Liberation of cursed lands. Semi-closed GD

[Eitoan]

www.News-Herald.et.com

Berwyn:
Peace March Leads To Widespread Unrest

Rioting continued throughout last evening into this morning in Berwyn, with the emergence in force of the heretofore little noticed fringe group of Ralkoviak extremeists, the Eitoan National Alliance Direct Action Party (ENADAP). The disturbances marked the first serious ethnic discord in the nation in nearly 50 years. The group, mostly thought to consist of online cranks and malcontents emerged in larger than expected numbers at the beckoning of it's putative leader, RaSeveNek-X, mostly known for postings on the Scheelved bulletin board online. At this time Dobrovice Territory Governor General Mark Prahe has taken control of the situation after mounting frustration with Berwyn Mayor Ted Rinehart's tepid response to the intial skirmishing. At a midnight briefing, Prahe promised "This will not stand, this breach of public order. I will see mayor Rinehart in my office bright and early, and I will get to the bottom of this!" Berwyn First District Police commander Captain Brad Ephron is heading up operations on the ground and at this time the Militia has not been reinforced in the nation's second largest city, although all means of communication have reminded rioters throughout the melee that Militia units guarding key transportation facilities are fully armed and have standing orders to shoot to kill. A day long curfew has been imposed on the city's downtown and Caton neighborhoods.

The ENADAP leader, and his underlings harrangued a heavily armed, blue and green clad crowd at the 9th and Last Chance Bar's meeting room on North Wood Street in the Caton neighborhood for over an hour, whipping the assembled uniformed members into a frenzy against Eitoan entry into any hostilities agains the Ordenite Reich. He repeatedly implored his gang to "take action against the traitors in Vladarsik, those that will do the bidding of the evil, insidious Golden Throne monarchy and their rotten gang of warmongers". The frenzy continued as he and other speakers urged "a demonstration of strength, the purity of our Ralkoviak blood to put the liberal mongrel politicians in their place, and restore the seed of the Raskovs to their rightful place in the sun". Several bar patrons that objected to the inflammatory rhetoric were subsequently beaten senseless, although no deaths were reported at the time. The knot of peace protestors then proceeded south along Hermitage in the old line Ralkoviak neighborhood, apparently to obstruct the Claremont Avenue Bridge. The armed group swelled to an estimated 5000 at the peak of the action.

First along the path of destruction was a wedding at the Camalgehey Shrine of rem Beth on Thomas Street. Although patriotic combatants fought with the ENADAP marauders along the way, they were understrength and outgunned as the shrine was incinerated, along with 15 in the wedding party, including the bride and groom. A blood curdling cheer went up from the rioters as flames licked the night sky. As the call went out to patriotic groups to fight ENADAP in the streets, their ranks grew to an estimated 20,000. Among the organizations that could be identified as counter rioters were the Air Force League, and The Association of Military Engineering Veterans. At the height of the fighing, the two sides faced off in a firefight at Bordel Park, leaving 23 dead before the ENADAP rioters were chased from the park.

A group split off from the main ENADAP contingent, setting seige to the Thorvieren Beverage Warehouse. Armed guards held off the attackers and prevented entry into the building, although three beer trucks were reported missing and looted, apparently by both sides. Police on the scene immediately gave chase to the abducted vehicles, but were unable to cut through the crowd of rioters on the scene. One beer truck was later found upended, emptied, and set afire at a vacant lot on Gray Lion Street. Police are still in pursuit of looters at the present time. Streets adjacent to the warehouse were strewn with mangled bodies, and the grotesque task of identifying the dead continued into the morning.

Combat took an uglier turn as members of the Improved Order of the Green Cord took up positions to fight ENADAP in the early morning hours. The Grand Master of the Order's Lodge #42 engineered an ambush of the ENADAP group at the Cratez Road overpass of National Route 26. In a short statement, the Grand Master spoke, with great satisfaction
that "We're just patriots, doing what needed to be done, hanging traitors and supporting the police. All of us back Captain Ephron, and will do whatever we can to whip out the vermin and bring 'em to justice." 16 are reported dead at the overpass. Many businesses in the vicinity have been looted, and there were repeated calls to the fire department, which was held back by a police cordon until the area could be secured.

Closer to downtown there was a 2 hour shootout at Hoyne and Race Streets. The number of casualties there is unknown, and emergency services at all nearby hospitals are reported under great strain.

At this hour sporadic gunfire can still be heard in downtown Berwyn and the near Northeast Side.

Overseas:
Field Addresses Ghastak On Pillars of Dienstad Crisis

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Randall Field addressed the Ghastak, meeting as a Committee of the Whole, about the conflict in Central Greated Dienstad today, at the request of Ghastak Chairman Louis A. Herb. These are his remarks.

"Members of the Ghastak, Chairman Herb, I want to thank you for the invitation to speak at this time about a concern many in our nation have, the fighting in Central Greater Dienstad and elsewhere. I speak here with the full approval of President Shrdlu, and also address the nation, and our friends overseas, about this vital issue.

The prime concern, of course, is the safety and security of Eitoan citizens in the homeland, and overseas. Hostilities have not broken out on or near the continent, and there's no rational reason to expect that they will. The distance from the main theaters of conflict, the absence of strategic targets here would indicate that serious fighting in the vicinity of Eitoan is unlikely. In every event, our diplomatic efforts are first and foremost to save Eitoan lives, both here and abroad. The scope of this conflict is a cause of concern for Eitoan businesses also, as it's impact on exports, imports, and prices has yet to be seen.

Let us hope, along with people of good will throughout the world, that this will come to an end soon.

I have no magic wand to make this go away, or directly mitigate impacts on our economy. The nation is at peace with all belligerents, and there has been no change in diplomatic relations with any of them. As much as is in our power, we would serve to arrange as a conduit for negotiations between the parties, if so requested. But that decision is in the hands of the powers now at war. There is no change in any treaty status, or modification of any agreement with foreign governments at this time. None is expected. None has been requested. We will maintain all treaty obligations. These are important components in the security of our nation, and indeed, northwest Greater Dienstad. This must be known and understood by our treaty partners, along with others.

As I have indicated, relations with the belligerent powers remain at normal levels. There have been no requests delivered to change that status, or provide explanations for Eitoan actions. We have made no requests of the belligerents. Appropriate measures have been undertaken by the adminstration and maritime insurance rates for shipping through the Sea or Ordenia and Sea of Crowns have increased precipitously. This is unfortunate, but necessary and to be expected. I will not address today any changes to domestic policy resulting from this war.

While we have agreements with some of the warring parties, these are not established in hostility to the opposing side. We are at peace with the Empire of the Golden Throne, and are fulfilling all specifications of treaties with that nation. We are similarly at peace with The Ordenite Reich, and anticipate no change to that status. And we look forward to restoration of peace in the waters surrounding those two nations. The security and well being of the world depends on that.

With that being said, I believe I interpret the will of the people and this body that the sympathy of this nation lies with the forces of freedom, and the hopes of the peoples of Krasnova for a better future. The administration and Foreign Affairs recognize that. We are bound to protect the safety of our citizens and integrity of our homeland, it's waters and it's airspace. We do not seek entry into this war. But in a democracy such as ours, our government must heed the informed opinion of the public. This must be known by our friends overseas. The people of Eitoan have already formed their opinions and well understand their implications.

The President, and Foreign Affairs will work together with Chairman Herb and the President and Speaker of the Dashez as events unfold. Again, I wish to thank Chairman Herb for this opportunity, and am now open for questons."

[The Macabees]

FEDALA, IMPERIAL PROVINCE

"Ah, yes. That should do," said Tiberius Grakus, as he finished typing the last words of his piece.

He looked at the screen for a moment, scrolling up and down, editing here and there. And, finally, he was satisfied. His article on the flourishing of democratic republicanism in the provinces and the export of those ideals to the territories was a beautiful ode to the glory that was the empire. It was for a journal of political science and international relations published by a well-known and important Eitoan institution of higher education, which was widely read by much of the country's intelligentsia — if not in the form of the journal article itself, but rather its popularizations in the less rigorous, but nevertheless high-brow literature read by the educated.

Saving it one last time, he pressed a couple of short keys until his screen was occupied by a web browser rather than the document editor. It was his email. He started a new one, typed in an address, and then attached his journal article to a short body of text to the editor, which he had met once at an academic retreat in the seaside city and intellectual fortress of Macabea.

Tiberius had written the piece from his own heart and soul. He truly believed the non-imperial institutions of the Golden Throne to be progressive and characteristic of a more advanced civilization than any other. Not in terms of its technology, necessarily. Rather, out of merit for its politics. It was from his own mind that he espoused his idealization of Macabéan liberalism.

Of course, Tiberius' rise to the pinnacle of continental liberal scholars was well funded. As a young undergraduate, he had received funding from countless foundations dedicated to the political philosophy of pluralism and the economic tenets of capitalism. As a graduate, it was very much the same, except this time they paid for almost his entire education. Many of these charitable institutions were, themselves, recipients of significant charitable funds, including aristocratic donors and grants allotted to them by the government of the then Kingdom of Macabea and now Second Empire of the Golden Throne. He had much to thank of the government whose exponents embodied what he saw as political perfection.

Perfection was perhaps too strong of a word, for nothing could ever achieve that divine status. Nevertheless, there is an undeniable relationship of institutional revolution in the realm of governance and the Golden Throne, and the Kingdom before it, was surely at the head of it in the present. Citizens and territorials alike were free to flow between the provinces and territories, from as far west as Beda Fromm to as far east as Indras, each of which boasted of its own governments heavily colored by their local cultures and histories. There was a competition between them, further fueled by the juxtaposition of the Senatorial Government, split as it was between two chambers: the Senate and the Congress of Kingdoms. It was the theory, beauty, and liberal foundations behind each of these local governments that Tiberius so eloquently and proudly trumpeted in the article had just turned in.

In this fashion, the republican ideology that the empire had adopted, or rather brought with it from its Macabéan origins, was spread to an audience of similar language, whose government had entered into a mutual defense pact with the Golden Throne. If the imperial armed forces served as allies to Eitoan during a war in the northwestern quarter of Greater Díenstad, so too would the political organization of the Golden Throne serve as a guide to the country's sympathetic intellectuals.



VLADARSIK, EITOAN

The common man of Eitoan was not bound to read Tiberius Grakus' long and boring journal article.

They learned of the Golden Throne in other ways.

Reaching them was a question of publishing the right stories in the local newspapers. In part, that was in large part controlled via the rationing of coverage rights on the battlefield. Most of the territories remained focal points of local insurgencies, usually remnants of old militias and their political warlords composed of old elites not assimilated by the Imperial Bureaucracy. This justified the latter to deem it battlezone area, allowing the Imperial Bureaucracy to restrict access to much of the territories from reporters and other media. Only those with licenses, and escorted by imperial soldiers, were allowed. Unlicensed reporters caught in any battlezone faced heavy repercussions, not short of death depending on where they were found. This allowed Fedor's government to sculpt the image it wanted of progress in the territories.

News of happenings throughout the far-flung empire would come in stories of local municipalities benefiting from a fairer justice system which respected local customs and traditions, interweaving them with imperial property law and other overarching rules that bound all imperial subjects together. Eye witness accounts of battles depicted the victorious imperial army against backward militants no better than terrorists. And, local elections and the democratic institutions that brought new leadership into being were glorified through high-level coverage of these events.

The negative face of imperial conquest could not be completely hidden or suppressed. The world knew of Palenque and Tiwanaku, and their destruction — a punishment on a tenacious pirate foe that the Golden Throne never sought to hide or diminish. All the same, the fall and sack of Drasdag in Drana, the Scandinvan homeland, was a similarly public act of imperial foreign policy. Likewise, there were always the stories of imperial atrocities in the territories, like the rape of Senelica Village Complex in Indras, but these were drowned out by the sheer volume of news that gave shape to the other side.

If anything, oftentimes the negative press simply gave further credence the idea that the empire was hard, but ultimately also fair and just.

The empire's involvement in the Northwestern Mutual Assistance Agreement gave it further currency, such as when it Triumvirate naval forces during an exercise to block Ralkovian access into east-central Greater Díenstad. These types of actions would not be favored by all citizens of Eitoan, but those that did would only further sympathize with the virtues of the Golden Throne.

And, although the war was now over, the Gothic War would for a long time remain another source of light that shined upon the empire. It served as another cloak to dress it in, to give it the appearance of a state which pursued justice and humanism as ends, contrasted against the slave-trading imperialists which had come to the region to undermine one of its most powerful constituents in an effort to grow its revenue from the purchase and sale of Greater Díenstadi people.

On these and other subjects the Eitoan speakers of the vulgar Díenstadi dialects read when they learned of the Golden Throne.



KELSO, EITOAN

When Rusnak Konstantinovich walked into the Cold Rabbit Pub, the main room was cold and poorly illuminated. He could see, with some struggle, the faces of the people sitting at the different tables thanks to dim, flickering candle on each of the tabletops. He made his way to the bar, where he sat on one of the open stools. Nodding to the bartender, the latter made his way to the new patron.

"What can I do for you?" asked the bartender in a vulgar Díenstadi.

Rusnak looked at the selection of bottles on the shelves stacked against the back wall. "Kiribkin," — a Ralkovian whiskey — "neat."

Nodding, the bartender turned to grab the bottle and began pouring. While the man did that, Rusnak swiveled on his stool and looked around the room. He saw his target sitting alone near the corner and studied him for a short moment. Andrew Danilo may have gone by Andrei Danilovich if he had been born in another place and another time, but by now his family had changed their names to better assimilate with the increasingly independent Eitoan culture. That fact did not dissuade young Andrew from flaunting his Ralkovian heritage proudly. He was one of those who detested Eitoan's increasing multiculturalism and its growing ties with eastern capitalist states, most especially The Golden Throne.

Rusnak turned back around to grab the glass just as the bartender pushed it his way. He handed the man a credit card and, pointing to the man sitting in the corner, he said, "I'll take his tab too. Do me a favor and keep serving 'em."

He had met Andrew on an online forum and, after a long back-and-forth over a series of months, the two of them finally decided to meet up. Rusnak was the one who recommended the Cold Rabbit Pub, which he had been to before and knew served good, strong drinks at decent prices. It was exactly how he pitched it to Andrew too, apart from the dim lighting, which suited both of their purposes.

When he walked up to the young man, Andrew nodded at him and said, "RaskovSupreme78, I presume."

"That's right," replied Rusnak. "The name is Rusnak."

Andrew frowned. "Isn't it safer to go by our screen names?"

"Probably," he answered. "Am I supposed to call you RalkovianMerc106 in public, too?"

The lad found that funny, apparently. Chuckling, Andrew said, "The name's Andrew." He took a sip out of his glass. It was a mixed drink.

"What are you drinking?" asked Rusnak.

"Rum and coke," said the younger man.

Rusnak laughed. "Let's fix that." He waved the bartender over, who sent one of his girls on the run. When she arrived, he said, "Get this guy a man's drink. Chevets," — another Ralkovian whiskey — "on the rocks. As I told your boss, you see his glass empty, get him another one. Same for me."

"You got it," she said back, with a smile.

They drank while they spoke, talking about recent topics of conversation on the forums, on politics, and the social malaise Eitoan found itself in. Andrew raved madly against The Golden Throne, Imbrinium, and the other 'agents of evil' in the east, commenting on how he wished 'hundreds of millions more were buried on the inhospitable lands of Drana.' Rusnak agreed, giving gripes of his own, which led to a discussion on the new polygamy laws Fedor had implemented across the empire — a law which even the most ardent pro-Macabéan had to agree went without precedent and must have been issued only to satiate Fedor's personal lust for women. From there, they went on to talk about his new wife Cassandra [OOC: Thread upcoming that will fill in what this is about] and moved on to Holy Marsh and its degenerates. On and on they went, and all the while Rusnak got his friend more and more alcohol.

Finally, when Rusnak believed the time to be right, he said to Andrew, "Let's talk business before the night gets too long."

"Business?" slurred Andrew. "What's up?"

"Remember, I told you I had an idea," he replied.

Andrew frowned, but then the private message conversation came to his slow, intoxicated mind. "Ah, yes," he said. "An idea of action, you called it."

"That's right," replied Rusnak. "Come with me."

He paid their tab and they left The Cold Rabbit. On the other side of the street, there was a museum with banners that stretched down from the roof all the way to the pavement and read 'Art of the Street: Graffiti of Macabea.' It was an exhibit sponsored by The Golden Throne, indirectly but sponsored nonetheless, aimed toward a larger Eitoan audience. One of its various means of building and spreading its image, undoubtedly. Looking at it with disgust, Andrew commented, "We should blow it up."

Rusnak looked at him with a smile. "I like your thinking," he responded, "but I have something better."

He flagged down a cab for them and they took it for a ten-minute ride to another part of town. The taxi dropped them off in front of an open-air mall. There must have been thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people walking every which direction with bags full of all sorts of purchased products. Most were from Eitoan, but many were foreigners who had come from all over. Rusnak caught Andrew licking his lips.

"Much more ambitious, no?" he asked the younger man.

Nodding, Andrew answered, "When?"

"We can't do it alone," said Rusnak. "We need at least five more people."

"I can take care of that," said Andrew.

Rusnak smiled. "Good. I can get us the funding to buy everything we need. I can also get us guns and explosives."

"When?" Andrew asked again.

"You get five more people. We'll rendezvous at The Cold Rabbit in two weeks. The faster we strike, the less formal we keep this, the less likely we are to get caught." Rusnak patted the young man on the back. "Sound good? Good. I'll keep in touch with you. For the glory of Ralkovia."

"For the glory of Ralkovia," repeated Andrew.

With that said and done, Rusnak left.

[United World Order]

ORDENCHE - RUNDFUNK - GESELLSCHAFT

ORDENITE BROADCASTING CORPORATION

REICHS-MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA AND ENLIGHTENMENT

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Reichssicherheitshauptamt foil coup plot as over 1500 Macabean nationals are detained.
RSHA officials announce the completion of a one year investigation leading to the foiling of a planned coup.

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A one year investigation conducted by the RSHA's Sicherheitspolizei and Sicherheitsdienst has led to the unraveling of a plot to overthrow and undermine the National Socialist government in Berlina. The culprits consisted of over 1500 Macabean nationals all of which were allowed into the country through means of tourism. A investigation over a year ago was silently begun after several informants came forward and entailed of a plot that may have the foreign backing of intelligence services. It would be revealed of the magnitude of the plot after a series of crack downs and raids on several estates used by several Macabean nationals which unveiled a plot to organize a coup de tat in Berlina with the backing of foreign agents from Macabea. Additional raids were soon conducted and the entirety of those Macabean nationals who came through tourism were arrested and detained by the Sicherheitspolizei and local law enforcement. Once the usurpers were placed in custody, extensive interviews were held and more unraveling continued as it was revealed that many of them had past military training. With hostilities breaking out with the Golden Throne, it is likely the coup plot would have been put into action if not for the vigilant actions of the RSHA.

[The Macabees]

TELEVISIONS THROUGHOUT THE EMPIRE

Under most circumstances, Krierlord Daryl Novelle served as His Imperial Majesty's spokesman. But, the Ordenites had seized 1,500 citizens of the empire and arrested them. There was no transparency on what was to be done with them and most expected never to see them return again. It would outrage most Macabéans and serve to further villainize the Reich, marginalizing any sympathizers they had in the empire and certainly reducing their numbers. Regardless, only the words of the emperor Himself could console a shocked nation and, with the war in full swing, to see His Imperial Majesty on screen, standing strong and resolute, would raise the spirits of all.

As most sat around their tables, just about to begin eating dinner, His Imperial Majesty appeared on their television sets, monitors, and phones. He wore his white military uniform, breast decorated with medals and ribbons won and earned during active military service before his ascension to the throne. His blue eyes were as fierce as blizzards at winter's height.

Behind him, the wall was decorated by a golden framed portrait of Jonak I, the uniter and father of the empire. He would provide them all with spirit in times of troubles like these.

On one side of the painting was the blue, white, and gold flag of the Second Empire of the Golden Throne. On the other was the House of Katalán's coat of arms. Between them, and beneath his grandfather, Fedor looked a tower of strength, stability, and endurance. His face was serious, but there was not a hint of worry. His hands were steady and his resolve apparent in the way he sat.

As tens, if not hundreds, of billions watched along, Fedor spoke thusly:



Citizens and subjects of the glorious Empire of the Golden Throne, I thank you for joining me on such a tragic night.

You are all aware of the grievous crime the Ordenite Fourth Reich has committed against our brothers and sisters. Their illegal seizure, arrest, and imprisonment of 1,500 of our brothers and sisters is not just an insult, but an act that goes all sense of law and justice. You have a right to be appalled, although all the same how can we be surprised? The totalitarian Reich is well-known across the world for its moral depravity. Most of us simply thought that such evil could and would never touch us here at home. Yet, it has, and it will not go unpunished.

Our war with them continues unabated. We have already swept away their initial attack, like a swatter doing away with flies. Like we did in Holy Panooly, where their armies were surrounded and forced to accept a most undignified a surrender, we will defeat them in this war as well. It is Willed. Our greatness is Willed.

This latest crime, the seizure of our citizens, mere tourists who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, is a tragedy. Yet, in it, we find evidence of the inevitability of our victory. Indeed, if the Ordenites are afraid of 1,500 tourists and if the Ordenites believe that that 1,500 of our citizens can stage a coup against their government, imagine how they must tremble in their boots at the sight of our armies.

I am sure the gods must feel empathy for them. We were strong at home when half of our army and fleet was away in Gholgoth, imagine now that they steadily return back home. Our victory there sets a precedent, just like all of our other victories do the same. But, unlike the lenient terms we offered the Scandinvans and unlike those we offered the Ordenites in the first war, the end to this one must be absolute. We must fight until the Reich has no more capacity to wage war. We must stomp on them in such a way that they will be forever fearful of giving cause for hostilities between us again. This sort of victory will require the complete annihilation of the Kriegsmarine, Wehrmacht, and Luftwaffe. It will require us to eject them from Krasnova and to end their overseas presence in the region of Greater Díenstad. In this mission, the empire will be successful. It is Willed.

Until then, the empire will do its utmost to secure the return of its citizenry. That would be a just ending to this. But, do not fool yourself into believing that the Ordenites will ever willingly give in to justice. They must be forced to succumb to it. And, be sure that should our citizens never see the golden shores of our empire again, their deaths will be avenged a thousandfold. The Reich will be made to pay.

The world agrees with us. Our allies, the Imbrinumians, Stevidians, and Arcaenians have flocked to our banners and now wage war with us against an enemy that must be totally and utterly destroyed. Others offer us aid. Do we need it? Perhaps not. But only the foolish man denies another's' charity out of pride, and we are no fools. Our magnificence stands as a testament to that.

To those who call for us to do the same to the thousands of Ordenites in the provinces and territories, I truly sympathize with your arguments. I understand your pain. I understand your frustration. I understand the appeal of retributive justice. Remember, that is not our way. We have no need to be petty as we are too great for that. The Golden Throne is a land of fair law and true justice. We will not stoop to the low levels of the Reich, lower than even those of a beggar. No. Our policy as it regards their citizens will not change. They will be taken to the Havenic Frontier, where we will give them their freedom and the money they need to return to their fatherland.

I pity them, for they return to a land destined for failure.

Imagine returning to a country so insecure in their own capabilities. Imagine the fear these Ordenites must feel knowing that they leave the security of the empire for a land where even 1,500 innocent civilians pose a threat to their stability and survival. For this seizure was not out of strength, but rather it is a sign of weakness.

They may point to the Satrapy of Nicaro and say that we are doing the same. Remember, though. It was not long ago, a few years, when the Nicaroan Contra government was guided, funded, and armed by the Ordenite Fourth Reich. And although their most public advisors fled at the arrival of our armies, as Ordenites are wont to do, they maintained there a network of spies. After long years of war, during which we defeated and destroyed a pirate enemy that had threatened us from that satrapy to the southeastern shores of Theohuanacu, the people of Nicaro are ready for peace. I am determined to deliver that to them. They will profit from their inclusion in the so-called Pax Macabeus — a term that is not self-imposed but rather bestowed upon us by our neighbors. But the Ordenites know that out of all of our loyal vassals, the Nicaroans are the most exposed to their machinations. Because of these facts, the final vestiges of the clandestine Ordenite network in that satrapy required removal. We are all far too aware of their nefariousness.

The Ordenites, by comparison, act with no honor at all. There is no integrity in their actions. The Ordenites have blatantly arrested and imprisoned 1,500 innocent tourists, who are accused of plotting a coup. That the Ordenites have a spy network in the Satrapy of Nicaro, and in the provinces and elsewhere, is easy to believe because it is known. But, to accuse a handful of tourists of sinister intentions is not just false, but silly.

Worry not, dear citizens and subjects, the Ordenites are becoming desperate. They know their end is nigh.

Our victory is inevitable.

Eat secure tonight in the knowledge that the empire will carry on supreme. Finish your dinners with the understanding that you shall remain safe in your homes while the enemy is relentlessly bombed by the allied bomber fleets. Feel pain and sorrow for our imprisoned brothers and sisters, and for those who have fallen and will fall in combat, but know that none of it shall be in vain.

When you pray tonight, give thanks to the gods that you live in the land of the Willed, for not all are so blessed as you. Least of all the Ordenites.

[Morrdh]

Dunfalk Junction,
Mordent

With a throaty roar, the orange and black diesel locomotive rumbled forward and propelled the rake of covered wagons onto a siding. A railwayman stood beside the tracks with an electric lantern in hand, with a flick of a switch he was able to change the light from clear to red to tell the engine driver to halt. Normally, such an occurrence wouldn't raise much question as it took place day-in day-out come rain or shine. The fact that it was taking place at night, though not uncommon, certainly would've piqued interest and a comment or two. What was highly unusual was the section of armed soldiers standing sentry in the freight yard, guarding the train and its cargo.

The train had travelled south on the line from Lindun, following the southern coastal route and stopping at every station with a decent seized freight yard where a wagon or two were dropped off under the protection of other armed soldiers. Right now the locomotive was positioning most of its train at the station before taking a couple of the wagons up the branch line that split off from the mainline at Dunfalk. A handful of soldiers would ride with this short train, mainly in the brake van with one in the engine cab with the driver. They would only be travelling a short distance up the branch line, only as far as the next station where a platoon of soldiers waited with some trucks and a Land Rover.

At its destination on the branch, the train left the brake van on the main running like before slowly propelling the two wagons into a siding. An officer stepped up to the wagons with a torch in hand, checking that the doors were secured with padlocks and comparing the wagons' serial numbers with a list on a clipboard. Once satisfied everything was in order, the locomotive was uncoupled and collected the brake van before returning down the branch back to the mainline. Once the engine's rumble had receded into the distance, one of the trucks backed up to one of the wagons and the officer climbed up to undo the padlock so that the wagon's door could be slid open.

Whilst some of their comrades stood guard, the soldiers got to work unloading sealed large metal tubes from the wagons and onto the waiting trucks. A keen-eyed observer would've noticed that each one of the metal tubes were stencilled with; DANGER! EXPLOSIVES! HANDLE WITH CARE. Both wagons were unloaded and their curious cargoes loaded onto the trucks, which in turn were driven a short distance to a nearby location guarded by more soldiers and covered with camo netting. Rather than offering any answers, it simply deepened the mystery and raised more questions.

Even more curious was that this special train had been running at night for a good week or so, always dropping off a couple of a couple of wagons at each station and accompanied by a guard of armed soldiers. Each morning the now empty wagons would be collected by the regular freight train service and taken back to the rail yards at Lindun. The railwaymen involved had been questioned by the Special Branch detectives of the Mordentish Garda and told in no uncertain terms the danger of breaching the Official Secrets Act before being made to sign it. The men, and their families, were either tailed or received random and unannounced visits from Special Branch and subjected to a barrage of questions.

Whatever the Commonwealth was up to in Mordent, it was going to great lengths to ensure that it remained quiet. It should also be noted that the strange activities were only taking place on the stretch of coastline that bordered the Gulf of Mordent at the western end of the island.

[Imbrinium]

Undisclosed location deep inside the Imbrinium countryside this was one of the Imbrinium’s commands and control facilities, had been tracking the Reich’s fleet for days, having tipped off The Golden Thorne about their whereabouts.

But when the fighting start this was something that wasn’t expected, at the joint command center which was highly classified operations center with personnel from all members of the Triumvirate's members sprang into action the night watch alerted their high command elements along with the rest of the personnel. The battle unfolded on screens wrapped around the room. Tracking ships and aircraft on both sides moving and attacking.

Everything was shocking to watching knowing that even those dots and track lines where people fighting a pitched battle. The most shocking event was yet to come when multiple nuclear detonations. The room went quiet as everyone in the room watched.

At the Royal Air Force joint services command center, the nuclear strike didn’t go unnoticed by the command staff which ordered the nuclear strike bombers into the air. The battle staff had no idea who launched the nukes but the bomber forces couldn’t be caught on the ground if this was a prelude to a large nuclear strike from the Reich.

All over the country at air force base bomber crews went by their normal duties most were asleep at the time the klaxon sounded. Crews jumped to their feet and rushed to the alert vehicles to be rushed to their awaiting planes.

The bomber crews went through their quick launch checklists as the engines rowed to life and one by one the bombers rolled into MITOs (Minimum Intervals Take-Offs) along with the taxiways to the runways and launched minutes apart. This took minutes for the bombers to become airborne along with backup command and control aircraft and tankers. Once in the air and at cruising altitude, the crews moved to the failsafe zones.

Meanwhile, at Cormond castle the royal guard and DSS agents rusted into the royal residence and awoke the King and Queen and rushed down to the first of the number of bunkers below the castle. There the king was safe against most threats, the bunker was equipped to handle fifty personnel but this was just the first of three bunkers at different levels. The first bunker was built in WW1, and reinforced over time along with adding with two deeper bunkers one being a railway station to a highly secret rail system that links the castle and parliament house together and the lead deep into the mountains to one of the first castles in the kingdom that has been expanded in to the largest bunker in the kingdom reaching the depth of 3000 meters below sea level. Powered by a nuclear reactor and can be also powered by a local dam and generators if needed. The bunker system can be reached by underground train and aircraft with a large air force base nearby with a tunnel on the base. As part of the continuity of government plans for the Crown, parliament and the other royal families.

While the King Sobairce was in the upper bunker awaiting for the word if there was a large attack from the Reich, the king placed a phone call to The Golden Thorne’s Emperor to ask who used the nukes.

“Emperor Fedor I’m suing things are busy in your country right now so I will keep this short and to the point, did your country deploy nuclear arms in their attack from the Reich or was the Reich?”

“Fedor responded with the news that the TGT military had used nuclear-tipped anti-aircraft missiles against the Reich’s attack.”
And with the told Emperor Fedor thank you and good luck and hung up the phone.

The next phone call was to the air force command staff that told them the news that the nuclear strike was used in defense of their country. Bomber command confirmed that the missiles strike was in defense of TGT operations in the straight. The bombers will go on to their failsafe positions and hold for a point of time before giving the return code to return to base.

Within minutes the king and the staff returned to the upper levels of the castle, the Queen would return to bed to get dressed and prepare for the urgent crisis that had befallen the kingdom.

The King called for the staff meeting to start the formal declaration of war against the Reich when the news of the attack on Satrapy Pezlevko-Rubino. The numbers of casualties were just being received by the MOD.

0600 Cormand castle.

With little knowledge of what was going on the but the royal guard had been doubled and a military police and air defense battalion had been alerted were setting up around the castle and old city to protect the Crown.

The police escort the number of staff members being rushed to the castle putting up roadblocks when and where needed, this caused problems for the city’s population rushing to work for their daily grind not knowing what had fallen on the nation and region.

At 0700 the meeting starts the king walked in carrying the list of the casualties from Pezlevko-Rubino. The king sat down slowly and after looking the list the room was silent no one spoke.

The king spoke, “Ladies and gentlemen we are at war, we planned on this day but our terms not the Reich’s terms and so far they are ahead we have lost almost 400 souls this morning and with a lot more to come I’m afraid.”

“My question you all is how do turn this around?” “Do we hold to the same plan of the invasion and go around the cape of Sumer or charge them for a more direct route?”

Admiral of the navy Sir Lillo Padovano spoke first “Sir a total change in the plans at this point would do more harm than good in my respect but we can be flexible sir”
At the end of the meeting no change in plans where made expect for the creation of the 24th Army group in Pezlevko-Rubino with three corps in reserving with almost 200,000 thousand support and security personnel.

Naval command and control centers issued out the awaiting orders to the navy and air force groups around the central region.
1000hrs in a cover northern side of Indras

HMS Oak Grove, HMS Nova and three other boats that were anchored next to HMS Longshore a submarine tender had been shored up here for almost 72hrs with less than 24hrs before they are to move to another location.

With two more submarines had moved in reloaded with supplies and moved out 24hrs before this had been going on all around the central region. Submarines from the RIN had been ordered to track and follow all Reich contacts above and below the surface.

The crew that was off duty were enjoying the warm clean waters to dive and swim within minutes that would change with one message.
The message was sent from the command to the satellites back down to thousands of ships and submarines around the region.

EAM EAM EAM light flashed as the alarm sounded, the captain walked into the communications room and took the message.

Code word: Mosquito Day word: Venus

ALL NAVAL SHIP ARE HEREBY INSTRUCTED TO OPEN ORDERS SRS:37549-1N

GOD’S SPEED AND TRUE WINDS

As the commander walked to his room and opens his safe and then another smaller safe, there the commander opened the envelope with SRS:37549-1N and opened it read the contents. The commander grabbed the orders and moved the CIC.

The commander picked up the mic and indexed the ship-wide channel.

“Crew this the captain we have just received orders from command, at this time we and the entire kingdom is at war with the Reich. We are ordered to conduct unrestricted navy warfare on all Reich shipping. So at this time make all preparations to get underway and set condition two throughout the boat.
Within hours the submarines finished loading what they could and pushed out to hunt."

At air bases from Lyras, South Greal, and northern Sumer bomber crews were going through their daily grind of checking out their planes and doing whatever they could to pass the time.

The bomber commanders were called in as soon as the word was received that the Kingdom was now at war with the Reich and that target lists for being forthcoming.
Within hours after the Crown had called the kingdom to arms, the kingdom answered naval ships and submarines were now on the hunt for Reich ships all over the region. The naval bomber/patrol bombers were now airborne hunting for targets over the central region.

Satrapy Pezlevko-Rubino

The newly formed 24th Army group with General Alceo Baresenow at its command now ordered that he had free to what it took to hold the front and counter when and where he felt he could make the most impact.

The first order was the amass his forces and push to the front to reinforce the TGT forces there to prevent a breakthrough of Reich forces, with four divisions, armored recon division, armored division, and two heavy armored mechanized infantry divisions.

SAS and commando platoons were already on the front awaiting ordered to do what they do best taking the fight to the enemy.

The war had just started but it will not be over till the Reich is stopped.

[United World Order]

TF Battleaxe, Pillars of Dienstad.

It had became apparent to the Oberkommando des Wehrmacht and the lower echelons in the Ordenite Wehrmacht. Operation Typhoon had not been successful in achieving a surprise Ordenite first blow on the Triumvirate concerning Central Dienstad. While the move and the attempted attacks that followed gave a small glimmer into the Erjmacht's defenses, it did nothing to weaken them any as much of there home fleets were still deep in port where the Luftwaffe couldn't afford to have to grind through. Task Force Battleaxe upon deploying into the Pillars of Dienstad and the Sea of Ordena, they were attacked from below and above water by the Krierarmada which had fought numerous wars and had developed their own strategy for defending themselves. Operation Typhoon would need to be partially scrapped and redeveloped to account for the complexity of the Krierarmada and it's homeland anti-aircraft defenses which were able to fight back against the Luftwaffe's bombers and fighters. Within 24 hours the operation was halted and new commands were given to the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe which would see them recall their attacking assets from active combat and prepare for redeployment. Of course the Erjmacht had already begun to counter attack and Task Force Battleaxe would need to ensure the enemy wouldn't chase them out or launch an attack of their own. Several picket lines were made which would make a path way to where there forces would move to for redeployment elsewhere, the U-Boots would play there part in the withdrawal as they would reposition themselves surrounding the picket lines themselves and would lay in wait for any of the Krierarmada to attempt to breakthrough. Naval fighters would also be scrambled and would commit to keeping the airspace above the strait clear of the enemy's bombers and fighters.

The bomber force that was activated and sent into Macabean airspace would also be told to temporarily cease all future engagements against the Erjmacht. Many would return to their airbases back in the Fatherland and would await whatever the next major operation that required them, while a small force of 800 bombers were kept rearmed and out in the air mostly to act as an early warning sign for any future penetrations of the airspace above the Scythian coast. Task Force Battleaxe upon ultimately reaching it's redeployment point would begin to break apart into several fleets and smaller task forces that would begin to redeploy from what stretched from the Sea of Ordena all the way towards the eastern coast. These fleets and smaller task forces would become what would keep any incursion by the forces of the Triumvirate at bay, so they hoped. U-Boots were already being scattered to counter any sort of threat from below the depths as minor mine laying operations were begun in order further slow down any sort of threat.

Task Force Serpent would remain where it had originally been deployed to in the beginning and would be joined by additional forces from the dismantling and redeployment of Task Force Battleaxe. The U-Boot squadrons from TF Serpent would have however been deployed sparingly in the waters that separated them from the Krierarmada to the west near Gente Del Agua. At this point, local commanders within the Task Force were content with only keeping the Kriergrups in the west at bay from moving into the Sea of Ordena or even the Pillars of Dienstad. Task Force Scorpion which had originally been sent into the Pillars of Dienstad and was involved in limited engagements against the Krierarmada until they were redeployed to the Sea of Ordena. Task Force Wiking would remain at the mouth of the Pillars of Dienstad which led out to the Sea of Crowns, the task force would soon enough see its self reinforced by additional Kriegsmarine warships.

Krasnova.

While Operation Typhoon had been halted and most engagements were ending the same couldn't be said for Krasnova. The Wehrmacht were already sold that an Triumvirate invasion would come from the Satrapy and that the Golden Throne was to be involved. Shelling of the Macabean side of the frontier was already taking place and with enemy artillery forces responding it was deemed necessary to proceed with even more firepower. The Luftwaffe had already begun scaling down their attempted infiltration of Macabean airspace to what was a force of 1,000 bombers and considerable fighter coverage to continue bombing fortifications and other known defenses. The bombers would be split up further and designated to different areas of the frontier to continue their missions which would consist of stand off weaponry such as cruise missiles and cluster munitions. The bombers would complete rounds of attacks in different intervals of the day which would keep the defenders guessing on where the next attack was to come in the future. Interceptor aircraft would also make there presence known as they stuck nearby during most of the attacks or when the bombers were returning to base to ward off potential incursions by Macabean fighters and interceptors. The use of drone technology on the battlefield would once again make its way to the frontlines as the Luftwaffe manned armed drones and other reconnaissance drones for use against the Macabeans across the frontier. The reconnaissance drones would be utilized before or during the shelling of a particular target and ensure either of their destruction or where the target is. The armed drones would be utilized where it was considered too hostile for normal Luftwaffe aircraft to venture and destroy the target. This would come into play with the monitoring of the Macabean side of the frontier for troop movement or the movement of heavy weaponry which if located would be attacked by a Luftwaffe employed attack drone.

With the Macabean response being the use of their own artillery forces while few in number were strategically placed being covered by the mountain ranges. The scale of artillery forces utilized in the shelling were toned down considerably with shelling now only effecting the layered defense at the frontier. However with the shelling only effecting the frontier defenses it only meant that the arsenal employed was far greater than it was before. Several brigades from the Krasnovan Strategic Missile Forces were allocated to the front in which there tactical ballistic missile launchers were to begin to strike at the Macabean layered defense as a whole with their own arsenal however fell short of nuclear weapons and consisted of conventional means. These brigades would consistently be on the move following every strike they carried out as to keep them from falling prey to enemy artillery or aircraft and missiles. Heavier artillery from the Ordenite Army would consist of the K3 self propelled howitzers which were capable of firing 238mm shells within a radius of 37 kilometers. Along with the Morser Sturm self propelled heavy mortars which were capable of firing 600mm shells which would mostly be utilized in cracking the more hardened fortifications the Macabeans had constructed with the ability to increase it's range with rocket assisted shells. Both of these machinations were capable of their own mobility and would alternate the time of their shelling and where they would fire from next. These heavy guns and the Krasnovans quasi-ballistic missiles would be what would wear down the frontier defenses and allow for a decisive breakthrough into the satrapy's plains.

A decisive breakthrough was what the hope was for the newly planned operation concerning the frontier. The Wehrmacht was to launch a preemptive offensive against the satrapy due to the threat of invasion by the Triumvirate and the war starting in the Pillars of Dienstad. In the almost month of preparation during the start of the festering of hostilities elements of the Krasnovan Ground Forces were being redeployed to the frontier its self alongside the Ordenite garrison already present. The 5th Army was one along with the 12th and 15th armies were silently redeployed to the frontier of which it was likely the Macabeans had seen this already. A force of over 300,000 Krasnovan soldiers would join the Ordenite 73rd and 79th armies in a offensive against the frontier from directly north of Rubino. While another force consisted of the 18th and 23rd armies from the Krasnovan Ground Forces would join with the 60th and 65th Ordenite armies and launch an offensive directly south of the Chernaya region directed towards Pezlevko and Fedororgrad. These offensives would soon be backed up by the arrival of the 50th Ordenite Army Group along with the 45th Army Group which would mean over a million additional soldiers to keep the offensives going.

During a particular moment of shelling along the frontier the planned offensives were carried out by Ordenite Army and Krasnovan generals somewhere in Yukar. To the south in the Chernaya region the 18th and 23rd armies from the Krasnovan Ground forces began combat operations as several corps sized units began directly engaging specific points of the frontier defenses. The Ordenite 60th Army would commit its forces a little farther north in a armored pincer that would see to breakthrough and swing south to cut off the frontier from the twin cities and the major port Fedororgrad. While the 65th Army would see themselves backing up the opening Krasnovan assaults along that portion of the frontier. In this particular area where the offensive was taking place the shelling from artillery units were bolstered to deal the most amount of carnage to the enemy. The second offensive directly north of Rubino would see the Krasnovan 5th Army that had been deployed almost a month ago would be joined by the 12th and 15th armies and would begin offensive combat operations with several armored and infantry corps attacking several points of the frontier's defenses. The Ordenite 73rd Army would see its self attempting to breakthrough in order to cut off the twin cities from the mountain ranges to the west of the satrapy. While the 79th Army would look to breakthrough the frontier in order to cut off the cities from each other while also dismantling what logistics network had been running already for the satrapy's armies and the Kysetians.

As the offensives began the Luftwaffe would beef up it's presence as fighters and interceptors were sent out to contest the airspace while bombers were escorted in to support the ground troops with precision strikes using standoff weapons. The Kriegsmarine in Krasnova would also be supporting the offensives as several naval squadrons were dispatched from ports captured in the south of the Chernaya region to contest the waters along the southern coast of the satrapy its self. U-Boot squadrons would also be involved as they began to prowl the waters looking for prey whether it be Macabean or Imbrimian warships or supply ships.

[The Macabees]

GROUND DEFENSES, SATRAPY OF PEZLEVKO-RUBINO

If the change in Ordenite targets for their artillery provided a respite to at least some of the troops in the satrapy, this lull proved to only be temporary. For it was followed by the beginning of an Ordenite offensive, seeing elements of roughly six armies probe the Frontier in an attempt to pierce imperial defenses.

In their way were roughly three hundred and fifty thousand regulares, which were well-equipped, well-trained and veteran troops recruited from the provinces. Many of these had been posted in the satrapy since its formation at the conclusion of the Second Krasnovan War, knew the land well, and were even starting to call it home. There were almost two million additional soldiers in the shape of the Kysetian Katasoa, light mechanized infantry that excelled in movement but would have to accustom themselves to a defensive war of attrition for the time being. One and a half million allied Imbrinumian troops provided further support, although they were undergoing preparations for their own mission. Whether they could be counted on for the defense of the satrapy was a strange incognito and a product of a breakdown in coordination between the Triumvirate powers, a persistent problem it seemed.

The defense relied on a deep, multi-layered system of fortifications and connecting tunnels. Much of it lay well beneath the ground, reachable by bunker busters and similar weapons which required the enemy to be almost directly overhead. Organized with geography in mind, it took advantage of the dimensions of the battlefield. Pezlevko-Rubino was roughly three hundred kilometers wide and no more than one hundred and fifty kilometers tall. As one traveled further south, the defensive lines began to incline such that the front progressively focused on Pezlevko and, finally, Fedorograd. Strategically, Macabéan forces would continue to withdraw — when it came time — toward the port, which they would then hold until evacuated or otherwise forced to surrender. This was a last gasp solution, obviously.

There were hopes that the defense would be able to hold before the situation became so dire that an evacuation was deemed necessary. Certainly, the Ordenites had in front of them a great deal of men. Furthermore, the depth of the defenses and the constrained size of the battlefield meant that there was no open 'rear' to break into. Wherever their spearheads reached, they would meet heavy and dense resistance from a partially hidden enemy that could take advantage of a well-prepared defensive infrastructure. In other words, for the time being, the Ejermacht could count on ample reserves with which to contain breakthroughs.

In ancient warfare, when elephants were still used to 'shock' infantry formations, it was a common tactic to create corridors in the formation through which these elephants could pass through. Then, flanked on all sides by the enemy, they'd be susceptible to spears, javelins, and arrows. It was a similar tactic to the one used now, as the heavy regulares tasked with holding the Frontier opened when under heavy pressure to allow the Ordenite spearheads to punch through their lines. When the enemy's forces had passed through, the regulares would reposition themselves along the frontier to seal the gap. Behind them, the Kysetian light mechanized infantry used their speed and agility to strike these enemy pincers from all sides, including behind them, intending to cut them off into small pockets inside satrapical territory and consequently destroy them.

Here, in Pezlevko-Rubino, there were no wide-open spaces for mechanized forces to operate in. Virtually every inch of ground was defended by almost four million men, meaning that even in the 'rear' the Ordenites would have to fight for each and every step forward that they took. This was not the place for deep battle.

Still, these defending forces took casualties. Ordenite artillery was merciless and, just like their opponents, zeroed-in on forces moving to oppose them. The defenders took advantage of their speed, surprise, and home court knowledge, but avoiding the deaths and injuries of war was nigh impossible, especially in as cruel a battle as this one.

A factor in favor of the defenders was the naval force deployed directly south of them, which had again shifted its weight to bring to bear its battlecruisers to where they could use their ample firepower to help suppress the Ordenite offensive and other troop movements. With heavy guns and missiles alike, these ships supported hot spots along the Frontier by saturating the area with their firepower. The fleet also provided anti-air coverage, using long-range surface-to-air missiles to target the large bomber force the Ordenites had assembled. Other attacks targeted airfields, Ordenite surface-to-air missile batteries, and enemy artillery. They brought their heavy cannons to bear as soon as the enemy's shells were caught in the air, pounding entire square miles of territory in an effort to absolutely squelch the Reich's cannons.

Carriers, parked farther away from the coastline, launched regular and frequent aerial sorties. Fighter aircraft attacked the Luftwaffe from the south and other attack missions used the SAM umbrella in the satrapy itself to fly over allied territory and attack Ordenite armored and mechanized units advancing on friendly positions on the ground below from positions of relative safety. The fighting was relentless, as the Kríermada, its ships, and its air arm did what they could do disrupt and attrite the Ordenite attack.

Thus, while the military situation in Pezlevko-Rubino was precarious, it was not hopeless and the defenders would be able to hold for some time. Which wasn't to say that the defense would be able to hold forever without reinforcement or, at the very least, action by part of the allied forces with them.

Indeed, how the Imbruniams acted would more than likely play a major role in the coming days.



KRÍERGRUP 'INDRAS'

While the fleet group's carriers and heavy ships were preoccupied with supporting ground forces in the satrapy, its other assets were busy elsewhere.

Her escort ships, as well as aerial reconnaissance assets — including anti-submarine warfare helicopters — were organized not just to defend against the possibility of a conventional naval attack, but also against Ordenite u-boats. That the Kriegsmarine would resort to that sort of warfare was expected, not only because it would be logical of any navy but also because of the Kriegsmarine's timidity in fighting a pitched naval battle during the previous wars.

Carrier squadrons had their own escorts, which protected the bulky ships, but the raid squadron escorts were also deployed toward this purpose. The defenses were organized as they usually were, with several layers of picketts supported by their reconnaissance assets. These vigilantly fought their own war against the enemy's u-boats.

To make the enemy's task all the more difficult, Kríergrup 'Indras' had taken full advantage of the space between Krasnova and the space between Adaptes Astrates and Qoryx. There were nearly three million square kilometers of sea to operate in, giving the carriers enough room to spread out so that they were more difficult to find. The heavier gunships, such as the battlecruisers, had to remain closer to shore given the nature of their support mission, but these fanned out as well with ample escort coverage, distributing themselves eastwards so that they could place pressure on the Ordenite rear by bombarding their vanguard units, as well as their armies and bases to the rear.

Still, the threat posed by the Reich's submarines was quite real and dire. Thus, the defense against them was merciless. Depth charges with 12kT nuclear warheads were used when an enemy submarine was found or suspected, although using these weapons could be tricky — after all, the defending ships hardly wanted to destroy an allied submarine also operating in those waters. But, as the battle went on, it wasn't uncommon to hear the frightful explosion of a nuclear depth charge being used on a suspected enemy, which created bulbs of water launched toward the sky in every which direction on the surface of the sea.

In some distorted, morbid sense, the scene of underwater nuclear blasts, sinking and fiery ships, and the perpetual flight of aircraft overhead was breathtaking.



KRÍERGRUP 'BERLISTON'

'Berliston,' the Kríergrup which had come south as hostilities commenced, was pitted in anti-submarine warfare of its own. In fact, it would have crucial importance in the coming fight, as it was tasked to prevent additional Ordenite u-boats from crossing to Krasnova from the enemy's mainland. 'Berliston' also had the additional role of gradually eliminating the Reich's ability to support its submarines locally, with the intention of forcing them to travel longer distances — and therefore make it more likely that they expose themselves — if they wanted to join the unfolding naval battle around Krasnova.

To accomplish this, the fleet group would first target Dathel Port. The westernmost naval port in Krasnova had been destroyed by a nuclear blast at the end of the Second Krasnovan War but, during the past years, it had been rebuilt by Navitek, which had been contracted by the Ordenites. It was destined to be destroyed, again.

Kríergrup brought to bear not only part of its air arm but also its battlecruisers with their heavy guns. For hours, they intensely bombarded the port and the city around it, striking it with countless and unceasing shells. They didn't just target port facilities, but also its defenses and those of the city more generally. With this pressure on the enemy, small groups of GLI-76 fighters made their raids, flying low to avoid detection for as long as possible and dropping bunker busters from directly overhead to cause more permanent damage. Of course, these suffered themselves, many of them clipped out of the sky by defending missile batteries.

Their sacrifice was appreciated, for their mission was of dire importance. Indeed, besides the port facilities directly in Dathel Port, other facilities up and down the coast were targeted as well. Specifically, part of the fleet group's reconnaissance assets was dedicated toward the discovery of enemy submarine tenders. They also made use of satellite intelligence and other data to find and destroy the Reich's naval infrastructure on the western side of Krasnova.



CAR'GÚN DIEHLAHT

The war in Drana was over. After years of bloodletting and the symbolic fall of the slaver port city of Drasdag, peace was signed.

With it, a billion men — less than that now, considering casualties, but still a formidable force — had lost their purpose, necessitating their return to Greater Díenstad. They presented a curious problem for the Golden Throne, which sought to demobilize all of them within the space of no more than two years, for there is nothing more dangerous than large numbers of unemployed combat veterans sitting unproductively at home. Many states had succumbed to the threat of veteran dissent throughout history and the Imperial Bureaucracy had no interest in falling victim to the same self-imposed trap.

Renewed war in Krasnova didn't change much of this reality, but the fact that the island sat in the middle of this backflow of personnel and material held certain relevance. The Satrapy of Pezlevko-Rubino was in dire straits and, although there was parity in frontline combatant strength with the inclusion of Imbrinumian troops on the ground, the possibility of its fall to Ordenite forces could not be discounted. The arrival of hundreds of millions of troops made possible a change in the dynamic to the conflict. Coming from the northeast, their route allowed for two options: a major amphibious invasion of Krasnova or an even larger amphibious invasion of the Reich's mainland proper.

The latter option was fraught with difficulties. As large a body of mass the troops returning from Gholgoth represented, these men had fought hard for months, some even years. They were exhausted, psychologically and mentally, and due for rest, refit, and recovery. To pit them into an invasion of the Reich was a tall task, for it would signify years more of war against a capable opponent that would surely grind them down. Besides, there was hardly the treasury to allow for such an extravegant military campaign. The war in Gholgoth had already required a colossal organization and distribution of resources, all of which had cost vast quantities of money. It was an expenditure that the Golden Throne would pay off over many, many years, and it would require the sale of endless tracts of imperial land to private parties. This land the empire had now, but would it have sufficient assets to cover another major war like that one? Most likely, not.

The first option, an amphibious assault on Krasnova, was more attractive for obvious reasons. First, it would require less men. Even if the empire allotted a tenth of its total Gothic land forces to the operation, these would most likely be more than sufficient with Ordenite resupply of the island close to impossible as the Kríermada tightened its control over the surrounding waters. Second, it was a less ambitious and less expensive solution to the mess the Arcaenians had created.

Thus, eight thousand ships organized into seven kríergrups, and renamed Kríermak 'Est,' escorted an equally massive flotilla of troop transports and cargo ships. Headed for New Empire, they traveled over a space that boggled the human mind. Such a large fleet was undoubtedly noisy and therefore it used the expanse of the ocean to its advantage, traveling in groups with boundless space between each to reduce the concentration of ships in any one place. They headed for Paquat, where most of these transports and cargo ships would unload what they held, whether that be material or personnel. In this fashion, New Empire would see its imperial garrison temporarily grow by another two hundred million men and steadily increment thereafter as more and more troops returned. Of these two hundred million, one hundred would move to the vicinity of Berliston to await further instructions while the other half awaited the long, arduous process of demobilization.

Kríermak 'Est,' which would incorporate Kríergrups 'Paquat' and 'Berliston' upon arrival, would continue to round New Empire, adding its strength to forces already in the Sea of Crowns and to the south. Between it and Kríermak 'Macabea,' it would bring to bear sixteen kríergrups or around eighteen thousand ships with which to strangle the Ordenite surface fleet and definitively blockade the Reich's mainland.

Once positioned, 'Est' would also be able to provide the protection necessary for the invasion of Krasnova if the empire's allies were incapable of salvaging the situation for themselves.



PAQUAT, NEW EMPIRE

A roomful of generals held host to a lively debate concerning the progress of the conflict. There was much shouting and arguing. These were, truth to be told, difficult days because the war was not progressing as was expected. It had begun prematurely, involving the empire to a far greater extent than it had ever expected. Indeed, this was supposed to be Imbrinium's war. But, it had turned into the Golden Throne's war.

"The emperor believes our allies are failing us," said one. It was Admiránt Lothar Geruga, a full-bodied naval officer of the old school. He had fought at Targul Frumos and later led squadrons in anti-piracy campaigns around Theohuanacu and the Thacu Islands. Trusted by Fedor, Geruga was considered one of the most loyal commanders in the Kríermada. He continued, "The Arcaenians he sees as incompetent. The Imbrinumians, this...situation is not their fault, but they are expected to act quickly to turn the situation around and take the reins in this conflict once again. For, should Pezlevko-Rubino fall, I assure you that the roles in this war will change very quickly. That event would be deeply embarrassing for the empire and would require fair retribution, nothing less than the capture and annexation of the island for ourselves."

"That would not sit well with our allies," interjected Lasagos Ankil Verdánt, also a veteran of The War. His latest stint, prior to his ascension to High Command, had been in Indras. "We promised to support the Crown in its efforts to wrestle Krasnova from the Reich, but it was expected by all that we would respect Imbrinium's authority when it came time to determine the country's future. We agreed to the incorporation of Chernaya, beyond that Krasnova is neither our responsibility nor our domain. Surely, the emperor means to keep his word."

Geruga waved the lasago's away. "It had never been agreed that the sovereignty of Pezlevko-Rubino would be put at risk, either. Yet, here we are."

The overall commander of ground forces in New Empire, Lasagos Cornel Bevieu, spoke then. "None of us truly expect the satrapy to fall, right? We have over three hundred thousand regulares manning Frontier defenses that are tight and well protected. Add to that the Kysetian contingent of almost two million light infantry and the Crown's forces of a million and a half men, and we have forces not only to defend Pezlevko-Rubino but also to launch a counterstroke that can remove the initiative from Ordenite hands."

"Many of those two million Kysetians have fought with our forces here in New Empire, as well, I remind you all," added Lasagos Verdánt.

It was Laerihans officer Laemarshel Hanz Ketal who spoke up next. "However many men we know we have there, the situation is precarious, otherwise would not be sitting here today scrambling to figure out how to salvage it. The Imbrinumian and Arcaenian response to the beginning of the conflict has been exceedingly timid. For now, the responsibility for our defense lies solely with us and we cannot expect others to help. In fact, even if they tried, their actions so far must lead us all to assume that ultimately leadership toward a successful conclusion to this war will be perpetually in our hands. I do not blame the emperor for his hardness. We have been let down."

"Our allies are not of concern here," said Geruga, voice deep. "How they fare in this war is not in our control nor should it be a topic of discussion now. I agree that at the moment we must act as if we were alone in this fight against the Ordenites, which is why we must focus on our response and not that of the Triumvirate as a whole."

"So what then?" asked Verdánt.

Geruga turned his head toward the lasagos. "Our orders from the emperor are to prepare for an amphibious invasion of Krasnova, with the intention of occupying it for the foreseeable future. The political solution to whatever problem this may create with our allies is not relevant to my instructions. I leave that to those whose domain that is, including the emperor Himself."

"Right, then," said Bevieu. "How many men can we count on? There are four hundred million men in New Empire, soon to be bolstered by another two hundred million, although as I understand half of these will continue with the process of demobilization, as previously planned. Are these the assets we have to count on?"

The admiránt nodded.

Verdánt said, "Those soldiers returning from Gholgoth are tired and war-weary. They require rest. There is no time for that."

Another general, Leutstrategos Vinsen Ferlo, inserted himself in the unfolding conversation. "That," he said, "has an easy solution. We position those hundred million men along the Lyran Frontier, replacing those manning the satrapy's eastern border now. I suspect, anyway, that only a fraction of that total amount will be needed for the invasion of the island."

"Forty million, at most," suggested Bevieu.

"Very well," said Verdánt. "One or two landings, or more?"

"One in old Zvezda, certainly," answered Bevieu. "Another in the west, perhaps north of Dathel Port, with the intention of liberating Ivanovka and Sterlya. Those two seem like the most natural options and effectively force the Ordenites to fight on three fronts in defense of the island if we include our forces in the satrapy."

Ketal, the laemarshel who had spoken earlier, interrupted again. "I'm sure that we will have plenty of time to plan for these amphibious invasions and I'm equally as certain that in that time we will decide with much more exactitude on the exact location of the landings. Until then, we have a much more pressing problem and that is how we plan to reinforce the satrapy to avoid its fall."

"Under current conditions, that will be difficult," said Bevieu. "Ordenite aircraft and artillery can strike almost everywhere within Pezlevko-Rubino, even as far south as Fedorograd. Any and all reinforcement and resupply will have to happen under fire. Still, I suppose you're right in that we ought to consider our options there and decide on a decisive course of action today. I am inclined to repeat, regardless, that any action is bound to be dangerous knowing the treachery of Ordenite submarines and the fleet requirements of moving millions of men to Fedorograd. Neither can we reinforce by air, given the reality of Ordenite air superiority over their own territory."

"We must reinforce our position in the satrapy, even at the risk of lives," said Verdánt. Turning to Geruga, he added, "I am sure that Kríergrup 'Berliston' could provide the necessary escort."

The admiránt nodded. "Indeed. The Kríermada will do what's needed. I will issue instructions to Admiránt Jonakescu when our plans are finalized."

"Then I recommend that we immediately move two million soldiers into the satrapy through Fedorograd, under fire," replied Verdánt. "That should be sufficient strength to hold the satrapy and wear the Werhmacht down through attrition, as well as allow the Imbrinumians to operate freely without having to worry about our defenses. But, we'll have to move those two million men...and their material together, which will be a considerable logistical undertaking that will require an equally as considerable number of ships. And the clock is ticking all the while."

"Then let us act," said Geruga. "Kríergrups 'Berliston' and 'Paquat' will intensify their anti-submarine warfare efforts and provide screens for the flotilla of cargo and transport ships necessary to carry two million men and their equipment. Once this flotilla reaches the southwest of Krasnova, Kríergrup 'Indras' can reinforce our efforts and provide further support. I trust that, together, they can continue to suppress Ordenite artillery and aerial forces, especially over water and above the sovereign territory of the satrapy. Gentlemen, we are operating 'on the fly.' If we have a week, I would say that that is too long of a time frame. But, with the need to move two million men, their vehicles and tanks, and other material, I suspect that even a week will be too short of a time frame if we are to be realistic. We simply must act to get this done as quickly as possible, we do not have time to waste."

With that matter settled, at least in the abstract, they moved on to other topics. High Command in New Empire would continue debating well into the late night.

[United World Order]

Rubino Front.

The probing in what was now referred to by local commanders as the Rubino front was started with four corps from the Krasnovan 5th army. Two mechanized and two armored corps made their advance across the frontier in which the corps sent multiple battalions make the assault into what was hoped to be softened up fortifications. However the guns of the defending Macabeans had not yet been silenced by the aerial and artillery bombardment completely and were still able to defend themselves. The Krasnovans made several attempts to breakthrough the fortifications and with Nakil battle tanks who were simply forced to become mobile gun platforms due to the layout of the defenses to limit the mobility of armored and mechanized units. They would soon also come under fire from the Krierarmada offering naval support from the coastline making it difficult to operate within their range of fire. Battalion and Divisional anti aircraft units continued to provide as much air cover as they could manage, keeping Macabean aircraft at bay while also engaging incoming munitions from the Krierarmada at Fedorograd with SPAAG fire and missiles. The Krasnovan strategic missile forces that were on the front line had begun to re-focus their fire on the naval assets at Fedorograd and the port its self as the port and the Krierarmada docked there were well in range of their missiles. Squadrons of bombers from the Luftwaffe would also come to their aid targeting AA batteries and radar installations while interceptors would wade off enemy fighters and interceptors. Casualties were steadily rising as the Krasnovans continued to press the fortifications in front of them but as they found out the regulares were putting up a stubborn resistance to their efforts to break them. The answer to their stubbornness was answered with thermobaric rockets from their MLRS launchers that supported their assault for when the smoke settled the attack was reinvigorated with fresh Krasnovan forces.

The 15th and 12th armies remained in support of the 5th Army and would for the inevitable future. The Ordenite Army were also pressing the attack against the Macabean held frontier as they began operations nearly alongside the Krasnovans. The 73rd Army set fourth with divisional artillery support targeting the fortifications impending them. Ordenite mechanized forces were different from their Krasnovan counter parts in that they possessed a wider arsenal to deal with defenses such as this. Sd.Kfz 281 APCs equipped with 120mm rifled cannons went to work on locating and neutralizing Macabean positions and lightly armored vehicles. Ordenite anti aircraft batteries and SPAAG units continued their valiant efforts to deny air superiority to the enemy. Ordenite artillery continued a relentless bombardment of frontier fortifications and positions with resupply being readily available due to the intricate logistics support system that had been set up to support Ordenite forces in such a scenario. Ordenite mechanized infantry advanced cautiously but with determination as they sought to probe and breakthrough in order to allow additional forces to join the battle.


Pezlevko Front.

Over to the east and over 200km away from the probing north of Rubino another probing assault took place directly east of the strategically vital city of Pezlevko. The Krasnovan 18th and 23rd armies pledged their forces for a direct attempt at an assault towards Pezlevko its self. It would be similar to their comrades elsewhere as they looked to penetrate and allow additional forces to seep into the satrapy its self. However the objective for the time being would be to probe and destroy Macabean defenses and force them to withdraw little by little. Additional coverage from the Krasnovan strategic missile forces would see fortifications, headquarters and troop pools targeted by their long range missiles that could strike nearly all over the Satrapy. The Ordenite luftwaffe would continue their campaign as they did elsewhere with increased probing attempts to harass enemy movement and defense positions. It was hoped that the constant attack and bombardment would effect morale enough to warrant them to abandon their positions and head in land. Meanwhile the Kriegsmarine in Krasnova began to deploy out right in response to the amassing Krierarmada heading to directly oppose the western half of the island. Anti air and anti shipping batteries began to open up and respond to the attacks on Dathel Port, a city that had not completely recovered from a previous nuclear engagement.

[The Technocratic Syndicalists]

CENTRAL DIENSTAD THEATER

The Sea of Storms, the sea that separated Arcaenia and Kingdom of Imbirnium, technically the northernmost fringe of the Sea of Crowns, was the windiest stretch of salt-water in all of Greater Dienstad. This stretch of rough water approximately 1,000 kilometers tall and 2,000 kilometers wide was amongst the stormiest places in the entire region. Winds could reach speeds of up to 100 knots while ships would be hammered by waves that could reach as much as 15 meters high. The unique weather is a function of the continental shelf connecting Arcaenia and Imbrinium, creating a geophysical sea-floor battier separating this stretch of water from the oceans to the east and west. Cold, dense water from the seas south-east of Arcaenia plunges down the edge of the shelf like an enormous, undersea watferfall which creates the enormously turbulent undersea currents which give the Sea of Storms its name. The summer seasons were particularly brutal due the presence of enormous thunderstorms which battered the waters with lightning strikes and powerful downbursts of air.

This sea would be the key to the Arcaenian naval attack on the Ordenite Task Force Nord and Task Force Wolf which were moving northward around Mordent in an attempt to check the Arcaenian and Imbirnian navies in the northern waters of Central Dienstad. The Ordenite fleets would be attacked in an eneomrous pincer ovement; the Imbrinians and the Arcaenian Fifth and Ninth Fleets would attack from the southwest along with a Macabean Kríergrup while the Arcaenian First and Ninth fleets would attack from the north through the Sea of Storms to close the 'jaws' of the pincer movement on the Ordenite naval forces. Key to Operation Todesgott (literally: Death God), the codename for the Arcaenian portion of the operation, were the First and Ninth fleets attacking from the north after the Ordenites had already been engaged by the Imbrinian, Macabean, and Arcaenian forces further south. The Sea of Storms would provide the cover for this operation; the enormous waves would provide enough clutter to hide the highly dispersed Arcaenian warships from aircraft or satellite based radar systems while the towering cumulonimbus thunderstorm clouds would shield the fleets from optical satellite observation during the day. This tactic was called 'storm chasing' by the Arcaenians, where ships would intentionally plot courses to literally chase thunderstorm clouds to hide themselves from visual observation. This, along with high dispersion of the task forces and extremely strict EMCOM restrictions would, with all warships traveling in complete electronic silence, hide them from the Ordenites until the moment they decided to strike.

Further south Arcaenian 'brilliant eyes' low, high, and geostationary orbit infrared early warning satellites had detected the launch of thousands of ordenite bombers and assorted support craft. This, combined with passive SIGINT information from VORTEX electronic intelligence satellites and maritime moving target indicator data from the Arcaenian space based imaging radar satellite (SBIRSAT) constellation in low earth orbit, which the Arcaenian Air Force or Luftstreitkräfte had developed and deployed as a replacement for air based AWACS aircraft, gave the Arcaenian military planners a fairly comprehensive picture of Reich air and ship movements from the south. This information relayed using laser datalinks to communication satellites which would then beam the signals down using directional EHF antennas, would provide the Arcaenian fleets with the situational awareness they needed without having to rely on emissions from their own onboard sensors.

The basic Arcaenian strategic naval unit was the 'fast carrier battle group', a formation consisting of four nuclear powered supercarriers, four to six nuclear ballistic missile defense cruisers, four to six heavy land attack destroyers, twelve to sixteen anti-submarine destroyers, and four to eight nuclear cruise missile submarines (SSGNs) generally attached from a submarine flotilla. The ships would travel in complete electronic silence with radios and navigation and search radars off. Communications are done using optical line-of-sight data links or short bursts of directional EHF communications. At night the ships employ dififfused lighting camouflage to mask the blacked-out silhouette of the warships with the faint color of the night sky. Wary of the Ordnite U-boat threat the Arceanian warships employ turn count masking (spinning propulsive turbines at different speeds to confuse passive doppler sonar systems as to the actual speed of the ship) and propellers synchrophaser systems designed to actively cancel out the acoustic signal of turning propellers.

Carrier air operations receives the same degree of deception. Aircraft are launched and recovered from the deck of the Arcaenian Inflictor class supercarriers in a 'zip-lip' approach with no radio transmissions. E-5 Sentinel carrier based early warning aircraft fly orbits several hundred kilometers from their parent carriers and fly 'silent' with the UHF radars off, relying on their passive direction finding and triangulation systems to detect enemy surface and air contacts beyond the horizon. A-20 Ghost and F/A-36C Sea Seraph strike and interceptor aircraft would launch staggered and on recovery would marshall at deception points away from the carriers, essentially creating the image of a fake aircraft carrier in the middle of empty ocean. The Ordenite fleets, which were currently engaged with the Imbrinians and the Macabeans further south, would be attacked by A-20 and F/A-36C aircraft in 'mirror-image strikes' with aircraft approaching 180 degrees from each other and converging on the Ordenite task forces as to confuse them about which direction the aircraft originated from. A-20 Ghost bombers, the triangle shaped naval stealth bombers employed by the Arcaenian navy, would attack with 'Blacksword' supersonic anti-ship missiles launched in salvos of four which would fly mach 3-3.5 at sea level using their gel fueled ramjet engines before popping up, acquiring Ordenite warships using primarily their passive anti-radiation seeker, performing a quick active radar scan to determine the ships range and bearing, and then accelerating into a high G 'bunt and weave' maneuver before diving near vertically downwards onto the target warship. F/A-36C aircraft were intended primarily as escorts and would engage Ordenit fighter and bomber aircraft marshaling around their host carriers using their long range 'HLRAAM' hypersonic solid-fuel ramjet powered long-range air-to-air missiles. Adding to the carnage were multiple squadrons of B-3 Wraiths, the Arcaenian Air Force's enormous supersonic stealth bombers, loaded with anti-ship cruise missiles taking off at night from bases in both the Arcaenian mainland and Imbrinium which would likewise perform 180 degree mirror strikes in concert with the Arcaenian naval aircraft on the besieged Ordenite fleets.

Further to the South the Arcaenian Hydra class submarines, primarily on missions to search and destroy Ordenite convoys travelling to and from Krasnova, would join in on the attacks against the Ordenite Nord and Wolf task forces as well. Shadowing the Ordenite task forces passing through the Mordent-Imbrinium straight, the Hydra class boats would act as 'sit-and-wait' predators, like Krakens of Arcaenian legend dragging lost ships to their watery grave the Hydras would hide in littoral waters and attack lone or damaged Ordenite warships separated from their parent task forces in the heat of battle with combinations of 200 plus kilometer range Dragonfish heavyweight long-range torpedoes and volleys of supersonic cruise missiles. The Hydra class boats were also involved in mine-laying operations, using their 660 mm torpedo tubes to lay SDI 'Stargazer' bottom mines along the shallow continental shelf ahead of northern-moving Ordenite naval forces which with their 900 kilogram aluminized explosive warheads would literally blow ships passing overhead out of the water.

With the attack of the Arcaenians the double-envelopment of the Ordenite navy in Central Dienstad was complete. Task Forces Nord and Wolf , being attacked on all sides by surface ships, submarines, and land and ship based aircraft and cut off from reinforcement, would surely cease to exist.The Sea of Crowns was destined to become an enormous undersea grave of sunken ships and their doomed occupants, rusting and rotting away in the the abyssal depths until the end of time.

[McNernia]

Mcnernian Actions

---

Approach to Nicaro
The big plane carrying logistics and Liaison personell came down out of the evening sky on approach to Nicaros major airport.

“Attention MATAGALPA center this is Courier Romeo 967 the Mcnernian Liaison flight duly charged with delivering the requested personnel. Request landing clearance.”

The jet would hold in international airspace and wait while the Mcnernians on board prepared for the tropics. Uniforms were rather a concern. But remove the overcoats to deal with the weather of Krasnova and things would be decent enough to handle the tropics.

---

At Sea, Heading towards Nicaro

---

The Admiral of the Central Dienstad Fleet had been expecting perhaps to be going to Gholgoth to face down the horrors of Kraven directly or maybe something else but the need for the protection of the Macabeans in Nicaro had seen a rather large fleet dispatched. Mcnernia was a Naval power as it was most inclined to have its Empire overseas. (May change that, have some states in Dienstad but maybe not). The Central Dienstad Fleet was a element of the Home Fleet which operated in the Dienstad region to make sure that there was respect for Mcnernian trade. Whilst some would be trusted with Mcnernian trade the issue of the powers of Dienstad meant that that the Mcnenrians would be heading into battle to put a stop to the spread of the Kraven as much as the Ordenites or others. So the Admiral took a briefing from his officers on the crisis in Central Dienstad. The Macabeans despite having two insurgencies or was it three, three the commander in charge said. Indras, Holy Panooly and the New Empire affair and waging a vast conflict in Gholgoth meant that they were probably stretched thin.

“The 12th will have to be increased, the Ordenites…..”

“Will not get through the blockade we will establish around the island. All will be checked.”

“With the Macabeans permission of course….we must not allow the arrival of those who would seek to destabilize Nicaro to find a foothold and with things wrapping up in Cornellia things will be interesting here.”

“Of course sir.”

“Right then, have the officer of the watch keep the combat air patrol up.”

“Yes sir.”

It had been weeks since they had left the port of Eist behind and the beauty of their homeland. Now they were into the international waters. And onto the war in distant lands. They had plenty of fuel. Though they would maybe need to top off aviation stores. “Make sure we have fuel for when we finally arrive.”

“Yes Admiral.”

---

[Eitoan]

Berwyn Central District Court,
Zletickova Street Admininstrative Center
4th Floor Working Area


The elevator doors opened onto the huge, drab bullpen area, hastily set up for a long stay by the selected panel of judges, their working staff, and legal advisors for all facets of the daunting task ahead.

The three judges assigned to run the show and shepherd procedures through the District Court had arrived early, and were talking animatedly among themselves, fortified by their second or third cup of coffee, largely ignoring the attendees massed in front of them. Occasionally they would summons a magistrate to research a question, or seek a precedent in Berwyn Central or Territorial Court practice, the magistrate then scurrying off to drill into the issue. All three judges had a copy of the mandate from Berwyn Central Chief Judge Lisa Johnson, delivered to them three days ago, stating “Your docket has been cleared for the next three weeks, and your sole assignment is to determine guidelines for the timely organization and presentation of all cases related to the recent Caton Street disturbances including but not limited to recommendations for further investigation of ENADAP activities and potential foreign influence in these events. As always, the court will be guided by the principles enshrined in the Constitution and in the Territorial Charter, but justice demands that law enforcement and the rights of the accused understand the severity and breadth of these charges. It is in the interest of The Court that preliminary proceedings commence in an orderly and efficient manner.” Looking around the room it was apparent that security was tight; four beefy Berwyn policemen searched each attendee as they entered and exited. The Berwyn Tactical Unit very visibly covered all four corners of the large space, sniper rifles prominently displayed. Immediately to the right of the elevator bank was a standby team of medics from The Fairchild Avenue Hospital. Flanking the judges on either side were small, severe looking groups of the Attorney General’s Investigation and Judicial Protection Unit. There was to be no fooling around in this work space. The accused, numbering about 1900 were nowhere near the Administrative Center. Roughly half were in lockups throughout Berwyn. The Berwyn Police had requisitioned the underutilized Orchard Street Stadium, home to several high school baseball teams in the far northeast of the city, and the long empty warehouse for Attic Clothing 17 blocks from the Administrative Center, the owner of which was grateful to the city for finally providing some income for the property. The judges at the lead table were also under advisement in the form of a letter from Dobrovice Territory Governor-General Mark Prahe, urging the jurists to “bear in mind that the integrity of these proceedings will weigh heavily on the people of Berwyn. Murders and rioters, whether formally associated with ENADAP or not must not escape punishment for these grisly events. Only through strict application of law and order can the public have confidence in the courts and police. Anything less is an invitation to anarchy”. Before them, to their left their magistrates faced them, chattering among themselves, worried about their abandoned case loads. To the judges left, in front of them were the nine members of the Berwyn Police Lead Investigtion team, dressed casually for the most part, and eager to present their approaches to prosecution of the rioters.

At the back of the room, a whiteboard wall behind them, sat the three judges assigned to supervise the handling of the massive and unwieldly case load. Judge Jonathan Tardash, 42, with three years on the bench sat on the right, a medium to slightly built man with black hair and brown eyes, his long face framed with a 5 o’clock shadow even at this early hour. His top button was undone, and the blue tie know slipped slightly, giving him the look of a man already ready for a drink and the end of a hard day. In the center was Judge Tomas Mardegal, 55, 17 years on the bench, his hair thinner, his eyes blue unjacketed in a black shirt and gray trousers. Mardegal was the most experienced judge, and was much more at ease than Tardash. Joining them was their companion Robert Guthrie, 38, 12 years at Berwyn Central. Stocky build with a short haircut and clean shaven, he was most formally dressed of the three, in his usual gray business suit, white shirt, and colorful random pattern tie. He was often mistaken for police investigators at the courthouse. He looked the part. The three were casually discussing the main approach to case classification, the opposing points being classification by serverity of charges vs. definitive decisions by the court to address the most egregious damages in the riot, while Mardegal and Guthrie held the position that grouping trials by incident would allow for more efficient handling of evidence, and a greater understanding of each major act in the disturbances. Mardegal got up, stretched his legs, and walked over the windows at the eastern wall, staring distractedly at the Berwyn Police Courthouse Security Detail on the street below, hustling away small groups of curious onlookers. Guthrie took a break also, strolling briefly to the tables outside the security cordon, near the elevator bank, to chat with the assembled skeleton prosecution and defense teams, observing the proceedings from afar.

Other participants arrayed themselves on the long tables laid out in front of the supervising judicial panel. The fifteen magistrates assigned now turned their attention to the preliminary findings provided by the Berwyn police. The group of three advisors from the Dobrovice Territorial Attorney Generals Office Criminal Investigation Bureau, led by a dour, gray haired medium size man and his two perky, cute assistants, a redhead with piercing green eyes, and a slightly taller brunette with remarkably attractive breasts. The male magistrates were distracted, females less so.

So began the first cut of case classification, a practice seldom used in the tranquil recent past, established during the emergencies of the 1950s. Now openly discussing the cases, the judges gained the attention of the room. Classification of cases was deferred for later: the judges debated a bit and brought forth four main categories of charges. The highest charges included murder, attempted murder and criminal incitement. They explained that this would focus on those most responsible for the Caton Street riots, and will allow both prosecution and defense teams to allocate their best resources to that category. The next category was generally defined as cases relating to rioting in contravention of orders to disperse. This would quench the taste for blood, whether from ENADAP or other sources. The judges proposed the next category to include assault and group assault, a class which could be disposed of with bulk wholesale prosecution of ordinary rioters. The remainder of charges would be covered under property crimes.

The judges had worked through the noon hour, and gobbled down a quick lunch of pizza. Others were left to fend for themselves, and shuffled in and out throughout the day. Copious amounts of coffee were delivered and consumed. Before any knew it, it was mid-afternoon.

Initial staffing decisions were made later in the day based on the judges’ best guess of investigatory needs and judicial precedent. They sketched out a rough organization of Charging Teams, and reviewed personnel needs for the volume of work. After discussions with their magistrates, a request was put in to Judge Johnson for the addition of 33 more magistrates. They advised her that recruiting among retired judges might be a good place to look for their request. The needs for additional court staff was delegated to the magistrate team present. They also conferred with law enforcement present, and put in requests for additional staff to the Territorial Attorney General and the Berwyn Police Department. Toward the end of the day they also drafted a letter to the national Attorney General’s office requesting attendance at preliminary planning sessions to cover any possible evidence of foreign espionage or agents provocateur in the rioting. The letter would be reviewed tomorrow and forwarded to Judge Johnson for her signature. Wrapping up a long day, the three judges also tasked their magistrates with estimating support needs for press relations and control and for IT support.

It was a long day at Zletickova Street.

Darom Open Air Mall
Kelso, Eitoan.

… Rusnak smiled. "Good. I can get us the funding to buy everything we need. I can also get us guns and explosives."

"When?" Andrew asked again.

"You get five more people. We'll rendezvous at The Cold Rabbit in two weeks. The faster we strike, the less formal we keep this, the less likely we are to get caught." Rusnak patted the young man on the back. "Sound good? Good. I'll keep in touch with you. For the glory of Ralkovia."

"For the glory of Ralkovia," repeated Andrew.

With that said and done, Rusnak left.

He walked two blocks west, and ducked into the Ridgeland subway station, rapidly swiping his pass, and continued downstairs to the northbound platform of the A train. Two minutes later the ancient, creaking train arrived. Looking in back of him rapidly, Konstantinovich stepped into a middle coach, spotted a seat in the far corner with no neighbors save for an old lady cradling her bag of groceries, and settled in for the ride.

The train rumbled on steel wheels squealing on the rails as it lumbered through the dark. Rusnak's thoughts turned to his wife, the lovely Julia, and sons, hyperactive Gregor, 8, and studious, pale Nathan, 14. "I've got to get that boy, Gregor, to calm down", he mused. "Three times in the principal's office since the start of the school term. I don't know what I'm gonna do with him". Nathan, on the other hand, was a source of pride for the entire family. Not yet 15 and already earning 20 Quada an hour coding! Not a passel of friends, but not a loner either. "Sure wish I could get him away from that mixed breed trash he keeps bringing home", he thought. "Julia - liberals - goddam". The wife and kids were at Nathan's school play; he was on the lighting crew. Rusnak "had to work late, again". The stations whizzed past, stopping briefly to disgorge weary shoppers and commuters, an occasional late night partier joining the remaining passengers. Laramie, Palaski, Halman. Finally, Morgan Street. His stop.

Rusnak walked slowly up the station stairs and took in the night air. It was a clear, starry night. He crossed onto South Hagans Avenue, continuing past the block of tall, modern, sleek apartments that lined Morgan and the first block of South Hagans. The landscape turned into the pleasant, familiar crop of large single story ranch houses once he crossed Elm Park Drive. Two blocks down, past the Elementary School 10, past the small collection of stores at Poplar Street he turned into his driveway, again pausing to check behind him. The street was quiet. Too quiet. At this point, off the web and after first contact, Rusnak was at heightened alert. He couldn't afford any chances. Satisfied that everything was normal, he turned the key and opened the front door.

As was his habit, he first checked the mailbox. Junk mail. Supermarket coupons. The electric bill. Didn't do online bill pay. Didn't trust it. Especially now. Pausing briefly, he checked his cell phone for messages. A few notes from work: reminder of meeting tomorrow, recap of yesterday's monthly reconciliation meeting. Rusnak had studied diligently, if ploddingly, and changed companies when the opportunities arose. Now he was a Senior Budget Analyst at Pactiva, adistributor of food packaging and foodservice products throughout Kelso. Easy enough work. Been there five years. Not much controversy. Not much excitement. Regular raises, sometimes bonuses. He'd survived two head cut reductions. Many in budgeting hadn't been so lucky. Pleasant enough with his peers, boot licking enough with his boss. "Little gemesht-mestizo shits, they ought to be licking my boots. Anyway..." His thoughts turned to the logistics of the Darom Mall, particularly the produce market. "Lots of targets. Lots of blind spots. Didn't have a complete handle on CCTV there or drone frequency, but he'd work that out. Or Schliemann would work it out. Best to keep a distance from Schliemann. Don't like foreigners. Can't trust 'em. Also need to know more about that Danilo kid. More online work."

Rusnak took off his overcoat and hung it in the front hall closet. The house was dark. He settled into the living room easy chair and was about to turn on the floor lamp, do some reading. In the kitchen the fluorescent light switched on, bathing the dining room in a dim light. Seated at the head of the dinner table, facing him was the profile of a man, apparently in a wide fedora pull down to shield his eyes, in a trenchcoat. Rusnak was startled. The shadowy figure spoke. Slowly. Clearly.

"I see your boys are at Elementary School 10 and Svabinskeho Middle School, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Blair respectively" the voice intoned.

A cold, clammy feeling gripped Rusnak.

Another man stepped forward. The cold steel of a .45 police revolver pressed against Rusnak's sweating forehead. His throat ran dry. His mouth ran dry. His tongue was cottony. Gazing off, he noticed in his peripheral vision that the side door was slightly ajar. Looking through the front window, he observed a black van parked in front of the house.

How could he have been so stupid?

The man in the living room spoke up, in a flat, unemotional voice. "I'm Thomas Sorley, Chief Inspector, Kelso Police. You got nice kids. I did you a favor. They're not here to see this. That'd be a shame." He looked down, briefly. "Mr. Konstantinovich, we can make this slow or fast. it's up to you. Of course you will get your legal rights. But all in accordance with Section 120. Extenuating circumstances. The prosecutor has concerns."

Sorley got up, walked over to the pale Konstantinovich, and leaned down. His nose was an inch away from Rusnak's. The policeman had obviously enjoyed a pungent dinner.

Sorley's voice rose in volume. "We're going to take care of things in Kelso. We don't look the other way like those Berwyn pussies! Now, you can save yourself a lot of grief, and keep the wife and kids happy and keep this quiet. I want to know all the links that got you in touch with Andrew. And don't worry, we've got complete evidence from tonight's rendezvous at The Cold Rabbit. All links now! All hardcopy and online communications now! We have the contents of your cell phone and computer storage. We'll know who's behind this! Do yourself a favor!"

Sorley was shouting. A fleck of his spittle landed on Rusnak's shirt collar.

Rusnak stammered. "Me? No! I haven't done anything. Inspector, please, we have free speech here!" Reconsidering his options, he adopted a less confrontatory approach. "All right, I'll work with you. Please, keep my family out of this! I haven't made any plans to do anything. I can call this whole thing off. You must understand. And ENADAP? I know nothing of ENADAP! I'm as nauseated at the Berwyn riots as you are! Sir, I'm no street thug! Please!"

Sorley stepped back. He motioned to the two policemen guarding the front door. "Take him in", he snapped. He motioned toward the quivering Konstantinovich. Outside two hooded, masked guards surveyed the path to the van, idling in the street.

Runak's phone buzzed. An incoming text. Sorley snatched the phone from him. The group moved toward the front door.

There was a muffled crack in the background. The sound of shattering glass. The glint of the broken picture window in the light of a street lamp. The dampened sound of a sofa being shot. All in the house hit the floor...

[The Macabees]

MATAGALPA, SATRAPY OF NICARO

The military situation in the Satrapy of Nicaro had stabilized quite a bit since the commencement of hostilities, although the chance of a sudden change in the balance was great. The fighting in Krasnova, nevertheless, had stolen some of the spotlights from the westernmost vassal state of the Golden Throne and the possibility of an Ordenite invasion seemed, for the time being, far more distant than it once had.

Of course, much of the cause behind the resurgence of a sentiment of security in the satrapy rested on the strong naval deployment along the southern edge of the Sea of Ordena. Kríermak 'Macabea,' the largest Kríermada formation in Greater Díenstadi waters, had secured a narrow overseas passage to eastern Nicaro, facilitating the movement of troops, material, and supplies. Furthermore, while the number of imperial troops in the satrapy was still low, at roughly 350,000 combat personnel, these were to be bolstered by three additional waves of reinforcements — situation permitting — that would bring overall combat personnel levels at just over one million. Thus, the short-run projection was that forces in and around the satrapy were sufficient to contest an invasion until further reinforcements could arrive and the long-run prognostic was that the satrapy could essentially deter any such attack by bolstering its defenses. Not everything inspired this sort of confidence, however.

Politically, the situation seemed calmer than it had been just before the start of the war, but only superficially. The purging of the Ordenites in the country went and ended relatively quickly. Still, the paranoia that had driven it all still lingered and, if anything, the fever of distrust had grown. Nicaroan politicians and business leaders with old Ordenite ties, including those who had previously participated in the Contra government, no longer felt safe. Beneath the surface, Nicaroan politics were already fragmented and dangerous, especially in the Prefecture of Nicaro, where the insurgency was still alive and strong. A surface of stability hid tumultuous waters beneath.

Adding to the confusion were the prefectural elections due to be held that very year. Both prefectures, Firmador and Nicaro, would vote for their basileo — a position shared with a second basileo directly appointed by the satrap — and a host of other political positions, both at the prefecture and city levels. They would be the second round of elections since the fall of the Ordenite-backed Contra government, but the first had been marred by ongoing fighting, had suffered from low turnout, and had been engineered to remove insurgent-sympathizers from power. This time, the populace was invigorated, the options were far more open, and the stakes could not be higher.

Regardless of how secure the Fuermak felt on its ability to defend the satrapy, the Imperial Bureaucracy was not shy in using the Ordenite threat as a major propagandistic tool. Indeed, throughout the country there reigned a campaign of fear that harped on the threat of invasion to underscore the importance and vitality of the satrapical agreement, which guaranteed Nicaro's sovereignty by means of the imperial military and economy.

Cities had their walls plastered by posters that showcased anti-Ordenite illustrations, like one of a giant jackboot stomping down on the skyline of Matagalpa. Others focused on Ordenite labor camps and how they would come to Nicaro if given the chance. All fears were exploited. On the other hand, some posters and advertisements celebrated the imperial victory over the Ordenites in Holy Panooly and the coalition victory in Krasnova during the Second Krasnovan War. Furthermore, television spots with footage of the grand architecture being built across the country continuously ran to promote the benefits that imperial oversight had already brought the satrapy. And, finally, an emphasis was placed on the economic fruits that would ripen with greater integration into the imperial market, as well as the gains in trade and wage growth that had already begun.

More clandestinely, instigators infiltrated labor unions and grassroots organizations to motivate pro-imperial rallies and marches. The anti-imperial variety also occurred and these were constrained through the clever use of roadblocks to limit their size and trajectory, often causing them to lose steam. Pro-imperial demonstrations faced fewer restrictions.

This was the heated environment in Nicaro that the McNernians were stepping into when their advanced team of liaisons arrived at Matagalpa.

Despite flying into the prefecture of Firmador, the northern half of the country, McNernian troops were slated to be based in the south, within the more volatile Prefecture of Nicaro. In part, this was to increase the depth of ground defenses in the satrapy, bolstering a reserve force which could reinforce the front lines as these were pushed back during a hypothetical invasion of the satrapy. However, there was another strategic intention, which was to reinforce imperial troops in a part of the country where the insurgency was strongest. Counterinsurgency forces had been weakened by the need to increase forces deployed to the north, to respond more quickly to a potential amphibious assault, and McNernian troops could be used to take on patrolling and ambushing duties under the guise of staying sharp and battle-tuned. It would also offer McNernian and Macabéan forces the opportunity to work together in real combat before facing a better organized, more difficult, and better-armed opponent like the Ordenite Wehrmacht.

McNernian naval forces would be hosted on the western shore of the satrapy, in the military port of Chinadenga. Since its capture from the Nicaroan pirates, it had been rapidly put the use by the Kríermada to host its submarine forces and supply the kríerflot that was otherwise based out of Batis on the eastern shore, but had withdrawn to the west to avoid being isolated and destroyed by a larger Ordenite naval formation. Deployed in the west, the now combined Macabéan kríerflot and McNernian task force could use the protection provided by a bay entrance heavily sealed by a series of islands occupied by the Golden Throne, Mokastana, and Lynion.

When McNernian flight Courier Romeo 967 arrived in Matagalpa, its occupants were by a small party of imperial commanders and officials. The welcome was spartan in all senses, with little fanfare and interest to quickly move on to business. Despite the lessening of the pressure as it concerned the likelihood of an invasion, the situation in Nicaro was still considered critical and the probabilities of that invasion could change at a moment's notice. Therefore, the combined party of Macabéan and McNernian officials quickly made their way to another military transport aircraft already waiting and ready to go on the runway. They discussed plans, strategies, and tactics, as well as anything related to the basing and supplying of McNernian military personnel in the satrapy, during their flight south to Managüa, the capital city of the Prefecture of Nicaro.

Upon arriving in Managüa, they were then taken by vehicle to Barbakán Simón Cristoforo, the largest military base in the prefecture and the location of the principle counterinsurgency headquarters for Komsektor VI. Simón Cristoforo would host the McNernian headquarters, although the eight McNernian divisions slated for deployment to the satrapy would be spread out among eight major bases and a larger number of forward operating bases and outposts spread throughout the southern prefecture of the satrapy. In all instances, McNernians would share space with imperial soldiers.

Cut-and-dry, straight-to-business, thus began the McNernian experience in the Satrapy of Nicaro.

[Mokastana]

Gryaznaya, Krasnova

Gunfire crackled in the distance. Smoke stung the eyes and obscured vision. Rubble collapsed from buildings and blocked roads, occasionally catching someone and claiming another life. The smell of burning city barely covered the rot of bodies left in the streets, looted for anything of value long ago.

It was divine.

Most civilians from the ghetto had escaped, some hidden in Naztoc-Lec safe houses and temples across the countryside. Those who chose to fight were armed and those who wanted to convert, were bought into the fold. The polytheist nature of the religion meant many Gods desired worship, but there was no doubt that the God of War, Huitzilopochtli, was gaining the most followers.

Yet, despite all the good the new religion was doing, the Red Army still treated its followers like rabid animals, creatures you hoped would kill your enemies before they turned on you. It was entirely possible that the only reason the Reds willingly fought alongside them, was because they were Mokans, and they brought weapons to share.

The sounds of battle drew closer. The Ordenites and their Kravenite allies had pushed into the Red Army's Forward Base, trapping many soldiers and Naztoc-Lec warriors behind enemy lines. Although the Ordenites started with a strong artillery and aerial bombardment, the fighting had devolved into fierce house to house, and then room to room, combat. In these conditions the Mokan AM-07 battle rifle shined. It's 7.62x54r bullets thundered towards targets at point blank range. It's steel, or tungsten,
core ensured a hole in all but the strongest armor. Even if enemy armor could stop it, no human was going to be taking that to the chest and remain combat capable, but then again, not all enemies were human.

The Kraven Capitol Police, more machine than man, stalked these city streets, slowly purging the Red Army. Armed with machine guns and flamethrowers, they fit in to the urban combat like a hand in glove. An AM-07 was useless if your entire floor got engulfed in flames before you could see your target. Their Heavy armor was capable of stopping a rifle bullet. Their flamethrowers burned out entire buildings with little engagement, machine guns mowed down anyone in their way. Their arrival was marked by the screams and smoke of their victims, and both were present now.

War Chief Huemac Mendoza laid in the rubble of what was once either a pub, or maybe an apartment building, so little of it was left it didn't matter. The Capitol Police were here.

"Flamethrowers north side!" A soldier cried out in the distance, and Mendoza saw the orange glow inside a few windows and heard the screams. A lesser warrior would want to rush towards the fight, but like a Jaguar, he waited patiently for his prey to come to him. It wouldn't be long now. Gunfire grew louder as shouts in the local language grew more panicked. A few red army soldiers ran across the road as the bark of a machine gun tried to cut them down, the last one fell in the street, others might have fallen inside the building they fled towards, it was hard to tell. More machine guns barked as entire buildings were covered in suppressive fire.

Then it appeared, the demon, the black uniform of a Capitol Police Officer, they were quick, knowing that being in the open street was dangerous as they darted to another building. The monster ran unnaturally fast, but not faster than a bullet. The shoulder mounted rifle kicked and thundered as the 14.7mm round flew downrange. The semi auto action absorbed some of the recoil. Two more Kravenites appeared by windows to machine gun Mendoza's position, who was forced to seek cover behind a pile of rubble, but they were expecting him to be hurrying to insert his next bullet, not waiting for a chance to return fire. Plus, he wasn't alone.

Other hunters opened fire with their own MTABs, ending the machine gun nests with efficiency. Now it became a game of cat and mouse. Mendoza took the chance to begin crawling away, the game had begun.


Osaka,
Nipon Island,
Queendom of Aqua Anu,
People’s Unified Federation

For two years, a strong military presence was felt in the Nipon Island Chain. Home to 44 million people, the vast majority subscribed to the Kogyokist Christian faith, one of the more conservative, if not the most conservative, beliefs in the Federation. For years a quiet religious war had been fought between Kogyokist extremists and Marshite faiths in Aqua Anu, spilling into the headlines with the occasional bombing or murder. The highlight was an attack two years ago where Kogyokist militias launched an amphibious assault and massacred thousands of Neko and Marshite civilians. The attackers were quickly defeated, but the damage was done. The Kogyokist would be given no leniency. Both Marshite and Kogyokist communities were policed heavily by the Anuien Marshals and DIN (Department of National Investigations). The highly militarized National Police force set up new bases in both communities to ensure a strong presence to keep the peace. Yet any fool could see the Marshites were getting much nicer treatment than the Kogyokist, which only built the resentment up over time.

Soon, The Followers of Tenshu, an outlawed militia, seemed to grow rather than fail apart as the Federation hoped. Based on police and army raids, it was clear the now terrorist organization was being supplied by outside forces. It was suspected that the United World Order might be behind it, but the Kogyokist had allies across the world. whether it was foreign sympathizers or international enemies, the DIN worked tirelessly to track down whatever leads it could.

Unknown to the Federal agents. The United World order had been assisting in acquiring black market weapons to arm the militia, and offering promises of support for the rebellion, as one Christian to another. Whatever form of support that was to be, would be determined later.

When high ranking military commander was arrested on suspicion of supporting the terrorist, the DIN thought they had a break in the case, but little did they know that this arrest would kick off the largest rebellion the Federation had seen in its short life. For this military commander was an insider to a planned coup, and with him in Federal custody, the coup was now or never.

Within hours of the arrest, a Reserve Guard Regiment near the Island's Capital of Osaka was put on high alert. This was not usual, as the Federation had been using a policy of using local forces to maintain peace in the cities. So when an entire mechanized company escorted by a tank company deployed from their base to the Capital's streets, very few noticed and even less thought to question it.

The Capital itself was divided into 3 sections for policing. The Reserve Guard of Nipon patrolled the industrial and northern residential areas. A Federal Army armored division, deployed from the island of Catan, patrolled the Government quarter, and the docks. While the National Police patrolled the business and remaining residential areas.

So it was no surprise the tanks and mechanized infantry made it through the Reserve Guard checkpoints unopposed, until they reached the government District. Here they were met by a Federal Army checkpoint. The soldiers stopped them to verify their orders, but never got the chance to make the call. Guns were drawn, and the Reserve Guard convoy of tanks and IFVs quickly detained all the guards of the army roadblock. The coup had begun.

Elsewhere, the first shots of the coup would take place, outside of the city. A Reserve Guard Battalion, supported by tanks, stormed an artillery battery belonging to the National Police. Lacking in any anti tank weapons besides the artillery guns themselves, the National Police tried to put up resistance, but their carbines and personal defense weapons were no match for Mechanized infantry. Most surrendered within minutes. Replacing the National Police finds, Reserve Guard artillery was set up to assist the attack on the government quarter.

Most of the Reserve Guard units in the city had been informed of the coup and abandoned their posts to help storm the government quarter. It was here where the real battle began. The Federal Army had more tanks and armored vehicles in the government quarter, but they lacked significant infantry support. This worked in the Reserve Guards favor, as their infantry squads armed with anti tank weapons fired from windows and around buildings, forcing the Federal army to fire blindly into structures or retreat. Reinforcements from the National Police lacked significant anti tank weapons, and thus they could not use the same tactics against Reserve Guard vehicles. The Federal forces, recognizing this was only the beginning of a major battle, evacuated the government District and retreated to the docks, ready to hold position and await reinforcements.

Artillery guns from the Reserve Guard shelled the docks, Federal artillery responded with counter battery fire. The rebels had taken the government quarter, but at the cost of significant casualties. Even at full strength they lacked the troops to take the docks, so now their goal was to just hold the government quarter and wait. National Police forces rallied in their districts and assembled their own mechanized forces. They too would hold the lines until reinforcements showed up. As night began to descend on a city divided, it became a question of who would be reinforced first. That's when a radio broadcast went out on civilian channels:

"People of Nippon, we are at war. Not with any foreign power, but with our own government. We God Fearing Kogyokist Christians have watched demons pollute our government, eroding the very moral fabric of Aqua Anu. Yet we remained loyal, actively participating with our government and fighting the agents of satan wherever we could. We knew the demons were infiltrating our government, so we prayed and continued in our duty. Only now the demons no longer hide, they have shed their human appearance and let their true succubus forms be free. Taunting us as satan conquers the world. Our government did not fight these monsters, instead they embraced them. Now those demons use their human slaves to enslave our islands, but we Kogyokists are not slaves, we are warriors of God. God has heard our prayers and responded. He says he only helps those who help themselves. He says to fight for your freedom, tti be soldiers of God. Join me in liberating our islands of the demons and their agents. Join me in building the Kingdom of God right here on Earth! Together we will free the good Earth from Satan's grip! God wills it!"

[The Macabees]

KELSO, EITOAN

"Jorak was captured," said Agent Perman Bos, codename Bershov Georgiy.

Agent Gregor Jansen's (codename Minkovski Rodya) head was in his hand. He smelled of frustration. "How the hell did he manage that?" he asked, resigned.

Bos shook his head. "I have no idea, but I know he was picked up by the local cops. It was after his rendezvous with our local contact. This is really the worst moment, we were so close to finalizing the mission. Anyway, it is what it is. What should we do about Jorak? I can make a few calls."

"Do that," Jansen replied. "Do what it takes and get him out. Maybe the big wigs back home can spin up some kind of bullshit story, maybe something about Jorak...err, Konstantinovich being some kind of vital HUMINT asset for our anti-Ralkovian espionage program. I don't know, they'll figure it out. Let's just put the wheels in motion and make sure they don't get too much time to interrogate him."

"He won't say shit," said Bos. "I know him."

Jansen shrugged, "For now. Who knows what they'll charge him with. Who knows what he'll say. Either way, I'm more concerned with them sniffing out any kind of bullshit than with him saying something true. If they figure out he's not Eitoan or Krasnovan, they'll start asking other questions and that's the last thing we need."

"Okay, I'll make some calls." Bos took a cheap, disposable mobile phone out of his pocket and left the hot, humid apartment's small living room.



...thousands of kilometers away in Fedala.

"Get rid of him," said the voice, deep and akin to gravel. "If they suspect anything, that might be enough to blow our cover." He paused as if listening to someone speak. Then, "What do you mean what's the worst that can happen? At best, we'll have to scale back the program and maybe end it altogether. At worst, they'll know exactly what we'll be doing. How do you think Eitoan's government will take it that we've been funding and instigating Ralkovian violence in their country? How do you think they'll public will react? What kind of doubt would that cast at our legitimacy and that of their government? No, we won't put our hard work at risk. Get rid of him."

There was the creak of a swiveling chair. Then the deep voice said, this time to someone in the room with him, "Gregor Jansen is a company man. I trust him. He'll do what we ask him to."

"Good," said another voice. "Because if he doesn't, it's your head on the chopping block."



...back in Kelso.

Jansen put his phone back in his pocket before Bos walked back in. "Taken care of?" he asked.

Bos nodded. "Yep, headquarters will put in a request to release Rusnak Konstantinovich on account of his value as an intelligence source to Agen Enkubíer. Eitoan intel will deal with local law enforcement as far as those details go, I'm sure. Exactly how you put it, anyway. You know, you'd do well back in headquarters. You have a head for that stuff."

"Fuck that," said Jansen. "I belong in the field. I ain't cut out for pushing pencils and stacking paper."

Chuckling, Bos asked, "So, do we pick him up at some point? Get a debrief?"

Jansen shook his head. "Not now. We'll figure that out. We may just need to cut him loose, let him hang to dry for a little while, then ship him back home when the heat has lowered just a bit. We don't need to make a big deal out of this or raise any heads. Just let him burn out on his own."

"He's a friend, you know," said Bos. "I met him back at the academy."

"There ain't no friends in this business," retorted Jansen. "You know that." There was a pause, then, "I'm going to need you in the weeds, Bos. I better start calling you Bershov because you'll need to start getting used to using that name more often. You're a Ralkovian expat in Eitoan, a refuge from the war over there, looking to network with other Ralkovians in the city. You know, just follow your established background. But, Jorak will have to be replaced and, right now, you're the only free agent we've got this side of the region. I'll need you to get rid of your phone. I'll hook you up with another one. Unfortunately, that means we'll be talking less."

"I didn't much like talking to you anyway," laughed Bos. "I've been itching for some action."

Jansen smiled. "Good, because you're hitting the streets asap. We've got no time to waste. The war is a-ragin' and there ain't no time to waste."



...days later.

A man stepped out of a light green Menako* 'Rhino,' as they were known — not because of their size, but because of their resemblance to the beetle of that name —, just as Rusnak Konstantinovich opened the doors to leave the police station and re-enter a world of freedom. He felt his wrists as he walked down the steps, toward the sidewalk. Looking around, he seemed to half-expect someone waiting for him. When it was obvious nobody was there to greet him, he simultaneously cursed and shrugged, and then continued on his way.

An eye-blink later there was a subtle click and the Menako 'Rhino' was a fireball. The ear-splitting explosion engulfed everything around it, including Konstantinovich, and ripped the glass to the police station windows into thousands of tiny shards. Others, farther away, put their heads down, fell to the ground, or took off running. There were shouting, yelling, and some crying.

A thick, black smoke full of debris crawled across the area like an impenetrable, toxic fog. The noise of sirens began to dominate. Officers started to pour out from the station.

Thousands of kilometers away, in a small office somewhere in Fedala, someone got an encrypted message. It read: "RUSNAK KONSTANTINOVICH IS DEAD."



NOTES

1. Menako is a Macabéan car manufacturer based in Sidi Rezegh, known for producing simple, affordable vehicles. Models include driverless versions and non-AI alternatives for foreign markets where autonomous vehicles are not in demand.

[McNernia]

MATAGALPA, SATRAPY OF NICARO
MCNERNIAN LIASON GROUP

---

The Mcnernians took in the whole place, it was not the 12th Army HQ that had arrived but an advanced group of Liasons that were intending to work with the Macabean garrison, the place was impressively made. The Golden Throne knew the art of war as few did. The Eagles were away in the war against Golgoth, they seemed to have done well. But the Mcnernians who disembarked from the courier jet to the Satrapy were planners as well as logisticians who were quiet, shaking hands and exchanging salutes.

During the journey there was some talk among themselves but the questions posed to the Macabeans were as follows.

“What has been done against the insurgency?”

“Have you captured any Ordenite personnel operating with the Rebellion?”

“What has your losses been against them?”

“How can we be of use against the foe if they are an insurgency, we are mechanized forces, good for holding off the Wehermacht not fighting partisans.”

They also stated that there would be a need to resupply the 12th Army with proper gear for the tropical like climate would take more time as there was preparations to mobilize more for the war effort. But eight divisions had been authorized, Parliament would have to approve more. Mcnernia was more democratic than autocratic.

One would learn that there had been shifts at home with who was the Prime Minister. But there was still a commitment to the conflict against the Ordenites. The Mcnernians would be somewhat shocked but then again due to crisis sitiutations overseas that were not entirely relevant the PM had no choice but to resign from the post.

The New PM would make a statement saying that Mcnernia was committed to the cause of defending Greater Dienstad from the menace of the Kraven and its allies.

---

At Sea-Central Diestand Fleet

---

The Admiral had received a message from the Liaison group that was quite inclined to state that there was a counter insurgency mission. And the Royal Marine elements dragged along on CVLNs or CVLHN, the Admiral did not care as they were light carriers that hauled the Marine component, the idea with long trains of supply vessels was for rather extended deployments across the world to police the sea lanes and threaten those who would interfere with Commerce. There would be counter insurgency operations, the Marines would need to be resupplied with tropical gear as Krasnova was not like the Nicaro jungles.

The Admiral cursed the fact that the ships had been dispatched. He Prince Eiremahon MacMangal had severed in the Navy long enough to know that such things were a bad omen. Then again it had happened under a rushing man who cared about what the King thought of a man in a distant region. Macnarin had wisely considered interning his ships. MacMangal was a northerner, it showed in his pale skin. The tropics he could handle in his duty uniform. He continued on the journey to the Satrapy of Nicaro.

A transport aircraft filed a flight plan to Nicaro and then departed with the proper tropical equipment on board for the 2400 Royal Marines attached to the central Dienstad Fleet. To preposition equipment. Departing when approved.

---

Fury Carrier Group
1 CVN
2 CVNL
-1 ASW-CVNL
-1 CVNH
--1 Marine Commando Btln-400 Marines

8 DDGN
-2 ASW
-2 AAW
-2 ASuW
-2 ABMW-Anti Ballistic Missile Warfare

4 CGN

1 AAW
2 ASuW
1 ABMW
7 FFGN
-3 ASW
-2 AAW
-2ASuW
6 FSN

1 AAW
3 ASW
2 ASuW

7 SSN
3 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C
1AOEN
2JSSN
2ASN


Heirax Carrier Group
1 CVN
2 CVNL
-1 ASW-CVNL
-1 CVNH
--1 Marine Commando Btln-400 Marines

8 DDGN
-2 ASW
-2 AAW
-2 ASuW
-2 ABMW-Anti Ballistic Missile Warfare

4 CGN

1 AAW
2 ASuW
1 ABMW
7 FFGN
-3 ASW
-2 AAW
-2ASuW
6 FSN

1 AAW
3 ASW
2 ASuW

7 SSN
3 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C
1AOEN
2JSSN
2ASN


Hagnon Carrier Group
1 CVN
2 CVNL
-1 ASW-CVNL
-1 CVNH
--1 Marine Commando Btln-400 Marines

8 DDGN
-2 ASW
-2 AAW
-2 ASuW
-2 ABMW-Anti Ballistic Missile Warfare

4 CGN

1 AAW
2 ASuW
1 ABMW
7 FFGN
-3 ASW
-2 AAW
-2ASuW
6 FSN

1 AAW
3 ASW
2 ASuW

7 SSN
3 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C
1AOEN
2JSSN
2ASN
Philogus Carrier Group
1 CVN
2 CVNL
-1 ASW-CVNL
-1 CVNH
--1 Marine Commando Btln-400 Marines

8 DDGN
-2 ASW
-2 AAW
-2 ASuW
-2 ABMW-Anti Ballistic Missile Warfare

4 CGN

1 AAW
2 ASuW
1 ABMW
7 FFGN
-3 ASW
-2 AAW
-2ASuW
6 FSN

1 AAW
3 ASW
2 ASuW

7 SSN
3 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C
1AOEN
2JSSN
2ASN

Mygdon Carrier Group
1 CVN
2 CVNL
-1 ASW-CVNL
-1 CVNH
--1 Marine Commando Btln-400 Marines

8 DDGN
-2 ASW
-2 AAW
-2 ASuW
-2 ABMW-Anti Ballistic Missile Warfare

4 CGN

1 AAW
2 ASuW
1 ABMW
7 FFGN
-3 ASW
-2 AAW
-2ASuW
6 FSN

1 AAW
3 ASW
2 ASuW

7 SSN
3 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C
1AOEN
2JSSN
2ASN

Cinyras Carrier Group
1 CVN
2 CVNL
-1 ASW-CVNL
-1 CVNH
--1 Marine Commando Btln-400 Marines

8 DDGN
-2 ASW
-2 AAW
-2 ASuW
-2 ABMW-Anti Ballistic Missile Warfare

4 CGN

1 AAW
2 ASuW
1 ABMW
7 FFGN
-3 ASW
-2 AAW
-2ASuW
6 FSN

1 AAW
3 ASW
2 ASuW

7 SSN
3 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C
1AOEN
2JSSN
2ASN


Admiral-Surface Action Group
1 CGN

4 DDGN
-1ASW
-1ASuW
-1AAW
-1ASuW

6 FFGN
-2ASW
-2ASuW
-2AAW

8 FSN


2 FSN
-1ASuW
-1ASW


1 FFGN
-AAW

6 SSN
-2 Type B
-4 Type A

1 AOEN

1 ASN


Peerage-Surface Action Group
1 CGN

4 DDGN
-1ASW
-1ASuW
-1AAW
-1ASuW

6 FFGN
-2ASW
-2ASuW
-2AAW

8 FSN


2 FSN
-1ASuW
-1ASW


1 FFGN
-AAW

6 SSN
-2 Type B
-4 Type A

1 AOEN

1 ASN

Ducal-Surface Action Group
1 CGN

4 DDGN
-1ASW
-1ASuW
-1AAW
-1ASuW

6 FFGN
-2ASW
-2ASuW
-2AAW

8 FSN


2 FSN
-1ASuW
-1ASW


1 FFGN
-AAW

6 SSN
-2 Type B
-4 Type A

1 AOEN

1 ASN

Prince-Surface Action Group
1 CGN

4 DDGN
-1ASW
-1ASuW
-1AAW
-1ASuW

6 FFGN
-2ASW
-2ASuW
-2AAW

8 FSN


2 FSN
-1ASuW
-1ASW


1 FFGN
-AAW

6 SSN
-2 Type B
-4 Type A

1 AOEN

1 ASN

Sovereign Surface Action Group
1 CGN

4 DDGN
-1ASW
-1ASuW
-1AAW
-1ASuW

6 FFGN
-2ASW
-2ASuW
-2AAW

8 FSN


2 FSN
-1ASuW
-1ASW


1 FFGN
-AAW

6 SSN
-2 Type B
-4 Type A

1 AOEN

1 ASN

Wolfpack 106
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C

Wolfpack 107
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C


Wolfpack 108
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C


Wolfpack 109
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C

Wolfpack 110
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C

Wolfpack 111
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C

Wolfpack 112
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C

Wolfpack 113
8SSN

4 Type A
2 Type B
2 Type C

Wolfpack Support 600
1DDGN
AAW
2 FFGN
ASW
ASuW

6 ASN
1 AOEN

Wolfpack Support 601
1DDGN
AAW
2 FFGN
ASW
ASuW

6 ASN
1 AOEN

[Eitoan]

Kelso, Eitoan
District A, 4th Precinct Station House, Converse Avenue

The hum of activity proceeded as normal that day inside the aging, stolid yellow brick structure housing the A/4 police headquarters. At the front desk, veteran Sergeant Marlen Briggs, 22 years on the force held sway, directing bookings, complaints, and releases to their proper office with brusque efficiency. The blonde Briggs no longer the bombshell of A/4, but her good looks holding up well after two rambunctious kids, good looking but in a “she’ll ride you hard and put you to bed wet” way, not exactly the same hottie fresh from the academy. Taking a draught of her coffee, she surveyed the activity in the entrance hall before her. It was a quiet day. The usual round of routine complaints; loitering students from both High Schools in the precinct, a few lost dogs, an arguing grocer complaining about a shoplifting. Potatoes. She got a potato shoplifting complaint. She shrugged, and advised the angry grocer to have a sat, and handed him a 52-A3 form, the standard for petty theft reporting. To her right was a short line, waiting to request an appointment with the Precinct Commander. Pleas for imprisoned relatives. Pro-se offerings of evidence for suspects long since booked. A few of the usual low-rent ambulance chasers that frequented the Converse Avenue station. Every day the same crowd, same faces, it seemed. Behind the desk, waiting for clearance was a line of skeevy looking prisoners waiting for release. Most were down on their heels bums, a few petty criminals. Most released on personal or family recognizance. “They’ll be back”, she thought. “They always come back”. One by one they filed past her. One by one she verified their release papers on the tablet in front of her. She liked desk duty. Better than driving a squad car, she thought. One by one the lowlifes shuffled past her, and out the doors onto the street. Outside there was an animated argument. Outside some clown in a light green Menako* 'Rhino” had zoomed in to snatch a rare public parking space from a beer truck, attempting a delivery at the bar on the corner of Converse and Sokoliska Trida, the customary watering hole for station house’s cops. An argument ensued. Swearing. Motorists yelling at the truck driver to move on.

Upstairs, in the 2nd floor office of Precinct Commander Lance Ross, the phone rang. Ross quickly looked aside from his load of paperwork, and ascertained the call was from downtown. He picked up the receiver. The voice on the other end, in a flat midlands accent informed him “This is headquarters, legal. You are to release the prisoner Rusnak Konstantinovich”, the voice informed.

“Wait, what? What conditions?”, sputtered Ross.

“I can’t go into that now”, the voice droned. “Release instructions have been forwarded. Your men will release Rusnak.”

Ross glowered. “I’m going to have to have more than just that”, he started.

The caller responded tersely. “This is not your concern now. He is to be released. Will be taken up by Narcotics at a later date.”

Ross raised an objection. “No special instructions? No monitoring?”

The voice cut him off. “No more questions – just release Rusnak.”

The line went dead.

Still troubled, Ross obtained the contact for the booking officer. Chief Inspector Tom Sorley, Major Investigations. He clicked on the contact and dialed him up.

“Hello, Tom? Yeah, Ross here at the A/4th. The boys downtown are cutting loose your prize trophy. Thought you’d like to know.

Sorely was perplexed. He gathered his thoughts. “First I’ve heard of it, Lance. Who’s put in the order”.

“Narcotics”

“Narcotics?”

“Narcotics.”

Sorely, stunned, gathered his thoughts for a moment.

“Tom, you still there?”

“Yeah Commander. I’ll get down there as soon as I can. I’d like to bring this up with Narcotics directly. Whole thing sounds effed”.

“Yeah, well, come on down, for all the good it’ll do”.

Seven minutes later a smiling Rusnak Konstantinovich handed his paperwork to Briggs at the front desk, nodded at her and winked.

“Perhaps we could meet under more pleasant circumstances, madame.”, he offered cheerfully.

“I. Don’t. Think. So”, Briggs spat out.

Konstantinovich walked cheerfully toward the door.

Behind him stood two detectives, one short and one tall, both in gray suits. One with a white button down shirt and blue striped tie, the other in a yellow shirt with a green pattern bow tie. Following them was Ross, serious demeanor.

“Follow Konstantinovich” he whispered to them. “I want to know everything, everywhere he goes. Report back to me. And keep your yap shut. This is just between us.”

Konstantinovich exits the station. The detectives exit the station.

The explosion. Konstantionovich is vaporized. The detectives are shredded. Dead. The windows at the front shattered, showering officers at the front, and citizens inside the room with shards of glass. Briggs is unscathed, in the women’s restroom. Hearing the explosion, she hauls ass to her desk, surveys the scene of carnage.

Ross doubles back downstairs, scans the damage. The wail of ambulances in the distance. The first men and women come pouring out from behind their desks, and immediately clear the area inside the building, offering first aid to the victims at the front desk. Ross comes bounding downstairs, aghast. A lieutenant at his side, he turns to his subordinate. “You get Major Investigations on the line, RIGHT NOW!. And you get upstairs, coordinate all assisting units.” Turning to Briggs, he informs her “Marlen, get outside. You’re in charge of the crime scene out there. I’ll expect assistance from all available units in the District soon. Go.”

Twenty minutes later, as if by magic, Chief Inspector Sorely arrives on the scene. Taking a good look at the mess, he parks down the street and high tails it to the station house, walking up to Sergeant Briggs, brandishing his badge. He stops to talk with her.

“The hell is this?”, he shouts. “This have anything to do with…”

“Rusnak Konstantinovich” she interrupts.

Sorely nods.

“Well, there he is, what’s left of him” she tells Sorely, pointing to the wreckage of the green Rhino. “Damn shame, that”, she said.

Sorely frowned. “Someone wanted him gone”.

“Yeah, someone”.

Briggs continued with the operation, ordering more patrolmen to push back a growing crowd of onlookers. A camera crew appeared down the street. “Get those assholes out of here”, she ordered. Two patrolmen headed off to push away the eager crew.

Ross came out to survey the operation. “Good to see you, Tom, but, as you can see, things have changed…”

“I guess so”

“Yeah. What do you think?”

“I’d like to know who gave the release order, Lance”.

Before Ross could respond, his phone rang. Picking it up, there was a different voice on the call.

“Commander Ross? Hi, Sevcik here, Office of National Intelligence Operations, here in Vladarsik. We’re going to be in town later today on this blow-up. We want you to preserve the scene, and cooperate with Kelso Narcotics to cataloging evidence. I know I can count on you”.

Before Ross could answer, Sorely asked “Who called”.

Ross simply answered “ONIO. They…”

With one swift move, Sorely grabbed the phone out of Ross’s hand.

“Hello, whoever this is, I’m Chief Inspector Tom Sorely, Kelso Major Investigations. I’m the arresting officer on the Konstantinovich case. What’s going on?”

Sevcik responded icily. “Put Commander Ross back on the line. This is none of your concern, Chief Inspector”.

“I will make it my concern! Who made this! It’s still a Kelso case, and I haven’t been relieved!”

The argument went on for another 5 – 7 minutes, Sorely getting hotter and hotter. Finally, Sevcik hung up. The two officers repaired to the Commander’s office.

A half hour later, Sorely’s phone rang. It was his boss. He was off the case. The two continued the discussion for a short time.

Later in the day, as they were wrapping up, a pudgy, red faced man in blue striped suit barged into Ross’s office unannounced.

He introduced himself. “Chief Inspector Baird Dhrostain, Narcotics”

“Not pleased to meet you”, Sorely snapped.

Ross bade the two antagonists to be seated. They glared at each other. After 15 minutes of bickering, Sorely had had enough.

Walking over to his Narcotics counterpart, towering over him, Sorely barked “Don’t give a damn what ONIO has of thinks it has. I want to see your orders taking over my collar”. Sorely moved closer.

Not intimidated, Dhrostain went face to face with Sorely. Or more correctly, his face to Sorely’s collarbone.

“You take that up with your boss, Sorely. I don’t have time for your bullshit!”.

“Well maybe I want to take it up with your”

“May I’ll take it up right back at you, Sorely, right here, right now”.

Shoving occurred. Dhrostain ineffectual. Sorely pushed him toward the door. Sorely pushed him again.

Leaving in humiliation, Dhrostain shot back at Sorely “You’ll be pounding a beat on East 90th soon. Later, loser!”

Sorely started toward him. He was restrained by Ross.

Turning him back into his office, he advised Tom Sorely “Forget it Tom, it’s ONIO."

---

gd1.RalPatriot.org.ei

Official Site of The Ralkoviak Patriotic League
True to Our Nation, True to Our Heritage!

To All Members, All Patriots of Ralkoviak Heritage, and To The Nation!
Eitoan...has been the source of happiness for our ancestors and ourselves. Under the protection of the freedom guaranteed us by the Constitution, we have lived in the enjoyment of full and perfect equality with our fellow citizens. We are enabled to worship the Supreme Being according to the dictates of our conscience, we can maintain the position to which our abilities entitle us, without our religious opinions being an impediment to advancement. This Republic has through years of proven service to Eitoan come to recognize our claims to absolute equality, with men of whatever religious denomination, or none. Here we can sit 'each under his vine and fig tree, with none to make him afraid.'

STAND BY THE FLAG!
It is almost a work of supererogation for us to call upon our readers to be loyal to the Republic, which protects all it's children. It is needless for us to say anything to induce them to proclaim their devotion to the land in which they live. But we desire our voice, too, to be heard, particularly at this time, joining in the hearty and spontaneous shout ascending from the whole Eitoan people, to stand by the blue banner!

Our youth take no back seat in taking up arms in defense of their country, pledging themselves to assist in maintaining inviolate its integrity, and ready to respond, if need be, with their lives, to the call of the constituted authorities, in the cause of law and order.

The time is past for forbearance and temporizing. We are now to act, and sure we are, that those whom these words may reach, will not be backward in realizing the duty that is incumbent upon them—to rally as one man for the Republic and the Constitution. The Constitution—which binds together, by so many sacred ties, millions of free men—which extends its hearty invitation to all manner of Eitoans, to come and be sheltered beneath its protecting wings—shall it be severed, destroyed, or even impaired? Shall those, whom we once called our brethren, be permitted to overthrow the fabric reared by the noble patriots of the fight for independence, and cemented with their blood?

And the Constitution—guaranteeing to all, the free exercise of their religious opinions—extending to all, liberty, justice, and equality—the pride of Eitoans, the result of hard won victories—shall that Constitution be subverted, and anarchy usurp the place of a sound, safe and stable government, deriving its authority from the consent of the Eitoan People? Subverted at the bequest of a foreign tyrant, or the remnant of a bankrupt crown? Shall the call to the black hexagram, or even the swastika find a following amongst our ranks?

The voice of millions yet unborn, cried out, 'Forbid it, Heaven!' The voice of the Eitoan people declares in tones not to be misunderstood: `It shall not be!'

Then stand by the Flag! What death can be as glorious as that of the patriot, surrendering his life in defense of his country—pouring forth his blood on the battlefield—to live forever in the hearts of a grateful people. Whether coastal or midland born, those of no faith, believers in the One True God of any stripe, and even the heathen, stand by it, and you are doing your duty, and acting well your part on the side of liberty and justice!

We know full well that our young men, who have left their homes to respond to the call of their country, will, on their return, render a good account of themselves. We have no fears for their bravery and patriotism. Our prayers are with them. G-d speed them on the work which they have volunteered to perform!

It is our duty as citizens of The Republic to urge and advise all officials, at all levels of government, local, territorial, and national that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters of all backgrounds in rejecting with abhorrence those murders that would rip asunder our society. And we call on our landsman, the Attorney General Dan Venkempen to not refrain from pursuit of those terrorists and criminals responsible for the recent atrocities in Berwyn. Do not spare them!

Together with all Eitoans of good will we will defend vigorously those freedoms won at dear cost over the ages. Let there be no doubt about it, neither the so-called ENADAP, or any unwanted and reviled foreign entity such as the so-called Ralkovian National Socialist Workers Party shall ever take root where Eitoan hearts beat true!

It is so resolved, by the Executive Committee of The Ralkoviak Patriotic League, and so made public for all to see!

Mark Roeper Co-Chair
Chief Executive Officer, ICF Bank

Richard Stenbrag Co-Chair
Pitcher, Dolton Orioles

110 Members of The Executive Committee

[Eitoan]

Airbase K-7, Satrapy of Pezlevko-Rubino

The war unfolded slowly, haltingly for the men of the 24th Fighter Wing. Safely ensconced deep in the recesses of the airbase hewn from rock, far away in a foreign land of which few had any knowledge. In the tense days before commencement of hostilities small knots of flyers and their crew visited the watering holes of the village below; a bumpy ride going down, a bumpier ride coming back up, usually in some state of inebriation. Then suddenly, the much anticipated attack from across the frontier, bombing of ground positions from the planes of the Luftwaffe. The order from Fedorograd Control; Hold tight. Colonel Doug “Smittie” Taylor conferring daily with his TGTAF liaison, Leutkoronel Frederick Stanley, eager to find out what kind of missions his men would be assigned, and when they could expect to get into action. Days passed. No orders for flying. The strategists at Fedorograd choosing to conserve their resources for an anticipated land invasion. An edginess crept in among the pilots of all squadrons, the chopper jockeys of the 607th Rescue Squadron. Medics of the 223rd Medical Squadron stood at the ready for the anticipated casualties. Nothing happened. As the days went on, leave was curtailed and deliveries of liquor and beer terminated, transport prioritized for fuel and munitions. Gambling of all sorts preoccupied the men of the 24th. The female EMTs, crew, and staff became more beautiful by the day. The pilots and senior crew worked diligently to make their acquaintance.

On the eighth day, the word came through Fedorograd Control: prepare evacuation. Behind the scenes, far away, below the isolated mountain airbase, TGT command in the Satray was plagued by considerable discoordination. Although initial Ordenite probing attacks were not alarming, concern mounted over expected Imbrinian offensive operations to blunt UWO momentum. The concern of planners was that a UWO offensive before additional staffing would leave the allied forces in the Satrapy in a tight situation, with a real threat of the Satrapy being overrun. As the high command evaluated the likelihood of becoming a reality, Stanley advised Taylor to prepare the withdrawl of EAF assets to Indras in an effort to save as much material and life as possible. Containers were outfitted, but not filled. Squadron commanders were briefed daily. After conversations with Vladarsik, and in view of the transport situation on the ground, disposal of some of the helicopters of the 607th was proposed. Two of them were sold in the upcoming days to Fedorograd Emergency Rescue, it’s crews enjoying the hospitality of that city, under wartime conditions, until transport back to K-7 could be arranged. On the advice of TGT High Command, Taylor ordered continuation of evacuation procedures, and awaited approval of the plan from Air Force Chief of Staff General Zeleny. No orders were given, except for a request for the F-36 crews to verify the boost of the F220 afterburning turbofans to 225kN thrust from 205kN.

Outside the cavernous base, the situation appeared to stabilize. Aviators of the Kriermada and ground and ship based SAM batteries provided an umbrella for ground based aircraft tasked with interdiction of the Ordenite probing attacks. The level of coverage finally deemed adequate, the orders for TGTAF and for the 24th to go into action were transmitted. Most of the 24th’s first assignments were on the Rubino front, attacking Krasnovian battalion and divisional anti-aircraft units, trying to provide a wider range of activity for the allied air forces . Control of the air was tenuous; neither side establishing superiority. Units of the Ordenite 73rd Army engaged on the bitterly contested Rubino front, and the pilots of the 24th turned toward neutralizing their artillery support. The flights were short, and speedy. And stomach turning. Pilots had to thread the needle around the jagged mountain ranges for a short, violent raid on the Ordenite onslaught, then repeat the process in reverse back to K-7. The F-35s of the 661st Fighter Squadron carried the load during the battle for Rubino. Although more shopworn than the newer F-36s, the F-35s were deemed a better fit for the ground support mission than the newer planes. The medium range plan was for the F-35 pilots to engage ground targets at long and medium ranges without being detected and tracked, using precision-guided munitions and air-to-air radar-guided missiles to successfully complete air-to-ground missions. In this “clean” configuration, the F-35 will enter the air battlespace first, clearing the way for F-36 air dominance operations for follow-on coalition forces to operate with relative impunity. At this time, air dominance was a ways off. Most of the loads inflicted on the Ordenites by the F-35s consisted of the AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile), an autonomous, long-range missile developed and produced by several Eitoan and Macabbean suppliers. The 2,000lb class weapon offers high capability and precision in destroying stationary as well as relocatable targets. Casualties were as expected. Of greater concern was the failure of 15 AGM-158s to detonate in the first three days of combat, a fact that was related promptly to Vladarsik, and researched immediately.

While the helicopter pilots in Fedorograd awaited for transport back to base, Colonel Taylor issued a request for repurchase of their craft. The paint had barely dried replacing EAF markings when the purchase was reversed, and the pilots faced another delay for repainting with EAF roundel before flying them back to the lower deck at K-7.

The fighting at Rubino after the initial lethargy took a toll on the pilots. The takeoff from K-7 was particularly grueling; a rapid dive outbound, a rapid climb on return. It took several days for the flyers to accustom themselves to the regular patters on the Rubino sorties. Lt. Colonel Frank Gibbons of the 661st Squadron, consisting of the F-35As bearing the brunt of the fighting ordered medical examinations for all pilots, and a review of diet, rest, and exercise after the fatigue became noticeable. The medical staff put the exhausted flyers on a strict scheduling of rest, at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep no sooner than two hours after completion of mission, and bland but nutritious diet. In honor of their ordeal, Captain Ann Malaferty, the Fighter Wing’s pathologist, offered up a highly colorful patch for the men of the 661st, honoring their service in riding “The Vomit Comet”, awarded to each pilot by Gibbons personally and with great pride upon completion of their third mission. In the first 135 sorties at Rubino there was one emergency landing in the combat zone, caused by a fault sensor. The pilot, Captain Steve “Pinion “ Nedved was rescued by TGT forces and returned safely to base. With no actual damage to the plane, it was returned after insepection. Pinion was awarded the first Krasnova Battle Ribbon later in the war.

As Imbrinian forces finally disembarked on Satrapy soil, plans fleshed out for an initiative northeast along the coast. Orders to K-7 shifted to support this advance, now involving all squadrons of the 24th. Although a longer flight, the path was easier on the pilots. The trajectory flatter, with fewer sudden, sharp movements. Ground support continued for both the 661st, and some F36s, with the EAF heavily involved in close ground support against Ordenite artillery and armor in sectors A-1 and A-2. As fighting on the ground commenced, other F36s, having greater stealth and agility were pitted against the Luftwaffe directly. TGT air coverage continued in increasing volume, now from both the Kriermada air bases within the Strapy itself. Much to the chagrin of Smittie Taylor, the pilots of the 661st, needing some relief engaged in a throwback nose art competition, featuring some of the most obscene and lurid plane decoration in the EAF since the confrontations over Pelwos in the late 1970s. The ground forces within sight of the planes were amused. The crew was amused. Colonel Taylor was not amused.

[Imbrinium]

General Alceo Baresenow called all of the Corps commanders into a meeting in the SCIF in the HMS Coleman. Once everyone had reported in with their staff, this was risky due to the daily bombing raids by the Reich on Kríerstatón Fedorograd but this had to be done.

“Gentlemen I’ve called you all here today to give you your orders from the CENTBLOC, these orders are direct and to the point.”

Everyone in the room noticed the mood of Gen. Baresenow, his mood was dead serious like he wouldn’t see these men again. Gen. Baresenow commanded one of the most effective divisions in the last war.

He truly loved his men and the mission and the country. He would do anything for any of them now he was being told his men would have to fight outnumbered and most likely not be relieved in time to save them.

“The three separated corps will take the offensive where the Reich had pushed into Pezlevko-Rubino draw the enemy into the feeling that this is it the pushing into Krasnova hold nothing back hit them and hit them hard no breathing room and no quarters.”

“The 24th army is going to attack up the coast on the flank hopefully taking the Reich command by surprise that we have commented all of our forces to this”

“The remaining forces will support the operations from here with logistics and whatever is needed. The fact is till the landing forces land we have no reserves and no back up we make our stand and move out within 72hrs make sure your forces are ready”

Gen. Lucciano spoke up

“Sir our forces can be ready sooner than that why wait?”

“Our combined air and naval bombers want their chance to take on the enemy and hopefully soften up some areas within Krasnova.”

“You have your orders now carry them out and Gods speed gentlemen, For King and country!”

With that, the meeting broke up and the commanders and staff headed out back to their unit to look over the plans and orders and meet with the divisional and lower commanders for the operation.

Locations around Centbloc

At the time of the meeting the first waves of bombers where already on route to Krasnova their targets where SAM sites and radars and the airfields. The secondary targets where the supply and transportation hubs and ports. Over 2500 royal air force bombers where in the skies headed to Krasnova. This would be the first sortie of many to follow raids would continue twenty-four hours day and night till either Krasnova was freed or surrendered.

Bash 21 squadron would be the first within range with Herc 42 would arrive within the target zone after, the two supporting squadrons of support aircraft of electronic warfare aircraft would launch their attacks to blind and confuse Reich forces on the whereabouts of the incoming bombers and locations.

The bombers wouldn’t be making landfall they would have a more standoff approach launching Hellion 2H3 from the sea and returning to base.

In the south in support of bombers would be hitting ground targets and command and control hubs. These aircraft would be on call in support of operations on the ground to hit time-sensitive targets and support when and where needed.

[Imbrinium]

Bash 21 aircraft approached the release zone the bomber crews verified the targets, the weapons officer opened the bomb doors and the missiles rotator carrier turned as the Hellions were dropped and launched into the black abyss. This happened time and time again till the racks where all cleared of hellions throughout Bash 21 squadron the 24 bombers turned and headed from home.

The 384 Hellions dropped down to the operational altitude and split up to their prospective targets.

The first targets would be the coastal radar and SAM sites.

Far off the western coast of Krasnova Herc 42 was repeating the same as Bash 21 with almost the same weapons package and targets
The deal was that some 700 plus missiles didn’t seem like much of the first wave of an attack but these where the first to hit their launch point this would be repeated on every coast by bombers from all points of the compass the sky was filled with waves of bombers with the goal and order to hit everything in their path.

At sea

The submarine forces hunting started slowly with the busiest area of the region as far as trade and shipping it was hit and miss on finding the targets but that would soon change.

The navy’s bomber wings had now been given the word to go on the hunt and hunt they would they took off from bases scattered around CENTBLOC took off to find and fix the Reich’s navy on the surface and launch attacks on them.

The RIN had their fleets on the move and hunt with fleets moving to close the straight-headed south to Krasnova. These fleets and task forces moved mostly with their radars on either passive or off relying on fleet aircraft to watch the skies and seas for the enemy.

It was only a matter of time before the waters of the central region would become red with the blood of all parties involved and the innocent in the way.

[The Macabees]

GROUND DEFENSES, SATRAPY OF PEZLEVKO-RUBINO

As the sun first began to peek over the horizon to signify the beginning of another day a soldier's face of dreadful awe was lit by the glare of the nearby lunch of a flurry of anti-tank missiles. The Ordenites, along with their Krasnovan conscripts, had renewed their offensive on the Macabéan defensive lines protecting the Krasnovan Frontier. Their tanks, supported by infantry and artillery, were placing incredible pressure on specific points along the front as they looked for a breakthrough. The imperial defenses continued their defense as they had the previous day, often allowing the Ordenite vanguard to break through only to close the front again and trap Ordenite units in the Macabéan rear.

While the Kysetian katasoa was still not much more than a name for a united Kysetian force organized ad hoc, Ejermacht commanders were adapting their strategy for its use. Kysetian makanas were originally earmarked for an informal invasion of Ordenite Chernaya with the purpose of waging an insurgent campaign against Ordenite and Krasnovan military, security, and political forces in the region directly east of Pezlevko-Rubino. These plans were thrown awry as a result of the "premature" beginning to what would doubtless be known as the Fourth Krasnovan War. But, they were not scrapped entirely. Where the Ordenites launched their attacks and were allowed through, that is where the defending forces attempted to isolate them in the rear, tens of thousands of Kysetians were ordered to go on the offensive. These rushed to slip through Ordenite lines, now relatively vulnerable if only because their armored forces were moving into the Macabéan rear while others were advancing behind them, and disperse into the Chernaya region.

Because mechanization would do them little good in an insurgent campaign, especially as the Luftwaffe had, for all intents and purposes, local air superiority and Ordenite artillery was highly active, the Kysetians left their APCs, IFVs, and other armored vehicles behind. Instead, they moved mostly by foot or on horse, the latter being their preferred method of transportation regardless. Using their knowledge of the local lands, they moved through pathways known only to locals like them and took advantage of the geography where they could to slip past any nearby Ordenite forces.

Many would doubtless die in these attempts to infiltrate into the Ordenite rear. But, the many who lives would now wage an ongoing guerrilla war against Ordenite supply lines, artillery, and surface-to-air missile batteries. Their list of targets would, of course, continue to grow as the war raged on. And the more that broke into the Ordenite rear, the more chaos they could seed.

To communicate with these forces, the Ejermacht distributed satellite-connected tablets and comms at the equivalent of the platoon level. It was an insurgency coordinated to meet the overall objectives of the Golden Throne's defensive and territorial objectives in Krasnova.

Aside from efforts on the ground, the Laerihans still actively used whatever assets it had within the satrapy to carry on their own defensive efforts. Flying from out of their mountain bases, they continued to streak directly atop friendly territory, using the curtain provided by mountain-based SAMs to battle the Luftwaffe. The barrage of surface-to-air missiles and the back-and-forth exchange of air-to-air missiles was evident to those watching from below, who must have been nervously following the conflict as the two sides relentlessly battered at each other for control of the skies. They were supported by 'round-the-clock bombing missions flying in from New Empire to the north and Indras from the south.

Despite the use of Kysetians to disrupt the Ordenite rear and the best efforts of the imperial ground defenses to hold the front and inflict as many casualties as possible, the Ordenites still held the initiative along the Frontier and the Ejermacht began to withdraw to another temporary line perhaps 10–15 miles to their rear. From these new positions, they would continue their resistance against the Reich's invasion of the satrapy.



KRÍERGRUP 'INDRAS'

As the Ordenites began to focus some of their land-based indirect fire on the port facilities of Fedorograd, the supply lines for 'Indras' began shifting toward the northern ports of the Territory of Indras. This was something that was already happening, as most new supplies would have to come from outside of Pezlevko-Rubino, but it was nonetheless accelerated by the pace of events in Krasnova.

But this was not the concern of the combatants within the fleet group. Instead, the force's carriers were focused on supporting the Laerihans over the satrapy and attacking Ordenite aerial forces from their southern flank. Carrier-based aircraft, along with the support of cannon- and missile-laden ships, continued striking at Ordenite air bases, SAM sites, radars, and mobile artilleries. The offshore bombardment was unceasing and ongoing, every combat ship available helping in some way to stem the Ordenite tide along the Frontier and behind their lines.

Now that tens of thousands of Kysetians were slipping into the Ordenite rear, 'Indras' also began to prepare for a slight shift in resources to support these forces. The Kysetians would have access to fire support, using their tablets and comms to call in supporting fire when necessary. No less, it would be the Kysetians who offered these naval forces better intelligence and data on the location of strategic and tactical Ordenite targets.


KRÍERGRUP 'BERLISTON'

To the west, 'Berliston' continued its gradual blockade of the western and northern coasts of Krasnova, with the intent of completing cutting off the island from the Ordenite mainland. Other naval forces, and the Arcaenian naval offensive, would also help toward this objective. With its allies conducting their own naval operations to eliminate the Kriegsmarine and blockade the eastern coastline of the Ordenite mainland, the Golden Throne could focus more of its energy on harassing and bombarding strategic Ordenite assets in the western half of Krasnova, including the ongoing bombardment of Dathel Port.

Two small squadrons, however, went silent. They awaited the arrival of troopships precedent from New Empire...

[United World Order]

AERIAL DEFENSES, REICHSGAU KRASNOVA

Another day had come anew and with it came the brutal struggle over Krasnovan airspace as Triumvirate aligned air forces launched what felt like endless bombing missions into different corners of the island its self targeting Ordenite air defenses and Luftwaffe air bases. While local air superiority over the island was still in favor of the Ordenite Luftwaffe, it had become evident to their command staff that their were cracks in the surface. Both Macabean and Imbrimium bombers had been relentlessly targeting the air defense system and other strategic targets from a distance and with longer range missiles in the hundreds which while many were intercepted before reaching their targets, others made it to their target and delivered death and destruction. These attacks not only affected the military but also civilians as well with some towns and villages being caught in the crossfire and having their homes inadvertently destroyed by the forces who looked to free them from their oppressors. The civilian death toll was already rising with intense fighting towards the Frontier with the Satrapy and the bombing of the recently rebuilt port city of Datosk. While the Ordenites and their Luftwaffe took the brunt of these engagements, the Krasnovan Aerospace Forces were left to hopefully begin to turn the tide.

The KaF were already mobilizing and scrambling dozens of air superiority and also interceptor squadrons consisting heavily of Sukhoi Su-30SM , Su-35S and Mikoyan MiG-31s which in terms of the Krasnovan Aerospace Forces were up to date and modern for use in combat. All three, MiG-31, Su-30SM and Su-35S were fitted with their own electronic countermeasures system which would be put to work intercepting enemy bomber aircraft as they approached the 2000km mark from the shoreline and further if needed in which the arsenals of the two fighter aircraft would be used such as the R-33, R-27 and R-77 medium to long-range air to air missiles. This would be repeated in the areas that needed it the most such as in and around Datosk and the western and northern coasts to counteract both Imbrimium and Macabean bombers and disrupt their bombing efforts. The Ordenite Luftwaffe which were bearing the brunt of the attacks were also mobilizing and scrambling squadrons of interceptors to tackle the immense threat from Triumvirate bombers against their air defense system and air bases from which they maintained local air superiority through. Both Ordenite and Krasnovan mobile SAMs were being moved to where they were needed the most as to replenish losses already taken in the on-going air war over Krasnova along with the better usage of electronic countermeasures to throw off and deceive enemy aircraft in the theater of operations.

The KaF also knew of the threat posed by Kriergrup 'Berliston' which was steadily positioning its self to blockade the western and northern approaches to the island from being of passage to the Ordenites. The anewed bombing of Datosk and it's port and defenses were a testament to this as KaF generals hatched a gradual plan to launch periodic waves of Tupolev Tu-22M3M supersonic long-range strategic and maritime bombers fitted with anti-shipping missiles such as the Kh-32 and the Kh-47M2 with the latter being an air launched ballistic missile with nuclear capabilities however are kept conventional only for the time being. The Tu-22's while also being escorted by fellow MiG-31s in order to protect the bombers while on approach would begin standoff engagements with Kriergrup 'Berliston' targeting destroyers and cruisers along with even carriers. The Luftwaffe would also take part with their own bombers and escorts while also offering a electronic edge to the fight using ECM equipment to throw off and deceive the Kriergrup of their location and exactly how many there were as to maximize the effectiveness of the bombers. This would be further supported by what Kriegsmarine units were available and not damaged from the targeting of the Datosk Port facilities as probing groups would be sent out in different directions relative of the Kriergrup and upon coming into effective range would engage them as they saw fit.

Meanwhile both the Krasnovan Aerospace Force and the Ordenite Luftwaffe were constantly updating their tactical and strategic picture of the on-going conflict. Identifying and pin-pointing relative locations of Triumvirate naval forces within the Krasnovan theater through satellite and other intelligence means.

NAVAL THEATER, CENTRAL DIENSTAD

Task Force Nord and Task Force Wiking had been sent originally to the north and towards what was called the Sea of Storms. This had been done to check the Arcaenian and Imbrimian navies which typically operated there and allow bigger Kriegsmarine fleets in the south have not to worry about a pincer from the north and could be made readily available to challenge Kriergrup Berliston and other Kriergrups near Krasnova. While these task forces fought to the best of their capabilities despite being thrown into a deadly gauntlet by the Arcaenians, it meant that Kriegsmarine fleets in the south east were free to begin moving towards Krasnova its self. Naval Group Command East had already re-mobilized and deployed much of the Crown Sea Fleet which consisted of over 3500 vessels and submersibles that as they moved through the Sea of Crowns divided themselves up into smaller task forces as to not present a huge target for roving enemy submarines and aircraft that were watching the main passage to Krasnova. Their journey would be marked by increased anti-submarine sweeps and patrols by their own U-Boots and other ASW capable vessels. These task forces would also follow trade routes that were usually clear of military like vessels and upon reaching the overall location of Kriergrup 'Berliston' would see that the blockade be challenged and eventually broken to allow support from the mainland to flow into the island once again.

Meanwhile the Wanderjar Sea Fleet which upon the beginning of hostilities had immediately been ordered to travel through the Lamonian Sea and head towards Krasnova from the south. The fleet consisted of over 2,000 vessels and submersibles which were originally conducting freedom of navigation missions near the Strait of Musselberg and elsewhere were now passing through the seas that separated Indras and Holy Panooly. It had been noticed through satellite imagery and reconnaissance of high traffic from the northern coastline of the Indras satrapy that were tracked with their likely destination to be Fedorograd. Kriegsmarine commanders again shifted plans for the Wanderjar Sea Fleet as now the priority was to cut off Fedorograd from it's new supply route in northern Indras. This would mean coming to blows with Kriergrup Indras and likely whatever naval reinforcements were available to the Krierarmada from Holy Panooly too. The Wanderjar Sea Fleet would begin to gradually cut off the open supply route from Indras with it's U-Boots which would hopefully entice Kriergrup Indras to come fourth and confront them as to which the firepower from the majority of the Fleet would be brought to bear upon them when they did.

The Fleet's destroyers and missile cruisers would also begin targeting naval infrastructure along the Indras northern coastline as the fleet's carriers began scrambling their carrier fighters for local superiority over the airspace when Kriergrup Indras did come to challenge them there.

KRASNOVAN FRONTIER/CHERNAYA REGION, REICHSGAU KRASNOVA

The initiative was still in Ordenite and Krasnovan hands in the fight on the frontier. The defenders had steadily withdrawn again as the onslaught was proving to be more than they could handle despite their tactics in drawing forces in and trapping them behind their lines. So a meeting of Heer and Waffen-SS commanders would lead to the increase in destructive power of the artillery shelling positions in the rear which would mean that over 100 600mm Morser Sturm self propelled siege mortars would begin taking over most fire support missions on the battlefield as the commanders were expecting results and had an arsenal of war to choose from to deal with their enemies. Local anti air defense began to tighten up when deployed in the vicinity of the siege mortars in order to avoid losses within their artillery force. It was well within the Heer's power to be able to field such weaponry on the battlefield even if it cause catastrophic damages to everything else in it's way leading to heavy civilian casualties if they'd not been already evacuated in time.

Soon enough the enemy would again be barraged by the Luftwaffe's bombers which at standoff ranges launched dozens of attacks on the defenses and infrastructure to apply more pressure on the enemy and deny them any breathing room. The combined total of the Krasnovan Ground Forces participating in the attack was over 300,000 and was to be the tip of the spear in breaking through the heavily fortified Krasnovan Frontier and into the Pezlevko-Rubino Satrapy. This and the 73rd and 79th armies from the Ordenite Heer meant that over half a million men were poised to breakthrough and immediately siege Rubino from it's Macabean and Kysetian masters and highly equipped and trained Erjmacht and Kysetian Katasoa, This front however would soon see its self supported by the 50th Army Group which meant that over 700,000 men and their materials of war were available to the Wehrmacht to continue an endless bloody siege down. Ordenite artillery levels on the Rubino Front upon the arrival of both 50th and 45th Army groups would mean the quantity of artillery available to directly sway the course of an entire battle was over 50 percent higher than previously recorded. Over 1 million of the Ordenite Heer would soon make their way to the front lines of the front and support an complete break through of the defenders fortifications.

The Pezlevko and soon after Fedorograd its self front in the southern most west part of the satrapy was advanced by the 18th and 23rd armies of the Krasnovan Ground forces along with the 60th and 65th Ordenite armies made up a very smaller force combined with over 400,000 soldiers and personnel and their war fighting equipment. Corps sized elements of the 18th and 23rd armies were mobilized and advanced from the south of Chernaya and were looking to advance on Pezlevko from the north. The 60th and 65th armies however had corps sized elements advance to the south and then would sweep under Pezlevko and while doing so directly assault Fedorograd its self and or acquire a position to do so. Casualties since the operation was launched had been steadily climbing as the defenders were beaten back by now over 30 kilometers which resulted in over 2500 killed and likely over 8000 wounded. To the Wehrmacht and the Heer these were acceptable casualties and sacrifices that had to be made in order to achieve their purpose in their duty. To the civilian populace at home the official numbers would be withheld and the Ordenite media which was directly controlled by the Reichsministerium of Propaganda and Enlightenment would down play and make up their own losses to fit the agenda and propaganda they would utilize to control public opinion and morale.

The Propaganda ministry was almost always successful in swaying public opinion of a certain event such as the war currently waging in Krasnova as news segments would show scenes of what was happening on the battlefield which would shine a light on the Ordenite soldier in particular and paint him in a positive way. This had been done for years now and included every war that was waged over dying Krasnova and would be done again for the current war over the island by forces of the Triumvirate. It was true that the initiative was well in the ball park for the Ordenites and Krasnovans driving against the satrapys hardened defenses and defenders such as the Kysetians who could turn the tide of an offensive. It was also made apparent that rear guard units and logistics convoys were coming under attack as of late and after several engagements such as those in remote areas of the Chernaya region near the frontier its self meant it was the Kysetians who were filtering into the region. Orders were soon enough sent out by High Command which called for all logistics convoys be escorted by some sort of armed guard which would be fulfilled by the Ordenite Selbschutz and elements of the 17th SS-Police Division both were heavily armed for such attackers. The usage of drones and even armed drones against identified pathways observed by drones or reconnaissance teams as to have heavy foot traffic was a easier approach to fighting an armed insurgency. For any that were able to slip through into the Chernaya region would be pursued by Ordenite Selbschutz and if needed support from regular army units from both Ordenite and Krasnovan armies.

Kysetians that were able to get deeper into the region than most were sooner than not encounter the Army of the Chernaya Emirate which is a Shiekhist Wahhabi insurgent army having been fighting for a free Chernaya under their religion for over 60 years of what they called occupation. The Emirate soldiers were already considering the Kysetians to be infidel and even heathen due to the pagan like religion which relates to their lifestyle in the steppes. The Ordenite occupations had made themselves bitter enemies with the formation of an Ordenite dominated Chernaya and Krasnova but as Kysetian horses and soldiers seeped into the region and came into what was considered Emirate territory the fight began. From mostly more secluded sections of the Chernaya region would these engagements take place along with quieter and smaller villages and towns that the Kysetians may enter through. Direct confrontation and out right bloody ambushes were had against infiltrating Kysetians by dozens if not hundreds of mujahideen who considered them allies of Satan. Combined with the efforts of both Ordenite and Krasnovan militaries to stop and destroy any Kysetians attempting to cross over, this made the objective more and more treacherous as time goes on.

In the west with the bombings of Datosk by Kriergrup 'Berliston', Ordenite generals had took this as a sign of a future impending point of invasion by the Triumvirate. Ordenite bases in the vicinity of Ivanovka and Sterlya began to empty out as the 80th Army Group and the 73rd Army Group of the Ordenite Heer were partially mobilizing to meet the strategic demands of the battlefield. Several corps sized elements of the 80th Army Group would be poised to develop and maintain defensive positions facing towards Datosk while also covering behind it Sterlya and Ivanovka further to the south. Additional elements from the 73rd Army Group would do the same but would be facing towards one of the biggest mountain ranges on the island which helped naturally separate the Satrapy from the Ordenite dominated Krasnova. While also more importantly defending a tactically valuable valley which was the only land based route from the satrapy and towards Ivanovka and the western coast in which the defenders wanted to keep out of Triumvirate reaches. Additional manpower was given in the way of Krasnovan paramilitaries who operated locally and mobilized to man the defenses of their homeland.

Both Krasnovan and Ordenite air forces also stepped up their air superiority efforts within the western reaches of the island as did the Kriegsmarine in valiant fashion moving to confront her enemies in battle on the high seas. The war was dragging on steadily as the military ambitions of both sides were being unveiled one step at a time.

[Imbrinium]

SATRAPY OF PEZLEVKO-RUBINO
The 883rd corps was the first to move to the front after the first 48hrs of bombings, the highway was cleared by military police and local law enforcement as the divisions rolled through.

Once in the city of Rubino, the locals stopped to watch as hundreds of armored vehicles rolled down the main streets of the city. The main goal was the front line to counter the assault of Reich forces there.

The goal was to open two additional fronts and make it seem that this was the main attack into Krasnova hopefully driving the Reich to focus on the areas under attack push forces there.

The IAFK forces were outnumbered at least ten to twenty to one, the end goal was to buy time for the main forces to land and takeover Krasnova.

The first arriving units were the 233rd cavalry division, smoke filled the sky from buildings and destroyed equipment along the front lines, the 883rd would be the left flank the 203rd corps and the 67th corps would make up the center and the right flanks.

The other three corps where also on the move to their launch points once there the artillery would open with everything in the arsenal.

Already on the front was SAS and Commando units mapping out positions for attack by either artillery or ground attack. On the front the special operations snipers would hit anyone that looked like they had some sort of rank.

Days later the main forces of all three corps had made it into position and now it was time to release the fury on the Reich.

The first battles started with thousands of artillery, mortar, and rockets attacking the frontline in force, whole gird squares were wiped out. The IAFK used everything in the arsenal other than special weapon options to destroy and open the front lines.

The recon units moved through openings here and there to get in behind the lines to pinpoint targets as best they could. A lot of time right after reporting the positions of enemy formations they would go dark not to be heard from again.

Armored recon and mechanized infantry with tank support moved into the fray hitting the front lines hard and fast taking advantage of the artillery and surprise a few good large holes started to form in the lines by nightfall. The battle would rage into the night with those gaps being lost only to form somewhere else, this would take place along the front.

The 349th tank division would spearhead the attack for the 883rd corps leading the way of the 349th was the 3rd regiment of the 2nd regimental combat team. Within the 3rd was 14 companies that made up the regiment. Some 120 tanks and 2 companies of mechanized infantry would attack a point at grid 5JOX- 23-56 this one kilometer of the FEBA would be the point at which the 3rd was charged in attacking and breaking through so follow on forces could widen the breach and gain the upper hand.

The three platoons moved out under the cover of earth-shattering missile and artillery barrage it seemed the whole grid square was being blown up or set on fire. The company moved swiftly with the recon element in the lead about 10kms ahead they moved along going from staggered column over watching each element when needed to cover linear danger areas.

When the company moved into the direct sign of the FEBA the recon element fell back into the column and called for fire on selected targets as the three platoons moved into a wedge formation with the second platoon and scouts filling the gap in the middle with a company of mechanized infantry.

“Mafia main this is Pedro 4 made objective attacking time now”
“Roger Pedro 4 Charlie mike”

“Pedro 4 this Duke 4 we have three tanks left”

“Roger you have the left take them out”

Within Duke platoon, the two lead tanks turned their guns onto the target and engaged.

“Gunner tank left sabo!” “Roger Identified range of 1000 meters”

The Tank commander looked for the next target as he told the gunner to fire.

“FIRE”

With that command, the tank shook with the main gun firing the 140mm Sabot round, within seconds the next round of Sabot was being loaded by the autoloader. The commander overrode the gunner controls to the next target.

“Gunner tank sabo!”

“Identified 1000meters”

“Fire!”

The tank shook again with the force of the main gun killing another target, but this would be a short-lived victory. Reich armored appeared as counter fire on the FEBA began from Reich artillery.

“Mafia main this Pedro 6 contact 500 meters north of Grid 5JOX 35225-48372 possible main force requesting fire support”

“Pedro 6 this Mafia main fires approved”

“Hitman this Pedro 6 fire mission over”

“Hitman send it Pedro 6”

“Hitman, Pedro 6 Immediate Suppression”

“Company plus tanks in open”

“Polar- 500meters from 5JOX 35225-48372 moving south”

“Shake and bake Hitman”

“Fire when ready”

“Pedro 6, Hitman shot over”

“Shot out”

“Pedro 6 splash over”

“Splash out target”

“Break, Break!

“This is Duke 2, Duke 4 down tank took a direct hit, tanks left flank”

The rest of the duke platoon kept moving north toward the main front point of the FEBA.

“Mafia main this is Cody 6 Duke 4 down Grid 5JOX 45233-22455 direct hit”

“Roger Cody 6 CM”

“Cody 2 this Duke 3 tank front”

“Roger got’em”

Cody 2

“Gunner tank sabo!”

“Identified 700meters”

“Fire!”

Cody 2’s tank shook with the main gun firing the main gun at a Reich tank hitting it with the full forces of the sabot round destroying the tank.

“This Pedro 4, Pedro 5 is out hit”

As the tank company moved up the Reich’s tanks became more noticeable, the force was now taking anti-tank missile fire from dug-in positions. The IAFK tanks moved through the open area of the battlefield only to run into a maze of tank ditches and barbed wire that was once the defense barrier of the Mac defense forces.

The infantry platoons stopped and cleared the trenches and bunkers left over from the fight beforehand.
“Mafia main this is Pedro 6 ACE report follows”

“Alpha, yellow, Charlie, yellow, Echo, Yellow, continuing mission”

“Roger Pedro 6”

Duke 7
“Gunner IFV in the open 1000meters”

“Gunner IFV 8 o’clock HEAT”

The gunner indexed HEAT with a Sabot round still in the gun, the autoloader picked the next round as HEAT the gunner then fired the Sabot round hitting the IFV destroying it, Then a platoon of tanks appeared the gunner engaged the first tank with the HEAT round with little effect the second tank fire destroying Duke 7 with a Sabot round.

“Mafia main this Opia 6, Opia 3 and Opia 7 down”

“Roger KIA’s?”

“This is Opia 3 requesting medevac my position Grid 5JOX 67432-5838, multiple soldiers hit at least 5 critical”

“Roger standby”

The movement slowed as more Reich tanks started their counterattack the platoons tried to hold forward movement which without artillery support it would be nearly impossible.

“Mafia main this is Pedro 6 request support to regain movement need engineer support and tank support”

“Roger moving them your way time now”

“Hitman this Pedro 6 fire mission follows sending request per BMS”

“Roger Pedro 6”

“Pedro 6 this is Hitman solid copy on request, shot over”

“Shot out”

Kilometers behind MLRS fired hundred of missiles to Pedro 6’s requested target position, within second impacts could be seen hitting Reich tanks and IFVs, not all tanks where hit though and more moved into position to attack.

The tank company moved up on to the objective as move support both artillery and another company of tanks and a full company of mechanized infantry moved up to support opening the gap in the FEBA.

Kilometers away the medical tracks had picked up Opia wounded and moved them back to the collection point. From there the wounded would be transported to the 9890th forward medical support group for treatment.

The night was fully on the battle now everything was fought with a green or black and gray tint of the night optics. Smoke filled the air, some from fires of destroyed equipment other were incoming artillery covering support.

Duke 8

Contact left!

“Gunner Tank sabo”

“Identified tank 900meters sabo!”

“Fire!”

The tank fire destroying the Reich tank with the Reich tank’s wingman engaging Duke 8 and knocking out the tank, but the crew survived climbing out under intense gunfire and moving to a crater.

“Pedro 6 this Duke 4, Duke 8 hit and out”

“Roger CM”

The fighting was intense no real winner would be known for hours, the recon elements had broken out and moved to gain eyes on the main enemy elements losing 3 vehicles along the way from Reich IFVs and missiles.

“Mafia main this is Godfather actual setrep”

“Godfather this Mafia main, we have taken heavy casualties still moving to take an objective, BREAK, we are on the objective at this time trying to move passed, Break will advise update when possible on movement out”

The 24th army moved slowly northwest along the coast on what was once a coastal highway the front would be large moving up the coast and it would take days to get into place. Already on the coastal front was a commando platoon and two SAS teams conducting recces of the area for the places to hit.

[The Macabees]

MATAGALPA, SATRAPY OF NICARO
Response to McNernia (9/10/2019).

Leutstrategos Herron Kalep, a Frommian, was tasked with receiving the advanced party arriving to Barbakán Simón Cristoforo from McNernia. His instructions were to debrief them, answer any questions they had, and show them their men's barracks and their own officers' quarters. They arrived not long after landing at the military airfield in Matagalpa, their convoy wrapping its way through the jungle, like a snake sidewinding amongst a lush, green thicket.

"What has been done about the insurgency?" one of the McNernian officers asked, as they made their way to one of the administrative buildings on the base's nuklek, or command area.

Nodding, Kalep replied, "I will offer a much more in-depth debriefing once we arrive at the Julepet Building, named after the famous commander Lasagos Lavi Jelepet, who died on the front during The War." He, of course, was referring to the War of Golden Succession, which had ended only thirteen years earlier. "For now, suffice to say that our army has control of the urbanity and much of the jungle, but there are still problem spots exacerbated by Frontiers that we do not fully control, that is to say the other side tend to suffer from porosity."

"When we first arrived, years ago, most of the militias were on our side. After the overthrow of the government, we continued to work with most of them in our efforts to extinguish the pirate menace around San Pecc, Chinadenga, and on western islands. These militias were organized under the overall GNLF command. Before the end of our anti-pirate operations, we eliminated this command system by force as our regulares eliminated most militia forces while they were concentrated around Chinadenga and San Pecc, during the sieges. Anything that survived, we integrated into the local security forces, which complement our regular military forces by doing much of the grunt work on the ground. We do our own patrolling and will, of course, support local operations, but most local security is enforced by local forces. If we do our own enforcement, we typically use the Zarbian auxiliaries. They speak the language. The locals are also increasingly taking on patrolling responsibility. We patrol at the platoon level, using smaller forces spread out more thinly to find and engage the enemy, with air and artillery assets always available for fire support."

The McNernians talked between themselves for a brief moment, some nodding and others with pensive faces. Then, the same one who had spoken earlier asked, "Have you captured any Ordenite personnel operating with the Rebellion?"

The leutstrategos answered, "The Ordenites were originally here supporting the Contra government which, before the empire liberated the country from their tyranny, was the state government of Nicador and Firmador. Most of them evacuated the country when the empire first arrived, the Reich at the time being embroiled in another war over Krasnova. Then, it was the Mokans warring against them there. That was the Second Krasnovan War. Many Ordenites, especially those with business interests here, stayed behind. Our intelligence services had good reason to suspect many of them of being spies. Many were captured before current hostilities began. Where they are now, I couldn't tell you." Most of them were dead, but that was something only those who 'needed to know' knew with the most certainty, and Leutstrategos Kalep was definitely not one of those people.

"What has your losses been against them?" The McNernian asked next.

Kalep wasn't sure if they were referring to the Ordenites or the insurgents, but he assumed the latter when he responded. "Among imperial military forces, between eighty and a hundred soldiers die each month on average. Maybe twice to two-and-a-half times wounded. We try to lower deaths by better equipment on the field, better-trained medics, and improved medical logistics that can start treating wounded personnel much more quickly. Our use of cybernetic technologies also allows us to put most of the even gravely wounded back on the field within months. If you see someone with a metal arm, now you know why. Anyway, we estimate killing about two thousand insurgent personnel each month, although the numbers differ widely among the different komsektors. It's pretty quiet here, but the south not so much. Insurgent forces are dwindling, reflecting in our casualty reports which show a falling trend over time, and that we've accomplished more so through our local political and security initiatives, as well as through food and supply denial systems we enforce on at a komsektor level. That, I can explain further during our debriefing later."

Seemingly satisfied with that answer, the McNernian commander asked next, "How can we be of use against the foe if they are an insurgency, we are mechanized forces, good for holding off the Wehrmacht not fighting partisans."

"Ah, finally to business," said Kalep, chuckling lightly.

"I'm not privy to all strategic discussions, of course," he answered, "but I can say that the mission is evolving with time. As the war in Krasnova takes its shape and the Fuermak is more comfortable with the pace of events, it is likely that your men will see a change in their operational instructions. In fact, there are rumors I've overheard suggesting that you will not be staying in Nicaro permanently, contrary to our initial expectations. But, of that, I'm sure you will hear of more and from the proper channels. I can, however, fill you in on what you'll be doing in the meantime, per our initial instructions."

He paused momentarily, and then said, "Like I said, the situation on the ground is not the same throughout the Satrapy [ed. of Nicaro]. Here and throughout most of the north, there is almost no insurgency to hear of. As you travel south, the areas around San Pecc and Chinadenga have been pacified, but there are still militias that have not been fully disarmed or suppressed. Food denial operations, paired with strong curfew regulations, have done wonders in weeding them out and pushing them south, where the insurgency is by far the strongest. During the initial occupation, our forces rushed their way to the southern Frontier to avoid territorial incursions by any of the bordering states. They effectively bypassed the militia forces that control most of the surrounding jungle. Furthermore, with limited numbers and ongoing operations in the isthmus and on the western islands, along with the necessity of providing Frontier security, our efforts in the south have been the least prioritized. Until now, that is."

"Your men," he continued, "will operate with ours in a dramatic surge of military campaigning in the south. We are expecting it to be a three-month-long operation, codenamed GREEN MOUNTAIN SWEEP."

"Green mountain sweep?" asked the McNernian.

Nodding, Leutstrategos Kalep replied, "I guess it's to avoid giving away any clues, in case the operational name gets leaked. It tends to happen as soon as we debrief the local forces, which can be heavily infested with insurgent agents. We typically don't tell them until the night before. Sometimes we only involved them days later, as will be the case with GREEN MOUNTAIN SWEEP. But, you can never be too careful."

"Like I said," he finished, "you'll get a full debriefing when we arrived, but High Command in Nicaro thinks of this operation as the one that breaks the insurgency's back in the south. Once it's finished, it's expected that the situation will develop much like it did to the north. Local forces will take on growing responsibilities, our regular forces will increasingly withdraw to our major bases and to the city, and you guys may not even be in-country by then. Or maybe the Ordenites will attack us here. A lot is up in the air still, as you can see. The war has taken us all somewhat by surprise, which is strange considering that it was our side that started it."

[The Macabees]

GROUND DEFENSES, SATRAPY OF PEZLEVKO-RUBINO

It was a spectacular sight, the view of surface-to-air missiles exiting from the mountains to strike at enemy aircraft at short and long distances. With them came fighter aircraft which engaged the Luftwaffe over satrapical skies. Other fighters came from the south, flying from Kríergrup Indras' aircraft carriers, many striking east of Pezlevko to draw the enemy away or otherwise attack them from behind.

Below, the steppes that extended in all directions from the mountains seemed covered in fire. Millions of soldiers fought under the creeping shadow of all combatants' artillery forces. If the Wehrmacht was saturating imperial defenses and missile emplacements with their artillery and mortars, the Fuermak was using its own fire support to conduct counter-battery fire in an effort to suppress the enemy's own long-range fire capabilities. They were aided in this task by several of Kríergrup Indras' battlecruisers, which used their heavy cannons and missile launchers to maintain a strong dose of pressure on the Reich's forces directly along the Frontier, including their Krasnovan allies.

These ships also heavily bombarded Ordenite and Krasnovan forces massing south of Pezlevko and north of Fedorograd. Large formations moving across the steppes were subjected to accurate, whithering fire using all the targeting and fire control technologies that made modern artillery and missiles so deadly against massed ground forces. Carrier-based aircraft joined in on the strikes, as well. They would not make it easy for the Ordenites to consolidate forces and launch major operations that could cut Fedorograd off from Pezlevko, putting the port at risk and more importantly cutting Pezlevko and Rubino off from resupply. And if the Ordenites were being bombarded with such intensity while amassing their strength, they would face no less when on the move. The kríergrup maintained two of its raid eskúadras to this task and almost the entirety of its aerial forces — these aiding as much as they could before their attention was consumed by a new threat emerging from the southeast.

On the ground, the situation was becoming more chaotic. As the Imbrinumians launched their limited counteroffensive, the Kysetian katasoa used the opportunity to continue pushing men into the Ordenite rear. They moved in separate bands, using the terrain to their advantage to skirt around Ordenite forces. Once in the rear, they operated independently of the Kysetians who had already slipped through the lines, attacking supply convoys, rear echelon units, and providing imperial air and naval assets with indispensable intelligence regarding the movement of Ordenite forces and the locations of their assets, including radars, SAM batteries, and artillery batteries.

In fact, the Kysetians avoided combat as much as possible. Indeed, rather than waste their strength against strong Ordenite forces, they attacked only when they had a local advantage ⁠— typically, as aforementioned, against supply convoys and smaller Ordenite units. Against larger targets they simply provided shadowing duties, updating their imperial allies on the locations of these rich targets.

It was a strange turn of events that local Shiekhist Wahhabi insurgents began cooperating with the Ordenites in attacking Kysetian makanas that had broken through. The Shikhists, in any case, were not the primary concern of the Kysetians...at least, not yet. Unsurprisingly, they avoided combat with these units when possible, using the terrain and their agility to move through the steppes and the foothills of the mountains east of Chernaya to hide and then strike again when a lucrative target was found. Neither did they bother imperial intelligence services with data regarding Shikhist positions, except in cases where urgent fire support was needed. Their primary concern was the tracking and disruption of Ordenite positions, movements, and logistics in the rear. They did, however, help spread imperial propaganda by distributing leaflets where possible that provided information on aid and work programs in New Empire for Deutsche Scythian refugees who had escaped from the Reich, promising the Shiekhists with the same treatment, and highlighting past injustices the Reich had committed against other people of the same religion and beliefs.

While the situation around Chernaya heated up, Ejermacht forces in Pezlevko-Rubino fell back to new positions by the end of the new day. Despite their best efforts to isolate and destroy Ordenite attacking elements attempting to force a breakthrough along the front, the enemy's numbers were too great and imperial ground forces were forced to reconsolidate, giving up around ten kilometers of ground.



OPERATION 'GILDED SUNRAY,' SOUTHERN NEW EMPIRE

The bombing missions flying from airfields throughout southern New Empire continued at regular intervals since they had first begun. Small and agile, GLI-76 Falkons carried most of the strike duties, firing their arsenals close to Ordenite shores to minimize the enemy's warning and response times.

It was their more silent screens of F/A-36 fighters that responded to the Luftwaffe's interdiction efforts.

These more advanced fighters had used their stealth, aided by the distraction caused by the Falkons and accompanying ECMs, to shadow the attacking aircraft as they traversed the sea between Lyras and Krasnova. They intercepted the Luftwaffe's interceptors as the GLI-76s, which were predominately loaded with ground-attack missiles, turned around for the return flight to New Empire. Firing their long-range air-to-air missiles at beyond visual range, the F/A-36s also provided crucial data sharing services by tracking and reporting on enemy aerial positions, helped in this task by drones performing AWACS duties closer to Lyran airspace.

Lyran air space, in fact, was used as much as possible for tactical advantage. The Ordenites were surely hesitant to carry the air war over the territory of another major military power, one that could bring to bear almost all of its resources down on Krasnovan given its proximity to the island country. On their return fight, imperial aircraft would quickly dart back over Lyran airspace and therefore minimize the amount of time the Luftwaffe had to intercept, not just in recognizing the threat, scrambling their interceptors, and getting within range without exposing themselves too long to the F/A-36s, but also the amount of time for the enemy's air-to-air missiles to cover the distance between themselves and targets that were typically already headed the opposite direction.

While the air war continued with all of its intensity, Operation 'GILDED SUNRAY' saw a slight amendment to its target range. Having focused on enemy anti-air and early-warning assets, many strike aircraft were given new targets: the Luftwaffe's airfields. The volume of the bombardment was steadily increased, as well. More and more GLI-76s, F/A-36s, and even GLI-34 strategic bombers were being flown into New Empire and almost immediately put into rotation for the bombing missions. Many simply replaced losses, many more added themselves to the fray to grow the overall pressure placed on the Ordenites in Krasnova.

An aerial war like this one had last been fought during 'The War,' only a few years over a decade earlier. To someone who hadn't seen it, or a war like it, the scene of thousands of aircraft and hundreds of thousands of missiles converging over the waves below, some striking their targets, others exploding mid-air, and many crashing into the sea, must have been a spectacularly scary one.



KRÍERGRUP 'INDRAS'

Fleets are a hard thing to track, even large ones. The seas are, after all, even larger.

Still, the Second Empire of the Golden Throne held certain advantages where it concerned intelligence on the movement of fleets through and around central Greater Díenstad. Its own territorial holdings, from Indras in the southeast to Nicaro in the northwest, gave it coastline from which it could extend its underseas surveillance network. More importantly, when it concerned certain enemies, it had allies to spare. United World Order was such an enemy. Lamoni was such an ally.

The large Ordenite fleet came as a surprise to Kríermada commanders and Kríergrup 'Indras' did not have the strength to fight it on its own. Even with air support from Indras and Holy Panooly, on its own 'Indras' would more than likely only be able to slow the Ordenite's ability to occupy the waters between southern Krasnova and Indras. Of course, such a position would be a precarious one for the Kriegsmarine, since it would be exposed to attacks on all sides, but it would also spell the collapse of Pezlevko-Rubino's defenses since the Ejermacht would no longer be able to receive supplies. Under most conditions, this may have justified a general withdrawal of forces from the empire's Krasnovan satrapy.

Little did the Ordenites know, however, that they were being trailed by an Imbrinumian fleet.

Kríergrup 'Indras,' spread out as it was and lopsided toward Indras, maintained sufficient raid eskúadras just south of Fedorograd to continue providing indirect fire support for the troops defending the satrapy. Their arsenals were necessary there, where the Ordenites had amassed in great strength — and with great strength comes a target-rich environment. The rest of the fleet group began to withdraw further west and south, leaving the eastern approaches into the seas between Krasnova and Indras open. Drawing the Ordenite fleet in, these would now be sandwiched between the kríergrup, aircraft flying from out of Indras, and the Imbrinumian fleet sailing from behind them.

As 'Indras' conducted its tactical recession, submarines remained put below the waves. Like with most areas adjacent or close to imperial lands or vassals, these were mostly of the hybrid-electric variety, the Type A. Quiet and able to remain submerged for no less than two weeks, and even three if necessary, they waited for the Ordenite fleet to sail into the area.

The space directly between Indras and Krasnova was wider, measuring north to south, giving the imperial fleet more space to spread out its numbers, which were fewer than the Ordenites to begin with. The Ordenites, by comparison, would have to move through the narrow channels leading into that space, whether between Qoryx and Indras or the even narrower channel between Qoryx and Krasnova. It was in these spaces where imperial submarines waited, lurking until their prey passed them by without knowledge of their presence — aided in this by the very noise such a large fleet produced —, as they lay there as if dormant without moving until the moment their tubes opened and their torpedoes were released.

This was the trap that would be sprung as the Ordenites proudly sailed to cut the Golden Throne off from its vassal in Krasnova, the Satrapy of Pezlevko-Rubino. The Ordenite fleet, assailed from all sides, would be too preoccupied with its defense to threaten on the offense. And they expended their arms, cut off from resupply, their annihilation was only a matter of time.



KRÍERGRUP 'BERLISTON'

While 'Indras' prepared for a fight, so did 'Berliston.' The large Ordenite fleet moving east was difficult to miss, especially as it sailed into the core of the Triumvirate's waters. Its path, of course, was laid with obstacles, for from the north the Ordenites were pelted by Imbrinumian aircraft, submarines, and coastal defense fleets. To reach Krasnova, furthermore, these ships would either have to sail between New Empire and Independent Hitmen or between the latter and Stevid, and even narrower channel that would concentrate their ships, make them noisier (thus masking the submarines laying below the surface even more so), and also far more vulnerable.

Beyond 'Berliston,' there was another kríergrup in the Sea of Crowns that had been deployed early on during the war. This fleet withdrew east and north, avoiding a full engagement with the Ordenites although several of its raid eskúadras harassed the enemy's vanguard. Apart from the simultaneous pressure the Imbrinumians were placing from the north, aircraft flying from western New Empire joined in on the naval battle, whittling the Ordenite fleet down before it was even within the same area occupied by 'Berliston,' which sat just west of Krasnova. And, if the Ordenite fleet even made it to this area, it would find itself surrounded, cut off from resupply, and ripe for destruction, sitting between 'Berliston' and its sister kríergrup to the north, not to mention under constant bombardment. Once its arsenal was expended, if their ships even found time to expend its arsenal as they were attacked from all sides throughout their voyage, they would be defenseless.

All the while, 'Berliston' moved south, some elements linking up with western elements of 'Indras,' giving them a combined strength of just under two thousand ships spread out widely west and south of Krasnova, protected by the geography and the Triumvirate [and allied] lands that surrounded them on all sides.

As the Ordenite fleets approached from either side, both heavily engaged and moving into geographically disadvantageous seas, 'Berliston' moved the two small squadrons it had organized in the days before to escort and protect a convoy of troop- and cargo ships. These disembarked at Fedorograd, and ad hoc temporary ports set up south of the mountainous region of the satrapy, under fire, unloading another 100,000 troops and their equipment during a period of three days. The opportunity was also used to stock as many supplies as possible, especially ammunition, food, and other bare necessities that would be needed by troops that may very well face a period of time without a constant and bountiful logistics stream.



KRÍERMAK 'MACABEA'

If initially there was some concern that the Ordenites would attempt to invade Nicaro or otherwise separate it from the empire, these began to dwindle as the war evolved. Now the war at sea was being fought to the east of the Ordenite mainland, with between 5.5 and 7.5 thousand enemy ships in or around the Sea of Crowns and another two thousand enemy ships approaching Krasnova from the southeast. If the Ordenites had between one and two thousand ships in the Sea of Ordena, these represented the full extent of the threat now that the Kriegsmarine was putting its full naval resources into use.

Kríermak Macabea was, by far, the largest naval concentration the Golden Throne disposed of within the region of Greater Díentad, the ships precedent from Gholgoth not yet having arrived in full strength. Split in two, with forces grouped south of the Sea of Ordena and forces grouped within the port city of Macabea and along the coast, 'Macabea' counted on a combined strength of almost six thousand ships. With operations around the Sea of Ordena no longer representing the nexus of the naval war, these ships were wasting their potential by sitting to contain an enemy that was looking elsewhere for glory. This was especially true now that the McNernians were providing naval and ground forces of their own to aid in the defense of the Satrapy of Nicaro. As such, Kríermak 'Macabea' underwent an organization.

'Macabea East,' four kríergrups strong and an additional understrength fleet group consisting of Kríergrup 'Nicaro,' was stripped of two of these full strength fleet groups. Just over 3,000 warships began traveling south, intending to round southern Safehaven and proceed northeast, moving south of Stevid toward eastern Krasnova where they would link up with 'Berliston' and 'Indras' — or their remnants, depending on how the pending naval battle around Krasnova evolved. This left 2,800 ships in 'Macabea East,' plus the limited forces based out of Nicaro, to continue containing the Ordenite fleet within the Sea of Ordena.

'Macabea West' remained put, not willing to risk detaching one of its three kríergrups to join the battle in the Sea of Crowns before the Arcaenians mopped up Ordenite task forces 'Nord' and 'Wiking,' for they also remained on guard in case the situation in the Sea of Ordena took a surprising turn.


PAQUAT, NEW EMPIRE

Paquat, what was once a quiet fishing village and had been at a point turned in a burgeoning subterranean metropolis, was now more important than it had ever been in its history. For, it was the second-most important port in New Empire, after Berliston. And now, the vanguard of Kríermak 'Est,' about three-fourths of Kríermak 'Gholgoth' had arrived. With them came the first wave of ground troops and aircraft returning from the ended war in Drana. Most of these ground troops were slated for demobilization, even with the new war in Krasnova and other defense needs — the gargantuan forces the empire had mobilized to fight in Gholgoth were by now far overburdening the imperial treasury.

Kríermak 'Est,' however, still had much fighting ahead of it. Although only four hundred of its ships had so far arrived, more than seven thousand more were on their way.

Still, their absence would be much missed in the days and weeks to come.