A Threat Realised IC (TWI Only)

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

OOC

23:00, 6 May 2018

Sir André de La Blanc, now a brigadier of the New Model Army, Third Brigade, First Division, First Corps, pondered his new rank. It was a promotion of sorts, considering there were in essence no ranks in previous Ilsan armies, where the knights could do as they pleased, provided that they killed the enemy. Now people would have to listen to him, though his own knights would likely conveniently forget his superior rank. Though the New Model Army had been sold as a meritocratic and democratic defence force to the Commons and Peers, and had been debated as such in the House of Lords, the reality was that top positions were mostly filled by nobles of some degree anyway. The army in fact was not changed much at all, save that de La Blanc now had two incomes, his pitiful army salary, and his estates, where he was a well recognised bottler of Ostin. Thoughts of his estates turned his thoughts to his wife Marguerite, and his sons, André and Rène. He passed on though, fearing to dwell on what he loved, and fear of acknowledging his fear of death.

He put his mind back to the war, and back to his brigade, which would be landing on Lortik occupied shores that night. Previously, a group of Ilsan knights would have snuck across, launched a spirited diversionary attack covering the landing of the main attack, and then rampage through the countryside until dawn, when they would withdraw to established lines, loaded with plunder. New Model doctrine, however, insisted on concentrated forces with heavy fire support, for which the old beauty Maximilien III came out with its fifteen inch guns. They had also insisted on air support, and vehicle support, but the boats hastily acquired for the landing could not hold vehicles, so that was dropped, but the air support was already blowing things up, for which they receive a great deal of glory, which could only truly be won in combat.

An adjutant, some commoner, entered.

“Brigadier Sir, our boats can only transport the first regiment and eight companies of the second regiment across.”

André scowled at the adjutant, and walked out of his quarters towards the beach. As far as the eye could see, various craft lay moored, with men and knights loading supplies and men into the boats. Two Berrydons and a Fairview flitted further out at sea, and the sound HIMS Maximilien III firing her guns could be heard in the distance.

“Let us embark,” said Le Blanc, condescendingly, assuming that the boats could always sail back.

He was taken by row-boat to an elegant luxury speed boat, the donated boat that was to be his transport. It had been offered by the young Baron Roland de Bellemon, a cousin of the unfortunate Pierre. The Baron was their himself, and the other knights, about twenty eight, had all bedn pledged to the Baron, who had magnanimously offered to serve under de La Blanc despite the Baron’s obvious superiority.

As André boarded the boat, Baron Roland bowed, setting La Blanc at ease, so much so that he returned the bow comfortably.

“Some good fighting tonight, eh?” began the Baron, smiling.

“Indeed,” smiled André. “Though I fear the Lortiks will have all fled from the shelling and bombs.”

De Bellemon laughed. “Or maybe they will prepare for us, and we can have a hot fight, with many songs praising our deeds.”

“I hear the Lortiks are keeping a large peasant force near our landing, hopefully they won’t all run before we come.”

Bellemon smiled, and nodded to the captain. The ship sailed for about twenty minutes, leaving many boats behind, ere it made landfall. André was disappointed by the lack of immediate resistance, but upon seeing the battered outline of a fortress above him, he, Roland, and the other knights decided to storm the heights on which the fort was built. Roland mentioned its castellan, who was the thirteen year old son of the Lord Falhelm, executed at Fosseury Hall. After several minutes of walking through a forest towards the castle, they climbed the rock studded hill, several shots from the castle greeted them, burying themselves in trees and bouncing off rocks. André easily spotted the few peasants, evidently frightened hunters impressed into militia duty, and shot two in the head. The remaining hunter fled, alerting those in the fort itself. The knights rushed forward, dashing through the forest under the forts embankments, and near a postern door, with only one being slightly wounded. Evidently the defenders were not fully alert, or blinded by the dark to the quick movements of the knights. They moved fairly quietly along the wall towards an entrance, which evidently had been unintended, and a result of the bombardment. Several knights drew swords and battle axes, but one approached Sir André and requested to go first through the breach. The knight, Sir Georges, was ridiculed by his own men for his antiquated weapons, a rare feat for Ilsan knights. In his case, he had two flintlock imitation pistols, dual-barrelled and sporting a blade vertically between each barrel. André smiled, but consented.

The few men on the trenches against which the knights were hiding had lost sight of the knights, and were resolved to investigate with a fairly strong party of about twenty, five of whom were waiting near the fatal breach, the rest of whom were gathering reinforcements from within the castle or from the surrounding countryside. Sir George, like a phantom approached the men, and raising both arms, fired, killing or injuring for of the five. The final man fled, but was shot by Roland in the heart. One of the injured men shot Sir Georges, however, which he regretted as several precise shots from the other knights perforated him painfully. Sir Georges, who had been wearing armour, fell, but was caught, and joked merrily with the others, before obliging himself to sit at the breach with another knight, where they would wait until Georges had recovered from his still severe wound, or the fortress stormed.

The other knights went on, overpowering the generally fragile and surprised guards in and about the main bunker, many of whom were servants trained with cooking and accounting rather than shooting and assaulting. After reaching the door, the knights prepared to burst in. This door was guarded however, and two knights fell wounded, and one dead, though the knights responded quickly and drove off the defenders as the fanned out into the castle. There they easily killed whomever they encountered, though sometimes after extended firefights, where the knights superior training won out. Those defending the castle itself appeared to be veterans of previous campaigns, and the Baron swore he recognised several of the from the Lortik invasion in 2017. The knights took a few more casualties, but eventually fought their way to the Lord’s personal chambers. Their the thirteen year old Lord Falhelm was giving orders to two knights and a few militiamen. The Lortik knights noticed their counterparts first, and drew their swords with Falhelm. The first Ilsan knights to enter shot the militiamen, and thus forfeited their right to single combat while de La Blanc attacked Lord Falhelm and two other knights engaged the remaining Lortiks. Lord Falhelm fought with a Colichemarde, and André with a hand-and-half broadsword. Lord Falhelm was young however, a one missed, overzealous thrust allowed de La Blanc to remove his sword-hand, and then his head. The other two knights defended themselves admirably, and after fifteen minutes of fruitless duelling, they agreed to leave the castle for the Ilsans, in exchange for freedom and an hour long truce, which was fair, for their were few Lortiks of high blood left, and even fewer with any military competence.

There was no counter-attack, so the first division had landed with less than a thousand casualties, though Lortik resistance had been scattered through a series of coastal castles which had been easy targets for the Super Banshees and warships. Lortik casualties had been slightly higher. The First Division had landed. The invasion had begun.

[Weinam]

23:46, 6th May 2018
Weinam Military Headquarters - Teikong

The noise of computers, telephones and talking engulfed the communication room as news of the Ilsan attack on the Lortik's began to filter through unofficial channels. A young Lieutenant was busy translating the coded messages from Lortik sources which was coming through in stages. He finished the last batch and torn off the paper from the printer before rising to his feet and rushing off to the commanders office with the speed of an Olympic sprinter, narrowing missing a few colleagues on the way.

The Lieutenant came to a halt in-front of the wooden door and promptly rasped his knuckles upon the surface and awaited for any response.

"Enter.." came a sharp voice a few moments later.

"Admiral Sir, We have confirmation of an attack on Lortik positions, casualties are reported to be high and Lortik defence has broken." The young Lieutenant commented with a quick salute before offering his translated message to the Commander.

The Admiral rose to his feet and replied in kind to the salute before reaching for the message and began to study it. A few minutes passed before the Admiral returned to his seat and glanced up to the Lieutenant. "Where is the fleet currently ?"

"At the predesignated form up area, we have been maintaining a visual there ever since the Magarati ship was sunk. Sir", Came the reply.

The Admiral gave a simple nod before looking back to the messages. "Okay".

The Admiral placed the paper on his desk as he reached for his telephone and pressed a three digit number before pausing for a reply...

"Commander, this is Admiral Chung. Authorise strike on sector 2 with immediate effect. Pre-confirmed coordinates are designated targets".

The phone was replaced on the receiver, the Admiral rose to his feet and moved around the desk towards the office door. "Follow me Lieutenant". The door open and the Admiral disappeared down the corridor followed by the Lieutenant a few seconds later.

---

23:58, 6th May 2018
Weinam First Fleet - Merder Sea

The sea was reasonably calm and sparkling as the moon reflected off the surface. On board the Missile Destroyer, Fucheng, the Commander hung up his telephone and glanced out of the Bridge at the empty illuminated ocean for a few seconds of reflection and then glanced to his no.2 - "Sound General Quarters". He spoke with a sharp and direct tone, the time for chit-chat had ended, it was business time.

"Sound General Quarters!" was repeated as acknowledgement before the bridge became active with a flurry of activity. The intercom awoke with a loud crackle and tone "GENERAL QUARTERS. GENERAL QUARTERS. ALL PERSONNEL REPORT TO THEIR STATIONS. ALL PERSONNEL REPORT TO THEIR STATIONS". Almost as quickly as the intercom had ceased it's transmission, the ship shook into life as everybody rushed to their stations and began to prepare for action.
The Fucheng was the lead ship in an eight ship fleet that sat off the Ilsan eastern coast some distance from the undergoing invasion of Lortik land. The fleet had been sitting in the area for the last seventy-two hours mostly as a precaution and to act as a Quick Reaction Force in case the situation escalated as it was now.

The Weinam Fleet consisted of two Guided Missile Destroyers, four Frigates, two Amphibious Assault Ships and two submarines. The Amphibious Assault Ships was home to 1000 Weinam Marines and supplies for the Lortiks, which consisted of weapons, ammunition, munitions and other equipment that was pre-agreed by the Weinamese Government. The fleet had been brought to General Quarters within a matter of minutes as the Weinamese prepared to strike.

"Coordinates designated.... targets acquired.... ready to fire". Came a voice from within the Fucheng's operation room. The Commander had left the bridge and made his way to the operation room during the general quarters alarm. He was greeted with his subordinates informing him of the ships ready status and confirmation of the fleets initial targets. The Commander took his seat and quickly glanced around the room as his crew was working like a well drilled machine, only this time was real and not a training exercise.

"Sound Battle Stations" The commander finally ordered with an affirmative tone. Once again the intercom sparked into life as the order of battle stations echoed throughout the ship. The time had come and now Weinam was to announce it's arrival to Ilsan with a loud knock.

"Prepare to Fire. 5....4....3....2....1".

[Athara Magarat]

24:30

6th May, 2018

Tiwe Sivn Military Base, North-East Athara Magarat

The digital map of Belle Ilse en Terre and Lortika flashed on the screen as the airmen were briefed by their commanding officer on the mission. The intel gathered so far claimed that "Ilsan troops were getting mobilized into Lortika". To make matters worse, the "hot-blooded" Weinam fleet, which had been carrying out economic blockade and supplying materials to the Lortik fighters, had already opened fire on Ilsan targets. A quick meeting had been held just ten minutes earlier in New Libang's Ministry of Defense and military action had been authorized as "non-interference" in this situation was likely to do more harm than good. Unlike the six months long C6-San Montagnan war where Athara Magaratis had failed to dominate the air (even if other C6 nation eventually did), there would be no C6 this time to help Athara Magarat gain air dominance. The Eagle Force would have to do it on their own. Weinam was in no manner an ally; but a temporary partner with some shared goals and they had already "infuriated" even the usually calm Jrm Hangma by launching fire on the enemy without any whatsoever consultation with Athara Magarati military or government.

"Around an hour ago, the Ilsan army invaded our ally Lortika. They think that they can still wage war with ancient swords and feudal system such as knighthood. The government has given the Ilsan ambassador some time to leave the country. Any discussion in the League is now to be considered futile after this all-out assault." The squadron leader looked at each of her pilots as she briefed on the situation and the mission. "Our mission will to completely have air superiority in this conflict..."

---

Eighty Minutes Later

Ilsan Airspace

Flight Lieutenant Raju Khorja remembered the briefing earlier very well and he tried to bring run that briefing over and over again in his head. The journey to Ilsan airspace was over 1,000 km since take-off. The 3rd Fighter Squadron of Athara Magarat National Army's Eagle Force had broken into several flights of three as the air assault began. All of the fighters in the 3rd were F-123 Falcon. He was piloting one such "multi-role stealth fighter" currently alongside his two other Athara Magarati F-123 in this particular flight. Chuli-One and Chuli-Three were good but Raju Khorja was better than anyone in sky at the moment. The wide range of Ilsan targets below on the ground were locked on and Raju released his Falcon's air-to-surface missiles.

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

23:58, 6 May 2018 HIMS Orsaix

Captain Cutter, a veteran of twenty dull years of service in the Ilsan navy, sat in the bridge of the minelayer Orsaix, scanning the dark horizon. His mines had been laid off a fishing village, and though he doubted anything would hit them, he knew no vessels would issue from the village for some time, though that could also be attributed the 20mm cannon fire he had distributed about the town.

Looking to the south he noticed flashes, but he thought little of them. He did not know of Weinam’s impending attack, and the Orsaix carried no radar.

The missiles smashed into the engine, destroying the ship and killing nearly everyone on board, including the captain.



00:38, 6 May 2018 Bellemon

The local Ilsan radars, which had been put on general alert, did not detect the Magarati F123s in time, and it was not until the Valenshia class frigate L’Imperieux noticed them that the Super Banshees were called in.

The Super Banshees pilots were an elite and highly restrictive group, almost a class unto themselves, as being a pilot almost invariably meant going abroad and studying piloting, which only some could afford, and fewer could maintain. As such, they often took the names of heroic and legendary knights. However, they maintained their chivalric attitude towards combat, and trained themselves only in one-on-one combat, which would have been fine if they had not outnumbered the Magarati aircraft.

Only four Super Banshees had enough fuel and air-to-air missiles to engage the Magarati Third fighter squadron, Achilles, Amadis, Gallahad, and Bertrand, Betrand arriving the latest, and thus resigning himself to circle the field waiting for an enemy to become open.

Achilles attacked Chuli One, Amadis Chuli Two, and Gallahad Chuli Three.

Chuli One fired his air-to-air missiles first, though Achilles got his off seconds laters. Chuli one deployed his chaff and evaded the missile, whilst Achilles engaged in evasive manoeuvres, failing to notice that Chuli-One had taken a position behind him, and strafing him with his cannon in the left tail fin. Achilles’ heel had been struck. Chuli Two also caught cannon fire, after evading four Ilsan missiles, and Bertrand was downed by two missiles from Chuli Three. Gallahad had taken slight damage, but returned to the airfield intact.

Both sides fighters withdrew, ending the battle. On the ground below, Ilsan air defences were ruined. Magarati missiles had destroyed ten launchers and six radars, not that either had been especially useful during the battle.

8:00, 7 May 2018 Ost-in-Odril, Lortika

King Eadwine, for he had been crowned at a hasty ceremony several days earlier, was surveying a map of Lortika, and troop dispositions as best they could be figured.

Casualties, civilian and military, had been heavy the day before, and the coastal castles had been lost, but they still had something of a defensive line, and he had a small reserve, about 2000 men, he could commit in a particularly desperate situation. He also had a number of youthful knights, but they were probably worthless. His troops were generally of similar quality, excepting the Ilsan knights. If Magarati of Weinamese reinforcements failed to show up, Lortika was done for.

Weinam reminded him, though, of the new weapons acquired. The Lortiks had only been using antiquated and often stationary anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns with almost no success; the anti-tank missiles from Weinam could be pit to good use today.

8:00, 7 May 2018 Ilsan Beachhead, Southern Lortika

De La Blanc awoke in the personal chambers of the extinct line of the Lords Falhelm. The front had extended about a mile further, and with alert sentries he had slept in comfort.

He came to the room where Falhelm had been ended, and on the table review Ilsan gains that had occured over the previous knight. His own brigade was strongly entrenched just ahead of Falhelm Castle on the narrow peninsula, and their right flank, a harbour, had been mined to prevent to prevent an sea borne attack. The First and Second Brigades were scattered up the coast of the peninsula they were on, and the rest of the division occupied the southern part of Lortika. The second division was going to arrive later that day.

With them was coming tanks and proper artillery.

[Weinam]

08:10, 7 May 2018
Weinam Marine Defensive Line - South Lortika.

The Marines of Weinam had spent the early morning wading ashore and meeting up with Lortik forces to establish a suitable defensive line. While the Weinamese Navy was busy providing fire support and bombarding Belle targets, the Marines was busy digging in and establishing key anti-aircraft and anti-tank positions along the Lortik lines. Captain Liewu of 1st Company, 9th Marine Division has the job of making sure that Belle Ilse en Terre was stopped in it's tracks.

Glancing at the map, Captain Liewu was positioned in a foxhole with his subordinates overlooking a map he has been given when he landed. "I want AT here, here and here. AA needs to be here and here. 1st Platoon are digging in along the main road with 2nd and 3rd covering the beach and woodland along the flanks. Make sure we have crossing machine-gun cover along the road. We'll have two mortars behind us here". The captain pointed out his positions on the map and looked at his two lieutenants with him. "Let's get this done as quickly as possible, 4th Company will be to our north-west with the main bulk of Lortik defenders, if the Lortik intel is correct still, the enemy will try to hit them before noon, we sit tight, dig in and ambush them". The Captain replied.

"Yes sir". came an echoed response as the two Lieutenants climbed out the foxhole and disappeared into two different directions to finalise preparations.

The Captain was soon joined by his adjutant, Lieutenant Yuiko, who jumped into the foxhole and nodded to his boss with a salute.

"Are we good Lieutenant?" The Captain asked, as he was busy staring down his binoculars overlooking the main road and the woodland behind it.

"Yes Sir, everything is ready and the lortiks have been equipped with our portable AT and AA as ordered". The lieutenant responded.

"Excellent, now we sit tight and wait". The Captain replied as he settled back down into the hole and reached for his personal radio. "Eagle 1-1 this is Condor Actual, Do you read me, over". A crackle and hiss was emitted before the radio replied. "Condor Actual, this is Eagle 1-1 reading you loud and clear, over". The voice from the radio was the warship Fucheng who was still hitting missiles at Belle positions. "Eagle 1-1, Beachhead secured, defensive positions set and ready, no sign of the enemy, will confirm when sighted". The Captain spoke back into the radio.

"Condor Actual, message received, sit tight and await contact. Be advised of friendly Magarati air assets in area, we are establishing comms to ensure no friendly fire. Repeat, friendly air assets in area, confirm targets before engaging".

"Eagle 1-1, message received and understood. Condor Actual out". The radio was placed beside the Captain as he poked is head from the foxhole again. The Captain caught sight of a marine running towards him at some pace, eventually coming face to face with his Marine, a private from 1st platoon.

"Sir, recon has spotted enemy elements moving towards us down the road". the Private spoke out while panting for breath.

"Alright, get back to your position and get ready, wait for my signal before striking".

[Belle Ilse en Terre]

08:12, 7 May 2018, Weinam Marine Defensive Line - South Lortika.

A company of Ilsan infantry, accompanied by two tanks approached Captain Leiwu. There was several knights with them, including one who was straggling with a sniping rifle.

The Ilsans vanguard had orders to defeat the Weinamese marines, and seize the recently improved Tornaeg Castle. As they approached the Weinamese-Lortik position, a spotty forest with high grass and a more than gradual incline, the Lortiks, eager to score first blood after recent defeats on the coast, opened fire with an anti-tank gun. The leading Ilsan LeClerc survived, but its tracks were damaged. As both tanks prepared to destroy the Lortik emplacements, the entire defensive force opened fire; the Ilsans scattered behind cover.

Major Adolphe Joubert, in charge of the vanguard force, had anticipated the surprise attack, and had already taken cover and started shooting back before the rest of the company recovered.

A heated exchange began, but the remaining Ilsan tank withdrew, and with it, the Ilsan soldiers slowly retreated. Joubert, however, was injured and captured, along with several other wounded Ilsans of no rank.

[Weinam]

08:41, 7 May 2018
Weinam Marine Defensive Line - South Lortika.

The firefight had lasted some twenty minutes. The shouting, gunfire, explosions and excitement had died down as smoke began to bellow down the road from the Weinamese Marine defensive line. Two Ilsan tanks had been destroyed and a further one knocked out, of which the crew had fled among the fighting. The Marines fought off the small remaining Ilsan stragglers with machine gun fire before securing their lines in preparation for a second attack.

The Weinamese had three dead and eight wounded. Their bodies were dragged from the front line and laid to rest about a mile behind the line at a beachhead HQ, which sailors from a nearby Weinamese ship would collect the bodies to transport back home. Radio reports further up the line had reported that Ilsan forces had been pushed back and had withdrawn from the immediate area, signalling a defensive victory for the Lortiks and Weinam, at least for the moment.

Captain Liewu commanding the Southern Flank, began to direct orders of his companies post battle instructions to his adjutant. "Get an ammo and weapons check done on all three positions, I want casualty reports..... dead and wounded. We pushed them back for now, but they will come back, I want those AT positions rearmed ASAP Lieutenant!"

"Yes Sir!" Came a swift response as the man leapt into action and rushed off to the direction of the woodland. The Captain was about to move off from his own position when one of his Sergeants ran up with haste. "Captain Sir, I have an urgent message from Division HQ". A note was held out for the Captain, which was taken and read with a few moments silence.

"I don't believe it .." The Captain frowned. Rereading the message again the Captain shook his head and crumpled the note before tossing it over his shoulder...

"Everything alright Sir?"

"No. We've been ordered to cease fire, effective immediately. All action is to stop and we're to withdraw to the Lortik capital. Sergeant, get a message to all platoons, ceasefire and pack up all positions, rendezvous back to the beachhead within two hours". Emitting a sigh, the Captain nodded to the Sergeant.

"Yes Sir, also sir.. Third Platoon has confirmed it has taken some prisoners, one of them is a officer, a Major or something". The Sergeant saluted back before turning and vanishing off as ordered.

"A Major huh .. A knight of the square Ilsan table perhaps..." The Captain mused to himself as he began to pack up his kit and find out who the Prisoners were.