LGBT Protestors Attacked by Government Forces (MT)

[Cossack Khanate]

Eldham, Cunaris

Private Dhaval never had a chance. The fire escape cage around shattered to shrapnel and the mine explosion threw the metal-ridden body of Dhaval down to the ground. The shrapnel hit Private Dev, who was about to step out. Swearing, he slung his SMG over his shoulder and drew his pistol with his good arm. Another soldier pulled out a bandage and wrapped the wound.

Meanwhile, a circle of soldiers kept their guns trained on the opening in the roof, while the remainder of Corporal Venkat’s team stepped out of the shaft and aimed their guns at the shaft. Navin tensely paced between the two teams, and finally decided. He radioed the Commander.

“Sir, we have taken additional casualties. There are at least two terrorists on the roof above, but the entry points to the roof are in enemy control. We would not be able to manually assault the roof without taking additional deaths. If I may sir…” Navin waited, “...could we get air support?”
___________________________
Outside, Corporal Kemla swung his SMG back and forth through the darkness, covering the two privates carrying the dead soldier outside. He had an overwhelming sense of suspense and apprehension; a straight out gun battle would have been better than this. Hell, fighting infantry in a war was better than this. You never knew where and when the terrorists were going to strike.

The trio made their way outside and past the compound fence, back to the “camp”, where they unceremoniously lay Vemulukonda down, finding an army blanket and laying it over him. They stood there for a few minutes, tears in their eyes.

[New Edom]

Frankenlisch, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Palace of Romulus, Ballroom


Princess Alice, well acquainted with the Christian faith, nodded in understanding. Lord Airey raised an eyebrow in interest, having clearly little knowledge of the Edomite religion. He scoffed quietly, flabbergasted by the very idea.

"Good show, my dear Count. Good show." Airey winked at Alice. "I was thinking something rather simple," he lay his notes down on the centre of the table, "Eight hundred Lucans. Perhaps with a maximum of two thousand?"

“Hm. What do you think, son?” asked Count Matthias.

“I am not afraid of a wager, merely that I should set a good example for others, as a Christian gentleman,” said Count Reuben “Therefore, a thousand, sir,” he said, glancing at Lord Airey.

While the Edomites considered the proposal, Lord Airey answered Count Matthias' question concerning Princess Margarette's finances. He leaned in, a royal's personal finances being a confidential topic."Well, as I understand it, the late King near bankrupted Thouthen from within, trying to fight his Civil War. Margarette was evacuated here, which sucked up the rest of the Royal treasury. She subsists from the King's mercy now. She gets a good deal of money, I'm told, something like three-hundred thousand a year. The sum of His Imperial Majesty's assets in South Vladimirska."

“Very interesting.” said the elder Beroth. He watched as his son led with a Queen of Spades, and remarked, “So, are there plans of any kind to restore the Princess to her rightful throne? For of course this would be most interesting, for our of our allies to have a plan in such a direction. Or could it be that His Imperial Majesty is simply being kind and generous?”

He put down his own card, which was a ten of spades.

[Ardoki]

---

RECIPIENT(S): Great Equaliser Daniel Khassai Siyoum, Free State of Thouthen
SENDER: Fionn Cormac Cleary, Minister of External Affairs
Encryption: MAXIMUM
SUBJECT: A Mutually Beneficial Proposition

---

Dear Great Equaliser Daniel Khassai Siyoum,

It has come to our attention to your country has recently initiated hostilities against New Edom, and by extension the entire Imperion Coalition. Such a state of affairs does not look good for you. You are outnumbered and outgunned, and they are coming for you. You are the agressor in this situation, so many countries which oppose the warmongering of SACTO and the Imperion Coalition cannot intervene as it would make us hypocrites when we criticise their use of war to interfere with the policies of sovereign states. So you are truly alone against superior foes, a mistake on your part. It is safe to say that you have no prospect of victory in this conflict. Your defeat is inevitable. However, you can salvage something of your predicament if you are willing to acknowledge your present situation and are pragmatic enough to make scarifies to ensure your future.

Frankly, you have made a lot of attention. A trait you share with His Grand Imperial Majesty; however, he knows just how far he can go and ensures he never goes a step further. You on the other hand, have ensured the destruction of your regime. Declaring war on New Edom was a grave error, you brought an alliance of bloodthirsty conservative warmongers down upon you. We know from experience, how unreasonable and stubborn these people can be. They will not back down, they will not stop until they destroy your regime and personally execute you and your allies (probably in a barbaric way, knowing then). I hope I am not being to harsh on your actions, you have established a totalitarian regime which is no small feat and is worthy or praise. However, you made some serious mistakes which could result in your death. I hope I have made myself clear on this matter.

However, as I said earlier. The situation can be salvaged. If your regime were to collapse, before Imperion forces arrived, the situation would be completely different. They would have no reason to invade your country. If a provisional government was set up and Thouthen were to petition to become a subject of Ardoki, I sincerely doubt His Grand Imperial Majesty could reject such a plea for protection. All officials will of course be able to remain in their positions, stability is very important. Policies will be changed of course, a more moderate course set. But your allies need not fear losing any power, in fact under Ardokian control they will have many more opportunities. You, on the other hand, might not participate in this new Thouthen for a while. However, your security will be guaranteed. And, we have no problems with you bringing us much money with you as you wish, we don't care where it came from. Perhaps there are positions in Ardoki which you may find interesting?

I must be honest, we find your regime distasteful. An insult against progressivism. However, we are pragmatists. We are against any increase in influence of the Imperion Coalition, so are willing to work hand-in-hand with you to combat it. This offer, of course, is time-sensitive. So I suggest you reply well in advance of the Imperion forces arriving, so everything can be arranged.

Fionn Cormac Cleary, Minister of External Affairs of the Government of the Greater Ardokian Empire

---

Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of the Greater Ardokian Empire

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Westonland, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Royal Drawing Room, Westonland Castle

---

His Imperial Majesty, King James, sat at his desk in the Royal Drawing Room, smoking a cigar held tightly between shaking fingers. He'd drank three glasses of straight whiskey and had even indulged in a cigarette, which he usually avoided like the plague. It was not public speaking that frightened the King, it was what he had to announce and he was afraid of showing weakness. To their credit, Commonwealth Broadcasting Services had dispatched two helicopters to Westonland Castle an hour prior and the equipment was set up ready for the King's arrival. The Royal Family were at leisure with the Cossacks but King James was nearly alone to face his fears. His only companions were a technician and Oliver Wood, the Imperial Broadcaster, a kind of oratory advisor to the monarch. Wood took his seat at a smaller table, tapped his microphone twice and, mere seconds after the red eye opened, began to speak.

"Imperial Broadcast: His Imperial Majesty Addresses his subjects on the current crisis"
His Imperial Majesty's Government
February of 2019

His Imperial Majesty, the King
James Frederick Turrell - King and Imperiator - KJAMES
Oliver Wood - Imperial Broadcaster - WOOD

---

[WOOD:] Good Afternoon. This is Commonwealth Broadcasting Services, broadcasting across the Nation, Commonwealth and Empire. We are honoured with a broadcast this day from His Imperial Majesty, the King. All other broadcasts, by radio and television, are to cease for the duration of this speech. Thank you.

[KJAMES:] For two hundred and five years, we have faced adversity, peril and destruction. From the conquests of King Edward the Second, to the expeditions of our armies and navies during the Carolinian period, to the dreadful fighting of the First and Second Europan Wars and the anarchy and oppression of the Red Decade. No matter what cards our enemies and rivals have drawn, in their n'erending quest to shame and destroy all that Vionna-Frankenlisch stands for and loves, we have trumped them. We have overcome the difficulties that we have faced with courage, determination and brute strength of character. Even as the oncoming Red tyrants knocked at my grandfather's door, he loaded his hunting shotguns for one final crack.

[KJAMES:] I cannot say that the hardships that we now face, and those that we will soon face, can ever compare to those of our forefathers. However, it remains our duty to meet the challenges of our new age with all the dignity of the lion. All of his courage and strength must be channelled through us as a nation, as brother realms, as an empire.

[KJAMES:] Earlier today, on the high seas of Cornellia, our squadron, sent to preserve peace in that region, was attacked. With submarine-launched torpedoes and air-to-sea missiles, the rogue state of Thouthen bombarded our stout sailors and vessels. Two ships have met their untimely fate. The Merchant Carrier Wedner is gone, her crew almost entirely saved by the quick thinking and calculated life-saving efforts of their comrades. So too, has the Frigate Ewhampton sank beneath the waves. Lost with all hands to a swarm of Thouthenian missiles. The rest of that squadron, thanks to the efforts of their brave leader, Admiral Barret, has been saved from utter destruction, many of the incoming missiles confused by hot smoke and air-defence equipment. Good Admiral Barret now sails the remainder of his squadron into action against the Thouthenian foe, along with our stout allies in the Imperion Coalition.

[KJAMES:] This attack by Thouthen was unprovoked, unprecedented and utterly illegal. The whole world is shocked by the indefensible actions of that nation. We have, now, only one course of action available to us. Perhaps, had we acted earlier to reach out, to find a solution to the differences between us, we could have prevented violence with Thouthen. It no longer matters. That which was once possible has now been blocked off and I have but one solemn duty left to me. I, as my uncle before me, as my grandfather before him and as all the monarchs of our great nation once did, must call my people to a higher purpose. I call every man, every woman and every child of the Kingdom of Vionna, of the Kingdom of Frankenlisch, of the Empire and of the Commonwealth to join me now. To stand with me and put their faith in one who is higher than all of us. To look to their Gods and follow me to war.

[KJAMES:] There can be no confusion. I am calling all who reside in my domain to do their bit, to combat the primitive doctrine that Thouthen and its 'Supreme Equaliser' trumpets as gospel. Though divided, as Admiral Barret was from his allies, we are weak. Together we are strong, even invincible. Once more, Vionna-Frankenlisch and all those who call her motherland must stand together and begin the great exodus to yet another conflict, not of our making. Thouthen has sown the wind, now they must reap the whirlwind. We must wage war as we have never before, a modern war, on land, sea and air. We must rise, rise to meet the great challenge set for us and right the wrongs of a people half the world away. This is not in support of the Imperion Coalition, this is not even in support of our fair Edomite allies, this we do because we must. Because if we do not, others will live under tyranny and deception for the rest of time. If we do not correct these evils, we shall never be able to sleep peacefully again, never will a Vionna-Frankenlischian look in a mirror for fear of his own shameful reflection, we will not be able to meet our makers with an honest face.

[KJAMES:] Thouthen believes that they have rallied the world against us and our allies. Let us show them that it is we who have rallied. Rallied not just an army, a navy and an airforce, not just a nation, not even a people. But dozens of peoples, hundreds of cultures and religions and races and creeds. All to fight under one banner against another. The banner of righteousness against the banner of supreme evil.

[KJAMES:] I can say no more. This undertaking is holy and good and I call all of my people to make my cause their own. If we put our faith in our Gods, innumerable though they may be, we will be victorious.

[Cossack Khanate]

Selvik, Cossack Khanate

A large group of people silently sat in their seats, waiting for the film to begin. As usual, the Cossack flag came on screen and an announcement was heard: “Please stand for the national anthem”

After the last notes faded, the viewers sat down again. This time, came a deeper voice, a propaganda advertisement from the state. On the screen came a Cossack soldier looking out to the horizon, one foot resting on the sidestep of his jeep. The video began, flashing through various clips with a background of intense orchestral music, almost like a trailer for a movie.

“On the ground-” Clips of infantry running through a town, stepping over rubble
“In the air-” Clips of Cossack jets firing their guns
“On the seas-” A slow clip of the CRNF Meenakshi, a massive dreadnought, sailing.
“We fight for righteousness-” A clip of a tank commander waving orders from his open hatch door
“-for our honor-” A clip of a machine gunner
“-for our nation-” A clip of a line of infantry charging a row of buildings
“-and for our Gods-” A clip of a soldier throwing a molotov into a short building labelled ‘bar’
The screen went black for a moment, to come back alive with a video of Cossack generals ‘planning’ an invasion - obviously the government would never allow someone to record an actual meeting. Thumping music came on, and the scene switched to Cossack pilots walking to their planes in slow motion.
“This time-” A clip of a screen, locating a target, presumably for artillery
“We face something that we have never faced before-” A clip of an unmarked ship being blasted in half
“But no challenge-” A clip of a unit praying before going to the front, a common habit amongst soldiers.
“-will defeat our willpower” A clip of an attack helicopter taking off played, switching to focus shots of guns being primed. Meanwhile, the music went silent, and the voice of the Frankenlischian monarch played “We must wage war as we have never before, a modern war, on land, sea and air. We must rise, rise to meet the great challenge set for us and right the wrongs of a people half the world away. If we put our faith in our Gods, innumerable though they may be, we will be victorious.” A radar specialist gave a thumbs up. An officer cocked his pistol. An assault rifle was loaded. The music restarted, getting more and more intense by the second, finally ending when a dirty Cossack soldier raised his gun, the camera at a slight angle in front of the barrel. The screen went black. The gunshot went off. On the screen, the symbol of the Armed Forces came, with the wordings “War against the Thouthenians. War against degeneracy. Support your nation”

The screen went black and began to play the movie...

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Frankenlisch, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Palace of Romulus, Ballroom

---

“I am not afraid of a wager, merely that I should set a good example for others, as a Christian gentleman,” said Count Reuben “Therefore, a thousand, sir,” he said, glancing at Lord Airey.

Airey smiled, showing his teeth (an abnormality in Vionna-Frankenlisch). "Good man," he replied, grinning inanely and placing another two hundred Lucans down to match the Edomite's bet. Princess Alice sighed, reached into her clutch bag and matched the amount too.

“Very interesting.” said the elder Beroth. He watched as his son led with a Queen of Spades, and remarked, “So, are there plans of any kind to restore the Princess to her rightful throne? For of course this would be most interesting, for our of our allies to have a plan in such a direction. Or could it be that His Imperial Majesty is simply being kind and generous?”

"His Imperial Majesty is kind and generous." Lord Airey replied.

"But..." Princess Alice interrupted, "I think he does have a plan." She watched as the Edomites began the trick with strong Spades and sighed, placing down the Three of Spades. "If we placed Margarette on the throne, especially if she married a Turrell, we'd have Thouthen in our pocket." Lord Airey sputtered and picked the Six of Spades, huffing slightly, yet still smiling mischievously. "And if Thouthen is in our pocket, it is within Imperion's influence too. So what is Margarette is more Right-wing than we'd like, a Commonwealth Thouthen would be quite remarkable."

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Eldham, Duchy of Cunaris
Ferrick and Sons Cement Works

---

“Sir, we have taken additional casualties. There are at least two terrorists on the roof above, but the entry points to the roof are in enemy control. We would not be able to manually assault the roof without taking additional deaths. If I may sir…” Navin waited, “...could we get air support?”

Sergeant Navin's voice sounded tinny through the Lord-Commander's radio. "I'll see about it," he replied, unsure, "Get your boys out of there, and Section A too. One of ours is dead and another wounded. What's your bill so far?" He asked, in typical Vionna-Frankenlischian fashion.

Atop the metal catwalk, Von Berrenheim and his seven men had a clear view of the factory floor. It was strewn with machinery and blocks of cement in various states of decay. The air was dominated with the basic smell of must but von Berrenheim couldn't help but sense something beneath it, something he could not quite put his finger on. A chemical-ly scent like old piss. The men of Section D watched carefully across the factory floor, it was covered so perfectly, a determined force could hold out for hours within the rubble. And these terrorists seemed to have no lack of determination...

---

Corporal Griff had wandered through the empty basement of the Cement Works' entrance building for what felt like hours. It was just one big, empty space. He wondered why on earth such a place even needed a basement and it seemed that his men were beginning to wonder the same thing. Griff's night vision had decided to stop working several minutes prior, he surmised that he must have knocked it at some point, and it would just need a little maintenance when this was over and done with. Since then, he had been using his flashlight and the device in question had left much to be desired. Put simply, he couldn't see a damned thing.

He could feel though and the floor felt cold beneath his boots, insulated though they were. He could hear too, and smell; the sounds of rushing water and stench of waste made themselves aware to the Corporal. These could only mean one thing. The basement had a sewer access. A sewer through which the whole cell might have escaped to cause further havoc. He searched the walls frantically with his torch, looking desperately for a door or grate which might solve the mystery.

"Corporal!" Operative Kohabra shouted, banging roughly on something metal. "Over here, Corporal!" He called again, and Griff followed the voice and banging noises.

Kohabra had found it. A rusted, cage-like metal door, leading into bleak darkness with nought but the sound of ceaselessly moving water and the repugnant smell of human refuse to guide Griff. He got the door out of the way pretty easily, all it required was a pair of strong bolt cutters on the chain holding it closed. But once beyond, the true trial began...

[New Edom]

Frankenlisch, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Palace of Romulus, Ballroom


Airey smiled, showing his teeth (an abnormality in Vionna-Frankenlisch). "Good man," he replied, grinning inanely and placing another two hundred Lucans down to match the Edomite's bet. Princess Alice sighed, reached into her clutch bag and matched the amount too.

"His Imperial Majesty is kind and generous." Lord Airey replied.

"But..." Princess Alice interrupted, "I think he does have a plan." She watched as the Edomites began the trick with strong Spades and sighed, placing down the Three of Spades. "If we placed Margarette on the throne, especially if she married a Turrell, we'd have Thouthen in our pocket." Lord Airey sputtered and picked the Six of Spades,
huffing slightly, yet still smiling mischievously. "And if Thouthen is in our pocket, it is within Imperion's influence too. So what is Margarette is more Right-wing than we'd like, a Commonwealth Thouthen would be quite remarkable."

“More right wing in what respects?” said Count Reuben. He played a nine of Spades. He took out his spectacles and peered at the cards. “Is it my trick?”

“No, mine,” said Count Malachi. “So there is a plan then. Well that’s good. As they say: Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” He reached out his flabby soft perfumed hands and swept up his cards with a smile on his egg shaped face.

“Well, I hope that she will prove a better ruler than the present ones, with their foul purges and disgusting socialism,” continued Count Matthias. “How can socialism work, eh? You take everyone’s wealth and then redistribute it, and then you have to work to prevent the naturally enterprising and natural leaders from rising effectively? I don’t understand it. Thouthen would be doomed to fail anyway,” he said, glancing at his companions, “And I have heard through the grapevine,” putting a finger beside his nose, “That they have not one ally in their venture against us. Not a one. No social justice led nation, not the International Socialists, no one supports them! They fight one another instead, whereas Imperion naturally aligns together. So foolish.”

[Late Roman Empire]

Sterry, Haran, an outside patio of an Edomite cafe near the Roman encampment

Pilus Prior Centurion Tiberius Juventius Baro, Centurion Placus Consentius Vetranio, and Legionary Caius Duronius Speratus all sat and smoked some excellent Othmani cigars while drinking some mint tea and relaxing a little during their lunch, having polished off some excellent lamb, couscous, and cucumber-yogurt salad. It was very common for Romans to take full advantage of the culinary opportunities of the local cuisine. So far, no action had happened on the ground in Haran, though there had been reports of a Homofront terrorist incident elsewhere and some action at sea. Still, they had to be watchful, especially with Thouthen rattling their sabers and Homofront likely to pop up anywhere.

"So, what are the odds that Thouthen can actually get their ships past the perimeter? Our Fleet still has plenty of ships ready to repel such action near Sterry, does it not?" Vetranio inquired now.

"Well, that's the thing. They could try at any point in the line, and there has already been some action on the high seas, so it's quite possible that's what they're trying to do now. Our Fleet has received no orders yet to deploy further. Methinks that we're being held in reserve, in case Thouthen brings things to a head and actually makes a bulge in the lines or tries for Haran to get around the main defenses around Bara. Who knows?" Baro deduced.

"Could they actually do it, though? Could they make it past this impressive line of defense from the Edomite Navy and our other allies?" Speratus spoke up now.

"Theoretically, yes? I don't rate it likely. I'd be more worried about Homofront, if I was you. You're a pretty fellow. They'll probably try to turn you first," Vetranio taunted Speratus now.

"Quiet, cunnus, or do I have to mention that time that you wore a whore's toga to that party? Dressed all up fine like a saltatrix tonsa?" Baro put Vetranio in his place a little.

"Oh, that was just a dare and I did it! Hardly makes me a real barbered dancing girl, you know," Vetranio snorted as they played some cottabus, a classic Roman diversion.

Just then, they saw a man, not surprisingly nude, approach them, a lean, well-toned man with the body of what seemed to be a swimmer. He had the classic Haranese features, olive complexion, curly black hair, hooked nose, that typical Semitic profile that many Roman plebs associated with Edomites in general, sometimes forgetting the Cornellians, Elwe, and Anglo-Germans among them. Better-traveled Romans, richer ones, and veterans often knew better, but amused themselves with the ignorance of your street proletarian, many of them descendants of recent or past slaves anyway. Roman meritocracy was great, but it had its limitations. Rome had freed its slaves, but the lowborn and freedmen were often the butt of jokes when it came to their poor education, it being easy to forget that it was the upper class's fault for not making education more universal and public until later Emperors such as Atticus Scorpio, and then weakening it under Clodius Sarmaticus. It was Macrinus who had pushed for better education of the proletarii, and Silvanus, Decentius, Valerian, and Titus who carried it out.....and it didn't help those already left behind by the gaps.

"Stop there! I know that you're naked, but we need some form of ID to approach allied soldiers. We gotta make sure that you're not a Homofront operative here. Show us some ID from your fanny pack there, young man," the pilus prior insisted, not one to let his guard down, "we have other patrons to protect, too."

"This is my ID, you capitalist, fascist, imperialist, homophobic, Roman bastard!" the man started to draw a sidearm from his handbag, but Vetranio was actually a very good shot and got a clean one in with him, opening fire with a 9 mm automatic at point-blank range at his chest, hitting center of mass and piercing the man's left lung near his heart. That was when the man fell to the ground and the hand grenade located between his cheeks exploded, killing him and Speratus, who had gotten too close, in the process. Thankfully, he was still too far away to have killed any civilians, but that was a very close call and the Romans both knew it.

"You know what this means. Body cavity searches for all unknowns approaching us, damn it! I'll pass the news up the chain of command, Centurion. I feel awful for Lacteria......she was all set to marry Speratus, and now she cannot. Fuck that mentula and damn him to Hell for this!" Baro groaned.

"Hey, you forgot 'misogynistic,' you dead, damned Homofront freak!" Vetranio spat on the mangled and charred remains, "can we take this to go? My appetite's gone now. Very sorry that this sodomite terrorist got so close, but as you can see, we nailed him, anyway," he asked the waiter before reporting the matter to local civilian authorities, too.

"What he said," Baro grunted, his stomach churning at the idea that Homofront would target a civilian eatery just because of some Roman soldiers who frequented the place, "don't worry, the authorities are being contacted and will likely cremate both men."

[Cossack Khanate]

Eldham, Cunaris
Sergeant Navin's voice sounded tinny through the Lord-Commander's radio. "I'll see about it," he replied, unsure, "Get your boys out of there, and Section A too. One of ours is dead and another wounded. What's your bill so far?" He asked, in typical Vionna-Frankenlischian fashion.

Sergeant Navin’s eyes slightly narrowed at what would strike most Cossacks as retreating, but he cleared his mind and realized that it was for the best. Mainly, the older generation in the Armed Forces felt stubborn about the subject of retreat, but youthful leaders tended to value the tactical retreat as a tool. Navin was no youthful leader, but he followed orders and motioned for the Cossacks and Section A to move out.

“2 dead, 2 wounded sir. We are moving out. Over”

Navin surveyed his surroundings one more time before sulkily descending down the stairs, the rest of the force following him. Corporal Mej spit on the ground in disgust. As he was almost left alone on the floor, he drew 2 small landmines, placing them in front of the shaft door and below the gaping hole in the ceiling. “Go to hell, bastards” he growled, before arming a grenade, holding it for as long as he dared, then chucking it upwards. He didn’t stay to see the result…
_______________________
Corporal Kemla, Private Dev, and Private Anish slowly walked back towards the main fence, walking through the gate and almost into the entrance building. Almost.
There was a burst of gunfire, too close for their comfort, shattering a nearby window. Cursing, the Corporal and the two privates went prone. The air was silent, and it seemed that the moment was holding its breath. Following Kemla’s lead, the two privates slowly stood. The trio drew their guns and scanned their surroundings. No movement. Shakily, Kemla pressed his earpiece and spoke to Navin “Sir...we’ve been shot at...but we haven’t spotted the hostiles.”
Navin, who was descending the stairs, answered “We are coming out. Meet us in the lobby of the office buildings. Forget the hostiles, we’ll keep ‘em in mind and get them later”
“Yes sir”, said Kemla, turning his mike off. At that moment, a figure wearing all grey and a purple cloth tied around her knee ran from the treeline to cover around the corner. They all saw it, and the Corporal was torn between following orders, or going after the figure. For disobeying orders, he would most likely be demoted, but for capturing a terrorist, he might be praised. Opportunity over honor. He flipped down the foregrip to his gun. “After it!” he yelled. The trio sped around the corner in fast pursuit. The figure was sprinting down the building’s stretch, towards probable cover. All three of the Cossacks raised their guns and fired. One bullet hit the figure in the leg, and another in the hip. The terrorist crumpled to her knees. Dev drew a small syringe from his webbing. The soldiers approached the woman at a light jog. Anish kicked away her pistol, which was dropped after she had been shot, Kemla pinned her flailing arms behind her, and Dev inserted the contents of the syringe into a vein...

[Solisian Union]

Dear Mother,

I pray that you are safe there; safe with Little Brother, with Big Sister Martha, with Father, and with the neighbors. Please do not worry for me; allow me, now, to worry for you and the rest of you.
For now, I am with my friends, with rest of my unit, the First Platoon, under Lieutenant Tulio Oleastro. We are guarding the coast of this country, New Edom, and we are waiting for the enemy to come closer - that is, if they are able to break through our combined fleets.
Privately, of course, I hope that the enemy would not come closer; I pray for our comrades, the ones on the ships, and the ones under the water, to stay safe, and to keep on fighting, if fighting has occured, against the enemy.
Right now, this is the only letter I am allowed to write to you today. I hope you can wait for me to write another letter when things are better.

Your loving daughter,
Mariana

---

Dear Father,

It is a surprise for me to say that this country is wonderful; to be honest, I thought it would be horrible, because I was expecting that I would get sick with the diseases that I thought plagued this land. When I came here, I was greeted by men and women who didn't care too much about what they wore. Even the greatest officials, the ones who took charge over the local area and people, seemed to either be half-dressed or entirely naked.
On the other hand, I was happy to be with my unit again. I am proud, and I always will be proud, of my unit, of the battalion. The unit moved without any issue, and nothing was in the way of our movement; the unit also succeeded in gathering their logistical requirements; and the unit was not stopped by anything else until we reached our positions as assigned to us by our commanders and as requested by the New Edomites.
For now, allow me to share to you what I have seen and what I wanted you to see if I am able to bring you into this country: First of all, the women are cheerful, beautiful, and they didn't seem to hate us; they actually either seemed indifferent to us and carried on with their day, or they approached us — some with obvious reluctance, which would remind me of the shyest girls I've met during my days as a student — and helped us find our way through their country, or simply gave us a few things that certainly interested or assisted the boys and girls of the battalion.
Second of all, the entire part of the country which we witnessed and travelled through and moved into seemed, at least on some level, similar to the warmer parts of our empire. Yes, I testify to you, dear Father, that New Edom reminds me of home. It reminds me of the beaches, the cliffs, and the humid air of this place reminds me of everything I have left behind to be with the battalion.
Third of all, we finally met our New Edomite comrades. Much to our relief, it seemed to us that they are as professional and ready for combat as we are. As we began to prepare our positions for defensive operations, and as we waited for more orders, it seemed to us that our comrades were more or less eager to defend their country from foreigners, as I was told that they didn't wish for their country to dive into another civil war.
I hope nothing like a civil war ever comes into our country as well, dear Father.
Right now, I must let this letter be the only one that I could see for today. I have to attend to a few duties for my battalion, and I may have to report to my superiors about matters I am not allowed to discuss any further with you.
Rest well, and I promise I will return home, Dear Father.

Your loving son,
Andre

---

General,

It has been a long while since I wrote anything back to you. I hope that today is a good day for you to read from me. I wish to make my report first that, so far, our presence in New Edom was appreciated. Our ally, and their people, did not seem opposed to anything we did, and for now, our forces are ready or making ready, and they are positioned according to a defensive posture against any possible hostile attack from the sea or the air. In addition, reinforcements are proceeding smoothly from the ports and the airports of our country over the sea and through the air into New Edom; so far, it appears that the Azen Legion is present, and I appreciate that as much as my officers and their men do, and for now, we are waiting for the arrival of the Solisian Legion, and probably other detachments. I was also hoping to ask you if the divisions which our government wished to mobilize in response to the Ardokian crisis, which is fortunately coming to an end, would be coming here. If they are to come here, then I must inform you that it may cause some strain on the logistics of our forces present in New Edom. While, of course, it is welcome, it can pose a minor problem to the management and movement of reinforcements, supplies, and other vital objects related to logistics.

On the other hand, it is an honor which I enjoy today to be with our ally. Working with the New Edomites is pleasing; they aren't too rigid, and they are prepared to cooperate with us, treating us as allies, not just as guests. We have no significant rivalry between any officer under our command and any office under their command; it seems to us that things are proceedingly in a fine manner.

But I must inform you that naval actions have caused me and some officers concern; there is confidence in the reports sent by our comrades at sea that hostile forces have engaged and destroyed some allied warships; and alarmingly, we have lost contact with one of our submarines. While we possess no command and control over our comrades at sea — for our allies have included them into the combined command and control apparatus — it is important for us to consider this as a loss, and that our response to this loss is the reinforcement of our allies and our forces at sea, as well as the strengthening of the security of our convoys, and of the safe movement and arrival and departure of all of our forces should they move by sea.

In the end, dear General, it is my pleasure to write to you once more; I pray that you will arrive at New Edom soon.

Your student,

Colonel Luciana

---

Dear Sara,

For the sake of the children, please stay anywhere north; stay with my family, if you can bear it still.

For now, dear Sara, it is painful for me not to be with you. I will do my very best to go home after I am done here, after we — the very best of Solisia's tank crews — are done here. For now, dear Sara, endure while I am not with you and the children; for now, Sara, please forgive me.

I am praying very dearly for each and every one of you there. May God watch over you. Please, Sara, at once, listen to me, and stay away from the south; do not attempt; do not even think of trying to go back. It is still not safe, I was told, to go back.

The air is poisonous, the land is corrupted, and the water is tainted. You must not go back until Her Majesty's government has cleansed it.

Your husband,

Marco.

---

Teacher,

There's no war here. I hope war has not come to the Empire. I hope you and the kids are okay. I'll do my best to come back, safe and sound. If the war comes and if I am lucky enough, I hope the enemy will allow me to keep my legs and arms with me. I pray nothing too bad happens.
Anyway, I hope I can still come back and continue helping you do your job. I heard from my friend, Lt. David, that you were healthy and that Fiona was helping you a lot. I miss working with you more than I'll miss it here though.
While I like the warm air, the chance to witness the azure waves crash against stone, sand, and soil; the opportunity to talk to and make friends with a pretty New Edomite lady; and the honor of serving Her Majesty and the Empire, I prefer the slow and quiet mood of working in the university.
I don't belong here, but I appreciate the fact that my comrades like it when I am with them. It has been, I think, 10, maybe 15 weeks, since I have rejoined my company.
I will write again tomorrow; I have to rest and then report for sentry duty when night falls.

Sincerely,

Voss.

---

As letters came and went between New Edom and Solisia, Her Majesty watched the last of the reinforcements her officers leave the ports of the country. As thousands of soldiers wave to their Queen and to those with her goodbye, the Queen waved back as well. And when they were too far to see, the Queen left with her companions and retired.

When she found herself alone in her own chambers, she could not stop thinking about the corpses of the young ones. She shivered as she embraced herself and fell to her buttocks. She leaned her back against a wall and buried her face in her arms, weeping over the horrors she worked in vain to prevent.

---

Hours later, Her Majesty smiled at the plane as it landed after a long flight from Ardoki and back to Solisia. Her staff were saved! All thanks to her allies, the Common Territories and the rest. She reminded herself that she must thank them profusely, and in the future arrange a meeting with the highest official in charge of that country.

While the plane was still going through the post-landing procedures, Her Majesty produced a small phone from her pocket, put it to her ear, and said, "You may begin."

Then the phone died and was put away again in the right pocket of Her Majesty's skirt.

Ten minutes after she said those words, the Solisians have sent an order to the submarines approaching Ardoki to return to their bases. Only half of them would return, while the rest made their way towards New Edom to join the combined fleet.

---

The Solisian general officers in command of all of their forces present in New Edom requested a conference with their New Edomite counterparts, and, if possible, with any present officer from the rest of the alliance.
Why?
There were concerns that they wished to bring up with the New Edomites; the first concern was about reinforcements. The second was about air superiority. The third was then about the incoming enemy.
They were tested, of course, but they feared that if things did not proceed well and if things were not coordinated again with the New Edomites and the other allies, an amphibious invasion of this country may proceed.
So, with the leadership of General Zera, the Solisian officers sent an electronic message to their allies, requesting a meeting, even if it must be a limited one, so that the Solisians would address their concerns.

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Bara Province, New Edom
South Lopenfort Yeomanry

---

Lieutenant Ada Warden and her troops passed fields of millet, and a sheep meadow, and passed a railroad crossing with a few small buildings. Several men were outside, working on cleaning the rail line of debris. They all stared at her and several made admiring friendly comments in their own language. The men appeared to be wearing coveralls with bare arms and boots.

Warden watched their work, intrigued. She wondered about the debris in question and what it was doing on the railway tracks. As she contemplated the question, she realised to her embarrassment that she had been quite rudely staring at the workers. With a smile and a flourish, she hefted one leg over the back of her mare and came down from the beast. In the Common Language which was known, strangely, by the Edomites as English, she greeted the workmen.

“Good day to you, gentlemen,” she exclaimed with a smile, removing her Hardee hat. “How fare you all? And how on earth did that happen?”

The men glanced at one another, a bit doubtful and confused, and then after a brief consultation in quiet tones among themselves, they bowed and one stepped forward. A weathered man with dark brown-olive tanned face all seamed and weathered from work in the hot sun every day, almost seeming to port his rake like a rifleman on parade. “Your Honour,” he said in accented English. “Trees…” he gestured. “They blow big wind. Big wind, yes? Big storm one day...before. So we come. Engineer he say come. We move.”

It had clearly been a big storm, for the fields and areas around the tracks were fenced off with high wire fencing, and there was not a tree for miles around. The tracks were also raised with ditches within the range of sight. Clearly work had been done to prevent debris on the tracks, yet there it was.

Warden considered the reply. The man spoke the Common Language such as a Gallandian peasant might, accented and rudimentary. He had a rural charm to him, though, and Warden found herself respecting the hard-working Edomite commoners.

“Hmm, must have been quite the storm…” She mused. “Would you like any help?” She asked, “I have twenty-three good men and horses.” It wasn’t remotely in her orders or jurisdiction to help the Edomites, especially when she had been given clear instruction, but she knew that the Colonel would have made the same offer.

“Oh, Your Honour, there is no need for someone such as you to do this…” the man looked at her with curiousity. “You are the allies of the King-Emperor? The lands which are ruled by women?”

Warden chuckled prettily in the inoffensive noble fashion. “Allies, yes. But not so much ruled by women. We are from Vionna-Frankenlisch, across the seas. We serve our gracious and noble sovereign, King James Frederick Turrell. Perhaps you may have heard, he is the one who near lost his arm a few days back.” Warden nodded steadily as she spoke, as if checking her words over as they passed her lips. “It is our duty to help the Edomite people in any way we can.” Warden could not help but puff her chest out a little as she spoke as a benevolent lord of old might, “I have strong men and horses, it would be an honour to help you.”

The men looked at one another in confusion, but then finally the man who had been speaking said, “If you would like to help, perhaps you can help by tethering your horses to some of the debris from the trees that are stuck over the tracks. We were sawing them up, but Your Honours could just haul them right off!”

Looking more closely, it could be seen that the storm had also damaged the roofs of some of the buildings nearby as well.

Lieutenant Warden smiled and nodded at the the man. She turned back to her troop. “You heard the man,” she ordered, “Jenkins, Tessin, put those ropes of yours to some use and tie them to that debris. Sergeant Major Edsam, organise these horses together, if you please.” There came a symphony of “Ma’am’s” and the troop burst into action, Sergeant Major Elias Edsam’s gruff voice putting men and horses in their places.

“Were those buildings damaged by the storm too?” Warden asked the Edomite, pointing to a small variety of damaged roofs in the village.

[Co-RP’d with New Edom]

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

The Open Seas
Imperial New Edom Squadron
Rear Admiral Sir S.Barret Commanding

---

Things were not so good. Wedner had been joined beneath the waves by the Hadrian-class Frigate Ewhampton. Struck by five missiles which had, confused, homed in on the poor vessel, swarmed her lacklustre air defence systems and all hit amidships. There was a spectacular, although not fatal, explosion which had damaged her internals beyond repair. As the crew was preparing to abandon ship, one of the Ewhampton's magazines went up and the ship capsized in minutes, going down by the starboard-bow with all hands.

Dauntless had survived, however. She had sustained two hits, the first on her A turret which had failed to penetrate its strong armour but had succeeded in making the turret weaker to a second attack. The second had struck the bridge and, had destroyed the communications console and damaged the navigation station. Luckily, as per Barret's orders, Dauntless' officers had retired to their respective system rooms so the only casualties were a marine killed and two sailors maimed. Black Crystal had taken a hit herself, rendering her anti-submarine systems useless and in need of full replacement, her bridge was scorched by a fire set by detonating munitions and damage control parties were struggling to get it in any kind of workable order. OD-39 had taken a direct hit to the forward turret, destroying it entirely and knocking out fourteen VLS systems in the process, Captain Isidor Merman, who loved his missiles more than his wife, was reportedly livid.

The only ship in the squadron to remain unscathed through the whole barrage was OD-38, an Octavian-class Destroyer commanded by Fae Danse, a Commander from Gallandia. It was, in fact, her Defender Air-Defence Systems that swatted three missiles out of the air, a remarkable feat considering the circumstances. Three more had gone off course, confused by the menagerie of hot smoke, flares and electrical interferences.

Now the dust (and smoke, for that matter) was fading and Rear Admiral Barret, coughing and choking after stepping out of Dauntless' armoured conning tower too early, looked over his battered squadron. Wreckage from the torpedoed Wedner remained floating atop the deep blue but Ewhampton was gone. It was as if she was never there at all, not even the phantom of her stern, pulled down beneath the waves, could be seen. Barret was dismayed but not broken yet. Despite the heavy damage to Dauntless' bridge, not to mention Black Crystal's, both ships were fully operable from within their superstructure in systems rooms. Admittedly it was less efficient, orders had to be relayed by runners, speaking tubes or electrical communication systems and coordination would be hellish. However, the squadron was still operable, if battered and diminished.

The order was given immediately, Thouthen had shown her hand and thought she had taken the stack. Barret intended to show his opposition that Vionna-Frankenlisch was not trumped yet. He ordered his remaining ships to move as fast as they dared to push their engines towards to Thouthenian carrier group. The missiles were loaded, the guns were primed. Barret had always been a blood knight and knew that, if he retreated now, a Board of Inquiry would break him. As a man, as a soldier, he had one choice. Onwards, to do or die.

---

Casualties and Damage
HMNS Dauntless
A Turret lightly damaged
Bridge badly damaged
2 killed
2 wounded
HMNS Ewhampton
Sank
180 killed
HMNS Black Crystal
Anti-submarine systems crippled
Bridge badly damaged
7 killed
6 wounded
OD-39
A Turret destroyed
14 VLS cells destroyed
11 killed
4 wounded

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Frankenlisch, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Palace of Romulus, Ballroom

---

“More right wing in what respects?” said Count Reuben.

"I believe she is more Reactionary than Fascist..." Lord Airey answered for Princess Alice, the Princess sat silent, thankful, as the Earl was likely more knowledgable about such matters than her. She made sure to always play to her strengths and rely on allies in situations she was weak in. "As you can well imagine, she is very bitter at the usurpation of her throne and the fate the Thouthenian monarchy and nobility suffered. I don't know the Duchess well enough to pass judgement on her views but she seems justified in being angry, certainly."

“How can socialism work, eh? You take everyone’s wealth and then redistribute it, and then you have to work to prevent the naturally enterprising and natural leaders from rising effectively? I don’t understand it. Thouthen would be doomed to fail anyway,” he said, glancing at his companions, “And I have heard through the grapevine,” putting a finger beside his nose, “That they have not one ally in their venture against us. Not a one. No social justice led nation, not the International Socialists, no one supports them! They fight one another instead, whereas Imperion naturally aligns together. So foolish.”

Princess Alice smiled and nodded. "Honestly, I think any Imperion nation could take Thouthen alone. If Margarette is correct, the Socialists took all of their good equipment from the defeated monarchist forces and have near bankrupted themselves."

"We can't be sure of that." Airey said, gravely, "Although I agree with your denunciation of Socialism, Count Matthias." He chuckled loudly, "How on earth is such a system going to work? Doomed to fail, I say, doomed. Hey, hey." He pushed himself to his feet, getting a short, yet convenient, look at the Edomites' cards. He raised his glass, "I should like to propse we toast. 'To the downfall of Socialism, and to the natural order of man!'"

[Solisian Union]

150 kilometers away from Solisia - approaching New Edom

---

They were arrested. Too bad.

The 40 year old woman grunted as she shifted in her seat and looked out the window. From her place, she could look down at the country, the homeland that she was leaving. Solisia. It was the land of the sun, the moon, and the limitless stars present beyond this world. Sadly, it wasn't the land of freedom. Not for her. Not for her comrades now behind bars.

Hayate, Itzara, Yumiko, Mistuko; they were all behind bars. Even Mitsuko's girlfriend was behind bars! It was unfair!

And that made her bite her lip and blink hard. She looked away from the window and stared at her hands. Have I done anything to help them? she thought. No. It's too bad, it's too bad of an idea to help them now. The only thing I can do is save myself.

The woman - the head of the Solisian Red Flag Organization, Emílie Pavla Shimizu - shuddered when she realized she was close to being arrested. If not for the warning her friend in the police, she would have not been able to escape Solisia for New Edom with a fake identity.

---

Her Majesty would permit this.

And to go forward with it was Lieutenant Loreto Febe Campana, a loyal member of The Secret Tercio - The Sacred Legionaries. To her and to her Comrades in the Legion, it was important for her to carry out this mission without a word.

It was during the late afternoon that Loreto observed the activity outside a suspected gathering of gays, lesbians, and other deviants. Personally, she hated them. They engaged in sexual acts that were not natural to humans and they spread disease whenever they were not careful and they despised the current order. Most of all, Loreto often trembled in anger whenever she remembered the death of her previous commanding officer, Legionary Colonel Mateo, because it was caused by a common criminal who was gay. That man and his lover were jailed for life. It was something Loreto and her Comrades did not tolerate. Often, the police had to make sure that they did not try to come through and kill them in their cells.

But what about now? She had a mission that finally allowed her to exploit her unresolved anger against the bastards...the scum...the shit of the land.

Loreto heard a voice come through her earpiece, "Shadows, let's go."

This is it, she told herself.

A moment later, she moved out of the coffee shop and into the streets. She was joined by two others - Comrades from the Tercio. They were carrying pistols and warrants. Halfway to the venue, three others - carrying shotguns and carbines - joined them. Men and women who were walking on the sidewalks got out of their way. Vehicles avoided them.

There was a big sign that said: GATHERING TODAY - SOCIETY OF TOLERANCE - 4:30 PM. One of the Comrades of Loreto grabbed it with one free hand and tossed it into the street.

Once they found themselves in front of the double doors, Loreto stomped forward and knocked on the doors heavily. She did this six times. Then she shouted, "¡Abran las puertas! ¡Estás bajo arresto!"

A Comrade stepped forward to her right and knocked three times before she shouted, "¡Abran o se resistirán al arresto!"

A few seconds later, the doors creaked as they opened and a young looking man greeted them. He didn't get to say a word when the Legionnaires rammed the butts of their shotguns and carbines against his face and against the doors. In seconds, the first Legionnaires entered the lobby - where a dozen men and women wearing wristbands that promoted their sexualities were lining up to register at the counter - and began to come after them. A few tried to escape; they were shot down. The rest were struck with butts in their stomachs or in their faces or against their chests. They were pushed against walls or pinned down on the floor while Loreto chased after a screaming teenage girl. She stopped and aimed at the small of her back and then fired three times. The girl crumpled against the wall as she tried to turn towards the left corridor.

Behind the Legionnaires, a great voice from their commander shouted, "¡Arréstenlos o mátenlos! Just make sure nobody gets away!"

---

Two hours after the Legionnaires burst into a Society of Tolerance gathering, small crowds of young lesbians and gays came out on the streets of the capital. They were stopped by a wall of Azen Legionnaires reinforced by Solisian police officers and members of the Guardia Civil.

To face a full company of Azen Legionnaires mounted on horses was certainly something. But to face them meant resistance. And the Azens did not appreciate resistance. The Solisian police gave warnings through loud-speakers. The Guardia Civil marched forward and took positions in front of the Azen Legionnaires.

Among the ones that came out to protest what the Legionnaires have done in the name of Her Majesty was an ordinary teen named Günther Achim.

Like those with him, they were Solisian. They were children of the Lunas, the Solas, and the Exilei. But they were, according to the government and to Her Majesty, marked as 'deviants' and as 'dangerous to the public.'

They hated that. They did nothing to disturb the peace. They were only doing what they wanted to do. The government tolerated that before. Why have they turned against them now? Why did they let foreign events influence them? Why are they blaming the ones who were innocent of the bombings of the south?

They've heard rumors that the Solisian police was arresting people like Achim; that there were Guardia Civil members who were detaining anyone they've caught in the countryside and suspected as deviants; that there were members of the violent Tradicionalistas beating individuals known for their sexuality.

And now, they were met almost immediately by hundreds of police officers and Guardia Civil and most of all the dreaded Azen Legion.

Achim despised them - the Azen Legionnaires were the infamous instrument of Her Majesty to crush the unrest that surfaced in Solisia - and he wanted to fight them - the problem with that idea was that the Azen Legions were the best the Solisians had to do just that.

As hundreds faced hundreds, the young men and women saw the faces of their opposition.

The Azens were waiting. The Guardia Civil was holding the line steady. The police continued to warn them but did so half-heartedly. Their warnings faded. The faces of the Azens became more significant, more filled with excitement for what was to come.

Achim spotted one of the Legionnaires wearing a gold ribbon on the left shoulder. That was probably the company commander.

To his left and to his right, the rest stood their ground. Nobody left.

But nobody could. They were being surrounded by incoming Azen Legionnaires and Guardia Civil. In minutes, there was no clear route for the teens to leave the area.

A great fear came over them but together, they still stood their ground.

Then the Guardia Civil commander shouted from behind their line, "Guardias - ¡Abran paso!" and then ten seconds later, the line opened up in the center. The Azens began to hum the dreaded tune that signaled to everyone that they were about to charge.

Swords were drawn. Bayonets were mounted.

"Oh God, they're not going to arrest any of us." said a trembling woman to the left of Achim.

Behind them, a voice cried out, "Stand fast!"

The crowds became one. Seconds passed. The Legionnaires stopped humming. The commander's horse stepped forward of the line. Then she raised her sword and cried out, "¡Prepárense para cargar!"

And all the Legionnaires raised their swords, making ready quickly for a brutal charge through these foolish kids.

"Cargar!"

[New Edom]

Frankenlisch, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Palace of Romulus, Ballroom


"I believe she is more Reactionary than Fascist..." Lord Airey answered for Princess Alice, the Princess sat silent, thankful, as the Earl was likely more knowledgeable about such matters than her. She made sure to always play to her strengths and rely on allies in situations she was weak in. "As you can well imagine, she is very bitter at the usurpation of her throne and the fate the Thouthenian monarchy and nobility suffered. I don't know the Duchess well enough to pass judgement on her views but she seems justified in being angry, certainly."

“The current government of Thouthen talks of purges. One hears of purges.” said Count Reuben, shifting his cards around. He glanced at her. “Anger. Yes, i would have anger if my country were taken over by such people. Were there massacres, what happened to the nobles and their followers not able to flee the country? How did they treat prisoners and such?”

Princess Alice smiled and nodded. "Honestly, I think any Imperion nation could take Thouthen alone. If Margarette is correct, the Socialists took all of their good equipment from the defeated monarchist forces and have near bankrupted themselves."

“Hm? Perhaps,” said Count Mathias sounding as wise as he could. “Perhaps. War is bound in a fog, you see. Uncertainty, and it takes experience to understand it. Great and mighty forces have been defeated by savages and revolutionary brutes before. Obviously were, in old Thouthen. I speak, at times, with members of our National War Council, and great struggles require wise planning.” he smiled at her.

"We can't be sure of that." Airey said, gravely, "Although I agree with your denunciation of Socialism, Count Matthias." He chuckled loudly, "How on earth is such a system going to work? Doomed to fail, I say, doomed. Hey, hey." He pushed himself to his feet, getting a short, yet convenient, look at the Edomites' cards. He raised his glass, "I should like to propose we toast. 'To the downfall of Socialism, and to the natural order of man!'"

“The natural order of man!” said the other two, raising their glasses. The elder Beroth naturally, like a reflex, brought his cards closer to his pigeon chest the moment Airey stood up. The younger was puzzling over a 10 of hearts, 10 of Diamonds, a 9 of diamonds, Eight of Hearts, Eight of Clubs, Seven of Clubs, Six of Spades,4 of Diamonds, 3 of Spades, Ace of Hearts.

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Eldham, Duchy of Cunaris
Ferrick and Sons Cement Works

---

"They're running..." Decimius panted, clutching a bleeding wound on his chest. He laughed bitterly through gritted teeth, "The bastards are running. We showed 'em, ey?"

Alyssa knelt by the man's side, bleary-eyed. "We showed 'em Dec..." She nodded, taking his outstretched hand. There were some in her organisation that would have advocated for her exile for even touching a man but how could she not comfort him. Decimius had been wounded badly, in the very last stage of the fight. One of the investigators had thrown a grenade which went off just in time to burst shrapnel into Decimius' abdomen. His vest had been shredded by the explosion and there was a grisly gash where a shard of white-hot metal had slashed into him.

"I told you to stop calling me that..." He replied with a sad smile. Alyssa did not attempt to inspirit her comrade, Decimius clearly knew that he would die. There came, from the courtyard below, a cacophony of gunfire and Decimius shook his head, gesturing for Alyssa to investigate. She peeked her head over the side of the roof carefully, not wishing to be spotted by some kind of marksman. She saw, with sadness, that one of her sisters had been shot and captured. By the maroon-coloured sneakers, she guessed that it was Gemma and cursed the girl for always being so aggressive. A discarded automatic pistol by the body confirmed her suspicions, Gemma had attacked the investigators, rather than remain in cover.

Alyssa, swearing under her breath, crept back to Decimius' side to inform him. "It was Gemma," she said quietly. It did not take long to realise that Decimius, her only male friend in the world, was already dead. Blood pooling at his side. She sniffed back tears and removed the purple bandana from her leg, with a sad heart she tied it around the man's upper arm. Having properly saluted her fallen comrade, Alyssa proceeded to rifle through his pockets and took some minor medical supplies and a smoke grenade. She took his carbine and began searching for an escape. To go down through the building again would be suicide, she could run into the investigators or even set off one of her own traps. There was only one way. She lowered herself steadily over the side of the building and began hurriedly clambering down, clutching onto a concrete drainage pipe.

---

Captain Lanzrel watched the scene wordlessly. The girl had been stupid, of course, but there was something slightly sad about seeing the untrained teenager gunned down so unceremoniously by the Cossacks. Men who were, no doubt, well-educated in the art of killing. Behind him, the squalid prison room was guarded by the alert Corporal Wilcox and Lanzrel nodded to him. Wilcox, confident with his carbine at the ready, nodded back. "Right boys, let's go," Lanzrel waved his men along and rushed over the Cossacks, his heavy boots scuffing on the concrete courtyard floor.

"Good work, gents." He called, as he approached the Cossacks. Lanzrel winced as one pushed a needle into the captive. He crouched down and picked up the girl's weapon, an automatic pistol from Prodava with a name Lanzrel couldn't remember, let alone pronounce. "Get her back to the helicopters and we'll clear the trainyard. Can you spare a man to help Corporal Wilcox with the silo?"

---

Westonland, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Grand Library, Westonland Castle

---

"How was I then?" King James asked loudly, shuffling into the library with the aid of a cane. He strolled over to a gilded oak table where the Cossacks, Princess Sarah, Prince Albert and Queen Jane were sitting. Teacups were arranged at each person's place and the table was arrayed with playing cards, wooden board games and a pair of dulled training rapiers. "None for me, eh?" He complained, jokingly, pointing to the teacups. A servant promptly delivered a steaming china cup to the King which he accepted with his free hand, Doctor Robinson having removed the obstruction of his sling.

"You were wonderful, darling," Queen Jane replied with a loving smile. In a maroon Empire waist gown of silk and velvet, she looked radiant and the King looked at her in awe. Albert was smiling at the sight and Princess Sarah grumbled as she finished her cup of tea. "So aggressive, need I be worried?" The Queen joked.

"Of course not, dearest," James replied. The King had a strange manner about him, he clearly cared deeply about his wife and family but the only one he seemed capable of talking naturally to was his daughter, Sarah. James had a troublemaker's heart, like his daughter, and his wife was light-hearted and peaceful, his son was bound by all the noble virtues: honour, duty, governorship. He sat resplendently in a smoking jacket and had forgone a cup of tea in favour of a whiskey and soda and a cigar. A cigar that did not last long in the Prince's mouth before his sister had taken it from him.

[Cossack Khanate]

Eldham, Cunaris
As the girl collapsed to the ground, now unconscious and slowly bleeding from two wounds, Corporal Kemla reluctantly drew bandages and tied them around the wounds. Dev and Anish, both young soldiers yet as radical as the rest of their people, narrowed their eyes. If it was their operation they would most likely aim to interrogate on the spot, but this operation was on Frankenlischian territory. It had to be done professionally, not out of personal hatred for the terrorists.

However, Corporal Kemla felt what might of been a slight pang of guilt. Of course, a member of a terrorist organization was a threat no matter their age, but teenagers were easily brainwashed, he thought. So much left to see in life but they instead chose to waste it on a futile passion. He shook the reflection from his head.
"Good work, gents." He called, as he approached the Cossacks.
Kemla looked up and nodded solemnly.
"Get her back to the helicopters and we'll clear the trainyard. Can you spare a man to help Corporal Wilcox with the silo?"
“Of course, Captain. Private Dev will go down and help Corporal Wilcox, Anish and I will take her to the helicopters and perhaps have the reserve team secure her onboard.”, he said, motioning with his hands.
Dev nodded and lightly jogged towards the silo, flipping his mike to Navin...
_______________________
Sergeant Navin stormed down the stairs with the other Cossacks and Section A, the force swinging their rifles at every possible sector. Dev’s voice came in “Sir, we’ve captured one of the terrorists. I’m being sent to help Corporal Wilcox with the silo, Anish and Corporal are taking the girl to the helicopters.”
Navin sighed, purposely neglecting the fact that the capture had taken place against his orders to leave the scene. “Good work soldier. Be careful at the silos, you won’t have the rest of us to back you. Cooperate with the Frankenlischians, keep on your guard. You already know that these terrorists will attack at random. Good luck, keep in contact”
“Yes sir”
Navin’s force walked through the entrance building and into the open...
Grand Library, Westondland Castle

The Cossacks, enjoying the tea placed in front of them, sat attentively when King James walked in. Advisor Dhuval was fiddling with one of the cards closest to him.
"So aggressive, need I be worried?" The Queen joked.

"Of course not, dearest," James replied.
“I particularly admired the style of speech, Your Majesty”, said Minister Vehr, “I think it was quite effective, not to mention encompassing of the situation at hand”. He sipped his tea.

[Ardoki]

---

High Elder Neasa
@HighElderNeasa

LOCATION: Ardea, Ardoki
PROFESSION: High Elder of Elder Dance Crew: Backup Dancer, Bodyguard, Assassin, Special Forces

---

Queen Meriall Satarana's kingdom is a rouge state now infamous for its flagrant human rights violations. Elder Dance Crew shall not permit the slaughter of peaceful and unarmed protesters who were merely congregating to petition for their own human rights. The so-called 'Azen Legion' is has been marked as a terrorist organisation by Supreme Elder Bridget; and thus, an enemy of all Elders.

So, to all so-called 'Azen Legionaries', surrender to your Elders and we shall be merficul. If you do not; however, we shall hunt everyone of you down and execute you alongside your entire families in the name of tolerance and human rights for the people you have murdered. Your choice.

---

Another brilliant product from the Alistair Moriarty Entertainment Company.

[Kuriyama]

NPB NEWS
KNOWLEDGE MAKES US STRONG

---

New Edom Tensions Trigger Military Exercises


Infantry perform exercise deep in the Central Desert

KURIYAMA CITY--The Department of Warfare released photos and footage of military exercises being performed in the heart of the Central Desert this morning, testing military readiness in the event of a Code Blue--a call by the president to launch military operations on a foreign country within 72 hours. President Aya Snowden said that this was in direct response to the escalating crisis in New Edom, which has been worsening since the government fired on unarmed LGBT+ rights activists at a rally.

"We are quite serious about this crisis," Snowden said in the statement. "We do not take such obvious killing of the disenfranchised and the proletariat lightly. Combined with the threat of military action in the region, especially from SACTO, it is clear that our military must be prepared for any eventuality."

President Snowden, however, emphasized that the administration sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. "We don't want war," she stated. "Our hope is that the situation in New Edom will stabilize and that the LGBT+ community in the nation will find justice served without the need for violence."

Several military analysts have denounced the administration's gunboat diplomacy, stating that the Allied States are not at all prepared for any sort of retaliatory strike from New Edom or its allies. Critics have also protested the implied alignment with monarchists in the Free State of Thouthen, as well as the lack of Congressional approval for the exercises.

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Frankenlisch, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Palace of Romulus, Ballroom

---

“The natural order of man!” said the other two, raising their glasses. The elder Beroth naturally, like a reflex, brought his cards closer to his pigeon chest the moment Airey stood up. The younger was puzzling over a 10 of hearts, 10 of Diamonds, a 9 of diamonds, Eight of Hearts, Eight of Clubs, Seven of Clubs, Six of Spades,4 of Diamonds, 3 of Spades, Ace of Hearts.

"The natural order of man!" Princess Alice agreed, raising her glass and placing it to her parted lips, allowing the expensive liquid to trickle down her throat. Lord Airey came down violently on his chair and laughed heartily, glad to be in good company and glad to have caught, at least a glimpse, of what the younger Count Beroth was clutching. Airey made a silent note to watch his Hearts carefully and lay down the Five of Spades with a wordless exhalation.

“The current government of Thouthen talks of purges. One hears of purges.” said Count Reuben, shifting his cards around. He glanced at her. “Anger. Yes, i would have anger if my country were taken over by such people. Were there massacres, what happened to the nobles and their followers not able to flee the country? How did they treat prisoners and such?”

"I do not know of purges." Alice admitted, "I do hear that some of the nobility was killed. A few were exiled, actually, which is surprising considering how twitchy the new Thouthenian government is. Princess Margarette and two lesser nobles escaped here and are hosted at court." Alice leaned in and muttered, "I hear, although cannot confirm, that many captured nobles were forced into..." She took a deep breath and considered her words, "Worse disgrace than I can possibly imagine... Into a certain service..."

Lord Airey just so happened to have a short bout of coughing and Princess Alice nodded, understanding. "All hearsay, of course, but we know these Socialists for the savages they are..." Alice said. Changing her solemn and serious countanence on a Dime, she grinned and slipped the Ace of Spades onto the table.

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Eldham, Duchy of Cunaris
Ferrick and Sons Cement Works

---

Lord Commander von Berrenheim smelt the air again, there was definitely something off but he couldn't make out what. The other members of Section D could sense it too and searched desperately for the source. It was a dank, chemical smell rather reminiscent of old piss. Men kicked open doors to rooms connected to the metal catwalk and entered carefully, weapons at the ready. Operatives Octan and al Shabeer entered the room at the end and, almost immediately, a loud symphony of gunfire rang out. Every member of Section D dropped upon one knee and braced for action. Von Berrenheim, still on the catwalk, watched the door intently and jumped a little as Operative Octan came tumbling backwards through it, gurgling a muffled cry.

Another burst of gunfire shook the building and Operative al Shabeer, panting, trudged over to the doorway. His carbine swung on its sling and he was looking down, horrified, at the fallen Octan. Von Berrenheim rushed forward, his head down and carbine held tightly, "How is he, Operative?" He asked, authoritatively.

"Dead m'Lord." Al Shabeer reported, checking his comrade's pulse. He looked up at his commander. "There were three of the bastards in there," he explained, "One girl and two men."

"Men?" Von Berrenheim looked up in shocked surprise. For a reason he could not explain, his blood suddenly ran cold. "There are not supposed to be men here. Every piece of intel we have says that men aren't even allowed in their organisation."

"Well, they're definitely men, m'Lord. Checked myself." Al Shabeer replied, nodding, shameless. Behind the Lord Commander, Corporal Beckett looked at al Shabeer incredulously. "Oh for fuck's sake, Corp," the Prodavan said, chuckling, "How else was I supposed to know?"

Von Berrenheim ignored the humourous bickering of his men and pushed past Operative al Shabeer, stepping over the torn corpse of Octan. His father would be most upset, Octan was of the famous Octan Oil dynasty and Sir Richard Octan had been ecstatic to hear that his son had passed selection. To be killed on his first mission was no shame, though, and he would be honoured like all of his fallen comrades. The Lord Commander searched the battle-scarred room. He had little idea what the room had once been used for. It had a tiled floor so damaged that it felt like a pebbled beach underfoot and the only furniture was a metal-framed table with a wooden top. The table was on its side and three corpses were slumped around it. Two wore military uniforms of urban camouflage and brandished army-grade assault weapons, these were noticeably larger than the third corpse, a thin, pale girl of perhaps nineteen years who clutched a revolver in each white hand. Her clothing was civilian and grey, marked only by black hiking boots and a purple handkerchief tied around the upper arm. Von Berrenheim checked her guns, both full, she probably didn't even have the time to raise them before two slugs from Octan's shotgun planted themselves in her chest.

What on earth had they been using this room for? Lord Commander von Berrenheim wondered. The scent he was chasing was here yet he could see little, the floor was a carpet of broken tile and the overturned table was the only furniture. Its surface was filthy with marks and burns as if some mad scientist had been experimenting upon it. He soon discovered the source of the smell. In the corner of the broken room was a pile of empty bags. The smell was not strong but it was ever-present, von Berrenheim soon realised why. He read the bags intently and identified the now-gone contents immediately. "It's fertiliser," he told his men through his radio, "It must be for bomb-making. Must be."

---

"Just my fucking luck..." Corporal Griff muttered to himself. "They're solving mysteries and fighting terrorists and I'm wading through shit."

That wasn't entirely true, Griff was not technically wading through shit, per se. But foul-smelling waste pooled around his heavy boots all the same and he had to force himself to keep his gas mask in its box. Behind him, his four men trailed along, sweeping the sewer tunnel with their weapons. Each of them surely felt the same way as Griff but, frankly, he couldn't give a shit. Griff wasn't a selfish man but he had had just about enough of this bloody tunnel. What was he doing there anyway? This wasn't in his-

"Hold up..." Griff whispered, very quietly and held up his hand to signal his men to stop. He crouched but refrained from kneeling, not ready to besmirch his trousers with the disgusting carpet of piss and shit and filthy water. He had held up his men because, on the other side of the river of waste, which flowed between two concrete walkways, he heard movement. For a moment, Griff was certain he had discovered the terrorists escaping their safehouse and was ready to congratulate himself. Then he realised that the movement wasn't escaping. It was coming closer...

Griff flipped down his night vision goggles and found them, miraculously, repaired. The Dolov Gen 2+ had a curious habit of getting damaged with every knock and fixed by the next one, Griff was just thankful that the temperamental device chose now to work. He looked, horrified, as a single-file column of well-armed men in urban camo trailed along the opposite walkway. His mouth was agape and, luckily, his men had noticed too and were keeping silent and still. The unknown intruders were equipped well beyond the grade of an Imperial soldier and it was a marvel that they had not noticed Griff and his silent companions, as he was pretty sure they were equipped with the Dolov Gen 1 goggles; not as clear as the Gen 2 or 2+ but certainly less bipolar than those more modern versions.

As the men passed, Griff sighed quietly in relief. "We have to warn the others," he whispered to his men. He reached for his radio steadily and almost dropped it as he heard footsteps approaching rapidly, from his side of the tunnel. Operative Kohabra raised his carbine and a voice called out.

"Don't shoot man, it's me." Sergeant Olyvar called out, clearly unaware of the threat. He stepped forward to join Griff's squad and a silenced rifle shot sounded. Olyvar fell to his knees, clutching his abdomen. Another shot rang out and a bullet slammed into the wall next to Griff's head.

"Oh fuck..." Griff exclaimed. Could his day get any worse? Before he could tempt fate any further, he let out a burst of automatic gunfire. "Return fire, lads!" He called. There was no room for stealth or fancy tactics down in the sewer tunnel, it would be a simple gunfight to the death. Griff shouted into his radio, "Hostiles in the sewer, armed hostiles!" He hoped against hope that rescue would come and fired another burst.

---

Westonland, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Grand Library, Westonland Castle

---

“I particularly admired the style of speech, Your Majesty”, said Minister Vehr, “I think it was quite effective, not to mention encompassing of the situation at hand”. He sipped his tea.

"You are far too kind, Minister." King James replied with a kind smile. "I find that people are far more likely to be supportive if they know what's going on. Something that democracy has rather undermined, I feel." He chuckled to himself, "Not that I'd like autocratic power." He assured the Cossack, "It sounds all well and good but I'm not sure I could handle all that." He strolled over to Princess Sarah and plucked the sodden cigar from her lips and took a few neat puffs himself before returning it to Albert. "I smoke enough as it is!" He said and laughed heartily. Albert joined him, dutifully. Sarah sat in sullen silence and Queen Jane laughed nervously.

"Now then," the King explained with a satisfied and friendly grin. "I have made good on my earlier promises. Major Sundar, Major General Lord Rothess commands at Fort Ulfgar and he would be most glad to parade his men for you tomorrow. Dear Minister Vehr, I think a day of sporting would be good for us. I have asked Mister Duckett to schedule shooting and some riding tomorrow." James cleared his throat, "And Mister... Dhuval. Anna Southgate, a Professor of Foreign Relations and a Lecturer of Economics from the University of Gestoria will be here tomorrow and you can have some one-on-one's with her." He chuckled, wheezing, "You're a lucky man, she is a very fine woman." He suggested, laughing and miming sizable breasts with his hands. Queen Jane tutted and slapped his bandaged wrist, the King yelped in pain but continued laughing.

[Cossack Khanate]

Eldham, Duchy of Cunaris

Navin let his SMG hand from his arm and looked up into the sky, squinting. The rest of his unit let out a deep breath. He turned his mike to the Commander “Sir, my unit and Section A are outside, what are our orde--”

He was cut off by Corporal Griff "Hostiles in the sewer, armed hostiles!" and the sound of automatic gunfire from the other end of the radio. He waited for the Commander’s orders…

________________________________________________

Corporal Kemla and Private Anish were carrying the teenage girl to the helicopter. The knockout serum would keep a full grown adult out for at least 2 hours, and for her size maybe three. They had left the safety of the Cossack unit’s line of view when a burst of gunfire erupted from the trees. Both soldiers dropped the girl and drew their weapons. They went down on one knee behind separate trees. The burst came again, this time splintering the wood just above Anish’s head. Kemla armed a grenade and threw it, sending metal fragments everywhere.

The pair waited. And waited. No gunfire came. Tentatively, Kemla stuck out his gun. Nothing. He motioned. Anish dashed out to reach Kemla’s side. Still nothing.

“I think we got him, sir”, said the private. Nodding, the corporal led the way towards the bushes. Guns raised, they circled the bush. One black boot stuck out, and the pair pulled the entire body out. It was clearly a male, dressed in what seemed to be urban camouflage. His rifle lay on the ground next to him. Corporal Kemla picked it up, inspecting it and flipping it over. “JS-103...7.62x39mm, that’s a communist weapon, isn’t it?” said anish, peering over Kemla’s shoulder. Wordlessly, he handed the gun to Anish and stuck his head in the bush. He came out holding a urban-style carbine assault weapon. “I can’t identify this one, but this looks more his style. That’s probably a weapon of choice or something he picked up. You can find those all over the black market,” said the Corporal.

Puzzled, the private flipped his radio to Sergeant Navin…

_________________________

Westonland Castle

"I smoke enough as it is!" He said and laughed heartily. The Cossacks joined in laughing as well. “With power comes responsibility, I suppose”, said Vehr, chuckling.

"Now then," the King explained with a satisfied and friendly grin. "I have made good on my earlier promises. Major Sundar, Major General Lord Rothess commands at Fort Ulfwhan and he would be most glad to parade his men for you tomorrow.
Major Sundar smiled and nodded “It would be my honor, Your Majesty”

”Dear Minister Vehr, I think a day of sporting would be good for us. I have asked Mister Duckett to schedule shooting and some riding tomorrow."

Minister Vehr nodded and took another sip of his tea “Sounds pleasant, Your Majesty”, he said, with a smile.

"And Mister... Dhuval. Anna Southgate, a Professor of Foreign Relations and a Lecturer of Economics from the University of Gestoria will be here tomorrow and you can have some one-on-one's with her." He chuckled, wheezing, "You're a lucky man, she is a very fine woman." He suggested, laughing and miming sizable breasts with his hands.

Advisor Dhuval sat up at the first part, attentive, but then sat back and laughed nervously. Minister Vehr exchanged a look with him as if telling him “Calm down, it's just a joke”. The Cossack higher class and government officials tended to be more tolerant with such jokes and behavior, but the more ordinary the Cossack became the more intolerant he was, and often public beatings would occur in rural areas for even uttering such a thought. Either way, Dhuval was going to adapt soon enough...

[Vionna-Frankenlisch]

Eldham, Duchy of Cunaris
Ferrick and Sons Cement Works

---

"Report, Corporal, Report!" Lord Commander von Berrenheim yelled into his radio, his Germanic accent more noticeable in his frantic anger, "Who are you engaged by, do you need support?"

Corporal Griff threw up a little as the scent of human waste graced his nostrils. He was lying on his front and firing at the unknown enemy as Operative Kohabra attended to Sergeant Olyvar's wound and Operatives Willemsen and Hardwick were firing wildly, coating the tunnel with bullet and buckshot. "Can't tell, M'lord," Griff spoke over the gunfire through his radio, "There are a good dozen of them, well armed, equipped and I think there may be more coming."

Von Berrenheim could not deny that he was panicking. He was a meticulous man who boasted a half dozen successful missions with FI-9 but he usually had a clear hold on the situation. "Shit, shit, shit..." He muttered to himself, angrily. "Fine." He called through the radio, "Tactical Manoeuvre 11a, Corporal. I'll move men there straight away."

"Very good, M'lord." Griff affirmed and relayed the message to his men, unheard by the enemy above the gunfire. As the next burst of enemy gunfire ricocheted unseen behind Griff, the Corporal theatrically fell limp, dropping his carbine with a gasp into the murky river of waste for good measure. There came a laugh from the opposing walkway. Griff had counted two enemy combatants killed in the fighting and none of his own had yet been hit, perhaps due to the unclear NV the enemy possessed. With the next symphony of automatic fire, Operative Kohabra dropped atop Sergeant Olyvar with a curse. The clever man made sure to shout that they had lost the Sergeant to his wounds; Olyvar was very much alive.

"You bastards!" Operative Hardwick shouted as he rushed to the two 'bodies'. The young man was unlucky as the next burst found its mark, three rifle rounds found themselves in his abdomen and he slid to the floor with a wordless "oof." Operative Willemsen finished the ruse by pretending to flee. He threw himself violently to the filthy ground at the first sound of gunfire and tossed his shotgun aside to add to the effect.

Griff listened intently as who he assumed to be the enemy leader spoke into a radio. "Wolfpack B, this is Pack Alpha. Hostiles cleared in the sewer tunnel, we have to move quickly if we're going to salvage this operation."

A voice crackled through the other end, barely heard by the nauseous Griff, "Pack Alpha, this is Wolfpack D. We've lost two men: Decimius and Domus. I am observing the enemy from the railyard with Declan and Domina, awaiting your orders."

"Wolfpack D, remain in position and prepare to support the operation when we arrive." The leader, who possessed a gruff, killer's voice, ordered. He jogged on, taking great care not to slip on the concrete, wet with waste. Griff's blood went cold as he heard, approaching, another dozen men. He dared not look in case he was noticed but he assumed they were more of the same. These unknown enemies clearly were in a hurry as, unprofessional though it was, they ran straight past the 'fallen' operatives and moved towards the surface access.

Back in the factory building, Lord Commander von Berrenheim frantically gave orders through his radio. "Lanzrel, leave the railyard and the warehouses, get your men and the two prisoners to the factory building as soon as possible. Sergeant Navin and Molton, come together in the entrance building and prepare to give our guests a welcoming party. Beckriff, get your men moving immediately, skip the entrance building and come to the factory itself, we must consolidate our position here."

---

Westonland, Kingdom of Frankenlisch
Grand Library, Westonland Castle

---

King James made a mental note of Dhuval's reaction to his lewd joke. Hmm... Clearly the Cossacks were a prudish people, James would have to watch his jokes. He settled down into a chair by the room's sizeable, roaring hearth and prodded the fire with an iron poker held firmly in his good hand. Queen Jane stood and joined her husband, leaning on the high back of his chair with a smile as warm as the glowing log fire.

"Minister Vehr," King James beckoned the man over with his hurt arm and pointed towards a similar chair with the poker, scattering ash on the polished wooden floor. "Thouthen will fight this one out." He explained, matter-of-factly, "Imperion will too. But I intend for Vionna-Frankenlisch to lead this fight." He smiled and tossed a scrap of oak onto the blaze. With his bad hand, the King absent-mindedly fiddled with a silver medal on his evening jacket. "I will charge government will forming an expeditionary force of our best officers, our hardiest colonial troops and finest home regiments and our strongest ships and aircraft. I envision a strong force of twenty-thousand men with tanks, artillery and vehicles. A fleet of carriers and battleships and destroyers. The skies patrolled by dozens of our most modern fighter aircraft and reconnaissance planes. Do you see, Minister? A true force to be reckoned with." The King was clearly reminiscing about something, he had served as a general at the turn of the century and perhaps he missed those days. "Anyway, I was thinking... Would the Imperator look favourably upon Cossack deployments to support this great crusade?"

[Cossack Khanate]

Eldham, Cunaris

”Sergeant Navin and Molton, come together in the entrance building and prepare to give our guests a welcoming party.”

“Copy that, sir” Navin said, then yelled to his men to move. The Cossacks threw open the entrance building doors and rushed to cover. The various large pieces of rubble provided excellent gun rests. The soldiers who didn’t receive cover pushed rubble and piles of stones over in a jagged semi circle around the basement door, about 10 meters back. Section A also took cover along with Unit 17.

Private Anish came over “Sir, we’ve been attacked by what seems to be a man in camouflage uniform. He had a JS-103 assault rifle and another assault weapon. We took him out sir”

Navin, already nervous for the impending arrival of the hostiles, said “Good work men, we are holding down a position here. So we will be unable to help you. The reserve unit won’t be there when you get there, they are arriving to help us fortify. So watch your flanks, move quickly, and scurry back. You got that?”

“Yes sir, will do”

“Good”

Navin drew his W6 pistol. He checked the magazine of 12.7 CSA ammo and slid it back, arming the weapon and laying it on the ground next to him. The 12.7 CSA was based of the similarly sized Carlosian ammo, which was renowned for blowing skulls to pieces with a single shot. The sergeant knew that he wasn’t in an optimal state for a full-fledged battle. Although CCO operatives were given 3 extra months of infantry training along with the mandatory 8 months, as well as additional time for investigation or whatever field they were specialized in, Navin knew the weaponry they were handling were foreign to them. He hoped he could depend on the deadly-looking SMG, although it would have been nice to have the stopping power of the 6.8 or the 6.5 in this case.

He looked over to Corporal Mej, who was hastily preparing a lethal trap in the stairs. A hidden grenade hidden in the stairs’ darkness was tied to the knob of the door. When the door was pulled open, it would both arm the grenade and knock it off it’s precarious ledge, promptly dropping it on the hostiles.

The rest of the Cossacks were aiming their guns at the door. Mej carefully closed the door and scrambled back to his cover. Thinking retrospectively, Navin thought that it might have been smart for the snipers to sit farther back, and use their high-powered weapons to instantly kill anyone that came up, without the need for automatic fire. Anyway, that was Sergeant Molton’s call…

______________________

Corporal Kemla and Private Anish slung the retrieved weapons on their backs, making their way to the spot where they had left the captive. Yet…

The captive wasn’t there. Frantically, both soldiers swung their guns, aiming at the treeline. “What the f**k sir!” said Anish, breaking any formality, “She was right here!”

Kemla moved closer to Anish and said into his ear “Someone else is here”

As he finished that sentence, a symphony of gunfire erupted from all directions. The Cossacks threw themselves to the ground and crawled to concealment in a bush. As Anish made it, a rifle stuck out from the bush. “Ahh, ahh, f**k, f**k, f**k!”, he yelled, firing a burst into the bush and then diving in. The Corporal was a bit slower. A bullet hit him in the left arm and he yelled in pain, flailing on the ground.
“Sh*t! Corporal, grab my hand!”, shouted Anish, sticking out his left hand while providing covering fire with the right, firing madly into the trees.

Kemla grunted as he heaved into the bush. The pair half jumped, half-ran down a rocky slope to a bushy bottom, where they collapsed. In the sudden silence they heard the faint voice of a hostile into a radio

“Alpha Pack, this is Wolfpack C. We got..uhh..the girl...Gemma. She’s unconscious but alive. The damn soldiers escaped though.” The pack leader had a voice that bordered goon-like, unintelligent but strong.

Kemla motioned for Anish to remain absolutely silent, even though they couldn’t hear the other side.
“Yes sir, we’ll do it. They won’t be a threat anyway”

A short gap.

“Yes sir, we’ll move in right away. Come on boys, let’s go”

From beneath the leaves, Kemla and Anish saw the troops lightly jogging in single file towards the compound. The corporal turned his radio on to warn the others…

Westonland Castle

"Minister Vehr," King James beckoned the man over with his hurt arm and pointed towards a similar chair with the poker, scattering ash on the polished wooden floor. "Thouthen will fight this one out." He explained, matter-of-factly, "Imperion will too. But I intend for Vionna-Frankenlisch to lead this fight." He smiled and tossed a scrap of oak onto the blaze.

Minister Vehr made his way to the chair and sat himself down. “Of course. The Thouthenian people have been lied to for all their lives, and their leader...Siyoum...it seems like he has no intention of leaving this alone. And I do not doubt that Imperion will do the right thing in this...circumstance”, he motioned with his hands as he spoke.

"I will charge government with forming an expeditionary force of our best officers, our hardiest colonial troops and finest home regiments and our strongest ships and aircraft. I envision a strong force of twenty-thousand men with tanks, artillery and vehicles. A fleet of carriers and battleships and destroyers. The skies patrolled by dozens of our most modern fighter aircraft and reconnaissance planes. Do you see, Minister? A true force to be reckoned with."

Major Sundar stood nearby, observing the walls and the hearth.
Minister Vehr spoke first “Indeed Your Majesty. Thouthen should feel the wrath of its actions expressed through our strength”, he said, perhaps with more emotion than usual.

The King was clearly reminiscing about something, he had served as a general at the turn of the century and perhaps he missed those days. "Anyway, I was thinking... Would the Imperator look favourably upon Cossack deployments to support this great crusade?"

Minister Vehr sat forward, interlocking his fingers with his elbows on his knees. “Of course, Your Majesty. His Majesty has already given his decision in a speech, as I hear it. It is war.”

Major Sundar interjected “Everyone must face for their actions, Your Majesty.”, he said, tone serious, fingers meddling with his pen. “Thouthen has sunk, I do not doubt, some of the Kingdom’s finest men and ships. Beyond that, they had the audacity to conduct an attack upon our honor. I assure you, Your Majesty, I have already received some reports from the Ministry of Defense. We can mobilize forces when we need to. The Nifonese have given us a great amount of weapons, training, and organizational help. We have modernized our military. Thouthen will feel the might of at least 20,000 men, hundreds of vehicles, and moreover the blow of many nations’ men invading their ‘country’, for lack of better word” Major Sundar said, sauntering over to stand cross-armed behind Vehr.

“I can assure you, the Cossack military can deploy an armored division - 30,000 men strong - fast enough, but most likely a rapid response force will help in the initial establishing of a beachhead. Once that is accomplished, the gates will be opened. There is no way Thouthen can escape...