NationStates Jolt Archive

The sound was not loud, yet it seemed to fill the whole, vast, darkening plain, and the palely luminous, hollow sky: a wailing and howling, so faint and monotonous that it might have been inaudible except for the pulsing rise and fall---an ancient, omonous sound that was somehow in harmony with the wild, sparsely vegetated landscape and the barbaric garb of the two men who sheltered in a little dip in the ground, lying close to a dying fire.

"Werewolves, perhaps", Lord Feratu said. " I've heard them howl that way on the Desert of Blood, when they hunted me."

Lord Feratu was young, by Vampire standards....barely 250 years old. He was the ruler of Vklan, black city-state of the traditional rulers of Carpathya.

Carpathya was an old land, heavily forested, with titanic mountain ranges whose mountains of fire stood up like thin, ragged spears against a sky of perpetual thunder and dark.

Vklan...city of Vampires, of Demons, guarded by a gate of black fire. The Palace was of black iron without, black marble within, and was lit with a radiance as colorless and cool as the black light of Hell. This light filtered through the windows of black opal, green emerald, and darkest ruby.

Beyond the Palace walls lay the vast and marvelous city, it's towers of opal and steel. brass and jade rising up into the glow of the never-altering sky. No sun ever rose in Vklan. The City of Demons was a city of darkness, a thing of the night.

The second man was regally, if raggedly, clad. He was Alaric, King of Xeraph, the first human to wander into the realm of the Vampire Lords in over 3500 years. " I've heard the howling before,though not so loud, and not at this time of year. Men have been known to vanish when the werewolf howls. There have been stories.........."

" Nothing to fear if you are with me, your Majesty. We will get you safely back to your country, and you will tell your allies that there is nothing to fear, and much to gain from joining themselves to Carpathya."

Alaric eyed Feratu coldly, but realized he spoke the truth. This was a rich land, full of gold, silver, gems of all varieties. A land that was still fighting it's battles with swords, cross-bows, and the blackest sorcery. " We'll bring these Vampire nations into the 21st century, drag them if we have to", he thought. And Xeraph will be the catalyst for this Alliance Vampyricus...........

<BUMP>

The Shadow Clan of the Vklan Vampyres has been contacted by Alaric of Xeraph to inquire as to the feasibility of opening talks with the members of the region of Carpathya.
We have had nothing to do with the Race of Man for over 3500 years, but are now considering coming out of our self-imposed isolation.

The Vampyric nations of The Caves of Blood, Magi Vampyricus, and Winged Hell join me, Feratu, Regent of Vklan, in welcoming King Alaric to the black city of Vklan.

The Shadow Clan of the Vklan Vampyres has been contacted by Alaric of Xeraph to inquire as to the feasibility of opening talks with the members of the region of Carpathya.
We have had nothing to do with the Race of Man for over 3500 years, but are now considering coming out of our self-imposed isolation.

The Vampyric nations of The Caves of Blood, Magi Vampyricus, and Winged Hell join me, Feratu, Regent of Vklan, in welcoming King Alaric to the black city of Vklan.

Declaration of Support for Development of the Region of Carpathya:

Let it be known that we of the nation of Gonad 1 do attend and support the effort of King Alaric of Xeraph to open the borders of Carpathya.

This region has been closed to the world for centuries, and the courageous foray into this land by Alaric is applauded, and accorded all respect due to such an heroic feat.

I personally will contact the other nations of the Xeraphian Federation ( formerly known as ARM ) in an effort to coordinate political inroads to the Carpathyan Nations.


Sun-Tzu, Regent of Gonad 1

King Herod of Vorondadek writes:

The good people of the nation of Vorondadek wish to let all know that Vorondadek supports, yes applauds, the efforts of Alaric of Xeraph.

The black city of Vklan is, according to legend, the source of all that is evil, loathsome, and dark.......it's sorceries are the stuff of myth. Alaric has penetrated to the depths of Vklan to show the world that what is held as popular knowledge is not necessarily the truth.

We do realize that there is always a grain of truth to legend, and we of Vorondadek will do our part in ascertaining fact from fiction.

I have decided to include the Vampyre nations of the Caves of Blood, Winged Hell, and Magi Vampyricus along with Vklan to the Table of Peace in the capitol of Xeraph.

We realize, due to the extraordinary needs of the Blood Lords of Carpathya, that it would be in all participants best interests to hold the talks after the sun has gone down.

The Blood Lords are welcome to bring whatever security measures they deem necessary to Xeraph.

I wish to thank Lord Arackh of the Theocracy of Spider Death for the additional SpecOps Troops, the Red Legion, in support of the Xeraphian Secret Service, for my staff's security.



Alaric

Prince Vlad, Regent of the Confederacy of Darkwing Vampyres, of the Xeraphian Federation makes the following statement.

"We of the Confederacy are pleased that our cousins, the Blood Kings of Carpathya, have agreed to come to Alaric's Table of Peace, in order to begin relations with the ancient Vampyric Lands. We welcome Prince Tevas, Prince Alucard, Lord Feratu, and Prince Marcus to Xeraph. May peace begin here."

I am pleased to announce the coming together of the Blood Kings of Carpathya and the Xeraphian Federation to talk about pursuing commerce between the two powers.

The first order of business will be to discuss the possession of the three islands off the coast of Carpathya: Snake Island, Isla Elviras, and Wolf Island. These are wild, anarchic lands of which even the Blood Kings are ignorant of any governmental structure.
Wolf Island has been the traditional enemy of Carpathya for centuries, inhabited by Werewolves, and ruled by the Wolf Clan.
Isla Elviras has also been out of touch with all civilized nations, and is rumored to be ruled by a degenerate branch of the White Elves of Melniboneii. Nothing is known of the Isle.
Snake Island is a land ruled by a cult, a Priesthood of the Order of Set.
The word is that anyone who sets foot on the island is captured and sacrificed to their snake-god.

It is known that these lands are extremely rich in petroleum, natural gas, and caches of precious gems.

Couriers will be sent to these lands in an effort to contact the rulers of the various groups.

Alaric of Xeraph

The crowd gathered around the old StoryTeller, eager to hear of the tales from ages past..........

" For ten thousand years did the Dark Empire of Wolven rule Carpathya by virtue of her Sorcerer Kings, her Wolf Hordes, and her Greyling Battle Barges. From Imrryr, the Dreaming City, capital of the Island of Wolves, the power of the Wolf Emperors radiated over all the lands of mankind, though the Wolven were not men themselves.
They were tall, muscular, wolfish creatures....proud, malicious, sensitive and artistic, with a vast knowledge of sorcery.
They regarded their late-born Vampyric cousins of the Blood Kingdoms with arrogant comtempt, considering them fit only to be plundered or enslaved.
But at last, after a hundred centuries, the Empire's power began to wane, attacked by powers even greater than she, until all that was left of the Grey Empire was the Island itself, and it's single city, Imrryr, still strong, still feared, but no longer the glorious power she had been.

And so it might have remained, except that ot was not Destiny's way to have it so.

For the next few centuries, petty empires rose and fell and new nations had their moments of power....the Knights of Hell, the Twisted Clan, the Gardens of Death, Veshum, and others. And during this time there rose up many heroes.

Chief among these was Tanith, ancestor of Alaric of Xeraph, who bore the Elven-carved sword, BlyddDyth.

Tanith of Wolven, proud prince of ruins, last Lord of a dying race, became a wanderer, feared throughout the lands of men. Tanith of the BloodSword, sorcerer and slayer of Vampyres, crimson-eyed wolf-man....

His descendant, Alaric, seeks to re-establish the ancient ties that Tanith had with the Wolfen Empire, now reduced to the Island of Wolves....."



...and so the weaver of tales finished, as it was growing dark. " We will finish this tale on the morrow, children. Until then....."

The first of the Vampyre Clans set out from their countries, with an anticipated journey of 6 - 8 weeks to the capitol of Xeraph. They could, of course, have gotten there in about 3 hours via the modern tech of the Xeraphian Federation, but old customs died hard.
Clan Warlords Hendrek of the Nosferatu and Vushta of the Bruhaa, along with their retinue of warriors, supply chiefs, and camp followers, made their way through the valley of Seteva.
It was high summer. There had been something of a ride, fifty miles of it, at a parade walk. The column of men and horses had marched it's inexorable way through the opaque light of afternon, the yellow dust going up like powdered biscuit. And along with the dust, the column it's own weary clanking, the rumble of feet and wheels, the bitter reek of hot metal, raw laether stink and the stink of sweat. The kind of ride where you wanted water, not wine, at the end of it.

Suddenly, without warning, a hail of bullets came from the valley hights. This was doubly distressful to the Vampyres, due to the fact that they had but swords and knives to fight off assailants.
But Alaric was there....and he and his royal troopers from the land of Black Shadows were not so hampered.

With snapped orders from Alaric, the troopers fanned out towards the paths leading up the valley walls.

" Hendrek, Vushta, get your men out of the line of fire.....and prepare to back my men up when I give the word."

The Vampyres did as instructed, and by this time the Shadow troopers had returned fire and killed several of the attackers. The rest ran, but were being pursued by the Shadow Trackers, who would come back with the heads of the enemy, or wouldn't come back at all.

The Trackers came back with six heads....and one live attacker.

" Who put you up to this, and where are you from", barked the captain of the Trackers. " Speak up, and quickly, and I'll make your death a quick one."

The warrior laughed at him, and jabbered in a strange tongue. " That sounds like the language of the wild lands south of Koth" said one of the troopers. It's a wilderness, and a known hide out of small bands of terror-based renegades. Obviously, this is an attack supported by one of the terror nations....we need to find out which one."

Quickly, without warning, the warrior of Koth broke free, and started to run in the direction of the Shadow Land trucks, but made it only about five steps before he was cut down by automatic rifle fire.

The Vampyre warriors were wide-eyed with the swift death-dealing actions of the Xeraphian troopers. This was magic to them, killing without effort.

" And there's more of this type of weapon where we're going," said the captain of the Black Shadow troop. " Just wait until we get to Xeraph..."

Preliminary reports about the attack on the Vampyre Clan caravan in the Seteva Valley indicate that the attackers were indeed from the wilderness area south of the land of Koth.
Strange tattoos were found on all the bodies of the slain.....concentric circles superimposed over the Kothian symbol for "heaven", a sign hitherto unknown.

King Alaric has ordered a doubling of the Black Legion guards escorting the Vampyre Clans to Xeraph. Approximately 13 Clans representing the four Vampyre nations are en route at this time.

As an additional precautionary measure, two squadrons of F/A 18 Hornets are patrolling skies over Carpathya and Mercenary Lands.

From: Gen. Strickland, CMDR, Xeraphian Forces
To: All Border Patrols, Borderlands of Black Shadows, region of Mercenary Lands, Xeraphian Federation.

Be advised the the first compliments of King Alaric's guests, the Blood Kings of Carpathya, are approaching our borders from the country of Winged Hell. They are to accorded all aid and respect, and are to be let through our borders without the normal inspections and delays.

Approximately 1500 total nationals are headed to Xeraph, and I want Level 3 surveillance applied. Any suspicious acts are to be reported directly to me before actions are taken. After the surprise attacks on two Vampyre Clans last week, we can't be too careful.

Lord Feratu of Vklan is the head Blood King. When he and his entourage get to the border, it is the King's order that he and his immediate family be flown directly to the military base outside the capitol. Feratu has been made aware of this change of plans.

Updates to follow.

From: Gen.Strickland, CMDR Xeraphian Forces

Lord Feratu of Vklan and family/staff have been airlifted to Air Base 3, Mercenary Lands, outside capitol city of Xeraph. Heavy security prevails, as death threats from unknown sources have been discovered.

Black Shadow Legion, Dark Angel Legion, and Hell Knight Rangers surround AirBase 3 and approaches to Palace.

UH-60 Blackhawk and AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter Squadrons providing continuous air support/surveillance of Vklan personell.

Winged Hell, Caves of Blood, and Magi Vampyricus representatives within 1 days march of Xeraph. All is on schedule.
Talks to commence in 2 days.

Updates to follow.

The sun, hidden by the heavy overcast, was nearing the western horizon. Above the clearing, the clouded sky hung like a rumpled blanket of dingy wool. Clammy tendrils of vapor slithered like wandering ghosts between the wet black tree trunks. Drippage from the recent rains pattered upon the drifts of fallen autumn leaves, whose bright scarlet, gold and bronze were fading along with the light.
For a long moment, the man sat motionless on the panting stallion. From under the brim of his sweat-stained hat he scanned the foggy clearing with a searching gaze.
Had any eye observed him, the watcher might well have mistaken him for some woodland thief---until he noticed the heavy sword at his side bore on it's handle a jewel worth a knight's ransom, and the hunting horn that was slung over his back was of ivory decorated with gold and silver filigree. He was, in fact, the King of Xeraph, unchallenged ruler of the wealthiest and most powerful realm of the west. His name was Alaric.
This land was called Wolf Island. It was a dreary wasteland of desolate, empty moors which swept off to a distant forest. Here and there snarled and stunted trees grew sparsely. Geese rose flapping from misty bogs as a cold uneasy wind blew through the reeds.
At first he followed a clearly marked trail for the prints of the Wolven had left a track in the muddy soil. He pushed the stallion hard, for he wished to make the best time possible. There was the slimmest of chances that he could catch up to the werewolves before they reached their castle-keep, called Lycana.
For three days Alaric rode ever deper into this wasteland, his eye on the edge of the distant forest. The ground was becoming treacherous, and the deper he rode into Wolf Island, the worse the footing became.
Suddenly, the marsh was alive with werewolves. They were filthy, gaunt, and except for a greasy rag about their lower torso, naked.
Alaric yelled a challenge, and plunged the stallion into the midst of the werewolves.
Alaric's blade whistled, making heads jump from spurting necks. Five he slew, while the stallion's hoofs slashed out and crushed the face of a sixth, brains splattering amidst flying blood.
As quickly as they came, they were gone, leaving the King nursing many cuts and slashed skin, courtesy of the ragged talons of the Wolven.
"If this is all they can muster against us", Alaric thought,"then subduing this island won't be much of a challenge."
Even as he formed the thought, he knew that there was more to this race of Wolves than met the eye.


Four days later, Alaric was back in his glittering capitol city...Xeraph, of the Kingdom of Xeraph. He was waiting for the first Clansmen of the Carpathyan Blood Kings to enter the throne room, where the Table of Peace awaited the rest of the Vampires...............

At last, all of the tribes and clans of the region of Carpathya were gathered at the Table of Peace in the Kingdom of Xeraph. Three Lords, a King, and various warlords and chieftains were gathered with their lieutenants at the Table. They were here to discuss bringing their countries into the 21st century, as well as to figure out what to do about the Elves, Serpent Folk, and Werwolves.

Many were for all-out war against their traditional enemies, but others counseled caution, for they didn't want to completely destroy an enemy that they could enslave.

As all attendees were taking turns speaking, a thunderous, rumbling noise reached their ears........................

Six bombs had gone off, each one minute apart. Most had been planted in and around the Great Hall in the Palace where the Xeraphian delegates and the Blood Kings were in conference about the Wolf Island situation. Two destroyed the main CommCenter a block away, and the last had leveled the Embassy of Torrutseish.
The bombs were not overly powerful, but had been strategically placed to cause the columns supporting the roof of the Great Hall to collapse, which in effect resulted in many deaths, many wounded. Bodies, and parts of bodies, were everywhere.
Xeraphian security forces were immediately deployed to surround the Palace, while the Black Shadow SpecOps Team headed to the CommCenter and the Embassy.
Initial reports indicated that 54 Vampyres of various clans had died, approx 60 more wounded, but the Xeraphian citizens faired worse.
Three days after the blasts, emergeny crews were still pulling bodies out of the rubble: over 230 dead, hundreds more wounded, with massive destruction of the CommCenter and Great Hall. Nothing but rubble was left of the Torrutseishian Embassy, where the body count was in the hundreds.
King Alaric and his staff were unharmed, except for mnor cuts and bruises, but he Blood King clan lords lost two of their leaders: Bruhaa, chief of the Night Clan, and Seroni, lord of the RedSword Clan, both of the kingdom of Winged Hell.
Alaric called on his allies to aid in the search for the perpetrators of the bombings, as well as any other nation who wished to help.

Prince Vlad of the Confederacy of Darkwing Vampyres has sent 1250 warriors of the Red Legion to the capitol city of Xeraph in an effort to maintain order there.
Vlad's main objective is to pull the talks with the remaining clans of the Blood Kings back together in order to show the terrorists that their efforts to disrupt the conference will not succeed.
King Alaric has stated that the talks will reconvene tomorrow, with the state funerals of the slain Clan Lords on the following day.
Security has been increased ten-fold, and Anti-Terror Units from the province of Nebadon have been dispersed throughout the Federation.
All shore patrols have been increased, as have air patrols.

Corinus, CMDR, Darkwing Federation Forces

Eric Valtane….Regent of the Federated Suns sat in his Office going over reports of the star lift…To date close to 75% of the Federated Suns Population had been safely transported to there new home worlds…After finishing the reports…He picked up an elegant letter embossed with the seal of Xeraph…A longtime erstwhile ally…

*Eric…I was shocked and dismayed at the deaths of Archon King and his family…But with you as the newly appointed Regent…I am most assured that the Archon’s Policies will remain…I request your presence at some peace talks I will be hosting…These talks will have a great impact on our alliance….*

Signed
Your Friend Alaric

Placing the letter down Eric reached for the intercom switch.

*Rebecca…Please inform security that I will be traveling to Xeraph for some peace conference…Also inform Colonel Black she will be in command til my return.
Also send word to the Guard. I’ll need a standard Guard Detachment*…

*Yes Milord*

Suddenly the office door flew open and in rushed his Foreign Minister Robert Black
Who looked flustered?

*Sire…..Explosions…..Xeraph….Dead*….

*WHAT…DAMMIT…TO HELL…Alright…activate the 1st Praetorian Guard …Send them to Xeraph as a peacekeeper….Contact the Xeraphian Embassy…Tell them what were doing….Also make sure the guard are allocated those new power suits we just got….also send in the Medical Detachment from the 101st & the 18th …Use those new Vulture Gun ships, Thunderhawk Dropships & Valkyrie Dropships
Is the FSS Nebuchadnezzar still at the Airfield?*...

http://www.st-intelligence.com/card/KBOPAnim.gif

*I…I think so*…

*Good contact fleet...tell’em to light it up…I’m be using it as my Command ship…What else is there?*

War Minister James Stone who by now had arrived…quickly flipped thru several pages…

*Huhhh…The FSS War Cry & the FSS Shrieker are still grounded*…

http://www.st-intelligence.com/card/KBOPAnim.gif

*Fan…Fucking…Tastic….Warm those up too….About damn time we used them*….

*Rebecca…Please alert my fiancée… of our departure…tell her to pack her bags we leave within the hour *...


1st Praetorian Guard

50,000 - Armored Troopers
50 – Jackal Titan
50 - Mars Titan

Form: Gen. Strickland, CMDR XF Forces

We have received a memo from the King indicating that Eric Valtane, Regent of Verboten Lufttewaffe, is on his way to Xeraph with his fiancee. He has graciously sent Med Units to aid us in treating the wounded, and the 1st Praetorian Guard to aid in the search for the terrorists who attacked Xeraph.
All available units of the 2nd and 6th Airwings are hereby deployed to escort the 1st Praetorian to Airbase 3. We have noted the presence of the VL Shriekers and Warcry, and the Vulture gunhsips, and the Thunderhawk and Valkyrie dropships have been directd to runway 4.
Regent Valtane's Nebuchadnezzar command ship has been given coordinates to land at King Alaric's private landing strip.

Updates to follow.

King Alaric sat at his desk in the War Room. Before him were the statistics concerning the losses suffered in the bombings.

"Hundreds dead, hundreds more wounded", he thought. " This has to stop. Terrorists are roaming too freely these days."

Thought turned to speech..." Commander Strickland, Xeraph has more than enough ground forces to protect it's citizens, I know. And those forces combined with those of the provinces would overwhelmingly defeat any army sent against it. What I need to know is how these terrorists gained entry to MercLands, passed through several XF provinces, and got into Xeraph and then plant bombs right under our noses."

Strickland, ever the King's man, spoke unhesitatingly. " Your Majesty...."

" John cut the 'Majesty' crap. We two are old comrades. You helped me carve this kingdom out of wild, untamed lands where tribes of barbarians held sway. No need to address that way when we're alone."

" Aye, Alaric, those were the good old days. Not much talking, just conquering the tribes and establishing a solid government. Sometimes I long for those days."

"You'll have your'e chance again, John. Now that these Blood Kings see how necessary we are to their safety, I don't think there will beany more opposition to our plans to over-run Wolf Island. It's unfortunate that it took terrorist attacks to make them come to their senses, but it all worked out for good in the end."

"Yes, Alaric, it was unfortunate, but with the help of our ally Eric of the Federated Suns, we'll track these curs down and extract every bit of information from them."

So, John, how did they get into the Palace?" Strickland was an old friend, but someone needed to give Alaric an explanation......and someone needed to shoulder the blame for the lack of security.

" At this point, we know that a small number of Kothian-backed terror cells, totalling approx 36 men, came in with the Carpathyan tribes and clans. We know for a fact that no one joined the Vampires en route to Xeraph, so they had to have been in each of the Carpathyan countries. They just tagged along. What we are trying to ascertain is what they were doing in Carpathya in the first place. None of the Clan heads know anything about them......or so they say. Several of the Warrior Clans are opposed to us intervening into Wolf Island. They want the island for themselves, and while we are far from making any acusations, we think there's a link somewhere."

Alaric rose from the chair, paced back and forth a minute, and stopped in front of the shattered window, not yet replaced. " Hmmmm.....so they snuck in with the delegates. My first mistake. I should have let the usual search routine take place at the border between Black Shadows and Winged Hell. Those Border Hounds would have sniffed 'em out."

"Maybe, maybe not," Strickland said. " These terrorists were not run-of-the-mill recruits. They knew what they were doing."

"Yes, well, at least the talks are all but finished. We've convinced the Blood Kings that without out help, they'll never even land on Wolf Island, never mind conquer it. Hard to believe that sorcery still hold sway over some lands. But we'll see how sorcery holds up against ballistic nukes and AI units. Yes we'll see.............."

Xeraph Control….This is the FSS Nebuchadnezzar w/ Regent Valtane aboard…Requesting clearance to land at pad 1 – AX….

One moment Nebuchadnezzar….

Suddenly the Helm Officer Shouted…

Contact…is bearing NNW…217 degrees….Large group of life signs….Approximately 150 in number…Also picking up traces from heat exchangers…

Eric Valtane as was accorded him by his regency sat in the command chair as the helm chanted out…

Ops…Contact Xeraph Control alert them to the contacts….Helm Bring us about and Cloak us…

YES SIR…

With that the command crew swung into action….As the ship went to Red Alert…It quickly covered the distance to the contacts in a matter of minutes…

Helm Magnify...

Helm officer taps a few buttons…

YES SIR….150% magnification...

The View screen flares for a brief second and is filled with a picture out of Fantasy

suddenly the bridge is filled with the babble of several officers...

What the Fuck are those things…They look like wolves

Can’t be sir…Their walking on two legs…

SIR their armed w/ assault rifles…AK47’s

Look they also have Tanks…Old yet workable…

"SILENCE"....Eric leans over to get a closer look even though all he has to do is increase magnification

Are you recording this?

Yes Sir….answered the helm

Good…..Patch this feed directly thru to Xeraph Command…

Sir…I have 2 more groups of UNKNOWNS…Due North 231 clicks…the 2nd group appears to be swinging around in a pincher…Life scans suggest 37,000 in each group…….SIR...It’s an Army…Profile suggests the 1st group will be approaching from that pass…

Damn those sons’ bitches would have hit [Xeraph Capital City]…From the blindside…Ok contact the Guard tell them to dig in around [Xeraph Capital City]…Alert Command of our discovery…

Ops….Plot a point of Origin for these forces….

YES SIR……SIR…..We have computed an 89.9% probality they came from and Offshore island….

What is that land over there?

That land is said to be home to a ruthless race of KOTHS…..

So these Wolf things are working in conjunction with these Koth???

That is for Intelligence to confirm…

Alright Helm Bring us about…We have a defense to plan….Ops…Keep track of those fuckers….I want no surprises…

YES SIR

From: Gen. Strickland, CMDR XF

Info received from incoming Federated Suns ships indicate a large number of hitherto undiscovered training sites west of JMOB, off the coast of MercLands. Sites are apparently for training of anti-Xeraphian/Vampyre faction, at this time comprised of various tribes of Werewolves from Wolf Island.
It further appears that non-wolf partisans are the trainers. These may be from the Kingdom of Koth, but this has not yet ben confirmed.

This info from Regent Valtane of FS is being forwarded to King Alaric.

Updates to follow.

" Werewolves to the north? how can that be?" Alaric declared. " Their home island is far to the south, and if it is Kothites who are training them, their Kingdom is even farther south, in the jungles of the Unknown Lands."

John Strickland, CMDR XF, looked at the battle-map on the south wall of the War Room. " Apparently, with the aid of these Kothite mercenaries, the werewolves are arming themselves with modern weapons for an attack on the main cities of MercLands. They seem to have full personal battle gear: AK-47's, knives, grenades, but not much in the way of clothing."

Col. Grayson, CMDR of Airbase 3, Xeraph, interrupted. "That could very well be that these creatures are over 9 feet tall....what man-made armor would fit them?"

" Well, your Majesty, what are your orders? Shall we send in the troops or the AI Units?"

" Neither, General. These werewolves are an unknown factor at this point. I don't want to sacrifice our troops unecessarily, and the AI Units are needed elsewhere."

Alaric thought as he paced before the map. "OK, here's what we do. We have a lot going on right now with the conference winding down, and the mobilisation starting up against Wolf Island, and, eventually, Snake Island. We need to deal with this werewolf threat coming at us from the west and north quickly and decisively...........use the ballistic and tactical missiles, arm them with the 1/4 meg warheads. Use as many as necessary. The islets they're training on are uninhabited, so none of our people will be affected. If possible before launch, send in SpecOps teams to capture a few werewolves and their Kotjite trainers. We need answers..."

As the last of the members of the OSS-1 staff-designates lifted off from the Xeraphian JMOB, a tribesman of Nebadon, currently assigned to the commchannel module of the tranport ship, noted a disturbance in the atmosphere directly over 3 small islands to the west and north of the coast of MercLands. " Sir, come look at this."
Captain Jones looked over the shoulder of the officer. "Ah, the nuclear attack on the Werewolves."
" Er, excuse me sir...did you say werewolves?" The jr. officer looked nervous, and was getting quite pale.
" Yes, you heard me....Werewolves. It was not available as general information, but a somewhat large contingent of Kothite-backed werewolves were being trained on remote islands west and northwest of the JMOB. The King decided not to engage the insurgents directly with our troopers, as they are mobilising for the invasion of Wolf Island. There are, or rather were, approx 40,000 of these wolves ready to attack Xeraph and other cities."

" Sir, intel reports 62 nuclear explosions of the ballistic type, and 16 of the tactical type on the three islets. 33 more missiles currently inbound from coastal batteries and JMOB launch pads. It looks like the King isn't screwing around with these werewolves.....there won't be anything moviing on those islands for decades."

" Yes, yeoman, that was the idea. With the invasion to the south commencing any day, the King needed to deal decisivley with this threat. Small nuclear warheads were the obvious answer. Apparently, it's been found that there are a lot more of these werewolves on their home island than was first thought....more than 20 times the original number, putting the total closer to 600,000. We don't know how many Kothite advisors are present, but we do know that more than a few are high-ranking sorcerers and wizards who will not hesitate to use their powers to stop the invasion from getting much past the initial beach-landing."

" Oh, come on Captain...........sorcerers, wizards...are you telling me that we're up against MAGIC? Sir, this is the 21st century..."

Capt. Jones turned to the yeoman, "Don't mock what you don't understand. Scuttlebutt has it that the couriers and their escorts sent in 2 weeks ago were found tied to stakes and sacrificed on altars. The creatures summoned by the sorcerers were not of this earth..........."

On Wolf Island, in the castle known as The Sanctuary, Zargheba, warlord of the Wolven, pondered the coming war with the Blood Kings of Carpathya.
His private rooms, large and ornate, with rich tapestries on the grey stone walls, deep rugs on the polished ivory-inlaid floors, and lofty ceilings adorned with carvings of nightmare creatures, were filled with his vassals. Behind a simple writing-table sat a being whose broad shoulders and shaggy grey fur seemed out of place among those luxuriant surroundings. He seemed more a part of the sun and winds and high places of the outlands. His slightest movement spoke of steel-spring muscles knit to a keen brain with the coordination of a born fighter.
He wore no ring or ornaments, and his shaggy mane was confined merely by a cloth-of-gold scrap about his head.
He glanced up at the various clan heads and tribesmen of his kingdom, and saw varied expressions on their faces...anticipation, impatience, calm, and in a few, the old berserker blood-lust of the Wolven.
" My friends, I brought you here because you no doubt have heard of the impending invasion by the Blood Kings. The Caves of Blood, Magi Vampyricus, Winged Hell, and Vklan have massed thousands of warriors on their coastline, and will attack our Island before many days have gone."
It wasn't exactly speech as humans know it....more of a gutteral, throat-tearing growling than anyhting.
" We know that in ages past, we have had nothing to fear from these puny, long-distant cousins of ours. We fought them and beat them time after time for thousands of years. But this time, it's diferent."
Zargheba glanced out of the window before going on. " This time the Carpathyans are aided by humans, humans who have something called "tech", of which we know nothing. It's not magic or sorcery as our wizards and necromancers have, but just as deadly. I hear reports of large metal boxes which spit fire, soldiers that are slashed with swords and pierced with arrows, but do not die. I hear of flying creatures that drop sacks of burning fire, which kill hundreds in a few minutes, and many other weapons equally mysterious. But the most devastating were the weapons that completely destroyed our armies in the north. In a matter of minutes, over 40,000 Wolven, and our Kothite allies, were incinerated with fires from the sky, the fires of Hell."
"Our informants tell me that the first wave of attacks will be by the Vampires themselves, using arms that we are familiar with, and you all know that we have litle to fear from them. But if the humans use their weapons.........."
" I have summoned the Witch Clan leaders, and they have assured me that they can counter anything which the the Vampires or the humans can throw against us, but I'm not so sure. I want all of you, my trusted warriors, to be aware that you may see and experience things that will be beyond your comprehension, and that you know that i will provide you all with the most ancient and terrible of sorceries at our disposal. If we are to die, it will be at a horrible cost to our enemies."
"Go now, my chieftains, go to your people, and prepare them for a war unlike any other they have known. We will be victorious, or we will die."
As the warriors and chieftains of the clans and tribes of Wolf Island departed the room, Zargheba let out a sigh, and asked the gods for a miracle.........

>BUMP>

From: Gen. Strickland, CMDR XF

We've received orders from the King. The invasion of Wolf Island will commence 0100 hours. First landings will consist of following Vampyric Forces: Caves of Blood: Clans Deathhead, ShadowKill, and Red Slayers.
Magi Vampyricus: Clans WitchBane, WarMaster. Winged Hell: Clans SaberTooth and Bruhaa. Vklan: Clan Feratu.
Naval support/escort of Vampyric tribesmen will be provided by Spider Death's 2nd, 6th, and 18th Carrier Fleets, including Warhammer and IceStorm Battleships, Oscar Class Subs, and Tiknaya Destroyers. 11 Nimitz Class Carriers will carry full complement of 80 fighters each: Harriers, Tomcats, F/A 18 Hornets, MIG-33's, MIG -27's, and Typhoons, fully armed with frag missiles.

Approx 375,000 Vampire troops will be landed at three coastal locations. 2500 SpecOps XF Rangers will establish commcenters 2 miles inland, followed by 4 frontline firebases.

Xeraphian air support will be concentrated over the southern portion of
the island. This is in case the Wolven's ally, Koth, sends their fighters in support of Zargheba's werewolves.

Xeraphian ground troops, numbering 750,000 armored troopers supported by the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 9th, and 21st Armored Battalions will land after the 6th wave of Vampire forces.

Updates to follow.

"Sir, we're picking up a transmission from a spot in an area south of the Carpathyan region. It's a bit garbled, but the translaters are working on it. Here it is...' and the great demons of the Black Lands are being conjured, along with the spirits of chaos and destruction. Lord Asmoodeus, high sorcerer of Koth, is directing efforts to contain the forces of the Blood Kings...' "

"So it seems that it has begun", thought the corporal. " The great powers of the region are massing for a final battle....tech versus magic."

TAG

OOC:
Interesting; is this closed and/or scripted? I have some toys I've been meaning to field test that the wolves might find useful.

<BUMP>

<BUMP>

<BUMP>

Night lay like a pall on the trampled, blood-soaked earth of Wolf Island. Through tatters of mist, the cold white moon peered down on a scene of horror. For the rolling, barren plain that sloped down to the shallow creek was littered with the sprawled, gore-splashed corpses of the Vampire nobility and their clansmen. I silent thousands, vampire knights and the various tribesmen lay, some face down in pools of congealing blood, others on their backs, with dead eyes staring up into the pale light of the moon. The hideous wail of the hyenas rang through the still air as the scavengers crunched and gobbled.
The Wolven called this grim place Gr'thi'n Be'llu'p....Bitter Sands. Never before had it so well earned it's name; never had the bitter sands drunk so deeply of hot blood. Never before had so many hacked and shaft-pierced men gone down the red road to Hell, strewing the bleak waste with their bones.

It had been a slaughter.

The armies had first clashed on the gren plains a few miles inland of the coastal landing areas. The wild Wolfen charge had broken against the the solid wall of the Blood Tribes of Winged Hell, while the shafts of the Vklan archers mowed the wolves down. The wolves withdrew to regroup for a second charge, but then Hell opened it's mouth......and the Carpathyan Vampyres was it's meal.
The sorceror, Thekri of Koth, had summoned his full arsenal of demons and goblins, dripping blood from sharp fangs.....thousands upon thousands of them. They swept down on the Blood Kings....and they faltered and then broke. The carnage was awful to see. Both demon and wolf tore the vampires limb from limb, no mercy shown.

On a knoll commanding a view of the desolate, corpse-strewn battlefield, Zargheba, lord of the Wolven, sat in his massive tent. Above it flew a black banner, edged in red, soaked in blood. He had won a great victory against the Carpathyans, but he knew that the firebases and the commcenters of the humans hadn't even been scratched....the wolves couldn't get near them because of something called "mines".....hundreds of thousands of small, exploding devices that blew his army apart.
And he knew that the real batle was about to commence, the one against Xeraph with it's "tech".
And Zargheba knew he couldn't win this batle...............

As the last Federation Dropship came in…Eric Valtane looked out the view port and saw the carnage of the Vampyre Front…Shaking his head he continued to suit up in his personal Power Armor…All around him his Elite Praetorian Guard Stood Stoically…As he finished putting on his armor he grabbed his helmet and once again looked out the view port….He saw the rest of his bodyguard unit down below forming up into battle lines…All 75,000 of them…Minus of course the troopers still aboard the Dropship…seconds later Eric led the last of his troops out onto the field of battle…Within moments a horrendous sound could be heard all around…The sound of war drums and shrieking could be heard…Along w/ the sounds of 1000’s of marching feet…Within moments the Wolven/Demonic army had crested the hill in front of the Federation forces…The evil aura they emanated could be seen in the pale moonlight….Suddenly the Call went out over the comms…

*READY UP*…As one the Praetorian Guard solidified their positions…The 1st line kneeling, The 2nd Line standing right behind them their weapons leveled at the Wolven Horde.

Eric reached up and activated his transponder and requested a satellite data uplink…
Suddenly his HUD lit up with data…troop Concentrations and whatnot…He scrolled down and pulled up data on the enemies disposition…137,000 Strong….FUCK he thought damn near double our strength…

Suddenly a war cry arose snapping him back to reality…As the Wolven forces surged forward…His troops begin firing w/ determination and skill…As the Wolven line steadily advanced their numbers thinning ever so slowly…Suddenly they were within 100 feet of the Federation lines…When the 2nd line dropped to one knee and the 3rd line aimed and fired flamethrowers at the advancing Wolven army…The enemy broke ranks and retreated…but quickly reformed for another attack…the ground in between the 2 forces was a corpse-strewn battlefield with Wolven dead…Quickly checking his uplink…Eric saw that the Wolven were down by 57,000 troops…Giving them a 10,000 trooper advantage still…

Suddenly Eric overrode the Unit comms….

*Attention…I want a 10 minute fusillade on their positions now*…

With that the 1st & 2nd Lines opened fire at extreme range…Dropping Wolven troops like rag dolls…

After 10 minutes Eric again checked his uplink as the firing suddenly stopped…He smiled eagerly as he saw that the Wolven were down another 21,000…Giving the Federation Troops an 11,000 man advantage
Looking at the enemy lines he saw they were ragged from the intense fire given by the Federation…Once again Eric overrode the comms…

*Shoulder your arms…We now fight like the true nobles we are…Unsheathe your swords*…

With that 75,000 men shouldered their weapons and drew steel…Eric also drew his and walked out in front of his troops…Raising his sword he broadcasted to his troops…

*FOR THE FEDERATION & FOR THE ARCHON*…Looking at his Wolven counterpart he raised his sword to his helmet and bowed to him…Then raised his sword and shouted

*CHAAAAAAAAAARGE*

The Federation & Wolven Forces leapt at each and met each other at midfield…Slamming into each other with reckless abandon…As Wolven & Federation Trooper died alike…The Wolven claws slashing thru the Federations armor like butter…The sun slowly rose in the eastern sky…Eric was in the middle of the whole thing…Hacking & slashing at the Wolven…He had lost count after 10 minutes…Suddenly a shadow fell upon him and he dropped his sword in a defensive gesture …As a Wolven Warrior straddled him his Claws & Jaws snapping within mere centimeters of his helmet…Feeling the fight go out of him…Eric began to succumb to the Wolven warrior… When it’s head suddenly exploded…Eric too tired to even stand took the proffered hand of the trooper who had saved him…As he stood up…His unit began cheering in victory as the defeated the last of the Wolven…Taking horrendous losses all the same…Turning on the trooper who had saved he asked…

*Who are you…I wish to reward your diligence & heroics*…

The synthesized voice said…

*My reward comes from our marriage*…With that the trooper reached up and removed their helmet…Eric stood in shock as long blonde hair spilled out as he recognized his Fiancée standing before him….

*I got here as soon as I heard you were leading the charge yourself*…With that Eric grabbed her & embraced her tightly…

2 hrs later…Eric sat in a medavac Dropship hooked up to an IV…Tapping his Commbadge…

*Command..I need to know our “Butcher’s Bill”*…

*Roger…Total KIA are as follows…68,000 Federation Troops KIA…That includes all the wounded who were mercy killed to prevent the spread of Lycanthrope*…

*Dammit…Outta 75,000 Elite Soldiers only 7,000 survived*…*More then 90% of my forces died today…Though we won a resounding victory it came at too high a price*…

TGN News Update........
" Hi, this is Farley Higder coming to you from the War Room in the Palace of King Alaric of Xeraph, where we have just learned of the victory over the Wolven of Wolf Island, off the coast of the region of Carpathya. King Alaric is presently behind closed doors with his top military people.....hold on, theyr'e coming out now. The King looks like he's ready to make a statement."

Alaric steps to the podium, a very somber look on his face, almost as if he'd been weeping. " My people, I have just received word from our commcenters on Wolf Island concerning the offensive against the Wolven/Demon Army. We have won a great victory....but at a terrible cost. As the Xeraphian forces were readying their ground troops and armor, hundreds of Federated Sun DropShips descended onto the plain and deployed 75,000 troopers. Regent Eric Valtane led the charge against the werewolves, and almost lost his life. The FS troopers won the day........at a loss of 68,000 Federated lives.
XF forces are now in complete command of most of Wolf Island. We know that about 20,000 Wolven warriors escaped...but we've yet to locate their whereabouts. We suspect that they were removed from the island by their Kothite allies to an unknown area south of Carpathya."

Alaric bowed his head momentarily. When he looked up, the pain was evident in his eyes. " What can I say? The heroic attack on the Wolven army by Eric Valtane of the Federated Suns was as courageous an act as I've ever seen. I'll be speaking to Eric personally in the next few days to see how Xeraph can help FedSun recover from this tremendous loss of Elite Troopers.........not to mention how we can ever repay them for their valor."
" There will be a Marche Triumphe through the capitol city of Xeraphia, and a Royal State Dinner in FedSun's honor. All allies' presence is requested. That's all for now."

" OK, there you heard it....Xeraph has a victory on Wolf Island. From what we hear, Snake Island is next on the agenda, but the King is going to help Regent Valtane put his Elite Troops back together as quickly as possible."

" Update at 11:00"...this is Farley Hidger for TGN News, Xeraphia"

TGN News Update........
" Hi, this is Farley Higder coming to you from the War Room in the Palace of King Alaric of Xeraph, where we have just learned of the victory over the Wolven of Wolf Island, off the coast of the region of Carpathya. King Alaric is presently behind closed doors with his top military people.....hold on, theyr'e coming out now. The King looks like he's ready to make a statement."

Alaric steps to the podium, a very somber look on his face, almost as if he'd been weeping. " My people, I have just received word from our commcenters on Wolf Island concerning the offensive against the Wolven/Demon Army. We have won a great victory....but at a terrible cost. As the Xeraphian forces were readying their ground troops and armor, hundreds of Federated Sun DropShips descended onto the plain and deployed 75,000 troopers. Regent Eric Valtane led the charge against the werewolves, and almost lost his life. The FS troopers won the day........at a loss of 68,000 Federated lives.
XF forces are now in complete command of most of Wolf Island. We know that about 20,000 Wolven warriors escaped...but we've yet to locate their whereabouts. We suspect that they were removed from the island by their Kothite allies to an unknown area south of Carpathya."

Alaric bowed his head momentarily. When he looked up, the pain was evident in his eyes. " What can I say? The heroic attack on the Wolven army by Eric Valtane of the Federated Suns was as courageous an act as I've ever seen. I'll be speaking to Eric personally in the next few days to see how Xeraph can help FedSun recover from this tremendous loss of Elite Troopers.........not to mention how we can ever repay them for their valor."
" There will be a Marche Triumphe through the capitol city of Xeraphia, and a Royal State Dinner in FedSun's honor. All allies' presence is requested. That's all for now."

" OK, there you heard it....Xeraph has a victory on Wolf Island. From what we hear, Snake Island is next on the agenda, but the King is going to help Regent Valtane put his Elite Troops back together as quickly as possible."

" Update at 11:00"...this is Farley Hidger for TGN News, Xeraphia"

Somewhere in Kanuckistan...

A dark furred hand reached for the remote control, killing the TV as the TGN broadcast ended.

"Mister Smith," the shadow cloaked figure muses, "Put together a team; track down those lycan survivors. I think we just found ourselves a couple thousand field testers for our new hardware."

A shadow stirred, and a black suited hunam steped into the light, "They'll be on the ground by sundown; no one will know they're there."

"Good; coordinate with McAulay for our 'donations' once we've made contact.."

"You don't think they'll refuse our help?"

"They've just lost their homes, brothers, and likly their families; the only thing they'll want is blood, and we're going to help them get it... No, our biggest problem will be restraining and focusing that bloodlust into a keen-edged blade; the weilder if half of any weapon system, and we want to put on a good show for potential buyers..."


OOC:
Corperate interest is sparked...

Update: Wolf Island Campaign:
From: Xeraphian Federation HQ, Xeraphia

Casualties:
Carpathyan Blood Kings: of the 375,000 Vampyric warriors, all Clans and Tribes: 78,397 KIA;, 187,119 WIA, 1208 MIA
Wolven/Demon: of the estimated 250,000 warriors, all but approx 20,000 KIA
Federated Suns: 68,274 KIA, 2388 WIA, none missing

At this time, Xeraphian forces have complete control of the island. No resistance reported. Victory is complete.

1st, 2nd, 10th and 14th Battle Fleets are presently en route to waters off eastern and southern coasts of Wolf Island in preparation of assault on Snake Island and Isla Elviras. 16 Carriers of the Nimitz and Haro-Nihon Classes, 14 Tikiny Class Battleships, 6 IceStorm Battlecruisers, 8 subs of the Oscar and Amur Class, 13 Kirov missile ships, 3 Sumner destroyers, and 3 Warhammer Battle Carriers will anchor in safe harbors over next 5-7 days.
Three air bases are currently being constructed at northwest, southeast, and southwest sections of the island, each capable of supporting B-1, B-2, B-3 and Alpha-Omega Bombers, approx total 175 bombers. Support fighters include F/A 18 Hornets, Raptors, Typhoons, Valkyries, Talons, Darkhorse, and Sioux Gunships totaling approx 850 units.
HeliCorp units totaling approx 70 attack/recon copters: Blackhawk and Apaches.

At this time, the approx number of armored troopers stationed on the island is 200,000. This number is expected to triple in the coming weeks.

HQ at this time has not been informed by FedSun CMDR as to whether FS forces will also be deployed to island.

The Blood Kings of Carpathya have stated that they will conduct their part of the invasion of Snake Island and Isla Elviras from the Carpathyan mainland. Transport of the approx 150,000 Vampyric warriors will be provided by XF Zubr LC's.

In addition, the OSS-1 has deployed 3 vessels in orbit directly above the island, approx 33,000 miles distant. 1 Nova Class Survey Vessel, 1 Ambassador Class Explorer, and 1 Dawnstar Class Scientific/Medical Vessel are to beam down a team of scientists to explore various cities of the Wolven, including their former capitol, Imyrr, known also as the Dreaming City. Archeologists, anthropologists, and technicians will be conducting excavations throughout the ancient city.


Updates to folow.

From: Admiral Collins, CMDR Xeraphian Federation Navy

King Alaric has ordered the 14th Assault Carrier Group to the waters off the coast of the Unknown Lands, 700 miles south of the the region of Carpathya. Orbital reconnaisence of the area shows a large bay where the Group will anchor. Their mission is to secure a beach-head where SpecOp/Recon operations can commence. 6 firebases will be established on inland positions in uninhabited areas of the Empire of Koth.

ACG comprised of 3 JFK Carriers and 3 Yekatering Super Cariers, escorted and supported by 3 Alaska Battle Cruisers, 2 Iowa Class Battleships, 5 Trafalgar and 5 Oscar subs, 10 Oryal missile craft, and 2 Tikniy destroyers. Once ACG is in place, 6500 armored troopers of the Red Legion of Spider Death will be air-dropped into inland area to deploy to firebases.

Updates to follow.

Firebase 12, Vklan Territory, Carpathyan region:

AT approx 0607 hours, 112 unidentified supersonic aircraft were detected flying through Carpathyan airspace, headed due south. Aircraft were hailed, asking them to identify themselves. Their apparent answer was to have 2 aircraft break formation and strafe XF/Blood King positions on border of Carpathya and Unknown Lands. No losses reported.
55 fighters, including A-100-A Copperheads, F-100-B Rattlesnakes, and F-200-A King Cobras were scrambled to intercept, but no contact reported. Apparently, unidentified aircraft had cloaking capabilities. Fighters returned to airbase 71, Vklan.

Before cloaking commenced, orbital scan of unknown aircraft secured following info:
Markings on aircraft indicate they are part of the Kothian Empire, but this has not been visually confirmed. Scan further revealed many hypometabolic chambers aboard craft, indicating suspended animation transport procedures.
Speculation includes possibility that chambers are occupied by the werewolves who escaped from the battle for Wolf Island.

Further intel as events unfold.

<bump>

The forbidding walls of the royal palace at Xeraphia rose in jagged silhouette against the darkening sky. Watchmen strode along the battlements, automatic weapons on shoulder and nextels on hip, but their vigilance was relaxed. Their eyes strayed often to the entrance of the palace. Over the wide, granite-covered bridge of the main entry and under the raised porticullis, generals, knights and various nobles entered with their ladies.
The sharp eye could discern John Strickland, the King's general and right-hand man, arrayed in the formal attire of the upper military echelons. His long legs measured his strides in high boots of finest leather. There went President Branham of Jarridia, honorary commander of the Xeraphian Black Legions, in light armor; Valtane, Regent of the Federated Suns, hereditary count of the MercLand region of Vorondadek, his slim waist and erect bearing belying the silver in his hair in whose honor this banquet was being held. His valor in the conquest of Wolf Island was already approaching mythical proportions, though it cost his kingdom dearly. The kings and lords of Spider Death and Nebadon, the dark-visaged Blood Kings of the region of Carpathya, all were there.
All went in with fair ladies in rich silks and satins, while their staffs removed the vehicles in which their leaders had been conveyed.

Peace had returned to Xeraph. The recent attacks on the capitol, the nuclear strikes against the Wolven on the out-lying islands off the coast of MercLands, and the Kothite treachery were a thing of the past, although the imminent campaign against Snake Island and Isla Elviras on everyone's mind.

This was a night of feasting. Flash-torches flared in rows about the gate; colorful carpets from Austica covered the coarse flagstones. This was the night when King Alaric gave a royal ball in honor of Eric Valtane of the Federated Suns, or, rather, the loyal and courageous soldiers of his Elite Guard who gave their lives in coming to the aid of the Xeraphian and Vampyric armies during the Wolven Campaign. The daylight hours had seen a Marche Triumphe, the first of it's kind in Xeraphia in a hundred years. Thousands of soldiers, in lock-step formation, armed to the teeth, had marched in honor of their valorous FedSun comrades.
Of special note was the entrance of Valtane's intended, who had saved the Regent's life just as a monstrous Wolf was about to tear him to pieces with a burst of automatic fire that rendered the Wolven's head into a mass of brains and blood, scattered over the walls of firebase 4 in the forefront of the Xeraphian line.
It was recently discovered that she was distantly related to Tanith of Imyrr, that long-ago King of Wolf Island, who had repudiated the evil rule of the wolves and caused the eventual down-fall of the Wolf-Kings. This meant that she was also related to Alaric, who counted Tanith as an ancestor. That he was also a descendant of Rakhamon, mythic king of Magi Vampyrricus, completed his lineage of royal, if somewhat occult, blood.
Much as the king loved to see his people at peace, no less could he curb the urge of his violent heritage to see red blood flow and to feel the crunch of the enemy's armor and bones from the brutal effects of his automag and 14-inch Katana blade.
Soon, he thought, soon we will be masters of the sorcerous islands to the south, and then on to that jungle of treachery.....the Empire of Koth..........

Eric danced w/ his Fiancée. Jennifer…Amidst the crowd of Nobles, Statesman & Military Officials…The surviving members of the 1st & 2nd Praetorian Guard Divisions, were also in attendance as they were accorded titles of nobility for they heroics & valor…after about 2 hrs…Eric leaned over & whispered into his fiancée’s eye…

*Darling…I grow tired…I’m going to go sit down at our table and chat w/ Alaric*…

*Nice Try Eric…You wanna go grab a beer & you know it*

Smiling Eric looked at his bride to be & grinned..

*Dammit woman…How do you know theses things*

W/ a peek on the cheek…

*Go my darling…Grab yourself a beer & relax…This Celebration is for you & your men*…

With that Eric turned & headed for his table as he walked to the table a searing pain lit up his right arm…Causing him to stagger a bit…Looking around to make sure no one saw he clinched fist & cradled his arm to his chest & continued on to his table where he delighted the waiter w/ an anecdote & a request for a 6 pack of beer.
2 hrs later as all the guests were seated and the Honorary Toasts began. Eric sat between Alaric & His fiancée. Eric sat there in a sweat…His arm aflame with pain…Suddenly he heard Alaric announce him…He stood up and approached the podium…

*My Friends, Fellow Nobleman & Honored guests…Sweeping his hand across the tables occupied by the survivors of Wolf Island…Which drew a thunderous round of applause from the room…I stand before you tonight a humble man…A man who doesn’t deserve your adorations…What I did 3 days ago on Wolf Island. Any man in this room was capable of doing…My ally Alaric needed assistance and I readily gave it w/ no strings attached…Tonight I stand before you bearing more gifts…1st & foremost...The 3rd Praetorian Guard has been mobilized & is enroute as we speak...Ok back to business...To Alaric I give you this…Eric then spun around and gestured to a large overhead View screen…Which began showing schematics and such…

2 - Babylon Class Destroyer/Escort’s

http://www.st-intelligence.com/card/bop.jpg


1 - Nebuchadnezzar Class Command Cruiser (looks identical to BoP...But larger)

http://www.st-intelligence.com/card/bop.jpg


And

1 - Air Wing:
168 - FS-43B Hammerhead Adv. Tactical Fighter
_14 - FS -25A Badger Heavy Fighter
__4 - FS -32A Thunderbolt Heavy Fighter - Bomber
__4 SWAC Spacebourne Warning and Control craft
_32 - FSSAPC Inter-Solar-System Armored Personnel Carriers

To our Vampyre Guests & Allies…I give you


500,000 - M-590 Assault Rifles

http://users.pandora.be/robin.leysen/saab/images/rifle.jpg

500,000 – Ablative/Ballistic Combat Suits

To the surviving men of my Praetorian Guards who steadfastly refused to be released of their duties…I hereby Charge them to form a new Assault Unit…These men & women will form the core to a new breed of Military units This unit will abide by the precepts of a code of chivalry…they will follw the Knight's Code as written by our ancestors...They will base there remaining lives on this code.
Knight's Code of Honor

A knight was to follow a strict set of rules of conduct.
These were the knightly virtues.
The virtues included:

Mercy
(Towards the poor and oppressed.
They were supposed to be harsh with evil-doers.)
Humility
Honor
Sacrifice
Fear of God
Faithfulness
Courage
Utmost graciousness and courtesy to ladies
They will also receive Titles & such and all the best equipment…

Ladies & Gentlemen...I present you the Knights Templar

As the entire room stood and gave a thunderous applause which shook the very foundations of the massive hall…The intense pain in Eric’s right arm turned to a searing one…As he looked out over the Crowd…He began seeing spots…Looking down at his arm…He remembered the battle of Wolf Island as the Wolven wrestled w/ him…It’s Jaws snapping at him…he managed to wedge his arm up and block the Wolven’s next bite…Which punctured his armor gauntlet on his right arm…Snapping back to reality Eric saw the wound…It looked infected and black spidery veins arrowed out from the wound….Eric heard his fiancée

*Darling are you all right*…

Looking at Jennifer then at Alaric…Eric said…

*I’m sorry*

Wiping his forehead….Eric fell backward as everything went black…He heard his fiancée scream his name as he bounced off the podium…

*ERIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCC*

:arrow:

Eric Valtane….Regent of the Federated Suns sat in his Office going over reports of the star lift…To date close to 75% of the Federated Suns Population had been safely transported to there new home worlds…After finishing the reports…He picked up an elegant letter embossed with the seal of Xeraph…A longtime erstwhile ally…

*Eric…I was shocked and dismayed at the deaths of Archon King and his family…But with you as the newly appointed Regent…I am most assured that the Archon’s Policies will remain…I request your presence at some peace talks I will be hosting…These talks will have a great impact on our alliance….*

Signed
Your Friend Alaric

Placing the letter down Eric reached for the intercom switch.

*Rebecca…Please inform security that I will be traveling to Xeraph for some peace conference…Also inform Colonel Black she will be in command til my return.
Also send word to the Guard. I’ll need a standard Guard Detachment*…

*Yes Milord*

Suddenly the office door flew open and in rushed his Foreign Minister Robert Black
Who looked flustered?

*Sire…..Explosions…..Xeraph….Dead*….

*WHAT…DAMMIT…TO HELL…Alright…activate the 1st Praetorian Guard …Send them to Xeraph as a peacekeeper….Contact the Xeraphian Embassy…Tell them what were doing….Also make sure the guard are allocated those new power suits we just got….also send in the Medical Detachment from the 101st & the 18th …Use those new Vulture Gun ships, Thunderhawk Dropships & Valkyrie Dropships
Is the FSS Nebuchadnezzar still at the Airfield?*...

http://www.st-intelligence.com/card/KBOPAnim.gif

*I…I think so*…

*Good contact fleet...tell’em to light it up…I’m be using it as my Command ship…What else is there?*

War Minister James Stone who by now had arrived…quickly flipped thru several pages…

*Huhhh…The FSS War Cry & the FSS Shrieker are still grounded*…

http://www.st-intelligence.com/card/KBOPAnim.gif

*Fan…f---…Tastic….Warm those up too….About damn time we used them*….

*Rebecca…Please alert my fiancée… of our departure…tell her to pack her bags we leave within the hour *...


1st Praetorian Guard

50,000 - Armored Troopers
50 – Jackal Titan
50 - Mars Titan
:twisted: hehe good

:arrow:

TGN News Flash: Eric Valtane, Regent, FedSuns, was beamed to Kildare Regional MedCenter last night. After a short speech at the Royal Ball in FedSun's honor, Valtane collapsed, his right arm bursting open as it hit the dais. It is not official, but it is believed that a werewolf bite is the cause of the collapse, received as Valtane was battling hand-to-hand with the huge creature on Wolf Island two weks ago.

This Breaking News brought to you by Snyder's Bakery...the crumbiest place in town.

:arrow: ...Since noone saw it... 8)

The chamber was murky. Long, flaming candles, set in iron brackets in the walls of stone, dispelled the gloom somewhat. It was difficult to discern the robed and hooded figure at the unadorned table in the middle of the floor. It was even harder to see the outlines of another form, huddled in the darkness, seemingly engaged in muted speech with the first one.
There was a gust of wind through the room, like the sweep of giant wings. The candles flickered, and the figure at the table was suddenly alone.

OOC:
Ha! Hope the bugger gets lycanthropy; bloodthirsty fool of a military commander, it'd serve him right.

So, what happened to the non-combatant lycans? The old, sick, young; you can't tell me they were fielding infants(and Kanuckistan proper will do something nasty to you if you slaughtered children in their proverbial beds)

<OOC> there is a third, unamed island between Snake Island and Isla Elviras that is being used as a temporary holding area for the Wolven who survived the Werewolf Wars. Approx 340,000 non-combatants were beamed over to the island, and all wounds have been attended to, they will be beamed to a point in the extreme south of the Unknown Lands....far south of Koth. There are only 20,000 Wolven warriors left, who were transported to the Empire of Koth by the Kothian Air Force for training in modern tech. Their all yours, Kanuck................

:arrow:

<bump>

OOC: My bad...I thought no one saw this...and moved it here...

Eric was running the landscaping flashing by…
He covered the ground in great strides…
He looked back at the thing following him…
It’s evil aura giving off an intense heat…<BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHT>…Jennifer stood on a balcony…
Tears streaming from her eyes…<BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHT>…
Jennifer lay sleeping in bed…Eric stood in the corner watching her…
As he approached her he heard the telltale sound on nails clicking on the floor…
Spinning around…He found noone…
As he turned back towards his beloved…
He caught the image of a Wolven in the Mirror…
Looking intently he noticed the Wolven was wearing his Dress Uniform…And seemed to mimic his movements…
With savage abruptness he realized it was he who stood there…
Looking at himself he began to fill with rage…which in turn became bloodlust…Shaking with Hunger he turned and coiled to pounce on his prey….But stopped…For he suddenly saw Jennifer his betrothed…
Unable to take it anymore he drew back and released a long bloodcurdling howl…Then raced for the window and with the strength begotten him…He leapt from the balcony as Jennifer screamed…
Landing solidly amongst a squad of his Praetorian Guard and catching them unawares…He raised his claw to strike…But stopped…
Looking at the startled troopers who were now beginning to react…
He clinched his fists and began clubbing his troopers aside…
Then raced off with demonic swiftness…Heavy gunfire nipping at his heels…20 minutes later he detected a new scent…With savage speed he began stalking it….And came upon a campsite…
He recognized the people as being Kothians…
Before he could react…a shadowy figure dropped from the trees into the midst of the camp and began to slaughter and feed…
One Kothian got away and ran right into Eric in his Wolven form…Scrabbling up he noticed the Shadowy figure advance his way…
When the Kothian mistook Eric for a regular Wolven Warrior…
The Kothian sneered and looked back at the figure which stopped…
The Kothian ordered Eric to attack….Eric looked at the figure and recognized a scent…Which for some reason angered him…
Then again so did the Kothian…The Kothian turned and made the mistake of thinking to insult him…Eric Became even angrier and proceeded to rip the Kothian apart…When he had finished…
He realized the figure was still there…Eric prepared to pounce upon it…When it stepped out of the shadows and revealed itself to be none other then Lord Feratu…King of Vklan…Eric stopped and looked intently as Feratu spoke…

*Eric…I can help you…I know of your latent psychic/magical abilities…What I propose is radical outside of the clans…But it will give you a chance at normalcy!!!*...*Are you interested???*…

With a snarl…He replied by shaking his head…

*Ok…I must sire you…My blood mixed with yours and your Wolven infected blood will combine and mutate…
Chances are you’ll become a Vampire with unique abilities…
You’ll be a day walker…You’ll have the strength of a Wolven…
And your psychic/magical abilities will be magnified…
Are you sure you want to…because the only cure I know of for that will be on Isla Elviras*…

Eric stood there and thought about his family and Jennifer and his friends and allies…Looking down he rotated his clawed hand around…
Then with a savage snarl he took his other claw and slashed his left claw open…And held it out to Feratu…As Feratu approached he withdrew his dagger and slashed his hand and sloshed blood onto Eric slashed hand…As Eric looked on…He saw the blood seep into the wound and seal itself…Suddenly Eric’s entire body was wracked in spasms and severe intense pain…Eric looked at his hand as it began to Change…Skin...
Muscle rippling
Hair grew shorter…Claws became fingers…Suddenly Eric howled and everything went black…

Eric woke up in a sweat…Totally weak….Looking around he saw he was in a hospital bed with an IV hooked…Whew he thought…
Just a dream…2 hrs later after some breakfast in bed as his fiancée Jennifer sat next to him…She began telling him about the Wolven intruder in her suite last night…As Eric sat stunned…
He looked at his left hand palm and saw the outline of a jagged scar….Before it disappeared…Shaking his head….
He began to mentally scream…..NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

>BUMP>

From: Gen. Strickland, CMDR XF Forces

At approx 1300 hours, Vampire forces commenced attack on Snake Island. 150,000 Warriors crossed the 1 mile straits from Carpathya to the island and established a beach head along a 25-mile front. SpecOp legionaires from Xeraph set up forward firebases and took the brunt of the defensive attack against the invading armies.
Initial reports indicate that there are fewer than 25,000 members of the various clans and tribes of Snake Island, and they are not armed with modern weapons, nor are there any signs of magic and/or sorcerous elements at work.

The only unusual aspect thus far in the situation is the appearence of flying reptiles, most often with warriors on their backs, which hurl heavy iron spears as they pass over Vampire positions. No effect on Xeraphian positions.

Intel reports that the defenders are dying by the hundreds as they are no match for the Blackhawk and Apache gunships, and the forces of the Blood Kings are chopping the Snake armies to pieces on the ground. There have been isolated reports of large snakes, some 40 feet in length, breaking thru the Vampre line in isolated places, but they are quickly killed by vast numbers of Carpathyan warriors.

Updates to follow.

From: Lord Feratu, Regent of Vklan, region of Carpathya
To: Xeraph and all Vampire allies

We are under attack!

Just minutes ago, several dozen aircraft with Kothian markings commenced bombing and strafing runs against the Demon city of Vklan, our capitol city. We are completely without any kind of defence against these attacks. Hundreds of our people are dying, and our ancient city is being reduced to rubble.

I call upon our allies to the north to aid us in this time of need, as the majority of our armies are currently invading Snake Island, hundreds of miles to the south-west.

I urge an immediate response!

From: The Royal Palace War Room, Xeraphia

On direct orders from the King, three squadrons of Royal Xeraphian fighter jets scrambled from airbases 5 and 9 on Wolf Island in response to the alert from Lord Feratu concerning the attack on his capitol city of Vklan.

F/A 18 Hornets, Copperheads, and M-37 Migs are headed directly to the Demon City.
Harriers, Typhoons, and B-3 Bombers armed with tactical nuclear payloads are on an intercept course to the inland regions of the Empire of Koth. As heavy resistence is expected, 182 Mig-23 and Mig-55 fighters are en route as escort to the bombers from the airbase in the jungles of the Koth coastal territory.

18th and 33rd Armored Divisions stationed in western Koth are pushing east towards the rendevous with the Blackhawk HC Squadron 150 miles from the firebases in the west. Total 235 MBT's, 57 Armored Assault Vehicles, and 25 VLS.

Updates to follow.

IAMS via OSS-1 indicate 8, possibly more, ICBM's launched from Kothian Empire silos deep in the interior of the Unknown Lands. Trajectory is apparently on a course with the major cities of the Kingdom of Xeraph and the Confederacy of Darkwing Vampyres in the MercLands region.

Further, 13 more missiles, possibly armed w/ballistic nuclear warheads, have been launched from Kothic submarines 350 miles off shore of the Xeraphian LZ/Beach head in southern Koth.
Missiles are on a trajectory to impact on the XF expedition force in the Kothian jungle as well as at least two sites in Magi Vampyricus, Carpathyan region.

Updates to follow.

" Hello, this is Terry McSherry, TGNNews, with a breaking story."

" Apparently, it is war. The Empire of Koth has launched several attacks against the Xerapian/Blood King Coalition. Reports of WMD being launched against Xeraph and Darkwing, as well as Magi Vampyricus are filtering in from our FatherLand CommCenters.
We also have snippets of info from an anonymous source that the King has ordered retaliation!
Hundreds of fighter jets, tanks, and misile launchers are en route to the heart of the Kothite Empire.
Armored ground troops, numbering approx 35,000, are being air-lifted to sites deep within Kothic territory, with orders to kill everything that moves."


" We've just learned that King Alaric will make a statement later this evening."

" This is Terry McSherry for TGN News."

TGN News Presents........"War! Live from the Throne Room in Xeraphia"

" Hello again, this is Terry McSherry, TGN News coming to you ' live' from King Alaric's Throne Room in the Palace at Xeraphia. We are expecting comments from him on the recent developments in the war against the Empire of Koth and the assault on Snake Island.
Here now.......the King."

King Alaric of Xeraph strides quickly and purposefully towards the podium, dressed in full combat fatigues, the insignia of the Legion of Black Shadows on his breast pocket, Katana swords on one hip, 9mm automag on the other. He gives the room a lingering glance, as if it might be the last time he sees it.

" My people, it seems that war has once again come to the Xeraphian Federation and it's allies, the Blood Kings of Carpathya. We are fairly certain that no attacks have been sent against our other allies, the FedSuns, the Kingdom of Austica, Vampirian City, or the Empire of Crossman.
At this time, we are tracking inbound ICBM's from an area in the Unknown Lands south west of the Empire of Koth. Not to worry, all 8 missiles have been locked onto via our OSS-1 DefNet Tracking Beams and in approx 18 minutes will be neutralized while still in space. None of the ICBM's will reach MercLands territory."
The missiles fired from the enemy submarines are another matter. They are low flying, radar resistent stealth Tomahawks, specially refitted with the stealth technology of the Kothic Cloaking System. None of them have as yet made target either in our fire/air bases in Koth or in Magi Vampyricus to the northeast, in Carpathya."

" My friends, it is apparent that the Kothic Empire has singled us out for destruction. We have had no communications from them...not a word. Aside from the fact that they are a known warlike race, we have no clue as to why they want to destroy us, but we are not going to stand by and let that happen without the Kothites paying a severe price."
At this time, I have ordered B-3 Bombers from our airbases on Wolf Island to coordinates within the heart of the Kothian Empire with tactical nuclear weapons. Further, our missile silos within the XF are ordered to DefCon4....full readiness. Should any of the enemie's missiles strike our sovreign territory or that of our allies, I will order launched 37 Peacekeeper 20-megaton ICBM's at the heart of the Empire of Koth. No effort will be made to spare civilians. We will eradicate them, or die trying."

" That is all for now. The assault on Snake is going well. We will soon have that area under our dominion, and then we'll move on to Isla Elviras. We'll keep you posted as events develope. Thank you."

From: Gen. Strickland, CMDR XF

We have received word from the High Priest of Set, ruler of Snake Island, that they wish to surrender. Their army has suffered severe losses and their outlying villages have been all but destroyed. XF Blackhawk and Apache gunships have neutralised the flying dragon threat.
SpecOp units of the Red Legion have been mobilised to escort Count Stronzo of Torrutseish as envoy to the Snake leadership. Several of the Blood King clan heads will also be present at the surrender.

At this time, the King has ordered all XF forces be diverted to the situation in Koth. Vampire armies will occupy Snake Island.

The sun glinted on spired helmets and sharpened spearheads. Spurs jingled and bright silks flashed as three armored riders topped the long slope of a great sand dune in the wide desert that formed the south-western borders of Raavenii, part of the Xeraphian Federation. Red turbans were wound about their helmets; sahes of the same color around their waists. White silken shirts, baggy trousers tucked into short black boots, and sleeveless, silvered mailshirts completed their apparel. Curved swords hung on one hip, AK-47's slung across their backs. These were the War Lords of the Caves of Blood and Winged Hell, kingdoms of the region of Carpathya, the region of the Vampire. They sat silently observing the massed armies of the Blood Kings, recently sent to Raavenii for training in modern warfare. They and their warriors, 250,000 strong, were breaking camp for the long trek south to the battlefields of southern Vklan, where that kingdom was under attack from Kothian forces.

As they sat watching, one became aware of a faint but growing roar. They looked up into the sky....seconds later an unearthly flash of the most intense light melted their eyeballs and incinerated their flesh.

The armies of the northern Vampire Kings were no more............

From: Lord Baal, Command Post 1, Borderlands of Black Shadows

I have shocking news to report to the leaders of XF and Vampire forces stationed in all areas of conflict. At approx 0100, an unconfirmed number of ICBM's in the 15-megaton range exploded in the southern section of Raavenii, as well in the kingdoms of Winged Hell and the Caves of Blood in Carpathya region.

The newly-trained warriors of the Vampire Kings were obliterated in the desert of Raavenii. Secondary shocks were felt as far away as the capitol in Vazdru. Even more distressing, the Vampire kingdoms of Winged Hell and the Caves of Blood were, for all intents and purposes, completely destroyed, incinerated by the blasts of at least 16 ICBM's. These two nations have ceased to exist.

The last communication received was from the Citadel, capitol of Winged Hell. Prince Alucard reported that the Caves of Bloodhad been hit first, and that the capitol of Tyaa was no more. Just before communication was lost, he urged all Coalition forces to continue the fight against the Empire of Koth.

No further updates right now.

From the TGN News desk, Xeraphia.

" This is Terry McSherry with breaking news.
We've just received word that multiple nuclear missiles have detonated over a wide area ranging from the southern deserts of Raavenii to the central portions of Winged Hell and the Caves of Blood. OSS-1 reported trajectories from central Koth terminated in those areas. An estimated loss of life is............oh my God, this is horrible. Estimated loss of life has been set at 700,000 plus. The two Vampire kingdoms no longer exist....nothing is left. Nuclear fires are burning out of control, and the desert of Raavenii is a crematory........fused sand dunes littered with the remains of over 250,000 Vampire warriors."

"Hold on, this just in............several tactical missiles have struck forward and base positions in the western portions of Koth. These are the areas occupied by the Xeraphian armored divisions and ground forces. Casualties not yet reported, but it is believed upwards of 175,000 Xeraphian personnel are in those areas."

Updates will follow as events unfold. This is Tery McSherry, TGN News, Xeraphia."

From: Lord Baal, Command Post 1, Borderlands of Black Shadows

We have just received a transmission from our forward commcenters that a vast army is heading north out of the Empire of Koth. A secondary force has been reported heading north-west.
The primary force has been estimated at 3.2 million units. Presently, we do not know if units are being supported by mechanised divisions, but we will have to assume they are.
The secondary force is estimated at 775,000 units, heavily supported by HC gunships of unknown construction. They appear to be larger than any XF helicopters. Also, 666 vehicles similar to XF MBT's have been identified as nuclear enhanced by their radiation shadows.

This info has been forwarded to Gen. Strickland, CMDR XF forces.

<BUMP>

<BUMP>

<BUMP>

<BUMP>

<BUMP>

Both Colonel Reynolds and Captain Bannon stood ther transfixed, staring at the point where the two Kothite jets had disappeared up the valley. Bannon's mind was almost numb. He kept trying to convince himself that maybe he hadn't really seen two Kothite jets. Maybe he was mistaken. It had to be a mistake. The htought, "We can't really be at war. That isn't possible", kept running through his mind.
They both snapped their heads back towards the east as a crash and rumble like distant thunder rolled over them. They could only see the hill across the valley. But neither man needed to see to know what the distant noise was. The endless chain of distant crashes and rumblings, caused by hundreds of guns, could only be the Kothian preperatory bombardment on the XF/FS forward positions.

Two dots, growing rapidly into aircraft, came screaming toward the small valley from the east just as the others had this morning. Bannon, squadron leader of the armored division known as Yankee, would not engage them. It was not SOP for armored mech teams. With only machine guns, they stood little chance of hitting fast moving jets. The only thing that would be accomplished by firing would be to give away their positions.
A Stinger team somewhere in the advance sector had no hesitation about engaging, however. Bannon watched as the white smoke trail of a Stinger surface-to-air antiaircraft missile raced up after the second jet. The ripping chain-like report fron a Vulcan 20-mm antiaircraft gun somewhere behind Yankees' position revealed that problems for the Kothite pilots were just starting. The air defense system was now alert and in action.

Two more Stinger missiles raced up to greet the Kothian jets; one of them found it's mark. The missile detonated, causing the jet to tumble over as if kicked from behind, then disintegrate into a burning orange ball of fire.

The morning continued with little change. The heat of the day was turning the Beowulf MBT into an oven. The chemical suits only made things worse.
Bannon looked over a saw the battalion commander rolling up the logging trail in his Hum-Vee. The commander, Lt. Col. McCluskey, brought Bannon up to speed on the status of the battle.
The Xeraphian armored cavalry was taking a beating and wouldn't last much longer. They had fought the first attacking echelon to a standstill and had badly weakened it. But they had paid for that success, as the parade of ambulances and evacuation of damaged vehicles, coming down the hill from the the village and down the small valley to the rear, indicated.
MechCav wanted to hold on until nightfall in order to withdraw under the cover of darkness. But the bets on them lasting that long wereagainst them.

King Alaric and his advisors were poring over a relief map of the southern portions of Carpathya and the central on up to northern parts of the Empire of Koth. It was an immense area to be tracking all the various MechCav units, numbering at this time in the hundreds of units.
At least 1700 MBT's, and their supporting artillery and VLS units, were spread over an area the size of Texas, in the USA region. Kothite air strikes were decimating the armored mech teams, but they were holding their own, and more than a few of the Kothite fighter jets were down.
"We're getting our asses kicked", he thought,"and the war has just begun."
"Gentlemen, we have hard decisions to make. The Empire of Koth evidently has more advanced armament than we at first thought. Nothing that we don't have, but it was not expected that they had state-of-the-art jets and armored MBTs. We need to kick this thing up a couple of notches. Suggestions?"

"This is Terry McShery, TGN News, in Vazdru, capitol of Raavenii, XF. Reports of massive destruction of XF forces in the western part of the Empire of Koth have apparently been over-stated. The nuclear attack on these sites have fallen short of the front lines. Minimal XF casualties are now being assessed."
" The 35,000 armored troopers that were air-dropped into the southern portion of the Kothian Empire have engaged a relatively small force of Kothite warriors approx 100 miles south of their capitol, T'ik Be're Kot.
Several ICBM's have impacted in and around three of their major cities, known in Koth as Castles. Castle B'lin, Castle Y'lir, and Castle Z'yvr have incurred heavy damage. The Kothian ground forces, originally estimated at 3.2 million warriors, now re-stated as closer to 2.6 million, is still advancing towards the Carpathyan border of Vklan, with the western enemy army advancing steadily towards our front lines in the coastal/inland areas of Koth. Our firebases are being hammered by forward units of mechanised tank battalions and AI units. The King has ordered reinforcements to the western front."
" Xeraphian naval units have effectively neutralised the Kothite subs and torpedo boats in the waters off western Koth, with minimal losses. Admiral Collins reports total destruction of Kothite subs. Our navy remains on full alert, and 3 more Battle Groups have entered the Kothian waters. They will proceed into unknown waters to the southern coastal areas to try and find the entrance to the Straits of Zing, and thence into the heart of the Kothite Empire. "
" The B-1 and Python bombers are presently dropping their conventional ordnance on supply lines behind the Kothic front lines. Several bombers have been shot down, exact numbers not known."


" This is Terry McSherry, TGN News, Vazdru, Ravenii."

From: The War Room, Xeraphian Palace, XF

" My friends and allies. We need your help. The Empire of Koth is attacking Xeraphian Federation and Carpathyan forces on several fronts. While we have approx 2.3 million armored troopers which are still intact, our mechanised divisions are down about 18%, our air force has suffered casualties around 22 %............and the war is only in it's 4th day. Our navy is virtually untouched, however we expect that to change as we get closer to the Straits of Zing, deep in the bowels of the Empire of Koth.
If our allies can aid us with air and mech support, we are confident that we can win this war."

"Thank you in advance, my friends."

King Alaric of Xeraph

" This is Terry McSherry, TGN News in Vazdru. We have breaking news that the forces of Isla Elviras have launched air and sea attacks on the XF/Vampire forces on Wolf Island. Air strikes have been reported on key air bases on the island. Losses at this time are undetermined. Apparently, Kothian "advisors" have been training Elvish pilots and naval commanders for some time now. This is a wholly unexpected turn of events, and have caught the coalition forces by surprise."

"We will keep you informed as events unfold. This is Terry McSherry, TGN News, Raavenii."

From: King Alaric, Xeraphia
To: Gen. Strickland

Be advised that Eric Valtane, Regent of the FedSuns, has committed 500,000 troops to our temporary command. I have decided to deploy them to Wolf Island to counter the sneak-attack from Isla Elviras.

Reports from Wolf Island indicate that our air force has held the Elvish/Kothite jets in check....but at a loss approaching 40% shot down/missing. I have ordered 175 Mig-33's from Airbase 67 in Vorondadek into the situation in Wolf Island.

The FedSun troopers are presently being air-dropped via FedSun drop ships into the rear positions of the fighting on the coastal areas of the island, where the Elves have landed several hundred thousand warriors, among them Wolven and Kothic knights.

B-2, Alpha-Omega, and Python bombers have been loaded with MOAB's. These will be dropped on key Elvin targets as soon as the enemy ground troops have been pushed back.

Talks with the Elvin Lords have been terminated and their representatives have been executed.

Invasion of Isla Elviras shall commence within 2-3 days.

Updates to follow.

King Alaric,
We are sending our Healing Teams to the front lines in western Koth to render service to those troopers who are wounded. We will have the teams there in approximately 3 days, as we do not yet have adequate air transport to get there any sooner. Three KA-60 Kasatka TT's will rendevous with your MASH units.

thank you,

Prince Jean-Luc Deneauve, L'Order de St. Stephen

<BUMP>

Sgt. Avery was hanging on to the machine gun mount with one hand to steady himself while he ran his finger along his map trying desperately to find a landmark he could use as a reference. The gry of "HELICOPTERS--nINE O'CLOCK," followed rapidly by "MISSILE----MISSILE----MISSILE," caught him by surprise.

He turned around just in time to see the hideous Kothite attack helicopter bearing down, preceded by a round object, growing larger by the second and spewing flames. The impact of the antitank guided missile came before Avery could react.................





As the Kothian pilot brought the helicopter around, a fast-moving object caught his attention. He looked up to see a Xeraphian Blackhawk bearing down on him from the north. It must have been with the scout they had seen before. The weapons operator saw it too, and began to lay his cannon on the closing enemy aircraft. But before the weapons operator could fire, the pilot jerked his joystick to the left in order to evade. The Xeraphian, however, was quicker.

The pilot felt his craft shudder, then saw the weapons operator in front of him disappear in a series of small explosions as the Xeraphian's 20mm cannon shells ripped into the K-24-D. The attack helicopter's canopy was ridled and the cockpit was filled with smoke. The pilot strugled to control his aircraft, but couldn't. The K-24-D disappeared in a great ball of fire upon impact with the ground............

The Darkwing company commander pointed his binoculars toward the advancing Kothite armored division and saw that he was going to need reinforcements........there were just too many enemy tanks and personnel carriers for his guys to deal with. He clicked his radio..............


The Kothite tank company commander could feel the adrenaline runs through his veins. They were closing on the XF/Darkwings. Already a half-dozen personnel carriers were burning hulks with the rest scattering to get out of the way. All semblance of order had been lost as the Xeraphians turned and ran. Surprise had been complete. Now they were reaping the benefits that their speed, fire, and shock effect had created.

With curt orders, he directed the fire of his platoons. A report that there were more personnel cariers deploying to the west of the road drew his attention to the ten or twelve that were some 2 miles away. These carriers were dropping their ramps to let their infantry dismount. The tank company would have to finish the first enemy company fast and get to the second before they had time to set up a viable defense. Speed was critical! He began to issue new orders to his platoon leaders.


A frantic report on the radio was the first indication that the Kothite tank commander had that his company was under attack. He glanced to his right to see a second tank in his company burst into flames. The Kothites had initially caused a great deal of damage, but the Xeraphians were now gaining the upper hand. It was time to break off this attack and wait for the rest of the battalion before continuing.


"ENEMY TANKS TO HE FRONT!"
The Kothian tank commander snapped his head to the front in response to his gunner's yell. For a moment he was paralyzed with fear as he watched a line of Darkwing Beowulf tanks bearing down on him.
' It had been a trap. The XF forces fooled me and now we're lost'.
As improbable as it seemed, that was the only way the tank commander could explain it. No matter now. There was no time for maneuver. No time to make decisions. The only thing left to do was fight it out with the XF tanks head-on. The tank commander ordered his tanks to attack and began to direct his gunner to engage the lead Darkwing tank........

The scene was more like a medieval battle between knights than a clash between the most advanced tanks in the world. Like the knights of the Middle Ages, the two groups of tanks charged at each other with lowered lances. The XF and Darkwing tanks had the advantage of surprise and numbers, nine against five. The element of surprise allowed them to fire first. The volley from the Beowulfs stopped three of the Kothite T-72s, two of tem blowing up, the third only crippled. The return fire from the Kothites claimed a 3rd Platoon M1-A1 Abrams.

By the time they were ready to fire again, the Xeraphians were right on top of the surviving Kothian tanks. Two of the 3rd Platoon's tanks drove past he one Kothite tank still running. The turrets of the XF tanks stayed locked on the T-72 as they went by. When the two tanks fired on the Kothite at point-blank range, both rounds penetrated, causing the T-72 to stagger to a halt as internal explosions and sheets of flames blew open it's hatches.

The crippled T-72 was overwhelmed. The shock of being hit and having so many targets so close was too much for the crew. They were obviously confused in their last seconds.
Bannon watched the turret move one way to engage a tank, then in the opposite direction to engage a tank that appeared to be a greater threat, then back to the original tank. As he watched this, he wondered why none of the XF tanks were firing on it. They had all slowed down by now so as not to bypass it, and most of the tanks had their guns trained on the hapless Kothite tank. Yet no one fired. It was almost as if everyone either felt sorry for this lone survivor or they were enjoying making the Kothians suffer the agony of certain death. Whatever the reason, Bannon ordered his gunner to fire. He and four other tank commanders had the same idea at the same instant, giving an effective coup de grace to the last tank...........

<BUMP>

>BUMP<

King Alaric sat at his desk in the War Room in the Palace in Xeraphia. His eyes were red-rimmed from lack of sleep. The war against the Empire of Koth was not going as well as planned, as they were a formidable foe.
XF forces were running at a 23% overall loss, but they were giving as good as they got. A new plan was needed.

" Gen. Strickland, what in your opinion would we need to do to end this war once and for all?"

" Sire, we need a decisive, overwhelming victory on the main front in the Kothian Empire itself. We have fought them to a standstill, but we have suffered massive casualties. We have launched retaliatory nuclear strikes on their major cities, but they keep coming. I would suggest sending everything we've got against their capitol, T'ik Be're Kot.....cut off the head, and the body will die.
It will be a huge undertaking, as the area is heavily defended, almost 670,000 Kothite/ Wolven warriors, over 5500 MBT's and armored units,
and hundreds of fighter jets in various Kothite airbases. It will take evrything we have.....and if we fail to break them, it will mean the end of the Xeraphian Federation as we know it."

" What about our allies? Can they send help?"

" At this time, only the Federated Suns have sent troops. Most of the others are embroiled in conflicts of their own, and cannot send troops. We're pretty much on our own."

" So be it, General. Let's go for it. Summon the provincial Lords, and let's get this show on the road."

" Yes, your Majesty, at once."


Alaric paced the room. He knew what was at stake. The very existence of the Federation. But there was no choice......................

Alaric....I release another 500,000 troops to your quest..it is all i can spare....

Eric,

I thank you greatly. This final offensive will make or break our nation.
Again, thanks......I will put your troops to the best use possible.

Alaric

Let us hope that the Million + Troops i have entrusted you w/ can prevail over this dark time........

Eric,

Yes, the 1 million troops of the Federated Suns will certainly aid us in this war with the evil Empire of Koth.

The final push against Koth will commence in approx 3-5 days. We are amassing our entire naval, air force, and ground forces, to number approx 2.85 million men, 3200 MBT's and other armored units, 73 ships in 9 Carrier Groups, and over 3300 fighter jets of various designations.

We are further being reinforced by the tribes and clans of the Blood Kings of Carpathya, amounting to another 175,000 troops.

OSS-1 continues to monitor enemy movements within the Kothian Empire. At present, they are also apparently gathering their troops for an assault and/or defense of their nation. Although it is not yet exact, it appears that about 2.3 million Kothite warriors are being shipped to the front, at this time approx 200 miles from the XF front lines.
Naval, air, and armored units are not known at this time.

Updates will follw over next few days.

Alaric