NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC

Seems like a fair bargain. AC will observe the ceasefire if Lusaka will. If not, I guess the war's on.

Gabon

The towns of Belinga, Mékambo, Makokou, and Ovan were in chaos. Anti personnel munitions had just exploded over them, and many of Lusaka's SA-4 Battalion assets had been destroyed along with Gabonaise people and property. The response that most Gabonaise saw was in the form of tracer fire from ZSU-23-4s, and ground based 30, 23, and 14.5mm cannon and machineguns, as it was sprayed into the African sky, much of it unguided.

The LRAC field commanders in Gabon were quick to play this as evidence of a desperate and genuine Lusakan effort to defend the people of Africa, specifically Gabon, from outside attack by superior forces.

Further west, at Booué, the convoys moving into the area had also suffered (ooc:I'm assuming, anyway), though with less civilian casualties and witnesses than was true in and around the eastern towns.

Whatever City may have been thinking, the Lusakans on the ground in Gabon two or three thousand kilometres away were in the middle of a do or die situation. Booué was now under all out attack by multiple infantry divisions of the Army of Lusaka, spearheaded by the Lusakan Revolutionary Alliance Corps and its elite 17th Division.

Over an area of some considerable square miles radiating from the city centre, locals were likely outnumbered by Lusakan light and mechanised infantry. Republican loyalists and opponents of the UE invasion, identified by Vultures and agents of the new and largely unknown Lusakan intelligence agency, were able to acquire arms from almost any passing APC, if they had the right papers and code words, or could be identified by Lusakan agents on hand. Anyone identified as a sympathiser, anyone who was not black or wearing an AL or LRAC uniform, was liable to LRAC arrest if s/he was lucky, or mob justice delt by Lusakan regulars or Gabonaise militias if unlucky.

The LRAC was quick to turn several APCs into field hospitals, even operating theatres, throwing hastily red-crossed sheets on the ground amongst them as Gaskin mobile-SAM launchers and 14.5mm machinegun and 82mm recoiless-rifle mounting vehicles rolled into Gabonaise streets.

Dozens of Vultures, hundreds of LRAC soldiers, and thousands of regulars were steam-rolling any resistance in the town, bringing to bear RPGs, rifle-grenades, and 51mm mortars against hostile positions until they were collapsed. Bayonets flickered and machettes flashed as they left Lusakan belts and sought blood.

New Lusaka City

The Republic's senior figures of government and military were again gathered in one of Igomo's primary bunkers; one dating to the Lumbosan war when orbital bombardment was seriously feared.

While figures such as Secretary Miyanda pushed for, well, for a big push to Africa's west coast, others were cautiously raising the issue of a possible ceasefire. After all, the Commonwealth seemed to be for it -Lusaka wouldn't be the weak party, backing down first, anymore!

Others said that just made the situation worse, "We'd be kowtowing to richer states' whims!"

No progress was being made, despite the obvious lack of time.

At some otherwise insignificant juncture a preliminary report was received on what appeared to be enemy bombing of Gabonaise towns under Lusakan protection, and the joining of heavy battle at Booué. Lusakan units appeared to be moving into Lara and Okandja, too, though it wasn't clear whether one of the generals was co-ordinating this, or whether the offensives were coincidental local backlashes.

"Ohh, good Lord."

The President's rumbling tones hardly inspired his deputies with confidence.

"Send this, oh, you know, Leo Tendyala of yours." He said, turning to his old friend, Olongwe.

"Theodore Tendyala, yis, if no one's co-ordinating operations now, he soon will be, I assure you."

And the rising star of the Lusakan Army, General Theo Tendyala, was soon dispatched to AC via C-130, from where he'd drive to Gabon, where things seemed to be coming to a head.


(OOC: For anyone who gets wind of that, Tendyala is tipped to be Olongwe's replacement whenever the late middle aged Defence Secretary retires, and has already lead Lusakan task forces as far afield as Europe. Sending him indicates at once that, by his absence, Lusaka was perhaps not entirely serious about Gabon -not considering it so important as home security, or recent operations in support of really major allies-, and that now it is taking things seriously, and affording it high priority. No doubt we're in for *another* trademark economic slump (which happens every time Igomo gets a new crusade on his mind, and ups defence spending, typically by at least as much as two percent of GDP. Politically, he gets away with it by winning, and/or recovering quickly afterwards, usually with massive socialist aid).)

All Roycelandian/ALG Positions had been fortified, entrenchments dug, and preparations made for the huge battles, which may no longer be happening.

The SOC Airforce continues to harrass Lusakan deployment wherever it can, although heavy AA fire makes this a somewhat difficult option for anything except a JetFire or a Lancaster II (both too expensive to risk at this stage in the operation...)

Word has filtered to Port Imperial of an impending Cease-Fire, which is good news for everyone... thus far, Roycelandian Forces have "Liberated" a sizeable chunk of South-East Gabon, and are enjoying enormous support amongst the locals for the free health care, food, and other necessities the soldiers are providing.

Fire Base Anvil, West of Booué

At the firebase, artillery guns and mortar tubes were firing in rapid succession, all aimed towards the town. Along the main road into Booué, HMMWVS full of civil affairs soldiers were driving back as quickly as possible, trailed by Free Gabon troops in BMPs and trucks.

In the battalion command post, Colonel Ehud Levi was left with no other choice, defeat or retreat not being choices. He reached for a radio set, “GOTCOM, Anvil Six, Broken Arrow, Broken Arrow.”

***
Immediately, every Elias aircraft over Gabon was vectored towards Booué, if the Lusakans were trying to gain as much ground as possible before the ceasefire started (lets say it starts at midnight and now its 19:00) it was a clever plan although it would prove costly for them. A worse theory was they had no plans of observing the cease-fire at all, and then hopefully near total obliteration of their assault force would change their minds.

On the ground at Libreville Airport, pilots and ground crew ran towards an EA-80 Tactical Transport Plane (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38933) that had been sitting on the tarmac near the perimeter more or less since the conflict had begun. Inside the main cabin, a huge orange, winged cylinder sat peacefully on its carrying rack.

As the rear ramp of the transport plane raised, the two pilots finished their preflight checklist and started the engines one by one.

“Sir What’s the mission?”

“To level Booué.”

“God help us.”

***

Twenty two minutes later, the skies around Booué were starting to fill up with aircraft, but they simply circled, and waited for the EA-80 to complete its attack.

The transport plane, flying at 28,000ft lumbered over Gabon, until finally it was a few kilometers from the centre of the town. The rear ramp then dropped, and the crew chief and loadmasters, using oxygen masks, waited to press several buttons that would send the giant cylinder plummeting towards earth.

“GOTCOM, we are in position, request authorization for ‘Purple Haze’.”

“Affirmative, you are cleared to release the weapon.”

Seconds afterwards, the rollers on the floor of the cargo cabin pushed the bomb’s trolley out onto the ramp. Then, just as the green light came on, the orange cylinder was released and the guidance system kicked in.

Two or three minutes later, the MOAB (http://www.strategypage.com/gallery/default.asp?target=moab.htm) would strike at the centre of Booué, literally incinerating everything within a few hundred yards.

The smoking remains...

Taken aback by the sudden decision to obliterate the fire base, the advancing M'Gharne special forces took heavy damage in the explosion. 108 are confirmed MIA/KIA, and at least 20 are severely to critically injured. MEDEVAC-configured ADI-A60s were rolling to the aid of injured Lusakans and M'Gharne operatives, but it might well be too late

Imperial Communications Headquarters, Port Royal, Roycelandia

The SigInt officer watched the text of the Intercepted Message coming in on his screen.

"This isn't good" he said, as soon as the phrase "Broken Arrow" appeared.

Picking up the phone, he called the Watch Officer.

Within seconds, one thing was apparent: Either UE had lost a Nuclear Weapon, or something funky was about to go down in Gabon.

The FAE explosion registered on Roycelandian Satellite Sensors, and seconds later the Watch Officer grabbed the phone and called the Imperial Palace. Commander Sword answered the phone, and nodded.

Replacing the Handset, Sword raced into His Majesty's Study.

"Royce, Problem. The Elians just detonated a Fuel Air Explosive device in Gabon."

His Majesty looked up from his book.

"Bugger."

He stood up, walked over to the wall safe, and opened it.

Commander Sword knew what this meant. He got out his pocket CodeReader, and keyed in the combination for today's date.

"The Codeword is TOPHAT."

His Majesty checked the list, entering the combination for the appropriate information. "Confirmed. Authorise the deployment of Atomic Weapons against Lusaka if they attempt to attack us en masse, or any other sitation in which Atomic Deployment would otherwise be justified."

"It shall be done. I'll let you get back to your book."

At several, secret places in REA, CAF Lancaster II Bombers lifted airborne, bearing a deadly payload... a "Glowing Sands" Nuclear Ordnance Device. All were ordered to remain well out of Missile Range, and a handful of the new JetFire Combat Jets were scrambled to provide Air Cover for the bombers, should their mission orders change from "READY" to "INITIATE".

Meanwhile, Aircraft were scrambled in Gabon to guard against a possible attack by Lusakan Forces prior to the Cease-Fire...

OOC: Anyone seen Free Gabon/Gabonaise lately? He's in imminent danger of losing his country, or at least having it rendered totally uninhabitable for a very long time...

OOC: Neither MOAB or daisy cutters are FAE, a common misconception. The daisy cutter uses an explosive slurry and the MOAB uses a type of high explosive with some additives. Read the link I provided.

It is in fact not really feasible to have FAE bombs much larger than 2000lb and more common as the smaller FAE submunitions such as the ones we'vre used on a couple of occasisons already.

Just to point out that this is not really a huge escalation, its just a bomb, albeit a massive one.

OOC: Neither MOAB or daisy cutters are FAE, a common misconception. The daisy cutter uses an explosive slurry and the MOAB uses a type of high explosive with some additives. Read the link I provided.

It is in fact not really feasible to have FAE bombs much larger than 2000lb and more common as the smaller FAE submunitions such as the ones we'vre used on a couple of occasisons already.

Just to point out that this is not really a huge escalation, its just a bomb, albeit a massive one.[OOC: any rational standard would have the MOAB down as a weapon of mass destruction, because it has an obscenely large indiscriminate lethal radius. Quite honestly, you'd have difficulties finding a place where using a MOAB wouldn't qualify as a war crime ( it's casual disregard for civilian life, y'know) that's worth fighting for. Although maybe in a jungle war, there might be opportunities...but not anywhere near a town. As for particularly large FAEs being unfeasible, i don't see a particular reason, although they'd clearly be unadvisable ;) ]

Commonwealth reactions..

Many families mourned the loss of 109 soldiers in the M'shka M'Gharne(loosely translates as the Wave of Death) special forces in the Gabonaise jungle today. The army could do naught but inform the bereaved next of kin that the M'shka were career soldiers and knew the risks of their position - Reactions are mixed across the political spectrum, but public support for the so-called "War on Imperialism" remains high.

The house of Representatives did propose a bill today to declare war on the dictatorship of Elias, but an executive veto by the president general struck it down in it's inception. He informed the house that a ceasefire is underway as of 12'o'clock, and that he would be doing his utmost to prevent further conflict. Should conflict be inevitable however, he assured the parliament, CAF commitment would be epic in proportion, and the occupation of Gabon over.

On the Front Line

Discipline in the CAF remain as flawless as ever, and no soldier, sailor or airman initiates a single attack on UE for the duration of the cease-fire or until they are attacked by UE, Roycelandian or Rhodesian forces.

OOC: Im going away for six days as of tommorrow and I will not be RPing on the forums so please please refrain from posting until my return.

---RP PAUSED UNTIL April 14th--

Sorry for the incoveniance and have a great Easter!

Despite the obvious signs that Gen Janvier was breaking down under the strain of leadership, the Free Gabon military was able to achieve a stunning success hours before the proposed cease fire.

A BMP loaded with explosives rolled into a Gabonaise camp and exploded, taking out dozens of key leaders in the government-in-exile's military command structure.

Janvier celebrated the news by collapsing. An attending physician declared that the general was simply 'dehydrated' and needed a few days of bed rest.

The appearance of so many commanders at one place caused a break-down in the usual routine at the refueling depot. Half a dozen Humvees and landrovers arrived at the same time as a tank was pulling away from the clandestine fueling facility.

All that brass and confusion made it difficult for the usually vigilant MPs and fueling techs to keep track for the vehicles and when a BMP pulled into the area it wasn't given a second glance. Until its crew climbed out and started running for a roadside ditch...

The initial blast killed many of those out in the open. The underground fuel tanks and assorted vehicles were consumed in secondary explosions, resulting in almost 100 dead or burned. There would be no survivors.

====

The sudden loss of so many commanders at once threw the entire command structure of the Gabonaise Army into chaos. It would be take days to sort out a new chain of command.

While not included in the cease-fire negotiations, the Gabonaise government-in-exile was thankful for the break in the fighting to get reorganized...

(ooc:I'm not planning to move the thread along much, I just thought that by the time UE returns I should have touched on the results of the latest attacks, so he has something to respond to. Just the one post then, and I probably shan't reply to any responses until everyone's caught up and ready to go.)

Booué

The Long Track radar picked up the incoming aircraft, but with most SA-4s disabled or destroyed the realisation of the advance units' impotence dawned. Even the improved Gaskins couldn't quite have reached the EA-80.

In fact, someone on the ground made the assumption that the aircraft was a transport come to drop troops, special forces perhaps. While a few officers worried that they might have a serious fight on their hands, a lot of regulars who caught wind of the possibility were dashing deeper into the town, hoping to have the obviously misinformed Elias troops surrounded wherever they landed. Communications, already sketchy, of course broke down even further.

Moments later a good percentage of Booué's five thousand or so residents and several dozen Lusakan soldiers, mainly regulars, were dead. It appeared that most of the little town had been destroyed as rescue efforts began under a twinkling display of tracer fire originating from the outskirts and treeline.

In the aftermath there was some delay in relaying the details of what'd happened back to other commands in Gabon, and eventually back to Lusaka. In City there was only one conclusion that could be reached. The enemies of Africa had attempted to extinguish an entire population. Hundreds of Gabonaise were reportedly killed, their homes obliterated. Lusaka had at least a few dozen more funerals to arrange, but what were a few dozen deaths amongst over 1.6bln Lusakans, compared to hundreds amongst 1.6million Gabonaise? It was put by the ever enthusiastic and now increasingly enraged Secretary Miyanda that the strike was to Gabon roughly the equivalent in Lusaka of wiping out tens of thousands of civilians.

"And they want a cease fire? When has any self respecting country negotiated with terrorists?"

Miyanda was for once not alone in his assertions. Banging his fist repeatedly on the arm of his chair, Defence Secretary Olongwe insisted that, "We will drive them back into the sea or see them burn on the African torch they have lit!"

(ooc: I'd like to ask, for the reccord, whether Elias has any other military bases, colonies, or imperial holdings outside of its relatively distant homeland.)

OOC:


---RP RE-OPENED--

Just a quick OOC post to say that I'm back, hope everyone had a good weekend etc.

To answer Lusaka's question we so have several nations that can be considered proctetorates or colonies but are largely left to run themselves.

-Seychelle Islands, under a governor-general who presides over an indigenous governing council.

-Brunei, very wealthy in its own right, royal family is left as head of state but government is controlled by Elias as well as Bruneian officials. The state is very independant and defence, trade and internal policy is seperate from United Elias.

Ministry of Defence, Baghdad, United Elias

Minister Zibari was stunned. Everything had suddenly gone completely out of control. Lusakans were clambering for more land before the ceasefire and somebody had just blown a town nearly off the map. He had to put out this fire quickly or the President would be more than justified in turning him into a scapegoat, after all, half of Baghdad coveted his job and he could think of at least thirty names who would be rather good a it.

He walked down the corridor, papers in hand, yelling at people along the way, both civilians and officers, then his Chief of Staff appeared in the elevator lobby.

“Minister, I’ve confirmed it, Colonel Makram ordered Purple Haze.”

“Arrest Him.”

“Sir?”

“You heard me, nail him to the wall.”

The Minister then carried on towards the press room. As he entered and walked up to the podium, cameras flashed and cameras began recording or playing live. Unlike any other minister in United Elias, Ibrahim Zibari could tame the press. He was an old dog with many new tricks as well as the usual ones and already in the day, ‘classified’ documents had been ‘accidentally’ leaked to the press. Subtlety was an art, and we wasn’t quite sure whether the enemy would be astute enough to appreciate it but he hoped so.

The Minister, looking his usual self; clean cut greying hair offering the impression of experience without appearing too old, a beautifully tailored black suit with blue tie and white shirt. In effect he looked the opposite of what he hoped his enemy would, trustworthy, rational and civilised.

“Good Evening Ladies and Gentleman, please hold your questions for now, as I wish to make a brief statement.

“Over the last few days we have been conducting backchannel negotiations with several African powers in order to attempt to end the bloodshed in Gabon, which is draining that country of its resources and more importantly costing lives on all sides. In that part of the world, nature alone offers enough hardships to the people who have managed to survive even when faced with challenges such as a tyrannical government, famine and the ever-growing danger of tropical diseases and HIV/AIDS. However we cannot expect the Gabonese people to act as pawns in a pointless power feud between rival African factions and nations. We have to accept that the constant friction between nations such as Lusaka and Roycelandia a Lusaka is unavoidable and instead of taking out our mutual displeasure in the form of guerrilla warfare and terrorism, we should behave in a mature manner befitting the African people.

“Fortunately this may have indeed happened, and I am proud to announce that the nations involved in this conflict have accepted a proposal for an immediate cease-fire. The cease-fire will commence at midnight tonight and from that point all Elias forces within Gabon will only use force if they are directly attacked. If all nations who have agreed to this, promptly observe the agreement, we have the utmost confidence that a temporary peace can be maintained.

“Of course the cease-fire is a positive step but only a first stage and we hope that peace talks proposed by the African Commonwealth will indeed come to fruition. Only then can peace in Gabon be a certainty. With that, I will open this up for questions…”

The Minister paused after his slow and deliberate speech before pointing to the defence correspondent for ‘Elias State New’s, always an easy one to start with.

“Minister, can you tell us how many casualties we have sustained thus far?”

“Not at this time, once the families have been notified we will release the figures but thus far it can be considered to be lower than forty. Next.”

A journalist from the ‘Baghdad Weekly Review’ was then given opportunity to ask what he thought would be an embarrassing question; however he would be an unwitting instrument to warn the enemy without threatening. “Sir, at a time when you are attempting to find a peaceful solution is it no inflammatory to deploy an entire carrier battle group to the Atlantic earlier than scheduled? I assume that my source is correct and that the President Victor is leaving her Port along with her escorts.”

“Quite mistaken, this is a long scheduled exercise and currently we have no plans to utilise this force in the Gabon crisis. Thank you and I’ll take two more.”

“Minister Zibari, who initiated the peace talks?”

“At first the African Commonwealth approached us with an offer to negotiate and since then there has been goodwill on both sides, all of the nations involved realise that solving this crisis through peaceful means is advantageous.”

“Sir, I heard there was a major explosion in the town of Booué with many dead and wounded, can you confirm casualty numbers or indeed if any of them are our serviceman.”

The Minister glanced down at his notes, pretending to know little about this.

“Yes, it says in my briefing notes that a large explosion rocked the town and the cause is still under investigation. Yet another tragic example of why we need to resolve this conflict diplomatically.”

“Sir, would you care to speculate as to the cause.”

“Intelligence shows that Gabonese resistance fighters are operating within the area so I would assume it would be part of their terrorist tactics. I would be very surprised if it was the larger powers that were responsible. And we’re out of time.”

tag

[OOC: nicely RPed, that, UE. Hmmm, your sounding more US-like as posts go by...neo-colonialist, clever, manipulater of information...i hope you don't really think that how your fictional country acts is right, though. That would be scary. Anyway, thumbs up for the evil RP.]

New Grey Havens, Cirdanistan
Another message to New Lusaka City was sent, responding to the use of what Cirdanistan, if not the users, qualified as weapons of mass destruction. More weapons would be offered to the UARL, in anticipation of an escalation and mass battles, including new, more potent weapons sytems. The SA-20 Triumf theater air defence system, who, with their 400KM range "big" missiles, could threaten aircraft over the Gabonese coast from positions inside AC [OOC: correct me if i've misread the distance] and were capable of shooting down intermediary-range ballistic missiles with their smaller medium-range SAMs were offered; to palliate their weaknesses in engaging fast, low-flying targets, the 2S6M Tunguska air defence vehicle was also proposed, along with the SA-11,-12, -13, -15, and -17 SAM systems were also offered, in addition to huge quantities of the SA-16. FROG-7B tactical rockets and SS-21 guided tactical ballistic missiles were also included (no mention being made of both systems' capabilities as NBC vectors, and only strictly conventional warheads were offered, but how hard is it to screw a nuclear charge or a chemical aerosol onto a rocket?), along with BMP-3 and BMD-3 infantry fighting vehicles, GAZ-3937 Vodnik 4x4 vehicles, Leclerc or T-80 MBTs, 122mm, 130mm and 152mm artillery guns both towed and self-propelled, manportable Kornet-E ATGMs, Mi-28 Havoc helicoper gunships and Mi-35 Hind E assault gunships, all in generous quantities. In order to help the Lusakan air force bear the cost of what is often the most expensive type of warfare, Cirdanistan offered to supply Lusaka with AAMs, and possibly new airplanes, although new aircraft were unlikely to see action. The letter ended by hoping the Elias pig-dogs would see the error of their ways, calling upon the Lusakans not to employ WMD, and wishing luck to Lusakan troops.

Elsewhere, in the capital and beyond, bureaucrats, workmen and soldiers alike were astonished by orders to get huge quantities of materiél ready for shipment to Lusaka. To those who claimed the task was impossible, a single answer was given "the Yanks did it in 1973, for Israel, so obviously it's feasible." And so men began working round the clock, and although none said it, they all knew the goal: Lusaka must be so heavily armed they swept away the opposition when the cease-fire fell apart.

[OOC: i'm trying to offer only weapons compatible with what Lusaka already has, so Eastern bloc (except the Leclerc, but AFAIK the UARL's Olifant MBT uses a 120mm main gun also(?)), and obviously Cirdani capacity, although large, isn't unlimited, so it's not unbounded quantities of equipment, but it is considerable as far as indirect aid is concerned; and using ceasefires to rush in arms is an honorable tradition ;) ]

Lusaka awaited the return of thirty one more servicemen, victims of the Booué inferno. The death toll for Lusakan servicemen in Gabon was closing on two hundred, and it looked as if the heavy fighting was just about to begin.

Were it not for the much vaunted cease-fire of which Lusakan civilians, soldiers, and government officials had heard little. Secretary Miyanda was again becoming agitated after Igomo's repeated assurances of UARL and AC committment to Gabon conflicted with rumour of cease-fire negotiation between UE and AC.

In Gabon things remained relatively quiet so far as the offensive was concerned. Light infantry continued to move about in the east, and APCs continued rolling, mainly crane-mounting BTR-152Ks employed in the aftermath of Elias bombings.

New Lusaka City

President Igomo and his staff regarded the Cirdanistani communiqué with expressions of varying surprise. It seemed to signal a pretty significant weight of support for the resistance.
SA-20s didn't grow on trees, Lusaka knew this having (largely without international notice) recently imported, tested, and deployed fifty batteries across the Republic (which, by the way, I believe can engage up to about the range you stated, but the big missile is only so effective against agile aircraft, and meant mainly to take out AWACs and such- I think AC already has similar systems deployed, and I think that the coast and the capital are just out of range, unless the launchers are moved inside Gabon).
Still, the general disinterest in much of the material offered might have been puzzling. Pluzzling to those who'd not yet picked up press releases on the LRAC's intention to deploy AFRISAM to Gabon for operational testing.

That said, Lusaka wasn't about to turn down Mi-28 spares- of 500 officially in Lusakan service, less than two hundred were still flying, the rest having been stripped.
BMP-3 was in production in one Lusakan factory, but with the need for BMP-2 chassis for AFRISAM there was a shortage of IFVs, and regular units were demanding a share of the LRAC's BMP-3s. More would be welcome.
Though it was true that Lusakan aircraft were playing a rather reduced role -especially since the loss of three Dragonfly and six pilots- Igomo wasn't going to pass on a possible avenue for the procurement of more AAMs. Of Lusaka's two primary AAMs the Republic was now producing AA-11 Archers at a modest rate, but stocks of longer-range AA-10 Alamo were finite and keenly sought.

Igomo, while replying with thanks and speaking of a need for BMPs, Mi-28 spares, AA-10 AAMs, reload missiles for SA-20 (though Lusaka has fifty battalions, after testing the republic can't presently replace any missiles fired! This may not be of immediate concern, but Igomo's keen to take advantage if he can ;) ), brought up the issue of his 'navy' such as it was. The Al Khali-built Omar Class patrol frigate Tabora had the appearance of the SS-N-22 Sunburn carried by Al Khali vessels, but the UARL hadn't entirely...been able to afford any. If there happened to be four or five just lying around, we could haul them away for you, maybe.. With so many Lusakans fighting and dying abroad, the republic felt most exposed in the east, you see!
Igomo didn't completely dismiss the MBT aspect of Cirdanistan's approach. He just felt (or his friend Olongwe felt, at least) that with three different tanks already in service in large numbers (200+ Olifant L-2, 1,000 T-56(L), 800 T-62) bringing in new vehicles would only further confuse a difficult and stressed supply and maintainence system. Still, it was in the Lusakan tradition to upgrade, and Igomo had been informed that work on a T-62(L) was advancing less than admirably.

"These things are terrible.. the spent cases come out the back here.. I don't know what we're going to be able to modify.. they're falling apart!" Insisted Olongwe of his second-hand 115mm gun vehicles. Igomo was after a last ditch upgrade programme for the T-62 before he was forced to consider it a reserve/utility vehicle and build more expensive Olifants.

(Aw man, that just went all over the place. How many days of silence, and I was sober all the way through it.. and now.. )

PR Offensive!

Noting with satisfaction that UE was indeed going to observe the proposed ceasefire(at least, as long as it would suit their purposes), Ndelebe flicked off his television set, and held a meeting. While the debated topics were not known to the outside world, state and independent media rolled into gear the minute the participants came out again.

A set of military and industrial ad campaigns went on air asking for people to enlist - particularly in the militias or the M'Gharne special forces. The state would provide a high school, college or technical education for free in return for service in the forces((high school and technical for the militias, anyway)), and additions to the fissile power, arms-manufacturing and intelligence sectors were more needed than ever. The promise of education in a rather totalitarian state that has no welfare whatsoever is very tempting, but it is thus far unknown how many will take the bait, as it were...

African News Network((The Commonwealth's own pan-african news channel)), BBC and probably also Wombat News receives a press release from the Commonwealth stating that the obliteration of Booué was an intentional strike by UE forces against both hostile military combatants and friendly civilian non-combatants, and not perpetrated by any anti-imperialist or resistance forces to the extent of the Commonwealth's knowledge - Only time will tell wether people believe the UE or AC version of the story, but the Commonwealth's willingness to supply indenpendent and unbiased media like BBC and WN with all information the Commonwealth Armed Forces has about the incident, may just sway the public. The final reactions remain to be seen.


Deployments

Meanwhile, the 'Light 150' ADI-A1 Blackhawk auxillary detachment rolled towards the AC/Gabonaise orders, their orders as previously noted to defend Lusakan-held villages and waypoints against APCs and light tanks. These were closely followed by the 66th Engineer Core, freshly withdrawn from service in Bukoba, whose orders are thus far classified.

The 150 DAHs have reached the Commonwealth border, where they remain so far - The infrastructural fortification needed to maintain and protect a large contingent of fighter jets and rotary crafts are now in place on the AC/Gabonaise border, but so far only the Hornets and F-15E strike eagles previously assigned are there.


EDIT: Done and done ;) Assuming that the war is breaking out again, I don't want transport planes flying around where they might get shot down.

Transmission to Lusaka, African Commonwealth, Rhodesia and Nysaland, Roycelandia and Middle Congo.

URGENT

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has drafted the following which is a proposal for a Peace treaty that would end the war in Gabon. The offer we are making in this treaty is extremely generous for we accept that if peace is not reached now, this war will become far more costly for all sides and we shall be forced to commit much larger forces. Obviously this is something that all of our governments would rather avoid and this offer is designed to reflect our peaceful intentions. The President has already agreed to sign this document and providing that all sides agree it should come into effect immediately. We also reiterate that this offer is not negotiable as we have already been too generous to avoid length negotations during which many could be killed.

Currently we maintain our offer for a ceasefire begingin in a matter of hours but we see that Lusaka and the African Commonwealth are violating our conditions. Therefore this is a large ditch effort to reach a diplomatic solution. Failure by the powers involved to agree on this document within twenty-four hours will result in a massoive escalation on our part and possibly years of war over Gabon which will destroy the country and create a humanitarian disaster.




http://img12.photobucket.com/albums/v36/United-Elias/Gabon1.jpg
Figure.1

Article 1: Borders and Demarcation

-1.0 The nation of Gabon will retain all external borders that have existed to date and these borders will be enforced and maintained by the government of both East and West Gabon.

-1.1 The nation of Gabon will be split into two independent States along the demarcation line shown in Figure 1. The demarcation line itself will legally constitute a national border separating the jurisdictions of each government.

-1.2 The demarcation line will consist of two borders separated by 500 metres or more which will constitute a demilitarised zone and will not be under the jurisdiction of any foreign government.

-1.3 The demarcation line between each government of Gabon will be enforced by international observers on either side, although no military, security or militia force is permitted to enter the demilitarised zone without express permission from both governments.


Article 2: Government and Responsible Nations

-2.0 Each part of Gabon described in Article 1 will have a right to a government that controls all laws and statues within the borders of Gabon and up to the demarcation line.

-2.1 This treaty names the nations of United Elias, Roycelandia, Middle Congo and Rhodesia and Nyasaland as the responsible nations for Western Gabon. This treaty names the nations of Lusaka and African Commonwealth as responsible for Eastern Gabon. The functions and duties of each responsible party is described in Article 2.2

-2.2 The Responsible Nations listed in Article 2.1 of this treaty will be obligated to take joint responsibility for their respective region. They will be obligated to maintain the security, form a government, and act in the best interests of the people of Gabon. This treaty does not preclude any responsible nation from waiving their responsibility nor does it set any standard for the government of either state.

-2.3 Disputes between the responsible nations within either region should be resolved internally and providing that the demarcation line is being maintained and enforced adequately by both sides, the responsible nations have no cause for dispute with the other side.

-2.4 In all practical effect, the governing of each Gabon is the role of the defined states and they are solely responsible for deciding how their respective regions should be governed without foreign interference or impediment.
-2.5 At any time the responsible nations of each party see fit, power over their region of Gabon can be transferred to indigenous control, although it is expected that the indigenous population should have some part in governing their nation prior to this.


Article 3: Military and Casus Belli

-3.0 The responsible nations (as defined in article 2) are permitted to deploy military forces to their dependant region of Gabon to maintain internal security and protect the integrity of the demarcation line as well as to deter aggression by the opposite party.

-3.1 The governments of either state or the responsible nations are permitted to create a security force of indigenous citizens to maintain internal security and protect the integrity of the demarcation line as well as to deter aggression by the opposite party.

-3.2 The event of an armed force representing either a government of Gabon or one of the defined responsible nations crossing the demilitarised zone and trespassing on effectively foreign territory shall be considered an act of war against the other party.

-3.3 The event of a hostile aircraft representing either a government of Gabon or one of the defined responsible nations crossing the demilitarised zone and trespassing on effectively foreign territory shall be considered an act of war against the other party..

-3.4 Any deliberate and blatant act to disrupt, impede or destabilise the opposite government shall be considered.

-3.5 The use of any weapon across the demarcation line whether it originates on the opposite side or the sovereign territory of a responsible nation. an act of war against the other party.


Article 4: Trade and Resources

-4.0 The responsible nations are entrusted with the resources of their respective Gabon states and they are expected to use them for the benefit of the citizens of Gabon, however for their efforts they are permitted to receive a profit as a means for paying for their contributions to security and welfare.

-4.2 The responsible nations are entrusted with control over Gabon’s infrastructure and transport networks and they are expected to take measures to improve the economy of their region.

OOC: For future RPs sake, I would rather you all agreed to this. Of course if there's anything critical Ive left out or anything that is ambigious I will alter it. Anyway this idea soiuns quite a lot of fun and keeps me involved in the region without having to bomb someone every half an hour. :wink:

*Edited for spelling*

New Lusaka City

“Stop him, for God’s sake!” Igomo boomed, waving a hand in the direction of the official New Lusaka Times Gabon Crisis Government Correspondent.

The man didn’t make a serious attempt to evade the two guards stepping out in his path, he did work for the government, after all.

Still, it wasn’t every day that a member of the press witnessed the towering, slightly stoned Secretary of the Social Progress Party loading a battle-rifle as he strode across a room announcing his intention to, “get this done” himself. Nor was a struggle between four members of the secretive African Intelligence Bureau and said Secretary the type of thing one expected to see on any given day.

Miyanda had heard enough and all but snapped when the Elias proposal was presented to Igomo’s staff. Whilst Defence Secretary Colin Olongwe had indignantly scorned the idea that Gabon should just give up and cut off its own head, Miyanda had remained silent.

Colonel Amule Saleem Amin of the AIB pointed out that article 2.1 appeared to put the most heavily populated part of the country –the west- under Lusakan and allied protection. That was a good thing, he said, since UE would be absolutely cut-off in the interior. “We could always break the treaty and starve them to a man- capture the lot and humiliate the imperialists in the process of liberating all Gabon.”

There was some silence before a minor secretary suggested that it was probably a typo.

Then Miyanda got up and gave his little display.

After some sort of calm was restored, and Miyanda disarmed and led into a joining room to collect himself, attention returned to the treaty.

As it happened, Igomo and Olongwe were more or less in agreement with the departed Secretary. The imperialists didn’t appear to understand why Lusaka had mobilised thousands of fighting men in defence of the Republic of Gabon. Nor did any of the three men see why they should stop now. Lusaka got involved because the democratic government of an African neighbour state had been attacked and dismantled by bloodthirsty imperialists. It was apparent from the provisions and language of the proposed treaty that the enemy recognised the Lusakan desire to see Gabonaise self-rule restored, and no one could see why it would be thought that Lusaka would accept this for just half of the country.

“Is this why we hold fire?” Called Miyanda from the next room.

The figures still seated in the meeting chamber of Igomo’s bunker regarded each other’s understanding faces.

“Well, Defence Secretary, what do you make of it? From their point of view...”

“I’d... well, it looks like a treaty we’re supposed to accept by way of cutting our losses after a protracted struggle proving that our original aim couldn’t be achieved. Or that it couldn’t be achieved at an acceptable price. I’d venture, then, that the atrocities carried out in the last moments of fighting before the cease-fire were supposed to induce such a view in our camp. Give the impression that we’d taken a pounding and should modify our objective.” Olongwe paused several times during his delivery, though it was always owing to his difficulty in finding the words he required rather than the concepts.

“..But we’re fine.” Replied the President, chin rested on his closed fist.

“Indeed. The active elements of the compromise.. they really don’t apply to us.”

“Damn imperialists!” Came a shout from the next room. “Who’s going to take that? The audacity! We should bloody their nose, see how they like it! Cease the Seychelles! See how they like it!”

Gabon

“Orders from General Tendyala! The first LS-8 battalion is in country, you’re escorting it to Booué... 10th’s coming, too.”

The Lusakan APCs transporting rescue workers and such into the gutted town had now begun to ferry reinforcements by the platoon-load on top of the several thousand soldiers already active around the settlement. 82mm mortars were brought, inside BTR-152K and OT-62B APCs. Along the roads leading to the area came more vehicles, many bringing relief to the suffering locals, others re-supplying forces arrived prior to the cease-fire, and some part of the fore-most AFRISAM battalion.
All across eastern Gabon, Lusakan radars were by now laid-out. Tendyala was pleased by the coverage he now had- not even a stealth aircraft could find gaps in such a densely-nit grid.
The General was preparing to move on the Booué fire-base while encouraging his southeastern lieutenants to drive at Franceville and Lasoursville with all speed and coaxing any Commonwealth and Gabonaise support available into the push.

“Get those damned Roiks and Sallys out of this war!”

Quite suddenly, just before sunrise, Lusakan mortars were uncovered near Booué and opened up on the firebase as men materialised from the town and the trees. APCs and IFVs* erupted into a flat-out dash to the north and south of the firebase, attempting to thrust a horn either side of the base before falling in upon it from the rear.


*BMP-2 and BMP-3, on top of MG-armed BTR and MG/82mm recoilless-rifle armed APC.

(OOC: I know we want this to end in such a way that UE can still easily interact with the region at large and I still bear that in mind. But, there’s no way I can justify Igomo accepting the treaty without pretending he’s a completely different (and rather stupid) character to the one I’ve cultivated since last year. It offers nothing he hasn’t already taken, and would constitute a total failure for the UARL’s original mission to Gabon.)

Message to UE

The Imperial Government disagrees with the demarcation line between Free Gabon and Gabonaise- Franceville, Roycelandia's prinicipal base of operations, falls into the Gabonaise area.

This is entirely unacceptable to us, and the Imperial Government is extremely displeased that an Ally such as UE could make such a greivous cartographical error, especially without reference to the Roycelandian Empire.

We respectfully request that the border be redrawn, so that negotiations can conclude peacefully.

[signed] His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I

Port Royal, Roycelandia

Commander Sword read over the treaty provisions.

"How the hell could they put Franceville in Gabonaise? Does our assistance mean nothing to them?" Commander Sword complained aloud to no-one in particular.

"The Lusakans aren't going to like this either" he added, making a note for the rest of the IDB to have a look at the treaty and reccomend changes at a later date...

OOC: AC, I'll allow you to take back that whole thing about paratroopers. Firstly at least half of the transport planes will get shot down. Secondly, dropping men into dense rainforest will mean you'd be lucky to walk away with less 85% casualties...

Lusaka, okay fine.



Message to Roycelandia

The Ministry of Defence apoligises profusely for this oversight and of course this suggestion would be unacceptable to you. UNnited Elias is grateful for your continued support in this conflict and we hope that your govermnment will continue to assist us in our struggle whether peace is negotiable or otherwise. We highly value your contributions both military and diplomatic and we had no intention to purposefully hand over your main operating base.

Ibrahim Zibari,
Minister of Defence

Updated Map
http://img12.photobucket.com/albums/v36/United-Elias/gabon_map.jpg
Figure.2

Inside the House of Representatives, Kinshasa

"..And therefore, I retract my executive veto and decline the Elias' proposal with executive proposal 255.". The room hushed up, as representatives from the Secular Party thought it over. A war now would get seriously ugly, but the Commonwealth HAD committed itself, and control over half a country would not be acceptable, especially if it meant giving the other half up to a new colonial power... It was the general consensus that those already present in Southern Africa were bad enough, and United Elias would certainly not be a benígn ally of AC once they had consolidated their power in the region. The proposal passed, but an effective declaration of war was not formulated as of yet. Right now, the CAF would dig in and expect the worst.

OOC

Your wish is duly noted, but I'm afraid that it IS an IC objective of both Lusaka and AC to repulse United Elias entirely - I'm sure we can work something out, but right now my government could not feasibly agree to your proposition, however wise it is..

(Hm, if only the SPP could have heard Roycelandia's last post. That'd have led to a spot of bloodshed. Anyhoo, it's a bit of a relief that AC didn't back down- I wasn't sure if they'd lean against it, which would have been the only way to make Lusaka accept the deal. It also would have meant that of all Southern Africa, only eastern Gabon and Al Khals were not considered New Lusaka City's enemies (and with Al Khals eyeing Zanzibar that wouldn't last). That would have driven us further into co-operation with our socialist and even Soviet allies and probably made a Stalin of Igomo. Or a Sopworth Igo, or a Kurosian. Of course now I have no idea how its going to end without driving UE off the continent, but I'm sure we'll think of something.)

u can borrow my 3 million helicopters and boats

It may have been half past one in the morning but nontheless the upper echelons of the government were assembled in the Cabinet Room. Ministers from all the relevant authorities, Treasury, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Security were aligned on one side of the mahogany conference table, while on the other the commanders of the armed services, the Director of the FSB (Federal Security Bureau) and the Director of the FIB (Federal Intelligence Bureau). At the head of the table, looking much more relaxed than the others, the President of United Elias. In front of him a thin collection of papers detailing all the units of some 26,000 Elias military personnel in Gabon.

At both ends of the huge room, adjutants in dress uniform tended to the plasma screens, some showing photos, others maps.

The President then leaned forward on his leather chair, cleared his throat then addressed the meeting.

“Okay guys, its 23:30 in Gabon and we have half an hour to decide whether to do this cease-fire or not.”

First of all the Defence Minister looked at his Generals for final approval before making his recommendations, “Mr. President and fellow Ministers, I am in agreement with the armed forces and intelligence services. It is clear that our enemies are using this cease-fire to their tactical and strategic advantage. Even while we have scaled back our aircraft sorties and our forces have been ordered to only fire in self-defence, the Lusakans have advanced further into Gabon, the Commonwealth has increased its deployment and now enemy radar coverage is so dense that I have serious reservations of even our stealth aircraft being able to penetrate any further east than Booué

“Therefore it is my assessment that Lusaka will not agree to our peace treaty as they believe that they can win. Secondly President Igomo lives to fight the developed world and because he is a thug and a warlord rather than a statesman, he will only understand one language, force.

“Our government is faced with a choice, either we cut our losses, pull our forces out, leaving Gabon, tail between our legs or we stay and fight. The decision rest on your shoulders Mr. President.” He then muttered only half joking, “I’m sorry.”

“Its okay, I’m used to it.” The President smiled slightly before leaning back in his chair, thinking quickly, the President was normally a master at making informed decisions in a short time. “What do they need down there to win?”

“Many more aircraft, particularly electronic warfare, we’re already planning a massive operation to take down the majority of infantry.”

“Good, that’s no problem, how many troops?”

“We estimate around 200,000 to hold the ground we have and 300-400,000 if we want to push Lusaka back to the border. Of course that is assuming they keeping upping their commitment at the same rate they are at the moment, which is pretty high. However if Igomo makes it a number one priority to get us out and the Commonwealth does the same we may need close to three quarters of a million. Conversely, their alliance may weaken and we may only need 200,000 troops for victory.”

The President raised his eyebrows slightly at the figures, “Okay, I will sign an executive order giving the Armed forces permission to deploy up to 80,000 additional personnel within a time frame of your choosing, that should bring us up to just over 100,000 fairly rapidly. I assume we can increase our aircraft presence in the region rather quickly?”

“Yes Sir, we have already made preparations for deploying further air assets so the first aircraft can be on their way to our base on Sao Tome within hours.”

“Excellent, now we have to find approximately 100,000 more troops,” The President looked at the Foreign Minister, “Start making enquiries with our local allies, Roycelandia, Middle Congo and Rhodesia, find out how far they’re willing to go with this. We obviously don’t want to go to our regional or overseas allies until we have to. What about our overseas territories?”

The Deputy Defence Minister then piped up for the first time, the training of indigenous forces in overseas territories being one of his pet projects, “Mr. President, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces are highly trained in jungle warfare, we could get probably around 30,000, that would only be around 20% of their Army strength. The Sultan more or less gives us permission to do anything we want as long as he gets to keep his palaces. As for the Seychelles, well the SDF is still rather new and I doubt we could get them to do much. Of course we might be able to deploy eight or nine thousand for logistics and other rear echelon tasks.”

“Good plan, get it in motion. On that subject, maybe we should increase our presence on the Seychelles, I mean it’s a long shot but it’s not so far from Lusakan shores?”

“Sir we already have a substantial Navy and Marine presence on the islands. Though we will look into deploying a Strategic Strike Wing, just in case we want to strike mainland Lusaka.”

“No, if the Lusakans find out they might think that we’re preparing to hit them at home, and that’s escalating it too far…Okay gentleman, its two in the morning and I’m going to sleep, after all I’ve got a busy week it seems.” With these words, the President stood and everyone else rose while the President exited through the double doors. However they would not be going anywhere for a few hours, much more had to be discussed.

OOC: Hey, I wanted to compliment you guys on this incrediable piece of work. It is probably one of the best RPs I've seen on this site so far, and I hope it keeps going. With that being said, I would like to inquire if I could take a minor role in this conflict, mainly in the form of aid to AC, Gabonaise, Lusaka, etc, a la Lend-Lease act, and perhaps some economic warfare on the imperialists. My motives for doing so are partly for altruistic reasons (publically, anyway) partly out of wariness for imperialist powers, and partly to gain relations with the african continent. If you could let me participate, I would be much obliged.

IC: Quaesor Henry Root, head of the Office of Foreign affairs, read the latest report on the Gabon-Elias war. He wondered how badly the new cease-fire would stir up the contraversy between the isolationists and the pro-africans. The battle between them had been raging on since the begining of the war, and its affects were increasingly felt. The African Aid bill had been bouncing around the senate for months with little progress. For every escalation that moved it forward, a cease-fire stopped it in its tracks. Originally backed by prominent African epatriates and leaders of the black community, it now served as a bone of contention between opposing forces in the senate. He sighed. It seemed nothing was moving at all. But as he read the next report, he was cheered up a bit. Apparently fear of conflict had caused most of Fauquier's international speculators dealing in currency and government bonds to dump anything belonging to Roycelandia or Elias. While it wasn't much, hopefully the economic effects would ripple back to them. It was a start.

Message to UE

The Imperial Government thanks UE for the change to the proposed boundaries, and assures them of our continued support in the future.

We can spare an estimated 30,000 Imperial Guard on Peacekeeping Duties, but regretfully are unable to spare any more Foreign Legion troops, as they are officially not in Gabon anyway.

However, we are able to place the Transport Squadrons of the Imperial Air Force and Imperial Maritime Air Service at your disposal, should they be required.

[signed] Commander Jack Sword, Imperial Defence Bureau

*****************************

Franceville Base

The message coming over the radio was quite clear- all IFL troops were to adhere to the cease-fire. The ALG were not under such restrictions, but the IFL were "encourages" to ensure their compliance.

There were grumblings from some of the Legionnaires about this state of affairs, but all ultimately knew that sitting around doing nothing beat the hell out of being shot at by the Gabonaise and Lusakans...

Chellis officially condemns the rising tensions in africa; United Elias in Gabon, Sniper Country in Tanzania, the situation in Egypt. Chellis hopes that this wont turn into a power grab, it would hate to have to fight for the defense of Mozambique.

*to United Elias by secure means*

Chellis feels Gabon would make the perfect area for a second base in Africa, as Mozambique gives us access to the eastern hemisphere, and gabon would give it to us in the west, as well as providing a stopping point for trade routes from Mozambique to Menelcamari USA.

Therefore, we are wondering if there would be anything we could do to get a small piece of coast with a line to international waters. We would be willing to pay for it, yearly if wanted. Or, if you would be interested in military help in the form of helping taking out insurgents, or other forces, if you catch our drift. Consider it, we can get forces there fairly fast from mozambique.

(ooc:For the record, here Lusaka constitutes the vast majority of Tanzania, and Al Khals coveres the remainder. R&N covers central Mozambique, too. So far as we're concerned, Mozambique is a world away from the conflict (and really now, it is thousands of kilometres away))

[OOC: indeed, Gabon is about 400KM inland borders to the coast, so you'd really need to be inside the country, but they could be based well behind the frotnline and still interfere with, for instance, transports airlifting into Libreville ;) of course the "big" missile is meant to go after AWACS, transports, B-52-style heavy bombers and other large aircraft with a propensity for flying straight and level at medium or high altitude, which is why other SAM systems where also included to cover the low-altitude gaps and deal with high-maneuvrability aircraft]
Igomo's response was acted upon immediately. The requested materiel began being shipped, via huge C-84C cargoplanes, immediately and in generous numbers. The politely concealed request for SS-N-22 misisles, however, was answered in the negative: although the technical capacity to produce the Sunburn existed in Cirdanistan, no missiles were available and no production lines were configured to manufacture them at the present time; much as the Cirdanis yearned to help their African comrades, the difficulties and ressource expenditure required to retool the necessary production lines expressly to build a handful of SSMs for Lusaka was unreasonably inefficient; however, should the production lines be retooled to SS-N-22 production for anothe rmotive, or should Lusaka's needs for the weapon grow significantly, SS-N-22s might be shipped to the UARL at an ulterior date. Meanwhile, the ceasefire was used as an occasion to drop mroe weapons to the still embryonic ARG free from UE interference...
[OOC: Chellis, another thing is given how this RP is going, i'd expect anything involving Menelmacar to be a no-no. Uberelves in gravships wouldn't fit in with how this is being RPed, although if the other participants don't mind, then i can hardly oppose it...]

ooc

((As far as I understand, this is a modern, perhaps post-modern realistic RP I'll make an IC post as soon as some of the other chaps come back and post. )).

OOC:

Chellis you can have a base but there are certain conditions:

-You must edit your RL nation claims thing so that you include my colonies and overseas territories so I can prove I won them.

Seychelles.
Brunei.
Diego Garcia.
Also add Gabon as contested between UE and Lusaka.

-You must also edit to give be back some of the territories that were originally in my name but then you gave away :shock: to other people. These are not colonies but THEY ARE MY NATION.

-Southern and Central Iraq
-Eastern Egypt
-Bahrain
-Kuwait
-Sinai
-Northern and Western Saudi.

If you do this, we'll talk about your base.

IC post to follow.



I gave you thread links for all of them before.

OOC: I will give you schelleyes and all of those, but I cant give you those others, as they are owned by others with valid claims. Also, I dont plan on involving menelcamar(its just for the storyline), and I know mozambique is a while away from gabon, but I have accumulated naval forces there that can be at gabon fairly quickly. Im mostly doing this because i wanna get in an RP, im bored, lol.

OOC:
United Elias- Eastern Egypt
United Elias- Northern Saudi Arabia
United Elias- Southern Iraq
United Elias- Seychelles
United Elias- Gabon
United Elias- Diego Garcia

Thats whats on my list, and i can change gabon to contested if you like, but thats about as far as i can go.

OOC:

You forgot Brunei?

As for the other Middle East parts I'll just have to privately know that I own them as well. :wink:

Lusaka, on the Southern Africa map I believe most of Mozambique is available, why not put Chellis there? Of course we might want to know more about how he came to own the country etc and obviously its not my decision, just an idea.


The base should be built between on a fairly large island betweenOmboue and Port Gentil:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/maps/gabon.gif

Chellis, the only problem is that Lusaka and African Commonwealth have long range SAMs (S-400s and Patriots) along the Commonwealth's border. Maybe you can get rid of them? There are also loads of shorter range air defence sites within the East of Gabon itself.

Modern tech, good RPing only of course.

OOC: Chellis, whilst we're at it, how about adding Roycelandian East Africa to your list as well? Just to refresh your memory, Roycelandian East Africa encompasses Kenya, Uganda, The Sudan, and the island of Socotra (in the Gulf of Aden).

Roycelandian East Africa is the prinicipal Colonial Overseas Territory of Roycelandia, in case you hadn't guessed...

IC:

Libreville Harbour, Gabon

The Troop Ship Heart of Gold had docked in Libreville Harbour that morning, with a complement of 5,000 Imperial Guard from Roycelandia on board. Most of the early morning had been taken up with the usual disembarking routines- unloading food, supplies, ammunition, weapons, medical supplies, humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gabon, that sort of thing.

"Compannnnny! Aaaaabooout TURN!" Barked the Sergeant Majors in charge of the various companies of Imperial Guard, resplendent in their redcoats, white helmets, and laden with equipment and the familiar Lee-Enfield Mk III rifle.

5,000 Soldiers in formation on the wharf turned immediately as one.

"Byyyy the Riiight, QUICK MAAAAARCH!"

The Imperial Guard marched in unison from the Harbour to the GOTCOM HQ, through the streets of Libreville, with the troops taking time to wave at civilians or give Chocolate bars and soft drink to them...

Meanwhile, on the docks, the heavy cranes were unloading two things from the Heart of Gold...

One of them was the largest Tank in the Roycelandian Armed Forces, the IMC HT-42 "Emperor" Heavy Tank. Mounting a 125mm Cannon in the turret and two 75mm cannon in smaller turrets on either side, as well as five MGs (a coaxial MG in each turret, plus one each for the driver and commander). In addition, the Emperor Tank had incredibly thick armour, could be completely sealed in case of an NBC attack, and had both Diesel and Electric engines. The tank's only disadvantage, aside from the fact it was larger than a conventional tank, was that it's top speed was only 75km/h on the road. Still, it was deadly and popular with its crews...

(OOC: The Emperor is a bit like that tank in "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade", but much more modern and not nearly as WWI-looking)

The other item wasn't nearly as impressive as the Emperor, but it would be just as useful... a Half-Track APC/Truck, straight from the Imperial Motors factory.

More Troops, Half-Tracks, and equipment were on their way to assist UE, Rhodesia, and Middle Congo, by relieving them of pressure in the cities, so that the other Coalition Forces and the IFL would be free to operate in the Eastern Part of the country...

The Imperial Information and Communication Bureau wishes to apologise for this incident of Double Posting. Those responsible have been slapped upside the head, and normal transmissions will resume shortly... :D

OOC: I added brunei for you, dunno why i didnt before as no one else claims it.

Roycelandia, resubmit to my thread with the proper proof and whatnot, and you should get it.

The island is fine for a port, and is more than generous.

For mozambique, http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68950. I invaded before R&N even existed, so really how did he take it?

Also, by getting rid of the sams, you mean you want me to send forces to attack is I assume? We do have naval forces coming up there to help defend algeria, they can divert some aircraft/volksjaeger forces.

OOC

Chellis, it's all well and good that you invaded Mozambique, but that was in another setting. I kindly request that you and all other foreign nations(foreign in terms of not being members of the region Southern Africa) respect our version of southafrican history, borders and nations!

Of course, if all players agree, we can corrobate the setting to fit somewhat with the territories you have now...

United Elias>> Way ahead of ya ;) See below.

IC...

CAF Central Militia Barracks, Mbandaka

"Allright people, let's MOVE! We ain't getting paid by the hour here.". That, and other barked orders from RAC 1st sergeants got the point across, and two whole militia divisions turned smartly about, dispersed into their regiments and boarded the trucks, half-tracks and AV-124 "Eagle" RCAF transport planes. Quartermasters ensured that armaments were issued and prepped as per preliminary orders, and when the final thumbs up was given, the divisions took off, due northwest. Their mission? To guard the airstrips and SAM sites on the border. Bitter experience had taught the High Defense Council((Highest military authority apart from the Commander)) that high-tech strike craft and missiles could very likely be employed against their positions ~ Although the patriots and ADI-AV-400 long range SAMs would take care of inbound missiles, they could never discount a deep-incision infantry strike against the positions.

OOC:
There you have it - the militia divisions are only decently trained at best, but have allright equipment and the strength of area knowledge behind them. They have some AA/AT capability, but are mostly there to ensure that no sudden paradrops, infiltrations or what have you knock out the SAM across the Gabonaise/AC border.

ooc:Yes, I think, em, while Chellis is free to control a Mozambique.. R&N controlls part of our Mozambique, and to have Chellis control the rest of that would mean that we'd have to add 'em to the Southern Africa regional map, thus closing another part of the limited area of land to new players, which we don't want to do.. do we? I dunno, 's not my region.
And of course, if Chellis joins this particular RP as an anti-Lusakan element, there's then nothing to stop Lusaka treating it as total war, calling on her allies, and killing or capturing 30,00 UE military personnel in a matter of hours :)

OOC:We can just say for the sake of the rp, that I own a part of it big enough to station troops in it, and it doesnt interfer with anyone else's maps after this. Also, I only plan on giving limited support, and they are volksjaeger(only trained about as well as american troops, so dont worry :P). I would worry most about hard airstrikes from the chellian navy and their new V-121's.

OOC

Chellis>> Posting this FYI, as your military wóuld probably know of this... the Commonwealth is bristling with long-range SAM systems and flak cannons - Any air strike against (self-dubbed)counter-imperialist forces inside Gabon that crosses AC or nears the AC border, can and will be turned into so much twisted metal...

OOC: BTW this is only five or six hours after my last IC post.

IC:

The first glimmers of sunlight peered over the horizon, just as 'Operation Takedown' began. In a rare join effort between Elias Navy and Air Force aircraft, the Elias military was determined to use is limited air assets in theatre to begin dismantling Lusakan and Commonwealth air defences.
The ingenius plan would gradually roll back enemy air defenes so that once again stealth aircraft could operate with impunity over Eastern Gabon. Then the aim would be to remove a SAM threat altogether but that would be more difficult. More aircraft would tart arriving over the next few days though.

This first strike conisisted of four EA-60 (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=84701&highlight=) electrnoic warfare aircraft, ten EA-220 (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88103&highlight=) stealth bombers and sixteen EA-135 (
EA-135
http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130193&highlight=) Stealth Fighters.

As soon as the EA-60s passed over Libreville, their EW pods started to jam the early warning radars along the Commonwealth border. They would remain on station all day and would have to be constantly refuelled by tankers. Then one would land and change crew, and relieve another, so a minimum of three would fly at all times.

The sixteen Air Force EA-135s headed out Eastwards from the airport at Port Gentil, and when they were approximately 100nm East of Booué , they each fired two EAW-10AR (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135324&start=0) long range and supersonic anti-radar missiles towards the Long Tracks and other systems in the area of Booué and Ovan. The missiles would be very difficult to shootdown given their high speeds and would poke huge wholes in the Lusakan radar network, allowing the stealth bombers to slip in and out with ease.

The ten EA-220s were also inbound to Booué, and they were spread out, each carrying 12 EAW-38A (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135324&start=0) standoff cluster weapons. By the time they would reach the city (or whats left of it), the EAW-10ARs would have destroyed the enemy radars and the bombers would then exploit this by attacking the missile launchers themselves, as well as AAA weapons and armoured columns attempting to reinforce their comrades..

(You can RP what gets hit and so on, I haven't got that much time right now, just assume that with 120 weapons all fired at different targets, your going to take quite a beating.)


Firebase Anvil, West of Booué

The beleaguered Marines at the firebase had had a busy night. All through the early hours of the morning mortar and artillery fire was being traded with the Lusakan attackers, now only three and a half miles down the road. With wide fields on either side however tehy could at least spot any enemies who attempted to sneak up on them.
With sixteen fatalities and the small aid bunker full of men with shrapnel wounds, they realised the end was coming near but their Commanding Officer refused to order a retreat as he knew support was coming.

Then as dawn broke, the Marines on the permiter looked West for the first time in a while, as huge armoured formations roared down the road. In the lead, platoons of AAAVs (http://globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/aaav.htm) swung their 30mm cannoness to either side as they cleared the way for the rest of the convoy. Just behind, the Stryker LAVs followed, some with 205mm guns or 120mm mortars and others configured as medical and command vehicles.

It had taken days for the rest of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade to move across the country but now they had arrived. As well as the two assault battalions reinforcing Anvil, Artillery and support units were setting up 'Firebase Hammer' thrity miles to the West.

Official Announcement

Al-Sabir has decided to aid it's ally, United Elias, in this war on terror. We declare war on Lusaka and African Commonwealth. The 28th Airborne Brigade is mobilising at the moment we speak. A naval taskforce is already on it's way to Gabon. We hope the coalition can bring peace and stability to Gabon. Thank you.

Port Kusair, Al-Sabir

In the dark night a large Royal Edmund-class carrier, a smaller Frank Osis carrier and a number of escorts were moored alongside a number of quays. The last supplies and weapons were taken and Taskforce 77 was ready to leave for Gabon. Hundreds of people had come to wave good-bye to their brothers, sisters, fathers, sons and daughters. The Taskforce slowly started to warm up their engines. Afer some time, the grey ships started to leave the port, while all those people on the quays were cheering or crying. The Taskforce would arrive near Gabon in a week.

Official Announcement

Sicrat has decided to aid it's ally, United Elias, in this war in Gabon. We are to provide the following support:


100 F-22's
3 B-52's


Missile Group
8 Arliegh Burke destroyers
1 DuFour Class Cruiser
5 Empire Class BBG
1 Sea Wolf submarine
1 Jolkin BB


The following is expected to arrive in the GTO within 1 RL day.

The continuation of hostilities and the joining of two new nations to UE's alliance finally pushed the senate into passing the African aid bill. Already, in Fauquier's ports, ships were made ready to cast off. They would sail either for Lusakan ports, or, baring that, the nearest friendly neutral country. The bill, as part of the comprimise that made it only allowed for basic raw matierals, utilitarian vehicles (such as trucks and construction equipment) and light weaponry, such as rifles, light machine guns, etc. Hopefully, if the tide turned in favor of the African nations, the aid would increase to heavy weaponry, armor, maybe even aircraft. The Fauquierans could only hope.

The continuation of hostilities and the joining of two new nations to UE's alliance finally pushed the senate into passing the African aid bill. Already, in Fauquier's ports, ships were made ready to cast off. They would sail either for Lusakan ports, or, baring that, the nearest friendly neutral country. The bill, as part of the comprimise that made it only allowed for basic raw matierals, utilitarian vehicles (such as trucks and construction equipment) and light weaponry, such as rifles, light machine guns, etc. Hopefully, if the tide turned in favor of the African nations, the aid would increase to heavy weaponry, armor, maybe even aircraft. The Fauquierans could only hope.

Tyrandis will assist UE, although we cannot contribute much in the way of arms or men due to our current operations in Algeria against government and Chellian forces. However, we can send some ammunition and supplies from Shadowhawk helicopters, though we will need some air cover and support.

Tyrandis will assist UE, although we cannot contribute much in the way of arms or men due to our current operations in Algeria against government and Chellian forces. However, we can send some ammunition and supplies from Shadowhawk helicopters, though we will need some air cover and support.

Port Royal, Roycelandia

Commander Sword looked at the pile of Communiques in his "IN" box.

A quick scan through them revealed the same thing- for the most part.

UE obviously had a lot of friends, and Roycelandia had done the right thing by siding with them.

"It is a good day for Imperialism" he announced to his secretary, a young blonde woman who just nodded her head as she looked up from her copy of Fashionable Slut magazine.

Sword picked up the phone on the desk. "His Majesty, please..."

"Hello Jack, how's things?"

"Very good. Some news for you, Your Majesty. Al-Sabir and Sicrat have declared war on Lusaka and the African Commonwealth."

"Al-Sabir, you say? Excellent. This should help put us on-side with the Arab Nations. Maybe we can put some pressure on Lusaka as well, gain a few concessions, and see if we can't try and improve things with the AC whilst we're at it. Golf on Saturday?"

"Of course. See you then. Bye."

Sword replaced the phone. The IIS and SOC were doing an excellent job of waging a war on the quiet, and the Imperial Guard in Western Gabon were providing a visible Peacekeeping Force without antagonising anyone too much...

An idea formed in his head.

"Louise, do you want to head off to lunch? It's..."

Before he'd even finished his sentence, his secretary's chair was empty and still slowly rotating.

He picked up the phone again.

"Sir Duane? How are you? Might I interest you in a bite at Blades this afternoon? I understand today's special is Sole Filet, and they have a new case of Claret from Glimmer Twins. Yes, that's right. Really? How about 1:30, then? Usual Table. Excellent. See you then."

Old Lusaka City, UARL

The Ghost couldn't beleive his orders. He'd been asked to do some crazy stuff before, but this... well, it defied logic. But orders were orders, so he'd best get about doing them.

He paid the bill at the small cafe and walked back to his car. How was he going to go about this? He'd have to give it some thought, talk to some people... Still, the end result might be worth it... or it could be a complete waste of time. Only time would tell.

"What!? It was al-anbar, then unified sith, then midlonia, now algeria, and even with activity in algeria, you want us to have active missions in Gabon? I'm getting mighty sick of warm climates!"

"Ivan, Ivan... Its just a few V-121 sorties, lets say 12 Scouts coming up, firing their StrykerX's from the coast, hitting those long-range sams, then later either helicopter strikes or CAS strikes... Unless you wanna volunteer for a spotter mission?"

"Vladmir, you crazy bastard... I have kids and a wife, and i got missions already going in algeria. I have enough points to get out of the military, have free healthcare for the rest of my friggin life, and get a discount plane if I want. Ya, i'll do the damn spotting, when do we go?" He said with a smile

----------------

Four V-121 Scouts blasted off from the carrier in a row. No weapons with the exception of 2 Gemini ATA missiles and chaff, given afterburners and lots of fuel, the aircraft could reach mach 2 at full speeds for about an hour. The most sophisticated recon equipment in the whole military stuck in these planes, they were to fly at 50,000 feet until reaching the target area in the southern-most part of the SAM's, then dive to about 6-10k feet and get as much info from sams, including launch detections to find where the harder to see ones were. They would send this info back to the chellian aircraft, ready so make a strike before the planes even came back. The Modified scouts didn't worry for their lives, but only that one plane will make it back with the recon info. The one message they sent before radio silence was "Ecrasez l'infame.". Crush the Infamous.

OOC

FYI, a quick overview of my border and inland(Gabon) air defenses.

I have nigh-constant AWACS patrols, mainly the agingYakhont-44E, but the more modern E-3 early warning craft also makes three patrols every day. Both may probably be jammed, leaving vulnerable my aircraft anti-invasion defense, consisting of 15 F-15E Strike Eagles and 25 F//18 Hornets who patrol the border in various constellations.

Now, as you may remember, I have three electronic warfare stations on the border, most aimed at countering naval avionics and air invasion - They all have an experimental ECCM suite, which is why they might be able to detect your aircraft... I'll leave that up to you, because I'm fairly sure you know more about the subject(EW) than I.

There is one detection avenue that your commanders might not have expected, and that is my modified BMP 1976-A half-tracks in the division inside the northern Gabon. Apart from their regular "Tall Mike" long-distance radars, they have been installed with a so-dubbed "Tall Air" array, an experimental sort of TAR array directed at intercepting incoming aircraft. They would only be jammed if your EW craft knew they were there and had that radar array, correct? I'm not sure wether they are too far northeast of the Lusakan frontline to be hit by the jamming effort there, but if not, they would notice the craft as they passed overhead.

Anywho, if it gets noticed, all damn hell will break loose. All patriots and AV-400 will be activated. If front-line AC defenses gets hit, the EW stations will redouble efforts to detect the craft, who might get fired at by AV-400 and Patriots inside the Central Commonwealth! This is the scrambled F//18 and F-15E strike force that would be scrambled notwithstanding, mind you.

To all new nations coming in>> This is an invite-RP, I think...

IC response will come when UE comes around and answers my technical questions ;)

OOC: Yes, and we have been invited by UE :)

OOC: well, UE invited us and he invited Sicrat as well.

Presidential Office, Kusair, Al-Sabir

President Brahim had breakfast. He drank some of his strong coffee, while he read the newspaper. There almost wasn't anything interesting in the newspaper, but the frontpage was almost entirely covered with a large photo of several warships in the harbor. It was a photo of the departure of Al-Sabir's Taskforce.

Someone knocked on the door and the President said:" Come in" A tall black-haired man walked in. "Welcome, Khaled" said the President. Khaled was the Minister of Defense. "The Taskforce left last night, they will arrive in 2 days now." Khaled said. The President looked up from his newspaper and he said: "You deceived the media, didn't you?" "Yes, I know." Khaled replied. "Good job." "Thanks Mr. President and the Airborne Brigade departed 4 hours ago." The President nodded and the Minister left the room.

Airfield #495, the desert of Al-Sabir

It was night and the soldiers of the 28th Airborne Brigade were loading their equipment in the planes. A bunch of EA-80Bs and C-240s were warming up their engines. After all equipment was loaded, all men lined up and Colonel Ibrahim started a short speech:

"Soldiers of the 28th Airborne Brigade, tonight we'll fly to Gabon. This is not a war against the people of Gabon, but a war against their corrupted terrorist-supporting government and it's allies. Remember that. We'll crush them and we'll make our country proud. For Al-Sabir!" "For Al-Sabir" the men replied, they cheered and began walking to their planes. After everything and everyone was in the planes, they slowly started to head for the runway. One of the pilots opened the cockpit door, while they were riding. He leaned outside, he took the flag of Al-Sabir that he was carrying underneath his black g-suit and he waved with it. "Watch it, Gabon, we're coming!" he yelled. He closed the cockpit door and the planes started to take off....

OOC: All right, then. Just checking.

OOC: I know my planes will probably be detected, they have some ECCM and ECM, but are mainly meant to have speed unbefitting of a bomber(Mach 2), and it can take a few hits hopefully, all this adding up to the hope that they will be able to map at least a small portion of sams, especially the ones far away that they see fire their missiles and calculate area of fire. I assume at least two will be shot down by SAMs, and probably three, but hopefully one will make it back to give them the targets for the StrykerX cruise missiles. Also, we assume you wont be able to scramble fighters to catch mach 2 bombers before we complete our mission, as they have to get in the aircraft, launch, reach our small number of bombers, and try to fight them at such high speeds...

Near Booué

The Lusakans were outgunned, though not outnumbered. With news that a number of countries had, out of the blue, declared war on the United African Republic, officers and men alike were infused with a fresh sense of urgency. The arrival of Elian armoured vehicles pressed that home further.

Mortar fire did not relent, though it did begin to come from less concentrated areas as light mortar teams dispersed and fire piecemeal, first from north, then south, then east, fearing concentrated return fire from larger weapons.

In a slight change of pace to the less than successful attempt to over-run the firebase, great numbers of men on the mentioned prongs, initially meant to surround the firebase, began to advance further west hoping to attack the increasingly active line of supply into the Booué area.

New Lusaka City

"Who and what have declared war on us? Why?"

It was rare these days for the President to make light of his own ignorance in a political setting, but he looked and sounded genuinely taken aback. He held a file in one and and the receiver in the other, and didn't seem able to decide whether to sit or stand.

It wasn't long before he was insisting that this was serious, as if anyone needed convincing, and that the Hrstrovokians, the Soviets, and anyone else who'd listen should be told and called upon to help. This was getting absolutely out of hand!

Lusaka had not yet returned any declarations in kind.

Air defensive response to Chellian invasion

Once the EAW stations had gotten wind of the incoming bombers, things went down very fast. A veritable hail of patriots and AV-400 homed in on the supersonic craft, while the anti-invasive patrols were told to stand down, on account of not being able to intercept such fast-moving planes.

It should be noted that long-distance radars are now on high alert, and any unidentified craft will be considered hostile and subject to long-range SAM fire - that goes for all transports from foreign countries, too.

So much for the cease-fire, eh?

*TAG*
Sorry im so late, i never noticed this thread before...anyway, could i have a quick summary please, i am second in command of the GDI, and we at the GDI are anti terrorist, and i myself anti imperialist...so if UE takes over Gabon, we would be more than happy to make sure that they do not take the nations oil, along with other members of the GDI that i am sure would be most pleased to help out. Also, is this MODERN MODERN(M-1s etc) or near future?(as in 140mm ETC guns)?

OOC

Roycelandia>> Indeedy. Now are you going to help us knock these invaders back to the sea or what? :D

war in heaven>> This be an invite RP.

OOC

Roycelandia>> Indeedy. Now are you going to help us knock these invaders back to the sea or what? :D

war in heaven>> This be an invite RP.
Indeed it is...um, anyone here like The GDI, UE? Come on, someone must want me in...oh well, if not then ill go, ive got another RP for a puppet of mine to sort out(i have to start it...), so if you dont want me here then just say, i never read all of the first post, just the top bit about why... :roll:

"Shit! Air 1 is down, Air 1 is down."

From the distance, one could still see the burning wreck of a plane falling towards the ground. The missile shot has been incredibly lucky.

"Fire chaff, fire chaff!"

Chaff flew off the planes, as they were gathering huge amounts of information about the sam sites. The mission was a success no matter what for chellis, as the cost of so many missiles for a few planes almost became equal.

The aircraft, incredibly versatile albiet not great at turning(not contradictory), were able to dodge most of the missiles, or at least outrun them long enough. Unable to manuver incredibly as data was being collected, they flew fairly straight; However, enough to dodge.

Three SAMs Air 4 at the same time, and it never stood a chance. One hit right next to Air 2, and it took some damage to an afterburner. It was to be the bait for now, as it began doing evasive manuvers and heading back for base.

Air 3 fired the rest of its chaff, as it began to climb into the altitude. They had covered a good double digit of miles of SAMs, enough to get targets for the impending cruise missile strike. However, Air 3 was struck by a persistant SAM, and the crew had to jump out over enemy territory, with little personal weaponry.

Air 4 barely scraggled out. It couldnt fly high, so it went down to lower altitudes. However, the stress built up. By the time it had reached the carrier, its right flaps werent working, and engines were damaged. Gliding into a water stop, the plane was able to execute an emergency landing(its a wing shaped plane, with water skis for emergencies, being a naval ship). Quickly sending the information to the carrier, it would take one or two hours to devise a plan, but the planes were armed and ready. It was only a matter of time to clear the southern flank of SAMs.

30 miles west of Libreville

34 EA-80Bs flew low over the sea near Libreville. They were escorted by 12 EA-135As. Under the cover of darkness they reached Libreville Airport and after a short contact with the groundcrew the planes landed on the main runway. They all parked in a straight line and the soldiers of the 28th Airborne Brigade began loading their equipment out....

150 miles west of Libreville, Naval Taskforce 77

"Admiral on the bridge!" Some of the officers and men looked up from their computer consoles. Captain Karim approached Admiral Fahad, who just arrived at the bridge, and he saluted. "The Taskforce will arrive at the designated rendez-vous point in an hour and a half." "Good work, captain" "Sir, we got some signals that UE started to take out the network of SAMs and radars." "Prepare the bombers, so we can assist them when we arrive." "Yes, Admiral"

152 miles off the coast of Libreville

Missile Battlegroup 1

Even now they could see the transports departing from their protective gaze. The seas around Gabon had been deemed safe enough for the transports to travel alone. The planes they held were still nestled snugly in the cargo bay, being tweeked occaisonally by pilots and flight crews.

The battlegroup itself was brimming with life. 8 Arliegh Burke destroyers, and a Saschen Destroyer, ensured that the battle group was fairly safe from incoming fighter planes. The Empire BBG's held 25 Tomahawks each, the other VLS silos were held other various missiled weaponry. If they're missile were to suddenly fail them, the Empire's had 3 16 inch guns to stop attackers.

The Jolkin BB was the guardian of the group. Christened the Hope , Its guns were a match for any other battleship's. It held a number of Tomahawks also.

The Battlegroup was expected to rendevous with the Al-Sabirian (I have no idea if that plural is correct :? ) fleet within the hour. There they could fire missiles at the Defense system plaguing Allied air forces.

OOC: yeah, Al-Sabirian sounds fine to me.

100 miles west of Libreville

"Admiral, we just got a message that the 28th Airborne safely landed on Libreville Airport." Captain Karim said. Admiral Fahad, who was walking past the computer consoles on the bridge, responded:"That's good news, but when are we in position and are there any signs of the Sicratian (I hope that's correct) fleet?" "Well, we're in position now and the Sicratian fleet is in visual range, just walk to starboard and you can a vague contoures of one of their ships."

Admiral Fahad first walked to starboard and he saw some ships, but they were still pretty far away. After that he checked one of the radar consoles . "Yes, I see them, a fair amount of ships, but there aren't any carriers." "They got a bunch of F-22s and 3 B-52s on Sao Tome, but I don't believe they have sent any EW planes." "We have 4 of those, haven't we?" "Yes and a big load of anti-radar missiles." "Good, has our airforce sent any planes to Sao Tome?" "No, but they will send a gunship squadron and maybe more in a few days, depending on the situation." "I'll be in my quarters. Inform me when the Sicratian fleet is in position." "Yes, Sir."

OOC: Close, Sicrati is the plural. :)


Libreville

The Sicrati planes are taken off the transports in giant flatbed trucks. They close the roads they are required to take so that they will reach the airport as soon as possible. Helicopters from the naval task force fly overhead.


Missille Battlegroup 1

The Sicrati Battlegroup attempted to equal speed with the Al-Sabirian ships. They maintained a 1/2 kilometer distance from the Al-Sabirian fleet.



Message sent to the Leader of UE from the Armed Forces Lobby in Sicratia

The Sicrati Battlegroup is in position, the airpower we have sent shall be operational within the day. Should you require any other forces, do not hesistate to call upon the Sicrati Armed Forces.

General Andruci
Commander in Chief of the Sicrati Armed Services


Message sent to the Leader of UE from the Sicrati Secret Police

The S.S.P. is, like the rest of the country, sympathetic to our allies's cause. Should you require highly trained special forces you may call in a battalion of S.S.P Agents. S.S.P. battalions operate with 5000 troops at all time.

OOC: Sircat, Al-Sabir, thanks once again, but just slow down a bit. I realise your just moving into position and thats fine but in future try and wait for others to reply before posting again. Some of us aren't very efficient at replying quickly ss just have patience. Thanks.

Libreville Airport

The light greyEA-372 (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=87858&highlight=) Tanker/Transport Touched down on the runway, landing on glorious and sunny Gabonese territory.

In the small VIP section of the tanker's passenger cabin, Major-General Matthew Krieger stared out of the one of the windows, one of the only ones on the plane's fuselage to see a long line of EA-80As, the staple diet of any Elias military campaign. The transport aircraft were parked on a taxiway parallel to the runway and they were all painted in the usual desert camoflauge, typical of all Elias Air Force tactical transport aircraft.
Then as the tanker slowed to taxi speed and the brakes released, he could see the markings of the EA-80s, they were foreign and troops were disembarking. Finally the diplomats had rallied the world around the conflict.

A few minutes later and the tanker aircraft came to a halt by a collection of prefabricated buildings serving as a makeshift military terminal while the former civilian one was being repaired from Elias air strikes before the surrender of Gabon. As the aircraft door swung open, letting the hot humid air into the cabin, military police assembled below and a hurriedly prepared red carpet was laid out, one last bit of luxury before entering a war.

The General then stepped carefully down the steps, which were dilapidated and old, covered in 'Gabon Air' livery. Immediately Colonel Makram appeared and saluted.

"General Krieger, welcome to Gabon."

"Thank you Colonel, first of all I would like to give you this." He passed a letter containing orders to return to United Elias. "You may have guessed that I am here to takeover as theatre Commander, but your orders have been postponed because I need you to assist me since you understand the situation."

Colonel Makram looked flushed and angry inside as he knew that a court martial was probably awaiting him, nevertheless he accepted it quickly, "Yes Sir."

"Now, who are those foreigners?"

"Al-Sabirians."

"Have you spoken to their commander yet?"

"No sir, just about to."

"See to it."

The General then abruptly walked down the rest of the red carpet and climbed into an armoured HMMWV which would take him to GOTCOM in central Libreville. Colonel Makram then walked across the airfield to where the Al-Sabir planes were and the troops were assembling.

He examined the men carefully, regarding that they seemed professional though their green camo gear still looked out of place as they were desert warriors at heart. He knew the feeling.
He walked up to the Commanding Officer of the 28th Airborne Brigade and saluted.

"Sabah al-hayri, ismy Colonel Makram, tasharrafna." He switched to English quickly as he wanted the Al-Sabirians to know that’s what the Elias military spoke (because the population of UE is split between Arabs and Jews as well as a few Christians, so in order not to cause problems by choosing Hebrew or Arabic, English is used for nearly everything. It also reflects that our country is rather Westernised), "Welcome to Libreville and we look forward to working with you and your men. As you know we would like your brigade to takeover some of the security operations here at the Airport and in the surrounding area. Just to let you know, we have had an incident where our fuel has been sabotaged which resulted in two helicopters having to crash land in the city and we are expecting more sabotage attempts and terrorist attacks. I need not tell you that this airport is our most vital supply base and that it must remain open and safe. Our forces here will be more than happy to advise you as to areas where our security needs to be improved but I can tell you that the one thing we can't defend against is a mortar attack. Therefore we will need to actively go to the villages and areas around here to search for weapons and rebels while maintaining a cordial relationship with the locals. "

*Cordial message to United Elias

Seeing the need to coordinate our forces, chellis would like to send some military officials to meet with yours, so we can create a better attack force. Also, we have a large shipment of men coming from Mozambique, mostly Volksjaeger, but we would like to deploy chellian men to help defend the borders and maybe, eventually, an attack, but not to talk of that at this time.

Ministry of Love

Across the United African Republic of Lusaka Social Progress Party rallies played to massive audiences. The Igomo government was whipping up anti-imperialist sentiment at a new level. Previously the invasion of Gabon and the armed removal of its democratic government had been treated as any other Lusakan war. Igomo was forever leading his people on crusades against oppression and terror. Now though, with two declarations of war against the United African Republic on top of heavy bombing against civilian targets, the stakes had changed.

“They think that because they spoke hollow words of cease-fire that they are suddenly absolved of a thousand murders! Is this so?” Benjamin Baia, SPP Minister for Mpika, was one of the speakers receiving an especially good reaction, despite the feedback accompanying his megaphone-boosted oration.
“Their running-dog pack crowds around at the behest of propaganda that would paint our own government as terrorist! Did you vote to invade Gabon?... or did you vote to elect a man who would protect your families?”

The SPP was doing a fine job of driving home the fact that the imperialist world was making a fresh attempt on Africa. Not only had Gabon been attacked but its democratic government had been forced out and replaced by mercenaries, its people had been killed en masse, and now the attackers had officially declared their intention to do the same to Lusaka.

More inspiring than that call to arms, the African Commonwealth, Lusaka’s huge and long troubled neighbour, was with the UARL in its resistance. The people of Gabon too were fighting on. This was what the last thirty years had been geared towards. Since Igomo began speaking ahead of the SPP’s foundation in then Roycelandian East Africa he had been preparing his countrymen for Africa’s rising and its final drive out of poverty and exploitation. Lusaka was being told that the day was upon her.

Lusaka’s subsistence farmers were encouraged to put down their tools and to head for their nearest town where they’d find a recruiting office, a rifle, and a bus to the east central training grounds. “Your families will receive bonds in partial payment for your service- they will be fed by Lusaka’s commercial farms!” The men were told.

Tokens and bonds were displayed to towns and recognisable government ministers and secretaries were trotted out to put an official and reliable face on the pledge. TVs and radios began to run adverts featuring Igomo and Miyanda themselves, smiling broadly and displaying bonds against a backdrop of a recruiting office or a big commercial farm.

Big commercial farms, many still run by postcolonial Roycelandian-origin landowners, were quietly repossessed by order of various governmental and military authorities, though none mentioned the President by name. Lusakans unfit for service but considered none the less reliable and trustworthy found themselves taking over commercial farms. While many Roycelandians were persuaded off large, subsidised farms, either to sign up and prove their loyalty or to take less demanding jobs in the city, an awful lot of the new commercial farmers were Zanzibar Arabs. Certainly Igomo wasn’t trying to buy favour in the Arab world, in light of what separated Lusaka from Mozambique now, was he?

As countless thousands of subsistence farming Lusakans headed to recruitment offices and training grounds, those previously engaged in training and various home defence duties began to move west for the Commonwealth. Many of these would take with them LS-8 AFRISAM, and they were joined by heavy mechanised and armoured formations quite different from the light infantry that’d already secured eastern Gabon for the Gabonaise.

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

Once again, the Roycelandian Government found itself in a very awkward diplomatic tangle.

Governor-General Fry was on Conference Call with Commander Sword, deciding what to do.

"We have a problem" Commander Sword explained. With the Coaltion Strikes on Commonwealth Interests, Al-Sabir and Sicrat had declared war on the AC and Lusaka. Thus far, Roycelandia had been playing a delicate political game, officially having some highly visible Imperial Guard on peacekeeping duties in the West- most noticeably Libreville, Port Gentil, and Coco Beach- whilst having the Imperial Foreign Legion and the puppet Armee d'Liberation Gabonaise running operations against the Lusakans, Cirdanis, and any other Anti-Imperialists who wandered into their gunsights. And all without declaring war on anyone at all, which was how His Majesty wanted it.

The fact that large numbers of the ALG had Roycelandian Equipment was explained away by Roycelandia's policy of selling arms to pretty much anyone- news reports the world over showed various Freedom Fighters and Rebels armed with Lee-Enfields, Bren Guns, and other weapons made at the Imperial Armaments plant in Torpedo Bay, Roycelandia. The presence of Roycelandian weapons in Gabon was certainly not unusual, especially since the IFL and Special Operations Command were careful to also issue AK-47s, SLRs, IA-FALs, M-16s, Kar98s, Minimis, and various other weapons as well, to complete the illusion of a genuine Liberation Army.

All that aside, the Roycelandian Government enjoyed good relations with the African Commonwealth- a bit strained at times, to be sure, but all in all a good working relationship- with lots of trade between the two countries. The strikes on AC interests had strained that, and Roycelandia had to find a diplomatic solution, and quickly. Those were the orders that Commander Sword handed down, and Governor-General Fry immediately set Kiff and the rest of his staff on the task of containing and handling the situation.

Franceville Airbase, South-Eastern Gabon

The Imperial Foreign Legion, operating in South-Eastern Gabon had enjoyed a few days of relative inactivity, and had spent it training along with their ALG allies and well-wishers.

Some Tanks had arrived, driven in under cover of darkness, including one of the Emperor Heavy Tanks, more than a match for anything that anyone could throw at it.

Even so, the news of the Coalition Strikes on the AC were disquieting, and a Chinese Parliament (informal sit-down and decision making chat) was held to decide how to proceed.

The Commander of the ALG, "General" Jean-Pierre Laveaux was in favour of crushing the AC anyway. "They are aiding the enemies of my Country" he said, in both English and French. "The Lusakans are bombing our beloved Gabon, and they do nothing for our people. The Roycelandians have been generous to us. They have given us aid, they have shown my people respect, and they have protected my people from Socialist Oppression. Le Commonwealth Afrique have decided to help the Socialists, and we cannot stand for this."

Imperial Foreign Legion Commander Ivan Dolvich agreed, to an extent. "We can't just sit here and hit Lusaka and not the AC. It's going to look pretty obvious that something is going on, and we're going to get implicated in this anyway when UE, Rhodesia and the others really get going. We can get involved in a limited way, on the quiet."

The SOC representative concurred, and the floor was thrown open to the soldiers.

Eventually it was decided. The ALG would infiltrate the AC and eliminate the Air Defences for the Coalition Forces. The IFL would have no part in the operation, remaining in the South-Eastern Zone to ward off a suspected offensive by Lusakan Forces.

The ALG's infiltration group would be smallish, made up only of absolutely trusted and reliable (not to mention dedicated) ALG soldiers- All of African or French descent.

Word of the intended plan was communicated to SOC HQ in Port Imperial, and from there it was relayed to GOTCOM in Libreville.

If there was one thing the Roycelandians were good at, it was Deniable, Sneaky Operations...

Old Lusaka City, UARL

The Ghost checked his dead letter drop and was very surprised when he saw there was actually a communique for him.

It seemed that the Lusakans were "Encouraging" Roycelandians who hadn't left at the end of the War of Independence to sell their farms and leave, or just leave anyway. The Roycelandian Government had offered to pay for relocation expenses for any farmers so affected, offering them the choice of a new life in either REA, Coral Palm Island, or Glimmer Twins. Land was available for next to nothing in REA and Glimmer Twins for anyone whose farm had been nationalised without compensation.

But The Ghost's job was to track down those who had been offered money to leave, and see if they would be prepared to perform a favour for Roycelandia before they left...

OOC: Roycelandia is going to have fun sorting out this Diplomatic Mess, thanks for Al-Sirbat and Sicrat. Still, that's what Wars are all about, and besides, it's really good for our Economy at the moment... :D

Encrypted letter to the Roycelandian authority in REA

We humbly request that Roycelandia aknowledge the war crimes perpetrated by the coalition it is(grudgingly, we should hope) part of; and embrace neutrality - We understand that the Imperial authority will not aid the social progressivists in Lusaka, but implore you to consider stopping all aid to UE and it's coalition - There is no benign intent in their crusade to occupy and control Gabon, only the malignant side of imperialism, a side that even Roycelandia must accept as wrong.

By my hand,
Mshone Ndelebe,
5-starred General,
Supreme commander of Commonwealth Armed Forces,
President of the African Commonwealth.

Orders to the Manus Nigra, from the Minister of Internal Security

Move 300 agents to the Gabonaise border - 1st. Sergeants will take command of every militia regiment, and make sure noone flees. 2nd Officers are to enter all villages, airstrips, SAM sites and barracks, to maintain moral hygeine and spy on anyone and anything that seems suspicious.

Near Okondja

Executive Captain Mbeshi sighed. Being a sleeper member of the Manus Nigra himself, he received the internal security bulletin, and knew that the 300 of the cruelest and most ruthless of his collegues were en route to ensure that the Secular Partys orders were followed to the hilt. Still, he thought, it would aid them against infiltration on the part of the fiendish intelligence and sabotage agents from other nations in the region... And, perhaps, even from agents coming from United Elias?

He looked at his men - 1391 still stood, the rest being either dead from the fuel-air explosion at Booué, or evacuated to Kikwit with their injuries. They would dig in and aid the aging ADI-A1 light tanks in holding the line, till their "mission-specific material" crossed the border... The wording was rather vague, but he knew that other Irem operatives had been testing new ATGM prototypes, and considering that his men were able tank hunters, there was little doubt in his mind that his ranger corps was to harass enemy armour and then scoot before pursuit was possible.

Kinshasa material command

In mere hours, workers loaded the 700 lemon fresh ATGMs (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=114383&highlight=), 1000 motorcycles and 10 trucks onto Eagle transports along with plenty of fuel, and had them sent on their way. The AV-124 transports quickly flew to a waypoint 20 miles behind the border, dropping off their load before flying home, evidently fearing SAM fire more than ever. From there, militiamen began the long drive towards Okondja with the material.

House of Representatives

In a move some would call resigned, others brave and others again desperate, the Secular Party declared war on Sicrat and Al-Sabir, informing the respective nations that they would face destruction and yet had a chance to surrender to the Commonwealth, in which case their forces would be given free leave from the continent, and be exempt from Commonwealth attacks on their homeland.

Commonwealth tactical missile silo network

All over the Commonwealth, engineers scurried to work on the ironclad order of General Ndelebe. Full tactical readiness was lifted to Code 2, and coordinates on Al-Sabir and Sicrat was being sought by the foreign office, in order to eventuelly reach tac-red code 3(full tactical firing capacity), should the foreign nations not stand down.




OOC

This is sure getting dicey... Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable RP so far! I have some ooc questions for some of you, but I'll be sending tgrams rather than cluttering up the thread here.

SNN: Fair and Balanced, from our point of view


News Anchor: As most of you know, massive pro-troop movements have been spotted throughout most of Sicrat, some spontaneous, some planned. You have probably passed one or two on your way to work. This just goes to show you how committed most civilians are to armed intervention in Gabon in favor of our Concordian ally, United Elias.

Yet there is a minority in the country that believes that we should not be over there. The conservative and capitalist followings have voiced their opinions against the war, citing that it is not our fight, and that the war will be the downfall of the booming Sicrati economy. The rantings have been dismissed by many as a fringe group's attempt to regain power in the Parliament by most. Now Bob with the weather...

Colonel Ibrahim Jamzad listened closely to Colonel Makram and responded:

"Thank you for the kind welcome. We're about finished with unloading our equipment, but a number of transports will bring some extra weapons, like extra armoured Humvees and mortars, tomorrow night. We're extremely light equiped though, even with the extra equipment, and therefore we still need support from your troops. We look forward to work with your troops and we will listen to their advise about the security. Now about those mortars, we have some mortar-tracking radars, but those won't prevent the attacks, so we'll search for weapons in the surrounding villages. We also got a bunch of light helicopters, like the EA-28 and some Apaches, but I fear those are quite vulnerable."

OOC: here's some info about the troops I've sent to Gabon:

Taskforce 77

- 1x Royal Edmund-class Carrier
12x EA-135C
12x EA-220B
6x EA-60D
4x EA-24H
2x EA-24J

- 1x Frank Osis Carrier
24x EA-135B
4x EA-22H
2x EA-22F

- 2x Province (Huise)-class guided missile cruiser (CG)
1x EA-24H
2x DRA.1 Rook UMAV
- 1x County (Glaines)-class DDG (AD)
1x EA-24H
- 3x City (Daurmont)-class DDG (AD)
1x EA-24H

- 5x EM-140 Frigate
1x EA-24H
- 7x EM-120/1 Corvette
1x EA-22H

- 4x EM-50 Minesweeper
- 2x EM-75A Fleet Oiler
- 2x EM-80 Combat Support Vessel

- 2x EM-220 Diesel-Electric Submarine
- 2x Palace-class SSGN

I'll post info about the 28th Airborne Brigade later

[OOC: AC, does that mean your SAMs will fire on aircraft attempting to drop arms to the ARG? and do they have the range to do so over the ARG's current heartland? hmm, i'll need to work out if there was the time for any drops before things heated up, also. damn time compression.]

Halls of the Revolution, New Grey Havens, Central Cirdanistan

Chairwoman Sigrid Andtern's face was solemn as she opened the extraordinary council of the Praesidium. She checked her notes one last time-a mere routine, she knew them by heart-, cleared her throat, and began:
"Comrades, as you all know, the evil, imperialistic, capitalist dictatorship of United Elias recently invaded Gabon as part of a so-called 'war on terror'. While genuine terrorists may well have had bases inside Gabon, the actions of the Elians have saldy shown what we all expected to be the truth-that 'terrorism' is to them a good pretext for imperial expansion and theatral micromilitarism. However, in this case, the support of the United African Republic of Lusaka and to a lesser degree the African Commonwealth for the legal government of Gabon has complicated the situation; as of a few days ago, the Elians had succeeded in establishing a neo-colonial government-by-proxy, known ironically as 'Free Gabon', under one General Janvier in Libreville; however the forces of this un-'Free Gabon' combined with the Elian pig-dogs held only the West of the country, mainly the coastline and some major towns. Roycelandia, an empire that hasn't realised that colonialism is 'so passé', as they say in the capitalist world"-here a few laughs were hastily suppressed around the table-"and the racist state of Rhodesia&Nyasaland were also both actively supporting the Elians. A minor local power, Middle Congo, who's ruling bourgeoisie no doubt hoped for a colonial style join-venture in raping a whole nation, also came out in support of the invaders. We maintained a small presence in the North-West of the country, behind ennemy lines, in order to arm and train an insurgency, and supported the Lusakans with arms and ammunition. However, what you may not be aware of, is that in the last twenty-four hours the conflict has spiralled out of control."
Sigrid marked a pause. Had a fly been able to reach this most sensitive of rooms, then it's flight would have been audible. The President of Education swallowed uncomfortably. She continued:
" It all began in the small town of Bouué, in Central Gabon. Lusakan and possibly African Commonwealth forces were attempting to overrun an Elian firebase West of the town, and were possibly close to succeeding, when a high explosive WMD was detonated in or near the town, killing a number of attackers and disorganizing the offensive, and razing a whole section of the town. Civillian casualties are into the hundreds, possibly the thousands-out of a total population of five thousand. Reports seem to indicate an Elian transport overflew the town at the time of the blast, on a trajectory that would have allowed it to drop a 'daisy cutter' or 'mother of all bombs' or a similar massive explosive device on the affected area, accrediting the thesis that United Elias perpetrated this heinous crime. Shortly following that, Sicrat and Al-Sabir declared war on the Republique Gabonaise, Lusaka, and the Commonwealth, and have begun sending considerable forces. The Elians have seemingly begun shifting in masses of troops, and Chellis, a powerfull evil state with bases in Mozambique, has been making warlike noises in apparent support of this vile 'coalition' of United Elias'."
She paused again.
"It is evident that we need to respond to this. If no other department has a plan of action to propose..."
She paused, cocking an eyebrow and looking around the table. It was merely a point of formality; only Military Affairs and Foreign Affairs were sufficiently familiar with the situation, and she had worked it out with them beforehand. No-one reacted, waiting for Sigrid to continue.
"then the Chair proposes the following:

We will ready ourselves for potential war while strongly condemning the invaders of Gabon.
we will offer the assistance of the Free Corps and relevant logistical, engineering, electronic warfare and air units to Lusaka, asking Lusaka and the African Commonwealth the requisite permissions to operate from their territories, and asking them to designate certain airfields or bases through were we can receive airlifts. We will also move, with the UARL's permission, a small stock of Raganrok Class I thermobaric ordnance to Lusaka, in case it's use should become necessary.
we will implement measures to increase our satellite capcity as relevant to the conflict.
We will draft, through the Supreme Revolutionnary Council, a declaration proclaiming ourselves allies of Lusaka and the Republique Gabonaise in this war, and have it passed through the Thing as soon as possible.
and finally, we will call a general Thing to enterinate any necessary military action.

Now, are there any objections?"
She glanced around the room. There were none.
"Very well, who supports these measures?"
She raised her hand. Six more came up around the table.
" This is now the Praesidium's policy and will be implemented by all departments. The abstentions of the comrades presiding over Education and the Economy are noted. Does anyone have anything to add?"
No response. Sigrid moved on, turning to the woman in Air Force major's dress uniform who sat in the Military Affairs chair, directly to her left.
"Ingrid, you will prepare your forces, and organize the requisite troop movements. Implement a global REVLERT-2."
"It shall be done."
She turned to the well-dressed Middle-Eastern man on her right:
"Fouad, contact the Lusakans and the Commonwealth, and issue the necessary international declarations."
"It shall be done"
Still to her right, she turned to the young woman in charge of the economy.
"Aïsha, place the economy on a war footing. We might be needing all our capacity soon."
Once again the traditional acknowledgement rang out. She turned to the Interior.
"Kjell, implement Beowulf-2. And your department shall render all encessary assistance in calling the poeple to their Things."
The President of the Interior acknowledged, and the Chairwoman continued, giving each department it's instructions...

Less than an hour later, Fouad Saluki in person was making the offer of direct military help known to the Africans, and asking for the details the Cirdanis would need to know to co-operate effectively with the Lusakans and Commonwealth forces, and the details of where they could bring in troops and equipment. Work patterns were changing, security of key installations tightened, and newsflashes interrupted television and radio broadcasts to anounce the latest news. And in each commune, preparations were mad eot host the local Thing, for the people to directly endorse the Praesidium's policies...

Middle Congo-Gabon Border, South of Franceville

General Rotanga's UAZ weaved in and out of the conovy of trucks, BMPs, T-55s and even M60s as the great man himself raised his arm out of the windows and yelled rallying cries to his men who waved their AKs in the air triumphantly.

The 506th Infantry was revered in the Middle Congo Army for being tenacious, courageous and above all, totally ruthless. Its leader, General Rotanga who was actually a Colonel held more a status of a warlord than one of an army officer and during the civil war his unit had been instrumental in crushing the marxist rebels with extreme brutality. Now the regiment had lost all obvious appearances of being just an infantry unit as Rotanga had somehow procured tanks, armoured vehciles and artillery by lobbying one of his closest friends, President Mambouli.

Suddenly a pair of bright orange flares lit up the sky and the soldiers clambereed aboard their vehciles and the huge line started to roll forward across the border, the first time a significant Congolese force had entered Gabon.

In his command vehicle, a third the way back from the lead vehicles, Rotanga nodded with delight as his long time advisor, one of the only white men in the unit, showed him a map of Southern Gabon. Within a day they would reach Franceville and link up with the Roiks, then the fun would begin.


Thirty Miles South West of Okondja

The 506th Infantry had made tediously slow progress over the past few weeks in-country. They had spent much time attempting to aquire strong information on enemy presence, it appeared that neither the Roycelandians in the area or anyone else really noticed them. Then, after finally being given some hard intelligence they had suffered a fuel shortage as supply convoys were erratic at best.

However General Rotanga had finally got his 17,000 or so men on the move and they had made progress towards their final objective, Okondja and they knew that they were racing their enemies to the town. The onyly problem is the dirt road that the entire unti was straddled along was two lanes wide and on either side was dense rainforest. Perfect to be ambushed.


Congolese National Congress, Brazzerville, Middle Congo

President Mambouli walked up to the podium just infront of the parliament's speaker as the members applauded, he then made flamboyant, Mussolini style hand gestures of triumphalism before starting his short speech.

"People of Middle Congo, it is my job as your President to secure our great homeland and also it is my job to look out for the Great people of Africa. Nearby in Gabon, our fellow Afrcians are suffering because of the aggression of the African Commonwealth and Lusaka. It is well known that I have never thought of Derek Igomo or Mshone Ndelebe as evil men but I always thought they were misguided. Socialism is created by poverty and socialism creates poverty and I do not want the Congolese people or the great African peoples to live in poverty! Secularity and secret police prevents people from being free and I want the African people to be free""

There is a roar of applause from the members.

"Now however I have changed my thinking, they are evil men for they sought peace when they were not progressing and turned it down at the slightest hint that they were suceeding in enslaving Gabon. They turned down a generous offer of peace and instead they funnel more conscripts into our neghbouring land to recruit Gabonese children so they can fight their brothers, their fathers and their neighbours. They turned down peace so they can gain popularity amongst their people, but I know that Africans are not like that, we do not take pleasure in killing our fellow Africans. Middle Congo knows more than possibly any other nation what it is like when a nation is at war with itself, and there is nothing more terrible.

"As President of Middle Congo, I pledge the support of my nation to the cause of Freedom for the people of Gabon and that can only be accomplished when the African Commonwealth and Lusaka remove their armies. So from one African to another I ask Igomo and Ndelebe to reconsider before they become what they most fear, imperialists."

OOC: Other than the one unit listed above, no other MC forces are in Gabon. However Mambouli has ordered that all units recruit enough additional manpower to bring them up to full strength and has authorised funds for improved maintenance and repair of equipment.

SSN: Fair and balanced, from our point of view


In a message to the world today, the Prime Minister of Sicrat emphasized the intent of the troops placed in Gabon to the outside world.


A clip plays of the Sicrati Prime Minister (a different face every few months) adressing a camera, with Parliament standing behind him.

"Sicrati troops will continue policing UE liberated Gabon to free up Elian pilots. They are expected to keep a peacekeeping role in the current war."

The PM went on to say that at this time it does not seem that Sicrati and African forces will ever come into contact with eachother. This, of course, could change with the next political fluctuation.

“We will, as of now announcing that we will be sending 12,000 government contractors to repair and rebuild the decimated cities of Gabon,”

The measure is expected to improve confidence in the success of the war, which had fallen nearly 12% last week. It is expected to jump nearly 30%, government pollsters say. It is also expected solidify relations and commitment with Elias and Free Gabon.

Al Haqiqa Al Khals- AKAF squadrons redeployed

Reports this morning aired on Al Haqiqa Network and expected to appear in the second edition of the daily national paper speak of a two squadron shift from north to south in the air force's thirty squadron strong combat force. Morogoro-based 221 Squadron and Pwani-based 711 Squadron are the units identified as having begun relocation to Mtwara. The two squadrons are thought to have been redesignated 521 Squadron and 511 Squadron respectively.

Previously the republic's least defended district (in air force terms) Mtwara's boost constitutes two dozen F-4K Khali-Phantom fighter bombers (521 Squadron) and eighteen MiG-25 Foxbat interceptors (511 Squadron).

This is seen as a significant build-up in a region until now home to just nineteen Mirage III with 510 Squadron and the eighteen MiG-23BN of 520 Squadron.

One source speculated on the air force's fear of the AFRISAM system recently announced by Al Khals' northern neighbour, the UAR Lusaka, but this has been [scoffed at] [edited from "shot down"] by air force higher-ups. Others point to a warming of Al Khali-Lusakan relations owing to a swing in popular opinion after what has been seen as the return of Arab lands to Arab farmers in the UARL. It has been added that such an alignment may have given Via'di'arl cause for concern in light of Chelian build-up in Al Khals' southern neighbour state of Mozambique.


(OOC:I don't really plan to have Al Khals seek major involvement in the crisis, but I thought it couldn't hurt to mention what's happening right on the theatre's doorstep and possibly as a result.)

Interview on African News Network

General Ndelebe stands forth in front of the camera, his face hard and seemingly uncaring. He begins to speak.

"It has come to my attention that Mr. Mambouli, nominal ruler of the Middle Congo, accuses myself and the UARL of being imperialist. While we do have a political and human commitment to rebuilding power structures as well as infrastructure in the war-torn Gabon once we have beaten the invaders back to the sea, we have no wish to rule the nation for ourselves.

If Mr. Mambouli has any more misguided concerns, he will have to take them to my foreign council - His troop commitments is tantamount to a declaration of war, and unless we are to turn our attention to his own homeland, I suggest he withdraws his military from Gabon."

Commonwealth division, 3 miles south of Okondja

A radar officer came running up to the General. "Superior, they are coming in their thousands! The Tall Mike located near contested village 19 has picked up a huge concentration of enemy troops." The general paused for thought, and leaned against a MBT-3 Werewolf. "We can handle it, they are passing up on the road, are they? Superior weaponry and training is on our side, even if numbers aren't. We'll keep the MBTs back so they can press on the attack down the road - Tell them to advance on my command, then I'll send them your way after we surprise them with mortars and machine guns. Scatter the mechanized infantry in the surrounding vegetation, make sure they set up all available ATGM and 80mm mortars. I want fragmentation and white phosphorous raining down on those hostiles like it was Armageddon itself. you hear me? Obey the Mshat." The radar officer struck himself on the chest, then the hilt of his grand machete. "I obey." He then ran off to give the relevant orders.




OOC:

This was stated earlier in the thread, but for your convenience, Middle Congo:

The combined division is 2000 infanterists, disciplined men with modern Interceptor body armour and G36 assault rifles with built-in optics. For support they have 200 80mm mortars with HE, HE-Frag and WP(white phosphorous - napalm-like munition, burns like all hell and is bad for morale), as well as 100 HMG, 20mm machine guns.

They will hide out in the terrain, then rain what few anti-tank missiles they have into any trucks, half-tracks etc., and then rain death on the 506th with their assault rifles along with all available machine guns and mortars. Once that has begun, the tanks will come rolling in - 10 Werewolf advanced heavy assault tanks, 40 L-2 Oliphant MBTs and a host of 1976 BMPs and ADI-60 APCs who also have mortars with which to shell the 506th.

Roycelandian Broadcasting Corporation World Service

"... but maintained that she and Candi were 'Just Good Friends' and photographs of the two kissing in a prominent Port Royal Nightclub were 'Taken out of context'. No-one from the Imperial Palace was available for comment.

And in breaking news, the Imperial Government issued a statement a few moments ago regarding the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gabon:

Those of you following the news will no doubt be aware that the West African Country of Gabon has been in trouble for some time. First, the Government was aiding terrorists. Then, a Civil War broke out, and now, with most of Africa involved, things have deteriorated further.

The Imperial Guard have been deployed to Gabon in a strictly peacekeeping capacity. They have been operating in Western Gabon for several weeks now, and I am proud to report that not a single Imperial Guard has been killed or injured in Gabon!

[Cheers from assembled crowd]

However, things are not going so well for the other members of the Coalition- United Elias in particular has borne the brunt of the Socialist Invasion, led by the United African Republic of Lusaka.

But that cannot excuse the tactics that United Elias and some of the other Coalition Members have used. I'm sure you're all well aware of UE's deployment of a "Daisycutter" bomb in the town of Booue, Gabon not all that long ago. What you may not be aware of is that several completely innocent civillians were killed in this attack, along with an unknown number of Rebel and Counter-Coalition forces.

The Roycelandian Government cannot, and will not, condone the use of anything approaching the status of a Weapon of Mass Destruction against non-military targets. We have spoken with the United Elian Government, and they have explained that the depoyment of the bomb was a tactical error based on faulty intelligence. We accept their explanation with complete understanding, but stand firm on our position regarding the deployment of large-scale Area Affect Ordnance.

The Coalition has also accepted two new members, Al- Sabir and Sicrat, who in their zealousness to make a difference to our suffering friends in Gabon, have declared War on both the United African Republic of Lusaka and the African Commonwealth, along with anyone else aiding them.

I should like to take this oppurtunity to point out that no State of War exists between the Roycelandian Empire and either the UARL or the AC. Whilst relations between the UARL and Roycelandia have been somewhat strained over the years, we are certainly not declaring war on them over events on the other side of the continent. We must help every nation in Southern Africa, African or Imperialist, in this difficult times.

Similarly, The Roycelandian Empire enjoys a very cordial relationship with the African Commonwealth, with extensive trading links and a long history of co-operation between our two countries. We have no quarrel with the AC, as we are sure they have no quarrel with us, and we have absolutely no intention of becoming involved in military operations against a friendly country- African or otherwise. We heartily reject any suggestion that we become involved in a military operation against our Neighbours in Southern Africa.

I shall re-state here what I have said many times before- the Imperial Guard are only in Gabon as peacekeepers. They have no mandate to initiate combat, they are authorised to fire only in self-defence, and they are operating under the command of the Imperial Defence Bureau here in Roycelandia, and not as part of GOTCOM.

We shall continue to provide every and all assistance to the people of Gabon to solve the crisis in their shattered country, and trust that the situation in Gabon will be contained before it becomes any worse. Thank you."

That was His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I, reading a statement outside the Imperial Palace not long ago.

And in Finance News, negotiations by Imperial Armaments to buy Chemical Research Ltd hit a snag today when it was realised that Chemical Research was, in fact, a Drug Company and not in the business of manufacturing various useful and/or slightly suspect industrial chemicals, as previously thought..."

The Jungles of Gabon, somewhere very close to the AC border

The ALG Commandos were sick of driving through the Jungle, primarily because they had to stop every few kilometres and hack away several hundred metres of jungle before they could continue.

Still, they were nearing the border with the AC, and the fun part of their mission was about to begin...

Lusaka

In a rather strange coincidence, on a number of farms that are being "Nationalised" by the UARL, the irrigation systems mysteriously stop working and the crops become very saline all of a sudden. Not all, but enough for it to be an inconvenience...

OOC: Obviously everyone here knows perfectly well that Roycelandia would be only too happy to use WMDs on their enemies and go to war with Lusaka, but such are the vagaries of International Politics and Diplomacy that we have to pretend that we aren't fighting a war on the other side of the continent on the sly... :wink:

On the second day of Operation 'Takedown' the EA-60s, EA-135s and EA-220s once again worked together to disrupt enemy air defences, only this time it would be against targets in and around Makokou.

The strike was the standard format, the EA-60s providing standoff jamming to the radar sites to cover the EA-135s while they fired anti-radiation missiles towards Makokou. This would then be followed immediately by stealth bombers using the newly created gaps in the Lusakan radar coverage to drop standoff cluster bombs on the remaining radars and SAM sites. The plan was ingenius as it minimised risk while maximising the small amount of low observables aircraft in theatre.


Santo Amaro Air Force Base, Sao Tome, Gulf of Guinea

Ever since the government had given permission for a base on the island, teams of Elias engineers and Air Force personnel had struggled to quickly transform a 1950s former portuguese Airfield into a modern air base. In the past few days they had opened the new main runway and refurbished hangars, then transport aircraft had delivered air defence batteries, early warning radars and air dropped ordnance. In the port of Sao Tome a chartered civilian supertanker delivered thousands of pounds of jetfuel that was now making is way to the air base by convoys of trucks.

Now, finally, the first combat aircraft touched down, a squadron of EF-111 electronic warfare aircraft and they would soon be followed by EA-220 tactical stealth bombers and EA-135 fighters.



Firebase Hammer, Twenty Two miles west of Bouee

The new firebase was considerably larger than Firebase Anvil and consisted of two parts. First of all the artillery positions on a plateau and behind an expansive supplybase where logisticians attempted to resupply the frontline with consistency. The road between Anvil and Hammer was difficult to protect so only armoured vehicles could be used rather than soft-skinned supply trucks making the process less efficient. Luckily no convoys had yet been attacked, but if they did, platoons of Stryker Mobile Gun systems were standing by to support them.

Throughout the day, more and more Marines were arrving after a long road journey from Libreville and the Lusakans were not going to be allowed to advance any further West.


Firebase Anvil

Much closer to Bouee at the very frontline, firebase Anvil was under more or less constant mortar attack, though it seemed the Lusakans were moving their mortar units around quickly, so they had little time to aim properly. As a conseqence the mortars were mostly ineffective and purely an irritation, also since the arrival of an armoured vehicle mounted counterbattery radar, the defenders could immediatley locate the enemy's positions and call in artillery strikes. Most of the time though, the 155mm artillery and 120mm Elias mortars were bombarding the main approach roads to the East of the town to hamper Lusakan attempts to reinforce their troops.

Along the permiter of the base, behind rows of sandbags, barbed wire and fields of landmines, the infantry on guard duty could do nothing but watch the wet rice fields aroudn them for enemies. It was strange why the Lusakans had not attempted to assault the base which meant they must be attempting to flank the base, either to simply avoid it and continue pushing West or more likely to attack their supply road.

To pre-empt this, platoons of Stryker armoured vehicles began to make patrols along the flanks of the base, mostly at night. It was only a matter of time before they literally ran into enemy soldiers.

Official Announcement

The Al-Sabirian Parliament has voted in favour of a proposal to send 3000 extra non-combat troops to Gabon, who will be used to help rebuild the almost destroyed cities and villages of Gabon. The troops who are already in Gabon will now be used to provide security against the guerilla and terrorist attacks, so now they have a peacekeeping role in this conflict. The naval taskforce however, will still strike the known locations of terrorists to prevent attacks on coalition troops and natives.

After fixing a large glitch in the detection of the SAMs by the third scout, the chellian officials had finally found the sams along about 50 miles of land, though some were sketchy as they had been only detected from where the plane detected the missile launches, and not the actual SAMs. Regardless, Chellis flew out nearly all of its aircraft from the carrier, all of them carrying the StrykerX, a cruise missile with a range of 250km + 300km with the X configuration(A secondary rocket that weighs 4500 pounds, in addition to the 2600 pounds of the stryker G2). The Strykers were fire and forget, and were completely self-guided after the mission was told to it; Once they reached 240km from the SAMs, the cruise missiles detached, went to very low altitude, and headed for their targets.

----------------------------

"Hurry it up! We need to reach the front lines before any major attacks happen, and that means we need to do some heavy duty driving!" Yelled a Volksjaeger major. Hundreds of LeClercs and AMX10 RC's were to be seen unloading at the port, as well as VBL's, VAB's, AMX-10P's, TRM 1000's with TRF-1's, Caeser's, LRM's, and hundreds(if not thousands) of trucks. Two Armoured divisions, one mechanized infantry division, and one support division(mostly artillery and helicopters) had landed(All Volksjaeger), with a steady supply line to be shipped from the naval group with munitions mostly; The chellian army was well known for, if nothing else, creating a massive amount of munitions and ammunition for the troops.

From Mozambique, more naval forces were being shipped out, although whether they were volksjaeger or chellian, headed towards gabon or algeria, it was hard to say.

Colonel Ibrahim Jamzad listened closely to Colonel Makram and responded:

"Thank you for the kind welcome. We're about finished with unloading our equipment, but a number of transports will bring some extra weapons, like extra armoured Humvees and mortars, tomorrow night. We're extremely light equiped though, even with the extra equipment, and therefore we still need support from your troops. We look forward to work with your troops and we will listen to their advise about the security. Now about those mortars, we have some mortar-tracking radars, but those won't prevent the attacks, so we'll search for weapons in the surrounding villages. We also got a bunch of light helicopters, like the EA-28 and some Apaches, but I fear those are quite vulnerable."

Colonel Ibrahim Jamzad listened closely to Colonel Makram and responded:

"Thank you for the kind welcome. We're about finished with unloading our equipment, but a number of transports will bring some extra weapons, like extra armoured Humvees and mortars, tomorrow night. We're extremely light equiped though, even with the extra equipment, and therefore we still need support from your troops. We look forward to work with your troops and we will listen to their advise about the security. Now about those mortars, we have some mortar-tracking radars, but those won't prevent the attacks, so we'll search for weapons in the surrounding villages. We also got a bunch of light helicopters, like the EA-28 and some Apaches, but I fear those are quite vulnerable."

"The EA-28s and AH-64s would be great for patrolling the surrounding area, and we haven't actually had any of our helicopters fired at yet so it should be quite safe. We would anticipate that any possible threat would be from small arms or RPGs as opposed to guided weapons so if the choppers stay relatively high I don't percieve much danger.

"As for support from us, the Elias Force here at the moment consists of the first and second brigades of the 4th Airborne Division, about 10,800 troops based at the Airport, The Port of Libreville, GOTCOM (Gabonese Operational Threatre Command which is based out of the Presidential Palace in the centre of the city) and also a large football stadium in the South of the city. In addition there are other troops including Air Force and Navy personnel as well as some Marine support units. The Libreville City area, the entire peninsular and estuary are known collectively as the Libreville Defence Sector (LDS).

"Our original plan as for the other two brigades of the 4th Airborne was to also deploy them to the LDS as well but because of your troop contributions and Royclandian peacekeepers in the city we will now deploy the two brigades elsewhere. In short, out current troops wil remain in the area but we will not be bringing in any more troops for the city's security now we have allied support. If you have any further questions please contact my sub-ordinates here who are very capable indeed or me at GOTCOM."

BTW here is a map of the Libreville Area just for reference:

http://www.itmb.com/map_samples/gabon.jpg

Yes, this may be a bit helpful too... Clickable map... You can change the zoom...
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&GridE=9.4536&GridN=0.3908&lon=9.4536&lat=0.3908&db=w3&country=Gabon&overviewmap=&client=public&scale=1000000&region=Estuaire&cidr_client=none&place=Libreville

Jungles of Northwestern Gabon

Helen was sorting out a mess when she heard the news: some of the guerillas-in-training had attempted to load an AAT chambered for 7.5mm French with a 7.62mm NATO belt, and when the rounds wouldn't go in instead of asking why they had just tried to force them in. Luckily, the breech block hadn't been ruined, and she had found nearby another AAT chambered for 7.62mm stored with a couple of boxes of 7.5, and had gotten the ammo exchanged. But what got her attention that morning was something else entirely. Like all Cirdani personnel on the ground-and ARG members, for that matter-she had heard of the fighting at Bouué and the Elian firebases, and the arrival of an Elian reinforcements column followed by large logistical convoys, which passed around the southern limit of the ARG's current "zone of influence", as it was termed. Now, something was about to be done about that. Dozens of men, under the leadership of an IVF officer, Lieutenant Mohamed Konaté, and a newly forme ARG officer,Captain Alliou M'Sharge, most of them with helmets formed of entrelaced wood, Vietminh-style, their equipment covered with leaves to make them harder to spot,had started marching southwards, using only the most densely-foliated, hard to find, jungle tracks where no radar could penetrate and their heat would be, to a lagre extent, masked by the surrounding life, had begun marching south to set up an ambush.

[OOC: UE, could i get a description of the supply convoys between the coast and Firebase Hammer? ;) ]

OOC:

Here is a more or less complete layout of how the logistical support system is currently funcitioning, and obviously you don't know this:
(BTW glad you made me think more about it.)

War supplies are stockpiled at warehouses at either the Port of Libreville or Libreville Airport. The supplies in the city come under the control of the two logistics battalions attached to the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 4th Airborne Division (Army) and are either used locally or distributed.

Materials that are needed in the East to support Marine operations or in Port Gentil are then either flown out by helicopter or tactical transport aircraft. However this method has been used less in the last week because of improved enemy air defences and the fact that certain materials are difficult to airlift, such as fuel.

Therefore, the logistics Battalion attached to the Third Marine Expeditionary Regiment built a supply base just outside the relatively safe city of Kango, 60 miles East South East of Libreville. The base itself and the town is protected by a Marine infantry battalion.

Army convoys normally consisting of soft-skinned vehicles and light escorts transport materials to Kango where they are then loaded onto more heavily armoured Marine supply conovys for the trip East.

The convoys themselves normally consist of eight to ten pallestised load system logistics trucks with a further six to eight MTVR 7 ton trucks. These are protected by normallyfour Stryker armoured personnel carriers and a few up-armoured HMMWVs. The convoys normally take about four hours to reach firebase Anvil and they always run during the night. As far as other protection, the route is constantly patrolled by various types of helicopters throughout the night and sometimes during the day as well. The convoys are ordered to call in air support if ever they meet resistance. Due to the fact that we have already seen evidence of unconventional warfare, the troops are prepared for an ambush situation.

"The EA-28s and AH-64s would be great for patrolling the surrounding area, and we haven't actually had any of our helicopters fired at yet so it should be quite safe. We would anticipate that any possible threat would be from small arms or RPGs as opposed to guided weapons so if the choppers stay relatively high I don't percieve much danger.

"As for support from us, the Elias Force here at the moment consists of the first and second brigades of the 4th Airborne Division, about 10,800 troops based at the Airport, The Port of Libreville, GOTCOM (Gabonese Operational Threatre Command which is based out of the Presidential Palace in the centre of the city) and also a large football stadium in the South of the city. In addition there are other troops including Air Force and Navy personnel as well as some Marine support units. The Libreville City area, the entire peninsular and estuary are known collectively as the Libreville Defence Sector (LDS).

"Our original plan as for the other two brigades of the 4th Airborne was to also deploy them to the LDS as well but because of your troop contributions and Royclandian peacekeepers in the city we will now deploy the two brigades elsewhere. In short, out current troops wil remain in the area but we will not be bringing in any more troops for the city's security now we have allied support. If you have any further questions please contact my sub-ordinates here who are very capable indeed or me at GOTCOM."

BTW here is a map of the Libreville Area just for reference:

http://www.itmb.com/map_samples/gabon.jpg

Colonel Jamzad responded: "It's good news to hear that we can use our helicopters here. The unloading of our equipment is done and tomorrow everything will be ready and then we'll start our patrols around Libreville." Jamzad saluted formally, turned around and headed for the planes to give instructions to lower officers.

The chellians who had landed just a bit above libreville, had arrived at the city, or at least the outskirts. A major headed into the city with a few VABs(With milans), and an AMX-10RC barely able to keep pace.

Franceville Airbase, South-Eastern Gabon

The Special Operations Command had taken to flying in supplies and troops under cover of dusk, darkness, and dawn, using old C-47 transports with Air Sud-Afrique markings on them.

So far, several thousand guns, several million rounds of ammunition, and enormous quantities of food, equipment, and humanitarian aid had been flown in- a risky operation a few weeks ago had also flown in some light tanks and armoured cars via C-130J.

The great thing that Commander Dolvich had noticed was that the UE campaign was being run almost totally independently of the Roycelandian one- in short, no-one really gave a rat's ass what the IFL did as long as they didn't use any Nukes.

Someone at SOC had made the strange decision to train some of the ALG members to drive tanks, trucks, and even fly some of the C-47 transports. Tanks and trucks weren't a problem, but after one of the C-47s crashed into the jungle with an ALG pilot at the helm, it was decided that the Gabonaise would be Co-pilots and crew only.

For illiterate villagers, many of them took to the training very well, and the IFL was teaching English and reading/writing in both French and English to anyone who wanted to learn.

Fighter sorties had been cut back to conserve fuel, but word from HQ was that some of the older, worn out Spitfires might be sacrificed to identify AA positions just over the AC border... The problem was identifiability.

Fortunately, the Roycelandian Empire had a couple of squadrons of MiG-21s acquired from overseas... some of these would be despatched to Gabon forthwith for "Target Acquisition Duties"...

[OOC: thanks for the description, UE. 'twill make a nice skirmish from the description you gave ; but first, our little surprise ;) ]

Libreville, Gabonese Coast
The first of the Guerrilla Propaganda Units to become operational was about to take action. They had entered Libreville disguised as rurals come to sell there wares, going through the poor neighbourhoods away from sensitive locations in the center. Gabon had had a relatively good education system, and the fifty percent litterate 'critical mass' for mass ideoligization was amply present, so they had had no difficulty in contacting local leftists for aid and organization, while staying in a practical shanty town on Libreville's outskirts to avoid notice. [OOC: UE, if any of this poses a real problem, say so, but i have difficulty imagining every corner of the city being under lock and key] Now, not far from the city cntre, they had gathered several hundred people, with banners in French and English ranging from simple nationalistic slogans and 'UE go home!' to the leftist classic 'Egalité-Democratie-Revolution', and more locals, noticing the gathering and the banners, were swelling the crowd. A man at the front got out a loudspeaker, and began chanting:
"Tout est a nous!"
Some in the crowd chanted back"Tout est a nous!"
"Rien n'est à eux!"
The response was swelling as more people caught on:
"Rien n'est à eux!"
"Même le pétrole ils l'ont volé!"
Now the gathering crowd was in full swing, chanting back strong responses:
"Ils l'ont volé!"
The man with the loudspeaker began moving backwards, taking the crowd towards the UE barracks [OOC: or military base or airport if you're nto occupying anything else] while still facing his supporters. Some deployed a wide banderoll calling for UE to leave the country and Janvier t resign, barring the whole road just behind the speaker.
"Retrait des troupes UE, justice contre Janvier, sinon ça va peter!"
"Ca va peter!"
"Ca va peter!"
"Ca va peter!"
"Ca va peter!"
"Ca va peter!"
"Ca va peter!"
"Ca va peter!"
Satisfied that the protests was gathering strength, the leader began the slogan chant anew:
"Tout est a nous!"....

[OOC: i hope Free Gabon/Gabonaise is alright with this, not trying to take over his people or anything...]

Just over the AC border...

.. Lay plenty of long-range SAMs, that, coupled with long-distance radar trucks and stationary arrays; would easily take out a spitfire long before said spitfire's pilot could get a fix on the missile launcher's location.




ooc

Roycelandia>> Just FYI.

I'll post more once Middle Congo responds to my ambush.

OOC: And exactly what type of SAM would that be? Heat-seeking I sure dont hope :P

OOC: Its fine, Im goign to asume that this protest is outside teh Presidential Palace which is being used as a command centre. Also they will probably assume Janvier is inside although his whereabouts is unkwon though our forces assume he's fled to soem bunker somewhere.

IC: Around the Palais de President, the sentries from the 4th Airbrone Division looked concerned as the mob approached the security cordon which was a two block exlcusion zone around the building, known as the the 'Blue Sector' in which only authorised persons and the occasional civilian could enter.

The Duty Officer, a young and inexperienced lieutenant immediately radioed for some back up and almost immeditaley more troops grouped around as well as a pair of Cobra WLAVs with machinegun turrets. However orders came through to allow the protesters to block the road providing they didn't try and force themselves through the barricades. United Elias had beenin these situations before and they knew that the worst possible thing they could do would be to open fire.

A civil affairs soldier then turned up and with his own megaphone he simply shouted, "C'est bien. Maintenant votre pays est libre. Vous pouvez dire qui vous aimez."

Commonwealth division, 3 miles south of Okondja

A radar officer came running up to the General. "Superior, they are coming in their thousands! The Tall Mike located near contested village 19 has picked up a huge concentration of enemy troops." The general paused for thought, and leaned against a MBT-3 Werewolf. "We can handle it, they are passing up on the road, are they? Superior weaponry and training is on our side, even if numbers aren't. We'll keep the MBTs back so they can press on the attack down the road - Tell them to advance on my command, then I'll send them your way after we surprise them with mortars and machine guns. Scatter the mechanized infantry in the surrounding vegetation, make sure they set up all available ATGM and 80mm mortars. I want fragmentation and white phosphorous raining down on those hostiles like it was Armageddon itself. you hear me? Obey the Mshat." The radar officer struck himself on the chest, then the hilt of his grand machete. "I obey." He then ran off to give the relevant orders.




OOC:

This was stated earlier in the thread, but for your convenience, Middle Congo:

The combined division is 2000 infanterists, disciplined men with modern Interceptor body armour and G36 assault rifles with built-in optics. For support they have 200 80mm mortars with HE, HE-Frag and WP(white phosphorous - napalm-like munition, burns like all hell and is bad for morale), as well as 100 HMG, 20mm machine guns.

They will hide out in the terrain, then rain what few anti-tank missiles they have into any trucks, half-tracks etc., and then rain death on the 506th with their assault rifles along with all available machine guns and mortars. Once that has begun, the tanks will come rolling in - 10 Werewolf advanced heavy assault tanks, 40 L-2 Oliphant MBTs and a host of 1976 BMPs and ADI-60 APCs who also have mortars with which to shell the 506th.

Captain Enerunga stared out of from the frunt as his ural truck sped along with the convoy about a third the way back from the front and between a few of the T-55s.

Then out of nowhere white streaks of anti-tank missiles appeared from the trees on one side of the road and immediately two of the lumbering tanks infront, exploded, sending fragments of metal everywhere.
The seasoned officer reacted immeiately and shouted at his men who rushed to disembark from the truck. Within a few more seconds another missile slammed into the BMP fifty metres behind, smashing it to pieces.

As soon as he found his radio operator he screamed into it, alerting the entire convoy of the ambush. But for most it was too late as the middle of the convoy took the worst of the initial onslaught with nearly forty vehicles being ripped to shreds in less than a minute. Luckily most rembered their instructions and men abandoned their vehicles to rush into the rainforest on either side, only to be met with gunfire and phosperous greandes. However they suspected that their ambushers would not expect a counter charge and if they could get close to the enemy their numerical advantage would pay off.

Leaving their dead and dying comrades to their fate, hordes of the most ruthless Congolese infantry charged through the trees, impervious to the tracer rounds and assault rifle fire. Many were killed but many more survived and they covered each other with volleys of AK fire. The strategy was one of General Rotanga's great ideas and it was a truely african solution to a problem, run straight into something with enough force and hopefully it will come down.

At the front of the convoy, where the majotiry of the tanks were, the solution was not as simple as mortars rained down on teh surrounding area. The tank crews gambled that if they stayed inside their vehicles they would have a better chance of survival. Immediately they turned their turrets towards the trees where they belived the enemies were and fired off the main guns. Unfortunatley by the time they spotted the tanks coming straight at them on the road, it was too late for most of them.

Battle of Okondja

Noting with satisfaction that the track/half-track support of the 506th were diminished severely, only 10 or so Oliphants kept firing at the remaining tanks, making sure that all were destroyed before keeping up with the rest of the division. Covered against direct satchel charge plants, short-range RPGs and the like by a crescent formation of 20mm HMGs, the other 30 L-2 main battle tanks rain HE shells on any pockets of infantry, and straight into the middle of the attacking 506th. The MBT-3 Werewolves deployed straight against the advancing infantry, using their dual remote-guided 7.62 machineguns to terrible effect against the waves of middle congolese infantry, and destroying any remaining BMPs with their 125mm cannons, guided by multiple TE software. BMPs roll alongside, shelling the enemy and dropping off squads of soldiers to counter the advance.

Hoping that the many crew-served and APC/BMP-mounted mortars would keep the advancing infanterists too shell-shocked to mount a serious offense, the RAC infanterists dug in good, using the thick vegetation to their advantage and riddled the opposition with their advanced G36 assault rifles. Many a soldier muttered the Mshat under their breath, praying that their Interceptor armour would stop the AK rounds from taking their life. Should an entire pocket of soldiers be discovered, a few cover with their G36s, while the rest draw their grand machetes and literally cut up the attack.

The general wasn't pleased. Would nothing, not even the soul-searing screams of white phosphorous victims, nor the hail of fire from a hundred heavy machine guns, scare off these congolese mercenaries? Seemingly not. He ordered to radio any and all nearby Lusakan assets for immediate combat support.

Gabon

While the battle for Booué ticked along, Lusakan units shooting and scooting to little effect as Elias reinforcements and artillery support warded off a serious attack, all across the country Lusakans simple walked west. Many left their units and dispersed into forest and towns alike, acting almost as if Gabonaise, interacting casually with the locals they met and idling towards the coast. They'd by now spread out across the length of the little republic. Some might be caught by security and found in modest uniform or bearing Uzi or SKS-alike and machette, but in truth the Lusakans vastly outnumbered any security forces in country- almost outnumbered all other ethnicities, military and civilian combined, even!

The fight in the middle of Gabon was really just a sideshow to the Lusakans who weren't really here for a war at all, most being far too stoned for it.

Further southeast

Commonwealth transmissions did find Lusakan radios- there were plenty of them in the east. A lot of Lusakan positions had been disrupted by UE airstrikes on radar sites, but then the Army of Lusaka was dispersed in a ragtag fashion as befitted a 3rd world African force of such great size. Many light infantry platoons turned towards the fight, a few arriving quite quickly and stumbling upon hectic infantry battles to which they hurridly joined, bayonets out and machettes flashing. The typical Lusakan soldier was over 6'1" tall, with many being near half a foot above that, and close quarter fighting suited them well. To begin with they were few, but they trickled into the fight at a sustained rate as more units ran to the scene from all around.

City was largely oblivious, having relatively poor contact with its regular units in the field half a continent away. Many Lusakan formations were begining to act of their own accord, rampaging about like militiamen rather than soldiers when they encountered fighting with the Congolese.

There was scattered talk of bringing in YaK-131 and Dragonfly against the MC column, but high ranking officers needed to clear the attack defered to AC judgement, not trusting their own NCOs engaged in hand to hand fighting. One nameless Major relayed the option to a nearby AC command post.

(ooc:Yes, Lusakan operations are a complete mess, no one knows who has authority to do what, outside the LRAC)

Near Okondja

Eight EA-220B Joint Tactical Bombers raced over Gabon, as a Global Hawk flashed radar images to GOTCOM of armoured formations and mass infantry units congregating South of Okondja. Although they had not much idea where the Middle Congo forces were operating, previous radar images had shown am exceptionally large allied convoy heading down the road which was now a becoming a massive battlefiel dalong which the allied forces were being systematicaly wiped out by superior fire power.

At 23,000ft, Commander Zilhka manouvered his plane and thus the entire formation that followed on the course the computer had selected. Dropping mixed weapons loads they would attempt to wipe out the heavy armour and as many infantrymen as they could while not killing too many allied soldiers in the process.

When they were about four miles from the road, the weapons bays opened and simulatanoeusly wind corrected muntions dispensers began to release at pre-programmed intervals.

Two of the planes each dropped fourteenskeet (http://globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-108.htm) type anti-tank munitions dispensers, all designed to explode at various points along the raod where the enemy tanks were raining death on the Congolese. With each of the weapons carrying four of the infrared-seeking warheads, the possiblity remained to litterally disable up to 112 enemy tanks and even if the weapons only achieved half of that, it would more or less wipe out the armoured formations.

The other six planes each dropped fourteen of the standard Combined Effects munitons on the infantry units and it was expected that quite a number of Congolese infatry would also be killed by these because of the close quarters fighting, however the ones who remained might actually be able to escape with their lives rather than being massacred.

Near Okondja

Eight EA-220B Joint Tactical Bombers raced over Gabon, as a Global Hawk flashed radar images to GOTCOM of armoured formations and mass infantry units congregating South of Okondja. Although they had not much idea where the Middle Congo forces were operating, previous radar images had shown am exceptionally large allied convoy heading down the road which was now a becoming a massive battlefield along which the allied forces were being systematically wiped out by superior fire power.

At 23,000ft, Commander Zilhka manoeuvred his plane and thus the entire formation that followed on the course the computer had selected. Dropping mixed weapons loads they would attempt to wipe out the heavy armour and as many infantrymen as they could while not killing too many allied soldiers in the process.

When they were about four miles from the road, the weapons bays opened and simultaneously wind corrected munitions dispensers began to release at pre-programmed intervals.

Two of the planes each dropped fourteenskeet (http://globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-108.htm) type anti-tank munitions dispensers, all designed to explode at various points along the road where the enemy tanks were raining death on the Congolese. With each of the weapons carrying four of the infrared-seeking warheads, the possibility remained to literally disable up to 112 enemy tanks and even if the weapons only achieved half of that, it would more or less wipe out the armoured formations.

The other six planes each dropped fourteen of the standard Combined Effects Munitions on the infantry units and it was expected that quite a number of Congolese infantry would also be killed by these because of the close quarters fighting, however the ones who remained might actually be able to escape with their lives rather than being massacred.

Roycelandian Broadcasting Corporation World Service

"...but Medical Experts predict the problem to vanish on its own within a week or so.

More News from Gabon today, as Governor-General Philip J. Fry roundly condemned Lusaka's escalating involvement in the crisis, citing the presence of "Hordes" of Native Warriors flooding the war-torn country.

"The Gabonaise People have suffered enough, without most of Lusaka deciding to descend on their country. This war has gone on long enough, with no real benefits for either side to be gained from it's continuation. I call upon the Lusakan Military to scale back their operations, and allow the Gabonaise to live in peace, without fear of bombings, attacks, or retaliation."

An Imperial Palace spokeswoman confirmed that the Roycelandian Government is in talks with the African Commonwealth, United Elias, Rhodesia & Nyasaland, and Lusaka to try and bring the war to some sort of conclusion, but declined to give further details.

In the meantime, the Imperial Defence Bureau has despatched 10,000 Imperial Guard to the scene of the latest outbreak in fighting in South-Eastern Gabon, citing the "Deteriorating Security Situation" and the need to preserve civilian lives.

"I cannot stress enough that these are not Combat Troops. These are engineers, medics, security forces. They are not authorised to engage in offensive military operations, and they have been deployed in an effort to normalise life for the Gabonaise affected by the fighting. There's a lot of work that needs doing there, and we hope that we can make a difference for those who have been affected by the War."

Commander Jack Sword there, speaking this morning about plans to increase the number of Imperial Guard on "Peacekeeping" duties in Gabon.

His Majesty also gave a press conference this morning, with some suprising results:

"We're all losing sight of the Big Issues here. Relations in Southern Africa have never been better- We have enormous amounts of Trade between ourselves and the African Commonwealth- profitiable to both parties, I might add... Our friends in United Elias are helping us preserve Democracy in Gabon, Rhodesia & Nyasaland and Roycelandia are considering a Joint Military Training Exercise, and even relations with Lusaka are somewhat warmer than usual. It is a glorious time for the Empire, and we mustn't be distracted by events in a small West African country."

Those of you with long memories may recall a similar sort of speech just before the Ammo Box scandal in the first year of His Majesty's reign. And now to Sport..."

Although this may be too late, the Dominion is willing to contribute soldiers and tanks to assist you in combat.

The Dominion will contribute the following forces

125 MBTs

http://www.vk.mesi.ru/arms/t-90.jpg

1000 Genetically engineered soldiers

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/apr02/apbig040602.jpg

35 F-15 E Strike fighters

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/f-15-eagle1.jpg

3 B-52 Bombers

http://www.thuleforum.com/pic/b-52.jpg

and

10 AH-64 Apaches

http://www.execulink.com/~ottertek/blogphotos/apache.jpg



Total Manpower: 1445

OOC: Genetically engineered soldiers, right... Goodbye

UE, I got a bunch of divisions at libreville's north, need instruction.

This conflict is messy enough without anyone else getting involved- especially anyone with "Genetically Engineered Soldiers".

But thank you for the offer- we're all right at the moment.

Battle of Okondja, cont.

General Shenedki was pleased. Even in the face of the enemys superior numbers, his men dug in and gave the congolese traitors hell. With Lusakan warriors joining in the fray, it would only be a matter before... "Holy mother of Jesus! They're bombing us!". The cry distracted the general, and he turned to see a L-2 Oliphant battle tank get hit by a munition that tore the massive armoured carriage apart with disturbing ease. Before he could assess the full carnage wrought by the skeet bombs, he ordered the four(until now) hidden ADI-A72 anti-air artillery tracks to engage any perceived aerial hostiles.

Inside the tracks, artillery officers received a steady trickle of targets from their own TA radars and the "Tall Air" radar arrays of those 1976-A recon BMPs that had not yet been destroyed by the bombing raid... Several bombers, likely Elian or Chellian - Swiveling to the fire controls, they assessed altitude. At approximately 7 kilometers of altitude, there was no chance that the 32mm cannons in the battery could reach the bombers, and likely neither could the main SA-19 missiles - This did not stop the battery from unleashing 15 at the bombers anyway, however.

Nearby, General Shenedki got the depressing news and swiftly radioed the 100 "Avenger"-configured HMMWVs that stayed at field HQ in Okondja - They would be here in minutes and, provided the bombers were still in firing range, could hurl 200+ pedestal-mounted FIM92 Stingers at those accursed bombers.




OOC

Posting full casualties and continued course of action once I solve a technical conundrum with UE.

International Airport, Libreville

Al-Sabirian engineers were busy reinforcing the airport's defences. They used razor wire, sandbags and mines, turning the Airport in a strong fortress. Near the main runway, other engineers were busy creating depots for the war supplies. The work would soon be done. Some soldiers drove a bunch of armoured Humvees and IFVs to the main gate. All vehicles were put in a line and the soldiers lined up in front of their vehicles. Captain Khalid Abdelkarim inspected the vehicles and the men and held a short speech:

"This will be our first patrol here. The first of many. Be on your guard and don't fire unless fired upon or a direct order from me or Lieutenant Sharif. Now get in the vehicles."

The patrol left the Airport and they slowly drove through the streets of the city....

OOC:

AC I've replied and it should answer your queries.

Chellis, there has been quite a bit of objection from the nations in the region of Southern Africa at your involvement and quite frankly I have to agree. It is not unreasonable to ask that you recognise the regional map as it stands and add the various claims to your list. If you don't I speak for many when I say that it would be difficult for you to partake in this RP, which would be a pity.

IC:

Port Victoria Air Force Base, Mahe Island, Seychelles

Nine light grey C-130J-30 transport aircraft touched down on a bitterley wet runway and taxied towards a parking area where ground crews waited in eagerness. However the planes were not from the Elias Air Force and they were not supply flights. The aircraft and the troops inside marked the first international deployment of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces since the nation had come under Elias administration.

Ten minutes later and the troops of the 2nd Tiger Rifle Regiment (Brunei) disembarked from their aircraft for a brief walk as the planes refuelled. The men were all highly speciliased in jungle warfare and had orignally been formed to fight communist insurgency on the Borneo peninsular. Now the group had been once again called upon, only this time to fight a foreign war but they all did so voluntarily. To most men the idea of going to a jungle hellhole where the insects were as big as rodents, the heat totally intolerable and nature itself being more dangerous than the enemy as a terrifying concept, to them it was just like home.

After a while, the men were ordered back to the planes which were now ready for their final leg of their journey, a flight that would take them South to Rhodesian Mozambique, across the nation and all the way to the Atlantic. Then the transports would touchdown at Port Gentil, Gabon.

OOC: I would and will recognise any valid claims to nations. I'm not going to add them to the list just because they say they own them, they had to have actually RP'ed taking them. Thats the way my thread works. I dont see how unreasonable that is.

Jungles between Kango and Bouué

Lt Konaté lay face down by the side of the trail. The men around him were mostly hastily-trained ARG soldiers; if the ambush turned into a drawn-out, prolonged firefight, the Elians would probably win out. The ARG officer right next to him-although they had difficulty seeing each other, inside a bush as they were-however, was a good man, with service in the French foreign legion, and, although he was in his late thirties, Alliou was still physically fit. What worried him most was the helicopters; he hadn't actually seen any, but they'd heard some a couple of times. Hidden as they were, the choppers didn't see them, but a firefight would draw rotorcraft gunships like moths to a flame if any happened to wander by as they ambushed the supply convoy.That and the lack of sleep; most of the troops wern't used to marching all day(and par tof the early night) and then fighting after an hour or two of rest. Still, he thought they stood a good chance; they were unlikely to meet anything tougher than an IFV or so, and they could handle those with RPGs.

It was well past midnight when they could be sure the noise comming down the road was an Elian supply convoy. Mohammed and Alliou concerted quickly in whispers, then Alliou hissed "Attention!que personne ne tire sans mon ordre!" into his mic; nothing could ruin a carefully planned ambush faster than a trigger-happy youth, and there were more than a couple in the ARG's ranks. There wern't enough radio headsets for all, either, but the men who would lead fire teams that night (and Konaté's IVF fighters who'd be advising them) had them, in order to be able to co-ordinate. Using the radio meant making electronic noise,a dn there was a small chance it might be picked up, but the convoy was already to close to the ambush to be warned in time. The lead Humvee was already passing the first fire team, hidden deep in bush and undergrowth by the trail's side. Konaté could make out a quartet of armoured vehicles(Strykers, he thoguht they were) with his night-vision goggles-the lenses came with a cover affixed to shield them from the moonlight above, so he didn't fear reflexions-and a few more Humvees escorting the trucks, but the track here was narrow and only admitted the vehicles one abreast, so they were vulnerable-and once the lead and tail vehicles were taken out, they'd be immobilised. That was the reason why the ambush team was strewn over a couple hundred meters or so;well, that and the need to use only the best possible cover. The convoy was flanked on nearly it's entire length when a rocket fused from the rear positions and whooshed into the lead Humvee. The shot hadn't been ordered, but the man with the launcher must have panicked seeing how close to himself the ennemy vehicles were being allowed to get-one of the reasons the most trigger-happy and flitty troops were in the rear, in fact.
Mohammed and Alliou cursed simultaneously. The IVF lieutenant shouted a brief "A l'attaque!" into his mouthpiece and shifted slightly, in order to rbing the ennemy soldiers under the fire of his 7.65mm assault rifle, and began opening up with carefully aimed three-round bursts. All hell broke loose around the Elians, and a hail of automatic weapon fire rained among them while rockets were loosed at the vehicles and grenades exploded...

Jungles between Kango and Bouué

Lt Konaté lay face down by the side of the trail. The men around him were mostly hastily-trained ARG soldiers; if the ambush turned into a drawn-out, prolonged firefight, the Elians would probably win out. The ARG officer right next to him-although they had difficulty seeing each other, inside a bush as they were-however, was a good man, with service in the French foreign legion, and, although he was in his late thirties, Alliou was still physically fit. What worried him most was the helicopters; he hadn't actually seen any, but they'd heard some a couple of times. Hidden as they were, the choppers didn't see them, but a firefight would draw rotorcraft gunships like moths to a flame if any happened to wander by as they ambushed the supply convoy.That and the lack of sleep; most of the troops wern't used to marching all day(and par tof the early night) and then fighting after an hour or two of rest. Still, he thought they stood a good chance; they were unlikely to meet anything tougher than an IFV or so, and they could handle those with RPGs.

It was well past midnight when they could be sure the noise comming down the road was an Elian supply convoy. Mohammed and Alliou concerted quickly in whispers, then Alliou hissed "Attention!que personne ne tire sans mon ordre!" into his mic; nothing could ruin a carefully planned ambush faster than a trigger-happy youth, and there were more than a couple in the ARG's ranks. There wern't enough radio headsets for all, either, but the men who would lead fire teams that night (and Konaté's IVF fighters who'd be advising them) had them, in order to be able to co-ordinate. Using the radio meant making electronic noise,a dn there was a small chance it might be picked up, but the convoy was already to close to the ambush to be warned in time. The lead Humvee was already passing the first fire team, hidden deep in bush and undergrowth by the trail's side. Konaté could make out a quartet of armoured vehicles(Strykers, he thoguht they were) with his night-vision goggles-the lenses came with a cover affixed to shield them from the moonlight above, so he didn't fear reflexions-and a few more Humvees escorting the trucks, but the track here was narrow and only admitted the vehicles one abreast, so they were vulnerable-and once the lead and tail vehicles were taken out, they'd be immobilised. That was the reason why the ambush team was strewn over a couple hundred meters or so;well, that and the need to use only the best possible cover. The convoy was flanked on nearly it's entire length when a rocket fused from the rear positions and whooshed into the lead Humvee. The shot hadn't been ordered, but the man with the launcher must have panicked seeing how close to himself the ennemy vehicles were being allowed to get-one of the reasons the most trigger-happy and flitty troops were in the rear, in fact.
Mohammed and Alliou cursed simultaneously. The IVF lieutenant shouted a brief "A l'attaque!" into his mouthpiece and shifted slightly, in order to rbing the ennemy soldiers under the fire of his 7.65mm assault rifle, and began opening up with carefully aimed three-round bursts. All hell broke loose around the Elians, and a hail of automatic weapon fire rained among them while rockets were loosed at the vehicles and grenades exploded...

OOC: In the convoy, the vehicles will be quite well spaced out and the last Stryker will be quite a way behind the rest of the convoy to stop an ambush destroying every bit of escort in seconds.

Anyhow you've laid out a pretty textbook ambush and we'll probably take quite a few losses.

BTW the Stryker actually has a built in thermal imager so we'd see you coming but for RP's sake I'll assume they haven't been installed yet.

IC


Jungles between Kango and Bouué

The lead HMMWV exploded in a massive explosion that woke the driver and Commander of the Stryker Infantry Carrier from their states of semi-consciousness, brought on my the monotony of driving for hours in pitch darkness with only the red hues of the vehicle's inside's to keep them awake.

Immediately the Commander moved the joystick on the remote weapons station to the direction where the incoming tracer rounds were coming and he fired all the weapons at once, 40mm grenade rounds, smoke shells and .50 caliber ammunition flew into the trees indiscriminately.
Simultaneously he clicked on the headset, "Sierra Lima Four Two, under fire!" Immediately the entire convoy and GOTCOM would be aware of the situation. As the armoured vehicle braked hard to avoid colliding with the smoldering wreckage of their comrades the infantry inside came to their senses and in seconds they realised they would be out there fighting.

Suddenly there was a thump from outside as an RPG hit the underneath of the vehicle. Immediately fragments destroyed the drive train system and fragments ripped through the engine block. The Stryker was now immobile. The rear ramp then dropped and Marines ran out heading for the opposite side of the road to where the enemies where.

Further along in the middle of the convoy, two of the fuel laden supply trucks exploded in fireballs killing the crews instantly as RPGs streaked ominously over the convoy. The drivers of the 7 ton trucks then ran from their vehicles, also away from the enemy.
Just behind a pair of Strykers poured fired into the trees, the first one ten turned towards the tree line and accelerated forward to try and tank shock the guerillas.

A good hundred and fifty metres away, the fourth and last Stryker which had obviously not been spotted yet, stopped and unloaded its Marines who quickly headed towards the trees where they would advance on the enemy from their flank. Then it accelerated towards the stricken vehicles ahead, to lend assistance.

***

Twnety-Five miles West, the Air Force EA-22D (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=80790&highlight=) Gunship flew low over the treetops scanning the roadway with its thermal imaging devices. They were already half way through their four hour patrol and so far nothing out of the ordinary had occurred nor had it for the past four days.

In the right seat of the cockpit, as the co-pilot flew, the flight commander was just about to tell a joke over the intercom when a radio message came the radio message from the convoy came over the guard frequency.
Immediately he responded, "Sierra Lima Four Two, this is Game Warden Niner One, we are inbound to assist, ETA thirteen minutes."

The helicopter swung eastwards.

Battle of Okondja

The last skeet munition fell, it's upper ring of anti-personnel charges having gone off in a cluster of soldiers fighting hand-to-hand, slaying AC and Congolese soldier alike in a shower of gore. After that, it seemed that the main road had been taken by RAC and Lusakan forces, and General Shenedki was quick to order an assesment of damage done.

That he got. He stared dumbfounded at the NCO explaining to him that most of the armoured batallion was gone. Every single one of the L-2 Oliphant main battle tanks under his command had some stage of extensive hull damage, most torn clean apart with all crewmen dead. Thanks to their 'Warhammer' NVLS active intercept systems, all of the 10 MBT-3 Werewolf advanced assault tanks were intact, save one who launched it's intercept charge too late and lost a track. That being said, numerous A60 "Rhino" APCs and 1976-B BMPs were out of the fight for good, several haven taken direct hits with their infantry squads still aside, causing considerable carnage.

This would have been acceptable, if only any of his anti-air artillery systems actually done any damage. It would seem that neither the A72-mounted SA-19 GRISONs, nor the Avengers and their FIM92 Stingers had reached the bombers. "So you're telling me they got away scot free?". "Yes, superior." Shenedki gestured the man to call in Medevac and welders, while he fell into an anxious muse. The secular party would definitely not like this, and they were known to take out their displeasure in a very blunt and lethal manner. Nonetheless, he had to consolidate his position, and see what could be salvaged. Taken charge of the Lusakans arriving on the scene, he ordered them and the remains of his combined division into the offensive, determined to drive the 506th back to Middle Congo.

Kinshasa

After receiving mixed news from the front, the Secular Party let caution get the better of them, and laid pressure on a protesting Ndelebe to seek a ceasefire with the coalition. He is currently drafting a proposal, as well as contacting the roycelandian empire towards establishing some sort of negotiations with the UE invaders. More troops are ordered to the front, however, as AC is determined to increase it's commitment to the conflict if it is indeed unstoppable. Support for the conflict remains somewhat positive, and several demonstrations for pan-african unity and anti-imperialism were staged in Kinshasa and Mbandaka today by Commonwealth Lusakans and Commonwealthers alike!


OOC

A new militia division, the 71th Kikwit Guard, has been committed to guarding counterimperialist-held Gabon, along with the Light 150 auxillary tank formation. The 8th Engineer Core is moving further towards Okondja, along with a caravan of material thus far classified.

Franceville Airbase

The SOC ground crews had been very busy... one of the C-47s had been reconfigured to "Puff The Magic Dragon" status- ie two 20mm Gatling Guns, one firing out each cargo door on either side of the aircraft.

It had lifted off, along with two Spitfires, two Harriers, two Jetfires, and three MiG-21 flying escort. All were painted in the livery of the ALG, although the pilots and crew were Foreign Legionnaires.

One each of the Spitfires, Jetfires, and Mig-21s had been dedicated to "Target Acquisition" duties... flying along the AC Border at high speed (on the Gabonaise side, however) and marking the SAM positions as they lit up. In the event the planes were shot down (they did, however, have full ECM and Chaff/Flare systems), the pilots were under orders to either vanish into the Gabonaise Jungle and link up with the ALG, or use their cover stories as the pilots of an Humanitarian Aid Plane that had crashed in the area. None of the pilots was Roycelandian in origin, and numerous aid agencies had taken to trying to keep the supplies flowing into areas not under the influence of one side or the other....

The rest of the strike force was heading for Booue, to help flush out Counter-Imperialist Forces and generally provide a visible presence for the UE forces, who would no doubt be glad for some help...

*************************************
Encrypted Message to the African Commonwelath

It has come to our attention that the Security Situation in Gabon has deteriorated markedly over the previous couple of weeks.

Observers in Gabon have commented on a vastly increased number of African troops in the region, and simply geographic knowledge and logic dictates that the African Commonwealth must have noticed all these troops flooding into Gabon- they are almost certainly passing through AC territory, although not necessarily with the knowledge of the Secular Party.

As your own Analysts will be aware, the situation in Gabon is rapidly turning into a stalemate. The population have been shot, bombed, and napalmed, among other things, and Gabon is but one step away from Anarchy. In fact, the Imperial Security Bureau are of the firm opinion that Gabon can never be "de-occupied", as what little infrastructure existed has been completely destroyed and the population are reduced to surviving on Foreign Aid. Unofficial reports would indicate armed Guerrillas, Rebels, and Freedom Fighters numbering well into the thousands swarming throughout the jungles of Gabon, all with different agendas and varying levels of training, equipment, and armaments.

Even if the Coalition and the Counter-Imperialist Forces can cease their fighting in Gabon, it his highly likely that one of the many Rebel Forces in the country would simply take advantage of the power vacuum and either instal themselves as the Government, or worse, resort to a Warlord-esque situation, as seen in Somalia.

Roycelandia is of the firm belief that the best way to end the situation in Gabon is to set up a New Government- one with a Ruling Council made up of United Elian, Roycelandian, African Commonwealth, Rhodesian, Cirdani, Lusakan, and Congolese Representatives, with a "Puppet" Gabonaise Leader (who would have no real power at all) and popularly elected Gabonaise MPs. Admittedly, this would mean that Gabon was an occupied Nation, but as no-one has heard from the Gabonaise Government in quite some time it seems the best choice for the Gabonaise people.

Naturally, the new Government will award generous concessions to all Nations involved in the Conflict, perhaps with an "Imperialist" West and a "Counter-Imperialist" East, at least nominally.

As always, we are interested in your thoughts...

[signed] Foreign Minister Jeff Lebowski, Port Royal, Roycelandia

Libreville, Goabonese Coast

The Elian answer was effective, and the protestors waivered for an instant-but only an instant. The man with the loudspeaker shouted back:
"Oui, nous sommes tellement libre qu'on nous impose un dictateur qui n'a de cesse de se chacher, tellement il a peur de son propre peuple! Nous sommes tellement libre qu'on nous ôte notre petrole, que l'on n'a pas voix au chapitre alors que nos institutions, nos acquis sociaux, sont demembrés! que des troupes etrangères nous occupent sans en demander l'autorisation! Vous-mêmes vous savez que l'on veut decider de notre avenir sans nous! Rendez le pouvoir au peuple!"
The tirade drew applause-not the shower the orator ahd hoped for, but a fair ammount nonetheless-and the crowd drew up facing the barricades...
"Livrez-nous Janvier!mort au boucher!" someone shouted. Others took up the cry, and the crowd began to grow restless...

OOC

Note that both of the events below happen at the same time, and will probably spark off some(if not a lot) chaos.

A bit harsh, I know, but my air defense takes no chances these days - They were warned, after all.. ;)





Encrypted message, sent to the Roycelandian authority in REA, Port Imperial

The Secular Party respects and credits the Roycelandian good intentions of establishing a ruling council, but will not lend it's support before we can be certain that such a conglomerate will respect the plight of the Gabonaise people, and not just the foreign interests their representatives are all to likely to favour.

The troop movements that have been happening is conducted with the aid and support of the Commonwealth Armed Forces, as we feel both ourselves and Lusaka has a commitment to aid the Gabonaise populace against foreign agression. We can no longer say we believe that United Elias is here only to settle a score with the terror network GLA.

When a full draft of the function of such a council and the representatives chosen to serve in it complete, the AC will SUPPORT such a proposal.

On the Gabonaise border

The Yak-44E AWACS craft picked up the emissions from the approaching Roycelandian aircraft, and could not detect a familiar radar emission. EW station IV on the border was promptly notified.

Remembering the recent havoc caused by high-profile UEAF stealth missiles, the EAW personnel sounded a full alarm. Sending in multiple wavelengths, they notified the approaching aircraft of their growing problems.

"This is RCAF outpost IV. You have but minutes to identify yourself or withdraw from the Gabonaise border. I repeat, you have but minutes. We are under orders to shoot down any unidentified military planes nearing the border."

In the event that the RAF pilots return home or do not identify themselves(if they do, they will be warned of their forthcoming death). No matter what, hell will break loose. Patriots, AV-400s and S-300s are the least of the pilots worries, as 15 F15-E and 15 F/18 Hornets are scrambled to destroy them with extreme prejudice.

The Spitfire pilot, receiving the transmission, enacted OPCONT protocols and aborted the target acquisition mission, heading instead to Booue.

The Jetfire and the MiG-21, however, continued on course, trying to locate the source of the Radar Lock and the Transmission...

Border airspace

The transmission, which pilots may or may not know is comign from an electronic warfare station(come to think of it, they won't know), is coming well behind the AC border. If they move to pinpoint the signal, they will already have been engaged by F/18-borne ASRAAMs and AV-400/S-300 logn range SAMs.

Realising that to continue would involve either a fiery death or a long and unpleasant Jungle Trek to safety. The two pilots also abort, and head for Booue... any forces still left in Booue will be very unpleasantly surprised...

OOC: Sorry I haven't posted for quite a while so I think I ought to say what our involvement is now.

The government has been dragging its feet on a decision and we have been steadily withdrawing our forces back to the Zulu One airfield in Middle Congo where there X-Ray One in Gabon were evacuated back to MC quite a while ago.


Operations Command, Zulu-One Airbase, Middle Congo

Colonel Harris addressed his fellow officers who were seated on a row of fold up chairs behind a projector, a map of Eastern Gabon on the screen.

"Okay, the Congolese unit was attacked at this point here." He points his cane at the road between Franceville and Okondja, just North of the Lekoni river crossing, "all we know is that there are several thousand troops up there and they are facing a group of well trained enemy soldiers, most likely Lusakan," There was a murmur of disgust, "we also know that an air strike but UE's stealth planes destroyed much of the enemy's armour and caused large amounts of casualties however the Congolese will no doubt be defeated unless we can assist. What I propose is a massive air assault using the considerable combined strength of the helicopter force here and we use it to airlift thousands of our infantry in there, hopefully forcing the enemy to retreat."

The other officers whispered to each other, many of them rather shocked at the stupidity of the plan.

"Sir, what air defences do they have in the area?"

"We believe that they have several short range SAM systems in the area, you will be flying at treetop level though so your main threat will be small arms."

"When do we go?"

"Dusk, that gives you six hours to prepare, get moving." The colonel then departed and the officers sprang to their feet, most fearing that today might be their last ever mission briefing.

OOC: Roycelandia, UE and MC assume you have been told about our plan so you can organise some sort of air support if possible.

Time had rolled on. Roycelandian MiGs were aggressing on anti-imperialist efforts, not that City yet knew it for sure. Still, AFRISAM was arriving in force. Flying below 15,000m in eastern Gabon now meant taking on modern SAMs apart from the AC coverage. Lusaka's first native-build SAM system was arriving in force. Anything from the treetops to near 15,000m over eastern Gabon was fair game to the new system arrived with the renewed support of the Commonwealth. This was no SA-4- a little electronic interference wouldn't render this terminal, semi-Radar guidance system useless. This was exactly what AFRISAM was built for, and batteries continued to trickle into the combat zone. 28km out, near 15km up, eastern cities were fortified by a modern system probably unexpected by opposing forces used to facing ancient SA-4s and the like.

Of course, deploying so many near 1st world ability SAMs to Gabon meant that Lusaka was slow t o benefit, but then, if anyone attacked the UARL it'd mean total war and the unleashing of millions of Africans upom REA, R&N, and Al Khals' oil fields. Igomo had gambled that no one would dare attack his home soil, moving its best air defence systems up to the front in Gabon.

With AC support confirmed, who could stop millions of Lusakans from simply swamping imperialist positions in the tiny Republic Gabonaise? At Booué attackes intensified more than ten fold, and Lusakans absolutely flooded over the AC border, bayonets glinting on their cheap M58/66A1(L) rifles- "not so obsolete when we have sixty for every opposing barrel!" Thought General Tendyala.

Sure, UE stealth planes had more than 75%? 90%? Chance of making a sortie and returning to the west coast, but what good was one bobmer aginst a hundred thousand infantry men in its area of influence? AFRISAM would make its mission all the more risky, too.

Igomo was going to make the imperialists come to him for negotiation, not the other way around- thus far all he'd asked of his allies was that they co-operate with his farmers. If Plan B didn't work, Plan C called for millions of communists to descend upon Southern Africa with modern arms- the local governments must have known that, and must surely have been keen to avoid it.

Igomo wore a wide smile today.

Lastoursville, South-Eastern Gabon

Several thousand Imperial Guard had been deployed to Lastoursville, Franceville, and several of the smaller villages, ostensibly for "Peacekeeping". Emperor Heavy Tanks, Meerkat Light Tanks, and Iroquois Choppers had all been deployed, along with some 155mm Howitzers and Anti-Tank guns to ward of the Lusakan Advance.

If the Lusakans attacked Lastoursville, they'd meet very heavy resistance... Not to mention running the risk of a declaration of War by Roycelandia, although ideally that situation would be best avoided since the casualties on both sides would make Stalingrad look like a bumper-to-bumper car accident.

Franceville Airbase

SOC scrambed another three MiG-21s, two Harriers, two Spitfires, and two Jetfires to assist the Rhodesian helicopter assault. All were in the livery of the ALG, although it must have been getting obvious by now that for a rag-tag army, the ALG had some very good training and equipment...

As they met up with the Rhodesian Helicopter Assault squadron, the Roycelandian aircraft waggled their wings and waved to the soldiers.

Some of them no doubt would have been surprised to see the IAe Spitfires lagging well behind the rest of the escort, but if Commander Dolvich's plan worked, they would be very, very useful...

Somewhere in the coasts along Libreville, 4 Sicrati Seahawk helicopters take off from the Empire class BBG's. Flying towards the Presidential Palace in Libreville, the following was sent to the Elias authority in Libreville

4 Seahawk helicopters are on their way to assist you with the suppression of the mob that is currently gathering strength near the presidential palace. If you wish otherwise send word. The helicopters, of course, will not fire upon the protestors, unless required too.

Somewhere in the coasts along Libreville, 4 Sicrati Seahawk helicopters take off from the Empire class BBG's. Flying towards the Presidential Palace in Libreville, the following was sent to the Elias authority in Libreville

4 Seahawk helicopters are on their way to assist you with the suppression of the mob that is currently gathering strength near the presidential palace. If you wish otherwise send word. The helicopters, of course, will not fire upon the protestors, unless required too.

[OOC: Lusaka, you may have missed the information in my huge and under-paragraphed post :oops: my apologies if os, but you were offered direct military aid. or maybe you just didn't get around to posting an answer, but i want to make sure you're aware of the offer ;) i'd hate to have typed all that for nothing ;)
UE-oh, i was not aware of the Stryker's IR scope. But your troops shouldn't relly on it overmuch, since in a tropical jungle fooling thermal imaging systems is not overly difficult, and in some seasons the rnage to which you could detect troops with it would be severely curtailed.]

Any protestors outside the Presidential Palace will find themselves being held back at bayonet-point by the Imperial Guard. Their Mk III Lee-Enfield rifles are loaded with Rubber Bullets (yes, they do make Rubber Bullets in .303 calibre...), but it is only a matter of swapping magazines to put Live Rounds on the menu. The protestors had best behave themselves... :D

Internal Military Bulletin: Gabonaise theatre
(Is a 100% secret IC within the AC, but is meant to give an OOC heads-up of the exact number of troops I have inside Gabon and on the border)

Border garrisons, 8000 militia soldiers, primarily out of the central militia barracks, Mbandaka. AT/AA capacity to some degree, decent training, good morale and good equipment. Currently guarding airstrips and SAM sites.

Border Airstrips/SAMs: 14 MIM-104-C Patriot systems, 4 MIM-A Patriots, 10 AV-400 launchers, 10 S-300 launchers. Numerous scattered 80mm AA cannons. All on full alert, only letting allied craft pass unmolested.

Airstrips containing:
150 DAH gunships near the border;
Two anti-air invasion/ground attack fighter wings(15 F/18 Hornets, 15 F15-E) on the border;
Way behind the AC border is another strip with fighters that can reach the border: 15 SU-47K 'Switchblade' fighter-bombers and 30 F15-E Strike Eagles.

the sorry remains of Combined Division IV - 100 'Avenger' configured HMMWVs, 2 L-2 Oliphants, 10 MT-3 Werewolf assault tanks(one with track damage), 4 ADI-A72 AAA tracks and 1971 mechanized infanterists. Crack troops with advanced equipment(AA/AT capable), faltering morale, currently on retreat back to field HQ in Okondja.

'The light 150' - auxillary tank division, 150 ADI-A1 "Blackhawk" light battle tanks, guarding checkpoints and major roads inside Lusakan-held Gabonaise, along with the Kikwit militia, 4000 men with irregular training and decent equipment.

8th Engineer core: 500 engineers and labourers, currently setting up fortifications and material of an unknown character in Okondja.

Some 1300 men of the elite M'Gharne special forces, ranger division. Currently loitering near Okondja, waiting for the material needed to fulfil their next mission.

An unknown number of civilian drivers, carriers etc. on caravans and manning supply trucks.

As news of the impending Rhodesian Air Assault reached GOTCOM, a Global Hawk was immediately vectored overhead and flying at 67,000ft it would be well out of range of the enemy air defences.

However it seemed that the AC troops were retreating...

That would depend. If the Global Hawk were as much as nearing the retreating IV combined division, Hornets and Strike Eagles would be scrambled to blow it out of the stratosphere.

Meanwhile, General Shenedki and what personnel and material he had left were retreating for their lives to the Okondja field HQ..

South of Okondja

Flying just fifty feet above the jungle canopy, the Rhodesian helicopter assault approached the road where the Middle Congolese forces had been ambushed. The formation wa massive and during the next few hours, over a thousand Light Infantry and Selous Scouts would be inserted directly into the area.

Now just miles from the area, they knew that the enemy forces were reteating but nonetheless they would have to fight at least the remnants and then they wpudl have to seucre the area during a probable enemy counter-attack.

The assault itself consisted of three disitinct flights, the first 'Black' was made up of eighteen RCH-2 Attack helicopters (modified Rooivalk) and sixteen Gazelle light helicopters armed with TOW anti-tank missiles. Their job was to quickly trackdown and destroy enemy air defences and armour.

The second flight, 'White' was the main assault force and consited off forty two UH-1H helicopters each carrying 10 light infantrymen, twenty RH-85 (Rhodesian buitl Super Puma) assault helicopters carrying 20 infantrymen each and armed with rocket and finally twelve Gazelle light helicopters with minigun pods to provide the supressing fire.

The third flight, 'Blue' was the support element and flew a good ten miles behind, in it were two Westland Wessex command helicopters, eight CH-46 transport helicopters carrying ammuntion and twelve UH-1N medevac choppers.

Miles from Okondja

Hanging onto a MEDEVAC-configured A60 APC, Gen. Shenedki gestured for the driver to stop as the 1976-A BMP pulled up to his side, one of the radar officers gesturing excitedly. "What is it, radar officer? You must be aware that hostile troops can be here any minute." "They are, superior. The tall air radar array is picking up numerous unidentified aircraft, likely rotary gunships." "Is that so? DIVISION HALT!". On Shenedki's shouted order, the remains of the combined division IV stopped and scattered. Following Shenedki's hurriedly-laid plan, the mechanized infanterists scattered into the jungle canopy, lying deadly still except for gun crews who quickly set up what HMGs, mortars and RPGs the company had left.

Recalling the anti-air brigade from Okondja(100 'Avenger'-SAM configured HMMWVs and 4 ADI-A72 anti air artillery tracks), the general ordered them to let all missiles rip against the approaching radar blips. A total of 8 SA-19 GRISON SAMs and 50 FIM-92 'Stingers' comprised the first volley. If the helicopter strike force did not turn back after the casualties these SAMs would cause, another 150 Stingers could be fired within seconds, and another 8 SA-19s could quickly be reloaded by the A72 AAA tracks' auto-loaders. Utilizing the 'tall air' arrays on the modified 1976-A and Werewolf-towed HUD displays, each missile could be programmed and laser-guided to find a separate target, looking for the individual helicopter's thermal signature.

After that, the 4 A72 tracks had a total of 16 32mm AA cannons, and more Stingers and RPGs were being set up in the jungle by the mechanized company. The rest just kept silent, waiting for any and all infantry and armour that might be spill from the downed helicopters



EDIT: Got the number of 32mm guns on the A72 tracks wrong. It's 16, not 8.

(ooc: Hm, sorry, missed that, Cirdanistan, I'll have to go back and look later when I'm not rushing. Lusaka is currently in the middle of a big campaign at home focused on new vouchers and the agricultural drive- we're mainly seeking any help we can get to make repossessed commercial farms (many formerly ethnic-Roycelandian owned) more efficient, as millions of Lusakan subsistence farmers are being persuaded to join-up, meaning that they suddenly need feeding, which they previously did for themselves, and their families may also need help (hence the vouchers that let families of servicemen claim so much food back from the commercial farms- of course Lusaka's 100% income tax means that currency has long since been withdrawn and people can't just nip down the supermarket (especially if they were subsistence farmers anyway and never had an income on which to be taxed)). In truth new tractors, harvesters, fertilisers, and so on are more important than guns and rockets. Our capacity to produce them hasn't been touched, and with the likes of AFRISAM our know-how and abilities are actually expanding. Oh, I keep forgetting to be clear about the eastern towns under Lusakan protection- Igomo would welcome Cirdanistani aid there. Lusaka is letting eastern Gabon run itself precisely as it would have before the invasion, but has most of its resources focused on defence, and with Libreville out of contact with the eastern towns, there's likely an admin breakdown of some degree- help in keeping life running as normal would be surely welcomed by the locals, too (the invaders may claim to be allowing that, but they've removed/arrested/killed elected officials and caused the break-down of all sorts of national systems, Lusaka has not).)

South/Eastern Gabon

With the UARL on full war-footing and AC properly supporting Lusaka's large human and material commitment, and with lines of supply good and steady thanks to said support, a little coherence was beginning to threaten the Army of Lusaka! Commanders in one unit sometimes even knew what near-by formations were doing, and where they were supposed to go. Revolutionary!

Tendyala had gleefully thrown out his new AFRISAM Battalions, sending home many of the surviving SA-3 and 9 units with the conclusion of first tours of duty. SA-4 still hung-around to provide some higher altitude coverage, but the General was keen to encourage the Commonwealth to chance more forward deployments of its own more advanced high-altitude SAMs- AFRISAM would keep them safe at low altitude and whole battalions of Lusakan regulars could be assigned to boost protection on the ground, if so desired.

Shilka ZSU-23-4s were now being attached to AFRISAM Battalions and directly to even small convoys.

Across the theatre, Lusakan AFRISAM units began to chip-in against hostile aircraft- anything now identified as Commonwealth would be shot at. AFRISAM's approximate 28km range radiated from points in Lusakan-protected Gabonaise towns in the east, as far as Ovan and the eastern outskirts of Booué to the west, and now down to near Okandja. Along with its improved Long Track and native Scavenger radar components, AFRISAM now constituted the primary concern of Lusakan military industry- a formidable thing, much as certain imperialists might like to think of it as still a cottage industry.

Ogooué river- near Lastoursville

Here and there, east of the reportedly Roycelandian-occupied town, Lusakans had crossed the river, usually by aid of BMP-2 ICVs or OT-62B APCs. A few LRAC BMP-3 were also on hand, along with AFRISAM launch vehicles and OT-62-mounted Scavenger radar. The only problem was that Olifant tanks, 130mm artillery guns, and Long Track radar were not amphibious. Still, BMP-3 had a 100mm gun not to be laughed at, 130mm artillery guns could attack from miles away, and Lusaka's improved Long Track saw up to 150km from its station. The army would cope, still glad to know that bridging vehicles were on their way with more support now that SAM coverage was reasonably good, and the radar net thick.

A BMP-3 flying a mess of flags -two white on the front corners, a Lusakan and a Gabonaise from the rear two corners- approached the occupied town. The vehicle's commander was visible almost to the waist, sitting up in his turret, and Gabonaise clung to the outside of the vehicle while both nationalities filled the interior.

The commander, newly created a Major in the LRAC, was here to meet locals and Roycelandian peace keepers or whatever they were, ahead of the arrival of Lusakan and Gabonaise Republican forces.
The Gabonaise under Lusakan protection had been enjoying the continued administration of the officials they freely elected before UE's invasion, and were here now as free citizens of the Republic in pursuit of contact with their countrymen under different protection. The Lusakans on the other hand were here to set up a local embassy of sorts, from which they might improve the co-ordination of the multi-national protection being afforded the Republic during its unprovoked invasion.

The Lusakans were not apparently here for a fight, but to boulster the democracy's security in the absence of UN forces to resist the UE invasion.

The 4 Seahawks descend onto the Presidential Palace, flying protectives loops around it. Occaisonally a Seahawks would stray and do a flyover of the mob, hopefully shaking it up some.

[OOC: Lusaka, by 'direct' i meant troops-just to clarifiy.As for administration, management, food, etc..i'm fairly sure we can send it(except possibly food, of which we are alreadya major importer)-but Cirdanistan has democratic accountability to worry about-something the other participants in this RP are more or less exempt from, to varying degrees-and with the mentality i like to RP the Cirdanis as having, my government won't be willing to send civillians into the kind of war this is if we don't have troops on the ground; also, we havn't (yet) had to close a look into the humanitarian situation in eastern Gabon, although if we deploy troops there we will.]

Jungles between Kango and Bouué

One of the ennemy IVFs opened up on the fire team that had hit the ennemy's lead vehicle. The machine-gun bullets would probably be ineffective against the defiladed troops, but the grenades he swa explode were a different matter entirely...an RPG-7 streaked out of the jungle and hit the Stryker low on the hull, immobilising it but not silencing it. He saw two fuel trucks explode, dazzling him for a time, but they lit up the ennemy, helping the ARG find their targets-but the escorts still should have been taken out first. Next to him he heard Alliou shout into his mike "Les blindés, visez les blindés, bordel!". His vision cleared and he saw two more strykers charging into the trees at the atatckers; they didn't have enough room to pick up speed if they were trying to batter their way into the jungle away from the path and the trees halted them, but movement todl him at least one of them had flushed out one of the Armée Rouge Gabonaise's fire teams. Then the ramp on the IFV immobilise dahead of him came down, and adjusted the first man out, firing a three-round burst-carefully compensating his aim for the man's movement-but he couldn't shoot them all, they were coming out to fast. Elsewhere he could see that Elian troops were pouring out of their vehicles also....he turned to Alliou and said: "On les fauche?"
"Ouais!"
He switched his assault rifle onto full auto and opened up, sweeping the advancing Elians from side to side while Alliou did the same, and the two ARG fighters nearby joined in with thier own automatic weapons; a LMG off to the left added it's own fire to the wall of bullets that greeted the marines. Elsewhere, the other squads of invaders faced the same barrage of fire and metal from troops hoping to wipe them out, or at least seriously weaken them, before any survivors would ahve to be finished off hand-to-hand under the trees...
[OOC: the fourth Stryker still hasn't been spotted as the attackers are occupied with the fighting at hand ;) ]

Libreville, Gabonese Coast
The leaders of the protest faced a dilemna: to calm the crowd would be a betrayal, but to attack the Elians with the forces in presence would be a grave tactical error. So they wavered, hesitating...then four choppers swept low over the crowd, before coming in behind the occupiers. Many of the protesters stopped calling for Janvier's head, instead worrying what the helicopters were doing...

The helicopters continue flying patrol over the Palace. They occasionally overflew the immediate areas around the Presidential Palace to check on the progess of the mob. A radio message was sent from the pilots of the craft to the Presedential Palace officials:

We are ready to evacuate any important personel you wish to excavate from the current situation. Just give the word.

Lastoursville, South Eastern Gabon

The ROYCESTAR II Satellite had picked up on the Lusakan advance long before they reached Lastoursville. It had also picked up the White Flags of Truce on the foremost Tank, and the information was passed onto the Peacekeeping HQ in Franceville.

Suffice it to say, by the time the Lusakan Major arrived at the outskirts of Lastoursville, he was greeted by a Meerkat Light Tank, maybe a dozen Imperial Guards (Red Coats, Pith Helmets, and all!), and a large but non-threatening number of Lastoursville residents, all armed with an array of weapons ranging from Martini-Henrys and Shotguns through to Lee-Enfields, AK-47s, various handguns, and even a couple of Minimi LMGs.

The most Senior Imperial Guardsman present- also a Major, with some Campaign Ribbons visible on his tunic- raised a Loud Hailer and addressed the Lusakan soldiers.

"Ahoy There! I am Major Timothy Farrell of the Roycelandian Imperial Guard. Your arrival is not unexpected, and we shall respect your Flag of Truce. I must warn you, the area you are entering is under the protection of the Roycelandian Empire and any attempt to change that will have dire consequences. Now, with the formalities out of the way, What brings you here?"

South of Okondja

The aircraft flying escort with the Rhodesians were at varying altitudes, ranging from 60ft above the trees to 16,000ft. All the aircraft were equipped with mixed ordnance (ie Air to Surface and Air to Air), except for the Spitfires that were loaded purely with their 20mm Cannon, .50 cal MGs, and Napalm Rockets.

The had no idea that they were facing the AA defences of the African Commonwealth, but no matter... their bullets and rockets would turn the SAM defences into scrap metal just the same... (hopefully :D)

Presidential Palace, Libreville

Still the Imperial Guard stood firm, bayonets fixed. Their orders were not to fire unless fired upon, and even then they were to aim to incapacitate.

Tear Gas Cannisters were made ready, just in case, but the Imperial Guard had lots of practice dealing with riots, and they held their ground.

Jungles between Kango and Bouué

The EA-22D Gunship swung over the treetops at about two hundred feet in altitude. Through their NVGs the pilots could see the fourth Stryker and ahead of it the other vehicles some burning fiercely and others maneuvering to attack the enemies.

Immediately the co-pilot flicked on the FLIR turret and an image popped up on the digital display, sure enough there were heat plumes from the trees. Immediately the helicopter descended and the Aircraft Commander brought it parallel to the road before firing off 70mm fin stabilised rockets, in barrages, straight into the enemy positions. There were blinding flashes down below from the explosions as they flew over, the crew chiefs spraying the area with their miniguns.

On the ground, soldiers were mostly in cover on the opposite side of the road as the chopper made its first attack run and it had been just in time, the volume of hostile fire from the trees was increasing and several casualties had already been sustained. As the explosions ripped apart the ambushers, some of the Marines broke cover to rescue their comrades from burning vehicles.

South of Okondja

General Shenedki noted with content that the first 38 missiles had fixed on targets, as the other 20 whooshed overhead from the low altitude air defense brigade behind him. Then he saw the new blips appearing. "What the devil is that?" "Jets, superior. Looks like Mig or Spitfires by the speed of those there, but I can't be sure - Those in the front might even be a VTOL jet of some sort.". At first, Shenedki paused... Spitfires he could handle, but advanced jets complicated matters. He ordered another 100 Stingers trained on the incoming jets, to be fired as soon as they were within the 10,000 meter range. Then, realizing that might not be enough, he called in air support.

RCAF airstrip #22, Gabonaise border

The pilot cursed.. Why did everything fail near test time? He finally got his Hornet online as his orders crackled in from centcom. "Hornet wing, test is off. Combined Division IV is approached by assault helicopters and fighter jets. Abort test and move to intercept, this is not a drill. I repeat, this is NOT a..". 'Thank God it works, now' he whispered, and went on to recite the Mshat under his breath. He looked at the other F/A-18 take off, and wondered if they would make it. Sure they would, he corrected himself mentally... It's just a couple of jets, right?

OOC

Once the wing(15) of F/A-18 Hornets are close enough, they will let rip with AIM-120 AMRAAM at the Harriers and Jetfires(perceived to be the most maneurable on their radar and thus the greatest threat), before moving on. I will make a post about the dogfight once we get so far.

As soon as the On-Board Systems received confirmation of Stinger Launches, the pre-arranged plans went into action.

The Aircraft fired off some of their ECM systems, and the Spifires dived on the Launch Sites, rockets, cannon, and guns blazing.

One of the Spitfires was clipped by a Stinger after launching all his ordnance at one of the Stinger Launchers, and spiralled out of control into the troops that were shooting at it, exploding spectacularly in a hail of fire, wreckage, and debris.

Some of those on the ground would swear they saw an Ejection Seat and a parachute just before the impact, but they would have more important things to worry about when the F/A-18s arrived and the dogfight ensued...

South of Okondja

"Bail out! Oh god, bail out!". The screams alerted Shenedki to the seriousness of the situation as one of the Avenger systems was covered in Napalm. Two half-covered troopers fled out, and the saturated jungle air quickly burned them to cinders. Thankfully, the ADI-A72 AAA tracks were intact, and 16 32mm AA cannons were now rattling off a hail of shells at dive-attacking Spitfires(and Migs/Jetfires?) who thought they were only finding Stinger launchers. More SA-19 were fired and loaded to their racks to bring down high-flying Harriers, Jetfires and Migs.

Shenedki ordered his troops to remain calm and throw any and all ATGMs and RPGs at the incoming helicopters. Even as men died inside their HMMWVs, the infanterists spread out with practiced ease and levelled old RPGs, ADI-issue HEAP launchers and some manpad Stingers at the skies.

Meanwhile, the surviving(approx. 100 of them, it appears to on-looking pilots?) Avengers scooted. Their Stingers were still effective at this range, but they were sitting ducks if they stayed with the Division. Driving north at cruising speed, they kept firing Stingers against the Spitfires, Harriers, Jetfires and Migs(All systems have at least 6 Stingers left, each.).



OOC

Casualties thus far:
3 Avenger Systems, HMMWV, crew and all.
9 infanterists.

Rhodesia>> 50 Stingers and 8 SA-19 are still heading towards separate helicopters in your first two strike forces. Please respond!

Roycelandia>> AA support... Never leave home without it ;)

Jungles Between Kango and Bouué
The first barrage of fire had forced the Elians to take cover, but as Mohammed slapped a new clip into his rifle, he heard the rotor of the approaching helicopter. He turned, and saw the silhouette against the moon-and dived as rockets streaked out of the gunship's sides and into the ground. The earth seemed to shake under him, and he heard men cry out. He shouted into his mic, calling upon the troops to fire back; the ambush team should have had two SA-16s, but the man carrying one of them was dead and the other forgot to wait for his missile to lokc on before firing it, and it headed harmlessly into a tree. Alliou next to him wa sinjured, and mohammed knew when he was beaten. He ordered the ARG men to fire a last volley of RPGs, throw all the grenades and explosives they had at the convoy, and run.

South of Okondja

As the first wave approached the enemy positions under Roycelandian air cover, warning alarms sounded in every one of the helicopters as a massive barrage of Stinger missiles streaked upwards. Fortunately the RCH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopters were fitted with countermeasures and simultaneously they sprayed the entire area with flares, lighting up the darkening sky and hopefully defelceting most of the missiles. At the same time they descended, often so that all but the main rotors was below the treeline thus minimising their chances of being hit.
Suddenly though there were explosions as four of the attack helicopters were hit and the crews killed instnatly. A smaller and manouvreable Gazzelle was also hit and the pilots immedialtely put it into an autorotation as they struggled to find a place to put down the helicopter.
A minute later when the initia wave of SAMs had done their damage, the attack helicopters lifted above the trees and their FLIRs immediately locked onto enemy Avenger vehicles a few miles away. The sky lit up again as Hellfire and TOW missiles were unleashed

Several miles away in the assault flight, the helicopters also performed evasive action as the troops aboard prepared to be inserted directly into the fight. At the flank of the formation a single Stinger found its way to a UH-1H and destroyed it in midair.

South of Okondja

The Remaining Roycelandian Aircraft took advantage of the mass ECM deployment to avoid the remaining stingers. The surviving Spitfire dived from the sun onto the AC positions, firing away with everything it had.

Meanwhile, the MiGs, Harriers, and Jetfires were trying to avoid the hail of AA fire and run a radar scan for incoming fighters- they couldn't be far away, not with this sort of Air Operation going on...

approx. 20 miles Northeast of the fray, altitude 12,052 metres in the air

The 15 F/A-18 craft soared through the air, readying themselves for the coming confrontation. Initiating agression, 8 of the Hornets fired their Aim-120 'Slammer' AMRAAM (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/aim-120.htm), one at each of the Migs and Jetfires, two at each of the Harriers. Afterwards, they prepped their M61 'Vulcan' cannons and auxillary SR and MR AAM for confronting the Roycelandian jets they knew would see them coming...

At the jungle battle, south of Okondja:
-Jungle canopy, site of the beleaguered 88th Mechanized infantry regiment

Incendiaries and hails of gunfire pinned down much of the mechanized infantry, but respite was being bought, albeit at a dear price. "Steady... Steady.." Shenedki cautioned, an entire regiment straining to aim HEAP-2s and RPG-7s at the helicopters spiraling directly overhead. "...Steady...FIRE!" At once, a dozen RPG and HEAP shells sought to bring down the helicopters already distracted by the powerful AA artillery from the ADI-A72s and retreating Avengers.

Nearby, the last operative Avenger system hauled rubber out of the firezone, and Shenedki boarded it, reasoning that prudent withdrawals are the better part of valor. Looking ahead, he saw the Avenger batallion commander(Chief Spec. Sergeant Kojo, as he seemed to remember?) making an awesome, if costly decision.

-North of the firezone

Chief Spec. Sergeant Kojo was screwed. Several more systems were now torn apart by enemy air support, and more losses ticked in by the minute. He didn't know which he was more afraid of: Losing the life many brave soldiers(including, perhaps, his own) and costly HMMWV material to a combined airstrike by colonialist air forces to drive them away and win the battle, or retreating and explaining his loss to the Secular Party. Feeling the icy fingers of fear at the thought of what the secret police would undoubtedly do to him if he chose the latter option, he took a bold decision, ordering every Avenger system to brake up and fire a pair of stingers, before scooting at maximum speed to safety in the Okondja field HQ.

At that order, 190 fresh Stingers launched and quickly locked on to individual targets in the sky, approximately 50% at the high-flying Roycelandian aircraft, and 50% at the low-altitude Roycelandian helicopters(Kojo recognized that friendly casualties might be the result of this, but knew it would be worth the cost to wreak the destruction the Stingers would on the low-altitude rotary gunships and transport helicopters).

Back in the Jungle...

Recognizing the havoc the newly arriven enemy airforces were doing, most troopers were retreating to their 1976-B BMPs and the more heavily-armoured A60 "Rhino" APCs so as to better avoid stray shrapnel and incendiary rounds. The mechanized infantry retreated from the initial Rhodesian deployment, covered by a hundred and three ADI-42 "Black Rain" 20mm HMGs. Once the line had been withdrawn, they received order to dig in and set up mortars and HMGs.

Salahbad, coast of Al Khals near the Lusakan border

The IPP rally in the secularly governed republic’s spiritual heart, one of the most holy sites in the whole country, was anarchic. A short burst of fire, the source unidentified, had felled local cleric Khaldun Al Din, Islamic Progress chief Amal Abeid’s right hand man. Though there was much panic no further attacks befell the gathering.

Republican Central Command, Via’di’arl

“...yes, that rumour can be confirmed, Khaldun Al Din was killed by the type of bullet... a 7.62x39mm bullet... used by the Lusakan army.”

“Lindi Chronicle, is it not true that the VZ58 assault rifle used by the Al Khali army and the Republican Guard is also chambered for...”

Al Haqiqa Al Khals- Lindi journalist sold secrets to Lusaka; Chronicle editor a Jew

A more important news item printed and broadcast by the Al Haqiqa Al Khals agency concerned Al Khali incursion into Lusakan territory, explained as having resulted from the professional assassination by Lusakan agents of Muslim cleric and opposition politician Khaldun Al Din. 730 Squadron (MiG-25R) had reportedly flown high speed reconnaissance missions over the eastern end of the Rufiji river to assess Lusakan cross-border military disposition and to pin-down the current location of the Al Khali-built frigate Tabora. Extra elements of the army and Republican Guard were confirmed moving north from Via’di’arl province to Morogoro province, from where the Lusakan city of Ifakara was visible over the border-marking river. It was hinted that Air Force squadrons recently shifted south to the Mozambique frontier were to return north to their former posts and designations.

(OOC: This is not done unilaterally (ooc)- Lusaka needs a way out of the Gabon war, after all.)

Jungles Between Kango and Bouué

The EA-22D swung around in midair as it came back for another attack run on the ambushing enemy, but to their surprise the FLIR was showing the rebels retreating back into the rainforest having clearly taken too many casualties. However another round of RPGs had also be fired rather inaccurately towards the road so the soldiers were too busy keeping their heads down to notice the enemy was fleeing. Nevertheless the attack was pressed home this time with the two pivoting minigun mounts which literally racked the area with 7.62 rounds. Then the Aircraft Commander keyed his mike, “Sierra Lima Four, this is Game Warden Niner One, we have the enemy soldiers withdrawing to the North, repeat enemy forces withdrawing."

On the ground, the crews of the remaining Strykers immediately felt relief that the extreme risk was over. However for the Marine infantrymen, it was an opportunity to take prisoners and gain intelligence on their attackers. They regrouped from behind their cover and some of the teams then dashed across the road to sneak up on the retreating enemy and capture a few stragglers.

Further up the road where the fourth Stryker had dropped its rifle team, the unit was on the enemy’s flank and they hoped that at least one or two Gabonese might run in the wrong direction and surrender, the circling helicopter gunship would certainly be a persuader.

East of Port Gentil

The four EA-135A Joint Tacitcal Fighters patrolled over the jungle waiting for a threat to emerge and sure enough an AWAC reported that enemy fighters had crossed into Gabonese airspace.

Immediately they turned Eastwards and begain to close the distance, as soon as they were within 74nm they could each fire four EAW-78 (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135324&start=0) missiles at the Commonwealth F/A-18s, long before the enemy could even detect them.


GOTCOM, Libreville

Lieutenant-General Kreiger stood at the podium in the briefing room of the Presidential Palace inside the ‘Blue Zone’ as only a few hundred yards away a gaggle of angry citizens called for Janvier’s head. He shuffled his notes one last time in front of the hastily arranged backdrop of overlapping UE and Gabon flags.

“Citizens of Gabon, as Commander of Elias Forces in Gabon it is my duty to inform you that President Janvier has been killed at an undisclosed secure compound in Western Gabon. Although we have no confirmed information, we have reason to believe that a member of his own security detail shot him after a disagreement within the administration. United Elias accepts full responsibility for placing General Janvier in a position of power and we understand that his government has been corrupt and has done nothing to improve the quality of life of the Gabonese people and has been detrimental to the security of Free Gabon. However our motives for appointing him were clear and right, we wanted this nation to be under the leadership of a Gabonese leader and not to be under foreign rule. Now there is no other obvious successor and with the terrorist attacks continuing there is no possibility of elections being fair and representative so we are forced to place Gabon under the control of an interim governing council.

“We have negotiated with our principal regional allies, Rhodesia and Roycelandia and it has been decided that from now on all members of the Free Gabon military will be placed under the control of regional commanders and all civilian infrastructure will also be the responsibility of the nation’s whose forces operate in the given area In this way we can help to improve the quality of life for the people by targeting aid and assistance where it is needed at a local level. I expect that in the following days there will be a degree of confusion as this changeover takes place but after it Free Gabon will be more prepared to defend itself from the rebel factions and living standards will increase. In order to make this nation an example to the world of how a country can become free and prosperous after it shakes the manacles of socialist despotism, we require the co-operation of the great and industrious people of Free Gabon.”

Dogfight near Okondja

With Missile Warnings ringing everywhere, it was amazing that the pilots responded the way they did.

The two Jetfires engaged ECMs and launched "squealers", designed to trick the AIM-120s into following the decoy and ignoring the Jetfire- which has semi-stealth capabilties and would have a very low RADAR signature anyway.

The Jetfire pilots performed a dazzling aerial Bullet/Missile-Dodge, and promptly unleashed four "Broadsword" AIM Missiles (Heat and Radar Guided) at the F/A-18s.

The Harriers, also employing ECMS and squealers, did a mid-air 180 degree spin, and fired off a burst from their 2omm cannon at the approaching fighters, followed by a salvo of Hydra Rockets, and two Broadsword AIM Missiles at the incoming F/A-18s.

One of the Harriers didn't quite avoid the AIM-120 sent it's way, and the WSO had time to pull the eject lever before the missile impacted, severely damaging the VTOL fighter and causing it to rotate out of control into the Jungle below.

The MiGs didn't fare much better- one of them, after firing all its missiles at the F/A-18s, turned and fled towards Lastoursville at maximum speed- Mach 1.9. Not fast enough to outrun the AIM-120 and the Stinger that caught it at the same time, however. Ejection at Mach 2.0 was not a good idea, and if the pilot and WSO did manage to eject, none of the AC pilots or the Roycelandians saw them.

The remaining MiG promptly hit the afterburners and went up and out, away from the Stingers, as the WSO targeted the F/A-18s and fired off four Broadsword Missiles.

The AA crews on the ground, no doubt more concerned with the Jet Fighters than the Spitfire, which came roaring in at literally 6f above the treetops, 20mm Cannon (Depleted Uranium Slugs) and .50cal MGs blazing...

Franceville Airbase

Commander Dolvich listened to the Radio transmission broadcast via the RBC World Service:

"President Janvier has been killed at an undisclosed secure compound in Western Gabon. Although we have no confirmed information, we have reason to believe that a member of his own security detail shot him after a disagreement within the administration..."

"10 Wibbles said we had something to do with that" one of the Aircraft Mechanics said as he wiped Engine Oil off his hands and onto his overalls.

"Wouldn't surprise me" Commander Dolvich said. "But it does mean that we are now officially in control of South-Eastern Gabon... Excellent."

South of Okondja

As the first wave of helicopters fired on the enemy SAM launchers, the second wave was now coming under fierce ground fire with RPGs and tracer rounds flying out of the trees at an alarming rate.

The transport helicopters responded, the hueys each with a pair of FN MAGs and the Puma's with .50 calibre machineguns. The landing zone of the assault was just a mile away, the road where the remaining Congolese forces were pinned down.


Luwawa Military Airfield, Northern Nyasaland

With news of the assassination just across Lake Nyasa, the base had been ordered on alert as a precautionary measure. Immediately ground crew and pilots alike were recalled from leave and the base's three ground attack squadrons of A-4 Skyhawks were readied for close air support missions just in case Lusakan or Al Khals crossed into Rhodesia. In addition a squadron of Mirage III interceptors were loaded with reconnaissance pods and would soon be making photo recon sorties over the Nyasaland-Lusaka border but staying in friendly airspace.

On the other side of the airbase, an EC-130 Electronic Intelligence aircraft taxied out onto the active runway for a sweep over Lake Nyasa. The situation would have to be monitored closely.

Al-Sabirian HQ, Airport of Libreville

The old hangar was air-conditioned, but it was still damn hot inside. There were 3 rows of computers and work stations. There were also several briefing "rooms", seperated from the rest of the hangar with cartboard "walls". The small staff didn't have a lot of work to do. Their main job was to plan patrols.

Colonel Jamzad sat in a uncomfortable wooden seat in his "office". He was drinking coffee and reading several patrol reports. A Lieutenant entered the room and saluted: "Sir, we just got a message from GOTCOM. They think General Janvier is dead." Colonel Jamzad looked up: "At ease Lieutenant. Is the General dead? That changes the situation here completely." "Here's the full message," the lieutenant said, while he gave the Colonel a piece of paper. "Dismissed, Lieutenant," Ibrahim said, while he began reading the document....

Port Gentil, Gabon

Port Gentil Airport was growing ever larger as engineers struggled to make room for the massive amounts of supplies and additional troops that were being deployed. As Libreville was the hub for the efforts in the East and Northern areas, Port Gentil was becoming the centre was becoming the supply centre for the South West of Gabon.

During the day, two Manatee class (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38804&highlight) Sealift Ships had docket at the Port and unloaded Air Force helicopters including four newly upgraded Mi-26UE (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143639&highlight=) ultra-heavylift helicopters.
After being re-assembled from their travelling configuration, the helicopters were flown the three miles to the airport and after extensive checks they were now ready for action.

As night fell Chief Warrant Officer Hamid glanced back from the cockpit of the helicopter and watched as approximately 40 Bruneian Special Forces marched up he rear ramp, followed by a pair of Land Rovers covered with communication antennae. In iomparison with the Elias troops the Bruneians were more lightly armed, just M-4 Carbines and sidearms as well as knives but they looked much more confident in this enviroment. The ramp then raised and soon the massive rotors were turning ever faster until the behemoth lifted off and headed Eastwards escorted by a an EA-28C light helicopter. The first ever actual mission of the Mi-26UE would be to transport the special forces to Fougamou where the Bruneians were going to takeover from Free Gabon forces in policing the city and searching for resistance in the area.


GOTCOM, Libreville

In the depths of the Presidential Palaces, the intelligence analysts poured over the lastest satellite scoops and Global Hawk imaging searching for clues and information as to the enemies' plans.

One of the officers then showed his superior a grayscale image of a vehicle convoy with several radars and SAM launchers circled. "Major, look at this?"

"Looks like a Long Track and some SA-6 mobile launchers."

"No its not, look at this radar vehicle, its something new and these missiles don't look like SA-6s although its hard to tell."

"Maybe your right, anyway put it near the top of tonight's target list, even if its just an SA-6, its still dangerous."


OOC: Im not going to RP our stealth bombers dropping Joint Standoff Weapona from 30km away as we've al had it a bit too many times now, but an AFRISAM Battalion is about to have Skeet munitions rained on it.

(ooc:I haven't been posting so much for a few days, I know.. lemme catch up.)

General Tendyala was somewhat perplexed. His ambitious plans had suddenly been scuppered... by City. Reinforcements weren't moving off the stations in western Lusaka, further Long Track and Scavengar radar and AFRISAM reload missiles weren't showing up, and most of his tanks had been stopped at the Gabonaise border.

News of tensions at home arrived at Tendyala's desk relatively late, and many of his opponents probably knew of the assassination in Al Khals before he did. The Field Commander of Lusakan forces in Gabon was now under order to consolidate, to expand only where serious opposition was not forthcoming, and to cease in the pursuit of actions that might further antagonise the enemy. Lusaka would protect so much of Gabon as was possible, and if the coast was to be freed it'd have to be by Cirdani-backed Gabonaise rebels and Commonwealth forces.

This meant that Lusakan forces were digging in around Booué, and that mortar attacks around the UE firebase, and even commando operations further afield were ceasing. Where Lusakan forces south met Roiks or Rhodies they stopped more or less yards away (where it was possible, often approaching under white and Gabonaise flags and then bailing out sandbags and flashing entrenching tools). To the north small patrols on foot and by APC or IFV continued to reach out, but they hoped only to find free Gabonaise Republican or anarchic territory that might be secured against hostile expansion, and had no orders to break enemy positions they might find.

Igomo stopped short of bringing up peace talks, but in light of past efforts however half hearted and of the evident halt of Lusakan advances, he hoped that someone else might try again, so that he wouldn't have to.

Lusakan soldiers attempting to dig in near Roycelandian Troops will find themselves being "encouraged" to move elsewhere, often at bayonet point.

With the lack of reinforcements and supplies must also come a lack of food, eventually...

Any Lusakan soldiers who feel like defecting to Roycelandia will be gladly accepted... :D

(Oh no, they're still receiving food and such- our supply lines are 100% intact, it's just that City isn't sending more men or heavy weapons, as they may be needed at home. And there are still tens of thousands of Lusakan soldiers across Gabon.)

OOC: AC, I still have a few thousand troops at the ambush site, which you seemed to have ignored, the 506th is a big unit and even if you wiped out half of it, it could still be a credible fighting force, of course mostly an infantry force now that teh tanks and trucks have been destroyed.

Libreville, Gabonese Coast
The protesters were definately being intimidated by the troops and helicopters facing them. Some were even beginning to slink off.
The man at the front saw an occasion to wrap it all up and gain considerable supprot in the process. He punced on it.
"Et bien, camarades, ils nous ont montrés quelle liberté ils nous reservent: celle de fermer nos gueules et de rentrer chez nous sous la menace des bayonettes. Le rapport de force ne nous est pas favorable pour l'instant; il ne nous reste donc plus qu'a rentrer-mais ce ne sera pas toujours ainsi! organisons-nous, créons des resaux de resistance avec les connaissances de chacun, et demain, ce seront eux qui rentrerons chez eux la queue entre les jambes! vive le peuple Gabonnais libre!"
this time, there was a storm of applause. Then the crowd fell apart as people began heading home, still nervously glancing behind them at the invaders.
[OOC: sorry for not wrapping the protest up before, but i unfortunately didn't find time :( and Lusaka, i suppose from your non-mention of it in your post, you wouldn't want Cirdani troops to take a more active role?or did you just not get around to it? up to you, of course.]

OOC

M. Congo>> I thought they had retreated from my assault tanks? Anyways, my bad, I'll be sure to deal with them in this post.

Pardon for the relatively non-descript post. I felt like writing a lot more, but even as I am in the creative corner, I have to go to school :-/ Later!

Losses:
6 F/A Hornet fighter/bombers
16 infanterists, dead from the spitfire attack and the freshly inserted Rhodesian attackers.
3 Avenger systems.

4th Mbandaka Hornet Wing's position, northeast of the jungle confrontation.

The Hornet pilot furrowed his brow at the sudden disruption of his radar screen. It could mean a lot of things, yet it might not. He did not get long to wonder, however, as his missile warning klaxon wailed in his ear. He tried to initiate countermeasures, but the missiles had been detected far too late. Streaking in from the east, the EAW-78 Cobras demolished three F/18s before the stunned inhabitants could react, the fourth targeted Hornet escaping in a spectacular evasive maneuver. The remaining pilots held their position, initiating countermeasures for their new Broadsword missile locks, these coming from the Roycelandian aircraft ahead. The newly installed MSI suites located all incoming missiles, and chaff as well as decoys were launched from the modified aft pylon of all targeted F/A-18s, consequently limiting RCAF losses to a single Hornet who didn't initiate its CMs fast enough, and it crashed out of control into a massive baobab tree.

The remaining pilots recited the verse of honour for their fallen brothers, before unleashing their remaining 22 AIM-120s, aimed at various Roycelandian and Rhodesian fighters and rotary craft, prioritizing the Migs, Jetfires and Harriers. At this point they met a renewed defense, and 2 more Hornets met a fiery end at the hands of Roycelandian Hydra rockets, while the rest activated their Aim-9 Sidewinders and M61 'Vulcan' cannons, getting ready to sell their lives as dearly as possible.


Jungle Confrontation, south of Okondja

Chief Sergeant Mwani cursed. Generally he considered swearing distasteful, but nevertheless he cursed hysterically as the spitfire screamed through the jungle, riddling his squad(who were previously engaged with the helicopters using their RPGs and HEAP-2 AA rifles) with bullets. He found a foxhole to hide in, after radioing for support. As the missiles streaked in overhead, bringing a Harrier crashing to the ground near him, he got just what he asked for. Still cursing, he brought down a thousand poxes on the AA batallion. Why had it disbanded them? All that was left now was the A72 AAA tracks, who were still pumping 32mm shells and SA-19s into the skies at both Roycelandian fighters streaking overhead, and the hovering Rhodesian helicopters; at a furious rate.

Nearby, the reinforced 88th Mechanized Infantry regiment dug in, and kept all 80mm mortars and 20mm HMGs(95 MGs and 30 mortars, to be exact) trained on advancing infantry, keeping an eye out for the attacking Rhodesian infanterists mostly, but also sending long range indirect mortar strikes at the last known position of the 506th Congolese Infantry.

Several miles away

Chief Spec. Sergeant Kojo was not having a good day. Renewed ground strikes had destroyed many additional Avengers after he ordered the retreat. He knew he was off the hook, though, as...

.. In Okondja,

Several AFRISAM, SA-14 and a single AV-400(built by the 8th Engineer core stationed here) stood ready to blast any enemy aircraft who pursued the Avenger SAM systems out of the sky.

Eastern Gabon

As darkness encroached over Africa, the Elias military launched its biggest effort yet to dismantle enemy air defences and once again to gain air superiority over Gabon, hopefully permanently.

A total of Thirty-four EA-220s from both the Air Force and Navy swept high over the jungles towards the AC border, each one carrying nine EAW-10AR (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=135324&start=0) anti-radar missiles and four EAW-78 Cobra long range AAMs. Flying over the large area of emptiness between Makokou and Okondja they avoided the areas of denser radar coverage so they would be more or less completely undetectable.

Just as they reached their firing waypoints, approximately 100nm from the border they unleashed their advanced weapons. The total of over three hundred highly sophisitaced supersonic missiles were aimed across a broad spectrum of Early Warning and Fire control radars scattered across the Western Commonwealth and in one dramatic action, massive damage would be inflicted, tearing apart the carefully positioned air defence network. As soon as the missiles were on their way, the planes turned for the coast, a quarter of a billion dollars worth of ordnance having been epxended.

Elsewhere in the country six different four-ship flights of EA-135 Tactical Fighters also went SAM stalking, firing pairs of smaller and cheaper AGM-113s (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140664&highlight=) at Long Track radars and the mysterious new systems that were popping up in convoys near Okondja. Staying a mimium of twenty miles away from the targets, the enemy would have no idea what was happening until a missile was on its way at Mach 3.9. The fighters would then return to Port Gentil to be qucikly re-armed for more sorties as EA-60 electronic warfare aircraft located and jammed their next targets.

Jungle Dogfight

The Roycelandian Aircraft managed to avoid the last of the RACF Hornets, in a dazzling display of Chaff and Flares.

There was an almight Sonic Boom as the Jetfires, having fired all their missiles, lit the Afterburners and took off well in excess of Mach 2, leaving the remaining Harrier and MiG to fire cannon shells and Napalm Rockets into the remaining troops and AA installations before taking off as well, taking heavy damage from AA guns in the process- the AC troops would never know it, but the Harrier would be so badly damaged that it was beyond repair- destined to spend the rest of the conflict abandoned on the side of the runway after being stripped of anything of value by IFL ground crews.

OOC: By now, the Rhodesian Troops should be on the ground...

The skies of Eastern Gabon

Major Brahimi sighed. The seat of his EA-220 wasn't really comfortable, but he had learned to live with that. He checked his instruments and turned his head to the right. Right of him, 11 EA-220As, 12 EA-135As and 8 EA-6B Prowlers flew next to him, low over the green jungle. They were more like dark shades and only a trained eye would spot them. He now checked his armaments. The bird carried nine EAW-10AR anti-radiation missiles as well as four EAW-78 Cobras, a formidable replacement for the AMRAAM. Soon they would reach there designated targets and release their deadly load.

Aboard the Conqueror, 100 miles west of Libreville

The Carrier's planes had just taken off and the ground crew now had some rest, but soon the birds would return to their nest and then they had to re-fuel and re-arm them.

"Sir, the Airforce's planes are on there way to their targets just like our birds. Operation "Ghost Sword" has been fully initiated" the Lieutenant said. He had just entered the bridge. It was dark and the few people inside were silent, staring at their consoles "Good, inform me when the planes return and ready the fleet for cruise missile launches," Admiral Fahad answered, while he turned around and examined the Lieutenant. "Yes, Sir," the lieutenant responded and he left the bridge

Firebase Anvil West of Bouee

Having been under more or less constant attack for days, the Marines at Firebase Anvil were finally ready to go on the offensive. As the Air Force and Navy conducted their air strikes further to the East, they would take the opportunity to launch a surprise offensive and hopefully push the Lusakans out of the area. The last twenty-four hours had seen more troops as well Stryker armoured vehicles and AAAVs arrive and 155mm artillery from Firebase Hammer had been pounding the approaches to Bouee and any areas where mortar rounds had been fire from. However they had yet to directly meet Lusakan forces in any great numbers and it seemed that their forces had more or less come to a halt, pinned down by air and artillery strikes and lacking reinforcement.
The plan was simple, because the surrounding rice fields were increasingly wet and marshy; the only safe way for an armoured vehicle to get into the town was down the fairly wide main road so that would be the main approach road. Air bursting mortar shells had hopefully destroyed any mines that had been planted along it without ripping up the road itself.

The assault assembled under the torrential tropical rains and the cover of darkness as Marine infantry embarked their armoured mounts while other smaller teams advanced on foot over the wetlands to surround the city and spot for the artillery in conjunction with the small UAVs that were now overhead, monitoring enemy troop strength.

Soon, the assault force was advancing, the larger AAAVs up front, their 30mm turrets covering the roadway while Stryker personnel carriers and mobile gun systems followed closely in a staggered column formation. With only four miles to the town, they would soon be in combat and they could instantly call on massive artillery support if necessary as well as helicopter gunships.

OOC: Lusaka, some ideas of troop strength in Bouee would be nice.

Firebase Anvil West of Bouee

Having been under more or less constant attack for days, the Marines at Firebase Anvil were finally ready to go on the offensive. As the Air Force and Navy conducted their air strikes further to the East, they would take the opportunity to launch a surprise offensive and hopefully push the Lusakans out of the area. The last twenty-four hours had seen more troops as well Stryker armoured vehicles and AAAVs arrive and 155mm artillery from Firebase Hammer had been pounding the approaches to Bouee and any areas where mortar rounds had been fire from. However they had yet to directly meet Lusakan forces in any great numbers and it seemed that their forces had more or less come to a halt, pinned down by air and artillery strikes and lacking reinforcement.
The plan was simple, because the surrounding rice fields were increasingly wet and marshy; the only safe way for an armoured vehicle to get into the town was down the fairly wide main road so that would be the main approach road. Air bursting mortar shells had hopefully destroyed any mines that had been planted along it without ripping up the road itself.

The assault assembled under the torrential tropical rains and the cover of darkness as Marine infantry embarked their armoured mounts while other smaller teams advanced on foot over the wetlands to surround the city and spot for the artillery in conjunction with the small UAVs that were now overhead, monitoring enemy troop strength.

Soon, the assault force was advancing, the larger AAAVs up front, their 30mm turrets covering the roadway while Stryker personnel carriers and mobile gun systems followed closely in a staggered column formation. With only four miles to the town, they would soon be in combat and they could instantly call on massive artillery support if necessary as well as helicopter gunships.

OOC: Lusaka, some ideas of troop strength in Bouee would be nice.

Firebase Anvil West of Bouee

Having been under more or less constant attack for days, the Marines at Firebase Anvil were finally ready to go on the offensive. As the Air Force and Navy conducted their air strikes further to the East, they would take the opportunity to launch a surprise offensive and hopefully push the Lusakans out of the area. The last twenty-four hours had seen more troops as well Stryker armoured vehicles and AAAVs arrive and 155mm artillery from Firebase Hammer had been pounding the approaches to Bouee and any areas where mortar rounds had been fire from. However they had yet to directly meet Lusakan forces in any great numbers and it seemed that their forces had more or less come to a halt, pinned down by air and artillery strikes and lacking reinforcement.
The plan was simple, because the surrounding rice fields were increasingly wet and marshy; the only safe way for an armoured vehicle to get into the town was down the fairly wide main road so that would be the main approach road. Air bursting mortar shells had hopefully destroyed any mines that had been planted along it without ripping up the road itself.

The assault assembled under the torrential tropical rains and the cover of darkness as Marine infantry embarked their armoured mounts while other smaller teams advanced on foot over the wetlands to surround the city and spot for the artillery in conjunction with the small UAVs that were now overhead, monitoring enemy troop strength.

Soon, the assault force was advancing, the larger AAAVs up front, their 30mm turrets covering the roadway while Stryker personnel carriers and mobile gun systems followed closely in a staggered column formation. With only four miles to the town, they would soon be in combat and they could instantly call on massive artillery support if necessary as well as helicopter gunships.

OOC: Lusaka, some ideas of troop strength in Bouee would be nice.

The Fascist White States, speaking on behalf on the United Fascist Empire as well, hereby declares that it will defend Gabon whatever the cost. Already, the 3rd fleet under the commander of Hans Utrecht is on the way to the coast of Gabon. The Fleet is compromised of 18 destroyers, 4 cruisers, and 1 aircraft carrier , several dozen support ships, and 3 troop ships.

The FWS 3rd Paracommando regiment has already been ordered into Gabon to help in its defense preparations. The 1st and 2nd Paracommando regiments will join the 3rd regiment as soon as they are done crushing riots in the FWS black townships.

The FWS armed forces are being put on full red alert. All Reservists militias are being mobilized.

So far 10,000 regulars and 1,000 commando forces are on their way or already in Gabon.

The President Of the FWS, spoke after a recent failed assassination attempt against him, he stated
"We will defend fascism and national socialism wherever and whenever it is threatened. Communism will not be allowed to threaten the growth of Fascist regimes. To this end, I have decided to send forces to Gabon to help boost their defense capabilities".
Cheering crowds could be heard screaming "HAIL VICTORY".

IC: You dare call Al-Sabir Communist? :wink:

OOC: sorry, Closed RP.

The Fascist White States, speaking on behalf on the United Fascist Empire as well, hereby declares that it will defend Gabon whatever the cost. Already, the 3rd fleet under the commander of Hans Utrecht is on the way to the coast of Gabon. The Fleet is compromised of 18 destroyers, 4 cruisers, and 1 aircraft carrier , several dozen support ships, and 3 troop ships.

The FWS 3rd Paracommando regiment has already been ordered into Gabon to help in its defense preparations. The 1st and 2nd Paracommando regiments will join the 3rd regiment as soon as they are done crushing riots in the FWS black townships.

The FWS armed forces are being put on full red alert. All Reservists militias are being mobilized.

So far 10,000 regulars and 1,000 commando forces are on their way or already in Gabon.

The President Of the FWS, spoke after a recent failed assassination attempt against him, he stated
"We will defend fascism and national socialism wherever and whenever it is threatened. Communism will not be allowed to threaten the growth of Fascist regimes. To this end, I have decided to send forces to Gabon to help boost their defense capabilities".
Cheering crowds could be heard screaming "HAIL VICTORY".

Go AWAY this is a closed RP and you have absolutely no idea what your taling about.

Skies over Eastern Gabon

Major Brahimi was tense. They had just fired over 150 anti-radiation missiles at Lusakan fire-control radars. Luckily, the missiles had a range of over a 100 miles, leaving the attack formation almost out of harm's way. Now they were heading back to Sao Tome. There they would re-fuel and re-arm, after that they would engage other ground targets and more radars. He yawned. The Naval boys would be on their way to eliminate more radars. He felt sorry for them. He and his fellow Airforce pilots used the EAW-10-AR, an extremely advanced (and expensive) long-ranged missile. The poor Naval boys were restricted to HARMs and AGM-113s. Those didn't have a really long range, so maybe the CSAR heli would see some action today. He now focused on his instruments, instead of thinking about the hazards of his job...

Jungles between Kango and Bouue

The ambush force had broken contact while their last volley was exploding amongst-or at least around-the ennemy troops, and they were running fast, dodging their way through jungle with practised ease, something it was hoped their more heavily burdened pursuers-who, moreover, did not have the same experience of the local rainforest, and did not get to look at possible escape routes on their way to the ambush site-would not be able to do. The chopper was still a menace and proved it, strafing the fleeing guerillas; many bullets were stoped by thick tree-trunks, or were simply sprayed away from the rebels, although a couple went down. Several fired off flares, to confuse any IR scopes aboard the chopper, while they continued running away from the convoy.

Pierre fell, cursing, as a bullet struck him in the leg. As several Elian soldiers burst in behind him, he reached for his pistol and put it to his hand, then let it drop back. He was almost crying: he didn't have the courage to shoot himself.

Jungles between Kango and Bouue

The ambush force had broken contact while their last volley was exploding amongst-or at least around-the ennemy troops, and they were running fast, dodging their way through jungle with practised ease, something it was hoped their more heavily burdened pursuers-who, moreover, did not have the same experience of the local rainforest, and did not get to look at possible escape routes on their way to the ambush site-would not be able to do. The chopper was still a menace and proved it, strafing the fleeing guerillas; many bullets were stoped by thick tree-trunks, or were simply sprayed away from the rebels, although a couple went down. Several fired off flares, to confuse any IR scopes aboard the chopper, while they continued running away from the convoy.

Pierre fell, cursing, as a bullet struck him in the leg. As several Elian soldiers burst in behind him, he reached for his pistol and put it to his hand, then let it drop back. He was almost crying: he didn't have the courage to shoot himself.

Eastern Gabon

A significant increase in enemy activity wasn’t exactly what Lusaka was expecting to follow City’s decision to halt so many assets short of the front. Missile strikes against several SAM positions and even into the Commonwealth shook Lusakan leadership across three countries.
United Elias aircraft flying between Makokou and Okandja would pass through two and often three-fold over-laps of Lusakan radar tens of kilometres deep before loosing weapons on the Commonwealth. Of course Lusakan commanders relayed information directly to their Commonwealth opposites, enjoying the improved coherence of their forces, increasingly evident over the past few days. One Major could be heard yelling for near ten minutes in the company radio tent, insisting that S-300 little missiles work some sort of magic before, “something bad happens.”

Soon though Lusakan missile batteries were under fire, something that became evident to one SA-4 Battalion less than two minutes before the first missiles struck another site consisting mainly of AFRISAM. It was found that many SA-4, reliant on older Long Track, never acquired a target before missiles had landed, usually resulting in significant losses.
However, Long Track, and the improved Long Track serving AFRISAM battalions, were rarely placed close to other elements of their system. There are exceptions, of course, especially when units are on the move in a hostile environment and launch vehicles sometimes pass close to deployed radar, moving almost as if a child’s spring-toy descending a slope or flight of stairs. With the Lusakan advance voluntarily halted however, this was not the case in Gabon. Active search-radar were to be found miles behind usually inactive fire-control systems and launch vehicles, scattered across the trails, towns, villages, and jungles of the little republic.
As strikes began on some unfortunate SAM batteries, a few Scavenger systems were brought on-line only to find that hostile targets were right on top of them. Where possible LS-8 (Lusakan designation for AFRISAM’s missile) missiles were loosed, a four-strong enemy unit presented the maximum number of targets one battery could engage in an instant, firing eight missiles against it. In some cases the aircraft would be too far, and activating Scavenger would presumably alert them. In other instances they may be too close: LS-8’s booster means that it has a minimum range corresponding to a few seconds burn-time up to more than Mach 1. In such situations a battery could call upon SA-14 shoulder-launched SAM, 12.7mm machineguns (of course unguided), and usually at least one ZSU-23-4, there after, if the battery survived AFRISAM would be able to fire on departing aircraft.
Lusaka’s improved Long Track, far behind these hectic front lines, did not as a rule pick-up attacking-aircraft at the extent of their range, but often in plenty of time for AFRISAM batteries to be alerted and prepared to fire within moments of bringing their Scavengers on-line.

Commanders continued to send conflicting messages to the Commonwealth, some suggesting anti-missile fire prepared in the form of S-300’s smaller missiles, others requesting the big-missiles be used to clear electronic warfare aircraft from the skies before eastern Gabon became a mess.

Near Booué

The Lusakans hadn’t much to do since the order to stop efforts at incursion and the mortar attacks. Their SAM units were of course amongst the most visible, so far as the enemy was concerned, and they were probably the most exposed and least well supported.
It was fairly evident when these came under attack so soon after the halt of Lusakan progress that the imperialists meant to attack. On hand, more than thirty thousand Lusakan servicemen were organised mainly around the LRAC 3rd Division’s ten thousand soldiers and the armoured vehicles attached to them.

The Lusakans had attempted to repair Gabon’s armed forces where they could, but at Booué the population was small, the situation was unstable, and not more than a couple of hundred Gabonaise had been armed by the Lusakans.

Lusaka has fought few if any wars based on the operation of a large modern army. The struggle for independence depended upon facing one off and surviving, as had the more recent Bush War with Rhodesia. In truth the Lusakans weren’t entirely sure what to do with their armoured vehicles. They had ZSUs, APCs with 12.7mm machineguns and 82mm recoilless rifles, ICVs with 30mm cannon, and the LRAC had BMP-3 with 100mm guns and ATGMs. They would probably do their best to wait until the enemy reached a point where by it was possible at a push to traverse the ground either side of the road and to ‘cross their T’ as soon as was possible. No one wanted to sit around too long and let the aircraft root them out piece by piece.

Requests were sent for the release of Mi-28 Havoc gunships from further east, but there was no certainty of this happening before an attack was perfectly in evidence. Tendyala was pretty sure that it was coming, and felt he knew that he might take some advantage of it, a major blow could be dealt now, if the enemy was moving. But he was a brand new general, one of the youngest to serve since the war of independence, and didn’t really have the authority or confidence to countermand political orders.

For now, a lot of Lusakan soldiers would take SVD and battle rifles, muzzle grenades and RPGs, and likely attempt small scale hit and run or sniper attacks along the enemy approach. Perhaps a single volley of aimed rifle fire followed by a flat out sprint for cover as a volley of rifle grenades give the enemy something else to think about.

Somewhere between Firebase Anvil and Booue, under cover of darkness

The three C-130J Hercules were flying well out of SAM Missile range, with the cargo ramps down.

The Soldiers inside- all ALG or IFL, watched nervously as the Jump Light flicked from Red to Green.

"That's your cue, ladies and gents!" The Loadie yelled over the roar of the wind outside in the lead Herc.

"Smoke us a kipper- We'll be back for breakfast!" replied Lt. Barrie, the IFL officer for this mission. And with that, 150 soldiers stepped into the darkness near Booue, ready for their first serious engagement with the Lusakans. Most of the IFL troops were veterans of the AC campaign and knew what to expect, but the ALG were about to get their baptism of fire, quite literally.

Of the 150 who made the jump, 140 made it to the ground intact and in one piece- no one was killed, but 10 of the ALG soldiers landed badly and twisted ankles or broke limbs, putting them out of commission for anything other than defensive purposes. Medics stablised them and sent word to Firebase Anvil that there were wounded, whilst the remaining soldiers headed towards their pre-designated positions outside Booue to await the arrival of the UE forces and the beginning of the attack...

OOC: It'll be summer soon, are we going to pause the RP a month or so in July? A lot of people will be on vacation during that period (including me, for 6 weeks :) ) Or is this finished around then? (it has to end eventually)

RCAF command, western Commonwealth

A lot of reports were trickling in as of late. While the Elians could not hope to detect and destroy all RCAF fire control and early warning radars, numerous sites were damaged beyond repair for any time soon. The attack had come rather undetected, although a single AV-400 system had located hostile aircraft near Okondja, and fired three long-range SAMs at them, although what success they had(if any) was still unknown.

The bulletin from RCAF sky command ordered that no information was to be released, save to the High Defense Council. That suited the RCAF sky majors at the command site just fine - They wouldn't want anyone to know of this hiding...

In Okondja

Executive Captain Mbeshi smiled as the first crates were loaded off the trucks and opened... THIS was more like it. The many new "Talon" ATGM had reached his spec. forces detachment, and they would make good use of it, too.

In the coming weeks, orders were clear. His Ranger corps was to infiltrate sites of dense jungle and contested villages on the front, fire their advanced ATGM at any and all coalition vehicles and heavy armour, then scoot with all due haste on the newly supplied motorcycles and combat trucks before the enemy forces could detect them and retaliate. He suspected they would do well - after all, he had done it a thousand times before.



OOC

If any of you would like to know the specs of this new ATGM Mbeshi mentions, check the link I supplied some 3 or 4 posts ago. Can't be bothered to repost it here, but it's in my military exports storefront.

OOC: Al-Sabir- AFAIK, there are no plans to put this RP on hold over July.

The players here are scattered all over the world (I'm in Australia, African Commonwealth is in Denmark, IIRC, and I think the others are in the US), so just because it's holiday time in one country doesn't mean that it is in the other. I expect this will be wound up by then, but we'll see... :wink:

African Commonwealth: Don't even THINK about attacking one of Roycelandia's Emperor Tanks with your Rangers. Our Vengenace would be swift and terrible to behold. :D

And the other question you have to ask yourself: Can your motorbikes outrun ours? 8)

OOC

I'll be hiking through Europe come summer, so I probably won't be around if this is not concluded.

Roycelandia>> They can cap an Emperor tank with little trouble, so what retribution will be left to fear? And I doubt a ranger division armed to the teeth with ATGM on top of their regular gear has much to fear from your bikes ;)

The missile approach warner suddenly began to beep. Major Brahimi immediatly released chaff, he made some sharp U-turns and turned towards the approaching thread. His copilot, Lieutenant Abdelkarim screamed: "We got three missiles on our tail!"

OOC1: I'll finish this later, I have to school now.
OOC2: Well, if this isn't finished while I'm on vacation, I'll temporarily retreat my troops or something like that.

Eastern Gabon

Although the EA-220 Joint Tactical Bomber sorties had managed to escape before the enemy had realised the significance of the very small radar blips and activate their FC radars, the EA-135s were not quite as lucky.

A flight of four JTFs had just struck a Long Track and as they raced back supersonically towards Port Gentil, they suddenly realised the wily Lusakans had placed their launchers right between their targets and safety. With no anti-radiation missiles left, the fire control radars were lit up without response and SAMs streaked towards the fighters.
They immedialtely responded shutting down their own radars and climbing quickly, and generally their radar cross section was not quite enough for the SAMs to gain an adequate lock. One EA-135 unfortunately was blown out of the sky, the pilot having no chance to eject.

Already though, the AFRISAMs had signed their own death warrants as another flight of four fighters changed its target as soon as it detected them and fired a total of eight AGM-113s towards the fire control radar from twenty two miles away, and with no early warning system, the launchers would find it difficult to retaliate in time.

Bouee

As the armoured column approached the town, UAVs overhead picked up FLIR images of troops and soldiers preparing for an attack and the decision was taken to follow up the assault with an artillery strike, as the element of suprise had already been lost. It seems the enemy outnumbered the Elias troops more than 5-1 and in a semi-urban setting, it would not be a walkover.

Temporarily the Marine vehicles paused and then there was the rumble of distant artillery followed by the earth shattering explosions as dozens of 155mm shells rained on the Western half of Bouee, or what was left of it. A minute later the sky filled with bright lights as MLRS rounds sailed overhead and smashed into buidlings and streets spraying shrapnel.

Developments in Kinshasa

To the surprise of several civil rights movements, President Ndelebe has let elections proceed on the promised date - Many are concerned with a power vacuum after(or if, one might say) the authoritan General Ndelebe is put out of power. Still, levels of support for him and his role in the Gabonaise struggle remains stable. Hastily made polls put his List For Unity, made mainly of Ndelebe's ADU supporters and more liberal Secular Party democrats(We use the term loosely, as the SP likes no other kind of democracy than the one that keeps it in power), at about 34% in the coming elections, guarenteeing Ndelebe a place in power if he enters a coalition with the African Democratic Union and perhaps the African Peoples Front - This will mean democratic reforms, and ultimately, perhaps, the withdrawal of AC from the Gabonaise conflict. Results remain to be seen, as the election is held in a week.

Secular Party militants has held pressure on the president, who is himself in no hurry to get out of the war, and word in the street is that a great mobilization is taking place with the intention to consolidate AC/Lusakan-held land with massive military force. Considering AC's Frightening production power, noone in the war-weary nation is really surprised this would happen.

The missile approach warner suddenly began to beep. Major Brahimi immediatly released chaff, he made some sharp U-turns and turned towards the approaching thread. His copilot, Lieutenant Abdelkarim screamed: "We got three missiles on our tail!"


The skies over Eastern Gabon
The first missile exploded in a string of chaff. The second one lost it's lock-on on the plane due the stealthy design and RAM coatings and crashed into the jungle. Brahimi released more chaff and he began to climb. Higher and higher through the clouds. "We're out of chaff, Jammers are at full capacity, but this bastard is still inbound." "I know, hold on, I'm gonna try something," Brahimi said and he looked behind him. He saw the SAM and it's trail of smoke, dangerously close now.

Now he closed the throttle completely, used his airbrake and immediatly after that he made a small dive. The SAM swished just over the right wing and was inable to turn, now heading for the green jungle canopy. The "Ghost" got into a spin, but Brahimi was an excellent pilot and got the aircraft out of the spin and a made a sharp turn, he fully opened the throttle and they now headed safely for the sea and the island of Sao Tome.

An EA-6B Prowler wasn't so lucky. 5 Stingers were fired at the bird, which didn't even notice them them until the missile approach warner began to beep, but that was too late. The EW plane was brutally ripped apart by the missiles and it exploded in the air, there was no chance of escaping for the crew, making them the first official Al-Sabirian casualties in the Gabon conflict.

The last wave of planes was now heading for the fire-control radars to give them a last, and hopefully finishing, blow. 24 EA-135Cs, 5 EA-60Ds and 12 EA-220Bs, carried a total of 118 EAW-10-ARs and 96 AGM-113s. The formation split into small groups and engaged their targets. The EA-135Cs had to come the closest to the SAMs, carrying the short-ranged AGM-113. These only used hit and run tactics, when they got another radar lock-on, they quickly fired all their anti-radiation missiles and got out of there at full speed, not worrying about fuel, since the Carrier, the Conqueror was relatively close.

Kinshasa

Quickly filing into the 5 prepared ADI-AV-124 'Eagle' (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=114383&highlight=) transports, the 45th Artillery regiment and their support officers wondered how their mission would fare. Rumors of high-profile Elian SAMs were rampant, but the men took heart in knowing they were protected by the best hardware the RCAF could offer. Prepping the great guns they had brought with them one last time, they prepared for take-off...

Okondja

One AV-400 LRSAM was already built and operational in Okondja, along with several patriot systems in various configurations and some S-300. These were on continual lookout for Elian EW/EAW and fighter planes, working in cooperation with RCAF E-3 AWACS craft and what search/fire control radars were still operational in eastern Gabon. Kinshasa offers its reassurances to Tendyala that they will be able to provide adequate SAM support until more AV-400 LRSAMs can be built in Lusakan-held Gabon.
Their job done, the 8th Engineer core travels east from Okondja in order to set up new fire control radars behind the front..

Bouee

The Marine infantry platoon waded through the marshy rice field, the ground seeming to shake beneath them as artillery and rockets slammed into buildings and streets only two hundred yards away. Meanwhile to the right they could see the armoured column still waiting in position on the road, ready to roll in when the fighting began. To the left many more platoons spread across two or three miles, all approaching Bouee from a slightly different direction.

The platoon Lieutenant was concerned at the change in plan, originally the armour was supposed to roll in first, takeover the village then be reinforced by the infantry. Now the infantry was to follow this artillery strike and the armoured column reinforce them afterwards. The only logical conclusion was taht eenmy strength was larger than expected, not promising. On the other hand he didn't see how it was possible for anyone to actually survive the shelling.

Suddenly muzzle flashes erupted around him as a lone Gabonese farming was seen exiting a small hut, carrying a rifle. He lasted only seconds as the Marine marksman, armed with Tavor assault rifles and night scopes cut him down, but it was a signal that the fight was begining.

OOC:

AC your sort of missing the point, an S-300 or Patriot requires a wide array of radars in order to function at its full range and with the amount of missiles we've fired at your radars, which are pretty easy to detect, your not going to be able to use the launchers very succesfully. Secondly the only aircraft we're using over Eastern Gabon are very stealthy so your not going to detect them until they are less than about 15-10 miles away, much closer than they need to be to fire their missiles. You could do what Lusakan did and have fire control radars on the main apporoaches which only illuminate once the bomber's returning and then you can use the SAM launchers but thats still unlikely considering that some of the launchers will be destroyed as well, and to be within ten miles of a flight of aircraft over a whole country requires a lot of luck.Also if you illuminate a radar in this sort of enviroment your life expectancy reduces to minutes or hours at best.

Inside Gabon therefore its unlikley you would be be able to setup large systems as they are very very noticable, they require long range Early Warning radars which are rarely mobile and use vast amounts of power (500KW+) which, in a country like Gabon has to come from mobile generators. Given the liklihood of these costly systems being destroyed even before they were setup makes it a rather irresponsible decision to move them into an area such as Gabon. As for your radars within your own borders, we have fired several hundred very advanced ARMs at them which will probably have had about a 80-90% success rate. In other words a lot of big expensive systems will have been taken out and the ones that remain will provide patchy coverage at best, certainly not enough to detect stealth aircraft over Gabon if the missions are planned properly. You can probably forget trying to shoot down anything over Western Gabon as well, stealth or not.

To conclude, the main threat to our warplanes will be mobile SAMs such as AFRISAM and SA-6s that are harder to keep track of because they are so mobile however once they illuminate their radars there is a high probability that our EW planes can detect it.


I hope this clears things up and I am pretty sure everything I've stated is accurate, however Air Defence is not something I can talk about with absolute authority so feel free to challenge me.

The skies over Gabon

At quite a distance of the battlefield, the crews of 3 EA-372F Signals/Electronic Intelligence Aircraft (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=87858&highlight=) listened to the messages of SAM commanders to their superiours. Most of the messages were coded, but still, the length and the location of the transmittions were valuable information. Also, luckily some of the messages were not coded and it became clear that it was a mess down there. The SIGINT planes tracked and located a lot of SAM sites this way and sent the information to the Taskforce.

Outskirts of Booue

The ALG troops watched in awe as the rockets slammed into Booue, then cautiously advanced through the outlying fields, weapons ready.

The IFL troops had Thermographic Imaging Goggles on, whilst the ALG had a handful of Kite Site NVGs- the rest relying on instincts honed from years of hunting.

It had been decided to dispense with silenced weapons, as the Lusakans wouldn't be using them, and now the soldiers awaited contacted as they approached the houses on the edge of town...

[OOC: Al-Sabir, you have to triangulate to know the location of a radio emission; in a busy war there's going to be so many messages passing throguh that two planes arn't going to be able to locate more than handful of sources; to find them all you need at least three operating constantly and databussed together (or relaying their data to same command post, whatever), with significant distance between each and it's fellow so you can triangulate without maneuvering.]

[OOC: Al-Sabir, you have to triangulate to know the location of a radio emission; in a busy war there's going to be so many messages passing throguh that two planes arn't going to be able to locate more than handful of sources; to find them all you need at least three operating constantly and databussed together (or relaying their data to same command post, whatever), with significant distance between each and it's fellow so you can triangulate without maneuvering.]

I didn't know that. I have a total of 4 of these planes on Sao Tome, so I'll pretend I have sent one more. But anyway, thanks for the info.

OOC

UE>> Righto, no SAMs have been built in or shipped to Okondja then.. Save perhaps a single FIM-104 or two(A and C configuration) Patriot systems with their corresponding radars.

Missives from Kinshasa

Messages back to Lusaka were not as enthusiastic this time around. As it turns out, an incompetent or perhaps just overconfident quartermaster had informed centcom that there were way more SAMs in Okondja than, well, there really was. Plans were promptly made by the defense council to replenish the beleagured Avenger and A72 AAA batallions by airdrop at a classified time and place, in order to gain better AAA capability inside the disputed territories.

Two new combined divisions were made ready to fight, as their soldiers quietly wished for an end to the war...

10 miles northwest of Okondja

Flanked and preceded by Goshawk ABM UAVs, the Eagle transports got to their rendezvous point unmolested. Within minutes, the 7 "Earthshaker" MK2 155mm guns had been airdropped, and the 45th Artillery regiment safely set down nearby. Awaiting escort from the remains of the combined division at Okondja, they dug in and set up their communications.

The Skies over Eastern Gabon

Admiral Fahad had just ordered the planes to return to the Carrier, so the massive formation of planes swiftly turned and headed back to the sea. The formation was wide, since the planes had much space between them and they flew at varying altitudes, so if one aircraft was hit, the wreckage wouldn't take down another.

80 Miles West of Libreville

The Firestorm Class Arsenal Ship silently sailed through the dark water. It was almost completely silent, except for the sound of waves splashing onto the low streamlined deck. Suddenly the silence was disturbed. Weak clickly noises could be heard as the opening of 64 VLS cells slid open and revealed the sharp noses of missiles, reflecting the weak moonlight. It was like a signal had been given. Now 64 EAW-22 Ship Launched Cruise Missiles (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=79705&highlight=) bursted out of their VLS. The launches could be felt through out the whole ship, as it shook at every launch. The deck was now intensely lit by the missiles, who just started to ignite their rocket fuel. The missiles unfolded their small wings, flew low over the sea to Gabon, aimed at places where the sattelite fotos, the SIGINT info and where pilots had told the SAM sites were. Now, ships of the entire Taskforce launched even more cruise missiles. The FCAS launched another volley 64 EAW-22s and another one. Of course, not all Cruise Missiles would hit their targets, some would just slam into the jungle, with no humans even near, but most others, armed with their anti-personnel or penetrating warheads would strike into SAM sites, killing or maiming every living being in the surrounding area. The 2nd part of operation Ghost Sword had now fully been initiated.

(ooc: I just wanted to say sorry for not being around much, and I'll not be around tonight, either... sorry! Don't get too carried away without me. I must say though, that there'd better be a massive secret motivation for the imperialists' war in Gabon- quite frankly nations like Al-Sabir are spending tens of billions of dollars and making many enemies for a war they stand to gain little from. UE even stands to gain a small base near hostile territory that wouldn't have been hostile if he wasn't here, with little population to make money from, oil reserves equivalent to less than he's already used in the war, and so on. The imperialists may seem to be winning (ish) but they're on to a massive loser that I don't think any self respecting imperialist nation would maintain. Just a thought. Am I not being realistic?)

OOC: The reason why I'm in Gabon? Well, not much IC reasons, just that I have a mutual defense pact with UE via Concordia. Allies mean a lot to me and I'll stick up for them, no mather what cost or how hopeless the situation may seem. So, the only IC positive thing for my country in this war, is super-realistic training for her troops. About making enemies, well, I hope you won't hate my country for the rest of her NS life.

Further, I just want to have a war, it's fun and I don't care if I spend billions on a conflict where I just haven't got a lot to win, but have you got to win? You gloriously defeat the "imperialists" and after that you're the owner of a poor country, ripped apart by war. A war like this is just fun (even if you're losing) and helps me becoming a better RPer. Please, some of you take this war way to serious. Keep it fun and make this RP an example for younger/new players.

About you being realistic, yes you are.

OOC:

Lusaka, I have spent a lot of time considering our motives right from the outset and the main reason we continue to fight Gabon is simply that we are being fought.

United Elias is not, contrary to what many seem to thing, a particulaly warring nation and we rarely comit to large scale military action (more often we threaten and use shows of force to avert conflict). When we do however we do not like to lose, our pride prevents us from just quitting simply because the cost outweighs the rewards. The reason is simple, if we were to withdraw how could our nation, which uses military, economic and diplomatic might to keep the peace, be taken seriously ever again on the international stage. How could a nation that professes some of the best technology be beaten by a bunch of third world states?

Another reason we wll continue to fight in Gabon is that we actually believe that our cause is just and that if we suceeded the Gabonese people would be freer and more prosperous. For instance, the quality of life in Roycelandia is no doubt better than in Lusaka.

Apart from this, the very fact that Lusaka and AC continue to rachet up pressure will always mean that we have to counter it with whatever it takes up to a point. What your government must learn though is that the point at which we will be the first to blink is still a very long way away.
If your respective governments stopped treating us like the US (which withdraws whenever casualties or cost increase) they would recognise the best way to handle us is reach a peace settlement which we have been trying to atain for a long while.

The reason we are able to fight this war is that we are not a western democracy but more of a benevolent, moralistic meritocratic, autocracy where people inherently trust their leaders to decide what is worth sacrafice and leaders trust the people to decide how to spend their money and how to manage their lives in a way which most benefits society. This means that the public do not value their own opinions on such things as foreign policy and generally will support the nation in any circumstance.

OOC

I realize that some of AC's commitment to this war would not be wholly realistic, if this was the real world. However, it is worth noting that the nation started out a psychotic dictatorship, and the remains of cold-hearted fascism is still present in the leadership, held in place by the Manus Nigra, an institution steeped in ancient evil.

I'm a bit expectant as to what the future hold, because if President Ndelebe succeeds in holding the open election(only days now..), AC commitment to the war will almost certainly decrease. If he doesn't, well, the Secular Party is just that mean bastards and they would rather die than admit defeat(it would at that point be up to the people of AC I guess, but such sentiment is not yet common throughout the nation).

OOC: Roycelandia has a very large military, and our annual Military Budget, as most of you probably know, runs into the Trillions, despite the fact that we really aren't doing much with our military. (Our current Military Commitment to Gabon is about the equivalent of the entire New Zealand Army and Airforce- hardly taxing the budget!)

We're in Gabon to give our troops some training, cement our alliance with UE and Rhodesia, and combat test some of our new equipment.

More importantly, Roycelandia can't pass up an oppurtunity to annoy Lusaka. Its not that we hate the Lusakans (we dont, BTW)- it's just that the Roycelandian National Sport (After Cricket and Colonialism) is Annoying the Lusakans. :D

IC: Booue

So far, the IFL and ALG troops had encountered almost no opposition as they entered the town. The Defenders had to be somewhere, but thus far, they hadn't seen a single soul. Maybe the Lusakans had given up and withdrawn, or perhaps they were just too stoned to care any more.

What mattered was so far it was too quiet, and the operation had been too easy... Which meant the fertiliser was going to hit the ventilator, so to speak.

OOC: Just as an observer, I would like to say that UE's motives are far more realistic than one might think. That kind of thinking, that wars should be won at all costs, is exactly what kept the US in Vietnam and the Russians in Afghanistan, even after it was clearly obvious that they were spending more than they would ever win.

Tendyala re-read the communiqué. Yes. That was right.

Booué

Just outside the town scattered groups of locals and Lusakans remained along with some half-ready earthwork defences, little more than shallow mortar pits and machinegun nests, owing to the recent nature of Lusakan arrival. In the town itself, Lusakans did their best to rush locals out when the shelling began, back away from the front. They might get most away, being as the population was only a few thousand strong, but the ramshakle nature of the settlement, especially since its bombing, meant that it wouldn't stand up well to fresh bombardment. Many died or fell wounded and often trapped by rubble. Dozens of Lusakan soldiers were amongst them.

Others, including many AVs, remained just outside the town to the east. Some officers wanted to advance, to take on the enemy right now, but it wasn't really practical. Apart from the falling artillery munitions there was now a flood of refugees and wounded on the retreat. Those on the far side and surviving the barrage, hiding in the rubble, would have to delay any enemy advance as long as possible so that the main forces could move in.


Lara

The town had been lightly occupied since serious Lusakan elements arrived at Booué, but now Tendyala was stepping up his presence. In scenes repeated across the front available to Lusaka, small Army and LRAC units restarted their westerly progress, moving in platoon-sized units, usually.

African Commonwealth/Lusaka

Derek Igomo is the Social Progress Party. The SPP is Lusakan democracy. Lusakan democracy is, to many, African independence and at the same time, unity.

Derek Igomo said that more resources were to be dedicated to the protection of the Republic of Gabon. More resources were dedicated to the protection of the Republic of Gabon.

SA-3, SA-4, SA-9, AFRISAM, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, air defence units, T-56(L) medium tanks, T-62 main battle tanks, BMP-2 and BMP-3 infantry combat vehicles, OT-62B and BTR-152K armoured personel carriers, UAZs and Zil-131 trucks, M46 130mm artillery guns, L-1 100mm anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, 76mm guns, Mi-28 Havoc and Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunships, F-20C Freedom Fighters light fighter jets, A-37C Dragonfly attack planes and masses of infantry were all being sent.

Many of these assets had lain either inside the Commonwealth since the freezing of reinforcement before renewed imperialist attacks or assembled in Lusaka's west near railway lines since the early days of the crisis. They'd actually made some of the neglected stations, platforms, and engines look rather splendid while they waited. It was deemed a good way to keep them from getting bored and going home, or vanishing into town and coming back hungover and carrying the dreaded virus.

Defence Secretary Colin Olongwe issued a statement condemning all the imperialist parties including the Roycelandians, seen to be co-operating with the invasion and not with the attempt to stop it. He called for all Africans to unite in their fury over this new colonialism before the west coast was shipped off to today's plantations, and said that none would be spared if they failed to admit their error and withdraw. He called for the world to at the very least point their television cameras at the region and to dare form an opinion on the shamefull over-throw of an elected government.

Meanwhile Lusakan forces moved west, and within Gabon they trickled west and south, many attempting to bypass enemy positions and front lines they suspected to be narrowly defended by relatively small forces.

The fairly poor UARL may not have the military technology to meet the invaders, nor the equipment to do it on fully conventional terms, but that appeared to be a minor concern in Igomo's head. SA-20/S-400 SAM systems, F-5L fighters, AV-8B Harrier, and Olifant L-2 MBTs weren't even being deployed. It had the military manpower, the largest army in the region. As yet the constituents there-of by enlarge believed the hype, the cause, and in a more sinister twist, the Lusakans were more than accustomed to death, hailing from a country barely a generation out of imperialist domination and now beset by tens of millions of AIDS cases.

Igomo prepared to deliver a new offer for negotiation, but would not convey it until the scale of his million man deployment was recognised by the enemy.

SOC HQ, Franceville

"They're getting supicious... they know we're involved, but not the extent" explained Commander Sword, who had arrived that morning from Roycelandia to personally oversee some of the operation.

"Intel suggests up to a million men deployed by the Lusakans to Gabon. At this rate, I'm surprised we aren't tripping over them every time we send out a patrol..."

Booue

The IFL troops took cover as the shells rained down upon the city. Scattered groups of Lusakans fired back sporadically, but as yet there was no organised resistance and the Roycelandians were able to reach the city proper before anything amounting to combat would be encountered...

OOC: Roughly how many troops in the city actually capable of putting up a fight? And how many too stoned/scared to be effective?

Near Booue

Corporal Suzy was nervous, and with good reason. Her long months of training would undoubtedly see her through this, but the artillery could be heard from afar, and unless it was coming from Lusakan batteries, they might just be in trouble.

The other rangers bunched indecisively, before Captain Mbeshi radioed them with new orders. Her squad, and two others, were to mount their trucks and bikes and make for Booue, using their ATGM, mortars and what M82A 'Light Fifty' anti-material rifles they had; to assist beleaguered Lusakan soldiers in the battle of Booue. Suzy blanched, anticipating a premature demise, but then took heart - Someone had to do this, and she was the soldier for the job. "Allright guys, we're not getting paid to f*ck around - on the bikes, and towards Booue!".

Northern Commonwealth

Until negotiations paid off, the CAF would not be found lacking. M60 'Super Howitzer' Self-propelled artillery pieces, MBT-3 'Werewolf' heavy battle tanks, BMPs and other material rolled towards the border, heavily protected by the RC Air Force..

Meanwhile, Kinshasa kept communications open, hoping someone would come to their senses and attempt to force a settlement.


OOC

Fauquier>> the Soviets in Afghanistan were driven by expansionism and ideology, and the US in Vietnam had a rabid and autocratic ideologue behind it - neither of which can be said about Elias, who aren't really driven by imperialism or ideology in this fight.

OOC: With the recent Regional Difficulties we've had, we now have the problem of what to do with Gabon...

I'm still waiting for UE to post, which could be a few days, but if he doesn't return we may have to sit down and sort out a Peace Treaty- which could involve us all simply pulling out of Gabon and turning our attention towards Angola, instead... 8)

I'm around, I'm just really busy for the next two days. After that we'll get going again.

Ah, there you are. We were a little worried something might have happened to you...

Aboard the Conqueror, 120 miles west of Libreville

Admiral Fahad yawned, it had been a long restless night, but soon the sun would rise over the horizon and reveal the results of the devastating attacks by Al-Sabirian aircraft and ships, but those assaults weren't over yet. Now, below him, on the flight deck, aircraft were refueled and rearmed, this time only with a small number of anti-radiation missiles, but larger amounts of effective munitions against ground targets, JDAMs, JSOWs and ALCMs...

Elias Airfield, Sao Tome

The noise of running aircraft engines filled the air. As the aircraft returned from their mission, still mourning about the loss of their comrades, ground crews ran out of their shelters, simple grey concrete bunkers, and prepared the refueling and rearming facilities....

OOC: I don't have much time now, so I'll finish the whole mission later.

The skies above Gabon

Captain Akil rubbed his eyes, he sat in the front pilot seat of the EA-220, and he put his hands back on the stick and throttle. From the east, their flight direction, the first weak sunlight shone over the green treetops, which were covered in dew, but he saw vaguely some plumes of smoke rose, the result of whole night of bombardments.

This is Alpha-Sierra Lead, 140 miles to target, over,

Akil said in his comm, a direct connection with Snake Flight, a formation of eight EA-160Cs, flying 20 miles west of them.

Roger that, only 80 miles for Snake Flight, we'll slow down a bit, over.

Commander Sharif said, 30 miles to the west, as his EA-160C led the fast-flying formation.

The EA-220 of Captain Akil now accelerated, as the three other EA-220s did the same. Their aircraft were designed to fly just under the mach barrier, still mach 0.95 and they were pretty close to the nape of the earth, but luckily they had excellent terrain following auto-pilots.

Akil smiled, the Lusakan radar sites would get a nice little dessert, he was sure of that, when checked their armament again, as already had done that a thousand times since they taken off from the Conqueror.

The bird carried two EAW-10-AR anti-radiation missiles, two EAW-78 "Cobra" medium-ranged AAMs, two EAW-67 "Viper" short-ranged AAMs and twenty-two Robin SDBs. The armament of the other EA-220s was identical and together all those SDBs would pack quite a punch...

OOC:

Check the regional page for Sub Saharan Africa, Al-Sabir. All major combat operations have ended for peace talks to begin - Starting missile runs now may not be in your best interests

Televised Presidential Statement

The screen flicks to black as all networks switch over to the same broadcast, a few seconds later the national anthem starts to play to a backdrop of a waving flag. After the music finishes the image switches to live camera of teh President's study.

The President is seen, seated behind his mahogany desk, flanked by flags and looking calm and relaxed.

"Good Evening citizens of our great nation, today, just hours ago I ordered all military forces under Elias command in Gabon to observe a ceasefire and disengage from combat with enemy forces. As you know, Gabon has seen the worst type of conflict, the bitter destruction of civil war supported by large and powerful nations. This war has not caused great harship to our nation and it is a testament to the proffesionalism of our soldiers and commanders that in months of conflict, less than two hundred of our men have been forced to make the ultimate sacrafice. However the torment we have been forced to wreak upon our enemies has been terrible and in order to protect our national interests I regret to inform you that we have been forced to kill many enemy combatanrs. Although the true figures may never be known it is certain that thousands of young africans have been killed by our superior technology and careful strategies. Many of these young men have been forced to fight by despotic regimes and although we had no choice but, it is nonetheless a tragic state of affairs.

"It is for these reasons and because the plight of the people of Gabon will only become worse if the conflict progresses that I have accepted to engage in peace talks to seek a diplomatic solution to this crisis. At this moment our forces in Gabon will not engage enemy soldiers unless they are directly attacked and we have every intention of honouring this ceasefire aslong as our enemies follow suit. Together with our allies we will now try to achieve the best compromise for the Gabonese poeple. hopefully without any further bloodshed on any side.

"Thank you and good night."

OOC: :oops: All right, ignore it then. :oops: Sorry, for the confusion I might have caused. I already wondered why it was so quiet around this whole thread.

just bumping this apost so it doesn't get lost forever. Watch this space for something new in the near future.