S1E1
AC 479: ENTER PARADISE
When the Aleisabat finally took over Barechistan in 478, a charismatic protege of the aging and brilliant Ahmed bin Hussein, Tariq Zarbon al-Mirwani, took power over the organization—and thus, assumed direct control of the country. He has exercised unparalleled power in Barechistan ever since, culling dissidents, Ourielists, Teutons, Vir people, and Farzanas alike. The situation in Barechistan has been steadily deteriorating for the past year now, to which the Teutonian Reichstag has convened and ordered that the Schnelle Reaktion Division be relocated to the Barechistan border for immediate intervention in the central Mederune nation.
The Sudberg Committee has also been established as a means of evaluating the possibility of integrating the ethnic Teutons in Barechistan as a paramilitary force capable of expressing ethnonationalism in favor of the Teutonic Reich.
Barechistan is known as the graveyard of many empires' past. Many have tried and failed to conquer Barechistan: from the grand Gallian line armies of old, to the Tangaliroan armies of yester-century, the place has long been a death-trap for amateur conquerors. The crisis created by the Aleisabat takeover seems to present opportunity to save Teutonic brethren south of the border, however: and it is upon us to take that opportunity.
Enter Paradise, Act 1
Ruchniɡ Mir
Vajra Kush Mountains
Taxila
Lunarist Emirate of Barechistan
January 5, A.C. 479
4:30 AM EST
Barechistan, the graveyard of empires.
This ancient land had claimed many a foreign invader, and the Teutonisches Volkisches Reich was about to tread forth into the heart of it. As the MH-64/5C continued on through ancient valleys, past primordial, snow-capped mountain-ranges of old, on its way to the designated landing zone, which had been secured by four squads of Nachtadler special forces in the immediate vicinity.
Sieghard Adelhelm von Sÿtzen commanded Luftlandebrigades 139 of the Schnelle Reaktion Division, which made him effectively one of the first to begin this treading forth into the great unknown of Barechistan. He carried to his name the titles of Count of Schreiberhau, Baron of Gießmannsdorf, Earl of Bunzlau, and Count of Sÿtzen. It was no surprise, of course. He was nobility, as were many officers of the Heer. The man saw in Barechistan a fearsome, reputable enemy — and a means by which to gain more holdings and titles.
Joining him on this voyage to their new forward headquarters would be Oberstleutnant Horst Dietsch, a lowborn but quite efficient officer that simply excelled in the job he was fit for. He commanded Fallschirmjägerregiment 33, which would be involved in the operation in question. Along with him would be Oberstleutnant Katherin von Gehlenburg, Baroness of Gehlenburg. Fallschirmjägerregiment 16 was under her command, which was similarly due to see action in this operation.
The target: Taxila, known in Teutonic as Tachsilen. The city was host to much of the Teutonic minority's population, and were presently being terrorized by the Aleisabat. Forced conversion to Lunarism, and death to those who refuse — such was the fate that was impending upon the town.
The rhythm of the helicopter's rotors served as backing to the symphony on the radio as they passed snowy cliffsides, ancient ruins, and relics of wars long past. In the distance, Ruchniɡ Mir: 'the fire king'. The mountain was said to have once hosted a great city in the epochs long gone, which had fallen to the mind-numbing grip of hedonism and wanton excess. For their sin, it was said that God had punished the city, setting it aflame. Thus the mountain had earned its name, or so the story went. It was upon this peak that their landing zone would be, and it was from this peak that Sieghard would command the first offensive into Barechistan.
"These mountain peaks and valleys are no different than our own... what testament does it give to the border that divides us from our southern volkische brethren?" Horst sarcastically remarked. Indeed, most of them viewed this land as their own, rightfully by the Teuton blood of the people who inhabited this place.
"This land will become ours again by divine right." Katherin nodded. Her unflinching nature towards their enemy made her a fairly good subordinate to trust in, though she also tended to be a bit too... quick to action. Such a desire to hurry headfirst into battle would surely betray her ambitions in the future, at least that was what Sieghard worried himself with.
It did not take long for the helicopter to make its final approach, slowly lowering itself to the clearing not far from the mountain peak itself. It would be from here that their operation would be commanded. Stepping off the helicopter and trudging through the snow, Sieghard would be first to take the curious glance below. To call it a 'birds-eye' view would be an understatement. Rather, one could fancy this a gods' eye view.
Setting up the command suite and tent, they had a fairly decent overlook of the landscape below. With subordinates and personnel evaluating radio systems and communicating with the ground elements, Sieghard needed only watch the scenery below as he plotted his first act.
The Barechistani fighter was a perfidious trickster for sure, and though their arrival had been subtle, Sieghard elected to think as if their forces were expected. What would the Aleisabat do?
"Orders, herr kommandant?" Katherin questioned.
"Listen closely," Sieghard instructed. "Our symphony is about to begin."
Closing his eyes, he assumed himself in the vastness of his mind as he processed the battlefield on the tactical map situated before him in his command suite. Deep breaths, methodical calculations. He was in control.
A lone helicopter traversing the mountain ranges. Eleven infantrymen. This would be the first forward deployment of Fallschirmjäger pertaining to Fallschirmjägerregiment 33 in the region, to which there was a degree of caution exercised. Their task was simple: land, and eliminate an enemy patrol that had been spotted by HUMINT and IMINT. Aircraft intervening on the field already would be source for alarm from the enemy, and given their largely mechanized deployment, the Teutons intended to exercise caution. The Aleisabat's units present in Taxila, Battalion I "And so Luna decided to smite his enemies" and Battalion IV "Harbingers of Things to Come", numbered almost ten-thousand in total, dedicated to nothing short of suppressing the downtrodden ethnic Teuton populace of the city.
This was but the first piece moving in a greater chessboard, dust being cast aside as boots met the moist mixture of snow and dirt that comprised the terrain of the pass. Rifles trained ahead, a silence befell the group of men as the helicopter departed.
"Distant contacts," One of them spoke up, rugged voice not unlike most of the hardened soldiers of the Schnelle Reaktion Division. Seven Aleisabat militiamen patrolled the jagged pass, their job no doubt routine at this point. Whether those had or hadn't heard the helicopter was irrelevant in this moment, as they were unsuspecting of the eleven-man group formed up along the cliffside.
In a matter of seconds it was over: firing down on the Aleisabat soldiers below, six of the seven would quickly be dropped, the seventh fruitlessly running for cover — only for a final burst to cut the man's life short, his lifeless body tumbling over the cliffside into the abyss below.
"Enemy patrol has been dealt with." Horst announced, bringing Sieghard back to attention. All had played as he'd expected, thankfully.
"The overlook awaits them, then." Sieghard noted, nodding. "Ready the squadrons for the next act. Taxila awaits."
There were almost ten-thousand enemy combatants in Taxila, intel estimated. However, Sieghard remained confident that his small — and technologically superior — force would be more than aptly suited towards combatting the Barechistani enemy.
They were nearing the overlook now, the lights of Taxila ahead glimmering just in the distance. Standing watch beside a presumedly ancient surface-to-air missile site — Tangaliroan build, one could imagine — eight Aleisabat militants stood guard.
Taking point, rifles were aimed ahead, sights set on the heads of the enemy soldiers. Three, two...
RATATAT
One by one, the Aleisabat fighters were cut down by the brief burst of gunfire from across the pass, clearing the site in a matter of seconds. The eleven-man squad quickened their pace, navigating along the treacherous pass until they themselves had reached the overlook, promptly disabling the now-derelict surface-to-air missile site.
Taxila...
That city of ancient repute, welcoming gateway to countless conquerors past. Teutonia would succeed where countless others failed. Such was in the spirit of the people that had endured so many past oppressors and adversaries — from Sinican to Zachod, the Teuton was a hardened people, equally as worthy of the warrior's reputation that the Barechistanis carried.
The call would be given on radio soon thereafter.
"The Einherjar come!"
The utter hell that rained down on the enemy had been nigh-unfathomable, artillery bearing down from across the border as the air and ground campaigns commenced. Sieghard eyed the chaos unfold below from the mountain, taking a sip from his bottle of brandy as he watched.
Ouriel was with them today. The offensive would only last a few hours before Taxila had been brought under the Teuton banner.
The war in Barechistan had begun.