NationStates Jolt Archive

The color red is the color of fire and blood. Blood and fire have both positive and negative connotations. Bloodshed, aggression, war and hate on one side and love, warmth and compassion on the other side. Red is supposedly the first color percieved by Man. Brain-injured persons suffering from temporary color-blindness start to perceive red before they are able to discern any other colors. There are also negative connotations of this color. Israelites in biblical times painted their doorframes in red blood to scare demons. Red in ancient Egypt was the color of the desert and of the destructive god Seth who inpersonated the Evil. "Making red" was synonymous with killing someone, evil doings were refered to as "red affairs". Salvation from Evil is the subject of an ancient Egyptian charm: "Oh, Isis, deliver me from the hands of all bad, evil, red things!" Most of all, red symbolized the ideology that was both the country's womb at birth and the quintessential plague that might lead the country to downfall; Red was the symbol of communism and socialism. Communism is what brought about the creation of the country; from loyal communists who had broken away from the collapsed Soviet bloc to settle in the cold, harsh islands nearby the Kara Sea stretching from north of Arkangel'sk towards Kamchatka, linking Pacific to Atlantic and giving the country a massive military and economic advantage. It was also communism which brought about it's own downfall, with the growing dissatisfaction of the people from it's economic losses; thus leading to the democratic reform which was assisted by Knootoss.

Most people say that the democratic reform of the country is an incredibly huge mistake. Many ideologies ranging from militarists to royalists, fascists to communists have protested the idea of a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly; they believe that this is the outcome of the weak and pathetic pacifist movements by the previous communist government. However, with a strong political and military drive, they have secured the future of the democratic party for now. Capitalism, however, was the main focus of a democratic government. Capitalism was what the country required to get out of the threat of a financial crisis during the communist government's reign. Although the country has seen it's economic peak within the new government, it came at the price of many internal problems.

Fascism, especially in its early stages, is obliged to be antitheoretical and frankly opportunistic in order to appeal to many diverse groups. Nevertheless, a few key concepts are basic to it. First and most important is the glorification of the state and the total subordination of the individual to it. The state is defined as an organic whole into which individuals must be absorbed for their own and the state's benefit. This “total state” is absolute in its methods and unlimited by law in its control and direction of its citizens. A second ruling concept of fascism is embodied in the theory of social Darwinism. The doctrine of survival of the fittest and the necessity of struggle for life is applied by fascists to the life of a nation-state. Peaceful, complacent nations are seen as doomed to fall before more dynamic ones, making struggle and aggressive militarism a leading characteristic of the fascist state. Imperialism is the logical outcome of this dogma.

Such is that, a splinter group from both the militarists who failed to achieve victory in the militarist insurrection as well as part of the communists who lost hope in the ideology since the democratic reform have decided on a new fascist reign in the country. Apparently, they believed that they had the capability to overthrow the government and maintain control with the remainder of the militarist forces, and have made the democratic reform very hard to accomplish. Since the democratic reform of the country, communists and fascists alike have had, unseen by the international community, been in protest with the government on all grounds. The communists, however, opted for the less violent solution; to influence the country from underneath. The latter, however, formed combat groups. These fascist terrorist cells have been haunting the limits of the archipelago with piracy and 'punitive expeditions'. They were traditional fascists, following the doctrines set about by Mussolini in Italy; industrialists who hated free labor unions and protested against radical political reform as well as the majority of the lower middle class. They, like any other fascists were bent on taking power by any means necessary, and have repeatably made an attempt for access to the country's strategic weapons division. The first and last nuclear device the country has is a hundred megaton intercontinental ballistic missile that was never disarmed by the government. It had the capability of levelling the capital city flat, something the fascists wanted dearly. It was getting worse in the recent years however, the communists have now decided that the peaceful solution is no longer effective, and have begun hints of coup de etat all over the islands. Communist parties began to be organized on a hierarchical basis, with active cells of members as the broad base; the leaders were made up only of the elite military officers that denounced the current government—those approved by the higher members of the party as being reliable, active, and subject completely to party rule. The fascists were no better, with their 'punitive expeditions' reaching bigger cities and closer to the capital city. They have amassed a remarkably organized and well armed force, one capable of conventional warfare with the military itself. Although not in power, they've already begun use of dictatorial methods and in its use of brutal intimidation of the opposition by their 'militia'. In response, the democratic party of the country has begun military initiatives; bolstering ranks as never before. They are determined to protect the recently established and recovered democratic system; they're not about to put decades of work into nothing.

The Great Schism between the Democratic, Communist and Fascist Zvarinograd is at hand. One must be victorious, or the country will collapse.

New York Times-
"Federal Government to offer Zvarinograd Assistance"

In an unexpected move earlier yesterday, President de los Santos along with the Joint Chiefs of Staff formulated a plan to assist the Zvarinograd democratic government with military assistance should they request it. The plan included deploying some 5,000 military advisors from the 10th Mountain Division to Zvarinograd to assist in the training and deployment of forces. Also on the table was offers of logistical support, and what is considered a highly ambitious if not controversial plan. Military contractors from the Republic will attempt to acquire military licenses from their Zvarinograd counterparts, construct equipment in the Federal Republic, and then ship them across the Atlantic for the usage of the democratic government. However the Zvarinograd government is not expected to buy any of the weapons. Insider sources say the Republic will be footing the bill for a majority of the equipment should it be built.

It was a small snippet in A16 of the international section of the evening times edition but the the meaning was clear enough. The Federal Republic was venturing into waters outside of its circle of friends and was ready to take a serious stance. In the normal diplomatic circles options couldnt really be used as Zvarinograd and the Federal Republic never really had an offical channels. However messages were sent through other means. Mutual trade ties and so on were used to relay the message and it wouldnt take longer than several hours before the highly important message would have been recieved.

"Kilo six four we are inbound, nearing Zvarino territory, over."

"Roger Roger, kilo six two, over"

The two harriers took a sharp turn and headed back to their Albion class ship, the Supply. Around it, the three glorious destroyers Empire, Foxtrot, and Lazmos cruised majestically in the dark sky of the North Pacific. The tiny envoy held one important man - Major General Antoliov, SpeSO, or in long form, Specialist Soviet Operative. The SpeSO were the best that Hogsweat had to offer. Receiving some funding for this operation from the nation of Lethislavania, they had brought along some weapons for the Communist Party of Zvarinograd. They would stay there, for an undefinite period of time, to train the Communist Party in the art of war. Antoliov was staring into the icy cold waters, feeling the evident weather of Zvarinograd as he shivered, despite the eight layers he had on. He reached inside his inside pocket, checking it was all there. point three-three-eight Pistol, check. Cyanide pill - check. Synchrounised [Sp?] watch, check. Swiss Army Knife - check. He felt something else though. Thin, and fairly wide. With suspicion, he pulled it out, and was fairly suprised. A photograph, of his wife, him, and his baby boy, Ivano. The picture brought a smile to the thirty five year olds face. Good times, he thought. A tap on his shoulder brought the soldier back to reality - his second in command, Lieutenant General Tzetov behind him, a usp silenced pistol in his hand.

"Your dead, -comrade-" Tzetov smiled, and laughed. Antoliov whipped out his .338, and rolled to the side, focusing the pistol and it's laser sight on Tzetov's lower parts.

"no, -comrade-, your dead" The two men got up, holstered their weapons and laughed together.

"So, what did you want me for, friend?" Antoliov asked.

"We're off. The 'choppers ready. The boys have loaded all our stuff onto a second chopper, and we're ready to go."

========================

The two black hawk's cut through the frosty Zvarino sky, rotor blades moving, and hovered above the almost empty shoreline.

"There they are, comrade. Set us down."

In response the helicopter came down about ten metres from the floor, next to the several men in heavy dress, and the SpeSO winched down the several crates full of weapons.

"Greetings, Comrade, from the Soviet Union." Antoliov extended a hand for a shake while his unit assembled around him.

WSGS Necessary Evil
GEostationary Orbit over Earthbound Prefecture
Terra

There were always people in the Intel department looking for new gigs. Admiral Fara Ito Lancer didn't like it when Intel found those new gigs; she got paid enough to just sit in her command chair and nap all day, or to make use of her ship’s instel to call up her grandkids back at Paradigm. Then came The Call, which meant a potential customer, and which meant getting her command of three star companies in order and prepped for action. In reality, she had two companies, what with the Ocean Twilight out on patrol at the far edge of Sol.

<Source == Combined SG|HG Command>
<Target == Democratic government of Zvarinograd>
<Subject == Peacekeeping>

It has recently come to our attention that your government may be requiring peacekeeping forces to protect the safety of its citizens from the violent strikes that we have noticed occurring within your state. Because violence endangers the people, and because profits cannot be made if the people cannot lead productive and safe lives, the Guard would like to offer its services to your government to help protect its populace against potential internal and external threats.

The Star Guard marines are some of the best in the world, with decades of service in urban combat zones, and a stellar record of minimizing civilian casualties when possible. We have never defaulted on a commission, and have carried out our contract to the letter in every engagement. Our logistics corps regularly advises Weyrean municipal governments on basic service distribution, and has some of the best-trained civil engineers in the Kingdom. Our armed forces can train local forces in both police and paramilitary tactics, and will allow them to train alongside its own personnel.

The nature of the Guard’s work does come with a certain amount of hazard. As such, we require that all projected costs be paid up front or within six weeks of initiation of operations, and all further costs be paid over a period of several years. The exact nature of the payment will be negotiated at a direct meeting with the government in question.

We sincerely hope you consider the Star Guard as an option to safeguard your people and assets, and look forward to eharing from you.

Sincerely,
Admiral Fara Ito Lancer
Marshall Gerard Storm

The beating of the drums became louder and louder; a marching thunder followed a rhythm as the thousands of fascist soldiers began making their way past the tundra and into the city of Arkenskaya, south of the capital city. The city was once a fortress, set up to provide a choke hole entry into the capital city, consequently it was a suitable stronghold for the fascist's rise to power. The sky grew unholy red as the sun set and the fascists stop and fall into formation. Only then did the mobile armor and mechanized ground forces become very present. Incredibly massive tanks, only seen in the country's laboratories as mere schematics, roared forward. Years of secrecy and smuggling weapons into the country, as well as siphoning resources from the country's economy through the punitive expeditions into towns and villages have now given the fascists a powerful military; One that rivaled the original militarist rebel army. 'They were far too well equipped and too organized', that was signature impression that the militarists took during the insurrection; and now they were going to do it again, and again, as they directly conquer the country from underneath. Now, before the army of the fascists, stood their leader; Moisei Fedorov syn Makhliaev. The same man who denounced the previous government's pacifist policy years ago.

"Before you is the weak, pathetic administration that has failed to give this country any glory and status. They pride themselves in their economic power, and hire mercenaries for their twisted cause, but we will not be denied! We will show them the phoenix that rose from the ashes of a once great military power! May God smite all those who oppose us! Glory to the Fatherland!"

It began with a monstrous cannonade of artillery fire which made several structures erupt in large fireballs, sending everyone in the immediate vicinity of the blasts on their feet or prone. Already there was an incredibly huge amount of people incinerated or torn to shreds by the blasts; the sheer carnage broke the psych of those still alive. Then came a never-ending stream of soldiers marching forward with little more than a rifle and heavy clothes and began storming the city; killing men and taking the women. Noise, smoke, thundering and fire drowned the city into a hellish red glow. There were several violent explosions and mock-earthquakes as the flames reached the industrial sector which was apparently filled with violatile petrochemicals and other substances such as trinitrotoluene. Buildings shattered, spilling burning debris into the soldiers and the civilian mobs, killing some, mutiliating others. The fascist banners cross the streets and the berserk pillaging followed, systematically tearing into the factories. It was simply madness.

"Mount an attack within the week on Area 74. Take what men you have here and go northeast. Reinforcements will meet up with you as you go along. We have to press it home now."

"What?"

"We need the nuclear device. The democrats are bound to use it first if we pose any bigger a threat than what we are already."

"What about the communists?"

"Forget them. They're poorly armed sheep, this here is an easily defensible base of operations; and they're not that stupid as to send human waves after us."

#-#-#

“Ah, welcome. Please, let me escort you to our stronghold, comrade. It’s dangerous here, the fascists have already begun attacking the democratic bloc.”

The particularly tall man led the people down to a camp that looks suspiciously like an abandoned arctic laboratory. Inside, soldiers and officers alike ripped roasted seals and poached fish to pieces with their hands and stuffed themselves with the meat, grease running down their chins. They looked skinny, the signs of going a particularly long time without food nor drink was apparent. The guide explained to the men that for two centuries under various guises and names the communists have fostered recruitment for their cause. There had been revolts all of the islands, stretching the ends of the archipelago. Wherever there was famine or oppression or discontent, they would band the locals together against the government and against industrialists. All the insurrections had failed and had been put down savagely by the democrats. But the society and the secret army had survived. And blessed the communists for they had been given a pearl beyond price: Novaya Valkonezh. At long last the communists had a base of operations safe from the perpetual oppression of the government. The island was completely under the communists’ control and he knew that here they would flourish. He explained that he felt honored that he, only part Zvarinogradii (half-Iuthian), had been considered worthy to be part of the communist faction. Death to the Fascists. Death of the Democrats. Long live the Motherland.

Upon his knee, Lucifer drew his sword and emplaced it unto the feet of Indigo. Head down, he paid the respect deserved and awaited for his call to stand. Indigo smiled at his honor, and with the simple gesture of a hand, called for Lucifer, the warrior of fire to his feet. He did stand, and stood at attention proper, as he had been called to do since committed to duty at the early stages of life. It was for this, that he had been given the place and honorary position of warlord, he who presides over one of the seven kingdoms.

I am impressed with your service Lucifer. Indeed, you have honored me well in battle, and your sword is stained with the blood of enemies. Only I do wonder, have you ever come into relative contact with the archipego of Zvarinograd? I do not believe you have, nor have you ever seen their people. Come to me...

Lucifer stood tall and took a step forward toward Indigo when he had motioned. He was but a servant in service of his kingdom. Truly he was a warrior most desired.

... Do you see their turmoil? Do you see that they fight un-united, against each other, their brothers? Does this not sicken you brother, my servant and disciple?

Lucifer opened his mouth and curtailed his words into polite response.

I have seen far too much bloodshed to understand the meaning of sicken. No master, I only know the despair they feel, they need to be unified into one again. Brothers should not fight brothers, and they must all be serving one true leader. This cannot come through bloodshed or with an iron fist....

Indigo thoughtfully pondered such wisdom before deciding on its meaning. He responded to his brotherly servant with wisdom just as equal.

Indeed friend, I hear you well. For this, I assign you to a new mission. I have been expanding my horizons just of recently, and would like to consider implementing an insurgent within Zvarinograd. Perhaps you, Lucifer would be willing to offer your services in Honor of your Master? Perhaps you would be willing to maybe assist in the transition of the lands of Zvarinograd into those which can be claimed by the underworld?

Lucifer smiled and paused before answering. He made sure a desision was a desision, rather than a thoughtful expression. This, was a code of Honor, and the way of a warrior.

Indigo, my Lord, I would be most grateful...

"I see. Well, your situtation is pretty grim, eh. Just pretty lucky you have support from one of the most powerful Socialist nations. Gather your men around, and I'll show them what we brought."

Slowly, after the call, a fair few of the Communists gathered around, some bemused, some interested.

"Comrades, we are from the Soviet Union of Hogsweat. We are a powerful Communist country. We have brought weapons for your cause. This is only the first shipment but hopefully we can bring more equipment for you."

The SpeSO opened the crates, and gave the Zvarinogradii's a peek of what they had brought ; in the first two crates, some two hundred assault rifles. Modern weapons, much more capable of what the Communists now held. In the other, anti tank and anti air missile launchers. The other, radios, grenades, pistols.

"Here we have brought you two hundred rifles, ten anti air missiles, ten anti tank missiles, some radios, twenty pistols, and twenty grenades. We will train you with these to fight the fascists in Zvarinograd."

As the helicopter borrowed from a near by naval partol recently dispatched by their host nation's government soars quietly over the blackend sea the ten men inside watch as off to their left another such helicopter flies beside them. Nodding to unseen men in the other chopper the ten men drop two large inflatable rafts once the signal from their pilots is sounded. Pulling to a hover over the floating rafts attached by a roap to the craft the ten men slide down from the ropes to each raft, five men per raft and look over at the darkened shoreline to the front of them.

silent agreement has all twenty men begin rowing quickly towards the shoreline as the choppers fade into the distance their mission complete. Looking up overheard they hear the faint rumble of an aircraft and each man smiles as they finnaly reach land and conceal their rafts. Heading towards the city of Arkenskaya they appreciate that it will take them many days to get there, but all twenty men are armed and willing to die for their cause.

---

In the private jet flying over the shoreline, six men look down at roughly the same time twenty look up and chuckle knowing some where down there, brothers in arms are moving towards their goal. In the plane the pilot turns about and talks quickly "Sirs, we're on approach I'm going to request landing clearance" He says as the six high ranking men nod and check their briefcases, the first rounds of payments to the fascist government.

"This is flight IA77 requesting clearance to land Arkenskaya International Airport, repeat flight IA77 requesting landing clearance." THe six men hear the pilot say over the comm as they turn back to preparing to meet their brothers for the first time since contacting them previously. REcieving clearance the jet begis to land, touching down with a slight jolt as the pilot blushes 'Still not used to landing properly." He mutters under his breath as the aircraft rolls to a stop and the six men disembark, and head out of the airport, their jet secured.

Grabbing a car the six men head towards the fascist group's headquarters, their eyes surveying the city and smiling as they see the ruins of buildings lining the streets. REaching the buiding the six men walk to the guards at the door and speak quicky "We are representatives of a pro-fascist group, operating out of a secured nation. We're here to offer our help and speak with your leader." The first of the six say, his eyes moving over the soldiers quickly and dismissing them from concern.

OOC: Short note, befoe anyone goes OMFG IRAQSTAN SI HELPING FASCISTS I'd like to explain something. The above post is done by an independant organisation known as the Nationalist Liberation Army, a terrorist group housed inside Iraqstan and supported by the state. They have never been mentioned by Iraqstan to the world and thus only some really high placed spies would know about them.

The only link to Iraqstan is in what the NLA tells the fascists, the only reason I'm posting under Iraqstan is because the forum account for the nation NLA isnt working properly :(. Anyways Tah!

Admiral Tokyo was the most competent admiral in the Hogsweatian Navy. She was the personification of the naval guard. Ultimate efficiency, and dedication, to the objective. The objective being;
Zvarinograd must not fall to the Fascist forces.

The sattelite information relayed on the screen in front of her flicked up, the images constantly changing as a result of fifteen different satellites relaying information to the Command Deck of the Supply.Tokyo sighed. The destruction was chaos. Wanton death and havoc.

"Ensign! she cried.

"Yes ma'am?" the man replied without turning.

"Open me a patch to the Zvarinogradii Government"

The order was done. In about a minute the line was patched, and the request sent..

Meanwhile, the rest of the Fourth Battlegroup was moving to assist.. NGV Revolution, a carrier, eight destroyers NGV Hometown, NGV Misty Skies, NGV Foghorn, NGV Boxer, NGV Roxor, NGV Fable, NGV Mountain Goat, NGV Red Bear and another troop carrier, the NGV Alamo.

11:00 Zvarinogradii Main Time
The darkness was eternal. It made the archipegalo of frost look beautiful. Never mind the score of warships that, in delta formation, entered Zvarinogradii waters like a formation of seals, stealthily moving through the waters, displacing their respective amounts of water. Turrets swung from side to side, and even in the darkness the Task Force was ready to engage a possible enemy.

11:12 Zvarinogradii Main Time
NGV Revolution (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/HogsweatNS/IndomitableClassCVN.png)
Eeuuurk-ang. The elavator lifted up, the strong hydraulics lifting the plane, a Harrier Mark Eight, into position. The bombs glistened and the cannon was pale and dull - the barrels where not rusty, but not shiny. They where somewhat murky - it could have been the darkness, though. The cockpit of the plane shone in the romantic moonlight of the northern waters. In canon, the back twenty planes rose up, and then four in front of them, a whole squadron. Their illustrious markings were almost unspottable in the consuming night. Some of them were flags, stars, drawings of women back home, and other such things. It was an attempt to hide the ruthless intent of the planes.

11:19 Zvarinogradii Main Time
NGV Supply
Admiral Tokyo could see the burning flames of the city that had been subjected to a fascist bombardment. They continued into the night. Burning flames rose into the sky, creating an ashen inferno that dominated the once majestic skyline of the city. Tokyo glanced out - another late arrival, the NGV Citadel, an Air Defense Cruiser. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/HogsweatNS/KnootsShip.png) moved up alongside the Supply. The fleet was assembled. Tokyo was glad they were making such a decisive move. It would teach the bullying fascists a lesson.

11:26 Zvarinogradii Main Time
NGV Revolution
Whooooo--osh! the second harrier into the sky. And a third. the telltale sound of the aircraft lifting off and zooming into the distance to form up with it's wingmates cluttered the area around the carrier, as harrier by harrier took off from their carrier into the sky, by the time time twenty four where in formation in the sky, any personnel that were asleep where now fully awake.

Wing Commander Pelliusov steered his harrier, the last to take off, into a neat rank along with the others. He was loaded up. The initial strike against the fascist artillery threatening the safety of the Zvarinogradii people would not happen again. The twenty four aircraft moved fast and swift, and in little time they passed into the mainland, and the fortress-city of Arkenskaya. They could see the fascist artillery's muzzle flashes, smacking the sky again and again without mercy. The harrers came down upon the artillery like eagles on a stoat. No mercy for the fascists. Long live the Soviet Motherland.

Democracy first flourished in the Greek city-state , reaching its fullest expression in ancient Athens . There the citizens, as members of the assembly, participated directly in the making of their laws. A democracy of this sort was possible only in a small state where the people were politically educated, and it was limited since the majority of inhabitants were slaves or noncitizens. Athenian democracy fell before imperial rule, as did other ancient democracies in the early Italian cities and the early church. In this period and in the Middle Ages, ideas such as representation crucial to modern Western democracy were developed. Doctrines of natural law evolved into the idea of natural rights, i.e., that all people have certain rights, such as self-preservation, that cannot be taken from them. The idea of contract followed, that rulers and people were bound to each other by reciprocal obligations. If the sovereign failed in his duties or transgressed on natural rights, the people could take back their sovereignty. This idea, as postulated by John Locke , strongly influenced the development of British parliamentary democracy and, as defined in the social contract theory of Jean Jacques Rousseau, helped form the philosophical justification for the American and French Revolutions. The idea that equality of opportunity can be maintained through political democracy alone has long been challenged by socialists and others, who insist that economic democracy through economic equality and public ownership of the major means of production is the only foundation upon which a true political democracy can be erected.

"This is democracy? This is a joke."

"Accept all offers, put an automated message. Just don't bother me right now." He slammed the door shut, and threw his glass of vodka clear across the room; smashing on the wall.

The secondary Commander in Chief of the country stood next to him. "You know what you must do."

For a while, the room was silent.

"Kill them. All of them." He said, slowly, grimly.

A massive rumble suddenly rocked the razed city, suddenly catching the attention of the soldiers and fleeing mob. Then, over the distance, the elite forces of the country commenced a preliminary bombardment of the fascist stronghold. The democratic force was methodical, and ruthless, as they shifted formations frequently; giving the fascists no clear shot at them. Slowly, air raids began appearing over the city which quickly became a black swarm of aircraft, denying the fascists sunlight and raining death from above. The already shattered city was coming closer to being reduced to nothing more than a wide field of carnage and dust. However inhuman the fascists were in their storming of the city, the democrats were worse. Revenge-driven, organized and extremely well trained, they pounded on the stronghold and more, they even attacked the communists who were present.

Democracy only in politics, not in virtue.

Leave us per hour from starvation
While billions are spent on bombs
Creating death showers

Boom, Boom, Boom,
Every time you drop a bomb
You kill the god your child has born

Why must we kill our own child?

Iuthian-Zvarinograd Prologue:

The relationship between Iuthia and Zvarinograd starts many years ago, during a much more innocent age when Zvarinograd was had one of the strongest Air Forces per capita in the international community and Iuthia was looking to improve it's defence systems. During these times Iuthia supported the Zvarinograd technology industry with strong investments into the fledgling nation, sharing projects for the better of both nations... Zvarinograd scientists providing fresh ideas and concepts, Iuthian scientists with less imagination but strong practical understanding of limitations and applications of new technology, together providing an almost perfect balence.

Overtime, Zvarinograd's policies changed. The nation became one of the few nations to become completely pacifistic, slowly disarming and moving closer to what they thought would be a utopian society. Iuthia, at the time supported the nations courage and offered assistance from those that may want to ruin their paradise. This was concidered the golden age of Iuthian-Zvarinograd relations.

However, various factions were brewing in their society, dinosaurs of the past such as the militants of old Zvarinograd who clung on to the memories of a proud strong nation. Rising up against their pacifist government, they forced Zvarinograd to return to it's old ideals of military strength. Even though the rebel factions were defeated, Zvarinograd had changed forever and not without dire casualities; Iuthian diplomats in Zvarinograd were brutally killed in a bio-weapon attack on the embassy, an event still remembered today by the IDC and a scar on relations forever.

Despite this, Iuthian relations are still strong, though no longer is Zvarinograd seen in the same light of trust. Caution is taken still to this day with the awakened nation. Joint science projects are now much more rare with stringent security measures on both sides as military paranoia exists on both sides. Relations concider to thrive, but the innocent relationship was lost along with the 21 men and women who died during the Zvarinograd rebellion.


Iuthia, Present Day:

Already the Iuthian Embassy staff had already packed it's bags, the events of the previous insurrection still fresh in the minds of the higher level officials of the IDC. They didn't want to be caught up in this mess and even a skeleton crew was concidered too much of a target for the militant factions starting trouble around Zvarinograd.

On the whole the embassy had seen alot of changes, however it wouldn't hold out against a well armed force and exprience of previous history suggested that the rebels would be well armed. So now it was simply a matter of removing all information and information storage such as CPUs and locking down the embassy, leaving it for when Zvarinograd was more stable.

It felt tough to leave the place, almost like cowardise... however Iuthia wasn't going to sit back and leave the Democrats on their own in this time of need, so it would be up to the soldiers to do their job before the diplomats could do theirs.

Having informed their Zvarinograd counterparts in advance of their wish to leave the chaotic situtation, the staff would be leaving in several hours pending final clearances.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

With confirmation recieved from Zvarinograd officials that assistance was accepted, the Iuthian Army started it's preparations; most specifically the alterations made to all vehicles, weapons and equipement. Afterall, the weather in Zvarinograd would be well below freezing and everything will be more likely to fail, extra parts would be needed and special fuels would be required to assure that the fuel wouldn't freeze over.

Little expense was spared in assuring the men (and women) were well equipped and prepared for the task ahead. Peacekeepers would police secure areas and make sure that they stayed secure. The soldiers themselves were being ordered to bolster Zvarinograd's forces, unlike last time however, Iuthia was looking to give it's latest generation of trained forces a chance to gain real field experience. Iuthia's careful diplomatic efforts ulimately meant the Iuthian army rarely ever saw action, something which was concidered probably the biggest weakness overall. However, at the very least the Peacekeeper forces had experience from previous campiagns in Euroslavia, ulimately they had experience with discontent communists.


Within a couple days the first transports and groups of men were ready to be shipped out, air transport may be faster but it's often impractical as number and logistical limits restrianed the number of men that could be moved and land at once. Whats more the Facists were well armed and would pose a air threat, Iuthia prefered something more solid, the ocean was seen to be a safer option with larger carrying capacity and room for additional equipment, not to mention a strong naval force to protect them.

Overall only a small division of the Iuthian Black-Vipers would be deployed in order to assist their long held ally, after that came smaller brigades of Peacekeeper forces would come in for more specialised roles... but the priorities were to reinforce the Zvarinograd government to try and keep the govenment in control.

With the first shipment of Iuthian reinforcements leaving for Zvarinograd a large number of the Iuthian public crowded at the military deepwater port to watch their sons, daughters, fathers, husbands and wives leave for the harshest environment in the Urbanites region. With the Iuthian anthum playing at full volume, the first shipment left leaving hundreds, of crying loved ones hoping that they would come back in one piece.

It has come to my attention that there is an ongoing insurrection in Zvarinograd. As such, and under the pre-established terms of relations between the Necrontyr Empire and the Democratic Republic, I am willing to offer support, economic and military, for the Government on behalf of the Necrontyr. I am especially concerned by tales of growing foreign aggression against the only legitimate government of Zvarinograd.

Let it be known that aggression against the friends and allies of the Necrontyr, is aggression against the Necrontyr, and will be treated with the same minimal tolerance.

To the rebels in Zvarinograd, I say this, if you have grievances with the government, you are able to change these by election. If you wish our understanding, you are welcome to state your grievances and proposals to us. I for one, will listen. That is all I guarantee, but is more than I should offer.

- Prince Asirnoth, Master of Operations in the Solar System

The sun began to set upon Lethislavania, casting rays of crimson colour into the darkening sky. A curtain on the living day. Kyar Miiska sat sadly at his desk, pondering the consequences of the actions to come. What reprecussions shall this have? Why must we do it? Where are my muffins?

In years to come, only the last one would remain unanswered.


$8,000,000,000,000 USD WITHDRAWN ---
--- TRANSFERRED $8,000,000,000,000 ---

---END ZMI---


The small reciept leaked out of the printer, confirming Miiska's fears. They had bought an army. They were fighting, for better or worse. Miiska chose the latter.

-tag-

The HSN Natucket Sound, a Hudson class Fleet Carrier(think larger more advanced Nimitz), was in the process of picking up her airgroup from the naval airstation just north of Salem Mass. The rest of the Carriers Battlegroup, the HSN Brooklyn, namesake of the Brooklyn class of Guided Missile Cruisers along with the Sprunce class Destroyers Helios, Pollox, and Castor were the vanguard of what would be an operation to secure an area in Zvarinograd water for deployment of allied forces by sea. The Jowstown class Amphibious Dockship/Troop Carrier HSN Joe Jackson and HSN John Jay soon followed after the Carrier Group. Their holds filled with equipment and troops, they were the entirety of the 5,000 so called advisors promised to the Zvarinograd government.

However their equipment was more than just that of typical advisors. They had the equipment of a heavily reinforced Battalion of the regular army with several tanks, attack helicopters and numerous other heavy weapons to particapte in engages when nessecary. This was not some little peacekeeping operation, the military and government in NYNJ were fully aware and fully committed to defeating the insurgents. There was sympathy in the halls of power toward the Zvaniograd situation and there civil war. That sympathy was being translated to military and economic support now.

In the factories of the Federal Republic production lines were being ramped up to produce Zvarinograd designed weapons of war. Several merchant vessels registered to NYNJ were impressed into being held and held in port ready to carry any and all military gear produced by the hard working citizens of the Republic. As far as logistical support though, this was a stumbling point as no one really knew what to send the Zvarinograd government. Did they need money? Or resources? Were they low on fuel? Or parts? Did they need bullets? The automated message did little to help coordinate the effort.

In orbit the 1st Federal Space Fleet sat silently, not given any real orders except to begin disembarkment of the 4th Marine Division to the Zvarinograd capital. Landing Barges and Space to Planet APCs were prepared and troops about two thousand in all constituting the first of six waves over a five day period were prepared to head down to the planet when weather was calm. To prevent any of the sky bound transports from being shot down by friendly forces Admiral Taylor of the 1st FSF had transmitted an open message to the intention of the incoming transports. However they were not to be an easy target. Five landing barges and twenty two ISSAPCs deployed were to be escorted by 18 SA-54 Endo/Exo Atmospheric Fighters known as the Starscream.

Elsewhere in orbit a KH-11 Spy Satellite finding itself having to shift in orbit so that it could even take pictures of something so far north. However this present a problem all of its own. The magnetic poles interfered with the transmission of electrical data back down to earth and so pictures taken by the now primiative satellites would be stored..and the satellite would have to adjust its orbit once more just to transmit the information. This would mean until concrete intel could be picked up all information used by NYNJ would be several hours old.

Area 74, Strategic Weapons Command; Nuclear Weapons

"The cataclysm is upon us. Glory be the Fatherland!"

Alarms wailed throughout the compound as the ground forces of the fascists approached the vicinity; crushing what little resistance the unprepared facility had to offer. Everyone knew why they were here, and the technicians hurried in an attempt to disarm the intercontinental ballistic missile before the fascists come and use it. However, in every section of the compound the government forces tried defending, they kept getting overrun by the numerical superiority of the fascist forces in the area. The guards retreated to the incredibly spacious security detail room right outside where the technicians were working, barricaded it and used it as a last stand. If the government could not defend it, the capital city will be annihilated, and the democrats will capitulate without a feasible defensive position nor supplies; the capital city was the highest in importance in the supply chain. It all depended on one room.

"Gentlemen," The Chief of Security, Krepkoi Dmitriev in the compound said to the assembled guards, "before we take our positions, I wish to confirm your loyalty to the freedom of our people. You have now unwittingly become the last stand between order and destruction. You are now the vanguard of freedom, and of the free world. You will not speak of defeat, you will be victorious. You will become the heroes of our country, and make your children and your children's children proud of you. Deny fascism, defend this room. You have recieved your orders, that is all."

There were cheers, but was abruptly stopped as the barricade began rocking. The guards rushed for their positions, the barricade scraped around, shuddered, and broke apart. The fascists had ripped open the door and half saw the guards. A fierce battlecry swept among the guards through the room. They were armed with rifles, grenades, and cutlasses for makeshift bayonets, and the first few that entered the room were paralyzed for a crucial instant and was peppered with gunfire. The chief strafed with his pistol, moving from one cover to another, catching one fascist by the throat with a bullet, breaking his neck. Some of the guards now engaged in melee, slashing at the enroaching hordes with whatever they had in hand, bayonets, knives and even the legs of the tables they used to barricade the door earlier. Marshall Pavel Kropivka cut down a man as he himself entered the room and ducked as bullets whistled by his ears, and watched his men attacking. "Rush, now!" he shouted, and he led a spearhead assault where the chief was located. Others stood their ground and kept most of the other guards busy. The chief blew the face off of a fascist, ground the now empty, useless pistol into the groin of another and slashed a berserk swath with a cutlass he acquired from the corpses in front of him. He lunged at the marshall, who sidestepped and pulled the trigger of his pistol, but at that second a guard crashed into him and the bullet whined harmlessly away. Pavel whirled, snarling, and hacked at the guard with his sabre, wounding him slightly, then turned in the melee and hurled himself at the chief again. His cutlass sliced through a fascist; then Dmitriev had him by the neck and they fell, flailing with fists and knees. He gasped as the marshall's sabre crunched into his face and cut a long scar. He picked himself up and flung him aside and cut at him. Pavel rolled away just in time and the cutlass fractured as it smashed into the deck. Dmitriev buried the broken cutlass into the face of a soldier who jumped at his throat and the marshall darted to safety behind a screen of his men. The guards were now charging into the middile of the room, cutting, hacking, shooting away with little regard for what they hit. While a coward might be weak; cornered, they can do anything out of desperation. One particular guard, female, planted herself behind a table. A .50 Desert Eagle in each hand and two spare pistols in her pocket. If the enemy came down the gangway before the fight was over, it would mean that the person in front of him was either dead or unconscious. But many fascists would die before they passed her. Led by the marshall, the fascists slammed into the chief's echelon of guards and were again repulsed. More guards fought their way forward. Three of them joined Dmitriev near the and they charged at the fascists, driving them back. A bullet smashed into Pavel's shoulder and he knew the fight was lost. Immediately he shouted "Fall Back." in Russian and his men broke off battle, shinned like rats down the door, and fled. Pavel's head broke up the table for an instant, Dmitriev fired as Pavel shot a guard and bolted, vanishing down the corridor, making Dmitriev miss. He swore, then hurled the empty pistol into the corridor. His men began breaking out the first aid kits and the battlefield now became a makeshift hospital. Some of the others started hauling the corpses outside the room and making another barricade. Dmitriev then turned his attention to the wounded. Blood was oozing out of the wound on his face, the female guard pried his hand away. The sabre had cut deeply, "We need to dress that wound, sir." She called out to her companions. "Get a kit, and some of that vodka in the lockers. They'll be back, but not before the government reaches us, don't let your guard down though. It's not over yet."

#-#-#

Damn.

"Can we blow up the room without damaging the control?" Pavel spoke to an officer outside.

"Negative, the foundations are close knit. If we blow up the room, the control room goes down with it."

God fornicating- sonava--

It was but a minor force which was implemented onto the Isles of Zvarinograd. Made up of only thirty warriors, they indeed would have appeared to be small and easily over-run. At the helm of this contingent was Lucifer, warrior of fire. And he was quite determined to complete the tasks set by Indigo. True, if he had met a large force of thousands of men wielding silver knives, he would most definatly be at risk of defeat. But unless this happened, he would effecitively remain in service of Indigo. If forces started wielding regualr weapons, such as guns, they would remain undefeated. Everyone ought to know what these creature's weakness was. Although there was only one type of this hybrid, and as far as Lucifer knew at least, nobody had really come up against them in battle. So quite possibly they wouldnt understand their one, and only weakness. Anyhow.

Landing onto the Isle wasnt too hard, but rather something managable by the small contingent of Lucifer and his men. Of course, it was quite possible that their presense on the Zvarinogradi tundra would have been noticed by quite a few within the theatre of operation. Perhaps, thought Lucifer to himself, Perhaps the secret tunnels and chambers of the Underworld were not all that useless...

And although he had decided to make what resourses were available, nothing could make him invincible, no matter how much he truly wished it of course. Anyhow, they were there for not just a reason of singular, but a reason of multiple proportions. Quite right, the public front, if there ever was, that Lucifer was within these lands in support of the current government which presided over Zvarinograd, and was fighting a battle against those forces outside, attempting to induce and encourage further resistance, and further internal struggle with that nation. Indeed, all it would create would be further tension, but as always said, if someone wasnt to challenge a dog, who would challenge a rabid monster? Well, perhaps this was known only to a few, including the creatures of darkness which were on the Island so far.

No-one would really know for now what secret motive that Indigo had when he sent Lucifer on this special mission, but rather most would only understand once a final result had been birthed into existant. It was a motive of death and the afterlife, and only one which could be attended to by these men, or perhaps just a few others if they so chose a fate as this. Death was not pretty, and yet its advantages were satisfying when the desire for power, strength, and fearlessness consumes you. And so, standing well hidden on these frozen lands, Lucifer sent a message to a well known democratic location, one of which was secure and free from outside interruption or interception.

... Friends, we are here to help you, we have arrived. Be assured, the underworld and Hades condemns your enemies. Now let them fall on the very rocks they try to destroy. Let their souls perish and their greater destinies be consumed by the forces of darkness. Let them be killed.

OOC: For anyone reading, if it doesnt make sense that all of a sudden things have changed, read above and you will see that I decided to attempt a new approach. Actually, I had to anyway, since there were details within which needed editing, brought to my attention to the great Ink. Cheers. :)

"Ja Kommandant, den wir dort jetzt umleiten und unseren Angriff aufstellen"* The lead man of the twenty cell group sitting in their makeshift camp somewhere in Zvarinograd whispers as he recieves the latest transmission from his command group. Turning to his men he relays the orders and they pack up their things, weapons stored back in their packs and the small motorised cart activated once more.

Turning towards the area specified they begin the slow march, already near the area having seen it as vital to the continued Fascist dominance of the island. Heading towards the southwest where information was relayed to them about a possible movementof enemy forces they reach the road quickly, thanking their god for giving them such an early response to the uprising. Stopping on the road the twenty men set to the task of covering the road with anti-personal and anti-vehicle landmines, each man careful as to not blow himself up on a comrades landmine.

Seeding the spot in the road with mines the men disperese into the surrounding cover some setting up mortars others taking rocket launchers with them, all older styled weapons but effective none the less. Sitting with his backt some cover the Group commander radios into all his men, ensuring they're in position. "Do not fire, until the first mine explodes, then attack anything that isnt us or fascist on the road, morters I want a spread fire on all pointson the road we've mined or havent mind, anti-vehicle troops attack anything armoured or on four wheels." He relays to his men who send back their responses and continue to set themselves up.

Time passes and the men are set, all they have to do now is wait for the enemy to fall into their trap and hopefully the assault on the facility will be successful.

Port City Agniiaskaya

The small contingent of NLA troops, the last off of the NLA owned carrier land, their movements seen by the city around them, hopin against hope the city is held by the fascists the NLA begin to unload their weapons, vehicles and begin to move out, their clothes barely keeping them warm in the climate so foreign to them. "Oh what I wouldnt wish for the desert" A soldier mutters as he takes up his rifle and continues his guard duty around the landing zone until everything is set.

A few hours later, they recieve word from the NLA commander in the area and mount up, their transports heading back out to sea and back home to recieve more fighters for their allies. Rumbling along the soldiers and vehicles head north, towards the current Fascist target area 74 each man knowing exactly what is needed of them, capture the facility intact and present it to the fascist government a symbol of friendship and alliance between them and the Fascist government of Zvarinograd.

Nearing the facility the small contingent of eighty men dismount their vehicles and shoulder their rifles, proceeding on foot they sneak towards the target and stop waiting for the order to attack. That order coming when the troops to the southwest ambush the reinforcements said to be coming for the defenders of the facility. Spreading out into the surrounding area the troops set up a secured zone from where they launch patrols and scouting missions intent on ensuring nobody sneaks up on them and ruins their surprise for the facility defenders.

OOC: *Translation: "Yes commander we will divert there now and set up our attack"

Swish, swish, swishi. The blades of the chinook helicopter sounded somewhat louder when in conjuction with ten other of the class. The officer of the two hundredth, and two hundred and first battalions, a one Major Speznov (http://www.afghanwar.spb.ru/40/40mi11.jpg), picked up the microphone gingerly, the voice reaching each helicopter, and spoke into it.

"Testing, testing? any soldiers out there? Just women, oh. ok."

It elicited a chuckle from the male soldiers in the helicopters, and even some of the females. The Major was fairly handsome, for a Hogsweatian, and he ignored the 3 inch hair laws, so it was all good. Speznov was a liked soldier.

"Alright boys, here's a little briefing that I prepared earlier"

Another round of chuckles. Most officers would not appreciate Speznov's casual, and almost - well, fully, jokey method of commanding. He was however, a serious career soldier that had earned his fair share of medals fighting insurgents.

"The Fascists are attempting to seize the only nuclear weapon that Zvarinograd maintains - we are here, primarily, to kick some ass, and to save the day, if you get my meaning."

Rounds of acute applause, some grunts, and some nods followed the short briefing.

"Remember. With all due seriousness, this is an important mission. Failure is not an option here. I expect each of you to fight as hard as you ever have done under me before. Shoot straight, and don't forget the motto of the Army-
Ruthlessness is the best virtue. Now let's kick some ass! Your squad leaders now their orders. Victory to the Union."

The Chinooks came in sight of the lost facility, finally. The weather had not helped, by either vision or sensors, but following the co-ordinates sent in the distress signal they arrived at the scene. Two of the Chinooks remained behind while the others rapelled their heavily clothed soldiers down and flew off - the remaining chinooks housing snipers and support soldiers that could give support outside of the facility.
The choppers dropped the soldiers with the 20mm material guns, and the milans, outside the facility. The soldiers covered up their positions with snow, and waited for the inevitable attack. It was cold. So very fucking cold.
The troops, now some 500 metres from the entrance, walked within range, their weapons shouldered. They searched the outside wall of the facility, a soldier finding a door with a cry of "Door found!", the demo squad rushing over to blow the door. They did so promptly, and in typical indoors training fashion moved, covering each other in teams of four, the five hundred odd soldiers moving into the complex slowly. Speznov was in what could be described of the middle. He let his rifle hang on his chest, and tapped his radioman on the shoulder -

"See if we can't get a connection to any radios the loyalists may have left. if you find a channel where they are broadcasting distress signals, get onto it and tell 'em we're coming."

With a nod the radioman did so, on the move, and Speznov shouldered his rifle again and the soldiers kept moving....

The truly vast sum had been paid. Money enough to buy a nation, money enough to fight a war, a successful one at that, however the task was none so simple, three forces fought for the domination of the target, all with international backers.

The answer presented itself, subcontracting. Messages were sent. The Revenian government was contacted and replies were received.


The board room was dark as scene after scene from the target was replayed over its screens. Smashed cities, farms burning, roads filled with refugees, the mass graves, and the moving swirling madness of war.

A male figure stood, simply a silhouette against the bright flashing screens, cufflinks glittered for a moment then he began to speak.

“With our subcontractor taking the majority of casualty risk we estimate we have an 87% the victory of the communist faction within budget and on time. Naval forces carrying six Landcrawler MK.III squads are already under way to target and a repositioning of fail safe and defensive orbital assets is underway”

Another figure stood this one female and obviously in naval uniform.

“First we will eliminate this forces ability to project power”.

An orbital view appeared, zoomed and zoomed again. A taskforce at sea, at its heart a huge carrier.

“They could present an active and heavy threat to our landing operations not to mention our naval assets. They must be eliminated from the equation of this conflict to insure our victory. Primary interception will occur here with conventional weapons delivered via the assets developed by the tactical bombardment program. Secondary interception if necessary will take place here” the map zoomed out and a red dot appeared. “ As they pass over this ocean trench two wolf packs which have been making their way along it shall engage them”. She continued after taking a sip of water from a glass upon the huge black marble table that was the centre of the room. “ To insure this the Z.M.S.F. will be acting to insure their orbital assets do not interfere, also we intend to eliminate this,” with a blink several grainy pictures of a satellite “Orbital asset the Z.M.S.F. detected repositioning itself. Unfortunately this asset cannot be targeted by our more ..deniable plans.”

High Orbit

The battle stations sat in orderly processions. Dozens of nations unmanned orbital weapons platforms were packed into the bustling orbital space. Now it was time for a few of them to have …accidents. A ZMI mark 33 kinetic kill satellite shaped much like an oversized barrel exploded. It sent splinters and shards of shrapnel outwards. Some platforms tried to dodge, accidentally detonating munitions were not unknown but many simply were hit. Given the relative speeds they too were blasted to bits, systems munitions capable of destroying an entire nation in a blink of an eye reduced to flying shards. The cascade had begun. Below it the 1st Federal Space Fleet sat in their vigil.


Of the coast of Baltic Island, Haven


Moonlight spilled out over four task groups as they snaked their way through the oceans of Haven en route to the island chain of Zvarinograd. Around them swirled dozens of air patrols while ahead of them four wolf packs moved as one.

However 5 ships were not moving. Instead they were surrounded by destroyers playing search lights over the water and the five ships that were the centre of all the attention. The five (1)Starhurler launch platforms were deployed, their huge stabilisers whining as their payloads were raised to position, anchor chains clinked in the dark as the (2) Starbolt’s were fuelled, the odd wisp of fog from the cryogenic primary stages fuel spiralling down their pristine white flanks. Their 211 metre tall bulk swayed ever so gently as the stabilisers fought the ocean swell. After half an hour or so the crews evacuated for launch to the nearby (3)“Capital Venture class” dreadnought, The Z.M.N. Morning Light from where they would watch their hard work. Behind it the vast form of a (4)"Market forces" heavy carrier slid past its decks crowded with watching sailors and pilots.

High Orbit
A beam of coherent pulsed light hit an object. The surface of the object was black, dull and oddly angular. A section of this oddly angular flower seemingly drifting through space slid open and a rack of large telescopic cameras came into view. The satellite cameras zoomed and clicked as it checked its assigned targets. Orders were stacked and processed and in a spray of gas refrigerated to match the background temperature of space the satellite repositioned itself. Systems were checked then the largest target in its field of view were selected. The target was now painted.

Command Centre the Z.M.N. Morning Light
The voice of the flight controllers washed over the normal hubbub of the large command centre. Huge main screens flashed. A main countdown already was underway.
The main controller then stood and tapped his mic before speaking.

“This is tactical bombardment control to monitoring aircraft, standby, launch platforms stabilisation?”

“Check one through five” came the reply.”

After a dozen or so more such checks the order was given and the time drew ever shorter.

“Launch One.”

12 minutes later above the The HSN Natucket Sound

The first Starfall payload delivery pod screamed through the night sky at over 4000 kilometres per hour. The air around it glowed in iridescent plasma as hunks of glowing ablative armour flecked off. Every few seconds a blast from its vectored thrust units would change its course. Behind it another four Starfall pods began there decent. In total they were carrying over 240 tons of modern high explosive with an explosive force that would equal over 2 kilotons of TNT. Behind them the shooting stars of the man made scrap of the cascade had already begun to illuminate the night sky.

(1)
http://www.deviantart.com/view/14975085/
(2)
http://www.deviantart.com/view/14995045/
(3)
http://www.deviantart.com/view/14664326/
(4)
http://www.deviantart.com/view/14932952/

As news of the conflict in Zvarinograd reaches the ears of the Lunatic Retard Robots strategic intelligence service, the government, a loosely-organized legislative body in command of an 'overwhelming' one million man force, begins to worry.

While LRR's diplomatic isolation has so far protected the Parliament Funkadelic from doing, well, anything, the notion that Facism is on the march is not a comforting one.

The large brick of hasheesh brought weekly to the intelligence bureau offices generally does not improve the agency's effectiveness, but the nature of the struggle in Zvarinograd strikes a chord in the hearts of many intelligence officials, in between striking chords on their ornate Sitars.

So, all in all, the government 'resolves to do all it can to aid anti-facist elements in Zvarinograd.' With one of the world's larger stores of relatively well-kept surplus weaponry, ranging from T-54s to unused examples of some of the most up-to-date tanks around, the state armories have something for everybody. This point is communicated (hopefully) in a series of messages to the democratic elements, and once a shipping arrangement can be worked out, barring unforseen circumstances, the democratic elements can count on recieving a steady stream of equipment.

Darkness. It covered many things. Secrets, lies, indiscrestions. Lovers and cheaters. Darkness hid the processes of life, and it hid the mechanics of death. Brokered deals, disguised treaties, money exchanged.

Lies, more lies, damned lies.

Darkness covered them all.

Traitors, patriots, nationalists, secret police, Party members. Darkness covered them all.

It could cover troops, and deployments and movements. It could cover betrayals and alliances.

But most of all, tonight, over the islands from which the Falkenberg Legion called home, it hid the silent motions of four of Legion Leader Andrea Klint's Vampire-class hunter-killer submarines as they vanished into the waters of the Sound.

Other things, larger things, darkness could not hide. 15 billion dollar credit transfers. Movements of troops in division strength. Andrea Klint's Joly Jaguars were preparing for war.

It was always a big deal when a full Striker Fleet left The Impworld. Even more so when it was First Striker Fleet, command by High Admiral Xanthos Hellborne. When they were accompanied by the battle fleet of the Chaos Harpies, it was not only a big deal, it meant that the Mage-King himself, Torquemada Illyrian, was involved.

So, said fleets emerged into realspace...and it was damn impressive. Unfortunately, there was no-one there to see them, because though they were closer to Sol than normal (quite a bit, actually) they were still way the hell and gone by normal standards.

As to why...well...

(Some Wilderness in Zvarinograd, approx. five-zero klicks from the Capital)

Sethric Velisar unlocked and raised his helmet so that he could give the area a scan with the ol' Mark One eyeball. So he was a traditionalist. So what. He'd survived for three hundred years without any fancy technology, and he still trusted himself more than any damn technogadgetry.

One gauntled hand came up to wave forward his personal bodyguards, who came trudging along in their jet black and red Champion Armor. Then that hand went forward to slap shut his visor.

Sethric pushed himself to his feet and subvocalized a movement order, then started forward himself. The rest of the First Grand Company of the Chao Harpies moved with him, like ghosts. Moving through the land without actually touching it, leaving no trace of their passing.

Like Mist.

They were hunting. Hunting for something, and they would find it...

No matter who or what got in their way. Because they were Chaos Harpies.

Because they were Sevle.

To: the Government of Zvarinorad
To: Pro-Democratic Forces within Zvarinograd
To: Sirithil nos Feanor, ENEM
Subject: Contracts

Let it hereby be known that the High Guard and the Star Guard do hereby accept a commission from the Democratic Government of Zvarinograd to protect and defend its populace from external aggression and harm.

The current net sum of operations stands at approximately six hundred (600) billion Standard Universal Dollars (USD). The exact sum, minus up front moneys paid, will be produced at the end of the contract term.

The exact contract has been included with this message.

Roy Hawksblood, Fleet Admiral
Gerard Storm, High Marshall

Earthbound Aerospace Control Zone
Orbit over Earthbound Weyr, Central Pacific
Terra

WSGS Necessary Evil

It was big, shaped like a peachpit, and armed with some of the latest weapons in the Weyrean arsenal. Perhaps Weyrean was not the correct term, since the Guard was not strictly a purely Weyrean enterprise, but since most of the technology aboard the Evil came from Weyr, it was as good a description as any. In either case, it was an Ocean-class Ship of the Line, and now it was beginning to move.

"Jeez," Admiral Fara Ito Lancer muttered. A virtual cloud of debris filled the orbit over Zvarinograd, and it was expanding, fast. It was a nightmare in two senses -- it would kill any unshielded orbital installation, and it would mess with scanners for days.

"Initiate cascade warning," she ordered, hardly shifting in her seat in the aphitheaterlike bridge of the Necessary Evil. "Don't know what the fuck the idiots in control are doing," she muttered. "Cascade...."

"Screens at forty," engineering reported.

"Hyperions online and ready," weapons commented. "We gonna use them, capt'n?"

"Net time," the CO and avatar of the craft cut off any further responses.

"Doubt it," Fara said moments later, though objectively it could not have been more than a few seconds. The net was a curious thing, if only because of the time distortion experienced while on it. Who could use something like a Halimir, a Small Star, especially so close to a population center. "Yellow Alert. PD destroyer screens out. Kill the cascade before it hits the station, then move in to support the Federals*"

Somewhere below, General Markowitz was slowly getting together deployment plans. Moving a hundred thousand soldiers and supplying them across a planet was never an easy task.

From the Weyrean craft, relayed by satellites in high orbit, a message snaked towards the Federal ships. "So, where do you want us?" The tone sounded rather bored, and was accompanied by quite a bit of weapons and tactical data. It wasn't anything secret -- everyone -knew- the Guard had thirty thousand marines stashed away in the Sol Fleet and ready for action. The Landing Ships, each carrying three thousand soldiers along with support personnel, were a testament to that.

*Federal Republic of New York and Jersey

Tag, pending an upcoming post.

To: the Government of Zvarinorad
To: Pro-Democratic Forces within Zvarinograd
To: Sirithil nos Feanor, ENEM
Subject: Conracts

OOC: Given that I have exactly the same relationship with Zvarinograd that she has, can I assume that I have received a copy of this... document?

OOC: Yes....I should've clarified that everyone should know that the Guard now has a job with the 'legitimate' government. Random IC Post here maybe in an hour or two...

As night time broke apart in the first rays of daylight, slowly creeping across the land, peeling the darkness back into small pockets of shadow, the stillness, the quiet, was shattered by a noise.

The foghorn of a massive Sparta-class supercarrier tormented the ears of those within kilometers. And then came other sounds, the roar of jet engines, afterburners screaming in the grip of rose-fingered dawn. Four fighters clawed at the air as they left their metal home and returned to their natural environment.

Effortlessly, they climbed high above the home islands, looking down at the Sound, observing the megatons of shipping there. Not all of it belonged to the Jaguars, of course, and not all of it was preparing to leave. But a good portion of it was.

One pilot, quickly counting, made it to an even hundred troop transports before he lost track of which ones he had counted. He knew that each could carry one cohorts and equipment as well as a large number of supplies for those troops, enough to let them fight for two months, as long as the fighting was not constant or heavy.

Under those conditions, it might last two weeks. This, the pilot knew from his own training. Everyone in one of Falkenberg's Legions started as a foot soldier, even the Falkenberg family itself.

The four planes banked out to sea, heading for the entrance to the sound, as below and behind them, warships began to move from their berths, from relatively tiny missile frigates to dreadnaughts and supercarriers. Given SOP, there would be one warship for every two transports, not counting submarines.

H.S.N Natucket Sound-
The general alarm was sounded as the entire armored flight deck was decimated and the conning tower was practically destroyed. The bridge crew not seeing the event coming nor having much time than to get off an inital warning throughout the ship. Now the ship was blind and without any sort of control. Without a conning tower she was practically useless even though major combat operations still could have taken place within the combat situation room deep within the warship itself, they lacked the ability to launch aircraft. Three of five catapults being destroyed outright and the other two in such terrible shape that it would be months at the Brooklyn Naval Yard before even those would be fixed, and years before the Nantucket Sound was combat worth all together.

Federal Republic-
"Wait...WHAT?" silence in the room as Gregory listened once more over the telephone at the events which had just occured. ""So is it a complete loss? You certain they were still in our waters? Alright..call a meeting of the Joint Chiefs, and all the other military advisors. I want everything moved down to the situation room and I want it done in fifteen minutes."

With a hang up of the phone Gregory rushed to get dressed and was done in 5 minutes and within the next 10 he was just entering the now crowded situation room. "Well gentlemen, we're at war. And our enemy is Hogsweat."

The meeting would go on for several hours where the decision was made to tow the hulk of the Sound back down to the Boston Naval Yard. The rest of the fleet would wait about a single day before the H.S.N Chesapeake Bay a carrier of the same class could sail from out of Boston harbor, gather her airgroup and proceed northward.

New Boston, Mars-
At Marius Dome, the largest in New Boston troops of the Mars Expeditionary Force geared up and got ready for new deployments. The orders came just as quickly as the news of war erupted. When it happened though some of the active military was deployed to Mars and thus had to be recalled. With New Boston rather peaceful, the deployment number of troops was dropping from 550,000 down to 225,000. The rest would be loading up on large transports on the surface and be ferried up to orbital transports, and warships of the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Fleets. All the stops were being pulled out.

Mars Orbit-
The giant armada of warships began to power up. Recalling fighters they had deployed to Mars, the hundreds of ships of the three seperate fleets were preparing to get underway as soon as possible. As with any large warmachine though it was slow going at first. Reinforcements from Mars wouldnt arrive for several days. However in Earth Orbit the situation was much different.

Earth Orbit-
The cascade effect did little to harm the ships of the 1st Federal Fleet, satellite bits smacking into armored and sometimes shielded hulls did about as much to damage them as anything else. However this caused the fleet to pull out of low orbit and go higher. With one of the ocean bound carriers having been crippled, the four Carriers in orbit for the time being were the ones with any sort of overall coverage of the fleet. Of the troops on the ground, and allied forces moving to assist.

The cascade effect did however affect the landing of troops. Several of the ISSAPCs were forced to abort the landing and return to their respective carriers after their defensive guns couldnt keep out all of the debries from hitting the ship. Meanwhile the Landing Barges where thick skinned monsters who could really plow on throw fragile chunks of debries on their way down to the planet. The fighters themselves had no problem just avoid the space junk and when mandatory having the aft mount automated gun give off a few shots to break up any signifficant chunk which might hit them from behind.

Out of 2,000 troops heading for the capital aboard the inital wave, it seemed as if 1,100 would make it to the surface along with most of the equipment needed to set up at least a preliminary field post.

Chimera Station/Fleet and Service Yards-
The 3rd Fleet was like the rest of the Federal Fleet in preparing to get underway for the combat zone. At Chimera and her sister station of Hope Point, the shipyards were being prepared for a new round of construction.

Astra City, Lavenrunz

General Carl Franze had just gotten up, and was working out a kink in his back. He sighed and went, still in boxers and shirt, to the bathroom. Feeling old. It had been a long time since he had been in the field, and when he had been made commander of the Imperial Rocket Corps it meant that he pretty much spent all his time on tours of inspection or in the office. He patted his growing paunch ruefully, and started as his phone rang obnoxiously.
"Franze here." he said, picking up the phone.
"General, there has been an attack on New York and Jersey. I think an entire naval squadron's been wiped out!" the duty officer reported.
"Damn." he exclaimed. "Is the attack being followed up?"
"No idea yet, sir, no information."
"Very well. Keep monitoring the situation, I'll be on my way." he glanced at his watch and decided he would take a very quick shower first; he couldn't do much at the moment anyway.

In the halls of power deals can be made. Diplomatic ties were checked and an appropriate nation was selected.


-Point to Point encoded Streaming text diplomatic communiqué-

From: The Office of Executive Gestalt of ZMI

To: Hans van Mierlo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence

Attached you will find details of the contract that has precipitated this sequence of unfortunate events. We believe you can take the appropriate steps to insure that this state of affairs does not go beyond control. We also believe that further third parties could cause the incident to swell in size and thus wish to limit any possible damage by including an extra clause in our usual contract. We believe that you are the best hope to defuse this situation. We await your reply.

We the Gestalt hope our faith is not misplaced.
Generated by the Gestalt @ 22:20

Attached: Previous contract details, Contract and legal details, banking details, real time contact IP.

On Venus, there was a deep rumbling of malcontent. Legions of devoured beings, first thousands then tens of thousands, and finally hundreds of thousands awoke, coffin-like alcoves housing their metallic forms echoed to the sound of long unused appendages flexing, a high screech of dry metal on dry metal as the limbs of the ancient necrons flexed, ridding themselves of the accumulated dust of their long sleep.

First, one, then another sickly green glow emerged from the row after row of alcoves as the denizens tested their weapons. Skeletal fingers grasped the edges of their coffins as the creatures began to move, stepping out, their soulless eyes staring for intruders, gaunt, bent bodies of metal illuminated by that same, telltale glow from their weapons.

Meanwhile, the dark hulks of the ships in orbit of the planet began to flicker with darting white fires, leaping and arcing, flashing and chasing one another through forests of spines and spear-like projections, open plains of hull metal, and deep canals of blue-white liquid-fire.

The deathless gaze of the necrons promised only death.

((OOC: Obligitory RAWR I MOBILIZE! post.))

Hans van Mierlo sent this back:

To: The Office of Executive Gestalt of ZMI
From: Hans van Mierlo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Knootoss

First of all I must admit being somewhat surprised that Lethislavania has paid Zepplin Manufacturer Industries to support communist forces in Zvarinograd. It certainly shows in what esteem in these communist agitators hold their alleged principles. Fortunately, we have always found ourselves to be more ideologically aligned to your business. I am also pleased with how we have worked together cooperatively in the past, especially in the design of the Raptor Domed 80 Megawatt Microwave Maser which is not fitted on both Knootian and ZMI ships.

I am, however, compelled to share information regarding your proposal with VERITAS intelligence pact allies under the terms of the VERITAS treaty. We hope you do not object as we will consider your proposal just as seriously regardless.

Included in this communication you will find a slightly amended contract offer that still holds true to the points that you have put forward.. It is most certainly an interesting offer, and therefore I will restate the terms of the contract more plainly. The Knootoss government attaches binding legality to the contract terms stated hereunder, including the noted interpretations and minor amendments


ZMI and affiliated entities agree to refrain from projecting external force against any VERITAS members and other Knootian allies as listed in annex 1) *
ZMI and affiliated entities agree not to conduct any contracts with third parties obligating ZMI and affiliated entities to project force against parties listed in annex 1),
Any new contracts conducted by ZMI and affiliated entities that detract from the validity of this contract will considered to be invalid. ZMI and affiliated entities undertake not to sign such contracts, and pledge that any standing contracts are not in conflict with the terms of this contract.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss will undertake to transfer the sum of two trillion dollars (at the exchange rate of 1 Euro = $2.23) in structural development aid to Zeppelin Manufacturer Industries under the Structural Encouragement Programme (SEP) set up to improve Free-Market Development in third party nations in accordance with the goals of the VERITAS economic treaty.
Any further actions by ZMI and affiliated entities projected directly against the parties described in annex 1) or projected against the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss itself gives the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss the right to declare the contract null and void, entitling the the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Dutch Democratic to a full and immediate refund. It does not matter which party initiates the hostilities.
The transfer of funds will take place in numbered Euro bills, and if refund is refused these numbers will be published and the bills declared invalid. ZMI accepts full liability for all damaged parties in the event of contract breach.


If notice is given of your acceptance we suspect you will immediately and fully withdraw from the NYNJ theatre and refrain from militarily engaging democratic government forces in Zvarinograd.

Yours,

Hans van Mierlo

Attached: Contract and legal details


*This includes a long list of allies, including the VERITAS treaty with NYNJ and the Democratic government of Zvarinograd. (Note: this means that the Zvarinograd fascists are still free game.)

Also sent:
To: relevant VERITAS intelligence pact allies.
Via: AIVD liaisons to the VERITAS intelligence pact.

We have received reliable information that the nation of Lethislavania has paid Zepplin Manufacturer Industries to support communist forces in Zvarinograd. Zepplin Manufacturer Industries may undertake to refrain from action against VERITAS and democratic Zvarinograd forces in the future, so we suggest that they not be engaged while Knootian diplomats will make an effort to make them withdraw. We have high hopes that our attempts will be succesful.

The government of the DDR urges the alliance to act with restraint and focus its attentions instead on the Lethislavanians who are the instigators behind the outrageous attack on our NYNJ allies.

~Hans van Mierlo, Knootoss

Arnopelë,
Arnatirios Taurenor,
Sisgardia

“They did what?!” Came the surprised question from Taurevanimë when she heard the news of the attack on the Nantucket.
“Attacked with inter continental ballistic missles milady. Our ships have flight telemetry of the missles and traced it back to the launch vessels. They are currently being monitored from orbit as we speak.” Came the reply of the security officer.
“Excellent. Deploy a group of vessels into orbit and have them stand by for further orders. Also load up a small battalion of ground forces into transports and put into orbit in case they'll be called upon. Then call all the noble houses together.” She says and the officer only nods and leaves the room as Taurevanimë looks out of the window into the thick forest.

ooc: So forces are being mobilised, nothing really special yet.

To:Hans van Mierlo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Knootoss
From: The Office of Executive Gestalt of ZMI

Contract accepted under all terms. We believe threat level to global and ZMI survival created by hostile action of communist forces now deemed too high to risk further operations even in light of possible financial rewards. All forces are now being withdrawn.

Generated by the Gestalt @ 21:56




To: Revenian Government
From: The Office of Executive Gestalt of ZMI

We have been paid not to fight. Call of all forces ASAP. We attach the account details to a sum of money of 340 million USD payable when your forces have withdrawn

Attached: Account details.



To: Government of Lethislavania
From: The Office of the Executive Gestalt of ZMI

Standard full contract refund: 8 Trillion USD. Note your contract did not speculate our entire national assets being put at risk. As per your request no further ZMI contact will be made. Also note that targeted forces were removed from the field of action for no cost to you.

Generated by the Gestalt @ 21:56

Attached: Account details.





Open Global Streaming text broadcast

Today ZMI formally apologises for the misfire of a munitions satellite in high orbit that caused a cascade scenario. The misfire event it seems was due to a standard check being run due to increased operational activity due to recent unfortunate international actions. Any persons or organisations finding their goods damaged and uncovered by insurance may contact us for relevant reparations.


Generated by the Gestalt @ 21:56

Attached: contact details details.





The member of the gestalt stood on the edge of the massive concrete edge walls staring out over the sea of seemingly endless grey “soil” that stretched out to the horizon. By his side two members of the Dark battle angels continuously prowled. Reaching down he scooped up the ash grey “soil” as they had called it to the rest of the world. They had blamed the condition on gross mineing and industrial use. This was partially true. They could never know ..what had happened on their time line before the brake. The gestalt total control of the minds of every citizen would insure that. They had seen ..what true total war meant. Every last human had died. In the west the great megacities and their logic stacks among the ruins of what had once been the broken states of Europe had stood full of corpses. Their massive ranks of defences had saved the structures but the people had still died. Nanites and E.M. sweeps had only prolonged their agony. All biological Life had ceased as the radiation seeped through the planet. It took millennia for the background radiation to drop to acceptable levels. However in the logic stacks minds of a sort had survived. Slowly year after year more shells were constructed, eventually once more biological forms had been used. Eventually humans had once more strode the megacities now tree lined avenues. Not one line of their DNA had been evolved. It had been ..remembered. Stored. Replicated.

Megacity One stood as a testament to mans stupidity in some ways. It’s massive force walls and endless lines of weapons sat as testament to that. Megacity One had been designed to survive a total war with its production capacity intact. Humanity and the world had not. In the end they could not risk the destruction of the race for a second time for something ..so petty. The Gestalt member stood, eight trillion dollars… it had been a lot to give up. In the end however being paid not to fight was a far better outcome with no risk.

From between the Gestalt members fingers the ash that had once been fallout trickled.

ZMI Naval Task Forces

The Task forces were sailing straight back to Outzone city. Their hulls stretched gently into the distance as their procession began it’s treck home. The star bolt launchers now without their massive payloads cut through the waves keeping pace with the carrier groups.

Beneath them subs moved back to regular patrol patterns, above it all battle platforms stood down from alert. Heading towards Shen Zou the ZMI task force sent to assist in that areas capture began burns to change course back to Megacity three.

Open Global Streaming text broadcast.

As the government of Lethislavania has refused, for we can only assume purposes of foolish national pride to accept our full refund the account set aside for its repayment to them will be debited back to our central funds.
We see no reason to allow good money to go to waste over matters of too much national pride.

Generated by the Gestalt @ 22:40



.

OOC: I'd like to request a brief pause in the development of this thread. It's moving too fast for several people, and there've been raised tempers (including my own) and I think it would all work better if we relaxed a little.

OOC Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=396897)

First-General Gaarm looks at the SatHack info from Project Silent Eyes. The VERITAS Pact will be honored. A signatory has been attacked within their own waters? As the humans say, that takes some stones. He presses the comm button to his aide, who promptly enters the office.

"Aye, sirrah?" The soft klack of her foot-claws on the hardened resin floor sounds as she makes her entrance.

"A signatory of VERITAS has been attacked. It is our duty to respond. However, I do not have all the information for an appropo response at my hands. Send a message to the VERITAS ambassador attached to the military pact. See if our support is needed, and in what capacity."

"Aye, sirrah." A snappy salute is given, and she ducks out after a silent dismissal to do her job.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
<<Transmit Begins>>
<<Quantum Entanglement Encryption>>
<<DIR: Prefect of State Lord Túrelio nos Fingolfin >>

Good cycle to you,

It is known to me one of our signatories, New York and New Jersey, has been assaulted within their boundaries. If a military response is needed, do you require support? I have Sol-bound forces in place, and ready to be mobilized. I will, of course, need to be supplied with information on this to gauge an appropo response. Standing by.

<<SigIdent: First-General Gaarm>>
<<Transmit Ends>>

The primary reaction in the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar to all of this was one of unmitigated outrage. Who were these upstart pups who dared to challenge freedom and democracy in Zvarinograd? The Menelmacari were like as not to take this personally; Zvarinograd had, after all, declared fealty to Menelmacar; in return, Menelmacar was treaty-bound to defend Zvarinograd. And so Menelmacar would do just that... it would be a busy day in Menelmacar.

The simplest matter to deal with was that of Hogsweat. The nation's naval movements had not eluded the gaze of Menelmacari satellites; recently, Menelmacari firms had acquired a great deal of the Hogsweatian economy at bargain-basement prices... mere millicreds on the credit. Throughout Hogsweat, contracts for the Hogsweatian government were... lowered in priority. No contract would be broken, of course... but they would only be delivered after all other orders had been filled. In some cases, these contracts included penalties for late delivery; it mattered little, because many of the other orders had bonuses for early delivery. One would balance the other - and would please the other customers, besides. If there were any actual losses, in the end, a slush-fund would cover them with interest - a minor consideration for acting on behalf of the interests of the companies' country. This meant, naturally, that the Hogsweatian government would have to do without many of the supplies required to wage war. Just minor, little things, like rations and fuel and ammunition. But... after all, this was business - and loss of a Menelmacari vassal state was universally seen as bad for business. Next, a communique was sent out.

...QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT COMMUNICATION BEGINS

x-To Whom It May Concern, Foreign Ministry, Soviet Union of Hogsweat
o-Lord Túrelio nos Fingolfin, Prefect of State, Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar

I'll make this short and very clear. Menelmacar is aware of your activities in Zvarinograd, which is a vassal-state of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar. Your naval deployment was easily spotted on our satellites, and if you make any moves to back the communist faction we will have no choice but to consider it a direct attack on Menelmacar itself, and respond accordingly. Thusly, especially with the distracted state of many of your allies and the fact you've already got several wars to worry about, continuing to press the Zvarinograd matter would be... highly counterproductive for your national interests. On the other hand... if of course you are supporting the democratic government, perhaps you'd like to make a decisive strike against an important communist position. As a show of good faith. If such a strike is not made, your claims of support for the government will be dubious at best, given they have not apprised us of your support.

On a perhaps related matter, several Menelmacari firms in Hogsweat have reported to the Prefecture of Trade, that they have suffered widespread computer errors that may be caused by a HoloNet virus. As a result, much data was regrettably lost and deliveries of ammunition, military rations, and fuel on Hogsweat government contracts may be significantly delayed while the situation is rectified. Please bear with us as this matter is addressed, though the decisions of your government over the next hours and days could certainly affect the speed of the recovery.

Deadly seriously,
Lord Túrelio nos Fingolfin
Prefect of State
Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar

...ENCRYPTION COMPLETE
...QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT COMMUNICATION TERMINATES

Next, a military response was prepared by Lady Serendis. Four fleets would be deployed; they could be deployed in hours to a day, depending on their current locations. Menelmacari fleets generally operate as generally-self-contained combined-arms units, able to deploy quickly, and to join together to form larger task forces as needed. Four would constitute two hundred ships, eighty thousand soldiers, and several thousand each of various types of aerospace craft and armored vehicles... more than enough to handle the insurgents from both factions. This force would be massed, and sent towards Zvarinograd as soon as possible, and orders were sent out to that effect.

Next came the report from the Knootians, that outlined the Lethislavanian involvement. Serendis smirked... well, this would be interesting. She informed Lady Siri, who ordered that two of the fleets - one hundred ships - be sent to Lethislavania instead, in the form of a *personal* response from the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar. Their mission - to get to the bottom of the matter, whether through words and investigation, or copious quantities of heavy weapons fire. It would be up to the Lethislavanians to decide which course they preferred.

Finally, Lord Túrelio checked his inbox one last time... and found something from the Sakkrans. The reptilian Sakkrans had long been close allies of Menelmacar; long ago Menelmacari aid had helped the Sakkran space program get off the ground, and now the two empires were partners in both VERITAS and the Triumvirate of Yut. He immediately apprised Sirithil and Serendis of the missive, and began his response:

...QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT COMMUNICATION BEGINS

x-First General Gaarm, Empire of Sakkra
o-Lord Túrelio nos Fingolfin, Prefect of State, Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar

Good cycle to you.

I was greatly pleased and honored to receive your offer of military support. Menelmacar and indeed all of VERITAS would of course be honored to have our Sakkran friends at our side in this matter. While the forces that struck at the NYNJ carrier in her home waters have been effectively neutralized, there remains the larger crisis that precipitated that attack. The Menelmacari protectorate of Zvarinograd is in the midst of a civil war where the rightful, democratic government has been assailed by two rebel factions - one fascist and one communist. Both factions are receiving support from outside nations.

Menelmacar is deploying forces to help the government quell the insurrections, and it would be to Zvarinograd that your wrath is best directed at this time. I am enclosing all information we currently have.

I thank you again, and hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,
Lord Túrelio nos Fingolfin
Prefect of State
Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar

...ENCRYPTION COMPLETE
...QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT COMMUNICATION TERMINATES

To his most noble Lordship, Turelio nos Fingolfin, Prefect of State
I wished to communicate to your Lordship the support of the Teutonic Empire. On Her Majesty's behalf, we are pledging to send assistance should you require it. However, due to the fact that we are currently involved in operations in Syskeyia, we would like to know what that assistance would consist of, if any.
Furthermore, we condemn those nations supporting the communist regime in Zvaringrad and which attacked our ally New York and Jersey, and stand with you against them.

respectfully
Hans Schlabel
Chancellor of Lavenrunz


As this message was sent out, the Empress was briefed by the Council of Ministers and the War Council on what capabilities the Empire might have to send assistance.
Admiral de Goethe, Field Marshal von Thessmar, General von Baden, Field Marshal von Seydlitz and others presented the military facts: in order to avoid being stretched too thin, it was advised that a small but very capable force could be sent to support VERITAS allies. However, mobilization of landwehr units would continue anyway, which might promise more to come.


To King Gregory de los Santos

I would like to extend my condolences to your Majesty regarding the awful preemptive attack on your fleet. Let it be known that we stand against you against enemies, that we will do all that we can to support you. Our grief and our prayers go to the families of the slain. Be assured that we will not be aloof in this time.

with all friendship
Aurora von Sachshausen
Empress of Lavenrunz

Kyar Miiska glided onto the stage, as he had now assumed the position of Chancellor. The water on his eyes twinkled under the setting sun, which had just earlier cast blazing rays of firey crimson into the sky. Gulping, he looked down, and watched as the camera's clicked on.

"Ladies and faire gentlemen of my country... I have to inform you of a dreadful mistake on our part... Rather, our chancellor's part. Earlier this week, unknown to me, he placed an order for the forces of ZMI, a buisness partner of ours, to assemble an orbital fleet. When I saw the reciept, he had already fled the country." Gasps eeked out of the crowd, and Kyar shook a bit, as fear slowly crept up his spine.

"Let that not stir us, however. I know Sir Thomas Winkling had been slowly rescinding our rights - I scolded him for doing so. But now we must tell the truth to the world - What we needed the force for. As you may know, Hogsweat is a valuable ally of ours, helping protect us against various threats throughout the years." Many in the crowd nodded slowly.

"They are currently engaged in a conflict in a country by the name of Zvarinograd - Many of you should have heard of it in University. As we became aware of the occurance, we realised an unmost need to keep ourselves protected. But we have no army, right?" Chortles shot out, as the people nodded happily.

"So, protection was needed. That, my comrades, was the purpose of the ZMI transfer. To guaruntee our country was to remain safe, not to attack the faire people of Zvaringrad." He nodded, and an image appeared behind him. It displayed a graph, detailing the different monetary appropriations.

"If VERITAS can accept this plan, we have a specialised aid package that shall pay reparations for damage caused by ZMI."


$780 Billion Direct Aid - Zvarinograd

$2.8 Trillion Dollars - New York and Jersey Government, for payment of
loss of lifes and structure

$500 Billion - VERITAS, under Congress Bill 471 B., stating; "If Lethislavania
shall inhibit an international organisation, and is found to be in the wrong,
they shall pay a 'fine' of up to $275 Billion Socialist Dollars, which is to be
added to any reparation package that is being discussed."


He nodded once more, and walked away, noticing the disgusted look on the face of the Fascist Front leader's. A look that gave him immediate pleasure.

IC post placeholder, since I'm leaving for work in a few:

1. Menelmacar thanks Lavenrunz for their offer and accepts.
2. Menelmacar asks for TRD to join in under the terms of their bilateral, if they will.
3. Menelmacari response to Lethislavania.

Thomas Jansen read and reread the request from Menelmacar. He then turned to Katherine Roberto, a young woman eagerly standing next to his desk. "Review and research the request, standard process."

Roberto nodded, moving out of his office to assemble her team in a high-tech meeting room down the hall. She was gone for about an hour. Normally, the review was expected to take five hours but this was the first time the treaty had been invoked and Roberto wanted her nation's allies to get an impression of speedy and faithful response. When she did return, she laid a ten page report on Jansen's desk. "Those are the details, sir. We find the request valid and recommend immediate response."

Jansen nodded. "Thank you. It will have to go through the Prime Minister and then Her High Majesty, but I am relatively confident both will agree with your assessment." After a few confirmations from on high, Jansen sat down to write the necessary missives.

To:Lord Turelio nos Fingolfin, Prefect of State, Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
From: Thomas Jansen, Foreign Minister, Danaan High Kingdom of the Resurgent Dream
CC: Joseph Puglissi, Hans van Mierlo, Admiral Fara Ito Lancer, Prince Asirnoth, Hans Schlabel, First-General Gaarm

The Danaan High Kingdom agrees that the present situation falls under the terms of the Pact of Uinen. We are both prepared to fulfill our treaty obligations and honored to stand beside our friends and allies in the Eternal Noldorin Empire as well as to stand with the other forces involved in this conflict on the side of right and freedom. Within the next day, a detailed list of our forces to be deployed will be provided to your noble self and to the Lady Serendis. Your commanders should expect to recieve a liason officer upon our arrival in the theater.

High in orbit over Area 74

"Commence firing," Admiral Lancer nodded. Silence filled the CIC of the WSGS Necessary Evil. The net did not require much physical action. A thought, shields flickered across twelve craft, four destroyers and eight cruisers, seemingly hanging sideways over the strike area, A brilliant flare; the first salvo, some kilotons' worth of kinetics, shot towards Area 74, known as Site 3 to Star Guard strategists, from low orbit.

There wasn't much accuracy, not with cannon made to shoot in the vacuum of space, not with an utter lack of data on ground and weather conditions. Perhaps this was why the broadsides were seemingly randomly distributed around the facility, all of them designed to make sure no stray shell would hit the projected area around the silo or the facility.

And in the meanwhile, an open message flashed to the currently listed participants in this little war. Lancer wasn’t particularly concerned about this job -- it was a basic issue of smashing the Fascists and making sure the Communists didn't get far off the ground -- but getting shot down for no reason was not a fate she wanted to subject her command to. The last part of the text was something of a lie -- any Ocean class was capable of handling an entire planetary defense grid, though at significant reception in active combat capabilities. Revealing that capability, limited though it was, did not seem like a good idea. The admiral watched high-velocity subEtheric death arc slightly as it hit the atmosphere. Inaccurate, yes, but still deadly.

To: Lady Serendis, Joseph Puglissi, Hans van Mierlo, Admiral Fara Ito Lance, Prince Asirnoth, Hans Schlabel, First-General Gaarm, Thomas Jansen
From: Sol Fleet Command

Considering the numeber of forces that will be involved in the current effort to secure Zvarinograd, I suggest we form some sort of central command to coordinate efforts and prevent any friendly casualties. Since this is predominantly a Melnelmacari and Zvarino issue, they should most probably act as central coordinators. Barring that, the Guard can act as a temporary central coordinator until the matter is resolved, although our craft in the Sol system are not equipped to handle such massive military undertakings

Sincerely,
Fara Ito Lancer
Admiral, Star Guard

Agniiaskaya

Some dropped down to near-surface, while some stayed vigilant thousands of kilometers above, shot towards Agniiaskaya at quite a bit past the speed of sound, seacrching for anything they could hit. If there were a convoy, it would be hit. If there were weapons fire, it would receive a high-explosive Trebuchet missile. Thirty-six parasites, a swarm, covered by mobile air drone slaves. They weren’t supposed to go near the city, not yet. Strikes were out of the question in an urban zone, either from starcraft, gunships, or parasites.

Wingman Jennings knew his craft was one of the best ever built. He knew nothing short of an ICEL magLev parasite would hit him and survive to try again. He knew shields were supposed to stop anything short of a railgun blast. He also knew the limits of his Zero. Engineers bitched about damage from space dust. He knew he could shoot, run, or shield, but not all at the same time. Right now, he kept his cold plasma screens off -- atmosphere wreaked havok on magnetically-held clouds of charged particles. At least, that's what engineers said and sims showed.

"Got a target," his comm crackled, voice sounding in his ear.

"Alpha squadron, check it out," the Hive Commander responded. Jennings sighed, banked, swept out of the loose pseudo-formation, one of four to see what was this new contact. They were a hundred klicks from the city's designated limits.

Moving slowly the recon group meet up with the Zvarinograd fascist recon group and The Marshal converses quickly with them in german before the two groups turn and head back to the NLA camp on the outskirts of Area 74's perimeter. After two hours of talking with the NLA commanders in the area the marshal returns to his troops and the NLA begin to organise themselves, smoke grenades are placed in launchers, rifles are ready and snipers in place.

moving swiftly half of the eighty men in the area head towards their objective keeping hidden and waiting for the signal to move out. That signal the diversionary assault on the control center from the other half of the men waiting. This is a delaying tactic but we must secure the objective and deploy it. Only then will our brothers succeed Ring through the heads of the forty men who lay in wait looking directly at the maintenance room attached to the silo itself.

Moving with a determined step the diversionary assault force use cover to jump from spot to spot, fanned out the snipers taking positios and focusing on the windows of the control room. As one two grenade launcher wielding men step forward and launch smoke grenade after smoke grenade at the control room, as the snipers open fire on the security forces inside, shattering windows and aiming for their targets. With a muffled roar the NLA soldiers open fire, their out dated assault rifles barking loudly as the security officers respond, the stream of fire sparking off the control room's walls as the militia concentrate.

listening to the gunfight ensuing and watching as the smoke slowly engulfs the control room the other forty men spring up, cutting through the fence surrounding the silo they rush forward, each man a shadow against the dimming light. Splitting into groups of ten four groups spread out around the silo, some hiding in darkend areas as others watch the control room and it's security guards. Ten men are tasked with securing the maintenance room, they stop againt the walls as two men stand beside it, one training his weapon on the door as the other slowly pushes it open. In a co-ordinated movement the ten men slip inside, their old night vision goggles helping in the power cut room as they fan out and peek through the other door leading into the silo, pausing they look around the klaxon's blaring still, each man missing the lights on hte security cameras acknowledging most of hte power has been cut.

Moving inside the ten men ar replaced by another ten as the remaining two groups fall back from their cover positions around the silo to the maintenance room and then slip in, the silo now in the process of being secured. Heading towards the missile two technicians check it over and confirm it is indeed working properly as others rush about taking up positions of tacitacl importance watching choke points and heavil covered areas. Two men rush towards the manual over-ride for the silo door's and hold position, waiting for the order to open it.

One black clad man stands out from the rest, moving about the silo, hunting for the manual targetting systems and the controls to shut out the control room from the silo, his search turning desperate as he shows his infamiliarity with the silo "Hastbruder, wir sind Schlusse wertvolle Zeit! Die Ablenkung sein fast rüber!*" A man nearest the searching soldier whispers and is silenced by a wave of the searchers hand "Oben geschlossen finde ich es bald genug!**" Comes the stressed reply in a hiss.

Searching he finnaly finds what he is after and takes up his position, nodding to the unit commander who orders all to hold. "Wir warten, daß die Ablenkung zurück fällt und dann fangen wir an. Halten Sie ein Auge auf den Türen und der Hoffnung, die sie uns nicht sehen oder hören. Sobald wir bereit sind, nimmt die Ablenkung wieder dieses mal in
Angriff, das wir die Türen öffnen und den Flugkörper ausstoßen.***" The commander whispers over the radios as he sends a signal back out to the diversionary force and settles in to wait.

Outside the forty men now reduced significantly pull bac the snipers taking potshots as they go, unsure how many they have hit or who is left living, regrouping the men wait, tending to wounded and trying to ignorethe cries of their comrades bleeding to death ahed of them. Looking about the faces of thirty two men remain the commander hisses and orders them all to spread out and defend against a possible counter push as if speaking prophecy the ground around the soldiers erupts as the orbital bombardment rains down, the men scatter hoping to find some form of cover, others cry out in terror and fall victim it. An hour later the bombardment finnaly ends, the men rise up shakily looking about in surprise at the destruction delivered. "We wait." Is the response from their commander as medics rush about dealing with wounded or confirming those dead as the thirty two is reduced to twenty.

OOC: Translations
*Hurry brother, we are losing valuable time! The diversion is almost over!

**Shut up I will find it soon enough!

***We wait for the diversion to fall back and then we begin. Keep an eye on the doors and hope they dont see or hear us. Once we're ready the diversion will attack again this time we'll open the doors and launch the missile.

First-General Gaarm eyeballs the reply from the Menelmacari. Very well then. It is the Fascists who will be engaged. The button to summon his Heads of Staff is pressed, and they arrive via Holo-comm system in short order. As one they salute snappily. "Your orders, Sirrah!"

Gaarm eyeballs each of the five Sakkrans separately. Three females and two males. "We have our targets. Mobilize your respective regiments, brief them on their orders as I have sent them in encrypted packets to your locations, and bring us victory! May the Pantheon guide us!"

"May the Pantheon guard us!" The finishing statement, used only during a time of conflict, is voiced as one, and the holo-comm system shuts off after the packets are uploaded.

In the military complex outside the city of Hreer, three regiments of the Armor Cavalry are alerted to activity. This is done by the sounding of a horn, low and loud to send vibrations through one's spine. Outside the city of Guaah, 20 regiments of TacSoft infantry are alerted to active status by the same means. And in space, on the orbital plane between that of Earth's moon and the Great Asteroid belt, the Orbital Shipyard alerts the 15th Aero-Space superiority flight. Bays are scrambling with activity as aero-space superiority fighters and precision fighter/bombers are fueled and armed, their crews reporting in for service and orders. Heavy troop transports are maintaned, go through their flight checks, and await word to depart for the cities of Hreer and Guaah to receive their loads.

Gaarm himself sends the orders to Director Seerak of the Vubz System Coordination base in the Sslaa System for the requisition of reinforcements in the form of two full war-fleets of ships with their full compliment of ships, crews and troopers. It is after this order is sent that the comm from Weyr arrives. News certainly travels fast. He reads through the message, nods his massive head slowly, and fires off a reply.


<<Transmit Begins>>
<<ATTN: Admiral Fara Ito Lancer, Star Guard, Sol Fleet Command>>

I have received your message, and find no trouble with it. Even as we communicate, mobilizations have begun both here and out-system. As such, we submit to you and Lady Serendis to be effort coordination. You will be the weapon; we will be the round that strikes true.

First-General Gaarm
Sakkra I.D.F.

Admiral Nastenka ni Varich stood watching the Human, Troll, and Sidhe marines (with a sprinkling of other races, of course) crowd into the ships of the Fourth Fleet. The Fourth Fleet was the only fleet capable of space travel and was rarely used on Earth. However, the conflict was progressing at such a speed that it was unlikely conventional naval forces could arrive in time and Nastenka did not intend to miss out on the action.

The ships were packed with some eight thousand marines, carrying H-1 and T-1 assault rifles, light body armor, and survival gear. The higher ranking Sidhe officers preferred to wear their personal sidhe plate armor and were allowed to do so, though no one was issued such armor by the military. Most of the vessels were equipped with heavy gun emplacements and light missiles.

After the Marines were loaded, Nastenka herself moved towards the bridge of the flagship, the Oberon. Marines and crew saluted her as she passed. Once she had settled down in her chair, she spoke calmly, her face expressionless. "Head out."

As the Fourth Fleet and its twenty ships rose into the air and set off towards Zvarinograd, Second Fleet, the convenional Navy, prepared to set out with an additional fifty thousand troops, just in case fighting the war lasted longer than expected and to help with peacekeeping operations if it didn't. Lady Serendis was notified of the exact forces being sent immediately.

As dawn rose on the harsh northern lands of Zvarinograd, the final approach was being made several of the Iuthian fleets Destroyer class vessels which were performing their roles in the outer screen of the fleets formation, meanwhile AWACS dedicated planes from the CVN Ripper's Pride were making their sweeps, clearing a path for the group.

Of course, given that the situation was calming down, at least from a international point of view it would seem that it was unlikely the group would face serious naval oposition in Zvarinograd's waters which were now less then a hour away from the Carrier itself. On board CVN Ripper's Pride, Admiral Murphy looked at the situation which lay ahead... due to the large international interest in keeping Zvarinograds legimate goverment in control, many nations had quickly deployed forces into the region long before Iuthian forces could arrive on the scene fashionably late.



OOC: Gah, I'm too tired to put much effort into this right now, but basically I'm arriving on the scene, I'll add further RP sometime tommorow night, I need some sleep.

Compensation and Payback:
The agreement with the nation of Lethislavania was finalized by the Federal Government almost as quickly as it was announced and once the money was secure in the e-coffers of the Republic it was time to spread the money around like water. Twenty five billion was set aside for the repair of the carrier and reperations to some 2,000 dead, and another 560 wounded sea men. Other money would go to replacing lost aircraft and the like.

To the nation of Taurenor, the sum of 150 billion was sent to cover the costs of moblization of their forces. Other donations would be made to those who's militaries werent as well off in the coming days. To the nation of Knootoss came the most substantial contribution of one trillion of the dollars used to pay the Federal Republic. The money was earmarked toward the Knootians are as part of the anual amount of cash which went to them as part of the assistance in keeping their military machine paided for and running. Other money was earmarked as a sort of "thank you" for getting the deal underway and defusing a largely bad situation into a more benign one. Of course the major question on the minds of many was who was paid to launch the attack. Certain reprisals within the intel community werent out of the question, however the overt military action was ruled out entirely for the time being.

Deployment:

With things much quieter now, a second round of deployments down to the planets surface got underway and the Marines of the 4th Division already on the surface were about to get further company as 2,000 troops and equipment were loading onto landing barges and other dropship type transports for the trip down to the Zvarinograd capital where they'd disembark at the now closed airport. The airport itself was being used as the main base for NYNJ troops in the area and would most likely be the command post for any outside excursion by troops into the nearby cities and terrain.

At Mars and at other places throughout the Solar System with the easing of tensions fleets were halted in their tracks. No longer were the 2nd,3rd,4th and 5th Fleets making beeline runs toward Earth. Down in New Boston the initial deployment of some 225,000 troops was drastically reduced to a deployment of only 40,000 troops comprising of two Infantry Divisions, the 12th and 18th Divisionso out of New Hampshire. Their transports would be escorted by the 11th Battlegroup of the 3rd Fleet which itself would lend assistance to the 1st Fleets operations with the addition of a 5th carrier.

So far the winds of war had died down to simmer everything back to a civil war and not a vast inter-solar system engagement.

They hung in orbit, great, bulbous craft drifting slightly on the galactic currents. Protective swarms of parasites doted over them, as they did over what was now a good chunk of the Star Guard's assets in Sol.

Perhaps a quick strike would have minimalised casualties. Dropping a Nibengil na Morgul onto that city would've solved all of the Admiral's problems at the moment, and produced a host of new ones in the running. For one, the city was supposedly catholic, which meant she’d be anti-catholic by obliterating it. For another, it would give everyone else the reason to start nuking one another. The admiral didn’t want to deal with those types of results. She watches the first dropships enter planetfall on the holotank in the CIC of the Necessary Evil, some bound for Agniiaskaya, others for a missile silo, accompanied by more parasites from the two Hive carriers now in orbit over the nation of Zvarinograd.

Agniiaskaya

Major Baraôl knew exactly how he got his name -- setting things on fire as a kid tended to produce interesting nomenclature. That he was a flamereaver was a sign that he actually bothered to control himself. That he was on a dropship holding a quarter of his immediate command was just part of the job. They were coming in fast, though command didn't see any anti-air weaponry in its preliminary scans. Weapons turrets popped out of their protective seals, ready to shoot down anything appearing hostile. "Drop in three," the pilot announced, even as a particularly sharp jolt announced the repulse engines finally kicking in to push off the planet's gravitic center. Baraôl donned his helm, a massive thing whose eyes flared green as contacts locked and neural interfaces clicked in. The armor whirred, the last connections finally complete.

"How's life?"

"Fuck you sir!" his platoon chorused. He wondered how many actually wanted to be here. Probably none of them; risking the death without resurrection was something few wanted to try willingly. The Major checked the mission – they were the command company, which meant setting up camp on the main road into the city and holding it as a checkpoint. It also meant coordinating the whole damn thing if something went south, which it always did. That they were supposed to protect an artillery and n engineer battalion didn’t help, now with a third of his effective command going for a piece of mountain real estate overlooking the damn city.

The craft jolted, pitting three hundred kilograms of flesh and armor against arachnoweave harness. It rolled for perhaps ten meters, massive treads mowing down whatever came in their way. Marines trampled down metal and composite ramps, in the shadow of two heavy cannon, until Baraôl heard thrusters and repulse drives scream as the first craft emptied and lifted up.

Millimeter-wave scanners swept out, plotting the terrain. Platoon leaders spread their squads, forming a perimeter within which the first parts of what would be the Star Guard forward command would be built. Hopefully, assuming nothing went wrong. A company marked off the road, dragged in the big blocks of ballast that would provide some cover, for now. The major knew that an immediate assault would cause a panic, but nonetheless he had argued for a quick strike to take the city and its environs. Urban combat was always messy, and if the fascists had time to bring in the heavy weapons; they had already shown their ability to raze a city to the ground, like the Guard, but unlike the Guard they seemed to be capable of doing it time and again. The major was not a romantic, at least in his own view, but he preferred not to waste time and lives for no reason. Either way, he shunted the thought aside, and seeing the engineers unloading the first of the heavy autocannon and LADAR equipment began shouting orders over the brigade’s comm.

Area 74

They came in low, hugging the ground, repulse drives whining. A dropship was not stealthy, but they were aiming for speed with as little notice as possible. There weren’t many – a single company of Dragoons – but they’d do their job. Hopefully. Everything depended on why or what was in the area. They shot on, guided by the distress call coordinates more than by any active scanners, big things with treads concealed and main forward cannon ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

OOC: Hogsweat – up to you whether your guys start shooting or not

Days of sailing ended in a glorious sunset, and then darkness fell, and the massive fleet of transports and warships sat within a few kilometers of the shoreline of its destination, waiting for the perfect time.

And as they waited, overhead roared transport planes, fast, supersonic transports which slam on the airbrakes as they cross the fleet. Those planes, wave after wave, hit the shoreline seconds later, moving very slowly by that point. They were met by the deployed combat air patrol, ready to clear the air.

Then the drops began, two full legions of the Jolly Jaguar's light infantry, chutes opening as they left their craft, the pilots and jumpers ignoring any fire that was about them. Amazingly, and luckily, there was none, and the full combat drop was somewhat wasted as more than ten thousand troops hit the ground unopposed.

Then morning broke, and the rest of the legions began to land on the secure beachhead established by the paratroopers. Soon, they sent a signal to the New York and Jersey commanders, requesting further instructions, for that was their contract.

Ah well, it had been good practice.

From his vantage point atop the tallest structure in Hreer, Commander Oourouh watched as the Titan IIc transports made their landings in wave after wave. Reptavian dropships were landing at Guaah for the Infantry; so the Titan series was assigned to the Armor Cavalry.

The 15th Aero-Space superiority Flight remained overhead, hovering via their VTOL engines, awaiting the order that all transports had loaded and were ready to go. The fighters would then fly point, as well as providing escort. Bombers would remain with the transports, their superior sensors looking for hostile enemy fire or crafts.

General Gaarm watched from the landing platforms on the ground as M.A.U.s trod up the gangplanks into the Titan IIcs. The Minion suits were loaded first, the the Horde Troopers. Most likely the Horde would be hot-dropped to clear the area for landings, and secure perimeters.

The last M.A.U. was finally loaded, and the First-General activated his general comm. "Today, you go for the honor of the Empire, not your personal glory. Remember your training, and remember your Herpatra. May the Pantheon guide us."

His comm answered back with the sound of in-numerable voices "May the Pantheon guard us." The whine of multiple turbo-thrust engines spinning up blanketed the area, and Gaarm retreated to the sub-terranean lift as the transports began ascending. May this go without horrid incedent. The lift stopped at his command center, and he entered.

"First-General, we have the area of Zvarinograd displayed from SatHack." Gaarm nods to the 2nd Lieutenant, and takes his seat, cueing up the multiple displays which surrounded him now in a semi-circle on holo-graphic screens. "Coordinate with friendly forces already present and en-route. Let's not fudge this up."

"Comrade!" The soldier whispered to the Captain of the Support Unit laying entrenched in the snow next to him. In the background, soldiers fumbled with Milan's and their 20mm.

"What?" The Captain snapped back. He was used to cold, but not like Zvarinograd.

"The Enemy has landed" The soldier pointed semi-frantically toward the dropship.

"Affirmative private. Try and raise it on communication. if that doesn't work.. blow it to shit."

"Roger that"

The soldier crept down the line to the Radioman and tried to open a signal with the unknown dropship.

Admiral Tokyo gulped. The situation was hotting up; Zvarinograd was becoming a very dangerous warzone very quickly. Maybe it was time for the Hogsweatians, who where the first on the scene, to make a statement. Yes. She contacted Commodore Fapanov and he agreed, so she sent a looped wide-frequency message through on all channels;

Sppzz spzzz... testing? testing? Yeah, I got it. the voice was duller and quieter - probably someone fiddling with the machinery.

Is it working? this time louder, and clearer, although clearly a womans voice.

I think so. the dull voice again.

Alright, here it goes. The voice got clearer and louder.

I am Admiral Tokyo, NGV Supply, Hogsweatian Navy, Serial Number 23G2. Our carrier group is here operating off orders to defend democracy in Zvarinograd. We are not here on an offensive mission to aid any non-loyalist force. I repeat, we are Hogsweatian Carrier Group defending the Sovereignty of Zvarinograd - please do not open fire on our vessels. Admiral Tokyo, out.

ooc: Can't think of anything fancy to say now, but all Taurenor forces pull back.

Area 74

Fucking mist, the craft's pilot cursed silently. They were practically flying blind, followng the given coordinates, skimming the snow-covered plain. Thus far they had not hit any trees, and although the charred craft was rated for much heavier stresses that smacking into a tree, getting a large piece of wood into a thruster intake would certainly mean bad things for the entire mission.

There was not much to do on an inbound craft, so they sat in silence, sometimes going over their equipment status screens via wristpad. No one really wanted to seal up. External intakes quickly fouled up, and with the mist the moisture would mess with pressure seals and internal cushion layers.

”Everyone here?” the captain poked her wrist-comm. ”Yes? No? Maybe? We’re going in fast, taking the silo, and hopefully getting out. Anyone who hasn’t reviewed the mission plan better do it NOW. Otherwise I’ll strap that nuke to your ass and…”

"Contact detected. No idea what the hell they're saying, sir," the co-pilot called over the whine of forward thrusters and repulse drives.

"Tell them in Anglish we're backing the government and want to take the silo," the captain shouted back. "Standard operating procedure," she explained absently "We tell the idiots we're here, then blast their asses if they shoot." there was a chorus of laughter "Suit up," she pulled the helm over her head, visual scanners lighting up in ghostly green.

The three craft were almost in visual range. Perhaps active scanners would have shown the blasted land blasted from orbit by Weyrean craft, perhaps not.

Compared with the vast fleet that had set off for Syskeyia in the Pacific, Carrier Group Wintzingerode was not much to look at. However, she had been beefed up so that she consisted of the large carrier, a battlecruiser, two cruisers, four destroyers, four frigates, one amphibious ship, two minehunters, an ammunition carrier, an oiler and two submarines. Admiral Keyserling was ordered to take command of it, and instructed by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff to sail it to New York and Jersey to add to their forces.
Keyserling, who had commanded the landing in North Star under Admiral Tachteberg, was excited at having her first serious independant command. She was a short, attractive woman who fought a certain stockiness, with freckled features, laugh lines around her eyes and short auburn hair.
She found only one dampening to her joy: she would be missing the birthday of her second son, who (secretly) was the favourite of her children, an impish boy who loved to lead the children in their area of the Naval Air Station she had been living at in wild imaginary games. Her husband had long ago become resigned. A professor at the local college, he was a quiet man who had been a source of much strength to her, and he had not chided her for bucking for the assignment. Somehow that made her feel a pang of greater guilt than she had in earlier times when they had fought over it. It was a marriage that was tough from the survival of difficult times.

There was still much work to be done: two of the destroyers had had to be replaced, since they couldn't wait for an overhall. One of the catapults on the carrier kept getting stuck, and there were naval engineers swarming over it as Rear-Admiral Fredericka Keyserling was reviewing her staff. Still, it was wonderful to have so great a command, and to be sailing into history.


To his Majesty King Gregory de Los Santos

I am sending you carrier group Wintzingerode, which will support your marines' operations. Although this is of course my carrier group, I am instructing my admiral to cooperate with your forces in every way. Please consider it an addition to your forces.

Sincerely
Aurora von Sachshausen
Empress of Lavenrunz

To: Mercenary Groups Operating under Federal Republic Command
From: General Nelson Pennington, Federal Expeditionary Command

Your services are no longer required. We shall pay you for cost of deployment as well as other standard operation costs. We shall also provide additional funds to compensate for wasted time. However as the situation in Zvarinograd has defused into a less than all out war situation, the number of forces in the region has become dangerously crowded. Please contact the Finacnial Payment Division in the Federal Republic Capital of New York City, and payment shall be given, plus 15 billion to whatever for your overall time.

To: Empress Aurora
From: President General Gregory de los Santos

My dear Empress, you can not understand the deep gratitude it is I feel toward you for your offer of military support in this most noble of actions to defend a government from the forces of oppression. It seems like only yesterday since I spoke with your mother and I'm sure she would be incredibly proud of how you've turned out and your dedication to some of the very ideals she herself held. I shall make sure to return your vessels in once piece and you shall be adequtely compensated monetary wise for this deployment.

Aboard the FRSN Yorktown, two S/A-59 Star Shark Fighters were prepared for launch. They had a rather simple objective and one which dated back to some of the earliest forms of intimidation when it came to aircraft and ships. A high speed flyby at a ridiculiously close range. "Foxtrot Five Niner, this is Homeplate. You are cleared for launch. God speed. Remember orders. Over."

"Roger that Homeplate. Foxtrot Five Fiver, this is Foxtrot Five Niner, stay on my wing Tom. If they light us up with radar stay calm..we cant fire first unless they engage us first." Captain Jack Hill was a veteran of some 18 years going on his 19th, on what was likely to be his last flying deployment he was the senior pilot and CAG of the Yorktown. Hence when this mission came up it was standard tradition to send the best pilot, and a rookie to give some experience. It also proved to be a morale booster when they werent being shot at.

As the S/A-59 Star Sharks launched from the Yorktown they set the computers to autopilot and allowed the onboard A.I. to handle the endo-exo atmospheric fighters entry into Earths atmosphere. The S/A-59 Star Sharks were nimbler than the S/A-43 Hammerheads, and were better equipped for air to air and space to space combat but they werent as profficant as ground attack as the Hammerheads. That didnt mean the Star Sharks were unarmed though. Both fighters carried a full compliment of six ASM-150 Navy Breaker sea skimmers and for personal defense 2 AIM-210 Skorpion Medium Range Missiles.

Dipping down to a hundred feet above sea level the two nimble fighters turned toward the direction of the Hogsweat fleet some 200 nautical miles out and approached from the west. The SCRAM Jet engines pushing the fighters to Mach 6 and holding the fighters quickly closed the distance while staying below air searching radar. "Foxtrot Five Fiver, this is Foxtrot Five Niner, hold on wing, we're gonna go east on them and then break to the south let them get a good look,over."

"Roger that lead Foxtrot. I've got you're wing. Hogsweat fleet sixteen minutes out."

"Tom, follow me..rasing up to one-five-zero feet..lets pop up on their radar."

The lead S/A-59 began a slow climb from 100 feet to 150 feet in an attempt to show up on the radars of the Hogsweat fleet. Passing over the fleet they were there for only mere seconds and by the time people looked up and turned their necks the two fighters were banking toward the south in lazy long and fast turns. "Homeplate, Homeplate, this is Foxtrot Five Niner, mission accomplished, Requesting tanker barge over. We're gonna be on bingo fuel after we break atmosphere."

"Negative tanker request at the moment Foxtrot Five Niner, hold station. Monitor the Hogsweat ships. Do not engage. Over. Tanker Barge will enter atmosphere and will meet up with you at 13:50 at.."

For the time being the two S/A-59s would circle around the Hogsweat fleet like a pair of vipers waiting for a meal.

"Great Maker."

Damn your eyes, you fool, such lack of foresight into the situation made it impossible to see this escalate into a international crisis. He was overwhelmed by the idea of such extravagant hostility. It was obscene. Criminal. The country has had it's share of hardships though the centuries, but nothing like this. Now all the sweat and all the work and all the planning and all the deaths were wasted. Though the stupid arrogance of the communists. So many eyes are now turned on a once peaceful country, so many guns pointed on each other's heads. This is an attack, a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, and disordered function, the country is now paralyzed. This has to end now.

#-#-#

"Ambush! Pull back!"

The sudden explosion of the mines the fascists have planted on the route towards area 74 became a beacon for fascist artillery; making a deadly combination of splash damage throughout the democratic forces. Several personnel died as the artillery scored accurate hits on the unprepared democrats. The democratic forces' armor was able to cope with defending the ambushed trucks of infantry and supplies, but they were stretched too thin and the fascists who were armed with antitank weaponry were able to destroy most of them before the democrats were able to regroup. However, to this end, the democratic forces began exercising their numerical and technological superiority in the airforce, as well as the extensive training they've been given; attack aircraft were diverted from the burning city to the route and all hell broke loose as they carpetbombed and missiled the less mobile dug-in fascist troops. The villages surrounding the compound was full of citizen in full flight towards the capital city, and the democratic forces attempted to help them as much as they can by covering their retreat. Able bodied men who were at the outskirts of the capital city was given a choice to fight or stay in the city; and some of the braver ones accepted the call to arms. Smoke was billowing from the battlefield, a squall of tinder wind and flames licked the night; lighting it nearly as bright as day, or hell. Meanwhile inside the compound, everything had gone from good to bad and worse. A burst of firing made cracks on the bulletproof glass from the security room into the silo itself. Some of the guard ran to the window in time to see the front ranks of the fascist forces moving in from the undefended maintenance room. Those in the rear shoved those in front forward, and the technicians were pathetically engulfed as the screaming torrent of the fascists backed by the NLA. Some of the guards then raced towards the base platform of the missile as a last ditch stand. The remaining democratic forces that holed up in the security room suddenly found themselves in over their head as the elite fascists made an assault while they were fragmented between the security room and the silo itself. The guard in the silo managed to last five minutes of firefight until they were finally defeated. The technicians who were disarming the intercontinental ballistic missile were killed in the fray, and so were the guards defending the security room. Area 74 finally fell under the fascists siege, and they now hold the key to defeating the democratic forces with one strike. All they need now is to do something about the threat of bombardment in case the silo doors open.

It took a while to distribute, but Commander Klint saw and replied to the message immediately. The Jolly Jaguars would withdraw. After all, no one dead, not much in the way of expenditures, and a bonus. Double payment, in fact, for doing nothing more than an all up combat practice landing.

This had been a good week. It would take a day or more to pull back onto the ships, and they would need to bring in more ships to take the paratroopers home, but they would be going home basically rolling in liquid funds. A third of the bonus would be distributed among the troopers and naval personnel as a 'combat' bonus.

But they had their money, and a new friend in the Federal Republic. By the time the Jaguars were within sight of their homes again, barely more than a week since leaving, and with none dead among their number, a small envelope would be arriving at the residence of the Federal Republic's President.

Perhaps it would make its way to his desk, perhaps not. That would undoubtedly depend on his staff.

Inside was a small gold piece of plastic, about the size of a credit card. On it was embossed the flag of the Legion, and the outline of a snarling Jaguar was etched into the plastic. It read Preferred Customer Discount Card #JJ034. Wrapped around it was a small piece of paper with a hand written note. With my compliments, Cmdr Andrea Klint, TFL-JJ

~~~~~NGV SUPPLY~~~~~
"Admiral, Admiral, we have to two possible bogeys on visual and radar and lidar, IFF transponders are either inactive or not responding with our systems, most likely enemy units are hostile."

Admiral Tokyo frowned a dark grimace. They were watching.

"Affirmative Ensign, get recognition. If they don't respond.. well, open fire. warn them of that."

"Roger roger Admiral"

~~~~~

Foreign Aircraft, either switch on your IFF transponders or sign yourself as friendly. In the situation you open fire on our vessels we will retaliate. Identify yourselves or we will also open fire. Over."

~~~~~NVG BOXER~~~~~
The VLS boxes on the Destroyer were soon unveiled and opened silently in the night, tracking a total of twenty four missiles tracking on each of the aircraft, the radar and lidar on the ships rotating and updating their targets furiously.

The twenty ships began their approach to Zvarinograd. The Marines on board looked eagerly about, having been rather cramped on the voyage. Still, they would have some time longer to wait. No dropships were launced as yet as yet.

Nastenka rose from her command chair, surveying the visible data. There were very many forces in the area both friendly and otherwise. There seemed to be two spots of current large scale combat, one on the ground and one naval. Overall, not something she intended to jump into cold. Reaching over her communications officers shoulder, she hit the comm button personally. "This is Admiral Nastenka ni Varich of the Danaan Fourth Fleet to all friendly forces, we seek to coordinate our entrance to the theater with friendly forces already deployed. Please respond." She said it first in English before repeating the phrase in German and Quenya.

"FOXTROT FIVE NINER,FOXTROT FIVE NINER! THEY'RE LIGHTING US UP COLONEL!" The S/A-59 pilot was three months out of the Chimera Space Flight Academy and had just been rotated from a planetary base to an open slot on one of the fleet carriers. Colonel Hill winced at the screaming over the pilot comm and when it was over he eased back on his throttle slightly the S/A-59 slowing down just enough so that the fighters were now wingtip to wingtip.

"Calm down Tom, keep on my wing and keep you're IFF off. I'll deal with this.." Colonel Hill looked down at his computer screen and changed over to the radio channel the last message came from. Clearing his throat he responded thoroughly, "This is Foxtrot Five Niner, to Hogsweat vessels, we are Zvarinograd airspace. You have no authority here, repeat you have no authority. You will stand down or we shall treat you as hostile. Over." Switching back over to the military channel Jack Hill took in another deep breath and pushed forward alittle on the throttle once more.

"Okay Tom, arm the 150s. We'll continue to circle the fleet, wait for my order to fire." The two pilots reached forward and pressed a sequence of buttons the missiles arming but still any tracking done was only passive onboard LIDAR. "Homeplate, homeplate, this is Foxtrot Five Niner Hogsweat vessels are actively tracking, request orders, over."

"Foxtrot Five Niner, Foxtrot Five Niner, you have permission to active target in return. You are to hold fire until engaged,over."

"Roger that Homeplate..." With the game going to the next step the lead pilot and his wingman begain to program targets into the individual missiles. The S/A-59s had the ability to get six air to air missiles off in just under eight seconds. However when invisioned ground attack was supposed to be a secondary priority..and they'd need at least eighteen seconds to fire off all six missiles. Even with the ability to fire them off in pairs of two.

On the deck of the Yorktown, an additional 4 aircraft were ready. Designated Gold Flight, the four S/A-43 Hammerheads were being loaded with an assortment of ASM weaponry including the slightly heavier ASM-175 Fleet Destroyer.

Thousands of miles away in the Financial Payment Division, the letter from the Legion was recieved. A few blinks given at the card and then a look toward the letter, the card would be send over to the Department of War. Meanwhile the payment to the Legion was made. Electronically of course the money would come out of the settlement with Lethislavania.

Edit: (For TRD. Sorry :cool: )

Meanwhile back up on the Yorktown in high orbit over the spinning blue gem of Earth:
"This is Admiral Fletcher aboard the Carrier Yorktown form your vessels up with ours and await further communication. So far its rather quiet down there. All Infantry should be placed on standby, until the situation further develops we will not know where they are needed. Over."

"Acknowledged." was Nastenka's only reply. Within a few minutes, the ships moved through the atmosphere to fall in with those of New York and Jersey, the troops staying aboard.

TYWS-SCV Olympus Mons
High Earth Orbit

Rico looks up from his pillow, frowning mightily at the band of light that streaks in from the door to the lit corridor, passing through his room to alight right on his bed. That's why it was designed that way, of course--to wake up the officer in question quickly--but that didn't mean that he had to like it or be particularly nice to the short Asian man standing in the doorway. "The Voyeur network is picking up more activity surfaceside, sir. Seems like this little proxy conflict is heating up."

"Exact situation, Mitsu?" the Sky Marshal growls, sitting up and reaching out to take up his service coat.

"I'll fill you in along the way, sir," Admiral Mitsuharu, Olympus Mons' commanding officer replies, "but the OW has set the ship at Alert Condition Two and recommended to the rest of the Force that they do the same, pending direction from you."

Grumbling, Rico stands up, puts on his trousers, and fits his feet into his combat boots as he listens, nodding momentarily. "Right then, on the bounce." Leaning against the wall, he depresses a switch on the intercom. "Command Room, Rico."

-Command Room here, sir. Captain Datwani speaking.-

"Put the fleet at Alert Condition One, my orders," the Sky Marshal says simply; "and prepare to divert to observational stationkeeping in the area. Inform the rest of the Task Force to go to alert, their discretion, and maintain patrol. I'll specify more once I get there. Rico out."

Mitsuharu smiles wanly as Rico slips on his service coat, clasping the duty flap under his epaulette and adjusting the wide fabric belt around the hem before attaching his standard-issue utility belt. "The Ticks never sleeps, sir," the Admiral offers in an attempt at levity.

"Shut up, Mitsu," Rico grumbles.

“Foxtrot five niner, this is Homeplate, new orders Foxtrot, Fleet Command Chimera has given the greenlight. Targets are as follows…” As Colonel Hill listened to the targets he took in a deep breath and sighed softly. War just wouldn’t end, and he was glad his tour was ending. “Foxtrot five fiver, you heard command. Swing right and drop to zero five zero feet, and prepare to launch the 150s.Set fire rotation for dual. “ The rookie in Foxtrot Five Fiver took in a deep breath and followed his lead pilot. As the fighters descended from 150 feet to 50 feet, the chimes of locked targets sounded. They were already in range of the warships so it wasn’t long before the first pair of moderately sized ASM-150s dropped from the racks toward the water before their engines ignited at 20 feet above sea level and shot ahead from their respective fighters.

The ASM-150s were second generation anti-ship missiles, slightly larger than ASM-125s with better ECCM and ESM suites they were capable of jamming radar to a certain extent and even LIDAR in optimal circumstances like rainy weather. The warheads they carried were capable enough to inflict serious damage on a warship but not all together be serious enough to sink a ship larger than a destroyer with even two direct hits. However they weren’t aiming for destroyers. They had bigger fish to fry. The fighters had launched their first salvo of missiles toward the two transport vessels, which accompanied the Hogsweat fleet. As the seconds ticked away the onboard computers were ready to fire another four missiles, these were directed toward the direction of the Carrier in the group.

“Foxtrot Five Fiver, Foxtrot Five Fiver, abort launch of the last two missiles, climb climb! Lets get the hell out of here. Hit the throttle.” Colonel Hill could feel the sweat drip down his brow as he pushed forward on the throttle. Even with a special suit made to treat against the g-forces on earth he was from the Mars colony and not used to such heavy feeling against his body. He could feel the blood rushing from his head and soon his vision began to go gray as the S/A-59 hit Mach 8 then 9 in the atmosphere. The rookie pilot was an earther though. The speed didn't affect him nearly as much as his wing leader and thus he failed to notice as Foxtrot Five Niner began to sway slightly at high speed away from the Hogsweat fleet and toward open ocean. They wanted to at least get away before the Hogsweat ships knew they were underattack. Unfortunately that would require flying over the Hogsweat ships, and the fighters weren’t able to fly as fast as their high speed ASM-150 navy breakers. The Hogsweat fleet would know, the question would be though could they track and hit something flying away from them at Mach 9 with any success?

"Holy sonofabitch Admiral, these things are going fast. I-" The ensign was cut off as a report came in from the side, he flicked a switch and it fed into Admiral Tokyo's earpiece.

~~~~

Sailor Mazkai cursed and cursed.

"What the hell! Shoot, goddamn you!" He kicked the CIWS, slapped the control panel, before he winced as the missile slammed straight into the hull of the Supply. There was an explosion, and smoke, and he felt the ship rock slightly. Again, as he heard the tell tale whoosh of a missile, he jumped to the floor, hands over head and felt the explosion rip apart the piece below his station, a great tearing noise of metal and screeching, fire smoke and blood. He waited a few seconds before lifting himself to a standing position, dusting himself off casually. The explosion was comparatively distant from the first one - he sighed and smiled as he leaned over the side and saw the smoke dissippatiing from the VLS cells of the Destroyer nearby. He realised that the Destroyer had saved them. He realised something else too. This was not a wargame. His ship had been attacked. He had been attacked. His nation had been attacked. This would not stand.

~~~~

The carrier, a home grown design, was significantly more defended than the Albion class of vessels, however it was not entirely invincible. There were some weak spots that were not covered by CIWS. The missiles came down on the carrier, all four of them, but as the Supply had already been attacked, the Destroyer Red Bear had changed course, and was covering the carrier slightly on one end when two missiles came into RADAR, bleeping, and them dissapeared. They picked them up on LA/IDAR though, and the VLS exploded into action, eight anti-missile missiles hurtling towards their targets, meeting with both of the missiles and doing their job well - the other two came down into the hull and the CIWS did it's job well also, the high calibre bullets destroying a missile.. but only one. The other plunged into the side, near the living quarters, destroying the area. Paint and metal caved in, and the fire was fought by sailors with fire extuingishers, now a hole in the side of the carrier.

The other two missiles came on the other side group, against the Alamo, NGV Fable was on station. The attack had been beat off, with devastating hull damage to the Supply and Intermediate damage to the NGV Revolution, the supercarrier.

The NYNJer aircraft were in range and were sighted.. it was worth a shot. From the Citadel, the Air Defense Cruiser, around fifty missiles were launched from the VLS.. tracking was hard but maybe, just maybe it could be done. It was worth a shot, anyway.

The red light of a missile warning blared loudly in Colonel Hill's cockpit as he turned his head from side to side. Automatically flare and chaff shot from the aft of the fighter as it swung from side to side. "Homeplate this is Foxtrot Five Niner, we're being counter-engaged. Can not tell damage to enemy fleet. Repeat we are being engaged..returning to base." A bright flash came Hill's right side as the SA-59 Star Shark piloted by rookie pilot Nelson Bennington disappeared in a fireball. Breaking apart in the sky Bennington had attempted to eject before the missile slammed into the underside of his fighter but that only sent up the flaming wreckage of the cockpit skyward and then back toward the ocean below.

"Christ.." The SA-59 stressed the limit of its structural integrity as Hill banked and weaved his fighter attempting to climb to lose missiles which were most likely designed to chase targets far slower than the Star Shark. As the last of the chaff and the last of the flares were launched Colonel Hill was left with his flying ability. So far the missiles had been unable to get a solid lock on to the fighter as Hill had precious seconds ahead of Foxtrot Five Fiver. "Homeplate, homeplate, this is Foxtrot Five Niner, I'm near bingo fuel, requesting tanker support.." Admiral Fletcher aboard the Yorktown listened and watched as a tanker left the confines of the Carrier Valley Forge. As seconds ticked away Colonel Hill lost of the last of the missiles in his sights and went onward toward the rondevous point. For the time being it was uncertain if a follow up strike would commence or not. Fleet Command at Chimera Naval Yard was attempting to figure out the next course of action. A record of Jack Hill's radio messages were being sent to Chimera and from Chimera sent back to New York City.

The propoganda machine slowly began to churn.

Federal News Network-
“An incident occurred early yesterday Federal Republic time as two aircraft with the Federal Stellar Navy were attacked by hostile forces of the communist nation of Hogsweat. The military has released the tape of the incident and we’ll cut to it right now,” The picture of the anchorman disappeared to be replaced by a map of Zvarinograd, as the tape played what was being said was shown in text

"FOXTROT FIVE NINER, FOXTROT FIVE NINER! THEY'RE LIGHTING US UP COLONEL!"

”Homeplate this is Foxtrot Five Niner, we're being <static>engaged. Cannot tell damage to <static> Repeat we are being engaged. Returning to base.”

The tape recording ended and returned once more to the anchorman who turned his chair sideways looking over toward a guest speaker. “With us now we have a special advisor with us, former Navy fighter pilot Thomas Franklin…Admiral can you tell us just what exactly occurred.” The camera turned to the other man who stood before a large map of Zvarinograd and began to point toward where the battle took place, “Of course what occurred was that two fighters of the FSN were deployed to patrol Zvarinograd airspace and seaspace…”

As the former pilot explained what occurred in the waters around Zvarinograd, President de los Santos watched slightly amused from his office. Turning the TV off he turned in his chair over toward the direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Gentlemen its good to see the major news channels are picking this story up. There will no doubt be some outcry…so lets play up that the two pilots managed to hit targets..am I correct? They did hit right?” Gregory put on his glasses and checked over the reports once more. “Okay lets see how far we can play this up. Both pilots I want to get the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Cross of Valor for the downed pilot…”

The wheels began to roll and as the next day dawned on the Federal Republic for the first time in some eighty years costal missile batteries, both anti ship and anti air were armed and brought to full operational status. Across the plains of Ohio and Connecticut, anti space batteries ranging from missiles and cannon were prepared and aimed skyward. The nation was quietly while people slept and woke to greet the new day and the tragedy of the events turning into an armed camp. This level of preparation had not occurred since the conflict against Diwaniyah some handful of decades ago.

In orbit the four fleet carriers prepared for a deployment of fighters to a now sustained conflict in Zvarinograd and at targets around the globe. However as the sun rose and eight a.m. struck in the capital of New York and New Jersey, a message was broadcast over the radio and over the TV. “As President of the Federal Republic I am disgusted with the communist government of Hogsweat and their lies. They claim to support the democratic government and yet fire on an nation providing actual aid to that government. If the Hogsweat ships in the waters of Zvarinograd do not remove themselves within 24 hours we shall take it upon ourselves to remove them by force.”

Klingenshtat Chancellery.
‘We voted Müller, nothing else can be done, article 12 cannot be used unless the nation itself is under attack, and the chancellery has spoken.’ The representative merely shook his head.
‘I understand Fredrick, you may go.’ Müller nodded.
Müller merely sighed, shook his head and looked out onto the green lawn outside, a small crowd had gathered.
A crude banner was propped up on sticks with “Join Der Freikorps” painted on, a man stood yelling with a megaphone.

‘The government refuses to help our democratic brothers in Zvarinograd, we call for them to aid, but what do our so called representatives do? Say no! Well, seeing as our government is not interested, and the people are, I propose our solution! Der Freikorps aims to be a band of men and women who shall take the fight to the enemies to democracy when the thugs of our other “political” systems deem it necessary to rise up in arms against the great freedom of our world, join the freikorps if you are between 18 and 40! Or make a donation; we cannot take the fight to them if we do not have the funds to buy food, clothes and weapons! We need your help, voters of Klingenshtat!’

The Crowd cheered, many signing the clipboard that was passed around, others waving their cheque books, hoping to make a donation to this miniature war effort.

From the window, the old man merely shook his head, and turned to walk back down the corridor.

Following the NYNJian declaration, Josef Dorsal made a statement regarding the situation, after being heavily pressed by the media and congress, and also the Hogsweatian People.. it read;
Hogsweatian forces fired upon NYNJer aircraft only after our vessels were lighted up and actively targeted - Menstrov made extra emphasis on the word targeted - by what could have been hostile targets. After our declaration of support for the Democratic Government, which is being continued through by our government, the NYNJer aircraft launched an unprovoked assault on our vessels, damaging our carrier and various other vessels but causing no significant damage. We only retaliated when attacked by NYNJer aircraft.

We are not sorry for the loss of the NYNJ pilot that was involved in the baseless and unsupportable attack on our Carrier Group operating in the area. We will not stand down. We are here to support Democracy in Zvarinograd and will continue to until the current situation is over and won for the Loyalist forces.

I ask the NYNJ Government to cease hostilities against our forces in the name of peace and stability. There should be no more escalating conflicts in Zvarinograd. We must all work together to build a brighter, free-er, future for Zvarinograd and it's citizens.
Thank you.

All across the republic emotions were tempered by a waiting for the inevitable vengeance that was to be delivered. In Time Square the massive TV counted down and thousands looked up to check to see how much time was left in the ultimatum. No response was given by the Federal Government but news channels played up the story of the young pilot who’s life was lost, and then interplaying that with the message of the Hogsweat government’s not feeling sorry message for the life lost. Political pundits, Senators and even the mayor of the town where the pilot came from rallied against the Hogsweat government. Calls for restraint and time to wait were drowned out for the call to action.

In the Capital Building, Gregory de los Santos sat with his Generals and Admirals smoking. The mood was eerily festive. They viewed the Hogsweat campaign as not one of moral high ground but of the expansion of basic principles. They had plans for Hogsweat, and those plans required the removal of the communist government. Gunboat diplomacy at its best, market imperialism, and the gaining of a potential vassal state they were all good enough reasons for the Republic to flex its muscles and get back onto the world stage as an established power. The nation of Hogsweat was just unfortunate enough to be communist in a war zone in which multiple factions were fighting for the future of a nation.

Operation Golden Light:

In low orbit the main warships of the 1st Federal Stellar Fleet the “Homeguard” prepared for immediate deployment of their fighter groups to strike at the surface fleet below and to strike at any other surface fleet, which might have showed up. The four carriers also sat in orbit ready to begin limited strikes on the enemy’s home nation of Hogsweat. The four carriers, SCVN-2802 “Yorktown”, SCVN-2803 “Valley Forge”, SCVN-2804 “Franklin D Roosevelt” and SCVN-2805 “George Washington” were given vague orders as to their targets but Admiral Fletcher knew it was basically a blank check. He didn't exactly know what was going back on at home though as Federal Naval Radio only gave Spartan reports over what was occurring on the streets of the capital and other major cities.

With the time of the ultimatum reaching its end quickly approaching the fighters in the bay were given their final checks. Admiral Fletcher toured each of the fighter bays and checked over the pilots more as a symbolic moral booster than anything else as he didn't stop to give any real words of wisdom. The SA-43 fighters were given mixed load outs while the SA-59s which were the same fighters which went up against the Hogsweat Navy before were given strictly air to air load outs. They were interceptors, and as interceptors they preformed their jobs far better than the attack fighters of the SA-43 Squadrons.

Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick..bzzzzzz…the alarm rang out in the bunk of the pilots of the 55th Fighter Wing. They had thirty minutes to prepare for the start of hostilities and thus far no orders to stand down were given. Tick-tock-tick-tock…on the bridge of the Valley Forge the command staff stood watching as the fighters formed up with their respective squadrons. Several AWACs equipped ISSAPC barges were deployed with the formations, two from each carrier they’d assist with the upcoming space to surface strike against the carriers. Golden Light comprised only the first part of a two-pronged Operation. Golden Light was to be followed up by Eternal Flash. A total of 192 SA-43s, 96 SA-59s, and 8 AWACs type aircraft were being deployed to strike the fleet anchored in Zvarinograd waters. They had no main targets really other than the complete destruction of the Hogsweat fleet. One thing was for certain, there was no attempting to sneaking up on them.

Operation Eternal Flash:

The carriers in orbit were designed for more than just fighter launching and recovery. They were troopships and in a pinch capable of taking on a warship. With a variety of weaponry they were capable of space to surface support in the form of their spinal mounted kinetic particle weapon. The charged particles accelerating down the chamber the superheated green bolts of plasma streaked well across the sky before slamming down on their targets below. At the moment though those guns were silent. Fletcher stood on the bridge of the Yorktown and began to check the list of targets identified in satellite passes earlier in that day.

“There…we’ll shower them and see how they enjoy green rain…” Pointing to a specific picture marked number sixteen; the coordinates were given to the gunnery officers on the other warships. They’d only have a window of about fifteen minutes at low orbit to strike the target. Thirty minutes every twenty four hours didn't really amount to much and it would be done more for the psychological effect if anything but it was still worth the show of force. As the last of the fighters for Golden Light began the transition into the atmosphere for the strike upon the Hogsweat fleet at Zvarinograd, the four Carriers of the Homeguard fleet opened fire with their main artillery. Every thirty seconds for half an hour, the largest port in Hogsweat found itself hit with what can best be described as artillery 100km above.

The targets didn't matter much, the Federal Republic Military never shied away from inflicting massive damage in any form upon a target. The largest port city in Hogsweat a self-described maritime power would be an instant setback. The main targets were shipyards, dock facilities, any docked transport or warship. Of course the cities electrical grid was also the source of orbital bombardment. Any substations were sure to get some meager attention, while the cities City Hall would also find itself under attack. Civilian causalities were never a big factor as news back in the Republic was suppressed and the public made to believe that civilian losses were a mandatory part of any war. It was definitely a way to wage war, which harkened back centuries and had been abandoned by most “civilized” nations.

Near the borders of Zvarinograd, a small taskforce of ships finished entering the atmosphere. They were thirty four strong, ranging from one hundred ten meter long vessels, long range dropships, to one hundred sixty meter Striker class long range patrol and interception vessels, the lightest combat capable vessels in the fleet. The dropships they escorted carried no less than one hundred troops each.

They were headed toward a distant destination, and, from aboard one of the dropships, the sole human occupant began making inquiries on numerous encrypted communications systems.

DORSALGRAD, HOGSWEAT

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" was the rallying cry. All over Hogsweat, but mostly in Dorsalgrad for now, vast Vingilot bulk haulers hung over the landscape, or had landed wherever possible. Four held position over Dorsalgrad at this moment, and they were guarded by warships dispatched from the Zvarinograd taskforce. They were transferring aboard Menelmacari expatriates as well as any Menelmacari-owned assets and documents and equipment that was either not nailed down or could be un-nailed with reasonable speed. There was a large investment in this nation... well, okay, maybe not so huge a financial one, but in effort and elfpower it was fairly substantial... and the Menelmacari business community did not wish to sacrifice any more of that than was necessitated by the Hogsweat government's universally foolish decisions.

Incidentally, many thousands of the local citizenry were also evacuated; universally they were the employees of Menelmacari firms, and their immediate families. A compassionate gesture, yes, but that wasn't the main reason for it; the process of hiring and training staff is an expensive one, especially in what looked to be a soon-to-be rather depopulated nation.

The distance between the freighter closest to the city center, the merchant vessel Ethics Gradient, and the streams of fire pouring into the Dorsalgrad City Hall, was actually shorter than half Gradient's own length, barely seven hundred meters; the bombing was still in the precision phase, and the Elves trusted the New Yorker gunners' skill, but it was a tense situation all the same. This ship was evacuating the Menelmacari embassy and city center, which involved much sensitive documents and high-level equipment, as well as, by chance of an ill-timed state visit, Queen Catherine ni Fiona of the Danaan kingdom of Farinor, whom Lady Sirithil herself had met before.

The evacuation had taken most of the day, but fortunately did not overlap long with the bombing; perhaps twenty tense minutes. Their job now finished, the Vingiloti closed and sealed the yawning maws of their vast cargo bays and moved out of Dorsalgrad, towards other assets in the city and countryside.

---------

AREA 74, ZVARINOGRAD

Meanwhile, the fleet had dispatched another strikeforce. This one was centered around a pair of Daeron heavy carriers, vessels converted from a class of heavy transport when Menelmacar moved to more, smaller transport craft to haul their troops about. The Daeroni were every bit as fearsome with an aerial payload as a ground-based one, and could easily, between them, disgorge over a thousand small craft into any combat situation. There were also a pair of missile cruisers, a pair of cruisers, and a quartet of destroyers.

Their mission: join the C'tan force in eradicating the fascist presence in and around the location of the nuclear device.

PLACEHOLDER
~Stuff
~Stuff
~Other stuff

As the graceful Menelmacari ships met them at the rendezvous, the lead Striker gunship launched a small shuttle over to one of the massive Daeroni, carrying, of all things, a senator, Lady Senator Aiyana Tiercean. It was something of a modern tradition to send senators to observe military campaigns, and it had been since the One Ring incident.

Of course, this was hardly without risk, but she was reasonably confident that they were not likely to be shot down, and, even so, she would stand a better chance of survival, should the plan be thwarted, aboard one of the Menelmacari carriers or cruisers than she would aboard a gunship. She had to discuss the plan with the Menelmacari taskforce leader, one Ciryatári Alatáriël.

The joint strike force began to move after a few moments, a host of shapes, blood red, void black, shining gold and blue as the night sky silently began to coast toward their destination, ‘Area 74.’

Nastenka sat back in her command chair, watching the encounter between the Federal Republic and Hogsweatian forces. Commander Prusaadi Strifeminer, a towering Trolless and the Admiral's first officer, looked at her screens. "Ma'am, I'm getting the impression from some of the transmissions we're picking up that the Federal Republic is seeking to escalate to a full scale war with Hogsweat."

Nastenka inclined her head. "Then our sympathies are with them. For ourselves, our theater of operations shall remain limited to Zvarinograd but we are going to fully support our allies in that theater. Order all fighter squadrons to prepare for launch. All squadrons to assist New York and Jers...make the all squadrons but one. I want a single squadron to serve as a fighter escort for a shuttle carrying Lieutenant Commander Yllaatra Dryadson as military liason to the Warlord Ferinion nos Círdan. Don't announce that to the Elves yet. It could be overheard and we don't want to make that shuttle a target. She can call them when she's close enough for safe-keeping. Also, send a message to New York and Jersey forces requesting permission to send a liason officer. It just makes things a little easier, even if we still have to use the com a good deal."

As the call to action sounded in their racks, the pilots stations aboard the ships of Fourth Fleet rushed to the hangar bays where their planes were kept. Pilots formed up swiftly into their squadrons as techs rushed to prepare each fighter for action.

Meanwhile, the calm, dulcet voice of Lieutenant Xanumal ap Eiluned hailed the Federal Republic's forces. "New York and Jersey Fleet, this is the Danaan Fourth Fleet. We request permission to send a military liason to your command for more efficient coordination of operations now that combat seems emminent."

Dryadson stepped quietly into her shuttle. It and its single squadron fighter escort were launched before the area erupted into a full combat zone, making its way towards Warlord Ferinion and the main Menelmacari fleet.
...
Danaan Bureau on Foreign Travel

Official Statement

Due to certain political and international conditions now prevailing, all travel to Hogsweat by Danaan citizens is prohibited until further notice. For national security reasons, no further explanation may be provided at this time.
...
Catherine settled down aboard the chambers the Elves had provided for her, looking out quietly through the viewer. Unlike her wife, Catherine was no lover of war and rather saddened by the recent and all too rapid events. There was no question of sides, of course. She wanted the capitalists to win. She'd just rather the whole thing weren't happening. She opened the door to her quarters and leaned out, hailing a Noldor crewman. "Excuse me, could I possibly get something to drink?"

The gunships and Menelmacari gravitic bombers descended first, their aim being to establish a wide cordon around the missile silo, and unleashed a veritable storm of fire on the silo. As they did so, the Thoron fighters from both Menelmacari ships, and fully half of the C’tan gunships remained nearby, their aim being to ensure that in the event of an attempted launch from the silo, the missile would not get far, and with that much firepower directed at its initial ascent, it was unlikely that it would manage to survive for long.

The objective was not to destroy the silo, but simply to establish a cordon that would prevent the fascists from leaving the complex. Even so, the level of firepower that could be unleashed on a small complex by the combined strike forces of two carriers, and a large group of gunships, almost half of those that had ever been built, was impressive.

But that was not what was intended to destroy the facility. At the low height of a few kilometres, the Menelmacari missile cruisers opened fire. Each one had a massive one hundred ninety two separate missile launchers on its underside of its outer gundecks, but even so, only a small portion of those some fifty tubes, on each of the pair fired on the silo once the gunships and bombers had withdrawn, satisfied that no one could possibly escape through the ruined environment around the silo.

As the cruisers attempted to reduce the silo to a smoking crater, nearby, the four drop-ships landed, ready to disgorge their passengers in order to probe the ruins of the silo, and attempt to confirm the destruction of the nuclear weapon.

Anchors aweigh played throughout Chimera Station as the 6th Fleet left its home port area. The fleet was crewed by men and women from the stellar city located between Mars and Earth and thus whenever the fleet left port it was a grand occassion. A similar event took place over at Hope Point which was located between Earth and Venus as the 7th Fleet left its homeport. The Carriers forming the nucleus of both Fleets had orders to join up with the Carriers of the Homeguard and participate in Operations Golden Light and Eternal Flash. Each Fleet brought with them an entire marine division and soon in orbit there would sit the 33rd and 49th Marine Divisions.

It was obvious that the Federal Republic was preparing for a new operation. Time would tell what that next move would be. Down on Zvarinograd, the Marines deveployed to the Capital were packing up and heading back skyward toward the oribiting 1st Fleet. They were needed elsewhere as fighting against Hogsweat was about to pick up into a new phase of combat.