Jihadists Advance in Jaf Region [MT, DONE]

[Christoslavia]

Siqaf Int'l
Christoslavian 17th Advanced Infantry Division
Corporal Karn Hern

We thought we had them on the run but by God how were were wrong, Cesopian troops pulling up the rear had initiated an assault against the Airport and had breached the line in a surprise attack. We had no idea they'd be back this fast after the hellfire we had just rained upon them. Christoslavian and Zevretin troops were engaged in hand to hand trench combat, something our Grandfathers would've been doing in the Civil War. I had already taken out three with my ballistic knife, including one wide eyed son of a bitch that ran at me with a shotgun. I was down to handgun ammo and all I could hear through the trenches was screaming. I stumbled upon a Stinger dropped by a Zevreti missing his head, MG3 took him out probably, poor bastard. I heard the scream of an Mi-28 and pulled the trigger, seeing the rocket land home and the pilot eject, but I knew his buddy would be back. To make matters worse our jets were grounded and we had no reinforcements.
I met up with the rest of my squad who were collectively beating a Cesopian to death with trench shovels. I told them we needed to get inside the airport and make sure the Colonel was okay so we could call for backup. As we fought through the complex the whole damn building felt like it was going to collapse any moment. Fortunately we found Colonel Jone alive and surrounded by dead rebels and Cesopians, covered in blood that wasn't his. He told us to get back in the fight and hold the line until reinforcements could show and by God they would show. There's so many dead in the trenches I can't even tell who's winning, but we will kill every last one of them if we have to.

[Christoslavia]

ENCRYPTION MAXIMUM: COLONEL JONE TO ZEVRETI HIGH COMMAND

*static* under..attack...n....reinforcements...Cesopians..too stro.....being overrun...send hel-

End Message

[Zevretin]

***ENCRYPTION: MAX

THE ARAB SOCIAL REPUBLIC OF ZEVRETIN
TO: BALAGAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, ABDULISTAN, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC, CHRISTOSLAVIA, ETERNAL EMPIRE

To whom it may concern within your respective administrations:

It has now been confirmed by both our domestic and military intelligence services that military regulars from several different nations (the names of these particular nations remain unknown) are in fact present and engaged in combat with our troops on the ground in Jaf. In addition, these nations have taken to running around three to five close air support missions all within the span of this morning. Whoever they are, they are absolutely committed to changing the balance of power on the ground and likely will be for the foreseeable future.

While your great nations have all pledged support in a variety of ways, and have made good on those promises, it is vital that you hasten the pace of these operations here in Zevretin before it is too late. It is asked that you respond as soon as possible.

God be with you all.

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

SAQQAF INTERNATIONAL, JAF GOVERNORATE
11:30 AM

The wails of dying men somehow drowned out the incessant crackle of small arms fire now being exchanged between regime and jihadist positions at the perimeter of Saqqaf International. Anywhere one could look, men from both sides lie scattered about, some still, others writhing. Thankfully, the Christoslavians, alongside the 3rd Motorized Brigade of the Republican Guard, had successfully managed to prevent the first wave of militants from breaching the gate; now reinforced with sandbags and sheet metal. It was a general rule of thumb in current Zevriti military doctrine that National Army grunts held their ground and allowed for the Republican Guard to make major strategic maneuvers ahead of them, whether or not it was offensive or defensive. Unfortunately, the Guard had chose the latter for the majority of the battle. In between the rebel trench line and the outer wire of the airport lay a clear no mans' land; disemboweled and blackened vehicles accompanied mangled corpses sunken deep into the bloodstained earth. It was obvious at this point in the battle that the jihadists had spent too many men too early, and now hunkered down in anticipation of reinforcements. Exploiting this, Zevriti command elements ordered seemingly endless fire missions on the rebel positions by means of both the artillery nests within the terminal and by joint Zevriti-Christoslavian jets alike. Meanwhile, on the ground, regime troops let loose small arms fire to induce panic and hopefully break the morale of the enemy for good.

With the large majority of fire concentrated toward positions facing the gate to the airfield, the rear of the airport was left sparsely guarded by Christoslavians and National Army reserves, now exhausted after baring the brunt of the first attacks. It was now that the Legionnaires of Cesopium struck; tearing through national army emplacements ahead of the wire with a combined ground and air attack...a successful example of shock and awe. Panic-stricken, surviving Zevriti troops withdrew from their pillboxes to the airfield, linking up with the tired Christoslavians in a last-ditch effort to hold out the rear. Realizing this, regime troops positioned within the main terminal divided, one diverted to reinforcing the reserves and the other tasked with staying and suppressing the combatants from the windows. With rebel positions in front of the gate now obliterated, Company A of the 3rd Motorized Brigade utilized a similar method of division, leaving sharpshooters behind to pick off surviving jihadists while also allowing the rest to cross the airfield in Hilux technicals and armored cars. Command elements now held up in the flight control tower ordered the 122mm field guns within the terminal to cease fire and use the remainder of their shells on the foreigners penetrating the western wire.

In spite of their rapid response, the surviving Zevriti reserves formerly held up at the gates with the Christoslavians were completely annihilated and overwhelmed alongside their allies. Paying little mind to this, the 3rd Motorized halted their vehicles in a half-circle shape, unloading hundreds of rounds each of machine-gun fire into the intruding infantrymen. Above, two enemy Mi-28's hovered low to the ground, steadily picking off sandbag emplacements along the runway with ease. In a fiery moment recorded on camera, Colonel Fatma Sayegh (commanding officer of the airport garrison), overlooking the destruction from the control tower, stated: "We've killed thousands of these damned fanatics at my God-damned airbase, and yet two helicopters will be our undoing! Give me the stinger!"

Sure enough, one of the Mi-28's was hit directly in its fuselage, sending it spiraling into the terminal building in a fiery explosion- killing several Zevriti artillerymen. The other took heed of this, ascending rapidly in an effort to escape any pursuing Zevriti anti-aircraft systems. Encouraged by this, regime troops continued the firefight for several hours, waiting desperately for support to arrive from nearby Nasser Air Force Base.

I'm gonna leave this up to you guys on how to continue this. I plan on some point relinquishing the airport to the rebel side, although I'd like for it to be a Donetsk Airport-style situation (War in Donbass) in which fighting over the airport is prolonged and extremely trying on both sides. It will set the tone for the rest of the war, and shock the international community.

[Balagan]

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF BALAGAN

TO: Public
FROM:President Haydar Koç

Humanitarian Intervention

The attacks on your sovereignty are unacceptable by the international community. Your nation is no longer under attack by terrorists and apostates, you are under attack by foreign powers. I suggest that you allow us a full scale military crack down on the invading forces.

We will continue our limited air strikes against targets in rebel controlled territory but we will move in more troops and more equipment to repel the invasion if you agree.

Haydar Koç
President of the Islamic Republic of Balagan

[Zevretin]

***ENCRYPTION: NONE

THE ARAB SOCIAL REPUBLIC OF ZEVRETIN
TO: BALAGAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, PUBLIC

The Arab Social Republic graciously accepts Balagan's offer for full military intervention in Zevretin, and would like to use this opportunity as a warning to both the jihadists and foreign invaders alike- any act of violence committed on your parts is equivalent to an act of war. Let it be known.

[Heldoria]

To Young Martyrs, It has been seen that you are engaging forces that surpass your own might and have enlisted help of foreign powers. The Zevretin Regime has been a constant ache to Heldorian Policy and we seek recompense, a force of 1,720 troops and a squadron of attack helicopters and air superiority fighters have been assigned to engage in supporting actions. We ask for permission to deploy Terico XII to engage the Regime forces. - Heldorian Office of War

Heldoria, 1030 Hours, Fort Wilhelm

This is a small engagement, Staff Sergeant Becker knew this, only a few hundred thousand troops between both sides? if that? A veteran of three COIN operations, and one of the bloodier wars of Heldoria, this was small numbers to him. He was familiar with this type of terrain though, desert... hot. He grabbed his hydration bladder and ensured it was properly filled, he had 15 minutes until he had to help inspect the Section. Orders came down at 0530 of a small conflict somewhere in... Zevretin? All he knew from that place was that his great grandfather once marched those dunes and crossed the rickety old bridges into mud hut shitville... some war from almost two centuries ago. And apparently Heldoria wants to go back. The Staff Sergeant did a final check on his gear, from his vest to his rifle and 300+ rounds of ammo, he had everything. Outside the Barracks he could hear the rumble of Leviathan SPGs and Teufel Hunden IFVs as they loaded up to the carrier. No orders were for certain yet, but to his understanding they have received everything but the green light for deployment.

[Christoslavia]

URGENT MESSAGE TO COLONELS JONE AND SAYEGH
ENCRYPTION MAX

A full squadron of attack helicopters are en route to Saqaf International to destroy advancing enemy combatants. This will be followed by transport helicopters carrying a full strength Christoslavian battalion as well as tanks. ETA 10 MINUTES

[Cesopium]

SAQQAF INTERNATIONAL, JAF GOVERNORATE
11:45 AM

The Airport was ablaze, despite rapidly overcoming the outer defenses and entering the compound of the airport they were greeted with a fury of fire from reused artillery now dedicated as field guns, creating craters in the buildings and runways as they fired upon the Legionnaires and any militants who felt protected enough by their god to advance into the battle. Rinke had seen a direct shot from a shell crash into a group of Legionnaires behind him of another squad. The one who had been hit was completely converted into a pile of entrails and mush, the others with him had their arms or legs blown off and thrown a few feet away. The ones unfortunate enough to survive cried out in pain, as blood leaked from their stumped limbs, some crying out for a medic, but most cried out for Absawgah, the deity of Cesopium. One, lacking any legs dragged himself toward the artillery positions in a hopeless effort.

The people of Cesopium believed in Absawgah, a deity of conquest and order. But importantly of all the Legionnaires as compared to the normal infantry of Cesopium had this belief and along with the fact all throughout their training they are picked from the most aspirant and zealous of all Absawgah believers. Furthermore they were taught to dehumanize opponents, soldier, partisans, and civilian treated all the same giving a general attitude of as cold as ice itself to all they engage against. Pledging themselves to Absawgah they advance without fear of death and the pain to follow for it brings them closer to their lord. Though the fact, an enemy who continues to fight even when they are transformed into dust is a terrifying enemy.

Though, Rinke a very religious follower himself found it hard to believe that the men could drag themselves on further even in such intense pain, truthfully a showcase of the tenets of the Legions. Not to far long after the artillery began firing on the advancing Legionnaires they saw a sort of anti-aircraft missile erupt from the control tower on the airport runway, blasting down a single Mil-28, watching it sputter into a arty position. They prayed for their brothers but thanked Absawgah for allowing their sacrifices not to be vain. While the other Mil-28 roamed around shooting apart any remaining anti-aircraft systems.

The fight in the terminal was intense and a extreme grind to get through multiple chokepoints established by the Regime, not helping that enemy armored infantry vehicles had established positions on the airfield itself, forcing the Legionnaires to run for cover, the unlucky as they were seen. Unable to get close enough from them as the airfield had left no openings, soldiers armed with RPG-7s were forced to fire upon the government vehicles from whatever cover was left in the blasted apart buildings. Some even had thrown out smoke grenades in front of the enemy vehicles to obscure their vision of the battle or at least attempt to to open the way for the RPGs to fire or flank them. MG3 crews advancing into the airport compound into safe positions, taking refuge in portions of the terminal, they fired out into the airfield upon established government positions.

Lieutenant Colonel Henning Itzen commanded the platoons from the newly established field HQ established in a blown out pillbox from the regime positions, being little more than a few chairs and a humble map and thumbtacks showing the positions of the allies and opposition in their advance. At 11:25 the 2nd Company of the 1st Battalion had landed and were now moving to reinforce the 1st Company who had taken 65 Casualties so far in the assault, mainly over the airport. In the other fronts, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions in the Aizdihar and Manar prepared their own assaults toward their objectives as the Mil M-28s accompanying these Battalions fired down into the regime trench lines , while the 2nd and 3rd Battalions bide for time, assembling their forces for one large push toward their objectives.

OOC: Am fine with this as long as throughout the conflict there remains action of fighting and what not.

[Christoslavia]

11:50 Local Time
Saqaf International
7th Air Corps
6th Rotary Battalion
2nd Attack Helicopter Wing
Captain Janet Gerthesh

Flying in formation, the whine of the S-79 Heavy Attack Helicopters beside Cpt. Gerthesh was music to her ears, there was nowhere she'd rather be than in the air, in love with the skies for as long as she could remember, the Government took a keen eye and invited her to the Junior Air Academy where she quickly rose through the ranks, serving the State and living her dream at the same time was a blessing.
"Targets acquired, alright guys and gals light em up". On queue the hammering of 50 caliber machine guns and the whistling of Scepter Anti-Armor rockets was all one could hear, on the ground below bodies were cut down or blown 20 feet in the air. She had struck a couple of direct hits on enemy helos while her comrades were engaging in dogfights, all their training had led up to this. When the skies were clear she began targeting vehicles and captured pillboxes to deny the enemy cover and armor. Gerthesh gracefully avoided RPG rounds but one of her squadmates wasn't so lucky, direct hit to the cockpit, his helo spiraled hopelessly out of control and was a grounded smoldering wreck. Unfortunate. As she passed back to make another run Christoslavian Marines were already fastroping in and providing much needed backup to the men on the ground. "Mission accomplished" she thought to herself as her weapons lit up anything dumb enough to move on the bloodstained ground below her.

Saqaf International
Commanders Tent
Colonel Tak Jone
Colonel Jone looked down at the reinvigorated Christoslavian troops as they rallied around their comrades and began pushing back the enemy troops. "GOD BLESS CHRISTOSLAVIA!"

Saqaf International, somewhere in a trench
17th Advanced Infantry Divison
Christoslavian Marine Corps
Cpl. Karn Hern
"Get..th..fuck...OFF ME", Hern wrestled his attackers knife away and shoved it in his throat. "Some fuckin legionnaire, god damn." He picked up his rifle and noticed the enemy running in the opposite direction, then he saw the most beautiful thing imaginable, the raw power of the Christoslavian Air Force doing what it did best, and his fellow Marines picking off retreating enemies and reestablishing a the zone as secure. He put his helmet back on and decided to join them. "Zeta squad, form up!". The day belonged to the Coalition. But who was to say what would happen tomorrow? Time would tell.

[Christoslavia]

OOC: Christoslavia has reached the 2000 troop limit just so everyone knows. 1250 Army and Marine Units, 100 Special forces, and 650 Air Force personnel, to be replenished as needed

[Zevretin]

Oh, absolutely . This is a war thread. There will be very little politics or diplomacy until much much later, Ceso.

AIZDIHAR FRONT
Zevriti Republican Guard, 1st Brigade (Special Guards), Company D
1:03 AM

"It's a very simple concept, brother. Whose hinds are those up there in the sky killing our men? Who is it?"

A portly man, hands bound with zipties behind his back, spat blood onto the dirt, grunting.

The velvet night was beautiful, save for the gunfire and the occasional explosion illuminating the wispy white clouds overhead.

"I...I can't tell you. I wish I could, my God..." The man sobbed, shaking his head.

"But you can! Two choices!" Sayeed exclaimed, crouching down level to his captive. He held up two gloved fingers to the man's face before thrusting his palm to his throat, shaking him back and forth violently.

"Speak or die, you sonofabitch. No more stalling. I've had enough of you." Sayeed smacked the man hard on his temple, reaching for his holster and drawing his Beretta as he stood. He placed the barrel to the man's head, clenching his jaw from underneath his balaclava.

"FUCK! FUCK THIS! CESOPIUM, KALININ K-7! BROTHERS FROM THE NORTH! I'll be killed if they know I spoke, you know that?! KILLED!"

"You won't need to worry about that." Sayeed squeezed the trigger, the back of the captive's skull opening up in a spray of blood as he teetered back and forth before falling face-forward. Sayeed emptied another two rounds into his back before turning to his men.

"That was louder than I expected. We need to move."

The group jogged wordlessly toward their respective vehicles; a convoy of four GAZ Nimrs painted a desert camouflage pattern, with the Zevriti Republican Guard emblem painted carefully on each side.

The mission assigned to the Special Guards brigade in its entirety was to target and forcefully extract high-value targets within enemy territory, as well as probing the defenses of each of the three major cities within Jaf. They had been most successful with the former- capturing three high-ranking Martyrs and killing another six. Recently, however, it was passed down from the brass that capture was to be encouraged above killing, as they were simply not getting enough information from their current inmates.

Oops.

The convoy exited the village at high speeds, keeping a fair distance between one another as they traversed the dusty and dark road. Radio chatter was kept to a minimum as they barreled toward the next target's location just a couple miles up the road. According to their former captive, Waheed, a weapons and fuel cache was hidden within a school there...and potentially housed some of Cesopium's finest. Sayeed removed his balaclava for a moment, glancing at the driver up front and sighing.

"Fucking jihadists. Always quick to behead and even quicker to beg for their own life. I was hoping we'd have finished these assholes off already."

The driver nodded slowly, keeping his eyes on the road.

"We would have, sir, had it not been the world taking sympathy to their 'noble' cause."

Once the convoy was within close range of the town, one of two men in the backseat of each Nimr clambered onto the turret, readying themselves for a possible firefight. The first Nimr, armed with an automatic grenade launcher, was quick to open fire; lobbing grenades into quiet sentry posts and into the center of town. It continued to do so in fifteen second intervals, leveling the guardhouse at the front along with several other weaker huts. Simultaneously, the other three Nimrs let off volleys of .50 caliber into anything that seemed even remotely suspicious, obliterating stalls and abandoned sandbag emplacements in the process.

"CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE!" Sayeed hissed over the radio. "Get ready to dismount!"

The convoy gradually began to slow, turning left into a more narrow passage leading to the school. Once it had reached a roundabout, they stopped- waiting for any sign of movement.

"Nothing." One of the gunners muttered, slouching in his position.

Just as he said so, a figure darted across the road they had just traversed, stumbling slightly. Much of the convoy was quick to open fire, catching the stranger in a hailstorm of lead and sending him to the dirt in pieces. Sayeed snickered loudly, exiting the vehicle with his AK-103 slinged.

"That was some fine aiming if I've ever seen it. We'll check him out on the way back. Lions 1-4 and 4-4, pull security." Sayeed then turned toward the school doors, diverting the squad known as Lion 2-4 to the side of the school, while ensuring his squad set up at the front. Lion 3-4 in its entirety took their respective positions, covering the thin metal door with plastic explosive as their comrades now pulled themselves up to the second floor with the help of grapple hooks. From a countdown to 1, both squads blasted their way inside the building simultaneously, clearing rooms at a lightning rate in an effort to corner the enemy. Sayeed himself began to grow restless, passing piles of munitions and gasoline with disappointment. While they were truly there for the latter, Sayeed hungered greatly to taste Cesopiumian blood. Unfortunately for him, the building sweep yielded little other than the flag of one of Cesopium's legions and three militants, all of whom were asleep when they originally breached. The three were hauled downstairs and out onto the steps of the school, bound with zipties and barraged with questions and abuse. Meanwhile, the rest of 2-4 and 3-4 were concentrated on wiring the building with countless pounds of explosive, to excess.

Sayeed emerged from the building annoyed, the Legion flag draped over his shoulder as he descended the steps to the three captured jihadists.

"Where'd you get this flag, assholes?"

They remained stiff and defiant, their faces gaunt.

"You know what? I don't care anyway. This is proof enough to show they're around here somewhere." Sayeed nodded to their assigned guard, who promptly executed them.

With the intent of inflicting heavy damage on the morale of the Martyrs, the Guardsmen detonated the school, sending the massive stockpile up in a deafening explosion; the shockwave large enough to level the whole block as well. At the news of this, Zevriti Army High Command was pleased, though they kept the orders the same: capture and kill HVT's, probe, repeat. Sayeed felt it necessary to add a bit of his own touch to his orders in an effort to keep things interesting, leaving calling cards on the dead and collecting various limbs as well. It was well-documented that the young officer was sick in his methods, but so far his tactics had helped maintain the hard-fought line the regime kept at the boundaries of Jaf.

[Christoslavia]

2:00 Local Time
Location:10 miles outside Nitaq
Christoslavian Special Forces Brigade: Task Force 14
Lieutenant Adam Fant

"This message comes from the top, our orders are to capture or kill Ulnon O-Lacky, leader of Kalinin K-7 forces in Zevretin. Nitaq is heavily defended, as is he, so this needs to be done quick and clean am I understood, failure is tantamount to death." "Sir yes sir!"

It was oddly warm for this early in the morning. Task Force 7 had been re-conning the city ever since the news broke that Kalinin troops were active in Zevretin, and had assisted the Young Martyrs in the capture of Nitaq. Every defense,every patrol, it was all accounted for. The process had been painstaking but everything went back to HQ, it was worth it in the end.

General Ramer had been drumming up plans for a redistribution of troops in order to capture the city and deal a serious tactical and morale blow to the Young Martyrs and their foreign allies. If Nitaq could be reclaimed by the regime, the war would be that much closer to ending. Saqif International Airport was under constant siege and a distraction was needed to relieve the pressure on our boys down there, although in all honesty, command knew it was only a matter of time before it fell. Even now, battalions of troops, tanks, APC's, AA platforms, helos, and jets, Christoslavian, and Zevreti and Balagani, were all waiting for the order to launch a full on siege of the city. Now the goal was to capture O-Lacky beforehand to cause further disarray within enemy ranks, and if all else failed, to put a bullet in the bastard's skull. Task Force 14 was to move out in 3 hours and make it's way to O-Lacky's quarters hopefully undetected, CHristoslavian R&D had begun distributing a new kind of cloaking armor to Special Forces units but Fant had no idea if it would work, as with most things, him and his men would have to roll with it and hope for the best. Fant was praying for guidance from SUPREME OVERLORD, and hoped that his mission would be a success.
"Everyone get some shut eye, we move in 3 hours, Dayn take first fire watch". 3 hours from now, Fant was aware that Nitaq was going to turn into hell on earth.

Christoslavian Special Forces: Prowlers

[-Abdulistan-]

Takmyr, District 4 (Airport)
People's Republic of Abdulistan
1:29 p.m, 12 November 2016

---

"The 7th Red Guards battalion please prepare for boarding." said a booming speaker. With that, the 350 men and women of the 7th Red Guards battalion boarded the An-124-300 aircraft that was waiting by the runway. It was the Red Guards, a unit of highly decorated veterans and good men that had seen much experience in foreign combat that would be sent to fight the Jihadists in the Jaf Region. The Red Guards were highly armed and strong soldiers, much better than the Red Army. With nearly no combat in the homeland, the Red Guards could finally be sent to battle again with the Jihadists in the Jaf Region of Zeviriti.

It was the 7th, 14th, 12th, 3rd and 9th Red Guards battalions that would be sent. With 350 men each per battalion, that would make a total of 2,000 men, as large as one Red Guard regiment, which was the 7th Red Guards regiment.

It was not long until the An-124-300's engines blasted off, and the aircraft took off. Soldiers waited anxiously, some reading Quranic verses, as they flew off towards Zeviriti where they would experience combat.

They would land at Nasser Airforce Base, where they would assist in defending the airport and making the airport safe enough for more Abdulistani forces to land and deploy troops against the terrorists. Colonel Abdul Rahman was the commander of the 7th Red Guards regiment. Abdul Rahman had previously led the 13th Motor Rifle regiment in the Abdulistan-Imperial War, where they landed on the island of Kwadii, an Imperial Colony. He was a veteran, for the 13th Motor Rifle regiment was the most decorated regiment of the whole war.

The Colonel paced around the cockpit as he watched the GPS map scroll, getting closer and closer to Naser Airforce Base, Zevriti. "Let us hope Naser is not being besieged when we arrive..." said the colonel. The pilot nodded, "Yes sir. We might be forced to do an emergency landing if Naser if the LZ is too hot." The Co-pilot nodded in agreement.

Within several hours, the flight of An-124-300s finally came in range of Nasser Airforce Base. They got ready landing procedures as they contacted air traffic control. "An-124 to Tower, this is Abdulistan People's Air Force An-124 reporting. We are requesting to land at Nasser Airforce Base to help with the deense of the Jaf Region. We are allies of the Zevriti Social Republic and are here to assist, over."

After a little talk with the tower, the An-124s finally landed at Nasser Aiforce Base, the first Abduli forces to arrive at Zevriti. The 2,000 men slowly unloaded themselves from their aircraft, arriving at Zevriti. Modern 5th Generation [url=VT-4 tanks]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT-4_(tank)[/url] rolled out of the planes. VN3 Armored cars along with ZBL-09 Armored Personnel Carriers unloaded from the aircraft. Colonel Abdul Rahman walked around and observed his troops before setting off with a junior officer to find the commanding officer of Zevriti forces at the airbase. He walked up to what looked like a Zevriti officer, asking him: "Salam brother. I am Colonel Abdul Rahman, commander of the 7th Red Guards regiment. I want to talk to your commanding officer please, we want to help with combating the terrorist forces of the region." said Abdul Rahman to the Zevriti officer. They awaited his response...

[Murovanka]

Sidi al-Musari
Northern Zevriti

Sirdar Abdullah traced his finger on the map; so far, so good. As expected, the Zevirti forces had not anticipated an attack from the north, and as such they had made good progress through the northern landscapes of the country. They did face resistance, in the form of roadblocks along the crucial roadways set up to contain them, but having fought in the desert, such actions meant little to them as the outflanked, surrounded, isolated and destroyed each outpost piecemeal. They did suffer casualties, which were not light; already sixty men were out of action, many casualties coming from the battle for this vital town, which sat at crossroads leading to Saqqaf International Airport and the capital of Wahdabad itself.

The Sirdar and his staff debated the next course of action. It would have to wait until their forces, still tied up with dealing with enemy forces in their rear due to the al-Kabaab troops' rapid advance and avoidance of enemy strongpoints strategy, were freed up. But after that, they had the choice of striking toward the airport and cutting off regime forces from their capital, or marching on Wahdabad itself. Or, as a company commander pointed out, they could sit around, consolidate their position, let the Zevritis think that they were not really a threat, all the while letting the foreign forces and the Young Martyrs bleed each other to death in the trenches to the east. After that, al-Kabaab could sweep in and clean up after them, maintaining a stronghold of al-Kabaab-held territory in large swathes of the northern Zevriti plains.

Abdullah liked that idea, but still maintained that they should keep up their momentum- somewhat, and their allies should get the impression that they were there to relieve some pressure. It was agreed to continue the march on Wahdabad.

[Insoboria]

Insoborian military offers aid to any nation fighting the jihadist regimes. 1,500 troops with advanced weapons and armour are waiting to be deployed to hotspots, along with 30 tanks and 25 attack helicopters

[Caracasus]

---

To: President Haydar Koç, Balagan. President Saqqaf, Zeveritin
From: USSC International Affairs and Diplomacy

---

We have noted a growing crisis within the borders of Zeveritin. Balagan's recent humanitarian and diplomatic efforts on the Iberis Peninsula have not gone unnoticed, neither has the role that Balagan has played in attempting to secure peace within that region.

The United Socialist States of Caracasus cannot provide military assistance at present, however we are able to provide humanitarian aid including the supply and establishment of camps for displaced civilians.

With Regards,

Caracasus International Affairs and Diplomacy

[Zevretin]

To Young Martyrs, It has been seen that you are engaging forces that surpass your own might and have enlisted help of foreign powers. The Zevretin Regime has been a constant ache to Heldorian Policy and we seek recompense, a force of 1,720 troops and a squadron of attack helicopters and air superiority fighters have been assigned to engage in supporting actions. We ask for permission to deploy Terico XII to engage the Regime forces. - Heldorian Office of War

Heldoria, 1030 Hours, Fort Wilhelm

This is a small engagement, Staff Sergeant Becker knew this, only a few hundred thousand troops between both sides? if that? A veteran of three COIN operations, and one of the bloodier wars of Heldoria, this was small numbers to him. He was familiar with this type of terrain though, desert... hot. He grabbed his hydration bladder and ensured it was properly filled, he had 15 minutes until he had to help inspect the Section. Orders came down at 0530 of a small conflict somewhere in... Zevretin? All he knew from that place was that his great grandfather once marched those dunes and crossed the rickety old bridges into mud hut shitville... some war from almost two centuries ago. And apparently Heldoria wants to go back. The Staff Sergeant did a final check on his gear, from his vest to his rifle and 300+ rounds of ammo, he had everything. Outside the Barracks he could hear the rumble of Leviathan SPGs and Teufel Hunden IFVs as they loaded up to the carrier. No orders were for certain yet, but to his understanding they have received everything but the green light for deployment.

Brothers in Heldoria

We accept your offer in the deployment of Terico XII to forward positions here in Jaf. Honored brothers will brief your officers on any relevant information at whichever location you choose to garrison. We await your arrival.

God be with you.

***ENCRYPTION: MAX

THE ARAB SOCIAL REPUBLIC OF ZEVRETIN
TO: CARACASUS, UNITED SOCIALIST STATES

President Saqqaf, alongside his cabinet, finds your offer completely agreeable. Civilians now barred from government forces by the radicals are undoubtedly limited in not only electricity but food and water as well. For the time being, however, it asked that any aid received from your nation should be confined solely to Wahdabad and central Zevretin (predominantly loyalist areas). We thank you a thousand times over for your proposition, and in the event of a mutual agreement we look forward to your arrival.

[Christoslavia]

ENCRYPTION MAX: TO PRESIDENT SAQQAF AND ZEVRETI HIGH COMMAND

In the early hours of this morning Special Forces troops have infiltrated the occupied city of Nitaq in an attempt to capture the Kalinin K-7 military leader, on the your command, I will give the order for a complete siege of the city to relieve the pressure on the garrison at Saqqaf International. We await your response in earnest and will update you on the status of the current mision.

-Christoslavian Forward Operating Base Echo, General Ramer

[Heldoria]

Heldoria, 1:30pm, Fort Wilhelm, Run way 5-7

Staff Sergeant Becker was strapped into the holding bay of the Errant D-235 Heavy Air Transport, Terico XII was being deployed to that god forsaken sand dune hell hole. Good lord, why the fucking desert? Couldn`t it be somewhere more, homey? someplace with a little fucking rain so his balls wouldn`t get swamped in sweat. He felt a soft tap on his right shoulder, it was his lieutenant. Lieutenant Dontare was a little younger, that was evident by his fewer scars, the still life enjoying look in his eyes that have faded from most veterans a long time ago, though both were professionals the Lt has seen a fraction of the death and conflict Staff Sergeant Becker has.
The intercoms crackled

"Terico 7, this is Colonel Laffuage. Today we are deploying to some little shit hole, some place that most of us can`t even find on a map, the reason? Over a hundred years ago our great grand fathers spent 6 months on boats to engage these little hill men, to push out the natives to secure what little resources they had for the Fatherland. That campaign was a failure, of the 5,000 men deployed less than 3,000 returned. Now is our time for vengeance, we will sweep aside there regime and then take that sand flea infested shit hole for our great Empire and make it our own! For Heldoria!"

Well shit, the big guy himself is shipping with us? Becker thought to himself.

"Briefing said we take off soon, you ever been to this shit hole before?" Lieutenant Dontare asked, looking at him both have seen combat before but it was obvious he was apprehensive. But he could he blame him? MOUNT operations were by far some of the worst fighting, heavy causalities and house to house fighting.

"no sir I have not, I have been in the Desert before but it wasnt as hot as this place will be. Our boys may be green, but they are trained so long as they follow the book and listen to their NCOs? We may get out with minimal losses." Becker replied. As soon as he said that the engines whine grew louder and he felt some forward momentum. They were going to this shit hole.


3:45pm, JAF Governate Young martyr held territory, Afhadrid

"Alright boys! Let`s unload! First Section mount up!" Becker`s voice boomed as he walked off the loading ramp, the sudden heat and humidity struck him he felt his lungs gasp for air at first and he took some deep breaths to get himself adjusted.

"Becker!"

It Was Donatre, Becker turned to see his Lt already conversing with the Hall Commander as he gathered more intel and learned of their coordinations for the offensive later today.

"Yes sir?" Becker asked

"We are giving the troops some time to unload, I see you have our Section mounted, the CO is having our boys run security as Frederic`s and Carson`s Sections are helping Logistics unload. We have about 90 days of supply for the whole Terico from what I`ve been told, orders are for our Section and William`s Section to run a night raid. Recon Section is searching front line right now and we will have more intel by the 1900 briefing." Dontare went as he was watching his Section unload, twiddling a unlit cigarette between his fingers as he squinted his eyes from the intense sun.

[Zevretin]

NASSER AIR FORCE BASE, JAF GOVERNORATE

General Bashar al-Saqqaf lowered his head toward the ground as he walked, in a vain effort to protect his eyes from thick clouds of dust now blown about the airfield by planes and helicopters alike. He had just been summoned by his staff to meet the arriving Adulistanis, who had come in force to provide crucial combat support to regime troops on the front line. Saqqaf had been ecstatic at word of this earlier in the week, and so at his own leisure he strut briskly toward the unloading AN-124's. While he was not not the commanding officer of all forces in the region, most men stationed there treated him as such; as he was not only a high-ranking member of the National Air Force, but also a brother to the President himself. Even if they were pre-occupied, soldiers snapped to attention at the announcement of his passing. Bashar tried not to let it get to his head. He was a soldier, and nothing more. He would have preferred, truthfully, to be viewed that way by his peers as well. He had earned his position, not through political favors and outright bribery, but through hard work and dedication. He could not say the same for most of his family, however.

Bashar reached the the closest AN-124, spotting one of his men conversing with what he assumed was Colonel Abdul Rahman. He paused in front of him, snapping off a smart salute; his counterpart doing the same.

"It is a true pleasure to meet you. I am General Bashar al-Saqqaf. I'd like you to know your presence here is welcomed by just about every soldier in the country. It's been a long war for us already, and we could use the extra manpower." Bashar chuckled, outstretching his hand to the Colonel warmly.

[Cesopium]

1st Battalion, Natiq Front
2:00 PM

The Legionnaires had been driven off from the airport for now, the 1st Company had retreated, picking up the wounded that could still be saved as they retreated to the outer defenses of the airport, holding the outer edge of the string of initial goverment regime positions they had pushed into earlier in the morning. The fight had been rough in the airport with it being bombarded, and shot at with all sorts of small arms and vehicles, the arrival of Christoslavian fighters sealed their chances for the time being.

The 1st Company had taken 78 casualties in the assault, awaiting upon the 2nd company. They made up defensive positions armed with portable SAM launchers and machine gun positions to drive off any sort of assailants. Mortar crews were placed as well to prevent a breakthrough. The 2nd Company had arrived by 1:20 to reinforce the Legionnaires but by then they had been driven back and were now waiting for another time to strike.

In the city of the Nitaq, the 3rd Company under reports of a siege getting ready to take place were ordered to garrison themselves within the city. Passed around among the men were SVD sniper rifles and anti-tank weaponry along with a surplus shotguns for urban combat, most common of all besides the standard M4 was the RPG-29. Preparing defensive plans, asking for supplies of barbed wire and sandbags, Lieutenant Colonel Henning Itzen planned to create 4 different zones of defense where the 3rd Company, 300 men would divide in 4 75-men platoons into the Eastern,Southern,Northern and Western sectors and the central area of the city where the main headquarters was placed and the situation for the last stand. He hoped alongside his Legionnaires,they could inspire local rebels and militants with their professionalism and bravery in the face of the enemy.

Aizdihar Front, 2nd Battalion
Manar Front,3rd Battalion
Reports of Zevreti special forces sabotaging weapon caches of the 2nd Battalion became more and more common, the 3rd Company was kept back to spread out and defend the supply caches themselves instead of depending upon local auxiliaries they had previously hired to do the task, acting as a sort of police out in the area.

While the rest of the 600-some Battalion, the 1st and 2nd Company, 400 men in total began their assault upon the nearby government lines in sync with the 3rd Battalion's drive to take the nearby Textile Complex across the battle lines. At 2:45, the 2nd and 3rd Battalion began their drive toward their goals. Following behind a barrage from each of their 2 respective Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, barraging pillboxes and trenches with their S-13 rockets and 30mm cannon, followed by the charge of Legionnaires with their grenades, machine guns and small arms fire. The overarching plan of Lieutenant Colonel Levin Nuhr and Lieutenant Colonel Rolf Cruewell was to hammer down the government regime and ally forces, forcing them to disperse to face off the assaults and unite other militants in the outlying towns and villages to join with the "Young Martyrs" and push onward with the Cesopiumian Legionnaires to liberate more of government cities.

[Zevretin]

ENCRYPTION MAX: TO PRESIDENT SAQQAF AND ZEVRETI HIGH COMMAND

In the early hours of this morning Special Forces troops have infiltrated the occupied city of Nitaq in an attempt to capture the Kalinin K-7 military leader, on the your command, I will give the order for a complete siege of the city to relieve the pressure on the garrison at Saqqaf International. We await your response in earnest and will update you on the status of the current mision.

-Christoslavian Forward Operating Base Echo, General Ramer

***ENCRYPTION: MAX

THE ARAB SOCIAL REPUBLIC OF ZEVRETIN
TO: CHRISTOSLAVIA, ETERNAL EMPIRE

High command acknowledges your request and gives your men the green light. Close air support can and will be provided by means of the squadrons based at Nasser AFB. You will not be alone out there. Maintain callsigns from earlier in the week so as to prevent confusion with the aforementioned support elements. God be with you.

NEW OOC THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=394973

[Heldoria]

1945 Hours, JAF Governate Aizdihar

Lieutenant Dontare walked into the cool desert night air, what was once a blazing wall of heat was now as cool as the lake he grew up fishing in, he lit his cigarette and ruminated on everything he has just heard. His Section and William`s have been confirmed to conduct a night assault, at roughly 0300 hours 1st and 4th sections of Hall Romeo will attack the southern flank of the Regime trench lines while 2nd and 3rd Sections of Hall Troy will move roughly a half klick north assaulting the lines to break through to highway 9. During the assault 2nd Section of the Heavy Weapons Hall will bring their M12 Auto mortars to bare on the mid land between the assault points to help soften for the follow up, the Leviathan SPGs will bombard the rear of the trench system as the 2nd and 3rd Sections of Hall Romeo follow up and clear any remaining resistance, while Troy`s 1st and 4th Section run rear guard for the passing Sections. The Lieutenant extinguished his cigarette, he had a few hours until the assault and Becker went off to recheck his gear as he rustled the Section together.

[Christoslavia]

7:00 AM Local Time
Location: Nitaq, City Proper
Condition: Active, Undetected
Christoslavian Special Forces Brigade: Task Force 14 aka "Prowlers"
Lieutenant Adam Fant

Earlier in the week task Force 14 had found an underground tunnel system, initial mapping of the routes showed a direct path to the city center of Nitaq, much to our luck. We had set out by 6 and hiked it through the sewers by way of an access point in a town lying on the outskirts of the city, of course this meant evading several Kalinin and Cesopian patrols along the way but nobody got hurt in the process.
"God it smells like shit in here" "Well I WONDER why?'
"Cut the chatter and focus on the mission, scrape the shit off your boots after we tag the colonel understood?". A pause followed by a couple yes sirs was satisfactory, we couldn't afford to be dicking around, especially when so much was resting on our shoulders. Thermal binoculars had showed that the road above us was clear, we exited that cesspool knowing damn well we'd be back, and started moving towards the HQ of the opposition forces.

We were right outside, 2 guards posted at the door, 4 sniper towers, and spotlights. Our fire team was made up of 5 men, each was given a special issue X-17 DMR, modifiable for any condition. "Silencers on, everyone get to a high point and take those snipers" "Yes Sir!"

On the count of 3, if one was listening intently you might have heard 4 faint whispers, then silence. The two posted guards went to investigate but another hand signal saw them crumple like paper to the ground. The squad regrouped and was positioned right outside the tent "Alright boys, sleepy time", I pulled the pin of my Mark 2 gas grenade, modified to contain a sleep inducing sedative gas, and rolled it gently into the room. "Breach and clear".
We moved swiftly into the room with gas masks on, putting bullets in the lower level officers and dropping them like flies. Anyone asleep was executed, but they wouldn't feel it, so it's all fine in the end. I thought to myself "Better they don't because God knows what command would want done with them if they were captured. Lying unconscious in a chair was the man we had come for, O-Lucky. We grabbed him and hiked it back to the sewers, by the time the alarms went off city wide we were already on board a D-6 Stealth Helicopter and being taken back to Nasser AFB. "Command this is Fant, Task Force 14, mission accomplished over"
"Roger, awaiting your arrival, good job boys".
Yeah, I guess it was.

---

9:00 AM Local Time
Outside Nitaq
Commander's Tent
General Abar Ramer

General Ramer had just received word of the successful bag and tag operation within Nitaq, and had also received news of Task Forces 12 and 2 radioing on to say they had sabotaged several batteries of Anti-Air defenses. Now the fun would begin, it would be raining fire upon the city in such magnitude not seen since the wars of old. Dozens of howitzers were ready to drop shells for 48 hours continuously, so whatever was left alive would be too shell shocked to fight back.
"Men, this is the beginning of the end, all batteries, enter firing solutions, and OPEN FIRE!"

[Heldoria]

0730 Hours, High Way 9

Major Dewitt saw the Saqaf airport in the early morning sun, his Cohort broke through enemy lines in the early morning to be able to set up the Leviathan SPGs on the high way. From the poorly made asphalt road road he could see the faint outlines of enemy fortifications, soldiers moving around and earthworks being reinforced. Yesterday the battle for the airport took a heavy toll on both Regime and Martyr allied forces, the Christoslavaian military was dug in and so far had air support in this sector meaning anti-air weapons had to be brought up from the Heavy Weapons Hall. He turned to the lieutenant of the Leviathan Section and handed him binoculars.

"Here`s what i`m thinking butter bars, those trenches and the airport itself will be hell to take. We can`t use conventional munitions or you`ll risk damaging the run way which is needed if we want to get supplies closer to the frontline. What I want is for three salvos of Incendiary along the trench lines, followed up by chemical rounds along the trench system and the airport. You get 15 minutes to do your stuff before the Mechies deploy supported by some MBTs, an anti-air section will be left here while another goes in to support our assault incase of counter attack by air. Third Cohort has been gracious enough to lend us one of their Halls, so show those Christoslavaian fucks how we do it in Heldoria." The Major ordered as he strode back to his command vehicle checking for status on ground attack and air superiority fighters.

"Aye Sir!" Replied the Lt as he ran off to his command to relay orders.

1st Section, 3rd Hall, 6th Cohort. 0732 Hours

Becker looked around in the dimly lit Teufel Hunden, the morning heat was still a few hours away but the humid air mixed with the claustrophobic conditions of the IFV almost impossible to breath. The loud roar of the 150mms rocked the IFV as their rounds went screaming through the air to the trench lines, there was 10 minutes until the assault began and 6th Cohort was leading to the front as the other cohorts broke off to secure the runway and other strategic assets. Enemy vehicles were identified in early morning recon but any long range anti-armor weapon had a chance to damage the runway. Things were getting back to how he remembered them, when war zones were to crowded to use artillery or the dense growth of forests made every salvo danger close.

"Alright 1st Section, the Lt is in the vehicle ahead of us and he will be splitting the Section into two so we can more easily maneuver. Incendiaries and Chemical shells are being used to soften up the target, so check your masks, check your buddies mask, and make sure your dicks aren`t hanging out unless you want them to swell three times their size and pop like those nasty ass pimples PFC Peters get`s." There was an uneasy laughter in the IFV as Becker mentioned the PFC, no one was shocked or offended, just worried about the upcoming fight.