The Conflict in Hutanjia [Closed]

by **The Cardwith Islands** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:10 pm

SOUTHERN WEST CARDWITH ISLAND

The word had been received from the Falkasian and Top Cardwithian command. The invasion was on, forces were heading their way and wherever they'd gotten with their preparations had to suffice because there was no more time.
The 2nd Brigade of the 6th DSR Regiment were encamped on the plateau behind the beaches along the southern coast. Many of them were fighting off exhaustion from working so hard to expand and improve defenses in their zone of defense. What fresh troops they could roust and get moving towards the beaches were pushed out of the camp and on to the dirt road that led to the coast.

Regular patrols did circuits along their stretch, up to where the Isotopian troops of the 2nd or 3rd Revolutionary Brigade took over, depending on how close they were to Dernierville or Nourselle. They also had OPs, a rough trench system and bunkers and tank traps along the four flat patches of beach in their zone.

It was B Beach, also known as Olatgu Beach, where the first signs of trouble popped up in their sector. First, the RHN presence off the coast brought some alarm. Seeing as how the UFF, and now the Cardwithian military had never had anything resembling a navy, the random harassment by Royal patrol craft and missile boats wasn't unheard of. These boats, though, were much larger than the typical FACs and coastal corvettes they were used to seeing. Also accompanied by heavy air patrols, which again, weren't unheard of, but coupled with the other factors, pointed to an imminent strike.
Then the Royal Harriers raced in towards the coast.

NORTHERN EAST CARDWITH ISLAND

Likewise, in the north of the other major island in the Cardwith chain, the 1st Brigade of the 4th UFF Regiment prepared for action.

Their stretch of defense zone was larger, but they had a decent network of defense laid out, some of it with the help of their brothers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the Falkasian 8th Airborne Division whose headquarters was just to the east of their sector. They still were stretched out thinner than they would like.

Patrols were increased to the most anticipated landing zone areas. Commanders constantly called for updates from the beach OPs to make sure they were on their toes and still responding, not dead from a sudden assault. Their call to arms would soon come from D Beach, 27 kilometers north of Montvieux.

NORITTS

Colonel Sparakge was in a panic. The Top Commander of DSR forces on East Cardwith could not bring it under control.
He was calling all the DSR and UFF Brigade commanders he could think of to get a hold of, some of them not even on East Cardwith.
"Where is Vadim? Where the hell did the Falkasians go? Did they abandon us in our great need? I need a line to President Nellis. Get it up now, damn you!!"

Aides that were trying to do real damage control and figure out where the reinforcements might be needed, did their best to avoid the Colonel. He was a terror in the halls of the joint headquarters of the Eastern DSR/8th Airborne Division Command. The morning was not likely to bring relief.

SOUTH OF HESTTENS
NELLIS' SECRET HQ

"Leila, I think we may need to prepare for the worst. I have faith in our allies, but anything can happen."

"Yes, Mr. President, it never hurts to be ready. Which we are. I have several pathways and escorts set up to get you to the coast and evacuated. So don't you worry."

"Oh, Leila, I don't worry for me, but for the people. Terrible death will soon be upon us. Can we all survive?"

"Some of us need to more than others, Mr. President. But, let's not be too hasty. Our allies are solid and ready."

"Yes, Leila. Faith and confidence. Solidly ready. I need to rest."

Leila kept monitoring the monitors of their VICE set up on loan from their Falkasian allies. Charles Nellis puttered off to bed, in his suite, leaning more heavily than usual on his cane.

by **New Edom** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:16 pm

Approaching Coastal Waters of Nourselle

A flight of TH-300 helicopters lifted off the deck of the Draco, with Lieutenant Shobal in the lead bird. He was carrying a cargo of the 18th Light Troops, the New Edomite equivalent to Rangers,this unit being trained in operations at sea as well. He had had the dream about the llama again. For some reason the llama was the key to paradise in his dreams, but he didn't know why. He'd never even seen one alive, ever, barely knew what they were. And his girlfriend had broken up with him in a fury of text messaging followed apparently by her videoing him the sight of his stuff thrown out on the lawn. He had had to get a friend from the base to go and pick it up. But that was all out of his mind at the moment. Anyway he couldn't think of that right now--he had another flight intended to come off right after his, and the Estovakivan flight to move up too.

The crews of the Culverin and Falconet, the two Hatchet Class frigates, were alert, ready for the possible air or missile attacks that might come their way. Radar, sonar, and recon were out in order to prevent any surprise counterattacks. Two UAVs designated as electronic countermeasures units were acting as scouts for the helicopter flights taking off in orderly units from the deck of the LPD; the troops of the 18th were loaded in and hungry for action.

The Armada
Over waves and around islands, skirting shoals and braving rough weather, Admiral Galt was exhaustively busy coordinating, governing the six ships. The third expedition to leave New Edom's shores, and the smallest, yet its enterprise, of great pith and moment, was probably the most important of all of them. It was the spearhead of an effort to in some fashion pay forward the debt New Edom owed for help in sparing greater spilling of blood and the ruin of its land and people--by helping others avoid similar ruin.

Down in the officers' quarters on board Kaztlan Class amphibious ship Bullette Colonel Weber led her staff and company officers in a fine round of "Beer for my Horses" (the New Edom version) in preparation when he would inevitably play it at some point during their efforts. Ideally.

Elsewhere, a bitter Elwe Corporal, Dilan, glared at another Elwe who was reading a skin magazine, and tore it out of his hands because the girls in it were all Anglo-Germans, Sorgens and Barans. "Have you forgot the ways of your fathers and mothers?" hissed the corporal.
"What's eating you, Corp?" demanded the amazed young Orglen, looking at the shreds, one of which still bore the amazingly firm creamy breast of a girl he had been looking at.
"I saw our Yerg brothers being boarded onto the other ship and felt ashamed. I was bought by the Barans and Anglo-Germans as you were. We have to do our duty by those we swore military oaths to, we don't have to shit on our culture. Join me...." his voice softened. "In the song of our ancestors in the mess hall. It is quiet, the cleaning is done there. We can remembering how our ancestors passed in migration of souls and how we are one with them."

Orglen muttered, reluctantly, resisting the spell, "Fuck that shit, Corp. I want to get a real job after I muster out, I don't want to run around wearing leaves and furs in the forest."

A shadow went over the Corporal's face. "Suit yourself...city man." But his face was unreadably normal and bland as Sergeant Corwin passed, his mind on other things.

Elsewhere a young woman fled a smoke filled part of the engine rooms with tears streaming down her cheeks. Two engineers with gas masks rushed in as the automatic CO2 sprayed down. A Chief moved in, waving his hands in disgust. "Schmidt, you Anglo-German bonehead, didn't I tell you to get those rags thrown away? I swear, you are the worst, the very worst..."
An excited young Ensign hurried in, looking around and trying not to look too eager. "problems, Chief?"
The Chief Machinist's Mate shook his head. The boy was young enough to be his son, but he was a Baran, at least. "No, sir, just a little engine floor fire, that's all."
"Ah," the young man said, peering into the blue-hazy area ahead of him; he could see shadowy figures like phantoms moving there. "Well...carry on then, unless there is anything of note to report.."
"No, sir." said the Chief.
As soon as the Ensign was gone he began chewing Schmidt out again. He wouldn't put him on report--yet. Instead he gave him a list of crap duties which would extend at least two hours into going off duty.

Many others were traveling. All had private griefs, private stories, grudges, fears, joys, hopes, dreams and wishes, all wrapped and bound together in ships of metal, heading to an unknown and icy future...

by **Falkasia** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:32 pm

Noritts ACC

Vadim paced the room in a nonchalant manner, taking carefully spaced steps as he traded glances with the staff on duty. He transfered between computer screens as initial reports were coming in. Colonel Sparakge was in the next room over, having a mental breakdown amid the latest reports of forces landing along the eastern and western coasts of the alternate Cardwith Islands.

As he screamed, Vadim shrank more and more into his own personal routine. Had circumstances been different, he would have been amused by the Colonel's outbursts. However, in his present state of mind, calmness and clarity was considerably more important than humor. He had an invasion on his hands, and while there was no doubt in his mind they could handle it with relative ease, there were difficult decisions to be made.

He wasn't about to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor and act before he knew how the situation was developing. It was known from infra-red satellite imagery that a sizeable force awaited offshore. Although given the number of surface ships, not withstanding the assumed presence of submerged submarines, they could not get an accurate estimate on enemy troops commitment. The drawn-up plans to assault Nevorn were put on hold, at least until the landing could be stalled. For now, the focus would be on removing this tiny pin from the island's side.

Vadim heard a large crash from behind him, no doubt coming from the Colonel's fit of rage. Secretly, he hoped some serious damage had been done so the reckless man could be removed. From a more objective standpoint however, he concluded whatever it was was no doubt expendable in the long run. He ehard more crashing, deciding that he hd waited long enough to confront the Colonel.

The Brigadier turned, placing his hands into his pockets and meandered his way into the other room. He sighed, breathing deeply as he opened the door with an outstretched hand. The thing wooden frame flew open, revealing the redfaced Colonel inside. Vadim stepped through the threshold, making sure to negotiate around the fragmented pottery shards.

"There you are!!" the Colonel bellowed.

"Yes, here I am," Vadim replied, even-toned and unintimidated. "And seeing that we're finally reunited, shall we get to more important work? I wish we could shatter the enemy as easily as you've shattered these vases..."

He crouched down, gathering up a few shards in his hand and placing them out in no particular order on a coffee table.

"The information leads like this Colonel. We have two landing parties, one here at Montvieux and the other at Dernierville."

Two of the shards were replaced on the table, roughly etching out where the two cities were in relation to one another.

"And here is where we believe their staging fleet to be."

One bright red shard was left between the two.

"And we have additional forces all throughout here."

He put several smaller shards around the make believe map, indicating where Falkasian and UFF Garrisons were.

"Its a relatively simple process. Given the nature of the front and small area of the beach head, the enemy's main limitation is their ability to field large units. There is simply not enough space to bring everything ashore at once, but even if they somehow could there is only one or two traversible ways off the beach. It is beside the point that they're already heavily defended. It really is just a matter of trading one-for-one, only we have the ability to trade one for however many we chose."

Vadim glanced up at the Colonel, noting that he had calmed down considerably from moments before. He was nodding, understanding what was being said.

"I can see you follow me. Like I said, it's really a matter of just getting troops there. I have faith that my guys trained the new Cardwithian elements well, so they can no doubt hold their own for a while. We have to be wary of counter-invasions, that is using this first strike to distract us from their real target. If we divert too many troops, we leave other areas inadequetely covered. So... here's what we're gonna do..."

Two smaller shards were placed onto the map and "driven" from the 3rd and 4th Brigade shards to the beach head.

"I'm going to be moving four companies worth of troops into the area to bolster defense. They'll be enough to put a quick end to just about any naval operation, especially coupled with the prepared works along the shore. My men will hold. West Cardwith will not fall, you have my word on that."

by **Neu Engollon** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:57 pm

OVER WESTERN NESSELBERG

The Gripens, Maroon Four and Six, peeled off and banked hard in opposite directions, hoping to pull the pursuing Shadowhawks with them. They released more countermeasures to hopefully throw off the Falkasian missiles.
Aqua Flight, meanwhile, was right on top of the Falkasian fighters, they let rip with their guns on their Warhawks.

It was now Lyran plane vs Lyran plane, Zvezda vs Aqua, as the two Gripens of Maroon flight were too busy continuing to do extreme evasion maneuvers to fight the Falkasians. Maroon Four finally succumbed to a missile and the pilot bailed out of the smoking Gripen. The rest of Maroon Flight went after the CAF Migs that had helped to chase away the RHAF Migs. Aqua, meanwhile, guns blazing, were doing their best to drive off the Falkasian Shadowhawk fighters or bring them down.

NORTH OF MONTVIEUX
EAST CARDWITH ISLAND

Two men were dropped by silenced bullets on D Beach. They flopped onto the sand, the crashing waves covering any clattering sound.
Men in black slithered up out of the surf, crawling prone up the sand. They rose to a crouch, with a few of the men holding compact mine detectors that they pulled out of plastic zipper pouches. They worked quickly. They needed to clear a path before their window of surprise was up. Being covered from behind, the men worked their way up. One carried bolt cutters, the two others had the mine detectors, and yet another of the pathfinder group stuck stakes in the ground when one of the mine detector holders pointed. The stakes had special paint striping them that only showed up through a filter in their night vision goggles. Some cables and random strands of wire had to be cut.

Mines were actually sparse on this beach, so they made decent progress.

At some point, they would abandon stealth and need mobility. A squadron of RHAF chinooks and Uli Molior transport helicopters were on their way from Vesselle. They would be escorted in by Vipers and a flight of Gripens. They carried FAVs that they would drop further in for the Uli 6th Platoon troopers. A flight of harriers would also come in and, along with the Vipers, take out any targets moving towards the LZ area.
All they had to do was give the word when they were on station. Why they hadn't just inserted by heliborne assault in the first place, was a mystery to some of them, but it had been decided that if they could pull off a stealthy insertion, they should try that first.

They could hear commotion nearby and a Soviet built military truck pulled up several meters away. Cardwithian troops disembarked, holding AK-74 rifles. They sauntered down and started to take a couple paths that wound down to the beach.
They weren't running, so the alarm may not have been tripped yet. Just the same, the Uli commandos hoped their rides and air support would be on station soon. Willy Peters and frag grenades were pulled out and prepared for priming.

OURAPEKA
NORTHERN SIDE OF KENEGA

Their hovercraft had been released from the larger craft, which turned back immediately. It was needed for the main operation.
The mixed group of Uli commandos and Hutanjian Rangers were ready, manning the M2 and AA rocket pods mounted on the craft.

They drifted in towards the shore. The trees came right up to the edge of the water in many spots. Captain Ari-Galan looked at the swampy area of the nature preserve. Ibis and cranes stared back at him on their long stilty legs, in among the mangrove trees.
He checked his GPS on his watch.

"Khara! There are supposed to be docks at Ourapeka."

They rounded the little jutting peninsula and there they were, the rickety docks of this forgotten fishing port.

"Ah, just a little off from the coordinates. OK," He motioned to the captain of the boat, "bring her in slow. Let's not annihilate the dock here.
Sergeant Morrison, come out here, I need more eyes on the side of the craft. We can beach up there."

"Captain, they're here. Rounding the island now." Morrison had been watching the radar.

"Really, Perry? And where ex..."

The radio came to life, the captain turned it up and patched it to the PA
"Orangutan...We're coming in from the southwestern side of the island...see you soon."

"OK, Beach this Ima! Hand me the mike...Orangutan! This is Captain Ari-Galan. We're here. See you soon."

by **Falsea** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:23 am

Marksville, North Cardwith Island

The convoy finally arrived in the city of Marksville. Trucks and APCs of the 3rd Infantry Regiment parked right outside the city's northern gates, while the aircraft headed towards the nearby makeshift airport. The 21st Infantry and 34th Armoured however, did not stop, and after a few advisories from Colonel Black, immediately took off even further south.

The 3000 troops of the 3rd Infantry disembarked from the many vehicles they used to travel, and with haste, began their deployment process. Tents of camouflage green were set up, crates of supplies were unloaded, and defensive facilities such as bunkers and barricades were being built outside, in, and around the city.

"Sorry for taking charge like this, placing defenses on the city and all, just following the Central Military Committee's orders. However, if such facilities are not required, tell me at once so we may remove them", said Colonel Black to the UFF officer, as he lit a cigarette.

The sun gleamed through the sparse trees that covered the city outskirts, making the job much more difficult than it would seem. Yet the task of setting up shop was even easier than the actual reason they were there, which was to provide aid to the revolution, no, the nation that rose up from the ashes of a Monarchist Hutanjia.

It took only a few hours before the camp was set up, and by the time they were done, the camp was as large as a small city. Most of the troops remained in the camp, while 1/3 of the regiment was tasked to within Marksville itself, using the old barracks as their housing.

The Colonel walked around the camp, satisfied with their progress, and had ordered the troops take the rest of day off, as they begin their real operations in a few days, hours even, with the conflict intensifying even more.

Eastern Coast, North Cardwith Island

The 15 Amphibious Warfare Ships and 1 Command Ship that made up the small expeditionary fleet of Falsea began to travel south as well, under orders from Colonel Black. No sightings of enemy ships were reported, and the fleet assumed their route, having been previously delayed by rumors of enemy submarines lurking around the waters.

The ships passed through the mostly calm seas, and were set to arrive in the southern coast of the North Cardwith Isle in a few hours, setting up a small naval outpost in the beaches near Abamete.

by **New Isotopia** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:38 am

SOUTHERN COAST OF WEST CARDWITH ISLAND

It was as a ordinary night as any since the four nights on deployment. The men of observation picket #14 were relaxing in their small observation post, preparing to start their nightly watch. Their post had a single DShK HMG, several low level SAM launchers, a small cache of AT launchers, and their regular firearms. There were 8 men inside and a radio which had a connection to the regional headquarters. Their post was well enough concealed that it would be hard for any landing craft to see them, it also gave the post a good overview of the beach. In addition to this post there was a full strength company stationed just minutes away, who would reinforce the outpost until more forces would arrive.

But Observation Picket #14's and the platoon behind it purpose was not to take on the enemy if he decided to land, their purpose was to hold off until the help from a larger force, in the form of additional forces, helicopters, or armor would arrive.

As they began to settle down, one of the soldiers did the routine binocular check of the sea. He was quite surprised when he noticed landing craft just off the coast.

"Oh shit." The man said as he put down his binoculars.

"What?"

"Their coming." All the men inside to tiny post looked at him and out into the sea.

"I'll radio for the company to get their asses up here."

"I'l go man the DShK."

"I'll go call for help from command." The men all wen't off to perform their tasks. Minutes latter men from Bravo Company came scrambling into their concealed prepared positions over looking the beach and the company's three mortars were zeroed in on the beach.

WESTERN NESSELBERG

Riordian looked at his fellow officers and back at the UFF officer.

He replied. "Lets get moving. I'm eager to get some action." Echo Force Operatives stood up and got ready to move out.

by **Hutanjia** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:14 am

THE SEWERS

The KHS troops had gas masks on still. They expected another one of those gas bombs from the FSIS group at any time, but the added side bonus was that it filtered out some of the overpowering stench and polluted moisture in the air of the sewer tunnels. Currently, they were more worried about the movement they saw along the walls. It for sure wasn't human, they just hoped it was only rats.

This had been one giant clusterfuck from the minute they'd pulled up to the warehouse. The new Lieutenant in charge was at least content that he didn't have to claim credit for the faulty entry and assault. That would be the now dead previous Lieutenant. Lieutenant Emaku had taken charge from the surviving NCO, when he arrived with the second wave of KHS shock troops. Still, he was steamed at the course of events and continued stack up of casualties. They were still searching the half destroyed warehouse for Falkasian or rebel bodies, but there was no word yet and he probably wouldn't get it down here, anyway.

They rounded a bend and caught sight of a shadow. They were there. He whispered caution, "Be ready, they could throw anything at us. We need to take the advantage NOW! He motioned to one of the lead troopers, who had a flashbang grenade ready.

The KHS man was practiced. He'd flushed out rebels before. He whipped the grenade, bouncing it off the curve in the wall like a well aimed billiard ball.

FWOOOM!

They rushed around the corner, AKMs blazing.

THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE PALACE

"Listen, Your Highness, I'm telling you the truth you need to hear. Hespatu is a puppet of the Edomites. They don't have your best interests at heart like I do. After the invasion has succeeded and settled, I think we should purge the military and get it back on track..."

King Popilu rubbed at his face. He was tired after his whirlwind tour of troop reviews on Nesselberg and many helicopter flights. He still couldn't understand how those things stayed aloft. He didn't look at the Mongoose as he set down his travel case and replied,

"Milton, I value your counsel, I do. But this is not the time..."

Horatio Vobatu, the Regency Minister and the closest thing Hutanjia had to a Prime Minister stood by the door,

"Atave, You need to focus on the latest battlefield intelligence and what the enemy is up to. Not what our own allies are doing..."

Venomously, the Mongoose turned on him, "Don't tell me what my job is, Vobatu, you useless shit. I brought you the latest battle reports, so shut up and read them."

Alistair Popilu looked up and snapped, "Milton, out of line. Horatio, leave us right now."

"I don't think that's a good..."

"NOW!" Vobatu closed the door behind him, without having to be told to.

"Milton, I don't want to bother with that crap right now. The only thing I want to hear about other than our impending victory, is the progress of our interests." He alluded to the mines.

Atave settled and blew out a breath, "Yes, they're good. I haven't been there in a week, but it's in good hands. The bonus diamond vein we found is paying off dividends we couldn't have imagined. We are already funneling a good amount through our group, the channels I set up to the black market. Plus of course, the ore and bauxite mines. Harder to unload, but it will pay off soon enough."

4 BD., 3 RAR REG. LZ
SOUTHERN WEST CARDWITH COAST

The Uli Harriers and RHAF Mirages zoomed in low over the beach, sending cluster munitions into the raised defenses and trenches and buster bombs at the bunkers. SAM signatures locked in and out and the warplanes launched decoys, ready to send out other countermeasures when the surface missiles launched. The RHNS Otumlo, the Hutanjian cruiser flagship, launched its cruise missiles, which would impact on SAM sights, depots and other targets further inland.

The landing craft were within yards of the beaches. The Cardwithian or allied OPs and bunkers opened up, sending RPGs and large caliber rounds from PK machine guns out towards the Hutanjian craft. As they started to lower ramps and disperse their troops, several men were hit and slunk to the water, adding frothy red to the surf.

They charged up the beach to take positions among the concrete pillars and iron obstacles trying to find cover from the withering fire. Eighty some years of amphibious warfare, and some of the basics never changed. The Hutanjian Rangers still could not see the defenders, so they didn't know if they were facing Cardwithian troops or white interlopers.

It didn't matter. Special hand-held bunker buster rocket launchers were put into play, some having to be scavenged off their fallen comrades. Just as some of the teams were firing at their targets, the enemy mortars began to shell the beach.

CENTRAL WESTERN NESSELBERG

The engineers from the 23rd, escorted by 21st RHA soldiers, moved forward to dismantle rebel defenses. UFF snipers on rises and in the trees, picked off targets as they attempted their probes, they aimed for the engineers when they could.

Meanwhile, the standoff on the beach was allowing most of the Falkasian Marines to get away. Frustrated, RHA officers ordered advances to their men, but they were cut down almost immediately. They were so close that shotguns were having a devastating effect. Most of the RHA men were ill equipped when it came to body armor. The shotgun blasts shredded them.

RPGs and grenade launchers were fewer now, but the RHA soldiers still tried to put them to good use, targeting Falkie Marine emplacements. In turn, the Falkasians tried to take out the remaining RPG teams.

They were so focused on the battle at hand, they had tuned out the mass dogfight in the skies above. An enemy fighter crashed down at the edge of the beach, taking two whole squads of RHA troopers to their maker. Debris and jet fuel cascaded down and out onto the survivors who hunkered and dodged the unexpected projectiles.

Further up the beach, PK machine gunners were ineffectively sending rounds at the fading enemy hovercraft. The RHA Captain crouched in a clump of palms near the beach. He shook his head. Did they win or lose this one?

NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NESSELBERG

Various RHA units finished loading up onto the transport ships that would take them to their destinations for the main landings. T-72s and T-81s from the 19th and 29th Armored Brigades loaded up onto RHN, McNernian and Edomite transports. Some were held in reserve for defense or later airlifting. APCs, mechanized AA and AT platforms and various other logistical and task support vehicles loaded up, mainly from the 28th and 41st RHA Mechanized Brigades. Lastly, the marines of the 8th Royal Marines Corps and infantry of the 35th RHA loaded up onto their McNernian Navy transports. Likewise, the 12th and 14th RHA Infantry Regiments were boarding RHN and loaned royalist ally transports to take them in to the beaches. The 16th and select companies of the 34th RHA would have to follow in the second wave, as beach and transport space were at a premium.

The Tu-22M bombers took off with their Uli and RHAF escorts from Vesselle Air Base.

Another combined squadron of Uli Harriers and RHAF Mig 21s and F-16s cut close to the ensuing air battle over Western Nesselberg to muddle their radar signatures with that mass chaos, then buttonhooked out, racing for Noritts.

by **McNernia** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:54 pm

NEAR DEINERVILLE
SBS FOXTROT SQUADRON
TEAM 1-8

They came ashore, a flash of something or sign of some. Drop, instinict kicks in then BOOM "Idiot , that would certianly bring the gaurds out. The men were all tense one of their own was screaming, Thomas could not reach the man nor the squadrons medic. He watched as the New Isotopians moved about . His marksmen set up watching.

"Damn these Commies."

"well dug in?"

"Bunkers if it suits ya?"

"No they dont."

"Get the damn mortar in." The team set up their sixty milimeter mortar. They could hear the wounded man screaming. "My leg is gone, dont just leave me."

"Shaddup Leroy." Thomas looked away and put a bullet in the mans jaw. "You have shots? anything?"

"Count three, no four x rays in the bunker."

Thomas had to get his men off the beach ,then the damn commies opened up, one sniper was down ,a one in a million shot. It woud seem. He knew he had to do something rash his men were prone on the beach, damn easy targets. The flares sent one or two stumbling back clawing at their eyes.

Thomas knew he had to do some thing, there was one thing he could do. There could not be that many mines. The men were shooting well, dropping the enemy . "Over the top send the word down the line." The word was sent. The fire intensified as fire teams broke out of the line. Moving and shooting.

The Main Assault

The men were high spirits. Today was the day when the Mcnernian Forces would show the Falkies that they were soliders. The Marines had been especially hard stung, the Havenians as well Prince Emett had taken command of the contingient that would be going. There were some Hutanjians going out with them. Many were in high spirits. Tanks were loaded aboard and the men were all happy.

The battle group was out at sea, in the South Wishton, the amphibious group from Chastille soon joined them. On bridge of Iliad Ryder Peterson paced anxiously. He was excited to take the fight to the enemy.

"Well Your Highness we still have an Island to invade."

"Yes Admiral, we will show the Eagle that if the Lions name is blackened with slander he will roar." Emett seemed crazed, the Mcnernian Army had been insulted. "I should control myself and concentrate. "The men are ready?"

"Yes sir".

"The order is no quarter to be asked nor given to these dogs who would call you a rabble."

"As your Highness wishess."

Aboard other ships assault hovercraft were prepared with units of infantry, on deck helicopters were prepared with the 1st Airmobile infantry. They loaded aboard CH-47s and stood by. The fleet opened fire on the assigned beachead with cruise missles while Mc 82 Illusions took off with loads of ground attack munitions while others flew aircover. Mcnernia had dealt with the nation that was Falsea before.

The missles came down on airfeilds and barracks and the beaches themselves ravaging the enemy. Illusions attacked with missles and bombs.

by **New Isotopia** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 5:37 pm

West Cardwith Island

The alarm was raised. The impending invasion was underway and the Isotopians sprinted into action. Aircraft, such as Air Superiority Fighters, ground attack, and other aircraft were scrambled south ward with a reserve kept there encase a two pronged attack was attempted. The runways were having flights take off almost every minute. Frigates and Destroyers were on their way down south and corvettes on patrol in that area steamed south to hammer the ships and provide fire assistance for the men down south.

As ground movement wen't, soldiers from Spec Ops, Revolutionary Groups, and Naval Infantry scrambled out of bed and prepared for combat. Some bases inland had been hit by a number of cruise missiles, some before the men and vehicles got out. Revolutionaries in the south sent armored QRF's, mounted on armored vehicles and being supported by tanks and self propelled AA arty drove to the area of landing to reinforce the thin presence of the men near the landing zones.

The shore defenses response to the Huntijian Rangers was not to sit idle... It was to fight back. Shore defenses, such as anti ship missiles began to be launched towards the RHNS Otumlo and surrounding ships. Some battery's had been hit minutes earlier by cruise missiles but those who weren't hit unloaded a deadly payload of anti ship missiles on the Huntijian forces.

Deinerville

As the Mcnerian spec ops began to move ashore, the Isotopian soldiers spotted them. Machine gun nests began tear into the ranks of the Mcnerian special forces, who were caught on the beach. Flares were shot into the air to render their night vision equipment useless and give the Revolutionaries a better line of sight. Some of the enemy had also unknowingly walked into mines, screams were heard as the Mcnerians, badly exposed, began to take cover behind barriers on the beach. The Mcnerians began to fire back, machine gun, rifle, and rocket fire hit Isotopian positions killing and wounding some and making some defensive positions useless or destroyed.

As the men began to take casualties additional Revolutionaries rushed to the defensive line. Also snipers, several of who had served in the nightmare urban warfare of the city of Crecea, Bulgislavia, began to pick off Mcnerian Operatives. Starting with the commanders.

4 BD., 3 RAR REG. LZ
Southern West Cardwith Coast

"Agggg!!!" A massive explosion tore apart a Isotopian trench, causing a scene of unimaginable carnage. A unfortunately similar scene was seen across the Isotopian defenses in that area. As the bombs rained down, terrified and scared Isotopian soldiers fired back, some in pure panic and others with remarkable calmness. Regardless, everyone knew that there were going to be heavy casualties for the Isotopians manning those positions.

Machine gun, rifle, RPG, and grenades began to tare into the Ranger, who were frantically scrambling for cover. The Isotopians fired their AMPAD's, most of them older SA-7's at the enemy aircraft. Many of the missiles failed after the enemy counter measures, but some managed to hit them, creating spectacular explosions over the men's heads of enemy aircraft.

Nourselle

Since the alarm had been raised, the Isotopian Revolutionary garrison had mobilized for a possible attack. It wasn't until long when the coastal observers alerted command of two frigates off the coast. By the time the observers also alerted the HQ of enemy helicopters flying towards the garrison, the men were in their defensive positions. The self propelled air defenses had gone with the QRF's to the enemy landing farther south, but Three tor missile systems and many MANPAD's were manned and readied for the incoming choppers.

(OOC: Just because I'm looking for some ground combat I might just let your heli's through.)

by **New Edom** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:42 pm

Approaching Nourselle

The accompanying UAVs were alert to the possibility of radar detection, and as the small airborne vehicles moved towards inland and were prepared to do spot jamming as necessary; in addition the smallest ones would act as decoys for the helicopters, to reduce any possible damage. Finally, as they began their approach, the helicopters were flying in as low as possible. Lieutenant Shobal had rarely felt such adrenaline coursing through his veins; if you had asked him if he wanted, at that moment, his girlfriend in every possible position as his lifelong love slave or this moment, he would have picked the moment. In the compartment behind him, 24 Light Troops were getting their last checks done as they moved towards their target.

Colonel Hagar had noticed the somewhat coy smiles of the Estovakivan officer, and had given her a wink. Perhaps, when they were all done, he might share a drink with her, toast to victory, and indulge in some fraternization? But for now, his whole focus was on the mission. Hagar always led from the front, and intended to be among the first on the ground. He was currently all done up in Lyran Arms jungle warfare multi-spectral BDUs, and carried an AY Assault rifle with grenade launcher into action, though he'd mostly be commanding. But he liked to if possible kill an enemy soldier in each action.

"Remember, my son," his aristocratic father had told him after his first boar hunt, "That it is important that a man make room for himself in this world. A dangerous opponent--a man especially, an armed man capable of killing you--is the best proof of this, that you are worthy to live on this earth."

The Rover Team in the accompanying helicopter was a special forces unit, and they would have the task of moving inland as LRRPs; they were more heavily equipped than the Light Troops. Led by Major Ethan Potter, their task was uncertain, their job unknown--save to do seeking missions that would ultimately reveal enemy positions in their rear. Potter had done many such missions, and was taciturn. His unit were variously doing final equipment checks, playing Angry Birds or talking about how they'd spent their last leave.

As the helicopters began the final ten minutes of their approach, the two frigates abruptly opened fire with missiles and guns at their predesignated targets; great clouds of smoke and steam with rushes of fire from the missiles as they howled up into the air from their clamshell doors.

by **The Cardwith Islands** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:48 pm

NORITTS

"I understand, Vadim. Thank you. Let's make this happen my Falkasian friend," Colonel Sparakge replied, "The Cardwiths must not fall. For most of us, our families are here."

THE RANGER'S LANDING ZONE

While the Isotopian Revolutionary Commanders seemed to be coordinating with the air and missile defenses, that left the Captain of the 2nd Brigade, 6th DSR Regiment to focus on keeping his men attacking and driving back the invaders.
A Cardwithian Lieutenant worked with his Isotopian counterpart to keep the DSR and Isotopian mortar teams in action against the oncoming troops.

The Cardwithians even had a couple snipers on this beach, and they used their Dragunov rifles to great effect, taking out prime targets that stayed out from cover too long or seemed to be giving orders to the rest of the Hutanjian Rangers.

The royalist air attacks took their heavy toll on the defenders, though. Cluster munitions peppered the backs of some underprotected beach defenders. Three foxholes in a row were wiped out by a napalm strike. The air was thick and hazy with cordite and heavier layers of smoke.

THE BEACH NORTH OF MONTVIEUX

The men of 5th Platoon, 1st Brigade, 4th UFF worked their way down the beachpaths on the steep declines from the pull in drive.
They were on the rounds checking the integrity of the defenses.
It was treacherously steep, in the dark, with defenses planted all around. They'd lost a man last week who stumbled off the path, rolled down the hill and right over a mine. The 5th Platoon NCO didn't want to repeat that again tonight. Especially when they were on such high alert and didn't have time for silliness.

As they got down towards the beach, the hackles went up on the UFF Master Sergeant's neck. Something did not seem right and he didn't remember a straight path through the wire like that.

The extra large rocks jutting out further than normal clinched it for him. They were men in black! The UFF men in front of him kept joking and kicking along in the sand, oblivious to the danger.
"Arreta-yu!" (Stop you) he shouted in Hutanjian patois.

Not only did the men stop, but they started to dance...with the help of royalist commando bullets.

by **Hutanjia** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:50 pm

RHN FLEET
OFF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF WEST CARDWITH ISLAND

Anti Ship missiles followed in their trajectories towards the small Hutanjian fleet and the RHNS Otumlo. Being the only major ship of the Royal Hutanjian Navy, she had been outfitted pretty well with countermeasures for just such an attack. On the downward slope of the ASM trajectories, the Phalanx systems and CIWS activated, as well as chaff cannons. When one still seemed to be locked, the ship's crew launched flares, their last attempt at defense. The missile detonated just short of the ship, punching a small hole well above the water line and obliterating a nearby fast attack craft escort. The fireball from the FAC in turn washed over another nearby RHN FAC and blasted a couple sailors off its deck. One other ASM impacted on a missile boat, sending up debris from the small patrol craft to patter down onto the fleet. Four of the FACs would remain on station, but the Otumlo, missile boats and mini subs headed Northwest from the southern coast for their secondary mission. They were happy to give up duties to the oncoming Edomite support fleet.

SOUTHERN WEST CARDWITH COAST

The Rangers pressed the attack, taking advantage of the air cover that they currently enjoyed. Two helicopters, a RHAF Mig and a Uli Harrier were knocked out of the sky by the Isotopian defenses, but many more laid down massive rocket attacks and bombing runs. With the attack from above on the defenders, the fire slacked off a bit at the Rangers as they ran up the beach.

Men blew back and out in pieces as mines were triggered, still others did fall from heavy machine gun rounds ripping through their ranks. They got to the first line of trenches and bunkers up the beach and set upon the defenders, a surprising mix of Isotopian and Cardwithian troops. The main makeup seemed to be of the former rebel troops, with a decent Isotopian representation, but the Rangers didn't really spend much time pondering that. They focused on killing.

The tribal warcries went out from both sides: "AAAGGGAAAAAAWWWWAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

The combat devolved into hand to hand. Both the Cardwithians and the Hutanjian Rangers took out machetes and hacked away at their enemies. Makarovs and AKMs triggers were pulled point blank into attacking and defending faces alike. Some Rangers had the foresight to attach their bayonets. It was a bloody free for all.

OVER NORTHERN CARDWITH ISLANDS CORRIDOR

Racing ahead, four flights of Uli harriers and RHAF mirages shot off their special armament of SAM site killer missiles. As the SAMs and anti air defenses started to lock on to the royalist air armada, the SAM killer missiles locked on to those signatures. Several of the defenses were taken down along East Cardwith and the southeastern corner of North Cardwith islands. Three Mirages and two harrier's wreckages were left behind, victims of defenses they were unable to shut down. They released the last of their SAM and AA killer missiles as they neared the channel between East and West Cardwith islands. The 4 TU-22M bombers flew well above the mass, dipping altitude as they got prepared to release their payloads on to Hesttens and Fort Mason. The remaining flights of Uli harriers and RHAF F-16s that escorted them carried air to air missiles and prepared to tangle with expected opposition.

by **New Isotopia** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:13 am

Rangers Landing Zone

As the fighting dissolved into frantic hand to hand fighting, the Isotopians stood and fought, know retreat would mean death. Men reached for machete's, their knives, and bayonets and began killing. Screaming from both sides was heard as men stabbed, shot, and blew each other apart, as the trenches began a orgy of blood and gore. While brutal hand to hand fighting was preferred by no one on the Isotopian lines, 'hugging' the enemy, or fighting so close to the enemy that it would result in heavy casualties for the enemy if he tried to bomb the fighting men, made sure those in the middle of the fighting wouldn't be prone to enemy arty or airstrikes.

"Kill them all!!" Screamed one of the revolutionaries has he decapitated a Ranger, sending his lifeless corpse falling out of one of the trenches.

Along with knives and sharpened weapons, men fired at the Rangers with Shotguns, MP-40's and PssH-41's(Reserved for close quarters fighting), and their AKM's/Handguns. Meanwhile reinforcements began to arrive and strengthen the depleted forces of Bravo Company.

Finally, the Isotopian aircraft,a mixture of MiG-29's and FA-18's had arrived and began to fire their cannons and missiles at the enemy aircraft.

Further inland the next barrage of Rockets were launched towards the Enemy fleet.

Nourselle

As the Frigates opened up on the Isotopian ground defenses, men began to take shelter in makeshift shelters made days earlier. Men shouted into the radio for a airstrike against the frigates. Some the shells hit idle trucks and a occasional SAM.

Minutes latter, two MiG-29M's approached off the ships, range, 250KM and closing. Being carried by the fighters were the KH-35U anti-ship missiles.

Over the radio, the pilots began to say the same thing:

"Target locked." Seconds latter the missiles were fired towards their targets. After launch the MiG's banked off and returned to base.

by **New Edom** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:07 am

Approaching Nourselle

"Enemy missiles inbound," reported ComRadar to the Commander of the Culverin, his voice deceptively calm. The messages were more for formality than anything else; as the ship's Vigilant radar system picked up the enemy approach, immediately CROMWELL II combat system was demanding a response, and Weapons Division was sending it; one of the RIM-116 cell groups was flipping open clamshell doors as the enemy missiles had begun rapidly moving into their range. At these speeds, with the KH-35 missiles moving so quickly, the ship itself was like a giant robot in its response.

But you never knew. You just never knew. To Commander Benn, in the CIC, it was like that nightmare she had had about the ship being hit and folding almost in half--because of a virus in the system. So she hid the fear-sweat--performance anxiety from her first serious combat mission in such a lone situation. It was easier to be part of a larger squadron, to have most of your tactical decisions already made, rather than being one of only two escorts protecting an LPD. Always eyes on her: would she just go all hormonal on them? How many successful female skippers were there anyway? Come on, come on. she thought, and felt exhultant beneath her icy demeanor as the RIMs began to launch to intercept. It should all work, but she could never forget that the Culverin was nothing more than a big war factory--a series of machines designed to move and fight and support life. It was all run by a series of electronics and computers, and software could go funny. Once during exercises an officer she was serving with canceled an operation because live warheads had been loaded--not by mistake by human hands, but by a software glitch. The ship was supposed to serve them...but they also had to serve the ship. As with their sister vessels they were also still pounding the shore; their 155mm gun booming rhythmically; they were thus far barely opposed. Was it a trap?

Meanwhile, the TH-300s swept over the waves, still heading in, thus far unopposed, and Lieutenant Shobal also felt exhultant. He was wondering what the hell was keeping the Estos though, they should have been opening up on the position, though he could already see that the frigates had begun to; plumes of smoke and explosions happening inland as the frigates had begun to hammer the landing zone. "One minute to LZ," he said over the MC. The platoon commander in his bird turned to his unit. "One minute!" he said raising a finger to get their attention. Conversation stopped; they were all now keen as hounds ready for the drop. What fears and concerns they had were hidden, and Shobal didn't really care; his job was just to get them there, then dust off and go back for another load. He was the ferryman.

The thought of that sent a chill down his back.

by **New Edom** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:24 pm

Operation Cardinal: Approaching Fort Mason, Northwest Cardwith Island

Admiral Galt had no intention of letting his ships get within range of battleship guns--he intended to keep this at missile range as long as possible, and so as satellite, EW planes and UAV were confirming the enemy positions they knew of.

"Sir, we're getting considerable interference in maintaining radar contact with one another. " reported Con Radar.

"Have UAVs focus on IR and SATINT." Galt said. “It’s probably the weather and their movements—they’re all over the place.”

"We’ve located our targets,” said Prince Enoch, over the commo line from his frigate, "And all divisions have reported full readiness.”

"Then let’s make it happen, Commander, godspeed, pour it onto them, and tell those Estos to get moving too,” said Galt, sipping his mint tea. He felt an odd thrill, of mingled fear, admiration and blood lust. He had no intention of underestimating such a dogged enemy, such a boldly defiant enemy. He and Unwerth had agreed the other day—they admired the UFF. They just had to kill them, that’s all. "Give us better ECM cover." Soon after this clouds of chaff and dust were fired into the atmosphere around the fleet. Two could play at that game. Galt wanted to read the mind of his enemy--his defense was aggressive, as he had suspected.

Silos on the cruisers were opening again, missile racks tilting up and fiery clouds exploding across the decks as the first wave of missile launches took place—the KH missiles streaking inland intending to slam into their targets at Fort Mason; UAVs would do search and destroy missions to attack the anti-aircraft batteries. Meanwhile, the ships’ guns opened fire on the beachhead.

Carrier Air Command said, "Admiral, we already have the Estos in the air, and we can begin launching the Terriers as the advance covering wave to protect the 21st.”

“Let’s make it happen then.” Galt said.

New Edomite doctrine was in a sense what it had been since they had discovered cavalry--pepper the enemy with arrows and javelins until he is confused and angry, and only then rush in with the sword. This was born from their earliest opponent--the miocene survivors, the giant predatory birds that were the largest predators in their country still. They were too big, too fast, and too deadly in reach with their beaks and claws, so the hunters of them had learned to use technology to wear them down. It would be no different with this: they would use the ECM fighters that accompanied them to confuse the enemy as much as possible at range, fire AIM, ground attack and anti-tank missiles at range, and only when the results showed that they had dispersed the formations would they close in, if at all, but once they had with utter grim resolve. All the training they had done, all the experience of the older pilots would now be put to the ultimate test--a battle against equals. Many of them said a silent prayer as their planes hurtled forward.

As this action began Admiral Galt's signals intelligence unit shared the tactical information with their allies. It was go, go go. The LCACs were going into the water even as the ships began to raze the shore and as fighter bombers swept towards the land.

And even as they did, the 21st were lifting off the deck of the Sterry, and Colonel Weber got into her bird, nodding to Sergeant Major Beor. “Sergeant Major, Hold Tight!”

“Hold tight it is, Colonel!” replied Beor. They exchanged smiles as the unofficial regimental theme began, and the Troopers clouded their fears, worries and concerns by belting out the lyrics as the helicopters rose and angled themselves like gigantic wasps heading out towards the unknown future of action on the north Cardwith shore.

Colonel Weber felt a strange serenity and grace. Her first truly major action had been in Dengali, and she had fretted that she might mess up, organize things badly, do all the errors people feared. Now she had actually made a blunder—and it wasn’t the end of the world. It was just war. It was odd how she knew in her mind and in her heart that this was deadly serious, yet at the same time…she felt free as a bird. The waters below had flowed and ebbed since before human beings here, and would again. Yes, some had gone to ground, been mutilated, would possibly never walk or make love again. It was war. She was glad to lead a unit of troops that had volunteered, sought out this command, and had seen the confidence and pride in their eyes. She now could imagine something of what Augrim, Unwerth, Hesperinus, Pahath-Moab and other officers she admired felt.

And if we die—we die with honour! she and her siblings used to yell when playing soldiers as children. She smiled wistfully, and then the thoughts went from her mind. Free as a bird…

by **New Isotopia** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:36 pm

Nourselle
As the enemy helicopters approached the shore, a final barrage of surviving SAM's was launched towards the helicopters. But soon AA guns, most of them on flatbed trucks or jeeps, most of them manually operated began to open up on the choppers. The three remaining Anti-Ship launchers launched what would be probably their last barrage before the enemy landing.

Men loaded their rifles and prepared for the enemy landing.

Fort Mason

Sonar and observation posts began to report enemy ships and aircraft closing in on the island, yet another attack on the Isotopians that night. Any aircraft that weren't down south were sent skyward to fight the met the enemy UAV's and aircraft. The Isotopians naval response was at the same magnitude. Any Frigates and destroyers that weren't on duty fighting down the south,formed a defensive perimeter around fort mason. The Isotopian cruise missile sub., NIS Leninoistika joined in on the fight.

Since the beginning of the massive attack the Carwith's, the overall Commander of the Huntijian mission, General Danial Roberts had been ushered to a safe, concealed location more inland. That night a webcam message was back the Isotopian Capital,Vauxhall.

Vauxhall
NIIA Headquarters
10:21 AM

It was foggy and rainy as a typical morning went in Vauxhall. At the NIIA headquarters men entered the building in soaked rain coats, which they hanged on coat hangers in their offices.

In the main confrence hall, high ranking Millitary and Intelligence Officials were meeting on the Huntijian Situation. On the conference rooms video screen was General Danial Roberts, the overall commander of the Huntijian task force.

"Tonight we have suffered a massive attack on Isotopian and anti-monarchy forces." The general said. The sound of distant explosions and aircraft were heard in the background.

"We are being hit the worst. Four attacks have been conducted on the West Cardwiths. One is in progress at Nourselle by the Edomites, another between Nourselle and Deinerville by the Government forces, another by Mcnerian spec ops teams at Nourselle, and just a hour ago, a Edomite attack on our Central base of operations." Murmuring was heard by those in the room after the generals report.

"And there might be more to come."

"So the situation at the isles are... dire." The director of the New Isotopian Intelligence Agency, Mikhail Vladistock said to the general.

"It is director, it is. If the landings aren't suppressed we might be routed from the island." The general replied.

"But." He said in a confident tone. "There is a opportunity in this crisis."

"We have the opportunity to destroy the offensive capabilities of the monarchist forces. If we can destroy or capture their ground forces, severely cripple their naval and air forces we can go on the offensive."

"Therefore I request more troops, to assist in the defense of the Cardwithian people and the liberation of the oppressed people on occupied islands." The General said to those in the conference room.

"We'll have to ponder your request." The Supreme Director of the Armed Forces, Richard Stumme.

"But aid will be sent soon."

by **New Edom** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:34 am

Northwest Cardwith Island, Fort Mason Attack

Aboard the Commonwealth Carrier New Edom
Water from fire hoses soared along the deck as two damaged Sparrowhawks were dealt with by deck crews; a tractor hurried along and HAZMAT suited personnel worked to attach one of them to get it out of the way even as an elevator was bringing a fresh combatant to the fray. Lieutenant Gabriella Barak was now an acting squadron commander and she was grimly aware that a blazing battle was going on in the skies above. She was a snub nose dark eyed Baran woman and she was part of a new generation of flyers and warriors, and this was her chance. She was going to be leading Reserve Squadron Ten into action as Squadron 12, shattered and with all its leaders dead, retreated, the survivors in some cases drifting in dangerous waters now after ejection. 12 had taken the hardest blow of the enemy counterattack, but now reserves were all being committed—this would make or break the New Edomite air war. If they could beat the Commies they would have air superiority along the coast and would be able to bring in the bombers and their escorts to the landing zones that had been established by the ground forces earlier.

Around her anti-aircraft guns were swiveling, missile racks were raised and sending missiles streaming up into the sky even as she and her crew maneuvered her to an open state on the deck.. During a battle like this, a carrier could be taken out, and so she was at her most vulnerable now. She didn’t let herself think about it as she calmly did a last check of her instruments and listened to the reports from above, the AWACs her squadron was attached to sending her critical information. Now. Now. The fighter lifted up with a blazing roar and rose into the sky; her own flight following her from the steam shrouded deck, and then up, up, up, into combat…

Chaff, chaff, and countermeasures now the flight leaders barely needed to give the orders as missiles faster than they could fly were hurtling at them; they were like lancers of the air, even as the Isotopian missiles flew the Edomite missiles flew, and G forces were straining pilots as they dodged through clouds of chaff, instruments wailing. Not everyone was fortunate; there were pilots who in their zeal to protect the advancing fleetwere not quick enough in their reflexes or timing or were simply unlucky, and these either were ejecting the wreckage of their planes or else their screams were lost in explosions of flame.

A crew of six Naval Intelligence operatives were putting the finishing touches on preparation for the launch of VTOL stealth UAV which had been nicknamed, appropriately, Joshua. Joshua took off and headed in the direction of Fort Mason, guided by satellite maps sent to its electronic brain and coordinated by its flight crew. It picked up speed and headed off, heading towards the coast to try to pick up any movements on its visuals, camera eyes swiveling and searching.

"Con, radar, picking up multiple cruise missile signatures approaching..." a message was sent to the flagship from the Securis Enoch Tubal-Cain’s command.

"Firing solution: launching now..." reported Weapons Command on the flagship.

Anti-aircraft on the fleet was sending missiles as well, to hit the enemy missiles in support of the fleet. The box-like arrangements were clouding cruisers and destroyers in smoke and fire as they sent their deadly armaments howling towards the enemy. Unfortunately the deadly barrage was badly damaged by the EMP attack; most of the enemy planes seemed to have escaped; the few who were claimed as kills, according to CAG Command, were dubious--they could have had engine malfunction for all they knew. So far apart from a few enemy ship losses the battle was still a draw, like two fencers constantly parrying one another.

Admiral Galt had no intention of letting his ships get pulverized--he intended to keep this at missile range as long as possible, and so as satellite, AWACs and UAV were confirming the enemy fleet movements he gave orders to his captains to maneuver as well...as though each fleet were a wrestler moving around the other. Nevertheless, there were reports of damage already. The enemy fleet—recon had given them no information about this new arrival, though a flood of it was coming in to CROMWELL II now through Estovakivan satcom and their own UAV intel.

Radar Com said, "Admiral, we have inbound aircraft."

“We will meet them with ours. Have the Estovakivans pursue their targets.” Admiral Galt said coldly, standing like a statue. Then he lifted his mint tea to his lips.

The combined AEGIS and CROMWELL II caused the fleet to spring into defensive action like a Roman Tortoise, VLS opening up, autocannon flicking skyward, the very atmosphere around the fleet filling with chaff and ecm as a great shield to counter the enemy’s thrust. Storm Giant roared its defiance for the first time in action—16 16 inch guns, 30 ten inch guns beginning to pound the enemy fort, even as its torpedos launched into the water, its anti-missile systems engaged, its anti ship VLS fired along with the rest of the fleet a barrage of RIM-162s at the enemy. The wave of missiles came howling out of the sky at the enemy fleet, targeting the largest ships first.

It was not without its cost.

NENS Glaive

Smoke and fire surrounded the damaged frigate; horrifying screams and shrieks wailed; sparks were flying as systems began to short out. Commander Laban put a respirator mask on as did some others; he forced one onto a signaller who seemed blind nearby, and hustled him to the companionway. The Chief Engineer was down in the engine room--and nothing could be living down there; the ship was yawning dreadfully and somehow it was like they couldn't get out and he almost felt his bladder let go in terror as he saw the jam of humanity struggling, like they had forgotten all training. He shouted, "Form a line! Form a line damn you! Move your asses!" he yelled through his mask. In spite of the masks the smoke was unbearable; those who hadn't donned theirs were like dying men and women. The ship seemed to jump up and down; he couldn't stand and was falling; a Senior Chief was crawling and dragging him, and then was slapping him, hitting him, and he realized that he had been on fire; the ship's deck slid under him and he could see hell combined--roiling flames and smoke like a living greedy thing consuming the ship and the waters boiling as the sea vied with the fire to devour it and its crew.

Lieutenant-Commander Hortensius saw one of the Deck Force Chiefs was cutting something off the rail line and flinging into the water; he managed it but then lost his footing and fell like a child's toy into the flames just above the water; she flung herself away from the ship and landed with a crash into the water and plunged in, down, down, and felt the ship somehow sucking her towards it; she swam away desperately, grabbing the thing that he had flung before it sank into the darkness...she almost left it because it was so hard to swim and the surface seemed far away, but she had some oxygen left in her tank and managed at last to break free of the water. Seeing what the thing was she pulled the cord and the raft began to inflate. "Over here!" she shouted. "Over here!" her voice sounded like a child's. Then some of her crew vanished in an explosion that sent her recoiling, and the last crumbling flaming remains of her frigate were gone. Acting as a decoy for the carrier till the decoy UAVs were in place, the frigate had taken one for the team.

The 21st

The crew compartment and fuel tanks are armored such that the aircraft will remain flyable even after sustaining several hits from 30mm gunfire. The transmission is capable of flying the aircraft for another 45 minutes if it is damaged as such that the oil drains. As both crew compartments are identical, the loss of one crew member means the other can still fly the aircraft home, even though this would mean a hit from a very large calibre weapon. The defensive systems on the TH-300s were such that clouds of chaff, ECM, paint and tactical systems enabled the advancing helicopters to minimalize their casualties. On paper this looked rather casual, but in reality the troopers were in for a roller coaster ride; Lieutenant-Colonel Weber grimly held on as the pilots reacted swiftly to incoming missile warnings, the soldiers in the compartment tumbling like a barrel of monkeys. “Shiiiiiiiiiii!” her RTO screamed; Sergeant-Major Beor roared “You bastards!” and she had to clamp down on her bowels; epiphany or not it was damned well terrifying. A vivid connection to the ambush her unit had faced dealing with what seemed like thousands of SAMs from the rain forest as the Elwe ambushed the Regiment…

Even as they moved on she saw that more than one had been hit. Most of those hit were simply damaged; a rotor hit however to her helpless horror sent one whirling to destruction into the sea, another taking a hard landing there. She hoped to God there were no sharks. In the first wave a number of the drones accompanying them were blown to pieces, but that was what they were for.

She was nauseatingly aware as the helicopter righted itself that her ADC had shit his pants, literally. He looked too stunned to even realize it. However she and Beor were both laughing shakily. She felt so alive...

The Cannondales and Incursors of the Regiment however were not without their own strike capabilities, and they were able to multi task both their defense and offense. They swiftly began to detect the enemy batteries and respond with deadly accuracy, raining down Hellfire missiles at them. The crews were like cyborgs, attached deeply to their birds, focused only on killing the enemy, providing a deadly phalanx for the approach of the rest of the squadron.

Meanwhile, frigate Septum’s anti-mining measures were active, focusing on giving the LCACs a safe passage inland; thus far untarged, the hovercraft moved rapidly over the water towards the shore.

Nourselle

The 18th's helicopters shrugged aside the attack on them in a blur of chaff, ECM and maneuevers; a number of them in fact took hard hits like hammers striking their surfaces but the Gemalla design is generally intended to enable a helicopter to keep flying even with bad damage; there were wounded in a number of them already. The accompanying attack helicopters sent a blaze of fire at the enemy to cover their landing, and then the terrible men of the 18th were on the ground, grimly forming up rapidly into squads to attack the enemy. The attack helicopters remained hovering in the air. "Good luck boys, go get 'em!" shouted Lieutenant Shobal as the Light Troopers exited his helicopter.

"I'm gonna write a complaint--that was a rough ride!" shouted Colonel Hagar with an insane fierce grin.

What a fucking lunatic thought Lieutenant Shobal as he prepared to take off. Glad he's on my side. I think.

Lieutenant Shobal knew his bird was hit. If it weren't a Lakota, it would have been leaking burning oil, but as it was it was merely in danger of losing fluid; In spite of the best tech in the world for choppers it was faintly smoking, warnings going off all over the switchboards. He had to get back, had to get her looked at. "Come on, baby, you can do this," he said, more tenderly than he ever had to his girlfriend.

by **Estovakiva** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:22 am

POST ONE OF TWO
"""Approaching Fort Mason - Enter the Ae-98K"""
62th Advanced Tactical Fighter Squadron - Estovakivan Federation Naval Aviation providing Air support to the New Edomites.

Perhaps not know, by most of the nations involved in the conflict in the island nation of Hutanjia, Estovakiva had deployed one of its most potent aircrafts within its waste arsenal. The F-s98 Rapier an Aralonian built all-weather, twin-engined fifth-generation air superiority fighter with provisions to allow it to operate in multiple different roles, within the Estovakivan Air Force the new name was "Ae-98SM" and "Ae-98K" for its naval versions in service within Estovakiva. it has just recently entered service with the Estovakivan Federation Air Force therefore only the most experienced and veteran Estovakivan pilots we`re allowed to operate the aircraft. Such as the 62th Tactical Fighter Squadron founded in 1949 and has served in many of Estovakiva`s wars such as the internal power struggle in 1978-1991 which resulted in most of the squadron gaining favor in the Air Force which granted them acess to more advanced aircrafts as the squadron and its sister-squadrons found themselves more prioritized by the upper-echelons of the Naval Aviation, their yearly flight hour is one of the largest in Estovakiva as well, recently they partpicated in one of the largest exersices with Hegemonic Union involving Amphibious assaults on fortified positions supported by air-assets as well as destroyers and cruisers.

Major Valeriya Vågard, sighed lowly to herself as she eyed the LCD-screen infront of her eyes in the cockpit, as she eyed several dots moving towards the New Edomite UAVs the targets now perhaps by their signature classified as fighters and interceptors due to their speed and signature by the Forward-facing AESA radar of the Ae-98K as they still we`re hundred of kilometers away perhaps over 400km during tests the Ae-98K had the ability to detect a 1m^2 RCS target at the range of 350- 380km using its search-mode as with all AESA radars the Ae-98K would be spreading its signal emissions out across a band of frequencies, which would it very difficult to detect over background noise, effectivly making it al ow-probability-of-intercept radar. Most likely the enemy fighter we`re oblivious of the present danger as Valeriya pressed a button allowing her to speak to the rest of the squadron such as her flight mates Boris and Vorzhensky. "This is Val as of currently we have several fast moving aircrafts approaching our New-Edomite allies, fire on the most likely threats first before engaging the secoundarie, spread out and maintain a standard cruising speed to minimize your RCS, hopefully they will never know what hit them we`re going Smite three on them"a voice could be heard right after that quite possibly Vorzhensky as he coughed "Val wouldn`t that be a waste of missiles?, but i suppose that it will ensure a high kill ratio which the Generals has asked us to obtain, lets go for it then!"

Valeriya smiled under her Zsh-10 Helmet equiped with a modern HMD (Helmet-Mounted display) as she pressed several buttons scrolling through her missiles as she selected four AIM-220 Velvet Glove Medium Range air-to-air missiles by now she had obtained a lock-on the enemy aircrafts approaching them quickly, as she pressed the trigger button on her joystick, as the mainbay would open as the first AIM-220 would fall down and ignite its rocket-propelant, as it would fly quickly towards its intended target being guided by its three-stage guidence system, as its velocity would increase dramatically.

After firing her mainbay would close quickly as her aircraft and those of her squadron returned to their state of "stealth" or more or less very very low observable technology.

Upon lock the guidence data was transfered to the AIM-220 via the hard connections in the mounting. When it was launched the missile would have used this data, including pre-calculated probability data of enemy maneuvers to travel up to 65% of the range to the target, receiving mid-course data link updates from the Ae-98K Flight as well as possible New Edomie aircrafts. Entering its secound stage the AIM-220 would undertake semi-active radar homing, searching first for reflected waves from Valeriya`s radar off the target, then for the enemy radar itself. After closing further, or if unsuccessful in mid-course up links and passive radar searching, the AIM-220 will begin to search for enemy jamming sources along its intended cone of attack. Once the range to the target had closed sufficiently the AIM-220 would confirm the target with its data banks using its on board electro-optical sensor and complete the engagement using whichever of its three available attack profiles the computer decides is best. This entire process would take a very short time, with each individual within the missile section taking fractions of a second through the solid-state processing computer. The launching aircraft would pre-designate the seeker sequence at launch, however, however Valeriya had selected the standard spattern for its stages.

in total four missiles we`re fired by Valeriya heading for its four, diffrent targets each of the aircrafts in her. The squadron would have fired four AIM-220s as well targeting the other Isotopian aircrafts within EAESA radar range/missile range , which meant a total of 48 missiles we`re now heading for the enemy aircrafts one or two missilse for each aircraft.

It may be noted that all the information regarding this engagement would be shared to allied Cromwell II integrated and adaptive battlespace networks to provide situational awareness to their allies and friends.

by **Hutanjia** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:51 am

ACROSS AND OVER NORTH AND WEST CARDWITH ISLES

"Hammer Two, this is Hammer One, follow my lead."

"Roger that."

"Hammer Three and Four, time to split off."

"Roger, Hammer One."

With that, Hammer flight, the only heavy bomber flight of the Royal Hutanjian Air Force, headed in to their final approaches on West Cardwith Island. Hammer Three and Four headed towards Anjoux, the second biggest city on West Cardwith Island to soften up targets around that rebel stronghold.

The Uli Gripen, Sparrowhawk and Harrier fighters and RHAF F-16s, Migs and Mirages dove into meet the Isotopian fighters that were scrambled and join in the major dogfights that happening over Northern West Cardwith Island. They joined with their New Edomite and Estovakivan comrade pilots in doing their best to suppress the Isotopian fighters that rose up to meet them. One flight, equipped with bunker bombs, split off to hit Falsean and Cardwithian targets along southern and western North Cardwith Island.

Uli UAVs sought out targets over the island and launched missiles at some hardened sights and depots further inland.

The Tu-22Ms known as Hammer One and Two split southwest to saturate Hesttens and Fort Mason with their ordnance. A couple of the large bombs fell onto Fort Mason, to add to the damage that was being done by the New Edomite and Estovakivan missiles. The rest of Hammer Two's payload trailed into the suburbs of Hesttens, not hitting significant military targets, except for a police station, but causing massive civilian casaulties, fires and clogging the roads with rubble and generally making the start of an aid crisis.

Hammer One's payload splattered across downtown Hesttens. Hundreds of civillians and military personnel, mostly Cardwithian, alike were killed. Many buildings were set afire, or badly damaged, rubble was all over the streets. Some of the historical buildings dated back to British and French colonial times. Ancient St. Rene's Church, in the center of the city, had its roof peeled off by a blast.

1st Fleet, with RHNS Otumlo at the center, had steamed through the night. After the last few hours it had escorted the Rangers into shore and left some Patrol boats and mini subs behind, it was now rounding northwestern West Cardwith to meet 2nd Fleet, which in the same space of time had done a wide berth around North Cardwith Island from Northern Nesselberg. 2nd fleet consisted of RHNS Chastille as its flagship, surrounded by more FACs, torpedo boats, missile boats, LCACs and other various landing craft, plus the special rigged and armed cargo ships on semi-permanent loan to the Uli-Schwyz Security Corp. The Uli cargo ships and Chastille were launching helicopters off their decks, both transport and attack, both Hutanjian and Uli. Landing craft headed in to the beaches near Anjoux and around the northwestern horn of West Cardwith.

They were preceded by missiles from the two main RHN ships, plus the three Han class RHN submarines that surfaced to let loose their cruise missiles. The ships also pounded the shore with their guns, at satellite data fed targets. Finally, the landing craft began to approach to spill their contents of Royal Hutanjian and Uli soldiers onto several beaches, as others rode in attack helicopters to be dropped air assault style in the rear of the defenders. Chinook helicopters carried FAVs in the following wave, to be dropped for use by the Uli troopers in the Moliors.

NEAR NORITTS

The flight of Uli Harriers and RHAF Mig 21s raced for Noritts after cutting out from the edge of the dogfight over Western Nesselberg. They were armed with runway cratering bombs and concrete hangar penetrating, delayed detonation missiles.
The ones that survived the Falkasian countermeasures and SAMs would launch their bombs and missiles at the large rebel air base.

BETWEEN NOURSELLE AND DERNIERVILLE

The Rangers kept up the attack on the Cardwithian and Isotopian defenders. The brutal hand to hand fighting took its toll on both sides. Grenades were tossed back and forth, as well as both sides having RPG teams. The Rangers manning the machine guns kept up the stream of heavy caliber rounds. They were keeping the Isotopian/DSR troops heads down and from reinforcing the front trenches where the mix of defenders and invaders clashed.

Royalist air cover was sparse as the Isotopian AA and aircraft had their toll on the attacking RHAF planes and choppers. An occasional Hind or Gazelle was still able to hit some of the defending trenches further back from the melee with rockets.

by **McNernia** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:44 am

DEINERVILLE
Mcnernian Special Forces

The Rangers were coming and everyone was in a fix, Thomas realized that the New Isotopians were aming for commanders when one of his team leaders was shot. He knew that he had to deal with the defensive lines, rocket fire seemed to be making big holes. The teams began to pepperpot up the beach, groups would run and others would cover. Standard tactics for dealing with shit like this. "Go, go ,go" there was a hail of lead sent up the beach.

There were other teams that had been sent ashore in other places. All along the coast they had come ashore, a bit more stealthy, inserted from submarines as well as team 1-8. The New Isotopians were proving vigilant to-night, many teams were meeting with sentry attacks, quite a few had fallen. The Special Forces had their orders and they would carry them out or die for God ,Country and St Erin. But that was only if there was no hope ,but they were ready for this sort of thing.

"Foxtrot to base, request missle strike on marked cordinates."

"Roger one on the way." out in the sea a Narvik class destroyer fired a missle towards the shore. The target was one of the bunkers firing on the attacking commandos.

"Keep you heads the fuck down."

The missle impacted and the radio crackled, the message put a smile on the face of Thomas, he waved his hand as landing craft came in. They were moving out. They extracted by boat in close order. Many were wounded, they came off the beach ,then the next message came in over the radio. Thomas nodded grimly "Aye sir we can do it."

The men were disiplined soliders. The missle, it was no longer relevant that it had taken Isotopian lives. The soliders began to work their way towards where the Hutanjians were fighting

The NIAF jets had returned to base, the Illusions from the fleet flew in. They had bombs at the ready for the approaching forces heading for the landing zones. The pilots looked around wary of the combat air patrols, they did not see them, nothing on radar. They saw the moving Isotopian tanks.

"Night hawk lead, target in sight lads."

"ok boss."

The 4 jets dove down and fired missles into the advancing tanks. They took groun fire from the adviancing AA vehicles ,two aircraft reported being peppered and one had to break to avoid a SAM. Not much ordinance was delivered. They headed away on a retask, alert for any sign of NIAF jets.

The Main assault.

The Mcnernian fleet was the last to approach the objective. The last into the fight but by the grace of God the biggest knockout punch. Emett was on the bridge of the Fordham. He looked down on the deck, his face hard and grim. Today was his day, a great day, when the lion finally roared for the world to see.

Aboard every transport landing craft were being prepared for action. Tanks and light armored vehicles were being loaded into assault hovercraft. The infantry were also in good spirits men were happy to finally jump into the lair of the enemy. The HT9A7 tanks of the 2nd Horse gaurds were loaded aboard along with many MA9A2 APCs of the Kings Havenians. There were some Hutanjians who had been provisioned with the odd BTR 90. The fight would be hard, but the Mcnernians had firepower. They loaded into the assault hovercrafts kept onboard. The craft were armed like gunboats but they would have to be. They assembled and headed in towards the beach.

by **Neu Engollon** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:46 pm

WESTERN NESSELBERG

The Uli Gripens and Warhawks duking it out with the Falkasian fighters were now at a crossroads. Due to the following course of events, they would either have to keep the Falkasian fighters engaged with as minimal fighters as possible, or failing that, with the Falkasian Shadowhawks and the token flight of Cardwithian MIGs possibly retreating back to defend the Cardwiths; they would also have to flee back to Vesselle to refuel, rearm and head to the Cardwiths to reinforce the current Royalist air contingent deployed there.

Mainly, they would want to do the former, keeping the Falkasians out of the mix of Operation Cardinal Hunt. The unknown quotient was how many planes the Falkies could already spare for the fight that was winding down over Nesselberg, the defense of Noritts, and to reinforce the Isotopians and Falseans over the northern end of the island chain.

The Warhawks, after launching their missiles beyond visual range, split. Three of them stayed to use their remaining missiles, and guns if needed, to help out their comrade pilots in the Gripens and MIGs, the rest turned back to Vesselle and re-equip before heading to the maelstrom that was presently Operation Cardinal Hunt.

OUREPEKA, KENEGA

Captain Ari-Galan and Sgt. Morrison disembarked with one of the Hut. Ranger officers onto shore. Two men came out of one of the shacks to greet them, dressed in tan tunics and shorts with old fashioned Sam Brown web belts on, pistol holsters tight to their sides, they seemed like something out of the old British colonial past.

"Hello, I'm Captain Ari-Galan, representing the Hutanjian government." He didn't introduce Sergeant Morrison or the Hutanjian Ranger. The two Kenegans looked quizzically at the swarthy, olive complexioned short Israeli and his companions.
"I'm Captain Saugiss, and this is Lieutenant Hempshire, of the Kenegan National Gendarmes."

The National Gendarmes were the only para-military force that the Kenegan Republic retained. They acted as both a police force and defense force.

"Forgive me for being taken aback, Captain, but I've never seen a white Hutanjian before, especially with a name like yours."

"Yes, I'm on contract with the Uli Regiment. We're auxillaries of the Hutanjian military. Is it just the two of you here?"

"Ahh. I see. Mercenaries," Saugiss' lip curled up a bit, "Well, I'm sure you're aware that we're not exactly ecstatic about this whole ordeal. We had quite a bit of pressure put on us by the Kingdom, your current government, to comply with the arrangement. The small population of the town has been evacuated. Colonel McTavish didn't even want to risk anymore Gendarmes than us. So, here we are. Oh, and fair warning..." He pointed over to Hempshire, who stood scowling. "The Lieutenant, like most Kenegans, is much more sympathetic to the Cardwithian and Hutanjian rebel cause than yours. President Nellis was born a Kenegan, after all. I could care less. I just follow orders. Where are the prisoners?"

Ari-Galan smiled. "I could care less either. The prisoners are not leaving the hovercraft until the moment they are needed."

"But, we should inspect them for their welfare. I must insist."

The Israeli turned Uli Captain continued to smile. Instead of arguing he simply said,
"Nope. Not part of the deal."

They waited for the Falkasian/Cardwithian contingent to arrive without too much further conversation.

NORTH OF MONTVIEUX

The Uli 6th Platoon commandos opened up on the UFF soldiers once discovery was imminent. They mowed down the first group and rushed in, SG 552s firing and knives flashing as they whipped past the UFF column of soldiers heading down the beach, sowing destruction along the way.The safest, quickest, non-mined path was straight through where the UFF squad had traveled down. So they took it, and the element of surprise.
The other group of UFF soldiers opened up on them from the other side of the beach. Most of the rounds from the amateurish soldiers went wide and up, but one wounded a Uli trooper. He crashed down to the beach with an AK round in the thigh.

Delta squad of the 6th Platoon stayed behind to finish off the other UFF defenders as the rest sprinted up the path to overtake the UFF drivers and capture their trucks intact. They hoped to drive to their rendezvous with the choppers bringing their FAVs.

Speaking of, that air group took advantage of the earlier assaults by Uli and RHAF fighter/bombers to cut in from the coast and head to drop off the vehicles and supplies. Uli Harriers took out SAM sites and defenses as the Vipers, Moliors and RHAF Chinooks rushed in to drop their loads and boogey on out. They were needed at Green and Blue Beaches.

by **Falkasia** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:46 pm

Over Western Nesselberg
"Time to head home," Chenko broadcasted across both squadrons. "The Cardwiths are under attack."

His VICE lit up as all remaining planes confirmed the new directive. They were still in a dogfight, but breaking it would be relatively easy. Their aircraft outmatched the Gripen in sheer speed, and with the RHAF MiGs retreating, they were out of the question as well.

It was really a factor of finishing up their current chases before turning and heading back. Having eliminated the Gripens they were pursuing, Romeo flight pulled back and fell into line. Zvezda was below them, shaking off an attack from the accompanying Uli Aqua flight.

Maroon Four and Six split both ways. Under normal circumstances, the Falkasians would have pursued, but decided instead to pull up and loop back the way they had just came to return to formation. It was not wise to disregard an order given by Squadron Lead, even if for a split second. As they completed their bank Maroon Four was struck by a missile in the distance, the aircraft disintegrating shortly after a white canopy was sighted in the sky. That was enough to confirm a kill.

Zvezda meanwhile, banked hard into the hail of bullets. Many struck the fuselage, poking holes in the armor and burning through the internal guts of the birds. Most damage was superficial, but Zvezda Three took a cluster of rounds right through the fuel tank. The resulting explosion, and fireball, engulfed the plane in its entirety. The charred hulk, angled down, rocketing into the treeline several hundred feet below and exploding on impact. The escape was designed to look like a scramble for survival, but at its heart was a common ruse. The Shadowhawks scattered, but given the three-dimensional nature of the air, all were facing one direction. The rest fired off errant missiles as VICE gained the odd lock, but made haste to return to the staging area for a kick thrust across the drink.

As the two flights arrived and loses were transmitted in, a double Vee formation was assumed as all remaining aircraft hit their afterburners and set out for Noritts. There was no denying the chaos that was ensuing, as well as the massive RADAR signals VICE had picked up. Oka flight would be intercepting the incoming Uli and RHAF air strike, rather easily no doubt, while the two remaining flights would resupply and refuel as required. They had ten minutes from landing to take-off, a difficult but not impossible timetable to achieve.

======

Noritts

Oka flight was tired of waiting, The moment the enemy appeared on their VICE screens, it was all over. The twelve aircraft of Oka had been itching for a fight since they arrived, and each considerably over-armed to the teeth with air-to-air missiles. Their orders were to drop the incoming aircraft, then beeline it over to East Cardwith and deal with the Tu-44s that the Isotopians were reporting.

Moroslav, in a bit of strategic genius, had splintered his flight down the middle. The first six would attack the incoming birds at range, dropping them with arrows before they were even able to distinguish the Shadowhawk's minimalist RADAR signature from background noise. They'd run interference, allowing the Romeo and Zvezda flights the opportunity to land and launch again without too much pressure. The remaining six would fly a rear guard operation, combined with the 1st and 3rd Combat Aviation Battlaions of the 10th and 11th Combat Aviation Brigade, loitering over the air base and dealing with stragglers if they broke through. The two CABs flew Lyran-made Warhawks and while designated to operate in a solely defensive or escort role, could be repurposed to go in for an assault if required. Casualties were expected, but in this manner damage to the airbase would be minimalized. It also put those six in prime position to haul ass over to East Cardwith, perhaps joined by other fixed-wing assets once the air base was deemed secure.

VICE alerted them to an incoming presence, as several red blips appeared on their readout screens. The six Shadowhawks, Oka One through Six, maintained altitude as they slammed their throttles forward. Two plumes of fire erupted from the rear of each aircraft as they rocketed forward through the sky. It didn't take long for VICE to confirm locks, and with the dial tone ringing in their headsets, missiles were deployed wholesale.

From underneath each aircraft, two payload bay doors opened and a carosel of missiles fell through. In an instant, they ignited and shot forward out of their berths and into the sky. The incoming aircraft would be in for a rude awakening.

======

On the Ground

The air raid siren was already going as men scrambled to and fro across the air base. The SAM batteries were readied, aimed at the sky for the incoming transgression. Soldiers through had assumed defensive positions in bunkers or trenchworks, and made ready to supply additional ammunition as required. It had been quiet, for the most part, but the operations on the other islands and to the north hadn't made things serene.

The PATRIOT missile batteries, as part of 2nd Brigade, would deal with the majority of the stragglers. Each battery was comprised of two launchers, with eight medium-to-long range missiles between the two of them. There were several of these set-ups scattered throughout the base, covering all corners with missile coverage. Additionally, each was accompanied by its own RADAR station, plus the main RADAR array for ATC. This redundancy preventing the missiles from going blind with a single lucky bomb hit, and also allowed the base to continue defense operations (while at a decreased level) should the main array be neutralized.

At closer range there were dozens of independent RBS 70 ground-based launchers that could be manned by individual soldiers. Their ease of use and mobility guaranteed significant support in the face of an attack, and could be reused and redeployed as needed should the circumstances of the battlefield change. And closer still, there was always the CIWS emplacements that had been deployed on the coastal edge of the base to defending against an incoming naval assault. If all else failed, the cannons could be utilized to tear through low-flying aircraft. The missiles were their primary priority, but planes were prey enough by themselves.

Several other defenses were available as well, namely Lyran-made Sky Guard mobile air defense systems, but these were kept in reserve for a very special purpose.

Elements of the 5th and 6th Combat Aviation Battalions made ready to launch. Pilots and ground crews began to spill out from their barracks and onto the tarmac, running full-spreed towards the stands where their LALY-215 Reaver and Mi-24 HIND Helicopters were waiting. With the incoming air assault expected, it was a must to get as many of the 8th's attack helicopters off the ground and airborne. They'd be flying north once the rotors were spun up, coming on scene likely just in time to help with the fireworks.

======

Near Montvieux
Early that Day

"It was fortunate Command had sent the warning when they did."

"Yea, although why we're sitting here in the dark is beyond me."

Two shilouettes whispered to eachother, hidden and huddled behind a large rocky outcropping on the edge of the beach below. Why they were there was beyond them, but their commander had given explicit orders to remain calm and silent. No one knew where the invasion would be coming, but they did know there would be one. Their role was to be sentries, watching the coastline in groups of two for three hour shifts. Their special NV/IR Goggles made it far easier to see the waves lapping the shore and shapes of rocks as the waves washed over them. The goggles themselves were bit of a perk of being in the 8th, always getting to test the latest and best gear. The system itself had four-barrels, allowing panoramic sight in NV. Many operators, especially in the dark, found themselves forgetting they were even wearing such equipment by how well it emulated human sight. As an added bonus, the system was also joined with an IF sensor, which allowed the goggles to detect body heat.

"Gotta love these goggles," one of the men said as he shifted the weight of his AK-113 from one arm to the other.

"Yea, watch this!"

A dark hand went up and began tinkering with the tubes, turning all of them green and then red and then half-and-half.

"Wow! That's really cool! How'd you do that?" the other soldier asked, showing the enthusiasm of a child first encountering a new toy.

"I jury-rigged it.. brass doesn't know... I basically see NV with one eye and IR with the other... when you look out both of them..."

He pulled his set off and passed it to his partner, who in turn took off his rig and put the new one on.

"When you look out both of 'um... they overlap and you get NV with glowing bodies. Cool, eh?"

"Yea... but what about those spots I see out there in the water?"

The two looked at each other.

"What do you mean?"

"There's dots in the water... and they're moving... did you calibrate this thing right?"

"C'mon, give it here... let me see."

He took the rig off, passing it back to his partner before replacing his own.

"Yea, I see 'um... hmm... wait... they're growing... what the fuck generates heat..."

"I dunno, but dim your lights.. quick!"

Both of the rigs were quickly switched to "silent," essentially dimming the projections to where very little light was emitted. It made it slightly harder to see, but at least rendered them nearly invisible to those around.

"Holy shit... those ain't rocks... I'm seeing several human shapes in the water!"

"Fuck that... call base... see if those fucking Huts are running a patrol again..."

The radio feed crackled to life without them. In an effort to maintain silence, it was piped into an earpiece. The volume hadn't be adjusted though, so when the first calls came through both men were nearly blown over by the jolt of loud noise.

"Enemy contact! Enemy contact! We've got Huts near Montvieux..." the radio began to scream with similar calls.

"Awww fuck..." mumbled one of the two as he dropped to the sand beneath him. He extended the barrel of his AK forward, bracing it in the crook of a rock for stability. His hands were shaking slightly as he clicked in, sending a series of beeps on the radio to confirm enemy contact without exposing his position. Sentries nearby would be alerted, and could in turn send word to command if the weren't under attack either.

"Those fuckers are big..." the other said, drawing a parachute flare from a cargo pocket.

He struck it on a rock, igniting it as he pulled the trigger and sent it into the air. He too dropped into the sand as the red light slowly illuminated the beach. His partner had already switched to IR, as did he, to give them a better view of the incoming commandos.

As the supposed "Rangers" on the beach before them cringed from the light and instinctively went to ground in anticpation of a firefight, the two sentries began leveling off aimed shots from behind a rocky outcropping. There were no tracers, only bright orange incendiary rounds to gauge where their shots were hitting. It'd only be a few minutes before the QRF was activated and began hauling to defend the beach, but the other sentries were likely already on the move. There was clicking several hundred yards to their left, no doubt the commandos taking their first prizes of the night.

======

The Cliffs Above

As the QRF began to mobilize a few miles away, the intial defenders made ready for an attack. Although by no means a sizeable force, the coastal garrison was by design only supposed to hold out for a few minutes by themselves while the augmented force arrived. Given the facile nature of this task, their real job was to prepare and activate the defenses. Up on the cliffs, a system of bunkers had been fabricated to help aid in the defense. Machine guns pock-marked it, as did DBS and Chapparal SAM emplacements. Airmobile M777 Howitzers of 4th Brigade, 20th Field Artillery had been positioned inside hardened structures to act as makeshift coastal defense turrets. Their turrets were pre-sighted, and all one had to do was add ammunition and send it fly.

======

Montvieux Garrison

In the early morning, the air raid siren went off. There was no complaining as the Falkasian soldiers rolled out of their bunks or off of their cots. They had been preparing for this moment for several weeks, having worked themselves silly preparing the already sheer cliff face for an assault. It was unknown what to expect, but they had little fear of the incoming attack. Apprehension and axiety however, was more apparent as the troops hastily put their gear on.

It took three minutes, a brigade first, as the troops began to spill out from their tents and blockhouses. Most of the troops were still groggy, rubbing their eyes and blindly grabbing for cups of instant coffee dispensed by the brigade quartermastery. A few absentmindly nursed Red Bulls, smuggled onto the island in their personal kits. In the distance, the horizon was alight with explosions on one of the neighboring islands. It became evident rather quickly that a major operation was underway. The dark parade green was slowly illuminated by truck lights as the mass of infantry began the process of boarding, spliting into squads and mounting the rears of MRAP and Ural transports.

They pulled into an extended column, each truck stopping only briefly to admit a select number of soldiers before proceeding forward. The convoy was staggered, with a King Shepard Mobile AA leading and following the trucks. Interspersed in between were several DBS 70 attachments, affixed to the mounts on top of the MRAPs. No chances were being taken, and should an errant attack helicopter or aircraft find its way overhead, the convoy would quickly deal with it. The remaining MRAPs had various implements on them, mainly heavy machine guns and short-range grenade catapults. They'd be useful at the beach, should additional forces land.

The convoy began to lurch as gravel transitioned to pavement. It was a quick route, despite the fact it was barely lit. There was no telling if any of the commandos had made it this far inland yet, so everyone was on their guard. NV/IR Goggles were a requirement, as each soldier donning his set-up before replacing his impact helmet over it. Despite the juciy target the convoy represented, an attack upon it would be certain death... the Rangers just didn't know it.

======

Waterway between Cardwiths and Nesselberg

The hovercraft made good time as it bounced and lurched over the waves. It was rough, but anything was better than facing a determined enemy on a beachhead with one had tied behind your back. They had little fear of coming under attack. With the bulk of the enemy navy over in the straits between East and West Cardwith, and their miniscule size against the backdrop of an ocean, it would be "smooth" sailing over to Noritts.

They had to stop monentarily as they rounded the last curve of the island, retrieving the pilot of Romeo Eleven from his vibrant yellow life raft as he floated helplessly in the warm tropical sea. He was freezing, soaked to the bone, as several marines hauled him onboard from an extended loading ramp. They had wasted no time in getting underway, placing the pilot into the triage line like the rest as the hovercraft once more shot forward.

The voyage had given them considerable time to think, to think on the events of the previous several hours. Kuznetsov, from his post inside the bridge of the hovercraft, recounted it carefully event by event.

"Sir," an anxious Marine had started. "We've got casualty counts..."

Kuznetsov had not replied, simply staring at the Marine and waiting for him to throw numbers at him.

"At present sir, we're looking at 25%... we've got a little over one hundred noneffective... fifty-seven are KIA with the rest wounded. I'm sure that number will rise considerably over the next few days."

Once again Kuznetsov had not replied, simply noddingas his blank stare pierced through the Marine like paper. The operation had cost a lot, but it was worth it. They had saved perhaps thirty times their own strength in the form of rebel forces. The death of one to save a thousand was an honorable death.

A wave blasted against the window, jolting him out of his daydream. It would be hard to let go, but at the very least he had brought all of his men home.

by **The UFF of Hutanjia** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:50 pm

SEWERS BELOW SOUTHEASTERN CHASTILLE

As the flashbang went off, all hell broke loose. The PAST operators ducked as far as they could into the muck without sucking in a mouthful or submerging their weapons. With practice as they were crouching, they knew to close their eyes in time to avoid the worst effects on their senses from the non lethal, but stunning grenade.

AKM rounds whizzed around into the tunnel walls and ceiling above them. The FSIS men behind them were doing the same. As the firing slacked off, they rose just a bit and fired their shotguns and Uzis back down the tunnel. Grunts and large splashing came back to them. Aware that the next volley of gunfire or grenades would be raining down upon them, they scooted just a bit further back to increase the distance. Miles thought, What I wouldn't do for a grenade or chunk of C4 right now.

As if to answer his prayer, Kenneth pulled one out of his pocket, covered in sewage. They smiled, then frowned as their eyes, trying to focus in the intermittent flickering light, both met upon Gordon's face-down floating form in the cesspool streaming down the floor of the tunnel. The back of his head seemed to be less than smooth, with pieces of skull protruding jaggedly from the back of Gordon's head that was not submerged.

PAST #2 was down to two men.

WESTERN NESSELBERG

Lieutenant Jeremiah Jorgazu nodded to Riordian, the Isotopian Revolutionary Officer.
"Yes, let's go. We have a bit of distance to cover. They have plans for us. We may be able to turn the tide of this war with what we do in the next few days."

Lt. Jorgazu was unaware of the new front opening up on the Cardwiths, but if he had known, it wouldn't have changed his resolve.

NORTH OF MONTVIEUX

The Sergeant in charge of the UFF patrol at the beach became extremely frustrated at the unresponsiveness of his troops to danger, not realizing that their 'goofing off' was due to coping with enemy rounds thudding into them. When the realization hit of what was really happening, he didn't have time to react.

Shadowy figures flitted in among the collapsing UFF rebels. A shadowy tentacle flickered towards him, thrusting a knife into his throat, and then the shadow flew past. He gurgled in response.
When the UFF squad on the other side of the beach opened up, the couple of UFF men left with the trucks became alert. Black shadows were racing up to meet them from the path below. PFC Karantga fired at the mass and a black clad commando flew back, tumbling another man with him.

Karantga felt sharp pains as bullets struck him, spinning him to the road. A boot stepped on him, the corners of his vision closed in with darkness as his focus faded from the falling form of his comrade, Private Mibadu, near the other truck.

MONTVIEUX AND OTHER UFF/DSR GARRISONS
ACROSS NORTHERN EAST CARDWITH

As men of the UFF 4th and 5th Regiments manned their AA and SAM defenses in response to the call from Noritts, the Royalist missiles from the attacking flights started to impact on the Cardwithian and some Falkasian sites. Some enemy flights were radar tracked heading south between Montvieux and Tarpon Bay, both fast movers and slower rotor wing returns. They seemed to slow as they got 40 kilometers northwest of Sapugeka.

The Cardwithians attempted to call Noritts command to secure air assets to intercept them, but a lot were already committed to interception elsewhere. They called anyway. Meanwhile, ground assets were rallied to meet the invaders. At the garrisons, APCs were fired up and loaded with UFF soldiers.

A handful of aging Soviet built tanks were also on the move towards the northwestern coast. They had been captured during the intitial revolt, taken from the Hutanjian government armories on the Cardwiths. Now they would hopefully serve to repel their former masters.

OURAPEKA, KENEGA

Illyich Voroshnev, FSIS man and Hutanjian prisoner, sat on the bench inside the hovercraft, looking at his fellow UFF comrades. He recognized a couple of them, officers from the 7th UFF Regiment that he'd served with during the Battle for the Pocket. A unit that no longer existed.

Their Hutanjian Ranger and Uli guards wore respirator masks to avoid catching the camp diseases their prisoners probably still harbored.
If the UFF officers were scared, the complete shell shock of their ordeal for the last couple months masked it entirely. They were like half human zombies, staring at him and each other. There would be no organized breakout if something went south during the trade. Not with these drained shells of former humans.

No amount of Uli/RHA rehabilitation would have reversed the horrors the KHS had put them through. Even though their erstwhile rescuers had tried to nourish them back to better physical health, their mental health would likely never bounce back. Now, hopefully, they were minutes from being reunited with their side and starting on the road to revenge. The only thing the whole group of them had left was revenge, besides a death away from a diseased camp.

by **The Cardwith Islands** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:25 pm

SOUTHWEST OF HESTTENS

Leila had debated sending Charles to the reinforced hole they had off his study. It was not a basement, not a proper shelter, not a steel reinforced cocoon. It was simply thick concrete walls in a box shape that could maybe hold three people, covered by floor planking over a steel sheet with air hoses feeding out to vents.

When under construction, it was the most intrusion that Dr. Nellis would allow into his private lair as he worked on improving his statesmanship and building a nation.
Now the compound shook violently. Objects and books flew off shelves. Leila weighed the options as the bombs fell in nearby Hesttens miles away. Would the next group fall here on the compound? Did they know about us?
She would fight tooth and nail to get Nellis into the little shelter, with the help of the guards.

"Leila, I have to be out there, the people need me more than ever. Hesttens is crumbling to the ground. Listen! You can hear it. They are pounding not the soldiers, but the people! I can't hide when they need me now."

"Mr. President, they need you alive. Your going out there would only result in your death and a leaderless Cardwiths. If the bombers come this way, well...we die. If they come near here, we may stand a chance being in the shelter if the building comes down around us."
He started to shake his head.

"Charles, I'm not backing down. I will have the guards drag you in there and sit on the lid."
She only called him Charles in front of subordinates when the argument was over, consequences be damned. He wouldn't fight that determination, so he sighed and went along.

"When the bombs stop. I need to be out there among our people. I need to stand strong with them."

"Let's talk about that when the bombs stop."
They gently lowered him in, then with some protest, pushed Leila in as well. Before the DSR Lieutenant closed the concealing cover, he handed them oxygen masks with small tanks attached.

"Personally, I wouldn't trust the vents. Debris could clog them too easily. Put these on Mr. President, Counselor."
With the sound of another loud boom in the distance, the Lieutenant started to close the top.

" I will come back for you. Wait until then." With a clang, darkness enshrouded them.

SOUTHERN WEST CARDWITH

The Rangers moved in on the next set of trenches and fortifications. The men of the 2nd Brigade, 6th DSR Regiment fought on, machetes and bayonets flashing, Kalashnikovs firing. Their numbers dwindled as the air cover for the Rangers took their toll with strafing runs and rockets. Two more RHAF helicopters, a Kiowa and Gazelle, fell from the sky, one taken out by an Isotopian missile battery, the other from a handheld launcher courtesy of a Cardwithian soldier. They were lightly armored, little waspy things compared to the Hind monster gunships, but they still packed a wallop with their rocket pods and they made up for their lighter punch with speed and flitting maneuverability.

The 2nd Brigade Major got on the radio with DSR/Isotopian Command in Hesttens. It had been hard to get a hold of them for some reason, but finally, the comms man reached them and handed the mike over.

"What do you want, Major? We have some big problems of our own up here. Make it quick."

The Major heard booming echoes in the background.
"We need tanks and more air."

"Air maybe, we're working on it, or at least the Isotopians are. Tanks, no. What little we had are staying put. We lost some of those in these airstrikes. The rest may be needed. Here.
Are the anti-ship missiles having any effect on those RHN and royalist boats?"

"Not much. Some of their small patrol boats."

"Well, that's ok. We think you just need to hold out a little longer. Wait for the reinforcements and hold. That may not be the main attack. In which case, you won't see Royal reinforce... I need to sign out. Over." He'd heard a louder blast in the background.

"Yes, sir. Understood. Over." He tried not to ponder the abrupt end to the call, ducking as a rocket slammed into the bunker, flinging a Cardwithian and Isotopian soldier at them as the wall caved.

WESTERN COAST OF WEST CARDWITH

DSR OPs on beaches sighted the RHN 1st fleet, but the Isotopian ASM sites were scattered few and far between. Twice missiles were fired off and they were brought down by the auto weapons systems on the enemy cruiser. The boats were too far off to be touched by anything else besides the foreign ASM launchers or aircraft.

NORTH CARDWITH ISLAND AND EAST CARDWITH ISLAND

Troops were rushed to reinforce garrisons, patrols were sent out, and OP duty was rotated every couple hours, to keep the lookouts fresh and alert.

A few companies of the 2nd and 3rd DSR Regiments were kept in reserve, to head to where there might be action. It was now certain that they should expect more landings, but where was still of question. The Falseans, on the eastern and southern ends of the island, also prepared for the worst.

The other elements of the 3rd DSR, the 4th and 5th UFF did likewise on their island, reinforced by Combat Teams and advisers from the Falkasian 8th Airborne. They were already starting to become aware of actions in the north of the island. Was this the vanguard of a major landing? A small company of T-72 tanks were on both North and East Cardwith. While the ones on North Cardwith stayed under cover with engines cool. The handful of Cardwithian tanks on East Cardwith were on the move north and west.

by **New Isotopia** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 1:43 am

Western Nessleberg

The Echo Force Operatives got their gear and readied for the march to the objective.

As the men began to march Riordian asked Jeramiah, "What exactly is our destination comrade?"

Between Nourselle and Derneirville

In the front trenches, a orgy of gore, gunfire, explosions, and screaming continued. As the enemy gunners kept up a steady fire rate, the Isotopian DShK gunners on the high ground also provided their steady supply of gunfire towards the beach, bullets kicked up the sand. The sound of Isotopian and Monarchist Aircraft was heard overhead, but deafened by the brutal violence bellow.

Western Coast of the West Cardwith Island

It was made clear that taking out the enemy Cruiser with shore based anti ship missiles was a waste of ammunition and time. Land based ASW were starting to run low, dangerously low at some parts of the island. Naval assets were still on their way, it was decided that it was crucial that the Isotopians had to destroy it as soon as possible.

Due to heavy air combat the only aircraft they could spare for the operation were a pair of SU-25's and a pair of MiG-29's (For escort). Each SU-25 was equipped with a Kh-59MK ASW. The KH-59K was a fire and forget weapon meaning the aircraft could break off and return to base as soon as they had launched their payload.

"We are in range and ready to fire." One of the SU-25 pilots said over the radio. A similar statement was heard by the second SU-25.

"Firing in three... two... one..." In unison the two missiles left the underbelly of the two SU-25's, who broke off along with their escorts and began the return to base, doing their best to avoid enemy aircraft.

The Conflict in Hutanjia [Closed]

Crowns Wrath

Mcnernian Operations

Who is online