Heart of the Middle-East [OPEN | MT-PMT](IC)

[Crescent Commonwealth]

Baghdad
Republic of Iraq

---

The low profile of several figures roll over from the horizon with the speed of the falcon advancing, the wolf's courage at times flaring up; the strength of horses hooves, their paces pounding as they bear the memory of Oghuz Khan and his successors, from Ertugrul Bey to Mehmed Sultan, Father of Conquest. Ten thunderbolts strike at the same time, a hundred hearts energized in the thundering roar. Turkish produced main battle tanks charge through the desert sand, thrashing like elephants about to trounce a snow leopard in battle as their guns open fire on the attacking forces of the Islamic Republic of Iraq. They come from the north, in Crescent Commonwealth military bases across the Republic of Iraq.

Simultaneously a thousand colliding thunderbolts, and too, ten thousand lightning strikes in the heavens. Khan Garuda leaps into the air, with the speed of falcons advancing and the courage of wolves. Like Orban's Basilica against the walls of Constantinople, they strike lightning and terror upon the battlefield. Squadrons of drones and fighters soar through the skies, providing vital air support, air superiority, and reconnaissance in an effort of combined arms.

The Main Battle Tanks advance through the desert landscape, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and auxiliaries not far behind. They open fire against enemy forces as they begin their counter-offensive to lift the siege of Baghdad, while reinforcement air superiority fighters and North Iraqi anti-air forces protect the counter-offense force from aerial attacks as multirole and close air support fighters provide vital air support, performing airstrikes when needed.

"This is Supreme Commander Mohammed Abbasi to all coalition forces. Operation Gilgamesh has begun."

[New Antarcticania]

(Image)

Baghdad
Republic of Iraq

---

The low profile of several figures roll over from the horizon with the speed of the falcon advancing, the wolf's courage at times flaring up; the strength of horses hooves, their paces pounding as they bear the memory of Oghuz Khan and his successors, from Ertugrul Bey to Mehmed Sultan, Father of Conquest. Ten thunderbolts strike at the same time, a hundred hearts energized in the thundering roar. Turkish produced main battle tanks charge through the desert sand, thrashing like elephants about to trounce a snow leopard in battle as their guns open fire on the attacking forces of the Islamic Republic of Iraq. They come from the north, in Crescent Commonwealth military bases across the Republic of Iraq.

Simultaneously a thousand colliding thunderbolts, and too, ten thousand lightning strikes in the heavens. Khan Garuda leaps into the air, with the speed of falcons advancing and the courage of wolves. Like Orban's Basilica against the walls of Constantinople, they strike lightning and terror upon the battlefield. Squadrons of drones and fighters soar through the skies, providing vital air support, air superiority, and reconnaissance in an effort of combined arms.

The Main Battle Tanks advance through the desert landscape, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and auxiliaries not far behind. They open fire against enemy forces as they begin their counter-offensive to lift the siege of Baghdad, while reinforcement air superiority fighters and North Iraqi anti-air forces protect the counter-offense force from aerial attacks as multirole and close air support fighters provide vital air support, performing airstrikes when needed.

"This is Supreme Commander Mohammed Abbasi to all coalition forces. Operation Gilgamesh has begun."

(Image)

"All aircraft, launch!"
The engines of the Antartican mutirole fighter roars to life as the catapult screeches. Launching the fighter into the sky, it awaits another aircraft to launch

Within the hour, a wave of Antartican fighters plow over the skies of iraq, their goal is simple
Create. Chaos.
Achieve air superiorty over Baghdad, shoot down planes providing close air support for the southerners
And when the deed is done, protect the airspace until the destroyers launch their weapons

[Crescent Commonwealth]

(Image)

Baghdad
Republic of Iraq

---

The low profile of several figures roll over from the horizon with the speed of the falcon advancing, the wolf's courage at times flaring up; the strength of horses hooves, their paces pounding as they bear the memory of Oghuz Khan and his successors, from Ertugrul Bey to Mehmed Sultan, Father of Conquest. Ten thunderbolts strike at the same time, a hundred hearts energized in the thundering roar. Turkish produced main battle tanks charge through the desert sand, thrashing like elephants about to trounce a snow leopard in battle as their guns open fire on the attacking forces of the Islamic Republic of Iraq. They come from the north, in Crescent Commonwealth military bases across the Republic of Iraq.

Simultaneously a thousand colliding thunderbolts, and too, ten thousand lightning strikes in the heavens. Khan Garuda leaps into the air, with the speed of falcons advancing and the courage of wolves. Like Orban's Basilica against the walls of Constantinople, they strike lightning and terror upon the battlefield. Squadrons of drones and fighters soar through the skies, providing vital air support, air superiority, and reconnaissance in an effort of combined arms.

The Main Battle Tanks advance through the desert landscape, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and auxiliaries not far behind. They open fire against enemy forces as they begin their counter-offensive to lift the siege of Baghdad, while reinforcement air superiority fighters and North Iraqi anti-air forces protect the counter-offense force from aerial attacks as multirole and close air support fighters provide vital air support, performing airstrikes when needed.

"This is Supreme Commander Mohammed Abbasi to all coalition forces. Operation Gilgamesh has begun."

(Image)

"All aircraft, launch!"
The engines of the Antartican mutirole fighter roars to life as the catapult screeches. Launching the fighter into the sky, it awaits another aircraft to launch

Within the hour, a wave of Antartican fighters plow over the skies of iraq, their goal is simple
Create. Chaos.
Achieve air superiorty over Baghdad, shoot down planes providing close air support for the southerners
And when the deed is done, protect the airspace until the destroyers launch their weapons

Iraq

---

The advanced fifth and sixth generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft soar through the skies. Their advanced stealth capabilities allows them to easily avoid detection, while their advanced radars were able to easily detect other aircraft at a distance. They may not be the best dogfighters, but the enemy would have to find them first if they wanted to dogfight. Instead, they would much rather attack from a distance and disappear before attacking again.

As soon as the New Antarcticanian fighters appeared on the Crescent Commonwealth fighters' radars, the advanced CresCom fighters began a frenzy of hit and run attacks from a long distance; utilizing their stealth capabilities to disappear after attacking with their long range offensive capabilities.

[New Antarcticania]

Electronic countermeasures
Devices fitted onto each Antartican fighter's nose cone, disrupting the enemy's ability to lock on. along with the standard chaff flares, this device, Along with antartican fighters being briefed on the possibility of stealth aircraft present. And thermal sensors, allowed the damage to be somewhat subsided.
With roaring fury, like a bear chasing his prey, the antartican fighters activated their afterburners, closing the distance between them and their enemies
On radar, they're unreadable, but thermal imaging is a whole other story

[Greater Algeria]

Algerian Forces join Operation Gilgamesh

---

As Crescent Commonwealth and Antartican fighters began their strafing runs and engagements, the Algerian response closed in. Deploying from Algeria's largest naval base in Algiers, the Naval Support Flotilla arrived just off the coast of Syria while 772nd Squadron deployed from Aïn Oussera Airport. Arriving in line with Crescent Commonwealth air forces, the MiG-37 Multirole fighters began marking ground targets pushing in on Baghdad and identifying any South Iraqi supply lines and outposts.

Launching from the Kalaat Béni Abbès, 7 Mi-36 Utility Helicopters moved towards Baghdad, carrying a total of 630 Infantrymen. Arriving from the North, the Algerian helicopters landed near one another, forming a line as Algerian troops exfilled, forming into defensive formations just beyond Baghdad city limits. Additional Mi-36 helicopters were preparing to move in that would airdrop Cobra JLTV light utility vehicles for added mobility. On the ground, Algerian forces would assist local defenses in repulsing South Iraqi forces.

[Crescent Commonwealth]

Electronic countermeasures
Devices fitted onto each Antartican fighter's nose cone, disrupting the enemy's ability to lock on. along with the standard chaff flares, this device, Along with antartican fighters being briefed on the possibility of stealth aircraft present. And thermal sensors, allowed the damage to be somewhat subsided.
With roaring fury, like a bear chasing his prey, the antartican fighters activated their afterburners, closing the distance between them and their enemies
On radar, they're unreadable, but thermal imaging is a whole other story

Iraq

---

In theory, state of the art IRST could find and track F-22 at quite long range. But aerial combat does not take place in theory. The fact is, even with some of the best IRST in the world, there is no way a one would know where to find the stealth multirole fighter craft. One would still have to know where to look, which would almost be impossible. First off, there is an enormous amounts of clutter and all sorts of Air Force missile threats in any contested environment. Secondly, IRST is hugely affected by weather. Humid parts of the world are inhospitable, and the thermal imaging works better at night when the skies are cooler. But even on a good day, looking for advanced stealth aircraft in the open skies with IRST is like looking through a drinking straw. The IRST field of regard is quite small and it's much much harder to perform a wide sector scan in a way that a radar can. Meanwhile, stealth is only one strength of CresCom stealth aircraft. The situational awareness of an advanced stealth multirole aircraft represents another, arguably more important, asset. Stealth makes it difficult to find the plane, but mainly grants freedom of movement. Using that freedom, the fighters can chose to avoid their opponents, engage them, or position themselves in a engagement on their terms.

As the Antarctican fighters activate their afterburners, they reveal their positions to the advanced situational awareness capabilities of the CresCom fighters. The advanced stealth multirole fighter aircraft swiftly engage, launching cruise missiles, before disengaging and disappearing.

[Augusticinia]

Augusticinia to Intervene in Middle-East Conflict

---

Augusticinian National Parliament of the year 2069

---

Joint Resolution

Disturbed by the incitement of violence and lack of humanity executed in the Middle East region, specifically by the nations of Iraq under foreign hegemony, the rightful Parliament of Augusticinia hereby permits and requests action by the Augusticinian department of Defense and the Augusticinian Council and Office of Foreign Affairs in promoting the security, sovereignty, and ensured self-determined prosperity of the recognized nations of Iraq. It is in the best interest of Augusticinia to bring termination to not only the plights of scarcity and natural rights, but to combat and curb the preying intents of the nation of Turkey and other like-minded belligerent members of the Crescent Commonwealth. The following establishes an official Declaration of Intervention that will expire upon a written petition of the Augusticinian Council of Foreign Affairs, a parliamentary Resolution of Recall, or an official Declaration of War.

Signed,
63rd Prime Minister of Augusticinia,
Andreas Nilsson

Official Declaration from the Augusticinian Office of Foreign Affairs

---

The Augusticinian Office of Foreign Affairs upon the Declaration of Intervention in the Iraqi Conflict of 2069 submits the following...
> A recommendation to the Augusticinian Department of State to restrict travel with the nation of Turkey, any belligerent members of the Crescent Commonwealth, and the nations of Dowaesk and Algeria (due to their status as co-combatants).
> The removal of the Augusticinian embassy delegates in Turkey and belligerent members of the Crescent Commonwealth, with the exception of a small crisis and negotiation team along with appropriate escort and defense details.
> An order to the Augusticinian Office of Foreign Welfare to authorize deployment of Humanitarian Aid - targetting the border region between North and South Iraq as well as crisis zones along the Tigris and Euphrates - along with 2 engineering companies specializing in Civil and Hydroelectric Engineering respectively, and a mobile hospital and mobile water distribution and treatment facilities deployed to the same regions. These units are allotted appropriate means of defense for escort purposes, but are not authorized to any form of combat unless necessary, and must act indiscriminantely in production and distribution of aid.

Signed,
Secretary General,
Ian Giacoma

Summary and Doctrine: Operation Enki - Augusticinian Department of Defense

---

Operation Enki is the precautionary measure of the Augusticinian Department of Defense in regards to intervention in the Middle East region. Its goals are asserted as strategic security of the Persian gulf, maintenance of a secure airspace over Southern Iraq, and the security of the South Iraqi border at strategic locations.

- The 2nd Foreign Light Regiment will be deployed to Hillah with instructions to monitor the border with a contingency plan to provide a security perimeter outside Baghdad.
- The 1st Ground-Air Defense Battery will be deployed to Kut with instructions to maintain security operations and maintain standby for possible movement to areas of higher air traffic.
- The Augusticinian Navy will deploy the 3rd Foreign Task Group with instructions to monitor the Persian Gulf for military activity and protect trade and civilian ships.
- The Augusticinian Airforce will deploy the 1st IAS Wing to Najaf with orders to maintain surveillance and air security over Southern Iraqi airspace, strike teams are permitted to perform routine reconnaissance over Baghdad, but combat activities are to be held on standby.

- Joint Commander of Foreign Operations 2nd General Anastasio Giovanni

[Crescent Commonwealth]

Undisclosed Location
Istanbul, Republic of Turkey

---

Within the intellectual heart of the nation, two people who should not meet do so. Disregarding the potential threat to his career, a Turkish politician and political analyst meets with a foreign journalist who likewise disregards the potential threat to his life and stay in Turkey. Blurring the politician's face and changing his voice in an interview, the journalist and his crew listen to his words.

"Your career is deeply embedded in Turkish geopolitics, and by extension the geopolitical situation of the Crescent Commonwealth. What do you think is the agenda in this war for Iraq?" the journalist asks.

"Well, its certainly not to unite Iraq, that I can assure you." the politician replies, his identity censored through editing.

"Why not?"

"Well, simply put; the southern half of Iraq is Shia. Its population is significantly larger than North Iraq. A united Iraq will be much harder for Turkey to control. Turkey's real agenda here is simply to maintain the current borders as they are."

"There are... Certain plans for Iraq." the politician continues. "As well as Syria, the Caliphate, Egypt, and Tunisia. Top legislators in all these countries are already drafting a new constitution along with Turkey."

"So you're saying they want to become one big country with Turkey? Like a new Ottoman Empire or a Middle Eastern Union?"

"I'm saying that Turkey wants to annex these countries. These countries have been puppets under Turkish occupation for 30 years. The pro-Turkish sentiment is at an all time high. Turkey practically controls their economies, their militaries, and their elections. There is no better time to consolidate power and formally annex these nations."

"Is there any reason in particular you think Turkey is doing this?"

"To become a new superpower, why else? That extra land will give this new state a lot of space and a lot of resources, and that extra Sunni population will undoubtedly combined with the native Turkish Muslims become a majority Islamist voting bloc that will always vote for Islamist leaders like Erdogan."

"And that's why you're against it? Because people won't vote for your secular party?"

"I'm against it because this is against the principles of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. We are supposed to be a secular republic and a nation of Turks. We are not supposed to be the Ottoman Empire."

[New Antarcticania]

"Damn it, I cant see shit on Thermal readings, place is too damned hot"

"Warning! Missles inbound! Break! Break!"

The formation disperses, breaking in every direction as they dispense countermeasures

"Potlosk 4, 6,and 9 are down, I dont see any parachutes!"

"This is AWACS red shield reporting in. Sorry, problems with the avionics on board delayed the launch, AESA radar systems should give us a reading on the cresie fighters any second now, stand by"

"Seriously, we're calling them Cresies now?"

[American Pere Housh]

Carrier Taskforce Nimitz is found entering the Straits of Hormuz with orders to assist the Republic of Iraq against Islamic invaders. The Taskforce,which consists 2 Washington Class nuclear powered Super Carriers,16 Normandy Class Guided Missile Cruisers,20 Zumwalt II class DDGs, 12 Hornet Class Amphibious Assault Ships, 8 Florida Class SSNs and 4 Columbia Class SSGNs, was tasked with establishing a beachhead on what was once the Northern most coastline of Saudi Arabia. After the beachhead was established, destroy any military forces associated with Iran and its puppets.

[Augusticinia]

ANV-Tomász, Scylla Class Nuclear Attack Submarine - 70 km S off Bandar Lengeh, Persian Gulf

---

Captain Marcus Adaire made his way down the ladder, the routine clank of his boots making the most excitement of an otherwise eerily quiet night. Not even the steady hum of the generator haunted the corridors, being due for a regular maintenance work-up.

"Officer Luthier could you have at least waited until morning... well anyway what's gone bump in the night?"
"Sir, you'll want to check the SONAR report."
"Sure, sure, probably just another merchant fleet, I mean we've just deployed for heaven's sake."
"Check 3b at 175 degrees."
"What was that, oh... how many?" with a sudden change in tone.
"At least 10 vessels on the SONAR, and by the formation I think we've got a Carrier."
"Anything underwater."
"Not yet, but we're expecting company. I've requested a satellite report, it should be here any minute now."
"Regardless..." the Captain bit his lip, "if it's just us, we're screwed. I'll need Solano to update the admiral and send a request for contingency. In the meanwhile let's keep our eyes open and our distance safe, but if they come any closer be ready to fight like hell."

Time wandered slowly through the ANV-Tomász as distant kilometers away, an unidentified Carrier Taskforce glided across the calm waters of the gulf thirsting for blood.

[Crescent Commonwealth]

Iraq

---

With the successful detection and downing of the enemy fighters, the tide was in favor of the CresCom fighters. However, the advanced stealth multirole fighters were not totally equipped for dogfighting; so supplementation with other fighter squadrons was necessary. Luckily, they were fighting on the homefront in North Iraq; so they could very easily receive reinforcements from other fighter groups, as well as anti-air defenses on the ground.

Deploying from North Iraqi airbases, squadrons of specialized air superiority launched to the skies to reinforce the advanced stealth multirole fighters. Meanwhile, mobile anti-aircraft missile systems launch missiles from the ground to intercept the enemy fighters. Electronic warfare drones supplement communications and detection for the incoming reinforcements, so that the advanced stealth multirole aircraft can make a safe retreat.

[New Antarcticania]

"All aircraft, new orders from Command, withdraw from combat airspace, use cloud cover to your advantage. The terminus program has been launched"

"Affirmative, all aircraft, Tally Ho."

The using their last countermeasures and afterburners the fighters peel off and head for home"

[Polish Prussian Commonwealth]

snip

While not a direct response, the Commonwealth soon released a brief, clipped, statement.

Offical Notice from the Foreign Ministry of the Commonwealth
On behalf of His Majesty, Berengar I, King of the Twinned Kingdoms; and the sister-nations of Prussia and Poland,

It is with great concern that we observe the events ongoing in the Middle East, and call, as always, for a peaceful resolution. The Commonwealth opposes Iranian expansion and the insanity it brings. However, neither can it countenance the expansionist, imperialist policies of the Crescent Commonwealth in general and the so-called Republic of Turkey, which seems intent on reviving the old Ottoman Empire; an empire built on centuries of shackles, slavery, and genocide. One cannot utter the name "Ottoman" without hearing the anguished screams of millions of dead Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds, and Armenians who cry out for justice to this day.

Should the Republic of Turkey proceed to trod this path again, the Commonwealth will act. The Turkish Republic should consider itself advised that the Commonwealth and her King do not approve of it's meddling in foreign countries, and urges it to exercise the utmost restraint.

Signed;
Foreign Minister Lech Kaminski, on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

---

Baba Gurgur Oil Field, Northern Iraq

Despite the hostile message, there were no attempts at confronting CresCom forces in the area. However, the forces of the Commonwealth had established what was effectively a no-fly zone; any aircraft flying over Baba Gurgur would be painted by everything from MANPADS, to brigade-level SPAAs, to patrolling F-35Bs, with the aircraft requesting that they turn around and go back to where they came from.

The ground forces, for their part, continued to hold position, prepared to counter any Iranian or CresCom attempt at challenging the neutral ground that they had established.

[Crescent Commonwealth]

Baghdad
Republic of Iraq

---

Fighters zoom past the skies one last time, as aerial drones scour around and perform a survey of the surrounding cityscape. The wreckage of many of the tanks and armored vehicles of the Islamic Republic of Iraq litter the city streets, as the vehicles and infantry of the Crescent Commonwealth trek through the battered roads and alleys. Rescue teams aligned with the Crescent Commonwealth navigate through the rubble and find survivors, evacuating residents from unsafe areas.

As Murat and his patrol find the streets empty, he takes a moment to talk through his radio. "This is Staff Sergeant Murat. Status report, streets are clear on my side. Over."

"Lieutenant Ahmed. Status report, only wreckage on my side. Might want to watch out for undetonated explosives though. Over." Ahmed reported as his MRAP drove through the road.

"Drone command to ground command. Enemy seems to be in full retreat. Over."

Basra
Islamic Republic of Iraq

---

In the Islamic Republic of Iraq's capital in Basra, the top officials of the armed forces meet with their allies and discuss the situation at hand. There is a sinking atmosphere of disappointment and regret all around, as everyone sits around a table with their faces glooming downward and some having sweat make their faces shiny. A powerpoint shows them the ground they lost and the units they lost, and all the statistics of each battle.

"Comrades, when the Republic of Iraq declared war on us; we were able to push them back with such fury and push even further. We were on the verge of taking Baghdad, but our failure to effectively mobilize all our forces against the Crescent Commonwealth's Airforce in a combined arms effort has undone our success and left us back at square one. Turkey has quite effectively won this war. After this, we are quite certain that Turkey will push through with plans to annex not just the Republic of Iraq, but also Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and the Hashemites. Then they'll rebuild all their dams and we once again lose all our water. And now, with America on our doorstep; we most certainly have lost our chance to win this war. We could have taken North Iraq, and reunified our nation under an Islamic Republic. No Sunnis, no Christians, no Paganism; only Shia Islam. But now, that dream is gone. All we can do now, is not lose. We're going to have to retreat back to the border and fight to the death to prevent any incursion or occupation of our territory. We just have to last long enough that when they'll end this war without demanding concessions."

Istanbul
Republic of Turkey

---

A massive crowd cheers and waves the flags of the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Iraq, and the Crescent Commonwealth. Across the crowd, a large stage with a podium. A handsome man in a suit walks onto the stage, and the crowd cheers even louder. Almost deafening, the crowd cries and cheers with extreme jubilation. Some shout takbir, and others chant the name of their hero.

"'Artugrul Oghuz! 'Artugrul Oghuz! 'Artugrul Oghuz!" the crowd chants as he waves back before calming down as he fixes the microphone on the podium.

"Salamun aleykum Turkiye!" he cries out, and is met with reverberating cheers and greetings.

"Surely, our forefathers smile upon us from heaven! We are victorious in our eternal mission for sustainability, security, and prosperity. Our forces have liberated Baghdad in our mission to unite the Ummah in solidarity, without relent by the insults and accusations of the hypocrites and the oppressors.

After a long battle, our forces have lifted the siege of Baghdad! When the enemy attacked our Muslim brothers in Iraq, we came to their aid. We led the charge, and we met the enemy in the skies like falcons and on the ground like wolves. Now, they have retreated!

We will bring stability to the Islamic World. For the past century and a half, the Ummah has been in disarray since the unfortunate dissolution of the Ottoman State. And for a century after that, we did nothing; but now we have returned to the stage to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Ummah, and we have brought peace, prosperity, and stability to the nations under our influence and protection. Many have tried before us and failed, but we stand victorious and we will stand victorious; for we are the only ones who can bring stability to the Middle East.

We will not be stopped by the hypocrites. There are those who claim our ambitions are selfish, cruel, imperialistic, and evil. Some of these people, they are authoritarian regimes, military dictatorships, stratocracies, fascists, and imperialists. Why do they call us out for bringing peace, freedom, justice, and security to a new Middle-East when they have done nothing for us?

Be proud oh Muslims! We stand together in solidarity for the common goal of sustainable security and prosperity under the guiding light of God. Let us stand together today and tomorrow, united against the tide of oppression!"

[Augusticinia]

Augusticinian Office of Middle East Command - Basra, South Iraq

---

The sudden reclamation of Baghdad posed a unique problem for the Augusticinian Defense Forces. Not only had the watershed moment changed the entire outlook of what Augusticinian forces might be required to do in the name of stability, but the onslaught of full retaliation from the Crescent Commonwealth begged the question if intervention would turn to war. Even worse, before the news from Baghdad, 4th General Dubrownik recieved an alarming report regarding a suspicious, possibly American, carrier taskforce moving through the Persian gulf to start a new front. For a force that was loosely meant to act as peacekeepers and light insurance for the Southern Iraqi forces, the conflict was about to turn to a logistical nightmare. Regardless, Augusticinian command believed premature withdrawal would mean defeat to the intimidation tactics of the Turkish Republic, so they currently limited Augusticinian forces would do what they could.

Already the humanitarian divisions of medical service, civil engineers, and water suppliers were being sent towards Baghdad, hoping to beat the front line and help the people that mattered most - the Iraqi citizens themselves, North or South. Meanwhile, Motorized Patrols from the 2nd Light Regiment deployed to the retreating forces outside Baghdad as escorts hoping to make a march back to Al-Suwayrah, where the rest of the regiment began to set up camp. However most important was securing the air. The Ground-Air defense units spread out from Al-Kut forming a small line of Anti-Air defense along the Tigris. In the West, Interceptors began active patrol of South Iraqi airspace, and with a bold stroke from the air command, ground strike teams were authorized to attack any invading forces crossing the border.

[Crescent Commonwealth]

Iraq

---

A swarm of Turkish drones take to the sky. They are small, cheap, and armed. They swarm into the Iraqi border, with their artificial intelligence coded to look for South Iraqi missile defense systems. Due to the drones' size, number, and altitude; they are very difficult for anti-air missile defense systems to effectively target and destroy. These tactics send a chill down the spines of the defending Islamic Republic of Iraq, as this kind of drone warfare was utilized against the very anti-air missile defense systems they used in wars in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the past Mesopotamian Water War.

As soon as a drone discovers anti-air missile defense system platforms, they are often destroyed; but it is of little consequence. As soon as one drone discovers a missile defense system platform, all the other drones in the area close in on the platform and begin to attack it. Moreover, each missile in the platform is extremely expensive and valuable; while drones are cheap and invaluable.

[New Antarcticania]

"I have been alerted about A new weapon is to be delivered as of tomorrow's shipment of extra aircraft and missles, sir."

"Go on, commodore"

"The LRAM-EP6 prototypes are to be delivered to the carrier as of 0600 hours tomorrow, these missles are similar to the cruise missles that our aircraft are capable of carrying, but the warhead is replaced with a electromagnetic pulse (EMP) device, capable of delivering a extremely potent burst of voltage within a radius of five kilometers, permanently damaging avionics, targeting systems, and communications. This should prove effective agianst the recent swarms of drones attacking allied aa installations, alongside with stealth mutirole fighters that are also to be delivered as of 0600 hours tomorrow.

And while we are on the subject of reinforcements. The 87th shock troopers and the 18th People's rifles are to arrive at the gulf tomorrow at 0950 hours if all goes well, they are to be escorted by four destroyers, I recommend dispatching a flight of aircraft to escort the transports to land. as recent intelligence suggests a increasing threat of commonwealth torpedo boats and destroyers patrolling the gulf, that is all."

"Very well, commodore. You are dismissed"

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

BABA GURGUR
IRAQ

---

A EFX-11 Raven seventh-generation fighter providing overwatch for the German airlift operations

A loud roar could be heard as the first of the long-overdue German transport planes landed on the airstrip. Their fighter escorts were circling overhead, providing the vulnerable transports with protection just in case some of the combatants felt like disturbing the landings. While that was felt to be unlikely to happen at the moment, the intense fighting down south raised the chances of "accidental intrusions".

Among the first Germans to disembark were three men wearing berets and Wüstentarndruck camouflage suits. Two of these men wore blue berets while the other wore a red beret, marking them out as members of the Luftwaffe and Heer respectively. Flanked by their staff officers, they moved to approach the base commander to deliver a formal military greeting.

Saluting their host and now comrade-in-arms, the most senior German commander introduced himself as Generaloberst Albert Jeschonnek, overall commander for all German forces in the theater of operations. His fellow generals introduced themselves as General der Flieger Hans-Jürgen Felmy and General der Infanterie Siegmund Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein, commanders of the German air and ground detachments respectively.

While the generals were discussing matters with the leaders of local forces, the first units that arrived worked as quickly as possible to offload gear and supplies and move them to designated areas. It was hard work, mostly for those in charge of sorting out all this materiel and dumping it in the appropriate locations. Some logistics officers and personnel, having just arrived, quickly left to prepare sites which were to be used as bases and depots for the German forces.

Given the intensity of the fighting down south, the Germans were working with potentially tight margins and assumed such. A whopping 10 - 20 flights per day were planned until the entire ground force was deployed and supplied, while fighter aircraft flew directly from Germany, refuelling over the Mediterranean from tankers temporarily based in Italy.

[Augusticinia]

Al-Aziziyah District, South Iraq

---

Drones. Hordes of them. Already two Augusticinian surface-to-air missile units faced critical damage, but thanks to remote operation capabilities no casualties were sustained. Lacking a true counter, the remaining Mobile SAM's are ordered to stand down and retreat back to Kut, while avoiding detection. Meanwhile Augusticinian ground contact stations in the area begin to emit spoofing signals to attempt to disrupt drone formation and coordination, even inducing controlled crashes if possible. Drones equipped with small EMP charges have been released around Kut to act as a last resort defense, however their ability to counter Turkish drone swarms are evidently limited.

However, in the West, the Augusticinian Air Force has already began to press for a counterattack. From Najaf, just before the break of dawn with some precious cloud cover, aerial-ground strike flights, numbering about 12 A-160 "Vulture" aircraft in total, begin to approach the border with drone sources and airfields as a priority target.

[Crescent Commonwealth]

Iraq

---

Throughout the skies of North Iraq, air superiority and interceptor fighters blanketed the skies alongside Turkish anti-air missile defense system platforms. Coordinating their patrols, were flights of AEW&C aircraft and swarms of reconnaissance drones. As soon as the 12 A-160 Vulture aircraft crossed the border, interceptors moved in to intercept, followed by air superiority fighters.

In South Iraq, as the drone swarms began to harass and destroy valuable anti-air missile defense system platforms. In areas where the connection has not been successfully jammed, they are manually directed by drone pilots. However, in areas with successful jamming efforts; these drones were reliant on AI programming. They mostly targeted what looked like mobile anti-air missile defense system platforms, but however could on rare unfortunate occasions accidentally target civilian trucks that happened to look like S400s.

[New Antarcticania]

"Oh, relax, georgy. They're just drones! Think of them as... free target practice!"

"God.... why are our stealth mutirole two-seaters, anyways? Aren't WSOs a bit.. outdated?"

".....I feel offended"

The small flight of the stealth mutirole and it's two escorts arrives at their destination, a couple of kilometers away from a iraqi AA station, circling the nothingness, the lead plane attempts to make contact with said station.

[Democratic Exodian Territories]

Kirkuk, North Iraq

Creedence Clearwater Revival- Run Through the Jungle

A lazy thundercloud amidst the dusty blue sky, forces stationed at Baba Gurgur Oilfield would bear witness to a flock of aircraft- approximately a squadron each of American AH-87 Shoshone and Russian Ka-55 Hokum-C attack helicopters and 2 VTOL Hammerhead UCAVs accompanying each one, escorting a flight of Super Rotodyne transports. IFFs declared them as neither Iranian nor Turkish materiel as one of their pilots attempted to open up a comms channel with the forces on the ground.

<< Baba Gurgur, do you read me? This is a message pertaining to the neutral personnel stationed currently at Baba Gurgur and nearby outposts. This unit of aircraft represents Huntsman Security Limited of the Foreign Humanitarian Fund, and we are currently searching for an appropriate station point for our personnel as well as any aid deliverance or similar duties. Baba Gurgur, do you copy? >>

[Crescent Commonwealth]

"Oh, relax, georgy. They're just drones! Think of them as... free target practice!"

"God.... why are our stealth mutirole two-seaters, anyways? Aren't WSOs a bit.. outdated?"

".....I feel offended"

The small flight of the stealth mutirole and it's two escorts arrives at their destination, a couple of kilometers away from a iraqi AA station, circling the nothingness, the lead plane attempts to make contact with said station.

South Iraq

---

A large truck with missile launchers and radar systems on its back sits across the desert. It receives an allied transmission, to which it was hesitant to respond. The commanding officers looked at one another for a moment, before deciding to pick up the transmission. "Lieutenant Bahadur ibn 'Ali to allied aircraft. Over."

[New Antarcticania]

"Oh, relax, georgy. They're just drones! Think of them as... free target practice!"

"God.... why are our stealth mutirole two-seaters, anyways? Aren't WSOs a bit.. outdated?"

".....I feel offended"

The small flight of the stealth mutirole and it's two escorts arrives at their destination, a couple of kilometers away from a iraqi AA station, circling the nothingness, the lead plane attempts to make contact with said station.

South Iraq

---

A large truck with missile launchers and radar systems on its back sits across the desert. It receives an allied transmission, to which it was hesitant to respond. The commanding officers looked at one another for a moment, before deciding to pick up the transmission. "Lieutenant Bahadur ibn 'Ali to allied aircraft. Over."

"Ahem, attention allied SAM site, this is Volkov 4 of the 105th tatical carrier squadron, 6th naval Aviator corps. How are you gentlemen (or women, I dont discriminate) doing on this fine day?"