Gosselania
25-06-2004, 03:00
It was a gorgeous summer's day on the remote island of Sarnoasten. The last of the troops had disembarked from the transport ship and were being marshalled to various camps in the area.
The island was about 14 miles across, and was covered mostly in grassland. The occasional river snaked its way across the land and small wooded areas dotted the landscape.
The troops were all reservists of the Gosselin Army. After a review showed that the reserve force was grossly under-trained and lacking in effectiveness, a massive training upgrade program was undertaken. This brought them here, to the uninhabited island of Sarnoasten. After months of training at home, two regional Brigades of the Gosselin Militia were on their first Division-level excercise. This would be a real test of the Reserve officers' skill and a great training experience for the men. The Air Force was also participating, sending a Squadron of Bell 412 helicopters to train the reservists in air-mobile operations.
At the opposite end of the island was a brigade of Gosselanian regulars. Their job was to act as the enemy in the mock engagements. They had 3 infantry battalions, an artillery battalion and a mixed squadron of Leopard II MBT's and Rooikat AFV's.
Some live firing was to be incorporated in the training, but for the most part, firing for the two-week excercise would be with blanks.
The reservists were assembled at their various camps for lunch when orders began to be issued. Armoured recce units were busy breaking in their new Strykers, 105mm guns were bombarding cardboard enemies and infantry battalions met stiff resistance from the regulars by 2pm.
"Great day for this, eh Sir?" asked Major Price, a reservist who was assigned to HQ for the excercise.
"Couldn't have asked for better weather." replied Major-General Stewart. He was a Regular who was in charge of training the senior reserve officers on how to conduct a battle. He had a minimal staff of regulars who ran the live-fire excercises and handled communications with HQ in Gosselania.
He was overseeing a company of infantry who were being herded into helicopters to be sent in as reinforcements at one of the carefully-scripted engagements on the island.
As the choppers faded from view and the thumping of the rotors died down, MGen Stewart noticed a peculiar droning sound. He looked at Major Price who was pale as a ghost as he stared upwards.
The General turned to look and saw dozens of Hercules aircraft passing overhead.
"Are they ours?" he demanded to one of his communications officers.
After making a quick call to HQ, the officer shook his head.
Just then, parachutes began to appear behind the planes.
"Mother of God," Stewart uttered, "Get all the live ammo out of storage."
Everyone around him just stared in disbelief.
"NOW!" he yelled.
http://img13.photobucket.com/albums/v39/krypto/gosselin-militia.jpg
The island was about 14 miles across, and was covered mostly in grassland. The occasional river snaked its way across the land and small wooded areas dotted the landscape.
The troops were all reservists of the Gosselin Army. After a review showed that the reserve force was grossly under-trained and lacking in effectiveness, a massive training upgrade program was undertaken. This brought them here, to the uninhabited island of Sarnoasten. After months of training at home, two regional Brigades of the Gosselin Militia were on their first Division-level excercise. This would be a real test of the Reserve officers' skill and a great training experience for the men. The Air Force was also participating, sending a Squadron of Bell 412 helicopters to train the reservists in air-mobile operations.
At the opposite end of the island was a brigade of Gosselanian regulars. Their job was to act as the enemy in the mock engagements. They had 3 infantry battalions, an artillery battalion and a mixed squadron of Leopard II MBT's and Rooikat AFV's.
Some live firing was to be incorporated in the training, but for the most part, firing for the two-week excercise would be with blanks.
The reservists were assembled at their various camps for lunch when orders began to be issued. Armoured recce units were busy breaking in their new Strykers, 105mm guns were bombarding cardboard enemies and infantry battalions met stiff resistance from the regulars by 2pm.
"Great day for this, eh Sir?" asked Major Price, a reservist who was assigned to HQ for the excercise.
"Couldn't have asked for better weather." replied Major-General Stewart. He was a Regular who was in charge of training the senior reserve officers on how to conduct a battle. He had a minimal staff of regulars who ran the live-fire excercises and handled communications with HQ in Gosselania.
He was overseeing a company of infantry who were being herded into helicopters to be sent in as reinforcements at one of the carefully-scripted engagements on the island.
As the choppers faded from view and the thumping of the rotors died down, MGen Stewart noticed a peculiar droning sound. He looked at Major Price who was pale as a ghost as he stared upwards.
The General turned to look and saw dozens of Hercules aircraft passing overhead.
"Are they ours?" he demanded to one of his communications officers.
After making a quick call to HQ, the officer shook his head.
Just then, parachutes began to appear behind the planes.
"Mother of God," Stewart uttered, "Get all the live ammo out of storage."
Everyone around him just stared in disbelief.
"NOW!" he yelled.
http://img13.photobucket.com/albums/v39/krypto/gosselin-militia.jpg