NationStates Jolt Archive

Southern African neighbours for centuries, independent republics with modern borders since the beginning of the 1980s, Lusaka and Al Khals have maintained a delicate balance. President Omar Qottar rose to power in the early 80s, finally deciding in Al Khals the struggle between democracy, Islamic law, and the centuries old imperial dynasty. Since then he has maintained a secular government facing a hard-line Muslim opposition party, largely keeping power by focusing religious funding and allowing Muslim figureheads much local authority in contained areas such as Salahbad.

Though out Qottar’s Presidency his opposite across the Rufiji –the river that marks Al Khal’s northern border- has been Derek Igomo, president of the United African Republic of Lusaka which won its independence from Roycelandia just a few years before Qottar’s rise. It appears that Igomo too had tactics designed to allow secular government over territories –significantly Zanzibar- dominated by Muslim populations. The recent war in Gabon, of which Lusaka was and is part, prompted widespread conscription and the handing-over of many farms on so-called Muslim land to Arab commercial farmers. By moves such as this and moderate autonomy granted to Zanzibar, Lusaka has been able to maintain order and balance much as has Al Khals, in spite of global and regional tensions.

Now things look set to change. The assassination of Khaldun Al Din, deputy to the opposition Islamic Progress Party’s chief Amal Abeid, has been implied by Via’di’arl (the AK capital) and by Al Haqiqa Al Khals (essentially AK state media) to have been the work of Lusakan agents. Independent news sources in Al Khals that have raised questions over this supposition and even seemed to imply AKKR (AK ruling party) involvement have been accused of various crimes from selling secrets to or spying for Lusaka, to simply being Jewish or being opposed to Muslim interests.

It appears as if Via'di'arl now, after years of Qottar attempting to keep-down religious sentiment and influence, now looks to play on its Arabic strengths in driving a wedge between Lusaka's secular African government and its Muslim Zanzibar province, one a territory of the Sultan of Al Khals.

Al Khali armed forces may now be seen moving to an increased state of alert, massing near the northern frontier.

(Taken from Gabon-war thread here (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3130501#3130501) )

Salahbad, coast of Al Khals near the Lusakan border

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

Republican Central Command, Via’di’arl

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

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

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

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

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

OOC: First of all I'm going to post what Rhodesia posted in the other thread so it gets noticed before loads of other people post responses., just because I'm a nice person. :wink:



Luwawa Military Airfield, Northern Nyasaland

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

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


Official Communiqué to President Omar Qottar

Dear Sir,

First of all we wish to convey our deepest and most profound sympathies at the news that such a holy figure could be assasinated in such a violent way and it is a tragedy for your nation. Our intelligence aatellites and other assets have reported though that your armed forces are readying for a confrontation with Lusaka and that your aircraft have entered Lusakan Airspace.

Of course our government cannot officially condone your use of military force against another soverign nation in a region where we are attempting to foster favour among native Africans but we both know that Lusaka is very much a thorn in the side of our plans. Therefore we can guarantee limited support economically and in covert ways militarily if your build up leads to action. The only condition of this is that any and all intelligence collected on either the Lusakan military or secuirty services is shared with our intelligence agencies.

Sincerely,
Ibrahim Zibari.
Federal Dictatorship of United Elias

Imperial Palace, Port Royal, Roycelandia

Commander Sword burst into His Majesty's Throne Room with the communique.

"Your Majesty! Someone just whacked one of the Al Khali clerics!"

His Majesty hurried stuffed his magazine behind the throne.

"Did we do it?"

"No, the Al Khalis reckon it was the Lusakans."

"Excellent."

"The Al Khalis have moved up huge numbers of troops to the border with Lusaka."

"As shall we. Get some Emperor Tanks there too, just to reinforce the message. Maybe they'll lose interest in Gabon. If not, well, we'll take back part of land that should be ours anyway. Rhodesia and UE will back us up on this one."

"Uh, Rhodesia is on alert too... we don't want to spark off another major war."

"True, Jack, but then I won't be happy if someone has a war near us and we aren't invited. So, just to be on the safe side, we're inviting ourselves."

Sword nodded. "Shall I send a message to Al Khals?"

His Majesty thought. "Yeah, I would. The usual urging of restraint, the sadness of the news, blah blah blah."

Sword smiled. "I'll get right on it."

Message to Al Khali Government

The Imperial Roycelandian Government is saddened to hear of the violent deaths of a member of your Clerisy. We must, however, urge restraint in pointing the finger at any party, or worse, threatening military action, especially in light of events in Gabon.

Having said all that, if we can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us...

[signed] Commander Jack Sword, Imperial Defence Bureau

Port Victoria Air Force Base, Seychelles

Although it was dark, the inhabitants of the Seychelles would have been able to tell that something was out of the ordinary as large jets were heard across Mahe Island. The sound was not the whine of transport aircraft or even the roar of fighters but a much more sinister rumble.

One by one, Tu-22M3 Strategic Bombers touched down on the runway, their drogue chutes deploying to slow them down as their engines went to idle. Then as they taxied off onto the concrete apron, another one of the behemoths would land. Eventually all fourteen aircraft of the 17th strategic Strike Squadron had been forward deployed to the Seychelles only hours after recieving word that a crisis was brewing on the other side of Africa. The liklihood was the bombers would remain a week as the tensions relaxed and return to their home base but if they were needed, they would be there

President Igomo's bunker below New Lusaka City

The heart of the UARL lay a few hundred feet below the topsoil relatively near to the ultra-nationalist Al Khali border town of Tkrat. This had never seemed like a problem, before, but then Al Khali forces there had traditionally been considered to display a defensive posture.

"...well, uh, it seems like a good starting point would be to say that we didn't do it."

Secretary Miyanda hardly sounded confident- why, he wondered, was it so hard to figure out what we should do about this? Aparently someone knew more, either about the assassination or about Al Khali, or Lusakan, ambitions. Certainly Lusakan army and air force assets were redeploying. Reinforcements to Gabon were sat waiting in the west, their trains cancelled. The navy, such as it was, seemed to be running scared, having taken to guarding shipping lanes further north than usual, which oddly seemed to leave the most vulnerable of them completely exposed to the Al Khali.

Ah well, what did Miyanda care? No one was interested in fighting the Arabs, so nothing would come of it. He prepared a denial of Lusakan involvement for press consumption via the POJ media centre in Lusaka.

In Al Khals some significant effort was made to twist Lusakan denials. Oh, well they WOULD deny it! Those lousy infidels!

Republican Palace of Democracy, Tkrat

President Omar Qottar appeared remarkably calm. He'd gathered about him a large arrary of his most trusted ministers and generals, and had just told them that this may be the last time they gather in such numbers at the palace. It was too close to the Lusakan border- from now on Republican Central Command would have to suffice even for such informal gatherings of such dignified friends.

The KSU's top man, Amid* Sani Amir, had for fifteen minutes being doing his subtle best to slip in potentially frightening information such as the fact that the UARL's armed forces outnumbered those of Al Khals by more than two to one. He didn't want to make a big issue of it, but was keen to idly discourage brash behaviour. He couldn't really make a big issue of it unless Qottar first decided to. In Al Khals it was still remarkably easy for a man of note to lose part of a limb or one of his senses.

Those sharing Amir's present mindset struggled to mask their winces when the President moved conversation towards Zanzibar, dropping anecdotes on related Al Khali history. It was, one supposed, too much to expect that Qottar could so suddenly have dropped his life-long obsession with the Lusakan province. His wife was half Zanzibarian, did you know? Certainly everyone knew.

Hardly had Qottar finished suggesting that 730 Squadron ought to be flying more searching missions than he was handed a communiqué from the Roycelandians. Here the conversation was turned quickly to Roycelandian intelligence, to superior resources, even to satellites.

Al Haqiqa Al Khals was beginning to portray Arabic take-over of commercial farms in Lusaka more as a rise against Lusakan rule and a drive towards taking back power for the essentially Al Khali populations near the coast. People would see, rather than co-operation, competition that the Arabs were beginning to win.
730 Squadron, amongst other reconnaissance units, was becoming ever more daring in its patrols and incursions, and the shake-up of ground forces continued to put more mechanised and artillery units in Morogoro.

http://img48.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/AlKhalsmap.jpg

*Rank in Al Khali ground forces usually equivalent to Brigadier-General.

(do we get a reply to our message?)

(OOC: Indeed you do, I scrolled back up quickly and saw that your last post didn't really require direct response, and quite forgot that it wasn't your only post so far.)

Via'di'arl made no secret (to the United Elias government, at least) of its desire for better intelligence on the disposition and deployment of Lusaka's huge military strength. The Air Force was paying much attention to the movement of Lusakan shipping and to forces directly across the border, but worried what Lusakan forces in Gabon, the Commonwealth, and protecting borders with Roycelandian East Africa and Rhodesia and Nyasaland might be up to. Of course Qottar hoped that they were staying put, not making ready to move towards the Al Khali frontier.

Qottar promised co-operation from the Khals Security Unit in further intelligence gathering.

Encrypted Communique to Al Khals

The increasing tensions in the area only highlight the importance of knowing what your friends, allies, and neighbours are up to.

Lusaka, as you may know, used to be a Roycelandian Colony. The long and bloody War of Independence is a matter of Histoical Record, but the edited highlights are that Roycelandia still has "assests" in Lusaka. United Elias has Satellites at about the same technological stage as ours (After all, when you have a Global Empire you need to know what everyone is up to and be able communicate with your Colonies), but only Roycelandia can offer you the benefits of first hand knowledge of the area.

The border between REA and Lusaka is open at all times, but under heavy surveillance. Cameras and motion sensors are watching the border away from the Border Posts.

Roycelandia is always willing to assist anyone who plans on giving Lusaka a hard time, and we think you'll find our services to be most useful in the near future...

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

The growing tensions does not seem to concern a stressed AC leadership all that much, but Ndelebe did take time out of a press conference earlier today to state that the Commonwealth officially supports Lusakan plight, and that it would defend the UARL against such 'preposterous allegations'.

[tag]

Sixty miles West of Zanzibar, the United Elias flagged vessel Empress of Arabia, a converted freighter, swayed in the swells. Officially owned by a legitimate shipping lin it would not arouse suspicion.

Onboard, carefully concealed anntena masts and satellite dishes soaked in intelligence, in what had been the main cargo deck, a team of analysts listened to endless frequencies of radio traffic originating from the island. The information was for the most part not sufficiently useful by itself but all together gave an impression that the Lusakan military was uneasy and in a state of build up.

Meanwhile on the other side of the ship the opposite was taking place. A team of interpreters and technical specialists were broadcasting over the radio waves. 'Radio Al Zanzibar' was entirely in Arabic and playing a combination of Middle Eastern Music and Islamic prayer messages, intertwined with calls to rebel, it would hopefully create a united opposition to Lusakan rule and encourage revolt.

Just north of Ifakara, UARL

"Lock, Wing? Confirm? ...Confirm altitude, sixteen thousand? ...Don't worry, we're a mile above AFRISAM, complete sweep, Wing."

The two MiG-25-R continued their supersonic dash, sure that they were above Lusakan LS-8's engagement envelope and just plain too good for SA-4, which their instruments didn't seem to indicate was involved, anyway.

"Wing, you're drifting..."
"...I see something...incoming! Ten o'clock, low!"

Less than two seconds later, despite the activation of countermeasures and the begining of radical manoeuvring, AKAF 230-21 was aflame and falling, struck by a Lusakan 9M96 medium-range surface-to-air missile, launched by an SA-20 Triumf battery Via'di'arl officially refused to accept Luskan operation of. 230-11's pilot now found himself facing a second missile already airborne when the first struck, and seeing the weapon race on in apparent disregard of his own countermeasures, Ali Qottar fumbled to eject ahead of time...

Iringa borderlands, near Tkrat - Habob Division field command

"Reconnaissance shows major forces mustering southwest of Iringa City, we are due update from 230 Squadron, Morogoro, at any time... but it appears that they (the Lusakan forces) are arriving mainly from the west, across here near the source of the Great Ruaha."

"Makes sense. Fresh recruits out of the Kipengere highlands facilities." Said Fariq (Lieutenant-General) Abdelaziz Mahamat, authoritatively.

"Green." He added, with confidence.

"We can cut them down on the move, break the line of supply and reinforcement to everything south of the Ruaha, and push right through to Mbeye, exposed by their departure."

"Let us pray those flyboys can do as much for the Ruaha's bridges, Fariq." Replied Amid (Brigadier-General) Hussein of the Habob Division's 1st Mechanised Brigade.

Shortly there after arrived the first reports of 230 Squadron's disaster to the northeast and the following launch of aircraft from Morogoro's six combat effective squadrons.

"Aquid (Colonel)! God be with you." The words were called time and again by the eight or so Generals involved in the command of the Republican Guard's 1st Tkrat, the elite Habob Division, as they sent their subordinates into action.

The rumble of 122mm Qottar howitzers and the rush of rocket artillery spread the word still faster, dispensing with religious sentimentality as their munitions crashed into Lusakan positions drained by Igomo's multiple deployments and the faltering native African economy.

The Habob Division's seven mechanised brigades; armour, infantry, and artillery; brought almos a thousand armoured vehicles to bear, including three score M1A2AK Al Khali Abrams tanks. 320 and 321 Squadrons deployed their eighteen MiG-23BN and twenty-four F-4K Khali-Phantom ground attack aircraft in the sudden assault, along with five squadrons strong fighter-cover in the form of MiG-21EW/K, MiG-23 Flogger B, MiG-25 Foxbat, and Mirage III. Mi-8 helicopter armed with rockets, cannon, and bombs supported the assault while others flew command and electronic-jamming missions or ferried supplies forth.

From Morogoro interceptor missions were stepped-up on the border, artillery remained static but engaged anything threatening within range, what remained of 230 Squadron set out on new reconnaissance sorties, and ground-attack assets waited for the order to strike Lusakan bridges across the Great Ruaha. It was apparent that Lusakan air defences needed to be disrupted before there was much chance for success there, and Morogoro-based Republican Guard units waited behind the artillery blanket being cast over the United African Republic.

Near Ifakara

Ali Qottar’s fall to earth was keenly watched by several dozen pairs of Lusakan eyes and to a soundtrack full of cheers and patriotic shouts. A BTR-152K APC full of servicemen had raced away from the scene as many soldiers raced to congratulate the missile crews that’d achieved what may have been the first ever surface-to-air missile kill in Lusakan skies of foreign aircraft. No one was absolutely sure if SA-7s had achieved any kills in either the revolution or the Bush War with Rhodesia, and if so whether they’d occurred within the republic’s modern borders. Somebody needed a pat on the back, anyway.

Three regular army soldiers armed with M59/66A1 rifles and Uzi sub-machineguns were the first to arrive where Qottar came to earth, and they took the Al Khali spy into custody with much enthusiasm.

One of the three was later killed and another crippled by one of the first Al Khali shells to land Lusakan Morogoro. Their captive Al Khali had minutes earlier begun his journey to detention in the interior, aboard an Army of Lusaka Zil-131 truck.

Mbeya-Iringa border, near the Lusakan-Al Khali border

The city of Tukuyu was almost within conventional artillery range of the Al Khali frontier, and, border-guards aside, it’s little garrison was the only ground-force keeping the Al Khali Republican Guard out of Mbeya further up the major Lake Nyasa road.

Needless to say, the Lusakan air force was caught rather off-guard and few interceptors lifted off to meet the Al Khali ground attack squadrons over Iringa and Mbeya. A huge portion of the UARL’s SA-4 Ganef and LS-8 AFRISAM air defence systems were deployed to Gabon (or destroyed there), or else situated in the west ready for potential deployment or attack on the Republic by 1st world imperialists.
SA-2, SA-3, and SA-20 however were on hand. Mbeya was ringed by SA-2 and 3, and housed a precious SA-20 Triumf battery. The SA-20’s 9M96 missiles could hit targets crossing the border, and its “Big Missiles” were able to reach Al Khal’s southern border, or the middle of Via’di’arl’s air space towards the east. The air defences in the area were swamped with work as a couple of SA-20 batteries close enough to use their 9M96 missiles tried to co-ordinate their defence with what fighters could get into the air. There seemed to be some confusion over what branch had what sort of target as its priority, and some batteries held-off firing at ground-attack or interceptor aircraft until it was too late. It was clear enough that any enemy AWACS-type aircraft were responsibility of the SA-20’s big missiles, however, and if the edge these aircraft provided the Al Khali air force could be dulled then Lusaka’s F-5Ls and F-20Cs would provide stiff resistance with R-27 radar-guided and R-73 IR-guided missiles. They were though already out-numbered by more than two to one in the Iringa sky.

Fariq Abdelaziz Mahamat was more or less correct in his assessment of Lusakan troop-movements from west to east. The new recruits moving from their training grounds were not combat-ready and mainly moving in soft-skin trucks, lucky to have a rifle with a full magazine when the most elite and intensively mechanised division in the Al Khali special forces surprised them on the road. Even if the Habob Division wasn’t (yet) able to rely on uncontested air-support there was little that could be done to prevent its armoured forces from slicing through the inexperienced, unsupported, and surprised Lusakan regulars. Few recruits even know what in the world was happening when ordinance began to fall on the road around them, and hundreds scattered on foot, some into the interior, others into advancing Al Khali forces. Here and there the odd truckload of men was alerted to trouble before being blown into a ditch and spilled a dozen or two light infantry into a defensive puddle, but these could not help being mopped-up by the enemy formations.

An entire battalion evaporated on its first day of service before even reaching its initial station.

Morogoro borderlands
(Again)

Here the Lusakans returned fire. Many posts were distracted by celebrations over the downing of two enemy jets, or by chemical intoxication arising from complacent tedium, many were not quite so hapless. Counter batteries opened up against Al Khali guns a few miles away, 130mm guns and Beth Gellen Pluvia rocket artillery answering 122mm Qottar guns and Al Khali rockets.

Units the length of the border were put on alert to repel combined arms assault and civilian passenger trains over the entire nation were taken-over by the military as men prepared to race back from the Commonwealth border. Frantic scenes surrounded any facility with an operational Mi-28 Havoc as communications channels buzzed with desperate requests for tank-busting support. In Dodoma and Singida the slow process of mobilising a multi-divisional force comprised almost entirely of straight-leg infantry was beginning, and across the embattled provinces of Morogoro and Iringa several tank platoons kicked their T-62s, T-56(L)s and Olifant L2s into life.

New Lusaka City wasn’t sure how to respond, President Igomo struggling to snap-out of his Gabon and West African geared mindset.

As Grenval does not wish to become involved into what appears to be a terrorist begun war, Grenval deploys only the following:

2000 Nurses & Aids
200 Doctors
20 Ambulances
5 Mobile Hospitals

Grenval wishes to offer itself as neutral grounds for the discussion of peace.

Foriegn Affairs Minister
Grenval

The near loss in Al Khali air space of an EMB-145 Surveillance Aircraft to SA-20 fire, averted only by the relative agility -for one of its role- possessed by the plane had forced a reduction in operations. The air force was struggling to take-down long-range air defences, and though this didn't seem to be slowing the advance of Fariq Abdelaziz Mahamat's Habob Division it could yet scupper the grand plan.

Iringa/Mbeya, AKA the western front

The Republican Guard formation driving into Iringa and Mbeya could defend itself against air attack, at least, containing six SA-6 Gainful batteries, thirty SA-13 Gopher self-propelled SAMs, and forty-eight ZSU-57-2 SPAAGs, as well as hand-held SA-14 missiles and vehicle-mounted 12.7mm and 14.5mm machineguns. Its advance through border defences was helped by nine M48 mine-clearing tanks, eighteen Vickers armoured-vehicle-launched bridges, two dozen Vickers armoured recovery vehicles, and of course nearly seven hundred soft-skin trucks besides its hundreds of armoured fighting vehicles. There were PT76B light amphibious tanks, BMP-2s, advanced Khali Infantry Fighting Vehicles based on the similarly named Turkish vehicle, 105mm-armed Vickers MBTs and 120mm-armed Al Khali Abrams built in _Taiwan. Fifty self-propelled howitzers and almost ninety heavy towed guns and mortars forced cracks that armour would split open and mechanised infantry flood through.

Some pockets of light resistance were by-passed, Mahamat knowing that regular forces would soon be along to take prisoners and fortify a buffer zone ahead of the important Al Khali city of Tkrat.

Indian Ocean

The Al Khali maritime force called itself Coast Guard, but its strength was significantly greater than that credited by the KSU (Khals/Khali Security Unit) to the Lusakan force that called itself Navy. The most powerful known Lusakan warship was Al Khali built, to illustrate the point, and had been provided without its most powerful piece of armament.

Al Khals' four Omar Class light patrol frigates all had their SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-shipping missiles. Sixteen missiles in all, and only five surface combatants known to constitute the enemy's strength. MiG-25-R overflights hadn't yet revealed anything else, save the serious worry that Beth Gellen frigates might be in the area. If they were accidentally engaged the Al Khali Coast Guard would have no chance against the massive communist navy.

Two Al Khali Omar Class frigates set out under power of boost gas turbines making well over thirty knots, restricted only by the 33 knot rate attainable by the six Dimurqratiyah Class missile patrol boats escorting. Each missile boat bore a single C-201 anti-shipping missile, a 76.2mm gun, 30mm AA cannon, and a 12.7mm machinegun. The 1,400 ton frigates mounted 4xSunburn, 1x122mm gun, an ASW mortar, 4x30mm cannons, 3x12.7mm machineguns, and SA-N-8 SAM. They were supposed to find the Lusakan navy and cripple it ahead of a secondary operation taking ships into Lusakan harbours, sweeping for mines, and either taking or bombarding Lusakan assets. Air force assets flying out of Pwani would cover the operation with Mirage III and Flogger B, though there was significant worry about Lusakan air defences. Still, getting enemy naval assets out of the way would allow possible marine operations against coastal air defences.

On Mafia Island, the KSU had surrounded Lusaka's prized C-5 Galaxy on the runway and were demanding its surrender. The peace conference over Gabon however was not being disturbed, Secretary Miyanda uninformed of hostilities.

Time was against Via'di'arl as the Habob Division sought to cut off the west and the ground was laid in the east for serious operations against air defences. These had to be neutralised by the end of the second day, said President Omar Qottar, and the bridges of the Great Ruaha attacked.

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

"Get Commander Sword on the phone! The Shooting has started in Al Khals!"

Commander Sword was informed of the developments and immediately declared action. "Keep the REA Border under heavy guard, and offer the Al Khalis ANYTHING they need. Imperial Guard, Colonial Guard, Weapons, Aircraft, the lot. We're going to be overt on this one."

RBC WORLD SERVICE

"This is the Roycelandian Broadcasting Corporation World Service, broadcasting around the world, around the clock. We're saying a big hello to all civilised Nations out there, and to everyone else, the secret is to rub the sticls together, guys!

Our top story for this evening: Preliminary reports indicate that Lusaka and Al Khals are in a state of war, with RBC correspondents telling of gunfire, artillery barrages, and airstrikes in the border area of the two Nations.

Commander Jack Sword made a statement earlier, stating the Roycelandian position on the situation in Al Khals:

"This Aggression Will Not Stand! The Al Khali people can count on the full support of the Roycelandian Empire to prevent the unwarranted aggression of the Lusakan people. We shall be monitoring the situation accordingly, and will decide on what action, if any, should be taken once we have a clearer grasp of the facts and the Lusakan side of the story."

More News as it comes to hand, this is the RBC World Service..."


Encrypted message to Al Khals

The Roycelandian Government has noticed the exchange of fire in the border areas and wishes to offer any assistance that it can.

[signed] Commander Jack Sword, Imperial Defence Bureau

Lusakan State TV

"Friends, comrades, children of Africa, as you may know, we have been attacked..." The President's speech started slowly enough. "...our brave pilots are engaged in dogfighting over the eastern sky, and I can tell you that they are doing very well... helped by our... air defence grid. But... the hardest part is yet to come... the hardest fighting will be against the Al Khali soldiers coming across our border and trying to steal Zanzibar.

"Now we must all prepare to show them what they are marching against... the oil-rich capitalists may have more planes and ships than we, but we have twice as many comrades... let us become comrades in arms! I ask you, friends, as your elected president and revolutionary war leader... to... those of you who are job-sharing, make your spare time count for Africa... sign-up at the local army... barracks, or police station... join the African People's Volunteer Army... you will be given a rifle, or some grenades, and asked to train just a... couple of hours a day, as your work allows."

Igomo went on with some patriotic rhetoric before handing over to his friend, Defence Secretary Colin Olongwe. Olongwe described the new force, the APVA, in greater detail.

Lusaka's small, public-works-driven economy all but obliterated full unemployment by encouraging job-sharing, giving perhaps two-thirds of full benefits to people doing three-quarters of full-time work. As a result, a job was supposed to receive 150% of usual labour at the expense of vaguely 132% rations and such. Arguably it just made everybody a little worse off and shrank the production capacity by up to half, but then, the alternative was 50% unemployment, and the Social Progress Party frequently laughed in the faces of capitalist 1st world diplomats and businessmen who tried to convince them that their system was wrong. It was now that Igomo hoped the system would reveal another strength, as more people with more free time were able to sign-up for better than weekend military training without dropping out of the economy, to defend the government that had given them the chance to work with dignity rather than sleep in the dusty streets of the Roycelandian East African empire. The SPP was keen to promote the Al Khalis as imperialist and capitalist cohorts, better that than to focus on ethnic or religious differences that might alienate the Republic's Zanzibar Arab population of several score million.

Later, Igomo returned to state TV to deliver the somber announcement of Tabora's apparent sinking after the frigate's striking by ship-to-ship missiles. If true, this left the Lusakan navy with just four Haaregradian-built corvettes, one of which was still laid-up in dry-dock, funds never having been released for its repair after attack by suspected Roycelandian-backed terrorists. Still, the three short-range vessels were incredibly fast, faster even than the Al Khali Omar Class, and armed with a limited reserve of Harpoon missiles two of them set-out from Zanzibar in the hopes of striking the enemy ships responsible for the Tabora's sinking. They were not supposed to pursue beyond the cover of Lusakan shore-based SAMs, should the Arab vessels return to their own waters. Of course this assumed that the SAM defences were not seriously threatened.

(And why am I imported?)

In light of recent developments, General Ndelebe is -staying- in New Lusaka City until such a time as he can travel to Kinshasa safely, according to the Secular Partys news office. When he comes back, a new election will finally arrive.

Along the Commonwealth-Lusakan border, the railways shared by the two nations during the Gabonaise conflict are rolling into effectivity again. Several mechanized divisions have been spotted training and prepping vehicles on the border territories, and the twice-daily AWACS and radar sweep patrol in effect during the Gabon war is apparently reinstated.

Internally, the Commonwealth military machine was in a state of increasingly homicidal paranoia - If backed by the colonial power(s), Al Khals could very well destabilize Lusaka to a Gabon-like state, and that had to be prevented at all costs? The power the Commonwealth could bring to bear was frightening, but then using it might not only invited condemnation - It could also mean mutually assured destruction. Thus far, Ndelebe has not commented further on the situation.

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

"Any news from the Al Khalis yet?"

"No, Governor-General. They must be busy."

"Well, keep at them. We need to keep On-Side with the Al Khalis, especially after that little brouhaha in Gabon and Roycelandian New Guinea."

"Of course."

Meanwhile, security on the REA/Lusakan border has increased, and Kookaburra reconnaisance aircraft have been making a lot more "routine flights" than usual...

While the SPP has expressed to Ndelebe their confidence in his safety of movement, especially westwards, there has been no effort to announce this publically, out of respect for the General's right to choose what of his situation he does and does not wish to reveal.

State TV is again running those cheesy advertisments for war vouchers and for APVA recruitment, which is said already to have attracted several hundred thousand responses. There is every chance, says Igomo, that the Al Khalis shall be overwhelmed within months and driven out of Africa for good. Meanwhile, the Republican Guard cuts through Army of Lusaka ranks at a rate that won't see the war last weeks, let alone months.

(I shan't say too much for now... I hear Al Khals is due to get moving again, soon enough)

tag

Waters off Zanzibar
Commonwealth Ship Esselink

"Comrade Captain! Communiqué from Portmeirion!" Exclaimed the rating, keen as ever to make use of the letter C as often as possible, and to indulge in the national sport that alliteration had become.

Captain Geert Jones read the transcript with a stern expression, conveying its contents to the bridge crew without emotion. It was important that he, a figure of authority, not unduly influence his comrades in their opinion-forming, on matters political, at least. They'd still follow him to the ends of the earth and attack a carrier battle group if he saw fit to order it.

The response was hearty. Comrades looked from one face to another before cracking huge smiles and eventually erupting in a roar of support for the Igovian Revolution sweeping the homeland. Military men and women were almost always going to favour the hard-line Igovians over the soft leaderless utopians. Confirmation from The Final Senate of the bloodless nature of the coup cemented the ship's crew in their joy at and praise for the event.

Of course, this meant that they would almost certainly be ordered to the aid of the Social Progress Party. Who knows, perhaps the Igovians would save Lusaka, liberate Zimbabwe, South Eastern Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, the Sudan, Gabon, oh! Spirits were high! If the last Igovian era was anything to go on, defence spending -currently at about US$4.1trillion per annum- would increase at the very least by three fold, if not closer to four. Yes, significantly more than the entire value of the goods and services produced in America and the UK combined could be put into the protection and spread of the revolution, and Africa was clearly stop number one. Sailors were tingling with expectation... and 60%+ vodka.

CS Esselink moved southwest, its exceptional Cital-S Sea Clear Long-Range SAM system keenly seeking any anti-Lusakan aircraft within 340km. The ship would not leave Lusakan waters, but it would fire on hostile aircraft beyond them. Captain Jones was authorised to fire with deadly intent. Igomo was staying -especially now that Beth Gellert had a political philosophy that started with the same three letters as his noble surname!

(OOC: That's amazing... I opened the word file, and clicked on the scroll bar at exactly the right point -in 18 pages of small font text- to acquire the range of Citadel-S. Is there nothing that can't be done under the influence of cheap voddie?)

COMHQREA, Somewhere in Roycelandian East Africa

The Underground Bunker network that made up Command Headquarters, Roycelandian East Africa was abuzz with activity. The Beth Gellertens were reportedly off Zanzibar somewhere, and that could only mean trouble ahead.

"Keep an eye on them" Col. Mtombe ordered one of the Satellite Imaging Technicians. "The millisecond anything happens, I want to know."

And with that, he retired to his office to phone Port Royal and keep them abreast of the situation...

Victory celebrations rippled across The Democratic Republic with new of the maritime victory. Moral was high, and forces pressed onwards, hoping to cut Lusaka's lines of supply to the east, in the south.

The flotila had withdrawn after scoring its success, the thinking being that it was best to consolidate, because they could go back any time- the Lusakans hadn't the infrastructure to replace the lost shipping, so far as anybody was aware. The waves would be Al Khali, so long as the air force was careful enough not to be shot down. With the aid of naval forces, it seemed likely that Lusakan air defences could be seriously restricted in the southeast, at least.

Then a pair of Al Khali Phantom vanished on a routine patrol. Then one of the Arab Republic's valuable EMB-145 Surveillance Aircraft dropped its contribution to the intelligence grid. For a time nobody knew what was going on, until a Mirage III, seconds before its loss, reported the dangerous proximity to the border of a modern frigate. From the description hurried out it was supposed that this was a Beth Gellen frigate. Something long feared by Via'di'arl appeared to be in effect. President Qottar was so hopeful of brushing aside the Lusakan navy and dominating the sea, allowing him to eventually take Zanzibar Island. Ever was he aware that provoking the Beth Gellens, known to operate in Lusakan waters, would instantly obliterate this potential advantage. It seemed to have happened.

For a time, the locally-interested Khals Security Unit had no idea why. They'd looked for a pilot to blame before finally realising the fact of the Igovian coup.

55nm East of Zanzibar

In the Red Glow of the control room of the Diesel Electric Submarine Sierra Two One, Captain Shanir carefully monitored the charts. Now the submarine cruised at periscope depth at just six knots, crawling westwards and staying quiet to avoid detection.

"Conn, Sonar, new contact, bearing 355 degrees relative, estimate twenty two thousand yards. Designating as Tango Eight Zero Whiskey."

The Captain reached for the intercom, "Sonar, Conn, what type of vessel?"

"Sir, it's a twin screw ship, must be cruisng at near twenty knots."

"Must be a warship."

A second later the sonar operator responded, "Captain, the computer has identified the sound pattern and its 65% sure its that of Beth Gellert frigate."

"Can we trail them?"

"Negative, its moving South West pretty quickly, we'll be out of torpedo range in a few hours unless we engage or increase to flank."

"No we can't increase speed we'll make too much noise, so I guess we'll have to engage." He dialled another number on the intercom, "Weapons, Conn, flood tubes two, three and four, plot solution for target Tango Eight Zero Whiskey and open outer doors."

"Conn, Weapons, Aye."

The Captain replaced the intercom reciever and the Executive Officer approached quietly taking his superior aside, "Sir, do you have authorisation to fire on this vessel?"

"X.O, there's a war going on out there and this bastard's a serious threat."

"Yes but sir, we're not in this war."

"No, we're not so they'll have no reason to suspect our nation will they?"

"Captain I think we should clear this with someone."

"Your comments have been duly noted, thank you X.O that'll be all." With thse abrupt words he approached the ops room again.

A few minutes later a voice came on the overhead speaker system, "Conn, Weapons, we have a firing solution on target."

"Weapons, Conn, fire the salvo, three torpedoes, six second intervals."

"Aye, Aye."

The ship suddered slightly as the Spearfish torpedoes launched one after the other, every few seconds until all three were running towards their target at over fifty knots.

OOC: Remember this submarine was already in the area on that other thread I started so it didn't just appear from nowhere.

Since Beth Gellen intelligence didn't seriously suspect Al Khali sub surface opposition in any serious degree there wasn't too much concern over the matter. The advanced Gauntlet Class fleet defence frigate (as it was called) was darting about at a significant rate, trying to balance the chance of finding something against the steadily increasing chance of being found, and by the time the incoming torpedoes closed to near terminal distance they were drawing ever closer to their maximum range. By this point at least one had been detected, anyway.

"In coming fish, comrade Captain!" Called a man on the hydrophones. "Fast! Something more modern than covered in theatre briefing!"

"Decoys! Decoys!" Ordered Jones, already turning to order the ship's Helix ASW helicopter into the air. There was no way this revolution could come too soon, with all of its probable defence increases and the promise of so many layers further protection afforded to comrades at arms. Within the next few seconds, it would be nice.

Told that these torpedoes were behaving in a fashion indicative of modern rather than antiquated efforts expected in the theatre, Jones decided against flight, judging that their speed was sufficient to run him down, anyway. Gauntlet was capable of only about 28 knots. Charging down modern torpedoes also seemed like a rather silly idea, but with upwards of ninety knots available between the target and warhead -assuming acceleration could be attained quickly enough- it seemed worth a try.

The torpedo missed.

Sighs of relief were followed by the beginings of a debate over whether countermeasure or manoeuvre were to be thanked and the lifting-off of the ASW helicopter, directed to fly back down the apparent course of the first weapon. The contentious issue was put paid by another cry of alarm from the hydrophone station, another flurry of activity, and some seconds later by the bow of the 3,941 ton vessel lifting from the waters only to crash back down, dragging a significant rupture through the hull as the vessel returned to the proper angle. She held together, but an entire section two thirds of the way forward was becoming rapidly less dry than was the norm.

Radio traffic went out with vocalisations at a new high pitch as hands struggled to affect damage control.

The tension in the submarine's ops room was unbearable as they awaited the results of their engagement. Suddenly the submarine shuddered again and a muffled sound echoed over the hull, the rumblings of a distant explosion.

"Conn, Sonar, confirm one torpedo has hit the target."

"Aye, put the sound on the overhead."

A second later the overhead speakers came to life with the much amplified sounds of bulkheads breaking and metal creaking. Wide sadistic grins broke out among he crew, all apart from the XO.

The sonar operator then interrupted, "Sir, she's dead in the water but I doubt she'll sink."

The Captain responded by picking up the intercom, "Weapons, Conn, nice job guys, but I want you to regain solution and fire tube 5. We've got plenty of fish and I want to put these bastards on the bottom."

"Aye Sir."

Once again the submarine turned sligthy before the torpdeo tube flooded, opened and ejected another Spearfish.

COMHQREA, Roycelandian East Africa

Colonel Mtombe was watching the Real-Time events unfolding on the Satellite Display.

"The scary thing is that we have absolutely nothing to do with this..." he said aloud to no-one in particular. And it was true.

Long famous for starting wars, getting mixed up in other people's conflicts, and generally wreaking as much havoc and destruction as possible, the Roycelandians in COMHQREA were at a loss to know what to do for a moment.

"Maybe we should send a Dreadnought or something?" asked one of the Junior Officers.

"Yes, that's an excellent start. Which ships are nearby?"

"The IRNS Blofeld, Spectre, and Largo are all in the area, Sir."

"Put them on full alert. The millisecond the Lusakans or Beth Gellertens enter Roycelandian Waters, have the intruders sunk."

"Very Good, Sir."

"And send a Dreadnought or two into Al Khali waters to help them with their security problems. Orders are to hold fire unless fired upon."

"I'm on it, Sir."

Colonel Mtombe picked up the Hotline.

"Jack? Tim here. Yes, I'm fine. She's well, and looking forward to seeing you next week, as are the kids. Uh huh. Really? You don't say? That sly old bastard. Anyway... yeah... Jack, listen... this is important... No, really, it is... Ok, look, the Al Khalis and Lusakans have started shooting. The Beth Gellertens are involved too, as are United Elias. Yes, I know what happened last time we got involved in a war with the Beth Gellertens. I was there, remember? Yes, the strange Chronic Fatigue illness that affected all the European Roycelandians. Weird, I know. Yeah, anyway, I was just ringing to let you know... yes, that's right. No, I've done that. Yes, he's already been told. Very well. And the Codeword?"

Colonel Mtombe checked the Code Word Authenticator. "Very Good, Jack. We're at Yellow Alert. I'll keep you informed."

Mtombe rang off. "Jack thinks the Beth Gellertens might start getting ideas. I want everyone on Yellow Alert, battle readiness. If anything near that border moves, I want someone covering it with a firearm- human, animal, vehicle, aircraft, or simply tree branches swaying in the wind. And someone get onto the Al Khalis and ask for permission to help them out."

COMHQREA became a hive of activity once again...

OOC: Roycelandia, slight correction, you wouldn't know we were involved.

Republican Central Command, Via'di'arl

They weren't the be all of the Democratic Republic, but Taimur bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Fariq Asim Abdelal were about as close to being in the know as anybody living outside the head of President Omar Qottar.

They had just put it to one another that they possibly could sink the Esselink, but perhaps shouldn't, since the Beth Gellen navy was estimated to be a couple of hundred times larger than that belonged to the Republic. As yet they were unaware of the on going torpedo attacks.

"...but we could take the Roycelandians up on their offers."
"Then we face guerre a outrance. Could we rely on them?"
"Perhaps not... but... once they're in, they may very well be... in, I mean, brother, we are afraid of fighting back against the communists because they will not let us forget it... why should they let the Royce slip any more easily?"
"So we don't oppose him?"
"...No...No."

A wise decision, in truth, for he would likely have had his Information Minister and Defence Minister shot for cowardice and treason had they done otherwise. Qottar arrived minutes later, and suspicions were confirmed. Word was sent of The Democratic Republic's desire to receive the most direct Roycelandian intervention possible, and a flotila two frigates and three missile boats strong was sent to hunt the communist ship.

The Habob Division broke into a sprint towards its city objective, employing increased ferocity and brutality where opposition appeared, and the air force reassembled and chanced a raid on the long worrying bridges, with only secondary flights following up at air defences. 120 and 121 Squadrons followed six others tasked with attacking those bridges with guns, rockets, freefall bombs, and AS-7 and AS-14 missiles, with the former two squadrons attacking air defences after they showed themselves to engage the first aircraft. It was grimly accepted that outward bound casualties may be high, and the hope was more that the strikes by 120 and 121 would allow some aircraft a relatively clear path home, not out.

COMHQREA

"Message from Al Khals, Sir. We've got the Green Light to go in on their side."

"Excellent. I want the Imperial Guard, Imperial Tank Corps, and the Imperial Air Force on this one. Standard Procedure, we go in to free up Al Khali troops elsewhere. And as soon as we're done, we pack up and leave, OK?"

A message was sent to the Al Khalis asking where Roycelandian military assets would be most useful to them, whilst the Imperial Navy went on Alert as well. The fun was starting, it seemed...

Aboard CS Esselink there was incredible noise everywhere. Crunching metal, rushing water, blaring alarms, and yelling hands. The ASW helicopter had rattled off into the distance, but its deployed buoy detected the incoming second spread, while the aircraft continued to hunt for the source, Hound Mk1* torpedoes ready.

Attempts were made to counter or evade the incoming weapons, but it quickly became evident that to persist in this enterprise would endanger the crew further, and comrade Captain Geert Jones gave the order, "abandon ship!"

The Esselink would be the, what, sixth Beth Gellen warship to go down in these waters in the last five years, and never had war been declared. This would give weight to the pro-trimaran lets-consult-the-Western-Asians-again lobby, for sure!

Most of the ship's 215 hands had evacuated when a second torpedo hit, and the vessel began to sigh, and quite suddenly to dip, going down by the bows.

The Helix would have to land on Lusakan soil, or else try for the Western Asian base on the northern end of Madagascar, if the crew didn't want to get wet.

*Big frickers for air launch packing a punch at 485mm, but increasingly aged and only in service thanks to the long years of relatively peaceful administration by the Senate system. Formerly used by D/E submarines and since replaced by Mk2 517mms in the SS fleet, there's nothing better available to the fleet air arm, yet. Of course it'll come, with Igovian rule, but that doesn't help us right now.

While back in the newly formed Igovian Soviet Commonwealth plans were laid for the boosting of military expenditure and recruitment, the Commonwealth Professional Civil Service began to post propaganda meant to inspire over-time in industrial sectors, for the purpose of aiding the Lusakans.

A typical poster (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/Chivtv/NS1/communist_party_poster.jpg), reputedly depicting a brave Lusakan socialist warrior up against the odds.

The jubilant atmosphere of a now combat tested crew was tempered by Captian Shanir ordering that silent running procedures still be followed.

"Conn, Sonar, we have detected a thermal layer at 770 feet, should mask us from enemy acoustics."

"Sonar, Conn, aye." The Captian hung up the intercom before turning to the ops room, "Dive Officer make your depth 800 feet."

"Aye, Aye, helmsman, twelve degrees down angle on the planes, ballast accordingly to eight zero zero feet."

Sierra Two One slipped further beneath the waves, it being likely that the thermal layer would mask them from sonar for the time being. After all if the frigate had managed to get a helo of it would have to make it back to hore which wouldn't give it very much time to look for a submarine in what would be a very wide search area.

The Beth Gellen-built Helix recognised the limits of its range and was forced to return to shore in Lusaka as soon as it was realised that its mothership was going down. It was hoped that Lusakan shore-based helicopters might help to recover the more than two hundred hands even now spilling into the sea.

Back in The Commonwealth, moves were well underway for the large scale deployment of assets into the area. A task force was assembling off Salvador* and air force and navy aircraft were increasing patrols from Beth Gellen bases on Madagascar**.


*An island west of the BG mainland, within a few hundred miles of Madagascar.

**Which is still an independent state but houses Beth Gellen (and Western Asian) military bases since the Argyllian and Roycelandian invasions, which were thwarted by The Commonwealth.

Roycelandian Troops, aircraft, and Armour had arrived in Al Khals, after a complicated journey through International Waters.

Similarly, aircraft had been flown in via a similar circuituous route, to assist the Al Khalis.

At the moment, the Roycelandians are acting in a defensive capability near the front lines- boosting Al Khali numbers, guarding things, and providing reconnaisance patrols.

However, even the most naive Imperial Guardsman can see that the Lusakans are going to start shooting at the Roycelandians soon, and with the Beth Gellertens around somewhere, it's going to be a VERY interesting conflict.

The IRNS Largo and IRNS Zorin have also arrived in Al Khali waters, with rumours of more Naval assets to be deployed as well.

Monitoring Station, Reunion

The satellite tracking and monitoring station on Reunion was also very busy, with the small garrison there digging entrenchments and priming the self-destruct equipment. In the event of a BG/Lusakan invasion, the Monitoring Station would be blown up and the garrison were make an escape for the mainland. But the Station had a very low profile, and there were Roycelandian colonists on the Island as well, so it was hoped they could simply keep their heads down and avoid the worst of the shooting.

The war between Lusaka and Al-Khali has put UWA diplomatic offices in Lusaka into a frenzy. Calls come in day at night to and from Freetown and between military and government officials between both states. The lights in the Federation embassy do not seem to have gone out for days.

Parliament is equally hectic, with debates about the Lusaka situation going on day and night. The more isolationist elements within the Social Democrats and the many and varied local parties compete with the equally loud voices of the African Socialist Party, more militant Social Democrats, and their allies. The Islamic Rally for Peace and Freedom is divided between supporting a potential ally, and having to go up against fellow Muslims on the field of battle.

Most of the diplomatic overtures to Igomo and the rest of the Lusakan government are boiling down to a few basic questions: What sort of aid within the Federation's ability in terms of troops or arms does Lusaka require, do they want it in the firstplace, and if so how bloody soon do they need it?

Lusakan resistance to the Republican Guard drive continued to be light, partly because Igomo and his central command still believed that Zanzibar was the target, and couldn't understand why the Habob Division was going west.

At Mbeya, however, major resistance was being prepared as an entire armoured brigade disperesed into the sprawing streets of the vast third world city. In the villages north and south were further infantry and light mechanised platoons, also dispersed hiding in bush and amongst buildings.

While they flew north, many of the Al Khali squadrons found relatively light resistance, mainly from F-20C and F-5L light tactical fighters lifting off to make sure of the safety of their airstrips. A few SA-4 and a handfull of SA-20 were loosed against the attackers along the way, the latter keeping most of their missiles in reserve for defensive purposes. The Lusakans didn't want to commit themselves heavily at this early stage, being convinced it was proper only to do so on their own damn terms. They were also moving a lot of their SA-20 Triumf and LS-8 AFRISAM to the east, in defence of Zanzibar and the anti-ship missile batteries being transported and established on the coast and upon the island itself.

Some of these missiles and related assets were on the bridges of the Rufiji when they were hit by the Russian-origin air to ground missiles. Many of the bridges were lost, and they were common to begin with.

Meanwhile, the posters in Beth Gellert rang true. The Army of Lusaka noted that it could supply some three million rifles. With the recruitment drive and its many initiatives, New Lusaka City anticipated up to ten million recruits.

The air force had suffered significant losses on its mission to the Rufiji, and the realisation dawned that to confirm damage to the bridges would only mean more losses.

Republican Central Command contacted the Roycelandians requesting any satellite information they might acquire on the state of bridges over the river in question, after Al Khali air strikes. It was hoped that the destruction of said crossings would delay the Lusakan reinforcements into the southeast, leaving only one way in...

The eastern outskirts of Mbeya

And this was it. Fariq Abdelaziz Mahamat brought his forces into order with the city visible in the far distance. Casualties were still quite light as the Habob Division drew up its 138 artillery pieces, from 76.2 to 122mm, and prepared to cover the division's advance. Aerial recconnaisance didn't indicate anything significant, but Abdelaziz Mahmat had no reason to expect that there wouldn't be resistance in need of breaking.

The 10th Armoured Bridage's twenty M1A2-AK MBTs, 26 PT76B, and 24 Vickers MBT advanced towards the edge of the city along with three M48 mineclearing tanks, several UAZ and MT-LB, and a couple of ZSU-57-2 and SA-13 Gopher. Through them went the 5,400 men and 200 BMP-2 and Khali IFV AVs of the 1st Tkrat Mechanised Regiment. Three battalions spread north to central, three to the south, all approaching from the east and expecting to awe the locals into submission. Otherwise artillery may have to be employed.

Ndelebe put a lid on both CAF paranoia and Lusaka's hopes of direct military aid by stating that he could only provide passive aid to the warfare during a meeting with Olongwe earlier today. The passive aid treaty offered by Ndelebe meant full access to Commonwealth military roads and railways for transportation of materials, personnel and supplies inside AC, which offered Lusakan transports the considerable defensive capabilities of the massed Commonwealth S-400, SA-21 and Patriot aír defense batteries along the borders. This is no great gain seeing as AC and Al-Khals does not share a border, but aside from offering ammonition and medical supplies, it is as great a role as Ndelebe is willing to play in this conflict.



OOC: I can't stay online much longer these days, so I'll have to withdraw - AC will offer Lusaka the IC stated benefits, but nothing more. Sorry, chaps ;)

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

Col. Mtombe, and therefore Governor-General Fry, were extremely pleased that the African Commonwealth wasn't getting involved. That left only the Beth Gellertens, and this time, they were sure they could be dealt with.

Several Dreadnoughts had been deployed to Al Khali waters, along with over 15,000 Imperial Guard, 150 tanks, and three squadrons of aircraft.

With a lack of military objectives asides from "Hold The Fort", the Imperial Guard were generally trying to enjoy themselves and spend lots of money in the bazaars and brothels of Al Khals...

Far above Lusakan soil...

Moving slowly and silently through the sky, a tiny unmarked micro-orbiter of the Commonwealth Kosmonautical Co-operative, weighing just a couple of kilos, crept towards what GSIC indicated to be a larger Roycelandian satellite of ground-observing configuration. Having clung for months to a mother orbiter over New Tiamatian space to the east, the little device now should now be prepared to make an undetectable rendezvous with a hostile asset in space. It was a sensitive operation as controllers and kosmonauts breathed softly as if afraid of upsetting the milimetre-precise approach or alerting the presumably oblivious target through the vacuum of space.

Once docked, the micro-orbiter, in fact an anti-satellite weapon would be expected to wait for an activation signal before coming to life, jamming the target satellite. GSIC was keenly anticipating confirmation of docking, where upon the order would be given for immediate activation.

The Commonwealth Professional Civil Service was meeting with intelligence, CKC, military, and premiership figures to debate the possibility of deploying such weapons more routinely during times of peace for immediate activation come such conflicts as this. Why that wasn't already the case was anybody's guess.

Madagascar

The return of a Preston maritime patrol aircraft was greeted with great interest at the Beth Gellen base as comrades scrambled for news on the fate of the Esselink. It was not encouraging to hear final confirmation of her sinking, nor to catch word of the believed casualties. The sinking had occured out of helicopter range, and the navy had no hulls within many, many hours sailing. It was down to the hard-pressed Lusakans to pick-up survivors, though Preston and Marathon aircraft were already trying to drop supplies down to comrades in the water.

Near Port Victoria Naval Base, Mahe Island, Seychelles

Just as dawn broke over the Indian Ocean, Sierra Two One broke the surface of those same waters, and as the sleek hull, painted in a bluish-turqouise colour to match thst of its surroundings, another ship, a guided missile corvette swung around to provide escort, accompanied by a pair of fast attack boats.

Appearing on the bridge atop the sail, Captain Shanir in immaculate dress blues scanned around with binnoculars, a warm and comforting sea breeze blowing in his face. Directly to the South he could see Conception Island, as they approahced the Western coast of coastline of Mahe island. To the East he could see Beau Vailon Bay, almost entirely part of the Naval Base. Even from a few miles out he could see the skyline of dockyard cranes, antennae masts and longlines of naval ships in great detail. Now there was a rumble of engines as the two fast attack missile boats closed in on either side to guide them into port.

Captian Shanir turned back to a subordinate also standing his post on the bridge, "Lieutenant, it's time, raise the colours."

The officer dutifully responded, "Aye Sir." A second later a flag was raised on the flagpole just behind the periscope. To the suprise of the crew of the escort ships it was not the Elias naval ensign but a jolly roger. One of the only traditions restricted to just the submarine service was that the pirate flag would always be flown when a submarine had succesfully attacked another vessel. Nobody but the naval commanders and the actual crew would never know who or what was attacked but they would know that they had suceeded in combat.

Fifteen minutes later, as the submarine travelling at just eight knots came ever closer to the docking area of the 16th Submarine Flotilla, Captain Shanir saw that another submarine was coming towards them, heading out to sea. Using his bonnoculars he could see faint black lettering on the side of the sail, S-24. There was little doubt that this comrades were heading out to where they had just been, and possibly would achieve similar success.
As teh submarines passed each other, seperated by just a hundred yards, the Captains and the other officers on watch on both submarines turned to salute each other, neither completely sure they would see each other again.

Southeastern Mbeya

The city, now home to several million Lusakans, over 90% native Africans with the rest white and Arabian colonials and a few recent east Asian immigrants, was one of the UAR's more important, and the Habob Division had reached it in a double time. Aerial reconnaissance had, apparently, revealed little of the defenders, but they were here, dispersed in the massive, sprawling suburbs of the low-rise city. It really was all but impossible to realise the presence of an armoured regiment in a suburban sprawl of such dimension.

The sounding of two T-56(L)-mounted 105mm L7 guns gave the first clear indication of the Lusakan intent to make a first major stand at Mbeya, as a pair of HEAT shells raced from soft cover on the outskirts of the city, targeting Al Khali AVs. Near by, market canvases were recoiled to expose the various components of an AFRISAM battery, while sniper, machinegun, and mortar teams braced themselves for possible retaliatory strikes.

Off the coast of Reunion

The IRNS Largo was on active patrol, watching for Beth Gellerten ships trying to aid the Lusakans. Their orders were simple- stop and detain the ships. If they resisted, sink them.

To further this aim, a Sunderland Flying Boat was flying from Reunion, searching for Unauthorised Shipping.

Meanwhile, in Al Khals, the Imperial Guard were faced with a small problem. If they crossed into Lusakan territory, then they could be making a de facto declaration of war on the Lusakans.

Whilst Commander Sword had no doubts of the Roycelandian Military's ability to crush the Lusakans, especially with the help of the United Elians and the Al Khalis, it might create a bit of an International Incident, which His Majesty wished to avoid at the present time.

However, the IRAS Staff of Zeus was flying into striking position, should the situation warrant it... The Beth Gellertens and the Lusakans would be in for a big surprise if they weren't careful...

COM-INDIO (Indian Ocean Command) HQ, Port Victoria Naval Base, Seychelles

"Admiral, one of our surveillance aircraft has just located two large radar contacts North of Mafia Island."

"ID?"

"Not Yet sir, we can't tell heading yet either, but they're deifnately warships, can't be Al Khali, we can only assume their Beth Gellertan."

"Damn, okay well , we can't let those ships continue their mission, we don't have another sub in the area just yet so we'll have to do this overtly, Lieutenant, immediately launch the alert aircraft."


Port Victoria Naval Air Base, Mahe Island, Seychelles

The small Air Force contigent in this predominantly Navy run airfield was restricted to a large and new concrete apron area, on the far side, a good distance from the main ramp areas and adjacent to the heavily fortified perimiter. Just outside each of the four large temporary aircraft hangars, a single, massive Tu-160 bomber sat, waiting, fuelled, armed and ready. The drill was simple enough and had become norm for the 9th Strategic Strike Squadron for nearly two weeks. In total they had fourteen aircraft, divided into three flights of four bombers with two aircraft in reserve at all times. At any one time a single flight was required to be on six minute alert, meaning that in six minutes they could be airborne and bound for Zanzibar. Each day their designated weapon load changed but normally it was compliments of Yakhont anti-ship missiles, as the Beth Gellert warships now posed the biggest threat to Al Khals.

Meanwhile the other two flights not on alert rotation honed their skills by dropping uncanny amount of munitions on to the once picturesque tropical paradise of Sride island, arguably one of the most important seabird nesting sites in the Indian Ocean. Also the squadron were evaluating the performance of the Tu-160M upgrade. So far their performance was excellent and the electronics replacement had meant that many of the unrelaibilites of the old system were gone, also they had much greater capability to drop precision weapons.

As the midday sun beat down upon the concrete apron, the aircrews who were now on ready alert sat on deck chairs, some sunbathing in the open, others using the shade of the Tu-160s' wings. To suppress boredom they read books, listened to music and played cards, always for money. After all one of best things about being deployed to the Seychlles was that gambling was legal and it also applied on a military installation.

Suddenly loud claxons blurred for a few seconds, followed by an announcement over the address system, "Strategic Alert Squadron Scramble, Scramble, Scramble." No dialgoue was necessary, the air crews jumped up, adrenalin powering them. Simultaenously ground crew appeared from pre-fabricated buildings, to conduct last minutes checks on the planes.

Flight Commander Hafiz Ashenani ran towards his light grey painted aircraft, which like all of the aircraft had elaborate and colourful nose art. On his aircraft, there was a stylised version of The Elias Eagle shown holding an electric guitar, alongisde was the caption, 'Death and Destruction', the nickname he and his crew had given to their aircraft.

Just two minutes later, the crew of all four Blackjacks were ready in their cockpits. As ground crew scurried out of the way, the whine of jet engines filled the air as one by one turbofans came alive. Almost immediately the planes started to roll forward, one after the other, all headed toward the nearby runway.

A few seconds later the dull whine was replaced with a deafening roar as Commander Ashenani's Tu-160 accelerated, afterburners powering the behemoth down the runway. Within a few miuntes all of the bombers were airborne.

"Jackal Two Flight, Vector 262 degrees, maritime targets approximately niner four five nautical miles from current. You are cleared for standoff weapons relesease once targeting data has been copied. This is not a drill."

Now in relatively close formation, the four Tu-160Ms turned Westwards.

While in orbit above southeastern Africa and the western Indian Ocean, PKC micro-orbiters continued their stealthy efforts to latch on to hostile satellites, the reality of the Esselink's attack and sinking was beginning to reach the fore of the Commonwealth's post-coup consciousness. Men and women were in the Ocean, and some would be picked-up by the Lusakans, and possibly even by hostile powers; theists, imperialists, capitalists, and others of their backward ilk.

Local commanders on Madagascar had long been treating their environment as sensitive, but it was only now that The Commonwealth herself was waking-up. Just a few hundred miles east of Mauritius, Victoria Salvadorian comrades felt almost as close to the fight as to the troubles felt by their mainland comrades in dealing with continental issues such as the thwarted Nicobarese incursion, or the nomadic menace of The Glakatahn.

Clearly, said comrades attending Senates at all levels, it was past time to reinforce the Malagasy bases. If the Al Khalis were to persist in pushing ethnic and religious angles to their dispute, perhaps it would soon become wise to alert the Western Asians on Madagascar, too. Jews off the starboard bow might angry-up Al Khali blood, suggested one cynic.

Ponderous debate would persist for years in the painfully democratic Commonwealth of old, but now there was an Igovian edge to the revolution.

The eight big, sleek hulks of Anunkai Class SSN Squadron Themis were assigned their first serious operational duties since patrols during the Malagasy Liberation, this time tasked with secretly surrounding Reunion at a distance of some miles.

In Victoria Salvadorian and mainland Beth Gellen ports, a task force was assembled for deployment to Madagascar. The investigation of Esselink's sinking, the processing of victims, and the protection of Beth Gellen interests and of Antananarivo's administration were cited in the initial -and vague- aims. Leading the assembly would be the Jonathan Netnyahu Class trimaran carrier CS Muishkin, excorted by Nibiru Class light carrier/assault ships CS Remiped (damaged in the Malagasy conflict with the loss of nine hands) and Anglesey, vessels from Anunkai Squadron Phoebe, a Benefactor Class ammunition ship, two Rapier Class minesweepers, a Verix Class combat stores ship, two Brompton Class support tankers, a huge Palaemon Class heavy support ship, a Ysbyty Class hospital ship, salvage ship CS Nirs, a Restoration Class submarine tender, two Hyena Class expeditionary transports, two Trebuchet Class bombardment frigates, three Bodkin Class hunter frigates, and twelve Gauntlet Class fleet defence frigates.

This wasn't too unusual- since the last major expansions some years ago, the Beth Gellen armed forces had found themselves using relatively little of their allowed budget each year, and putting the rest into grand displays or worthy causes at the end of a fiscal term. They burnt up a lot of the excess by frequent exercises and visits to friendly stations around the region, on Madagascar, Lusaka, the Parmis Archipelago (southeast of the BIOT, just off the northwestern end of New Tiamat), and so on. Many of the supplies brought would reinforce the defensive positions on Madagascar, meant to protect the Republic against future incursion by the likes of the Roycelandians.

In the New Welsh Mountains, Spearman supersonic low-signature heavy bombers were dusted off and examined by engineers acting on behalf of pilots not half so rusty as they feared these warhorses may be. Beth Gellens continued to drink and otherwise intoxicate themselves, and to speculate on the unusual barbarian menace to the east.

135nm East of Mafia Island

The Four Tu-160Ms hurtled eastward at Mach 1.5, wings swept fully back and by flying at low-level combined with the new RAM coatings, their radar signatures were probably low enough to avoid detection. With no communications and radars not illumintaed, their electronic emmissions profile was almsot non-existant further increasing their stealthiness but meaning they would be unable to run a proper identification on their targets. Either way they had their orders and the brass were obviously pretty sure these were enemy warships.

In the cockpit of the lead bomber, Hafiz Ashenani studied the newly installed moving map display. As the formation crossed a certain waypoint over the featureless ocean, the weapons launch computer took control, altering the heading marginally and climbing a thousand feet or so. Then, simultaneously across the four planes, bomb day doors swung open, two sets of rotary launchers on each aircraft ready to unload six Yakhont anti-ship ski-skimming missiles. All that needed to be done was for the weapons officer to press the weapons release authorisation switch.

"Jackal Two Flight, Abort mission, confirm targets as Roycelandian Dreadnoughts, repeat abort, break radio silence to confirm."

Cpt. Ashenani breathed a sigh of relief, immediately disengaging the mission computer and starting a wide turn back towards Mahe island. "Jackal Two Flight, we copy, weapons release aborted, returning to base."

As the planes returned, officers back in The Seychelles reflected that although the capability on this occasion was not needed, the ready alert concept had proven its usefulness should a major naval force present itself in these waters. After all in under forty-five minutes they had been in position to fire an incredible of 48 missiles.

OOC: Just to let everyone know, Im going away for a week so I doubt I'll check the boards more than once during that time. Everything seems faiirly slow around here so I dont expect I'll be missing much. Anway if something happens which I need to repond to, just TG me as thats easier to check. Thanks.

Somewhere between Reunion, Madagascar, and Al Khals

The Roycelandian Dreadnoughts had no idea how close they came to being struck by UE Anti-Shipping missiles. Of course, the second the UE aircraft "Lit Up" they would have been targetted by the Dreadnought's "Medusa" AA Missile system- as the name suggested, it consisted of firing a lot of very advanced AA missiles at the incoming aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Sunderland *HAD* picked up something on the radar, but the aircraft were too far out of range to do anything about it. Still, the AAMs were armed, along with the ASMs, and the fighter aircraft on Reunion were put on yellow alert.

Meanwhile, the IRNS Carver put to sea from Mombasa, and rumours abounded that the IRNS Capital Ship Red Dwarf was en route from Roycelandia to join in the conflict...

The L7 gun, impressive as it was in its day, was hardly the most deadly thing on the modern battlefield... but then, this was Sub Saharan Africa, and the 105mm HEAT shells had little trouble in flinging the turret of one BMP-2 half way to the Indian Ocean and crippling a Vickers MBT.

Too late the Habob Division realised that it was far from the sole military formation at Mbeya. Scores of Al Khali infantry and several of their IFVs had already penetrated into the outskirts before they realised that by doing so they risked cutting themselves off from their heavy armour in the chaotic streets of this 3rd world sprawl.

Still, inspite of their over zealous dash, the troops were relatively well trained- not the world's best, but able to look a scared man in the eyes and squeeze a trigger, or to co-ordinate some sort of response to a bad situation. The advanced units' problem was the very average state of communications amongst the lighter units, and widespread indecision on whether to race back out, or sit tight and wait for further forces to arrive.

Split up in the alien suburb, some men turned back east, others looked to sieze anything that looked strategic -a tower, a police station- and hold on. After all, they'd just heard some heavy shooting, and wouldn't be very respectable soldiers if they ran away already!

The Roycelandian Government has gifted 20 Emperor Heavy Tanks to the Al Khalis for use in the conflict.

Conveniently, a technical crew has also been deployed with the tanks to teach the Al Khalis how to use them (in combat, if need be).

The Emperor Tank's stats are on the Regional Forum, BTW...

Habib Pasha Aviation Storage Site, 80 miles North West of Al Khubar, Persian Gulf, United Elias

Situated just over eighty miles inland, amidst an endlessly flat desert, the huge fenced in area of the Habib Pasha facility was on a scale comparable with the surroundings. Parked, neatly in row upon row, thousands of retired warplanes sat peacefully, some wrapped in protective covers, most just left to the elements. At one end of the base, heavy wrecking equipment sat motionless, remains of partially scrapped aircraft strewn around. It was here in the 'boneyard' that obsolete or simply surplus war machines finished their lives to be made into razor blades and spare parts.

At the other end of the sprawling complex, quite the opposite was happening. Riding jeeps and bearing clipboards listing tail numbers, members of the MoD's Foreign Military Assistance Department were hunting for some of the more modern types to be laid to rest, of which there were quite a significant number, and assesing each's ability to be made airworthy and possibly combat ready. With the help of the Air Force reservists who manned the facility, planes were selected quickly, and almost immediately more men appeared in huge low-loading trucks to transport them to Al Khubar Naval Base for loading onto military sealift ships, destination: Al Khals.

Under the blazing summer sun the work was completed suprisingly quickly, and a total of sixty-two Mirage F-1C multirole fighters, still in the colours of the Royal Salician Air Force from whom they had been captured, and thirty-three Mig-27 ground attack aircraft. In addition, twenty-eight highly capable F-111 tactical strike aircraft were selected, and being highly survivable and able to haul a large bomb load together with excellent performance would be a major asset to the Al Khals in the war against Lusaka.


****

Two days later, at Al Khubar Naval Base on the Persian Gulf a flottilla of ships, both freighters and escort warships transited out, their passage would take them to the East of the Seychelles and all the way around the Southern Coast of Madagascar, giving the island a wide berth before turning North to Al Khals, to avoid the combat zone and any enemy operational areas.

OOC: Al Khals this is not exactly a gift but a lend-lease arrangement. In other words, after the war, providing your government still exists, you have to payback $820 million (or equivalent commodity) over a period of time. This figure BTW is very generous based on the actual value of the assets loaned.

The Lusakan armoured detachment at Mbeya was certainly less capable than its opponent, but it was scattered through the city and almost impossible to pin down, and it was supported by untold thousands of infantry and militiamen. Here and there shots rained down on advance Al Khali units, flying from M59/66A1(L) semi-automatic rifles, Uzis, and ancient Russian rifles with their design origins over a century in the past and their stocks cracked in the African sun, often replaced by hand-crafted local timbers. Most of the militiamen struggled to point their weapons where they meant the shot to land, or even to close one eye to aim, while the regular Army Of Lusaka troops were trained at least up to a standard familiar to the mid C20th.

Gun for gun, they were inferior soldiers against the Republican Guard, but they were defending home ground far to vast, chaotic, and fluid to be properly mapped and understood by the enemy, and they were many... perhaps more than twenty thousand taking up arms around a core of eight or so thousand regulars. In a city of millions, the total was almost sure to rise even without help from the greater Republic.

Mortar fire, light and uncoordinated as it was, began to fall just outside the town in an effort to discourage withdrawl though such areas and to disrupt reinforcement.

As snipers and machinegun nests revealed themselves to isolated RG infantry casualties began to mount on the Lusakan side, as engagement ranges were point blank as dictated by the environment.

In some parts, local militiamen -many ex-mercenaries civilised by the Igomo Social Progress Party-, often coaxed by long vanquished warlords, enthusiastically rushed enemy units as they stumbled into old territorial stomping grounds belonging to such groups. Machettes, petrol bombs, slings, generations old Russian firearms from the Soviet-backed revolution era, and even assegai and a handful of swords -surely spoils of the anti-Roycelandian revolution- were weilded by bored, intoxicated ex-bounty hunters and gangsters, hammering heirloom leather shields and loosing war cries of old as they stomped by the dozen through the dusty Mbeya streets.

Elsewhere, Lusakan forces along the central border area mustered for an assault against Al Khali positions. They'd already taken losses from artillery and airstrikes, and cut-off by the loss of bridges to the north they had little fuel, but the men would be damned if they'd sit and let the enemy shoot them to pieces. Officers had a serious task on their hands in making sure that the recruits saw this as a conflict of nation and noth race or religion, as hundreds of Zanzibar Arabs boosted the Army ranks here in the east.

...other such souls, working for the young and still little known Lusakan secret service the African Intelligence Bureau, were already attempting to infiltrate the Arab republic with the intention of sabotaging its vital oil infrastructure.

Meanwhile, in Roycelandia, Border guards near Mombasa were nervously eyeing anyone crossing the border to or from Lusaka. A couple of Emperor Class tanks were stationed at the border crossing which, whilst still open, was looking more and more like a military base each day.

(OOC: All right, you may have noticed that this hasn't achieved much as yet. It started out as a thread with an idea, but unforseen delays have repeatedly de-railed the whole affair. It looks like we're going to give broad over-views for most of the conflict, and Al Khals is about to have its own internal problems, largely resulting from the war. I think it'll be a sort of background affair, because apparently it is draining to work out the specifics of a war containing millions of men when the individual engagements aren't really the point of the exercise anyway.)

While not apparent yet, the more nosy of AC's neighbours noticed the detetoriation of CAF border patrols, as the outer rim of AC territories were left almost undefended. What happened deeper inside was anyone's guess, but knowing the fiercely militarist and paranoid Secular Party, it might as well be anything...

Though Lusaka lost many of its bridges allowing access to the conflict area from the north, the relief of the Al Khali stall at Mbeya allowed the continuation of the massive mobilisation in creeping progress. Twelve million Lusakan men had thus far registered their intent to serve in some direct manner, and Igomo was confidently orating on his intention not only to turn back the attackers, but to consume Al Khals and anything else that interfered with African independence. With new recruits leaving training grounds each day, thousands of soldiers were headed not only to the Al Khali front, but to stations north.

Olifant L2 battle tanks were storming into the western extent of Mbeya with the Lusakan Revolutionary Alliance Corps as local forces concentrated on the defence of what very few roads were wide enough to accomodate such large vehicles. These rag-tag units were taking heavy losses in efforts to over-run positions held by better trained Al Khali Republican Guardsmen that'd ventured into the city. Commanding the fight at Mbeya was General Theodore Tendyala, who was resolved that the finest division at the enemy's disposal would be ground up at Mbeya, convincing them that Lusaka was not for the taking.

While all of this looked generally good for the Lusakan cause, the fact remained that part of the Al Khali plan had worked in the initial stages of the conflict. Reinforcements trying to get south across the Rufiji were suffering from the loss of bridges and the relatively poor state of Lusakan army bridging units when contrasted to the Al Khalis'. Border positions were insufficient to prevent Al Khali regulars following-up the Republican Guard's initial thrust.

The main focus of City's work, however, remained the return of Secretary Miyanda, currently stranded on Mafia Island.

Mbeya, Lusaka

The HT-1 Emperor Tank ground over the Lusakan soil as part of the advancing Al Khali army.

Unlike most of the other tanks in this army, however, this one was crewed by Roycelandians.

The Imperial Foreign Legion 2nd Tank Corps had been deployed to "assist" the Al Khalis in any way they could, and Tank Commander Tim Strummer decided that included Direct Action against the Lusakans.

Edging their way around the ruined city, he sighted some Lusakan Olifant tanks in the distance and gave orders for them to be sighted in.

Hiding in the rubble, he waited until the closest Olifant was only a few hundred yards away, and then ordered "FIRE!", sending a 135mm HEAP shell hurtling towards the Lusakan tank...

President Igomo's bunker below New Lusaka City

"...I heard you, Amin, and I still do not care." Said the big Igomo in his thick southern African accent. "The Roiks can stick their noses wherever they most want to get them broken, I am here to hear...you tell me...you and Colin and the rest...how you are going to get my Secretary out of...there."

"Well, I think we have that all worked out, sir..." Interjected Defence Secretary Colin Olongwe, rustling some papers though he wasn't planning to read any of them.

Mbeya

The loss of several Olifant tanks, of which the LRAC had only a few hundred next to thousands of T-56(L)s and T-62s, hurt. Of course, though they were by far the nation's best tanks -possibly the most powerful AVs ever to originate on the continent- it would have been silly to consider them invincible.

The initial losses were soon discerned to have resulted form Roycelandian action, though Al Khali Abrams were a fairly good match for the Olifants and able to inflict damage themselves. While most of the fighting continued to be between Lusakan and Al Khali units, with thousands of infantry engaged across a suburban front that could not be called a line so much as a twisted knot, some LRAC armoured detachments were directed specifically to smashing 3rd party involvement. It made sense that forces from without the area -that is to say, other than Al Khali- would be smaller, and as such more easily removed from the fight. Practically that might not have been worth more than removing the same size force from the larger contribution, but it seemed of more psychological and political merit to entirely remove a faction, however small.

Lusakan human intelligence in Mbeya dwarfed that available to the outsiders, who would struggle even to know the name of a fraction of the streets, the strength of the defenders, or the identities of informants and fighters apparently part of the civilian population. Lusakans fed a mountain of information to local commanders, who in turn directed massive weights of fire against any positions seen to contain Roycelandian vehicles or persons, hammering them from any number of angles at any number of ranges using direct 100, 105, and 120mm cannon and RPG fire, and indirect 130mm artillery and 122mm and 227mm rocketry.

Meanwhile, Lusakan SAMs seemed to be doing a good job of protecting the situation from the larger Al Khali air force. The likes of AFRISAM -absent in much of the early advance up to Mbeya- were more than capable of wiping Floggers and Phantoms from the sky. Of course, Lusakan aircraft such as the Dragonfly were also short on luck when attempting to break-up the enemy's rear, finding SA-6 and ZSUs combined sufficient to make life incredibly hard for pilots operating Vietnam-War-era aircraft.

The Indian Ocean, north of Mafia Island

The corvette had all but flown to the scene, making more than fifty knots and slowing only briefly before continuing out several miles and swerving back for home. This was about the only manner of sortie the Lusakan navy dared make in light of Al Khali superiority on the waves and the strained nature of Lusakan air cover on the coast.

Still some miles from Mafia, the little speed boat dropped off by the Oglive corvette made for shore with all haste, originating from an almost arbitrary point in the middle of the mothership's foray. Over half of the launch's fuel consumed when it hit the shore, the four Zanzibar Arabs hauled their craft ashore, flinging their military garb aboard as they prepared to blend into the local population.

"Where's our boy, then? That's the waypoint, isn't it?" Asked one Vulture of another, all four men intensely worried about being betrayed by their local contact and shot as spies.

Mbeya, Lusaka

TC Strummer's Emperor Tank had notched up a few "kills" before it was blindsided by an RPG, damaging the track to the point where the Emperor was immobile.

The 135mm main gun, the coaxial MG, and the right hand side 88mm gun roared at the Lusakan Infantry, but Strummer gave the order to Bail Out and run for cover.

Four of them managed to get out before a 155mm Howitzer shell scored a direct hit in the crippled tank, destroying it completely and killing the three men inside instantly. They were still firing when the shell landed on them, and Strummer made a note to reccommend them for some sort of decoration if and when they got back to friendly lines.

There are many practical advantages to the Imperial Guard's Red Uniform, chief of which is making it easy to identify people on your side. It also makes it easy for your enemies to find you, but since it's made of a kevlar like material it doubles as a bulletproof vest as well.

It was thusly that Strummer and Co (wearing IFL Green uniforms) found themselves in the ruins of an abandoned Supermarket with a division of the Imperial Guard, firing at the Lusakans outside and making their way through the rubble. Requests for Air Support had been met with a "Don't count on it" from Port Imperial, but rumours persisted that the Imperial Guard were going to invade Lusaka from the North as well...

The entanglement into which Fariq Abdelaziz Mahamat had run the 1st Tkrat Habob Division was widely ignored in the Republican Guard's command structure. It simply couldn't be happening quite as some reports indicated, because the Habob Division was better than anything it was going to face, this had been declared before the invasion began!

The elite formation was then followed-up as planned by a larger regular army division, comprised mainly of infantry with supporting soft skin vehicles and BMP-1s, as well as some 100mm and 122mm towed guns. Mahamat was by now pounding Mbeya with artillery guns and rockets, trying to walk his fire around to screen the movements of his infantry. Of course this was probably killing hundreds of people, but unless the Lusakans were going to up and run as their armour support arrived, it probably wasn't going to make life all that much easier for the RG. There was always the slight possibility of the bombardment weeding out some of the city's anti-aircraft defences, but then again it wouldn't be hard to move the better SAMs out of range to the west of the city, anyway. In coming days, several thousand Al Khali regulars would be thrown into the street fighting, while the Republican Guard began its second thrust with other divisions to the east.

There, two RG divisions -one armour and one mechanised infantry- began to push across the border some tens of miles apart, hoping to reach the northwestern end of the Rufiji with the same pace displayed by the Habob Division before it hit Mbeya. Apparently this was what the enemy initially expected, but Via'di'arl hoped that the extent of the fighting west and the destruction of so many bridges would give them back the edge for at least a few days. If they did not reach the great river before the enemy was mobilised and organised, few could see a way to prevent the Lusakans sweeping through the tiny Democratic Republic itself.

Mafia Island

"As-Salaam Alaikum, brothers!" Said Moin with a confident cheer that may well have seemed out of place to the Lusakan special forces he confronted on the beach. "Here, Akhtar will help you with your little boat! Akhtar! Help our friends with their little boat!" He continued with a smile and a flamboyant clap of his hands that brought forth a heavy-set and slightly simple looking young man and saw the Lusakan craft hauled up the beach and into a waiting tent that seemed to have been spontaneously erected.

Moving to embrace each of the Zanzibar Arabs in turn as though he'd known them all of his life, Moin explained that he knew exactly where their mutual friend was staying, and was sure it'd be the smallest of matters to meet him before they all went home.

As the conflict in near by southeast Africa continued, Beth Gellen satellites continued to drift overhead, and micro-orbiter anti-satellite weapons covertly persisted in their parasitic pursuit of hostile orbiters. Beth Gellen forces on Madagascar continued to be reinforced, and comrade Admiral Nicholas Edwards, newly created operational commander of the Commonwealth's Grand Fleet, was sent to the big island. He travelled aboard the recently commissioned CS Aubergine, the very first Batch 3 Gauntlet Class frigate.