O Beautiful, For Heroes Proved, In Liberating Strife.

by **Europe a Nation** » Tue May 09, 2023 4:26 pm

Eulabia a Nation

Ministry of Defence
Lunden 10 May 2023

To: Ministry of Defence, Meridon
From: Klara Savinkova, Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Europe a Nation
Topic: Military deployment
Encryption: TOP SECRET

Dear Minister,

Based on our agreement in the ICON Security Council, we have deployed a brigade-sized Expeditionary Task Force to support your units. Given the Security Council's decision, all operations are likely to be under your command.

The task force includes a Strategic Artillery Battalion consisting of two artillery batteries with 18 HIMARS and one artillery battery with medium-range ballistic missiles. The remaining Task Force units are designed to conduct electronic, cyber, intelligence warfare and to protect vital areas. There is one special ranger company as an anti-terrorist unit. We are also sending 2 separate logistics battalions in response to your request for logistical support. (OOC: Detailed ORBAT in my last post)

Last but not least, the RNS Ravana submarine has sailed to the shores of New England with two prototype hypersonic cruise missiles, and 40 subsonic missiles.

We request permission to land and access to your communications channels. Awaiting orders.

Yours sincerely.

Klara Savinkova
Secretary of Defence
Ministry of Defence
Eulabia a Nation

by **Legatia** » Tue May 09, 2023 6:18 pm

Federal Republic of Meridon
The Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Meridon
-
Whiteriver Manor, Cordelia Federal Territory- 0900H Meridon Standard Time

President William Acton was proceeding today as he would any other workday. By 9 AM, he was a little over an hour deep into his day's work, a cup of freshly-brewed coffee at his side as he looked over communiques, paperwork, and legislation at his desk to process with. His assistant had already laid out a schedule of events for him for the day, which at the moment included his preferred early-morning activity, looking over the letters he had been sent. As he looked over one sent by a child named Toby from Ohawe Territory, he opened a drawer in his desk and deposited it for later safekeeping. Glancing out the rear window to his office, a portal to the outside world flanked by ivy vines and bushy plants, he could see the gentle flow of the Whiteriver past his home and office.

"Mister President;" a black-tied security agent of the FSP peeked his head in through the main door. "General Argus, Secretaries Meritt and Reagan, and Undersecretary McVenture, for your 9 AM."

"Let them in," Acton waved the door as they entered, the oaken entryway soon after being set as the quartet of men in formal attire entered. Argus, naturally, wore the khaki dress uniform of his service, Merritt and Reagan opting for black suits with patterned ties, and McVenture standing out as the wearer of a tan suit and black tie beneath. Perhaps somewhat ironic for a man supposed to represent covert intelligence gathering agencies to stand out, but his office itself wasn't exactly known for top secrecy.

"Good morning, Mister President." General Argus was the first to greet, and the President waved them over to sit down before his office as he straightened himself in his chair. Normally, his Vice President would be sat here with him to listen and weigh in, but she was at a charity event in Kohaku.

"General, and Secretaries. I've read over what was in the daily brief but I want to hear it. First off, as I understand we've made some progress in Operation Oak Hand. General, if you'd be so kind."

"Absolutely, Mr. President. General Ironwood reports immense success in the opening phase of operations of Oak Hand. His report as per a video conference last night is as follows. 2 Marine Amphibious Regiment along with Korean marines were able to secure the town of Providence in about three hours. The battle for Yonkers did not conclude with a surrender, but we have routed them and are continuing to engage them further north and east. 9 Division Armored engaged and destroyed a better part of an armored divsion without any casualties, though admittedly they retreated in some organized fashion and we expect them to move to act as a reserve force to the Second Armored division in Kingston. Korean forces secured the surrender of the 1st ILA Infantry in Nyack, and Sombreland's marine division is currently making landing north of Boston. Air Lieutenant Commandant Whitegrove, our representative to ICON's Security Council, reports that Anagonia remains open to direct military involvement, Eulabia is planning a deployment of long-ranged missiles, Blauveldt-Ryzansan forces made landing in Martha's Vinyard, and there are whispers of other forces willing to get involved."

"General, I was warned that this fighting was going to take a while, and we've had week one objectives accomplished in less than a day. I'm a cautious man, you know that. We were warned that these forces were quite modern and capable." Acton raised a brow. He had spent his time in the Armed Forces, but as an enlistedman and not an officer. The epithet 'too good to be true' rang through his thoughts.

General Argus shifted in his seat, not uncomfortably but as if to acknowledge the question was one worth thought. "..You're correct, Mr. President. Overwhelmingly accurate use of air support, civilian assistance and cooperation, and an even lower morale state observed in virtually all ILA formations are factors we believe to be part in the successes we've wrought so far. I wouldn't expect these to continue forever. We aren't expecting a long and bloody war by any accounts, as our pace is expected to maintain fever-pitch, but we've made some substantial gains cheap."

"I think it's well worth it to take the victory while we can;" commented Defense Secretary Meritt. Acton nodded, leaning back into his chair.

"Special forces were able to extract our inside man on the Directorate successfully last night. He's in the hands of the Federal Protective Service, and we're looking at having him set up in a monastery in Taikorea. He has expressed a desire for religious penance, and it should be fairly easy to make sure he doesn't escape there. Of course, since he is considered a high-profile war criminal, this requires your approval."

Acton leveled his gaze at Meritt as he shook his head. "No, he's not. As far as this government is aware, he's dead or missing in Boston. Just make sure the good monk stays put."

Meritt glanced to McVenture, who nodded, and then handed the President a manila folder.

"More interestingly is what we've heard of the ILA's General Owens. Abroad Intelligence agents as well as recon passes and human intelligence sources indicate he is moving east, disarming and disbanding militia groups and security police agencies. In force, I'll add."

"A coup d'etat." Meritt pointed out.

"Precisely." Argus noted as he patted his knees. "With Sombrelandian, Korean, and Meridonian forces with the new addition of reinforcements from Blauveldt-Ryzansa, we'll be somewhere in the ballpark of numeric equality for an attack on Boston. If nowhere else, we'll expect urban fighting to be hell here. All the infantry in that area are light, and we'd need to rely heavily on air support, which..."

"Air support isn't ideal in large built up cities. The civilian populace in Yonkers is awful graceful considering their city certainly did not get out scotch-free. As the bastion of their ideology, I'd expect Boston to be the worst." Chimed again the Defense Secretary.

"Pardon my saying so, but our intelligence shows these to be mostly paramilitaries, militiamen and.. children." State Secretary Reagan was clearly not comfortable with the impending reality of Meridonian troops killing child soldiers. Nobody really was, but the other men at least held their composure a bit more at this grim possibility. "..These aren't on the same level as professional soldiers, and we'll be attacking from multiple directions."

"That may be true, but they are fighting in dense, highly defensible terrain, and will not likely have the morale problems that their comrades so far have." Argus noted the career diplomat's point, but couldn't help but exhale. The man hadn't had a hard day's work in his life, he could tell it from the first time he shook his hand. "We shouldn't expect it to be as rough as it was in Yonkers."

"Gentlemen, I think we're missing an opportunity here. This Owens character is on his way to disarm and disassemble the Masculist regime." Acton leaned onto his desk, glancing between the Chief of Defense Staff and the gathered Secretaries. "Why don't we let him?"

"..Not a bad plan." Argus looked at the gathered politicians and nodded. "Whether or not there'll be fighting is to be seen, depending on how loyal the troops in Boston are. But in the aftermath, whoever comes out on top won't have the strength to resist what we have. Call it clean-up. We can focus our strength on taking out their organized formations up north in the meantime, cut any bargaining power they might retain out of the deal."

"The sooner we're able to liberate this place, the better, however." Reagan once more noted, to a glare from Argus.

"Mister Secretary, due respect, but I care more about reducing lives lost than I do timeframes." That one shut the Secretary up, and made Argus wonder why the man was even here in the first place. He would very soon have his answer.

"President Acton, once the dust settles in this conflict, we're going to need to have a more proper response to the question of what happens to the area it occupied after the fact. There's no United States in the region, and the New York Commonwealth has a lot of rebuilding of their own to do."

"That's hell in a handbasket, and you know it." Acton complained. He was well aware that his plan was as watertight as a piece of Swiss cheese. He couldn't even rally his own damn party into falling into one camp. Disastrous 'telling tales' of nationbuilding from old England and in America were well known, and a good portion of Meridonians had no interest in a long-term large scale presence abroad, and certainly not in a puppet state. Meridon had enough commitments to deal with nearly two fifths of its strength being sapped in a foreign land.

"The only good idea is leaving the New York Commonwealth as a peace broker in the region. As far as picking up the pieces, there's a lot of separatist movements, communities, that will need guidance.."

Acton stood up as the men debated this question. Clearly, it weighed on his mind, but he was left without a good, clear option.

"We'll just need to be there when the pieces need to get picked up. For now, gentlemen, continue as planned. We'll allow our forces to continue mopping up in the Hudson Valley and once General Owens or General Davis comes out from the inevitable struggle, we'll come in and finish the job. After that.. we'll steer her as we see her. Gentlemen, I presume that's all?"

Not a word.

"..Good. I'll keep in touch with you all. Thank you for your time, gentlemen."

The four men filed out. William Acton furrowed his brow as his gaze went to a portrait of the inaugural holder of his office, Henry Miller. He couldn't help but wonder what he would have done.

Meridon Defense Forces
Meridonian Army, 9 Division Armored
64 Regimental Combat Team Armored (64 RA RCT), 44 Battalion Armored
-
Greenwich, New York, NYC- 0321H EST- Following Day

Drone intelligence feed had been following the Marine retreat where the infantry forces could not. The light infantry force was expected to either advance north towards White Plains, where the bulk of 9 Division Armored was waiting for them, or northeast towards friendlier forces in Boston. They might have been able to break off 16 Division's pursuit, but they weren't about to escape 9.

One regiment of armor and mechanized infanty, 64 Regimental Combat Team, had positioned itself along the expected withdrawal route of what was left of the 1st Marine Division. With their opponent's vehicles mostly destroyed and their own vehicles completely intact, they were able to rapidly reposition themselves, unlike the men of 16 who still had to regather after their intense urban combat campaign in Yonkers. Their vehicles covered in tarps and netting, positions taken up along vantage points and roofs and hills, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles sat in a classic prepared ambush position in the early hours of the morning, a few scant hours before the sun was set to rise.

The road had been extensively prepared with camouflaged command detonation mines and, where the terrain permitted, APM-14 anti-personnel mines. These, too, were operated in the command mode, eschewing the need for tripwires and lessening the mess of cleanup afterwards.

The line was dead quiet, soldiers viewing the approaching infantry from the lenses of green-hued night vision. Tension fell upon the mass of soldiers, whose gunners kept their vehicles as quiet as possible, running them on auxiliary and battery power to keep the noise to a minimum. Hands tensed around rifles as the first line of soldiers entered the killbox.

From a vehicle somewhere behind cover, Colonel Ashley Caron pressed the push to talk switch on her radio, uttering a single word.

"Execute."

In a salvo, the landmines were detonated, spewing explosively formed penetrators at what was left of the vehicles (and more often than not, the infantry formations). The APM mines shot their own fragmentation payload out wherever they sat, showering the formations with much the same method of death. And only seconds later, the formation of infantry and their escorting vehicles opened up.

Rifle fire, machine gun, mortar and cannon, thirty millimeter autocannon fire, and even artillery from the regiment's self-propelled guns opened up on the pre-targeted locations with a deluge that made the ad-hoc thing the Marines had seen at Nyack look like a dress rehearsal. Firing from static positions at pre-scoped lanes of fire, practically saturating the mass of Marines with gunfire. It was unlikely they'd catch all of them in this net, but the more they eliminated- the better.

Meridon Defense Forces
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand (OC CTFOH)
Task Force Headquarters Group
-
The New York Hilton Midtown, New York City, New York- 2135H EST

General John Ironwood was awake well into the night monitoring the progress of operations- success on practically all fronts. He understood that an ambush was to begin in the next few hours, but in his monitoring of the offensive, he had had a number of messages pile up.

He looked out across the foreign city from the window of his suite-office. There was a lot of work to be done here, on the battlefield and off. And though he was winning victory after victory, he couldn't help but feel concerned about the future. They were doing the right thing here now, but war destroyed many things. Trust, safety, community among those things. In Maltika and from there to Cerdania he had seen it twice, and even now he was seeing it.

Looking across the glimmering lights of the Big Apple, he held a hand out. He'd like to think he'd done some good. This city of millions was spared the horrors of war in their streets, save for the pinprick of a cruise missile strike in their downtown- a small token, he knew, compared to the urban fighting that had ravaged Yonkers and soon would come to Boston. Casualties were light, wounded below a thousand and dead below a hundred for the Meridonian side, but his allies had not yet forwarded such reports to the combined task force headquarters. He would receive them eventually. But it never sat with him right. Years as a combat officer had taught him how to deal with these emotions, the burden of command, but he had remembered fervently a quote from Joseph Stalin. "One death is a tragedy, a million deaths, a statistic." All of those deaths and casualties on the enemy's side as well as his own were not numbers. They were individuals with their own lives and families, dreams and aspirations. Candles snuffed out, never to be relit, the world never to know their light or like again.

War was a nightmare, he knew this. The sooner they roused this land from such a malevolent dream, the better.

Dutiful to a fault the Meridonian general sat, and began to pen his responses through the rest of the night. He did not sleep. The shorter letters, typed from a prepared draft, were those formally accepting the surrender of formations that had done so throughout the day, purely for recordkeeping.

Meridon Defense Forces
Meridonian Navy, 5 Patrol Group (5 PATGRU), 94 Maritime Patrol Squadron (94 MPS)
M7M Kingfisher maritime patrol aircraft "Marlin 3-1"
-
Atlantic Coastline- 1530H

Running patterns along the Atlantic coastline was never an interesting job. It was only amusing to see boats rip by at close to 300 knots as they traced over the Atlantic at about a thousand feet or more over the water when they came, but that was few and far between. Marlin 3-1 was one of four Meridonian maritime patrol aircraft currently airborne, operating from CFB Trenton in Canada. 3-1 was the southernmost aircraft, running patterns over the coast of New Jersey and, unsurprisingly, having found little.

That was, of course, until the platform received uplinkf from the TADRS.

--TACTICAL AIR DATA RELAY SYSTEM--
SENDER //R13 CV MARIN BAY //
RECEIVER \\MER N AC 92 41236, MPA PLATFORM MARLIN 3-1\\
FREQUENCY 1̵̺̰̘̭̒̊̾́͘3̶͖̓͋͐̕͝͝͠4̶̢̫̻̤̪̙͔̾͒.̴̛̘͌̂8̶̜̆͋9̴̦͇̱͕̰̠̑5

--MESSAGE BEGINS--

1>THIS IS AN URGENT TASKING RELAY FROM OC CTFOH VIA OC JCTG 1
2> CONFIRMED SPOTTING OF ILN SUB PEGASUS OPERATING IVO NORTHERN JERSEY COAST
3> ATTACHED GRID COORDINATES CORRESPOND TO A  KNOWN ATTACK LOCATION OF THE SUB
4> THIS IS ACCURATE AS OF 13 MINUTES
5> FIND ENGAGE AND DESTROY ENEMY SUBMARINE AT ALL COSTS
6> ADDITIONAL FLEET ASSETS ARE MOVING TO CORDON ENEMY SUB IN FROM ESCAPE
7> EXPECT TO COORDINATE WITH JCTG FTR A/C FOR STRIKE
8> ATTACHMENT: GRID COORDINATES AND DESIGNATOR
9> TIMESTAMP: 090523/1531H

--MESSAGE ENDS--

"..Sir, we just flew over that ship half an hour ago. They can't be far."

"No, they can't. Give me a heading."

Looking down as the copilot rapidly plugged in the coordinates to the Kingfisher's navigation system, the man got an answer. "Three zero zero!" Before he had even finished, the patrol aircraft had spun itself back north, right towards the reported location of the ILA sub.

Meridon Defense Forces
Meridonian Navy, 1 Joint Carrier Task Group (1 JCTG), 3 Carrier Task Group (3 CTG)
3 Carrier Air Group (3 CAG), 98 Naval Fighter Squadron "Dice Kings"
Gambler 4 Lead/"Gambler 4-1", F5M6 Lynx
-
2 Catapult, MRS R13 Marin Bay- 1522H

The canopy of Gambler 4-1's Lynx slid forward and sealed shut as the aircraft was waved into position on the second catapult aboard the Marin Bay. Gambler 4 was today's Quick Strike Alert fighter element, the Navy fighter group tasked with quick launches to strike emergent high-value targets. In today's case this was a prize the Navy had been pining for since Shadow Hand- the final attack submarine of the Incel Liberation Navy, the Pegasus.

The variable-geometry wings of the Lynx were swept forward as flaps slid downwards into launch configuration. It carried two dual-racks of Longbill air-to-ground missiles and a pair of GUB-16 1,000lb laser guided bombs, as well as a triad of missiles as a standard air self defense backup, enough to kill virtually anything it needed to in one strike.

Flying section lead today was Lieutenant Commander Alexandros Gerard, 98 NFS' executive officer, who glanced to the right side of his cockpit as the deck hands instructed him to kneel his aircraft to hook it up to Marin's steam catapult. He felt the pressure begin to build behind the squat gear as the connection occurred, and the yellow-jacketed catapult officer made his final checks before circling his arm, the command to spool his engines.

The 60,000 pound fighter jet compressed its nosegear as tens of thousands of pounds of thrust began to be thrown from the Lynx's twin engines. A final set of checks, and then they waited on him.

The Lieutenant Commander gave a snap salute, and the catapult officer, with some bit of fanfare, rolled his arms about eachother, took a knee, and pointed off the bow of the deck. Seconds later, the catapult released, launching his fighter down the strip of flightdeck and into the afternoon sky of the Atlantic.

Forming up with his wingmen as they climbed and banked south, the group of four had one mission. Once the submarine had surfaced, it was to be sunk.

by **Anagonia** » Tue May 09, 2023 9:38 pm

Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
Commodore Finlay Green; Naval Battle Fleet CO
May 10th, 107 AUR - 0003 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
85 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States

It was becoming habitual for the Commodore to conduct most of his work at night. He gave a sincere thanks to Ensign Porriage as the young naval officer conducted his Yeoman duties with great dedication by handing off another hot cup of freshly prepared coffee; four sugars, two creams, a dab of honey all made the perfect coffee for the Commodore. Jack Porriage was still a young man, just around nineteen years old and just having started his mandatory. He had chosen the navy since that was what his parents were presently serving in. His assignment to the CSS Forest Holloway had been happenstance, but a lot of the conditions needed for it were passed by his families meritorious service. The Navy took note of families, their children, and just about anyone else related to individuals showing and committing to meritorious service and gaining high rank. Jack had been lucky, his father was a Rear Admiral and his mother a Commodore. The navy expected great things of Jack and as such assigned him to a notable ship - the Forest Holloway.

"How is your tour so far?" Commodore Green asked absently as he sipped the coffee mug. He was sitting at his desk in his personal quarters. Though tight - and spartan - it did have proper room for the necessary stations of a Commanding Officer. Currently Finlay was at his small, one person desk gazing down at an open naval laptop and examining reports.

Caught off guard, the Ensign stopped in his tracks as he was about to leave and did an about-face. He quickly went to parade rest. Finlay caught this act and waved a hand, saying quickly, "Relax", and Jack did as ordered. His standing was more casual as he faced his Commanding Officer. It was quite intimidating for the young man. Though, in truth, he had done his utmost in both schooling and his work within the navy. It was why he was given the Yeoman position. Unlike most positions in the Navy, Yeomen were in great demand most particularly for their organization and cataloging experience. Jack, when not playing his part as butler to the Commodore, would go back to his temporary office a few rooms down to continue said filing. Whatever the Commodore approved he had to file appropriately - whatever any Officer or Department Head approved.

"It's....challenging, but rewarding, sir," Jack replied after a moment of internal thought. "My position affords me the gift of working with my superiors in close proximity. I'm able to learn things most servicemen wouldn't be able to. Sometimes I feel like I've been unfairly fast-tracked, but others, when the work piles up, I feel an unyielding burden."

The Commodore nodded, considering the words. They were very deep and thoughtful for someone his age. A moment passed of silence as Finlay read a report on screen and sipped his coffee in peace. As he set the mug down on his small desk, he turned in his stationary seat to face the Ensign.

"You're right, you have been fast-tracked," the Commodore said bluntly. As Jacks expression grew grim, the Commodore raised an open hand, eyes focused on the younger mans. It caught and brought Jack to attention. "But...there's a reason for that. Most mando's when they come along are not specifically related to anyone of high merit or status in the Navy. Your case is unique, son. Your the child of an Admiral and a Commodore. The Navy knows that whatever spunk is in your parents was transferred to you, and they want it badly. That's why you're here, son. That's why you're in a position to learn new things, to listen and understand other positions, because one day you're expected to be in my position. You're commanding officer material, Ensign, whether you want to be or not. That's the difference between the others and you. They have a full choice in how their career goes. You don't."

Such a conversation to a lighter-willed soul may have crushed them. Jack, however, was Anagonian. These words brought a sense of pride, of honor, of expectation into him. He grew a wide grin, a twinkle in his eye as he understood things better. "Thank you, sir," he said with a nod. "I appreciate you clearing that up. I'll do my best to uphold the Navy's expectations of me."

Finlay smiled, giving a approving nod. "I know you will, son. Dismissed. Get those reports filed before your shift ends."

The Ensign went to attention and saluted briskly, replying with a brisk, "Aye aye sir," before departing. Left alone, the Commodore turned back to his laptop. The Chief General of the Confederate States Armed Forces had sent him a message.

Code: Select all: ==FLASH MESSAGE // YOUR EYES ONLY== ==SECURE FLASH== TO: CMDRE GREEN - FOXTROT GULF ONE NINER NINER FIVE - NOVEMBER BRAVO FOXTROT FOXTROT HOTEL FROM: CHIEF GENERAL - CHARLIE GULF CHARLIE SIERRA ALPHA FOXTROT - CGCSAF LEDDICUS PRESIDENT AUTHORIZES MILITARY FORCE. WORK WITH ICON ALLIES. ESTABLISH AND PROTECT ANAGONIAN INTERESTS. YOU ARE IN COMMAND. NO REINFORCEMENTS. SUPPLY STRETCHED THIN. ONLY SUPPORT YOU. DURATION FOR REINFORCEMENTS UNACCEPTABLE. USE ALL AVAILABLE ASSETS TO YOUR DISCRETION. GOOD LUCK. ==SECURE FLASH END== ==MESSAGE END==

Finlay was to now command and represent Anagonian interests in the entire theater of operations. There would be no reinforcements due to the length of time it took for his fleet to arrive. Resources at this distance were stretched thin and the Navy believed it could only fully support Finlay's fleet at maximum capacity, almost indefinitely, but any further fleets would strain that logistical train. He was further authorized to use whatever force and means necessary to accomplish the unified goals of the ICON member-states. If that meant he stay out of the fight, that too would be acceptable. He leaned back in his chair and brought up the prompt to message all forces in the area. He was well appraised of the reports and successes of his allies. It had been a constant thing for him to review the released intel from post-battle results as well as ongoing skirmishes. The valiant efforts of the Meridians, Sombreland forces, the Koreans, and many others had been closely monitored. Now would be the time that Anagonia would offer assistance - if requested.

TO: ICON Allied Units; Civilian Units impacted by the conflict
FROM: Commodore Finlay Green, Commanding Officer of Confederate Navy Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
SUBJECT: Anagonian Military Involvement.
ENCRYPTION: ICON COMMAND UNITS ONLY

Attention,

All civilian assets requesting assistance from the Confederate States Navy must now cease and desist. As of this message, Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway has been given Presidential authorization to commence military operations as I deem fit. I will remain stationary at eighty-five nautical miles from the shore in a short patrol pattern. Currently I will offer all ICON allied units the utilization of our cruise missiles, aircraft, attack helicopters, and our battleship carrier for shore bombardments as approved. Make your requests through the channels provided in this message and utilize ICON identifiers and protocols. At this time, ground forces should not be expected from my fleet. We have a limited number of Marines available, however if intelligence is solid and you have a need for our involvement, we will consider assisting.

Thank you,
Commodore Finlay Green
CO of Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway

by **The Great state of Joseon** » Wed May 10, 2023 7:40 am

New York
LaGuardia Airport

General Adrian Quaritch face was grimaced when he received the report. Quaritch read it once more, disbelievingly, what he was seeing.

General Adrian Quaritch

"259 dead and 1,254 wounded?"

General Sung Hanseok

"That's right, sir."

Sung Hanseok was also embarrassed. He had just read the report after getting off the A13 aircraft, which he had just landed, before entering the control tower where the command post was set up. And the numbers in the report shocked him.

The number of Joseon soldiers killed in the war, similar to the number of Allied soldiers killed in the Gulf War, occurred in one day.

Adrian Quaritch threw the report on the desk nervously and went on.

General Adrian Quaritch

"If we continue to fight like this, our number of dead may exceed 1,000. Do you know what this means?"

General Sung Hanseok

"What does that mean, sir?"

General Adrian Quaritch

"First, the morale of our military is reduced. Their colleagues are dying, and of course, the morale of the soldiers will be reduced. Second, the burden on the politicians above us gets worse. As the number of dead increases, so will public opinion against the war, which will further peck at us. Third. How would the families of the dead feel? How would you feel if your family, who you thought would come back healthy, came back to the dead body?"

Sung Hanseok nodded.

General Sung Hanseok

"I see. So what should we do now?”

General Adrian Quaritch

"Not like this. The enemy still has MANPADS, and effective low-altitude air strikes are still dangerous for our fighters. I need more drones. I heard from Yonkers that Colonel Jeong Hae-rim had some fun using drones. The drone is too small to shoot down with MANPADS, and it is an appropriate weapon to attack only the enemy accurately. I need to call the Ministry of Defense. We need more drones."

General Sung Hanseok

"We've poured out half of the drone inventory in Yonkers. We'll need some time before the drones arrive."

General Adrian Quaritch

"I know. So I have to urge the Ministry of National Defense. I'll say we can't conduct military operations until more drones come.“

Ministry of Defense of the Great Kingdom of Joseon

To: Commodore Finlay Green, Commanding Officer of Confederate Navy Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
From: Adrian Quaritch, The commander-in-chief of the dispatched Joseon troops
Subject: Request for cooperation in military operations
Encryption: High

First of all, we very much welcome Anagonia to the war. Incelastan's dictatorship, which now threatens all of North America, is committing countless crimes against civilians and women. We participated in this war to end their atrocities.

We'd like to ask you one thing. I'd like to use the hospital ships belonging to your fleet. Currently, the number of wounded in our military reaches 1,200, and we need to treat not only wounded soldiers but also civilians rescued from the battlefield. But there is only one hospital ship in our military's fleet. The number of medical staff we've brought in at the moment is difficult to handle the influx of injured people.

We hope you will review our request positively. Thank you for your decision to participate in the war.

Adrian Quaritch, The commander-in-chief of the dispatched Joseon troops

New York
LaGuardia Airport

Adrian Quaritch was lost in thought with a report containing the number of dead. The lives that disappeared today would be someone's son or daughter, someone's parents or brother.

He didn't expect so many dead. Because of that, he was embarrassed and now depressed.

He couldn't imagine how the bereaved families would feel after receiving the bodies of the dead. He began to think about how to write a letter to the bereaved families. No words will comfort them.

New York
LaGuardia Airport

10 C-17 and 20 C-130 transport planes landed at LaGuardia Airport in succession. Transport planes did not head to the hangar, but immediately began unloading goods. A total of 40 K-21 IFVs were landed, and various relief supplies such as combat rations, medical supplies, and water purification equipment were also landed.

All the supplies were unloaded, but the transport planes did not depart. They waited for someone.

After a while, military vehicles with black ribbons lined up and lined up in front of the transport planes. The soldiers who got out of the vehicle began to move the bodies of the fallen soldiers one by one into the transport plane.

Hours later, the planes took off from the airport again and flew away. After dropping off useful cargo at the airport, they picked up precious passengers and headed for Joseon.

New York

It was almost 10 p.m. when Joseon's third dispatched fleet arrived in New York. They admired the night view of New York and began to get nervous when they heard that there were many dead in the first battle. They didn't come to the tourist attraction, they came to the battlefield. The news of the deaths was enough to keep all the soldiers on their toes and gave them a firm incentive to avenge their comrades.

It was night, but soldiers unloaded vehicles and equipment into the harbor without a break. Vehicles and equipment were all moved to Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Kissena Park as soon as they landed at the port.

Now, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dispatched fleets are in one place. Dozens of destroyers and frigates began monitoring New York's skies, seas, and underwater with sensors such as radar and SONAR. Frigates roamed the waters near New York, including Lower Bay, monitoring the water and air.

Now they've done their best not to allow the same ambush as before......

The Great Kingdom of Joseon
Seoul

The subject of today's National Security Council was also the New England War. Of course, the news of many deaths surprised the entire Cabinet, including the Prime Minister.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Han Soyeon

"Have you seen the headlines this morning, sir? The news of 259 deaths has made headlines in major newspapers across the country."

Minister of Justice Hwang Sekwang

"If there is more public opinion against the war, it could adversely affect the approval rating. Why don't we put our troops behind back instead of aggressively putting them on the battlefield?”

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung

"I will comfort the bereaved families of the dead and soothe public opinion at today's press conference. Don't worry about the problem anymore. Have you heard from General Adrian Quaritch?"

Minister of Defense Lee Hyeyul

"He has been asking for more drones, and he has also sent letters to the bereaved families. He asked for the letters to be delivered to the bereaved families."

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung

"I see. Send more drones to New York, and give the dead enough courtesy. Don't forget to deliver the letters as well."

New York
Lower Bay

When the EA-18Gs landed on the aircraft carrier after completing their mission, intelligence officers began checking radio communications brought by the EA-18G. It was a very tedious task. Most of the contents of the wireless communications were useless and important information was included one by one.

The jackpot was caught 6 hours after the analysis began.

Intelligence officers found unusual things among radio communications from Masculinium. The commotion, the gunfire, and a word in Davis' office.

"Death of Davis"

This made intelligence officers excited. Davis was killed by someone. Is it a coup? Or is it suicide? Intelligence officers quickly reported the news to the command, and it took less than five minutes for the information to reach the command.

New York
LaGuardia Airport

A 13 Vanguard aircraft took off from LaGuardia Airport in the middle of the night. The aircraft immediately raised its altitude to an altitude where MANPADS firing could be avoided. After reaching sufficient altitude, the aircraft activated the radar and prepared to scan everything on the ground.

The aircraft used the X-Band radar to scan Boston, Kingston, and all the surrounding areas of New York and Boston.

The first thing the aircraft detected was the coastal defense artilleries. The aircraft immediately sent the coordinates to LaGuardia Airport.

The next thing detected was a large armoured unit. Probably the ILA Second Armored Division. This is because the number of armored vehicles on the radar was at least a few hundred.

Of course, the aircraft immediately sent the coordinates to LaGuardia Airport.

At LaGuardia Airport, communications officers diligently sent coordinates to the Allied command posts via encrypted communications. The coordinates of the targets were shared to command posts and flagships in Meridon, Sombreland, Anagonia, and Blauveldt-Ryzana.

by **East Krasnaya** » Thu May 11, 2023 4:18 am

OOC: This Nation is The Great state of Joseon's puppet account.

The skies over the Atlantic

Colonel Vitaly Morozov was appointed commander of the PBT(Подразделение по борьбе с терроризмом, Counter Terrorism Unit) unit to be dispatched to New England. This meant that he was given the task of sending overseas, which he hated so much, and at the same time, he was in charge of the general command of the field.

Vitaly was reluctant to be sent abroad, but on the other hand, he was pleased to be in command. He was often praised by people around him as a good soldier, but he was particularly reluctant to follow someone's orders. He endured twenty years in the army, barely suppressing the urge to punch his superior in the face, and now finally came the opportunity for him to work without stress.

East Krasnaya was in a security crisis after the collapse of the United States. They had to face the border with Russia without the help of the United States, and that fact chilled government officials in Vladivostok. In the end, East Krasnaya had to rely more on its ally, Joseon, for its security and was forced to resolve diplomatic relations with Japan, which had maintained poor relations.

And with Joseon confronting the extremist regime in New England, East Krasnaya decided to send troops in the name of helping the alliance. Originally, in diplomatic relations between countries, there is no such thing as free money. With East Krasnaya getting help from Joseon, East Krasnaya also had to give something that Joseon needed.

Three AN-124 transport planes carrying special forces and relief supplies took off from Vladivostok International Airport and flew to the Philippines. They were scheduled to arrive in New York after receiving aerial refueling in the Atlantic Ocean after a long journey through the Philippines, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, and France.

In other words, the flight time will be very long.

Major Andrei Kuznetsov

"The in-flight meal here is terrible, sir."

Major Andrei Kuznetsov spoke to Colonel Vitaly Morozov. He was a subordinate officer who had been following Vitaly since he served in the armoured unit. He was a reliable soldier, and unlike Vitaly, he did not have an easily angry personality.

Colonel Vitaly Morozov

"I miss the food I eat at home. It's already been 21 hours. It's frustrating to spend the whole day in this can.”

Major Andrei Kuznetsov

"We'll be there soon. Isn't it your first time in New York, sir?"

Colonel Vitaly Morozov

"Yes. It's my first time in New York. I was a lieutenant when I last came to America. I stopped by LA then, but I don't know what's going on in LA now. Anyway, it's my first time in New York.”

Major Andrei Kuznetsov

"It's the same for me. I've only seen New York on TV or in pictures, but it's my first time coming here in person. It's a little exciting."

Colonel Vitaly Morozov

"Are you as excited as you were on your honeymoon?"

Major Andrei Kuznetsov

"Well, I'm flying with a group of men instead of my beautiful wife, but it's nice. I'm thrilled to be visiting New York."

New York
LaGuardia Airport

As the planes landed at LaGuardia Airport, a control tower controlled by soldiers in Joseon ordered the transport planes to move to the hangar. The AN-124 transporters lowered the lamp door as soon as they moved to the hangar.

Colonel Vitaly Morozov

"Come on, let's move! We've arrived in New York!"

The 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade of PBT got off the transport plane and lined up in front of Colonel Vitaly Morozov. The soldiers were all fully armed and everyone was expressionless.

Colonel Vitaly Morozov

"Now, we have finally done things that even the Soviet army has not done. We have arrived in New York."

Several soldiers burst into laughter at Vitaly's joke.

Colonel Vitaly Morozov

"However, we are not here to fight the U.S. military. The Boston-based regime of thugs, Incelastan, considers women inferior and kills countless people in the name of establishing a Masculist State. We need to help our allies kick the ass of the self-proclaimed 'Masculist State' and get their surrender in Boston. Do you have any questions?"

There was no question. Before they left for New York, the Minister of Defense had already given detailed briefings to the soldiers himself. It was East Krasnaya's first war since its independence from the Soviet Union. For East Krasnaya, they had to worry that a gun they hadn't used in decades might have rusted, and that's why they had to pay extra attention.

Colonel Vitaly Morozov

"If you don't have any questions, dismiss!"

by **Anagonia** » Thu May 11, 2023 5:25 pm

TO: Adrian Quaritch, The commander-in-chief of the dispatched Joseon troops
FROM: Commodore Finlay Green, Commanding Officer of Confederate Navy Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
SUBJECT: Your Request
ENCRYPTION: ICON COMMAND UNITS ONLY

Attention,

I will dispatch the CSS Grace, our hospital ship, to promptly assist with your wounded. It will be escorted by two of our gunboats. My fleet has also received communications in effect of requesting assistance. We will respond accordingly.

Thank you,
Commodore Finlay Green
CO of Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway

Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
Commodore Finlay Green; Naval Battle Fleet CO
May 10th, 107 AUR - 0830 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
85 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States

"These are our targets, and this is the area we expect our tomahawks to land," stated Commander Millie Saunders as she pointed across the tactical display.

Commodore Green observed the large display from a chair in the front row. They were in ready room on the CSS Forest Holloway and had it configured for tactical briefing. Most of the chairs had been rearranged horizontially to configure them forward where a large touch-screen display was mounted on the forward wall. In normal operation, the ready room had the seats arranged vertically in rows of two with a middle row cleared for walking. It was one of the improvements over the Boxer-class Light Carriers that did not go unnoticed by the Commander. She presently commanded the CSS William Youngston and had transported over to the fleets flagship just for this briefing. The display showed an armored column of tanks moving towards the greater Kingston area, scattered but with clear cohesive units. The display also showed the pinpoints of red signifying the coastal artillery sites. All of this had been gathered via shared intel from the Joseon Military.

"How many coastal artillery sites?" asked the Captain of the Neptune, the fleets Battlecarrier.

The Commander turned her attention towards him. "We've detected from the shared intel twenty-five major coastal battery sites."

"We got 30 tomahawks on board," the Captain remarked as he looked over towards the Commodore. "Those can be our target."

Most of the commanding officers of the ships in the fleet were in this briefing. It was critical that everyone be on the same page as their Commodore as the shared intelligence, gathered thanks to Joseon support, was carefully dissected and analyzed. They had already endured an hour long debrief of the situation up until the point of the armored column. The Commodore wanted a clearer picture of the situation before he made the call to attack. That call was soon approaching. Finlay stood as he went to the front of the room, Commander Saunders quickly stepping aside.

"Listen up, NBF Foxtrot Hotel," Finlay said as he began to relay his orders. "Commanders Gentle and Gyle, take your gunboats and protect the hospital ship as she makes her way towards the shore. There's word of a rogue submarine out and I want your eyes peeled. Captain Hankers, your battlecarrier will start the first strike. Launch your attack against where you expect the armored column of Masculist forces to be. I want to my destroyer captains to throw up support and attack the coastal artillery. Following this briefing, all further briefings will be conducted over video-call. Any questions?"

A Captain in the back raised their hand.

"Captain Keys, yes?" the Commodore pointed. It was the Captain of the LPD ship, CSS Port Independence.

"Any landing operations sir?" he asked, somewhat timidly.

"Negative. If that changes, you'll be notified first. Anything else?"

There was nothing else.

"Dismissed," the Commodore ordered. The commanding officers filed out.

Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
Lexington-class Battlecarrier CSS Neptune
May 10th, 107 AUR - 0910 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
45 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States

The fleet had moved closer. The Neptune was now at the front of the vanguard as the fleet edged the line to closest approach towards their inland targets. The two Edmond Goff-class destroyers had already configured their Harpoon II's to strike at the naval artillery sites. Meanwhile, the Neptune - despite the Captains desire otherwise - would attack a predesignated set of coordinates that would manually update while the tomahawks were in flight. GPS and aerial surveillance would track the enemy movements and the missiles would adjust accordingly. The artillery sites, however, were far more simplistic and did not require any GPS guidance as they were stationary - or expected to be stationary.

As the morning sun rose a few inches higher above the horizon, alarms and klaxons sounded on the Battlecarrier as she began a turn towards the northeast. The fleet was now turning to transition into a slow half-circle turn northward and then direct itself parallel towards the shoreline. As the turn began to transpire, a final klaxon sounded, and the Battlecarrier fired the first shots of the war for Anagonia's involvement.

Five Tomahawk cruise missiles launched in sequential successions from the VLS tubes fore of the main guns and nearest the bow. As they launched and streaked up into the sky, the two Edmond Goff-class destroyers began to launch twenty-five Harpoon II's towards the land-based artillery sites outlined by Joseon intelligence. Each destroyer would fire fifteen missiles each, reloading their Mk41 VLS cells after their launch and effectively depleting their land-based ordinances save for what was left on their onboard stores for replenishment.

Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
Compassion-class Hospital Ship CSS Grace
May 10th, 107 AUR - 0915 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
45 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States

As the fleet finished launching their solvos, the CSS Grace and her two gunboat escorts headed towards the shore to arrive on station at a pre-agreed point to properly lend medical aid. Once there the Hospital Ship would become stationary and utilize its on board medical ambulance boats to ferry those needed treatment from the shore to the ship. The ship also had the capacity to utilize its two on board, stored, UH-60 Black Hawk Medavac helicopters that were painted a similar scheme as the ships with red crosses to symbolize their medical use. These would begin lifting operations once the area was deemed safe for medical flights.

ATTACK:

x5 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles
(armed with high-explosive warheads and aimed to attack the tank column from the ILA)
x25 Harpoon II's
(targeting the coastal artillery sites)

Nova's Spotify · by **Nova Secta** » Thu May 11, 2023 5:33 pm

The Royal Manor at Capodimonte, Williamstown, Saescia, Teremara

The personal office of His Royal Majesty the King was rather austere compared to the resplendent décor that furnished the throne room at Capodimonte. The room was only six by six meters, neatly tucked behind an alcove in the King’s bedchambers. As spartan and utilitarian as the regent was sage, the room was finished with marble walls unadorned with anything but a map of the Glorious Dominion of Saescia behind the simple mahogany desk. The black carpet, shorn neatly resembled that from a lowly-office clerk’s dwellings, not the most powerful man in the country. In fact, the only furniture of note besides the office chair behind the desk and two metal armchairs in front of the desk was a liquor cabinet along the south wall, filled to the brim with fine spirits and a small humidor. From the looks of things, the King had already tapped his stock in preparation for this meeting with his most trusted government advisers.

Guinevere Featherington had been through this song and dance enough times not to feel the nerves anymore – at least not directly, like she used to upon first ascending to the position of prime minister. Though she still acted and dressed the part for an audience at court, the banality of daily reports and affirmations to subordinates had begun to season her to the moment, making her a trusted hand of the King. Her advice through enumerable crises abroad and domestic problems on the home front had made her indispensable to His Royal Majesty, even if he would never let her forget those first early missteps. The King was, to put it mildly, a joker at the best of times and an outright dick at the worst of times, and he was never one to let someone’s embarrassment stand in the way of a good rib. She would always be the clumsy klutz that tripped on the oriental rug in his private study during their first meeting, for better or worse.

Joining the prime minister for this impromptu court session was one of her favorite lieutenants, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Cunningham and one of her more contentious, precocious adjutants, Defense Minister Tyrell Simmons. If ever there were a perfect dichotomy between government agents, it would be between her friend Cunningham and Simmons. John had been in government going on the better part of forty years, working his way up from a lowly member of parliament in some backwater precinct to one of the most powerful members of the caucus, all through sheer force of willpower and skilled determination. He was a savvy politician and a genuinely good man, someone she had directly fought to have in her cabinet. His graying hair and weathered features betrayed someone of immense knowledge and sagacity; his tailored suit and shoes reflective of someone that cared about their outward appearance greatly.

He could not have been a more noticeable contradiction to the slovenly Defense Minister, whose idea of a tailor-made suit was sowing together something he found from the charity collection shoppe. Tyrell Simmons was a grating pain in the ass who just happened to possess an incredible intellect and military acumen, the only two redeeming qualities that landed him in her cabinet to begin with. Guinevere had never had more than a handful of moments of dialogue with the man outside of an official setting, but she gathered that he was something of a buffoon that had the social graces of a lobotomized lemur. In seriousness, were he not something of a savant when it came to military budgeting and technical development, he would likely be best served operating a hand car wash in Miranda Beach for all his interpersonal communication cues. She had made it known that she wasn’t a huge fan of the staid minister.

The three of them had been summoned to a special counsel session with the King at his residence, Capodimonte on a matter of ‘the utmost importance', according to the wire sent to the Prime Minister's office earlier that afternoon. While it was not unusual to receive a summons to the King’s residence to discuss official policy (as much as the King was lawfully allowed to intercede in Saescian law, that was), the explicit urgency with which it was conveyed marked a decidedly more serious visit than her previous trips to Capodimonte. The trio had arrived together in a government sedan and were quietly ushered without fanfare to the King’s office, where the regent was already at post waiting for them. From the look on the King’s furrowed brow and roughhewn demeanor, Guinevere could tell that this was not going to be a very pleasant meeting, the subject of which she had already managed to sus out in advance.

“Hail, Majesty,” Featherington opened as she stepped forward towards the King’s desk, adjusting the dossier she held in her right hand under the sheer weight of it. “May I present Foreign Affairs Minister Cunningham and Defense Minister Simmons to Your Grace.”

The King took a long, slow sip from his spirit of choice, an expensive bourbon from the looks of it, and stared icily at her. "You're late."

The Prime Minister looked at the King, confused. This was not the jovial, slightly off-kilter demeanor she was used to. "Sire? We arrived at the specified time, as you requested. If we were meant to be here earlier, I apologize in sincerity for the breach of etiquette."

Instead of responding to the query, he deadpanned again: "I meant you're late issuing orders to our forces, Madam Prime Minister."

Her intuition was correct, this was about the ongoing conflict between the ILA and Saescia's allies in the International Coalition of Nations treaty organization. She looked at the King apologetically, responding: "My Lord, forgive me; I thought us out of the conflict."

"We are out of the conflict, thanks to the incompetence of my government!" The vitriol with which the King spat his words at her was shocking to say the least; his anger was undercut only by a wave of firm determination. "Explain yourself, Prime Minister, now!"

"Majesty, I—"

"Drop the formal bullshit, Guinevere," the King fired off again, pushing on the Prime Minister's nerves a touch. This was beyond the pale for the King in terms of his usual demeanor; he was frothy, almost rabid in his venomous attitude towards his government agents.

"Alright, Banastre," Guinevere course-corrected. "We have been monitoring the conflict between ICON forces and the ILA in North America with growing concern, but we felt our hands were tied by the growing unrest in Wishtonia closer to home in the Kenega Conflict. Given the propensity for Gran Ventana to act out against Xiahua whenever we so much as sneeze in a different direction, we thought the matter beyond our capabilities. If that thought were in error, I do apologize in earnest for my mistake. I did the best I could with what limited resources I had available."

The King was having none of her apologetics. "Our allies, to whom we are treaty-bound to support, our presently fighting and dying in North America combatting a regime dedicated to the reversal of progressivism and women's rights. A regime so abhorrent, the mere mention of the name ILA sends people bellowing at the television set in their homes. You thought that we could sit out this conflict on our hands while our allies did the heavy lifting? You disappoint me, Madam Prime Minister, I expected better of you in this, our personal moment of international crisis."

The Prime Minister was shocked, and more than a little offended. "Sir, if I have lost your confidence, I hereby tender my res—"

"Damn it, there's no time for that!" The King rose from his office chair, highly animated and looking for someone to direct his animus towards. "Whatever misgivings you had were incorrect, Madam Prime Minister. We need action on this front, and we need it now! I will not have the Glorious Dominion of Saescia be thought of as treaty-breakers or cowards on my watch, no ma'am! We will rise to the call and we will deploy a combat force to the North American theatre of war as rapidly as is practicable. Saescia will fight, if we have to build troopers from earthen clay, Guinevere."

"Sir," Defense Minister Simmons interjected, prompting the Prime Minister to involuntarily flinch awaiting for the sucker punch from behind. Instead, he shocked her with his concurrent opinion: "I believe the Prime Minister was correct in her opinion not to intervene out of hand. Our forces are already stretched thin as it is between our Wishtonian commitments and the necessity of keeping the peace in the southeast of Madurin."

The King, Banastre seethed in Tyrell's direction, pounding his fist on the desk. "Do not tell me that, Defense Minister, do not tell me that! We have had a fine mutual understanding for years, I ask and you deliver. Do not overplay your hand now, not today."

"You can ballyhoo all you want, it won't change the fact that we have our limits!" Cunningham now interjected, fighting fire with fire. "Forgive me, but what you want of our military is impracticable. We could only muster, at most, a brigade to the theatre."

"We will fight," the King gritted through clenched teeth, staring a hole through John. "We will fight the bastards and we'll prevail!"

"With what," Guinevere finally challenged back, "our hopes and dreams? You want us to rob Peter, Mary and Joseph to pay Paul here."

The King again pounded the desk, but this time stopped short of responding right away. Guinevere never would have dared raise her voice to the King like that before, not in a million years, and the shock of it seemed to have had a tempering effect. The King's mood seemed to mellow slightly, allowing for him to take a long, cool sip of air through pursed lips. When he next spoke, he was far more calm and collected, yet still deadly serious. "We must have something that can be deployed out of our rotations, something that can suffice. To let the ILA run rampant is an injustice that stinks in the nostrils of every good human being in the Glorious Dominion. Civilians are caught on the firing line, and our brothers and sisters in ICON are dying for the justness of the cause. How could we in good conscience let them die alone? How could we sit this conflict out and not think less of ourselves for the cowardice of it all? We have to go there.""

There was going to be no swaying from his position, at least not from Guinevere's position as she saw it. Banastre was a stubborn, prideful man, and his heart was dead-set on making war against the ILA in North America. There was little doubt that war was a justifiable outcome for the ILA's crimes against civilians, especially women. A patriarchal dictatorship in the twenty-first century was as egregious a crime as the communist or fascist dictatorships of the twentieth century. But there was a number of factors to consider before acquiescing to the King's wishes, not the least of which was Saescia's limited financial and military resources in comparison to her ICON allies. Saescia was, by comparison to some of the lofty giants in the treaty organization, quite small, making it increasingly difficult to field Saescia's domestic treaty commitments to the Teremaran Security Organization on the home front in Madurin.

In addition to Saescia's limited means to prosecute a war, the simple fact of the matter is that the country had only just recovered from its last war against Hanasaku and Gran Ventana in Wishtonia. The threat of a renewed conflict in Xiahua, coupled with the Kenega situation made operational maneuvers away from Teremara and Wishtonia a risky gambit. Commit too many forces away from their home operating theatres and the Hanasakuans or the Ventanese might elect to renew hostilities, putting Saescia in an even-more precarious position. Prosecuting a war in North America while neglecting the homefront simply would not do, requiring a creative workaround from all parties involved. What that workaround entailed, Guinevere could not say at present, whether such a workable alternative existed at all. Providing the King with the resources needed to prosecute his war was going to be quite the gambit.

It was Tyrell Simmons of all people that had the needed spark of inspiration, much to Guinevere's surprise. "We may not have the numerical totals to bring to bear like we would want to, but we do have an option if prosecuting this war on the ILA: the Diamondbacks."

Guinevere turned back towards the Defense Minister, arching an eyebrow: the Diamondbacks, Mr. Simmons?"

Simmons nodded. "Brigade Combat Team Alpha-109, nicknamed the Diamondbacks. They are a rapid response force authorized under the 2021 military budget for immediate global deployment in the event of a crisis. Per the 2022-2023 legislative session, this brigade is authorized to support ICON interdiction globally; in fact, it was designed for just such an occasion as the one currently taking place in North America right now."

"What kind of troop complement would we be looking at supporting," Foreign Minister Cunningham inquired.

"Approximately 7,500 personnel, not including the naval flotilla they would require to reach the combat theatre," Simmons replied. "Our soldiers would require at best a medium tactical convoy with surface combatants from our northern war fleet to safeguard the approach in the shipping channels. Obviously, deploying to an area already cleared of ILA partisans by our allies in ICON would limit the risk of an amphibious landing on the continent. As a rapid reaction force, they are kept on a hair-trigger mobilization schedule to speed up the process of deployment to their theatre."

The King nodded slowly, warming to the concept. "What kind of draw-up time are we looking at here, Tyrell?"

"Around ninety-six hours for full mobilization," the Defense Minister responded, pointing towards the central coast on the map behind him. "Their resources are marshaled at NWS Swanquarter along with part of the naval task force we would need to appropriate. All told, it would take us at least one hundred twenty hours to get our naval supply chain organized and in gear, but a crash mobilization order could expedite the process and light a fire under Admiral Rhoades's ass. From there, you are simply talking a matter of steaming time to North America and deployment."

Banastre leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "Guinevere, your thoughts?"

"It would be a calculated risk using our nation's rapid reaction force a world away like this," she replied to the King, leaning forward just as he leaned backwards. "The risk of a miniature call-up and deployment would still invite the possibility for maneuvers from the Hanasakuans and Ventanese in Wishtonia, while also shirking the possibility of a speedy insertion into the Kenega conflict as well. You would also have to cannibalize the northern war fleet's flotilla in order to get our forces to North America in time for them to make any difference in the fighting."

"I don't know, it's dicey but possible," Cunningham intervened, himself warming to the potential of BCT Alpha-109's deployment to North America as he continued to address her. "If we sit by and do nothing as the King suggests, we would certainly lose face in front of our allies in ICON, not to mention our talk of liberalizing Hanasaku's dictatorship in Wishtonia would seem like idle chatter. If we deploy Alpha-109, we would at least be trying to make a difference in the world. It would lend more credence to our foreign policy in Madurin and Wishtonia at the very least."

Deep down, Guinevere still thought it was a dangerous gambit that was being portended in the small office, but she knew well enough than to press the issue any further. Though her misgivings were severe on the matter, this was in fact the purpose of even having a rapid reaction force at the ready for mobilization and deployment. And though the idea of prosecuting a war on a foreign continent halfway around the world made her more than a bit squeamish at the possibilities for things to go FUBAR, she was wise enough to recognize that Saescia's moral standing in the world required a sacrifice. If they were to have any leverage against the vile and corrupt enemies of freedom in the world, the Glorious Dominion was going to have to demonstrate her capacity to wage war and fight for her beliefs. Civilians were dying at the hands of the ILA; if war was inevitable, let what may come in the end. Let what may come...

The King was resolved, and it was his voice that mattered most in the moment. He looked at Guinevere with firm resolution in his face, tasking her with the inevitable. "Whip the votes in the Parliament, Madam Prime Minister. We shall go to war in North America."

The esteemed national parliament of the Glorious Dominion of Saescia has voted in the affirmative 315-65 to mobilize its Rapid Reaction Force for immediate deployment to the North American theatre of war against ILA combatants, in pursuit of the military aims and objectives laid out by the allied parties within the International Coalition of Nations, pursuant to the defeat of the ILA in North America. Brigade Combat Team Alpha-109, Brigadier General Silas E. Frémantle commanding, an auxiliary brigade of the Royal Legion of the Saescian Defense Services [RL/SDS] will be transferred along with a naval task force to the military theatre with the utmost haste.

John Harold Aranda, Esquire
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
for the Glorious Dominion of Saescia

by **Europe a Nation** » Thu May 11, 2023 6:01 pm

Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia

In the expansive waters of the North Atlantic, the submarine RNS Ravana found itself receiving an important message from EAN Command. The commanding officer, well-versed in the intricacies of naval operations, promptly gathered his crew in the control room to address the situation. The crew listened carefully to the incoming transmission, aware that their response could shape the course of their mission.

Code: Select all: >>> RNS Ravana, this is EAN Command. Meridon reports enemy sub activity at [insert_position]. Meridon Air engaging. Change course to 220°, maintain distance, and submerge. Stand by for ELF with further instructions, over.

Code: Select all: <<< EAN Command, this is RNS Ravana. Current position 42.9802° N, 63.2038 W. Changing course to 220°, maintaining distance, and submerging. Awaiting ELF. Please provide communication codes for Meridon, over.

Code: Select all: >>> RNS Ravana, this is EAN Command. We are sending communication codes for encrypted contact to Meridon. Await further instructions and ensure crew safety, over.

Code: Select all: <<< EAN Command, this is RNS Ravana. Standing by for instructions, and will update as needed, out.

As the RNS Ravana adjusted its course to avoid the enemy submarine, the commanding officer issued clear directives to the crew. "Helm, set course to 220 degrees. Sonar, maintain a close watch for any contacts. Radio, establish encrypted communication with Meridon.".

With the crew executing their tasks efficiently, encrypted communication with Meridon was set up. The RNS Ravana's crew maintained a heightened state of readiness to address any changes in the situation. However, the submarine could not send messages on such a low frequency, but only receive them, thus being dependent on orders from Meridon.

New York City

Brigadier Clarke asked Lieutenant Colonel Johnson to come into his temporary office. He was still in the process of setting it up, but he really wanted to hear the latest news from the battlefield.

"LieutenantColonel Johnson, welcome," Clarke said to Johnson. "Sorry about the mess. Anyway, I asked you to come in and update me on the situation out there."

"Yes, sir!" Lieutenant Colonel Johnson replied, pulling out his laptop with the maps.

White Plains Front

The major fighting is north of New York on the Nyack-White Plains-Port Chester axis. The Allied advance has been slowed by natural obstacles, especially the Kensico Reservoir. Heavy fighting reported over the Westchester County airport.

Rhode Island Front

In the Rhode Island area, the Allies have successfully managed to land and consolidate front lines deeper inland. Allied forces overran defence of Providence and the city surrendered. The enemy has stabilised the front line around Interstate Motorway 95, but the main Allied attack is being conducted toward Boston. Allied troops have succeeded in capturing the important transportation hub of Mansfield and are advancing further toward the outskirts of Boston. If allies manage to cut off the transport hub at Quincy, the ILA units along the coast will be encircled.

Newburyport Front

Sombreland's reconnaissance company attempted an airborne landing on Plum Island near Nweburyport. However Sombreland forces met unexpected resistance from militia stationed in residential areas in the area. The enemy managed to shoot down one helicopter using MANPADS and Sombreland units decided to retreat. Sombreland responded with heavy bombardment of the area.

Brigadier Clarke studied the maps closely.

"It looks like the ILA forces, even though they lack any offensive capabilities, can still handle our CAS. MANPADS are an issue; just a few men with these weapons in any building could cause major problems for our CAS," Brigadier Clarke said, looking worried.

"That's true, sir. Plus, the enemy doesn't hesitate to use populated areas as a line of defence. We need to use the advantageous in Providence as an exception and create a spearhead towards Boston. But when it comes to Boston, we won't have the element of surprise as we had in Providence, and it's not going to be an easy fight. Boston is getting ready for street fighting, and the later the battle starts, the harder it'll be to take the city."

"Let's wait and see what the high command comes up with," Brigadier Clarke added, acknowledging the complexity of the situation.

by **Alternate Canada** » Fri May 12, 2023 6:17 am

Placeholder post. I am a puppet of Incelastan created to deal with the Canadian perspective.

by **Incelastan** » Fri May 12, 2023 7:17 am

Greenwich Ambush

Given the extreme vulnerability of the 1st Marine Division, or what was left of it, significant numbers of its personnel at least somewhat wounded, this ambush tore new holes in the column that created more chaos and disarray in the ranks. General Lanier was forced to stop moving long enough to turn as much of his artillery as still existed right then on the enemy on both sides of him. The sheer carnage and the fact of it being all around them, raining death and destruction upon them from all sides and above them. He began furiously putting as many of his snipers as he could put in place to attempt to kill as many of the enemy gunners as he could manage. Forced to fight on both sides, of course, this would tend to thin out the Marines' center and certainly forced them to stay static in order to fight back.

That was when Lanier got an idea and ordered, "Willie Pete, boys. Hit 'em with white phosphorus rounds! See how they take that!"

He didn't have too many choices, of course. The situation, as Colonel Ralph Kennan, CO of 1st Brigade, said, "frankly sucked big time donkey ass!"

"How the fuck do we get out of this pickle?" Colonel Bert Sampson, CO of 2nd Brigade, shouted.

"Damned if I know, but we're gonna fight and if necessary, die trying!" Colonel Enrico Gambino, CO of 3rd Brigade, added.

"We're gonna either escape here and now, or we're going to surrender. I will not see my men get killed pointlessly!" General Lanier informed his brigade commanders.

The WP rounds added to any RPGs and squad machine gun fire as well as sniper fire and mortars to attempt to answer the heavy bombardment, but being forced to split it up between the two sides weakened the effect for sure. Lanier's heart sank as he realized that he likely faced the annihilation of his division, either from death, disintegration, or capture. He had evacuated to avoid or evade that fate, but now it seemed virtually inescapable. Even so, he had to make his last gallant push, for honor's sake if nothing else. He wasn't about give up without a fight. He was already down to about five thousand, four hundred troops still operational, the rest of his troops too badly wounded to fight.

Plum Beach

Callas's artillery didn't let up, of course, adding more howitzer and mortar fire, now adding white phosphorus to the mix. Callas of Greek descent, of course, so he found particular satisfaction in using the modern equivalent of "Greek fire" against the foe. He maximized use of anti-aircraft and MANPADs as well, bound and determined to hammer the enemy with as many sources of death and destruction as possible. Callas wasn't about to yield. He already knew that Colonel Devlin's radar station had been destroyed. That was another reason to strike harder, to mitigate the harm caused by such a strike. It was a desperate fight on the beach and the artillery forces weren't about to let their comrades down. If the enemy got ashore, it would be a real threat to the defense of Masculinium, the capital. It was their duty to pin the enemy down on the beach as long as they could.

There would be no kicking the enemy out once they had a beachhead, after all.

When the Anagonian Tomahawks struck, though, it was further destruction and Callas lost several dozen soldiers to injury and death. Several of his critical howitzers and mortars, among other things, were badly damaged if not destroyed. It killed his XO, among others, and he had to appoint another of those, even as he pulled back from the coast, conceding that he had no choice but to allow the enemy a foothold in the heartland of Incelastan, Massachusetts itself. Callas withdrew to Peabody, and prepared to defend the country from there. The critical battle for the beachhead had been lost.

Worcester, Massachusetts

General Owens knew that it was time to formalize his claim, to establish his basis for supplanting the Directorate and the Masculist Party with a new regime could have legitimacy in ruling the state. He issued directives to various local commanders to replace district commissioners with county sheriffs and selectmen, along with new mayors handpicked by reliable officers. If the coalition forces seized this area, they would have to decide what to do with these new public officials. The old ones, well, they were eliminated, or as Owens put it, "purged in the surest way possible." That was a euphemism for summary executions, of course. He ordered the flag of Incelastan lowered and that of Massachusetts raised again. It was at Worcester, en route to Boston, that Owens issued his Worcester Proclamation.

By virtue of my necessary wartime authority as the sole stabilizing source of law and order in the liberated areas of Massachusetts, I, Major General Robert I. Owens, Commander-in-Chief of the Homeland Army, due hereby proclaim that, in view of the collapse of legitimate political authority in most of New England, that the Masculist State of Incelastan is hereby formally dissolved, that the Directorate is hereby formally relieved of command and authority over its former territory and removed from public office, that the Masculist Party, State Security Police, Militia, and Youth Brigades are hereby disbanded, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is hereby restored. The county sheriffs and municipal and state police are to be re-established. I hereby assume command as head of the Provisional Military Government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, holding the office of Governor.

This left no doubt that Owens meant to rule. He ordered the creation of new emergency courts, pending the full restoration of the judiciary and the bar. He ordered the restoration of critical government services, such as road construction, postal delivery, and air traffic control. He also ordered the lifting of all bans on religious freedom, though he didn't move to reinstate most other civil liberties. He had to be sure to stay in command, after all. This would all take time to implement, and he was in a race toward Boston, but now he left a distinct impression in his wake and created a disincentive to cause trouble in his rear. He especially ended the women's hostels and lifted the curfews. Women would be free to go home, if their homes weren't occupied, of course.

Augusta, Maine

With the growing chaos and disruption elsewhere in New England, the district commissioners in the various districts were cut off from any real reinforcements or support from Masculinium, allowing various Militia units to go rogue throughout Maine. That was especially true in Augusta, the former state capital, where the district commissioner was deposed and a new "Council of Maine" was announced to govern as an interim body. A combination of Social Democrats, Socialists, Communists, Feminists, Christian Conservatives, libertarians, and center-right conservatives took their seats on said council, which claimed to represent all of Maine and exercise authority over the state. Similar groups took over in Bangor, Portland, Kennebunkport, etc., all swearing allegiance to the Council of Maine. Professor Ward Peters was appointed Chairman of the Council of Maine, thus head of the interim state government. The only question was just how loyal the Militia and reinstated police would have to the new regime, not to mention the civilian population, including the women now released from the gender segregation policies of Incelastan.

Even so, it was more proof of the growing collapse and disintegration of the Masculist regime. Nobody could confirm the indirect role of Canadian intelligence services and various political parties based in Ottawa in influencing and encourage the open rebellion of yet another state. With the secession of Maine, the weakness and failure of the Directorate was even more obvious than ever. A lot of this was caused by overreliance on the now disarmed and disbanded SSP to control the Militia in the absence of the regular ILA that had all been sent west to fight the Commonwealth. The SSP officers and men now faced criminal charges in Maine as the Incelastan flag was lowered and the old Maine state flag was hoisted in its stead. Maine was an independent country for the first time in its history, at least for now.

Albany, New York

"New orders from the Directorate, with the death of General Davis. The six remaining military formations in the Hudson River Valley, not counting the remnants of 1st Armored Division, are now reorganized as the Army of the Hudson. We have been ordered to resist the invasion of the enemy forces whatever the cost. Perhaps Chairman La Rousse hopes to make his new home in Albany and make his stand there. I don't know. Units further north have been reorganized into the Army of the Adirondacks. I have been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Hudson. Major General Samuel Duchamp is the new Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Adirondacks. Those are our orders now. Prepare to dig in and fight for control of the Hudson, because that fight is clearly coming," Major General Osvaldo Rivas informed his deputies of his new post.

It was heady wine and the fact that he got the job in the teeth of the sometimes low-key racism of the Masculist regime was something else indeed. He, a Cuban-American, was now the top general in the Hudson River Valley, ready to command during what appeared on the verge of becoming the largest-scale military operations on North American soil since the Civil War. Things were about to get very hairy indeed.

"General, sir, I just received this urgent report. Enemy Tomahawks struck 2nd Armored and killed 139 men and 14 tanks. The enemy is clearly using its advantages caused by the drive up the Hudson to strike deeper into our occupied zone," one aide informed his boss nervously.

"Thus striking deeper into our rear. Damn! They're not wasting any time, especially with a growing number of allies, even as everything gets hairier at home. Alright, we'll absorb the hits, survey the damage, give a final damage report, and then move ahead with our plans. We're going to move our 2nd Armored Division and the rest of the 1st off to the side to prepare to use them offensively, as a counterpunch from whichever flank we need to strike. We'll have our infantry dig in and reinforce massive fortification and entrenchment. Amplify MANPADs, place artillery in such a way as to co-ordinate and converge upon any advancing foe. Have anti-tank groups disperse and hide in order to harass and destroy enemy armor as it approaches our positions and defenses. This is going to be the Rollo Tommasi Line.

"That's the first layer of defense, of course. The second layer is here, in and around Albany, in the Upper Hudson, where we will continue to prepare to fight the foe, in case they break through the first layer at some point. I'm hoping that this won't be necessary. Of course, if worse comes to worse, we'll be prepare to move these units south as reserve formations to prevent any kind of collapse of our defenses. We do not wish to give the enemy an open door to Albany, of course. I prefer that it doesn't come to that, naturally," Rivas cursed his luck, but resolved to keep his head in the face of such damage.

He didn't have time to mourn his losses. He was now the commanding general at the front....the new front. And he knew it.

by **Alternate Canada** » Fri May 12, 2023 10:12 am

Parliament House,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

"I wish to be clear that the Government now formally recognizes the following nations as independent of the rogue nation known as Incelastan: Vermont, New Hampshire, Nantucket, and Maine. These countries are to be regarded as fully sovereign nations and their governments as the rightful, legitimate governments of said states. The Government will conduct its diplomatic relations with them accordingly, seeking to exchange diplomatic staff with them. An official communique to this point will be published shortly hereafter. We wish it also to be clear that we do not recognize the Masculist State of Incelastan as a legitimate successor state to the former United States of America, and that we wish to promote closer cooperation with ICON and with the Commonwealth of New York. Foreign Minister Jason Hunter here will supervise the draft of said communique and will contact the members of the nations in question momentarily. This is our moment to stand with the oppressed people of New England who endure the brutal, illegitimate Masculist regime that calls its territory 'Incelastan.'

"I have also ordered full mobilization of all reserve forces, posthaste, in order to prepare in the event of necessary hostilities with the Incelastan regime. We hope that is not necessary, but we cannot ignore such a possibility. God help us all if it proves to be so. We haven't had to fight Americans since the War of 1812. I'm in no rush to repeat that conflict under my watch," Prime Minister Duane Allard of Canada announced on the floor of the House of Commons.

One could have heard a pin drop. Canada had, in its own cautious way, taken a side in the conflict in North America at last. Allard's minority Conservative government had barely taken office months before and he wasn't entirely sure how this would be taken by the opposition Liberals who had only recently surrendered control of the government after the most recent federal elections. He could only hope that this didn't lead to a dangerous confidence vote and challenge at this point. That could be very risky to his goals.

by **Sombreland** » Fri May 12, 2023 1:02 pm

Plum Island, Newburyport, Massachusetts

At around 7 in the morning, under the benevolent guidance of the senior officers assigned by the goodness of the Princess-Regent, Alavaine, the lines of the First Battalion, Royal Marine Landing Regiment, began to advance on the beach. Smoke and dust covered the beachhead; for some reason the enemy had been firing White Phosphorus which had little effect on the AAVs but did fill the air with eerie white smoke, which to the Sombrelanders suggested death. For crews and lookouts, it was unnerving. This was a strange country, and the beach filled them with dread. However, every squad had a rough voiced nasty NCO who swore at them and accused them of having bad harmony and being brute peasants or sneaky artisans rather than pure and filled with the loyalty of the Military Caste unless they were eager to spill enemy blood for their offenses against the divine Kingdom of Sombreland and her enemies. Every platoon had an “Uncle” NCO who knew everything, acted calm and indifferent, and had the right things to say to smart young officers from good families with lots of tradition and book learning but little practical experience. Every company had a slightly more experienced captain who knew the proper things to say and made everyone feel as though they were in the right place. Those that did not have these things were unhappy. It was hard enough to be happy as it was, flung against a foreign beach inside a big metal turtle rolling you across the sea. The men in the four big hovercraft bearing the tanks and big guns were more nervous in a way, but their journey was soon over; they were surrounded by a huge amount of noise and spray, and rushed from ship to beach in just a few minutes. If they were hit by something…it would not last long enough for any of the men in it to regret it. They had all been shriven of impurities and sins hours ago; they would join the harmonious circle in that case, to live again in another life or form.

Howitzers thundered at them. However, there seemed to be no use of spotters by air or land, and so only some of them did strike effectively, but those struck were torn apart in a terrible hail of high explosive shells that ripped the light armoured AAVs and their occupants into terrible fragments. From the air, great geysers of water rained down from bursting shells into the sea, and here and there were thin twists of smoke rising from where they had hit successfully.

There was little opposition but the howitzer fire, however, and once on the beach, after the ramps went down, the First Battalion’s commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Nilay Oris, a prematurely white haired, lean, hard man, proclaimed to the Regimental Commander, “My Lord, we have the beach.” Although there was a plan to advance under mortar and heavy machinegun fire, there appeared to be little opposition immediately facing them, so the forward companies advanced and began to take objectives.

There was no sea wall at Plum Island. Vehicles rolled easily from the surf onto the sand, and when the first hovercraft hauled themselves up like beaching whales, the first tanks followed, as the Royal Marine Armoured Regiment moved forward like cavalry of old, their big barrels forward as they advanced and the Royal Marines, either in APCs, IFVs or on foot, advanced with them towards Newburyport. The advance units could see the outlines of the little seaside city before them, and the Regimental Commander ordered the encirclement of the city, placement of artillery and anti-aircraft support.

Prince Jusus arrived with the second wave, was filmed jumping off the ramp of an AAV and getting his boots wet. He was seen to smile, greet Marines pleasantly and to hold his pistol in the air. No enemy foot or land mines had been encountered. Prince Jusus reported to Admiral Dargon that the operation had taken place generally as expected, with minimal losses of men or materiel. Prince Jusus gave orders for the Royal Marine Division to advance towards Beverly. This was to take place a very short time after landing.

On board the Royal Sombreland, Vice-Admiral Althus Dargon thanked his aide crisply for his report, retired briefly to the officers’ head, and breathed a deep sigh of relief, and a prayer to his ancestors of thanks. His chief duty, to bring the Royal Marine Division to Massachusetts, had been carried out. When he emerged, he sent a report to the allies and to his own high command. His eyes were clear as he prepared to face the rest of the day.

by **Incelastan** » Sat May 13, 2023 9:40 am

ILA Pegasus

"Twenty nautical miles from the Jersey Shore now, Captain," Lieutenant Rudolph Baker, XO of the Pegasus, informed his skipper, Lieutenant Commander Desmond "Skip" Flanagan.

"Excellent work, Mr. Baker. Turn forty knots due south, full speed ahead. Continue course after that, bound for Norfolk," Flanagan ordered his XO.

"We're heading for Virginia, Captain?" the Chief of the Boat asked him now.

"That we are, Chief. I just hope that they'll help us replenish. Stocks are low, as you know. At the present rate, stores will soon empty," Flanagan informed the Chief.

"Very true, Captain. I just hope that we reach it in time. The enemy might well have spotted us," the XO now added.

"Indeed, Mr. Baker. That's why we're running hot at the highest possible speed," Flanagan reassured Baker.

"Are we to maintain present depth, Captain?" Ruiz, the dive officer, asked him.

"Yes, keep it at 100 feet. No change to depth," Flanagan insisted.

He wasn't aware that the Pegasus had been spotted already. He just knew that he was running out of supplies and it was high time to replenish the stores. He just hoped that the fundies who ruled Virginia would go along with it. If not, they were fucked.

Beverly, Massachusetts

With the evacuation of the Army from Beverly, the district commissioner, Jonas Logan, caught on to the fact that the town would soon be occupied by a foreign military force. The best solution for his own survival was to "defect" to the coalition and declare against the Directorate. Which he promptly did, even as he set up a delegation of city fathers to join him in the administration of the place and to confer with the invaders. He also issued orders that changed his title to Mayor, the city fathers to the Selectmen, and lifted the curfew against women. He then unlocked the women's hostels, so that their stay was "voluntary," though plenty stayed under the circumstances, lest they be homeless. He also invited the police to retake their posts. He was able to do this because the SSP weren't active in his area right then. They hadn't been needed where the ILA regulars were so present until now.

Logan thus waited nervously for the arrival of the invaders in Beverly, even as church services, now permitted suddenly, resumed in prayer for peace and safety by the town's populace. He even decided to attend Mass at the local Episcopal church, seeking to help increase his influence over prominent figures in the community. He had to also seem more pious now that the anti-clerical, revolutionary regime was on the verge of collapse. He had heard that the new guys were rather religious, so he hoped to create the right first impression.

by **Sombreland** » Sat May 13, 2023 6:03 pm

Beverly, Massachusetts

Dingo Armoured Fighting Vehicles were another aspect of the Reconnaissance element of the Royal Sombreland Marines. When helicopter use was too dangerous, as with the case of Massachusetts where there were lots of MANPADS/ The Dingo AFV was a lightweight, air-transportable, armored fighting vehicle, weapons platform, and 'tankette' designed by Wolf Armaments.such as missiles and heavier caliber weapons, should optional weapon systems for this proposed vehicle. Wolf Armaments, in its never ending mission to seize upon business opportunities, answered the call by designing a 'tankette', or tank-like armored fighting vehicle.Private Kial Gove was now stuffed into the APC version of one of these, rumbling along a road between Newburyport and Beverly.

“Nervous, Grass-Eater?” sneered Cut-Nose, as the Corporal sat near him, stuffed into the passenger compartment of the AFV. The engine noises, sounds of the treads growling over the road, and the general bumping noises of equipment were all around them.

“No, Corporal!” Gove shouted back, though his stomach was both lurching and right at the same time The rattling experience of being under heavy MANPADS fire during the recon in force had shaken the young Royal Marine badly, but he was determined to show his manhood. During basic, he had been told “Act like the Royal Family might be right behind you, whatever you do,” and he tried to remember it, whether shining boots, cleaning weapons, or now.

The Royal Marine Reconnaissance Regiment’s four companies moved out in the Overturned Bowl formation towards Beverly. Most of the AFVs were armoured personnel carriers, like the one holding Gove, however, there were also command vehicles holding senior officers, mortar vehicles and anti-tank vehicles, signals vehicles, and medical vehicles. These were full of tense men, eager men, dutiful men, patient men, nervous men, and as the vehicles rumbled and growled in the fields, light woods, streets, and roads approaching the little city, they could see a place with lots of trees, pleasant waters, and little fields and farms around it.

There was, among the officers of the Royal Marine Reconnaissance Regiment, a Major named Quan, who stood tall in his command AFV contemplating the land before them. He quoted, softly,

Farmers, weeding at noon
Seat down the field soon
Who knows what food on a tray
Thanks to their toiling day?

“What is the meaning of this poem, Major?” asked his driver.

“Regardless of the technology, sergeant, all life depends on men and women ready to work hard to bring grain from the fields, vegetables from the rows, animals from the pens. This is a humble city, devoted perhaps to production, where people took pride in the building of their houses and the clearing of their fields and orchards. Could there be a more lovely sight unless it was in Sombreland?”

He was reluctant to be party to giving the orders to lay waste to this place, for he could easily imagine mortars, MANPADs, and hidden machine guns requiring it. Yet, to his great delight, there were white flags, and reports of the enemy surrendering!

Major Quan transmitted orders to the foreign enemy that they should have enemy troops assemble at staging areas to lay down their arms. The Princess-Regent, Alavaine, had been right: the enemy had seen their determination, and surrendered to them. Now: only Boston lay before them. This was reported by the Reconnaissance Regiment commander to Prince Jusus, who reported it to Admiral Dargon, who informed allied command and his own high command.

Gove and about 150 other Royal Marines were dismounted from their vehicles, feeling both the relief of air on their faces but also the nervousness of being more exposed, and advanced by squads towards the little city. He was comforted by how "Uncle" acted like this was just a routine march or exercise, making sure the corporals minded how their squads were placed and kept them in pace with AFVs growling along behind them. Old Cut-Nose, of course, was more mean and nasty, calling his men apes and grass-eaters, and threatening to kick their backsides if they did not mind themselves. But it all seemed normal, now.

by **Anagonia** » Sat May 13, 2023 7:29 pm

Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
Commodore Finlay Green; Naval Battle Fleet CO
May 13th, 107 AUR - 2112 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
45 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States

"Thank you Mr. Porriage," Finlay said as Jack handed him the days reports. The Ensign gave a crisp salute before about facing and going back to his office.

The Commodore handled the USB drive with care as he inserted it into his laptop. Most of the paper trails done by the Navy were now digital. It had taken several decades for the Military to adapt but things were progressing in favor of what appeared to be an all-digital system of communication. Paper would still be utilized on ships and boats not connected directly to the Fleet Communications Network, but the FCN had so far advanced the level of technology and communication in the Confederate Navy that it didn't make sense to take advantage of it. The Military had upgraded the system several times over the last two years and it was now stable enough to handle gigabytes of data - unlike a few years ago in the Gyzantian Conflict where the system could only handle, at best, kilobytes to a few megabytes of data. The old system of flash comms were going away as well, it seemed, but Finlay had a hunch it wouldn't entirely disappear. Submarines, after all, couldn't utilize full FCN systems underwater.

"Holy hell," mumbled the Commodore as the reports appeared on his laptop. "Them damn Sombrelandians are kicking ass! Looks like our strikes did wonders for the Kingdom boys and girls."

It was satisfying to know that the plan of action undertaken by his forces had some form of positive impact. Finlay relaxed in his chair as he rested his hands on his knees and took a moment to take in a breath. He was relieved by the number of casulties reported by the Kingdom of Sombreland. They were staunch allies with Anagonia, a partnership and friendship founded during the events of the Gyzantian Civil War and slowly formed into a firm partnership with the creation of ICON. It was important that Anagonia had contributed to its friends as it had and that alone satisfied the Commodore greatly. He scanned through the further reports a moment later, reading the recent happenings with rogue submarine - it was farther south now and posed no danger to his fleet or the hospital ship - and further reports from allies. The Europeans were doing amazing intelligence work as well as maintaining an asset presence nearby, the Meridon's were absolutely crushing it with their efforts and leading the way with ICON, and the Joseon Military was still dishing out excellent intelligence updates - one of which had helped the Anagonian navy contribute as it had. There had been a report in the backchannels that some politicians on both sides of the aisle between the Europeans and Anagonians had disputed the effort, but it had been the Anagonians who fired first. Whether or not the Commodore was to apologize was, arguably, negligible at this point due to the amazing effect it had contributed to the war effort - particularly for Sombreland.

The Commodore would still be a good sport and apologize if he was able. He even considered sending a message to that affect. He didn't, however, because whatever backchannel dispute had been engaged had clearly already been solved. No need to rub any possible fresh sores. From here on out though, he had recieved word that his forces would need to be on standby. For the moment, that's what he'd do. Contribute by continuing humanitarian efforts - since the fleet was closer civilians had an easier time now of approaching them and the Hospital ship which was already being docked to land - and being prepared for the next strike, if available.

TO: ICON Allied Forces in the North American Theater of Conflict; Northeast Sector of the Old US
FROM: Commodore Finlay Green, Commanding Officer of Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
SUBJECT: Status Update

My fleet is stationed 45 nautical miles off the shore of New York and New York City, Long Island. Our Hospital Ship, CSS Grace, is currently being led and directed by the Joseon Military to better assist with wounded and casualties. We are abiding by the Geneva Convention and allowing all injured, wounded, and casualty to be treated. Our fleet will remain on standby following our recent action to aid the Sombrelandian Forces. We wish you all good luck, good tidings, and remain on standby per your request for assistance. I will continue to launch E-2 Hawkeye surveillance as well as provide aerial refueling where possible.

Thank You,
Commodore Finlay Green
CO of NBF Forest Holloway

by **The Great state of Joseon** » Sun May 14, 2023 5:23 am

New York
Manhattan, A hotel near Madison Square Park

National Intelligence Service Black agents, led by Lee Jimin, set up a temporary headquarters at a hotel near Madison Square Park and began collecting information. Manhattan is a safe zone, but there may still be Incelastan's spies, remnants, or individuals who follow them.

Their mission was to find the remaining cancer cells and cut them out with a scalpel. Of course, this is not going to be easy. The population of Manhattan and the newly liberated areas is quite large.

In that situation, it was impossible to solve everything with only six agents. Therefore, they had to dig a trap rather than run on their own feet. But how?

Even if you dig a trap and find spies, the subsequent process cannot be solved by agents alone. All they could do was hand over information about the spies to OPOH HQ. They didn't go to the scene with guns themselves, as in the movie.

Their sure it's not a very interesting thing. But someone has to do this.

The Great Kingdom of Joseon
Seoul

Empress Lee Dam

"So, there are 259 dead.”

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung

"Yes, it is. I'm ashamed to see you. Your Majesty."

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung and Minister of Defense Lee Hyeyul, who visited Gyeongbokgung Palace at the request of the Empress, had no other excuse to the Empress. They said they would reduce the number of Joseon soldiers' casualties as much as possible, but eventually, quite a few died on the first day of the battle. The 259 killed were similar to the total number of killed in the multinational forces during the Gulf War. It was never a small number.

Empress Lee Dam sighed.

Empress Lee Dam

"What worries me the most is the unfairness of the bereaved families. Technically, this is not our war. Of course, if Incelastan took control of all of North America, we would also be in danger, but even before we intervened in the war, they had control of only one side of the east of North America."

Minister of Defense Lee Hyeyul

"That's right, Your Majesty. but when they take control of all of North America, it will be too late. If that were the case, the damage on our side would be worse. Of course, there are indeed many dead, but at least I don't think this decision is wrong. Your Majesty has made the right decision, and the Prime Minister also has made the right decision."

Empress Lee Dam

"Thank you for saying so. But pay attention to the operational plan so that no more casualties will come out in the future. There's nothing good at all if there are a lot of casualties. Neither do I, nor the Prime Minister."

Minister of Defense Lee Hyeyul

"Certainly we had a lot of shortcomings. We haven't sent a large force in a big war in 30 years since the Gulf War. We sent Marines and a few special forces to the war in Afghanistan, but they weren't large-scale troops. It's my and the military commanders' fault that there were a lot of casualties. Forgive me, Your Majesty."

Empress Lee Dam

"That's all right. It's the first major war in 30 years, so it's natural that there's something lacking. However, based on this experience, I hope our troops will win next time without much damage."

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung

"May I make a suggestion, Your Majesty?

Empress Lee Dam

"If you want to say something, say it. Don't hesitate."

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung

"A few hours ago, a battalion of East Krasnaya's special forces arrived in New York. If we mobilize them and our special forces to conduct a decapitation strike against the enemy's leadership, we can reduce our damage and end the war quickly."

Empress Lee Dam

"Please describe the decapitation strike in detail."

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung

"Yes, the decapitation strike is an operation that neutralizes the enemy's leadership in war. If you think of an enemy organization as the human body, the leadership is the head, and the forces and the weapons are the body. If we use precision strike weapons or special forces to remove the enemy's leadership, it's like removing the enemy's head. That leaves the body immovable."

Empress Lee Dam

"That's a good plan. Can you do it right away?"

Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung

"We have to first suggest to OPOH HQ, the Allied Command in charge of operational command. But I'll push this plan hard.“

New York
LaGuardia Airport

When 12 KF-16U and 12 F-15K fighters landed at LaGuardia Airport, ground personnel moved diligently to guide the fighters into position. The lessons of the last battle were obvious. The stealth fighter had little advantage on the battlefield because the ILA had no anti-aircraft missiles in charge of medium-range or higher. On the battlefield, where MANPADS was the only threat to aircraft, the 4.5th generation fighters were much more useful than the 5th generation fighters.

Therefore, instead of 12 of the existing Air Force F-35A fighter jets returning to Joseon, 24 new 4.5th generation fighter jets were deployed at LaGuardia Airport.

45 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York

The hospital ship was full of patients. The screams of numerous injured people filled the hospital room, and urgent cries calling for medical staff were heard everywhere.

"We are currently mobilizing all available personnel, but it is not enough to handle all the injuries. If it weren't for Anagonia's support, some of the injured would not even have been treated." The deputy reported to Lieutenant Colonel Seo Soo-Kyung, the representative of the Joseon military medical corps dispatched to CSS Grace.

"What is the current number of injuries?" Lieutenant Colonel Seo Soo-Kyung was slightly embarrassed as the injured continued to flood in. There were not only Joseon military wounded on the battlefield. Civilians who had not yet been evacuated were also among the injured, and they were being rescued from the battlefield by the minute. Because of that, the number of injured people was much higher than she expected.

"Among the injuries, three more were dead and 50 were recovering from minor injuries and are recovering post-treatment stability. The problem is the civilians. There are about 1,000 civilian casualties rescued from the battlefield, but the number of medical staff is insufficient to treat them all at once." When the deputy reported the current status of the injuries, Seo Soo-kyung expression was frowned.

"How many medical staff are there in CSS Grace?”

"I don't know, but this ship can carry up to 2350 patients. But there are about 420 operating rooms."

"So, get to the point. Can the current conditions of hospital ships accommodate all patients? Or is there a shortage of beds?" Seo Soo-Kyung took out a pen and began to pay the bill using her notebook. She couldn't even afford to bring her tablet from another destroyer.

"There is no shortage of beds."

"Can you contact the hospitals in Manhattan now and get medical support?" Seo Soo-Kyung said as if she had a good idea. The deputy liked the idea, too, but there was one thing on his mind.

"The number of injuries in New York's Commonwealth could be quite high. Then the doctors in Manhattan right now may not be able to afford it. We need to contact the Commonwealth of New York first."

Ministry of Defense of the Great Kingdom of Joseon

To: Arnold Van Nuys, Secretary of the Defense of the Commonwealth of New York
From: Adrian Quaritch, The commander-in-chief of the dispatched Joseon troops
Subject: Request for cooperation in military operations
Encryption: High

First of all, I would like to thank the Commonwealth of New York for its hard work in this war.

We would like to ask the Commonwealth of New York for one favor. Currently, our and Anagonia's hospital ships are treating military and civilian injuries in combat, but there is a shortage of medical staff. If the Commonwealth of New York has enough medical staff, please provide us with medical assistance.

Of course, the medical staff in the Commonwealth of New York don't have to support us if they can't afford it. However, please consider this request seriously. We're also treating civilians rescued from the battlefield. We desperately need support for them.

I hope you will review our request positively.

Adrian Quaritch, The commander-in-chief of the dispatched Joseon troops

by **Unoccupied New York** » Sun May 14, 2023 8:43 am

Gracie Mansion,
Manhattan, New York

"Are they asking strictly about military medical staff, or civilians, too? Well, we're going to need to draw from the largest pool available for this, in any case. I have taken the liberty of consulting with Dr. Moore. She has concluded that we can spare about 1,543 personnel, including 384 doctors, 111 interns, and 246 nurses. That's not even counting medics and other medical staff. You will respond accordingly, please. That should be reasonably good news for them," Governor Watson told Secretary Van Nuys some time after he passed the correspondence on to her.

To: General Adrian Quaritch, CO of Joseon Expeditionary Force
From: Arnold Van Nuys, Secretary of Defense of the Commonwealth of New York

Dear General,

After consultation with Governor Watson, Health Secretary Dr. Allison Moore, and other relevant officials, I am prepared to send a mixture military-civilian team of 1,543 medical staff to assist you in treating your sick and wounded troops and civilians. We hope that this assistance will prove beneficial to our common cause. I wish also to thank and congratulate you and your country for the successes in the recent war and making such sacrifices to the common cause. We offer our sincerest condolences upon your losses in this rather brutal and destructive war. We are in your debt as a nation.

Sincerely,
Arnold Van Nuys, Secretary of Defense

Nyack, New York

Staff Sergeant Travis Scott had barely put out his cigarette after talking with one of the local girls in Nyack, resting after a well-fought battle there. He was a squad leader whose squad was part of a platoon in the 4th Infantry Division and had helped trap Hatch's 1st Infantry Division just hours past. It had earned Scott a minor wound to his left hand, which limited his utility in combat until it recovered, so he was one of those given lighter duties as a sentry against possible hold-outs among Hatch's troops. The local population was naturally very friendly to their liberators. This was indeed a liberation and now the ILA troops were prisoners being transferred to new POW camps at an undisclosed location. The population of this small, usually sleep town in the Lower Hudson Valley of mainland New York was free at last and welcomed that freedom after their stint of military occupation by Incelastan. It was while speaking with this local cutie, Heather Wallace, Sergeant Scott was then approached by another local....Gilbert Cunningham.

"What is it, sir?" Scott asked Cunningham, annoyed that his flirtation with the sassy recent high graduate, all of eighteen years of age, had been interrupted.

His attitude was about to change, even as Heather seemed to know her nerdy former history teacher.

"This must be important. We can talk later, Sarge. It's been nice getting to know you. Maybe we can...compare notes tonight at dinner or something. Best find out what the old teach has to say. He's a very smart man. He taught me history in high school, you see," Heather encouraged Scott.

"Very well, then. What do you have for me?" Scott asked Cunningham.

"Follow me, please," Cunningham answered with a smile.

Nervously, afraid that he was being set up somehow or would face dire consequences for abandoning his post, Scott nonetheless was curious enough to follow the middle-aged history teacher to his home. That was when he saw what Cunningham wanted him to see....Major General William Van Cleef, Commander of the 1st Army Corps of the Incel Liberation Army, hogtied by his captor, Cunningham himself. Van Cleef is wounded, but not too badly to survive. He would presumably the most senior captive to fall into coalition hands. Scott's eyes widened as he considered the ramifications. He would, indirectly, be the man who captured the highest ranking ILA officer in the war so far. He immediately contacted his superiors, starting with his platoon commander, Second Lieutenant Robert Clayton, who would be eager to take some credit as well. It would be a serious morale blow to the ILA and boost to the coalition's morale. Van Cleef looked mutinous, in spite of his injuries, but he was gagged and bound as well as injured. He was in no position to fight back.

The enemy high commander had just become a prisoner of war.

by **Sombreland** » Sun May 14, 2023 12:04 pm

Beverly, Massachusetts

Kial Gove felt very tired. He had gotten up very early in the morning and had dealt with all the stress of having to double check his gear, rush to breakfast, climb onto a helicopter, had gone with the Reconnaissance Company inland where they had been terrifyingly fired upon by the enemy, withdrew, re-embarked into an AFV, had landed along with reinforcements after the Landing Regiment’s 1st Battalion, rushed past Plum Island Beach towards the outskirts of Newburyport, dismounted, had walked a patrol, then was advanced again to a place with the strange name of Beverly, and had been dismounted again.

Eerily, there were no enemies so far in Beverly. They had seen a few white flags from civlians who didn’t want their homes destroyed, but, other than that, no MANPADs firing militias, no ambushes, nothing. Every drop of a leaf made him itchy.

“You are wetting yourself for nothing, grass-eater,” Old Cut-Nose scoffed at him. “Just keep your rifle pointing the right way. You are at least supposed to be a Royal Marine, not Thonist militia.”

Smarting under the constant insults and yet wearily used to them, Gove kept his tired eyes on his position. He was young and strong, yet the day had worn him out, just waiting for another confrontation that did not happen. He stood guard while a Major called Quan knocked on the door of an official looking building, and spoke to the people inside.

Major Quan reported to the Regimental Commander that apparently someone called Logan was in charge in Beverly, and that the enemy had fled. Apparently the ILA had withdrawn to Gloucester. He also went to call on Mr. Logan to advise him that if the citizens of Beverly were polite and cooperative, that the city of Beverly had been captured by the Royal Sombreland Marines, which was part of the Royal Sombreland Expeditionary Force, acting under the ICON alliance. In the name of the Princess-Regent, Alavaine, there was no desire to harm anybody, though, in order to keep order and protect the lives of the Expeditionary Force, they hoped they would not have to. It was hoped that harmony, peace, and respect for ancestors would soon be restored. It was requested that it was time for lunch, and would the occupants of the town please not bother the Royal Marines while they were having theirs?

The Division commander, Prince Jusus was having some tepid tea with sweet biscuits outside beside his command AFV. He received the report and gave orders to his regiments to send a part of his force to Gloucester while the rest continued to advance. A company of the First Battalion was sent to capture the small isolated city and prevent its flank from being used to target the division. The rest of the First Battalion, Royal Marine Landing Regiment, would move on Beverly. The Second Battalion, Royal Marine Landing Regiment, would take up a position at Annisquam. The Royal Marine Armoured Regiment would move to Rockport. A message was sent to a radio frequency that had been monitored by electronic warfare advising the ILA forces in Gloucester to surrender to the Royal Sombreland Marine Division. The Royal Marine Reconnaissance Regiment was instructed to begin scouting out Gloucester carefully. This involved each unit in question moving mostly along roads and highways because they did not want to damage private or public property unnecessarily.

by **Darlingtown** » Sun May 14, 2023 11:40 pm

Darlingtown, Darlingtown

SACHI had waited anxiously for preparations to finish. She was very readily aware of her allies combatting a regime of "masculists" in what was once considered the United States. Though her allies were making good progress, SACHI had committed to sending a force of her own to aid the effort and could not delay its deployment any further. The slow phasing out of old centrally-controlled "Security Proxies" for newer Combat Simulacra, or "C-Sims", had left Darlingtown in a position unready for war. A minor city-state on the remote continent of Nivalia with many diplomatic and economic ties, there had almost no worry of a war being declared against Darlingtown itself. But now she urgently needed her forces to help maintain those ties that protected Darlingtown, and ever second spent not sending the C-Sims on their way was a second that turned the screws further into SACHI's worries.

An additional issue was Darlingtown's lack of naval power. It maintained a barebones fleet of 5 miniature submarines for purely defensive purposes, and plans to expand this into surface ships had hit snag after snag and were stalled dead in the water. As far as material transportation was concerned, there was enough cargo ships that could serve the purpose of deploying C-Sim, vehicles, and equipment onto the battlefield. But they would ultimately be unescorted for most of the journey if sent alone. The solution, terrible as it was, was to use a makeshift submarine tender to extend the range of these two mini subs and allow them to provide escort for the transports. It would be slow, vulnerable, and essentially visible from space, but it was better than leaving the ships without escort.

The C-Sims were a problem that could not be patched together and pressed into action, however. Converting machinery to manufacture C-Sims at a higher rate proved difficult and created a number of issues that led to many C-Sims rolling off the factory floor too flawed for use and eventually scrapped. Even now, production was still not at its peak and needed constant adjustment and oversight. But still, there were now just enough C-Sims to both send a light regiment out with some surplus gear while still maintaining enough C-Sims in Darlingtown to address its security needs.

The wait was now over. SACHI issues the signal for the 1st Darlingtown Expeditionary Force to begin deployment. Silently, solemnly, the C-Sims obliged and marched onto the converted cargo ships that were now packed full of vehicle, weapons, and munitions. This would be the first ever war Darlingtown officially participated in beyond minor humanitarian aid, and until now no C-Sim had ever been in an actual combat scenario. Even though they had been trained on simulations countless times, there was a growing tension and nervousness hovering over the android women. They knew it was likely some of them would not be making it back to Darlingtown, and that this would be the last they ever saw of their frozen Nivalian home. A few of them leaned over the rails, waving goodbye to the glistening frozen arcology as the only one who watched them leave was VERSA through their radar return.

There was no pomp and circumstance for their departure by the Darlings of Darlingtown, few even knowing that Darlingtown was involving itself in an armed conflict. Nothing in Darlingtown seemed to change one bit with the nation's entry into the war, life continuing as usual as the state's media simply did not report on such things. There was little joy that SACHI's Darlings could gain from such news, but much worry and distress could certainly come of it. Thus information was suppressed and the idea that Darlingtown was currently involved in the war in Incelastan essentially did not exist within the protective walls of Darlingtown.

1st Darlingtown Expeditionary Force
High Seas

As the ships slowly made their way across the sea, the C-Sims aboard found themselves beyond the omniscient eye of SACHI for the first time, permitting them to relax if even just a little. A few began playing games with each other, singing, or participating in other bouts of merrymaking as they enjoyed the tiniest sliver of freedom allotted to them while in transit. The entertainment became more and more rambunctious as time went on, ending only when an unfortunate C-Sim named Silvia boldly trying to balance on a rail to prove her bravery fell overboard, shorting out in the water and sinking into the depths of the sea. Her death was the first many of the C-Sims had ever witnessed, and the reality of their own mortality oppressed much of the rowdiness and joy that had so easily overtaken them earlier.

For several hours after the incident, there wasn't a whisper aboard the ships. The waves lapping at the sides of the ships, the hum of the engines, and the creaking of the ships' hulls the only thing that broke up what would have been total emptiness. It wasn't until one of the C-Sims, who had acquired a small cross necklace from somewhere previously, knelt on the deck while clasping the cross in her hands and started offering up a prayer that the silence was broken.

Father in Heaven,
Whose name is most holy,
May your mercy and love bless all.
Forgive us of our trespasses and our debts,
And guide Silvia's spirit back to thy kingdom above.
For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever.
Amen.

Another silent moment passed as she finished. Religion was an extreme rarity amongst the C-Sims, and none had near as much devotion to any creed as Gloria did. But still...there was something about the prayer that brought peace to the C-Sims who heard it. Warmth quickly began to return to the ship, though there wasn't near as much energy and rambunctiousness as before. A few C-Sims thanked Gloria for the prayer, to which she simply smiled and offered them each a small hug.

The thoughts of impending death still weighed on the minds of the C-SIms. But at least for now, as the ships leisurely crawled their way toward Incelastan, there was peace.

by **Legatia** » Tue May 16, 2023 10:15 am

(OOC Note: for timekeeping purposes, D+0 is the date when offensive operations on the ground (i.e. Battle of Nyack/White Plains/Providence/etc.) commenced. This post and all posts forward will use that as a reference system for times and dates of events.)

Meridon Defense Forces
Meridonian Army, 9 Division Armored
64 Regimental Combat Team Armored (64 RA RCT), 44 Battalion Armored
-
Greenwich, New York, NYC- 0321H EST- D+1

64 Regimental Combat Team had come expecting to be outnumbered, and Colonel Caron had done everything available to mitigate this. Significant amounts of artillery surviving were not in her calculus, and their neutralization would be paramount if they were to succeed in this ambush.

As it currently stood, she was outnumbered close to 2 to one, likely a bit more- an understrength division versus a standard strength regiment, but as was typical in the engagements of this war, the overwhelming firepower advantage lay on the side of the MDF.

Counterbattery radars were the first to identify and triangulate the firing positions of the artillery, and within thirty seconds a devastating counterbattery fire was delivered via six battery detachments of three each SAS-90 SPGs. Relayed coordinates were concentrated on immediately by every available piece of fire support, but even their response time wouldn't be enough to stop the first few hails of shells to hurtle down ontop of the artillery batteries.

Their rounds set formations of dismounted infantry on fire, and subsequent ones scrambled for what cover was available or into armored vehicles. The vehicles themselves were relatively unscathed, but the artillery fire claimed the lives of dozens in the opening salvoes, writhing in pain as they were burned until dead.

From the sky came an even more aggressive application of manpower than what was seen in Yonkers. Running down the highway at 20,000 feet were Wasps from bases in New York City, revisiting the Marines with an even more impressive display of air power. Perhaps it was coincidental that they had brought similarly controversial weaponry to the exposed infantry formations.

Thermobaric weapons were launched from the orbiting fighter to complement both unguided and guided munitions, rockets, and gunfire raking formations. Targeted especially for destruction was what remained of the artillery with particular aggression. As they had in Yonkers, the fighters rolled into a dive, released their weapons in clusters on artillery sites, and rolled out with afterburners flaring to attack another target.

The infantry and armor here had no intention of letting Lanier nor his division escape in any significant numbers- if at all. The well-drilled Meridonian infantry and supporting tanks continued to pour hail into the Marines. Tanks began to switch from high explosive and sabot rounds as they ran out of vehicle targets, engaging instead with canister shot supplementing their coaxial and remote-mount machine guns in pouring fire into the formation. They were winning, and they were giving it out much harsher than they were taking it.

With the enemy in fixed positions, two battalions of armor and infantry remained to pin Lanier's forces at the northern point of their advance while the third, 44 Battalion, swung south to prevent any attempt at an escape. AMMV infantry fighting vehicles and Conqueror tanks rolled across the road as they began to angle into positions to close the noose once and for all.

Meridonian Intelligence Agency
Abroad Intelligence Service
HIGHSET Group- Special Operative NIGHTROSE
-
Boston (Masculinium), Massachusets- D+0

Nightrose had expected to be busier maintaining his cover after 'Simple Simon' had been extracted, and his expectation had proven correct. He and his agents were responsible for more and more culling operations in the city as assigned to them by the SSP officers in command of the 'Lieutenant' and his men. So one by one, they had started to disappear. Without an 'in' within the Directorate, and with popular sentiments growing against the SSP, one by one his men began to disappear- deserting, faking their deaths, or otherwise to change their identities to ones unreliant on the government apparatus to maintain their cover. By now, only Nightrose and a handful of others remained, and his desertion was already planned.

It seemed, however, he would be able to get his hands on one last piece of information- not from one of his agents, but from an informant in the SSP.

Davis was dead. He had been on guard and heard the gunshots, and had observed what men left that building the one day, including the bodybag. It meant one thing. The regime was falling apart.

Nightrose quickly sent a coded cipher to his handler in New York City. From there, it was decoded, and handed to an Air Forces intelligence officer. From there, it passed directly to the desk of Oak Hand's officer commanding.

Meridon Defense Forces
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand (OC CTFOH)
Task Force Headquarters Group
-
The New York Hilton Midtown, New York City, New York- 2135H EST, D+0

"..He's dead." Ironwood looked at the paper in some state of disbelief.

"..Yes, sir." The Air Forces Lieutenant Colonel before him, an intelligence officer in the headquarters staff, had a nametag identifying her as 'Hayes'. "The report came in from AIS an hour ago, this is accurate as of last night. We don't expect this to change much immediately, certainly not enough to warrant a shift in operational plans, but it's likely to indicate a very imminent degradation and potential collapse of their government at a very senior level. It sets a dangerous precedent for anyone else, considering the lackluster fanfare and limited popular announcement."

"Who's in charge?" His next question was obvious, but the woman had to glance at the report again.

"We're expecting that La Rousse, head of the SSP, is part of it. We believe that Simple Simon- ahem, Hernandez, our inside man, being allowed to escape was a likely trigger for it. The failure of the SSP to contain him would've meant that La Rousse's head is on the chopping block."

"Nothing more dangerous than a cornered animal. Well, good riddance. I assume it's safe to say that this changes little with General Owens." Ironwood leaned back into the office chair in his room. The ones at this hotel were not to his liking, but he didn't complain. He was sitting in a luxury hotel while men were fighting and bleeding miles away. He didn't need any more luxury than necessary. He had been wanting to visit the men on the frontline, but his deputy and his chief of staff had both forbade him from doing it. Funny, he thought, taking orders like that from less senior officers, but he realized his whims were not what was important.

"No, sir. He is currently in Worcester, west of Boston, with a corps-sized grouping at his back, more or less numerically equivalent to what's in Boston. We don't know how well the factions that compose that grouping agree with his ideology, but they are regular military as opposed to militia and security groupings. They might not be well-trained or equipped, but they're fervent."

Ironwood nodded and glanced at the draft of operational orders on his desk. The LCol before him of course had operational clearance to view these documents, incomplete as they were, but out of habit he laid a hand upon them. "It doesn't matter who gets to Boston first. It's going to be bloody either way."

"I would say that's correct, sir;" LCol Hayes agreed as she used a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I should inform you that this information has already been forwarded to Cordelia, naturally."

"There were some other matters, Lieutenant Colonel. There's a memo here that said that forces from.." The General sighed exhaustedly as he looked at the name, allowed his brain to process the name, and then pronounce. "..East Krasneya, have arrived at LaGuardia. Special troops, with dated equipment. It's my understanding that they are conducting activities for Joseon."

The Lieutenant Colonel very nearly corrected the General's pronunciation, but did not as she took the cue from his fatigued face.

"That is correct, sir, about a battalion's worth. We've sent message to General Quaritch but we've not received anything yet. We'll bring that information once we have it."

"Good;" Ironwood rested a finger atop a pen, balancing its point atop the desktop. "And I'm hearing that the Commonwealth captured a Major General in Nyack, from the ILA's 1st Army Corps. Where is he?"

"Being held in Nyack, sir, with Commonwealth forces. We're not sure if he's been interrogated or not, but.."

Ironwood surprised the officer as she found herself interrupted. "Get word out to Colonel Royal, to have him brought into custody immediately, send out some MPs. I want him squeezed, I want every bit of info I can get out of that man."

"Aye, sir;" Hayes replied quickly before the General looked back and exhaled.

"..Perhaps that was a bit too blunt. You'll excuse me, Lieutenant Colonel. If that's all, I have work to do."

"Yes, sir. Should I send for coffee?" She took a step back as she eyed the General, who had already went to type something on his laptop. He paused only for a moment to meet her eyes with a smile.

"Please. It'll be a long night."

Official Correspondence- UNENCRYPTED - DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED

Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 6th Avenue
New York, CNY, 10019

Chairman Ryan Hopkins of the Nantucket area; the Interim Government of the New Hampshire area; Chairman Ward Peters of the Maine area; and Colonel Byron March, governor of the Vermont area (CC- ALL COMBATANT COMMANDERS OF INVOLVED CTFOH NATIONS, ALL FOREIGN RELATIONS DEPARTMENTS OF INVOLVED CTFOH NATIONS),

On behalf of the nations comprising Combined Task Force Oak Hand, and on behalf of the Federal Republic of Meridon, I bid you greetings and offer not only my congratulations on the overthrowing of an oppressive and territorial regime, but my support in your efforts to establish governments over those states and areas you have freed. I am writing to establish our first communication with your administrations in the efforts of rebuilding the New England region both during and after the conflict in this area.

My authority is limited to military operations in the region and therefore I cannot speak directly for the policies of other nations involved in this task force, but on behalf of the State Department, Meridon wishes to convey that as of current, it intends to recognize the authority and jurisdiction that your administrations hold over your rightfully claimed territories, but it does not recognize any of your nations as currently sovereign and/or independent nations. This is, however, not to say that Meridon does not intend to recognize your states as nation in the future, pending the conclusion of hostilities and the drawing of border lines following the conflict's end. All of your administrations will be invited to attend this process when it is ongoing so that you may have a say in your future as either a subordinate territory of a larger nation or as independent nations.

This, however, is contingent on the amicable cooperation of your administrations in allowing the Combined Task Force to complete its operational objective, foremost of which is the eradication of the Masculist government and its subsidiary agents and agencies. On behalf of the Combined Task Force, we would ask that our military forces be allowed free passage through all air, land, and sea territory of your states; cooperation between all police, security, and military forces and those of the Combined Task Force; and for reasonable accommodations to be considered dutifully upon the direct request of my headquarters should the needs of the operation require it. In exchange, the Task Force will provide military protection, humanitarian aid, and peacekeeping services as are necessary during and after the entirety of the conflict, and will ensure your representation in all post-conflict mediatory interests, including the establishments of states and borders, compensatory efforts, sentencing of war criminals, prisoner of war reallocation, and other such areas.

It is my hope this will allow us to see the return of peace to a troubled region and begin the process of rebuilding fruitful lives and relations in this region. Please do not hesitate to contact my headquarters for further questions.

Respectfully written,

-John Ironwood
General, Meridonian Army
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand

Somewhere in Worcester, an AIS agent in the clothes of an ILA soldier like those of Owen's corps would slide a letter into his mailbox directly. No electronic record of its journey could be found.

Official Correspondence- ENCRYPTED - EYES ONLY - SECRET

Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 6th Avenue
New York, CNY, 10019

THIS MESSAGE CONTAINS RESTRICTED DEFENSE INFORMATION. ENSURE DESTRUCTION OR STORAGE IN APPROVED SECURE LOCATION.

Major General Robert Owens,

I send you my greetings. This message is an offer to you and your forces. By virtue of your service as a general officer of the 'Incel Liberation Army', you are currently regarded as a terrorist figurehead and a threat to both Meridonian national security and as an enemy of the Combined Task Force. Our intelligence, including analysis of your recent declaration of rebellion, however, reveals there may be more to this story than we are yet aware of.

I am not able to rescind your current designation as a terrorist, whose implications would mean once the war is over you would be tried under international law as a war criminal and a terrorist and potentially sentenced to death or life imprisonment. You, as many in the regime you used to serve, realize now this war and this regime are lost. On behalf of our government, Meridon would be willing to rescind your designation as a terrorist and war criminal- and subsequently, prevent any major criminal preceding against you- should your conduct in the immediate future prove beneficial to the ending of this conflict and the establishment of a lasting peace in the region. This offer is contingent on a number of requirements of you.

First and most prudent, we would require your cooperation with any CTF forces, including directives from our headquarters. Second, if and when you have taken and secured Boston from Masculist forces, your troops will stand down, stand fast, and allow the unimpeded entry of CTF military and peacekeeper forces into all territory occupied by your forces once the operations against the ILA are completed. Your forces may or may not be disarmed and detained to comply with this directive, but as of now we are not requiring that you surrender your command or disband any of your forces. Third, you will accept the authority of a CTF-organized post-conflict reorganization organ as is to be determined by CTF nations to handle the establishments of states and borders, compensatory efforts, sentencing of war criminals, prisoner of war reallocation, and other such areas. Fourth, you will agree to allow the Combined Task Force access to any and all military and civil records kept and maintained by the Masculist regime.

Should you accept this offer, Meridon will prevent your prosecution as a war criminal contingent on your exoneration from complicity or cooperation in war crimes committed by the greater Masculist regime; and leave the possibility open for you to continue your administration in the post-war negotiation efforts. Should you refuse, you and your forces will be treated as terrorists and destroyed. For the prosperity of yourself, your men, and the state and people you are claiming to represent, I strongly encourage you signal your acceptance. Should we receive no response from you by 2359 on D+2, the Combined Task Force and the government of Meridon will consider this offer rejected.

-John Ironwood
General, Meridonian Army
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand

Meridon Defense Forces
Meridonian Army, 2 Division Airmobile
22 Regimental Combat Team Airmobile (22 RAM RCT), 23 Battalion Airmobile Infantry
-
Mansfield Municipal Airport, Mansfield, MA- 1301H D+0

Groups of Army Direct Attack Control Terminal teams stood in the terminal building of the general aviation airport, far too small to permit the operation of most airlifters. 22 Regiment, along with its sister in 12 Regiment, would be held up in their movement towards Canton- though they had no resistance in taking their objectives, airlifting enough vehicles to supply them would take the rest of the day. Soldiers had used what trucks and vehicles that had been shuttled in by helicopters to tow what few prop-piston planes remained on the tarmac into a grass clearing short of the approach end of the airport's runway 14 in a rather messy fashion to allow the tarmac and runway to be used as a staging area for vehicles. The controllers watched carefully as Kalua airlifter dropped about six vehicles from its cargo bay before banking north towards Canada.

Being the closest to land, 22 Regimental Combat Team's infantry forces would be the first to receive their vehicles. Overhead, C12M2 Kalua, C13M Pegasus and C14M Alicorn aircrafts made passes at about a thousand feet, spaced in four-minute intervals as they delivered the vehicles of the regiment- Matahura EMVs and Sentinel PMVs. belonging to the infantry formation. A smaller number of MANN GX2 utility vehicles for towing and carrying supplies were delivered by both helicopter and airdrop, as helicopters from the division focused on delivering the rest of the Airmobile Division's troops into the fight. During the early morning hours of D+1, once the movement of troops and supplies were complete, they would be off north.

Meridon Defense Forces
Meridonian Navy, 5 Patrol Group (5 PATGRU), 94 Maritime Patrol Squadron (94 MPS)
M7M Kingfisher maritime patrol aircraft "Marlin 3-1"
-
Atlantic Coastline- 1555H D+1

"Eleven, away!"

The eleventh sonobuoy expenditure from Marlin 3-1 hurtled from the bottom of the aircraft, its parachute slowing it until the capsule deployed into the water. She had narrowed down the location at first by using passive sonobuoys, and switched to include active as the signature became more distinct. The aircraft, flying at about six hundred feet above the water as it dropped, banked thirty degrees to the left to come around for another pass.

"Contact on seven, single screw noises and cavitation!" One of the systems operators stared at an overlay on his mission control screen, showing the geolocated sonobuoys and its contact tracing. The seas here, far enough from the sink site, were condusive to such a search as the submarine steamed away. The fact the submarine was cavitating as it steamed at max speed made location that much easier.

"..Contact on eleven, strong contact, no bearing, range within four hundred yards."

"Triangulate it!" The mission commander barked. Plotters in the rear tracked sonobuoy eleven's position, and soon after another ping from sonobuoy nine gave exactly what they were looking for.

"Contact! Designated Sierra Four. Submerged submarine at a hundred feet, making thirty knots, heading west.. secondary ping confirmed. Evaluate Sierra Four as hostile, Virginia-class submarine. Sir, we have a solution!"

"Solution confirmed, we're about to be right on top of him! Weapons, depth charges for a hundred feet, standby torpedoes for the next drop!"

"Set, sir!" A crewman stood at the weapons control panel at the MPA's rear. "Depth charge set!"

"Away depth charges!"

"Aye, sir!"

Two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve depth charges were deployed in a line diagonal to the submarine as the Kingfisher passed overhead at close to two hundred knots. They impacted the water and began to sink to their explosion depth just on the position of the Pegasus. If they hadn't heard all the noise the sonobuoys tracking them were making, the drops directly above their head would leave no question.

by **Anagonia** » Tue May 16, 2023 1:50 pm

Battle Flag of the Confederate States

TO: General John Ironwood; General, Meridonian Army; Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
FROM: Commodore Finlay Green; Commanding Officer, Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway; Confederate States Navy; Confederate States of Anagonia
ENCRYPTION: CLASSIFIED; ICON ALLIED COMMANDING AUTHORITIES ONLY; YOUR EYES ONLY
SUBJECT: Compliance

General Ironwood,

It is a pleasure to properly correspond with you. I am responding to your operational commands by affirming that Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway will comply with your orders. I will prepare my fleet to conduct the operational strike as ordered on Day 02 at 0830 Hours. Please utilize this encrypted message to reply to this for any further requests, as my fleet will be on standby.

Operational Update for us is we are underway conducting Humanitarian Operations for the citizens of the surrounding states impacted by the ongoing conflict. I am informed in reports we have already assisted, aided, helped, or treated medically well over 4,500 individuals as of this message. The civilians are approaching our fleet typically in unarmed boats and we are appropriately designating and responding to their requests for aid. My hospital ship, the CSS Grace, is now under Joseon Military Authority and Protection and is currently situated close to the coast of New York State, where the Joseon Navy desired it to assist with wounded of both our allied units and OPFOR's, as well as to treat civilian casualties. My marines (around 600) are on standby if you require special insertion and strike operations, though as of this moment the Confederate Military has informed me we are all this operation can receive as it is too far extended from traditional supply routes for us to support more than my battle fleet. This is a long-winded way of saying we're all you're going to get, and we won't be able to send in ground troops yet until the Confederate Navy figures out an appropriate logistics route.

Logistics update for us is my Auxilitary Destroyer Tender Ship, the CSS Springfell Falls, is utilizing a a third-party system set up by the Confederate Navy with purchased civilian merchant ships from our European ports arriving to our fleet and transferring fuel and supplies. This is, as you can imagine, expensive. This is the primary reason why we can only support one fleet. We are overextended on supplies but we are managing well.

Weapons Stores update is I predict we will be able to successfully complete your objective requested, however our first preliminary cruise missile strike that targeted the ILA's 2nd Armored Division (or thereabouts) and coastal artillery sites to assist Sombrelandian Operational Invasion Plans too half the stores from our destroyers. I predict we will still able to utilize the rest of the ships for this purpose.

That is all,
Commodore Finlay Green
Commanding Officer of NBF Forest Holloway

Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
Commodore Finlay Green; Naval Battle Fleet CO
Combined Task Force Oak Hand; D+2; 0600 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
45 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States

Commodore Green had woken earlier in the morning around 0400 hours. Ensign Jack Porriage had been up, dutifully providing the morning supply of coffee to most of the officers awake at the time - including the Commodore. Over the last two days Finlay had been keeping a close track of the successes - and failures - of CTF Oak Hand, the proclaimed united task force of ICON forces currently fighting the Masculist Regime of which NBF Forest Holloway was a part of. It irked the Commodore greatly that he couldn't contribute appropriately to the ground fighting alongside the natural Anagonian allies of Sombreland and Joseon, as well as other CTF allied military forces. He had spoken at length with Major Jack Harrison, the Confederate States Marine Corps Commanding Officer of the Marine Compliment on board the Battlecarrier CSS Neptune. Every possible aspect and approach was discussed but, in the end, the Major had simply stated they didn't have enough forces. Even with the complimentary 200 additional Marines on the LPD weren't enough to add the possibility of direct ground military operations. At best, NBF Forest Holloway could only provide quick strike operations.

When he had replied to General John Ironwood - the CTF Overall Commanding Officer - on the first day of CTF operations, it had been somewhat of a shame for him to type it out. Thankfully, however, Anagonia would still be able to contribute greatly to the war effort. Once again NBF Forest Holloway would strike at the 2nd Armored Division. The first time they had, it had been a reactionary measure to force a retreat. The Battlecarrier CSS Neptune had fired simply 5 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to instigate a satisfactory response - that of a retreat - which had been overwhelmingly successful. That along with the combined Harpoon II strike from the NBF's destroyers had destroyed most of the coastal artillery that assisted with the eventual Sombreland invasion. Now, NBF Forest Holloway - and potentially the CSS Neptune - would get to strike a killing blow. Commodore Green had already had the overall plan of action meeting a day prior, assessing and reassessing fleet capabilities and response abilities to the orders they were given.

Almost all ships in the Confederate Navy utilized the famous, tried and true Mk. 41 VLS modules - with Strikedown Modules for replenishment at seas. Unlike the US Navy, the Confederate Navy never saw the strikedown cranes as impracticle and doubled down on extensive training procedures and handling to properly respect and operate replenishment operations. This meant that every ship in the fleet supplied with the appropriate strikedown modules could carry additional missile reserves for replenishment. This also added an extra layer of possible danger as a lucky strike could - potentially - set off the ammunition stores. So far such an event had yet to happen and the Confederate Navy was not lazy when it came to safety procedures for ammunition stowage and replenishment. This all meant that NBF Forest Holloway had extended ammunition stores for its VLS-capable cruise missiles. What the fleet had launched before could be replenished from internal stores. At present, the fleet had several options for complying with the cruise missile attack orders.

The fleet carriers CSS Forest Holloway and CSS William Youngston both had Mk. 41 VLS modules. The Boxer-class CSS William Youngston had the advantage with 26 RGM-84 Harpoon's with JVC's to enable land-attack operations. The Forest Holloway-class CSS Forest Holloway had, on the other hand, only 8 Tomahawks. This meant that, combined, both would launch 17 Cruise Missiles. The Spartan-class Gunboats in the fleet were equipped with a more traditional Naval Strike Missile's in two 4-cell launchers - in total, all Gunboats would fire 20 Naval Strike Missiles. The fleets 3 Andrew Shane-class Guided Missile Frigates were better equipped with two 4-cell Naval Strike Missile Launchers and 11 RGM-84 Harpoons w/ JVC's that complimented their Mk. 41 VLS modules - in total, they each combined would fire 12 Naval Strike Missiles and 15 Harpoons. The fleets 2 Edmond Goff-class Guided Missile Destroyers had expended most of their stores during their strike on behalf of Sombrelands invasion, but combined still could launch 8 Harpoon II's. The fleets Lexington-class Battlecarrier had already launched 5 Tomahawks out of a store of 30, so it would only launch 12 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. The fleets 2 Thursday-class Nuclear Attack Submarines had a store of 14 UGM-84 Harpoons on board each individual submarine, which meant both would launch a combined 14 Harpoon Missiles.

It would be a massive attack that would light up the morning waters off the coast of New York. Commodore Green had already ensured that the Gunboats in the fleet - the three that were still with the fleet - would stave off civilians prior to the combined cruise missile launches. The two Gunboats protecting the hospital ship would sail a ways away and launch their Naval Strike Missiles separately. In total, Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway would launch a staggering 98 cruise missiles over the course of thirty minutes to an hour. This would all entirely depend on accurate naval intelligence and accurate GPS guidance of the systems. Commodore Green waited patiently for the countdown to drop to zero hour - 0830 hours.

It was a brisk, cold morning in the waters off the coast of New York State and Long Island. Forty-Five nautical miles out and the temperature fluctuated somewhat from what it was on the land. Sipping his coffee, Finlay watched as both carriers began launching earlier sortie operations for refueling and Hawkeye observations. He absently wondered if their stores of fighters would ever be called for strike operations. Some part of him hoped they wouldn't.

Spartan-class Gunboats CSS Priestess & CSS Prophet
Hospital Ship Protection Fleet Detail
Combined Task Force Oak Hand; D+2; 0830 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
12 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States
Zero Hour; Strike Operation Commencing

Commanders Gentle and Gyle, commanding officers of the Anagonian Gunboats CSS Priestess and CSS Prophet, had already commanded their ships away from the Hospital Ship CSS Grace. As the twinkling of the sun rose over the horizon, their silhouettes were darkened by the shining light towards those on the shore as they casually sailed in a slow semi-circle at five knots just eight nautical miles from the Hospital Ship. In an instant, the quiet morning was intruded by the thundering roar of missile launches. Both gunboats synchronized their launches, launching one Naval Strike Missile every ten seconds, for a total of eight Naval Strike Missiles flaring up into the morning sky and turning sharply in the direction of Kingston, New York. In the background of the fleets, clearly visible, was an almost insane amount of rocket-trails flowing up into the morning sky and arching in the same direction. Once the launch was completed, the two Gunboats would slowly finish their semi-circle and return to their posts near shore to protect the Hospital Ship.

Naval Battle Fleet Forest Holloway
Combined Task Force Oak Hand; D+2; 0830 Hours Anagonian Standard Time
45 Nautical Miles off the Coast of New York, Old United States
Zero Hour; Strike Operation Commencing

Per her station as the fleets Battleship, the Battlecarrier CSS Neptune was the first to fire. Captain Daniel Hankers, Captain of the Anagonian Battlecarrier, ordered the commencement of strike operations that was broadcast fleet-wide.

"NBF Foxtrot Hotel; All assets, commence fire, commence fire, commence fire"

The fleet erupted with the loud warning sirens from the Battlecarrier as the noise pierced the quiet morning, then five seconds later the first Tomahawk rocketed from its silo on the great battleship into the morning sky. As it did so, several dozen more joined it from both the surface ships and streaks of smoke erupting from beneath the waves as the submarines - now positioned on either side of the fleet just for this launch operation - began to unload their stores. Each launch was given ten seconds between intervals, which meant that at any one time thirteen cruise missiles of various types would launch in unison. The only exception was in the distance, with the two Gunboats nearest the shore, launching their stores in sequence with the fleet but separate from the combined launch.

Ten seconds later another thirteen cruise missiles of various types launched into the sky, starting in sequence with the Battlecarrier. The two Light Carriers CSS Forest Holloway and CSS William Youngston rumbled as their VLS tubes erupted and their deck operations cleared specifically for the missile launch operations. The morning sky was erupting in blinding flashes of thirteen new suns that threatened to topple the morning light as the second launch completed its cycle. The submarines would take the longest in their intervals, having to expend tubes and reload them in sequence with one another. Ten more seconds of quiet filled the ocean waters.

Thirteen more blinding flashes of light erupted into the morning sky. The noise was deafening as the smoke trailers from previous launches were joined by thirteen more fresh trails of smoke arching up into the sky. The cruise missiles would sharply turn towards the direction of Kingston, NY, directed by live updated intelligence and satellite data as well as GPS tracking systems. Civilians in their boats who had come in the morning for their requested amounts of aide, and whom had also been safely corralled a nautical mile away from the fleet, already had their phones out and various other recording devices as they recorded what, to them, must of been an amazing experience. The silence afterward threatened to break the noise of missiles in the distance, the sunlight returning freshly as the sun rose a bit higher as the seconds waned.

Another thirteen missiles erupted into life as their light blinded the surrounding area, their internal fuels igniting to create the thunderous and loud roar of propellant that propelled them upward. It was then after the fourth launch in sequence that the CSS Forest Holloway had expended her required stores. The unique all clear alarm for her deck sounded as the Crew Chief commanded a resume of operations. On the other ships, however, no such all clear was given - with the exception of the three fleet Gunboats. They would resume proximity security for the fleet and begin to approach the civilians at the restricted border set up by them earlier, offering assistance and aid as appropriate. Also by that point would the two Thursday-class submarines enter into a bit of "friendly competition". Both Submarine Captains had bet that their crew was the best, and this launch operation would prove it. The launches from the submarines would only happen now thanks to the swiftness of her crew and other automated systems as appropriate. Their missiles would perhaps join a tad bit later than intended, but nonetheless join they would.

The launches continued in sequence through the long 16 minutes and 20 seconds it would take for the entire fleet to expend their munitions allocated for the strike. The two submarines would eventually expend their munitions around 17 minutes after the last launch from a surface ship, with the CSS Odin's Glare winning the "friendly competition" by only a fraction of a second. To ensure honesty, Commodore Green had recorded their launches with two separate cameras. He would ensure, however, both crews got their just rewards and a much deserved dinner. Unlike the surface ships, the submarine crews had to operate overtime and with much manual labor to accomplish what had been requested of them. As the last missile angled itself into the sky from the final Submarine launch, the all clear klaxon from the Battlecarrier was given. The fleet would resume humanitarian operations.

ATTACK
x98 Cruise Missiles of varying types (Tomahawk, Harpoon, Naval Strike Missile)

All cruise missiles are heading to strike the 2nd Armored Division in Kingston, New York - inland from the Fleet.

Nova's Spotify · by **Nova Secta** » Tue May 16, 2023 2:25 pm

BCT Alpha-109 Headquarters, Combined Task Force Oak Hand, Nutting Lake, Massachusetts [ D+1 ]

CERSEI admired the Brigadier from afar, though she would never dare mention that openly, not to a hardened military commander like Silas Frémantle. Despite her admiration for Saescia’s top military commander in North America, she was still new to the battlefront and was an unknown commodity for the more traditionalist oriented Frémantle and his XO, Colonel Clarke. The two were hard at work pouring over maps of the northern perimeter that had been established by the allied forces of Combined Task Force Oak Hand, through some fortuitous luck and some amazing prognostication from its command elements. Even in her own computational simulations, the forces of CTFOH were unlikely to achieve this much success in a fortnight, were it not for the unsettled ILA lines and the cooperation of local elements in the north. The situation was far from static; it was fluid and ever-changing by the day.

As the Glorious Dominion of Saescia’s most important contribution to the war effort, CERSEI had been eagerly awaiting her first military deployment, anxious to prove her worth to the men and women of the Combined Task Force and Saescia’s own integrated unit, Brigade Combat Team Alpha-109. Though her country’s work in artificial intelligence and android creation lacked the sophistication of the work performed by SACHI and her complement in Darlingtown, CERSEI was nonetheless approved for deployment with BCT Alpha-109 as part of the Dominion’s new A.I. integration protocols, seeking to put combat units like CERSEI into the thick of the action when and where possible. It was an exciting time for Saescian computer programmers and robotics engineers, and it was a mesmerizing experience for her as well. To serve her country in its time of need — as well as her programming — was a high honor, to be certain.

Of course, serving her country was dependent on the sentimentality that Brigadier General Frémantle had for his conventional scouts and signals platoons in the field, and whether or not he would take advantage of her tactical prowess in combat operational maneuvers. He was already processing CTFOH Command’s orders to conduct shaping operations north of Boston near the I-95 perimeter under the auspices of Sombrelander theater command. Things were moving more and more quickly by the hour, with an entire operational force to the southwest deigned to take on ILA pockets in the Hudson Valley and Adirondacks. With the staging area established south of Lowell, Massachusetts Brigade Combat Team Alpha-109 had already begun disseminating orders to battalion commanders in preparation of Saescia’s formal entry into the conflict. Military operations would be handled from their command post in Nutting Lake.

Silas Ezra Frémantle was part of Saescia’s ‘Old Guard’, a breed of military officers who predated the Dominion’s conflict with Gran Ventana and Hanasaku in Wishtonia. Hardened by the war and the preparation for the inevitable follow-on conflict, they were a bastion of no-nonsense toughness and grit, the classical military hardbody if ever there was one in a Saescian military uniform. Though he had been perfectly cordial (if brisk) towards her in their limited interactions, CERSEI had long-since come to the conclusion that the Brigadier was somewhat-troubled by her presence in camp and had his suspicions over whether or not her usefulness would prove valuable to the operation at hand. He was stuck in his ways, and though CERSEI respected that and would never attempt to juxtapose herself into his methodology, she would need to be assertive enough to fulfill her programming if her mission were to succeed.

If Brigadier General Frémantle was traditionalist in his military orthodoxy, his executive officer Emilia ‘Reyna’ Clarke was hyper-conservative. A transplant of the Royal Sentinels, Clarke had transitioned to the Legion after the Hanasaku-Xiahua conflict in Wishtonia and had never looked back. Though only forty years old compared to her senior commander’s sixty, she was wizened beyond her years thanks to her combat experience and her penchant for serving as an observer in conflict zones across Teremara and beyond. Her delicate blond hair had streaks of gray in it, aged beyond her years as such through all she had seen and been through. An attractive if ornery woman, Clarke was a firecracker, a pistol compared to the more reserved and taciturn Frémantle. If the Brigadier had looked on CERSEI with mild concern, Clarke looked on her with outright-contempt and overt hostility, and for certain mistrustfulness.

And so it was that CERSEI found herself on standby, waiting for her moment to shine in the sun while Frémantle and Clarke went over their orders. Saescian forces had been ordered by central command to fall in ranks with their CTFOH allies, which was greatly assisted by the collapse of ILA control in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Now Boston found itself in the crosshairs of liberty and justice, and the shaping operations taking place were undoubtedly a prelude to a full military incursion once CTFOH command felt it right to proceed in attacking the city. There was a chance that military resistance could crumble in the Massachusetts capital before military force was brought to bear on them, but that presumed a measure, even a modicum of common sense from the ILA and its diehard zealots. Their putrid ideological stance made the prospect of confrontation in the streets of Boston all the more likely in the end.

"CERSEI, I could use your eyes over here," the Brigadier said suddenly, shocking the military automaton. "We have a difference of opinion that needs settling regarding the choice of targets set before us. Maybe your intuition could help us pave the way to breaking the deadlock."

"Certainly sir," she replied to Frémantle in earnestness, walking over towards the table established as the centerpiece in the Brigadier's tent. "I would be happy to lend my insights wherever they may be of service to you and to the mission set before the Glorious Dominion of Saescia."

"The Brigadier and I are at loggerheads over our opening maneuvers," Colonel Clarke stated coldly, pointing a bony finger at the map just south of their position. "I am of the opinion that the T-junction and the cloverleaf interchange to the west where Highway 3 and I-95 meet will be the primary point of contention. Controlling access to Highway 3 is vital, because it gives the controller access all the way south to Cambridge and the Charles River."

Frémantle countermanded, "Meanwhile, I value the capture of the interchange at State Route 4 to the northeast of Tophet Swamp. The route opens the door to Lexington and allows us to begin closing off the western approaches to Boston. There's some prime real estate between Lexington and Arlington that could be of use to us in softening up targets to the southeast. I'd like to get your opinion on the matter at hand here, CERSEI. If you would, please?"

CERSEI scanned the map, processing the lay of the land, then began to make her own pitch. "The most important logistical facility in this sector is Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, here," she pointed at the map between the two interchanges of I-95 and Highway 3. "It has a commanding view of the interstate and could be used by the enemy as a staging area for resistance. Capture of the hospital for usage by allied forces should be considered priority one."

"That means we move on the interchanges, then," Clarke conferred to the Brigadier, pointing at its proximity to the target area. "We can reconnoiter the area south of I-95 for any weapons depots or batteries that could prove hostile to CTFOH forces in the area, then stage an operation to secure the hospital and the interchanges. "We'll have opened a route south to Cambridge for northern forces and keep from buffeting the Ulan Guards RCG to our west."

Brigadier General Frémantle motioned towards the hospital on the map, scowling: "I would suspect that the ILA could be using that location as a shield knowing we would never deliberately target civilian infrastructure. If not, it would be a vital capture; if they are there, however, we could expect fierce floor-to-floor fighting if we intend to clear that nest of vipers out of there. It would be a risky gambit and certainly put Saescians at risk early on."

"I calculate a probability of 3:1 that enemy forces are already inside the hospital complex," CERSEI added, looking at Colonel Clarke. "If we intend to take the interchanges, I would recommend securing the hospital as an adjunct to the mission parameters, lest our forces fall under heavy fire moving along I-95 East towards the cloverleaf interchange with Highway 3. It would be the most prudent move tactically as well as strategically speaking."

Clarke nodded, warming to the automaton's instincts for combat tactics. "You would be correct in asserting that, CERSEI. I must say, I'm surprised a machine could be programmed to comprehend the importance of saving human lives on the battlefield. I would have thought your programming would have been more... cold and calculating, if you catch my drift. You must be quire pleased with your efforts here in North America thus far, I would suspect."

"I have no ego inside to stroke or bruise," CERSEI responded indifferently towards the Colonel. "I am here merely to serve at the pleasure of my commander."

"It's settled, then," Frémantle confirmed in at the last. "Our target will be the interchanges and Lahey Hospital. Colonel, prepare a memo to allied commanders informing them of our intentions. CERSEI, relay orders to the battalion commanders immediately; I will wire Williamstown direct."

CERSEI felt, as much as she could feel anyway, a sense of accomplishment at having provided the operational formula for the brigade. CTFOH command would want to know the details of their preparations of course, and a million moving parts could still throw the proverbial monkey wrench into plans. For the moment however, things were moving in a positive direction, and CERSEI was content to play her role in the program. Both the Brigadier and the Colonel nodded politely and briskly in her direction before leaving the table, each to their own devices as per their objectives. CERSEI meanwhile began formulating the orders for the battalion commanders, ensuring that the spirit of CTFOH command's orders and that of the Brigadier were carried out to the letter. There was much to do before things really kicked off, and she intended to perform her duties to the letter and ensure that she remained in the loop.

by **Incelastan** » Tue May 16, 2023 3:50 pm

Off the Jersey Shore, en route to Maryland,
ILS Pegasus

"Captain, sir, our sonar has picked up some strange....," Lieutenant Baker started to tell Commander Flanagan when a massive explosion rocked the sub, jarring a lot of equipment and severely damaging the hull.

"Fuck, we've been depth charged!" Lieutenant Ruiz shouted now.

"You think?" Flanagan yelled at him angrily as the charges continued to slam and explode against the hull, "Baker, I want a damage report immediately! We don't have any time! Get moving on it!"

It only took minutes to realize just extensive the damage was, especially as the sub began taking on water. Shit, Flanagan thought....there was no way out of it. He had to surface, and when the enemy ship that just depth charged them still out there. Still, it was the only chance that they had. Best to be ready, in any case.

"Captain, we're taking on water, sir!" Baker proved to be Captain Obvious now, "our hull is extremely compromised, sir! There is even possible danger to the reactor, Captain!"

"Mr. Ruiz, prepare to surface! Mr. Baker, Chief Loomis, organize the rafts and get the men ready to abandon ship! We might get hit by enemy aircraft after we surface! I don't know about any of you other officers, but I won't surrender. I will die with the Pegasus if it comes to that. It's been good to know ya, boys! At least we made those fuckers pay for their arrogance at least once before we went down. What say you?" Flanagan declared now.

"Well, I don't know about the others, but I don't want to live to be tried for war crimes. They won't go after enlisted men, but we're officers. We'll get tried and end up in prison or worse. Best to die now, as a free man, not a captive!" Ruiz shouted for his part.

"I couldn't have said it better myself. I refuse to spend my last days in a cell. Better to die in a submarine instead, as a sailor!" Baker added as he finished organizing the rafts with Chief of the Boat Ronald Loomis.

The truth was that they weren't lying. The prospect of war crimes trials, when they all knew that sinking the Semiramis was indeed a war crime on the open waters, well, it held no appeal for any of the officers. They didn't relish what else prison might mean...and they feared to even think on it. The regular sailors would be spared, of course. They were just seamen. It was the officers who would suffer as a result of defeat.

Greenwich, New York

General Lanier could tell that the carnage was really destroying what remained of his men's morale or esprit d'corps. It wasn't enough that the enemy's rockets and howitzers smashed and devastated the remnant of his batteries, his M777 howitzers and M120 mortars. He didn't have the self-propelled artillery that the enemy had and it made a difference, as did the lack of radar for that purpose. The enemy air power did further harm, and with the clear mission of wiping out the artillery. Lanier knew that this was a very real problem for him, as was the destruction of all of his remaining vehicles. He had no more APCs, no more IFVs, nothing resembling armor or anything mechanized left but his Humvees and trucks. He had no air cover or MANPADs anymore. He was completely vulnerable, at the head of what was now rather battered light infantry facing intense and heavy bombardment that slaughtered and wounded his men by the hundreds, more than a few of them dying horrific deaths from immolation by the foe. The sight of burning troops sickened him, their screams of agony unforgettable to his ears as so many of them ran toward whatever kind of relief they might find.

Lanier was screwed and so were his men. He knew it and so did they. If he didn't act fast, matters would get out of his hands. While the enemy tanks mowed down his men with machine guns, while their RPGs and hand grenades, canister even, he prepared his final order as commanding officer of the 1st Marine Division. It was now a very understrength unit, greatly decimated by the enemy's persistent attacks. With his back to the wall, surrounded on all sides, vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Lanier opted to surrender.

To: Commanding Officer, ICON Forces
From: Brigadier General Sidney Lanier, CO of the 1st Marine Division
Re: Surrender
Encryption: Normal

Sirs,

It appears obvious to me now that my military situation and that of my division is impossible and irretrievable. Accordingly, in order to save my men the further loss of life and limb due to a pointless continuation of my attempted escape, I have opted to seek terms for surrender. I regret the necessity of this, as it is not something that cannot be undertaken without great injury to my own honor as an officer, yet I have been so constrained as to deny myself any practical alternative. I did not exchange an academic position for a military command in anticipation of such a grave defeat. I have only sought, in everything, to right the heinous injustices done to one half of the human population, even if the methods used by my government were flawed and extreme. In any case, it is apparent that this war is lost. I await your terms and shall order my men to cease fire accordingly posthaste.

Sincerely,
Brigadier General Sidney Lanier,
Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Division

Nantucket Island

The message from the commanding general of the coalition forces was quite a surprise, coming when it did, as it didn't seem likely that Nantucket would be much use to the invasion forces. Even so, it was also apparent to all on the Select Board that a response of some kind was essential. While Nantucket's leaders were under no illusions that a tiny state like theirs could survive for too long as an independent, sovereign nation in a crazy world like this, they wanted to retain significant control and leverage over their future placement inside any kind of republic or commonwealth. They wanted to prevent any more Orwellian nightmares from happening in the next generation or so or more of the post-apocalyptic situation in which they found themselves. No more dystopias were to be allowed if they had any say in the matter. They had to ensure that and cooperation with the coalition forces was their best prospect of a brighter future as an island community.

This was their first chance to really communicate back to the forces who had, after all, given them critical aid. On that issue, it was a point of honor, wasn't it? It certainly felt that to Hopkins and the rest of the Select Board. So it was that Hopkins dictated his first message to the ICON forces CINC.

To: John Ironwood
General, Meridonian Army
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
From: Ryan Z. Hopkins, Chairman of the Select Board,
The Republic of Nantucket

Dear General,

Allow me to express, first of all, the full appreciation and gratitude of the people of this island for your aid in the preservation of our freedom after we overturned the Masculist district administration imposed upon us by the Directorate of Incelastan. This will no doubt be remembered as a gesture of true friendship and goodwill toward our people. That being said, we do not know of how we can be of assistance to your cause, which is frankly the cause of all humanity, even if we are unable to do much for it. That being said, we will endeavor, in all good faith, to assist and abet your forces in whatever fashion may be required and feasible for us to do so. As for independence, we are under no illusions. Our island is too small to be independent for too long, but any kind of postwar deal that could be made we trust will be more favorable than not.

Sincerely,
Ryan Z. Hopkins,
Chairman of the Select Board of the Republic of Nantucket

Concord, New Hampshire

William Erickson, the new interim Governor of New Hampshire, sat slowly reading the missive from General Ironwood before picking up the phone and initiating a discussion with Louis Larue, the new Secretary of State and Percival Gordon, the new Secretary of Defense regarding the actual military situation and prospects faced by the Granite State now that the Masculist regime began to unravel. These men were mostly dissidents who had either been camp inmates not long before or else participated in underground activities that could have landed them in such a camp if caught in the days of incel rule. They were hardly sympathetic to the idea of saving the Directorate or allowing it to survive in any capacity. They also wanted to be sure that, whatever New Hampshire's future, as either a sovereign nation or as a state of some restored American Union or regional commonwealth, it would be up to New Hampshire and its own government to determine.

To that end, there was only one course of action, they all agreed.

To:
John Ironwood
General, Meridonian Army
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
From:
William D. Erickson, Governor of the Free State of New Hampshire
Louis A. Larue, Secretary of State
Percival E. Gordon, Secretary of Defense

Dear General,

We are very much in the debt of ICON in general, and of Meridon in particular, for the aid and assistance with which you have succored us in our pursuit of restoring freedom and justice in New Hampshire. For Secretary Larue, in fact, who was until recently an inmate in a "re-education camp" run by the SSP, this is quite personally true. Accordingly, and with a view toward defeating our mutual enemy, whom we have expelled from our native soil, we are more than prepared to accommodate you. Reasonable instructions, of course, on how you would need such support, naturally, would improve our ability to provide such relief or cooperation. We wish you well in your pursuit of the common goal of removing the poisonous ideology of Masculism from this continent once and for all.

Sincerely,
William D. Erickson, Governor of New Hampshire
Louis A. Larue, Secretary of State
Percival E. Gordon, Secretary of Defense

Montpelier, Vermont

Colonel Byron March, Governor of the Vermont Free State, lit a Havana cigar just before he reread the message from General Ironwood. It was a lot of boilerplate, typical of military brass, of course, but he understood the gist of it. General Ironwood might want to try to use Vermont as a staging point for invading Upstate New York and outflanking the Army of the Adirondacks. Not being a civilian and politician like the folks in New Hampshire, the proposal made good military sense to him. One never knew when such a flanking maneuver would be vital to the cause...the common cause that they all obviously shared here against the Directorate, against Masculism, against Incelastan. Naturally, March didn't wish to be so blatant about it, no more than Ironwood would be. That information might fall into the wrong hands.

The rest of March's administration would just have to lump it, if that was, they minded...which they wouldn't.

To:
John Ironwood
General, Meridonian Army
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
From:
Col. Byron March,
Governor of the Vermont Free State

Dear General,

We owe a great deal of our freedom, both personally and politically, to your considerable and significant military aid to us. We are well aware of this obligation as well as the mutual need to defeat the common adversary. Our freedom is not secure while this regime continues its abhorrent existence. Therefore, we are more than happy to assist you as requested of us toward this end, militarily or otherwise. Feel free to encrypt any such communications with us with an eye toward better security. We look forward to future cooperation between our countries and armed forces.

Sincerely,
Col. Byron March,
Governor of the Vermont Free State

Augusta, Maine

"All in favor, say aye," Ward Peters, Chairman of the Council of Maine, urged his six fellow councilors, even as he added, "aye."

The four men and three women all voted in the affirmative, agreeing to support their new allies in ICON "all the way," as Councilwoman Jessica Derby so bluntly stated. For the moment, at least, collective rule was fine. Peters privately worried that it would be inept in the long run, but it could be replaced by a single chief executive as needed. This was just a temporary, ad hoc regime, a provisional government to rule Maine until a future system could be established. They would do what they could and what they must.

To:
John Ironwood
General, Meridonian Army
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
From:
Ward G. Peters,
Chairman of the Council of Maine

Dear General,

We thank you for having such confidence in us as a government as to treat with us accordingly, even if with considerable frankness as to our prospects. We are well aware, of course, that statehood might prove wiser than full independence. In any event, we and all of New England owe your nation and its coalition partners a great debt due to your considerable aid in the cause of removing and overthrowing Masculist tyranny from our sacred soil. We are more than happy, in whatever manner, great or small, to assist you in the objective of toppling this nefarious and criminal regime. Please do not hesitate in sending us requests for whatever type of assistance you might desire or prefer. We will attempt to aid you within our own logistical limits.

Sincerely,
Ward G. Peters,
Chairman of the Council of Maine

Worcester, Massachusetts

"Well, there goes my current plans and my proclamation. If I want my ideal state, I'll have to fight for it and risk losing badly. There is a real chance of being outflanked and emerging too battered to prevent such an encirclement. I also risk my neck and those of my officers and men in terms of war crimes trials. Well, in any case, I want to go home. That was my number one priority, as well as that of my officers and men. Peace. Home. A future Massachusetts that isn't a war zone. So be it. We know what to do," Owens thought aloud, even as he drafted his reply.

To:
John Ironwood
General, Meridonian Army
Officer Commanding, Combined Task Force Oak Hand
From:
Major General Robert I. Owens,
Commanding General of the Homeland Army

Dear Sir,

So be it. I had, and to an extent retain, certain hopes of a future reformation of Massachusetts as a polity that will not be subject to the kinds of misrule that opened this state up to the rise of Masculism in the first place. I tend to hold views perhaps at variance with the kind of militant, radical cliques that seek to shove their agenda down people's throats, which would hardly be an improvement over the Masculist lunacy, even if not engaged in the kind of brutal repression favored by the latter. In any case, I suppose that I could pursue such ends by constitutional and peaceful means in the future.

I am prepared to agree to your terms, though I would strongly caution you against taking the threat from the Youth Brigades lightly. They are fanatics, to a lad. They are not likely to stop resisting us until crushed, though I am prepared to inflict the first such defeats upon their cause. I trust that you will not advance against my rear as I so engage them, if we are fighting on the same side. Such would be a very grave betrayal and not easily forgotten. The Provisional Military Government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will only exist at your pleasure and that of your allies.

Sincerely,
Major General Robert I. Owens,
Commanding General of the Homeland Army and Governor of the Provisional Military Government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

by **Sombreland** » Tue May 16, 2023 5:49 pm

Beverly, Massachusetts

A dish very beloved of the Military Caste while on campaign is slipper-slopper. It is made from good mutton, carrots, onions, and potatoes, stewed till the meat is very tender and gravy thick and aromatic, served with traditional spices upon a piece of bread. This is presented to soldiers and Royal Marines while on campaign from field kitchens, and lines are formed in an orderly manner and it is consumed either with strong sugary tea or else with Red, a juice drink made from a powder with sugar and a little bit of fizz. There had, in the past, been mutinies over not being served slipper-slopper in a timely manner, and not being served correctly.

Each Royal Marine had a cutlery kit and a tin deep dished plate made to eat slipper-slopper from, and a nice tin mug from which the brewed tea or Red was drunk. On this campaign, it was Brewed sugary tea, for so the senior flag and field officers had insisted when discussion the military budget. As it had been said by General-Admiral Arimey, “Give the Sombrelander Military Caste member his tea, his cha, there you are, he’ll die for you.”

Once they were done eating and had each done the three burps to clear their lungs and their interiors from the pressures of food, the soldiers had a weapon and vehicle inspection to make sure they were ready. They had not really expended much ammunition, indeed, the greatest expenditure had been fuel. After this, they mounted their vehicles and began to advance towards Boston.

The field kitchen for Prince Jusus had provided a simple meal of nice grilled mackerel served with fresh peas and an arugula salad, served with a nice red wine. Though reluctant to break the pleasant mood, Prince Jusus gave instructions that the Royal Marine Division would advance along a broad front use Highway 95 as the main thrust, with the First and Second Battalions of the Royal Marine Landing Regiment flanking the Royal Marine Reconnaissance Regiment leading the way, and the Royal Marine Armoured Regiment staggered in two wings behind each Landing Battalion. The artillery and engineers were split into companies supporting the battalions. Aviation from the Fleet hovered overhead, and provided eyes in the sky.The Electronic Warfare plane also monitored enemy communications and cloaked those of the Expeditionary Force.

by **The Great state of Joseon** » Wed May 17, 2023 7:41 am

New York
LaGuardia Airport

General Adrian Quaritch

"Davis is dead."

General Sung Hanseok

"Right, sir."

Adrian Quaritch smiled. In history, dictators' endings have always been similar. Assassination, suicide, and rebellion, Davis's case did not seem different.

General Adrian Quaritch

"Is there a possibility of internal rebellion?"

General Sung Hanseok

"At the moment, we see a high possibility of internal rebellion. Intelligence officers speculate that their next leader is Director of State Security, Darien La Rousse."

General Adrian Quaritch

"Is there any chance that he will rebel against the Masculist Party like Owens in Worcester?"

Adrian Quaritch was happy to see his enemies collapse from within, but he was also worried. This is because they might have to go to war with several separate groups, large and small, instead of one group. Adrian Quaritch didn't want that to happen.

General Sung Hanseok

"Well, I don't know for sure. We still have limited information."

General Adrian Quaritch

"Report to me immediately as soon as the information comes in. If I'm sleeping, kick the door and wake me up to report the information in real-time. Do you understand?"

General Sung Hanseok

"Yes, sir, and I have one more thing to report. One battalion of special forces from East Krasnaya has arrived. There are 112 soldiers in total and Colonel Vitaly Morozov is leading them."

General Adrian Quaritch

"I see. Show them to their quarters in the airport and report to their home country that they have arrived.”

General Sung Hanseok

"And a telegram was sent from the home country. They want us to propose a decapitation strike against the leadership of Incelastan. "It seems to have been burdensome that 250 people were killed on the first day of the battle."

General Adrian Quaritch

"Decapitation strike........we don't know what La Rousse is like yet. And we don't even know if there are people who came to power with him. Tell the home country, that it would be better to watch the situation and make suggestions afterward when the enemy's leadership and their tendencies are clear."

Ministry of Defense of the Great Kingdom of Joseon

To: General John Ironwood, The commander-in-chief of Combined Task Force Oak Hand
From: Adrian Quaritch, The commander-in-chief of the dispatched Joseon troops
Subject: Request for cooperation in the formation of additional units
Encryption: High

We checked the document containing your perfect plan. Divisions will be prepared according to established operational plans.

There's one more thing I'd like to add. Our third dispatch fleet, which recently arrived in New York, includes The 20th Mechanized Infantry Division. The Division includes 1 Tank Brigade, 2 Mechanized Infantry Brigades, 1 Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle Brigade, and 2 Artillery Battalions. They finished their reorganization quickly and are on standby.

We want this unit to support the 22nd and 9th Infantry Divisions. Also, the 53rd Artillery Division would support the 14th Mechanized Infantry Division and 19th Infantry Division.

In addition, our Air Force aircraft and Navy aircraft will support the above-mentioned units.

The drones will be in charge of the firepower support for our Marine Division to be deployed in Boston. We chose drones as weapons to support firepower instead of air strikes using fighter jets in consideration of urban and civilian damage. The most powerful drones warhead weigh 4 kilograms, but they can hit the enemy with precision.

We will welcome if Meridon's allocation of aircraft for our Marine Division, but we wanted to let you know that we've allocated all of our aircraft for military operations in Hudson.

Adrian Quaritch, The commander-in-chief of the dispatched Joseon troops

JBS: Public Broadcasting for the People

Battle in New England ends with ICON Allied Forces victory.......261 Joseon soldiers killed

Yesterday, the ICON Allied forces won the battle between the ICON Allied forces in New England and the ILA units in Incelastan. The ILA was defeated in areas such as Yonkers and Nyack, retreating and reportedly causing thousands of casualties.

Many military experts have agreed that the ILA may have been severely damaged by the fighting. Dr. Huh Kyung-seok of the Asia-Pacific Security Institute said, "ILA may have lost its main forces on a large scale in this battle. The ILA will not be able to easily recover from the damage suffered in this battle."

On the other hand, however, there are voices of criticism and concern over the large number of Joseon military casualties on the first day of the battle. With the coalition taking control of Air Supremacy, critics say that the fact that the number of Joseon military casualties was similar to the total number of multinational forces killed during the Gulf War itself may mean a failure of the military command.

In response, Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung said at a press conference, "It is true that there was a lot of damage, but the military command did its best. The opponents were elite troops armed with equipment from the former U.S. military, and effective air raid support was impossible due to the presence of the enemy's near-field air defenses." In addition, Prime Minister Jeong Dohyung said, "All the soldiers dispatched, including the military command, are operating on land far away for the safety of our people as well as freedom and human rights. Please don't disparage their efforts."

New York
LaGuardia Airport

Since the war began, Air Mobility Wing's soldiers handling transport planes have been unable to rest for a moment. Transport planes were diligently transporting supplies over long distances for troops in North America, and it was a pretty tough journey.

C-17s and C-130s from the 9th Air Mobility Wing still landed at LaGuardia Airport today with much-needed supplies for soldiers. Two C-130 transports carried the Sparrowhawk-100 drones that were active in Yonkers and a more powerful version of the Sparrowhawk-200 drones.

The number of Joseon casualties in the Battle of Yonkers, where the Joseon military actively used drones, was only 8 percent of the total number of Joseon casualties. It was an encouraging figure considering that the Battle of Yonkers was Urban Warfare, an unfavorable environment for the attacking side.

The Joseon army immediately took advantage of the lessons learned from the Battle of Yonkers. Transport planes brought not only Sparrowhawk drones but also civilian drones with live streaming cameras. They will be mobilized for reconnaissance missions.

In this war, the most useful weapon for the Joseon army was small drones.

O Beautiful, For Heroes Proved, In Liberating Strife.

Let What May Come...

By The Dawn's Early Light...

Ottawa, Canada

What So Proudly We Hailed....

By The Twilight's Last Gleaming...

The Die is Cast

Whose Broad Stripes And Bright Stars

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