Kryopulia
The general nodded at the words of the Prevanian captain, “Very well. We’ll make due with what we have and rely on the air force to clear up any remaining sites. If your airship is up for another trip, there’s equipment we left behind to ease up the load, it would be quite productive to have it available once the element of surprise is gone. By the time it gets back, we should have the region pacified and secure for its landing.”
Once the conversation with the Prevanian ended, the general turned towards one of his waiting men and delivered a short set of instructions. “Contact the fleet and inform them on the current situation, ask them to be on their toes, just in case we miss any major installations. Also, tell them to prepare our gear for an outing, they’ll have to be ready once the airship’s there.” After he gave the orders, the general looked at his departing troops.
The Atrean troops in the compound made a speedy exit. There was a minor incident with the detachment responsible for the AA installation protecting the Aerohaven, but the RRF troops were relatively easily subdued and he could already see a few soldiers transporting the prisoners inside. Arrangements would have to be made for the prisoners, he thought as he looked at them, but that would come later. For now, a hall would serve as an impromptu detention facility.
“Make sure those prisoners are treated with respect.” “Yes sir.” “Remember, we’re here as guests, those are their own people.” “Yes sir, the troops have already been instructed as to the issue.” “Good. Now, find me a place for a staff room.” “Ah! One more thing, send a platoon to guard the Elektor, the Empress would be most displeased if anything were to happen to him.”
The majority of the objectives on the 33rd’s list were in a ten mile radius around the Guild Aerohaven. Logistical limitations and numbers made covering a larger area problematic, and this was enough for this stage of the operation. The men moved like shadows in the night, only the slightest of noises betraying their presence . Engagement with the enemy was avoided until the very last moment, except for a few wayward patrols, quickly silenced. And then; pandemonium.
At precisely three hours after the departure orders from the Aerohaven, the Atrean forces made their presence known. “Hey, you there mate? Stop joking around, it’s not funny!” For that Prevanian soldier, the last thing he saw before a knife’s blade etched into his skull were the night goggles on the face of an Atrean trooper. It went much the same across the entire area, and soon the sound and flashes of gunfire filled the night. With one notable exception.
The troops guarding the Lafayette ABM defence battery were a cut above the rest. Elektor Aristeides’s men had already warned the Atreans about the fact, and the Azar came prepared for the encounter. Compared to the other troops encountered so far, the SRF soldiers were more alert, more prepared, even though they clearly didn’t expect any serious troubles.
It all started in a second. A gun flashed. A soldier fell. Alarm was raised. The Azar charged. Guns spoke. People died. Grenades flew. Explosions made all quiet. The location favoured the defenders, the Azar had little knowledge of the land, and no time to remedy the issue. It was a fast, furious fight and in the end, numerical superiority, the surprise element and a handful of grenades decided the match. The Prevanian installation was under control.
Back in the Aerohaven, in his ad hoc established staff room, the general was receiving reports. “All goes well sir. We’ve managed to subdue the local resistance with light casualties. There’s only some minor trouble left.” He quickly checked a report thrust into his hand and spoke again. “And apparently we’ve managed to take over the Lafayette battery with acceptable casualties.”
The general reflected on the information he received for a brief moment before lifting himself from his seat. “Good. Get the rest of the division on the ground, and inform the Navy it can start earning its keep. We’ve cleared the way, they need to get here fast.”
West of The Sea of Harmony
General von Lichtenlade’s message was waited with trepidation in the fleet. Soon the helicopters would enter the point of no return. If Lichtendlade didn’t do his job, then the situation could turn nasty indeed. “Sir! A report from the 33rd. General von Lichtenlade reports all objectives have been attained, stage two of the operation is a go!” The admiral acknowledged the communication officer with a single nod. His eyes narrowed, this was the moment he’d been waiting for. He moistened his lips before speaking a single word. “Go!”
The first to take off were the ‘stealth planes’. They would keep quiet until their time came. The second group was composed of the ‘wild weasels’, they would draw out the enemy SAM fire and either point out the location, or take them out themselves. The third group would have the easiest mission of them all; pound the enemy into the ground and distribute leaflets all across the area appealing to the Prevanian people to fight against Arkadios.
In addition, to complete the entourage for the 33rd, a number of submarines, closely positioned to the Prevanian shores, just slightly outside the mined area started launching missiles at installations deemed dangerous for the landing. This effort was soon joined by the fleet, which started lobbying missiles at the Prevanians.
For the soldiers onboard the helicopters, the first sign as to what was happening came in the shape of streaking missiles. “Look at them go!” “ It’s started, the General got us through.” “Goes to show that the old bastard isn’t all talk.” “Wait for us General.” “Can’t have them grab all the fun.” “They’ll turn them to smithereens.” “Let’s hope they won’t take out all of them!”
The second sign arrived in the form of giant birds of steel, attack planes rushing towards Prevanian shores. “It’s the fly boys. Cheeky little bastards.” “Well, better with them than without them.” “True enough. Don’t think I’d care to fight in a war where the only thing I see on the sky are enemy fighters gunning for my head.” “”Don’t remind me. If I don’t have to see another missile heading my way, I’ll be happy with the shells and bullets.” “They can still kill you.” “Yah, but at least there’d be pieces of me left to be buried.”
Finally, the last sign, the one confirming came with a new escort; UAVs. “They’re here. Confirm their arrival.” “Roger that.” “Never liked the concept of a vehicle that can kill without a man in the cockpit.” “Makes us pilots irrelevant.” “Maybe, but for now they’re going to be a mite useful. No point in losing perfectly good helicopters when we have these drones to soak up the fire.” “Quite, quite so.”
Farther ahead, the Prevanians were finally catching up with what was happening. Long range defences engaged, large SAM missile screeching in the sky to intercept the Atrean planes. Rapier 2000 batteries started firing at the cruise missiles sent their way by the Atrean ships and an assortment of other SAM batteries soon joined the light show. But something was missing.
In the midst of the Prevanian defences, right in the path of the enemy helicopter armada, a gap presented itself, no batteries firing upon the attackers. Only at the last moment did the Prevanians realized what had just happened, and by then, it was already too late.
Kryopulia
At the end of night, as the sun was rising , General von Lichtenlade was reunited with the rest of his division. “They’re all here sir. We’ve suffered some light casualties when two choppers went down due to AA fire from the port, but otherwise we’re in one piece. We’ve also lost some fighters, but I already have men on that. Obviously there’s some frustration about the lost helicopters, but morale’s good, and soaring.” “Good, we’ll stick to the plan then. There’s no time to waste.”
The general’s boots were dirty, and his eyes were red. The movements he made were rather sluggish and his yawns were a clue enough that the man was in desperate need of some shut eye, yet he ignored such suggestions. He had no time. “Get the units organized and prepare to move against the port. We have to take it before the others arrive. I’m not going to allow a threat to our air bridge stand.” “Yes sir.” “Make sure the air force roots out any remaining SAM sites. If they delay, by the time the others are here it’ll be too late.” “Yes sir.”
The 33rd was acting without offering the local defenders any respite. The new arrivals replaced the soldiers that led the initial assault, continuing to enlarge the “safe zone”. At the same time, roughly six thousand men converged on the port. The chaos of the night before was obvious, as chimneys of smoke were rising from the smouldering wreckages of several AA sites.
There was a reason for this haste. Over the horizon, up in the clouds, a massive aero fleet was coming, a thousand heavy transport planes, filled to the brim with four Atrean divisions. On the seas, three army corps were waiting for the capture of the port, and back home, another transport fleet was taking off. And for the next week, Atrean troops would flow into the country like a river released from its dams.
The Empire had come.
