest was allowed.In fact,this protest was yet another excuse for the Emperor to mobilize their large military force and sail/drive to crush the corporation,but as the protest continued,in the capital of Ansari Empire a message was sent to the league that declared war on Blackhelm Confederacy/Griffrincrest Corporation,the message was extremely encrypted.

This is a message from the Ansari Empire,we wish to inform you that we would like to declare war on Blackhelm Confederacy to destroy the Griffrincrest Corporation,or at least turn it into legitmate business,however,we would like to ask are your league capable of gaining naval superiorty and air superiorty,as we wouldn't consider sending our armoured force into a unsafe nation where our force will be intercepted on the high sea,bombed from the air and utterly crushed,our navy and air force are not developed enough to gain air superiorty and naval superiorty from BC and GC

[Etoile Arcture]

Even at a time of crisis the well oiled machinery of the Directorates continued to turn their wheels with the same inevitable and dispassionate efficiency as ever. The Diplomatic Directorate filtered the flurry of communiques and diplomatic notes flowing between capitals, issued advisories and travel bans for regions, and informed the necessary directorates and foreign agencies of restricted air and sea routes. At the same the Defence Directorate sat down with their opposite numbers among members of alliances - the Delian League, the Concordant, ODECON, the Fegosian Union and the Fedala Accords - through the medium of military attaches from the respective embassies in various nations but not least of all in Delos itself. There they hashed out plans and strategies for possible military action.

The Intelligence Director collated everything known about the Griffincrest Corporation, the Blackhelm Confederacy and its allies and disseminated that information to other organs of government. Satellites were redirected to overfly the confederacy, while high altitude and long endurance unmanned sensorcraft performed aerial surviellance duties. This reconnaissance mapped the nature and extent of Blackhelm and Griffincrest military installtions and stores, monitored troop movements and the arrival of foreign reinforcements using multispectral electro optics and ultrawideband radar while ELINT and SIGINT acquired the frequencies of radar and communications channels.

Laser-pumped helium isotope fluxgate magnetometers on maritime reconnaissance satellites and synthetic aperture radar or maritime patrol aircraft flying long distance over-ocean sorties tracked submarines and naval movements as well as monitoring Novan waters for any kind of respond. Vast databases were constructed that overlaid tactical information gathered from thousands of sensors over topography and geographic datasets, maps of cities and road and rail networks and critical infrastructure to help plan operations.

The Finance Directorate freed up emergency funding, readjusted budget projections and begun buying reserve currency and securing additional raw materials for sustaining both the war effort and Etoilian industry. Not least of all oil and gas production was increased, along with security of all energy installations.

Across Etoile Arcture the initial shock felt from the Iythoragas incident and then the ultimatum by the League to the Griffincrest Corporation had after the passage of a few days warn off. As human beings often did they adjusted to the new reality they found themselves no matter how profound or disruptive the change it involved. There were no signs of panic buying in the shops, though shoppers hedged their bets stocking up on tinned and dry foods and bottled water. But in all other respects daily life simply continued on much as it usually did.

In Etoila Arcture demonstrations were not unusual, even large ones, as competing ideologies battled for public opinion. That there was as vocal a voice against the looming war as for it - at least on the streets - surprised few. But the intensity was different this time around, everyone could feel it. The Coalition Against the War, that united middle class students with working class factory workers, planned and implemented a number of marches, at one point managing to fill the major thoroughfares of New Corinth with a million marchers. The Citizens Against Griffincrest, once a tiny organization of no consequence made up of exiles from nations conquered by the eponymous corporation, had swelled in numbers as Etoilians flocked to their cause out of the anger they still felt following the Iythagoras affair.

The General Secretariat, invested with the executive powers of government, continued as they had done for half a century by taking the temperature of public opinion through polling, focus groups and electronic referenda. Each metric showed the same overall trend. As a nation built on and that defended human rights and national sovereignty, the crimes the Griffincrest Corporation were accused of in the court of public opinion had struck a chord in the Etoilian psyche. As a nation born out of a civil war to throw off unwanted colonial masters maybe this was not too unsurprising. But to see 70s and 80s on any issue was unheard of, and not least after the quagmires of Alestra, Madurastan and most recently Spredonia.

Such turmoil was typical of the Etoilian character. Often seen as indifferent, even apathetic, sometimes they could surprise their neighbours by the passion of their argument. Just as surprising was the Etoilian war machine, which seemed to spring into action seemingly from nowhere. In a nation that never outwardly showed any hint of militarism, where there were no statues of military leaders or those that commemorated key battles, where bases were located far away from civilian centres, where military parades were almost never held, and where there were no fortresses looming over the land and sea as a physical warning to any potential enemy. And yet, within the industrial belt behind the Fargo mountains that separated the nation with its neighbour and closest ally the Principality of Damirez, were weapon factories on such a scale that their daily output could equip the entire military of any nascent nation.

As the General Secretariat pondered the consequences of going to Defcon One, the largest mobilization in Etoile Arcture for thirty years was already reaching its crescendo. No less than seven fleets had been gathered, three alone to guard the nation itself with two deployed into Eastern Nova, and the First Fleet following the cancellation of operations in Spredonia now defending the seas around the megabase in Thive the Technocracy shared with the Fegosian Union. Another three fleets, one gathering at Delos and two in the Western Paradis Oceanus, would spearhead any military action against the confederacy itself. Aboard the amphibious assault ships spread among numerous task forces were embarked a half million troops and tens of thousands armoured fighting vehicles, aircraft and helicopters. Even more equipment and men would meet the ships when they arrived at Thive before proceeding to their final objective.

Among those of the various services, whether the elite Special Operation Groups, the grunts of the Ground Forces, the swabbies of the Maritime Forces and the drivers of the Aerospace Forces, there was that tingling expectation of fear tinged with excitement and that feeling of immortaility and ney indestructability only the young could feel. Their families, predictably, still hoping that diplomacy would prevail. Hoping whatever happened, they would see again their loved ones marching to war.

[Blackhelm Confederacy]

War was now upon the Confederacy. The nation of Monavia had launched its weapons against the assets of the Confederacy and her allies, and Coalition fleets were now underway towards the shores of the Chancellor's ancient nation. Griffincrest and the Confederate military were now preparing their orbital campaign to strike out, and lash back at the Monavians and their cronies.

Several satellites were destroyed by the Monavian strikes, but Griffincrest had poured billions into its space program, an initiative matched credit for credit by the Confederate Orbital Command. As enemy warheads left the atmosphere, a menagerie of countermeasures sprung into action, saving a vast majority of the satellites targetted, but still not all. Dozens were slapped from their rotation, mostly spy satellites focusing on Coalition movement throughout the world. This momentary blindness could be accounted for, however, as satellites from elsewhere moved to take their place.

Griffincrest struck first for the Alliance in orbit. Hundreds of their kamikaze style Hunter Killer Satellites, no more that large pieces of metal with a booster and a guidance system, began hurtling for the Monavian laser platforms, hoping to slam into them and shut them down. Once the CASS had deemed enough of the enemy platforms to be out of comission, it would unleash its massive barrage into space, intending to blind the enemy militaries, as well as bother their citizens and run up costs in the private sector. This would only be a minor sideshow to the coming conflict, but it was still viewed as an important theater of the war by Confederate officials.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chancellor Blackhelm looked out the window of his Chancellory in the center of Paradise City. The image before him nearly moved him to tears. Never before, despite the many wars that befell his nation, did he see such unity amongst his allies. The black clad Griffincrest mercenaries, the drab green uniforms of the Beiraqi's and the purple and gold of the pompous Blainesville Royal guard, the ever changing flag of Sorgan, the stars and stripes of Brewdomia and Sanctus Terra, the small band of Andrean aide workers, the cross and dragon of the Confederacy, and the skulls of both Emperor Nero and Ralkovia all present in the Grand Plaza. More men would continue to pour into the nation in the coming days, and with each man was more hope.

The coming conflict would be sure to be a long one. With nearly forty million soldiers under the Allied banner, plus countless irregular forces scattered throughout hte Confederacy's vast jungles, the Confederate High Command promised that even if the enemy did manage to land, the Allies would be capable of fighting on for years before one side will inevitably collapse due to attrition. These were years, hopefully, that would weigh in upon the Coalition's public conscience. The war may be popular now in their nations, with all the hype about the evil Corporation that needs to be eliminated, but in five years, after twenty million men have been killed on both sides without bringing Griffincrest to "justice", will the people of those nations still feel the same, or will they demand a new government and pull out troops at the next election time.

The winds of change were blowing all across the globe, and the victor if the coming struggle would dictate the course of the planet for years to come.

[Zaheran]

Reichsburg, Zaheran
The Imperial Palace

Zaheran was not a nation of Nova, but its deep involvement in the Fegosian Union made it inevitable that the affairs of the region would eventually affect the Holy Empire. Like now, the man known as Dieter I of Zaheran realized as he looked down on the pile of papers covering his desk. Proclamations from a number of nations, military readiness and intelligence reports, recommendations from the Defence and Foreign Ministries. But the papers which captured his attention were the ones lying on the top. Declarations from Monavia, Mokastana, Alfegos, Katonazag, Neo-Ixania. All nations which Zaheran had sworn to protect and defend. The nations of the Fegosian Union were marching to war, only Zaheran was still hesitating.

But no longer, the Emperor told himself. All around the Empire, leaves had been cancelled and reservists called up. Already some of the units assigned to the Fegosian Union Rapid Reponse Force were being deployed to Alfegos. The nation's fleets were at wartime readiness and ready to strike at Griffincrest assets wherever they might be found. Everything was ready. The only thing needed was the stroke of a pen, and thousands of Zaheranian airmen, soldiers, and sailors would find themselves risking their lives in a war far away from home, started by the actions of a man few of them had heard of. Many would die; fathers, brothers, sons and husbands. As well as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives, he reminded himself, the Armed Forces did its recruiting on a gender-neutral basis nowadays. So many would be wasted unnecessarily, all because of one man's greed.

With a sigh he rised from his chair and walked to the panorama windows of his office, overlooking the giant open area of Stahlhelm Square below. Many times he had been told what a security risk they were and advised to have them removed, but every time he had ignored the advice. Security was good and well, but sometimes you needed for yourself to see the people whose lives your decisions would affect. In this case, it was rather simple. Despite the gentle autumn rain that was falling over Reichsburg and a temperature of about ten degrees, tens of thousands had gathered at the open square. Banners and placards waved over the crowd, most more or less literally demanding the head of Claudius Griffincrest.

The majority of the members of the crowd wore the black and blue shirts of the Nationalgewerkschaft, the National Union, the labour union organising over two hundred and fifty million Zaheranian workers, mostly in the industrial sector. This included the workers of Zaheran's oil production and refining industry, whom had grown tired of trying to compete with the cheap Griffincrest oil flooding the market. As soon as the Novan crisis had arisen, the organisation had seized the chance to put its impressive propaganda machine to good use, whipping up the public opinion against Griffincrest and lobbying for a Zaheranian intervention. 'They're taking our jobs' was an argument that always appealed to the public's feelings, and since the multi-million reichmark hate campaign had started, polls had shown an ever-increasing part of the population being in favour of a military intervention against Griffincrest.

And now they would be getting their wishes fulfilled, the Emperor of Zaheran thought with a bitter smile as he returned to his desk. There was no sense in delaying it any longer. He sat down, called in the young nobleman serving as his personal aide and asked him to call up the Foreign and Defence Ministers. The man, a distant relative like all high-ranking servants, obliged and disappeared out of the door. A few minutes later he reappeared with two other men, one in a military uniform, the other in a grey pin-striped suit. The Emperor looked with affinity on his old friends and comrades from many battles. Together, Dieter von Holstëin-Rosenheim, Marius Stee and Erich Hoensbach had led the armies of the Northern Military Alliance to victory in the Civil War. Now they were all old men, with Dieter nearing his sixties and the two others well over fifty, and another war was approaching. Rather ironically, several of the nations they would now fight side by side with had been among their enemies during the civil war, but Zaheranian foreign policy had always relied more on pragmatism and realpolitik than any real sense of ideology.

The Emperor greeted his ministers warmly and invited them to sit down. They did so, quite gratefully. Both looked more tired than he had seen them since...well, since the end of the civil war, so many years ago. The Foreign minister had worked non-stop since he had returned from the Zekhay conference, planning and coordinating with his colleagues in the Fegosian Union. Of his usual neat, nearly pedantic, appearance there was no trace. His elegant suit was creased and his eyes red and watery. The Defence Minister looked if possible even worse, unshaven and with pouches under his eyes. Readying the Zaheranian war machine for a conflict of this magnitude was not an easy task, and neither of the other men envied him this task.

"I guess you know why I called you here?," the Emperor asked in opening. The others simply nodded. They had known that it would come to this eventually. From the beginning, it had been clear that the question was not if Zaheran would be drawn into the Griffincrest-Novan crisis, but when. With so many allies in the region, it was impossible to simply sit and watch.

"Marius, I want you to contact our allies in the Fegosian Union and inform them that we are ready to strike. We will focus on clearing our immediate surroundings from Griffincrest and BC presence for now, but as soon as we are fully ready, we can begin to think about more offensive operations. Erich, contact the commanders of Atlantic Command and Pacific Command. I want the sea lanes to Mokastana cleared so they can start shipping troops over to the forward bases. All efforts are to be coordinated with the Mokans as per the usual routine. How is our readiness status?"

"We have five fully equipped and manned divisions which can be deployed within twenty-four hours," the Defence Minister said after a brief look in his notes. "I have earmarked them for Union use for the moment being, but if we need to, we have ample transport capacity to get them wherever we want. Twenty-five divisions will be ready within seventy-two hours, and the rest of our standing and reserve forces within ninety-six hours. My staff has detailed plans in the event we have to call a general mobilisation, and they can be executed within an hour of me giving the order. Our estimates indicate that we can have three million men under arms within three to four weeks. Those are the ones with any kind of military training, mostly Reichwehr volunteers and Civil War veterans. If you want a full mobilisation, it will take four months at the least, if we are going to give them the minimum amount of training. At the moment, I'm recommending a limited mobilisation of the Reichswehr for internal security duties. That way, we will free up regular soldiers who are needed elsewhere."

"Do so. I'm not authorizing a general mobilisation order unless we face a full-scale military invasion, which frankly seems pretty damned unlikely at the moment. I expect that we will be hearing more from the Fegosian Union on where they want our forces, so keep maximum readiness for the moment being, but take no further actions. Any reactions from Griffincrest or the Blackhelm Confederacy?"

"The Monavians and the Confederates have started shooting at each other in space. Our first estimates indicate some success for the Monavians, but the Confederates seem to be counter-attacking with killer sats against the Monavian network. We have some indications of raised military activity from our intsats, but that is to be expected. No reply from Griffincrest so far in any way. A number of other nations have declared their support for Griffincrest and the BC, but with the notable exception of Ralkovia, they are of little importance from a military standpoint and should pose a negligible threat to our national security. Ralkovia might be more of a problem, but considering that they will most likely be outnumbered heavily by the coalition forces, probably not one than cannot be overcome. We are trying to organise more satellite overpasses of the nations in question, so we will probably get more information over the next few days."

"Very well. I know you both have duties you have to attend to, so I will not delay you any longer. Just remember to get some sleep. Tired men make mistakes, and we cannot afford unnecessary mistakes when lives will depend on our decisions. Understood?" He stared sternly at the two ministers, who nodded shamefully like unruly schoolchildren. The secretary arrived to escort them out, and the Emperor allowed himself to slump back into his chair and relax a little for the first time that day. He still had half an hour before he was due to meet the Interior Minister to discuss reserves of strategic raw materials the nation was building up in case of a blockade. Suddenly he felt a wave of tiredness flooding over him. With great power came even greater responsibility, and sometimes it could be a heavy burden indeed. As the old saying went: the only difference between a wise man and a fool was that a wise man made graver mistakes. While the mistakes of a fool could harm only himself, the mistakes of a ruler could mean the death of entire nations. He sighed and buzzed his secretary to order some coffee. The decision had been taken and for better or worse, history would show if the decision he had taken had been the correct one.


Joint Territory S:t Therese, Zaheranian Zone
Fort Theresia Military Airport


It was hard to believe the rapid change that had taken part on the once so desolate island. In just under fourteen months, fourteen square kilomaters of the barren plains in the northern parts of the Zaheranian zone had been transformed into a military base of a size and population to rival a small city. Dozens of runways formed the heart of the complex, and in between them were the radar stations, control towers and SAM batteries needed to keep the airbase running. Below the ground, kilometers after kilometers of bunkers, aircraft shelters and barracks for pilots and ground personnel had been painstakingly blasted and carved from the hard rock. It was a masterpiece of engineering, and a project that had cost countless billions, but it was all worth it. Aircraft based on the island could inflict heavy losses on any enemy force which tried to invade Zaheran from the south. Together with the forces stationed on Neo'Ilos, Groede, Hooge and the other islands which made up the southern parts of the Zaheranian Archipelago, they could make the six hundred kilometers between them virtually inaccessible for enemy surface ships and submarines, thus protecting the heavy merchant traffic in the area.

With the outbreak of hostilities between the Fegosian Union and the Blackhelm Confederacy, the already heavy forces stationed on the island were reinforced further. The standing six squadrons of F-25C Revolution fighters were increased to ten, the fleet of ASW helicopters was almost doubled and the sixteen E-17A Watchtower AEW&C aircraft were reinforced to twenty-one. The land forces were reinforced from one mechanised battalion to three, as well as several independent anti-aircraft brigades. From a distance, the base looked like a hyper-modern anthill, with dozens of aircraft taking off and landing in perfect coordination every minute, unloading soldiers, equipment and supplies in an never-ending stream. Far above, fighters circled like birds of prey to protect against a surprise attack. The war had already started in space between Monavian and Confederate satellites, and as S.t Therese was partly governed by the Monavians, an attack would certainly not be surprising.

For now, the priorities for the forces on the island were two: defend the island itself from attacks and clear the route for allied fleets making their way towards Nova. Together with elements from the Fourth and Fifth Fleets, ASW helicopters from S:t Therese were systematically searching the ocean around the island for enemy submarines, slowly moving outwards from the secured area. Minesweepers had begun working the routes through which the fleets would move, but so far nothing had been found apart from a few stray mines left over from the civil war.

[Alfegos]

ORBCOM - Orbital Command Headquarters
Ol'vi Cosomdrome - Level 1 Security Zone
Ol'vi
Metropolitan Alfegos - Nova

In one of the briefing rooms, buried deep under the massive runways of the cosmodrome, the Anti-Orbital Resource department were in the midst of a briefing. The subject was clear to see - in the darkened room, the projector showed an acetate drawing of a satellite, marked in the top corner as 'Alpha -Three Security" - in other countries, also referred to as TOP SECRET. A small caption complimented the image, giving it all the meaning necessary to the gathered officers.

"The slide, as stated above, shows a typical Griffencrest/Blackhelm Confederacy surveillance satellite. For the rest of this briefing, I will use GR/BC as the short form of the combined threat.
The satellite shown is typical for their satellite design - it consists of a duel module, linked by bar. The primary module is the main operational housing, containing surveillance, power, control and transmission equipment. The secondary section contains a decoy. This information was gathered from previous reports of encounters with these satellites, and from the EITS satellite net.
The use of the decoy means that the satellite will have 50% survival rate from our existing anti-orbital ordinance, excluding the use of category 1 weapons. In addition to this, we must expect the GR/BC to have countermeasures on top of this. Thus, the use of anti-orbital ordinance is made to be severely depleting to our arsenal, even if targeting only satellites in transgression of Novan space. Therefore, we have come up with the following solution."

The next slide contained a diagram. Pens rustled furiously as notes were taken, along with the sounds of a couple murmers of disbelief.

"For the satellite to work, three things must work in unison - power, data collector, and data transmitter. If any of these does not work, the satellite is useless. It is impossible to try and directly jam a satellite, due to existing anti-radiation shielding. Therefore, one must stop the signal in between the satellite and the ground.

You are all aware of the department's UHEIM Project - the Ultra High Energy Ionspheric Modification system. It consists of a site, approximately one kilometre square, covered with antennae tuned to the E layer of the ionosphere. With energy transmitted, it causes the localised layer to fill with charged particles, and become opaque to radio waves. This cascade effect will then spread to effect an area of approximately one thousand kilometres by one thousand kilometres.
The plan is to mobilise antennae of this nature in the long term, and move them aboard suitable platforms, such as vessels, or install them in territory near to/in the Blackhelm confederacy. If placed in strategic areas, it will eliminate all satellite connections. GPS will be rendered useless in a given area, long-range communications will go down, and any data uplinks by satellite will be jammed.
The downside is that such a system will take time to develop and deploy. It will also have an enourmous power demand. Finally, it will interfere with all GPS systems, not just the enemy's. Thus, it will have to be deployed in the initial stages of the conflict, as a protective shield over allied shipping. It will allow the disabling of satellite-earth stations from a distance.

The ETA of the unit delivery is a month at present. We can attempt to force it down to two weeks, ready to move out with any of our main forces. Until then, we will have to rely on concentrated volleys from our Ceres batteries. Any questions?"

__________________________________________

Bunker 22 - Solace Mountains
Milkavich Province

Outside the fortified command centre, a pair of guards paced over their footprints in the gathering snow. It was hard to believe that a mere ten kilometres away, tropical cloud forest was sprouting in the fresh mountain air. It always snowed on Nuo'Sen'lei - the cold peak. Right now though, there was more activity than there normally was at this high altitude, uneventful posting for the Guardsmen, giving them a bit of warmth as they moved about. For underneath a couple feet of snow, blast doors concealed a battery of fourty surface-to-orbit missiles, designated CERES. Occasionally launched from mobile platforms, the majority of missiles were clustered alongside the ABM system stations, such as at this position. And already, the order had been given to prepare for firing - the radome had been cleared of snow, allowing it a clear signal across the skies of Alfegos, and Nova. The people within were searching, for those lone stars that could be accounted for as Griffencrest satellites. And, when one of them was spotted, as they were hoping to do very soon, the missiles would be ready for a rapid launch up to those unwelcome snoopers in the sky.

A klaxon suddenly sounded. In the command bunker, the officer sat listening to a telephone handset, jotting down notes on a piece of paper. A string of seemingly random numbers and letters had been scrawled on the paper, along with a couple of acronyms. The amber alert alarm was sounding, the strobes flashing as all personnel were summoned to battle positions. Slamming the handle down, the Major turned to face the men in the command room.
"Gentlemen, we have been given permission to launch at all enemy satellite targets. Prepare for launch."
Outside, snow dropped down between two blast doors opening, a siren barking to warn all of an imminent launch. Inside, clouds of steam came pouring out, water meeting the heated interior, where a couple of engineers quickly brushed away the mess forming on the top of the cells. As the doors neared full retraction, the two disappeared away, slamming heavy doors behind them.
"First volley guidance online. Uplink to ORBCOM and control stations confirmed. Firing code Alpha, Niner, One, Niner, Charlie, Foxtrot, Zero, Delta."
"Code accepted. Primary sector online. Firing in fifteen...fourteen."
Two switches were flicked on, control panels lighting up with firing controls. A number of old TV monitors sat coursing with microwaves as countermeasure pulses started. One of the displays sat beaming a side-on schematic, of the intended launch trajectories. The blast door on the bunker was slammed shut, the handle locked down to seal them inside.
"Three... two... one... ignition... all missiles are in the air."

A gout of smoke, flame and steam punched up from the firing pit, eight missiles bursting upwards into the sky. The primary launching charges dropped from the undersides, as the main engines deployed fully. The streaks of light were soon lost in the cloudy sky, the giant poles thundering up into the sky. Once coursing through the mesosphere, their secondary guidance stage took effect - with signals bounced to the warheads from mesolites positioned across the region, stationary airships parked at 55km up in the atmosphere. Arching upwards to the realms of the military satellites, low earth orbit bands, RADAR pulses from the ABM deterrent stations across Alfegos and the region helped bring them in, with visual confirmation from the EITS 2 surveillance satellite of any within visual range.


________________________________________________

UHEIM Complex
Somewhere in the Gra'Fegos
Milkavich Province

In the middle of the rainforest, a ghostly hum cut above the heavy chorus of insects and birds. A bright flash of tropical birds cut above the tall trees, arching away from where they gave way to a vast clearing. Within, a solitary square sat cut from the forest, that slowly was starting to reclaim it. Around the perimeter, a single gap sat cut back, a ten metre distance between fence and forest. The fence was electrified, and mines sat buried in the rough ground. Bright warning signs still shone from under moss, warning all of the dangers of trespass. Further into the forest, a mound had been shifted in front of a ditch, a much more effective way of deterring the threats that tried to get to the facility. Windchimes sat slowly clinking, charmed to ward off the evil spirits that were known to live in these parts, and all the guards were armed with swords.

Not that they were superstitious at all. The installation commander knew that it was inevitable, the sort of work the guards saw carried out here. Within the confines of the fencing, and concrete inner barriers, a repetitive phalanx of what looked like scrap metal arranged in perfect rows and columns. Giant glass rings sat around tall scaffold spires, poking upwards into the sky, all with some hidden intent. Cables as thick as arms trailed across the site, whilst the occasional sparks jumped from a building hidden some way into the site. The place appeared completely abandoned, save for the paired soldiers walking carefully around the site. In the centre, a small stack of electrical monstrosities marked the command centre, set into the rock itself under the ground.

Inside though, there was much more activity. Uniformed servicemen bustled through the corridors, bare concrete sprouting darkly painted conduits. All had some sort of armament, and all were there ready for some reaction. Stuck in the midst of the danger zones of guerilla-held forest, attacks were unexpected, and often deadly. The devices being run under the ground were crude, yet effective for their purpose - ranks of valves sat in control chambers, tended to by technicians as tens of kilovolts coursed through them. Rooms filled with chemical baths roared as energy surged through them, electricity tapped from nuclear piles embedded in the deepest recesses of the structure's vaults boosted again and again, until sparks literally jumped from every surface. In the control centre, banks of dials sat embedded against walls, mixed with ancient cathode-ray tubes borrowed from the previous projects installed on the site. Everything sat within screens of mesh, protection against the massive energies that flowed through the site.

A telephone rang, the Colonel in charge answering.
"Prepare UHEIMP for immediate firing, as per tactical situation 5. Code Alpha Three Three Niner."
"Sir, we are unable to broadcast - the system is still cooling off from last week's testing. To fire it again would risk damage to the system."
"And you're telling me that that means the system is unable to be used?"
"Well... it would risk it being fired a second time in short succession."
"Does not matter - prepare for firing anyhow."
"Yes sir."
The colonel sighed, placing down the phone, before picking up a microphone.
"All personnel - military firing in ten minutes. Amber alert."
Technicians and engineers rushed from place to place, moving over to control stations. As the last people assembled, blast doors were slammed shut, the Colonel looking around to check all were ready.
"We have been ordered to fire tactical situation 5 - a fifteen minute extended pulse into the F layer of the atmosphere at 40% power. Prepare antennae for that frequency, and move all electronics to safe areas."

On the surface, the sparking cable silenced briefly. A guard dog started howling, whining as it tugged to hide away. The two patrolling guards moved quickly to a bunker position, checking around for what the dog was worried about. What it was fearing became painfully obvious as the two looked around, murmuring incantations with swords drawn - the spirits had returned. A blue-green glow flitted about for a moment, disappearing as soon as it had come. Sparks jumped as giant electrical gates were moved, bolts of lightning arching up metres into the air. A deep hum, as if the earth itself was taking a deep breath in, started to shake the site. And then... the sky lit up with lights. Fantastic, ghoulish curtains rippled between the metal spires, as they began broadcasting. And a deafening roar, as if the entire world was caving in on them, forced the two guards into fetal positions on the floor of the position, rocking in fear.

High up, far above the clouds, a curtain of light began to spread across the top of the atmosphere - the realms of low earth orbit. Timed to co-incide with a lack of important allied or neutral traffic, a geomagnetic storm was taking place. Bright pulses of red and blue light rippled outwards from a central point, high above the clouds and in amongst the satellites that resided there. Quickly spreading, it soon encompassed a puddle across Alfegos and surrounding sea spaces, lit up with ghostly lights. Bending with the magnetosphere, glowed with enough energy to initiate the auto-shutdown of any satellite in the area, to prevent itself any damage. Whilst their own satellites would be affected, and communications forced onto mesolitic channels for a brief period of time, it would have the effect of shutting down any enemy satellite above Alfegos, until it moved out of the area of threat. Or, if the enemy were reckless enough to force them to keep it operating, it would have the effect of frying their electronics.

After fifteen minutes, the lights disappeared as suddenly as they came. All that was left... ghostly echoes, as the skies went back to normal. Whilst it had likely had little effect on any threatening satellites, that still did not detract from the main goal - if their enemies realised what had just happened was artificial, then they would have some idea of what would happen if they tried anything on Alfegan soil.

Back in the emplacement, the two guards slowly picked themselves up, shaking and shivering despite the heat. The dog stood whining, staring at where excess power slowly let itself drain away into the ground. They were brought from their reverie, staring into where just minutes before the spirits had been dancing, by shouting.
"All guard patrols, in on me!"

________________________________________

ORBCOM

"...well I'll be buggered... that was some light show your boys put on."
In the satellite control centre, the screen flickered back on, rebooting satellite after satellite affected by the emission, noting those which had difficulties.
"General, Sir... EITS 7 and 19 are down, and not responding. The Space Agency just sent us word that TERSAT-2 and FEGONET-12 are failing to reboot, and want to know what the hell just happened."
"Tell them it was a solar flare for now - we didn't have time between our sensors picking it up and the actual event. Send word to our high-up associates in the Union and in Damirez that we just fired UHEIMP for the first time in a military context... and also, send apologies for any equipment damaged in the broadcast."
"Sir, we're still waiting on reports as to what has happened to the Blackhelm satellites."
"Get them as soon as possible. Prepare the second volley of Ceres missiles."

[Azazia]

CBC News
Celarian Broadcasting Corporation

Oceanian Atrean Parliament Passes War Resolution
ALEHESSEN—The Atrean Parliament has passed a resolution affirming that home country's support for the pan-Novan war effort against the Blackhelm Confederacy. The non-binding resolution calls for the national government in Georgetown to first adopt the Dagora Doctrine and then join a coalition of Novan powers in their effort against the Blackhelm Confederacy.

In both the Provincial Council and the Assembly, the Socialists joined with the Progressives to ensure passage of the resolution. The Crown Royalists and Communists also joined with the governing coalition, leaving only the Liberals and the Greens in opposition of the resolution. In the Provincial Council the resolution passed 62–34; in the Assembly of the People the resolution passed 373–153. Shortly afterwards, the resolution was given royal assent by Sir Howard Kessel, the royal governor.

Outside Bachburg Palace, in King Adriaan Square, a crowd that had gathered in support of the resolution cheered the result while a much smaller group protested against proposed Oceanian involvement in the war. Despite the popular support, the resolution is non-binding particularly because of the constitutional arrangements that place foreign and national security policy in the hands of the national government in Georgetown.

Unlike in Oceanian Atrea, the Thomason government has no inclination to involve the United Kingdom so intimately in Novan affairs. Lord Takketfels, the Novan Affairs Minister, spoke before the House of Lords this afternoon, stating the "passions of Oceanian Atreans must be tempered by a concern for the greater good of the United Kingdom and all Oceanians. "

Despite official disapproval of the war, the Government did allow a vote in the House of Commons on a measure put forth by the Oceanian Atrean delegation broadly similar to the resolution passed by the Oceanian Atrean Parliament. As widely expected, however, the measure was defeated by a substantial margin. The Progressives, Crown Royalists and Atrean Socialists were joined by the Oceanian Socialists and Communists, the Labour Party, the Radicals, the Democrats, the Red Socialists, and the sole MP of the Social Democratic Workers' Party in the vote. However, all the large national and Celarian parties opposed the measure, which was defeated 900–100. The House of Lords then shelved plans for a similar vote.

The vote in Georgetown typifies attitudes throughout the remainder of the United Kingdom, where Oceanian Atrea comprises less than a tenth of the national population. Most Oceanians view the brewing conflict in Nova as an affair constrained to Nova—a region to which, in numerous polls, most Oceanians have repeatedly shown no particular affection or attachment. And while neither the Blackhelm Confederacy nor Griffencrest Corporation are held in favour by Oceanians, most Oceanians appear more concerned with the deteriorating situation in Sarnia.

And yet while the national government is disinclined to participate in what Foreign Secretary Stephen McKay labeled a "petty, regional squabble" earlier this week in the House of Commons, both the Admiralty and Ministry of Defence have quietly admitted to making preparations in the event that the war reaches Oceanian Atrea.

The Admiralty officially confirmed what had been reported for several days, that the Royal Navy was despatching two additional carrier groups and four additional surface groups to Nova. Totaling over two hundred combat vessels, their mission is to officially defend Oceanian commercial interests from a surge in piracy afflicting the region. However, almost all analysts note that the scale of the deployment dwarves any needed resources to defend against such a minor threat. Unofficially, sources within the Admiralty confirm that the United Kingdom is concerned about becoming caught in the crossfire.

Similarly, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed rumoured deployments of additional air groups to Oceanian Atrea. While the MoD has declined to provide specifics on the deployments, anonymous sources have described a number of early warning, logistical, and fighter aircraft. The MoD has also confirmed that it is moving up the deployment of a light infantry division scheduled to engage in a training operation outside Eichebrucke across the border from Atrea. The Oceanian Army is also preparing an armoured division and a mechanised infantry division for rapid deployment to the region should the need arise. However, perhaps most tellingly, sources within the Admiralty noted that they have plans neither to send ready divisions of Royal Marines to Nova nor to prepare additional divisions for rapid deployment.

[Brewdomia]

The B-2's had been in flight for several hours when they noticed, with a relay signal from command that 32 enemy jets were screaming in toward the fighters. Unfortunately for The B-2 bombers they would have to alter the mission slightly to stay alive. They veered of course and because they were ECM equipped proceeded to ECM Jam the enemy fighters, hoping to avoid detection or keep them busy until the 35 F-15's that had been called in, were ready to confront the enemy. The target of the B-2 bombers had been the capital ships of several Novan fleets, but they would have to wait as a new enemy had presented itself to Brewdomia...

Space

The Brewdomia satellites that had been in Space were being attacked by The State of Monavia, and Space command was having it's hands full with the Monavians. Fortunately for The Brewdomian satellites the brunt of the attack was taken by The Blackhelm Confederacy, and Brewdomian satellites had not received much damage. Now, The Brewdomian Air force had built "suicide sats" that would attempt to disrupt enemy communications. The sats advanced to their targets, ready to dent opposing space assets.

Meanwhile, several tungsten rods that The Brewdomian Government had invested so heavily in were finally about to be put to use. While the Sats that would crash into the enemy satellites in space would disrupt some of the enemy's ability to track in space, the Tungsten Rods carried by their platform would position itself over Novan Military Installations in Leistung, New Manth, Monavia, Etoile Arcture and other opposing Novan nations.

In Space, the rods moved by their platforms slowly moved toward their position...

OOC: Guys, can you give me some Military Installations I can attack, besides Monavia I am going to attack that base where you sent those fighters from. Thanks.

[Emperor Nero]

New York - Home of World Assembly Headquarters

Raoul sat on his living room couch watching an old episode of Seinfeld. At least, he was trying to watch, but that damn kid upstairs was making such a racket that it was virtually impossible to concentrate on anything. He looked around for his broom handle, wanting to bang on the ceiling. Too lazy to get up, he simply shouted "SHUT THE FUCK UP" when he saw his trusty handle was out of reach, propped up against a wall by the front door.

It quieted down for a minute, long enough for him to hear the all too familiar sound of his PC informing him that he had a new e-mail in his inbox. After taking a moment to motivate himself to get up, he went to take a look.

"Looks like work"

And, work it was. After decrypting, decoding, and translating the attached file; Raoul knew what he had to do.

On his way to the door, he grabbed a wad of cash, cleverly hidden in a VHS case for the movie Battlefield Earth. "Nobody would ever steal that piece of shit" he thought as he left.

Raoul walked about half a mile to the nearest subway station, and made his way across town. He hated the subway, but hated New York traffic and parking even worse. "Someday I'm gonna move out of this dump" he said to no one in particular.

Having arrived at his stop, he got off, and made his way towards Big Apple Computers; a store that sold both new and used computers, parts, and accessories. As he entered the store, a bell rang, alerting the clerk to Raoul's presence. In short order, Raoul was out the door with a used laptop, paid for with cash.

With his new laptop in hand, Raoul walked ten blocks north, and two blocks east. Eventually, he'd had enough of that shit, and hailed a cab.

Before long, the cab was idling on a side street near a coffee shop with wifi. In the backseat, Raoul was at work. First, he created an e-mail address on Yahoo using bogus information. Then, he used the new account to send the same e-mail to various military and government agencies in New Manth.

Subject: Mines
From: Whistleblower

Here are the coordinates for the mines. I can't believe we did this. Somebody needs to put a stop to this or a lot of people are going to die.

Attached was a document listing the coordinates of all 600 naval mines.

-----------------------

SIC

A short while later, the following message was transmitted to via secure channels to Claudius Griffencrest from the Emperor himself.

To: Claudius Griffencrest
Re: Mines

It would appear we underestimated the outrage our minefield would generate.

I believe it would behoove us to turn that outrage against the Novan coalition. To that end, our government has a plan to shift the blame for the mines to a coalition member.

I know it is a lot to ask, but it would be helpful if you could find a way for one of your ships fall prey to a mine. When we make our accusation publicly, we intend to claim the motive for the minefield was to trap/damage your vessels leaving the Nova region.

~Nero

[Emperor Nero]

IMPERIAL PRESS RELEASE

Over the last couple days, it has become increasingly apparent that the Magnus Ocean was mined by a rogue nation. With what can only be considered a callous disregard for human life and international law, these mines were deployed without warning.

As the Neroian Empire borders the Magnus Ocean, we have a vested interest in monitoring the happenings there. In addition to a variety of observation satellites, we also maintain an extensive hydrophone network throughout the area.

Having analyzed the data, we believe we have identified the culprit behind this atrocity. In the days preceding the first appearance of the mines, several hundred warships from The Greater Economic Union of New Manth arrived in the Magnus Ocean. These ships had ample time to lay the mines plus the capability to do so. No other nations had large fleets in the area at the time.

Despite having more vessels in the area that every other nation in the world combined, New Manth’s ships have without exception avoided running afoul of any mines. Even more damning is that fact that they appear to be doing so without taking any sort of special precautions. The obvious conclusion we have drawn is that they know where the mines are, so they have nothing to fear. Additional evidence lends credence to that theory. Within several hours of the first mine explosion, New Manth naval vessels were overheard using open channels to discuss the situation with a stricken vessel. It was our expectation that the presence of mines would cause New Manth’s vessels in the area to slow down, take caution, and perhaps spend time sweeping the area for mines. However, the only change we have observed that a handful of their ships are now loitering near the stricken vessel in what appears to be an attempt to deflect blame.

Furthermore, Imperial intelligence assets have uncovered New Manth’s motive for laying the mines. Apparently, ships belonging to the Griffencrest Corporation ventured into Nova recently. The minefield was intended to block their escape back to the Blackhelm Confederacy.

Given the severity and callousness of the crime, our beloved leader, Emperor Nero, has resolved to drive New Manth out of the Magnus Ocean. The Emperor also pledges to make marking and removing the mines a top priority so all free nations may traffic through the area without fear of harm once again. Most importantly, the Emperor wishes to welcome all those, who would be willing to aid in these great undertakings.

Satellite images, hydrophone recordings, space based radar telemetry, and other gathered evidence will be made available upon request for news and government agencies.

[New Manth]

A shadowy back-alley office somewhere in Manth, air thick with cigar smoke and jazz... okay, not that shadowy. And not back-alley. It's the wartime office of the President's CCX Liaison, in a bunker somewhere in the Eastern Desert, and it's actually pretty well-lit for being far underground. But the President is, at least, smoking a cigar.

The President was frowning, only slightly, as he spoke to the black-suited Somali woman sitting across from him.

"The Denomination of Strategy and the President's CCX office both received these messages. We haven't verified accuracy, yet, but broadly speaking the area of the first minefield seems accurate."

"And immediately afterwards, we hear of this Imperial press release accusing us of laying the mines. Ridiculous. Someone is trying very hard to play us for fools..."

"And the proper response? We can't keep this information to ourselves if there's any chance it's accurate..."

"Think... outside the box, Mr. President. Whoever sent this - well, I think we both can guess where it came from - was clearly expecting us to go public with it and corroborate their accusations. And we do have to pass the information on, of course. So we do. The exact same way it came to us. Anonymously. To both ODECON and the League. Including neutral members. And including ourselves, of course! Wraps our problem up neat as a pin."

The office was silent for a few moments as the President thought this over. Then he smiled suddenly, and leaned back in his chair.

"...You know, I actually can't see any problem with that. If anyone accuses us of having the information first, they reveal that they sent it! See that it's done. And the press release, well, without corroborating evidence it hurts the Empire as much as us. If not more, we thought it was the Confederacy laying the mines, before this. I think we have a new chief suspect now, though! I think we can let our international record speak for itself, about their little press release?"

"Just what I would have suggested, Mr. President."

"Hah. Sly minx. I knew I kept you around for a reason. Time for the DFD to do what it does best then."

"Write a passive-aggressive sarcastic reply?"

She grinned. The President sighed.

"Sorry. Time for the DFD to do what it does second-best. A reasoned reply with only slight sarcasm."


******

Press Release
Denomination of Foreign Diplomacy
On the Subject of Recent Neronian Press Releases

In response to the recent statements from the Rogue Nation of Emperor Nero, the Denomination would like to make public the Greater Economic Union's comments.

First, we would like to note that the Neronian navy employs Seawolf-class submarines, the same class of submarine that was detected by both the Union Navy and the Chalcedonian navy beelining directly away from the minefield in question at high speed. We would like to further note, however, that one piece of circumstantial evidence, however fitting, should not be enough to unambiguously identify the Neronians as the perpetrators of this crime (as many nations operate this class of submarine, although the Union does not), and that if circumstantial evidence is to be relied on, there should be multiple pieces. Indeed, we ourselves had, previous to the Neronian statement, chiefly suspected the Blackhelm Confederacy of laying these mines, showing the danger of leaping to conclusions!

And so, on the topic of circumstantial evidence, we would secondly advise "Imperial intelligence assets" to pay more attention to reality when they are attempting to lie bald-faced to the international community. Claudius Griffincrest's fleet is already well gone from Novan waters, and the Neronian claim to "prove" our motive to lay a minefield to catch a foe, when that foe is already gone, is senseless at best. We would like to note that we consider such a blatant attempt to falsely pin blame on other nations, while again hardly conclusive in itself, certainly to be quite a piece of circumstantial evidence.

Third, we would like to inquire of the Imperial Neronian Navy how it came into possession of radio transcripts of the Union Navy's emergency correspondence with a stricken Allemande merchant vessel unless it itself had vessels or aircraft in the area, given that the incident happened far out at sea? We would like to remind "Imperial intelligence assets" that hydrophones do not pick up marine radio. It is the formal opinion of the Military Intelligence Directorate that being reminded of this fact may help "Imperial intelligence assets" to at least come up with something believable this time.

Fourth, we would also like to inquire why, if the Imperial Neronian Navy indeed had vessels or aircraft in the area capable of listening in on these conversations, it did not make any attempt to assist stricken neutral shipping (unlike the Union Navy) as required under international law and custom. Unless said vessels had an ulterior motive for not wanting to reveal their presence.

Fifth, as the Chalcedonian Navy also has assets in the area, the Union Navy will direct both of its submarines that were in the immediate area to rendezvous with the Chalcedonians as soon as possible, and invites a Chalcedonian inspector on board to verify that both vessels are still carrying their full complement of weaponry, and could not have laid the mines in question. The same offer extends to an Allemandian inspector.

Sixth, the Union would like to point to its long record of strictly observing the Laws of the Sea, its solemn pledge under treaty not to do for any reason what the Neronian Empire accuses it of having done for very little reason, and its record of bringing to the strictest punishment the perpetrators of exactly this sort of crime, for which purpose the Union has fought wars in the past. We would simply like to note that this record of actual deeds is far more credible than a Corporate Alliance state suddenly feigning an outbreak of concern for international naval law, or international decency at all for that matter.

Seventh and finally, if, as the government of Emperor Nero claims, its intelligence services have solid proof that the Union Navy laid these mines, we invite and challenge them to publish it. Now.

In the absence of any such evidence, it is currently the opinion of the Union that the Rogue Nation of Emperor Nero is most likely responsible for laying the mines in question.

[Blackhelm Confederacy]

The Confederate flagged ocean liner Pax was among the very last vessels trickling back to the Confederacy, follwing a statement issued by the Senate requiring all Confederate ships to return to port immediately. The captain was following akibg a route updated almost constantly from the Confederate Navy, providing him with up to the minute updates of Coalition vessels and the best path to avoid them. With still roughly a one week jounrney ahead of them, the unsuspecting captain smashed straight into a minefield.

At 10:30PM local time, a mine collided with the ship just below the waterline on the port side. The eight hundred passengers and crew aboard the ship broke into a panic as the pleasure boat began to rapidly fill with water. The captain began desperately sending out a distress call, hoping that somebody, anybody, would come by and rescue them. The ship was going down fast, and there were not enough lifeboats.

Word reached the Chancellory immediately, as frightened passengers called their loved ones on satellite phones, who subsequently informed the Confederate authorities. A message was made up almost immediately, and before long a broadcast would be heard all throughout the Confederacy, and hopefully throughout the world.

"Earlier today, the ocean liner Pax and eight hundred passengers and crew members were en route to Paradise City, after cutting short a planned round the world voyage. She had just one more week of sailing before her before she would be in the safety and comfort of her home port, when she had a meeting with fate. The ship, clearly a civilian vessel and of no military value at all, unknowingly sailed directly into a minefield in the middle of the Magnus Ocean, and suffered serious damage to its port side. I regret to inform you that the ship has taken on water, and as I speak is slipping beneath the waves. The nearest Confederate vessel is at least a three day voyage away, and so now we must ask for the good will of others to come to our aide and rescue the survivors of the Pax.

The Confederate High Command has informed me of the purpose of these minefields, and it disturbs me to believe its reasons. According to our intelligence agencies, our enemies deployed these minefields throughout the Magnus Ocean in an attempt to intercept Griffincrest surveying vessels returning from Nova, after being invited to the region by Iythagoras. This reckless act failed in its intended effects, and is now damaging civilian shipping. A recent release from Emperor Nero corroborates this claim, and satellite footage and international news reports indicate that other vessels have met a similar fate to the Pax in these fields, in some cases resulting in a loss of life.

I am now calling upon all nations of the world to unite and condemn the Coalition for its heinous actions, and I hope wholeheartedly that the people of their respective nations show to their governments that they too are disgusted by these acts of barbarity. Actions such as these are unacceptable, and those responsible need to be punished."

[Lamoni]

Lamonian Frigate FRLS Dragon

Nearing the civilian ship Pax while on it's way to join the rest of the Lamonian fleet holding station between GD and Blackhelm, the Dragon sent out RHIBs, and it's helicopter in order to pick up any survivors. The Type 35 Patrol Frigate then broadcast a satellite radio message back to it's HQ in Lamoni, informing them that the rescue was taking place. Hopefully, a neutral third nation would be willing to hold the survivors until their home nation(s) could arrange for their repatriation.

The non-injured survivors were being held on the aft part of the ship, with PM-16 (SMG) armed marines keeping guard on them. The Marines had standing orders not to shoot unless they themselves or the ship was under attack, but they allowed the ships cooks to distribute food and drink to the survivors. Fortunately, the Dragon had been undergoing evacuation training before the war broke out, and it still retained eight portable field toilets (think porta-potty). These were also placed where the survivors could use them. The survivors that had been injured were being treated in sickbay, though the ship would likely be there for a matter of some hours, continuing the search until there could be no survivors left.

---

Lamonian Fleet HQ, Kazatlan, Lamoni

The message from the FRLS Dragon had arrived only about ten minutes before, and already the Lamonian Foreign Ministry was searching for a suitable neutral third nation that would be able to care for the survivors until their home nations could pick them up. Though the Free Republic and the Blackhelm Confederacy were at war, the international laws of the sea would still be respected. Messages were blazing between the Lamonian Foreign Ministry, and multiple neutral nations, but no responses had been received as yet.

[Eurythmia]

"All stop!" snapped Captain Esekia Ratu Madraiwiwi. He had just read the dispatch from Pax and realised that the stricken liner was less than 40nm ahead of him off his starboard bow. "Broadcast a message to everyone within listening range."

This is Royal Polynesian, a cruise ship of Eurythmian registry out of Paradise City in Eurythmia.  We
have come to a full stop less than 40nm to the ENE of Pax, but can proceed no closer due to the risk of
mines.  We are prepared to take on any survivors who can be brought to us, and we have both a helipad and
a modest supply of aviation fuel if this will help.

[Lamoni]

Hours later

Onboard the FRLS Dragon, the radio message from the Royal Polynesian was received, being brought to the immediate attention of the Captain, Cedrick Lovellette, who was having the FRLS Dragon keep station 5 km from the location of the Pax during the rescue.

This is Royal Polynesian, a cruise ship of Eurythmian registry out of Paradise City in Eurythmia. We
have come to a full stop less than 40nm to the ENE of Pax, but can proceed no closer due to the risk of
mines. We are prepared to take on any survivors who can be brought to us, and we have both a helipad and
a modest supply of aviation fuel if this will help.

Deciding that the Royal Polynesian could be useful in this situation, the captain sent out a reply message.

To: Royal Polynesian
From: FRLS Dragon

This is the FRLS Dragon, a Lamonian Frigate which is already engaged in rescue operations for the passengers of the Pax. We are currently 5 km ENE of the Pax, and request that you come closer, in order to assist in the search for survivors from the Pax. We have already located and rescued 200 survivors, but we would be well pleased to make use of the room that your ship would be able to provide any additional survivors.

With this message sent, the Captain turned his attention back to the ongoing rescue operations. While two-hundred survivors had already been rescued, there were still plenty more survivors that could be seen merely from the bridge of his ship. The ships helicopter and RHIBs were bringing in more survivors, but it really would be nice to have the Royal Polynesian close by in order to help the estimated 450 more survivors that were still waiting to be rescued, as what remained of the Pax had slipped below the waves just a half hour ago. Another radio broadcast to the Lamonian mainland containing a status update on the rescue had been dispatched at about the same time.

---

Lamoni

Back on the Lamonian mainland, a government spokesperson was taking to a podium in the Lamonian Foreign Ministry. The spokesperson was pert, perky, and best of all, highly attractive, with waves of blonde hair, and blue eyes that men found themselves drawn to. The spokesperson was both in her fifties and married, but not one of the viewers of this address would have guessed the first part, judging by her looks.

When she had stepped up to the podium, the television cameras started, and she began when all was ready.

"Nations of the world. As we speak, the Pax, a civilian ship belonging to the Blackhelm Confederacy has slipped beneath the waves, attacked by a mine that was maliciously placed, with no notice to anyone. Both the nations of Emperor Nero, and Blackhelm Confederacy have stated that these mines were placed by the Delian League member New Manth. As a member of the Delian League, the government of the Free Republic of Lamoni categorically rejects all such allegations of Manthian involvement in the mining of the waters between Nova and the Blackhelm Confederacy in this time of war. We have worked with the nation of New Manth, and do not believe them capable of what would essentially be an international war crime.

At the same time, the Lamonian Frigate FRLS Dragon is currently engaging in rescue efforts of the survivors of the Pax. According to the latest status update, the Dragon has rescued two hundred of an estimated six hundred fifty survivors. These survivors will be treated humanely, and turned over to a nation that is neutral in the war between the Novan Coalition, and the Blackhelm Coalition. This is a war that the entire Novan Coalition is fully confident that it will win. The Captain or highest ranking surviving crew member of the Pax will be asked about why his ship was setting a course through a known minefield, as nothing about this makes sense. Information on the minefield was distributed to the world, a world that fully includes the Blackhelm Confederacy.

The Novan Coalition is being fully compliant with international laws and customs of the sea, and it is our hope that our adversaries in the Blackhelm Coalition will do the same."

On television screens across the reach of the signal, normal programming went back into effect.

[Allemande]

"Approximately 35 minutes ago," Allemande's Secretary of State, Edith Mayenne told the hastily assembled press corps, "An anonymous party sent what they claimed to be a list of the positions of the mines illegally deployed in the waters between Nova and the Blackhelm Confederacy. We have not had time to confirm the accuracy of the list; that said, the positions are consistent with the attacks on Global Neptune, Mamluk, and Pax."

"It is entirely possible that this is a complete red herring," Mayenne continued. "It is also possible that the list is – as its author claims – the work of a whistle-blower." The Secretary of State paused a moment before continuing. "That said, this administration believes that the public interest is better served by releasing the list so that the indicated areas can be avoided by shipping than it would be by withholding the information until it can be verified."

"At this time we do not know the identity of the author, or even their nation of origin," she said. "The most that we can say from the routing headers is that the source was from some place outside of Allemande."

"That's all I have for now," the Secretary said, "And no, I'm not going to take questions at this time."

[Emperor Nero]

IMPERIAL PRESS RELEASE
New Manth Grasping At Straws

It is common knowledge that the Imperial Navy owns and operates a classified number of Seawolf class nuclear submarines. Generally speaking, those submarines are used to escort carrier groups and monitor the waters near our nation. The Magnus Ocean is one of two large bodies of water, which foreign powers can use to approach our territory. It should come as no surprise that we monitor those waters, and that our Seawolves contribute to that process.

When New Manth’s naval armada entered our regional waters, several of our submarine patrol vessels were assigned the duty of shadowing and observing their battle groups. Their orders were to observe not engage.

When the first mine detonation occurred, a squadron of our submarines was situated approximately three hundred nautical miles away, monitoring a flotilla of seven New Manth warships, who were loitering in the vicinity of the blast. Sonar operators aboard our submarines identified the sound of a supercaptivating torpedo immediately followed by an explosion. Our vessels assumed a battle was taking place, and moved away to avoid involvement.

Traveling at a depth of five hundred meters, our submarines were oblivious to surface radio chatter, and were unable to receive distress calls. However, one of our satellites did pick up a fair amount of surface VHF radio chatter, which was later analyzed by our Ministry of Naval Intelligence.

That is why no Neroian vessels responded to the initial distress call. Our submarines were simply unaware of the situation, and obviously our satellites lack the capability to perform rescue operations. Had the incident occurred closer to our shores, we might have been in a better position to render aid, but that was not the case.

We encourage the world at large to focus one what we consider to be the five key facts of this case:

1. The Neroian Empire has been patrolling the Magnus Ocean with submarines for generations without incident.
2. The presence of the minefields coincides with the arrival of New Manth’s naval armada.
3. The Neroian Empire had no motive to lay the mines. Our nation is at peace.
4. New Manth had a motive to lay the mines. Their nation recently issued an ultimatum to the Blackhelm Confederacy, in which they threatened war. The mines in question appeared shortly thereafter, strategically located between New Manth and the Confederacy.
5. The New Manth Navy have consistently behaved as if they know where the mines are. None of their vessels have been struck despite the disproportionate number of vessels they have operating in the area.

Everything else is just smoke and mirrors. Obviously, New Manth allowing two of their vessels to be searched is an empty gesture. They have hundreds of vessels in the area. Any of them could have laid the mines.

Satellite images, hydrophone recordings, space based radar telemetry, and other gathered evidence will continue to remain available upon request.

[New Chalcedon]

Mangana Palace
Constantinopolis Secundus, New Chalcedon

The sunlit room was not pervaded with the sense of power that it should have been. For this particular room was the debating-place of the highest council of the Empire of New Chalcedon, the Imperial Cabinet. The twenty-two men and women around this table were the most powerful people within the Empire, by almost any measure. They were the well-born, the wealthy, the politically-powerful, the trusted of the Empress.

At the head of the table, the Empress sat, with her Braslander consort to her right and her Grand Admiral to her left. The Grand Admiral was standing, and had just picked up three papers, addressing them in turn.

"Colleagues, the situation, to me, is fairly clear. Our analysts have positively ID'd the submarines in question as Seawolf-class submarines. The New Manth Navy does not run this class of submarine, and the Neroian Navy does. The Neroians accuse New Manth of involvement, yet on the basis upon which they do so, they too can be surmised to be guilty - even moreso, as they admit to having passed near an ill-defined area that was mined primarily against submarines, without taking hits. Further, as a matter of public record, the Neroians are an ally of the Confederacy, and the timing of the mines placement clearly benefits the Confederacy - their fleets had already gone, and the Novan fleets that may have wanted to pursue were hindered by the field. I say that the Neroians are the bastards who killed my people - [iMy. People,[/i] Majesty! - and that we should punish them accordingly!"

Eirena reached her hand across. "Isabella, you led the revolt against my late brother. Why?"

Banton's lips tightened, as if she hated the conclusion she'd come to. "Becuase he committed the Empire to a war without need, and without a clear reasoning involved, Majesty." Her voice ground out as the stone of the ages. Eirena replied, "And that is why I will not commit the Empire to war based on circumstantial evidence." Seeing the evidence of disapproval reflected in many faces around the table, she continued: "Yet, I can demand that the Neroians clear their name to our satisfaction. Perhaps they'll tip their hand for all the world to read. Any objections?" Whilst the people at the table were clearly not happy with this pacific response, none objected openly.

"Consort, please dismiss the Council with our thanks." Eirena rose from her chair, and walked over to the window, facing outside. After the last of the Councillors had left, Ivan walked up behind her, pulling her back against his solid strength. "Troubled, love?" She leaned her head back onto his shoulder. "Every way I look, I see no good choices, Ivan. Either I let these bastards go - and I'm convinced Isabella's right, they were behind the mines - or I start a war, and ODECON won't back us up in this. I don't want my child to inherit an Empire whose ships are seen as easy prey. Nor do I want my child born into a war."

His only response was to hug her close. She already knew his opinions, and knew that he would support her. But, as always, the ultimate responsibility to the Empire was hers.

***

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE DESK OF HER IMPERIAL AND SERENE MAJESTY

To Whom It May Concern:

Regarding the deplorable incident in which an as-yet unnamed nation has laid mines in international waters, contrary to stading international law, the Empire does not feel, despite the vehement protests of the Blackhelm Confederacy and the Neroian Empire, that the Greater Economic Union of New Manth has been proven to be responsible for laying the mines.

Further, the timing makes us reluctant to believe that any Novan fleet laid the mines - the timing is such that the Confederacy benefits from the placement, although the fact that a Confederate ship was caught in the minefield indicates their apparent innocence in this matter. The Greater Economic Union of New Manth enjoys the presumption of innocence in this matter, given the serious inconvenience the existence of those mines places upon their ability to invade the Confederacy in order to enforce their ultimatum.

We suggest to the Blackhelm Confederacy, and to the Neroian Empire, that any accusations be supported by proof positive - not conjecture. Until then, we are not interested in blaming New Manth for this attack, and strongly suggest that other nations take the same path.

Given this eighth day of October in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Nine;


Eirena Doukaina-Palaiologina
Empress and Lady of New Chalcedon
Defender of the Realm and of the Faith
etc., etc.

[Allemande]

The debate in Allemande continued to grow over what should be done about the attack on the Global Neptune, but the government held firmly to its decision to await further evidence before acting.

[Stevid]

OOC: Not proof read... AGAIN. It's a bad habit so forgive any stupid spelling, English stuff.
IC:

HMS Indefatigable- Farseer Class Super Capital, 4th Imperial Battlefleet, 1st Tactical Battlefleet, 1st Flotilla, 1st Capital Ship Wing

The four massive fleets sent by the Holy Empire comprised of some of the heaviest ships the country could produce were steadily steaming towards the war theatre of Blackhelm. The four Tactical Battlefleets (T-BFLT) were scattered across the ocean so as to not attract too much attention despite the massive size of each individual fleet. But although the four fleets were many hundreds of nautical miles part they still made up the 4th Imperial Battlefleet of the Holy Empire of Stevid. It had only been a year since the Admiralty, with close support and contact with the Ministry of Defence, had decided that a massive reorganisation of the Royal Navy was urgently needed. The old fashioned and criminally inefficient fleet organisation into ‘Fleets’ was dropped in favour of a more psychologically powerful fleet list. The Empire expansionist ways were to be reflected as well as the awesome and near unstoppable might of the Royal Navy to be reflected also. Battlefleets, Tactical Battlefleets, Flotillas, Monitors, Wings and Echelons were to replace the old term ‘Fleets’ and its sub-divisions leaving only flotilla and echelon remaining from the old fleet categorisation system. It seemed to go down well with the fleet admirals, captains and other low ranked officers of the Navy. It gave the Navy a more professional look, more organised, more powerful and psychologically harder to break down with all elements of the fleet working efficiently as a collective brain waging. Now with Griffincrest and a delusional Blackhelm standing defiantly in the face of overwhelming odds, the Royal Navy would have to crack some metaphorical heads.

There was little danger, the minds of the officers, that the Delian League and allies of the Holy Empire and Nova would be defeated as it didn’t seem many nations were jumping to the defence of Griffincrest. On the contrary, floods of political and military support for allied operations against Blackhelm and Griffincrest and tipped the balance of power in the coming conflict in favour of the Delian League. This move was reflected on the flagship of the entire 4th Imperial Battlefleet: the HMS Indefatigable. She was a colossal ship, a Farseer Class Super Capital, one of only seven built and one of four actually being deployed to the theatre of war. She was a true monster and dwarfed all the ships around her but was far from the backbone of the fleet but easily more than just a show piece. Known lovingly as The Inde by her crew, she was more to more than a hundred tacticians and military strategists, and home also to a small amount of aircraft, she was a multipurpose vessel but her key role was to provide intense and direct communication to the T-BFLT and to the other fleets as well. Her CELLDAR radar coverage was unique and massive that far reached over the horizon and she beam all data she received from satellites, her on sensors and allied shipping sensors to every ship in the fleet and vice versa from ships that could do the same. The Inde was more than that though, the psychological effect of such a vessel was mind blowing and the fear brought on by a capital ship’s presence would undoubtedly make it an attractive target.

The 1st T-BFLT covered a huge swathe of sea but had sailed without incident out of Greater Dienstad and was to rendezvous with a fleet sent in by Lamoni that was holding position in a grind section of sea approximately half way between Greater Dienstad and the Blackhelm Confederacy. The other T-BFLTs would swing into the war theatre zones on different entry vectors and they all knew where the final rendezvous point would be. But they had to get there first before worrying about the actual combat, and even before that, the 1st T-BFLT had to catch up with Lamoniian (OOC: Correct plural?) naval force.

The fleets wouldn’t be mixing and matching and the Farseer Class was far to huge to go stomping around the allied fleet but it had been agreed that a ship representing the Empire would sail with the Lamoniian fleet as a friendly gesture of mutual cooperation and would give the crew of the selected ship a chance to show off to another navy.
The faint dots of the allied fleet became bigger and bigger as the Stevidian fleet approached and a symbol of Stevidian wealth and power was selected to sail with the friendly fleet. A quaint vessel, the Lemartes Class destroyer. A small vessel but reputed to be one of the best, if not the best, destroyer in the world- and she could hold her own against almost any ship in the world if equipped for the job. The ship chose was HMS Ardent and she was armed to the teeth even for a Lemartes Class. She was performing anti-air duties and had the armament to prove it, a wealth and anti-air missiles, a King Arthur attack/defence/ASW helicopter, mountable machine guns, heavy point defence weaponry, and deadly thermal/chemical high energy laser point defence system. A truly remarkable advancement in the naval armoury, but still in early stages of development, so much so that the two mounts of the laser system needed their own independent energy supply from a secondary reactor on board the ship. While seriously expensive, the end result is tremendous with a high kill probability. Not many planes can survive high energy, super heated fluorine attacks, neither can missiles.

The Ardent steamed away from the battlefleet which by now had arrived on the scene with the force sent by Lamoni to pull near the flagship of the allied fleet; only a few hours before, the battlefleet had received an open communication from the Lamoni flagship allowing the transport of the commanders of the fleet to board their vessel as a sign of good intentions and cooperation. The offer had been accepted and the three figure heads of this particular Stevidian battle group, Rear Admiral Xavier Stewart, Commodore David Thistle and Commodore James Sultan who had been airlifted from the Farseer Class, were transported by helicopter to meet their fellow officers of the Lamonese (sp?) naval fleet.
It didn’t take particularly long for the helicopter to circle the flagship, receive clearance to land and prepare to disembark its passengers. Once the rotor blades had stopped the officers stepped out onto the flight deck with three rating sailors and proceeded to the reception party that was there to greet them. The shrill of a whistle blew followed by spontaneous and well rehearsed salutes. The three heads of the Stevidian fleet saluted in kind to those greeting them and offered a handshake.

“Good day sirs. My name is Rear Admiral Xavier Stewart, commanding officer of the fleet, these are my direct subordinates Commodores David Thistle and James Sultan commanding the ships Ardent and Porpoise respectively.”

HMS Hellfire- Dweller Class- ASAT Destroyer

In the control room, order turned to organised chaos with shrill from several computer consoles; a giant plasma screen displaying part of the curvature of the earth with the vessel represented by an icon directly in the top of the ‘planet’, was now also flashing yellow banners and warning lights. It was also displaying hundreds of other dots and icons representing orbital satellites, debris, items currently being tracked, small asteroids and other objects deemed worthy of notable interest. Of all the dots, twenty were flashing red of which four had a green circle around.

“Report!” Captain Matthias barked.
“Sensors indicated activation of several satellites previously declared void and dead. Cross signature and design match those of the Blackhelm Confederacy. Hundreds are active across the board not just in this theatre but in those nearer to Blackhelm itself.” A Chief Warrant Officer replied.
“Anything else?”
“Aye, the computer believes them to be ‘suicidal’, communications report that they have been receiving combat reports straight from allies in the Delian League in regards to several friendly military and civilian satellites being destroyed in all countries. The computers have just finished tracking the telemetry of six enemy satellites that are targeting four of ours in this region.”
“Estimate the time remaining before impact…”
“Sensors believe it to be about twenty minutes.”

Matthias smiled broadly. “Time to go to work. Go to Condition Yellow, continue tracking the enemy satellites and arm the Spike ASAT missiles- prep them for launch and get me firing trajectories needed to intercept those flying washing machines.”

The control room darkened slightly and was bathed in a yellow hue, the same happened in the corridors and a single drone from the ship klaxon brought the ship and crew to Condition Yellow.

“All decks attention… all decks attention. Enemy satellites attempting to destroy our own, prepare for battle readiness. We are now at Condition Yellow… repeat… we are now at Condition Yellow.” These words went out over the ship tannoy system, the crackle and the way it turn a voice almost synthetic sent a shiver down Matthias’ spine- God he love his job.

Matthias was talking things over with the Officer of the watch when one of the radar operators yelped with surprise.
“Captain! Our satellites have detected the hostiles and are powering up manoeuvring thrusters to evade!”
“Damn no! We’ll lose our missile trajectories needed to intercept!”
“A constant bearing will make the chance of destroying the target nearly one hundred percent.” One of the Warfare Officers interjected.
“Agreed.” Said Matthias. “Bring up satellite control... order the satellites to abort course change.”
“…err… no. Sorry it’s no good sir. Satellites are responding, we don’t direct control, that and the satellites know it isn’t a war game. This is really happening, they want to survive.”
“Fine, access satellite control from here. We can verify everything with the Stevidian Space Agency at a later date. It will need my command codes in order for me to gain access.”

As if waiting for its cue, the computer suddenly spoke.

“Vocal command codes required.”
“Captain Matthias, HMS Hellfire, PIDN: 0011103, Authorisation Pi-Omega-6. End.”
“Access granted.”
“There!” Matthias said, almost fuming. “Abort the trajectory change for our satellites before they start moving!”
“I’m on it sir.”
“Good. Status if weapons?”

Several officers turned at once from the warfare station and half stood to attention.

[i]“Preps are complete. Initial sweeps on the satellites by our sensors and data retrieved from the military database of the Delian League conclude that the enemy satellites may be suicidal but do have extensive ECM jamming systems on board to prevent most kinetic strikes… however, we have armed the Spike II missiles which carry replace the standard high explosive warhead with hundreds of large ball bearings. It took a little longer to rearm the VLS cells with the Spike II and remove the Spike I. But we’re ready to go.” One of them said.
“Good. Firing trajectory established?”
“Aye sir, now that all the satellites are on a constant bearing and that the ball bearing warhead as a large damage radius, our kill ratio will be nearly 100%”
“Why nearly?”
“One of our satellites is too far away to protect. We only have five over here and Blackhelm so they are spread out evenly. One of them will be destroyed within five minutes. We still have sixteen minutes to intercept the other hostiles. Seeing as our satellites are in a natural low orbit, it won’t be difficult to achieve the destruction of enemy… ‘washing machines’.”[/i]

Matthias smiled and gave to nod for the officers to return to work. He turned to the officer of the watch and gave him the final honour of informing the ship of their situation.

“All decks attention… all decks attention. We have authorisation to intercept hostile space borne units. We are to engage enemy satellites before they destroy our own. We are now at Condition Red… we are now at Condition Red. All hands to Action Stations. All hands to Action Stations.”

The whole interior of the ships was now a dark red, the control room’s yellow lights now flashed red and a synthetic klaxon, much more futuristic (and expensive than the last), sounded loudly. Minutes later it stopped but the ship was in a battle ready state.

Seconds later the armoured protection sheets of metal covering the forward VLS folded away and six missiles flew up into the air. All could have been seen by the admirals and guests on board the Lamoni flagship and would have startled many on the ships in both fleets as Stevid initiated its first phase of the war. Four of the six missiles were destined to intercept the enemy suicide satellites, the other two (also Spike II missiles with the ball bearing warheads) were targeted at the closest Blackhelm satellites that had been positively identified as military utilising data gathered by the ship, the Stevidian Space Agency and the combined might of the Delian League.

Within ten minutes, a whole 4 minutes before the hostile satellites would smash into Stevid’s, the four intercept missiles would detonate a small charge in the forward cone of the missile sending thousands of ball bearing fanning out straight towards the enemy satellites. Destruction would be almost assured, failing that the damage would be so extensive that the sheer amount of punishment would physically change the course of the target. The same would happen with the other two, survival for the enemy satellites would be slim, but they would be able to evade some of the damage seeing as they weren’t deliberately tracking Stevidian technology in space.

The Type-66 Dweller Class destroyer HMS Hellfire awaited the results, the Admiral, Commodores and the welcoming party applauded the display that was already being dubbed a success by the Hellfire, and both the fleet in their entirety awaited the go ahead for the planned operation.

[The State of Monavia]

Orbital Defense Command
Mount Talus Complex
Northern Monavia

Sirens blared out of every speaker in the Orbital Defense Command’s control room as the Confederacy and Brewdonia began retaliating. The hundreds of enemy kamikaze satellites now approached the platform and a large number of spy satellites above Blackhelm. Aegis continued to attack the ground missiles as they approached Monavian and Coalition assets, burning apart missiles as they approached. The numerically superior onslaught, however, forced the platform into retreat as hundreds of small kinetic kill vehicles (KKVs) approached.

General White took swift notice of the impending collisions which would inevitably destroy the spy satellites and intelligence assets stationed over Confederate airspace, and decided to force a division of Blackhelm’s forces. Nearly thirty satellites in orbit observing the enemy forces, stricken by the incoming Confederate countermeasures, ended their observation missions as they began to maneuver into lower orbits. Several of them descended as far as five miles, accelerating away from the platform and a handful of satellites. As the missiles approached, it was expected that they would follow their targets.

As the enemy missiles found their marks, obliterating the stranded devices, wreckage began to burn up in the outer atmosphere, raining down over the general area above Blackhelm. It was hoped that the wreckage would crash into important facilities, major cities, or any target large enough to be remotely harmed by the flaming debris which fell from the sky, but such a stroke of luck was deemed unlikely.

“General, our platform is being targeted. I estimate there to be hundreds of hostile contacts approaching!” The alarmed colonel was ordered to keep Aegis firing at any targets which approached from its direction of retreat as its maneuvering boosters began firing, turning it away from Blackhelm’s airspace as its main booster prepared to fire and send it away from the battle. Several other satellites began to do the same, although several less important ones were flown between the incoming satellite rockets and Aegis as it began making its retreat.

“Retract the solar panels,” the general added. “I want updates on the progress of enemy missiles coming towards the platform.”

ABMs and ASMs had now exited the atmosphere, rapidly closing the distance between their positions and the enemy missiles, with the sole purpose of destroying the Confederate KKVs. The Monavian counterattack focused on bringing an end to the merciless barrage.

---

Open space

Nearly thirty satellites now began to explode as enemy missiles struck them in low earth orbit. The majority of them did not descend the full five miles in altitude reduction, as they were destroyed before that goal could be achieved. A few, however, remained online and intact for moments longer.

Aegis had retracted its solar panels, a pair of square, accordion-style wings which could be folded against its sides in only fifteen seconds. The rear side of the outermost section of each wing was protected by a thin armor plate, but one inch of titanium would not last long against a barrage on this scale. In spite of this obstacle, and the fact that the rest of the satellite was only lightly armored elsewhere, the plating was not meant to survive a full-scale attack, and rather was intended to provide a modicum of debris protection to prevent damage from normal space hazards.

Only minutes after General White ordered the commanders of the ABM silos around the complex and air force base to launch their ordinance skyward, nearly 200 anti-satellite missiles (ASMs) sped out to meet the Confederate threat.

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Queen Theodora Islands Provincial Air Command
Queen Theodora Islands
3,000 miles from the continental extent of the Empire

Additional anti-satellite missiles roared out of underground silos, all over the islands, missile ships moored in the provincial capital’s harbor, and mobile launch trucks. Nearly 300 of the lethal rockets now tore through the atmosphere, intended to intercept additional Confederate kamikaze satellites and destroy Brewdonian assets above the area. As the islands were located far from the mainland, they had the advantage of a 3,000 mile head start on assets from the continental extent of the Empire.

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Over the ocean

Sensors aboard the squadron of Monavian fighters alerted pilots to the apparent change in course undertaken by the approaching B-2 bombers. As they began to give chase, their radar systems began to experience interference from the ECM systems which protected the bombers. Splitting into individual wings, they began to fly out of the enemy’s ECM jamming range.

The pilots requested the additional of three more squadrons to help counter what was obviously a large force of fighters approaching. Satellite systems over the area located what appeared to be an enemy fighter wing, but ground operators could not be sure. The request was proved in minutes.

There were now five squadrons of fighters approaching the Brewdonian assault force. The original two, which were dispatched to intercept the bombers, were the thirty-two F-18s. An additional three squadrons, two of which were composed of F/A-22s and one more F-18 jets now proceeded to join the original intercepting force.

Lieutenant General Bell was watching a display screen plot the paths of the bombers as they came towards the islands. It was time to call for reinforcements. Seizing a telephone receiver, he began dialing, aware that if he didn’t obtain the support of a full carrier fleet, he would have a battle of attrition to win. He had an entire fighter group at his disposal, and he had only sent up five of the eight fighter squadrons under his command. With the arrival of a carrier fleet, he would have almost double that number to fight the Brewdonians with.

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Magna Ocean

The lone destroyer escort, now approaching the hazardous expanse which had been mined by the Nerosians, came too close to a line of mines to avoid detection. Radar systems began to detect the faint signature of an approaching contact beneath the surface of the water.

“Captain, I’m picking up what appears to be a torpedo! It’s coming for the ship!” exclaimed an excited, and perhaps even frightened, bridge officer.

“We are under attack, this is no drill!” He screamed into the intercom as he threw the speaker onto the counter and ran for the controls, putting the ship in flank speed.

“Prepare to drop depth charges. We have a torpedo approaching!”

The mine closed in on the ship, leaving an anxious crew to wait for it to collide. Sailors evacuated the port midsection as the mine charged toward the area. With any luck, they would have compartment doors closed to stop the water from filling the ship after the mine hit.

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Monavian Zone
S:t Therese Colony

Much like their Zaheranian counterparts, the Monavian commanders in S:t Therese were now activating ABM systems to counter any incoming missile strikes. Aircraft were scrambled to form flying patrols far from the island, making note of any contacts which might appear on their targeting displays. Every contact larger than a bird was reported on secret frequencies to the airbases on the island, and tracked if it had any merit as a target.

Fifty anti-satellite missiles flew out of silos near the more mountainous regions of the Monavian Zone, destined to intercept Brewdonian and Confederate satellites over the island. Enemy intelligence capabilities were about to be tested as the needle-shaped streaks of rockets soared into the sky, with the sole purpose of blinding the enemy.

The commander of the facility, despite being fully aware that open war meant carnage and destruction, grinned as he watched the rockets exit the underground well that housed them. More would be loaded in as needed, but it was doubted that there would be many assets stationed over the colony.

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Capital Aerial Command
Chalcedon, Monavia

“What? The Brewdonians are deploying more kamikaze satellites?”

“It appears so,” a stunned major said as radar tracking of the unfolding exchange in space.

“Have all Wasp launchers brought online!” shouted the furious field marshal.

Over the expanse of the continental portion of the Empire, thirty silos each released a rocket, equipped with ten Wasps. 300 of the small kamikaze satellites would soon find themselves being used against Brewdonian and Confederate assets. Ralkovia, Sorgan, and the Nerosians would be dealt with later, although more Wasp launchers were being prepared for deployment whenever necessary.

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Between the continent and the Queen Theodora Islands
Open ocean

A carrier fleet proceeded towards the island province, still having two days of travel before it arrived. Its compliment of aircraft would be sent out to patrol the area around the airbase, freeing up its fighter group for defensive actions and countering the Brewdonian threat.

The admiral of the approaching fleet and the commander of the airbase remained in contact whenever necessary. They would provide updates to each other on the progress of the Brewdonian aircraft.

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Open space

The Brewdonian rod platforms proceeded towards their targets, avoiding detection for some time, but eventually, as they approached Monavian airspace, their approach became apparent. As the Monavian Wasps and ASMs were being deployed to mount a counterattack against Confederate assets pursuing the Aegis platform and other Monavian satellites, the impending Brewdonian attack would provide ground commanders with additional targets. Despite focusing the attack elsewhere, one rocket filled with Wasps was sent towards a largely unprotected body of assets which would inevitably be attacked by the Brewdonians. It was surmised that the enemy was sophisticated enough to track vulnerable targets and eliminate them at their leisure.

While the rocket approached, ground tracking picked up contacts of abnormally large size heading towards Monavian airspace. By the time that the tungsten rods got near their positions, they were located and being targeted by ground sites…