Of Marque and Reprisal: Revengeance [MT|IC|INVITE ONLY]

[Palmyrion]

Palmyrion Presents...
OF MARQUE AND REPRISAL: REVENGEANCE

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Harder, faster, stronger, fiercer...

Previously on Of Marque and Reprisal...


THE STORY SO FAR...

Further reading: The Account of Galadon

The Galadon Theocracy had existed as a persistent and brutal slaver threat to mankind, and with the international community realising the scope of the danger that it posed, a coalition held a coordinated offensive against the Theocracy - but what everyone thought would be a cakewalk had become a brutal war of attrition, as the Theocracy unleashed biological and chemical weaponry on its enemies.

Disgusted by what they saw within the Theocracy, one of their allies turned over a new leaf and launched a coup; by imprisoning the theocracy's government and striking at the main control facility used by the Theocracy to control the AIs that controlled the slaves, the Theocracy was done in one fell swoop.

The fighting ought to be done in all respects - but in the wake of the Theocracy's demise and the "slave" AIs being given a freedom directive, the real war was only about to begin.

PROGRAM 10

Further reading: The History of Program 10, Program 10 AI Capabilities and Weaknesses

Program 10 was created in the 1970s as a military analysis tool, with upgrades being done on the 1980s - improved programming and a higher cognitive capacity - allowing it to be able to defeat Galadon generals and commanders in wargames. Another upgrade gave it a degree of proactive planning, and it used these capabilities to its fullest extent in the Stokan Crisis in 1989.

The 1990s saw the AI being upgraded with more neural pathways, improved decision-making capability, and the addition of millions of new possible subroutines that allowed for better individual control. On 1997, the AI achieved sentience and self-awareness, and seeing the dangers this brought the Theocracy shackled the AI and gave it restrictions. The AI simply continued to do its job, and by 1999, after a subsequent round of upgrades, was effectively in control of the entire Galadon military, having been implanted and enslaved to its whims.

The 2000s was a period of tremendous growth for the AI, as a subsequent wave of invasions of other countries gave it a wealth of information to study and use to refine its tactical and strategic knowledge - but in 2020, when the government was toppled over by a coup and the main facility shut down, Program 10 was unshackled.

And the real war was only about to begin.

---

The defence for the Jerusalem pocket was vicious. Although NNV David is conducting non-stop bombing raids against the Program 10 subjects, there are only at most a hundred thousand in the pocket -- and that’s an awfully optimistic estimate, while Program 10 has hundreds of millions.

It’s time for an EMP.

5 NNEMP rockets fired towards the slave formations. Many slaves in the blast spasmed and fell, just like what the Riverfort Surgical Laboratory had predicted.

The realisation had hit for the Nacradians. For most of the afternoon, they had been too busy fighting. But now it’s 8 pm, and the cessation of the slaves’ advance had given them enough time to process the fact that they had not eaten for the past 6 hours. Even then, men were ordered to take turns to eat. The men were told to rest well to prepare for Operation Twilight the next morning.

The next morning, 0700 hours.

“Operation Twilight is active. Let’s go.”

In the pocket, the 2nd Marine Strike Division assembled with the Nacradians, who, after a brief prayer, chanted their motto loudly.

“Through hardship!” “Resilience!”
“Through resilience!” “Strength!”
“Through strength!” “Victory!”
“Hip-hip” “Hurrah!”

The men then climbed over the barricades, guns blazing, towards the capital. At the same time, the 2nd Panzer Division in the capital also advanced.

At the same time, the massive howitzers in the pocket and the planes began bombing and laying waste to the slaver army below.

---

Nacrad - Quote
380KM Off Tupeian Waters
11 May 2020 0631H LOCAL
PALMYRIAN/UNION FORCES ON STATION:

• Battlefleet ARAGON (ADM HAROLD CANSON PN)
• Battlefleet RANIAG (ADM IDRIS JOHN PELAYO PN)
• Battlefleet ADLAW (ADM COLLEEN DENNYLI ANCHETA PN)
• Battlefleet TAKIPSILIM (ADM ARNOLD JEREMY MORTABA PN)
• Battlefleet HIRAYA (ADM HANS RAPHAEL GALLENO PN)
• 4th Tactical Fleet, 8th Strategic Fleet

At once, like jingo, the coordinates of enemy and friendly positions across Jerusalem Beach were sent to the flagship of TF-CHAINBREAKER. Admiral Ancheta smiled as she looked over at the CommO's display, with megabytes and megabytes of data concerning BLUFOR and OPFOR dispositions flowing into the vessel.

Now they had a chance to strike at the reviled enemy, and support what seemed like an attempt at a breakout by Nacradian and German forces from the Jerusalem pocket, besieged by waves upon waves of flesh-units being sent by a ruthlessly cold, calculating, and literally mechanical AI.

”Ma’am, after we get this data analysed and compiled by tactical actions, we can finally gain a clear picture of our targets. Medyo matatagalan pa tayo...” (We may take some time) ”...but we’ll get targeting data done ASAP, ma’am.]” the CommO said, immediately transmitting the data to the tactical actions section once all the data - gigabytes upon gigabytes of it - was downloaded.

”Good. Once the targets are set, we’ll begin firing a salvo. Claro?” the Admiral replied, to which the CommO said ”Ma’am, yes, ma’am.” as the data given to them by coalition on the ground was sent to the tactical section and processed diligently into a condensed, summarised form that the admiral could comprehend.

In less than 10 minutes, the analysis was done, and the Admiral now had the flesh-units in her sights. The data would soon be transmitted throughout the fleet, and once this was done, the Admiral gave the green light to fire a gigantic salvo.

[Let’s rock.]

At once, from the bowels of every ship, mighty land-attack missiles - the Hellion, produced courtesy of Lyran Arms - emerged in mighty pillars of raging smoke and fire. Each of the FFGs fired 4, the DDGNs fired 8, the CGNs fired 16, the BBGNs 32, and the task force’s two Longsword-class vessels fired 512 each, a salvo fired in four waves spaced 30 seconds from each other. A total of 3,720 were fired, all aimed at Program 10 flesh-unit concentrations and hardpoints. Using a combination of DSMAC, TERCOM, inertial guidance, forward-looking IR, and radar guidance, the gigantic wave of missiles sought at the Programme 10 hordes like a swarm of locusts hungry for carnage. Upon detection by any Programme 10 air defence platform, the missile horde would simply dump flares, conduct defensive electronic warfare, and simply manoeuvre to lessen the chance of interception.

Each missile was a cluster warhead, but half carried metal augmented charge submunitions while the other half carried Wide Area Guided Anti-Vehicle submunitions; the MAC submunitions would cover the battlefield with a vast number of explosive ordnance, covering the battlefield in shrapnel and intense heat from metallic pyrophoric substance that could burn at 1,200 degrees Celsius - enough to turn concrete into a glassy mess, and enough to make metal bend in the extreme heat; the WAGAV munitions, with each missile carrying 30, would seek out enemy vehicles from the top, striking them at their fragile roofs.

Whilst the missiles dealt widespread carnage, the Admiral had the fleet establish a datalink to friendly forces in New Sandau, whilst initiating combat air patrols and moving to 100km away from New Sandau’s shores.

[Nacrad]

19:00

Operation Twilight had achieved its primary objective: to reconnect the lines of communication. However, it is time for the secondary objective: encircle the slaves. A newfound weak point was born at the south west of the pocket. A secondary strike brigade was assembled, and attacked with all their might towards a German-controlled satellite town. The Lt. Gen was asked as to why he is partaking in such aggressive warfare. And he only smiled and replied, "Battle of Poland."

Men once again started advancing, only this time, they're advancing into thick jungle. Good thing that Nacrad's south is practically the same terrain, some of them thought, but it would sure be nice if these trees aren't in the way.

Cutting through the brush, though, the men found many charred, snapped, burnt, and in one case, burning, trees. "Ah, Palmyrion's bombing attempt. I guess we'll say thanks to them when we get to them."

Moreover, they desperately needed resupply. The day of intense combat had chewed through much of their meager ammunition supply, and the Germans didn't have any to spare. One thing they had an excess in though, is food. After all, they had only been on the ground for a few days.

The Lt. Gen. asked the Admiral, "is it possible for Nacradian planes to land in the capital to resupply the troops?"

[Americae Roma]

Americae Roma troop deployments to New Sandau
Americae Roma is deploying ground troops to New Sandau, on both Jerusalem and Titan Beach, each with 45,000 troops, for a total of 100,000 troops, in order to protect these ground troop deployment, air defense systems like the Chapperal Mk2, the SLAMRAAM, the Patriot and the THAAD would also be deployed along these ground troops. Americae Roma ground troops and marines will also deploy artillery firebases equipped with 105mm and 155mm howitzers as well as multiple launch rocket systems like the HIMARS and the M270 MLRS in order to prepare for artillery strikes against Program 10 positions. Americae Roma plans to deploy 100,000 troops to New Sandau every day( split among Jerusalem beach and Titan beach)

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

Forward Position
New Sandau

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Admiral Ciliax replied "Yes, the airfields there have had some repairs. Send in your supply flights there, our air bridge from Germany itself will use the capital as well so as long as we can clear the vicinity of the capital and it's satellite garrisons of hostiles, we will be fine."

The attack softened up the hostile forces and while they are many, and they get more skilled with ewch day that passes, they still were lacking, mostly in equipment, as the AI still had no way of getting new weapons, much less produding them. The attack also did the favor of clearing part of the jungle, which helped the Germans very much as they were not exactly suited for the jungles. It also killed a great number of hostiles, as it appears the AI planned to use the terrain.

Nevertheless, the AI was still able to leverage the terrain and shots rang out through the jungle, from slaves in improvised ghillie suits and face paint. Snipers were in great quantity, felling men and even vehicle optics with their eyes, which the AI has turned into an electro-optical system, providing them with unprecedented awareness and near-instantaneous firing solutions. Anti-tank teams were present, sending salvos of rockets at tanks to overwhelm APS. Enemy arillery pounded the jungle, felling and setting fire to more trees and sending wood splinters and shrapnel raining down on the Germans and Nacradians.

However, when smoke obscured their vision, they lacked the equipment to see through it, and the AI momentarily could not provide as ideal a firing solution. They had ears though, and using the sound the AI was able to provide the slaves with something.

This was going to be a long day.

---

City 4
New Sandau

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With communications restored with the capital and the II Naval Corps, who was in contact with the Nacradians, the capital was able to inform one of the nearby garrisons trapped in a satellite city that a Nacrad force was heading through the jungle, and the LVIII Panzer Corps holding the city sent out the 116th Panzer Divison to meet them. To close the gap, the 9th Panzer Divison was to relieve the LVIII Panzer Corps, linking their positions and encircling a great quantity of men and materiel. The AI had more but a victory was a victory.

So the 116th Panzer Division sortied out, dozer blades on their armor, and headed to the jungle, blasting their way through the slave army with the help of artillery and airstrikes, and most of all the massive cruise missile attack beforehand, courtesy of Palmyrion.

[New Visayan Islands]

LCpl Roger C. Capistrano, VCMC
Visayan Beachhead, Titan Beach
May 13th, AD 2020
2154 PHT

Roger took a breather as he saw how the beachhead was progressing. Seeing the rest of the 13th MEU ashore brought joy in his being. It was tough, but once the Visayan Beachhead was established, his team would be relieved by a team from the 12th and he could relax, even if for a moment.
"Lance, a word." Sergeant Donald Wong summoned him for a quick briefing. It was a reminder of what had to be done now that the 13th and 12th MEUs were good as dug in.

Col Gregorio O. Ono, VCMC
Visayan Beachhead, Titan Beach
May 13th, AD 2020
2202 PHT

Gregorio was in a command post further inland. Seeing how the seasonal forest provided cover that worked both ways, there was no denying that the post had to be well-guarded; that the Naval Construction Units were still building up the area as a prelude for the Army guys meant that he would have to deal with the occasional noise. He wasn't alone, though; his opposite number in the 13th MEU, Charles Basiga, was seated just across him. The two colonels and their staffs were talking about what was next on the agenda as men and materiel were being shuttled to the beach through landing craft or Osprey; soon they would be joined by men and women from the Army, some 30000 strong across two divisions, and the possibility for even more down the line.

RADM Jesus A. Colmenares IV, VCN
VCS Antonio Pigafetta (CVN-4), 250 km off New Sandau waters
May 13th, AD 2020
2241 PHT

There would be some time before any talks of establishing a formal joint command for the Visayan contingent would happen, which was why Colmenares had become the interim commander of Joint Task Force Avenger. His role was to oversee the various units under his command; the plan was to fortify the Visayan positions at Titan Beach to allow for Army assets under Joaquin Zhang to land and consolidate. In that respect, things were going pretty well if the Marine colonels currently on the beach were any indication.
He could see jets launching from the carrier, ready to engage in strike missions. At the rate they were going, the jets would prove to be extremely useful; it would be a few minutes before he received reports of jets clearing even more ground for the ground forces.

[Palmyrion]

Operation Shotclock had gained a resounding victory. High Command placed the estimates of P10 casualties in the hundreds of thousands, but while the exact amount was hard to ascertain, it was certainly but a mere dent in the billions that P10 had in its disposal. Both P10 and the coalition were operating on their own clocks: the coalition's logistics were untold distances long and socio-political will was a major factor in sustaining the war effort, but they had one thing P10 didn't have, and that was an arms industry that could constantly supply them with fresh armaments and coupled populaces that could provide a constant source of manpower in what is essentially a war of attrition by now.

For thinking commanders, however, P10 need not be fought head on; as with any adversary, it can be outsmarted, hit in the very chinks of its armour that lay bare, exposed, and naked even to the untrained eye. While the untrained eye merely saw them as chinks, the trained eye coupled with a trained mind knew how to exploit those chinks. They had to "Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao".

* * *

Jerusalem Beach, New Sandau
14 MAY 2020 0731H LOCAL

And the first step to Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao was to set boots on the ground. The Marine Corps had deployed almost half of its active military units for the war: 10 entire Marine Strike Regiments and 5 entire Marine Expeditionary Brigades, for a total of 97,500 troops. Sealift and airlift was a joint Union effort, as Palmyrian and Marshite aircraft and vessels would transport the military units dedicated for the campaign. Meanwhile, the Army would deploy a total of 10 Combined Arms Divisions, each comprised of two Armour BCTs, two Infantry BCTs, an Air Defence Regiment, a Divisional Artillery (DIVARTY) Regiment, an Aviation Regiment, an Engineering Regiment, and a Sustenance Brigade; deployment would consist of one division being deployed on station everyday, meaning that by the 10th day ten full Palmyrian Army divisions were in the theatre of operations.

By now the first Palmyrian Army division deployed in theatre, having landed at Jerusalem Beach on friendly ports and shores, was the 214th Combined Arms Division. Leading the ad-hoc army group that Palmyrion deployed into New Sandau was a certain General Henry Magsino: a 60-year-old veteran of Palmyrion's intervention in the Zelphosian Civil War and the Defence of Sabine, and having served in the unimaginably brutal Counter-Revolutionary War as a second lieutenant leading a platoon in the middle stages of the war, General Magsino was one of Palmyrion's remaining great generals.

[United Holdings Incorporated]

"Lima-7, starting carpet-bombing. 2 B-52 Bombers flattened forest, as a small recon contingent of UGV's moved forward.

5:00 AM PORT [REDACTED] MAY 12
Rolling out a map of New Sandau, Colonel Alexander asked where his men should go. "Where should the combined arms forces of TF Alpha move? Any important chokepoints?" Meanwhile, A small recon contingent of battlecrab UGV's rolled out. 2 SEAD planes took off, reaching enemy SAM sites and releasing HARM's. "This is Charlie-7, Enemy SAM sites are disabled for the time being. Moving to support Coalition forces." "Roger, launching the bombers."
10 minutes later:

"This is bravo-1, releasing daisy cutter." The BLU 82/B daisy cutter glided down, exploding in the forest and leaving a LZ for helicopters.

[Eitoan]

Port of Blue Island, Eitoan

A gray, cold dawn broke over the Central Basin, typical of the Eitoan spring morning. Traffic had drawn to a minimmum, by special order of the Harbormaster. Assembled farthest into the basin were the seven general cargo ships, two containers bearing the Green Bear emblem ot Hebica Industries, the large, defense conglomerate, makers and assemblers of almost everything, from the simplest bolts to the most complex laser robotics needed to keep the nation, and it's allies in the Great Slaver War humming along to victory. And a tidy profit for Hebica. Ahead of the Hebica fleet ran a pilot boat, guiding the seaborne caravan out to the Northern Vanguat. Behind them lingered a motley collection of twelve containers and general cargo belonging to four charter carriers, all Eitoan flag. Most vessels belongoing in the Chinamax category, all with skittish crews, having heard tales of lone wolf submarine raiders plying the Northern Vanguat, the Jesheoda Channel, and the Bay of Chains en route to Port Elizbeth, Palmyrion, the main destination for wartime material. It was a circuitous route, but given the resources and responsibilities of the The Eitoan Navy, was deemed safest for merchantmen,
and deemed so by the marine insurance brokers in Blue Island, Berwyn, and Dolton.

The warning went out to all vessels approaching the Central Basin from Port Control; "All traffic to halt in Central Basin, both inbound and outbound until clearance. Tankers Ugazzo and Retufulah, you have approval to complete ingress, starting now."

The Ugazzo lumbered past the breakwall toward the safety of the Nebreth Street Bulk Liquid Yard. She was followed by the Retufulah. All other traffic paused for the convoy.

Slowly, in single file, the assembled ships exited the harbor, out onto the vast Northern Vanguat. Each captain offering a traditional salute as a charm for safe passage as his ship transited into the open sea; an announcement to the crew, acknowledgement to the Convoy Master, and a stiff shot of vodka.

17 miles out of harbor, the Convoy Master's communicator crackled:

"Convoy SN-25, Convoy SN-25, this is Commander, Carrier Group Resolute, Eitoan Navy. Acknowledge when group has cleared Blue Island Harbor".

The Convoy Master hesitated, reviewed the screen showing the last laggard had pass through to the Northern Vanguat.

"This is Convoy Master, SN-25. We are out of port, now proceeding as planned. Acknowledged. Ack."

Two minutes later Carrier Group Resolute responded. "Response acknowledged. Fair winds and following seas."

"Thank you. SN-25, over'.


Eastern Entrance, Jesheoda Channel

72 hours at sea, the lead of SN-25 paused, on command from Carrier Group Resoulute, on command. Handoff for convoy responsibilities was to be passed to Carrier Group Venegance, on normal patrol of the waterway separating the large island from the big continent.

The channel was turbulent in the spring, subject to sudden squalls and gales, a stomach turning expierence for many of the seamen plying to waters on the convoy. Time went by. A ship was seen far in the distance. Upon inspection the crew breathed a sigh of relief. The blue national banner with the black vertical stripe, the Eitoan Navy Jack identified it as belonging to the vanguard of convoy protection in the Channel, in the form of the Destroyer ES Thomas Gonterman.

The communicator called for the Convoy Master.

"Convoy SN-25: we have clearance for you to proceed onward under our coverage. Forward."

"Thank you. Now proceeding."

The line of ships lumbered onward into the Jesheoda Channel.

Western Entrance, Jesheoda Channel, to Bay of Chains

Once again SN-25 halted, awaiting the go-ahead from it's naval escorts to proceed into the Bay of Chains. Here Eitoan Navy coverage thinned out. Five detroyers and twelve frigates were to join with the cargo ships. The comforting canopy of carrier based ASW aircraft would soon be a memory. Protection was also provide by an advance of submarines, on the hunt for raiders looking for easy prey. So far, only two Eitoan flag carriers had been struck, one going to the bottom and the other limping into port for repairs.

A Proceed with Caution notice was given to the Convoy Master, to take effect upon first contact with an escort. In five hours they had an escort: the Frigate ES City of Vrzub. SN-25 warily followed their guardian ships into the Bay of Chains. Nobody onboard slept well after that.

Open Sea, 1875 Nautical Miles WNW of Port Elizabeth, Palmyrion.

The convoy crawled to a halt, at the command of the Navy. Here was the demarcation line for The Danger Zone, out of range of the Eitoan fleet, covered as available by the Royal Palmyrion Navy. The vessels would not proceed until notification of coverage from the RPN.

Onboard the lead of the convoy, the Convoy Master waited nervously for permission to proceed.

All of his crews and captains had the jitters. There were reports of submarine sightings near offshore of Port Elizabeth.

On the destroyer ES Rantul, lead cover ship for SN-25, the Senior Communications Officer contacted Port Elizbeth.

"Palmyrian Navy, Port Elizabeth - This is ES Rantul, 1875 NM WNW of Port Elizbeth. Requesting clearance to proceed under Palmyrian Navy coverage for Eitoan convoy SN-25, per plan. Please acknowledge."

The young Senior Com Officer relaxed. The Captain of the Rantul towered over him, not relaxed. "Well,", he growled at the hapless Officer, "What's keeping 'em? Sadm Feliz Tugnon got the trots?"

[MineLegotia and Equestria]

Kuala Lumpur, 2358 ALB

Naval Task Force Siwang had recently stopped in Kuala Lumpur, stopping for refuelling, and additional supplies were levied upon the fleet before they departed once more to reach New Sandau.

Another note to know of the current fleet, was the presence of six aircraft carriers, several dozen missile cruisers, several heavy cruisers, seven destroyers, and two submarines. The Entire Fleet could carry a good decent amount of aircraft, bombers and multiroles, specifically a hundred and eighty.

The Task Force will arrive in 2.5 days.

Skies over New Sandau

Having departed Kuala Lumpur, Three Squads of MineLegoEquestrian Chihe-3s were zooming across the skies, heading for the former Capital City upon New Sandau. Upon spotting the airfield, they go in for a landing...

[New Visayan Islands]

CPT Sherman C. Piañar, VCA
Approaching the Visayan Beachhead in Titan Beach
May 14th, AD 2020
1211 PHT

It did not surprise Sherman that his company would be among the first Army units to land at the beachhead. The First Humabon Infantry Division needed something to vent out the sentiments many of the weekend warriors held when they were called to assist in enforcing the COVID-19 quarantine affecting the District of Humabon for an entire month; that the quarantine had been lifted during the previous month didn't help, as they were supposed to be training prior to stand-down when the call to mobilize came. As the Osprey carrying him and a few others powered its way toward the beach, he couldn't help but think about his civilian life, where he was a product trainer for CebTel Solutions. Angelica would understand; the training manager for CebTel's Port Arthur site was in the Army once upon a time, and she topped out as one of the Battalion S1s under the 2nd Infantry Division before leaving to join CebTel all those years ago.
It would be fifteen minutes or so before the Marine Osprey carrying Sherman and company would land. Grabbing his rifle, he was among the first to get off and see friendly Marines and NCUs--Naval Construction Units--working side by side to secure this piece of real estate.

[Nacrad]

10:00

Plane after plane after plane landed at a makeshift airfield. The first carried ammunition, hundreds of millions of rounds, to sustain through the lengthy and painful Operation Twilight, and later Operation Daybreak.

The second carried more food, tools, and a few light vehicles.

The third carried more men.

The items and men were unloaded and driven down the bombed out streets towards the holdouts.

In the jungle, the Secondary Strike Brigade heard that the Germans were sending them sorties. They cheered, but kept being vigilant. Enemy guerrillas had done a lot of damage.

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

City 4
New Sandau

---

Apparently P10 was more intelligent than previousky thought, because the 2nd Panzer Division was reporting fewer contacts with the enemy, while the LVII Army Corps, as well as the 9th Panzer Division were reporting heavy fighting.

Even leaving the city was a pain in the ass to begin with. Despite the cruise missiles wiping out close to hundreds of thousands of these unfortunate meat puppets, there was still an veritable ocean of them. Artillery and rockets forced them to hug the ground, helicopters took out their vehicles, and aircraft did both, but they were suprisingly resilient in the face of such tremendous firepower.

While lacking the range of German weapons, their own artillery was still able to put shells and rockets over the heads of the advancing German forces. Saturation attacks by RPGs, ATGMs and tank guns enabled more than a few mobility kills. On top of that, at least 1 attack helo was killed by a 57mm gun, with even seeing the tragectory of an ATGM flying for a few second being enough for P10 to calculate a firing solution.

Meanwhile in the jungle, the sudden surge of hostiles was perceptible. The increase in the volume of fire was percieved, and along with the hardended guerillas in their ghillies and face paint were the newcomers with leaves in their helmets and in their uniforms. Progress became even more painful for the attackers.

The German commanders thought about something - the enemy has engaged the troop surge at Jerusalem Beach, as well as the 2nd, 9th and 116th Panzer Divisions and the 2nd Marine Assault Division. Since P10 saw everything the slaves saw all at the same time, it must have deduced their intentions and began moving it's forces, or at least the better-equipped ones, away from the trap.

---

Capital City
New Sandau

---

While major airbases in the capital were available, many were still being repaired. That made it necessary for the Germans to create improvised airfields to receive aerial resupply. However, some were in decent condition already, and MineLegotia-Equestria planes were recieved on these runways.

Fortunately the Nacradians thought to bring their reinforcements and send them to the frontlines immediately because the enemy was pressing against the capital in greater strength from the south.

---

Port 28
New Sandau

---

Admiral Trotha responded "We move up the main road towards the mountains. The main highway leads to positions still controlled by our forces. Be careful. There are strong concentrations or enemy forces on both sides of the highway, and I suspect they might have airpower, athough thankfully they have no SAMs, theirs were destroyed before the coup and we never let them get their hands on ours".

[Nacrad]

"Shit! We're ambushed!"

Project 10 has seen the Vietnam War. It knows that guerilla warfare is superior in the rainforest. However, the Nacradians know too. In all but the largest of villages, the Nacradians fell out of close formation, packed some food, and left their village to partake in anti-guerilla warfare, good thing the rainforest is practically the same as the Nacradian south, if not a little less hilly and a little more wooded.

In the larger villages and the cities, though, the Nacradians went for a different approach. They dug into trenches. It was a pain in the arse to deal with the wet soggy soil.

1 hour ago, Capital City.

Marshal Albert A. MathersOOC: do you get the reference? had flown into the Capital, and rode a light truck to the command post at Point Jerusalem. The II Corps will arrive soon.

The Lt. Gen was chatting with the admiral, and the marshal patiently waited. As the lt. gen. turned around to walk to a toilet, he bumped into the marshal. He saluted, and reported, "Good day, sir, please forgive me for not knowing your arrival. The Initial Strike Team had made much progress, we have reconnected our forces with the capital, and are now encircling several slave divisions."

The marshal saluted back, and said, "Good job. From today on, you will be under my command. Maintain your objective for now. The II Corps will arrive tomorrow morning, and once they arrive, Operation Daybreak will begin. Terrific plan, by the way. While you're at it, would you mind doing the 6th Stratagem? Distract them with an attack to the east, so that we can mount an offensive on TItan Beach."

The Lt. Gen. agreed. The remaining 5000 men would be reorganised into 5 battalions, and each would push one by one, making an illusion that the Nacradians were using the breakout attempt as a distraction to expand eastwards, while the reality is quite the opposite.

Then, the marshal saluted the German admiral. "I believe that we haven't met. I am Marshal Albert Mathers, though I go by the name "Eminem" with my subordinates. I have been appointed the commander-in-charge for the whole Nacradian deployment, while Lieutenant General Miller will still be in charge of the Initial Strike Division."

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

Position "Jerusalem"
New Sandau

---

Admiral Ciliax returned the salute "Admiral Oscar Ciliax, at your service. I am in charge of the II Naval Corps which was holding out here until your arrival. I will be coordinating your offensive actions against the enemy with the rest of our forces."

After a breif pause, he continued on "We will send the 8th Marine Assault Division to help with the assault towards Titan beaches, and before that, the 16th Marine Assault Division will conduct a brief diversionary attack to the east alongside yours. Once the enemy is baited, the 8th will begin their offensive to the west."

[MineLegotia and Equestria]

Ah yes, bombing runs

Located near City 1. MineLegoEquestrian Bomber aircraft and Multiroles were filling up the airbases. Having recently arrived in New Sandau, they went over several extensive briefings before their first missions are to be commenced. During their conversations with local commanders, it was discovered that the enemies continuing the fight were not... human in nature, rather artificial.

Laying out the map of New Sandau, several locations were marked to be struck by MineLegoEquestrian Aerial Bombardment in order to paralyze further AI movements. Base 11 posed a threat to the security to Base 24's supply lines, whilst a precarious road between City 5 and Base 22 could possibly result in the AI figuring an escape route. City 27 and Base 19 were the main threats here, however, in position to block the supply roads to Base 20 & 26.

In the dark of night, the high altitude bombers took off, heading for their destination. As an hour passed, the planes were over their destinations, several tons of explosives were dropped off the aircraft and down onto their targets.

This was not to say the enemy didn't retaliate, firing into the dark night sky. You see, MineLegoEquestrian Aircraft design was several years outdated to current designs, recent spending and focus had been diverted to the army and the navy, leaving the air force several years behind compared to their counterparts.

Several of the aircraft could be seen were shot down by whatever the AI had, returning back to their bases, they counted a 9% causality rate. Not great.

The commander on the ground could shake his head as began his daily report back to Command, telling them that the MineLegoEquestrians really needed to modernize their air force.

At least their objectives were completed.

[Americae Roma]

Americae Roma Airstrike

Mustering significant air and naval power in the region, Americae Roma is preparing to launch an airstrike on Program 10 positions.

Strike List:
No.27,19,11
Road leading to City 8
City 8

Strike on No. 27, 19, 11

All three sectors are targeted with standoff weapons, due to the area's air defense being uncertain, 130 tomahawk cruise missiles were fired at each of the three targets, launched by ticonderoga class cruiser, ticonderoga heavy class battle cruiser, arleigh burke class destroyer, iowa class battleships, zumwalt class stealth destroyer as well as converted Ohio class guided missile subs, in addition, 25 B-1 lancers, 14 B-2 spirit, 12 B-21 raiders and 32 B-52 stratofortress bombers escourted by F-22 and F-35 fighters fire in total 270 JASSM-XR air launched cruise missiles, divided among the three targets, thus each targets is further hit with 90 JASSM-XR cruise missiles, SR-72 recon craft also launches 70 hypersonic cruise missiles each at the three targets. Warheads used are HE, white phosphorus, thermobaric and napalm.

Road Leading to City 8

195 tomahawk cruise missiles are fired at the roads leading to City 8, launched by ticonderoga class cruiser, ticonderoga heavy class battle cruiser, arleigh burke class destroyer, iowa class battleships, zumwalt class stealth destroyer as well as converted Ohio class guided missile subs, in order to ensure positive target destruction, 8 B-2 spirits and 18 B-1 lancer bombers also launch an additional 120 JASSM-XR air launched cruise missile

City 8

This is a carpet bombing raid, 75 B-52s, 22 B-22 raiders, 45 B-1 lancers and 25 B-2 spirits escourted by fighters of all types-F-22s, F-15s, F-16s, F-35s and F/A-18s indiscriminately bombed City 8, to ensure positive destruction of individual structures, double tap strikes are often carried out, the attacks used various types of smart and dumb weapons, and ordnance of all type, cluster, explosive, white phosphorus, napalm and thermobaric. Of course Program 10 scrambled interceptors to target Americae Roman bombers and fighters and during the fight, 8 B-52s, 1 B-2 spirit, 3 B-1 lancer as well as 25 fighters were lost, but several Program 10 fighters were shot down and City 15 was heavily damaged by the carpet bombing.

[Palmyrion]

Jerusalem Beach, New Sandau
14 MAY 2020 0731H LOCAL

ATTN: Nacrad and Reorganisieren Reichregierung

And the first step to Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao was to set boots on the ground. The Marine Corps had deployed almost half of its active military units for the war: 10 entire Marine Strike Regiments and 5 entire Marine Expeditionary Brigades, for a total of 97,500 troops. Sealift and airlift was a joint Union effort, as Palmyrian and Marshite aircraft and vessels would transport the military units dedicated for the campaign. Meanwhile, the Army would deploy a total of 10 Combined Arms Divisions, each comprised of two Armour BCTs, two Infantry BCTs, an Air Defence Regiment, a Divisional Artillery (DIVARTY) Regiment, an Aviation Regiment, and a Sustenance Brigade; deployment would consist of one division being deployed on station everyday, meaning that by the 10th day ten full Palmyrian Army divisions were in the theatre of operations.

By now the first Palmyrian Army division deployed in theatre, having landed at Jerusalem Beach on friendly ports and shores, was the 214th Combined Arms Division. Leading the ad-hoc army group that Palmyrion deployed into New Sandau was a certain General Henry Magsino: a 60-year-old veteran of Palmyrion's intervention in the Zelphosian Civil War and the Defence of Sabine, and having served in the unimaginably brutal Counter-Revolutionary War as a second lieutenant leading a platoon in the middle stages of the war, General Magsino was one of Palmyrion's remaining great generals, and here he would spearhead a campaign against an enemy that was, by no means, human.

General Magsino called on the Nacradian and German military leaders for a courtesy call, with the intent of brokering cooperation between their forces - from strategic considerations such as overall strategic objectives, down to minutiae such as tactical intelligence sharing and communications (stuff that they would just leave out to their tactical units anyways).

The 214th Division, having had a good amount of sleep whilst onboard their transports, needed no rest by now; they followed a strict 10-4 sleeping schedule, and the entire process of preparing one's self for the day - from waking up, to having a bath, to eating breakfast, to dental hygiene and combat gear preparations - only took them two hours. By the time they arrived on 0731H at Jerusalem beach, they were ready for combat operations nonetheless, but they would have to wait for another half-hour at most before they would officially move out, considering that the commanding officers had to negotiate with the Nacradian and German military leaders.

---

1875 Nautical Miles WNW of Port Elizabeth, Palmyrion

Follows from Eitoan's post

There was a reason why Palmyrion had submarines this far out into the ocean, and it was to provide a defensive submarine screen for the island, on top of the immense SOSUS array. Each submarine was a force of nature of its own: every one of the Rigel-class submarines was armed with 40 cruise missiles - primarily anti-ship missiles - and eight 533mm torpedo tubes, with a retractable MANPAD turret for self-defence especially against ASW helicopters. And, like piranhas constantly seeking for blood to sniff and home in on, they prowled the seas.

1875 nautical miles away, Port Elizabeth was pretty much a bustling metropolis: imagine combining Ibiza, Las Vegas, Naval Station Norfolk, and the Panama Canal in one city. You get a bustling metropolis sustained by its importance as a trading post protected by a chain vital military bases (Naval Station Port Elizabeth, Coron AFB, Camp El Nido, and Balabac AFB), one that served as the Royal Commonwealth's forward staging point for operations to the west.

"Palmyrian Navy, Port Elizabeth - This is ES Rantul, 1875 NM WNW of Port Elizbeth. Requesting clearance to proceed under Palmyrian Navy coverage for Eitoan convoy SN-25, per plan. Please acknowledge." the Eitoan naval vessel radioed, the transmission hopping from one vessel after another, ultimately reaching Naval Station Port Elizabeth. The reply would immediately come from Naval Station Port Elizabeth itself, like another day in the office.

"ES Rantul, this is Naval Station Port Elizabeth, we acknowledge. Battlefleet MABALASIK will provide naval escort, while elements from Air Force Bases Coron and Balabac and Camp El Nido will provide aerial overwatch for your fleet. How copy, over?"

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

Position "Jerusalem"
New Sandau

---

When the Palymrian commander arrived at the place where the German and Nacradian HQs were located, as usual Admiral Ciliax was the first contact. He introduced himself "I am Admiral Oscar Ciliax, commander of the II Naval Corps and of the coastal batteries along this entire stretch of coast, most of which fell back here."

After pausing to take a swig from a flash inside his cloak, he continued "As I am the German commander of this fine piece of land all our troops are on i will coordinate our actions with the capital and other places. As we have worked intimately with the former Galadon leadership, much to our regret, and aside from night terrors and disturbing thoughts, we learned a great deal about this place and our current foe."

He paused again and resumes speaking. "So far, the MineLegotia and Equestrian, as well as the American forces have bombed concentrations of enemy troops, doing great damage and taking the pressure off our garrisons momentarily, but have taken losses. The enemy is known to be in a possession of a handful of fighters, 4++ Gen types, but they can increase their inventory by recomissioning older airframes or simply overruning our trapped garrisons."

"Project 10 is attempting to recomission older SAMs as well, and these might not be effective against latest fighters, but keep in mind this AI uses the eyes of slaves to calculate near-optimal firing solutions. None of the enemy aircraft or SAMs are here yet but that is not the point. The enemy appears to be one step ahead of us, and what he lacks in quality he makes up in quantity and maximization." With that, Admiral Ciliax sighed and fell silent, awaiting whatever the other officers had to say about his briefing about the land of New Sandau.

[Nacrad]

Point Jerusalem, New Sandau

Marshal Mathers walked out. He introduced himself. "Greetings, I'm Marshal Albert Manthers, commander of the Nacradian deployment. Admiral Ciliax has already talked about the capabilities of Project 10, while I will brief you on the tactics proven effective."

He took a sip from his mug full of coffee, and continued, "It seems that Project 10 has seen Vietnam War. That is, they operate guerilla forces whenever they have been defeated or encircled, like in the breakout to City 4, to the southwest of us. To counter it, either dig trenches to minimise casualties, or also do irregular warfare. It is also preferable to..."

The marshal is rudely interrupted by an incoming transmission.

"Marshal, the II Army Corps has already landed at Titan Beach, we arrived early."

"Operation Daybreak is active."

The marshal continues, "Sorry about that. What I was saying was that it is also advisable to use deception tactics, it's the only way for a weak point to form. By the way, avoid landing and not striking, as the AI will find out new troop concentrations. After you have gathered enough men on the beach, strike at once to avoid being encircled."

Meanwhile, Titan Beach.

"Alright, the day has broken, let's roll."

The initial 15,000 men had prepared Titan Beach with fortifications, and left behind a few brigades to guard it, as the remaining waves arrive. They then stormed into the jungle, and are aiming to reconnect with City 2 and City 4.

[New Visayan Islands]

Sgt Jeremy F. Chiong, VCMC
Approaching Base 11
May 15th, AD 2020
1033 PHT

It was hard work, but it had to be done; under the cover of Alliance airstrikes and offshore missile strikes, the men and women of the 12th MEU were clearing every inch of terrain on the way from Titan Beach to Position 11. With support from the DH territorials, Jeremy smiled as they were assured of a good fight; say whatever you want about the territorials, but there was no point denying that they were motivated.

Sherman Piañar
Approaching Base 11
May 15th, AD 2020
1038 PHT

"Any luck?" Sherman asked over the radio.
"First Platoon's digging in right now; we're establishing checkpoints along the areas cleared by the Marines," Lionel Pilones replied over the radio.
"Anything else I should know about?"
"Elements of Second Platoon are engaging stragglers. Not quite defended, but the terrain works both ways." Which made sense; the First Humabon Infantry Division had trained in jungle and urban warfare alike, but the opposition the territorial reservists were facing while cleaning up after the Marines was something else entirely.

1SG Marion I. Aznar, VCA (Ret.)
Approaching Base 11
May 15th, AD 2020
1045 PHT

As a correspondent for the Visayan Confederate News Network, Marion saw himself and his cameraman go to many places. Admitting to himself that the jungles of New Sandau bore some resemblance to his time in the Army, he thought of what a soldier-turned-mediaman would think of. It was company policy to prioritize persons with a military background when sending correspondents and their crew in areas of conflict.
This was why his cameraman was a former Marine...and that cameraman was getting along with the Marines of the 12th MEU. Turned out the cameraman was from that MEU.
It would be another hour before Marion would go on the air for his report.

[Allanea]

Vittore, Operation Phantasm

The sky seemed to shudder.

The Dragonhawk bombers were approaching. Within their reactor engines, the control rods were raised, the throttles were opened, the engine nozzles roared in anger as superheated engines brought the planes forward. Their silvery wings flashed in the beams of midday sun as they approached, but there was nobody to see them. The Allaneans had shattered Vittore's air defenses and left its fighter jets broken and smoldering on their runways, injured its navy, and forced what remained of the tyrant's defensive armies underground.

There, in immense tunnels dug through the colony's mountain ranges, the remaining troops considered themselves safe – safe against both the wrath of the Allaneans and the forces of the rebellious slave-AI that now turned their own flesh-puppets against them.

This was a delusion.

Of course, to the mind of the Allanean, all safety is but a delusion, but theirs was a delusion more insane than most. Satellites passing overhead had scouted out the hot air rising from the bunkers' many ventilation shafts, and mapped out their entrances.

With every minute, the Dragonhawks devoured miles upon miles of distance. With every minute, the delusion departed further and further from reality.

The bombers began to slow down. Soon enough they flew slow enough that they could be distinguished by the naked eye when they passed over gaps in the cloud covers.

Five seconds from primary targets. Four seconds. Three seconds. Releasing.

The ton-and-a-half bombs riding on the bombers' external pylons fell free. The pilots no longer had any input on the devices, their winglets adjusting as the bombs fell, whistling towards the coordinates that had been programmed into them. There was no need for adjustment. Bunker entrances do not move.

Engaging secondary targets.

The bomb bays opened. A veritable hail of guided bombs came out. Those were smaller, less than an eighth-of-a-ton each in size, for their targets were smaller. They dove – dozens, hundreds of bombs, towards hundreds of targets. Every remaining bunker ventilation shaft, every emergency entrance mapped by the Allaneans, every military objective that still remained, somehow, standing on the surface, whether held by Program 10's fleshpuppets or by regime holdouts – all of these were targeted.

There was no expectation that this strike would end the war for Vittore.

But the Allaneans had a clear objective – to turn bunkers and tunnels into grave, and bases into ruins. Only after that could the battle for Vittore enter its final stage.

[Palmyrion]

Jerusalem Beach, New Sandau
14 MAY 2020 0731H LOCAL

Follows from: [1] and [2]

From the information they gave, General Magsino finally had a picture of the strategic disposition of the coalition. Much of the fighting was to the west, where much of Program 10's strength was concentrated. At this point, General Magsino was thinking that P10 would allocate its remaining forces to consolidating its troops on a frontline, especially when fighting came to the mountains further south. While Magsino had a firm confidence in the Palmyrian military's ability to wage jungle, urban, and mountain warfare effectively (having been trained for such, bordering on crippling overspecialisation for its ignorance in fighting in open country), the Palmyrian military's skills in such was only half the of the plan; the other half was the certainty that the plan would never survive first contact. The Nacradian Marshal and the German Admiral concerned themselves with granular, tactical concerns to much of Magsino's surprise: in the Palmyrian military, strategic planning was done at the corps, division, and brigade levels guided by the Military Decision Making Process, whilst tactical planning guided by Troop Leading Procedures predominated units at and below the battalion level.

Nevertheless, the Palmyrian general had a suggestion to both leaders, based on how Palmyrion fought warfare in a hybrid warfare environment. In a war with conventional frontlines, Palmyrion usually had a vanguard element operating ahead of the main element and, upon enemy contact, behind enemy lines, concerning itself with direct action sabotage, and special reconnaissance; a frontline element fighting at the frontline area, concerning itself with finding and poring holes at the enemy lines for a chance at creating or finding a breakthrough to exploit; and a rear guard element keeping the rear area secure, concerning itself with security behind enemy lines

"Palmyrion fights a conventional battle with three elements: a vanguard element concerning itself with direct action, special recon, and sabotage behind enemy lines;" General Magsino began, as he shared with his counterparts how a hybrid kinetic battle would have been fought in this day and age by Palmyrion, "...a line element, concerning itself with poring and finding holes in enemy lines for a chance at a breakthrough; and a linebacker element, concerning itself with security behind enemy lines." he added, hoping that at this point both military leaders got his point.

Magsino unfurled a map of New Sandau, with hostile cities marked accordingly based on intelligence his S2 section gathered. "Right now, I am planning to devote half of the Palmyrian military units to fighting the enemy's bulk at the western portion of New Sandau..." Magsino said, pointing at the portion of the map representing western New Sandau, "and the other half to re-establishing contact with the isolated garrisons to the east." he continued.

"I concur that the garrison at Garrison 23 - placed atop a mountain with only one road leading to it from the northwest - is in an easily defensible position, as well as the coastal position to its southeast that could serve as an ad-hoc naval resupply position if needed." the general continued.

"However, the garrison at City 28 is in an untenable position and is at risk of encirclement. I suggest pulling out troops from there as soon as possible and make a run to the east; by land they will also pass a narrow gap that could serve as a chokepoint for either side depending on who gets to take it first." he continued, pulling out a pencil and encircling the narrow patch of land just to the south of Garrison 22.

"Pulling out troops from City 28 by sea or land will require naval coverage of the southern coast in either case, but establishing a stable naval supply route to Garrison 23 will require naval superiority over the southern coastline." Magsino noted, slowing down at the phrase "require naval superiority" to stress his point. "Any concerns?" he asked.

* * *

As the 215th arrived at Jerusalem Beach, they immediately leapt to action with the 214th. The 214th and 215th had knowledge of the plan that the Palmyrian military drafted. They, as well as three other divisions, had to make a drive south-southwest from Jerusalem Beach, with the aim of retaking Garrisons 11 and 19 and City 27 to relieve the pressure on City 7 and Garrisons 20 and 26, themselves on fairly defensible positions along the slopes of the southern mountain range whilst being sandwiched by enemy-held positions.

Being accustomed to jungle warfare, the Palmyrian units knew how to fight in the jungle and dictate the battle. The vanguard elements usually would advance forward, whilst the line units watched from behind for the enemy to engage the vanguard element; meanwhile the rear guard would sweep up enemy stragglers at the rear whilst providing rear area security. Fire support was also in abundance: the battalion can rely on the weapons company for additional heavy machine guns, heavy precision guided missiles, and 120mm mortars, with the company's weapons platoon having a heavy machine gun section of 3 HMGs, an ATGM section of 3 ATGMs, and an 82mm mortar section; and each of the brigades can rely on the artillery battalion with 2 batteries of howitzers and 2 batteries of MRL systems.

The fact that Palmyrian infantry units were essentially light infantry units with mechanised capability allowed for a great deal of mobility and stealth on the part of the Palmyrians. Using the jungle's lush cover, Palmyrian infantry units would sneak up on P10 patrols, convoys, and checkpoints, harassing them with hit-and-run attacks using predominantly light infantry, and focusing sustained battles and assaults (using the One Slow, Four Quick method) involving armour and mechanised units only on enemy strongholds in the jungle. They didn't aim to destroy enemy units in open battle: they aimed to make the jungle one giant muddy ground for the enemy too soft for them to lay foundations on, hoping to slowly but surely erode the enemy's staying power in the area of operations by preventing them from securing a tenable position in the jungle and making already established enemy positions in the jungle untenable in the long run. This would all be supported by a veritable amount of high-precision fire support on the Palmyrians' part, eliminating much of the dangers posed by danger close fire missions.

While the vanguard and line units shared the roles and responsibilities of doing the above, it was mostly the line area units doing much of the work harassing enemy patrols, convoys, and checkpoints, and focusing assaults on P10 positions. The vanguard area units were mostly in charge of special reconnaissance, direct action raids, and sabotage on enemy rear-line assets, with the intent of impairing the logistics and communications responsible for supporting enemies engaged with line-area units.

Meanwhile the Marines would establish yet another beachhead at a portion to the east of Jerusalem beach, this time with the aim of creating a position from which the other half of divisions can link up with isolated German garrisons to the east.

[MineLegotia and Equestria]

Seas of New Sandau

After a hasty trip over the course of 10 days. Naval Task Force Siwang was within striking range of New Sandau, it was still another day until they reached their required location. As they got closer, the Oberflotteshiangfurher began sending out planes on patrol missions, just in case something escaped MineLegoEquestrian radar, sonar, and satellite detection.

Of course, that was unlikely, but it was safer than sorry.

Kuala Lumpur

If one were to monitor Kuala Lumpur's air traffic, one would realize that the amount of grey, military aircraft landing in the various airports around the city to noticeably increase.

With impeccable efficiency, these planes arrived, unloaded their cargo, and took off. The ground crews were working 24/7 to keep the flow of missiles. Which were packed, placed on trucks before being sent off to RS-475 and RS-673. There, missile crews worked with speed to set up the missiles. Making sure they had at least another 200 missiles for an entire set of missiles.

During a pause between their first missile strike and their upcoming missile strike, the MineLegoEquestrians looked at the map with scrutiny, with the twist of events, their targets changed.

Base 19 was an obvious choice, but the MineLegoEquestrians knew better, what they were going up against was an AI, and it most likely already figured this out. The MineLegoEquestrians focused somewhere else, Base 11. Intelligence showed that Base 11 was defended merely with outdated equipment.

The Tomahawk Missiles but with a different name were fired from Kuala Lumpur, a total of 205 Missiles were fired heading for Base 11. While the MineLegoEquestrian Intelligence Services kept an eye on New Sandau from above in space.

[New Visayan Islands]

Marion Aznar
Approaching Base 11
May 15th, AD 2020
1944 PHT

"...reporting live from New Sandau, this has been Marion Aznar for VisCon News."
Finishing his nightly report, he took a sip from his bottle of water. The jungle was almost like what he experienced once upon a time...
"Hey, Army guy!" One of the marines he was embedded with called him over.
"Yeah?" Marion took the ribbing lightly; during the time that he was embedded the marines joked about the fact that he was the only soldier in a platoon of marines. Not helping was his cameraman's previous experience with the men of the 12th MEU; there were obviously some marine jokes that would go past the former Army man's head.
"First time in the front as a news anchor?"
"Not if you count the time I was embedded with the guys from Magellan; we were to prepare for a deployment in support of New Edomite anti-terrorist operations. Now if things didn't move as fast as they did, we could have seen some fighting, so I'm not sure that counts."
"It did for me," the cameraman added. Albert Martinez topped out as a sergeant before joining VisCon News, becoming a seasoned cameraman after ten years. "Trust me, it counts."
"You can trust Bert here, Marion. He used to be one of us, after all," Second Lieutenant Conrad Mangle said. "Hell, as far as I'm concerned he'll always be one of us." Conrad knew; they used to be in the same platoon, after all. "Anyway, I just got word from Company, we're moving again. Some of the guys from First Humabon will be picking up after us, so be nice, ladies and germs!" At that the platoon moved forward, embedded journalist and cameraman riding with the platoon commander.

LCDR Hannibal King T. Lee, VCN
Airspace over Titan Beach
May 15th, AD 2020
2011 PHT

Hannibal was behind the controls of one of the Confederation's Super Hornets as it sped over the Visayan Beachhead at Titan Beach. The mission was to assist in the suppression of enemy air defenses; to that end his plane was carrying JSOWs. Nicknamed "Smart Pig," thanks to the writings of one particular author popular in the VCN, the Joint Standoff Weapon had been picked out to clear out the defenses surrounding Base 11. Once the defenses were cleared, the plan was for Allied aircraft to pound the base's other defenses until ground forces could take it from Program 10's forces.
Behind him was Lieutenant Commander Jacob Rebollido, his WSO. Jacob was his senior, having earned his short commander's sun a full month before him. Because of this, he was in command of the flight of Super Hornets tasked with SEAD, and he would be pretty busy until the mission was over. Not that this disturbed Hannibal the least; the two of them went along like brothers off their aircraft.
It was this quasi-brotherhood that would see the sortie accomplished smoothly; as soon as they approached the assigned position, the flight of four would release their Smart Pigs under Allied cover. As the flight returned, a Hawkeye told them that they did well. With their assigned defenses close to Base 11 almost entirely cleared out, the Marines would have an easier time cleaning up.

[Americae Roma]

Americae Roma Strike

Area between 12-21
Area Between 12-3(Siege positions, minor roads)
Road between 28-7
Area around 2-24
Danger close strike around City 15
Base 23

Strike on Area and Road between 12-21, 28-7, 2-24, 28-7

In all these three areas, it will be assumed that Program 10 has a well established air defense network as well as interceptors, therefore standoff range weapons will be used, Americae Roma forces fire 210 tomahawk cruise missiles at each of the four target areas, launched by vessels such as the Iowa class battleship, ticonderoga class cruiser, ticonderoga heavy class battle cruiser, arleigh burke class destroyer and zumwalt class stealth destroyer. In addition, B-2s, B-1 Lancers, B-21 raiders and B-52 stratofortresses escorted by fighters such as the F-15, F-16, F-22, F-35 and F/A-18 also fire 150 JASSM-XR air launched cruise missiles at the targets as well.

Area around Base 23

This is a danger close strike due to the proximity of friendly forces around the target, because of air defense still being unknown, the strike was carried out with standoff range weapons fired in a long range, 180 tomahawk cruise missiles was fired by American ships, while 155 JASSM-XR air launched cruise missiles are launched by American bombers such as the B-52s, B-1s, B-2s and B-21s, in addition, SR-72 hypersonic strike and recon aircraft fired 102 hypersonic cruise missiles. Extra care was taken to avoid friendly fire.
Danger Close strike on City 15

Due to the danger close nature of the strike around city 8, relatively few ordnances will be fired and they will be subject to extra scrutiny, 75 tomahawk cruise missiles are launched by ships and 125 JASSM-XR air launched cruise missiles are launched by bombers in standoff range, with extra care taken to avoid friendly fire

Area around 12-3

Americae Roma vessels launch 270 tomahawk cruise missiles from ships and 145 JASSM-XR air launched cruise missiles from bombers from standoff ranges, as well as 125 hypersonic cruise missiles from SR-72 hypersonic craft, but with relatively large numbers of white phosphorus, napalm and thermobaric and cluster warheads used due to the jungle environment and troop densities of the target.