The Second Imperial War (IC, CLOSED)

[Miklania]

The Second Imperial War

The Western Isles are at war. Humiliated by their defeat in the South Doppler Sea, New Aapelistan and the other nations of the Communist Bloc are now resurgent. Blissfully unaware, either by incompetence, fear, or choice, the Western nations of the MSTO relax their guard, believing the Cold War to be over.

It has only just begun.

With the highly publicized transfer of nuclear weapons to the communist state of Eurania, New Aapelistan has again captured the attention of the region. Far from crippled, the Aapelistanians have been quietly building up their forces, and mustering their armies to end the conflict once and for all. Joined by their new allies, they launch preemptive attacks on the once vigilant nations of the Mesder Sea Treaty Organization.

In the west, the MSTO nations scramble to respond to the aggression. Unprepared after their political leaders assured them that the cold war was over, they now face a more powerful enemy than ever before. The four nations throw everything they have left at the oncoming hordes of their old enemies, in the hope of salvaging what is left of their way of life...

---

Thread Rules:
1. Closed means closed. If you are not Miklania, New Aapelistan, Doppler, Eurania, Segentova, Polar Svalbard, Cottoria, Camtholia, or do not have explicit permission from the OP, you may not post on this thread. Violators will be shot, survivors will be prosecuted.

2. IC only, any and all OOC comments, concerns, or information must be communicated through telegram.

3. Stick to the plan chums! This is a thoroughly planned, scripted engagement, don't jack it up. If you have questions about the next post, TG the OP.

4. Don't forget the big picture. There are other incidents going on in TWI that will also lead up to future RPs.

Got that? Cleared hot! Lets roll!

[Miklania]

Department of War Central Command, St. Michaels, Miklania

The situation room was packed with officers from all branches. Yelling and passionate arguments spilled out into the hall. Generals were berating politicians for not listening to them sooner, the politicians were chewing out the intelligence directors for not telling them sooner, and the intelligence directors were busy calling the generals screw-headed apes. Admiral Puller was watching via video conference from the communications deck of the RMS Stormkeeper, already underway towards Camtholia. They had reached Bhumidol, and still had a long way to go. He had heard enough of this pointless bickering, it was every higher-up's fault, including his. Turning his microphone volume to maximum he shouted "Shut up!" into the computer. It got their attention.

As the men calmed down, they took their seats and began to talk more seriously about what needed to be done.

Senator Gabriels spoke first. "Do we know if the communists are going to escalate this to war?"

The military men looked around nervously. General Ridley was the only one to respond. "Sir, it is entirely possible that the situation could be resolved with a stand down, but..."

"But?"

"...But there is little indication that the Communists are interested in that approach. Sat photos have shown increased activity at missile batteries and aviation facilities. And the Euranians are moving their surface vessels further out than normal."

"Isn't that expected for response to a crisis like this?"

"Well, not exactly. Camtholia is to the east of Eurania, the naval activity is to the west."

"Our Hawkeyes picked up radar signals from a Euranian corvette about three hours ago." Admiral Puller added.

"How far?"

"About 200 miles nor-west of the group. They are trying to head us off."

The Senator leaned back in the chair, his eyes fixed forward. "So we're at war." It was a statement, not a question.

[New Aapelistan]

Red Fort, Dovgorod.
12.52 Sunday 17th of January ,2016

General Georgi Tuiskjav walked the hallways of the Red Fort. He was late for an meeting of the Ministry of Defence.
The current situation wasn't the best for NA.

Invasion of the SDI's was a failure, thanks to the idiot called Izhak had failed his duty. Along with that, now the western countries are panicking from the Euranian Nuclear announcment. Tuiskjav wasn't happy at all, but at least Nijakov was giving more power to the army and even modernization funds.

Georgi walked to the meeting room. It was darkened and had an digital map in the middle and men and woman around it. The first thing he heard:

"Georgi, where the fuck have you been. Wait, no I don't give a fucking shit where you have been. At Least you are here with us..."

Of course that asshole Vozakov has to be here... Georgi kept his outward attitude civilized said calmly, "Aleksandrov. Good to see you". They both hated each other after the Unification War. Georgi just never liked Aleksandrov's way of doing things and Aleksandrov didn't like Georgi criticizing his style.

"Both of you, not here. Do it on your free time, could you" said Sergei Hakuvin, the Minister of Defence of NA. "We are having a slight problem... As you might know, our government sold nuclear warheads to Eurania. Many westerners did not like this, but that is not our problem." The map zoomed to northern sea areas of NA. "This is one of our problem. The 2nd Fleet of the Camtholian Navy. Camtholia's army is in readiness and maybe will attack, along with these bastards..." The map zoomed out and a small dot showed the last known position of the Miklanian battlegroup. "The Miklanians have sent the Stormkeeper battlegroup to reinforce the Camtholians. This is a serious threat to us, they could already being shipping their troops to boats." Secretary Admiral Nikolai Erakov coughed a little.

"I can already see where this is going. War. We need to perform an pre-emptive strike. The 4th Navy is not far. About 70 kilometers north from Aapeligrad. But navy strike could result more casualties than other ways." For couple of seconds it was quiet.

General of Strategic Forces Ilan Oprav said, "What about a missile strike?" He placed the map so that everyone could see one of the missile launch areas and the Camtholian 2nd Navy. An effective way of crippling them."

Vozakov nodded. "Agreed."

"Sounds very good" said Sergei Hakuvin. He took a phone and ringed to the president and after it to the Prime Minister. After talking for 52 minutes, he got the permission. He put the phone back in its place and sat back down.

"Comrades, this is a moment that will define the future of The Western Isles. We, the largest military power will not lose this war. We will crush our enemies, we will not give any mercy and after this, everyone knows that no one, can oppose us. But do we want this?" Everyone in the room said yes. "So shall it be". Sergei picked the phone again and called to the HQ of Strategic Missile Forces.

Headquarters of SMF, Achinsk
14.21 Sunday.

Major Askin received the call. He hanged the call. "Private!" An private ran to him. "Get me Major Nilakova." Private ran away and after 3 minutes, Major Nilakova came to him. She looked uncertain about the situation. "Sasha, is this what I think?" Askin nodded and said "It is the time to use our power..." Both of them walked to the control room and went to the main launch computer. It had an biometric scanner that required their both's finger prints. Both placed their finger to the scanner and a sound could be heard. The computer asked about the target and Nilakova typed the targets to the computer and pressed the launch button. The radars showed the missiles going to their targets....

[Camtholia]

The Attack

Location-A few kilometres south of Camtholia, on board RCS Gladiator

"Admiral on the bridge"

The metal door opened with a squeak, a guard walked through first, armed to the teeth, he walked to the corner and stood there, imposingly, as if to dare anyone to try something
Admiral Emily Walsh, Commander of the Camtholian 2nd Fleet entered the bridge, her dark blue uniform with several pins on the chest

"At ease men" she ordered

The few crewmembers on the bridge lowered their salutes, and turned back to their screens.

"Officer Willis, anything to report?"

"Negative Ma'am, no sign of anything, no reports from the mainland either" He replied

"Wonderful..." She sighed, she didn't like the uncertainty, then again, who did? "Keep me posted if anything happens"

The 2nd fleet had been deployed for a good two weeks now, and they hadn't seen anything from Eurania or New Aapelistan, it just didn't feel right. Following the nuclear deal, surely one of them would have made a move? Were they not the target? Or was something worse going on.

The thought made her uneasy, she looked out the window, she could see the deck of the RCS Gladiator, Archer and Legend were in front, Scabbard behind, the sight of her fleet made her proud.

She took a deep breath.

"I'll be on the main deck if you need me" She spoke to the Officer

"Yes Ma'am, I'll inform you if anything happens"

She took her guard and left the bridge, headed downstairs, she pondered the situation, she was no fool, she knew how naval warfare worked, whichever fleet found the other first would have a significant advantage, perhaps even ending the battle before it starts.

They had been scanning for days, hoping to find something, or get some information from Kingsport that would have given them a location, everyone was tense, nothing to do for most of the crew but keep the guns ready for the worst case scenario. Would they even have the orders to fire if they found them?

She walked onto the main deck, taking a deep breath of the sea air, everything seemed so peaceful.

"Ma'am, we've got something on the radar, it's headed for us"

What? Why now all of a sudden? "Can you identify it"

"We've got incoming Ma'am!" He panicked

"Activate CIWS, shoot them down!"

It was too late, the missile came roaring through the sky, she focused on it... it was headed towards the Legend!

Suddenly, a burst of flame shot from the deck of the Legend. NA is launching a surprise attack!

She looked back towards the direction the first missile came from, more were blasting through the sky, it was a volley! Alarms were blaring, CIWS were returning fire.

All across the ship, sailors rushed to their battle stations, trying to shoot down the missiles before they struck, but Legend was the most capable frigate for this, and it was hit first.

"Bastards... they knew exactly where to hit us" she muttered, trying to contain a violent mix of fear, and rage.

She ran up the metal staircases towards the bridge as quickly as she could, trying to make a counter attack.

Then, a flash, next thing she knew, she was on her back, on the main deck, they had struck the bridge, causing it to come crashing down on her, all she could feel was pain, she tried to move, but to no avail, her vision closed in, she looked around, smoke was everywhere, bodies of technicians struggling to move, others, simply motionless, her eyes closed, and then... nothing.

Aftermath

Location-Port Heroism, Bulwark Isle, Camtholia

Alarms were sounding, red lights filled the base.

"We're getting reports now, 2nd fleet hit by a surprise attack, orders Commander?!"

"Get me the status on those ships son, and somebody get me into contact with Grand Admiral Grove, now!"

Location-West of Camtholia, Bridge of the RCS Bravery

Grand Admiral Alice Grove leaned over the monitor, on the other end of which was Port Heroism

"Attacked?! What's the damage report?!"

"We haven't got an accurate report Ma'am, from what we know, Gladiator and Archer are crippled, Legend is destroyed, Scabbard is sinking, but the crew is trying to save it" the Commander replied

"How many casualties"

"Estimated at 200 Ma'am, and no word from Admiral Walsh, any orders?"

Admiral Grove hesitated, she didn't want to have to do this, but they had no choice "Fall back closer to Generum, send ships to rescue what's left of the 2nd fleet, we can't make any effective assault like this"

"U... Understood Ma'am" The commander stuttered, before closing the communication

Admiral Grove looked out the window... she couldn't believe it, 2nd fleet crippled in an instant, how did NA manage this? Something is wrong, she had to return to Kingsport, as for the war... They'd have to consider surrender... what choice did they have? Lose the other fleets? They had underestimated NA, She'd have to ensure this mistake would never be made twice. Something seemed off, in the back of her mind... the attack was too perfect.

[Miklania]

Thank you Ostehaar.

[Miklania]

RMS Stormkeeper, TF-1812, Kavju Sea, 0128

"It's a shooting war sir! Camtholian Second Fleet just got hit. We can't raise Admiral Walsh."

"I'll be up!" Puller pulled himself out of his bunk and grabbed his hat. He had been sleeping in his uniform all night, the odds of something happening in the ungodly hours of the morning remained high. And, he was right. The calm intercom message didn't betray the severity of the situation. The clunk of the Admiral's shoes on the ladder was lost in the noise of the bridge as he opened the hatch.

"Captain Scott, update please."

The ship's Captain turned from a communications station and rushed over to the admiral, currently surveying the chaotic scene. "Sir, Camtholian Second Fleet got hit by missile attacks at twenty two hundred hours. We got word from their central command about five minutes ago. We cannot establish contact with Second Fleet."

"How bad is the damage?" Puller was not looking at him, but forwards out of the bridge. He sat down in his chair as he asked the question.

"Bad, several ships got nailed with vampires, type unknown. We know the Legend has been sunk, and others are damaged. Thats all they gave us."

"Well get more!" Puller snapped. Scott's face remained straight as he responded with a quick "Aye aye sir", and faded back into the mass of people on the bridge of the carrier. The situation was worse than anyone in Miklania had anticipated. They at least expected the Camtholians to be able hold their own for a few days without them. Ideally, if there was an ideal way to start a surprise war, Miklania's Task Force 1812 would have met with the Camtholian First Fleet and reinforced Second Fleet before the shooting started. Or even better, deter it from starting at all. At least one ship sunk and more damaged, with crap information coming out was bad. If they couldn't even get a straight casualty estimate from the Camtholian high command, the chances of the damage being even more serious were very high. Puller stood up. "Captain you have the bridge."

"Aye sir!"

Puller rushed down the ladder and across the carrier's tower into the Air Operations room. Dozens of screens gave the dark room an eerie glow. A Petty Officer at the door saw him come in and began to salute, but before he could do anything Puller was inside. "At ease." Eyes turned to him. "As you were." The sailors quietly turned back to the screens and resumed their work. "Chief, who's on standby?"

"Drifter and Marker, and Badger and Nails." The two F-41s sat on the deck, in the catapults, ready to go.

"Send 'em up."

[Cottoria]

Admiral Jackson looked at his officers, he knew today was the day. For the last few weeks as tensions have been growing, the Cottorian Navy was preparing for war. With New Aapelistan and Eurania under pressure from MSTO forces down south, Admiral Jackson knew that a preemptive strike against Polar Svalbard's would ensure that MSTO forces were split in half. He sat down and said, "Gentlemen if we do not succeed now then we may have just put ourselves in a difficult situation"

He sits back down and looks at his second in command. The young man scrambles to get his thoughts together and give the other officers the plan of action. First off the Cottorian Naval fleet would launch an all out assault on the Svalbardian Navy, whom they expect would not be expecting an attack in this region. In this attack the Navy and Airfare would send everything it had against the enemy until they retreated.

One of the Officers stood up, he was top of his class in the Naval academy and quickly grew in the ranks, he looked at this as disastrous idea and stated to the Admiral, "are you mad? This is a suicide mission that will lead to disaster!"

The Admiral put his hand up to silence the young officer and let his commanding officer continue, "now while the Navy is engaged near the northern wake island, we land our forces of the Cottorian Marines and men of the 6th army land and secure Wake Atolla from any threats. Once this plan is finished, we will succeed in destroying the Polar Fleet while liberating the people of Wake Atolla."

As he finished they noticed they were now around 150 nautical miles from the Polar Fleet, they ended the meeting and the fleet prepared for battle. As they got closer to the fleet, the Cottorian Air force meet up with the fleet showing the full force of the Cottorian fleet.

Admiral Jackson stared out at the water and mumbled to himself, "dear god I hope this works"

Once the port of North Wake was in sight Admiral Jackson ordered the attack, the war for Cottoria had begun.

[Polar Svalbard]

Seaman Harry Greger breathed in the cool air off the eastern coast of Wake Atolla. While the Third fleet was on patrol, he enjoyed spending part of his leisure time on the bow as the ship went through the waves. As the frigate Vardo glided on the waves, bursts of seaspray banked up into Greger keeping him cool along with the breeze. He closed his eyes and breathed in when suddenly the ship’s klaxon went off, signaling an air raid.

What the hell. Greger thought. His thoughts were cut off when suddenly one of the VLS tubes lit off sending a SM-2 rocketing on its way towards its target. All across the fleet, he could see SM-2s firing off. He couldn’t even see the planes, who was attacking them? They weren’t at war with anyone. Could the Cottorians be back! All these thoughts raced through Greger’s head.

He started to run back to the damage control room, if a battle were beginning, he’d be needed at his station in order to assist in damage control if anything were to happen, God forbid. He looked out at the rest of the fleet as more and more missiles were being sent into the air. All of a sudden the destroyer nearby was hit by something, a massive explosion went up at the waterline amid ship. The force of the explosion created a big gap in the side of the ship, the ship started to list and was beginning its death role towards capsizing.

What was that! Are there submarines in the water! He was closing in on the stairs to the damage control center for the ship, when an explosion threw him to the bulk head. Darkness closed around him. He awoke in the ship’s medical center, there was a bright light in the corner but it was a bit darker where he was. His vision was blurry, and something was near his leg. He tried to get up but a strong and firm hand placed itself on his chest and held him back. “Woah, hold on there. When the ship got hit by that torpedo you got throw into that bulkhead pretty hard. You’ve got a concussion and your leg might be broken, so I splinted it, be thankful that was all.”

Greger could hear the sounds of tools clanking, the grrrrrr of power tools, men running.
Greger looked at him, squinting, as he couldn’t see well. “How’s the ship?” The medic put a hand on his shoulder, we haven’t sunk, but from what I hear the keel’s broken and we’re going to have to limp back to port.”

The noise intensified in the background, whether it was them or his concussion, he couldn’t tell.
Greger sighed, “Do we know who attacked us?”

The Doctor looked at him again, “It was the Cottorians, we can be sure of that. Now you need to rest, you’ll need to be moved to the Unflinching Resolve soon so that they can do an X-ray on that leg.” With that the doctor moved away to prepare for his removal to the flagship of the fleet.

[Miklania]

Kavju Sea, 0248

"Got anything?"

"Negative Drift, scope is clear."

"Roger."

Drifter sighed as he looked through the HUD of the Shark, out into the inky black of the night. They were over an hour into the CAP, and nothing was showing up. AWACS had lost the surface contacts from earlier, leaving them with the erie feeling when you can't see something, but know it's there. The two ship flight was scanning out as far as their radar could reach. They had been breifed as they went up that they were not yet at war, but a strike on the Miklanian fleet was not unlikely. Suddenly Marker yelled out from the back seat.

"Contacts at three-four-zero, angels twenty, ninety eight miles!" A green box appeared on the front windscreen in front of Drifter, revealing the location of the target.

"One target? Scan for others and ID that thing. One, you got that contact?" One mile away their flight lead, Badger, and his RIO, Nails, were scanning their own piece of sky.

"Negative Two, where was that?"

"Three-four-zero, twenty thousand feet. Closing fast. Ninety miles now. Mark, you got ID yet?

"Negative, RWR is clean, I'm working on it. Whoa, second contact, the bogey split, it's a two ship!"

"Do they see us? One, you got these contacts?"

Nails came on over the radio. "I've got two close to each other at your bearing, but angels eighteen. Your contacts are at twenty, confirm?"

"Roger, at twenty, exactly."

Marker shouted out again. "Wait, Nails I've got your contacts too, that's four, are you getting my original targets?"

"Roger, they just popped up. Both pairs are at eighty miles now. No ID."

Drifter's heart rate began to rise. He could feel the pump of adrenaline as he took deep breaths. The targets were not identified as hostiles yet, but there was nothing else they could be. No civilian aircraft flew in close formations of two, at that altitude.

"Mustang, Ghostrider 2-1, we have multiple contacts approaching fast." Badger read out the situation to control back on the carrier. "Are we cleared hot?"

"Negative Ghostrider, we need ID, and we are not at war. Your rules of engagement stand."

"Understood Mustang." Badger switched back to the inter flight frequency. "Two, I've got a bad feeling about this." Drifter's response was cut short by shouts from both RIOs.

"Fifty two spike 12 o'clock sixty five miles!" The contacts had turned their radars on, the radar receivers in the fins of the F-41D identified it as the unit from a Euranian F-52.

"Mustang, bogeys ID'ed as F-52s, permission to engage?"

"Negative Ghostrider." In the Ops room Admiral Puller slammed his fist on the radar console. He turned to the commander talking to the fighters. "And wait until what, they get shot down?" The man covered the headset mike with his hand and looked back at Puller. "I can't do anything about it Sir, we have our orders." Puller turned away. "Bull shit!"

Drifter flicked the hat switch on his stick to select his Phoenix missiles. Nail's panicked voice crackled in his headset. "Badger we got two behind us! Five o'clock high! Break break break!"

Drifter and Marker swung their heads to the right, the twin afterburner plumes of their flight lead glowing in the night. Above and behind them were two smaller pairs of burner plumes. Drifter instinctively threw the big fighter to the right to get behind the ambushers. Before he could get a line on them, a tiny flash streaked off one of the Euranian jets, towards the diving Shark.

"Fox two inbound Badger!"

Drift and Marker watched in muted horror as the missile connected with the bright light from the Shark's exhaust. The fireball seared away the darkness, illuminating the sky around the plane. Two streaks of light blasted away from the stricken jet. Ejection seats.

"SHIT! Mustang One's been hit I repeat One's been hit he's going down!"

Puller grabbed the microphone from the air ops commander before he had a chance to speak. "Lieutenant you are cleared to engage!"

Drifter flicked the switch back to outboard, the heat seeking missiles began to rumble in his headset. "Get him!" Marker shouted from the back. "Fuck that sonuvabitch!"

The two marauding fighters reversed their diving turn back to the left to get out of his boresight. They were going too fast from their dive, the Shark easily matched their diving turn as the distance closed. Drifter pulled back on the stick as the big jet rolled over. The dark shapes of the forward swept wings were visible against the moon's reflection on the sea below. The tone in his ear turned from a low rumbling to a loud growl and the circle in the center of his HUD began to dance around the fiery exhaust plume of the second F-52 as the Sidewinder gained lock.

"I've got good tone! Fox two!" The missile flew off the left rail and buried itself in the enemy fighter's engines. Drifter rolled back and pulled up to avoid the debris.

The first hostile pulled hard to the right. Drifter seamlessly turned the evasive maneuver into a corkscrew and pulled back behind around to go for guns on the jet. As he switched to guns loud alarms sounded from the RWR. The first set of bandits had closed within their missile range and was locking him up for a shot.

"Shit, defending!" Drifter broke off to the left and dove for the sea, lighting the afterburners. The Shark obliged his throttle commands with a roar and rapid acceleration. As they raced past Mach one the missile following them broke lock.

"Mustang, Ghostrider 2-2 bugging out hard, I need back up!"

---

Seconds after splashing down in the cold water Badger and Nails scrambled to get in the tiny rubber rafts from the survival kit. Green fluorescent dye filled the water around them. Badger pulled the rafts close and they began to lash them together. After the splashing ceased, the two lay back, soaked to the bone. Badger looked over to Nails. "Well that could have gone better." She stared back unamused. "Shut the fuck up Gabe."

[Polar Svalbard]

Rear Admiral Alexander Fosse slammed his fist down on the table in front of the officers gathered aboard his bridge, "What the fuck!" He looked at Captain Zachary Tertino, "How did the submarine that attacked those two ships get in!"

The captain flinched if quickly, "Sir, I..."

The Admiral got a bit angrier, "No, there are no excuses to this failure. You're job is to organize patrols in order to combat surprises by unwanted guests, yet you failed at that, and because of that you not only failed me, you failed the fleet, you failed the nation, and you failed those men who died in those ships due to you allowing there to be gaps in the formation! We are going to hunt down whatever fleet did this and we are going to get revenge for those who died in that attack. I want AWACS in the air, I want SATNAV maps, and I want the fleet divided into our search and destroy formations, and I want all of that on my desk within the hour. Is that clear officers?!"

They all shouted in unison, "Sir, yes, sir!" The officers scurried to their stations, donning headsets, calling in bases, organizing fleet formations. The tapping made a rhythmic sound to the admiral. He stared out at the sea in front of his cruiser from the bridge and lit a cigar, thinking about those he had lost under his command.

---

Rear Admiral Chester Debaucher of the second fleet looked at the document in his hands, "Holy shit." He just stared at it for a minute, the officers started to get nervous about the news. While they stood there they looked around at each other. Suddenly the admiral looked up, and slammed the document on the table, "The third fleet was involved in a surprise attack by what we can determine was Cottorian forces. While the Cottorians delivered an air raid that was repelled, a submarine slipped through the formation and sunk one destroyer, and heavily damaged a Frigate. These orders are coming direct from high command, we are to mobilize the second fleet in preparation for war. Get to it men."

The officers snapped a quick salute before taking to their stations, donning headsets, tapping away at screens, and calling in orders to get the fleet under way. The admiral like his colleague hundreds of kilometers away, took out his cigar and stood at the bridge, thinking of what was to come.

---

Private First Class Gregory McCormack sat there by the tents him and his squad set up for the night. They set up a little fire and were joking around, about life and especially the redeployment to Wake Atolla. The ships had gotten there late due to delays, so the CO decided that they should all camp out, he thought that it would give them a morale boost for what was to come. Set up by campfires with their squadmates, much better than an army base, he had reasoned to himself.

Gregory was stirring the pot, they had caught some rabbits in a game they had played and thus were cooking for themselves and a couple of squads in their vicinity. Harold, or Harry, was busy cutting up vegetables he had bought from the nearby town. While they did that, Matthews was Getting coffee ready for when the meal was ready. He wouldn't put it on until the vegetables were in for a couple of minutes. Harry dumped in the vegetables and they all sat there. Taking in the aroma of the meat as it cooked, with the vegetables and spices they had put in. A good stew they thought to themselves, their mouths watering.

They still didn't know why they were redeployed here, but that didn't keep them from having some good food and sleeping well. Tomorrow, tomorrow Gregory reasoned they would find out what was going on, for now his belly was full and his tent was warm.

[Eurania]

Kavju Sea

"Damnit!"

In his cockpit, Major Inyran made a silent curse. Shadow Two had been shot down, enemy F-41s were right behind him, but luckily Shadow 4 had saved him. Shadow 4 then came over the radio.

"Shadow 4 here. Shadow 3 has been shot down, Major, we just saved your ass."

Inyran felt embarrassed deep down, but he quickly shook it off. "Roger that, Shadow 4. I shall start giving orders." He quickly gave out order one "Shadow 4 and 2, circle the rafts down below, while watching your asses. The Black Room is needing me along with the Air Force". And with that, his F-52, with its digital camouflage shining in the moonlight, sped up and accelerated into the sky, where he would communicate with the Commander-in Chief of the FSRE. Below him, Shadow 2 and 4 were circling the rafts.

He activated the camera in front of him - the F-52 he was using was one of the few equipped with this feature.

Black Room, Undisclosed location in Warsawyev or Mt Yamahau, Eurania

In the dark but enormous room, there was activity, and nothing else. Several bright computer screens were showing aerial defense systems, others simply tracked objects in Euranian aerospace, and a few were for espionage and hacking. Several enormous transparent screens, however, were tracking the skirmish over the Kavju Sea; already a red dot had appeared where Shadow 3 went down, but there were other dots marking that an enemy jet had been shot down. General President-or simply President Systen himself usually would be in the Black Room, as Eurania had become conflicted in the 21st century.

As he scanned the masses of computers, one of his many secretaries came to him. "Mr. President, we have an incoming frequency from Major Inyran."

Systen gave his answer rapidly "I need him on screen".

The largest and highest screen changed from a dark map of the Kavju Sea tracking the skirmish to the cockpit of Major Inyran. Systen prepared to speak.

"Major Inyran, we have seen that Shadow 3 has been destroyed. Is that correct?"

"Yes, sir."

There was suddenly a loud warning sound - not from the Black Room, but from the cockpit of Inyran.

"I better go." and Inyran cut off his video feed, and the screen went back to tracking the skirmish.

Skirmish over the Kavju Sea

The alarm in Inyran's cockpit was a missile alarm. The identification had labeled the incoming missiles as beyond-visual-range missiles, which the F-52s are not equipped with.

"Oh shit. Shadow 2 and 4, get the hell out of there!"

Inyran quickly turned hard right, then looked around. Behind him were two pairs of small afterburners, Shadow 2 and 4. "Shadow 2 and 4, incoming BVRs behind us. Estimated three or four or more of them. We'll split them to different targets, but always watch your backs and go full throttle with afterburners.

All three F-52s went full afterburner into the night.

[Miklania]

Kavju Sea, 0256

"Ghostrider 2-2, Mustang. Your bandits are holding in an orbit behind you."

"Roger Mustang." Drifter's heart was pounding in his chest. "What are they doing back there?" He said under his breath. His head snapped forward with a jolt as he realized there plan. "Mustang, hold the Search and Rescue bird, the bastards are waiting for it."

"Roger Ghostrider, clear the way."

"Time to re engage, Drift!" Marker called from behind. Drifter flung the big jet into a hard left turn without coming out of afterburner. The g forces of the supersonic turn crushed both pilot and RIO back into their seats. The targets appeared on the radar as he nose pointed back to the scene of the fight.

"Come on Mark, lock 'em up!"

Green boxes appeared around the circling swarm of fighters, still well out of visual range.

"Contacts at sixty miles. Drift, we're still too far for a Phoenix shot on fighters."

"We just need to get them out of there."

"Alright, your call. Make it count."

"Fox Three long!" The Phoenix missiles motors ignited in sequence and streaked off into the black, one for each Euranian fighter left circling.

[Polar Svalbard]

Private First Class Gregory McCormack knelt out in the canyon, near all the others, helping to lay the minefield. In their briefing they were told that it was almost certain that Cottoria would be trying to take Wake Atolla. Thus the Svalbardian Forces chose to dig in at the capital of Wake Atolla, Serabhuho. It was ideal for a defensive position, as the natives had thought a thousand years ago when they first built the settlement here, and when the Europeans took over a couple hundred years ago.

The city was sat in a natural harbor, protecting its ships from rough storms. Surrounding the city were tall mountains and cliffs, with only two passages in and out. Thus the CO of the forces here had decided to heavily mine the two passages, and have MLRS and Artillery on standbye. Pockets of strong points would be put into the canyons, in a hedgehog defensive formation in order to slow down and cause damage to the enemy. The pockets would be well fortified, easily bypassed (Although at the at the enemy's risk), and equipped with Anti-personnel and anti-tank weapons. This defense would cause the most casualties due to the nature of all the defensive weaponry on each part of the enemy's lines and that it would slow them down.

Up on the cliffs and side of mountains, snipers had located themselves, and along with them some squads of soldiers. This was to push back any of the small Cottorian squads that would be able to get up there, and the snipers able to attack the Cottorians from above.

On the outskirts of the city, many soldiers were located in defensive positions, ready to push the Cottorians back, and inside the city many units were ready to rain hellfire from inside buildings, and on the streets. Tanks would mainly be in the outskirts in order to get any tanks that limped through the artillery, mines, and anti-tank weapons from the hedgehog defense that they had set up.

Gregory thought to himself, it may not last forever, but it will be a hell of a bloodbath for the Cottorians. To be frank he was quite nervous about it. In his strong point, he would be able to kill many of the enemy, but he would have to die in order for them to continue through without consistent harassment. But as many good soldiers did, he would follow his orders and defend his nation.

[New Aapelistan]

Krasainen Linjatu Military HQ, Dovgorod, New Aapelistan. 1st of March 13.27

Georgi was waiting for the meeting to start. He had been happy to hear, that the first strike on Camtholian Navy was a huge success. FSC reports indicate that 1/4 of their navy had been destroyed and that their admiral, Walsh had been KIA. Total success for the People's Navy.

Now, they were targetting on an more advanced enemy, enemy that they had learned the hard way that they weren't complete idiots. Doppler.

Ilan Oprav, the General of the Strategic Forces came to the meetin room. Finally..., thought Georgi. Sergei Hakuvin, the Minister of Defence, stopped his conversation with one of the generals and looked to Oprav. "Good to see that you finally got to here. Next time, please, try to come at the right time."

Everyone seated to their chairs in the meeting room. A secretary gave everyone a medium sized report about the current situation. Hakuvin rised from his chair. "Comrades, we have been successful. We showed to the entire world our power, and scared away the Camtholians. Their navy is crippled, their leadership doesn't want to lose anyone anymore and mostlikely will not continue. We have won that front..."

A couple seconds quiet moment came. Most people understood that he was going to continue his little speech and others were just focused to the report. Hakuvin continued. "...but our job isn't done yet. Everyone mostlikely remembers SDI and Izhak. We had our reasons to attack the SDI. To cut one of the largest oil sources of the MSTO. We still have the same desire. We need to gain control of the Dopplerian Oil Platforms. Without them, MSTO has to rely on Svalbardian Oil resources. Our comrades in Cottoria will deal with it."

A general rised from his seat and asked "Do we have any sort of plan for the attack to Doppler?"

Hakuvin looked at the general and replied "Well, we have a start. It has to suprise them, but not the way we did suprise the Camtholians. Their SAM's and Anti Missile Defences are mostlikely running 24/7, with even increased security. They know how we attacked the Camtholians, and they don't let us the chance to make that again. Does anyoke have good ideas for the plan?"

It was quiet for sometime. Tuiskjav thinked with others and he came up with an idea. "What about sabotaging their connections and electricity? We could try to get Sveznaja's in to their area and quietly destroy their electricity, communications, and others. They would't be able to contact their forces in different areas. Then we would attack." Tuiskjav requested for a map of Doppler and it came after few seconds.

"Andersite. Our intelligence says that the area has only a small amount of troops. It has many harbours, so we can send more troops and supplies to there. It is perfect foothold for us."

Many other generals looked like they liked the idea.

Vozakov rised and said "So you are suggesting that we would land our troops to there?" Vozakov was quiet for a while and said "I like the idea. For once a good idea comes from your mouth. But, what about the remaining troops? After they understand that we are landing at Andersite, they will try to repel it at any costs."

"Missile strikes, bombing, what ever we have with us in there. Once we find where their troops are stationed, we blow them up." said Tuiskjav.

Hakuvin looked proud of his generals. He smiled and said "Good plan Comrade Tuiskjav. I would propose that we send couple of ships to cutt of the South Dopplerian Sea. Anyone who opposes this plan, please say so now." Everyone were quiet. "Very well. I can see that everyone approves this plan. Secretary Admiral, order the navy prepare for moving troops to Andersite, along with a carrier and missile cruisers." Secretary Admiral nodded and called to Navy HQ. "Meeting is now over" said Hakuvin. Everyone raised from the table and started walking away.

"Oh, almost forgot. Vozakov, we need to have a talk about our friends in west..."

[Segentova]

Carcassonne (Cannes) Army Base, e-club, 05.03.2016, 22:01 (10:01 PM)
"So, uh... did you hear about what's going on lately?"
"Going on what? where?"
"You know, out east, in the Kavju sea?"
"That, sure, it's been all over the news lately."
"Do you think we're gonna be deployed?"
"Nah, as long as they keep the fighting confined over there I'm sure the MSTO has no reason to pull us into this."
"That's right, but then there's Cottoria."
The privates Charles Hébert and Adam Daviau were sitting at the bar and having a talk, this had really become a sort of tradition within their unit. They would gather at the e-club, have a few beers and simply talk. This weekend, was different, however, as many of the officers seemed weary about what was going on in the Kavju sea and command had decided to put the unit on high alert. Most of the soldiers were either somewhere in the barracks or probably putting up with the night shift.
They heard a thud next to them, they turned around to see a bottle of beer and be greeted by a ever so friendly
"Hello boys."
It was Jaqline Duval the squad's grenadier.
Adam took a swing of his bottle "What brings the madame here?" he asked while almost "bowing" like he was in front of a queen or some sort of royal figure and turning on his bar stool.
Charles just looked at him funnily while making a weird face.
Jaqline sat down, with a tone of irony she asked "I guess you heard what's going on? You think they're gonna deploy us?"
Charles just looked at her funnily and answered a simple "meh" before drinking out the drops that were left in in his bottle of beer and clonking it onto the bar.
"To be honest, t think the other MSTO, members can probably handle this alone, without calling us to war, but ya never know."
Adam managed to squeeze in a sentence "Let's just hope that if there's gonna be Boots on the ground, that it won't be us. Cheers." he lifted his bottle and took a swing.
"Then you've heard what happened to the Camtholian fleet?" Jaqline stared at her unopened bottle of beer and proceed to pop the cap off with the bottle-opener in her army-knife, before closing the knife and sliding it back into her chest-pocket.
Scratching his chin Adam let out a "Oh, every little grizzly detail. Right, Charles?"
Charles just nodded and proceed to lift his bottle up to his mouth, pouring beer into it.
Jaqline continued "Apparently, the Aapelistanis not only managed to basically cripple the Camtholian navy. As if taking out materiel was enough, they apparently got one of the Camtholian admirals in the blast."
With a hint of amazement Charles asked "Now, how the heck did they manage that?!"
Jaqline sighed "I don't know, but what I do know is that now, they are probably planning their next attack while the Euranians are busy getting shot up by the Miklanians."
Adam lent forward and looked across the bar "Think they can handle it?"
"I think they'll last. But without a chain of supply, and firing shots every second it's only a matter of time before they run out." Charles sighed, he had a eerie feeling about the current situation, he did his best in hiding it.
Noticing a slight discomfort in Charles' facial expression Jaqline decided to hijack the conversation.
"Which, by the way reminds me of that incident with the washing machine." Jaqline looked over at Charles, who sat on the bar stool next to her.
"Excuse me, what with the washing machine?!" Adam raised his brow, making a face as implying something
Charles understood what Jaqline was doing and played along.
"No, not like that" wawing his hand at Adam, turning him down.
"Oh, that's right, he's to green to remember." Jaqline grinned at him "Mind if I explain to him?"
"Fine with me, you explain, I'll go grab me another beer" Charles stood up and shaked away lightly intoxicated.
Jaqline turned to face Adam, taking a swing of the bottle. She looked at him and began to explain
"Anyway, back in training we had this really, weird, sergeant. Anyhow, he was assigned to a different squad than us, but he was in the same unit, and on a different floor in the barracks. Now what happend, is that this was a weekend, so naturally, we had some time off at the evening, and naturally as that being in the summer we were having a grill party. We really had a good time, drinking and grilling, i went back to the barracks pretty early, and i wanted to go to sleep. Keep in mind i wanted because after being asleep for about 15 minutes, Charles wakes me up laughing his guts out! so i ask him what's going on to which he simply replies, giggling like a schoolgirl down the hall, f**king the washing machine!."
Adam looked at her in disbelief, slowly taking a few sips of beer.
"Wait, it gets worse." Jaquelin almost couldn't hold her laughing back.
"So, naturally, this gives rise to curiosity and i decide to head town to the washing room, and this was like, 1 'o clock in the night. So, we headed down to the washing room, carefully peek in the door, and yep, there's the guy, pants down enjoying himself with a washing machine."
She broke into laughter.
"Now, it gets better, just hold on."
"So, are you finished explaining him or do you want me to finish for you?" Charles had come back with a new bottle of beer.
"No, please just tell him how you knocked the sucker out."
"You did what?" Adam shook his head disbelievingly while chuckling.
Charles took a breath "So, anyway, we decide it's best to play this drunkard, probably because we'd already had a few glasses at that point, so i basically man up and make myself look about as officer-like as possible, stroll in the door and start yelling to him Soldier, what it all's name are you doing?! He just turns around and goes on rambling that he's gonna beat me up and all, and with his trousers down starts pretending to box. Now, being intoxicated i take up my guard and floor him in one hit."
Adam broke out into laughter and after laughing for a good half minute, squeezed out the words "Pants down, really?!"
To which the other two simultaneously replied with a "Yes, really!"

[Cottoria]

After the first battle that was a huge victory for the Cottorian military, many expected him to take advantage of the situation and take on the offensive in Wake Atolla. However the government when the war begun divided into pro and anti war sides. The Socialist and the Commerce party united against the war with the Democratic Republicans and other minor parties supporting the war. Due to the turmoil the advance stopped allowing Polar forces time to prepare for a defense. Early in the war the 6th Army had landed on the southern tip of the island and was amassing it's force to prepare for an assault. With reconnoissance coming from the sky, the army knew where the Polar positions were. Though the capital and the major port on the island were defended, much of the island was being taken with no resistance allowing the Cottorian army to prepare for the assault on Atolla City (the Capital). A young officer by the name of Jimmy Kaiser was one of the first on the island. He and his regiment when marching in the south part of the island had support of people who are ethnically Cottorian. For many soldiers the early push on the island was exciting and many began chanting, "Those Polar Monkies are too scared to fight!" But many at HQ knew that this quiet offensive wouldn't last, Admiral Jackson was preparing to bombard the major port of the island but he feared of the costal guns that could decimate his ships. For General Sullivan, the capital was well protected and any victory will be costly. Both men knew that any battle would cost a lot of lives but if they won they could push towards Wake North and then even Polar Svalbard itself.

[Doppler]

Aboard the bridge of the RDS. Highlander II Commander Belfast stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the cold sea ahead.
"Sir?"
"What is it."
"We have been given orders to move our fleet into the Aplin straight from Admiral Chskenov."
"Very well, New Aapelistan will have to think twice before moving into our waters," Belfast took the phone in front of him. "All Dopplerian vessels in Lotus Fleet, orders are to move into patrol position in Aplin straight. Fleet due south east at 27 knots."
A red flash went off on the Destroyer with a siren commanding all crew members to get into battle stations. The fleet consisting of 2 destroyers, 1 corvette, 2 frigates, and 3 patrol boats turned and headed south into the Aplin straight.
Aboard the frigate, RDS. Elysian, crew members scrambled to positions, racing up and down stairs, loading shells and munition into canons and guns. The ship was quiet as it headed south.
"Dive! Dive! Dive!" Could be heard over the intercom aboard the RDS. Centitour, one of Dopplers most feared submarines. The lone submarine sank into the ocean, completely undetectable.
"Fully submerged sir."
"Excellent. Bank left 32 degrees, due north east at 30 knots."
The submarine would provide as reconnaissance and support for the Dopplerian fleet. Now that Doppler was at war, the fleet was ready to strike.

[Miklania]

RMS Stormkeeper, TF-1812, Kavju Sea

Lieutenant Eric Riley stood sharply at attention in front of Captain Scott's desk, a large mahogany affair that took up a considerable amount of the space inside the small office. He had acquired the callsign "Drifter" in training, when he took a corner on the taxiway a little too fast and almost tipped the tiny trainer over. He didn't, but it happened to be in front of every single person on the flight line, and the instructor in the back seat wasted no opportunity to berate young flight officers when they screwed up in hilarious ways. To his left stood his best friend and Radio Intercept Officer, Lieutenant Mark Krakowski. "Marker" had earned his callsign by using an unorthodox method of tracking a Seraphim that went into the notch during a training exercise. The ground crew only asked him to use something that wasn't permanent next time that he decided to draw on their jets display screens. The two were a real dynamic duo, with a reputation for getting into trouble. Buzzing towers, performing ridge riding maneuvers over suburbia, and the ever classic foul-up of trying to hit on an admiral's daughter. But they were good at what they did, so no commanding officer had ever been able to give them anything more than a slap on the wrist.

But right now the mood was serious. Scott was not in a mood for joking around. One of his ship's aircraft had just been shot down, and now the country was formally at war. He was pissed at the strategic situation, he was pissed at their lack of situational awareness, and he was pissed at having to report the loss of a combat jet for the first time in several decades.

"First, I would like to say that you gentlemen performed admirably under the given circumstances."

Drifter and Marker said "Thank you sir." in unison. Drifter braced for a lecture. That kind of complement always preceded a 'but'.

"But a lapse in situational awareness like that must never happen again!" There it was.

"Yes sir."

"We are at war now gentlemen. The Commies are playing for keeps. This isn't a game where you can make a mistake. If you do, you're in the drink. Badger and Nails figured that out the hard way. And now Badger is out. Complete mental breakdown this morning, we couldn't even get him out of his rack." Drifter and Marker glanced at each other in surprise. Badger had seemed fine when he got back on the deck after the rescue helo picked him and Nails up. "Nails will be on standby if someone needs a RIO. We'll try to move Badger to another ship, maybe the Valkyrie. You guys are moving up to element or flight lead, taking their place."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." This wasn't how he had wanted it, but flying number one or three in formation was a great honor for a pilot as young as Drifter.

"That will be all. Dismissed."

[Polar Svalbard]

As day turned to night, and night turned to day, the soldiers waited for the Cottorian attack that was to come. The troops in different areas had a variety of morale. Those in the city staying in houses were having a good time, being warm, with good food, and playing cards. In the defensive positions around the city it wasn't so bad, troops had warm food, played games, and were to varying degrees comfortable. But in the hedgehog defense works, the troops were a bit more minged off than the others. The food they got was not as warm as the others, and while the slept rather good, it wasn't as good as sleeping in a house. Along with that being at the front line waiting for an attack sat you a bit on edge.

Within the cities civilians were trying to live their lives like normal, they were confined to the harbor area and those around it for the time being. There was complaining, especially since they had only been a Svalbardian territory for half a year, but it was not extremely extensive, not when an entire army was stationed in the city. There looked to be some less than desirable weather on the horizon, and thus that was a topic of discussion for many of the troops who were waiting for the attack to come.

---

Out on the seas, the Frigate, Demeter, of the Second fleet was still searching for any clues to the whereabouts to the Cottorian fleet. Captain Ishmael Adammal, walked around the vessel, generally giving encouragement to his crews. Usually it was a bit of small talk, a pat on the back, pleasantries, but it was these that raised a man's morale. Once he got back on the bridge he was still dismayed to see that there was no word of the Cottorian fleet. He poured himself a cup of coffee and waited for the hopeful report that someone found them.

[Eurania]

Classified Military Base, Somewhere in Southwest Eurania

Kamion still felt strongly about the incident. Nearly being shot down was one thing, losing a pilot was another. The squadron would return one fighter less. Traditionally it would be humiliating to lose to the west, but the squadron did still shoot down an enemy. Still, it was not a pretty topic.

All three Fulcrums landed safely at the base. As they maneuvered into the hangars, Kamion and his colleagues were called by the administration of the EAF. All three made it to the building. They all knew they were in for some reprimanding.

"Why did one of our most advanced aircraft ever to fly get shot down?" asked General Galen, one of the heads of the EAF. Inyran and his colleagues hung their heads. "Because of you, Inyran. Why did you order your squadron mates to circle around the wreckage of the F-41 when you could have used your numeric advantage to destroy the second Shark?" Galen sighed, barely being able to contain his anger and embarrassment. "Listen, Kamion. That was incredibly embarrassing. Please do not do that again, despite the EN's corvettes being slightly close to the Miklanian Fleet while the sub fleet is still on its way. Do you understand, damnit!" he spoke with a final surge of anger, which died down as soon as he spoke.

Kamion nodded and gave a quick salute. "I apologize, sir. I was not calculating on what my actions would do." he spoke as he got up and left the room.

------------------------------
Somewhere in the Kavju Sea, ENSS Red Unbroken

Captain Vulian Astarev continued to sulk. As commander of the Euranian Navy's submarine fleet, he was constantly under pressure. The EN had the Western Isles' largest submarine fleet, with he himself in the submarine fleet's flagship (currently for the operation), the ENSS Red Unbroken, full of the most advanced technology, yet he dealt with threats to the fleet externally and internally, and command operations. Right now, the massive underwater armada was moving silently and slowly to the Miklanian fleet, with some subs armed with drones or missiles, however only the Red Unbroken had nuclear missiles. While currently being unable to be detected, the fleet was traveling slow and relative to time, was losing ground on the Miklanian Fleet. To further put Vulian in a bad mood, the subs had not detected or located the exact position of the fleet, rather had tracked its movements hour by hour, a stupid mistake made by one of his sailors.

"How are we progressing?" asked Vulian to a computer technician. "Miklanian Fleet is heading away from east and is headed northeast toward the Kavju Sea, sir. Near where the F-41s had a skirmish with the EAF's F-52s" the technician said while drinking coffee. "Don't remind me." replied Vulian, as he went to the bridge of the Red Unbroken, continuing to sulk. This would take a while, in the high seas...

[Miklania]

TF-1812, Kavju Sea

The fleet was moving to full combat dispersion. In Starlight Clad class destroyers took up picket stations in a wide circle around the carrier, some as many as fifty miles from the Stormkeeper The ship's sonar and SH-70R helicopters were listening for any hint of the Euranian submarine force that was surely hunting them down. RMS For Greater Glory had detected an older diesel sub far off to the east, but she was out of range and not really a threat to the northbound Miklanians. That sub was running flat out, and she was still too slow to catch the surface ships. The Euranian nuclear subs on the other hand, they were a much bigger problem. Quieter and faster than the diesels electric subs, they were out there, somewhere.

Admiral Puller had considered that they might be able to slip through the gaps in the destroyer ring, but that was unlikely at their present speed. A sub running fast enough to overtake a destroyer that was going as fast as it's sonar would allow could be heard from the other side of the sea. But he kept ASW helicopters on the carrier vigilant, and had the assault ship Valkyrie twenty miles in front of Stormkeeper, searching for subs north of them that might simply be waiting for them to run over top. It wasn't a great situation, but at least for now he had the upper hand on the defensive.

[Doppler]

"Sir I do not think is necessary to hold any more forces back to defend Doppler! If we launch an attack on Eurania it will draw them away from attacking Doppler and defending their own country!" Commander Belfast's face was turning red as he argued with Captain Smith and Read Admiral Korovotsky over the phone.
"Listen Commander our orders are standing as they are. We need to defend Doppler and hold the South Doppler Sea at all costs. We have your fleet as far east as we can at the moment and an attack would be unnecessary at the time. Wasting lives and ammunition,"
"Yes Commander," Said Read Admiral Korovotsky. "If we launch a counter attack or invasion with your fleet the odds are against us. We already have 2nd east fleet moving towards northern Doppler and ready as a second line when times get tricky."
"Why not use them as reinforcements! We could ask the Mik-"
"Do not even think about bringing our allies into your foolish idea Belfast! The orders stand. We hold out position, we have our nuclear submarine completely hidden to the Eurasians and the New Aapelistans that we would know when an attack could be coming at any time. If they were to attack us while we were moving into position to attack Eurania, we would be left defenseless. Now your fleet shall hold position."
"Sir there is not a chance in hell we would lose that quick. We need to start on the offensive before they get the ball rolling on their offensive push. We need to stop them quick."
“Do you realize that they are on the offensive? Your orders are to remain the same until further notice.”
"Yes captain,” Belfast said slamming the phone back into its holder. He rest his hands on the instruments of his ship looking at the rest of the fleet bob up and down in the waves.

[New Aapelistan]

Near Beach Site C, Andersite, Doppler
4th of April, 7.29

It was a cold, windy morning in Lotus Sea. Waves hitted the landing craft, spilling water to the landing craft. Iliya, just conscripted private, stood in the craft, shivering either from the cold weather or fear.He was conscripted only 2 months ago, and he would have atleast 4 years of military service left, if he could survive from this assault and from many other dangers of the war. Only 2 months ago, he was in safety, in his home. His home was an old apartment, near downtown Kavjaku. He remembered how he always complained about small things about his home, but now the place that he remembered felt like a palace compared to the army. 30 000 conscripts in an army camp, wasn't the best Place.

Fighters, bombers and missiles started to appear to the sky, meaning that the attack was started. Navy ships started shooting at the military buildings to soften the enemy defences. The sounds of explosives and cannon fires filled the air, and Iliya started to shiver more, now knowing that the shivering was caused by fear and not from cold.

The landing craft was close to the beach now. The defenders, already small in numbers and now even smaller started to shoot at the craft, trying to kill as many of the soldiers inside them. "Soldiers, prepare your self, we are soon in the beach and the Dopplerian bastards will try to kill us all! But fear not! We outnumber them on this beach, we are more superior than them! They are nothing more than cowards compared to us
!" The boat hitted the beach and the ramp opened. When others started running away from the landing craft, knowing that it could turn into a death trap in seconds, Iliya started running with others to any cover possible. Only a handful of bodies lied dead in the beach, due to the small amount of Dopplerian defenders.

Ilya was crouched behind a big rock, nearly scared to death, only shooting couple shots with his SKS. Another conscript came to him laughing. "C'mon coward!". Then, he ran to continue the assault. Not even a second after it, he got hit and fell to ground lifeless. Iliya, scared even more, just stayed behind the rock, while others pushed and continued the assault.

[Polar Svalbard]

Staff Sergeant Lian Deveraux lay there with his machine gun. Over to his right was another soldier with a TOW missile, to his left some soldiers with AT-4s and their regular rifles, and somewhere behind him were a couple mortars. This would be a good ambush. He looked to the other machine gunner on his right and smiled, they would be the bulk of this ambush, the machine guns mowing down the troops.

They had let the lead elements roll across unmolested but soon the Company of APCs they were going to attack rolled across. Their Platoon leader, Second Lieutenant RIchard Lieucox shot up a green starburst, their signal for the attack. Suddenly the TOW and the AT-4s lit up, 5 rockets sailed on their way to the APCs. 4 APCs, including the lead, the end, and two in the middle, were hit killing almost everyone inside. As the infantry started to get out of the APCs and into firing positions the machine guns and the mortars started to open up.

After about 5 minutes though more forces started to arrive in the area and after firing a couple more missiles the Svalbardians were forced to disengage, taking a quarter of the platoon in casualties. The mortars rained down a smokescreen and willy-peat to cover the retreat. The Svalbardians disapeared into the forest behind them where somewhere back they would reach a rally point and leave by helicopter back to base.

[Segentova]

Gunshots echoed through the air. These were not lethal shots fired at human targets; these were just practice-shits, fired at nothing but paper targets.
Next to each other on the range were standing the Epsilon7 squad; Sgt. Jules Armistead, Pedro Allegri, Gustav Faucheux, Beatríce Mercier
Auguste Paget, Henri Sartre, and at the end, all together, Adam, Charles and Jaqline.
The unit had just finished the Reveille. It was 06:30 in the morning. Jules Armistead was monitoring his squad, carefully seeking to point out any flaws in weapon handling or safety. As everyone loaded their guns and waited for the Sergeant to give his command, he hesitated, remembering being called into the commanders office, early in the morning, only to be told that his squad would be deployed in Wake Atoll as part of what was called an "expeditionary force" by the high ranking officials. The only explanation he had gotten "help the Svalbardians." Fair enough, they were allies, after all and if they would simply abstain from fighting this region-wide war, Segentova would likely be seen weak by the international community, unable to display any strength.
He took a breath, mustered his squad, checking their equipment. And pulled his arm up in a salute, forming a triangle his right hand and holding the palm of his hand flat downward, his fingers pointing at the side of his skull. This was the military salute, the one they had been taught to show in front of superiors.
He began to talk "First of all, I want to give out a few cheers to this squad, I'm proud of our work together, we've become a good team." he staggered "but, today morning, I was called into an officer's meeting, and long story short, this will be the great test for our unit... we're getting deployed"
The squad looked perplexed; he could see it in their eyes.
"That's all, I was told not to discuss this any more, the only detail they allow me to tell is that our marching order is for Sunday next week. Carry on"
He felt the air of confusion that had previously filled the booth giving way to more of a distrust, an eerie atmosphere taking it's place. He didn't feel comfortable with it, but he almost certainly knew it wouldn't leave him for long.