The Conflict in Hutanjia [Closed]

[McNernia]

MRS Sparta
Near Chastille
Huntjian Waters

The Huntjian major would be picked up by a Mcnernian Royal Navy NH-90 helicopter and then flown to the MRS Sparta to meet the Mcnernian commanders. Fotona would be brought into a conference room and there would be the Mcnernian officers. Colonel Timothy Harken of the Mcnernian Royal Marines sat at the head of the table. "Be seated major Fotona, I would like to know the facilites that have been prepared for our forces." To his left sat Kenji Mikarsky of the 1st Kings Havenian Rifles and Major Peter Daniels of the Mcnernian Crown Rangers. "I am the senior officer Major Fotona, so Unwerth may look to me for getting the Crowns troops into line and on to the field."

Mikarsky spoke next ,"My boys are the best damn soliders you will find around, the Special Air Service and the other Special Forces ,those are a differnet thing. My Havenians know jungle warfare and we are good with knives and killing people." He smiled mirthlessly, "The Japanese tanto is our weapon of choice, Wazakashi is another thing we like to use." he let that sink into the Major. "I do want to have my boys in the action and we are skilled in fighting insurgents. The UFF wont last long.

"Major it would seem the forces arrayed to fight the UFF lack combat aircraft, the Uli Schwarz Air Units are nowhere in sight and well, the RHAF seems like a piece of , fecal matter by most standards." This came from Captian Ivans, "We have twelve Mc 82 Illusion Fs of the Royal Navy flying off the Sparta and the AT-25 Gunships of the Army and Marines." He let the message of the firepower the Mcnernians wielded sink in, it was quite a bit.

The Ranger was the next to speak "My men are also good at Jungle fighting, the virtue of the Ranger is to be able to vanish and then strike like a wraith. One company has medical and EOD capability they will handle the training of new Rangers, from what I hear losses have been heavy and several teams are MIA Major." he had a look of sympathy in his eyes, Ill have teams made ready to remove bodies or to recover men lost in the jungle."

The knock on the door came as a suprise to the men and Colonel Harkin looked to the door, "Enter." a sailor entered with a piece of paper. "Return to your post sailor." "Yes sir colonel sir" "Also we have New Krongolonese in the line with us it seems." he looked over the data, "The Mount Hagen Provincial Gaurd, why would Rodreguiez send the Provincials when they could have sent regulars." "That is one for spies not soliders to figure out." "Major Fotona, we can commence airstrikes in support of Vassile, we have AWACs as well, NE-7 aircraft to cordinate." "Airmoblie Battalion can be on the field very quickly and with devistating force." Mikarsky interrupted "But Colonel I speaking with as much experience as you would like to get our men ashore."


Mcnernia
Blakeford Manor
Unknown Location

The announcement that the King of Huntjia was declaring war on Falkasia was not good, the damn fool was going to bite off more than he could chew, the Falkasians were mean fucks, and well he had sympathy for the King of Huntjia. Blakeford decided to advise the PM that there was a crisis on his hands, the King was far away attending a wedding in Deckersia and now there was a serious crisis, Blakeford summoned his staff that ran the agency.

They convined in the Directors office, Blakeford had pulled the protocols of last resort, Prentor was also an Assassin but it had been a long time since his last mission wich had been in Al-Azkar and well Ataves security had been pretty tight around the generals compound, a day before the generals appearent suicide, more than the usual gaurd detial that the general had around. His detail was supplemented on that day by other Huntjian securuity, plainclothes officers who Blakeford could only assume were of the KHS. Prentor was good at observation and well the evidence of the fact that the security was removed after a short time indicated some one important had been at the late generals house and then he had been found dead.

When Blakeford phoned the Prime Minister he did not seem happy about the prospect of war with Falkasia. Mcnernia was well armed with equipment from Golgoth so he did not fret for that, the Commonwealth would provide assistiance if things came to that but he had confidance in the Armed Forces and men like Blakeford to not escillate the confilict if it could be helped. Blakeford hoped to prove himself to the Prime Minister. And to the King in time but he had other things to deal with.

KHS DIRECTORS EYES ONLY

From: MRIA Director Sir Jeremy Blakeford
To: KHS Director Mr Milton Atave

Greetings

I have heard of the Kings declaration of hostilies and I do appauld you for getting rid of the general ,he was a veteran but this was not his war no?

[Hutanjia]

KINGDOM OF HUTANJIA SECURITY

RECEIVER: Sir Jeremy Blakeford, Director of the MRIA
SENDER: Milton Atave, Chief of the KHS

Mr. Blakeford,
I must admit my confusion at your message. The King of Hutanjia has NOT declared war on Falkasia, if that is the nation you're referring to in a 'declaration of hostilities'. He made a specific point not to do such an action and widen and complicate the war. Also, we are very saddened at the passing of General Tonganu and would never want to see such a superior strategist and military officer leave our service. The KHS has no knowledge of the circumstances of his death nor involvement in it. Such inattention to detail makes me question your aptitude in intelligence operations and qualifications for heading a large security apparatus. We do not require your future assistance in Hutanjian operations.
Thank you,
Milton Atave, Chief of the KHS

WITH MCNERNIAN COMMAND STAFF, CHASTILLE

Major Fotona stood up, "Training wise, we are well up to speed and have no time for it, as most of our troops are being committed to widen the Vesselle front or being committed to a future campaign on another front. The Uli-Schwyz (NOT Schwarz) fighters will be here within a day and The Mount Hagen Provincial Guard is here on a need to know basis and not at the behest of the New Korongolese government. We hope that you can keep quiet about their presence here. Your troops need to report to Fort Soleil as our radio communications stated. Your aircraft are expected at Jotaku Air Base. This meeting has been most informative. We will be in touch. Thank you."

[McNernia]

Mcnernia
Blakeford Manor
Unknown location

Blakeford cursed himself, he meerly did a stupid thing, and had called his credibilty as director of the RIA to the fore, the Prime Minister would fire him, or Interior Minister Stanton for that matter, Atave was a veteran, he was not.

KHS DIRECTOR ONLY

From: Director MRIA
To: Director KHS

Greetings

My sincerest apologies, Mr Atave, I am saddened that the Cheif of Staff has left this world and am sorry for the loss to Huntjias military. However I have a report from my agent in Chastille who observed the Generals compound to see if UFF would make an attempt to kill him. My man heard the shot of the alledged suicide when there was double security and then the detail was reduced to normal. If you can explain how the general was killed with a doubled detail for a time and then then reduced, I am meerly saying I see something to explain. Your methods in my opinion are a relic of the Cold War but I can see their nesscessity. I like to work at night, not during the day, limits body counts.


MRS Sparta
Huntjian Waters
Command Conference

"WIdening Vasslle would not be a good idea not without, youd be bogged down soon as anything and then the UFF could strike in other places major." "The Illusions will be flying from the Sparta in support of Vessile and we could put them at the airbase requested to allow for air defense of the island of Nevorn." "We will do as requested and dispatch the Airmoblie battalion for Fort Solieil and then the rest of the brigade will follow. We shipped from Daiku a few days ago and we shipped without eyes and ears." "Most regretable, tell General Unwerth we will ship shortly and give my personal regards to the MHPG." "Dismissed."

The Loading
Chastille
The Helicopters warmed up on the deck of the Fordham as the Airmobile and Recce Marines prepared to load, the rest of the force loaded onto the ACTV, Air Cushion Transfer Vessels wich were packed tightly into the Fordhams well deck. Colonel Harkin looked formidable in full gear, he wore a jungle pattern combat vest and faituges, the Marines came ashore and rumbled in Pseujonda PMVs into the city. Overhead helicopters filled the sky. The Marines looked at the archetecture and the people in the streets. They were early silent.

Harkin sat in the lead PMV he had his helmet off and he looked around, "Bloody hell, the war reaches even here, these people seem to have it bloody bad, eh Sargent." "Yes sir Colonel sir, they do." Harkin had not seen shit this bad since Al-Azkar when the 23rd had rolled through the northern provinces to clean out the Insurgents.

[The Imperial Alliance of Free States]

From: Imperial Alliance of Free States Foreign Affairs Bureau
To: All Nations Involved in the Currently Ongoing Rebellion in Hutanjia

The government of the Imperial Alliance of Free States has observed the ongoing rebellion in Hujantia with increasing horror. Regardless of our ideological alignment, we find most distressing the flagrant abuses of human rights by both sides and the sore need of basic supplies to the civilians in all combat zones. To this end, we are now sending such aid as we deem necessary to stabilize the situation.

Within the next 48 hours, the helicopter cruiser IAS Hawk, escorted by the destroyers IAS Mongoose and IAS Kestrel, will be within 100 nautical miles of the Hutanjia islands. She will deploy her helicopters and VTOL support aircraft to airlift necessary aid to the affected areas. We request immunity from attack from both sides. Please be aware Hawk and her escorts will fire in self-defense, as will Hawk's aircraft. We are aware this is a war zone, only one warning will be given.

Best Regards
Foreign Affairs Secretary John Rice

[Falkasia]

(Image)

FROM THE ROYAL HOUSE OF OTUMLO
KINGDOM OF HUTANJIA

RECEIVER: The Government and Military Rulers of Falkasia
SENDER: King Popilu, Ruler of Hutanjia

To The appointed rulers of Falkasia,
The activity of your agents in our country supporting elements that wish to destabilize and destoy our nation is not tolerable. Despite obvious evidence of your nation's military and intelligence apparatus in our affairs, I have been advised that a declaration of war would not be prudent. A declaration of war would possibly force your allies and our allies, including New Edom, to follow suit and bring needless harm to countless other innocent civilians on a global scale. I will not be responsible for that. However, I wish to inform you that your nation's forces are NOT welcome here and any Falkasian military or intelligence elements within the environs or waters of Hutanjia will be considered hostile and dealt with accordingly. Someday, maybe our two nations could come to an accord to stop the bloodshed. Until then, stay out!
With Utmost Malice,
King Popilu I

To: King Popilu I
From: Vladimir Kazyenko

I do not know what you are talking about. Falkasian forces are not, nor have ever been present within your country. While we will confirm that presence of the FNS Schechtmann, it is simply passing through the region unrelated in any way to the conflicts occuring in the jungle. Quite frankly, being under the impression that we would even have interest in an island chain as insignificant as your's is somewhat egotistical.

Have a better day,
Vladimir Kazyenko

======

Vladimir arched his back as it popped. His desk chair, a carryover from his father, was not designed for his body. He'd need to purchase a new one, but wanted to wait and see what went down in Hutanjia first. There was no greater insult than stealing furniture and using it as trophies.

There was a knock at the door, but in an instant it flew open on its own accord and an aide strolled in. Just as quickly, he handed off a leaf of paper and left. Kazyenko glanced down, taking notice immediately of the large "FSIS: Eyes Only" rubber stamp mark at the top. Co-signed at the bottom was Operative Dimitri Vornok, one of his father's best agents and like successor to the FSIS Directorship once the current one retired.

It was a simple note.

"Operation ready. Requesting orders."

Vlad smiled, rolling his eyes at Dimitr's typical bluntness. He quickly pressed a button on his desk telephone, and old archaic machine dating back from around the Soviet-era. A large red light lit up, and he was patched in.

"Mission is Go."

======

A small Eurovan had been procured by Vassili. It was a simple matter of finding one doing a delivery run, posing as a KHS agent, and commandeering it for their own uses. The people were terrified of confrontation, especially with masked men believed to be the King's underlings. The harder part was avoiding street patrols. Even for a nation supposedly "at peace," there was a large martial presence on the streets that made travel very difficult. It was by a miracle alone that Vassili, in a neck-tight operations suit, hadn't tripped up any of the checkpoints. Maybe he had... but if he did, he was not made aware.

On the ground floor of the duplex that the two men had been using as their base inside Chastille, Dimitri was waiting with the mannequin suicide bomber. The ridiculousness of it all was almost offset by its sheer genius. While the doll only resembled a human being in color and shape, in an explosion its plastic body would disintegrate and act in a manner very similar to living suicide bombers. The FSIS had done a study several years back on all aspects of sucide bombers, and in a grotesque way, had become rather experts on the subject.

Dimitri glanced over the mannequin one last time, proud of his work. No eyes, no hair, no features aside from a mouth and nose ridge. It was clad from head-to-toe in government camoflague. Dimitri knew that recovery of the body would be impossible, but little shreds of fabric would be easily spared. Examination by any medical examiner would determine the origin, and thusly Dimitri hoped, would cause turmoil within the Monarchy's own ranks thinking one of their own had gone traitor and blown up a building. It was an impossible plan, but from experience he knew such plans always yielded the best results when they worked.

An engine hummed from around the corner as Vassili careened into the alley. The van was originally blue, but most of the painth ad scrapped off due in no small part to his driving. He slammed on the brakes, causing the wheels to spin and screech as smoke rose from the burning rear wheels. The van stopped after skidding, right in front of Dimitri. The elder agent didn't so much as flinch.

In another instant, the back door was flung open and the mannequin tossed inside. The explosive followed suit. The entire rig would have to be installed during the ride. The bomb was unstable, but assembly on site would take too long and raise far too much suspicion.

Vassili floored the pedal no sooner than Dimitri had gotten into the back. They would have to play with fire once again, but hopefully it would not result in them getting burned.

[Hutanjia]

HNN (Hutanjian News Network):

"Good evening people of Hutanjia, I am Shirley Golaru and this is HNN. Tonight, our top story is the kidnapping of Bradley Nellis, the nephew of famed rebel leader Doctor Charles Nellis. A previously unheard of group called the Organization to Free the Cardwiths, the OFC, has claimed responsibility. They are purpotedly a splinter faction that fell out from the United Freedom Front, out to liberate the Cardwiths from both the central Government and the UFF rebels. Their demands for the release of the young Nellis are the withdrawal of UFF rebel forces from all the Cardwith Islands and a sum of 600 million Tupas from the UFF leadership for damages on behalf of the Cardwithians. There has been no response from either Dr. Nellis and the UFF, nor the Royal Government.

Also, after a successful bombing raid, the Royal Hutanjian Army and Marines are advancing through rebel positions south of Vesselle. They are being supported by allied aircraft and those of the RHAF. A statement from General Hespatu:"
'The arrival of our allies led by New Edom, has bolstered the military and this may be the turning point in the war for us. We are looking forward to liberating all of Hutanjia from these rebels and mutinous soldiers who will be brought to justice.'

"When asked about whether there was a rumored campaign to take back the Cardwiths, or if all of Nesselberg would be secured first, General Hespatu was very noncommittal. More after the break."

[The Imperial Alliance of Free States]

IAS Hawk
75 Kilometers North of Nevorn Island

Captain Garret Gorton glanced up from the plot tables out the windows of his command ship. The Hawk was his command, the first of her class. Just over 275 meters of sleek catamaran hull, armed with the latest in ANINVANTE Corporation defensive systems. Nearly twenty helicopters sat on his flight deck and below in the hangar deck aft, in various states of flight readiness, each with its own mission and purpose here today. But his role as Commodore of Surface Group 19 insisted he glance at his other assets.

Two other sleek bows cut through the waves near the Hawk. IAS Mongoose, another lead ship, the stealth destroyer, slid through the water before her, her tumblehome hull slicing through the waves. Her role was all-around fleet defense and reconnaissance. She also carried a helicopter, a matter to become critical shortly.

The other ship was IAS Kestrel, a Gyrfalcon-class surface warfare destroyer. Kestrel would provide the small group with a powerful surface action asset. Some elements within IASN Command claimed ships of Kestrel's class were actually small cruisers, citing their enormous surface-to-surface firepower, including the long-range SuS-11D that was her primary armament. Officially the three ships had been diverted from an exercise, Kestrel vs. Hawk and Mongoose, and had resupplied with a fleet tender for the humanitarian supplies they now carried. In fact, they had resupplied from two tenders. It was what they had picked up from the second one that Gorton knew really mattered. But that was highly classified.

As it stood, his course took him straight down the strait between Nevorn and Nesselberg Islands. That put rebel forces on his starboard and government to his left. As was procedure, the three Alliance warships were already at battle stations. Mongoose's captain, Edward Johannsen, had orders to fire without warning on all contacts approaching the group on attack or intercept vectors. Missiles were to be destroyed upon detection. And while officially neither side had high-quality anti-ship missiles, Gorton had heard of enough aid stories gone wrong to not trust Imperial Intelligence at all.

Once in position in the strait, he was to begin flight operations. The helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft on his deck were loaded with food, medical supplies, fuel, and aid personnel destined for both sides of the strait. Officially Gorton didn't know that eight of the thirty aid workers destined for the government side were actually some of Intelligence's most experienced infiltrators. And he definitely didn't know Mongoose currently carried a twelve man Special Forces team of the elite TERMINATOR battalion who would be inserted on the rebel island shortly after flight operations began to assess the situation and possibly make contact with the rebels. No, he was just going to cruise in the middle of the strait, providing aid and an extra, if small, hospital ward. Two more fleet tenders were due in a week with more supplies. Gorton could only help but wonder, as he cruised closer to a date with history, what else those tenders carried.

[The Imperial Alliance of Free States]

Briefing Room
Classified IASAF Base
3780 Kilometers From Nevorn Island

"Alright, ladies and gents, we'll go over this one more time." He glanced around the room one more time. "Your Ravens are in various states of flight readiness. The crews on standby and the crews flying will be on the rotation posted in the mess. One crew will be on flight ops at all times, another on the flight line ready to go.

"One tanker will be onstation 1200 kilometers off the coast at all times, one more at the base outside Alhardan City. Two interceptors will be with the tanker, four more on BARCAP another 500 kilometers closer to the battlezone. Make sure your IFF transponders are set right. And check in to Hawk when you near the Surface Group, so Mongoose or Kestrel don't waste their missiles." Nobody laughd. It was an old joke that the Raven was untouchable.

"Intelligence claims someone is flying SR-71's in the battle zone. You will be flying both higher and faster, stay out of their way. Do not fire on anything that does not lock weapons on your plane. Watch for fighters. Officially the planes being flown are MiG's and that accursed Illusion piece of crap, but stay out of their way anyway. Any questions? First flight in two hours. Dismissed."

[Hutanjia]

VESSELLE, NESSELBERG, HUTANJIA

The Mongoose stood on the Vesselle docks, with some Royal Hutanjian Navy maintenance crewmen and Petty Officers as the last of the crews climbed into the mini-subs. There were more being acquisitioned from the Royal Hutanjian Navy for the IAFAS ships coming off station from Nevorn. These men were ready for their task and had made peace with the Gods. The religion of Hutanjia was predominently a sort of Catholic-Voodoo hybrid called Hapalaku, similar to what he understood the Santeria devotees practiced in Mexico. There was a small minority of Christians and even bigger minority of Muslims on Nevorn and Cardwith, but the Hapalakuans dominated the island chain. Hapalakuan creed was very accepting of martyrdom in the face of foreign intrusion, and the Mongoose used that to full advantage. The solo pilots of the mini subs had finished their crash course of training just a week previously, ready for this eventuality when the white devil imperialists would arrive in their big ships. Last night they'd had the bonfire ceremony where an orangutan was sacrificed to the flames. Much of the flesh had been eaten half-raw. Orangutan was a delicacy after all, why let it go to waste? It would be the last meal for most of these brave men of the KHS Special Detachment forces. They were headed to the Falkasian carrier that would soon be rounding North of the straits between the Cardwiths and Nesselberg. The attack would be coordinated with air assets from the RHAF and possibly allied air forces. "Go With The Gods, my brave sons!" He bellowed out to them.

Meanwhile, at the Vesselle Air Base, A Major of the RHAF was running ragged. Migs were refueled and getting ready for their next round of patrols, or possible future dogfights as the case may be. Allied helicopters from the MHPG, Uli Regiment, Mcnernians and New Edom had been going in and out nonstop for the last day. The aircraft fuel situation was getting desperate as so many choppers and jets were committing to harrassment of enemy naval forces or to the Vesselle front. He gave a quick debrief to the Mig pilots that had newly arrived from Nevorn.
"You have your assignments - you're either headed to over the Falkasian Carrier to the West of us, or over the IASAF ships to the East of us. For both those squadrons, your mission is only interdiction of positively identified hostile elements or harrassment of their forces. The rest of you will be giving support to the allied helicopters at the front South of us. Details are in the briefs you have in your hands. I don't have time for any BS. Any questions?"

CHASTILLE DOCKS

Hutanjian Army guides rode in on a couple trucks to the docks to take some of the Mcnernian Marines to their new accommodations at the Parliament Building, but the communication gap and lack of native patois speakers in the Mcnernian contingent made the process difficult. They seemed to want to take their own vehicles. Whatever, the Hutanjian Army guides thought.
The King had dissolved Parliament two years ago and never let it reconvene. A move which didn't make King Popilu popular with the world community. King Alistair Popilu I was not invited to many royal ceremonies and events these days, especially in the more developed Northern hemisphere.
The Parliament building in central Chastille, not one of the tallest, but certainly one of the bulkiest, had fallen into disuse and become a bit dusty and mildewy since its abandonment. Government workers had been sent to clean it out from top to bottom in the last few days. It was put to use now as a supplemental barracks for Allied troops. Some of the overflow that couldn't fit at the Air Bases had been trucked there. An Uli Company and Mount Hagen Provincial Guard Company currently took up residence there. The Mcnernian marines would be joining them shortly. The majority of the Mcnernian marines seemed to be staying on board their ships, which was fine with the Royal Hutanjian Government. The guides got ready to jump in to a few of the PMV vehicles brought by the Mcnernian marines.

THE MONGOOSE DEN, NEAR CHASTILLE, NEVORN, HUTANJIA

The KHS officer who was only known as Tiger came in and sat down. Bradley could tell it was him. He rolled his head slightly from the chair he was strapped into. His eyes weren't working as well, one had been punctured and congealed on his cheek. The other was swelled shut to just a slit, the socket was shattered and the skin oozed blood it was swelled so tight. But he knew. The way he moved, his fuzzy shadow and the certain smell. Maybe a cologne? He knew it was The Tiger.

"Hello, Bradley. How has your morning been?"
"gyooo dwown' aaahhshk me impo'tng kwaashh chunts neemo'"
It was hard to talk through dry chapped, beaten lips. His mouth was so dry, too.
The Tiger leaned forward to listen more intently to Bradley with a bemused smile on his face.
"Oh." Comprehension blossomed in the Tiger's voice, "Oh No, we don't really have any important questions for you, anymore. That is correct. We never really did. You see, Bradley - You aren't here because you know valuable information. We have our agents learning all that out in the field.
You are here, son, because it puts a thorn in your Uncle's side. It puts him off balance...it serves propaganda purposes. Plus, you made good practice for some of our newer interrogators. We take all sorts of pretty photos of you for our needs.
Young man, I do feel sorry for you. Really, I do. You will be put out of your misery soon, I promise. We have to turn the screws a little tighter on your prestigious Uncle. Then, we will be done and you can have your peace."
He brought a water bottle to Bradley's lips. A swollen tongue half heartedly flicked out to catch drips.
He motioned at the guard near the door.
"Bring him back to his cell. I will give you advance notice when I need him again."

FOMTWONG, NESSELBERG, UFF OCCUPIED HUTANJIA

Shark and Scorpion Teams had linked up about 3 1/2 hours after Scorpion Team had finished taking the pictures they needed and sliding out from the UFF patrols near the depot base. They spread out and kept alert for more patrols and traps set in the underbrush as they made their way back to Fomtwong. Shark Team, being more familiar with the route, led the way. When they got to the outskirts, the Lieutenant and Sergeant from Shark Team, spread the doubled team out on the perimeter. They would observe for UFF elements for a bit, then go in to visit the Village Chief when the coast looked clear.

NE NESSELBERG, JUST EAST OF THE OPERATION VOODOO/VESSELLE FRONT
Fifth Squad of the 3rd Plt, F Co. of 2nd Royal Army Rangers

They hunkered down in a shallow after the last firefight. They had one killed and one slightly wounded. Well, slightly more so than the rest of them; with their surface shrapnel wounds.
Sergeant Herkate looked over his squad. They had lost Private Motvagu, which hurt a lot. He was probably their best point man. They were possibly a half hour out from linking up to the nearest other surviving RAR squad, according to the radio man. It was time to lick their wounds and head out. Their part in widening the Vessell front wasn't done yet by a long shot.

[Neu Engollon]

TRAKANU AIR BASE, NEVORN, HUTANJIA

The first of the Saab JAS 39 Gripens and Harrier II Jump jets arrived at Trakanu Air Base in Nevorn, the rest of them, plus the Lyran made Sparrowhawks and Warhawks followed, escorting in the mid-air refueling tanker and cargo/transport planes. A specially modified cargo vessel was arriving shortly off the coast near Trakanu. It carried several V-22 Ospreys and another complement of FAVs and Saracen armored cars for the 2nd Brigade. Originally, they'd packed light on the vehicles, in preparation for a jungle campaign, but since General Unwerth's serious commitment to a possible Cardwiths campaign; it was now essential to be prepared for the more flat, open terrain on the westernmost chain of islands in Hutanjia. There was still very tropical forested parts of Cardwiths, but if they made a drive for Hesttens, they could bypass those areas.

Major Van Aardel was now in charge of all Uli-Schwyz Regiment air elements in Hutanjia, the majority based at Trakanu Air Base. He had his work cut out for him. Lt. Col. Pierre Galien would focus on the ground elements and overall command and coordination of Uli forces with the allied Royal forces. Soon after the fighter/bombers landed, Van Aardel had several of them refueling for patrols over the very hot combat zone over northern Nesselberg. From there, they might be retasked from Vesselle to the Cardwiths. Major Van Aardel didn't really care, as long as they got them in action and got the mission done in this godforsaken stinky group of overgrown rocks in the ocean. The sooner he got back home to family, the better.
He sent word to Lt. Col. Galien in Chastille that the newly dubbed HEX-F Wing (Hutanjia Expeditionary Force Air Wing) were here and on their way over to the front.

[The UFF of Hutanjia]

A large black Cadillac turned onto a small dirt road that went into the forest, its lights were on bright to let the driver see where he was going. He had never been here before and was a bit nervous, he didn’t know if any traps or mines would be on this road, if an ambush waited just around the corner, or if he was just being paranoid. The cargo he was carrying could be the most important assets the rebels had. In the end though, they pulled up to the old logging camp without problem.

He stepped outside the car and moved around to the back door then opened it. First a young woman stepped out, her boots sank into the mud as she adjusted her skirt that had become askew during the journey; in her arms she carried a brief case, its contents were of vital importance to the rebel leadership. After her came a large man, his face was scared and his left arm was bent at an odd angle; a gift from battles long ago. He looked out at the buildings and marched purposefully towards the nearest building. He was here to talk to the commander of the Falkasian forces and he would not take no for an answer.

As he approached the old logging camp building, a guard snapped to attention. His uniform wasn't recognizable, being a hodge podge of old US camo surplus BDU jacket and Hutanjian tiger stripe camo pants. He wore tire track sandals instead of boots. Typical non-frontline bush rebel outfit. That didn't mean this lad hadn't seen his share of action.
He was of the Afro-polynesian stock that most Hutanjians claimed as racial heritage. A good UFF trooper to be sure, but the large old man had never personally met him. It didn't matter. His face was known to all UFF men, even if they'd never seen a picture, they knew him by description.
"Are the Falkasians in there, son?" The old man inquired softly in the peculiar English-French patois native to the islands. He didn't have time for games.
The rebel soldier jerked his head to the shack next to this one.
The older VIP nodded and did a slow turn to head over there. The woman followed at a respectful distance, keeping her head roving. The older man mused about the lack of outward FSIS presence. It was smart of them. There were elements roving the jungles not to be trusted. The KHS was at work everywhere. He needed to have direct talks with these Falkasians and get the training back on track. He had underlings making unauthorized statements to them and pushing the training regimen and supply requests in unhelpful directions.
They took the few yards steps and arrived at the next camp building. The older man slowly and gently pushed that starstruck UFF guard on duty aside and rapped his knuckle softly on the open, but very dark shadowed frame.

[Hutanjia]

THE STREETS OF SOUTHERN CHASTILLE

The Mcnernian troops that were staying at the joint allied barracks travelled across southern Chastille to the old Parliament Building in their PMV troop vehicles. They had refused the Hut Army trucks and mis-interpreted the offered help of the guides to help them through the city. They were on their way and that's what was important.
They would help add to the security for the city now that many of the Hutanjian Army Regiments had left Nevorn for Nesselberg to aid in that campaign and towards a possible drive on the Cardwiths.
The Chastillians glowered at them. While they hadn't really been directly touched by war, unlike civilians on Nesselberg and the Cardwiths, they still were fed up with reminders of the war. They were especially wary of the amount of foreign troops coming into Chastille right now. Some were given accolades and paraded through the streets to their new accommodations on Nevorn, until they were rushed to the front. Others were smuggled through the streets at night in nondescript trucks, but the people knew. They were glad for the extra support and that someone was on their side, but they were also resentful and distrustful of the foreigners. They hoped the nightmare would end soon and life would get back to normal.


THE PALACE WAR ROOM, CHASTILLE

General Hespatu sat in one of the command chairs in the Palace War Room. General Unwerth was absent and hadn't been seen in a little while. Roderique guessed that the fatigue had caught up with the General. The lunch banquet that the King had intended to hold for all the new allies had been cancelled, the time come and gone. The welcoming banquet would be postponed indefinitely. It was deemed more important to keep working on the campaigns and move the new troops to where they were desperately needed. The brevet promotions were done quickly and privately for Hespatu and Galien.
Hespatu was wearing his new rank badges, he pulled at them, looking at the bluish gleem in the subdued lighting of the underground room. It was strange how things worked out. He still wished that Monte Tonganu was here to mentor him along, but he knew that he was up to the task. Even if the New Edomite General wasn't, he would step in to shepherd the people along. Unwerth would have to go back to his own people eventually, anyway. Hespatu would pick up the reins now or later, it didn't matter to him as long as the job got done and Hutanjia was returned to a state of peace and lawfulness.
An aide broke his reverie, "Sir, the KHS mini-subs are arriving online at their starting stations."
"Ah. That. Let's make sure the MIG fighters are on station soon. Damn Mongoose! This was his idea. I thought he was in charge of that operation?" After a conference with King Popilu and Atave, he had been forced to relinquish control of the mini-subs, then to allocate other resources to support the insane kamikaze reenactment. He was not even close to being settled about the issue. Now he still had to allocate resources to it instead of the Mongoose just handling it all, but that was better than losing more control over the military.
"How are the forces doing on the Operation Voodoo front?"
"We have gained major ground, Sir. The rebels have pretty much pulled back to their former positions of a couple months ago, but there are some pockets left that are fighting on tenaciously. We're wiping them out where we find them."
"Very good. Keep on it. Are the allied troops all settled in yet?"
"Just about. The Uli Regiment's fighters and Ospreys and various other transports are arriving at Trakanu. The Mcnernians are here, most of them seem to be staying on the ship, but they will send a small contingent to the Parliament Barracks..."
"And?"
"The Imperial Alliance of Free States' small fleet doesn't seem to be backing off, they're sending in their 'aid' and humanitarian workers."
"I was afraid of that. Make sure they are all directed towards Patagana Air Base. I want those aid workers packed right back on to their transports. They need to know they are NOT welcome. Quarantine them to the base, if we can't get them out right away, as well as their aid crates." Patagana was in the central part of Nevorn, about 80 km south of Chastille, but well removed from the activity and mobilization efforts to the north.
I need to update the King in person. I will be back. Buzz me if Unwerth returns from his break."

[The UFF of Hutanjia]

THE 7TH UFF REGIMENT

The Badger bombers of the RHAF had unleashed their payloads on the 1st, 4th and 7th UFF rebel regiments a few days ago. It had done the damage that many artillery barrages chiseling away, had been unsucessful at doing. It had broken the lines. If they Royals hadn't followed up with an infantry assault with helicopter support, they might have been able to repair and refortify the defenses. Too late, reserves were sent rushing up the jungle trails.
Some had been crushed in their bunkers or connecting trenches and tunnels by direct impacts. Hundreds more were caught out in the open by cluster munitions going off. Trees, vehicles, lighter wood blinds for gun emplacements - none of that had saved them from the buzzsawing large chunks of shrapnel that treated palm trunks and human torso trunks alike. When the first scouts of the 34th and 21st Royal Hutanjian Army and the 8th Royal Hutanjian Marines moved towards the positions, they moved in with a phalanx of flamethrowers, both back carried and mounted on tanks. Bomb blasted body parts and shell shocked UFF survivors alike were torched. It was a ghastly scene.

It was not a total rout. The 1st and 4th survivors moved towards the western coast, falling back and trying to fight a rearguard action. Those that hadn't run in shrieking terror after the bombing or frozen in place to be turned into a flaming skewer, that is. The remnants of the 7th UFF fell back deeper into the interior of central Nesselberg to a grouping of two hamlets called Qomplek and Tuptak by the locals. There were approximately 4 1/2 Companies left of the 7th UFF, being the hardest hit of the Regiments in the initial Operation Voodoo raid. Colonel Gopru, the commander of the 7th, was suffocated in his bunker during the attack. Major Dofre took over and led the men back to the defensive positions in and around the two groupings of huts that could hardly be called villages. The civilians mostly fled deeper into the jungle, with a few elderly immobiles and family minders staying to help them. The UFF troopers spread out and started to dig in. They were in one of the 'pockets' of resistance as identified by the Royal command. They were determined to hold the line against the monarchist bastards and make them pay for all the blood lost from the bombs.


OFFSHORE OF NORITTS, CARDWITHS, HUTANJIA

Civilian porters 'volunteered' by the UFF local rebels, helped to load up supplies on the docks of Noritts. The pallets and crates were stacking up faster than the trucks could be loaded up. Tenders, travelling back and forth from the FNS Schechtmann just off shore, brought the loads. The Falkasians didn't lift a finger to help the rebels and drafted porters pull the crates out of the boats. The rebels didn't mind, they were overjoyed at what they knew to be in the crates and they had plenty of the townspeople to help with the load. The Royals may think they were winning now, but it wouldn't take long to bring the fight back to them with the new supplies from their most valued benefactor. Some tenders were going the opposite direction towards Nesselberg, where more supplies would be unloaded at UFF docks hidden in coves along the coastline and then probably carried inland to forward bases of the FSIS and UFF by more drafted civilian porters. Once they had enough FSIS advisers to help train them on the new equipment, the rebels would gain back their lost ground and plan for the final push onto Nevorn.

[New Edom]

THE PALACE WAR ROOM, CHASTILLE

"Well, I have good news and bad news," said General Unwerth when he had returned. "The bad news is that our Foreign Ministry is going to be far too busy right now to deal with the Falkasia issue head on. What will have to happen is that your people will have to deal with that and we will back you up.

"However the good news is that our civil war is at an end. Towards this end our governments have agreed to send more forces--including a large Commonwealth Class carrier and supporting vessels, as well as airborne and more marine infantry. Due to circumstances they won't arrive for at least a week, but we have recon missions going on. Now: the current assault you have going on. I've made the decision that it would be wise for one of our units, the 21st Lancers, to support Operation Voodoo."

[McNernia]

Chastille
Nevorn
Huntjia
23 Marine ER

The Marines turned down the trucks offered to them by the Huntjians and opted for the equipment they had brought with them into the fight, the company chosen to be stationed in the captial chose the PMVs bulit under liscence from Yohannes that they brought with them. The trucks were sent away to other tasks so the Marines asked the locals for directoions to the Parliament bulidings. The fact that they were bunking in the Parliment House was a new thing for the soliders who were used to the act of bunking in barracks that were set aside for the military, the older marines were used to bunking down in odd places like the Parliment bulidings that were the home of the company.

Private Nathan James looked at his new surroundings, very flashy and beautiful for barracks for soliders, there was the Huntjian seal everywhere that he looked, theywere in the old Parliment House Sargent Ryan said and they would be using the lower levels for CQB practice to keep sharp. The Royal Marines were professional soliders who were highly trained and disciplined, the Havenians were much the same, the same sort of skill at arms and courage. James was excited to be overseas agian in far off places and the locals seemed decent enough.


MRS Sparta 500 km from Chastille

The Sparta had gone back out to sea for word of other ships fast coming was reason for Ivans to be ready for action, the taskforce was at condition 2 meaning she was ready for action but the mood on the ship was not one of full battle readyness so there was the alert force on the flight deck armed for air to air combat, the mission had been mostly expected air support of the Royal Marines so air to ground and other munitions of that sort had taken priority now with other sorts of air assests in theater and not all of them friendly that had changed.

Ivans was on the phone with the Admiralty in Daiku, a fleet tender had come under escort and was going to be sent with the Air to Air Munitions Ivans had rung up for but it would be three days at full speed, there were some munitions on the auxilary that had come with the flotillia but things were changing fast around here in Hutanjia and the current weapons might not be enough to sustian operations, Ivans put a call through to the bridge. "Lauch CAP"

On the flight deck of the Sparta Dobbs was warming up his airplane for a sortie, routine combat air patrol and intercept if nesscessary, also a strike package of about 3 jets was being made ready for Vasselle bombing raids ,everything seemed ok, Dobbs looked at the picture of Mai-Wu Leong the woman who he had grown to love. "Baby Ill marry you I swear, old dads be damned." His wing man Jones was mounting up, two teams would be on CAP duty and there had been rumors that Iliad and the rest of the group would make for sea. As Dobbs taxied for the catapult he could see antiship mutions being staged on deck. "So things are interesting, I gotta go." The deck crew secured his aircraft to the catapult, and with a salute to the deck crew he went into the air.

One lap of the flottilia later and the strike team was on the way up. "This is Sparta air conn to knight leader, fly top cover, destination Vasselle hook up with Oracle One on G3, " "Roger that ,any friendlies in the target area?" "Uli Schwyz regiment air wing AH-1 helicopters will advise of your arrival, adviseable?" "Negative Oracle-1 that is not nesscessary will advise on entering target area that we have come to raise hell for the rebels.

The six ship formation flew towards the Vasselle area , five Mc 82 Illusions of the Fleet Air Arm and a E-7N AEWC aircraft, a turboprop air craft carrying an advanced networking and Radar system, top cover was flown by Dobbs and Jones with air to air missles , the strike team would not want for air to air armaments however their mission would be to deliver the rockets on to the target and also sending air to ground guided ordinace to the target.

The AEWC aircraft transmitted to the Uli Schwyz regiment over the radio, "This is Oracle one of the Mcnernian Fleet Air Arm to Uli Schwyz Air Corps, we mean to offer assistiance to you and to deal with the UFF."

The aircraft assumed a stance on the edge of the combat zone to wait for the Ulian response.


Submarine SSP-37
F-89
Nevorn Strait

The SSP had been sitting on the bottom of Nevorn for at least a day, watch and waiting, the word had been this was a aid convoy passing over head but what aid fleet sailed right through a hot stretch of water and was under armed escort, the submarine had orders to engage this fleet but then again there was the benifit of doubt for the Imperial Free States.

On board the submarine the crew was quiet, who would not be with a hostile fleet above them, they had recived word of the fact that the Huntjians ment to use Kamakazie style submarine attacks agains the Falkasians and the Imperial Alliance of Free States, both had fleets in the area and the Admiralty seemed to be panicking in a way. The Royal Navy had stealth vessels, surface ships for the insertion of Special Forces but stealth combat vessels were few and far between the Admiralty was working on that.

"Status of the target?" "Maintaining course and speed, lauching aircraft." "Ok things are getting interesting I must say ,bring us up to scope depth, take a look." The solid ship rose up as the air was ejected from her tanks and she went higher and higher in the water. "Depth achived, orders." "Bloody raise the scope." On the surface it seemed to be the night and the Imperial fleet was not very far away and they were lauching their tilt rotors. "So they have arrived I see."


MRAF Daiku
Logistics Area
2nd Household Cavalry (Armored)

The big transports had arrived direct from Griffindon, several C-17s and C-350s carrying the 2nd Household Cavalry regiment an armored and motorized unit, they had been deployed in short notice, the Caridwaith campaign was a possiblity and the big HT9A7 battle tanks would be an asset, they would then load onto troopships for the journey, their was the option of going by air but that was under consideration as something given the distance and the campaigns nature, Unwerth had been silent a worrysome thing. All of the soliders of the regiment were primarly ceremonial troops, that was what they had been, pulling gaurd duty outside of the Palace, now it was back into tanks and off to the front lines to kill and fight.

The aircraft were all in lines along the hard stand, the HT9A7s reved their massive diesel engines and rolled off the transports. They bore forest/jungle paint schemes, the tankers were dressed in tank helmets and the digital patterns that had come into wide spread use in the Army and the Marines, a potent heavily armored regiment ,they held many battle honors from such wars as Al-Azkar and other hell holes.

Chastille
Hutanjia

Several more ships arrived over the next few days bearing more supplies, they carried older looking armaments, rifles of Mcnernian origin and some armored vehicles, then there was the helicopters and fighter jets, they were Mcnernian bulit, purposely for export to other countries particularly those of the third word like here. The AT-16 helicopters were based off the AT-25 but were a much easier to maintian with not as much electronics, the Mcnernians were going to offer training but with aircraft comparable to the Mi-24s which were currently in operation. Then there were the fighters, seven W.2000s simply a good aircraft, stable and fast and good at bombing, trainers would be an additional part of the aid package but the stuff was given to the Huntjian Army drivers.


Jokatru Airbase
Royal Marine Helicopter Unit

The fuel that had come in had served to ease the troubles, the Marines and Mcnernian Army choppers had now secured their own supply of feuel so they had been able to conduct sorties to engage various postitions around Vasselle, now the time had come, the Uli-Schwyz AH-1s had gone into action now the Havenians had readied their Airmoblie unit for a trench clearing attack ,there were Illusions on station but that was to be used on the dump a satilite had picked up.

The Havenians moved quickly out to the choppers that were waiting armed with missiles and rockets, the Havenians were professional soliders and they loaded up fast as anyone. As the choppers were loaded they moved off and into the air and then soon the whole company was on their way across the strait of Nevorn and onto the battle raging at Vasselle .

The men were excited for they were born warriors and there was a war raging, this was to be the engagement to decide it all, these young men were ready for anyting, some of the officers were white Mcnernians but they too had the thirst to fight and some may die on the field of battle but that was war.

The helicopters came in low over the Vasselle lines ,the doors had opened allowing the Havenians a view on the battle field below, Captian Albert Lockens looked down at the distruction below, he smiled wolfishly, "Here we go boys ,lets kick ass." Lockens adressed the men with him in russian ,it was the language the Havenians used to communicate, they spoke good english but the Russian was used to communicate in hot sitiuations . The helicopters fired on a entrenched position of a company sized force of UFF fighters, the Havenians were dropped right on top of them, it was bayonets and pistols all the way. Soon the Havenians brought their Kukris into action and the screams of wounded UFF could be heard. The choppers soon left to assault formations of UFF that were in retreat.

Palace War Room
Chastille City

When General Unwerth entered the room the two Mcnernians were very happy to see the man who was in charge. They stood to attention as he entered. "Colonel Timothy Harkin, 23rd Royal Marines Expeditionary Unit " "Colonel Kenji Mikarsky 1st Kings Havenian Rifles." "We are honored to be with you general, I hope New Edom and Mcnernia will grow closer with this campaign." This came from Captian Peter Ivans who offered his salute "Captian Peter Ivans, commander MRS Sparta ,youve met my associates



Over Combat Area

Dobbs and his flight had been doing race tracks when Oracle-1 came over the radio, "Assault force in bound on target area, helos will support troops, UFF supply dump isloated on TACSATNET ,engage at will."
The Cordinates were transmitted to the Mc 82s flight computer, as soon as Dobbs had the orders, his flight had them as well. "Alright, engage at will lads . Drop to 0500 and move out, arm weapons and move." The Jets banked from their patrol route and dove down, Navy and Air Force pilots had develeoped low level assault tactics to assault against targets that might have air defense. "What can we expect, SAMs?" "MANPADS Id put money down on , vehicles in a jungle are a no ,maybe mobile radar but I read that they will want to use something portable."

Dobbs and the other pilots were alerted by the bleeps of their controls, they set thier visiors for infared and their sights much the same, they could see through the jungle canopy and then the base, Dobbs smiled in his mask , "Team stand by and arm weapons, target on scope." Dobbs punched a button on his scope, he carried two standoff missles in addition to the 4 air to air weapons. His screen flashed , weapons armed. "Fire fire fire." The 5 fighters realesed their standoff weapons as one and let the smart bombs glide into the dump.

The five jets hit their afterburners and ran for home. When they arrived at the carrier they were greeted by the happy deck crews.

Palace War Room
Chastille City

When General Unwerth entered the room the two Mcnernians were very happy to see the man who was in charge. They stood to attention as he entered. "Colonel Timothy Harkin, 23rd Royal Marines Expeditionary Unit " "Colonel Kenji Mikarsky 1st Kings Havenian Rifles." "We are honored to be with you general, I hope New Edom and Mcnernia will grow closer with this campaign." This came from Captian Peter Ivans who offered his salute "Captian Peter Ivans, commander MRS Sparta ,youve met my associates, Major Peter Daniels, Mcnernian Crown Rangers." "Sorry for not introducing myself sooner, we have a Special Boat Service detachment with us but well F Squadron is a reculsive bunch and they have not attended."

Harkin was next to speak, "I am the senior officer of the task force, there is consideration of bringing a general officer or an admiral in but the presence of yourself general seems to nullify that need." "The Fleet Air Arm has struck at the bulidup of Falkasian supplies to the UFF and well we could have a go at the Falkasian ship, we have anti ship weapons aplenty and the hostile ships have been tagged for possible cruise missle strikes." "The SBS has inserted near Vaselle."


Somewhere near Vasselle
SBS Team Alpha 23
F-Squadron

F-Squadron was an elite unit within the Special Boat Service, the Navys answer to the Special Air Service 27th Regiment. Well certian elements of it. The men wore the digital pattern camuflage that had become the Armed Forces Standard, some wore ghillies suits others simply wore camoflage, all wore body armor, they had largely swapped helmets for the camoflage bush hat, their faces were painted green, six men packed into a zodiac, they came up a river of sorts, the night air was warm and there were insects. The men ignored them and focused on the job at hand, their was a villiage up ahead and well they had a job to do.

The team disembarked from their boat hiding it in some reeds, the night was quiet, there was a group of bulidings up a hill. The men watched, the team leader pulled a pair of NVBs and watched. "No sign of X-rays, civilian settlement."

[Hutanjia]

PALACE WAR ROOM, CHASTILLE

General Hespatu had returned to hear General Unwerth's news.
"That is good news, Sir. We look forward to the naval reinforcements, especially as it seems the Falkasians and the IAFS, who are of unknown sympathies, are sending ships all over the Wishton Sea here among our islands. The King is very nervous about it, but one of these naval situations should be resolving shortly.
We could use all the help we can get towards Operation Voodoo. We had a big drive on the front, but I fear that things will get bogged down again. There are some pockets that are showing to be hard to smash down. Were we to continue on and leave these pockets of rebel forces, I'm afraid they would jeopardize our supply lines to the Royal Army Regiments driving through. There seems to be one particularly large bulge forming near the center. I believe we may see a large battle there with our 34th Regiment and 8th Marines versus what looks to be what's left of their 7th Regiment. We have some Allied helicopters flying support over the front and the Mcnernians might be sending some fighter support over, possibly some ground support as well.
We might get a company of the Uli mercenaries in there, too. What happens on the ground will be trickier, but I believe we can destroy the bulge before they get reinforcements in to it.

FNS Schechtmann

The 9 mini-subs packed with explosives and one KHS driver each, launched each of their two torpedos at the target first. There were no complicated electronics on them, they were aimed, and let loose. Jamming would not divert dumbly aimed torpedoes and bombs.
As the 18 'fish' rushed in, the subs followed with their kamikaze drivers, loads lightened, two less torpedoes. It was time to die for the fatherland. MIG fighters arrived on target, soon after the torpedoes had been launched. One flight of MIGs were lagging, but overall, the coordination was very good for a typical Hutanjian operation. They started dives on to the Falkasian carrier, to drop their payloads. The chances of every single penetrating missile of the Hutanjian force not hitting on target were slim.

QOMPLEK

The mortar company of the 34th Royal Hutanjian Army Regiment set up hundreds of yards from Qomplek on a low hill that was one of the sparsest patches in an otherwise very dense approach to the hamlet. The heavy mortars commenced to rain down alternating phosphorous and HE rounds around Qomplek. The Scout platoon moved in towards the clearing, but were beaten back by heavy fire, taking dozens of losses. Claymores ripped into them as they fell back. RPGs were less effective due to bad lines of sight, but exploding over their heads or into the trees, they did the job of driving the Royal troops back.
It would take more than mortar rounds to put the 7th out of action, and it would take more than a few mines and rockets to make the 34th give up. The fight was on.

[The UFF of Hutanjia]

QOMPLEK

http://i.imgur.com/LFg17.png

The mortar rounds rained down on the F and C Companies of the 7th UFF as they were digging in along the perimeter of Qomplek. Two whole squads vanished in fountains of flame, dirt and shredded flesh with direct hits on their half finished fox holes. The men cowered in their shallow holes as shrapnel whistled around and decapitated unlucky taller or less flexible men. A willy peter, or white phosphorous round landed on a hut in the village. It burst into crackling flame, glowing in its neon hellfire. Then it spewed forth a figure from its fiery womb. Another unlucky UFF rebel trooper ran out of the incinerating tangle, completely engulfed. He tried to shriek, but his vocal chords were melting fast and it came out in a mangled animal whimper. The soldier collapsed without aid as his comrades continued to avoid the incoming barrage.
Then it stopped.
On the edges of the clearing, Royal scouts crept forward popping rounds at the rebels as they started to recover from the mortar barrage. There were still machine gun crews that had gotten through the mortar barrage. They heaved into action, pouring rounds at the scouts. Men tumbled back, either in surprise, or from hot lead tumbling through their midsections. The scouts were driven back. Delta Company rushed in from the gap between the two hamlets to reinforce the two decimated companies.
Then the Royals pushed again, with two companies of the 34th following on top of the scouts.
"AAAGGAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"
The lead troops fell on top of the rebels with machetes flashing, letting their AK47s drop on their slings to their sides. The rebels brandished daggers and machetes of their own. Occasional staccato bursts of rifle fire accompanied a continuous grunting, hacking, slashing, squishing fest as the 34th Royal and 7th Rebel regiments slugged it out.

4th UFF Regiment

The rebel forces continued to fall back as the Royal allied forces drove further into their lines. Helicopters hovered overhead to spray rockets and machine gun rounds at them. They could see from the roundel markings that they were being attacked by everyone, the RHAF, then Uli, then MHPG, then finally, the Mcnernians came in, swooping in to whatever clearing they could find in the moon cratered, bombed landscape to drop commandos out, or let them rappel down into the trees. Some were felled with the SAMs they had been given by the Falkasians. 3 RHAF Gazelles, 2 Uli Agustas and a Mcnernian chopper came crashing down in flames, casualties of crew unknown. Still, they kept coming, unrelenting. The Royal Army troopers drove on beneath them. There was no time to set traps or set up ambushes. Only time to run and turn to fire off parting shots.

[Hutanjia]

PALACE WAR ROOM, CHASTILLE

General Hespatu stepped forward,
"Colonels Harkin and Mikarsky and Captain Ivans, let me be the first to welcome you and all the Mcnernians to Hutanjia. We are happy to have you on our side. I am General Roderique Hespatu, Chief of the Royal Hutanjian Forces and acting aide to General Unwerth."

KINGDOM OF HUTANJIA SECURITY

RECEIVER: Sir Jeremy Blakeford, Director of the RIA
SENDER: Milton Atave, Chief of the KHS

Mr. Blakeford,
You seem to have some topics that we need to discuss together. I hope to meet in five days time from your recieving of this message at the pool patio restaurant of the Presarius Plaza at Kenega City, Kenega Island. I'm sorry I can't travel farther, but I need to be near to my operations and I know that you would not want to jeopardize yours by being here in our war zone and risk death or capture. I think Kenega is a suitable neutral ground and the RIA and KHS would be able to set up suitable security for both of us.
I hope to see you then,
Milton Atave, Chief of the KHS

QOMPLEK-TUPTAK BULGE
OPERATION VOODOO FRONT

A, E, and H Companies, 4th Brigade,The 34th Royal Army Regiment fell onto the rebels in Qomplek like a death dealing wave. Machetes flailing they gave and took hacks. Bayonets were attached to the rifles of Echo company as they came in on a second wave after the machete wielding Alpha Company. Any rebels still standing, they stuck. This fell back to the tribal warfare of generations past, AK-47 mounted bayonets replacing spears. Echo Company were driven back by light machine guns. They went to ground and primed grenades. The grenades flew up and out, arching towards the machine guns. Several grenades flew the opposite direction back towards the Echo troopers who hovered in the foxholes and debris of huts on the outskirts.
KACHOOOM! THWOOOM!
The grenades started to detonate. Survivors on both sides, fatigues hanging in bloody tatters off of them, rose up to continue the clash.

TUPTAK

The first recon scouts of the 8th Royal Hutanjian Marines pushed west towards Tuptak. There was no concern about civilians. They shot a volley of RPGs in first, then the flamethrowers came up. Blazing away at anything that moved, they eliminated most of the forward pickets. Then waiting UFF troopers flipped clackers and triggered the switches.
A volley of claymores and shoulder level IEDs tore through the flamethrower bearing marines. Napalm tanks exploded bathing following support marines in flaming jelly. The front ranks of the 8th Royal Marines dropped into a lake of their own fire.

[Falkasia]

Yuri eyed the two as they walked passed. He raised his hand, and in an instant twelve dark shadows dissolved out from the wilderness. They were armed to the teeth with heavy weaponry, ready to take on an invading army by themselves if they had to. Their weapons however, were in a downward position intended to invalidate any assumptions that they were hostile. In two bounds, Yuri was back walking parallel beside the woman. The man was to her other side, and she was wedged in between. He moved silently through the muck, even as the other two slogged and plopped their way through in heavy boots. Yuri wasted no time in provokating conversation, whilst trying to covertly determine why these two were here at this hour.

"So... what can we do for you?"

======

Ivanov watched as the deck below erupted into a flurry of activity. With the Schechtmann moored and the battle heating up on land, it was time for the Falkasians to make a point that they were not to be tested with. He shrugged and turned inside, rubbing his red eyes slightly as he adjusted to the dimmer light.

The flight deck was packed with V-25s being prepped for launch. Crews ran left and right tugged munitions carts and hooking up loadouts to the various aircraft. The V-25s were a multirole VTOL aircraft, much alike an Osprey, but far smaller and equally much more agile. Their strength however, came in their ability to rapidly adjust to changes in combat scenarios. Although by no means the fastest or the strongest, they were always the most agile in combat and could turn on a dime in the need required. They were not stealth aircraft, although their unique RADAR signature made them hard to discern from otherwise ordinary helicopters.

The Schechtmann carried 24 of these V-25s, all of which were crammed tightly on the deck. Another 6 V-20s, the heavy-lifter counterpart of the V-25, remained below level in close proximity to the MLS-1H landing craft. Preparations were being made for some heavy-duty operations, evident by the large amount of air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground directed munitions being manufactured in the magazine. Special care was taken to keep powder and warheads separate, so assemble was done onsite in the armory. Munitions were lifted to the deck via compartmentalized elevator.

A few hundred yards away, the FNS Bartlett was moored alongside the Schechtmann as well. Sailors had begun the transfer of additional goods to be brought ashore, but the rope-tethers they were using proved inefficient and progress was slow. What goods that had come aboard however, thousands of small arms locked inside crates, would prove invaluable to the rebels. It was just a matter of getting them ashore.

======

Vassili drove like a madman, which isn't saying much considering Falkasians weren't exactly known for their impervious driving skills under pressure. Dimitri cursed in the back as he was thrown around, fumbling with the explosive mixture and detonator as the cabin lurched back and forth. The unknowing mannequin was on its chest, face down and directed away from the mad scientist's work. Its arms were secured by wood blocks, making the set up look more like a medieval stretching rack than a workshop-on-wheels.

Dimitri cursed again as Vassili sharply rounded a corner, narrowly missing a couple making out by a lampost and almost equally flipping a Hutanjian military vehicle as it peeled out from the other side. Neither of them cared if they were being pursued. The cockpit filled with smoke slightly as the other agent brought his concoction to a boil. The smell was foul, something akin to burning Play-Doh.

Vassili was blinded, driving straight through a wrought iron fence and through a glass storefront. He only managed to catch a glimpse of the terrified storekeeper, flipping him off as he yanked the wheel sideways looking for an exit path. Fruits of all colors and varieties smashed and bounced against the windshield, smearing it with a rainbow only Skittles would be proud of.

Vassili rolled down the window and yanked hard right, watching as the smoke escaped through the gap as fast as it filled. He heard a loud thud in the back followed by an equally loud profanity. He glanced behind him, catching the faintest glimpse of what looked like a man mounting Dimitri from behind. In the next second, he was again plowing through a small outdoor market sending frightened chickens and patrons every which way.

"I'm good!" Dimitr shouted from the back, barely audible over the damage Vassili was causing outside. He only nodded in response, slamming on the brakes and drifting into a U-turn. Dimitri came flying forward, hitting the windshield head-on but somehow managing to bounce back into the passenger seat as Vassili floored the pedal. The mannequin in the back re-assumed its submissive position.

======

Ivanov glanced at the Bartlett through his binoculars. The gleaming black cigar was quite impressive, considering the power it possessed underneath the surface. He could faintly make out the small individual sailors that dotted its surface heaving up large pallets of supplies. He turned towards his own ship, watching as deliveries were made and checked over by the Quartermasters. He smiled.

A loud thud was heard as the first of the V-25s began to power up, and shortly there after took off to the sky. Most had already left, assuming patrol patterns around the tiny fleet while others proceeded inland to conduct hostile reconnaissance along the frontline. Underslung cluster munitions gleaned as they proceeded parallel to the sun, angling sharply as their propellors converted to horizontal flight.

A few remained on the deck, recieving additional attention for whatever reason or another. Ivanov knew there must have been a good reason for it. He had faith in his crew, but in the back of his mind, he wondered if it was well-placed. He turned once again on his heel, proceeding inside while ducking to make sure his head cleared the overhang.

[The UFF of Hutanjia]

THE FALKASIAN CAMP IN SOUTH CENTRAL NESSELBERG

The woman smiled. Her brown skin was extra smooth and her stylish clothes spoke of a woman in the highest stations of Hesttens or Chastille. She had frowned when the foreigner came up beside her edging her in, but no real panic had set in. This was their country and there would be hell to pay if anything happened to her or the Old Man.
" You know why we're here. Why the games?"

"Now, now Leila," The Old man said, rubbing his debilitated arm to keep feeling in it. He continued at the agent,
"I must say it was clever to keep your agents hidden. How do you really know that we are who we're supposed to be? Also, as much as our men are hearty fighters, I couldn't imagine them being up to your caliber as true camp guards. Nice cover. I assume that you might be Yuri, yes?"
A slight twitching smirk confirmed his inquiry.

"I am Dr. Nellis, but surely you knew that. We need to talk more than radio squawk, we need to plan, we need to re-organize. And if you're not the main man to talk to, we need to be brought to that man...or woman. Are you the man, Yuri?"

QOMPLEK-TUPTAK

The Royal soldiers and marines had been beaten back for the time being and preparations were made for another wave. The Rebel commanders rushed to move reinforcements to the weakened spots on the perimeter. Water and ammo were carted by 'volunteer' villagers to foxholes. Bodies were cleared when they could be, but many rebel bodies lay within range of the enemy. They would have to be recovered later, hopefully.

There was still a narrow corridor to bring in reinforcements up, but there were few to be had, many of the reserves had gone towards the 1st and 4th Regiments holding their part of the line. Probably because they were closer to Vesselle that they got the valuable reserve forces. More ammunition, meds and supplies were forthcoming, but held up somehow.

All along the front, lack of medical aid and support were starting to take its toll. Men wounded during the initial bombing of Operation Voodoo were starting to die off from untreated wounds. Men torn up by the chopper attacks and follow on infantry probes were now about to be in a critical state, soon to follow their bombing victim brethren.

UFF commanders made a fateful decision. All the frontline regiments would hold off the Royal Allied forces as long as possible while preparations were made. They would set up more underground sites and bunkers, working to hide the camps better and train to be on the trail. It was time for full on guerrilla war and let the front lines fade away. They were fighting a losing battle trying to sustain engagements against superior, better equipped forces. Wars like theirs were not won on the battlefield but by ambush, booby trap and deceit. The 7th Regiment would get a limited bit more of assistance, in the hope they could grind up more of the Royal troops, but they would ultimately become a sacrificial lamb for the greater good.

[Hutanjia]

PARLIAMENT BUILDING, CHASTILLE

The new Mcnernian foreigners were settled in to join a company each of the Uli-Schwyz mercenaries and the Mount Hagen Provincial Guard, as well as D Company of the 4th Brigade, 23rd Royal Hutanjian Army Engineers. The joint forces barracks in the heart of the capital would help to foster fraternity of the allied forces and increase security as more Royal government troops were rushed to Vesselle to exploit the newly opened front. Another platoon of Royal Hutanjian Army support troops took pains to make the allied troops comfortable and maintain the basic services in the old building. They were hoping to fill it all up eventually with converted barracks rooms. Guards were out front and on the roof, but guard detail was becoming sporadic as fingers were pointed at whose duty it fell to. More than one duty roster list had been torn up.

QOMPLEK - TUPTAK

General Hespatu had the Colonel in charge of the joint Army-Marines task force to destroy the enemy bulge replaced. The Colonel was demoted to Sergeant and Hespatu made sure he was right on the front line of the next attack.

These frontal charges were needless wasteful carnage and needed to be stopped. Eventually, it might still come down to slugging it out close in with bayonets and machetes, but something as elemental as sending in flanking attacks to turn the bulge into a true pocket, or bubble and cut off reinforcements seemed to be beyond the dolt.

The attacks were put into motion by the new colonel. While a basic force held the line near the hamlets, 3 companies of the 8th Royal Marines and 2 companies of the 34th Royal Army Regiment moved in and completed a pincer movement to close off the reinforcing of the beleaguered 7th UFF. The flank attacks were not as bloody as the first Bulge attacks, but substantial losses were incurred. 48 soldiers and 36 marines were lost and another RHAF chopper, a Kiowa, was downed.

The pocket was sealed and the pressure was put on to destroy a rebel regiment. The propaganda victory would be as great as the battlefield prize.

[Falkasia]

Yuri tuned towards the man, amking careful concerted efforts to maintain their speed and walk as exactly as possible aside from them. It was common courtesy to act as a buffer between them and any stray rounds. Fighting was evident nearby, and he would rather be hit himself than spoil this opportunity.

He ignored the fiery tirade from the woman, accepting and dispelling it with a cold, albeit understand shrug. He however, paid more intention to the older gentleman, who by most standards operated as a consumate professional. Yuri knew from experience that this man had his act together, and at least on a basic level understodd the nuances of his job. It didn't make him feel any better about welcoming strangers into his base, but it did somewhat set his mind at ease.

"Indeed," he muttered, almost whispered. His voice was low and concerted, kept very steady. "I am that man. Let us proceed inside."

Yuri didn't open the door. It flew open itself, revealing the extended arm of an operative in the bluish glow. He held it open as the three entered, pulling it shut and locking it with next to no audible sound. The remaining agents outside returned to their patrols and lookout positions, scouring the nearby terrain for any sign of encroaching enemy. One agent tasked himself with sweeping the car for bugs or trackers. Even if they were friends, one could never be too careful.

======

"FUCK!" Vassili screamed as he rammed the front of the Eurovan through another gate. He hadn't expected to survive such a maneuver, and was remarkably impressed by how sturdy the van's construction actually was. He glanced to his side, only then noticing that his mirror had been sheared clean off. The window was broken as well, the result of a run-in with a Hutanjian light patrol. He reached back and brushed off his neck, smearing a small trickle of blood where one fo the bullets had grazed just below his hairline. He smiled to himself at how much fun this had turned out to be.

Dimitri was back in the back however, doing kung-fu with the dummy. It was an effort to make and prime the explosive, but to get it to stick to its plastic posterior was another battle entirely. During the whole ride, as they were plowing through facades and being fired at, he had been wrestling with to get the brick securely fashioned. It was coming along, if slowly.

Vassili turned and looked behind him, trying to gauge where Dimitr's progress was. He was greated by swiss cheese, thousands of holes peppered in the rear lining of the cargo compartment. There wasn't much of a door left, but Dimitri didn't seem to notice.

The van jerked had left in an effort to avoid a sandbag roadblock, hastily constructed but abandoned as soon as the van came into sight. Vassili, barely able to see through the windshield, leaned outside the driver window to get a better look. This is how he had ended up driving most of the way. However, he had to do a double take as he looked ahead.

There was a gigantic gate in front of them, no doubt reinforced steel. This one, unlike others, was actually guarded.. and heavily./ Behind, an ominous building stood amidst a flurry of activity. Vassili's smile quickly turned into a look of terror as a tank lurched to life and came at him. He twisted the wheel, flinging the van into a massive drift as Dimitri came flying back forward. The two men looked at eachother, covered in dust, blood, and fruit juice. If the situation had been better, they would have laughed. This time, they screamed as the machine gun opened up, tracing roughly linear path as they valiantly tried to out run it.

The tank crunched a flatbed semi as it charged forward, the occupants taking their sweet time as they toyed with the van. This flatbed however, instantly lit up as Vassili's way out. He looked at Dimitri, who had the bomb controls already in one hand and a small caliber pistol in the other. Dimitri looked at Vassili, unrecognizeable underneath the layers of orange and mango zest.

The van was thrown into reverse, the tank stopping momentarily along with the machine gun. It was enough. Vassili stuck his head out, lined up the shot, and floored the pedal.

In an instant, the van launched off the end of the flatbed and shot over top the gate. Vassili and Dimitri screamed as they landed with a thud, speeding backwards. Vassili let up the pedal and slammed on the brake, causing the rear wheels to spin as they screeched to a halt. White smoke rose as the vehicle came to a complete stop. The two men looked at eachother, then looked out the window. They were surronded by soldiers, still a ways off, but on all sides. Most stared at the van with a mixture of confusion and amazement. Vassili and Dimitri sprung to work.

The doors fell off as the men moved to open them. That was all right. Vassili got out first, taking up a defensive position as Dimitri ran to the back. This door too simply fell off as he went to open it, and in the same instant, out came the dummy. Dimitri hefted it up on his shoulder with one hand, prancing towards the Parliament building and hurling the thing at the window. He stopped as it went through, shattering the glass but tearing the innocent mannequin's pants off as a result. Its pale pink ass wa ssubjected to the public scrutiny of the entire base. The shredded cloth flapped aimlessly in the breeze as both agents tore back for the van.

The soldiers still stared at them, not quite believing what they were seeing. They hadn't moved any either, entirely stunned. Before remounting their chariot, both men turned towards their audience and bowed. Not in a respeful manner, but as stage performers would do to a crowd of loyal fans. Vassili reassumed his position in the driver's seat, gingerly stepping over the defenestrated door laying on the ground. He glanced over towards a soldier tending a barbeque. His mouth was wide-open, cigarette hanging from it as his hot dog burned to a crisp.

Vassili saluted, before gunning the engine and taking off. All eyes followed them as they left, only then making a break for the nearby ammunition caches to put up pursuit. It would not be the case, as a huge explosion tore through the facade of the Parliament building, shearing brick and glass and sending bits in all directions.

======

"Hey Krab, what do you think of that?"

"Not sure Bellow... kind of below me, don't you think?"

Bret 'Bellow' Mason rolled his eyes as he turned his V-25 into a corkscrew maneuver. He had intended to impress his friend, and fellow wingman Kiril 'Krab' Samuelsen with the move, but in the process only reaffirmed his own faith in the abilities of his machine.

"This is sooo much better than the MiG I used to fly," he announced, recieving a chuckle from his friend a few dozen yards away.

"It'll probably be smooth sailin' for the night Bellow."

"Most likely. How about we do some ocean runs?"

The two aircraft angled sharply downward, gaining significant airspeed as they hurtled towards the vibrant ocean below. The wind rushed by as they began to shake, pulling up at the last minute to a higher elevation.

"HOLY COW!" screamed Krab through the speakers. "That was one HELL of a plunge."

"Holy shit YES!" replied his wingman, before calming himself down. "Did you see something like a cigar in the water?"

"Nah man."

"Are you sure? I thought I saw a whole bunch of them... meh... probably too much booze."

The two levelled off and returned to altitude.

"Hey man..." Kiril began. "My VICE is beepin'."

"Yea, mine too... Hey, MOUNTAIN, my VICE is beepin'. Its really, really wierd..."

The commset clicked as MOUNTAIN was patched in.

"Hold on Runner One, we're getting a diagnostic... Hang tight...."

The two pilots pulled into an offset diamond formation, with one V-25 trailing about a plane's length behind the other one.

"Betchu its nothin' but a glitch," Bellow stated flatly.

"I don't know... its really strange for it to be actin' this way..."

"Runners One, Two. This is MOUNTAIN. Be advised, you have HOT BOGEYs in the area... Can you confirm?"

"Bullshit MOUNTAIN... skies are clear...." Krab said, scanning his sectors with rapid head movements.

The two airframes shuddered as nearly two dozen MiGs shot past, slicing through the air and nearly colliding with the V-25s. Both pilots rolled out and banked sharply, locking their rotodynes into attack position unlocking their missile payloads.

"Confirmed! Confirmed. MOUNTAIN, we are confirmed. Eyes on maybe a dozen... two dozen... maybe as much as three dozen bogey MiGs on intercept course with fleet. Engaging pursuit."

The two aircraft reformed, slamming their throttles to full as they went into pursuit. The V-25s lacked the power to catch up to the MiGs. Their missiles were far faster, but like one of those algebra train problems, the chances of any of them managing to hit a target before their distance expired was slim. They had no doubt EWR had detected the incoming flights, and surronding other patrol sorties had been scrambled to head them off... but those were a lot of MiGs, and the V-25s only had space for so many missiles.

[The UFF of Hutanjia]

THE FALKASIAN CAMP, NESSELBERG

Nellis and Leila went into the open doorway. Leila had a concerned look on her face, but Nellis looked absolutely serene. These men had different goals than the UFF, but right now, they were working towards the same purposes. That was what mattered. All the hardships and setbacks they'd suffered lately, and he'd suffered personally, would be worth the ultimate liberation of Hutanjia.

He walked in and found a seat. The journey by blockade running speedboat had been a bit rocky for him. He could stand, but sitting would be sublime right now. The ride in from the coast had been interesting, being in one of the only luxury cars that could probably be found on the sparsely populated island with few roads. Bumpy was an understatement. Leila had insisted though, that they show up in the Cadillac to give a certain presence.
Charles had relented to his minder. She had been with him longer than the United Freedom Front had been together. Now, she had taken on many administrative and executive duties of the UFF Council. She sat in a chair nearest to him. His little protector.
"My time is short, as I'm sure, is yours. Events are spiralling out of control up north of here as we speak. We have suffered many setbacks as of late. I tend to think much of it was set in motion well before the New Edomites or other allies arrived. We will need to step things up and we need to replace and train the hundreds we've lost in this recent campaign. It will be tougher, now that there won't be any front lines to hide behind." He stopped talking, both to give Yuri time to respond, and to adjust his old creaky frame on the chair.

http://i.imgur.com/wA5Be.png

QOMPLEK - TUPTAK

Romeo Company of the 7th UFF had fought hard, but couldn't stop the superior numbers of the Royals from closing the reinforcement corridor of the Bulge. They fell back, leaving more bodies of their brothers behind, slumped over undergrowth or hanging from the vines and ropes that had kept them in their sniper spots in the trees in life. Some were pushed back further South, and some fell back into the bubble towards Tuptak and Qomplek, further west.
Two companies of the 4th UFF tried to push back and counterattack but were repelled. Rotor wing support was key and they were being pummeled by it. Most of the 7th UFF Regiment was now cut off and surrounded.

[New Edom]

Departure of the Edomites for Vesselle

The New Edomite fleet, apart from a squadron of two frigates and Kaztlan Class Sterry, had begun to swing off towards Vesselle as ordered the Vs of their passage following them as they headed away. Ensign Gore was exhausted; he now understood why he had been forced into training with 'watch and watch' and often forced to do navigational problems and firing solutions while he was simply dead tired--preparation for war, for all the confusion and unexpected turns of event. Now that the adrenaline and terror was over, he felt like he could simply sleep, and he was astonished and almost in tears when a senior lieutenant said to him not unkindly, "Get some bunk, Ensign, we'll be there in a couple of hours and you'll need all your strength. You didn't do too badly today." Not far off the Commodore was walking briskly on a tour of inspection—not a formal one, but as various chiefs and officers like courtiers were paying him homage explaining their determination and the resolution and fitness of their crews.

"Yes--er, Aye-aye, Sir." said Gore, saluting and hurrying into a companionway before things changed again...while down in the engines, Tabitha Adams was preparing to go up to see a medic; a breather malfunction issue. She had barely been aware of what had been going on, fighting battles of her own in the bowels of the ship. The Kazatlan would largely be used as a landing platform for VTOL fighters during the battle, and would now apparently be doing the same soon. But she mostly understood this in terms of orders relating to keeping the ship going, which she was out of the picture of for now, off to sick bay to see the doc. She could barely keep her eyes open but had gotten a compliment from her Chief at long last, and was barely aware of anything more than how her work had enabled her ship to carry out its mission in relative peace and comfort.



***
Corwin wanted his commanding officer, and it was an uncomfortable feeling. He was a Halfer, an Elwe who had had a foreign parent, and his mother had worked at Gracie's Bar on the docks in Nass for most of her adult life. He had been lucky enough to join the Teman Rangers, but he found out about bonuses for those who signed up for the 21st Lancers, an air cavalry regiment. Better equipment, better food, and apparently a more integrated less hidebound unit. He had all the natural handsomeness of the Elwe people, the fine features and symmetrical limbs, but had light brown hair and grey eyes which told Elwe that he wasn't pure. He couldn't enter sacred grounds, couldn't take part in Moots. But who cared? He was probably one of the strongest people in 3rd Platoon A Troop of the 1st Squadron, 21st Lancers. He was a veteran; he had fought the rebels close up, tracers tearing into a helicopter suddenly filled with bloody wounded. Now he was a Staff Sergeant with his own platoon, in A Troop

It had happened a while ago. He was sitting in the Brandy Club in Dunrigain, which had been declared a watering hole for army troops, and was watching a couple of guys playing pinball while he drank beer and ate yam chips. There were lots of Barans and Anglo-Germanics around--logging and mining industry, though they were all scared it would dry up at some point soon. People were buying him beers all the time when he was here, and cute blonde women in snug jeans and tank tops would smile at him. Uniform and looks--he didn't look Elwe to foreigners, though locals would give him a wary look, grunt as they saw the uniform patches and serve him without complaint. In school they talked about how everyone was equal. Except some were the whole cliche from that pig book.

It was weird. No matter how many chicks were available, the one he thought of was a snub nosed freckle faced girl with baby blue eyes and hair like corn silk, short and boyish. When he first saw the new platoon commander her thought she WAS a boy until the day that they had been doing PT and he saw her in her olive drab t shirt above her BDU pants. And there they were alright, round and firm and ripe. He couldn't stop thinking about her. On PT she was as good as anyone, she seemed to have the guts to lead. There were other female soldiers in the platoon--and hell they'd been around since the late 80s--he had to admit that he was just plain attracted to her. He hid it as best he could and he knew he'd end up picking one of the chicks tonight and trying to forget all about it. Forget about sweet Elena Weber.

No, he never could, but every day in service he forced himself to behave decently as he had for years of service. Esprit de Corps was high in the Edomite line units—people tended to stay in the units they had joined if possible, especially if they were good units like the 21st.

On the deck of the amphibious ship helicopters were being lowered by elevator to their storage holds; 21st Cavalry troopers were going through a readiness inspection by their officers and NCOs. What lay before them was such a strange place that it might as well have been on another planet. Lieutenant-Colonel Elena Weber fingered her blue scarf and shuddered. She had had horrible dreams the night before in which she was helpless and naked, wandering in a disused building, afraid of being seen. Not like her at all. Sergeant-Major Beor, that neat tough lean man, was walking up to her and saluting. They wouldn’t do much of that on the ground but this was still a parade ground even if it shifted weirdly now and then. “Colonel, every bird is ready, every unit is ready.” The Sergeant Major and she had been through a lot together—he had been her first platoon sergeant back in the days of the Elwe rebellion. They were more than comrades, they were friends, which was rare. He had helped her through a difficult period of being one of the first female officers in a combat unit; she had demonstrated that she was an inspired leader. She had a peculiar ability, shared by her family, of having a sense of intuition. It told her now that the place they were going to was more than corrupt or devastated…that it was actually an evil place. But she had little understanding of how to deal with that. So she simply returned the salute, and smiled but said quietly, “I have a very bad feeling about this place. It gave me nightmares last night.” Beor took this seriously, and asked quietly, “Anything specific?”
Weber sighed. “Too much to be specific about. I don’t know. Let’s just be careful. Do our job.”

It had been decided the night before that the 21st would be the first ashore, accompanied by a squad from the Rover Team, a special operations unit experienced in tropical warfare. Like the 21st they had done significant amounts of service in places like Dengali.

The first unit she reached, Corwin's unit (a good solid man, she thought. No Halfers, Barans, Dawarf, Sorgen, Dengali, Haranese, Anglos or Germans in her unit--just Cavalrymen.) presented arms. "Ten--HUT!" shouted Corwin, his rifle snapping into position, his boot (as the others did) slamming to the deck. From the docking areas the locals could see the precision, the sense of pride in the Edomite soldiers. Weber lifted her hand in salute and passed in inspection.

This was all a kind of nonsense, yet it was important nonsense. It was a ritual. Soon there would be no such rituals, just grim dirty movements, searching, waiting, combat, and probably lots more waiting, dirt, bugs and various forms of madness. And her vague sense of dread that had nothing to do with her concerns about any of the above.

I don't know if I can command, lead people into battle, she admitted to the Divsiion psychologist.
You think because you are a woman, among the first generation of women to command in our forces, that this will get in the way. Don't think that way. All the men you commanded had mothers. Mothers in the past have sent their sons to war. So can you.

The Mother of the Regiment passed in inspection, the last rite as they prepared to go into the green hell that awaited them.

[McNernia]

Palace War Room
Chastille

"We have C company 1 Havenian Rifles in the action with some AT-25 Gunship/transports". Harkin paused before continuing, "We have a Special Boat Service team going into Nesselburg to have a look at all that the UFF are doing to the civilians." he smiled grimly, "and,the Navy has attacked a UFF supply dump." he looked at the Huntanjian general. "We can have airstrikes against the UFF near Vasselle sent up as soon as the word is given. Where are we needed?"

Vasselle
C Company
1 Kings Havenian Rifles

The Havenians had done well on the trenches, they had hooked up with the 34th Hutanjian Royal Army Regiment, Lockens would write well of the soliders he led in the action that day. The Huntanjians had thought well of the savagery of the Havenians in close quarters combat. They had held out, a force of elite light infantry to clear the particulary nasty positions. The men headed toward the villiage wich on Lockens map was called Qomplek, the 34th had accepted the services the Mcnernian soliders had to offer the allied push from Vasselle.

Lockens and his men were in the line and holding out, Lockens had been handpicked by Mikarsky , he was a man known for his savagery in the caludron of war ,the Colonel of the 34th had reported to him that the UFF had a strongpoint, the thing Lockens did was to call in the AT-25s, the postion from the captians assesment the position could be hit from the air and then moved in on with his Havenians.

"Angel 3-3 this is Wolf 1-3 i need a deer brought down asap can you do it?" "Roger that moving in now, wait a .." The helicopter moved in and began to hose the tree line, a surface to air rocket had appeared and as the big war machine had its back turned the rocket sheard off the tail fin causing it to fall out of the sky and crash in a burning fire ball. The loss of one helicopter had serious implications, that ment that the rebels had serious weapons at thier disposal, not good for the Royal Allies. Soon another helicopter came in at Lockens summoning and fired as it flew in low and fast. The sams did not hit it. The Havenians for all their skill at arms had suffered heavy losses, a few had fallen never to rise again but the wounded were many.

Lockens could see that both of the helicopters crew were dead, their was nothing the Havenians could do but mount an assault to reclaim their corpses, this they did with devestating machine gun and rifle fire, some men carried rocket launchers wich found targets in the UFF postitions. The bodies and the wounded were soon sent to the rear and the Havenians set to clearing out the pockets of UFF resistiance that were in the rear of operation Voodoo.

The men had lost friends to these fuckers, they had killed their brothers, vengace was theirs for the taking, they had lost some but they were still strong. There was a pocket of UFF that was being pressured by the Huntanjian Army but they were still holding out, enter the Havenians. There were many Royal Army dead, Lockens looked over the field he saw signs of shrapnel. The bodies had been thrown about it seemed, Lockens men had taken about 10% casualites, the direct drops while suprising had been a serious cause of casualities, the Havenians were happy to fight but the wear on the company was evident. The men were removed from direct action. The wolves lay in wait. Delta company was flown in to rienforce them with the 2 Marine Airmoblie Companies they were four companies under Marine Major Loyd Frain, tasked with running mop up duty. They surrounded the holdouts and waited. The Marine and Havenian Artillery were brought in , massive siege guns barrels yawning. They began to thunder ,white phosphorus rounds and high explosive howled in the air, the UFF would not last long, then the mortars, next the Marines and Havenians came in on foot and began to clear the trenches.


Blakeford Manor
Mcnernia

Blakeford smiled, he had his man, he simply wanted to talk with the Mongoose, pick his brain as it was. If he was going to work with him it seemed proper that they meet face to face and dicuss the sitiuation at hand. Blakeford simply wanted to hear the Mongoose out and he had some ideas to deal with the UFF rebels, flyer drops to the local populace telling them that the UFF could not protect them from the KHS. There were so many options Blakeford could help with and well he had resources to offer Atave.

DIRECTORS EYES ONLY
From: MRIA Director Sir Jeremy Blakeford
To: KHS Chief Milton Atave

Greetings

I do want to meet you Mr Atave, we will have much to discuss regarding the conflict and the various operations, the name Charles Nellis is not unkown to me and we have dealt with him. He is not a Mcnernian or from any of our colonies or dominions but he is an instigator and we have our best men on the case.
I can and want to help you , Atave. Also we have placed a Special Boat Service team on the Island of Nesselburg to dispose of UFF cadres and well do some damage. As of the recption of this message I will be on my way to the meeting place.


Nesselburg Island
Special Boat Service
F Squadron
Team Alpha 2-3

The villiage was clear ,so the men moved in, rifles held at the ready, the fact that they could not see any X-rays as the enemies were called by the Special Forces was a big problem. The most recent intelligence said that the locals had cadres in every villiage or so it seemed, chiefs hut was where they might stay, but then again they might not stay with the cheif. The town was quiet, the sound of insects was all that could be heard and that was a calming thing, if the bugs were quiet that was , the odd bird noise made them jump , they sounded like Ravens a slight familiarity in this place. The men had Infared wich picked out the sleeping forms of the villiagers. All was quiet, the villiage chief lived in the largest hut they had heard. This they hit.

They were quiet and quick. The window was an easy thing to get through, open to catch a summer breeze. The men pulled up masks over thier faces and moved in on the hut, they carried supressed weapons from Animeos Major a state that the Mcnernian government had hopes of growing closer with but things were different now then they had been. But the weapons were still there and the men were too. The team had practiced this sort of thing , 4 men covered and two men entered the front door. The Cheif had a baby and a wife , the baby let out a cry, the men were masked and their weapons were drawn. The team leader hissed, "Keep quiet or the babe gets it." The other man place his weapon near the child. "What do you want, are you KHS?' "No, we are not, we want to know if you have a UFF man in this place, we want to talk with him." "He lives here...why." "None of your damn business , if you find his corpse ,if you do, say nothing to the UFF when they come by. Got it?" "Yes". "Good, we will be back, soon. Where does the UFF man live?" "Hut on the other side of the villiage." "Thank you." The baby was diposited in the lap of the wife and the men left.

The UFF cadre did not really know what had happened to him. The men entered his house and soon the cadre was a corpse, one shot to the head, wrapped in his sheets and then hauled away. The commandos had trained in disposing bodies and this was old hat. The cadre had some guns and grenades in his house, trip wire and C-4. All the SBS needed to dispose of the corpse and leave a trap in the cadres house if the UFF sent a patrol by. But the trapped house was wisely dismissed, civilian casuality risk was too great. The men left the villiage heading into the jungle, they hid the body of the cadre and sent him on his way with a frag and a prayer. The cache was pilliaged, never enough rounds and the expolsives could be put to use. Not long after the team was on their way.

Palace War Room
Chastille

The men nodded at the Hutanjian officers welcome, "We are pleased to be here to help your countrymen in their fight for freedom from a man who desires power it seems." Harkin shook the mans hand warmly , "I am the senior officer of the task force sent. We are here to fight with you and train your forces although Major Fanota said otherwise, you can never train in the art of war enough." "I have brought a company of Rangers to train your forces to be better fighters, EOD, Medical and other such things you may need , we can arrange supplies." This was from Major Daniels. "So what do you need." "We have 4 Companies working on the rear hamelts that you seem to have left, two pockets in the line and we will send air support for the main pocket."

Chastille City
Parliament House

The fact that the Hutanjians could not mount a gaurd it seemed did not faze Captian Hyde who was quick to order his men to mount gaurd, he was the senior officer on secene at the Allied barracks he soon worked with his fellow officers from New Krongo and Neu Engilion, his decesion to fortify Parliament was one that seemed prudent, he had remembered Al-Azkar and the bombs that had struck the Emirs palace and the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Command. He ordered the erection of Hesco barriers filled with sand, sentry towers to watch the streets and barbed wire was placed to turn the Parliment house into a fortress.

The fortifacations were not the only thing that the Marines instituted, a sort of arrangement with the Hutanjian Police was struck, and PMVs soon began to patrol the largely peaceful city, the Marines who carried out these patrols were happy to get out of the barracks to do something even if it was to play cop in a largely peaceful city that was miles from the front lines wich their brother soliders were out fighting and dieing, rumors were floating back about the UFF and what was going on.

James had been one of those who volunteered for patrol duties in the city, he liked driving about the town and seeing the sites. Life was ok for being in a place that could seriously be turned into a war zone at any moment. The Marine PMV made its way down the street, James was manning the machine gun casually looking around at all that was going on, the Mcnernian Jack was on the antenna. What the Marines saw when they wer returning they did not really know what, they were one of two vehicles out so their were alot in the plaza, eurovan or something went right through the gate and then BANG< BOOM. "Shit, that was the motor pool and a bout half of the bloody parliment. The PMV sped back towards the burning buliding. "Where in Saint Erins Name was the fucking local security.?"

When James looked upon the wreckage memories of the airport in Hawaii flash through his head , the civilians who were trapped in the rubble. "The sentries should have been able to deal with this shit man." Someone said. Captian Hyde was at the Fordham talking with a supply officer when he heard the explosion. "Damn it, this should not be a place where we have do deal with this bullshit. He was quickly back at the remains of Parliament and he cursed the UFF.

Palace War Room
When Harkin heard the news he was shocked to say the least, about 1/2 of one company 200 or so Marines were shot up badly, many were dead and many wounded. "General , where the fuck was your local gaurds, we had to bloody mount our own security around the perimeter of the place and well, they got past our perimeter, where is that fucker Atave I would like to speak with him." he got control of himself. "I would like an explanation for this."

Executive Aircraft
En route to Gehenge
RIA Director

Blakeford recived word of the attack over the Pacific, he had refueled at Daiku Airport, he could see the Armed Forces facilites from his aircraft window, that was when his secertary had passed him the message from a Marine intelligence officer. "Bloody hell, we do have a serious problem for us to discuss Mr Atave, your shoddy security." He told his clerk to take a note.

KHS DIRECTOR ONLY PRIORITY OMEGA

Greetings

Mr Atave, you may have your things to discuss with me but now I have mine, Your poor security for your allies is one.


Chastille City
Agent AA5
MRIA

Prentor had been monitoring the van, it was suspicious to him but well he did not have proof, he liked cities and he had been in Al-Azkar when the Commonweath command was hit, bloody business cleaning up the mess it was. Prentor had headed for the secne of the disaster not long after it happened, the secene was one of carnage, Royal Marines were among the dead that was for certian. He made for the Fordham docked at the peir in Chastille harbor , he presented a badge that indicated who he was and he was then shown aboard to send his message.

Griffindon
Bethelford House
Prime Ministers Residence

The Prime Minister read the reports. "Well Timothy what are you going to do now." he looked out the window behind him , all was quiet here in Mcnernia but when the soliders started sending reports home about the affairs of the military things were going to get hard for him. An election was coming up for Prime Minister and the Republicans woulld be contested by the Socialists and then there was the Capital Party who wanted to expand the private sector and bulid a potent military. York would have his work cut out for him with this latest thing on his plate.

PRESS RELEASE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Yesterday a bomb was set off at the barracks of the 4th Company 23rd Royal Marines Regiment stationed in the city of Chastille Huntanjia. The Mission of the 23rd and the First Kings Havenian Rifles is to protect the Nevornian population. The Nevornian people of the Kingdom of Huntanjia are under threat from the UFF. The Dyansty that currently rules Hutanjia is of Nevorian stock. The Marines and 1st Havenians have been deployed along with a light carrier the Mcnernian Royal Ship Sparta to effect the security of the ethnic Nevorians against the United Freedom Front that may take represial against them for collaboration with the lawful government. The casualites taken in operations to protect the island of Nevorn from assault by UFF forces currently number some 80 dead and 156 wounded.

The Prime Minster sends his condolcences to those families whose loved ones are lost and the King will be informed of this matter in due course.