NationStates Jolt Archive

The Navy EA-60D (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=84701&highlight=) crossed into Panama’s airspace just before dusk, and was symbolic as after this point the military would be committed to the operation, even if the weather proved troublesome which it probably would. However having waited for four days already for storms to clear, the crew’s aboard the battle group were eager to get this going.

In the cabin of the aircraft, the intelligence equipment recorded transmissions from Panama but its main purpose was to broadcast a Spanish language pre-recorded message over radio and TV stations. At exactly 19:57, Operation ‘Crossroads’ began as the airwaves were hijacked.

Citizens of Panama, this is a message from the government of United Elias which is committed to the safely and freedom of all the Panamanian people. For too long the world has sat and watched idly by as Panama fell into the depths of anarchy and drug-related crime. For too long we have left you at the mercy of the cartels which are openly supported by the government. However, with the increasing danger to ships transiting the Panama Canal, the world can no longer ignore the plight of Panama and United Elias is tonight launching a military operation to rid you of your criminal leaders and immediately secure the Panama Canal. Our action will be swift and we will not use our weapons unless we meet resistance, therefore we urge you to co-operate. We have no ambitions of conquering Panama and once the country is secure we will ensure that a fair and representative government is put in place and we will remain only to secure the Panama Canal so that this crucial shipping lane between the Pacific and Atlantic remains open. The people of Panama should realise that we are a force of good and we shall bring prosperity and freedom to your lands.


***

Battling through the fierce rain, a wave of helicopters, flying in perfect formations over the Gulf of Panama approached the coastline, heading Northwards at 150 knots. Made up of the entire air group from the assault ships Sabre and Suez, the formation was split into distinct waves. Firstly, fourteen of the nimble little EA-28Gs (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66401) carrying six Marine Special Forces each. In the larger formation there were 26 EA-24Gs (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40824) each carrying 22 Marine infantrymen. In total 672 Marines, making up the 1st Air Cavalry Battalion of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Regiment were spearheading the operation.

In the cabin of one of the EA-24s, Sergeant Sadar sat against the fuselage reflecting on the mission realizing there was little risk. As he glanced around at the men in his squad, unable to speak because of the deafening roar of the rotors, he saw they all appeared to be calm yet anxious, not fear of dying just fear of not doing things right. Opposite him a Corporal was clutching a crucifix and reciting prayers and the Private next to him was stroking the blade of his combat knife, reflecting light off it.

Ten monotonous minutes later and the first wave of the formation, the EA-28s started to descend and the Marine special forces, who were sitting on people planks on the outside of the helicopters, engaged their NVGs, ready to engage any threat on the ground with their scopes. The fourteen smaller helicopters flared as they approached Torrijos International Airport’s main runway as Just as the ground emerged beneath the blanket of thick cloud the lights from the terminal buildings came into view. Seconds later and the helicopters had touched ground and the Marines had released their harnesses and jumped off, grouping into their squads and heading for prearranged positions around the tarmac area. Seconds later the EA-28s lifted off and proceeded to circle the LZ, providing cover and using their FLIRs to locate any threats.

As soon as the 82 special forces had reached their defensive positions around the LZ, they radioed the EA-24 formation which split into smaller flights. Soon four helicopters at a time were touching down, Marines running down their rear ramps, and then they would lift off as another four approached.

Soon the entire Battalion was on the ground and the careful air cavalry tactics proved to be unnecessary as no resistance had been offered. Now the task was easy to quickly secure the entire airport as the transport planes approached carrying reinforcements.


***

18,000ft above Northern Panama in the cockpit of the lead Il-76 a buzz sounded and a co-ordinate flashed onto the newly installed moving map GPS . The navigator/engineer then muttered into his intercom, “Sir, we got the beacon.”

“Good, Marines didn’t let us down then.” The pilots then twiddled the autopilot heading knob slightly to put them on track for the Airport and reduce altitude. The other 17 planes in the formation followed suit. Fortunately the Airport been secured otherwise a massive gamble would have left eighteen transports with no fuel and nowhere to land safely. The problem was that the planes had had to fly direct from United Elias a gruelling thirteen hour flight, using refuelling tankers, the only problem is there were no bases on this side of the world so no tanking would be possible if they could not land. The official contingency was that aircraft equipped with buddy refuelling pods could be flown from the aircraft carrier but all of the pilots knew that would not be not adequate. Luckily though the Marines had been successful although they usually were.

Twenty minutes later and the planes had loosened their formation as they lined up for approach. In the cockpit of the lead aircraft, only a few miles from the runway, the pilots constantly checked their old-fashioned dials and were concerned that they could not yet see the ground through the cloud cover, but their navigation/weather radar showed them on course. Meanwhile in the cabin Airborne infantry soldiers performed last minute equipment checks in readiness for their part of the mission which was only just beginning.

Suddenly the runway lights appeared below, the airfield sprawling out beneath them. Immediately the co-pilot nudged back the control yoke and flared the Il-76 onto the wet tarmac as the whine of engines turned to a deafening roar as thrust reversers kicked in to slow the aircraft. Off to either side the Marines already on the ground could be seen securing the airport and already most of it was safe and locked down.


***

Simultaneously, in fact just seconds before the first Il-76s touched down, another flight of choppers swept over the coastline laden with Marine Special Forces, all headed for downtown Panama City. The flight of ten EA-28s flew very low, less than a hundred feet from the buildings, a necessity if they wanted to be under the voluminous cloud layers.

Within ten minutes they were approaching the objective, Government House and the heart of Panama’s drug cartel regime which would see come to a hopefully peaceful end. Just in case though four EA-32 attack helicopters flew higher overhead, ready to pounce on any resistance at a moments notice.

The EA-28s arranged themselves in the carefully choreographed assault where six of them touched down at various points within a block’s radius of the objective, their teams then rushing to secure the perimeter and prevent any forces escaping and stopping the Panamanians from joining in the coup. Barely three minutes, later the other four choppers touched down on the actual front lawn of government House, and as their skids touched grass the Marines immediately neutralized a few guards that attempted to fire their weapons. Then they disembarked and set about their main objective, storming the building.

The radio message was intercepted by Western Asian SIGINT officers at the Naval Corps base in Cienfuegos, Cuba...and quickly passed on up from there. Within two hours, a translated transcript of the message was sitting on the President's desk in Jerusalem as he was hurried in, about 30 minutes before he would've normally arrived.

He hurredly read over the transmission as crews prepared for an immediate news broadcast. A few points were discussed with his advisors before he sat down and the broadcast, which broke into most Western Asian channels and was beamed to the BBC and CNN, among others, began.

Citizens of Western Asia,

It has come to our attention that the nation of United Elias has, only a few hours ago, launched an assault on territory controlled by the democratic government of the Republic of Panama. While the following message was transmitted throughout the area, we know of no such problems within the constitutional democracy that controls Panama.

(Audio Clip, with subtitles)
Citizens of Panama, this is a message from the government of United Elias which is committed to the safely and freedom of all the Panamanian people. For too long the world has sat and watched idly by as Panama fell into the depths of anarchy and drug-related crime. For too long we have left you at the mercy of the cartels which are openly supported by the government. However, with the increasing danger to ships transiting the Panama Canal, the world can no longer ignore the plight of Panama and United Elias is tonight launching a military operation to rid you of your criminal leaders and immediately secure the Panama Canal. Our action will be swift and we will not use our weapons unless we meet resistance, therefore we urge you to co-operate. We have no ambitions of conquering Panama and once the country is secure we will ensure that a fair and representative government is put in place and we will remain only to secure the Panama Canal so that this crucial shipping lane between the Pacific and Atlantic remains open. The people of Panama should realise that we are a force of good and we shall bring prosperity and freedom to your lands.

Until we have received an explanation for this invasion, we ask that UE respect the sovereignty of Panama and avoid endangering the international and open nature of the Panama Canal and the Panamanian ownership of the Panama Canal Zone. If there is indeed a serious security concern then Western Asian peacekeepers in Cuba will be redeployed to monitor operations around the PCZ and in the area, although we doubt the reports that have emerged of druglords and criminals controlling any part of the government.

We await UE's explanation for this invasion.

OOC: Reason, I'm a little bored and would like a little holding in central america.
:wink:

IC:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official Statement

"In response to some questions raised by Western Asia, a nation we have always had cordial relations with, I would like to briefly explain elements of our central-american policy. In recent months United Elias flagged vessels transiting the Panama Canal Zone have frequently come under illegal searches and have been threatened by the locl authroities in some cases demanding that vessels be surrendered to the government under the threat of firearms. This in conjunction with a recent report which illustrated that much of the cocaine finding itself to our shores has been through Panama or actually grown in Panamahas led us to believe that the government in Panama is no longer acting in a responsible manner.

"It is therefore not an acceptable state of affairs and as such we have taken a very limited action to ensure the democratic process, the government may have been elected at some stage but the definition of democracy is that elections are held at pre-determined intervals to make the government accoutable. Secondly our forces intend to take control of the Panama Canal Zone to permit free and unimpeded access by all soverign nations' ships and prevent the country's use as a transhipment point for narcotics."

OOC: I know that. :D
IC:
Western Asian Response
While we have not experienced any of these claimed obstructions, we understand the difficulty of operating under such conditions...but while we can understand that the temporary seizure of the PCZ is a possibly necessary step, attacking the government and dragging Panama into chaos is not the best way to ensure stability and safety in the area.

Western Asia will land joint WA-Cuban peacekeeping police forces outside of the PCZ to monitor the status of civilians in the rest of Panama...surely your forces wouldn't need to move too far past the PCZ to ensure the stability and security of the PC.

That is correct in that our forces do not intend to move out into rural Panama unless there is a specific reason to do do. We will station troops in Panama City for the time being until a new more internationally acceptable government can be put in place and our forces will setup bases at either end of the canal to ensure its security. If of course it is necessary that we take action outside the zone of control, then we shall liase with your peacekeepers which we welcome.


Map of the Panama Canal Zone:

http://thorup.com/panamap.JPG

<OOC>
You may wish to check on who actually controls Panama.
</OOC>

His Omniferocity's government's concern is solely related to the free passage of trade through the canal. The Dominion has no interest unless traffic through the canal is disrupted.

Eternal Arch-Villain Psychopompos
Minister for Pre-Subjugation External Affairs

Al-Sabir applauds United Elias attempt to bring freedom to the people of Panama and something even more important, securing free access to the Panama Canal for all nations.

The Lord Protector of Starblaydia is very concerned by this event, as the Panama Canal lies but a few score miles north of Starblaydia and its canal is an essential naval passage that we must be allowed to use to protect our interests in both Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Assuming our ships, merchant, war and leisure, are all allowed access through the Canal as per usual, we would welcome an increase in security. If the state of affairs becomes otherwise, we would be forced to take steps to ensure it's freedom.

Isaac MC Chisoko
Foreign Minister
Protectorate of Starblaydia

Official Statement

In order to clarfiy and respond to concernes expressed by various distinguished nations: Under United Elias control of the Panama Canal Zone, all nations will be permitted to use the canal under the previous charges and will no longer be subjected to inconsistent and illegal searches. In order to be allowed through the Panama Canal however all vessels must have proper documentation and be flagged correctly to the country they are registered to. Also if any highly toxic or radioactive material is passed through the canal it must be properly declared and approved and if a prohibited substance is detected by our sensors the nation in question will no longer be permitted to send its ship through the Canal.

These gudlines will come into affect immediately and present a balance between ensuring safety to the Panamanian people whilst also giving the free right of passage to all nations.







<OOC>
You may wish to check on who actually controls Panama.
</OOC>

His Omniferocity's government's concern is solely related to the free passage of trade through the canal. The Dominion has no interest unless traffic through the canal is disrupted.

Eternal Arch-Villain Psychopompos
Minister for Pre-Subjugation External Affairs

I have nobody does, thats why Im here. :wink:

OOC: Note, this is just my part of getting involved in this quickly.

Luitenant Don Corseman swore. Today had been a living hell. First, he'd had to be the on duty shift officer for two shifts instead of one due to another officers being sick. After that, he had been tired as hell. Yet, he had still had to report to the motorpool to lead the security detachment accompanying the FPS ambassador to the presidential palace in Panama City.

Arriving at the Palac, things seemed to go from bad to worse. The ambassador and the president got into their usual friendly political battle (which of course bored both the Panamanian presidents security detail as well as the ambassadors), and then had turned to the worse when the dinner that the group was supposed to be served didn't show.

However, about three minutes ago, things had taken another dive when a group of foreign marines busted into the room, shooting two of the President's bodyguards, and sending Don and his three fellow marines diving behind flipped tables for cover as the marines started trying to blow the room apart.

Don had been forced to jump behind a small cofee table with the Panamanian president in an effort to keep the man arriving. Rising slowly, he pointed his gun at the troops, whose country he did not recognize, and then pushed the president further behind the overturned cofee table.

In front of him, behind the main dinner table, the ambassador (and his three aids), one panamanian army officer, and one of Don's security were takign cover, the panamian army man and the FPS marine both pointing their weapons at the foreign troops. To the other side of the room, at Don's right, another panamanian armymen along with two FPS marines all stood without cover, training their weapons on the foreign troops.

Keeping his sidearm pointed at the troops, Luitenant Don Corseman stood, and asked simply, "Who the hell are you?"
____________________________________________________________
"Torrijos International Airport, this is flight 119, get those people off the fucking runway, we are locked in final approach!" Waiting a couple seconds, pilot Mike Wilterson again pressed the transmit button for the radio on the large 747. "Torrijos International Airport Tower, do you copy, over?"

Suddenly, Mike realized what was happening. The people on the runway weren't just airport personel...those were troops. Which explained why they were being supported by a group of helicopters. The troops must have already taken the control tower over. "Torrijos Tower, this is Northwest Airlines Flight 119, we are doing an emergency approach breakoff on vector 374." Even as radiod it to the tower, Mike's copilot, Susan O'Canternon was turning off the autopilot approach system, and begining to bank the plane to the left.

Both pilots almost immediatly regretted the manuevor. Their emergency breakoff vector was not at all clear. Instead, a small helicopter stood right in the way of the large plane. Grabbing the wheel again, Mike slammed the wheel downwards and to the right, sending the plane carrening towards the ground, and just barely keeping an in-air collision from occuring. The problem with the manuevor being that, at only three hundred feet, banking towards the ground pretty much ensured a crash.

And so, gripping the wheel even harder (not that it would help), Mike pulled up and to the left, hoping to straighten his course. It didn't work. The plane crashed into the ground going at nearly 230 miles per hour, immediatly breaking off the nose landing gear, and spending the plane into a long spin on the ground.

Both pilots could hear the screaming of the passengers in the back of the plane, but neither could help the plans spin. And, as long as the rear wheels held, the plane would be fine. The wings and engines were still off the ground. Sure, there would be a lot of plane damage, and a lot of sick passengers, but...Mike's thought was cut off when he saw where the plane was spinnning towards.

About seven seconds later, UE troops and Panamanian personel in concourse A were suprised to see the nose of a 747 jumbojet slam through the glass at gate A-39.

OOC: Again, getting involved, causing chaos, and simultaneously showing what happens when you land troops randomly on the runway of an international airport.

Portmeirion has lodged a firm protest to the Federal Dictatorship over its continued gunboat politics in the less developed world.

The initiation of yet little understood but evidently aggressive action in Panama appears to mirror the farce that was and is the illegal invasion of the Republic of Gabon.

"It appears" Said comrade Graeme Igo, CPCS, at a New Gibborim Local Senate gathering, "that the Federal Dictatorship of United Elias has a grudge with democracy, and that it has lately developed balls enough to take on countries five hundred times smaller than their own."

CCC comrade Chivo called Elias behaviour irresponsible, and accused the government of being too quick to take unilateral action, often against the democratic will of a people, and often endangering international interests.

The PCBG has announced that it does not intend to so much as delay any shipping passing through the canal, and that People's Navy frigates will be assigned to the route. Warships will be attached especially to vessels carrying 'narcotics' between New Tiamat and the large Beth Gellen embassy compound on Cuba, which is considered Commonwealth soil and is home to several thousand Beth Gellen nationals, and as such has no 'drugs laws'.

Portmeirion has sent to Panama City for offical word on the crisis, and is reportedly willing to commit military assets to the defense of the canal, the government, and the people should it be requested.


(ooc: I don't know if anyone's speaking for Panama City, so I'm not going to assume.)

OOC: Heh, that wouldn't had happen if those pilots would know the procedures... since pull-ups are generally done by climbing straight to some 2000 feet and then turning to a pre-defined track. :) Rant over, TAG. :)

OOC: Going up 2000 feet would have slammed them into 18 military transports though...and surely they woulda seen the radar bleeps. But your still right. Nonetheless, it adds something to the story.

[tagggg]

OOC: I think the Aztec National Leauge has Panama...This should be interesting, a fairly good sized dictatorship versus a massive socialist democracy.

IC:
The atmosphere in the command center deep in the heart of Fauquier's capital was tense. General Harrison was about to make his report.

"As you know, at exactly 19:57 May 20th, United Elias forces siezed the Panama canal. They say that they are liberating Panama from the drug cartels, as well as securing their right of passage to the canal."
"Oh God, not another Guatmala," said Consul Locke. General Harrison continued. "This explanation is similar to the one they used in invading Gabon, another blatantly imperialist action. Reports say there has been some fighting, as well as a civilian airliner crashing at the Panamanian airport due to confusion from the invasion. However, a full casulty list is not known. While they promise that they will keep the canal open, their past actions have weakened their credibility on statements like these."

Consul Locke sighed. "Well, we certainly haven't been friends with UE in the past, especially after the Gabon incident. Now they have invaded territory linked to our allies. We missed our chance in Gabon, but this may be a sign. We need to stop the psuedo-imperialism supported by UE. Bring the military up to Orange alert, and mobilize the atlantic fleet. However, I will not declare war until I see how international community reacts. And send a note of condemnation to UE. This self-centered agression has gone far enough. "

OOC: Nope, I do not have Panama, but I will keep close tabs on the situation and I have territory close to Panama.

IC:
Primier Quetzalcoatl read the breifing about the invasion of Panama and has taken great interest. He called in his advisors in a secret meeting.

"Alright now, although we right now are not being invaded, I am concerned about how close the invasion is taking place." Said the Primier. "Any suggestions."

The Chief Security Advisor spoke "I am sure United Elias has no harmful intentions towards us, as we have always been ok with each other. However, this invasion does warrent some concern on our part. I suggest we deploy troops to our borders in Guatamala and Honduras provinces and make sure there are no incomming invasions from the south."

The Chief of the Navy also spoke "If they wanted to invade us, they would not only come by land, I suggest we increase the number of patrols by our submarines and ships."

"Agreed. I will also make a statement regaurding the issue. We will not make any pre-emptive strikes, as their is no warrent for it and we just ended our civil war, I'm not ready to go to war again. However, I will order the fortification of our borders and seas." The Primier finished.

OFFICAL STATEMENT:
Live from the Aztec Soviet Congress

The Primier stood up out of his chair and walked to a poduim. There, he delivered this message.

"We have become aware of the invasion of the land of Panama by the nation of United Elias. While we will not intervine with this situation unless circumstances deprive us of any alternative, I will not stand by idlely. No, under General Order 2243, I am ordering the south eastern borders of the Aztec National League's provinces of Honduras and Guatamala be fortified with Red Gaurdsmen and Jaguar Warrior Infantrymen. Also, the order mandates that patrols of our seas be increased and security tightened, so we may live more securely.

Although we are foritifing our borders, this is not a pre-emptive strike on our part. We are only taking security measures to make sure that we are secure in these times.

However, keeping human rights as a primary consern, we will be monitoring the situation for wide spread human rights abuses that usually accompanies any invasion."

OOC: Okay, seeing as I know nothing about planes, and as the rear landing gear did hold through the crash (via my own description), I'm going to rp the plane having only a single death...unless someone objects to that. It's up to UE to rp any casulties in the airport though, so we'll see what happens. Anyone who rped there being deaths need not worry...initial reports would probably exagerate anyway.

Opening his eyes, Mike Wilterson took a quick look around the cockpit. Everything actually seemed...fine. His copilot, Susan O'Canternon, was pulling out the crash checklist. Behind him, the flight's engineer, Daniel Minhs, was already going through his checklist, shutting down engines, closing fuel valves, and pretty much doing anything in his power to keep one of the engines from lighting up.

Unbuckling his seat belt, Mike stood up. "Susan, take care of the checklist, I'm going to check on the passengers." Without even waiting for an awknoledgement, Mike headed into the back of the plane, expecting to find a mess. And, he did. But he'd been expecting a half destroyed cabin with groups of injured people, and at least a few obviously dead people.

Instead, what he found was a bunch of people buried in their own luggage (the overhead bins, unsuprisingly, had not held out against the crash), a couple of unconscious flight attendants and passengers whos seatbelts hadn't held, and in the middle of the plane a group of passengers (who Mike immeidatly recognized as the group of med students who had been flying to Panama to study mosquito spread diseases) working on a single man.

One of the med students, seeing him approaching, stood. "Captain, what the hell happened?"

"Landing problems, worry about that later. What's up with him?" Mike replied. He didn't want a bunch of pissed passengers yelling at him at that moment.

"Heart attack from the crash. If there's anyone outside, we need to get this guy to a hospital NOW."

Mike nodded, and, turning, ran to the front of the plane again. A flight attendant, seeing his purpose, followed, and together the two of them wrenched the front left plane door open. A breeze of cold air came into the airplane, and the emergency slide immedeiatly began inflating and dropping to the ground. Mike couldn't see a thing outside the plane, and so, using his only other resource, simply yelled, "HELLO!?!"

<OOC>
Here are two links indicating that two other nations control Panama.

Belem controls Panama
http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=80441&highlight=


Of the Council of Clan controls Panama
http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=123965&highlight=


TEO
</OOC>

(ooc: In one reality WoS controls Panama, having siezed it as part of the war on the US, but I'm not going to contest this, because... ah... I'm busy, yeah, that's it [departs in RWN biplane])

The Republic of Ozymandias IV protests in the strongest terms the military occupation of the Canal Zone by United Elias forces.

While we are not opposed to your invasion of Panama proper, it is the position of the Ruling Council that the Canal Zone be occupied by a multinational force to prevent any one nation from controlling such a strategic chokepoint.

- Merek III, Secretary of State
Republic of Ozymandias IV

Since no one else seems to be doing so, can I RP as Panama?

OOC: Panamanians, sure go ahead keep it realistic please.

IC:

Panama City

As the Marines kicked through the door of the President's dining room they immediately held their fire as their quarry was in sight. The Gunnery Sergeant leading the team aimed his MP-7 PDW at the security guards before respinsing to their shouts.

"United Elias Marines, drop your weapons, we've got the area surrounded and there's no way out. Now identify yourselves, some of you don't look Panamanian."


Torrijos International Airport

Another group of Marine special forces were rushing through the terminal buildings, shouting at people to calm down and forcing the security staff to surrender their weapons. Luckily no one had had enough time to react or resist.

Siddenly the sounds of jet engines instantly became a cocophony of sheering metal, smashing windows and the screams of people as the nose of the 747 lurched through the glass fronted building bringing with it shards of debris. Immediately some people were crying from their injuries and the Marines dispersed to help them, medics swinging into action without pause to comprehend the situation.

Outside, more Marines turned, expecting to see a UEAF Il-76 ripped apart but instead a more or less intact 747. Officers barked orders and the teams held their permiters apart from one platoon which dashed towards the aircraft as well as a few medics and officers. Something had gone very badly wrong and the implications could be disatrous, however Marines adpated quickly and the only way they could save lives was to remain calm. The situation had been conteplmated with reference to the transports and providing everyone was evacuated quickly it might turn out fine.

As they reached the front of the plane, a forward cabin door swung open and an escape slide inflated instantly, Lieutenant Najaf then brought a megaphone to bear, "Captain, we're the United Elias Marines and we are conducting a security operation in Panama at this time. Now please trust us and we will do everything we can to care for your passengers. What you need to do now is get the passengers off immediately because we see quite a lot of fuel leaking and its likely your aircraft will catch fire. We cannot give medical attention to everyone so we must prioritise the life-threatnening injuries and if necessary we will medevac them to our carrier battle group."

The Grand Empire of Haukka is very disapointed on these kind of actions by United Elias.
As the Emperor speaks:
"We can see no reason for this invasion, United Elias has disapointed us don't you think what can happen if other powerful nations would act like this. The world isn't your playing ground. There are plenty of other nations that have capability for this kind of assault, including us. But they have realised that it isn't good for international stability. What right you have, to do something like this?"
-Emperor of Haukka, leader of Gonai, Duke of Trecon, Shogun of Hua.
___________________________________________________________
OOC:(All above is title of our emperor, as you can see from that list we have annexed trecon

At the Presidential Palace
As the marine finished speaking the ambassador stood up, his hands in the air. "Luitenant Corseman, order your men to lower their weapons."

"Aye aye sir." Don wasn't happy about the order, but it wasn't his choice. He motioned for the men to lower their weapon, and all but the Panamanians did.

"I'm Ambassador Kurt Malagne, Free Pacific States Diplomatic Service. Can I help you?"

OOC: The Panamanians will have to rp their mens response.
____________________________________________________________
Torrijos International Airport

As he heard the message, Mike sighed in relief. United Elias was a well known country, not just some random imperialistic group. He'd been there quite a few times. "Alright. I'll begin evacuation now. We have one serious injury, a heart attack, plus a shitload of smaller wounds. I'll evacuate all possible."

The flight attendant who had been standing next to him didn't even wait for him to turn and give the order. Instead, she ran back into the main cabin. "Everyone, if you would please begin exiting through your assigned emergency exits immediatly. Sally, open the rear doors. Please Lave any luggage you brought onto the plane with you where it is, we will attempt to recover it as soon as your all out."

As she said this, Mike opened the other forward door, made sure the slide inflated, and then ran back into the cockpit. "Guys, we go a fuel leak, start shutting everything down. We're gonna need to help with the evacuation."

Within a few minutes, all but seven of the passengers had been evacuated. Four of them were the med students, still working on the heart attack victim (who was the fifth still on board), one was pinned under serious luggage, and one was unconscious. Another of the flight attendants was also unconscious, but the rest of the crew was in good condition, and was preparing to evacuate themselves.

At the Presidential Palace

The President also picked himself up from behind cover, his hands raised reluctantly, he then gave a gesture to his gaurds who promptly placed their Beretta handguns on the floor.

"I am President Alfonzo Lopez of the Republic of Panama, I believe you wish to speak to me?"


Panama Defence Force Command Center, San Miguelito

Just outside Panama City, approximately 25 miles to the North East, the headquarters complex of the PDF was struggling to recieve information on an apparent invasion, however being unable to reach the President or anyone on his staff was almost certainly a bad thing. In addition very few military units could be reached, either due to to poor communications or the soldiers simply deserting

Colonel Garcia paced the operations center smoking a Havana copiously as he stared around at theold fashioned monitors, and he realised there was not much his force could do South of the Canal and it would not be long before the invaders arrived in greater strength. The only course of action was to relocate to the North where the cartel leaders could provide manpower and equipment in an effort to free the country. The fact was the cartels had larger armies than the government and this was the only reason the President had turned such a blind eye.

He called across to his adjutant, "Carlos, get the choppers ready and get as many men as you can, we're getting out of here."

"Yes Sir."

Fifiteen minutes later the Colonel consider himself in command of the PDF, since General Bazan was in Panama City with the President and therefore no longer in control as he exited the three storey concrete facility and proceeded to one of three Hueys that were being loaded with equipment and a few intelligence officers.

Soon the helicopters lifted off into the night and flying North and then Westwards at low level they could hopefully slip over to Belen wihtout being noticed.

Cienfuegos Cuba, IDF Naval Corps Caribbean Fleet (CARFLEET) Command Center

Communications officers begin sending messages to the Panamanian Defense Force command center, informing them of the impending arrival of Western Asian and Cuban peacekeeping forces and of that force's mission to establish and maintain a ceasefire between Panamanian and United Elias forces near the Canal Zone.

A few miles outside of Cienfuegos, Cuba

Some 6,000 IDF troops have assembled on the massive airstrip. The mix of Military Police trained as Peacekeepers in Cuba, Airborne Rangers, Special Air Group personnel, and undercover special forces teams wait in their groupings as their officers are briefed on the situation in Panama.

A several dozen M1117 Guardian ASVs (http://globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/asv.htm), Wolf MPAVs (http://www.defense-update.com/products/w/wolf.htm), and UAHMMWVs (http://www.defense-update.com/products/h/hummer-plasan.htm) sit among the some 4,200 MPs assembled on the Eastern end of the airfield as they wait to be driven into the C130 and C17 transports that wait on that end.

Near them sit the 1,200 man Ranger Security Force with its array of LSA (http://s6.invisionfree.com/Greater_Israel/index.php?showtopic=10) equipment and modified light vehicles. The men are busy checking their guns and weapons while their unit commanders check the ammunition supplies and sign off on the inventories. A few flights of C-2D and MC-2D aircraft await their use alongside the larger C-130J-30s.

The 140 Sayeret Duvdevan undercover operators sit grouped in their 35 teams as they check their inventories and look over their Landrovers and other 'civilian' vehicles.

The 300 person SAG group looks over the group of aircraft it will be running in this operation: a triplet of E-2D AWACS-styled aircraft, a pair of ES-2D SIGINT aircraft, with an accompanying squadron of O/A-6B TexanII/Ranger Forward Observation and Strike (FOAS) aircraft. The few munitions managers with the group check the 70mm and 150mm rockets and 250lb PSDBs (Programmable Small Diameter Bombs) that the Rangers will be flying with on any strike missions against guerilla forces loyal to druglords or corrupt officials.

Some 1,800 Cuban Paramilitary Police personnel begin arriving on ex-IDF 5 ton trucks under the Cuban National Defense Board's command. They take up positions near the IDF MPs and prepare their gear for the flight into Panama.

The Commanders of each group end their meeting in a nearby building and are driven out to meet with their officers before distributing the mission orders. The Civil Support Policing Force-Panama (CSPF-P) is ready to go and the engines of the first aircraft are started as the Ranger Security Force begins to load onto the mix of planes that will bear its men into the troubled state...the first of some 7,800 CSPF-P personnel in this first wave.

OOC: Western Asia has no knowledge of the UE raids on the Presidential offices at this moment and is just expecting to create a buffer zone between the Panamanians and the UE forces until civil negotiations can begin.

WA also respects CoC's claims to Panama (I had not remembered it although I have seen that thread before...which I now remember is why I haven't moved in on Panama)...so I'm not sure what to do here in terms of those issues.

OOC: I wasn't aware of CoC claims as I generally only look at Chellis's guide to verifiy it isn't occupied.

OOC: So will we just continue "as is"?

OOC: So will we just continue "as is"?

Hmmn, well yes we might as well.

At the Presidential Palace

The President also picked himself up from behind cover, his hands raised reluctantly, he then gave a gesture to his gaurds who promptly placed their Beretta handguns on the floor.

"I am President Alfonzo Lopez of the Republic of Panama, I believe you wish to speak to me?"



The Marine Gunnery Sergeant lowered his weapon in recognition of the guards' disarming. He quickly ripped open a sealed envelope and read out what the Foreign Ministry had prepared.

"Mr.President, I am instructed to inform you that the government of United Elias is now operating in your nation in order to ensure the safety of world trade and shipping as well as to secure democracy in Panama. We have no intention of overthrowing your government or removing you from power but we do demand that new elections take place as stagnant democracy is not democracy. We ask you to order your defence forces to standown and if you and your government co-operates we see no reason why you should not remain President with the fresh consent of the people. Our government objects to the way in which the drug cartels have not been challenged by the Panamanian authorities but we do realise that the reason may be that it is because they are already too powerful for teh government to challenge. However we are here and we will assist your government in taking action against illegal narcotics."

The President paused to reflect and then, partly because of his own desire to stay in office and the deterrent of the automatic weapons in the room he started to agree to the terms.

"Okay, tell your Commanding Officer we'll co-operate, what you need to do is let me go to the press room and I can order all my forces to hold their fire and I'll call elections. You guys better not leave Panama because the cartels will come at me with everything they have once we start locking up drug dealers. I have one condition though, if I lose the elections I want asylum in your country, here politicians leave office in boxes."

OOC: I thought that I might as well create a little RP, what happesn is that the government tries to crackdow which leads to more or less civil war and attempted coups.

The ambassador turned towards the president. "If they won't, Mr. President, you can count on my assylum in Free Pacific States, and if they pull out, we'll send support."

OOC: Panamanians, TM.

OOC: Is this still goin?

OOC: Bump?

President Lopez now stood at teh podium in the Palace's press briefing room and a lone camera man prepared his equipment, as the Elias Marines watched over him. Alwyas thesmooth operator, Lopez would now presnet the view taht the intervention was actually his idea, a brilliant way to remain in power as well as carrying favour with the occupiers.

"Sir, we're live in three, two, one..."

"Citizens of Panama, first of all I know you will all be shocked by the foreign military personnel that have arrived in our nation. However they are not invaders and they have come because my government has realised that we cannot allow the corruption, and the crime to overpower our small country. Without foreign assistance I am powerless to protect you, the people of Panama from the evildoers among us, the ones who are driven only by greed and who profit from suffering and who prosper as others addict themselves to these foul drugs.

That time is over and I pray as every Panamanian must tonight that we can resolve this without bloodshed and I call upon the cartels to see the error of thier ways and dismantle their heinous hierarchies of violence and to surrender their weapons. Immediately I demand that every Panamanian who wears their nation's uniform to report for duty so order can finally be brought to our homeland."


OOC: Western Asia, our government would not really be able to respond given everything thats happened in only a few hours so I would just deploy the troops anyway.

The ambassador watched on as the president made his comments, then turned to the marines. "I'd hate to ask it, but would it be possible for myself and the president to speak to the invasio...er...task force commander?"

According to unamed government sources the fledgling ARMED REPUBLIC of AFRICAN RESISTANCE (ARAR) has deciding to embark on on it's frist expeditionary missions in the nation's history.
Lt. General Illana Ajani, Commandant of the ARAR Marine Commando Force has refused to either confirm or deny the existence to ARAR recon and patrol untis. General Ajani has only commented that "we have ways to monitor the situation and are exersising discrete options."

However, dimplomatic contacts have confirmed that several small costal forces have landed in panama to monitor the UE forces and to act as a first responce element in case the canal zone is cut off from foreign shipping.
http://www.royal-marines.mod.uk/rn/data/gallery/medium/988982249m.jpg


Reports from panama have confirmed ARAR Marine Recon patrols shadowing both UE and Panama military forces.
http://www.royal-marines.mod.uk/rn/data/gallery/medium/988981312m.jpg

New Dublin, Commonwealth of McQuaide--

Prime Minister Daniel Sweeny frowned as he gazed over a screen of integrated intelligence reports regarding the Panama situation. As an intelligence officer in the McQuaide External Security Bureau, he had written the program used to integrate media, satellite, signals, and human intelligence sources into coherent intelligence product. What McQuaide lacked in numbers they made up for in resourcefulness, a quality Sweeny was especially proud of.

"Mr. Gerrard, I need Frank in here. Bring in the joint chiefs as well, if you please."

MINISTRY OF STATE RESPONCE:

Although the Commonwealth of McQuaide shares United Elias' concern regarding the production, sale, and distribution of narcotics out of Panama and the security and stability of the Panama Canal Zone, the Commonwealth wishes to express its concern regarding United Elias' unilateral actions in the violation of Panamanian sovereignty.

The Commonwealth of McQuaide requests the permission of the United Elias government to deploy a 100 member observation team to Panama City for the purposes of assessing the humanitarian needs of the Panamanian people. The Commonwealth of McQuaide in return promises no interference with United Elias operations in the region. The Commonwealth is interested exclusively in the welfare of the Panamanian people who have been ignored by their own government for far too long.

OOC: Quick check, is "Torijjos International" really "Tocumen Int'l" ?

For reference, http://www.world-airport-codes.com/search/ searching under Cities, Panama City.

OOC:

Ive checked around your right, it was Torrijos prior to Operation Just Cause (1987) and being a military history buff I remembered the name but forgot to check it was current.

Anyway I'll be posting ICly later.

Panama City

Outside the Presidential Palace, helicopters continued to patrol overhead as the marines who had been securing the perimeter started to move through the streets, carefully enforcing a temporary curfew while the Airborne troops from the transport planes arrived from the Airport on requisitioned Panamanian trucks and jeeps.

As they arrived to reinforce the Special Forces, the Marines inside the Presidential Palace started to setup a communications facility in one of the reception rooms as soon more and more forces would be arriving in theatre throughout the night.

In the Press Room a Marine lieutenant approached the ambassador from FPS who was apparently requesting to speak to higher officials. “Your Excellency, I apologise profusely but that is not possible right now, Colonel Saleh is still with the Battle Group and will not be on the ground until morning, and I’m not permitted to patch you through to the ship unless it’s an emergency, you understand that he’s rather busy at the moment.”


Torrijos International Airport

The Marines at the airport watched as the 747 was evacuated swiftly and calmly, medics waited at the bottom of the escape slides to separate the seriously wounded, just a handful and people with minor injuries who could be treated locally. An EA-24 Marine Helicopter had just landed and was ready to medevac the heart attack victim back to the carrier Unity.

On the other side of the airfield, the 18 Il-76s having unloaded the Airborne soldiers were being fuelled up to return to United Elias, while on the other side of the world a much larger flight of transports lifted off to bring in the rest of the Airborne Brigade.


Isla Taboga, Gulf of Panama

Oblivious to the driving rains, a squadron of LCACs, having powered through the Gulf of Panama from the Battle Group finally came to a halt on the sandy beaches of Isla Taboga, a tiny island a few miles South of Panama City and because it was inhabited offered a perfect place for a supply base. As soon as they disembarked, the men of the Marine Engineers Battalion immediately set to work as building a runway was a time-consuming business.

Panama City
As the marine finished speaking, the ambassador nodded. "Please, I'm just an ambassador, there's no need to call me your Excellency. And yes, I totally understand that he is quite busy. At the very least, could I use a phone to contect my embassy? I'm sure their quite panicked right now, and I'd like to let them tell main command everythings fine, as well as stand down from red alert."

OOC: United Elias, did you confinscate the FPS Marines' weapons, or no?

Torrijos International Airport
Upon seeing that the plane was cleared except for the two unconscious personel and the heart attack victim, Mike ran back into the main cabin. "Is he ready to be transported?"

The medical student shrugged. "No idea. But unless he gets medication fast, there's no way in hell he's going to survive anyways." As he said it, the other three students lifted the man onto a stretcher, and then picked it up. Seeing that they could barely hold it, both Mike and the fourth medical student, along with a flight attendant, also grabbed ahold of the stretcher.

Together, the group of seven carried the stretcher to the front left door, and carefully walked down the slide (hard as it was, they somehow pulled it off). As soon as they reached the ground, they handed off the stretcher to the United Elias marines, and then all but the oldest medical student made back up the ramp to carry the other two serious injuries out.

As they moved up the ramp, the medical student turned to the United Elias marines. "When you get to the ship, tell the doctor that we gave him some advil and bayer, and did about five groups of CPR on him. He's breathing, but I'm not sure how stable he is."

As he finished, the rest of the crew and the other students came off the plane carrying the two unconscious persons on makeshift stretchers (the plane only had one stretcher in case of emergencies, usually ground control provided them), and also handed them off to the United Elias medics.

Over the Caribbean. 200 Miles East of Colon, Panama

Without waiting for the Panamanians' call, the IDF began Operation: Safe Gate.

A group of seven MC-2D Greyhounds fly in tight formation less than a hundred feet above the Sea State 2 waters as they approach Colon at top speed. Within sit almost two hundred Rangers from the IDF Army Corps, armed and ready to secure their objectives for the follow-on force.

But that follow on force doesn't sit back waiting for the doors to open, either. Less than 5 minutes behind the Greyhounds comes a pair of C-130J-30 Extended Hercules aircraft, bearing two platoons of Light Scout Artillery equipment and the Rangers to operate the 106mm Recoiless Rifles of the LSA. About 5 more minutes behind that group follows another 4 Extended Hercules transports with 20 Desert Raider scouting groups and the 80 men that accompany the vehicles...those same vehicles which mount powerful antitank missiles and machine guns.

CSPF-Panama is not coming into this warzone lightly armed.

Another eight of the C-130J-30s follow with the remainder of the 1,200 Airborne Rangers. The time from the first plane's landing to the last will be less than one hour and is only the precursor to the arrival of the remaining 6,600 CSPF-P personnel.

The 4,200 Military Police Peacekeepers and their armored vehicles are already in the air with their numerous C-130J-30 and C-17 transport aircraft as the rest of the force waits for the initial group of aircraft to return for a second run.

OOC: Aspirin is what you want more than advil.

Official Communication to Western Asia:

Our Navy AEW aircraft have identified a large flight of tactical transport aircraft deploying over Northern Panama and although we are more than willing for a well trained international force that we can trust to be responsible we would like to know where exactly you intend to move the forces once on the ground. I am sure you would agree that liason between our forces is mutually beneficial.

-Colonel Ibrahim Yishai, Commander 2nd Expeditionary Brigade, 3rd Marine Division and Task Force commander for Operation 'Gate Guard'.


Torrijos International Airport

The Marine Medics recieved the first stretcher and one scribbled notes to be clipped on to it, describing the treatment thus far and labelled with the words 'Critical'. Immediately the man was lifted straight into the cabin of the EA-24 whose rotors were spinning and readying for takeoff. As soon as the other two casualties were aboard a Marine medic gave the thumbs up to the crew chief and the pilot, seconds later the vhopper lifted into teh night sky and headed westwards.

Panama City

The Lieutenant nodded to teh Ambassador, "Yes Sir of course you can call your embassy and if necessary I can get a platoon to guard it, in any case do you want me to arrange a squad to drive you over there?"

New Dublin, Commonwealth of McQuaide--

Prime Minister Daniel Sweeny frowned as he gazed over a screen of integrated intelligence reports regarding the Panama situation. As an intelligence officer in the McQuaide External Security Bureau, he had written the program used to integrate media, satellite, signals, and human intelligence sources into coherent intelligence product. What McQuaide lacked in numbers they made up for in resourcefulness, a quality Sweeny was especially proud of.

"Mr. Gerrard, I need Frank in here. Bring in the joint chiefs as well, if you please."

MINISTRY OF STATE RESPONCE:

Although the Commonwealth of McQuaide shares United Elias' concern regarding the production, sale, and distribution of narcotics out of Panama and the security and stability of the Panama Canal Zone, the Commonwealth wishes to express its concern regarding United Elias' unilateral actions in the violation of Panamanian sovereignty.

The Commonwealth of McQuaide requests the permission of the United Elias government to deploy a 100 member observation team to Panama City for the purposes of assessing the humanitarian needs of the Panamanian people. The Commonwealth of McQuaide in return promises no interference with United Elias operations in the region. The Commonwealth is interested exclusively in the welfare of the Panamanian people who have been ignored by their own government for far too long.

Panama Defence Force Command Center, San Miguelito

Colonel Garcia and his staff returned to the command center just over an hour after they's evacuated, it turned out that the invaders were now the new best freinds of the government. To most military men this would have been confusing at best but in Panama the government frequently swapped allegeances.

Suddenly he recieved a call from the Defence Minister who had made his way to the Presidential Palace, apparently El Presidente in all his wisdom now wanted to remove the cartels from their positions of power in the Northern and Southern extremeities, oblivious to the fact that the week before he had helped them gain weapons.

The Colonel quickly checked the radios to find that most Regiments in his army of 13,000 were already at more or less full strength so soon after the President had ordered all soldiers to report for duty. A positive sign that this move would be popular. With this complete he now knew what he had to do, for it was obvious, capture or kill Jose Castrillon, the notorious leader of the Serrania del Darien cartel which controlled much of rural Panama. He lived in an extensive Hacienda in the hills around Canazas about 80 miles West of Panama City only twenty or so miles North of Santiago where the 13th Rifle Regiment was located.

Although this unit had only around 640 soldiers, Garcia knew that if they could approach in trucks during the night they would have the element of suprise and with a unit from the Special Security Police arriving by choppers after the shooting had started, the druglord's guerillas would be easily defeated and there would not be time for him either to escape for to call on reinforcements.

Orders were dispatched and soon there would be no turning back, and the government would be fighting the drug barons, tantamount to civil war.

Panama City
"Well, the embassy has it's own marine force, so it should be fine, I doubt we'll need to have it protected. And for now, I'd like to stay with the president to make sure he is treated well and not forced to make any harsh decisions against his nation, that being my job as a nuetral observer. Anyways...if you don't mind, I know there's a phone right in the next room, may I?" As the ambassador finished, he couldn't help but wonder what harsher decisions then taking on the cartel the United Elias marines could make the president to make.

Several Hours Later, 85 miles West of Panama City

The Twelve General Motors five ton trucks sped along slowly, up steep roads that traversed the Panamanian interior and winded through rainforest covered hills. Inside each of them, 20 soldiers of Bravo, Charlie and Delta Companies of the 13th Rifle Regiment. It was night but there was sufficient moonlight that the vehicles if driven carefully did not require headlights reducing their chances of being spotted before they reached the objective. Inside the trucks the poorly trained conscripts checked their weapons while the officers, most of whom were war veterans and experienced utered words of motivation, reassuring their subordiantes that the operation would be easy.

The trucks were now only four miles away from their objective, the residence of one of the most powerful if not the most powerful man in Panama who was surrounded by a well trained, well paid, loyal elite of bodyguards who would not let Jose Castrillon be caputred without a fight.

For Lieutenant Orozco, this mission was nothing, war was nothing new to him, in fact he had spent most of his lyouth as a mercenary in Nicaragua and Honduras, fighting communists or fighting for them. As he sat in the passenger seat of the second truck he watched the sides of the road, carefuly scanning the dense trees for signs of movement.

Suddenly there was a flash infront of him, as the first truck exploded in a fireball, and toppled over seemingly thrown from underneath making it look like a mine strike.

The lieutenant's experience kicked in immeidately, "Stop!" He shouted at the driver, before throwing himself out of the door without thought and running towards the first truck, some 40 metres away. When he was just a few metres infront of his own vehicle, he heard snaps as bullets struck the ground next to him, and he dived for cover behind a nearby rock. The men in the back of te trucks panicked and started firing their M16s madly into the trees.

"Quick get out, there are snipers, its an ambush!" His thoughts raced, would it be better to make a fast escape with the trucks? Then he realised the trucks would no doubt be disabled by the snipers in a matter of seconds.

His platoon was disembarking from the back of the second truck as were the other men in the others. He glanced infront of him and realised that because the Captain was likely dead, he was now the Commander of Bravo Company.

He heard a few more shots and several more rounds struck the ground. Just then a young Corporal ran out of the cover of the truck and dived behind the rock next to him, "Sir, what do we do?"

"Get the other men to lay down covering fire while you and few other guys follow me, we need to get over to the first truck and check for survivors."

"Yes sir." The corporal dashes back over to the truck and relays the orders. A few seconds later a few men go prone and lean out of the cover firing off rounds from their M60 machineguns in the general direction of the muzzle flashes in the trees while three privates prepare to run out to the left towards the destroyed truck.

The soldiers then lean out and fire off a few rounds with their assault rifles while the other men dash across to the first truck. Then a shot rang out, but it was closer although not close enough to be theirs, the Lieutenant turned around and saw a group of guerillas firing at them from the treeline not fifty yards away. Even before he managed to aim at them, eight of his men were wounded and at least four fatally. Then he saw an RPG streak towards the fourth truck, slamming into the rear of it and killing nearly a whole squad of men taking cover behind it. A second later the fuel tank of the vehcile ignited spraying hot metal debris straight into the fifth truck which also exploded, taking more Panamanians with it.

Further back in the convoy, things were marginally better as only small arms fire was being concentrated on them but in the canvass skinned cabins of the trucks, there was little protection from hails of bullets. In the confusion some men were literally rushing off the road straight into the trees thinking they were going the other way from the enemy soldiers only to be cut down. To make matters worse many officers had been unable to command their troops and some were killed by snipers as they exited the trucks.

In the second from last vehicle, the Captain of Delta Company finally managed to find his radiomen hiding in the dirt beside the road, and barked orders, only just audibel over the sounds of gunfire.

"Get on the horn and call for support, we need medevac choppers and reinforcements, tell them we've been ambushed on the way to the objective."

A second later a burst of machinegun fire struck his chest.

Panama City

An aide rushed into the Press Room where the President was conversing with the FPS Ambassador, he handed him a note.

"Sir, Colonel Garcia has just notified me, our force was ambushed before it reached Castrillon's hacienda, the men are pinned down and taking heavy casualties."

Immediately the President's face seemed to redden and he was gripped by guilt for a few seconds ut then he realised he had a job to do, "Can we get them air cover?"

"We've got some hueys on the way but its not enough, they are extremely guys and we lost the element of suprise"

"You don't need to tell me." The President then walked up to the Elias Marine Officer, "Okay I know your not supposed to contact your commander unless its urgent but now it is, we have our guys pinned down doing what you wanted them to do so please get them some support."

The EA-24G Helicopter had taken off from the helicopter carrier Scimitar less than twenty minutes earlier and was flying relatively high, Northwards towards Panama City. Its twenty four Marines were expecting to be deployed to Panama City and did not expect to be thrown into teh middle of combat.

In the cockpit the pilot, heard a call for emergency air support through his headset then keyed the mike.

"Red Dawn, Wild Goose Four One, en route to Three Alpha Whiskey, request permission to divert to assist pinned down Troops?"

"...Wild Goose Four One, that is a Roger, cleared to divert, keep us informed. ROE states do not fire until fired upon"

"Roger Red Dawn, I doubt that will be a problem."

The pilot then changed course and alerted the crew chief, it would only be thirty minutes before they were over the convoy.
In the cabin, the crew chiefs checked over the two miniguns and thermal sights would be ready as soon as they came under small arms fire from the ground.

Secret IC

Sutton Air Force Base, Credonia City, Credonia

Preparations were being made to send a team of 30 Special Forces Commandos into Panama for stationing there at the request of United Elias. The men would be transported by 2 EA-28G Special Operations helicopters.

"Men, we have been asked to perform a special assignment. While this assignment is not linked to conventional warfare, we will be fighting against druglords who run rampant through Panama. Our job is to also put pressure on the Panamian government to do something about this dire problem. 30 men represent the best that Credonia has to offer as well as the morals and values that we promote world wide. We are on a crusade as usual, against evildoers and those who represent the bad in this world. Do your nation proud."

An applause breaks out in the crowd of soldiers prepared to go in and secure Panama. Soon after, they are dismissed and board their aircraft to be transported to the area.

1 Hour Later, Approaching UES Unity
"This is Charlie Alpha zero niner niner requesting permission to land over, ETA 2 minutes

UES Unity

"Charlie Alpha zero niner niner, this is Red Dawn, welcome to the Gulf of Panama, you are cleared to land but standby for three minutes before approaching, we have an AWAC currently on finals."

"Roger, Thank you Red Dawn, we will enter holding pattern until clearance is given to land. Charlie Alpha Zero Niner Niner, out"

"Charlie Alpha zero niner niner, AWAC has been recovered, cleared to land, wind is 13 knots over the deck, Sea State Two."

+Turbo Airport, Columbia+

After the plane had stoppped, Gus stepped out the door of the plane into the bright sunshine. The heat hit him solidly and instantly he began to sweat profusely. The airport was rundown and chaotic. women selling crappy tourist items and smelly cab drivers heckling everyone.
Gus strapped his sack tight to his back, there could be pickpockets anywhere and probably were everywhere.

Gus was to travel to Panama and report on the current military action. Gus worked for Alama-Marada a popular and respected News station in the Fruit Islands and South Pacific. His journey had just started he still had to get the bus to the Panamanian border.


6 hours later..

Gus finally arrived at the border, crossing it was no trouble due to a simple bribe and soon he made his way to Panama city...

Six UH-1Hs flew low through the hills, approaching the objective from the North. Instead of supporting their pinned down comrades they would simply continue on their mission without the ground support in the hope that because of the soldiers ambushing the convoy, the villa would be more lightly defended.

Inside the choppers, members of the Special Security Police were suited up, their black flakjackets, ski maks and MP5s ready. Rather than a military force they were urban warfare specialists and probably the best trained security personnel in Panama, their reputation though was marred with accusations of brutality.

Minutes later the first helicopters came withing range of Jose Castrillon's hacienda, a stone expanse situauted on the summit of a hill. Almost immediately the M60 machineguns opened fire on the structure and using their NVGs the pilots lowered the choppers just over the compound and the SSP agents zip lined to the ground one after the other.

The insertion took minutes and for the whole time no resistance was offered and the place seemed deserted. However as soon as the men were on the ground, guards appeared from windows and doorways spraying rounds from Uzis and AKs. The agents responded with accurate silenced MP5 fire taking them down with ease while rushing through the entrance way and throwing in flashbangs.

As they went off, twelve of the men entered the main buidling while the other 24 provided cover from outside and secured the entrances. Gunfire was exchanged as the agents cleared rooms one after the other in rapid and succint succession. Within three minutes, the whole villa was secured and their quarry was not present. Just as they realised this, remotely detonated C4 charges ripped through the structure, tearing the walls and roofs apart, crushing the agents inside.

Official Communication to Western Asia:

Our Navy AEW aircraft have identified a large flight of tactical transport aircraft deploying over Northern Panama and although we are more than willing for a well trained international force that we can trust to be responsible we would like to know where exactly you intend to move the forces once on the ground. I am sure you would agree that liason between our forces is mutually beneficial.

-Colonel Ibrahim Yishai, Commander 2nd Expeditionary Brigade, 3rd Marine Division and Task Force commander for Operation 'Gate Guard'.

To: Col. Ibrahim Yishai
From: General Gesher Tov. Commander, Operation: Safe Gate.
Subject: WA Insertion into Panama

Colonel I. Yishai,
We will be inserting our peacekeeping force at Colon, where they will assess local governmental and law enforcement stability. If they can deem that the area is stable then a small garrison of MPs trained in peacekeeping will be left to assist local governmental and law enforcement operations as the rest of the force continues to more distant posts in the Panamanian countryside. Operation: Safe Gate calls for the stabilization of the area more distant from the PCZ. We're assuming that your forces, aside from controlling Torrijos/Tocumen and the PCZ, will be willing to step into Panama City if a break down of civil services is noticed so we will be jumping straight to the south and west of there when we deploy to that side of the PCZ.

- Gen. Gesher Tov, IDF Army Corps CUBACOM Commander and Commander of Operation: Safe Gate.

OOC: Above was back-timed to the time of the UE post. Following is the hours in between then and where everyone else seems to be.

IC: Colon Airport, Colon
As CUBACOM continues to hail the Panamanian armed forces leadership, the operation continues.

The first 'Blackhound' MC-2Ds land in the same tight formation that they flew in under but the aircraft almost immediately spread to the far corners of the airport once they've slowed down. Along the way, fireteams of Airborne Rangers are dropped off near different airport facilities. Two teams move up to the control tower to act as liaisons and prevent any miscommunication. They try to call the Panamanian military from the local land lines, hoping that perhaps an in-country call might get a response.

By the time the men are all dispersed along the perimeter, the first C-130s have also set down on an empty airstrip and they barely wait to stop before the LSA teams begin driving off to cover the airport's access routes with their recoilless rifles. Ten minutes later, the next group of C-130s land and begin to unload at the end of the airstrip, where the MC-2Ds have long since regrouped and now launch for the return flight to Cuba.

With the airfield secured, the men wait for the rest of the Rangers and the follow-on forces...which promptly began to arrive soon after.

Inside of 80 minutes of the first landing, 1,200 Rangers were on the ground and protecting the perimeter of the airport with their transports back in the air on the way to the IDF Cienfuegos Military Base (CMB). The last group of Rangers also brings along radio equipment to contact CMB and the 'all clear' signals are sent.

About two hours later, the first group of MPs arrive with a dozen M1117 ASVs and several hundred personnel.

From Cuba, General Tov looks on as the operation continues...until SIGINT begins to pick up reports of Panamanian military conflicts West of Panama City and just south of the PCZ. He calls up the UE commander to inquire about the happenings:

To: Col. Ibrahim Yishai
From: General Gesher Tov. Commander, Operation: Safe Gate.
Subject: Civil Disturbances West of Panama City, Panama

Colonel I. Yishai,
We have heard reports of Panamanian military activities and clashes with some forces due west of Panama City. Can you comment upon these reports and whether the Panamanians need any help there?

- Gen. Gesher Tov, IDF Army Corps CUBACOM Commander and Commander of Operation: Safe Gate.

General Gesher Tov,

It is correct to assume that our forces will be responsible for the PCZ as well as Panama City and the surrounding areas. In the interests of co-operation we wish to inform you of our current and projected force posture for the Panama Theathre. As of now we are in the process of deploying a single Marine Expeditionary Regiment (6,212 personnel) and one Airborne Brigade (6,602 personnel) who will be basedat several points along the Canal and within the Capital. Our carrier battlegroup will maintain station in the Gulf of Panama to provide air cover and strike capability if neccessary. Although our main operational areas is teh PCZ we will be supporting Panamanian security Forces if requested in other areas of the country.

As far as recent events is concerned, the story so far is that the PDF has attempted to launch a decapitation operation, effectively to remove the leadership of the Serrania del Darien cartel, however a ground convoy involved has been ambushed and pinned down and a helicopter assault team rapidly secured the objective afterwards, apparently to find that their quarry had already reloctaed and the target was booby trapped. Currently we are providing helicopter support to the pinned down PDF soldiers and this should be sufficient. However in my opinion this initial operation shows that the cartel leaders have access to high-level information within the PDF command structure which will make dismantling the drug trade in Panama a dangerous operation. At this stage we may be force to reexamine our MO as it seems unlikely the PDF can handle this task without support.

-Colonel Ibrahim Yishai, Commander 2nd Expeditionary Brigade, 3rd Marine Division and Task Force commander for Operation 'Gate Guard'.

Official FPS Government Statement
At this time, FPS is in full and complete support of the operations of United Elias and Western Asia against cartel groups in Panama. And although, at this time, we are not dispatching troops to support the UE and WA peacekeeping forces, it is being considered.

Torrijos International Airport
As the helicopter carrying those wounded lifted off from the ground, the old man, still deep in the throas of a heart attack, regained consciousness for about three seconds. Upon seeing those men over him, he smiled, and weakly said "Keep up the good work, men.", and then fell back into unconsciousness.

About three minutes later, Chairman of the FPS Chairman of the Joint Cheifs of Staff Micheal Goodbreach began stabilizing on the chopper of one of the militaries he trusted most (besides his own, of course).

85 miles West of Panama City

Several Minutes later the helicopter started to descend and the Lieutenant in charge of the Marine Platoon, shouted above the noise of the rotors to the other soldiers who did not have headsets connected to the chopper’s intercom system.

“Okay Guys, lock and load, we’re going into a hostile area where a PDF convoy is pinned down. We believe there are guerillas attacking on both sides and mortars in the surrounding area. Our plan is to make a few passes overhead, putting down suppressing fire and locating the enemy before we find a place to put down near the convoy. Then it is imperative to get out and find cover as quick as possible. Once the enemy has been eliminated or starts to retreat we will attempt to medevac the casualties while we secure the area and wait for another bird to extract us. Now be careful, there will be a lot of fire going around and we will be surrounded.”

Several small arms rounds struck the fuselage with unnerving pings as they richochet off, but causing no damage, the EA-24 was now only two hundred feet off the ground and flying towards the convoy. The two gunners then saw the enemy soldiers in their thermal gun sights and the miniguns started to whir as hundreds of 7.62mm rounds sprayed out into the trees, forcing the guerillas into cover and no doubt killing a few.

The chopper was soon directly over the convoy, providing huge fire support to the troops below and keeping the enemy at bay. Suddenly the chopper swung quickly to the right as the pilot frantically maneuvered to avoid an RPG. The helicopter then made a sharp 180 degree turn as it made another pass, covering the trucks and pouring out rounds.
The pilot then noticed a relatively flat bit of road just a hundred yards from the convoy and made a sharp descent, while the landing gear extended, just in time as the helicopter touched tarmac.

The crew chief quickly pulled a lever and the rear ramp dropped, as the Marines, weapons at the ready streamed out, sprinting thirty to fifty feet then going prone. In less than a minute all three, eight man Tactical Teams had disembarked and set up a small defensive position making use of available cover.

The EA-24 then lifted back to the air, its guns still firing bursts and then it proceeded to make circuitss over the area, just low enough to fire the miniguns but out of range of most of the enemy small arms.

General Gesher Tov,

It is correct to assume that our forces will be responsible for the PCZ as well as Panama City and the surrounding areas. In the interests of co-operation we wish to inform you of our current and projected force posture for the Panama Theathre. As of now we are in the process of deploying a single Marine Expeditionary Regiment (6,212 personnel) and one Airborne Brigade (6,602 personnel) who will be basedat several points along the Canal and within the Capital. Our carrier battlegroup will maintain station in the Gulf of Panama to provide air cover and strike capability if neccessary. Although our main operational areas is teh PCZ we will be supporting Panamanian security Forces if requested in other areas of the country.

As far as recent events is concerned, the story so far is that the PDF has attempted to launch a decapitation operation, effectively to remove the leadership of the Serrania del Darien cartel, however a ground convoy involved has been ambushed and pinned down and a helicopter assault team rapidly secured the objective afterwards, apparently to find that their quarry had already reloctaed and the target was booby trapped. Currently we are providing helicopter support to the pinned down PDF soldiers and this should be sufficient. However in my opinion this initial operation shows that the cartel leaders have access to high-level information within the PDF command structure which will make dismantling the drug trade in Panama a dangerous operation. At this stage we may be force to reexamine our MO as it seems unlikely the PDF can handle this task without support.

-Colonel Ibrahim Yishai, Commander 2nd Expeditionary Brigade, 3rd Marine Division and Task Force commander for Operation 'Gate Guard'.


To: Col. Ibrahim Yishai
From: General Gesher Tov. Commander, Operation: Safe Gate.
Subject: Ongoing operations and deployments.
>>>--Encoded--<<<

Colonel Ibrahim Yishai,

Thank you for the update on your sectors of control. The current WA-Cuban joint deployment includes about 7,800 men who will operate several dozen vehicles and a handful of aircraft. These forces will be bolstered after a few days by a helicopter transport wing and some littoral patrol and combat vessels. A group of Western Asian vessels is approaching the Canal as we speak, which will assume a patrol north of the PCZ to support counter-cartel operations.

While we are still reassigning resources to address the Panamanians' concerns with the Cartels, we hope to have another dozen medium vessels deployed through the canal by the end of next week.

A contingent of IDF Army Corps Rangers and undercover special forces teams is also included in support of the peacekeeping main force deployed. While their presence is officially non-existant, we will be able to deploy them as a Rapid Reaction Force in support of Panamanian forces throughout our sector of the country by the end of this week. At this time, however, we would prefer that this information not be shared with Panamanians who may have...interests in supporting the Cartels.

I look forward to working alongside your men and the men of the Panamanian Defense Forces to combat this insidious threat.

- Gen. Gesher Tov, IDF Army Corps CUBACOM Commander and Commander of Operation: Safe Gate.

After holding in the pattern and allowing the AWACS to land, the EA-28G's move in and touch down softly upion the decl of the CES Unity.

The doors on the helicopters swing open as the engines wind down and the team of Credonian Special Forces Commando's step out onto the deck of the carrier, taking in the sweet air that is around them. Immediately they begin looking around the Carrier's deck for the commanding officer so that they could get their orders and get into battle as soon as possible.

OOC: Guerrillistan, i didnt come into this to RP with you, nor do i even want to RP with you in this. If you joined in just cuz i did, your just waisting your time. Im not rpin with you and I will ignore you in this thread.

I'm 'The Panamanians' but I created this puppet to make things clearer so the cartel actions don't get muddled with the government.


IC

85 miles West of Panama City

The ambushing guerillas on either side of the road continued to attack the PDF soldiers until helicopter rotors were heard. However it was quieter, and not as high-pitched as the PDF's meager air wing of UH-1s. Suddenly tracer rounds leapt from the sky, raking the hillsides and obviously using some sort of infrared was able to target individual soldiers even through the trees and the darkness.

The mercenaries turned their attention from the convoy to the helicopter and sprayed it with small arms fire to no avail and it managed to avoid a pair of AT-4 rockets. On the ground they were now taking casualties and a call came over the primitve radio systems to retreat, after all the objective had been completed, to inflict mass cdestruction on the PDF to destroy their morale and show hat the cartels knew their every move. Luckily also the plan at the hacienda had worked and their leader, Castrillon was safely on his way to another safehouse.

As the helicopter landed on the road, the cartelsmen were already running up the hillsides, living to fight another day.


Colon

At the Police Headquarters in the centre of the city, many of the officers looked at the television pictures of the President who officially they worked for. In fact they were terrified. There was no doubt going to be a crackdown on corruption and the cartels. Also not in doubt was the fact that they were all very blatantly going to be thrown in prison or shot in the street. Now with military transport planes heard overhead, their life expectancy decreased further.

After an hour of deliberation, the Police Chief, announced that his cartel contacts had come through for them and would arrange for all 150 of the officers and their families to be taken to the North where it was safe. So just after midnight, they drssed in civilian clothes and after dousing the entire buidling in petrol they set fire to it and fled to their homes to collect their families and stashes of cash.

***

In the northern suburbs of the city, in a warehouse complex, the local Cartel bosses debated a course of action. Without the use of Colon's port, the affect on business would be disastrous as there would be no way of moving the drugs in large enough amounts to make the big profits the organisation needed to pay off its army of mercenaries, informants and of course the leadership. What was worse is that much of the cartel's money was in banks in Colon under pretences of legitimate businesses, but with a little investigtion it would be obvious, and the accounts would be siezed.

Just after midnight, Castrillon's notorius Head of Security called in, although no one actually knew his real name, all of Panama would recognise the one he went by, 'El Carnicero', 'The Butcher'. His instructions were clear, to get the entire store of coke ready to be moved North and wait for the trucks. Two hours later unmarked large tvehicles appeared by the dozen, bringing mercenaries and arms and taking millions of dollars of cocaine to safety. Now with nearly 600 well trained and well equipped soldiers they would prepare to wage a guerilla war against the PDF and the foreigners.

OOC: Western Asia, Colon is a major transhipment point for Cocaine going to North America and it is a 'free trade zone', in other words a massive money laundering center so its very important to teh cartels.

OOC: Guerrillistan, i didnt come into this to RP with you, nor do i even want to RP with you in this. If you joined in just cuz i did, your just waisting your time. Im not rpin with you and I will ignore you in this thread.

get over yourself, i thought the rp by UE was interesting and i didnt even realise you were in it, i was gonna just write tag but made a short rp instead. NS does not revolve around you!

OOC: if i dont wanna rp with you, i aint gotta, so shove it

OOC: if i dont wanna rp with you, i aint gotta, so shove it

haha read my post again, you just proved how right it was!
:shock:
(sorry UE for crapping your thread)

OOC: Credonia, FYI its the middle of the night and we only started landing troops in the evening, so evrything in the RP so far has taekn place within a few hours.

UES Unity

As soon as the Credonian Special Forces touched down, Marine Colonel Ibrahim Yishai went down to greet them in the briefing room.

"Good Evening guys, don't get too comfortable we got a nice little job for you, and by God you better have yourselves some mosquito repellant because where your goin' the jungle is so damn thick your going to have to slash your way through with machetes." The Colonel grinned sadistically, and his former posting as Commander of the Marine Infantry Training Center was now plain to see.

"Okay." The colonel points at a map of Panama, "As you know we are here, at teh entrance to the Gulf of Panama, now we believe that the Serrania del Darien cartel has weapons caches all over the country particulaly in the areas where they grow the coke, in the South where its flat and fertile. Now what we need is eyes on the ground, covert eyes and we want you to insert here, South West of Aligandi, near Lago Bayano. Once on the ground you will be in hostile territory and we want you to scout out locations of weapons caches, narcotics processing plants and warehouses all of which will be guarded and probably camoflauged. The area is predomiantly rainforest but there are areas of cleared land for agriculture as well. Once you have identified targets you can either engage yourselves if there is a small enemy presence otherwise you can call in an airstrike from our carrier air wing. We must remind you that the local population although civilian is more likely to be favourable towards the cartel than the government, even so try and avoid collateral damage. More critical though is that you remain as covert as possible throughout the mission.

"We do not believe enemy forces have access to satellite signal direction finding equipment so feel free to contact is via satellite whenever you need to and please keep us updated as tou your progress. If you need resupply or medevac secure an LZ then call us and we'll try and get a chopper to you.

"Okay any questions? If not then Good Hunting."

http://www.naturetoursinc.com/Panama/map.jpg

After being dismissed, the men stand up, each man grinning, excited and ready to do what they were trained to. Each man was trained to be a covert killing machine, silent, deadly, and quick, so they knew the odds were in their favor. Before heading out of the room, they grabbed their gear and guns. Some of the men carried M16's, others carried sniper riffles, and they all carried two silenced Glock's for added protection.

"Alright men, we've got a job to do, lets get it done. Lets show these guys just wat Credonian special ops is capable of. Were the best, and always will be, so get ur asses on that chopper and show em whos boss" says lead commander Cdr. William Watkins.

The men burst out into a quick cheer, gather in a circle and recite the Credonian special forces chant before breaking and jogging out to the helicopters which were fueled up, running, and waiting for them.

As the last of the men climb into the choppers, they checked thier weapons just as they took off, headed towards their target LZ in Panama.

Panama Defence Force Command Center, San Miguelito

Colonel Garcia shouted at his sub-ordinates, angry that there was now most likely at least one cartel informer within his HQ, frustrated that the outdated radios made it difficult to contact his field units and anxious that Panama was nearing the point of civil war. He was in effect paralysed, there was nothing he could do other than wait for his soldiers to report in and direct them to enforce martial law in major towns outside the Capital.

His only other response was more immediate and whe immediately ordered the frontier gaurds to completely close the Columbian and Costa Rican borders.

Panama Defence Force Command Center, San Miguelito

Colonel Garcia shouted at his sub-ordinates, angry that there was now most likely at least one cartel informer within his HQ, frustrated that the outdated radios made it difficult to contact his field units and anxious that Panama was nearing the point of civil war. He was in effect paralysed, there was nothing he could do other than wait for his soldiers to report in and direct them to enforce martial law in major towns outside the Capital.

His only other response was more immediate and he immediately ordered the frontier gaurds to completely close the Columbian and Costa Rican borders.

Colon

At the Police Headquarters in the centre of the city, many of the officers looked at the television pictures of the President who officially they worked for. In fact they were terrified. There was no doubt going to be a crackdown on corruption and the cartels. Also not in doubt was the fact that they were all very blatantly going to be thrown in prison or shot in the street. Now with military transport planes heard overhead, their life expectancy decreased further.

After an hour of deliberation, the Police Chief, announced that his cartel contacts had come through for them and would arrange for all 150 of the officers and their families to be taken to the North where it was safe. So just after midnight, they drssed in civilian clothes and after dousing the entire buidling in petrol they set fire to it and fled to their homes to collect their families and stashes of cash.

***

In the northern suburbs of the city, in a warehouse complex, the local Cartel bosses debated a course of action. Without the use of Colon's port, the affect on business would be disastrous as there would be no way of moving the drugs in large enough amounts to make the big profits the organisation needed to pay off its army of mercenaries, informants and of course the leadership. What was worse is that much of the cartel's money was in banks in Colon under pretences of legitimate businesses, but with a little investigtion it would be obvious, and the accounts would be siezed.

Just after midnight, Castrillon's notorius Head of Security called in, although no one actually knew his real name, all of Panama would recognise the one he went by, 'El Carnicero', 'The Butcher'. His instructions were clear, to get the entire store of coke ready to be moved North and wait for the trucks. Two hours later unmarked large tvehicles appeared by the dozen, bringing mercenaries and arms and taking millions of dollars of cocaine to safety. Now with nearly 600 well trained and well equipped soldiers they would prepare to wage a guerilla war against the PDF and the foreigners.

OOC: Western Asia, Colon is a major transhipment point for Cocaine going to North America and it is a 'free trade zone', in other words a massive money laundering center so its very important to teh cartels.

OOC: Got it.
IC: It was just as the main body of the Western Asian force was arriving at the airport that the O/A-6B Texan II FOAS aircraft spotted the first signs that all was not right in the city. A massive fire burned in one of the few really nice parts of Colon...about where intelligence maps had placed the local Police Station.

Initial attempts to raise the local police forces over the radio now seemed to have at least a minimum of sense. The cause and purpose for the fire was not clear, but all that the WA-Cuban forces were prepared to do at the moment was watch and wait while the local fire department and volunteers fought the blaze. Most of the men from CSPF-P were busy fortifying the airport and constructing make-shift checkpoints on the roads approaching the facility, but a reaction force of 200 Rangers was told to prepare for a possible deployment into the city sometime before dawn...if things got too messy.

The O/A-6Bs continued their patrols high over the city, scanning the areas below with radar, IR viewers, NVDs, and radio scanners. The men first noticed odd gatherings and convoys along the access routes to the city at around 0115 hours...mostly involving heavy trucks...but the aggregation of unknown forces was clear--IR and the image-enhancing NVDs made the dozens of trucks stand out from far overhead. The small, quiet planes began holding patterns to observe the collection of vehicles and personnel north of the city. Without much traffic otherwise, the massing of such large vehicles was of immediate concern and the aircraft were given the coded 'free arms' signal--should the vehicles start to move for the base or other strategic sites the aircraft were to initiate bomb, gun, and rocket strikes on the vehicles.

85 miles West of Panama City

The Marines on the ground slowly approached the Panamanian convoy some waving chem lights to indetify themselves as friendly forces and now the area seemed safe, the enemy must have retreated back into the hills.

The entire scene was one of chaos and destruction, bodies, wounded soldiers and debris lay everywhere, intertwined with twisted vehicle remains. On seeing this the Lieutenant in Command of the platoon radioed for the circling helicopter to land, not to extract his Marines but to medevac some of the wounded.

The EA-24G touched down on the road and one of the Marines who happened to speak broken Spanish took over the role of translating and he told the PDF medics to load their wounded onto the helicopter. It would not be enough however and additional air assets were called for.

After explaining this to the Panamanian soldiers the Marines then moved out to the North West, stealthily movigng through the trees and using their NVGs to spot the retreating enemy.

Torrijos International Airport

At the airport the situation was more or less under control, after all the Il-76s had departed and the airborne infantry battalion were on the way to Panama City. The crashed 747 was being doused in foam and fire retardent by the airport emergency response teams and its passengers were being treated for minor injuries by a Marine medical company who were also setting up a field hospital.

Colon

The three men travelled slowly through the streets in the centre of the city, and all of a sudden people were appearing in droves, through the open windows of the white Land Rover they could hear people shouting that they should grab food and other stocks before the PDF enforced a curfew and while the police station was on fire. Soon, mass looting would break and somehow the whole city was awake even thiough it was hours before dawn.

Taking advantage of the chaos the men carrier on towards the airport, in the car cameras, binnocular but no weapons. Officially they were accredited journalists for the reputable newspaper El Pais, but they were really spies for the Serrania del Darien cartel and they wanted to find out exactly who and what was arriving in their city.

Within half an hour they had reached the far a dark spot along perimeter fence of the airifeld and using their long camera lenses they snapped off pictures of the Western Asian C-130s and the troops as well noting approximate numbers. Just in case they were caught one of them called in and reported their findings.

Skies Over Panama

The two Credonian choppers approach their target LZ, 30 clicks southwest of Aligandi. As they approach, the pilots take notice of a wide clearing, surrounded by the thick forest.

"OK MEN, WERE 2 MINUTES OUT. LOCK AND LOAD. WHEN WE GET ON THE GROUND, SECURE A DEFENSIVE PERIMETER AND TO ALLOW THE OTHER HALF OF THE PLATOON TO DISEMBARK!!!" Commander Watkins yells into his radio over the whirr of the chopper blades.

As the helicopters approach the area, the lead chopper hovers above the LZ and slowly descends while the second chopper circles overhead, scanning the area for any signs of ground movement and hostile forces. As the first chopper lands, the men quickly jump out into the tall grass immediately scanning the area for hostiles that may be lurking in the trees around them. They quickly establish defensive positions around the area, keeping their eyes on the openings to the forest around them just as the lead chopper takes off to the skies and the second one moves in to land. Just as safely as the first squad disembarked from their chopper, the second squad disembarks as the choppers begin flying away from the area, leaving the men to themselves.

As the sound of the choppers become more faint, Commander Watkins orders his men into a scattered formation and begin walking North East towards Aligandi to scout for hostiles and any enemy facilities that are in the area.

As they walk into the forest, they are overwhelmed by the immense heat and humidity that is kept beneath the dense, lush forest canopy. The men realize Colonel Yishai was right, traversing through such thick brush as their weapons and pockets snag on branches as they make their way further into the forest. Commander Watkins begins to assess how difficult trying to accomplish the mission may be under such conditions.

BTW, I just got a telegram from the guy playing Panama and he says he'll be back and RPing soon.
Anyway just to say this thread isn't dead yet.

As dawn approached on the day after the sudden political change in Panama, 'General' Castrillon, leader of the Dell Darrias cartel discussed tactics with his chief of security 'El Carnicero' deep in a former US military bunker in Southern Panama.

It was soon decided that an all out strike against the government and the foreign invaders would be enough to prove to the people of Panama that the cartel was in control and that everyone had to be loyal to it. If that could be achieved, then the enemy had no chance of winning in Panama.

Colon

Several Miles from the Airport where Western Asian aircraft were touching down, an array of vehicles arranged in a fruit field. Each truck was towing a 120mm mortar and as the crews unlimbered them, the gunnery experts calculated trajectories. With few experts in this field, the mortars were mostly being manned by inexperienced crews but with only two or three barrages, it was satisfactory.

Half an hour later, the mortar crews had loaded their weapons, 12 in total and were ready to fire. One of the gunnery experts checked each mortars trajectory quickly before yelling to start firing.

As mortars pounded the airfields permiter, two forward observers using unsecure cell phones gave corrections and the next two barrages landed more or less square on the airport's ramp where the foeign planes were parked.

***

Meanwhile as looters ravaged the streets, cartlesman, drove around in trucks and vans, taking advantage of the panic to retrieve their stocks from warehouses all over the city.

St. Peter Claver Joint Military Base, St. Peter Claver Island
Just off the coast of Amerigo

"The Lt. told me to report to you, sir"

Sgt. Damian Mai shi-rong, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of his divison, the 38th Airborne, preparing to move out, looked up from his Airborne magazine to see a 19-year old boy, clad in BDU and dark red beret, standing in front of him. "Name?"

"Private Ignazio Mazzoni, sir!"

So you're the guy who's replacing Tommy, Damain thought. "Interesting name. Italian?"

"Amerigan, sir."

This made Damian pause a bit.

"Permssion to speak freely, sir."

"Granted."

"Are you really-"

"Yes, Ignazio, it's true." Damian was, indeed the direct descendant of David Mai shi-rong, the "George Washington of Syskeyia." Not necessarily a curse, but a family name of that statue, good or bad, was a burden all its own. "Ah, don't let it get to you. Now get to Cpl. Yuan. He'll tell you what to do.

Welcome to the squad, Ignazio. Welcome to the squad."

Meanwhile, the divisions commander sent an e-mail to his colleague half an ocean away:

To: General. Gesher Tov, IDF Army Corps CUBACOM Commander and Commander of Operation: Safe Gate.
From: Major General Isidore Sartika, Commander, 38th Airborne Division

It appears that commander-in-chief has taken an interest in the situation in Panama. With your consent (as well as that of Unied Elias and other allies), we would like to assist you in this mission.

God bless,

Maj. Gen. Isidore Sartika
Commander, 38th Airborne Division, Syskeyian Army
Airborne!

bump to see if anyone's still interested!

im still interested (ive got a team of 30 men in the jungle still)

OOC: Dito.

OOC: I'm interested in finishing this RP off, one way or another.
IC:
Gen. Tov responded soon to Sartika's message:
[i]To: Major General Isidore Sartika, Commander, 38th Airborne Division
From: General. Gesher Tov, IDF Army Corps CUBACOM Commander and Commander of Operation: Safe Gate.

> It appears that commander-in-chief has taken an interest in the situation in > Panama. With your consent (as well as that of Unied Elias and other allies), > we would like to assist you in this mission.

General,
We would be glad to have your assistance in peacekeeping operations in the area. You are given provisional permission to land your forces at Colon Airfield as of 5 hours from now.

- Gen. Tov, CUBACOM

cool, lets carry on then.

As dawn approached on the day after the sudden political change in Panama, 'General' Castrillon, leader of the Dell Darrias cartel discussed tactics with his chief of security 'El Carnicero' deep in a former US military bunker in Southern Panama.

It was soon decided that an all out strike against the government and the foreign invaders would be enough to prove to the people of Panama that the cartel was in control and that everyone had to be loyal to it. If that could be achieved, then the enemy had no chance of winning in Panama.

Colon

Several Miles from the Airport where Western Asian aircraft were touching down, an array of vehicles arranged in a fruit field. Each truck was towing a 120mm mortar and as the crews unlimbered them, the gunnery experts calculated trajectories. With few experts in this field, the mortars were mostly being manned by inexperienced crews but with only two or three barrages, it was satisfactory.

Half an hour later, the mortar crews had loaded their weapons, 12 in total and were ready to fire. One of the gunnery experts checked each mortars trajectory quickly before yelling to start firing.

As mortars pounded the airfields permiter, two forward observers using unsecure cell phones gave corrections and the next two barrages landed more or less square on the airport's ramp where the foeign planes were parked.

***

Meanwhile as looters ravaged the streets, cartlesman, drove around in trucks and vans, taking advantage of the panic to retrieve their stocks from warehouses all over the city.

OOC: UE, just realized what you meant...

PC...are these the same vehicles that were observed collecting about the city? Because that would mean that they'd be bombed the moment they moved to this new position...I also never quite got the chance to deal with your perimeter fellows...who I'm counting as your "forward observers." There also aren't many (or any) fruitfields near the Colon airport, meh. I'll play from here.

IC: A Light Scout Artillery crew spotted the men hiding by the far perimeter fence and took no chances when they saw the large lens, which, in the dark, looked very much like the ATGM FC units they had themselves been trained to use. It was just then that the mortars began to hit. In response, a group of three HE 106mm RR rounds was fired at the group of men...one for each section of the platoon. The explosions and smoke enveloped the men as the LSA team and another team of paratroopers rushed to the spot to check for corpses.

The O/A-6B Texan IIs, who had been trailing the trucks from afar, having not ID'd their trailer loads, moved in when they saw the flashes in the fruit field and got reports on mortar strikes at the air field. The small planes swoop in and drop their loads of 250lb bombs and fire 5.0" Zuni rockets at the men in the fields...filling the area with smoke and fire. A few secondary explosions are reported but the haze and fire make the FLIR and NVD images difficult to interpret.

At the airfield, two of the planes had taken the brunt of the attack and were pulled off to the side of the airfield, where it lay, crippled. Four more planes were reported moderately damaged but were able to fly out with the dozen-some minor injuries and half-dozen serious injuries incurred in the blasts. All other empty planes were rush-launched back towards Cuba. Several more Texan IIs were launched, with full weapons loads, to ensure that the enemy mortar barrage had stopped. The main issue was that two of the airport's shorter runways were now pockmarked with mortar pits.

OOC,
SOrry I've been away but I'm back. Anyway since Panama Cartels has been deleted I'm going to RP both sides through this nation.

WA,

"PC...are these the same vehicles that were observed collecting about the city? Because that would mean that they'd be bombed the moment they moved to this new position...I also never quite got the chance to deal with your perimeter fellows...who I'm counting as your "forward observers." There also aren't many (or any) fruitfields near the Colon airport, meh. I'll play from here."

No they aren't teh same vehicles, Anyways sorry about the fruitfields thing, how do you know that?


IC,

Colon

From a position several miles away, overlookign teh city, another observer from the Dell Darrienr cartel watched as his comrades were obliterated by teh ruthless close air support aircraft, all that could be seen now was smoke, flames and a good deal of destruction. However he could see that through his binnoculars that it had not been completely in vain as several transport aircraft were apprently disabled and the rerst were being evacuated.

He prssed a sppeddial on his cellphone and reported the damage before retreating back into the wilderness, tracking North to a weapons cache.

Just North of The Columbian border

A convoy of trucks rattled down a steep road, with no headlights with which to see through the night. In total there were eight vehicles loaded up with powered cocaine and a single SUV carrying several important cartel figures.
Only a miles away from teh border, they picked up a broadcast from Radio Panama Sur, announcing that teh government had ordered all border crossing closed.

There was little reaction as the vehicls continued, and suddenly teh border posts came into sight, surrounded by soldiers. They waved their hads at the trucks, and then their weapons. Suddenly automatic fire broke out, as bullets riddled the first few trucks. However teh cartel gunman quickly dismounted and returned with much more accurate shots, taking out most of teh border garison.

OOC,
SOrry I've been away but I'm back. Anyway since Panama Cartels has been deleted I'm going to RP both sides through this nation.
OOC: no problem, just as long as you give me a title to keep them straight.


No they aren't teh same vehicles, Anyways sorry about the fruitfields thing, how do you know that?

Colon is basically in the middle of the canal and heavily urbanized...you might find some fields nearby but since the city is virtually on an island (save a thin strip of land, from what I've seen in maps)...there isn't much space for fruit fields. :) we'll ignore it for now.


IC:
Colon

From a position several miles away, overlookign teh city, another observer from the Dell Darrienr cartel watched as his comrades were obliterated by teh ruthless close air support aircraft, all that could be seen now was smoke, flames and a good deal of destruction. However he could see that through his binnoculars that it had not been completely in vain as several transport aircraft were apprently disabled and the rerst were being evacuated.

He prssed a sppeddial on his cellphone and reported the damage before retreating back into the wilderness, tracking North to a weapons cache.

Just North of The Columbian border

A convoy of trucks rattled down a steep road, with no headlights with which to see through the night. In total there were eight vehicles loaded up with powered cocaine and a single SUV carrying several important cartel figures.
Only a miles away from teh border, they picked up a broadcast from Radio Panama Sur, announcing that teh government had ordered all border crossing closed.

There was little reaction as the vehicls continued, and suddenly teh border posts came into sight, surrounded by soldiers. They waved their hads at the trucks, and then their weapons. Suddenly automatic fire broke out, as bullets riddled the first few trucks. However teh cartel gunman quickly dismounted and returned with much more accurate shots, taking out most of teh border garison.

Colon Airport
The LSA team finds the bodies of the three men burnt almost to a crisp by the point-on fire...the cell phones and observation equipment that they find, however, makes the intent of the dead men clear. The paratroopers place perimeter sensors in the ground ahead of the perimeter teams that are doing the same at other parts of the base.

Another flight of heavy transport aircraft land and "hot" unloaded Marine armored vehicles, the first light helicopters, and more troops, including the Cuban contingent and the main body of the MP force...even as the engines were running...and soon take off again. The helicopters are moved into covered hangars as were many of the more exposed and valuable units. The soldiers mainly occupy the airport terminal or are deployed to cover the perimeter and access roads. Already, roadblocks are being set up with heavy MG emplacements and sandbagged guard stations. Trusty M3 Carl Gustav MAAWS and SMAW Mk 153 Mod4s (SMAW-4s) sit at hand, ready to engage any larger units that threaten the airport.

Snipers ascend the control tower and nearby buildings to scan the buildings and space around the airfield for signs of enemy encroachment as EW stations are finally set up to block other frequencies in the area and to monitor radio traffic across the city.

Additional calls had been put in also for the transport of heavier equipment and more men...and back in Cienfuegos the call was being answered...and in the bay a Shore Bombardment Detachment pulled close to Colon to better provide support for the troops on the ground.

Over the Fruitfield
The first flight of Texan IIs scanned the strike zones but only find a few targets still moving, which are soon addressed with strafing runs from the guns of the planes. The second flight of the small aircraft return their focus to patrolling the city while those in the first group with the fuel capacity watch for new movement. They radio to the base for a team of paratroopers to investigate the area. Two of the planes returning to the airfield also strafe the trucks, which had been mostly ignored in the initial strikes, to make sure that any of the men that survive the strikes could escape.

Colon Airport
Two teams of Sayert Egoz Operators are deployed via MH-60S Knighthawks and they are landed in the field, still thick with flames and smoke, a few minutes later. They immediately move to clear the area of enemy soldiers, but find mostly dead and dismembered men...the secondary explosions from the mortars that were apparently stowed haphazardly among the crewmembers made for quick deaths.

The men of team aleph are just ready to approach the first of the trucks when one of them spots a gunman hiding under the cab. The team opens fire and the man drops his gun and slumps over against the truck's wheel. While the other men provide cover, two of the Operators rush forward to check on the man. They find him bloodied and burnt, his clothes shredded from the assault...and he is securely dead with a dozen rounds split between his head, neck, and chest.

The other team finds that one of the Mortar crewmen has survived the bombing although his leg on one side is gone beneath the knee. A medic binds his wounds under the cover of the team and they remove him to a clear LZ, where he is loaded onto a waiting Knighthawk and removed to the Colon Airbase. The rest of the search is uneventful, but the soldiers collect all documents that can be found on the men and several radio units and maps, as well as a handful of other papers, from the trucks.

The mortar units that remain only partially destroyed have half-pound sheets of C4 applied and are destroyed. One of the mortars managed to escape the aerial strikes mostly intact, but the men of Sayeret Egoz leave it anything but. A few trucks have M2 SLAMs attached to their fuel tanks, which put on a large pyrotechnics display to light up the night and call for their extraction.

After about fifteen minutes of operations in the field, the Operators manage to extract two men and count enemy losses at more than thirtyfive personnel dead, as well as a dozen destroyed vehicles and 120mm mortars...and the men are on their way back to the base with dozens of papers and documents in hand.

Back on the airfield, the two men are administered interrogations along with their medical treatments...in their drugged state the Intelligence Officers hope to gain some idea about the operation they're facing off against.

OOC: Panama, what, if anything, will these men be saying while heavily medicated...and what will those documents be (anything marked on maps? or just id papers).