High noon in Al-Ahzad (modern world RP) [Archive]

Al-Ahzad

03-01-2005, 09:20

OOC: I hope this will make Al-Ahzad much, much less confusing.

Al-Ahzad: A land in deep shit.

Population: ~23 million

Geography: In the western half of Al-Ahzad, most people live around the narrow coastal plain. The narrow, fertile plain is backed by flat-topped hills that lead into rugged mountains. Past those lie a dissected upland desert plain, sloping into the empty, unpassable desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula. This impassible wasteland makes up the majority of Al-Ahzads land border. Despite the huge border, Al-Ahzad is only accessable from the coasts of the Arabian penninsula. The interior is so arid and desolate that nobody except the Bedouin can even hope to survive there. Further to the east, rugged mountains in north and south butt up against

Map of Al-Ahzad:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/linkwerk/Ahzad.jpg

(thick red line is the border with the ASDPR, thin red lines are major roads)

Ethnic Makeup

Ahzadi’s are a unique ethnic group on the southern coast of the Arabia. With a separate culture and language from the arab population of the region, Ahzadis have always considered themselves different. Ahzadis derive their anscentry from both ethnic Persians who migrated to the region sometime in the 800’s and (more importantly) Turkic peoples who migrated to the region from central asia in the late bronze age. The Turkic character of Ahzadis (and the modern Ahzadi language) are heavily influenced by the descision of Ottoman Sultan Selim I to transfer Anatolian and some Balkan populations to what was then the ottoman vilayet of Al-Ahzad.

Ahzadi is very close to Turkish linguistically, although written with a Persian/Arabic script that, while cumbersome, is serviceable. Among the educated elite, there is strong pressure for language reform.

The largest minority group in Al-Ahzad are Arabs, who make up an estimated 10% of the population. The Arab population in Al-Ahzad are mostly Bedouin, native to the deserts of inland Al-Ahzad. Arabs have, since the 19th century, enjoyed a social and political status disproportionate to their numbers, due to the fact that, for 200 years now, the Sultan has always been an Arab. The Arab population of rural Al-Ahzad are divided into a huge number of warring tribes that are constantly fighting the government and each other. Urban Arabs are usually wealthy and somehow related to the Sultan.

Another minority group of note are Indians, numbering several million. The vast majority of them live in ethnic neighborhoods where they work as shopkeepers or other merchants. Having arrived in Al-Ahzad during the period of Roycelandian rule, they form an integral part of urban Ahzadi life. Al-Ahzad also has (for Arabia) a very large and thriving community of Ahzadi jews. Practicing a sect of Judaism heavily influenced by sufi mysticism and other local customs, the Jews of Al-Ahzad have found that Al-Ahzad under Sultan Abdul Waloud is fast losing it’s reputation as a country free of the anti-Semitism that marks much of the rest of the mideast. Along with educated Ahzadis, Ahzadi jews are fast leaving the country. The smallest minority community of any note are ethnic Somalis around Sanaa and the western part of the country. Long oppressed, they cling together in close-knit communities and their resentment of long-standing opression has made them among the most ardent ASDPR supporters.

Major Religions:

Al-Ahzad is an overwhelmingly muslim nation. Non-Muslims number in the few dozens of thousands, and are mostly Ahzadi Jews, Coptic Christians in western Al-Ahzad, and Hindi in the cities. The breakup of Islamic sects can be very telling about Al-Ahzad, however. Most ethnic Ahzadis are Hanafi Sunni of a very liberal sort. Alcohol, though rarely drunk, is allowed, and religious law is applicable only in context of marriages and personal matters, and even then only if all parties consent to its use.

The Arab population, on the other hand, are almost all Wahabi - a very strict and fundamentalist school of islam that reads the Koran very literally. There is a growing movement among Ahzadi Whabi scholars to declare Sultan Waloud the Caliph, that is, spiritual leader of all muslims. Most of this is motivated by the religious fervor of Waloud himself, who has become convinced that Al-Ahzad must be a land governed by Koranic law. This has led to unpopular moves such as the toleration of self-proclaimed ”Ghazi“ militas among the Bedouin, and the creation of the highly unpopular Ministry of Piety.

North-Eastern Al-Ahzad as well as the central costal plain also has a significant number of Twelver Shiite muslims. A persuasion more of the urban and well-educated, they are rather moderate and really not all that different from their Ahzadi Hanafi counterparts. The messianic aspect of their faith- the idea that the pseudo-mythical Twelfth Imam is, was, and always will be the one true leader of Islam- does lead them to take great offense at Sultan Waloud’s religious based cult of personality. This could, however, simply be because most Ahzadi Shi’a are rather liberal and modern in their political outlook, and moderate in their faith, not because of any theological clash of ideals.

Major population centers:

Al-Ahzad is really centered around three main cities: Sanaa, Raysuz, and Muscat. Of these, Raysuz is the largest, with some 6 million residents, and the center of education, industry, and the largest and most modern port in Al-Ahzad.. Raysuz is also the only one of the major cities under solid control, as Sanaa is the capital of the breakaway ASDPR, and Muscat is under the direct control of Imam Yusuf Al-Abbad and his Ghazi milita. Although he professes loyalty to the Sultan, the city of 2.6 million is more or less autonomous, as government control is weak (just like everywhere else in Al-Ahzad). If the tension between the Imam and the Sultan grows any worse, Al-Abbad can simply walk away with his Islamist statelet.

Other cities of above 100,00 are the northern port of Sur, Al Mukalla, the industrial center of Sayhut, and the ASDPR controlled cities of Aden and Zabid. Most Ahzadis live in large to midsize towns along the narrow fertile costal plain between Raysuz and Aden.

Agriculture:

Al-Ahzad doesn’t have much in the way of arable land, and that is not as developed as it could be. Although large-scale irrigation systems have decayed, a considerable crop of lentils, wheat, and barley is produced each year, although the country still relies on imports for at least part of it’s food supply. Inland, goat herding is the lifeblood of the mountain communities of Al-Ahzad, where rugged villagers herd sheep and tame the Ahzadi ram, which is Al-Ahzad’s national animal. Fishing is a major industry in Al-Ahzad, as the strong seagoing tradition of the Ahzadi people daily leads fishermen from the country’s huge shoreline to ply the Arabian and Red seas, as well as the Persian gulf, in their traditional dhows.

Industry:

Industry in Al-Ahzad is not what it used to be. Between the late 1920’s and the mid 1970’s, Al-Ahzad had one of the best industrial bases in the middle east. At first financed by Italian loans, Ahzadi industry was further developed by the Roycelandians during their long domination of Al-Ahzad. By the 1920’s, the state of Ahzadi industry was comparable to many of the smaller eastern European nations. By the 1950’s heavy industry was beginning to make itself seen in Al-Ahzad, as the Sayhut Iron Works opened large mines in the rugged interior and began to produce steel. Around the same time, Raysuz Motorleyut began to produce agricultural machinery. By the 1960’s, Shipyards in Sur and Muscat were building merchant ships, while a Fiat factory (with a majority shareholding by the Sultan) opened in Sanaa. Just before the decline of the 1970’s set in, Raysuz Sate University had spun off part of it’s engineering department as the Ahzadi Electrical Combine, which produced basic parts for power generation and was gearing up to begin producing speakers, record players, and other consumer goods when the government declared bankruptcy and defaulted on all loans in 1976.

At present, the state of Ahzadi industry is not something to brag about. Although the mines and steel works still are operating, they are doing so at nowhere near full capacity, and although there are enough workers, with the right skills, and although the right facilities for a fully modern industrial economy are sitting right there, a combination of abysmal economic conditions, plus a general breakdown of any large-scale authority or order, and with the flight of Al-Ahzad’s best and brightest seem to have doomed Ahzadi industry. Although the economy is making a slight comeback, this does not seem to include industry in the mix. There is money to be made in Al-Ahzad, yes, but it’s in oil or agriculture or textiles or luxury furniture- not in consumer electronics, automotive products, shipbuilding, or steel- all of which Al-Ahzad is capable of producing on some level.

The one industrial area that still seems some activity is arms manufacturing, although the munitions industry is a shadow of it’s former self. Once producing spare parts for the Ahzadi military and it’s western weapon systems- rangefinders and engines for M-48 tanks and even a small number of jet engines for A-4 aircraft- Al-Ahzad State Armories now can produce small arms, light artillery, and maybe- maybe AFV parts. The state armories now must also compete with a cottage industry that has sprung up to produce small arms for the myriad factions, parties, and militias that infest Al-Ahzad. In the ASDPR, things are of a much, much smaller scale, but due to the presence of advisors from a variety of communist nations, capabilities are slightly better than the rest of Al-Ahzad.

Education:

At present, abysmal. Never perfect, Al-Ahzad once had a great and bustling government-financed higher education system. Centered around Raysuz State University, the Ahzadi education system stressed the sciences, civil as well as commercial engineering, and international and political studies. Up until very recently, Al-Ahzad produced scientists and engineers of the highest caliber. Ahzadi communities abroad have also gravitated towards work in IT or other engineering or computer based professions. On the whole, urban Ahzadis are an educated people, although that may be changing with the present generation.

Primary and Secondary schooling has collapsed, with the urban schools starved for cash and most of the rural ones simply abandoned. Literacy rates among 40-60 year olds- products of the educational system of Al-Ahzad’s glory days- are around 80%, while among the huge number of Al-Ahzadis born since 1976, it’s lucky to break 60% in some areas. In the last decade, even mighty Raysuz State University has fallen after massive faculty purges by the Sultan. Most engineering and science professors had long ago left for better pay and more respect in the rest of the middle east or (even better) to the west. The recent purges were more ideologically driven, with westernized intellectuals being forced out (sometimes under threat of death) in favor of radical fundamentalist scholars.

The Ahzadi education system is a shadow of it’s former self, with over 70% of Ahzadi children never having seen the inside of a state-run classroom. Although private schools exist, more secular and westernized ones find themselves under increasing pressure from islamist ghazi militias, and those with enough money to afford private school usually send their children abroad anyways.

Even the Ahzadi Military Academy is not immune to this, with the once solid school for military officers becoming nothing more than an ideological camp to impress loyalty to the sultan. Most junior officers would barely be qualified as seargents in most armies, and the vast majority of flag rank officers are simply political hacks.

Political parties/factions/organizations:

The Royal Family

The family of Sultan Abdul Waloud abu Ahmed ibn Mehmet ibn Mohammed ibn Ali is very large; over 5,000 members at last count. This sprawling extended family is currently sitting pretty at the top of the (very, very shaky) tower that is Ahzadi politics. The majority of army officers and all but a few ministry heads are related in some way (even if it’s just brothers uncles grandfathers cousin) to the Sultan. Bedouin Arabs and Wahabi to the core, the Royal Family are the most ardent defenders of the status quo, and more or less represent the islamist kleptocracy that Al-Ahzad seems to be on the road towards. They are the face of Al-Ahzad to the outside world, and are responsible for the one solid source of revenue (sweet, sweet oil) that Al-Ahzad has (or, well, that the sultan has after Roycelandian ImPetCo pays him). They are also the source of most of Al-Ahzad’s problems with other nations. Sultan Waloud’s messiah complex and fanatical wahabi faith has led him to give training, refuge, and support to many notorious Islamic terror groups, and seek to impose strict sharia law on Al-Ahzad, drawing complaints from both western nations and internatonal human and womens rights groups. Not very educated, but very wealthy the Royal family not only represents the central government of Al-Ahzad, but also the largest of the Bedouin tribes of the interior; the Al-Waloud clan, which is currently engaged in sporadic conflict with the other major tribes, and winning due to the money and weapons given to them by the central government.

In addition to the men of the Al-Waloud clan, who can muster about 4,000 tribal fighters, the Royal Family has direct control of the Royal Guard, an elite 5,000 man Bedouin unit that forms a sort of praetorian guard. With the best pick of the (admittedly small) military budget, the Royal Guard is basically an elite light infantry brigade, with some airlift capabilities and only light artillery and small arms for weapons. On paper, the Royal family also controls the army, although with the pathetic state of the Ahzadi military, even if units are loyal, they are liable to be understregnth and incompetent.

Army

The Ahzadi army would have it’s plate full even if it was in tip-top shape. It faces endemic corruption, sporadic Bedouin civil war that always brings raids on the interior, the de facto seizure of Muscat by Islamists, and most pressingly, the 15 year long war against the breakaway communist ASDPR. Against all of these tasks, the army fails pathetically.

On paper the army consists of some 400,000 men in 20 divisions. In fact, the desertion rates in most units approach 80%, with few conscripts even appearing when called up. The officer corps has been gutted and politicized, rendering Ahzadi tactical formations incapable of performing even the most basic military maneuvers. In the glory days of the early 1970’s, the Ahzadi army was a large and fearsome force, equipped with the most advanced American and European equipment, with a striking force of three armored divisions and a competent, professional officer corps. Those days are long past, and if called upon to do so, the army could at most come up with 50,000 men who at all resemble a soldier in the western sense. Most of these men are deployed along “the line”- the de facto border between Al-Ahzad and the ASDPR. With their tanks broken down, their training reduced to a minimum, and their officers political drones and relatives of the sultan, the Ahzadi regular army can only sit in it’s firebases and take potshots and the People’s Army troops facing them.

About four years into the civil war against the ASDPR, the Sultan formed the “national force”- in theory a popular army to crush the communist rebellion, in fact they were simply armed royalist mobs who spent most of their time lynching “traitors”. When whipped into a fervor, as many as 60,000 have joined the nationalist mobs, who operate under the command of (insofar as they take orders from anybody) of the Chief of Staff (a duty that Sultan Waloud assumed in the past year).

Nowadays, with their 105mm SPG’s sitting in depot and few soldiers who can read, much less call in fire missions, Ahzadi soldiers will send motorcycle messengers to call in fire from a few aging field guns, and the “mechanized divisons” are just fancy names for 6-700 soldier units in pickup trucks. In a sting to their pride as well as their abilities, General Massad, widely held to be the last competent general in Al-Ahzad and leader of the few successful offensives against the ASDPR, has been tried for gross incompetence when it was revealed that he had diverted and re-routed up to a third of the military budget into his own pockets, and that his unit was not even at their designated position along the line. With it’s failure to resemble a modern military, and it’s total inability to supress the communist uprising or maintain order, the Sultan is relying more and more on the Royal Guard, Ghazi militia, and the National Force to maintain order.

Air Force

If the army looks bad, the air force is even worse. At it’s height, it flew over 450 combat aircraft, most of American or European manufacture. The Ahzadi Royal Air Force flew and maintained it’s A-4 attack jets, F-4 Phantom and fighters and Canberra light bombers with a competence that was in the middle east surpassed only by the Israeli Air Force, and could have easily passed muster in the NATO armies. Although technically there are many trained personnel in the ARAF, most have skipped town to work on commercial jet aircraft or simply abandoned their units to seek employment in another field. As an effect of the flight of talented Ahzadis, the ARAF can scrape up perhaps only 16 combat aircraft, mostly A-4 Skyhawks, as well as a small fleet of utility helicopters for the Sultan’s use.

Navy

The Ahzadi navy has been disbanded as a fighting force. Although Al-Ahzad has a very strong nautical tradition, and Ahzadi sailors crew many a commerical freighter, the navy is now no more. At it’s height in the late 1940’s, the Ahzadi navy boasted three heavy and three light cruisers surplus from the USN along with eight destroyers and a single 35,000 ton battle cruiser built in british shipyards during the 1930’s- the HAMV Djinn. By the 1970’s this had shrunk to four of the gearing-class surplus American destroyers and four british made corvettes. Now these rust at the pier, and the only naval force in Al-Ahzad are the six osa-class missile boats that the ASDPR operates. The navy is still in living memory for most Ahzadis, and in any fishing community many of the men between 30-40 will have served as sailors for the Ahzadi navy.

Law Enforcement:

The municipal police in most Ahzadi cities are very corrupt, and are being supplanted more and more by armed vigilantes. The one remaining law enforcement organization the functions to any degree is the Jandarma- the paramilitary gendarmie police that has become the last smoothly runnin bureaucracy in Al-Ahzad. One of the few good jobs for lower-middle-class Ahzadi men, it seems to have become a magnet for discontented Ahzadis who seek for the return of law and order. At 40,000 men, the Jandarma’s paramilitary security companies have ironically become a significant military player in Al-Ahzad, more due to the incompetence of any other armed force. Many in the Jandarma are young, often shi’a, ethnic ahzadi from lower-middle class families, often sons of laid off schoolteachers, civil servants, or army officers, and as such are the perfect demographic for the Yeni Ahzad movement (see below).

Yeni Ahzad

The name of this political movement/faction/party translates to “New Ahzad” and is gaining momentum among urban, educated, middle class Ahzadis who are angered by the arab domination of the political system, lack of real democracy of any sort, pervasive corruption, internal instability, economic depression, and the growing influence of radical islam in Al-Ahzad. Yeni Ahzad is more an ideological movement than a poltical party (Al-Ahzad is an absolute monarchy with no meaningful parliament or political parties). Popular with some young officers, students (especially young women and poltical science/international relations students) middle-class Ahzadis and most of what’s left of the civil service, Yeni Ahzad is a term recently coined to embody ideals of secularism, reform, democratic input into politics (and prominent figures in the Yeni Ahzad movement are very, very careful not to call for a republic- the movement is frowned upon by the government as-is, and will be cracked down upon if it calls for change that is too radical). Hikmet Pasha, the vizer for foreign affairs, is the highest official in the government that has displayed any sympathy with the Yeni Ahzad cause. Yeni Ahzad is becoming a groundswell of popular resolve for change- that although leaderless and at present only ideals without form- is becoming a sentiment the government cannot ignore.

Army Factionalism

The Army itself is very divided, with three major factions dividing the armed forces. “The Regulars” were a group of young Colonels and a few Generals that represented what is now the “old guard”- the professional officer corps, ethnic Ahzadi to a man. Over the last few years, however, many have retired early, been posted to remote desert outposts, or simply disspeared. With the trial of their central figure- General Massad, who to many was representative of everything the regulars were, it looks like this faction is done for.

The second major faction within the army are the Royalists, a group of reactionary officers who are interested in shiny medals for their uniforms and military parades, as well as lining their own pockets. Loyal (in their own hidebound way) to the sultan, they make up a large number of the officers in the Royal Guard, and often share members with the third faction….

“The Frontiersmen” as they like to be known, are commanders of units on the frontline, and moreso, Bedouin arab officers and commanders of rural districts. They represent the feudal backwoods tyrant interest group in the army, and as such are the largest group, although the least politically motivated. They encompass everything from corps commanders who seek to expand their neo-feudal command sectors to actual frontiersmen set out to seize from (and rule) a cluster of towns from the Bedouins, to local landlords who want a shiny commission in their National Force unit. In short, they are the great apathetic mass of the Ahazi military. They are loyal to the sultan because it is too much work to be anything else. They fight the Bedouins and the ASDPR because they get more villages to loot and more medals that way. For the most part, they can be anybody from well-meaning officers in a backwoods post to the Sultans fith wife’s son’s cousin who wound up a major. They are what is keeping the Ahzadi army from being much of anything except an armed mob who all wear the same outfits.

---Major security problems/ongoing civil conflicts----

The Ahzadi Socialist Democratic Peoples Republic

15 years ago, Arslan Buyruz led the rebels of his Ahzadi Front for Revolution and Progress (AFRP) into Sanaa, which is as good a date as any to mark the death of Al-Ahzad as a real player in the middle east. NATO had walked away from the incompetent and corrupt sultan years before, but the Communist world stood by the rebel group they had supported for decades before that. So, with the last regular units streaming out of Sanaa in disarray, Peoples Marshal Buyruz declared the formation of a new ahzadi state, and set about purging his newly won territory of “counterrevolutionary elements and reactionaries” a process that involved lots of pits, lye, and bulldozers.

The actual capture of sanaa (an intense bombardment by rebel artillery followed by savage street fighting) combined with the massacres of businessmen, civil servants, teachers, and Islamic scholars that followed earned Buryuz the title of “Butcher of Sanaa” and gained the attention of western governments, who almost intervened against him in the late 1980’s. The cold war soon ended, and the world at large stopped caring about the ongoing low-level civil war between Al-Ahzad and Arslan Buyruz’s communist statelet.

Combining the standard third world populist revolutionary Marxism with bat-shit insane Suloist doctrine, the AFRP has put together a brutal and totalitarian regime in the ASDPR, backed up by their large and heavily armed (though poorly led and trained) army. The ASDPR comprises the westernmost quarter of Al-Ahzad and a good share of the population. The actual fighting petered out long ago, and a stalemate has formed along “the line” where the bulk of Ahzadi government forces face off against the Peoples Army, sitting in firebases and trenches, with the occasional raid, artillery barrage or minor offensive so the officers on both sides can send constant reports of crushing victory back to their leadership. As it stands, the ASDPR has de facto independence, and although not recognized by any outside government, is more or less your standard middle eastern despotic hellhole.

ASDPR Military forces

The People’s army is the largest coherent and organized military force in Al-Ahzad, and is kept in check due only to the larger size and (occasionally) superior weapons of the Ahzadi army and National Force.

The Peoples army is made up of some 60,000 men formed into six soviet-style divisions of 10,000 men each. Five of these are stationed on the line while the sixth- the republican guard- is stationed in Sanaa. The 4 motor-rifle and two mechanized divisions of the People’s army are equipped with old soviet equipment- T-62’s, M1938 howitzers, BTR-60 troop carriers, and the like.

The ASDPR air force is made up of some 50 Mig-21’s, 30 of which are in flyable condition (although the competence of their pilots can be in doubt) and for the occasional terror attack on Ahzadi cities, Arslan Buryuz has come to rely more and more on FROG rockets and the few Scud missiles he maintains.

In addition, a small fleet of older soviet utility helicopters and six Osa-class missile boats round out the arsenal of the ASDPR.

Bedouin tribes

Of the dozens of Bedouin tribes not loyal to the Sultan this moth, the largest has to be the Al-Suluf tribe, led by the charismatic Sheikh Hassan Al-Suluf, who was managed to be a thorn in the side of the government for 20+ years. The Al-Suluf tribe lives in the foothills on the desert side of Al-Ahzad’s mountains, herding camels and riding through the passages every now and then to loot and pillage. Interested in plunder and their own internal politics, the Al-Suluf tribe are not all that coherent, but are attempting to rally opposition to the Al-Walouf clan. All Bedouins are fighting men of sorts, but realistically the Al-Suluf tribe can call upon perhaps 4,000 geurilla fighters, plus whoever happens to be near where the fighting is. The Bedouin in combat are a surreal sight- men on horseback firing AK-47’s or M-16’s as they charge.

Ahzadi Brigades of Martyrdom and Struggle

These fanatical islamist militia include many foreign jihadists that have flocked to Imam Yusuf Al-Abbad in the islamist enclave in Muscat. Many are hardened terrorists, and excellent urban insurgents. Still more are Ahzadi Arabs who find the Ghazi vigilantes to be “not terrorist-y enough” for their tastes. No matter who, they are very loyal to God, and more importantly, to Imam Yusuf. Right now, he’s nominally supportive of the sultan, but the 12,000 men of the Ahzadi Brigades of martyrdom and struggle will seek paradise no matter the enemy. Currently promoting virtue in Muscat by beating unaccompanied women with rocks and burning homosexuals alive, they ride to glorious battle in the backs of pickup trucks and are big fans of car bombs.

---Major Personalities---

Hikmet Pasha

Hikmet Pasha (his title- his name is Hikmet Bektasi) is something of an enigma in Ahzadi poltics. The Vizer for foreign affairs has been remarkably bulletproof- his is one of the few ministries not headed up by a relative of the sultan. He has been in government for his entire adult life, and is always in the shadows of any Ahzadi sultan’s government. Privately, Hikmet Pasha is seeking to overthrow the sultan- and indeed, the sultanate- but he is only able to draw upon his mysterious “association” - a body of young intelligence service officers who adhere to the Yeni Ahzad movement- for support, and they alone cannot seize power. Few outside Al-Ahzad and fewer inside of it know if his ambitions, and he aims to keep it that way.

Ismet Massad

Ismet Massad has been the best general in the Ahzadi army for some time now, and has successfully defeated Peoples army troops and Bedouin insurgents on many occasions. Seeing his first combat as a young platoon leader in the early 70’s, Massad fought the AFRP until the army was driven from Sanaa. Educated in the United States, General Massad has found himself becoming more and more sidelined within the military, something that many Ahzadis assume led to his massive embezzlement of funds. This is true, but not in the sense that most people (and even the Sultan) think. A deeply patriotic and very intelligent man, General Massad has secrets that, although sitting right in the open, have been figured out by very few.

Arslan Buyruz, A.K.A “the butcher of Sanaa”

Arslan Buryuz is the son of a civil servant from the foothills of western Al-Ahzad. Sent abroad for his education, Buyruz became enamored by Marxism, and was soon active in the Ahzadi Communist party. Following government crackdowns on leftist movements, Buyruz took to the hills to form the Ahzadi Front for Revolution and Progress. Feeding off of popular resentment and armed by the communist world at large, Buyruz found himself eventually at the head of a geurilla army, which he has molded though constant ideological purges into his own personal tool. Surrounded by a very suloist cult of personality, Arslan Buruz’s mustachioed visage is everywhere in ASDPR controlled territory. After the victory at Sanaa 15 years ago, Buyruz apparently has become more and more paranoid and focused on internal enemies. Building a Sulo-esque “perfect society” has taken priority over spreading the revolution, and building the perfect society seems to involve a hell of a lot of mass executions.

Sultan Abdul Waloud abu Ahmed ibn Mehmet ibn Mohammed ibn Ali

Sultan Abdul Waloud is more or less a decadent idiot man-boy with a dash of religious fervor thrown in. First son of the previous sultan and heir of the Waloud dynasty, Sultan Waloud is a supremely self-confident man, who is (as one could expect) actually rather amoral despite his wahabi fervor (hey, an orgy isn’t sin if they’re your wives, right?). His reign has been responsible for running Al-Ahzad into the ground, and only the very one sided contracts with Roycelandian ImPetCo for Ahzadi oil keep the country in anything resembling financial solvency. Currently, the Sultan is concerned with spreading piety in Al-Ahzad, spreading world jihad and muslim solidarity, and what color he wants his third Maybach to be.

Imam Yusuf Al-Abbad

Blind in one eye and missing an arm from an Israeli air strike on his boyhood neighborhood, Imam Usuf Al-Abbad is not a well liked man. His “death to Israel” message does resonate in the middle east at large, but his “death to false leaders and the impious” tends to make him a hunted man. He has finally found refuge in Muscat, as Sultan Waloud has welcomed him with open arms and hasn’t really minded his de facto seizure of the port city. Although temporarily allied (and having great influence over) the Sultan, Imam Yusuf is growing concerned that western oil companies wield more influence over the Sultan than he does. If push comes to shove, he’ll be ready to send his martyrs to battle, but for now he’s content to sit in muscat, nitpicking koranic law to define just how much exposed wrist makes a woman a whore.

Sheikh Hassan Al-Suluf

He’d be right out of a Hollywood movie if he wasn’t so damn smelly and didn’t engage in acts of savage ethnic cleansing. Head of the Al-Suluf Bedouin tribe, one could think that he would be the natural ally of any group opposed to the sultan, but that isn’t really so. He’s concerned with one thing- the Al-Suluf tribe, and he’ll frankly do whatever the hell he wants. His tribe, and the land they live on, are damn near uncontrollable, and he wants to keep it that way. Oh, plus he’d like to kill some Al-Walouds and take their women and camels. He does have a snazzy gold-plated AK-47, though.

_____________________________________________________________________________

OOC: well, that was one hell of a writeup. I suppose I’ll post this in a couple threads because I’m so damn proud of it. I hope this gives everybody some good background on Al-Ahzad, it’s background, and it’s current state. No more plot yet- I’m already up way too late for the first day of school coming up, but more is on the way. Sorry to any nations I didn’t give a sort of shout-out to in the background, but anybody who wants to be involved can be pretty easily written in. Be you western, crazy communist, islamist, or one of those adorable African nationalist types. I’m a middle eastern studies guy, so sorry if I throw around too many terms, if you want definitions just ask.

Roycelandia

03-01-2005, 11:47

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

"You know, Wiggles, I'm supposed to be on Safari. You know, shooting dangerous animals, drinking lots, and having sex with lots of attractive wom... OW!" His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I said, as his fiancee "accidentally" spilt boiling hot coffee all over his new Safari Trousers.

"I do apologise, Your Majesty, but this is important." Wiggles handed His Majesty the folder with the background for Al-Azhad.

"This name sounds oddly familiar..."

"Well, as you may recall, Emperor Stephen II won part of present-day Yemen in a game of Poker from the Sultan in 1847, and then promptly lost most of it back to him in about 1851. He managed to keep Socotra, though, fortunately."

"Ah, thats why the name is familiar. Still, what's it got to do with me?"

"Sir Duane has classified it as an Immediate Attention item for you. He seems to think there's some potential to get involved here, even if it is on the usual "Arm the Rebels and watch the fun whilst eating popcorn and taking bets" level." Wiggles said, helping himself to a Bourbon in the process.

"I agree. Keep an eye on the situation, and automatically issue permanent residency visas to anyone from Al-Ahazad who's interested. And find me something to shoot at. The last thing that was even remotely sporting was that Crocodile, and that was only because it was chasing one of the Native Bearers when I shot it."

"I'll get right on it, your Majesty..."

OOC: I hope you don't mind the reference to Roycelandia having owned part of Yemen for a few years in the mid-19th century. I'm more than happy to change that (ie Wiggles was mistaken) if it conflicts with anything or just wasn't what you had in mind. And it looks like this could be a great RP...

United Elias

03-01-2005, 18:07

[tag]

Strathdonia

03-01-2005, 22:39

Very very good m8.
it gives me a bar to aim for (and will in all likelyhood miss).

I wouldn't worry about missing out strathdonia i would recon the actual antion to be a whole 8-10years old at msot (based on MW being at 2005+X)

Lunatic Retard Robots

04-01-2005, 03:06

Like most foreign policy affairs, except those regarding Sinoese actions terrifyingly close to Nepal, the Hindustani government doesn't know just what to do in the case of Al-Ahzad. Any favorable dissidents would have no doubt been executed by this time, and it wasn't as if Hindustan was in a position to make things happen.

After all, although serious analysts have long doubted its training levels and the maintainability of its types, Ukraine, less than a fifth the size of Hindustan, boasts an airforce about five times as large as the HAF.

And with the government's picture of anything outside the Indian Subcontinent fuzzy at best, any kind of decision on 'what to do' with Al-Ahzad would have to wait until the government built some spy sattelites.

United Elias

04-01-2005, 16:36

The Dhow heeled slightly as rudder bit the translucent, glittering waters of the Gulf of Oman, entering the old port of Muscat, flying the flag of the Sultanate and to all intents and purposes an innocous fishing vessel returning mid-morning with a catch. Figures on deck, dressed as modest fishermen working for a living, subtely watched around them as they tied up. Out of six of them, four looked distinctly arab and would probably be recognised as such, and two looked different, both of Turk-Ottoman descendancy, could have easily been Ahzadi. Using false first names and speaking only the local language, a strange dialect of Turkish that had been easier for them to learn to read write, given its Arabic originating script, than to pronounce. However they were all somewhat proficient and the group's leader, Kemal, was fluent.

Kemal deboarded first, going up the pier to negotiate the hiring of a couple of donkeys and a cart which would help them move their stores to a safehouse in the old part of the city. Returning with the animals to the dock, the others loaded up wooden crates, marked as nets and tackle, while a few dozen fish were sold to a market trader to keep up appearances.

Taking their time, and enjoying the walk up the hill from the harbour, flanked by ancient forts, they eventually reached what would pass for home for the near future. The shack was located in a very obscure alley way behind one of the main souks, and the bustling area was perfect for blending in. Inside an elederly man greeted them, he had prepared the place, and his background as a very long serving informant for Elias Intelligence made him trustworthy. The simple habitation crucially had a very discreet basement, accessed via a trap door that the crates could be stored in for the time being, while other smaller boxes were opened immediately. Within them a few AK-47SUs, mini uzis and other weapons, and more importantly bundles of Ahzadi Dinars as well as gold soverigns. The gold was a last resort as local currency would be far less noticeable and in this country it was believed more could be accomplished with a note than a bullet.

Kemal returned to the port to give back the donkeys and then he would start to scout out certain areas of the city.

OOC: What exactly is the situation in Muscat as far as polcing and security, and can I assume its under strict sharia law? Also where does Imam Al-Abbad reside and how is he protected?

Al-Ahzad

04-01-2005, 17:48

In muscat roving gangs of islamist troops from the martyrdom brigades patrol the streets occasionally shaking down anybody they don't happen to like. Security is sporadic and random, and one day life can be normal, and the next you could be shot on sight for some minor infraction. Imam Al-Abbad lives in the Grand Mosque of Muscat, protected by over 800 picked men, the hard core of well trained jihadists he brought with him to Al-Ahzad from the rest of the arab world. He's a paranoid man, and has been hunted by just about every intelligence service in the middle east for decades now. He moves often, but his schedule is determined by his schedule of lecturing and preaching at the mosque/fortress.

Raysuz

Sultan Waloud glared around the audience chamber, and nobody seemed to want to meet his gaze. The ImPetCo representatives looked praticularly uncomfortable, as their lack of any knowledge of ahzadi deprived them of any context for what happened.

Hell, all they knew is that a royal guardsman just shot a man in the head right in the middle of the marble floored courtroom. The body of the Jandarma major was being dragged away, but the household servants still knew that the sultan wasn't calm enough for them to start mopping.

In arabic, the sultan half-yelled to his assembled subordinates "This is no coincidence! First Massad and now this two-faced arrogant dog of a Jandarma commander! They come and kiss my hands and smile to the faces of the world and act so haughtily right to their sultans face!"

Al-Waloud sat back down, looking to feel slightly better about the situation now that somebody had paid.

One of the Sultan's brothers leaned closer to him "My lord" he whispered "The Jandarma is full of Yeni Ahzad followers, and we all know that General Massad was one of them, too- these Ahzadi dogs are plotting against you, brother."

Al-Waloud nodded.

"Kill General Massad right now! Disloyaltiy will no longer be tolerated!"

The Sultan turned to the assembled Army officers "you worthless pansies are all relived of your commands! I can't have cowards and traitors like you protecting the country!"

The sultan rose.

"The army is corrupt and full of traitors who plot against god, islam, and the natural order of government in Al-Ahzad! It is hereby disbanded!."

Despite the strict rules of conduct, the audience chamber broke into chaos. Hikmet Pasha walked up behind the sultan, and whispered.

"My lord, I have drawn up lists of all the traitors within the army, I can have my men deal with them tonight, if you will give the word."

The sultan nodded. "You, Hikmet, are an Ahzadi I can trust".

Raysuz state prison

Armed men opened the cell door. So this is it, thought General Massad.

One of them spoke.

"General Massad, we know all about your plan, and you're coming with us."

As they threw him in the back of the car, Hikmet Pasha smiled at the confused looking general. He spoke.

"The time has come, my general"

Hudecia

04-01-2005, 18:58

-Ottawa-

"It appears as though the government is planning to purge out a number of supposed 'dissidents' from its ranks in the next few days," Chiang, the Minister of the Interior said as he walked slowly beside MacNally down the halls of Parliament.

"A corrupt regime shooting itself in the foot," MacNally remarked. "Does it look like anyone else will get involved?"

"Not yet, seems that everyone else has their hands full elsewhere. Just like us."

"Indeed, but keep an eye on it."

Roycelandia

05-01-2005, 05:10

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

"Sir, something important just came in."

"Dammit, Wiggles, I'm busy!" came the voice over the intercom, along with the sound of female giggling in the background. Probably more than one of them, knowing His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I.

"I'm not Wiggles. I'm Philip. You know, Governor-General of Roycelandian East Africa?"

"Sorry, Philip. Look, I'll be out shortly, OK?"

Ninety minutes later

"Ok, what's up?" His Majesty asked as he walked into the Conference Room with his pants on backwards.

"The Sultan of Al-Ahzad has totally flipped out" Philip J. Fry, Governor-General of Roycelandian East Africa explained. "During a recent meeting, attended by some reps from ImPetroCo*, the Sultan randomly shot one of his underlings, fired his entire defence staff, and ordered the army disbanded. As we speak, bands of armed thugs are roaming the streets randomly bashing, shooting, and killing people who displease them. Apparently they're calling themselves... let me see here... "Martyr Brigades". Anyway, the situation isn't good at all, and it's only going to affect Oil Production, which is bad for a number of reasons, all of which are too obvious to mention here."

His Majesty nodded. "I see. What are our options?"

"With your permission, Sir, I'll turn this one over to Sir Duane. Sir Duane?"

Sir Duane Dibley, head of the super-secret IIS** rose. "Gentlemen, after reviewing the files from the field, I think we can say this has the potential to get FUBAR very, very quickly if we don't do something. The last thing we need is some crazy Imam calling a Jihad on the Imperialists or anything looney like that. Fortunately, there is something we can do to get involved here."

Sir Duane turned the lights down and switched on the Projector, then started tapping away on his Laptop.

"Now, if you see here, This... ah, crap, the sodding thing's locked up... hang on... there we go. I knew I shouldn't have got the latest XP service pack... Anyway, this is what we know about the Sultan of Al-Ahzad."

A picture and the usual salient information points appeared on the screen.

"Now, he's obviously decided that his army can't be trusted, which basically means there is now a very large, very pissed off, and very armed Angry Mob of Potential Rebels in Al-Ahzad. The last thing we want is a Military Coup, especially if it means putting some Religious Militant nutcase in power. So, here's my suggestion."

A new screen came up, showing a Bedouin Tribesman in full Arab Guard uniform, complete with Lee-Enfield rifle.

"We're going to offer to provide armed forces to protect the country from all these Traitors the Sultan is so paranoid about. The Arab Guard, for those of you that don't know, are largely the Bedouin in The Sudan, fufilling their Military Service. However, there are other Arabs in there as well. Anwyay, the point is, they're all faithful Muslims, they're not part of the Al-Azhadi political system, and most important of all, they'll be under our command just in case the situation deteriorates too far and we need to be a little more direct in our intervention."

The lights came on in the room, and everyone looked around and nodded and murmured in agreement.

"Do it." His Majesty said.

The next day, the head of ImPetroCo's Al-Azhad delegation requested a meeting with the Sultan to formally offer His Majesty's support, and discreetly suggested that the Arab Guard might be ideal for preventing the "Traitors and failures of His Excellency's former Army" from getting any ideas about a Coup or otherwise, and that His Excellency The Sultan could always count on his friends in Roycelandia to help out in any way they could...

*Imperial Petroleum Company, the huge and very wealthy Roycelandian Oil Conglomerate

**Imperial Intelligence Service. Despite their vital role, they're very secretive and have managed to convince most people they don't actually exist. They're a cross between MI5/MI6 and MOSSAD, and are very good at what they do. They also have contacts and eyes in a mind-boggling number of places, but as with anything, they're only as good as their intel...

Kanendru

05-01-2005, 05:46

As of today, the People's Republic of Kanendru has become the first sovreign state to recognize the ASDPR as a legitimate governing entity (though the Kathmandu government probably isn't recognized by many itself outside of Beth Gellert and the Shinging Sphere of Co-Prosperity). Direct actions in support of one faction, side, or another in the country is pretty much a non-starter; Kanendruns are of either Indo-Aryan or Tibeto-Burman stock and would most likely stick out like a sore thumb anywhere they went, drawing unncessary attention.

Nevertheless, the CPK(M) has tentatively pursued contacts with the Yeni Azhad movement, viewing them as a progressive bulwark against religious fanaticism and offering them what aid there is to be had should they accept it; which is little, save that Kanendru is remote and a good place for somone or someones to hide and train, and is awash in excess small arms.

To placate the progressive nationalist forces who may not approve of the ASDPR's existance, the PRK has indicated it would be amenable to reunification talks between the two states so long as they are in good faith and the Communists are given a decent role in any negotiated settlement. Given that the Communists in control of the Kanendru People's Council have come out vocally against the monarchy, referring to them as "reactionary crypto fascists", the People's Republic could at the very least be regarded by the YA and others as an "enemy of my enemy"...

(Note: CPK(M) = Communist Party of Kanendru (maoist). Kanendru's location = RL Nepal)

Al-Ahzad

05-01-2005, 10:09

Ahzadi desert, some 70 kilometers north-west of Raysuz

The Convoy kept moving- three black suburbans and a BMW. Inside the luxury car sat a old main with one hell of a paunch who hadn't shaved for a couple days, and a ragged looking man in Ahzadi military uniform. In front were two alert-looking young men, one driving, one cradling a carbine.

"These men- they will be loyal to you? Your credibility has taken a beating, General. The sultan has framed better men than you or I for crimes far worse than stealing hundreds of millions of dinars. You did take that money, general, and all of Al-Ahzad knows that."

General Massad looked up, ending what appeared to be a two-hour game of "stare at the floor"

"My men will follow me."

"You know, General, you have been doing a very good job of never telling me what you did with all that money. I've looked into it. No villas, no private fortunes, even no huge bank account as far as my association can tell. You either hid it very well or have done something.....else with it, haven't you? Something like, say, buy off the Ahzadi army?"

General Massad glared at Hikmet.

"I am not a corrupt man, Hikmet Pasha. Perhaps in your decades in that vipers nest of a palace you have forgotten that some men act out of honor. You will see that when we get where we are going."

Hikmet raised his eyebrows at that. General Massad was not going to have him killed. Hikmet made sure the general knew that Hikmet's wife and children were also in the custody of his men. That sounded meaner than it actually ways- Hikmet had rescued them from what was probably a grizzly fate at the hands of the royal guard- and he doubted very much that he would have to kill them. For some reason, he trusted General Massad.

About an hour later, the car stopped, and somebody knocked at the window.

Main Gate, Sultan Selim Yavuz Barracks

Private Inonu rapped on the window of the BMW.

"Sir, I must see your military ID"

Inside the car, Hikmet Pasha looked very surprised at the sight of a young, clean-shaven Ahzadi soldier with something approaching a clean uniform on. Hikmet realized where all that stolen money had gone.

General Massad was very angry, having realized that upon his arrest, his military ID has been taken.

Ten minutes late

"Godammit, soldier, do you know who I am? Do you know that the Sultan has disbanded the army and is mobilizing the national force to crush us? Do you know that he's probably begging the roycelandians for help? I NEED IN THIS BASE"

Massad was red-faced.

"Sir! This soldier's orders are to not allow anybody into the base who does not have valid Military identification from the 3rd division, sir!"

Massad almost began to fly into another rage, but then he realized what was happening. An Ahzadi soldier was following orders, obeying the letter of the regulations even in the face of those personally powerful enough to crush him.

Hikmet broke the silence by stepping forwards and giving the sentry a card, which the sentry examined before handing back.

"Grand Vizer, you're authorized to enter and bring General Massad with you into the base."

As they got back in the car, the private spoke up again.

"General- I knew it was you, sir- but you always said that orders were orders."

"I know" replied Massad.

Sultan Selim Yavuz Barracks

Hikmet Pasha was impressed; very impressed. More that a little bit awed he whispered.

"So this is where all the money went....."

"Most of the officer corps thought I was running a heroin smuggling operation out here. It was a good cover for all the cargo flights" Massad shrugged. "let them think what they will."

Hikmet Pasha felt really, truely optimistic for the first time in decades. He leaned forwards as he spoke.

"General Massad, you may have saved this nation."
________________________________________________________________

OOC: What General Ismet Massad has been doing for several years now is, in essence, shunting a good chunk of the tiny military budget into one unit: the 3rd army division. Disillusioned by the endemic corruption in the military and the lack of any progress against the ASDPR, his scheme began as a way to win the war, but over the years became much more than that. The 3rd Division is his pet project, a sort of living fragment of the Al-Ahzad that once was. As time went on, more and more of the "regulars" faction in the officer corps slipped away from their units to join him in the re-building of his division. As the years progressed and the scale of the operation grew, many Yeni Ahzad junior officers were either selected for or sought out General Massads unit. All knew that he was a man with great love of Al-Ahzads more secular, modern and western past, and they knew the 3rd was the most coherent unit in the army, but few knew the true scale of things.....

Overview

Over the last 7 years, the re-routed money has been spent upon western advisors and mechanics, key spare parts, new weapons, and an intense training program to turn the 3rd division into the best unit in Al-Ahzad, and the equal of any in the world. Drawing on old stocks of equipment, and repairing and upgrading them with the help of western corporations and private contractors, the 3rd division is everything a modern army division should be. At all tactical levels, it's officers are comptetent, dedicated, and independent-minded. It's mechanics and support personell are well-educated and competent, and it's enlisted men are disciplined and well-trained. The 3rd division has met and surpassed all training standards of the pre-decline Ahzadi regular army. Trained in secret in remote desert bases, what was at first to be a secret weapon to end Al-Ahzad's civil war turned into one of the last bastions of order (as well as the largest organized group of Yeni Ahzad adherents) in the nation.

Organization

The 3rd division comprises some 18,000 men organized into three brigades (Orta in Ahzadi), plus an artillery reigment, support formations and an aviation brigade.

The combat brigades consist of two 5,000 man mechanized infantry brigades and one 3,500 man armor brigade.

A signals company, headquarters company, intelligence platoon, MP company, and three motor-transport companies comprise the divisional support assets (i.e. those not already rolled into the brigades)

Divisional air defense is provided by the Air Defense battalion, which fields 8 Roland mobile SAM launchers and and 12 tracked AA guns based off of the M60 Patton chassis.

The aviation birgade provides the division with some 12 Cobra attack helicopters, as well as some 36 UH-1 transport choppers.

Equipment

The 3rd division is equipped primarily with equipment from old Ahzadi stockpiles- that is to say, 1970's era western equipment, refurbished, repaired, and in some cases, upgraded.

For it's armored brigade, the 3rd uses the venerable M60A1 Patton tank, albiet modified with a modern fire control system, more advanced night vision equipment, new radios, and in many cases, reactive armor.

The mechanized infantry brigades use the M113 APC as their standby, with French AMX-13 light tanks and AML armored cars providing a bit of punch to the units.

Infantry equipment consists of FN-FAL rifles, mostly american kit, and Ahzadi-built copies of the old german MG-42 chambered for 7.62 NATO ammunition. Anti-tank platoons are equipped with the Milan antitank guided missile, and (obsolete) blowpipe shoulder fired SAM's appear in a very few units.

The artillery regiment is equipped early model american M109 self-propelled 155mm guns.

All told, the division fields 12,000 combat infantrymen, 200 tanks, 54 artillery pieces, 48 helicopters, and 20 air defense systems. The men that use or crew these weapons are dedicated, loyal to their country and General Massad, and have been trained to a standard equal to that of any western nation. Man-for-man, they are the best soldiers anywhere in Al-Ahzad, and among the best in the entire middle east.
________________________________________________________________

"Listen to me, General- we have men inside the palace. The Sultan has disbanded the army and looks to be preparing to purge the jandarma. My men don't know for sure, but it looks like the sultan is waffling between calling in Roycelandian arab units or calling on Imam Al-Abbad to restore order, and we damn well know that he's already distributing weapons to the National Force and placing royalist officers in charge of it. I've also recieved word that Al-Walouf tribal fighters are being moved to Rayuz, although those are just rumors."

General Massad knew what was coming, and as much as it pained him to realize it, he agreed with Hikmet.

The Grand Vizer spoke softly:

"General, you have to act."

Raginsheep

05-01-2005, 12:29

- Raginsheep Military Intelligence -
“Captain, we’re receiving reports of something big happening in Al-Ahzad.”
“What do we know at the moment?”
“Not a lot. From what our sources are telling us, apparently the Sultan decided to chuck a spazo and dismissed the whole military.”
“Wait, this is that crack-pot regime we picked up last time using fireworks as artillery shells is it?”
“Yeah, it’s the same one.”
“…Its probably nothing. What assets do we have on the ground? When can we start to get a clearer picture?”
“Umm…we got two men in the lower levels of government and we also had that trade delegation that was supposed to their Foreign Affairs boss tomorrow. We’ll probably get a clear picture in the morning.”

Suddenly a phone rings.

“Captain Marshal here.”
“Yes General, we’ve received some reports from Al-Ahzad.”
“I understand.”
“Yes sir.”

He hangs the phone down.

“Well kiddo, apparently the top brass is interested in this one. Keep me posted.”

United Elias

05-01-2005, 13:38

"Minister Sir, Sorry to disturb you, urgent news from the FIB (Federal Intelligence Bureau)."

Ibrahim Zibari, Minister of Defence, yawned as his late morning lie in was so rudely disturbed. "Tell me."

"Its Al-Azhad, the Sultan has apparently ordered the exeuction of General Massad."

"Not suprising, anything else?"

"Well, we have a prison guard on the payroll there and apparently the vizier has released the General."

"The Vizier disobeying the Sultan, this could be interesting....where did they go?" His eyes perked up considerably, there was nothing more satisfying than seeing Al-Azhad face internal dissent.

"We don't know, apparently a convoy was seen living to the North West of the capital, out into the desert."

"Well General Massad is a smart man, unfortunately we have crossed paths, our nation and him, too many times in the past." His mind threw back to the late 1980s confrontation with Al-Azhad the latest in a string of border skirmishes, he had himself been involved, flying close air support missions, taking out a lot of their tanks.

"Apparently there is a base round there for the third division, by all accounts a typical Al-Ahzad army unit, underpaid, undertrained and badly led."

"Well, If he's heading out there, he may be trying to gather men for a coup, especially if the Vizier is involved, can we get satellite pictures?"

"Not until tommorrow, we would have to retask one of them for that."

"Recon flight?"

"If you authorise it."

"Authorised, and organise a meeting with the President as soon as you have something."

"Yes Sir."

______________________________________

Two hours later, an RF-111 Photographic Reconnaissance Aircraft, tucked under radar cover, flew straight into Al-Azhad airspace. The crew using terrain following radar to steer at close to Mach 1, straight through wadi canyons and desert valleys. Flying a zig-zagging route to use the topograhy to best advantage they approached an isolated point near Habarut, climbing for a minute, exposing their airframe at the same time as switching on the film.

Roycelandia

05-01-2005, 14:12

On board the IRNS Boothroyd, somewhere in the Gulf of Aden

"Sir, message for you from the Admiralty" saluted the young officer as he handed the decoded message to the Captain.

***AUTHENTICATION CODE 2Q4B HIGHEST PRIORITY***

FROM: ADMIRALTY
TO: BOOTHROYD

Situation in Al-Ahzad deteriorating. Re-deploy to Raysuz immediately and with all haste. Al-Ahzadi authorities are expecting you. Await further instructions in Raysuz. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

***MESSAGE ENDS***

The Captain put the message down. "Tell sparks to send an acknowledgement message. Conn, full speed ahead. New Course setting for Raysuz, Al-Ahzad."

"Aye Aye, Sir."

With that, the enormous Dreadnought began to turn to Starboard, making for the city of Raysuz. At full speed, they could be there in probably 5 hours or so, although quite what they were supposed to do when they got there was anyone's guess.

"Radar Contact, Sir!" a voice called over the intercom about 3 hours later. "Unidentified Air... No, cancel that. IFF beacons show three Imperial Air Force Aircraft, One C-130J, one Sunderland, one C-47. Course appears to be Al-Ahzad, ETA 50 minutes at current speed and heading. Code name is SKYTRAIN... we have confirmation from Port Imperial. Aircraft took off from Port Sudan about an hour and a half ago."

"Raise them on the Radio."

"This is the IRNS Boothroyd calling SKYTRAIN, do you copy? Over."

"Boothroyd, this is SKYTRAIN TWO, we see you. Looks like we're all going to a party at the same house, huh? Looks like it will be fun. Hope the seas aren't too rough."

"They're fine, SKYTRAIN TWO. Should be there in about two hours. Hope you brough enough for everyone."

"Don't worry, you're invited too. See you there, Boothroyd. SKYTRAIN TWO Over and Out."

"Good luck, SKYTRAIN. See you in a few hours. Transmission Ends."

Some of the crew on the Boothroyd watched as the aircraft flew overhead, with the Sunderland waggling it's wings in the traditional greeting before the planes vanished over the horizon in the direction of Al-Ahzad.

"I have a feeling this is going to be big, Butters" The Captain mused out loud. "Issue everyone a tot of Rum. Most of the Arab places are dry, and it might be the last drink they get for a while."

"Right away, Sir."

Hudecia

05-01-2005, 16:00

-Ottawa-

"A Roycelandian dreadnought is moving towards Al-Ahzad, it seems that they may become involved in this mess after all." Chiang reported dutifully to MacNally the next morning.

"What kind of assets do we have in the region?" MacNally paused before saying this.

"None to speak of. Our naval assets are currently under repair or deployed to Indonesia."

"How about airlift capacity?"

"We could do the same thing that we did in Korea, acquisitioning airlines to fly lightly armed troops in, but our armed forces are stretched thin, 10 000 in Borneo, 54 000 in Korea. We can't sustain another long term deployment."

Al-Ahzad

05-01-2005, 17:00

Raysuz

The young man was one of the many anonymous twentysomething types in the turtleneck sweater and web gear that was the unofficial uniform of Hikmet Pasha's association (they also made you look like a world war two british commando, which was kickass). His fellow intelligence offciers were holed up in this apartment building. Crawling to the edge of the roof, he flipped up the scope covers on his M14 and gazed out at the street.

The rioting had started at Raysuz State as engineering students (the only real area where yeni ahzad types were tolerated) as soon as General Massad was arrested. That soon turned into an all-out brawl with islamist students, and eventually Ghazi militias became involved. At the moment, sporadic gunfire was breaking out over the campus.

That wasn't the young man's problem, however. When the army was disbanded, the city had gone bezerk, with huge demonstrations turning violent. It had got really bad once it became clear that Major Dirim, the commander of the Raysuz area jandarma had been killed. Mobs stop carrying signs and started carrying firebombs and rifles. In some areas, absent any other target, they had simply begun lynching any arab they could find.

The Royal Guard had a heavy cordon around the palace, and had no reservations about shooting down the mobs, so that area was a no-go right now, but National Force troops led by Royalist officers from the now-former army (the state radio was babbling about something called the "new defense forces") were guarding key facilities.

One of the keys to understanding any arab unit- and this goes for all of them- is that without leaders, they will stand and fight, but they will almost never attack the young man remembered the long-ago lesson by the israeli officer if you cut off the head, the body will do nothing.

In the scope, the young man picked out the rotund colonel commanding the national force militia around the TV station. Exhaling, he pulled the trigger.

The Line

The gunfire had died down in the office buildings in the middle of the fort. All officers belonging to the frontiersmen faction were in custody, and all the royalists were dead. The early-30's major grabbed the microphone of the base PA system:

"The troops of western sector command stand loyal to Al-Ahzad, the army, and General Massad! If the communists come, we will slaughter them, if the bedouin comes, we will slaughter them, if the sultan's men come we will slaughter them!"

Cheers rang out across the base.

Jandarma HQ

Men ran everywhere. Major Dirin was dead, the city was in chaos, and nobody knew what the hell was happening. In the absense of orders, the jandarma were boarding up the tiny windows of their fortress-like local stations and simply waiting. They weren't about to break up mobs of their fellow Ahzadis protesting on their behalf, but they weren't about to join them, either. The smooth-running command chain of the jandarma, in the absense of any clear commanding authority, was running on auto-pilot, and making itself ready.

Muscat

Imam Al-Abbad was furious as he preached at the grand mosque.

"The Sultan has called upon infidels, imperialists, and jews to maintain his corrupt grip on power! The decadent reject him while even he himself hides in the palace with his whores. This nation has fallen from the path of piety, and our city must remain an island of purity! Brothers, my fighters, my men of courage, you must show the faithless Ahzadis the fury of god!"

The ranks of men in green headbands lifted their rifles as one and chanted

"We give our blood and lives for you Imam, we give our lives to god and jihad!"

______________________________________________________-

Raysuz

Hikmet Pasha's intelligence service was hard at work arming the Yeni Ahzad mobs that have taken to the streets against the much better equipped national force and ghazi militias. Drawing on private stockpiles and jandarma armories, they begin to arm pre-selected groups of students and Yeni Ahzad organizations in labor unions. More and more, the young and disposessed are carrying FN-FAL's and taking potshots at the national force.

Elsewhere in the city.....

This operation was the first of it's kind, but it would not be the last. Running into the mob, he gave one allahu akbar! before he hit the detonator, setting off the bomb in his backpack in the middle of the demonstration.

at the TV station...

The young man ejected the clip from his M14, and began to gather his gear. The mob had overrun the National Force militia (with help from association agents) and now it was time to make sure that once it was out of the wrong hands, the TV station started doing what it was supposed to do. With any luck, the Sultan will simply flee once Al-Ahzad at large knows General Massad lives.

Roycelandia

06-01-2005, 01:52

Raysuz Harbour

The scene that the IRNS Boothroyd arrived to could only be described as "Organised Chaos" in the harbour. A Sunderland Flying Boat was moored at one of the piers, and there were around 25 Arab soldiers in Desert Camouflage unloading the plane and trying to make sure no-one stole anything.

The Arabs were from the Imperial Foreign Legion, and were carrying an assortment of weapons- FN-FALs, Pump-Action Shotguns, AKSU-74s, Tommy Guns- whatever had been closest to hand when the "Immediate Action" order had been received.

The Boothroyd had anchored in Raysuz Harbour, whilst the Launch was deployed to take the XO and some of the crew to meet up with the Foreign Legionnaires and Al-Ahzadi forces on the dock.

"So, what's the good news?" Asked the XO, who quickly realised he and the sailors were the only Non-Arabs on the dock.

"Allah was most kind in his provision of smooth seas to aid your crossing. We are truly blessed" said the IFL Lt, who's name badge said "Mahoud".

"Er... quite" said the XO, as one of the Al-Ahzadi soldiers moved away from the group.

"OK, he's gone" said Mahoud. "Basically, it's a shitfight. Civil War. Something about a rebel general, the army's been disbanded... not good. Anyway, there are another 80 Legionnaires that have been deployed to Raysuz Airport, and we haven't heard from them since they said they were on final approach for landing. There are Angry Mobs everywhere, and they're not to keen on Europeans, so I strongly suggest you stay on your ship unless the Sultan formally invites you to come ashore, ie off these docks."

"Oh dear" said the XO, looking at the strange looks he was getting from the Al-Ahzadis.

Mahoud said something to them in Arabic, and they shrugged and went back to work.

"We've got to get back to work. Good luck, lads."

"Likewise."

The two men saluted, and the Launch returned to the Boothroyd. The first Roycelandian military assests had arrived...

United Elias

06-01-2005, 01:58

Baghdad

The President sat in the usual position, slouched back in his big chair listening to the talking heads of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the jingoistic generals, and the intellectuals of the intelligence service, each with different opinions. He leaned forward and tapped the mahonagy table with his hand, causing instant silence.

"Okay everyone, it is my understanding that from those intelligence photographs, we can see the third division is General Massad's personal army, well trained, well motivated and comparitively well equipped. The Sultan meanwhile is being propped up by Royalist remnants of the army, bedouins, arabs etc and is losing the support of Al-Azhadis rapidly. Now, it is government policy to do everything in our power to annoy the Sultan of Al-Azhad, however in this instance we would be cutting of our nose to spite our face. We may not like him, but he is incompetent and a General Massad regime would no doubt involve military rearmament. Therefore we must assist the Sultan while at the same time keeping the country as a whole weak, and therefore not a threat."

The Foreign Minister interjected, "Sir, the Sultan would never let us in, I mean given our record, there's no way he'd trust us. Secondly a bunch of Arab and Jews arriving to shore up the Sultan would turn every Azhadi against him that isn't already..."

Ibrahim Zibari, Minister of Defence interrupted, "Mr. President, what if we strike the 3rd Division. Its nothing to do with supporting the Sultan, but removing a military threat to our nation, weakening Massad's chance of getting into power and if he still manages to, his programme of rearmament is setback a little. Its win-win in my opinion."

The President sat back in a characteristic thoughtful pause. "Could we keep it small scale."

"Yes of course, one sortie of strike jets layign down some precision munitions on the barracks facilities, severely hamper their ability to involve themselves in the coup. Air defences are SHORAD only, if we fly above 20,000, there's no risk, unless of course the Al-Azhad Air Force responds." A laugh broke out after his last comment.

"Its decided, that will be our course of action, when do we go?"

"Planes in the air right after dusk."

"Okay do it, inform Roycelandia just when the planes enter Al-Ahzad airspace, bare facts only, do not give any explanation, let them come to their own conclusions. Tell them to keep this quiet though."

Sixty Miles North of Sultan Selim Yavuz Barracks

Captain Rifaat El-Said always dreaded being on the strike alert rotation, which normally involved sitting in the officer's mess playing cards all day, however today had been different, there had been a call, and he had most certainly answered it. The fact that the target was Al-Azhad made the mission sweeter still. Now, eight planes, Alpha and Bravo flights of the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron which flew EA-160C (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=279916) Strike Fighters cruised at the leisurely height of 27,000ft, high above any reported air defences, but probably visible on some Al-Ahzadi radar, not that it mattered.

His Weapon Systems Officer confirmed they were approaching the release point, a full forty nautical miles from the barracks, and the other planes rolled their wings in succesion, confirmation that their weapons were ready, radio silence being in effect. Then without any human involvement, the launch computer released munitions from the weapn hardpoints in quick succesion, matched perfectly to pre-programmed GPS co-ordinates. This anti-climax over, El-Said banked for home, left only to imagine what damage his cargo would inflict.

A total of sixty-four EAW-38 (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=318951) glide bombs manouvred themselves onto the correct trajectories, the twenty 'C' version anti-tank munitions programmed to raid down on the vehicle parks, and the rest fuel-air explosive 'D' versions, targeted at personnel barracks, communications buildings and ammunition dumps. The Third divison was about to experience the light of day and heat of hell simultaneously in the dead of night.

Lunatic Retard Robots

06-01-2005, 02:38

OCC: Kanendru! Good to see you back! I now border you, after I switched from Russia to a slice of India. It appears that you might be the avenue through which Sinoese forces plan to invade Bedgellen/Hindustani (LRR) India in an upcoming RP. Just FYI.

IC:

Off the coast of Al-Ahzad, a periscope peeks above the waves, attached to the HNS Ahmadabad, a Shishumar-class D/E attack submarine.

Sent to 'keep tabs on things,' the ship breaks the surface after determining the area all clear of threats. Several crewmembers get out on the deck, one equipped with a Starstreak HVM shoulder-fired missile, the others with Sterling L2A2 SMGs or L4A4 Bren IB LMGs, such weapons displaying the large extent to which the military relies on England for small-arms, although the majority of land vehicles, ships, and aircraft, and their associated weapons and sensor systems, are produced domestically or copied from Bedgellen examples.

The submarine sits just outside of Ahzadi territorial waters, and the captain surveys the coast and surrounding shipping with a hefty set of binoculars, looking for fishing boats to pull up to.

Meanwhile, the Hindustani government contacts the Kanendru establishment about the possible shipment of humanitarian aid and medical teams into rebel-held areas, as it is believed that, with the Nepalese government in a position to sway the ASDPR, Hindustani sources could provide a much better standard of living through the construction and maintainance of infrastructure projects.

Al-Ahzad itself, however, is not contacted. It is deemed too unstable to start major humanitarian operations in that particular part of the country as of yet.

Hudecia

06-01-2005, 05:50

-Ottawa-

"The situation has worsened significantly since the last report, with riots and general disorder commonplace."

MacNally studied the report handed to him by Chiang.

"Well, what do you think we should do?"

Chiang was taken aback, she usually wasn't asked for her input on major policy decisions. "Well, Al-Ahzad could prove to be an important ally, but we must become more aware about this Massad and his positions. We have some Bedouin agents, perhaps we could ask them to do us this favour."

Al-Ahzad

06-01-2005, 06:23

Sultan Selim Yavuz Barracks

The AA guns were blazing away into the night in a move that more helped the morale of the men than anything else. The gunners were trained and knew the attackers were long gone, but they had to do something.

General Massad, now wearing fatigues, stalked around in the open air. Screaming at his headquarters staff to get things back together.

The division was well on it's way to mobilizaiton when the UE airstrike hit, having started when General Massad was arrested, but that proved to be a mixed blessing. The vehicle parks were at least 2/3rds empty, and the barracks were deserted, but things weren't as rosy as they seemed.

3rd mechanized infantry brigade was already on the road on Raysuz, the but a good part of the 1st armored brigade, the 2nd mechanized brigade, and two of the artillery battalions were still in their assembly areas when the strike hit.

The large open spaces outside of the base were currently fields full of burned and gutted M113's and M60A1's filled with the bodies of over 900 ahzadi mechanized infantrymen. Spare parts for the AFV's were 70% destroyed, and the division was thrown into chaos. In addition, most of the casualties were among support personell, which while not harming the division right off the bat, would deeply affect their operations in the weeks to come.

3rd mechanized brigade is fine, and the armored brigade has been through the equivalent of a hard-fought armored battle, but the 2nd brigade is combat-ineffective with around 20% of it's men dead and it's mobility severely hampered by the destruction of the fuel dumps. By the time it's re-organized and enough equipment is salvaged, it'll probably have to drop the "mechanized" from it's name.

The UE airstrikes will have their greatest effect felt in the coming months. If the 3rd division experiences prolonged combat involving manuver warfare, it will quickly degrade to the state of the rest of the Ahzadi army unless some new logistical base can be found.

_____________________________________________________________

"Okay." General Massad spoke to the 300 assembled men in the hangar. "It's time for plan B. The 2nd mechanized brigade is more or less gone, but the 3rd and the better part of the first armored are en route to their objectives. They won't get there for at least a day, though, and Hikmet Pasha has informed me that the Roycelandians are putting bedouin troops ashore."

He paused and pointed to the map behind him.

"I had intended to lead the division in a seizure of the city center by force, but it looks like that isn't going to happen, and even if we were at full stregnth, I still would be uneasy with city fighting, but as it stands a prolonged city battle is out of the question. Instead, we go to plan B. The roycelandian interference has pushed the cards in our favor, and a few fence-sitters are now siding with us. It's improvised, and it's rough, but you are the best men in the best division in this army, and you are damn well going to do it. Let's mount up, men."

The UH-1's outside started their engines with a whine. They had no more spare parts, and little fuel, but they didn't need to get far. Just to Raysuz.

Al-Ahzad

06-01-2005, 06:47

Sanaa

As dawn breaks over the battered 3rd division, People's Marshal Buyruz awakens to news that street battles are raging between at least 3 very loosely grouped factions in Raysuz.

He's had a plan for just such an occasion.

__________________________________________

The Scud missiles were not accurate, but they didn't need to be. Lancing upwards, they sailed through the air, ending their arc in the city center of Raysuz. Killing several hundred Ahzadis and contributing to the growing chaos. Everybody knew what they were. They were a signal.

The ASDPR was moving.

____________________________________________

The Line

The young major lowered his binoculars.

"This isn't fair" he whispered.

"it's my first goddamn day"

The major had taken control of the "corps" (10,000 men with no significant armor or training is a corps now?) the previous day as the men shot their offciers and joined the insurrection. They'd vowed to fight the sultan, but this was much, much worse. On the scrubby plain in front of him, the ASDPR lines bustled with dust clouds and the sounds of engines. They were getting ready to leave the emplacements they had sat in for over a decade. Raising the binoculars again, he could see the T-55's starting to charge forwards, forming up into a very very clumsy attempt at a soviet style multi-echelon attack.

Inventory: this fortification had 2,000 men, with 6 armored cars and 4 M60 tanks, two of which were little more than bunkers. General Massad's helicopters had transported in milan anti-tank missiles the previous day, but the major wondered if they would be enough. Once they ran out, that was it, and with the UE strike on the supply dump, no more would be coming. Once they were gone, it was late 1940's antitank guns, ancient bazookas, and satchel charges.

But the fort held the pass.

And the pass led to the highway.

And the highway led to Raysuz.

If they didn't hold the People's Army, then all the talk of "new ahzad" and revolution was just acedemic. If the ASDPR won, it was all over.

His angst was interrupted by the scream of the first artillery rounds.

______________________________________________

With the 4th peoples army motor-rifle division, east of Sanaa

Arslan smiled to himself. Around him stood a sea of soldiers, cheering him as he rode atop the T-55. The army is in rebellion, the sultan is cowering alone with his guards, and soon the revolution will envelop the whole nation.

He waved to the men. How they loved their leader. Aah, the officers, now that was another matter, they had to be watched. His republican guard division was back in Sanaa- but they were loyal. Granted, sending four of his six divisions against the line made a lot of military sense, but having them all in once place made them much easier to control.....

Enough of that, he thought. I have a nation to free.

Standing atop the turret, he spoke into the megaphone as the cameras rolled.

"My socialist brothers around the world! The decadent and corrupt old order has collapsed upon itself! Religious fanatics make a festival of ignorace as they kill civilians, imperialist stooges cower in their palaces while the bougouise army seeks civil war to justify it's own existance! The whole of the Ahazdi nation has seen decline and corruption, but not the Ahzadi Socialist Democratic Peoples Republic! We have founded a nation based on just rule, the people, and the nation! Join us, comrades- of all nations- the revolution calls!"

Roycelandia

06-01-2005, 11:51

Port of Raysuz

The arrival of the IRNS Saltwater had been good news... 632 Arab Guard had been on board, and had been offloading for most of that day.

Marching through the streets of Raysuz in their uniforms and robes, with bayonets fixed to their Lee-Enfield rifles, the Arab Guard were quite an impressive sight to behold. They also had orders not to fire unless fired upon, at least until they knew what was going on. After liasing with the appropriate Al-Ahzadi officers/NCOs, the Arab Guard took up strategic positions in and around the city.

The Imperial Foreign Legion had secured the airport without too much hassle, as the Al-Ahzadis knew to expect them. Within four hours, a squadron if IAe Spitfire ground attack aircraft was landing at the airport.

Not many people knew that Roycelandia had a Fighter Squadron of Arabs (in fact, they had at least three), but their arrival in Al-Ahzad would certainly help the beleagured Sultan. Two hours after landing, four of the Spitfires were airborne, performing an Aerial Reconnaisance of the area and generally proving to the populace that there was still someone defending them...

The SCUD attack on the city caught everyone unaware, but realising the SCUDs only had a limited range, a pair of Spitfires was scrambled to find the Launch Sites ASAP, so that the IRNS Boothroyd could take them out with long-range gunnery or SSMs... At the very least, the attack needed to be answered, if only to show the various rebel factions that there was still opposition and this wouldn't be nearly as easy as they thought...

Meanwhile, the ROYCESTAR IV spy satellite was moving into position to provide as much intel as possible on the situation.

Roycelandian East Africa's close proximity to Al-Ahzad was helping with the rapid deployment of troops, but sooner or later people were going to find out what was going on... then the Propaganda War would begin. For now, though, the most important task was to get troops deployed and ready to go as fast as possible...

Hudecia

06-01-2005, 15:32

-Desert in Al-Ahzad-

Mohammed led his camel loaded with supplies and water up and down the dunes of sand. The Roycelandian strikes on Massad's base had given him the direction he needed to find and try to contact this Massad character. He stopped at one dune seeing the smoke rising from the destroyed vehicles.

His two sons peered over their camels at the smoke as well. Both of them had antique rifles strapped to their backs, as did Mohammed. In the distance, the UH-1s could be seen flying off.

The group would look no differently than a typical Bedouin group, should anyone ask them what they were doing, they would say that they were there to salvage what parts they could from the military equipment. After all, this was just a poor, illiterate Bedouin with his two sons.

If he could meet Massad, he would give a different story.

Lunatic Retard Robots

07-01-2005, 02:07

By daylight, the Ahmadabad can be seen through binoculars, puttering into Raysuz harbor at a stately ten knots.

The submarine flies the flag of the HN, a blue anchor on a white background, with the Hindustani national flag displayed in the corner. Numerous crewmembers stand on the deck, armed with various types of weaponry but mostly milling about, and trying not to slip off.

They had recieved orders the previous night, after surfacing, to proceed to Raysuz and determine the harbor's capacity to hold Hindustani cargo ships bearing humanitarian aid. After all, war more often than not had the adverse effect of destroying infrastructure, and it is always best to be prepared.

The captain's reaction to the Roycelandian capital ships is one of indifference. He could care less if it was six dreadnaughts. Numerous skirmishes against imperial powers had taught the HN that even the most expensive ships could be brought down by a well-aimed torpedo or capable anti-ship missile.

Al-Ahzad

07-01-2005, 17:08

Sultan Selim Yavuz Barracks

The sun was coming up after the long, brutal night at the base. The air was smoky with the fires that were still burning at the fuel depot. The men, however, had assumed a new mantra- "fuck it, drive on". The mission had to keep going.

On the main parade ground, the UH-1's were idling, three dozen of them waiting as the men they would carry streamed out of the assembly areas. They were the best 300 men in the 3rd division.

General Massad ran with them, smiling with a giddy exuberance despite the horrific events of the past few weeks. He felt young again, as if he'd been taken back to his youth and in a sense he was. The last time he'd seen this sort of operation was at....hell, fort bragg? it was during his training in the US, in any case.

"chabuk! chabuk!" NCO's were screaming it as they waved their men into the assigned choppers. The first ones were already taking off, kicking up huge clouds of dust. The noice was deafening.

It was like something out of an American movie.

______________________________________________________________

Raysuz

Sultan Waloud was not all too happy as he stared out at the city.

"How soon will Wazzef get here?"

That was the question he'd been repeating ever since the damn rioting started. Smoke was rising from the city from the ASDPR missile strikes, unfought. Sultan Waloud had been told that was because the armed student militias were attacking firefighters. In reality, it was because the Raysuz fire department was funding a villa somehwere near toulon for a distant cousin of his.

Waloud was correct, however, to worry about Wazzef, his brother. He was marching south with over 2,000 Al-Walouf tribal fighters. The royal guard had been dispatched with their helicopters to begin to ferry them in from the interior to speed up the process. Once they were here and the rest of the roycelandian bedouin troops- fine men, men the sultan could respect- were here, he would have a large enough force to re-assert control of the city.

A sound was growing in the distance. Helicopters.

"aah, good- wazzef is here!"

The sultan was elated, and the bedouin commanders and royalist officers around him grinned.

Then the first rockets hit.

____________________________________________________________

36 UH-1's and 12 cobra gunships fly low to Raysuz, carrying 300 handpicked men. Sweeping over the city, they appear to be the airborne elements of the royal guard the Sultan dispatched to the interior. Passing over the city, to the surrounded and barricaded palace complex (a district of sprawling villas, large gardens, and a series of old walls that make it an excellent defensive position).

The cobra attack helicopters take up station, hovering as the UH-1's swoop in over the expansive gardens of the palace. As the UH-1's sweep in, the Cobras saturate the Royal Guard barricades with sheets of unguided rockets, emptying their pods before moving on to put TOW missiles through key strongpoints and the few armored vehicles the royal guard has. Their mission completed, they soon depart.

______________________________________________________________

Inside the Royal Palace

The young man had been fighting for a week or so. This wasn't exactly his job, it was too unsubtle, too brutal, but it had to be done and he was trained, so he did it.

But this, this was more like it. They had come in the service entrance. By now they were all trusted men, trusted enough as palace help to enter during all this chaos. It's not like any of the guards could get suspicious, either, because the silenced pistol the young man carried had taken care of that.

Now there were 20 of them, crouching in the kitchen. They wore tactical harnesses over grey turtleneck sweaters. They looked like students that a swat team had thrown their gear at, and in a sense that was true. The men checked their uzi's and FN-FAL's.

"You know what we have to do, and you know it isn't pretty. Spare nobody. The bloodline must die"

He pulled the charging handle on his FAL.

"Let's go"

The men moved, and gunfire broke out in the marbled halls of the palace.

_______________________________________________________

The gardens

The bedouins were very, very suprised when the door gunners opened up at them. The UH-1's came in low, M-60's spraying lead at the encamped royal guards. Flaring out, coming in low, the men inside leapt from the choppers before the helicopters pitched forwards and headed away from the city. Once they hit the ground, the air-assault battalion hit ground and began trading fire with the royal guards, most of whom were still in their tents, or in positions that, while excellent for keeping an enemy out of the palace, were not exactly the best for when somebody dropped into the middle of the complex.

Once the support weapons got set up, the machineguns added their chatter, and the gardens were clear of any bedouin. The battalion moved for the palace. Outside, at the wall, the sound of small-arms fire grew and grew to a fever pitch before falling off.

As the army troops scurried up the steps of the palace to the main gate a cobra's TOW had blown off it's hinges, they could see the first Yeni Ahzad militia charge through what was left of the royal guard positions and begin heading for the palace.

_______________________________________________________

Inside

The small team headed to the royal quarters. Kicking in each door as they went, tossing in grenades. A 14 year old ran out at one end of the hallway, raising an AK-47 before being cut down. It was the last of his sons.

where is the sultan? find him!

The team had to kill him, here, and now.

United Elias

07-01-2005, 19:56

Baghdad

Four uniformed men, the nation's senior soldiers sat infront of the Minister's desk, each with a pamphlet of documents turned to the same page as that of Minister Zibari's.

General Khadr Al-Tikriti, commodore of the air force and long time head of the General Staff spoke, words not quite as crisp, face not cleancut as the others, he was very much the old guard and rumours of his imminent retirement were rife throughout the building. "Ibrahim," He was the only one who called the Minister by his first name, "I really think Operation Valkyrie as proposed sorts out our problems in Al-Azhad, in that we can prevent the side we most dislike from gaining power, while at the same time not giving too much assistance to the other factions."

"General, the only thing that concerns me is that we would technically be breaching Al-Azhadi soverignty without any justification."

General Abbas of the Army answered this query, "Sir, take a look at this, its an official request for assistance from the Sultan of Al-Azhad to assist in putting down the communist uprising."

"Erm...its dated 1989."

"Better late than never though."

"Well its not great but I suppose it'll do, now into specifics, what is teh time frame for completion."

"It really depends Ibrahim, on enemy resistance, the state of infrastructure, political/diplomatic concerns, but obviously the longer it takes, the more casualties we will suffer, however as you can see, that force depletion report predicts fairly small number these."

"Generals, set the wheels in motion to go at dusk, I will brief the President myself, he has a slight fever so he won't see all of us together, in any case I'm sure he'll authorise it."

South-East of Jizan, near the Al-Ahzad (ASDPR) border, several hours later

Major Mohammed Hamtha sat on a fold up chair, on the side of a highway running through the desert. Engines grumbled motonously as miles of vehicles stretched behind him. However the T-80UM-5E Main Battle Tanks of his unit, the 1st Tank Battalion, of the 49th Tank Brigade was at the front of the entire 10th Mechanised Division. Assuming that this whole wild goose chase was just that, they would be back in Jizan after dinner time, so he craved something to eat.

He yelled at one of his command staff "Ana Abgha Balah!"

The soldier nodded sheepishly and returned with a bowl. He tasted one of the contents before tossing it to sand. "Indolent fool, these dates, Nile ones?"

"Yes Sir, sorry sir, thats all we have."

"You give me this trash! Back in Jizan you get the quartermaster to get some Euphrates dates, or you'll both be privates by the end of the day."

"Yes Sir."

Another adjutant appeared from one of the command tanks, rushing to the Major, "Sir, we have recieved word, Operation Valkyrie is go."

He nodded, barely looking to have taken on board the news before an impetious grin appeared below his neatly trimmed moustache, "Suprising...Tell everyone to load up, start engines, check radios, then we'll get the battalion into formation."

Half an hour later, as the sun lowered itself, now nearly at the horizon, the 49th was ready for battle. While the rest of the divison would take longer to organise, the tank brigade, spearheaded by three tank battalions would charge forward over the border into the ASDPR.

From his view point in the commander's cupola of one of the battalion's command tanks, Major Hamtha listened as suddenly a roar of artillery guns reverberated across the landscape from miles behind him, 155 and 105mm shells being hurled over the frontier. After nearly six consecutive salvos had been fired on distant targets, there was a clatter of helicopters as Mi-35M and EA-34 gunships passed overhead to unleash rockets and missiles on border defences. The radio crackled to life, and Brigade command ordered them to commence the advance.

Lunatic Retard Robots

08-01-2005, 03:54

As the noise of gunfire wafts over Raysuz, the submarine crewmen instinctively duck and dive for cover, although when riding on the back of a submarine there is not much to be found.

The captain, a Croatian Muslim, waves frantically for the sailors on the deck to come back inside the submarine, and quickly. A radio report is sent back to the sub-continent describing the fighting, which many people are no doubt watching on TV or hearing over their radios thanks to the BBC world service.

However, the spotting on news camera footage of UE attack helicopters attacking the ASDPR is more cause for concern. The Hindustani government certainly isn't the biggest fan of the ASDPR, but then again it certainly isn't the biggest fan ot the sultan either. The hastily scraped-together Hindustani position on Al-Ahzad states that the sultan should go, one way or another, but that having the ASDPR in power would not be too favorable either.

Therefore, a diplomatic mission is quickly assembled for traveling to United Elias. A small transport, similar in profile to the Canberra but with a very different internal layout, is readied to take the four-person mission to Baghdad.

The government asks for an audience with the UE leadership in the meantime.

Roycelandia

08-01-2005, 13:24

Raysuz International Airport

The C-130J had barely taxiied to a halt when twelve pilots began sprinting in the direction of their parked Spitfires, surprising the hell out of the de-planing Arab Guard.

IFL units near the Palace had radioed in news of the strike, and the Imperial Air Force had ordered the Spitfires scrambled to intercept the choppers before they could get away. Whilst there were about four Roycelandian UH-1 Iroquois helicopters in Al-Ahzad, the Spitfire would be much better to intercept the Rebel helicopters with.

So far the Arab Guard had secured the Airport and the Harbour, which would ensure a steady supply of reinforcements for the Sultan.

However, if reports from the IFL troops in the city itself was as bad, then there may not be a hell of a lot left to defend. The situation was not good, and it was going to get worse before it got better.

The Royal Palace

A small unit of the Arab Guard had been on their way to the Palace to let the Sultan officially know that the Roycelandians had arrived, when they'd caught the tail end of the helicopter assault on the Palace and the subsequent attack by Yeni Ahzad students. Taking cover behind whatever was available, they started firing at the Students, bayonetting any who got too close.

One of the NCOs was brandishing a Webley Revolver in each hand, firing away at the Students from the cover of a statue.

On board the IRNS Boothroyd

"Sparks, are you sure this is the message?"

"Positive, Sir. I re-confirmed with Port Imperial a few minutes ago. If the Sultan is killed, and things go really badly for our forces to the point where a complete withdrawl might not be feasible, we are to shell the enemy positions in the city."

"Well, OK then... I hope for everyone's sake it doesn't come to that..."

Encrypted Communique to UE High Command

Gentlemen,

As you are no doubt aware, the situation in Al-Ahzad is deteriorating rapidly and is unlikely to improve in the immediate future.

As you are also doubtless aware, Roycelandia has significant assets in Al-Ahzad which, at present are trying to secure the capital from Counter-Government forces.

With information sproadic at best, we feel that we may be dealing with a situation in which the Sultan has fallen victim to a Regicidal Plot, in which case both our forces are in an awkward position.

Given Roycelandia and United Elias' long history of co-operation, we are of the opinion that now would be an excellent time to combine forces in Al-Ahzad, especially in order to prevent undesirable elements from obtaining control of the country.

We await your response with anticipation...

[signed] Commander Edmund Blackadder, IDF, Port Royal, Roycelandia

OOC: By now, there are at least 1200 Arab Guard in the city (more arriving over the next 24 hours), along with the appropriate support personell. There are also two Heavy Tanks, about 5 armoured cars, and 18 aircraft (12 Spitfires, 4 Iroquois, and 2 Transports) in Raysuz, as well as a Dreadnought.

In short, the Yeni Ahzad and Gen. Massad's troops won't be able to just wander into the city and take over... the Arab Guard are well trained, and unlike the usual Arab units, they're trained to act individually. Killing the NCO or CO will just make them mad in most cases, unless they're getting totally thrashed, in which case they're just as likely as anyone to initiate Plan Monty Python (RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!) :D

Hudecia

08-01-2005, 16:42

-Ottawa-

The Hudecian government asks the Roycelandian government for an update on the crisis.

"We understand that Roycelandian troops are engaged in heavy combat at this time. Is there anything that we can do to help you?"

Al-Ahzad

08-01-2005, 21:19

Royal Palace

The association agents were getting frantic. They'd cleared the palace chambers, and there was no sign of the sultan. If he got away.....

The Gardens

General Massad crouched behind a statue. He was taking fire from all directions, although the bedouin inside the palace were getting less and less coordinated. At the perimiter, however roycelandian bedouins were putting up an organized and coherent fight. The unit- battered already- had to get inside the palace. Looking around frantically, Massad spied what looked like a driveway going to the basement of the palace. He whistled, and one of the men in the HQ squad looked up.

"Get a LAW on that door!"

Palace Garage

The Sultan threw the bags of kruggerands into the trunk of his maybach. This was bad, this was very bad. A small group of royal guardsmen were loading up the convoy of luxury cars. They were going to make a break for the north, to link up with his brother wazzef and his column of bedouin.

Once that happened he could get more royce-

then the garage door exploded.

_______________________________________

"Chabuk! Chabuk! Get in the palace!" General Massad looked back at his men, gesturing. The LAW had blown the heavy door right off it's hinges, and now the men could get inside the palace...

Massad froze as he looked ahead. The sultan's men stood there like deer in the headlights. There was a very akward moment of staring.

Massad raised his FAL, and fired. Everybody else in the garage determined that was a good idea, and followed suit.

When the smoke finally cleared, a $500,000 luxury car was riddled with bullet holes, six Ahzadi regular army troops were dead along with 12 royal guardsmen, and Sultan Al-Walouf was on the concrete floor of a parking garage, missing the top half of his head.

Outside of Raysuz

The spitfire attack on the choppers is, in short, a massacre. 23 of the 36 UH-1's are forced down, the vast majority of them destroyed, with the survivors scattering, or simply putting down at various rooftops in the city. The total lack of air cover meant that the roycelandian spitfires could rip through the choppers at will.

Raysuz suburbs

Smoke was rising into the sky from the city, and the harbor was bustling with activity. The men of the 3rd mechanized brigade had been driving hard ever since two nights ago. The situation was not good, but dammit, they were going to make it work. They brought with them two battalions of artillery- most of the SPG's of the third division, who joined the 5,000 mechanized infantry and a handful of tanks to assist the student militias and the airborne unit in securing the Raysuz city center.

Their first stop? Raysuz international airport.

Deploying out of sight, the 26 M-109 howizers begin to fire off rounds to supress further roycelandian activity, moving constantly to avoid-counter-battery fire. Going through a complex and scriped series of fire missions, they hit runways and main assembly areas with fragmentation rounds- not enough to damage the runway, but enough to shred any aircraft in the open.

Then, from over the hill, four battalions of the mechanized infantry sweep outwards. 2,000 men make a grand pincer attack. Half of them dash forwards, dismount, and supported by a half dozen AMX-13 light tanks move to secure the buildings and control towers of the airport.

The other half of the brigade, with the rest of the armored cars, AMX-13's, and a dozen M60 MBT's, moves across the runway, seeking to support the units taking the building and sweep away any roycelandian infantry in the attack.

The mechanzied infantry attack suddenly, with massive artillery support and armor against the roycelandian light infantry units. This won't be bloodless, but the men are determined for payback for the slaughter of their helicopters.

The other two battalions of mechanized infantry, along with a few armored cars and the rest of the M60's of the brigade (another dozen) drive along the highway, heading at top speed for a baghdad-style "thunder run" right to the royal palace.

Jandarma HQ

After Major Dirim was killed, the over 12,000 jandarma in Raysuz had simply holed up in their police forts and not done a hell of a lot (except distribute weapons to the Yeni Ahzad students).

Now, though, the chain of command has sorted itself out, and a young Major Zorlu has been put in command of Jandarma in Raysuz. Both an adherent of Yeni Ahzad, and a member of Hikmet Pasha's clandestine "association", Major Zorlu does what most rank-and-file Jandarma have been wanting to do all along.

Across the city, fortified doors spring open, and blue-uniformed paramilitary Jandarma seize power stations, water pumps, radio and TV relays, as well as securing all major roads leading from the port to the city center. Engaging in running gun battles with Ghazi militia and National Force units, the Jandarma seems to tip the scales firmly in favor of the Yeni Ahzad students.

What few people realize, however, except possibly General Massad, is that the vast bulk of the Royal Guard has not been comitted as of yet, and is marshalling at it's barracks outside of the city. How they will fight without their sultan is yet to be seen, but from tribal loyalties they will probably rally with Wazzef Al-Waloud, the sultan's brother.

Sanaa

This.....was not in the plan.

People's Marshal Buyruz is not very happy. Not happy at all. His four motor-rifle divisions had encircled and isolated the line, and were gearing up for a drive on Raysuz. But now the goddamn UE had to interfere. Well, he could show them.

Orders were sent out: the embattled and collapsing 10,000 man division holding the northern border would be reinforced right away. The elite republican guards- 10,000 men in an armored formation equipped with more advanced T-62's and BMP-1's was heading north to hold the passes against the UE. Half the force sent east- some 20,000 men was also just starting to turn to head north-west, back into the ASDPR and join in the fight against the UE. Air defense units were at highest readyness, and the 20 MiG's of the tiny air force were on patrol over Sanaa. If it was a fight the UE was looking for, it was a fight they were going to get.

United Elias

09-01-2005, 02:12

South of Harad, ASDPR

Just over thirty miles South of the border, the 49th Tank Brigade had been ordered to tactically pause and hold position. Its three tank battalions had formed a defensive formation on the main desert highway, protecting the support units, as the Brigade's recon company and its Mechanised Battalion, combed the immediate vicinity for resistance. Casualties thus far had included one T-80, along with its crew, all of which were killed, and several other soldiers wounded.

The fight thus far had been an easy one, and with the exception of an ambush near Harad, which they had to call in helicopter gunships to get out of, the Azhadi communist forces had apparently retreated from their defensive positions rather than face annihilation. Progress had been slow purposefully, as the rest of the 10th Mech. was only now crossing the frontier, and support units would have to catch up and refuel the 49th before the advance could continue.

However, the General Staff, facing intel reports of a counter-offensive from the South, made the decision to launch an air campaign, small scale to the Elias Air Force, but more than large enough to decimate the enemy, if necessary. As soon as it could be organised, which was a matter of hours, considering contingency plans had been in place since 'Valkyrie' had been launched, a mass of aircraft, launched sorties from bases in Southern UE. Several squadrons of Su-30MK3E and EA-160s were first across, and while they flew towards Sana’a, an A-50 AWAC guiding them to intercept ASDPR Migs, Su-39 tank busters flew nap of the earth missions to engage the Republican Guard. Providing cover to the CAS missions, several EA-160D SEAD aircraft patrolled with anti-radiation missiles, able to engage any hostile radar at a moment's notice if it so much as illuminated itself. Although at this stage it was deemed to be uncalled for, strike jets were maintained on ground alert with precision bombs, and if the order was given could start to eliminate strategic targets all over the unrecognised republic.

Response to Roycelandia

Commander Edmund Blackadder,

The government of United Elias, as you are aware, has launched a tactical intervention operation into the breakaway communist region of Al-Azhad for the purpose of preventing Marshal Buyruz from being a contender to fill the power vacuum that now seems to exist, given information that the Sultan may indeed have been killed. The foreign policy of our nation has never been particularly favourable towards the Sultan, however this was much more on account of his false indictment of United Elias as a supporter of Buyruz during his rebellion, than ideological antithesis. The same cannot be said for either Marshall Buyruz, who we see as perhaps the greatest danger, or indeed to General Massad whose predicted policy of Ahzadi re-armament would be a threat to regional stability. Choosing the lesser of many evils, the religous regime in Muscat also among them, we would be favourable to a policy of bringing Wazzef Al-Waloud to power as the new Sultan, as he seems to be the only remaining lineage of the Royal family.

As far as our willingness to openly support such a measure, this is still undecided and politically sensitibe, however at this time we believe that we are contributing considerably to Roycelandian efforts by removing the threat of ASDPR forces from advancing Eastwards. We have also greatly damaged the ability of General Massad to wage a civil war with our air strike on the third division. Roycelandia should not plan however for Elias ground forces to be deployed into Al-Azhad proper, nor do we believe such a measure would be helpful given indigeouns attitudes towards us. The outcome of this power struggle therefore lies squarely with your government's willingness and ability to commit further assets in a timely and efficient manner, as even though your forces were present in Raysuz, the Sultan and many other family members were seemingly assassinated; a failure by any standards that should prompt a re-evaluation of forces and methods used in Al-Azhad.

I hope that I have succesfully conveyed the sentiments of the Elias armed forces and the government as a whole, and continued communications on this issue will be fundamental in achieving a mutually desirable outcome.

Sincerely,
General Khadir Al-Tikriti,
Head of the General Staff

Al-Ahzad

09-01-2005, 22:54

Sanaa-Harad Road

The remains of the 4th motor-rifle division streamed south twards Sanaa. The attempted counter-attack by the division had been so poorly organized and led that the United Elias troops didn't even really realize that the division was trying to mount an operation against them.

A few units have remained coherent despite the thrashing given them by ground forces and the heavy disruption caused by UE air strikes. Several of them are digging in along the main highway. Arslan Buyruz recognizes the limitations of his tactical formations and has ordered all line forces to dig in and fight from defended positions against the UE. 2-3,000 ASDPR troops are dug in with Sagger ATGM's and T-55 tanks giving them support. Sitting on the highway, they are poorly led and demoralized, incapable of even the most basic tactical manuvers.

But they have devotion, and they'll fight to the death.

North of Sanaa

The Republican Guard was not faring well. They were throwing up huge amounts of 23mm AA and SA-7 missiles against the UE tank-busters, but they weren't doing very well. Dozens of tanks had been destroyed, and the progress of the division was slowed by the constant need to disperse and then re-organize after an air attack, but they were moving north, and they were determined to fight.

The Line

The switchback of the two divisions was chaotic, to put it mildy, but it was happening and 20,000 men were rolling off to do battle with the UE agressors. That left two divisions beseiging the line- and winning. The Ahzadi army strongholds were easily encircled by even the manuver-warfare inept Peoples Army, and the battle had taken on the form that suited the ASDPR troops the best (really the only sort of battle they can fight)- legnthy artillery barrages against fixed targets followed by frontal assault after frontal assault. It had worked, too, and the Ahzadi "corps' they had been facing had been decimated. At only 40,000 to begin with, it had melted away to 10,000 with news of the army's disbanding, and now only 6,000 were left, held up in an old ottoman castle guarding the road to Al-Mukalla. The two ASDPR divisions were preparing for the final assault to finish off the line forces of the Ahzadi army before the drive on Raysuz.

Over Sanaa

AA was firing constantly, tracers lighting up the sky. Every now and then one of the SA-2 batteries would fire off a missile at a radar blip. The ASDPR air force was essentially gone, the MiG-21 pilots doing little more than flying in figure-eights or, at most, firing off missiles in the direction of visual contacts without bothering to gain a lock on. The air defense network was saved only by the fact that, not really knowing how to operate their radars, many ASDPR troops often didn't give UE radar-homing missiles a target.

Bab Al Mandib

The straights between the arabian sea and the red sea were narrow, and shipping was heavy in the region. One could simply sail around and see ships on the horizon most of the time, and this is exactly what the six ASDPR Osa-class missile boats had done.

Setting sail in the pre-dawn hours, they set to sea with orders to attack UE shipping, but this mostly results in their firing the SS-N-2 missiles they carry at the first tramp freighter or container ship they encounter.

Yeah, the ASDPR knows how to show it's best face to the world.

That night, east of the Line

The M60A1 jerked to a halt. Peering through his french night-vision scope, the commander of the first armored brigade looked over the scene before him. Ahzadi army units were holded up in a hillside fortress overlooking the highway, and were catching hell from Peoples Army artillery on the surrounding hills.

Sent to the line while the rest of the division went to Raysuz, the first armored was the punch of the 3rd division. They were tiny compared to the ASDPR forces arrayed against them- 3,500 men (well assisted by the couple thousand infantry in the fortress) against two ASDPR divisions.

The brigade commander smiled, though. His men were not like the ASDPR troops, or even like the Ahzadi regulars in the fortress. His men were trained, had rehearsed and planned and learned to use their own initiative. Their equipment was better- modernized M60's against T-55's- but that wasn't why the commander was so confident. His men were soldiers, and damn good ones at that. He spoke into the radio.

"brigade- advance"

The armored unit took off at high speed, sweeping into the desert to the inland side of the fortress, aiming for the gap between the two ASDPR divisions. They would manuver, they would exploit gaps and flanks, they would get their mechanized infantry infiltrated into the communist tank brigades and strike with ATGM's. They would use counterbattery fire to supress any ASDPR artillery and then, then, they would break the seige.

The first 105mm shells began to scream outbound into the night, and quite literally, the ASDPR troops did not know what hit them.

United Elias

10-01-2005, 01:01

Straits of Bab El Mendeb, just west of Suyul Hanish

At the best of the times, the Elias Naval presence in this waterway, key to the petroleum trade was constant, but given the current situation, Memhet Pasha, one of the precious new 'Pasha' class (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=356807) guided missile destroyers, was on maximum alert.

Therefore, when the ASDPR Osas presented themselves, the electronic warfare team reacted immediately, reacting as to an expected event with caffeine induced enthusiasm , "TAO, EW, I have a Drum Tilt radar bearing 173. Associated with SS-N-2 Styx missile, probable Osa...negative numerous Osa PCFGs. "

This sent the ops room into adrenalin fuelled procedures, the ship was alreayd at battle stations, so all that needed to be done was to prepare for a fight, "Weapons Posture One on all ASuW and AAW Systems, Air Watning Amber, CIWS to auto air ready, man all gunnery stations." As replies came over the radio, the CIC crew looked at their radar screens, seeing that between the hostiles and them, a Liquid Natural Gas tanker, heading South.

"SWC, Yakhont firing solution complete, range to targets fifty-five nautical miles."

"Roger Standby." The ship heeled to starboard as to bring the Yakhotn anti-ship missile launchers onto the optimum launch direction, as they waited, ready to strike.

"Vampire, Vampire, Vampire!" meaning incoming missiles. Screens flickered as small arrows each denoting as SS-N-2-C edged towards them, some aimed at their ship, the others at the LNG tanker. Within seconds, EAW-70 Surface to Air Missiles were ejected from the firing batteries, arcing towards the primitive anti-ship weapons with zealous haste. Larger thumps rocked the ship as six highly sophisticated Yakhont-3 anti-ship missiles streaked off at low-level, each one destined for a distant Osa, instant retaliation.

As the Sea Bolt close in SAM system swung into action, knocking out the remaining Styxes that the Sea Javelins had missed, the situation in the CIC became clearer, their ship was safe, but the tanker was about to be struck.
Before speech recorded this, a massive blast sounded across miles of water. Thirty million gallons of previously frigid gas exploded into a massive fireball, an orange mushroom cloud covering a 500 yard blast radius, instantly incinerating the merchant ship and its crew.

As they waited the fate of their counter-strike, a helicopter scrambled from the helo deck, ready to look for survivors, a futile mission.

Lunatic Retard Robots

10-01-2005, 02:43

News of combat around the vital Bab el Mandeb has the government immediately quite worried. And after all, even the Hindustani reconaissance sattelites can pick up the infra-red radiation emitted by missile launches on the ground below. (The government puts most of its money in the area of sattelites towards astronomical tools, but two reasonable-quality surveillance sattelites are maintained). There are no doubt one if not more Hindustani merchant vessels in the area at the time of the encounter.

Almost as soon as it's out of the yards, the HNS Pondicherry, the navy's new ex-RN Sheffield class destroyer, one of four purchased, is ordered to the area along with a Brahmaputra class frigate, the INS Port Said.

The government awaits the UE response to the message sent concerning the sending of a diplomatic team to United Elias. Realizing that it might be too vague to get a response, the message is re-worded to include the platform that the diplomats hope to argue.

The Hindustani diplomatic mission hopes to discuss with the dominant middle eastern power what path Al-Ahzad should be nudged-down. Naturally, the government wants to find a regime that will ensure human rights standards will be upheld, and one that promises reform.

Meanwhile, back in Raysuz harbor, the Ahmadabad just sits there, the captain, another officer, and a pair of armed sailors watching the city from atop the conning tower.

Roycelandia

10-01-2005, 03:52

Raysuz Airport

"INCOMING!!!"

Soldiers and support personnel took to the hastily constructed slit trenches as the shells began falling.

Four Spitfires managed to get airborne as the shells fell on the Runway, with another five planes being shredded on the ground. Nearly 50 of the Arab Guard were killed or badly wounded in the attack, before they could get to safety. It wasn't a pretty sight.

The Spitfires from the Chopper Raid performed Victory Rolls over the city before coming to the aid the airport, firing at the Howitzers whilst directing the Roycelandian Iroquois to the advancing soldier's location...

"FIX BAYONETS!!!" Yelled the Battalion Commander, and the thousand or so Arab Guard at the airport affixed the glintin 18" long bayonets to their Lee-Enfield Rifles.

He fired a Yellow Flare into the sky, which had two effects: Requesting assistance, and giving the IRNS Boothroyd a range for the airport.

"RIFLES TO 3-SHOT BURST... VOLLEY FIRE POSITIONS! RANGE, 500 YARDS!" called the NCOs as the entrenched Arab Guardsmen got ready to repel the attack.

The Soldiers were entrenched and in cover all around the airport, and five Meerkat Light Tanks and three Emperor Heavy Tanks were also strategically deployed, waiting for the command to attack.

"FRONT RANK... FIRE!!!" called the NCOs, and the first line of Arab Guard nearest the hill (over 200 soldiers) unleashed a deadly 3-shot burst of Volley Fire onto the oncoming Rebel Forces. Several Lewis LMGs opened up on the advancing soldiers as well. The whole airport was surprisingly well defended, and the Ahzadis would have to pay dearly for every centimetre...

Royal Palace

The Arab Guard had been trying to fight their way into the Palace to assist the Sultan when they heard the LAW take the door off, followed by gunfire. Realising what was happening, the advanced forward, firing, bayonetting, and clubbing any of the Yeni Ahzadis who got in their way. The two NCOs were firing dual .455 Revolvers at the enemy, and there were also to Arab Guardsmen carrying Bren LMG .303 MGs to provide automatic fire.

Several of the Roycelandian Bedouin fell, cut down by the 7.62 rounds of the Yeni Ahzadi FALs , but the remainder made a terrifying sight, effectively mounting a bayonet charge with the attendant battle cries to the glory of Allah and so on. By the end of this battle, the grounds of the Palace would almost literally flow with the blood of the dead and injured.

Fallen statues and rubble were used as cover in the advance, and the Arab Guard were determined not to let the enemy escape after their dishonourable attack and probably assassination of the Sultan...

OOC: I've got a heap of stuff to do today, so apologies for the brevity of this post. I'll try and post something longer tomorrow, but this should be enough to go on for now...

Asgard Combine

12-01-2005, 00:05

0130 Al-Ahzad time, two miles outside Raysuz Harbor
A dive chamber opens silently on a nonmoving submarine. Three divers emerge, each wearing rebreathers, holding a diver's motor (think half the diameter of a torpedo, 4 feet long) and a neutral-buoyancy 100-pound shaped charge. They activate the motors and move toward Raysuz.
The submarine remains still.

____________________________________

0245, central Asgard Combine territory
____________________________________

A small machine's diagnostic panel glows briefly red as it chugs to life before returning to green. The vent on the top begins venting steam a little more aggressively, and the tall radio tower it is attached to pulses out information a little longer this time.
____________________________________

0300, Raysuz Harbor
____________________________________
1000 feet away from the IRNS Boothroyd, the divers deactivate their motors. Sure, they're quiet, but there's no reason not to be totally silent.
Once underneath the Boothroyd, they swim up, clamping the limpet mines to the side of the ship and activating the 30-minute timer.
This done, they begin swimming out ... it's not like they even have radios to communicate back with.

______________________________________________________________
to summarize: three divers depart from Asgard's submarine, which has been moving in at a paranoically slow rate. It's the quietest we can build it, and they're going the extra mile to make sure they don't get seen.
The frogmen are equally paranoid about remaining quiet, and put three 100 pound limpet mines on the Boothroyd.
Roycelandia: I don't believe the divers could have been spotted before they arrived. If you believe the faint clunk of attaching the mines would alert someone onboard, I guess you can go with that... otherwise, things get exciting around 0330. :)

Lunatic Retard Robots

12-01-2005, 00:44

OCC: I wonder how Royce will respond to this...

Al-Ahzad

12-01-2005, 02:02

Raysuz International

The platoon was pinned down behind the earthern berm at one end of the main terminal. Accurate bedouin fire from the roycelandians had kept them there all morning, and although half the buildings in the complex were in the hands of the mechanized infantry troops, the Roycelandian arabs were keeping them from going any further. This individual platoon had lost 5 members to a bedouin sniper, but right now the platoon leader was talking into a phone trying to change that.

The phone led to a box. The box was on the rear of an upgraded M60A1.

"yeah, yeah just a little to the right of that. Okay? good!" The platoon leader hung up, and dove for cover.

The 105mm gun boomed, kicking up a huge cloud of dust, and the outbuilding the sniper was holed up in exploded.

The platoon picked up their gear and dashed forwards- slowy but surely, though weight of numbers and firepower, they were advancing. The bedouin were tough, and brave, but they were at home in the desert, and more to the point, weren't a mechanized brigade, which the 3rd brigade very much was.

Raysuz International- the tarmac

The flanking force ripped along the wide-open space of the main runway at full speed. The gunners in the coupolas were raking the bedouin positions with .50 fire, and the armored cars and AMX-13's that roared along with the mechanized infantry stopped every now and then to add a 90mm shell to the mix. The bedouin were dug in, yes, but the airport was essentially a few buildings in a sea of tarmac. In ones and twos, the light tanks, armored cars, and APC's would duck into the built-up areas of the airport, firing at strongpoints or unloading infantry to reinforce the men slogging through the buildings on foot. Other than that, they circled, and probed, and harassed.

Hills outside of Raysuz International Airport

The spitfires roared in, back from ripping apart the helicopters. Camoflauged, in the hills overlooking the airport, the 4 roland self-propelled SAM systems flipped on their targeting radars, and the missiles sprang out at the slow, low-flying roycelandian planes who were either coming in to land or taking off, at their most vulnerable.

_________________________________________________________

The Roycelandian bedouins were tough opponents- they could shoot better than almost all of the ahzadis, and would hold their positions in the face of very tough odds, but very tough odds were what they faced. The force that hit them was neumerically superior and much more heavily equipped.

Roycelandia

12-01-2005, 02:49

Raysuz Airport

The scene wasn't pretty at all. Dead Ahzadis and Bedouin were everywhere, and the whole airport was covered in smoke and debris.

It was as the building with the Bedouin sniper collapsed that the Emperor Heavy Tanks and Meerkat Light Tanks sprang into action, rolling out from their concealed locations in and around hangars and on the outskirts of the runway.

The HT-1 Emperor was the most formidable tank in the Roycelandian Arsenal, being heavily armoured, having reasonable speed, and more importantly, 3 large guns- a 135mm main gun in the turret on top, and two 88mm (one mounted on each side of the tank), as well as four MGs.

(OOC: The Emperor Tank is essentially a bigger version of the tank from Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, with some improvements- ie the treads aren't exposed, and so on. I really wouldn't want to try and fight one!)

The Meerkat, whilst smaller (it's about the same a Bradley AFV) would also be a surprise to the Ahzadis, who were already facing stiff resistance from the Bedouin.

One of the HT-1's main gun roared, sending a 135mm HVAP shell towards one of the Ahzadi tanks...

Meanwhile, the Spitfires trying to scramble had the misfortune to get lit up by the SAM missiles. Three of them had been blown out of the sky because they were unable to deploy ECMs or take evasive action, but the first Spitfire had got clear and, having IDd the SAM sites, was roaring back in, firing his Napalm Rockets and 20mm Cannon...

The rest of the Spitfires, returning from the sortie against the choppers, saw that there were SAMs active, turned on their ECMs, and took evasive action, whilst two of the Spitfires went for the Ahzadi Howitzers.

Three parachutes could be seen above Raysuz Airport, which at least meant the Spitfire pilots managed to get clear. The Bedouin UH-1 wasn't as lucky, and crashed near the Azhadi lines in a burning fist of wreckage...

Bedouin Troops were deployed throughout the airport, hiding in buildings, sniping at Ahzadi troops, firing LAWs at the armoured vehicles, and generally harassing the enemy.

Whilst they might be outnumbered, Roycelandian History was full of examples of heavily outnumbered troops fighting off up to ten times their own number- The Battle of Omdurman in 1885, The Siege of Canton in 1892, various WWII battles, The Fall of Lusaka City in 1979- the list went on.

Even more importantly, the Roycelandian Military still employed Bayonets, and all Roycelandian Troops were trained in the art of bayonet-fighting. It had been Roycelandia's experience over the centuries that enemies who were willing to engage with firearms often lost their enthusiasm when hundreds of Imperial Guard (or any other Roycelandian Military force, for that matter) charged them with 18" long bayonets affixed to their rifles...

Al-Ahzad

12-01-2005, 03:24

OOC: a bayonet charge? You, uuh, you realize that the older FAL models Al-Ahzad uses still have full-auto, right?

The arrival of the Roycelandian super-heavy tanks is a suprise, yes, but the few Ahzadi M60's react almost at once. From all sides, they swarm one of the huge tanks, firing on the move and constantly jockying for a rear shot. At the same time, infantry mortars open fire on the tanks with white phosphorous and smoke rounds, shrouding the tanks in a thick cloud of caustic smoke that is sucked into the ventillation systems.

The artillery, under air attack, scatters to new firing positions, as the SAM's do the same and prepare for another volley against the spitfires. One battery flees closer to the airport, where they see the duel unfolding between Ahzadi and Roycelandian tanks. Still carrying a few shells each, the M-109's open up at very close range (well, for artillery) firing direct line of sight rounds at the Roycelandian armored vehicles.

Roycelandia

12-01-2005, 03:59

OOC: Yes, I'm aware the FAL is Full-Auto. I'm not saying the Bedouin are making a Bayonet Charge at the moment, either- but that, in close quarter battle, they'll fight with bayonets rather than shooting people. Just adds a bit of colour to the combat... ;)

Also, how fast can your artillery and SAMs move? There's a pretty high chance they'd simply be taken out by the Spitfires before they could even get packed down, unless they're mounted on jeeps or something, in which case they'd only be able to carry one or two missiles. Same goes for the Howitzers...

Raysuz Airport

"GAS MASKS ON!!!" call the NCOs, as the smoke envelops the battlefield.

Some of the more threatened Bedouin take advantage of the smoke cover to emerge from their trenches and take cover behind the tanks.

LAWs, Grenades, and bullets are flying everywhere, and one of the Meerkats explodes as it takes a Howitzer shell broadside at close range.

The HT-1s are firing at the Ahzadi M-60s, and with the advanced targeting systems and air filters on board, the tanks are still able to keep functioning, but with almost no actual visibility. Chaos reigns, and regardless of the outcome, this will almost certainly be one for the history books...

Al-Ahzad

12-01-2005, 04:13

Roycelandia

13-01-2005, 04:14

IRNS Boothroyd, 0300

The light in the monitoring station came on, followed by a on-off buzzing noise. At first the Ensign thought he'd just been awake too long, but then he realised it was the Foreign Object Alarm.

"Sir, the hull alarm is going of... something's on the hull, I think. It might be a fish, but then..."

"Wake the divers up, quickly. This is a hostile harbour, and we need to check this out."

10 minutes later, having been primed with coffee, three divers went over the side, with orders to check the hull...

OOC: I'm waiting on some OOC information for Asgard Combine before we see how this one plays out. I have to say I'm not very happy that a Nation I'm not familiar with thinks they can sneak up beside a Dreadnought at War Condition and mine it without anyone noticing, but like I said, I'll see what Asgard has to say before I make a decision one way or the other on what effect this will have on the ship...

Elkazor

13-01-2005, 04:46

After not a little pressure for months now, Versailles would give a call to the Sultans Palace.

According to an aide from M. de Vergennes, Minister of State to His Most Christian Majesty Louis XX, the Kingdom of France was ready to begin the sales of the armaments in exchage for oil.

The French required that in order for the sale of arms to commence, the Sultan would sign a lease with Louis XX, granting him rights to all Azhadi Oil Fields and their production for twenty years.

Additionally, the French wished to have a naval base in Al-Azhad, as it was in the middle of the route between Marimaia and French Taihiti, and France itself (of course, the Suez was the big half way point). The base would also serve as the major base for Royal Petrolium in Al-Azhad, acting as a processing and embarcation station for the oil.

In return, the French first offered the Sultan safe residence in France at Louis XX expense should he ever need it. The arms sales, in light of the aforesaid proviso's, would be immediate, based of course on Al-Azhads requests. The arms would be sold on credit. French financiers would make loans to Al-Azhad, at really generous rates, to pay for the material. As well, King Louis was prepared to provide advisors to use the equipment, and in effect train the Sultans army for him, en masse and in proper European style. Whether they criticized it or not, all European powers would agree the French Army, not to even mention the Royal Army, were top notch and cutting edge.

The alliance was proposed as "Treaty of Amity and Commerce."

"The terms may seem stringent" said the Ministerial Aide "but we believe you can find no better at the present time. King Louis offers his good will to you immediatley. The Communists might help you. but you wouldnt stay Sultan very long. The West will not come to your aid, and Roycelandia is in no posistion to provide you with so much material so soon."

Al-Ahzad

13-01-2005, 17:45

Royal Palace

The last two hours had been the worst. The royal guardsmen that had been inside the palace had holed up in the labryinthine basement of the palace and had to be cleared out room-by-room. Near the end, the association paramilitaries had found the breaker and cut power, and the fighting had taken place in total darkness. Even though the Ahzadi regulars had NVG's, it still wasn't pretty at all.

Now General Massad sat exhausted on the steps to the throne room next to a impromptu command center consisting of 5 or 6 backpack radios as his (now much smaller) airmobile force ran about setting up defensive positions and securing exits and armories. The young men who worked for Hikmet Pasha had put down their M14's and were now scurring about with lists of people and documents to find.

The radio chatter was hard to sort out, as the army, royal guard, and jandarma comm nets all overlapped, but as far as Massad could tell, the royal guard was hightailing it out of the city to it's main barracks (where the bulk of the 5,000 man force still was) and although the royal guard had been driven out of the city, the roycelandian arabs were proving to be very, very stubborn, and it seemed like a platoon of them was still holding down about two companies of jandarma in a running gun battle.

The palace grounds, however, were mostly quiet, and the mobs has begun to converge on it. Jandarma were moving in to secure the area, but that would take a while.

"Sir- I think you should make some sort of announcement."

It was one of the young association types, who sat down next to Massad.

"Hikmet Pasha is on the way to Raysuz to handle the political side of things, but the people are out there, and they need to know what's happening."

Massad just looked at him, and got up.

The association agent was looking nervous "you do have a plan for what comes after all this, right?"

Massad kept walking, followed by a squad of his men.

Palace Balcony

Somebody had draped a Yeni Ahzad flag over the royal seal on the balcony, and a huge sea of people waited below. As General Massad stepped out a cheer arose from the crowd.

A grimy figure in BDU's and web gear, massad took off his helmet and stepped forwards to the microphone.

"M-My people....." words were not coming, and the surreality of the moment (you just killed the sultan and overthrew the government is sort of a hard concept for a mind to follow) was keeping any grand historical speech from coming out.

He decided to keep it short and simple. Thrusting his FAL into the air in one fist, he said one word to the assembled masses:

"Republic!"

And the crowd goes wild.

Raysuz Radio announcement that evening

Attention Citizens of Al-Ahzad: The sultan is dead, and we now live as free citizens. General Massad and Grand Vizer Hikmet Pasha have taken action to save the nation from collapse and foreign domination. Martial law is in effect nationwide, however, a constitutional convetion will be called within a week and elections for all Ahzadis will be held as soon as order is reasserted over the entire nation. The following emergency actions have been signed by General Massad, acting President of the Ahzadi Republic, and confirmed by Hikmet Pasha, acting Prime Minister.

1) The Sultanate is abolished, and all titles of Royalty are stripped. The Jandarma have issued warrants for the arrest of all members of the Royal Family. All Ahzadis are now equal in the eyes of the law.

2) Conscription is now in effect, and all males ages 18-35 in Republic controlled areas, or any person who has served in the Ahzadi armed forces must report for processing.

3) All foriegn ships are asked to leave Raysuz harbor as soon as possible.

4) All emergency acts signed by General Massad are temporary in nature and will be subject to legal review once legal systems are in place for such a review.

5) Although freedom of speech and assembly are basic rights of all Ahzadis, a curfew is in effect until the situation stabilizes. Unless you are reporting for conscription, please do not leave your homes. If you have pressing concerns, report to your local jandarma outpost.

6) All armed student groups and labor union militia are hereby subsumed into the Ahzadi army. If you are a member of any of these groups, report to General Forces Command Raysuz.

My fellow citizens, we stand at a crucial moment for our nation. Times ahead will be hard, but we shall prevail, for a free, modern, strong, and secular Al-Ahzad.

Long Live the Republic!

United Elias

13-01-2005, 20:40

North-Western ASDPR

After a much longer than necessary pause, most of the 10th Mechanised Division was now advancing East along the Harad to Huth highway, apart from the 19th Mechanised Brigade and an anti-tank battalion which had been ordered to dig in around Harad, firstly to secure the town and also to block any counter-offensive coming from the Southern highway that led to Salif and Al Hudayah. The 49th Tank Brigade had once again been in point position of the advancing formation and with the help of Su-39 CAS aircraft and occasionally helicopter gunships, was breaking through towards the next objective, the city of Huth itself, which was just sixty miles North of the Capital. Although they had numerical, intelligence and qualitative superiority, the defenders along the highway had been stalwart in their resistance. The death toll for the ground offensive had now reached nearly twenty, mostly from AT-3s destroying tanks and armoured vehicles. In addition, several aircraft had been lost in attacks on the Republican Guard, with two pilots confirmed as killed, one missing and two confirmed as ejected, their emergency locator beacons showing them to be in the desert of Al Hazm, too far in to launch a helicopter rescue force, as yet anyway. Time would tell which side would be the first to retrieve the aircrew, assuming the enemy spotted the ejection.

The second thrust of Operation Valkyrie was now under way, with the 3rd Armoured Division crossing the border 100km or so North-East of Jizan and proceeding down another highway towards Sa’dah. The next stage was therefore fairly obvious; the 3rd Armoured would link up with the 10th Mechanised in Huth, in preparation for a push on Sanaa, if that was indeed decided upon. Meanwhile various other units in the region, including the 6th Airborne Brigade were being placed on alert, while the Navy redployed several ships to increase its presence near the Beb El-Mendeb and Gulf of Aden.

While on a tactical level ‘Valkyrie’ had so far been highly successful in taking territory, there was definitely some confusion in the higher echelons as to strategic aims of the operation, which had caused inevitable delays in decisions at the manouvre level. For example, if Sana’a was indeed the decided ultimate objective, it made little sense to delay the commencement of a full scale air campaign against targets throughout the enclave. In truth, the ambiguity over the operation’s objectives was largely due to the General Staff’s attempts, particularly those of the ever jingoistic General Al Tikriti, to go beyond the scope of the operation, which had originally been authorised by the President as purely a diversionary tactic, designed to prevent ASDPR troops from overtaking the rest of Al-Azhad. Although eventually the President would have to decide on whether to take Sana'a, the General had to first make the idea appealing by showing how easy it could be done, with troops conveniently located to perform the coup de grace on Buyruz, if thats what it came to.

In United Elias itself the situation in Al-Azhad was, by the average citizen ,an object of mere entertainment, seeing a former adversary and poor neighbour descend into anarchy. Sniggering was not, on the other hand, the view of the ruling class who largely saw the proclaimation of a Republic as a deeply unwelcome blow, one which was likely to be sowing the seeds for future problems.

OOC: How many of the ASDPR troops would be likely to surrender rather than die fighting? Just so I know roughly how many POW's I'd be taking, as that could become an issue...

Roycelandia

14-01-2005, 03:34

Raysuz Harbour

The Divers who went over the Boothroyd's side had discovered and disarmed the limpet mines attached to the hull- clear proof that someone wanted them out of the area.

The Radio Announcement had confirmed what everyone already knew- the Sultan was dead, and Massad was now El Presidente. It also made Roycelandia's position somewhat tricky.

Encrypted Messages flashed back and forth between Port Imperial, Socotra, and the Boothroyd, before a decision was reached: The Boothroyd and the transport Trilobite would remain in Raysuz Harbour for another 24 hours to evacuate any of the Bedouin or Ahzadis who wished to leave. Anyone who wished to stay behind was to withdraw from the city and rendezvous at a small town outside the area and regroup. Al-Ahzad's oil was too important to Roycelandia to be abandoned to Gen. Massad, and many of the Roycelandian Bedouin had relatives (tribe members and so on) in Ahzad that they felt compelled to defend.

Meanwhile, the IFL troops on the docks had planted plastic explosives on the unused piers, set up a defensive perimeter, and were preparing to destroy the entire harbour when they left.

In the city itself, news of the situation had been radioed to the Bedouins. Some of the units opted for withdrawl, but a large number, realising that there was no realistic way that over 2,000 troops could be evacuated in 24 hours, opted to stay and fight. The Imperial Air Force, however, have promised to evacuate via aircraft anyone who makes it to the rendezvous point (and wishes to be evacuated)...

Raysuz Airport

The battle had been raging for hours when the command from Port Imperial came... even if the Bedouin fought off the Ahzadis at the Airport, they'd only return with more troops eventually. It was decided that a strategic withdrawl from the airport was in order, as most of it was destroyed and beyond immediate repair anyway.

Using the smoke and the tanks as cover, the Bedouin withdrew from the Airport, firing at the Ahzadis as they left. The Airborne Spitfires, now low on ammunition, made a final pass over the city, strafing the Royal Palace, as they headed for Socotra.

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

"Colonel Stewart Griffin reporting, Sir."

"Ah, Col. Griffin. Have a seat... We've just been going over your files. I think we might have an exciting new posting for you... How's your Arabic?"

Lunatic Retard Robots

15-01-2005, 01:00

The destruction of vital Al-Ahzadi infrastructure will surely not go over very well with Hindustan, even though Jharkand and offshore platforms supply most of the nation's oil.

Roycelandian actions will be met with long, angry letters saying how Roycelandia was willing to put Al-Ahzad back into the stone age to suit their own interests, and how it might just be better not to become the number one enemy of a prime oil supplier as opposed to planning to destroy the present government.

United Elias

15-01-2005, 01:21

Quite seperate to the ASDPR military campaign, which the diplomatic bureaucracy now had nothing to do with, and after stalling for as long as possible, a message was sent in response to Hindustani officials, confirming that a delegation could have an audience with the Foreign Minister. The nature of the meeting was predictable but going through the motions of listening carefully to other people's opinion before ignoring them seemed unavoidable.

Elsewhere, the Energy Minister and several executives from the Elias Petroleum Corporation made haste around various friendly embassies, notably those of Roycelandia, France and Britain, saying that plans were in place to temporarily boost oil production to counter any shortfall resulting from the Al-Azhad situation.

Beth Gellert

15-01-2005, 02:31

Igovo docks (Trivandrum), Kerala, ISCBG

"...I still don't know anymore than I did five minutes ago, I don't have a clue if the Roiks are still there, I don't know if we've received an official request from the new republic, I don't even know if Portmeirion's recognised it, yet, though I'm sure it will."
"Oh, I think somebody from the Yeni Ahzad sent an informal request before the republic... y'know, was up, Cliff."
"Yeah, but things have changed."
"I thought you didn't kn..."
"I assume. Anyway, I don't imagine the Roiks would trouble us again... right, shut up, we're off."

Cliff Morgan-Singh ended the pointless banter as he ducked his head to look through the canopy to the signal of a uniformed woman on the quayside, and the growl of twin T6D turbofans replaced the cockpit's chatter, greeted in turn by a hiss from manoeuvring thrusters as the MaL-AshPo Dwrgi-T crept away from its moorings at the head of the first active duty mission of Igovian wing-in-ground-effect aircraft. A second identical model followed the first out towards the Arabian Sea, taking between them around fifty tonnes of arms and equipment and over four hundred GSIC commandos.

"Props on... sit down, lad."
"Props on."
"Oh, gosh, I hate this bit."

With two Pheidippides turboprops humming at the back of each hundred and fifty-plus tonne Dwrgi, the vehicles accelerated out through the Parmis Archipelago (Laccadive Islands), exciting a couple of Beddgelen fishermen, before reaching an altitude of just three metres at most, and a cruising speed of around 385kph, or 240mph.

By the time the two craft neared the Arabian peninsula a good many hours later, they were cruising barely above the wavetops as the gunner in one Dwrgi-T manned his station commanding a turret-mounted dual 30mm cannon, while his comrade in the second readied a dual-purpose 76mm gun mounted in their stead. Unsure of the situation at Raysuz harbour as the People's Kosmonautical Co-operative was still perhaps a couple of hours away from re-positioning observation satellites and relaying data, the Igovians had decided on radio silence and came in without using their search radar while still hoping to sneak below the notice of any hostile aparatus. Crews braced for a yet relatively little rehearsed approach where in their craft would, hopefully, come crashing out of the barely touched waters and on to the beaches at either side of the harbour, a fair few hundred yards away.

Concurrently, Portmeirion was trying to contact the new Republican government to inform them of the impending arrival near Raysuz harbour of a special forces battalion and a good stock of armaments for the Republic's forces. Though the communication probably wouldn't include these details, the arms were mainly ex-service AKM-BG assault rifles -as the Soviet arm but with a two-shot burst setting included- including a good number with under-slung 40mm grenade launchers, RPK light-machineguns, SVD rifles, hand grenades, a few anti-tank mines, RPG-7s with a variety of grenades including newer dual-warhead types, and just twelve SA-16 MANPADs with a few dozen missiles.

Roycelandia

15-01-2005, 13:07

Raysuz Harbour

The crew of the IRNS Boothroyd heard the sound of approaching aircraft engines, but were unable to identify where they were coming from.

"Unidentified Aircraft, this is the IRNS Boothroyd. You are entering a Conflict Zone. Please Identify Yourself..." the Radio Operator began broadcasting, whilst some of the more alert sailors manned the AA guns and MGs on board.

There were also several Tenders and launches in the harbour evacuating some of the IFL troops, whilst others were still holding the Port itself and laying the demolition charges, taking care to do so in such a way that it would look like the port had been destroyed in the fighting that would come eventually, rather than simply blown up by the withdrawing Roycelandians.

Meanwhile, ImPetroCo have also confirmed that they will boost oil production to ensure price stability in the event of Al Ahzad's oil wells and refineries slowing or even ceasing production.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of a small village near an Oasis on the Trucial States/Al-Ahzadi border, an ancient Ford Trimotor in Air Afrique markings came to a halt, and started unloading it's cargo of poultry, rugs, various odds and sods, and a handful of brave passengers. The fact is that the aircraft was being operated by the Roycelandian Special Operations Command, and the "passengers" were all IIS agents, but no-one in the area was likely to pay any attention at all to them.

Their mission was a simple one: Keep tabs on the Muscat of Oman, and watch the Islamic Fundamentalists in the area. The Ahzadi situation was still quite tenable, and Roycelandia had a lot more hands to play in this particular theatre...

Al-Ahzad

15-01-2005, 20:54

The Line

"Yankee four-zero, yankee four-zero, what is your status, over?"

At night in a rolling tank, the CO tried to find out exactly that. The assault had gone like clockwork, and the 1st armored brigade had ripped through the ASDPR divisions assaulting the surviving line strongpoint.

But currently, the commander of 4th battalion didn't know where the hell he was. His unit had made contact with (and destroyed) another battalion of ASDPR tanks in a very short battle (the ASDPR tank crews had tactics limited to getting a hull-down position, sitting there, and firing, and were easily outflanked). After that, though, it was nothing. He thought they were lost.

Reporting his map grid location into HQ, he waited for a response.

"Uuh, yankee four-zero...we....you're south of the wadi, and, uuh...we belive that you have slipped between the enemy divisions and you are in the enemy rear area, I repeat, you are in ASDPR rear areas. counterbattery has detected an artillery park three klicks to your south-east..."

The commander's jaw dropped. He'd stumbled right into the rear of the ASDPR force. He picked up his mic to give orders. This was gonna get good.

________________________________________________

The 20,000 ASDPR troops engaged with the 1st armored brigade and Ahzadi regular army units in fortifications has come under a night assault by the main tank unit of the 3rd division. It has been, in short, a slaughter. The competence of 1st brigade offciers and the superiority of their communications network has allowed the 1st brigade to fight as roving battalions and companies against the very rigid and static tactics of the ASDPR. The armored battles are, to put it mildly, one-sided and the Ahazdi losses are light.

Sometime in the night, a single M60 battalion wanders into the gap between the two ASDPR divisions. Wheeling and driving behind the main ASDPR line, they roll up the ASDPR infantry brigades assaulting the fortresses, resulting in a complete collapse of the seige of Ahzadi fortifications. The communist infantry is quickly driven off by the Ahzadi fortress units who, while poorly led and disiplined, are still better than the ASDPR troops.

While this is happening, the mechanized infantry contingent of the 1st brigade is fed into the gap discovered by the tank battalion, and rapidly seizes the main ASDPR artillery parks, as well as (with the timely assistance of Ahzadi 105mm SPG's) actually overruning the corps HQ for the entire ASDPR force attacking the line.

This breakthrough quickly leads to the total disentigration of the ASDPR two-division force. (think iraqi units in kuwait for the total level of chaos). Melting away, the ASDPR troops either surrender, or simply abandon their equipment and run away. Over 10,000 prisoners are taken (almost half the total force) in the pursuit, which lasts until dawn.

As the sun rises, the shattered, totally demoralized remnants of the ASDPR force stream back over the line. The 3,500 men of the 1st armored brigade recieve their orders to cease pursuit. The 7,000 Al-Ahzad fortress troops conduct mopping up operations into the day, flushing out die-hards, but most of their task is organizing the POW's.

At a cost of 11 destroyed tanks and 112 dead, the first brigade destroyed over 200 ASDPR tanks and killed at least 4,000 of their troops. They halt for now, but the rest of the 3rd division is being rushed to the line to back them up for what comes next...

Raysuz

Seeing Roycelandian intentions, General Massad orders that all Roycelandian units are free to leave the country under flag of truce. At the airport, the Ahzadi force backs off, and consolidates it's position. If the Roycelanians want to leave, he will let them go in peace.

He has more important tasks, like bringing the three brigades (all bloodied now) of the 3rd division together at the line, as well as managing the flood of conscripts that have reported for duty. Also, the goddamn french, but that was more Hikmet Pash- Hikmet Bektasi's] territory.

Only a small detachment of regular army troops would stay in the city, with the Jandarma securing the capital. The heavy forces of the 3rd division were not suited for the city, and General Massad was pulling in garrison army units from other cities to pull together a "Raysuz brigade" to provide some regular army presence here.

News that Beth Gellen troops had showed up with weapons and offers of aid was greeted with cheering in the halls of the palace. Finally, somebody had extended a welcoming hand to the Republic. Even though he had spent his whole adult life fighting the communists, General Massad realized that Beth Gellen was more....authentic in their idealism than the ASDPR ever was.

OOC: General Massad is a staunch nationalist, but he also has many socialist tendancies- he's very much cut from the mold of Nasser and Ataturk, and is willing to deal with and incorporate parts of both socialist and capitalist ideologies.

__________________________________________________________

Inner Chambers, The Palace

Hikmet spoke calmly into the phone.

"look, we know that as a monarchy, you have sympathies to the sultan. ordinarily, we would hate you for even offering what you did to that arab dog. however, we realize that france is.....pragmatic and since WE are running the show here, perhaps we can re-negotiate this arms deal?"

Hikmet paused, and let the frenchman speak.

"yes, well, we realize that we don't exactly hold all the cards, but we are not insane and will sign over exclusive rights to our oil to anybody but the ahzadi people. we just want this deal to be of a, say....smaller scale. not quite so extreme. we are of course ready to give you certian....special deals in exchange for weapons, but that is best discussed in a more personal setting, no? perhaps a trip to paris on my part is in order...."

The Rub Al-Khali

Wazzef Al-Waloud raised his voice to the assembled horsemen. They'd been reinforced by the several thousand Royal Guardsmen that had made it out of Raysuz, and their red uniforms mingled with the web gear and traditional robes of the bedouin.

"My brothers! My tribe! Our Sultan is dead with is wives and sons! The infidel is prancing in the halls of the palace and spreading his wickeness from the land of the Al-Awaliq to the land of the Al-Duru. We shall not stand for this! We shall not stand for the sons-of-farmers and city boy pansies to spill the blood of the Al-Walouf! We shall ride, and we shall ride with god!"

The thousands of bedouin gathered in the remote wadi fired their weapons into the air and gave out their shrill battlecry.

Wazzef turned to the fair-skinned man sitting in his tent.

"You see, Colonel Griffin? Our men are great warriors." A detatchment of Royal Guardsmen on horseback with roycelandian rocket launchers began galloping southwards. The rest began to follow.

Colonel Griffin smiled. Yes, yes these men would do nicely.

Al-Ahzad

15-01-2005, 21:22

OOC: to answer your question, UE, the ASDPR troops will probably surrender in huge numbers if the fight starts to go against them.

Elkazor

15-01-2005, 22:01

His Most Chistian Majesty Louis XX was intrigued by the whole Azhadi situation. To be sure, he had serious qualms about having any dealings with such a colored regime. However, the booming relationship France had with Marimaia necessitated a naval base on the Arabian Pennensula to insure the lines of trade, and the oil oppurtunities were too rich to resist.

In the main, Louis was concerned about the dangers of helping such as seemingly radical entity. The King relaxed in one of his shaded galdes in Versailles, relaxing from the hunt for a moment to enjoy the cigarette and welcome seclusion. But, after all, had not his ancestors helped out fledgling powers, to the redoundment of the Bourbons? But, then, everybody knew what Louis XVI's efforts in the colonies led to.

In the end, the oppurtunities were simply to lucrative to ignore. There would be a scandal, though, if he let one of them come to France. So it was that Jules de Farras, Chevlalier du Saint-Louis and one of HMCM Louis XX's best clandestine agents (The best, Pierre, was in Russia) was filtered into Al-Azhad. With his lingustic dynamism he sought the nationalisitic leader in his redoubt. He came offering much the same deal as had been offered before. France wanted, alot if not all, of Azhads oil venturing oppurtunities. However, the less oil ventures the Azhadis offered, the more the French would inspect in terms of a victualing and naval base on their, would be French, soil. Arms were still for sale in full, but since the coup d'etat, no high end weapons would be sold. Small arms, automatic weapons, even light artillery was offered. No jets, naval ships, or rocketry would be, yet of course. Future relations are the key as always. In regard to an air force, France was prepared to 'loan' to Azhadi government, under French command, a squadren of Mirages. The deal mayhap could be tweaked a bit, but the fundamental points could not. Jules would arrive at the Generals 'Palace' quite soon after the call. The French were eager to give their plan first, before the grotesque Sub-continenters arrived.

Al-Ahzad

15-01-2005, 23:06

Hikmet Bektasi looked at the French agent.

"I'm sorry- that is totally out of the question. We shall not be a third-world nation for long. We have no need of small arms or light artillery- we can build that ourselves quite easily. We want anti-tank missiles, helicopters, Mirage fighters, SAM systems and Exocets. We will give you basing rights for your air force, a strong allied army to fight alongside you, and friendly ports for your ships, but we will not be your puppet. We will exempt your oil companies from tariffs, yes. We will let them operate in Al-Ahzad, yes, we will garauntee you a certain percentage of our oil exports at well below market rates, yes, but we will not sign away Al-Ahzad's natural wealth for weapons we could make anyways. We do not seek a master, we seek a friend, and we can tell which one you want to be."

Hikmet turned and walked out of the room.

Elkazor

15-01-2005, 23:22

The French agent wasnt really moved much by the comments. He would get in contact with his masters in Versailles, and would leave one last altered option to the Azhadi government. The "Treaty of Amity and Friendship" was changed to the Azhadis government requests in respect to weapons sale, but the French wanted a land-lease from Azhadi soil for a Naval Base and Victualing Port. They wanted the land for the base for a hundred year lease. However, the Azhadi governments would then have their distributor able to grant easy arms so to speak. So the French were willing to sell the weapons, and agree to the oil deals (which were fairly reasonable for all involved, and for all to make a profit) as long as Al-Azhad agreed to lease them land for a port fortress.

Beth Gellert

16-01-2005, 00:44

Raysuz Harbour

"I don't think they've got us..."
"You... don't?"
"You'd expect some more direct reference to, you know, these things, wouldn't you?"
Nobody looked sure and silence fell in the cockpit.
"Come on, we're Beddgelens, beach this damned thing and get that lot out there!" Cried one of three flight officers, gesturing back to the eleven-score Sentinels on the Dwrgi's transport decks.

The two big craft splashed into the surf and burst back out on to the shore, each a few hundred metres from the harbour, one east and one west, coming to a halt before disgorging some 440 GSIC commandos, three or four dozen of which on each flank began to walk towards the harbour. It was believed to be either in Yeni Ahzad-friendly hands, or else still occupied by the Roiks. The first way was fine, the second was less so, but nobody expected to be shot at. The Roycelandians would recognise a detachment of Igovian infantry when they saw it, one part towering, long-haired Celt, one part angry-looking Indian trying to look as dangerous as the giants around him. In Beth Gellert, it was still popularly held that the Roycelandians were all but afriad of the Commonwealth for fear of it stepping in to Africa, and so assumed that Roycelandian forces would never provoke a wider conflict with the Commonwealth unless extremely provoked.

Back in Beth Gellert, the biggest wing-in-ground-effect vehicle ever built was being loaded after a successful turn-out on the east coast. Nearly five thousand tonnes of flying machine prepared to do its part to make sure of friendly and strong government in the new Al Ahzad, as the ISCBG played an increasingly dangerous game of, "look who's a super-power unafraid of kicking-off on three fronts at once", loading the mighty Cordelia with several hundred tonnes of armaments and aid for a friendly government wise enough to see the Commonwealth's point. The huge Red Dragon (the class of vehicle of which Cordelia is first) was by now quite probably known to news agencies around the world, was being loaded in plain view as crewmen, for reasons unknown, waved flags on the docks. The Igovian, Hindustani, banners seen in Yeni Ahzad use, Kanendru's flag of strong colour and clearly brand new, the Lavragerian flag, Igomo's Lusakan vulture banner, the French Tricolour...

Sometimes, individual Igovians were driven to make their own unofficial and indirect statements while the huge Sentate System tried to reach quorum on an official decision, such as whether to outright tell the Raysuz goverment to avoid bending to western militarist pressure, or just to turn up with billions of dollars worth of hardware and keep it locked up inside a transport until they caught on.

Spyr

16-01-2005, 01:37

The People's Republic of Spyr, after some deliberation, follows the Igovian example and extends full recognition and support to the new republican government of Al-Ahzad. However, unlike their comrades in the subcontinent, Spyran recognition can provide little but moral support for the bourgeoning state.

----

Spyran diplomats in Beth Gellert express admiration at the Commonwealth's eternal vigilance and readiness to stand in defence of those under threat of oppression and exploitation by feudal-capitalist and imperialist intrests.
There is however, a noticeable undercurrent of concern that, with each front the Igovians take up, less resources remain to ensure quick and vicorious resolution to the Chinese problem.

Roycelandia

16-01-2005, 04:06

Raysuz

Of the approximately 4,000 Bedouin Troops in Al-Ahzad, around 490 have been killed in the fighting, 612 wounded, with about 1,800 vanishing into the desert (along with the tanks), and the remaining troops withdrawing under a flag of truce.

That evening, the IRNS Boothroyd and the transport IRNS Trilobite cast off, and make sail for Socotra. Numerous other IRNS and Civillian Transports, carrying withdrawing Bedouin and Ahzadi refugees, make sail for The Sudan.

The harbour is not blown up by the withdrawing troops, oddly enough.

The arrival of the Bedgellen Troops is unexpected, but they're flying well below the level of the Boothroyd's guns, and as the Roycelandians are withdrawing anyway, it is decided not to engage them...

OOC: Insert Image of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I shaking his fist at a TV and saying "Next Time, Gadget... Uh, I mean Next Time, Beth Gellert! Next Time!" :D

The Rub Al-Khali

Col. Griffin was the Imperial Guard's foremost Arabist- a keen scholar of Arabic Ways, knower of the Arab Mind, and he had also read the Koran several times (a major acheivement in atheist Roycelandia). In fact, there were persistent rumours that Col. Griffin had, in fact, been to the Holy City of Mecca, supposedly off-limits to Non-Muslims.

The Roycelandian Government, having realised that direct military intervention wasn't going to work, had decided on their more usual game plan- Arm The Politically Acceptable Forces.

A good 1200 of the Bedouins who has vanished into the desert had since met up with Col. Griffin, who was glad to have disciplined, well-trained troops as well as the remnants of the Royal Guard and the Al-Walouf tribe.

The good thing about the size of Al-Ahzad, and it's relatively unmodern infrastructure, was that the Imperial Air Force could simply fly in planeloads of arms, supplies, and what have you totally unmolested.

That morning, a C-130J and a C-47 had touched down on the makeshift airfield, bringing food and medical supplies, as well as arms, ammunition, and even Rocket Launchers (basically a copy of the RPG-7). Some of the "Western Consumer Goods" would have been new to the Al-Walouf forces ("How does that shiny little plate make sound?"), but the arrival of little things like Soft Drink, Tea, Tobacco, and even sungoggles would ensure the viewing of the Roycelandians in positive ways.

"So, what is the target of this most excellent strike?" enquired Col. Griffin of Al-Walouf.

The Trucial States

17-01-2005, 00:34

(OOC: The ruling families and form of government is somewhat different to that of the RL UAE, so for more please see the MW applications thread where I have posted the beginings of a factbook, including full military details.)

In the small and eastern most Trucial State of Al Fujayrah, where a majority of the population claims membership in the dominant Al Waloud tribe, Shaykh Hamad ibn Muhammad Al Waloud had desperatley been cajoling the other Royal families to not only allow the deployment of the Central Military Command forces, Al Fujayrah not having its own military as Dubai and Abu Dhabi did and any other State or National forces to aid his cousin Wazzef.

Having called an emergency meeting of the Federal National Council and getting the support of Prime Minister Abdallah bin Husayn al-Ahmar, Al Waloud had suceeded thus far in persuading the Dubai Royal Family to organise forces from the Dubai Defence Corps, widely reagrded as the best trained military force in The Trucial States.

That evening, as members of Central Military Command were still reporting to their barracks, a company of Dubai special forces, equipped with FN FNC assault rifles, boarded Puma assault helicopters. Within hours, just over a eighty men strong, the company was on its way, flying low towards the Rub Al Khali, on course to link up with the bedouin fighters. Regarded as the best soldiers the Trucial States could offer, they would also be supported by a fleet of DDC Pumas and even Apaches, giving on call air power to the Arab forces.

Al-Ahzad

17-01-2005, 02:35

Raysuz

General Massad put down his binoculars and looked away from the docks, turning to the Beth Gellan commander next to him.

"Of course, our first priority is crushing Arslan Buyruz's regime and securing- one way or another- the withdrawl of United Elias forces from our country. After that? Well, I'm hearing troubling things from out in the desert, and after that, well, we still have to deal with muscat."

Massad looked at the map set out in front of him.

"Say....those are nice ground-effect vehicles; mind if I borrow them?"

________________________________________________________________

Outpost 20, on the edge of the Rub Al-Khali

The platoon of garisson troops had put up a fight for less than 90 mintues. Wazzef Al-Walouf looked proudly at his handiwork as the bedouin looted the small base. They would carry off mortars, and small arms ammunition from this. It wasn't a great victory, but it was one, and it was good to hit back against the Republican army. Outpost 20 was simply on the way. His bedouin would ride south. Over 4,500 of them- fighting men of the Al-Walouf and Royal guardsmen- would meet up with the Roycelandians who ran into the desert, and would march on Raysuz.

Wazzef would avenge his brother. His familiy in the Truncal States were making sure that help was coming, and the vaunted 3rd division was to the west, fighting the ASDPR.....

Hudecia

17-01-2005, 16:56

-Ottawa-

With the withdrawal of Roycelandian troops, MacNally finally had a free had to respond to General Massad's pleas.

Hudecia promised its full support to this new republic and offered to immediately deploy engineers to help rebuild and send aid to the nation. Although sending military aid was not mentioned publicly, it was hinted that Hudecia would have no qualms about sending some under the table.

MacNally preferred that Al-Ahzad support itself and be able to defend itself from its territorial enemies without the constant intervention of Hudecian forces.

In a display of support for the republic, MacNally's Interior Minister, Emily Chiang would be visiting the republic as soon as possible to help coordinate efforts with the government.

United Elias

17-01-2005, 19:44

Baghdad

The Ministry of Defence Central Operations room was ablaze of activity, huge elctronic maps showing military units all over the world, with others focusing just on North-West Al-Ahzad and the Rub Al-Khali. Uniformed officers scurried around computers, charts and small adjoining conference rooms hosted strategy discussions. Quite clearly there had been a major miscalculation, yet another mistake in the handling of the crisis. By invading the ASDPR the intention had been to relieve the pressure on the Sultan's army, and now with the Republic declare it was doing the opposite, relieving Massad's troops, and making it easier for them to crush Buyruz and unite the country. Why the Beth Gellertens were supporting Massad over Buyruz was as yet unclear, and very very confusing, but it certainly raised the stakes.

The elevator opened and Minister Zibari, flanked by a team of top brass, exited with haste, ready to bark orders.

"Okay, we've met with the President, new instructions, turn around the ground forces in the ASDPR, right now, bring them all back into Elias territory, resupply them and sit them on the frontier, as we may need to go back in. Suspend all airstrikes on communist troops and release the POW's instructing them that they must return to their military unit." The man, rushed around the room in a frenzied state of stress, he unlike many of the President's senior officials was not known for his calm nature. "Next get all active duty units in the Southern Arabia military region on maximum readiness and ready deploy southwards. Ask the Persian Gulf and Red Sea fleets to make plans for blockading Al-Ahzad and in the mean time beef up our presence in the Arabian Sea, but discreetly, no visible escalation."

This dramatic reversal in the ASDPR was not because of policy indecsion, but more because of a change in circumstances, it no longer made sense to defeat Buyruz only to face Massad's army, when it would be easier to see what happened after the two factions fought each other. A fairly major decision though was that the restoration of monarchy was indeed the prefered option but rather than give military support, they would do something nearly as good. Every day starting now, the Federal Intelligence Bureau would handover all relevant satellite photos to the Trucial States, which would then be passed to the Al-Waloud fighters, providing them with exact locatons of Republican forces. As far as Elias military movements, they would be limited, as any visible escalation might be counter-productive if BG responded in kind. Nonetheless, it would still be clear that this was very much UE's turf, and it was obvious to anyone that if Elias had a reason to get very seriously concerned about Al-Ahzad, the entire country could be annexed without a great deal of difficulty. With this thought in mind, it was hoped that Beth Gellert would not be misguided enough to become too concerned with Al-Ahzad either.

Lunatic Retard Robots

18-01-2005, 01:17

Finally, after a long delay, a heavily modified Canberra bomber, now used for diplomatic transport (lest Hindustan appear backward and use propeller-powered diplomatic transports), touches down in Baghdad, bearing a delegation of Hindustani diplomats.

Roycelandia

18-01-2005, 01:26

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

"So, who exactly are we fighting here?" asked Governor-General Philip J. Fry

"Well, we've got General Massad and the Third Army- they're the best armed and funded. There's the Yeni Ahzadi, which are basically Students. They have reasonable arms, but we're not too sure on their funding. And then there's the ASDPR, who are Communists."

"I see. Well, keep Col. Griffin well supplied and let me know if there's any developments..."

OOC: And what's wrong with Prop-driven transports? Roycelandia is quite partial to them, and we're a 1st World, Modern Empire...

Lunatic Retard Robots

18-01-2005, 01:36

Beth Gellert

18-01-2005, 01:52

(Hehe. I'll come back with an IC post, later (I need a mixer for this vodka, now), but for now, Beddgelert uses prop-driven transports. The little Savov Preston twin engine effort is being used by Derek Igomo in his part in the Great Air Race or whatever, and is also ferrying supplies up into Kanendru as well as shuttling Civil Servants back and forth within India, and then there's the Marathon, but that has turboprops.
Still, nowadays we're leaning more towards fuel-efficient heavy-lift Go Go Gadget Ekranoplans ;) )

Lunatic Retard Robots

18-01-2005, 02:19

Once the Kanendru issue has been sorted out, the Al-Ahzad republican government can probably expect to recieve quite a few discarded Hindustani weapons systems like BMP-2s, AT. 19 (similar to the AT-3), AT. 22 (similar to the AT-4), and AT. 25 (similar to the Milan) missile systems, as well as MiG-29As, aircraft replaced by modified Viggens and MiG-21s in HAF service, and perhaps some Veer class missile boats, which have been replaced by the larger and more capable Jharkhand class in HN service.

It is also possible that the Al-Ahzadi republican government is in line for some APC-2D carriers (very similar to the BTR-60PB, although with a 23mm cannon installed in an overhead weapons mount as opposed to the conical 14.5mm turret of the BTR), but most vehicles are earmarked for Kanendru's PLA.

However, Hindustan is always ready and willing to give humanitarian aid. Civil engineering teams are on standby to help with the reconstruction of vital infrastructure and medecins can be shipped to the area quickly by aircraft.

Elkazor

20-01-2005, 00:45

In what would no doubt come as a shock to 'the powers', the Kingdom of France and the Republic of Al-Ahzad signed the "Treaty of Amity and Commerce."

General Massad signed of behalf of Al-Ahzad, and Jules de Farras, Chevalier du Saint-Louis, signed of behalf of France. The Treaty was to begin at once, and entailed the following:

Article 1- The Kingdom of France will provide the Republic of Al-Ahzad with military equipment, based on the needs and abilities of the Republic.
Article 2- French Security concerns will train and equip, with the aforesaid weaponry, the Ahzadi Army.
Article 3- The Republic of Al-Ahzad grants France oil rights within thier nation at the agreed upon rate of a 20% constant below market prices.
Article 4- The Republic of Al-Ahzad grants France a 50-year lease of the portside enclave of Al-Jabr, several miles north of Raysuz, a 6 square mile pennensula ideally suited for a major naval installation. The Kingdom of France has the right to build a major Naval Base/Victualling Station/Oil Processing Facility upon said enclave. For term of lease, enclave will be regarded as 'French soil', and is also granted the right to maintain a garrison of 700 Royal Marines at the enclave. The Kingdom of France agrees only to use Ahzadi labor in regards to the Oil Processing Facility, and agrees to follow a Oil Policy stipulated by the sovereign government of Al-Ahzad.

Once the treaty had been signed, and the photo ops had been taken, the work began. Jules went to the site, and christened it Fort St. Louis. Massive oil pipelines would be built, of course with the help of French financiers, from the Ahzadi Oil fields to the French base. The base would be fortified, containing three 'wards', each once using two square miles respectivley. 1/3 would be Naval docks, 1/3 would provide housing for Azhadis and barracks for French managers and the garrison, and 1/3 for the Oil Processing plant.
A French fleet has been dispatched to Al-Ahzad, to build the base, which will resemble a Vaubanian Fort.

Pundits in France, full of native wit, commented: "Some say the alliance of France and Al-Ahzad was an unnatural monstrosity, but since it was nessicary, it turned out to be quite natural." A major base in strategic Al-Ahzad would give the French a strait line of trade. From her Pacific colonies, to her vital trade partner Marimaia, to now Fort St. Louis, and thence onto France, a line of profit had been drawn.

In other news, France signed a Non-Agression Pact with United Elias back in Versailles. And, since France now had an a long and lucrative maritime trade again, King Louis XX granted the Royal Navy thier request to build a sister ship to the Cherbourg Class Battleship, Mark II, Louis-Auguste. She would be titled as La Reine (So the two biggest French ships in the fleet, well, are a reflection of the Monarchs), as well as several more Brest Class Frigates, and one more Marseilles Class Light Cruiser.

Almost before the ink was done drying, 20 Falon Heavy Transport Helicopters were delievered to Raysuz, as the first arms sale. There would be many more.

And, as experts predicted, in only a few months Fort St. Louis would be an oil hub, and a vital waypoint for the Royal Navy.

Al-Ahzad

20-01-2005, 17:40

Raysuz State University

"You are a traitor, Massad. You've been in charge, what, a week and a half? and you are already selling off our natural resources and territory? This is foolishness, this is insanity! You seem to have forgotten everything this revolution is about!"

The constitutional convention was being held in the main lecture hall of Raysuz state university, and thanks to the informal and rather incoherent ideology of Yeni Ahzad, it seemed that every delegate- different local politicians, intellectuals, civil servants, Ahzadi exiles, poets, etc.- had a different idea of what exactly this revolution was about. Right now, many of them were letting General Massad know that their concepts were rather divergent from his.

"Listen." Massad took a step forwards, to the edge of the stage. "I know what it looks like, and I know what a lot of you may be thinking. But politics sometimes- belive it or not- leaves the parlors or the underground journals and enters the real world, and in the real world Al-Ahzad is poor, driven to ruin by the sultan, with few advanced weapons and fewer friends. Just thank god that we have foriegn troops in the country that we actually invited. I also know a lot of you are mad about the oil deal, but we need all the clients we can get and we'll be making more money off of this than any of the Sultan's deals with ImPetCo. Now, you called me here to inform the provisional assembly on the current security situation, and I'm going to tell you."

He motioned for the lights to dim and flipped on the projector.

"Now, I'd characterize the situation as fragile, but stable....."

_______________________________________________________________

State of the Ahzadi Armed Forces

3rd Army Division

The chaotic, dispersed fighting of the first days of the revolution has died down, and the third division has managed to consolidate it's brigades after elements of it fought against (and defeated) two ASDPR divisions and clashed with the Roycelandian Bedouin at Raysuz International. All units of the 3rd division have been bloodied, and at least 2,000 of it's men are dead, but it has seen battle, and won. Currently, the three brigades and support units are massing just on the Ahzadi side of The Line, and preparing to breach the formidable ASDPR fortifications. Managing the ASDPR prisoners and sorting through all the abandoned equipment left behind in the rout has been handed off to....

Line Brigade Combat Group

Officially a "corps" was holding the line, but the post-revolution desertions, the ASDPR onslaught, and the internal fighting have reduced this to about 7,000 men. These troops are all leg infantry, with no mechanization and little artillery. They are poorly led and disciplined, but made a decent showing of themselves in combat against the ASDPR. Most importlantly, they are loyal and trusted, and are best suited for exactly what they have been doing- defending fortification and rear-area policing. Currently, they are managing over 10,000 ASDPR prisoners after the crushing defeat of two peoples army divisions. Another mammoth task at hand is the collection and sorting of the huge amount of equipment left behind by fleeing ASDPR troops- who often just abandoned heavy equipment outright in their panic. The prisoners are being held in the line fortresses, but the equipment is being categorized and shipped back to Raysuz, where it is being placed in depot and the unofficial main army base at the former royal guard barracks.

Frontier Forces

The news of revolution caused a good deal of the already depleted Ahzadi army to simply go home. Forces guarding the borders of Al-Ahzad at the edges of the arabian desert numbered some 15,000 when the sultan was killed. Now that number has shrunk to 4,000 scattered in battalion and company sized outposts. Decently organized infantry units, the ones that stayed are loyal to General Massad. The problem is they are scattered. These men have fought the bedouin for years, but they are currently too scattered to do much. One of the first uses of the French transport helicopters will be to consolidate these men together so they can be a real force. They lack heavy weapons, artillery, or armor, however.

New Units

The levee en masse declared by General Massad is going ahead very smoothly. Large numbers of French private military contractors have been flown in and are assisting Yeni Ahzad junior officers in training what promises to be a very large new army. Special attention is paid to any with exceptional skills, and the ranks of inductees are being combed ruthlessly for anybody with technical know-how or engineering abilities. A paucity of high-tech equipment and trained personell to operate that equipment is the crippling weakness of the Ahzadi military, and the greatest priority is getting men (and jandarma are going door-to-door searching for women) with engineering degrees or experience as a mechanic or electrician. Also being sought out are former officers or soldiers who are being recalled to service. Most of the men in service depots or leading companies now are in thier 40's or 50's, their military experice was in the 1970's or 80's- but that's good enough for now.

Enough battle-hardened Yeni Ahzad militia, purged Junior Officers, retired technical personell, and promising inductees have been found to scrape together....

The Raysuz Brigade

5,000 men strong, the Raysuz brigade in any other army would be a light infantry unit. Armed with heavy weapons from Royal Guard armories or old storehouses, the Raysuz Brigade can scrape up some artillery when really needed. Their function at present is mostly to guard the royal palace (nobody has come up with a new name, but many are calling it republic palace) and train even more, but they are the first unit of the new army, and should be able to give at least a passable performance in battle.

The Jandarma

The 3rd Division may be the key to reuniting the breakaway parts of the country, but the Jandarma are the most valuble force for controlling it. 40,000 men strong- a combination internal security and police force- the Jandarma are in small stations in every town and city in Raysuz, and currently most of them are out in the streets with FAL's in their trademark blue uniforms enforcing curfews, purging local police departments of corrupt officers, and arresting known royalists. Ghazi militia uprisings have been put down throughout the Republican controlled areas, and the Jandarma is smoothly humming along as it always has.

In Raysuz, the descision has been made to rely on the Jandarma for a bit more than just that. Welding together the paramilitary "security companies" that took part in the street fighting, General Massad has formed the "Jandarma Field Force", and has armed them with the heavy weapons that arrived in the Beth Gellen enkranoplan. Now toting man-portable SAM's, mortars, and LRR antitank missiles, the Jandarma field force has also looted the Royal Guard motor pool, and has become something of a homegrown stryker brigade. 3,000 strong, mounted in armored cars, Massad is treating this unit as simply an extension of the internal-policing duties of the Jandarma. If an uprising takes place while the 3rd division is on the line, these guys will get sent.

ASDPR equipment

Large numbers of towed 152mm artillery have been captured, as well as BTR personell carriers, and many support weapons. Currently an unorganized jumble, once sorted out they will doubtlessly equip the units that are currently being shouted at by french mercenaries and 50-something retired Ahzadi drill instructors.

_________________________________________________________

Raysuz International Airport

They had been sitting in their bunkers at one far end of the airport, and had intentionally been spared the worst of the fighting. Now the crews and aging pilots had been brought in from Sultan Selim barracks to get them back in the air. They were idling on the tarmac now, old but still flyable, laden with bombs. Not the best in the world, and lord knew the electronics were obsolete, but thanks to the UE bombing of the ASDPR air defense net, they should do their job.

14 A-4 Skyhawks and 3 F-4 Phantoms throttled up one by one and roared off into the early morning. The Ahzadi Air force was flying again, for the first time in years.

______________________________________________________________

The Line

"All units, this is General Massad" The radios in hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles and company CP's crackled.

"Today you embark on the mission you have trained for for so long- you will breach the line, and you shall re-unite the nation! Commence operation Golden Dawn!"

The artillery began to pound the ASDPR fortifications, filled with weary demoralized communist troops only kept there by the comissars and political officers and party cadres in their ranks. As the first tanks began to roll behind the barrage, the flight of Ahzadi aircraft came screeching over the horizon and let loose ungided bombs, rockets, and napalm on the rows of bunkers and strongpoints guarding the entrance to the Hadzamaut, the fertile heartland of Al-Ahzad. The men cheered out as the Ahzadi jets turned and flew away- their strikes hit mostly empty bunkers, when they hit at all, but that wasn't the point. The point was to tell the ASDPR that they were going to lose this fight, and if the jets didn't do it, the battle-hardened division would.

United Elias

20-01-2005, 19:56

Paris

Having heard of this foul and unforgiveable support for a faction that had come to power via a bloody coup, the Elias Ambassador walked out of negotiations on the treaty, and later submitting an extensive diplomatic complaint to the French government that said in several thousand words of technical verbiage, 'U turn, or the tankers will.' The message was clear, this was not acceptable, a friend of our adversary could not be our friend, or even our trading partner. Even if every drop of Al-Azhad export crude was not directed to France, it would still leave them about 500,000 barrels short per day. The indignancy was exacerbated by the fact that a Kingdom could abandon the support of another in favour of Republicans, and the similarities between Bonaparte and Massad were also pointed out. The French had once again proven to be unreliable partners, and this would certainly the already historically strong bond with Great Britain.

Meanwhile a group of Arabs, mostly exiles from Al-Ahzad or members of the Al-Waloud tribe, were allowed to protest and blockade the entrance of the French Embassy in Baghdad, an action that would normally have been met with tear gas and rubber bullets from riot police.

Elkazor

21-01-2005, 03:11

The French Minister of State was not distressed at the Elians reaction at all.
M. de Vergennes would send a cordial letter to Baghdad, saying he was deeply sorry for the inconvienience, but there was nothing he could do. Louis XX hoped that no matter what their difference of opinions might be, civilized cordiality would still be respected. And United Elias was reminded that with Frances alliance with Marimaia vis a vis the Tripartite Pact, Oil would be bountiful for the Sun King.

Al-Ahzad, chaotic though it may be, provided a dessert too sweet for His Most Christian Majesty Louis XX . Already, French Engineers were setting to work on the foundations of the massive fortress at Fort St. Louis. Oil lines were begun, on charts linked by spiderwebs of lines, all converging on the new French mega-base. It would hold thousands of workers, diligently producing refined petrol exclusivley for the French Market. It would also serve as a great Naval station, giving the French a secure ability to protect thier Mercantile Interests in Marimaia and the Pacific.

French Security contracters already began the lucrative affair of building an Ahzadi national infrastructrure. Weapons orders were taken, gold was the medium of exchange. As was the way with a Mercantile system, all French concerns in Ahzad were solidified in one entity, and based out of Fort. St. Louis. The Royal Ahzad Company, constituted by a cartel of French nobles, and speculated to be one of the most lucrative Firms in the world.

At the highest levels of every worlds government, no doubt leaders would be green with envy with HMCM Louis XX's coup de gras.

Roycelandia

21-01-2005, 04:40

Port Royal, Roycelandia

"Well, Gentlemen- How about a status report on the situation in Al-Ahzad? asked His Majesty at the morning's conference.

Wiggles handed him a dossier.

His Majesty flicked through it quickly, then calmy said "Excuse me for a minute, gentlemen", rose, and adjourned to the ensuite.

A muffled tirade of unrepeatable (and very creative) expletives could be heard issuing forth from His Majesty's ensuite for a good five minutes, before His Majesty returned to the conference and sat down.

"Quite frankly, I hadn't bargained on the Frogs getting involved. This changes things dramatically."

He took a breath.

"First thing's first. Socotra will be expanded to be a major Naval and Air Base. I want at least 12 Dreaqdnoughts stationed there, as well as three squadrons of Spitfires, one Harrier Squadron, and at least one Jetfire Squadron."

Notes were made.

"Next, find out from ImPetroCo what the deal with the Oil is. There will be contracts etc that mean we should be able to keep some of the refineries, even if the French get most of them."

"After that, get in touch with Col. Griffin, find out what he needs. Have him tell Al-Walouf that Imperial Armaments will supply arms and ammunition free of charge, in exchange for a 60/40% split of the oil profits from any wells and refineries we can recapture."

"Finally, send a formal letter to the French expressing our dissatisfaction at their involvement with the revolutionaries, but don't make any threats or rattle sabres. There'll be plenty of time for that in the coming months..."

Elkazor

21-01-2005, 05:43

M. de Vergennes would place a phone call to the highest levels of Roycelandian Governmentn, vowing French amicability. The Kingdom of France had no designs whatsoever on any power in the region. They simply had business concerns in Ahzad. A naval base in the area was vital for growing French trade with Marimaia, and the oil deals were mutually benefical.

Roycelandia was given the kindest assurances. Truly, France had no plans in the area, just industry. And hopefully that would be lucrative for everybody.

Roycelandia

21-01-2005, 07:43

"This sounds an awful lot like the sort of stuff we tell people all the time." Wiggles explained to His Majesty.

"Yes, but when we do it, it's usually at least partially true. It's just coincidence that our Industry is Arms Dealing and spreading Imperialism."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"My earlier orders stand. But keep an eye on the French. I don't trust them. Al-Ahzad's oil is too valuable to be entrusted to people who think snails and fungus are a delicacy. In fact, deploy another Dreadnought to Vanuatu as well. Just to protect our mercantile interests in the area, of course..."

Wiggles nodded and turned to leave.

"Actually, Wiggles... one other thing. Have ImPetroCo get in touch with the French Oil concerns. If they're really only concerned about business, then I'm sure they'd be happy to engage in a partnership with ImPetroCo to run the refineries and the like. Maybe create a new company for it- Ahzadi Petroleum or the like. Sound the French out and see what they think."

His Majesty sat back in his Big Leather Chair and pressed a button on his console to summon his Coffee Wench. There was some potential in the Ahzadi situation, that was certain...

Beth Gellert

21-01-2005, 09:33

(Sounds to me like South East Asia's oil export capacity is being a tad over-estimated, especially given domestic needs, the rest of the Sphere, Beth Gellert, and any other export partners that Marimaia may have... hm.)

Hudecia

21-01-2005, 16:39

-Ottawa-

UE threats of embargoing France for its involvement in Al-Ahzadi affairs were duly noted in Hudecia.

OOC: this could get interesting...

United Elias

21-01-2005, 20:14

A meeting of the council of Ministers had convened prior to the forumalation of the response to Louis XX. Hours later a message was crafted signed off by the President himself, saying that unacceptable behavour and disrespect could not be tolerated, and it would be giving a false precedence if such actions could be excused. The general content would inform the King and his Minister of State that until such time as all support and recognition for General Massad's illegal revolutionary regime was withdrawn, a petroleum embargo would exist. A short paragraph would be a subtle and veiled reminder that soaring gas prices in France would not exactly put the monarch in a good light. The tone of the letter very much implied that if France withdrew from this situation quickly, cordial relations between United Elias and the Kingdom could indeed exist.

Simultaneously, copies were sent to Abu Dhabi, requesting that the Trucial States follow suit, given its stance on the Al-Ahzad issue. Another copy would be sent to Roycelandia, suggesting also that it too should punish France economically for its imprudence.

Elkazor

21-01-2005, 22:39

((Yah, Marimaia, please feel free to chime in ::rings the bell::))

French authorities were eager to accept Roycelandias opinions. A Special Envoy was dispatched forthwith to Royce I's Palace, with orders to seek conciliation and friendship with Roycelandia in regards to their Ahzadi possessions, and to burgeon comraderie between the two Majestical rulers.

United Elias blatant threats, and pro-British attitudes to boot, roused great ire in France. French newspapers, all owned by noble allies of the King, ran hitpieces on the Elian government. They asked questions like "Is it right that one nation should have power over the West?" and stated flatly that "Obviously, vicious British Republicanism was at work here, and cannot be tolerated!" They would curtly remind the worlds oil provider that it was the French who built the Suez Canal, even though the Elians maintained it. Moreover, although His Majesties Government was indeed conducting operations in Lavrageria, they reminded Elias not to threaten France greatly, as she was still capable of 'reaching out and touching people.' Haughty aristocrats, in the perfected realm of Versailles, would insinuate that perhaps Naval action was proper to budge the Arabs from their posistion, even though Louis XX restricted this option, for now. However, weapons shipments continued to Louis new ally, Ahzad. For the more United Elias threatened France, the greater the quantity and potency of weapons sold to Raysuz would be. Indeed, the French economy, despite certain miscarries, was thriving. Business oppurtunites in Ahzad and Lavrageria pumped up the GDP like a baloon...only one dart threatened.

The Oil situation had to be adressed. News from Al-Ahzad claimed that Louis XX's new allies would drop their prices to France 40% below market price. This was good. But real threats remained of France suffering an oil crisis. If Al-Ahzad and the Tripartite ally Marimaia could not meets French consumption demands, then conflict would surely be on the horizon. His Most Christian Majesty (St.) Louis IX had Crusaded Northern Africa, surely God would be with his descendant if he persued the same path.

The Trucial States

22-01-2005, 01:26

At the relatively small Trucial States legation in Paris, the chief consul departs for Versailles, carrying a long littany of complaints about the actions of the French government. Included were pages of evidence of General Massad being a traitor, a butcher, a revolutionary and above all untrustworthy. Knowing full well that France in a typical arrogance would ignore him, he carried another letter informing them that each Trucial State had also agreed to embargo oil exports. Abu Dhabi seemed quite prepared to stand by UE, given that it would be the winner. After all it had all the leverage: more oil than anyone else, not to mention one of the world's most powerful militaries, not that the King would be misguided enough to go so far. Most expected France to back down, albeit in a slow and phased way so it could recover what national pride it claimed to have. Then they would resume selling them oil, and all would live happy ever after with the Al-Waloud dynasty back in Raysuz.

Lunatic Retard Robots

22-01-2005, 02:00

The Hindustani government takes time out of its daily routine about worrying about the war in Nepal to express its support for the Ahzadi republican movement, promising aid once the present state of affairs has been taken care of.

But the government hopes that England, a nation rapidly becoming a major figure in Hindustani trade, as well as one of its chief arms suppliers, won't be swayed by Elian and Trucian appeals. After all, if there's one thing Hindustan has learned about international politics, its that you can rarely trust nations to act responsibly. True, Hindustan has been guilty of beligerance earlier in its history, just after independence when the arrival of the first Canberra bombers was like an invitation to launch a minor raid on the Andaman and Nicobar islands, but the government has certainly learned since then.

Al-Ahzad

22-01-2005, 02:13

Taking leave of Raysuz, where Hikmet Bektasi is busy heading up the large and roudy constitutional convention, General Massad heads west, to take personal command of the 3rd division. Having blasted through the line, the 3rd is advancing with air support from the tiny republican air force, which is flying up to 20 sorties a day to support the offensive against light ASDPR forces.

To the north-west of the 3rd division, the republican guard and the last two semi-intact ASDPR field divisions are re-grouping after the ferocious UE air campaign. Morale in the communist republic is plummeting, with food riots breaking out in rural villages and many POW's relased by Elias forces simply melting away into the hills. In response, Arslan Buyruz has started a new round of purges, executing some 300 "traitors" in Sanaa.

The Republican guard- mostly ethnic somali and badly hit by the UE airstrikes (although still numbering some 9,000 very motivated men) has fallen back to Sanaa, and is busy guarding the capital, while the two field divisions move southwards, to head of the 3rd division's coastal drive and keep it from reaching the mountain road that would take it north to sanaa. Digging in around Aden, the 20,000 men of the two divisions are in much better tactical positions than their bretheren on the line, and have a much easier task. They know the assault is coming, and they know where it's coming from. They're digging in and waiting for all of their units to complete the hectic journey to the coast.

____________________________________________________________

Raysuz

The Imam Yusuf Al-Abbad had been quiet- too quiet- for too long. Although a fair-weather ally of the former Sultan, he had taken the opportunity presented by the revolution to take, erm, liberties that even the Sultan would not allow. He now sat at the head of his own unofficial islamic republic, and was going to make sure these modernizing heathens in Raysuz would know his wrath.

And that is what brought the nervous looking man in the van to Raysuz, what brought him to that street, what made him hit the gas and what made him slam into the Jandarma barracks and detonate five tons of fertilizer, killing some 300 Jandarma.

The Imam is going to make himself heard.

Elkazor

22-01-2005, 02:21

(( ::Takes a good shot of cogniac:: ))

Both the Ambassidors of United Elias and the Trucial States would be allowed to remain at Versailles, as the King was a gentleman.

The Ambassidor from the Trucial States, unfortunatley, would find no oppurtunity to gain audience with HMCM Louis XX nor any of his Ministers of State. His documents were nothing but distressive and counterproductive, and he was therefore pigeonholed.

While the controversy raged, construction continued. Ft. St. Louis was well underway, the foundations having been laid, and the series of dfensive works begyn. Oil pipelines were being dug, from Ft. St. Louis to Ahzadi Oilfields. In only a few weeks Oil would begin to flow and become processed. In only a few months, Ft. St. Louis would be the hub of the French Navy in the Southern Seas, a gigantic Oil Refinery and Embarcation station, and the commercial center of French activites in Ahzad.

No matter what any criticized, the French would find remarkable profit in this venture. The King had made up his mind.

Roycelandia

22-01-2005, 12:55

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I was delighted to receive the French Emissaries, and immediately ordered they be located in one of the "Better" Embassies in Port Royal.

His Majesty had even formally invited King Louis XX to come hunting at His Majesty's Country Estate, so that the "Current Situation" could be better discussed without the hassle of intermediaries and so on.

His Majesty would almost certainly "have a discreet word" with Louis XX about not riling up United Elias too blatantly, whilst indicating that France's "Oil Crisis" might be partially alleviated by Roycelandian Oil.

"It's all about smoke and mirrors, you see" His Majesty would explain. "By all means do business the Ahzadis. Although, I have to say, I really don't think Massad deserves support. I also think there's more to this than you're letting on, which is why I'm not getting too worked up at the moment."

His Majesty would pause, probably to shoot something, then continue "The trick is not to tell anyone what you're doing. Simply build your enormous Fort/Trading Post/Refinery, and when someone asks about it, act like it's been there since the 1830s. It's worked for us since the 1400s, I can tell you."

Meanwhile, ImPetroCo were busy in talks with the Royal Ahzadi Company to create the Royal Imperial Shell Petroleum Company, which would end up holding the monopoly on Oil Production and Refining in Al Ahzad...

Sabir

22-01-2005, 22:38

The quick escalation of the Ahzadi crisis into an international incident caused quite a stir in Damascus, but as the situation had been monitored carefully by the General Intelligence Directorate, which had skilfully employed local Arab sympathisers as main intelligence source, the President had hardly risen an eye brow when the news came in. Nights of thought and careful consideration, along with gruelling five-hour marathon sessions of the cabinet, had resulted in the President's, along with nation's, official stance on the fuss. Sabir would side with its long-time ally, United Elias, but silently, as Fayiz Sabir had quite some investments and private business relations in France that he was careful on deterring.

More importantly, the small Arab country couldn't really afford anything but vocal support. The most recent clashes with PKK rebels along the border with Turkey had stretched half of the available active forces thin along a three hundred mile front. The other half was stationed near Damascus when the Israelis had decided to mass up their troop strengths in Golan Heights, which, of course, disturbed Damascus a bit more than the potential conflict more than seven hundred miles south, in Al-Ahzad, obviously somebody else's problem.

Lunatic Retard Robots

23-01-2005, 00:51

Now the king told the boogie men
You have to let that raga drop
The oil down the desert way
Has been shakin’ to the top
The sheik he drove his cadillac
He went a’ cruisnin’ down the ville
The muezzin was a’ standing
On the radiator grille

The shareef don’t like it
Rockin’ the casbah
Rock the casbah
The shareef don’t like it
Rockin’ the casbah
Rock the casbah

I think in the near future you will see me going from the somewhat mellow Hindustan you all know to a much angrier Hindustan.

IC:

The presence of a French naval base with access to the Arabian Sea does not sit well with the Hindustani government, but it has different things to worry about.

The war with Nepal has led to increased militarist feelings in the Popular Congress. The attitude might be described as a slide towards angry from mellow. This will, of course, not interfere with the rights of the population, but will increase military size and spending, although with such a large trade surplus it is quite affordable. The government can't bring itself to introduce conscription, but it certainly likes the idea of having a large club to wield.

Elkazor

23-01-2005, 02:41

Imagine the Emporers surprise when he found the Special Envoy was none other than His Most Christian Majesty Louis XX's youngest son, the Duc de Normandie and Prince of the Blood.

The Prince was only in his twenties, and was therefore very keen to hunt. Naturally the Duc and the Emporer would no doubt strike it up quite well. After all, both were royalty, and both enjoyed that occupations favorite preoccupation, Hunting.

Over a day when they killed hundreds of game animals, in the Emporers superbly stocked forests, Monseigneur le Duc and His Imperial Highness Emporer Royce I discussed history, and the issue of Al-Ahzad.

"Your Highness, my august father HMCM Louis XX has made intercessions into the government of Al-Ahzad, and can offer these terms for your situation. The Republic of Al-Ahzad would like to buy ImPetCo's possessions in Al-Ahzad at fair market price. Furthermore, if you will agree to an open bargain with them, they will recognize your rights to Socatroa, in full and with no stipulations. Additionally, they wish to carry on full business with ImPetCo, only not on their soil. Your Imperial Highness, I know these terms may seem a bit rigid, admittedly the situation is chaotic for all of us, but I beg you to consider the advantages at this time for building good relations with Al-Ahzad."

This was no doubt quite a bit to handle, so the two gentlemen retired to a lunch and a few drinks in the garden, with excellent champagne provided, courtesy of the Duc. After a delicious lunch, and plentiful amounts of champagne, the two Royals went for a walk in the Emporers gardens to take the air and smoke, admiring the newly planted masterpiece. The Duc would compare features of it with Versailles, here and there, between his discussion of the situation.

"My august father also offers you his own terms, Your Highness." He handed the Emporer a piece of paper, on it was a small islands, north of Madagascar and East of Roycelandian East Africa. "As a present to your for your courtesies, HMCM will grant to you the Island of Bassas de India, which presents a vital location in your colonial efforts. My fathers gift to you." He motioned his hand, and a Representitive of the Third Estate, dressed in his black silks and tricorner hat, came forth with a deep bow to the Royals.

"This is Monsieur Boulanger. He represents a concern of investment bankers. They would like to invest in ImPetCo, and all her activites. For this, they have been given a special dispensation from His Most Christian Majesty. France very much desires to enter into agreements whereby His Majesties Government shall be able to purchase oil from ImPetCo, as you can imagine, the more the merrier. Your Imperial Highness, my father wishes only the best of relations with you. He would be much pleased to entertain Your Highness and Her Majesty the Queen at Versailles, to repay the excellent hunting you have provided, and to discuss a marriage between our houses."

With that, the Dauphin enjoyed the fine Roycelandian cigar. Excellent! France would defenitley need to start importing some of these.

Roycelandia

24-01-2005, 04:17

His Majesty was stunned by the French offer of Bassas de India. He was also shrewd enough to see how this could work to his advantage.

"ImPetroCo is an extremel profitable company, but I think it's time for a re-adjustment of our capital expenditure, which means we might have to look at reducing our involvement in one or two Foreign Markets, especially where the regime isn't as friendly as we'd like" His Majesty explained over dinner, whilst respelendent in his best Loud Shirt (the one with the hibiscus and the bikini babes on it).

His Majesty took a drag from his cigar. "I'll have to talk to the other Members of the Board, but I think you can safely say that ImPetroCo will be voting to sell it's Ahzadi assets to France at the current market rate."

His Majesty also had an idea.

"There is an abandoned Das Uber Deutschland Naval Base at the Port of Mombasa. If His Majesty Louis XX is agreeable, we would be delighted to allow him the use of these facilities for his Indian Ocean Fleet, if he so desires."

He shook M. Boulanger's hand, and bade him take a Cigar as well. "We certainly won't say no to investment in ImPetroCo, but bear in mind that is a Government Company, so there are limits to how much investment we can take, but rest assured it will be enough to make everyone very happy."

OOC: His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I isn't married. In fact, his Playboy approach to life is legendary throughout the Empire. Fortunately for the Roycelandian Empire, succession isn't automatically hereditary. If the Emperor has no suitable Heirs, he (or she, there have been Empresses in the past) can name a successor, subject to the usual restrictions on citizenship, upstanding person, etc.

Elkazor

24-01-2005, 18:53

"Your Imperial Highness, we can do naught but to accept such cordial and decent terms, with overwhelming thanks." said Monseigneur le Duc de Normandie.

"Would Your Imperial Highness deign to travel to Versailles, in order to properly sign and celebrate such felicitous circumstances?"

((Sorry about the short post, Im sure there will be plenty of time to build a relationship. If youd like, I am sure we could fix you up with a rich and graceful French Royal to marry? Either way, Royce seems to be the fellow Louis would like to call a friend, perhaps if you dressed a little more 'suited to the role', anywho, I hope we can have a hell of a bash at Versailles.))

United Elias

25-01-2005, 01:17

Muscat

The small special forces team had had their mission aborted with the outbreak of the civil war, yet they had not been extracted but told simply to gather intelligence on Imam Yusuf Al-Abbad and his militia forces. The team leader known simply as Kemal had today been given new orders via the encrypted satellite reciever they had at the small house in the Grand Market. He had been attending nearly all of the prayers at the Grand Mosque to study the ways and the followers of the Imam. Today his orders were simple, go to the mosque, seek an audience with the Imam, tell him that he was an Elias military operative and offer to help the Imam's Mujahadeen. Apparently this was a last resort to perpetuate the instability and the government hoped by harming Massad's Republic it would make it easier for a return of a Sultan, or at the very least cause problems for the treacherous French.

So Kemal did as he was told, and went up to the Mosque, unsure whether the so called man of faith would have him executed once he revealed his indentity, or allow him and his men to train and arm people prepared to martyr themselves for this madman. He did not like his religon being hijcacked as an excuse for fanatical violence, nor did he want anything to do with terrorism, but he was a soldier and could not choose which orders to follow, but just trust that they made a sense at a higher paygrade than his.

Lunatic Retard Robots

25-01-2005, 02:55

With the war in Nepal more or less over, the Hindustani government finds itself at a much greater liberty to 'award' its excess military hardware to other countries.

Hindustani diplomats, traveling mostly via converted Canberra bombers, make it known to the Ahzadi republican government that there are around 300 BMP-2 IFVs hanging around the equipment depots, still in reasonable working order, most equipped with their 2A42 30mm cannons, as well as a choice of 'Spandrel,' 'Spigot,' or Milan anti-tank missiles, and others with currently no turret armement, but with the capacity to hold a variety of drop-in weapons.

The Ahzadi republican government is informed that these vehicles can be up-armored, armed to choice, re-engined, and on the plane to Al-Ahzad for the paltry cost of 20,000 dollars US per example, +/- 5,000 for the 'turret optional' vehicles.

In fact, athough it is a somewhat remote possibility all in all, diplomats might hint at the option for the Ahzadi republicans to aquire one of the mothballed Rajput (Kashin) class destroyers.

Elkazor

25-01-2005, 03:14

Feverish construction at Ft. St. Louis continued. Slowly the bases outline began to appear. It would be a six square mile complex, modeled on tried and true French Defensive theory: A Vaubin-style fortress. Overhead it would resemble a great star, the fifth leg being the huge naval docks. Now the walls slowly began to gain height, but its would still be months before completion.

The Oil Processing Facility therein, however, would be ready to run sooner than the fort was completed. Very soon pipelines would begin to link with the Ahzadis, as soon as the linked, oil would flow to Ft. St. Louis. The Royal Ahzad Company had officially moved into its news Headquarters, a fifteen story office building within the fort. But like the sturdy fortress itself, full Oil-flow would not occur in less than 2 months.

The Housing complexes and barracks were the first thing built, being in the very interior of the Fort, and were already at full capacity. The Ahzadi workers building the Fort under French guidance would slowly be turned over to Oil Processing and shipping, and the Fort reached completion and the Complex needed more hands.

700 French Royal Marines have also been stationed at the fort, along with three squadrens of attack helicopters and one squadren of Royal Marine Harrier jets.

When the Docks are completed, they will await the arrival of HMCMS Louis-Auguste, the massive Cherbourg Mark II Battleship which will be doing maneuvers in the regions. Now the French have a victualing post in the Arabian Sea, and will soon be granted a Naval Base in Mombasa by His Imperial Highness Royce I.

Al-Ahzad is quickly becoming one of HMCM Louis XX most profitable ventures.

Lunatic Retard Robots

25-01-2005, 03:20

OCC: Harriers? Must be Quinntonian, eh?

Roycelandia

25-01-2005, 08:47

"I can only accept your most hospitable invitation to Versailles" said His Majesty over dinner. "I'll have Wiggles, my Aide, make the necessary arrangements..."

OOC: Imperial Aerospace also make Harrier Jump Jets...

It's also important to remember that the Imperial Loud Shirt and the Pith Helmet have been the symbols of Roycelandian Emperors for at least 3 centuries. Dismissing them as being "unmajestic" would be like thinking of Julius Caesar as a cheapskate loony who got around in a bedsheet. The Imperial Loud Shirt is a work of art, and the designs often end up in the Imperial Art Gallery.

As for the Marriage Thing, His Majesty is quite happy as the playboy bachelor at the moment. Of course, he's not going to say no to being introduced to a young, rich, and attractive French princess, but his intentions would be less than honourable, if you know what I mean ;)

Elkazor

25-01-2005, 09:00

((My apologies in regards to the 'loud shirts', I am sure they will be suitable for any occasion. After all, the French Royal Court isnt really known for sane fashions either. Anyway, Ill post your arrival in Versailles on Progressive Restoration, does that sit well with you? After the pomp and festivities (An Emporer from an exotic land in Restoration Paris), I am sure a very comprehensive agreement can be worked out.))

Roycelandia

25-01-2005, 13:46

(That'll be fine... His Majesty likes attention ;) )

Elkazor

26-01-2005, 01:48

((Bien. http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=378711&page=7&pp=15
Royce has arrived.))

Quinntonian Dra-pol

26-01-2005, 03:59

Well, Quinntonia (USA) is the largest arms dealer in the RL world, so it stands to reason that we are in this world as well. We are pretty liberal with them too. I am going to forward that most of the governments that have less than great relations with Quinntonia will probably have to go through a third party, and thus will have more expensive, lower quality and less of the vehicles and equiptment.
WWJD
Amen.

Roycelandia

26-01-2005, 12:24

Roycelandia also has an Arms Supply policy very similar to Soviet Russia's- ie, we dish out arms left right and centre either for free or for next to nothing, to anyone who is deemed "Politically acceptable" the Imperial Government.

Once the Group ends up in a position of power, we negotiate favourable trade deals and the like which recoup the cost of the arms. If it doesn't work (Rebel Group doesn't seize control of anything), it's not like it's cost us a lot of money- we've got millions of SMLE rifles and Thompson SMGs lying around, which we're happy to supply to the Revolutionary Junta Of The Week in whichever part of the world His Majesty feels like medding in...

Lunatic Retard Robots

26-01-2005, 18:11

Strathdonia

26-01-2005, 21:26

Quinntonian Dra-pol

27-01-2005, 01:25

Well, Strath, I am still a little fuzzy as to what your government is like, so I can't let you know whether or not I would have open arms deals with you. Perhaps, if you TG me and let me know about your governments stance on issues like government style, religion and Quinntonian Asian presense, we could talk.

As for LRR, I am thinking it not very likely that you could interest us in an arms deal. No doubt you could get token amounts, but I assuming that it would not amount to much. Especially with your repeated attacks on our position in Korea and your close relationship with Beth Gellert. Though, it's not like we regrad you as an enemy either, just kind of misguided.

WWJD
Amen.

Lavrageria

27-01-2005, 02:01

Lunatic Retard Robots

27-01-2005, 03:05

OOC:
LRR: F16 Block 60s, i think that selling those Mirages instead of getting, TBF, elkazor or UE to upgrade them to -5mk2 or -9 standard migth have beena bit of a msitake or maybe not, the F16 does have a few advantages over the M2K but then again the mirage does have a few tricks of it's own...

Perhaps a more relaxed Quintonian/US export policy might explain why Strathdonia has Patriot batteries , it might work better than the EADS license produced versions bought from germany...

OCC: Well, I got rid of the Mirages for several reasons:

1. Perhaps most importantly, the fact that Hindustan would very much like to see Louis XX eaten by sharks would mean that the supply of spare parts will soon run quite low.

2. While I doubt that Hindustani-designed aircraft are real world beaters, they probably have a few advantages over the Mirage 2000, namely much improved reliability, STOL and unprepared-field characteristics, and probably greater range.

3. The government generally takes any chance it can to sell something.

I would think that the FA. 6 (a program similar to the Israeli Lavi or Chinese J-10, but a good deal more successful and twin-engined) doesn't leave much to be desired in the air superiority department, and the Jaguar makes up for its age and lack of sophistication in its reliability, maintainability, and rough field characteristics. The FA. 37 ('liscence-built' version of the Viggen) makes up the bulk of the fighter force as primarily home-defense aircraft, with a good mix of combat potential and logistical friendliness.

I know that I used to claim MiG-21s too, but I don't think that Hindustan was ever very endearing towards the Soviet Union, so I think the Viggen would be a more realistic alternative.

As for Quinntonia, well, when you have Sino and Xiaguo breathing down your neck Beth Gellert is handy to have around. Its either letting the ROK be defended by you or inviting genocide. I mean, there's no way that I could do a better job defending the ROK than you.

Roycelandia

27-01-2005, 03:58

OOC: That sounds remarkably socialistic of Roycelandia! I mean, turning a blind eye to production inefficiency and the issue of returns. So, get into Lavrageria and get handing-out guns, you layabout :) The people are familiar with bolt-actions, too!

The actual cost of an SMLE, in 1940, was something like 3 pounds- if you fast forward 65 years, with modern manufacturing techniques, it works out at about AUD$50/rifle- not a huge sum of money by any stretch of the imagination, and certainly not enough to be worried about the returns on.

In Fact, Roycelandia's laws and public policy can basically be summed up as "People over profits", and since Imperial Armaments is a Government Company, it makes vast profits from supplying arms and ammunition to other Governments etc, and as such is more than happy to write off a few million Imperial Wibbles or so each year in SMLEs, Lewis Guns, Webley Revolvers, and Tommy Guns.

Tell me a little bit about Lavrageria, and I'll arrange for an Imperial Armaments representative to contact your Government shortly... ;)

United Elias

27-01-2005, 16:55

After recieiving strict instructions from numerous highly important Ministers and officials, the Suez canal office has issued a document to the French Admiralty and citing 'safety of passage' concerns have refused the battleship
HMCMS Louis-Auguste entrance to the Suez Canal, thus blocking its transit to Ft. St. Louis. However all other non-military vessels, including French tankers of much resented Ahzadi oil are still perimitted transit once they have paid their tariffs, which on such shipments are highly lucrative.

OOC: As far as arms industries, United Elias has a highly developed defence sector with Elias Aerospace being one of the largest corporations in the country (after Elias Petroleum and a couple others), whilst Elias Marine Corporation is slightly smaller but nevertheless very influential. This indigenous industry largely came about in the post war period when petroleum revenues were almost entirely pumped into diversifying the economy and making UE, for the most part economically self-sufficient, and almost completely so when it comes to arms. Our most important aproducts are helicopters (EA-22/24/28/32/34), aircraft (EA-70/80/120/160) etc just to name a few as well as naval products just to name a few. Full details are available from the storefront link on my signature. However I will be soon be making a new storefront which is designed for MW in a more MW suited RP fashion than the current one, some products such as the EM-260 class supercarrier may also be disregarded as they are unlikely to have been needed or afforded in the MW. So far I have agreed that Strathdonia, Sabir and Trucial States have said that they have in the past been export customers of United Elias, and I ask other nations to contact me if they wish to do the same, bearing in mind we might have quite different standards to the USQ in who we sell to.

Elkazor

28-01-2005, 06:00

The French Admiralty was dissapointed, but queitly downplayed the Elian position, secretly quite happy that French Maritime trade would not be hindered, the alternative routes would tax merchants sorely.

HMCMS Louis Auguste and its battlegroup would instead begin their voyage much sooner. The Kings third son, the Duc d'Aquitaine, would accompany the Battlegroup on a tour of French colonies. They would leave Cherbourg with much pomp and publicity, and proceed to their first stop, French Guiana. The capital of the colony had been renamed Charlesbourg, in honor of His Highness the Dauphin. French Guiana was becoming a center of French technological research. French rocket testing their has only increased since the Restoration, and French authorities were not quiet in announcing new missle testing and space experiments. Soon, room would be made for Lavragerian exiles, brought to work in the jungle land, mining and building a more solid infrastructure. Louis planned to re-vamp French colonialism, and French Guiana would be a keystone of that new policy.

The Fleet would then proceed to New Caledonia. Following that, they would visit Marimaia, then arrive after a while in Ft. St. Louis. The last leg of the tour would be the new Royal Navy base in Mombasa, a gift of Royce I. Then around the horn, and back to Cherbourg.

In Al-Ahzad, Ft. St. Louis was coming along very well. Oil lines had been completed, and the processing plant was at full capacity. French Security Conerns trained the Ahzadi army, with French weapons. Other powers might bid if they like, but the French had assumed the role as Ahzads supplier, as per the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. By the Fleets arrival, the Fort would be the massive creation of Vaubanian thought and modern logistics. A Naval Base, Oil refinery and embarcation station, and a garrison/housing zone for French and Ahzadis.

French business in Ahzad only prospered. Financiers began to invest and buy in Ahzad, Raysuz in particular. French banks had set up shop, and were bringing a constant economy with them, Ahzadis could now safetly invest their money. All the entities were owned by one conglomerate, the Royal Ahzad Company, based in its sky scraper at the center of Ft. St. Louis.

With a strong French influence clearly moving into Ahzad, no doubt the natives would have a sense of normalcy again. It was a symbol of the growing legitimacy of General Massads government, and his wise co-operation with HMCM Louis XX. French officials would press Massad to use use his troops to police the country, and open it up to an eager French tourist market.

After all, the Kingdom of France was full of rich decadent nobles, all eager to buy their own eccentric Chateau in some far away, exotic land. Fly into Ft. St. Louis, take the waters, then enjoy the rustic night life in Raysuz, in Franco-Ahzadi synergy dicos and gourmet restaurants and hotels.

His Majesties Minister of War, M. de Saint-Germain, organized the Ahzadis weapons needs, then promptly deliver them to French AristoCompanies. Weapons were sold to the Royal Ahzad Company, which then used the material to equip and train the Ahzadi army, all at a tidy profit. Not to even mention the oil.

HMCM Louis XX invited a Ahzadian representitive to Versailles, to sign a joint agreement with the Roycelandian government to esure peace in the region.

((Agreement as we have talked about in TG's, on Progressive Restoration))

Roycelandia

28-01-2005, 09:55

OOC: has anyone seen Al-Ahzad lately? It seems proper to wait until he posts before his Country gets turned into Nouvelle Algeria..., ;)

Elkazor

28-01-2005, 20:37

((::Coughs, eyes darting around::))

Strathdonia

28-01-2005, 21:00

Lunatic Retard Robots

29-01-2005, 01:27

OOC:
LLR good points and to be honest the spares issue might be a bit of a concern hopefully the UE rebiulds will keep them flying long enough for Typhoon Tranche 3s to become affordable.
We almsot went with Viggens as to be honest theya re the ideal african fighter (cheapish, easy to maintain and capable of operating from more or less anywhere).

Quintonia: TG sent soonish

OCC: Well, since the old Hindustan is starting to view you as a new Lusaka, you can probably expect more where those Mirages came from. After all, the HAF tends to discard all but a small number of foreign types. Perhaps you would be interested in ~15 Osa IIs upgraded with a 40mm main cannon and six Sea Eagle launchers, plus new electronics? The Jharkhand class multirole boats are due to replace them and, if nothing else, they are going for cheap.

IC:

The government awaits response from Al-Ahzad concerning weather they would like to aquire some refurbished HDF surplus equipment.

Strathdonia

29-01-2005, 13:12

OOC:
Its a kind offer but Lake Nyasa isn't that big i personally think i'm already over doing it with mt fleet of one LST, 4 coverted landing craft (to make miny helicopter carriers), 8 varients of the osprey class PTF, 14 swift patrol boats and 22PBRs (basically think along the lines of the US swift boat and brown water navy/riverine forces of Veitnam).
In short we don't really have a coast line, just a really big lake (perhaps i'll rename it Loch Nyasa for a more scottish feel).

Al-Ahzad

30-01-2005, 21:32

Okay, okay- I'm back guys. Sorry for the break from nationstates. I had a pretty intense few weeks as I rushed to get scholarships in.

LRR- We would be very glad to accept surplus equipment. We have warm bodies and captured communist artillery, but very little in the way of mechanization.

Oh, Elkazor- don't just assume you can run around starting banks. We made a very, erm, literal deal with you, and it doesn't extend to banking!

Alright, now where were we? Ah, yes. The battle on the Yemeni coastal plain!

Six miles west of Aden

The 3rd division was gathering. It had dashed from across The Line just a week ago and had gone farther than any other Ahzadi effort for the past decade. Now they halted, as truck convoys and cargo flights from the new French super frelon choppers brought up more supplies from the depots at Raysuz. On one of those helicopters came General Massad. Sick of the constant arguments of the constitutional convention, Massad has come to engage the last two surviving ASDPR divisions (as well as, photo-recon indicates, the survivors of the republican guard).

Raysuz International Airport

The levee en masse declared by the new Republic had turned up two demographics for this effort: middle aged men who had served in the old Ahzadi air force, or engineering students or airline mechanics. The odd assortment were promptly given uniforms, shoulder patches proclaiming their status as members of the Ahzadi Republic Air Force, and set to work. The Sultan's air force in the days before the bankruptcy and before the general decline had been a fearsome beast, and as things had started to go under most of the equipment had been mothballed by far-sighted officers. Now the storehouses and aircraft graveyards were being looted. The 20-strong air force had gained some six new A-4 skyhawks returned to flyable condition, but that was about as far as the immideate effort could go. Currently, getting the hundreds of F-4 phantoms airborne again was beyond the means of the young republic.

No matter the dreams of a few ambitious crewmen, the work went on. Once again, the old planes were loaded up with napalm and ungided bombs, and shrieked off to support what soon would be the battle of Aden.

ASDPR lines

23mm flack sent arcs of tracers into the night sky in a futile effort to ward off the Ahzadi Air Force jets. Almost thirty of them had swept in in the pre-dawn hours and bombed the artillery parks and fortified strongpoints of the ASDPR positions. The soviet-style dispersed emplacements now had several gaps in them, but none of the ASDPR Generals (and there were a lot of them on-site, all of them chosen for their lockstep obedience to Arslan Buyruz and in conflicting chains of command so no one person could have the final say over such a large force) even knew the gaps were there. The C&C net, never much to start with, had been shattered by the UE airstrikes. When the first Ahzadi artillery began to fall, nobody at headquarters knew, and it would be over an hour before they did.

General Massad's command tank

This was where he belonged. He'd left Raysuz a few days previous and had never been gladder to get away from all that bickering. Here he was, in that quiet moment before the assault, in the commanders seat of his upgraded M60A3, looking at a bank of european radios and a rather fancy digital battle-management system. His division was battered, yes. They were several thousand fewer from the day he decided to overthrow the sultan, yes, but they were better soldiers for the experience. 15,000 men against the 23,000 the ASDPR had entrenched opposite them.

But the ASDPR troops were in a sorry state. Disorder had broken out as soon as United Elias began bombing, and now the hill tribes were in revolt. The ASDPR army had fared horribly against the UE and the 3rd division, and the men sitting in the trenches opposite Massad knew this.

His men would die, but his unit would win. That was all that was important. Massad picked up the radio, keyed it to divison-wide channels, and spoke:

"Men, we are facing the last intact field force that the communists will be able to field. The Ahzadi people have risen against them, our air force attacks them from the skies, and their soldiers know in their heart of hearts that it is wrong to stand against their Ahzadi brothers. We sit in the heartland of our nation, long torn and struggling against itself. If we break through here, there is nothing to stop us on our march up the coast to hodeidath, and from there we shall march into our mighty Ahzadi mountains and bring Sanaa back to the nation! My soldiers, you have suffered much. You have died under socialist bullets, bedouin swords, roycelandian bayonets and united elias's bombs, but you have suffered for a reason, and that reason is the earth beneath you. For Al-Ahzad, for a new dawn, commence the attack!"

His tank jerked into motion and through the thick armor he could hear the artillery firing. The battle has been joined.

_______________________________________________________________

Raysuz State University

Hikmet Bektasi stood on the balcony before the assembled crowd. He looked to the side and the man from Sate Radio gave him the thumbs-up. He was on the air. He lifted the (literally) hot from the presses copy of the new constitution and began to read from it.

"The Republic of Al-Ahzad is a sovereign, free nation based on the six principles of the Yeni Ahzad movement:

Republicanism:

We are a democratic nation, ruled by no king or nobility. A political transformation must take place that creates a modern culture of public service, citizenship, and above all, the rule of law. We shall be led by a president and prime minister. Force never will and never shall enter our internal politics. When chosen by the people, rulers will rise up. When another is chosen, they will stand down. The Republic is founded on this principle.

Populism:

All governments gain their legitimacy from the consent of the governed. Al-Ahzad is based first and foremost upon the popular support of it's people. All Ahzadis above the age of 18- men and women- are full citizens, with full legal rights and responsibilities. The government exists to serve the masses, not the other way around. The will of the people shall be the guiding rule of our Republic.

Secularism:

We are a modern nation living in modern times. The seperation of affairs of religion and state must and will be total. Independence of thought from backwards and primitive dogma is the key to modernity. Religion belongs in Mosques, and shall not be in our government buildings, barracks, schools or universities. Rational modern thought must guide our citizens, not small-minded and totalitarian fundamentalism.

Revolutionism:

The Republic was born in revolution, and will continue with the brave spirit that gave it life. This Republic is not a change of titles and ranks- it is a complete re-birth of Al-Azhad. The old, corrupt days of arbitrary rule and backwardsness are over. The petty corruption and ignorance of the old must go. This revolutionism must re-make Ahzadi society into a modern and democratic one. Modernity must be taken into all of our hearts.

Nationalism:

We are one nation. The Ahzadi nation is the embodiment of our people, and there is nothing higher. All petty conflicts of class against class, the pitting of one Ahzadi against another must cease. We are all Ahzadis- we must realize this- and we should all put the good of the nation before greedy concerns of class or status or politics. The wounds of division and anarchy must be healed. From Sanaa to Muscat, we are one nation that must unite in our love of country to overcome disunity and strife. Patriotism must give us the stregnth to endure to see a better tomorrow for the whole nation.

Statism:

The Ahzadi nation must be strong. Our insitutions have crumbled in the time of national darkness, and must be re-built. The Ahzadi Republic must be able to defend itself with modern arms and expert soldiers. It must be able to educate it's children in the most modern of technologies and theories. It's industry must be strong and productive, and it must care for the elderly and infirm among us. The Ahzadi state must always act to promote the national interests, and must stop at nothing to do so....

Hikmet Bektasi continued to read, and all of Al-Azhad listened....

(OOC: if you can figure out who I just ripped off, you are a way cool dude (tm) and I will think you are awesome)

________________________________________________________________

The empty quarter

"bah!" Wazzef Al-Waloud kicked the radio into the sand and shot it.

"dogs! theiving spineless republican sons-of-whores!" He started pacing.

He'd spent long enough wandering in the desert. His men were 9,000 strong, on camel and horseback and in pickup trucks. They had rocket launchers and machineguns, and that damn Massad was all the way near Sanaa.....

It was time to move. The Bedouin were not simply going to sit there while their kingdom (ordained by god) was ground into dust.

Oh no. They would do as their ancestors did and sweep from the desert to show these weak cowardly farmers who the real men were.

Spyr

30-01-2005, 22:03

The People's Republic of Spyr, seeking to strengthen the new Mid-East republic, extends an offer to dispatch economic* and development advisors to assist in the creation of modern, stable institutions of state. The offer exends to include a number of scholarships to Spyran universities, should Al-Azhad find itself lacking sufficent number of individuals trained through modern education.

(*Spyr is a market socialist state, as opposed to a more laissez-faire capitalist one, which might render them unacceptable depending on the Ahzadi leadership's intent for their future economic policies).

United Elias

30-01-2005, 22:05

OOC: You ripped off Ataturk, those are the six principles of Kemalism, though if I remember correctly, its supposed to be reformism, not revolutionism.

BTW, I'll do an IC post later....

Al-Ahzad

30-01-2005, 22:23

OOC: You ripped off Ataturk, those are the six principles of Kemalism, though if I remember correctly, its supposed to be reformism, not revolutionism.

BTW, I'll do an IC post later....

you, united elias, are a very cool dude (tm).

Actually the turkish word Inkilapcilik can be read as either- as things became more conservative in Turkey they preferred to say "reformism" instead of the more radical sounding "revolutionism"

(the more you know!)

Beth Gellert

30-01-2005, 22:45

Initial Igovian aid in Al Azhad hadn't really gone very much further after the first few days. Export of war materials had been almost frozen, on and off, as the Kanendru/China crisis ran hot and cold, and the Local Senates had begun to relate a public trend for feeling somewhat sorry for the evidently somewhat lost socialist idealists no doubt amongst the ASDPR's ranks. There had been motions for the taking in of refugees in hopes of giving them a way out and ending the fighting without need for anybody to be crushed by foreign militaries, and counter movements fearing a subversive influence on more evolved Igovian society.

At least motions to arm the ASDPR were finally on the wane, maintained only by a few slightly... detatched characters and perhaps those one may suspect of having questionable connections.

Attentions now were directed to the nation's immediate future development. Beth Gellert had concerns elsewhere, and did not fancy getting too heavily involved in the Arabian peninsula. There were other peninsulas with nuclear this and revolutionary that, and other landmasses that didn't even jut out of anything.

Seeing that the Spyrians were at least attempting to offer their involvement, Portmeirion put some slight energies into encouraging that nation to foster the right kind of development in Al Azhad. The Commonwealth would back it up by at least a few passing diplomatic comments on how splendid was direct democracy and relative freedom from the fuel economy.

Mainly, the Beddgelen people were just happy to see Roycelandian troops moving the other way.

(I'm just falling asleep, here, I don't know why I started typing, that post probably makes no sense. Oy.)

United Elias

31-01-2005, 01:08

(I know it was a while ago, but Al-Ahzad, perhaps you wouldn't mind replying to this?)

Muscat

The small special forces team had had their mission aborted with the outbreak of the civil war, yet they had not been extracted but told simply to gather intelligence on Imam Yusuf Al-Abbad and his militia forces. The team leader known simply as Kemal had today been given new orders via the encrypted satellite reciever they had at the small house in the Grand Market. He had been attending nearly all of the prayers at the Grand Mosque to study the ways and the followers of the Imam. Today his orders were simple, go to the mosque, seek an audience with the Imam, tell him that he was an Elias military operative and offer to help the Imam's Mujahadeen. Apparently this was a last resort to perpetuate the instability and the government hoped by harming Massad's Republic it would make it easier for a return of a Sultan, or at the very least cause problems for the treacherous French.

So Kemal did as he was told, and went up to the Mosque, unsure whether the so called man of faith would have him executed once he revealed his indentity, or allow him and his men to train and arm people prepared to martyr themselves for this madman. He did not like his religon being hijcacked as an excuse for fanatical violence, nor did he want anything to do with terrorism, but he was a soldier and could not choose which orders to follow, but just trust that they made a sense at a higher paygrade than his.

Lunatic Retard Robots

31-01-2005, 01:30

After several days sailing, escorted by a new Type 42 destroyer (bought from TBF), cargo ships bearing a wide range of older Hindustani armements arrive in Raysuz harbor.

The BMP-2s are the top priority, but there are also large stores of small arms and numerous BTR-60PBs.

Roycelandia

31-01-2005, 15:28

Somewhere in the Ahzadi Desert

Col. Griffin, meanwhile, was trying to counsel Al-Walouf into using some Strategy.

"Look, we can do a Ghenghis Khan and sweep across the plains and the deserts, wiping the opposition from our path" explained Col. Griffin (who was himself an atheist and therefore an Infidel of the highest order, but none of the Arabs would ever know that) "BUT, how will it help us? We need to get the farmers on-side. If we can control the crops and the farms, the cities will starve, and then they'll have to support you. It's very simple. Panne et Circum. Bread and Games. Feed people, keep them entertained, and you can do what you like. Of course, if any of the farmers decide not to co-operate... well, we've got 9000 of the lads here to "persuade" them to come round to our way of thinking..."

Al-Ahzad

01-02-2005, 06:48

Muscat

The United Elias intelligence men had gained an audience with one of the Imam's lower functionaries. In the dingy, dusty room surrounded by the Ghazi militia of the Brigades of Martyrdom and Struggle, the agents were well aware of the many horrific deaths that could be in store for them, to be re-played on grainy videotape on all the 24 hour networks.

"you'll bring weapons?"

the UE man nodded.

"very good. very good indeed."

The holy man opposite them grinned.

OOC: I'm sorry I'm not flushing out all the sides in detail, but I have soooo many factions and I'll try to get to them as time allows- you are not forgotten, UE secret agents.

Al-Ahzad

01-02-2005, 17:05

Muscat

Imam Al-Abbad knows that the ASDPR is on the out, and that pretty soon the central government is going to come for him. He's getting ready. The United Elias agents are released and told that the Imam accepts whatever aid they can give- explosives, antitank rockets, and shoulder-fired missiles are preferred. In the meantime, the Ahzadi Brigades of Martyrdom and Struggle are fortifying the city with traps and hidden bombs. Other plans are also afoot in the wider region. Chased around the Arab world, it is in Muscat that Al-Abbad has decided to make his stand.

Outside of Aden

The 3rd division comes right on the heels of the airstrikes and artillery barrage. The stunned communist infantry in the frontline trenches lift their heads to see that their nodal antitank positions have been pounded by concentrated artillery fire, and that the disciplined regular army infantry have dismounted from their APC's and are clearing the trenches and positions one-by-one. The battle looks to be turning into a rout, and several units up to battalion size in the ASDPR infantry screen just surrender outright.

Until, that is, something manages to creep up the crippled, labryinthine communist chain of command.

The ASDPR republican guard was pounded heavily by United Elias during it's incursion, but enough of it has survived to pass for a reinforced armored brigade of about 5,000 men (the rest of the Republican Guard is back at sanaa making sure the riots don't get serious). Mostly ethnic somalis, they're the best trained and the most trusted troops, and most importantly, their commander is used to actually giving orders. As the reports filter in of huge gaps blown at the junction of the two conventional divisions, he acts.

The hoarded tank stregnth of the people's army- three brigades of T-55's (and for the republican guard, T-72's) are sent against the main thrust of the Ahzadi attack. The units (like all peoples army formations) have low morale, bad discipline, and horrible junior officers. The tank crewmen are trained, however, and there are a lot of them. They make a frontal assault, charging in soviet-style echelons against the Ahzadi assault.

The lead infantry units are steamrollered beneath the armored tide, and General Massad's command net soon crackles with alarm. He gives the order, and the reserves are commited as the entire 1st tank brigade moves to engage. Outnumbered three to one, it is up to them to save the division.

Roycelandia

08-02-2005, 02:35

(OOC: Not really a lot I can do until I know what Al-Waloud etc are up to)

Al-Ahzad

08-02-2005, 06:08

sorry about my long-ass delay but I've been pretty busy with school. The Al-Waloud as well as the Imam will be covered in my next post. I'm kicking myself in the ass for writing in so many factions. Aah, if it was only a two sided civil war....

well, actually I may want to have it go three way soon as factions will realize how much is at stake

Armandian Cheese

08-02-2005, 06:16

Meanwhile, the Russians cackle maniacally as the instability continues to drive Middle Eastern oil prices up...

Al-Ahzad

08-02-2005, 17:46

Al-Ghaba

Wazzef rode through the streets to the shrieks of Arab women and jubilation of the crowd (he knew this was one of a few arab-majority towns and he wouldn't get this sort of reaction for long, but that just made him savor it even more). The National Force militia had promptly gone over to him and were busy firing their FALs in the air as if it was they who had killed the combined jandarma and regular army garrison. Wazzef turned in his saddle to speak to Col.Griffin

"Perhaps I was hasty earlier, englishman. It is not a question of farmer, it is a question of bedouin. Ahzadis, you know, they would not do this. They are a timid people, a people that follow. They do not celebrate, or take joy in their own rule. We have the bedouin, englishman."

He paused as a jubilant Royal Guardsman fired an RPG-7 skywards.

"We shall continue to do this, englishman. We shall take town after town until all the bedouin march under our flag."

Two days later, firebase tango-six one, at the edge of the Whabia sands

Wazzef Reclined and fanned himself on top of the dune. Beside him the englishman was speaking in that tense and serious voice into one of his radios. Aah, these english. They were so serious, so dour. Who didn't become excited in battle? Perhaps it was because Griffin was....what was the word? A professional. It sounded like a boring thing to be.

Overlooking the garrison, he could see quite clearly what was happening. Close to where Wazzef was sitting men from the Royal Guard had taken their pack mortars off the camels and were throwing rounds into the government fort as fast as they could. In the low-lying scrub surrounding the firebase, the few regular army armored cars sat burning, and the drivers of the toyota pickup trucks and the gunners of the 105mm recoiless rifles bolted to the beds were already dashing off as fast as they could. His men were fighting as bedouin always did, in a great swarm that swept out of the desert and attacked from all sides. Wazzef smiled as the final assault took place, the masses of bedouin on horses and camels that had been circling and taking potshots swept inwards now that the mortars had supressed the government machineguns.

The faint popping of small arms fire rose to a peak, and then stopped. The red crescent and star of the republic came down, and the green sword banner of the Al-Waloud rose.

"So, englishman- when do we go to Raysuz?"

Griffin put down his binoculars and looked at Wazzef

"that....is a very good question, Wazzef."

East of Aden

gunner....target at six degrees left

loader, HEAT!

up!

On the way!

General Massad was rocked in his seat once more as another shell flew out of his tanks main gun. He coughed as yet more fumes filled the main compartment. It had been like this for the last few hours. Everything had been flung at the hundreds of communist tanks that had charged into the main 3rd division thrust. Even command units. Clerks and truck drivers had picked up FAL's and LAW's and had squatted in foxholes in a bumbling battle of ameturs between them and the confused and scattered ASDPR tanks that had stumbled into the rear area.

The 1st armor brigade had lost dozens of tanks in the night, but the communists had lost more. Their waves of armor had proved once again to be clumsy and poorly led (with the exception of the few republican guard tanks) and were easily outmanuvered.

Well, nothing had been easy in the battle of Aden.

gunner....targets?

scope is clear, sir- no targets

General Massad opened his hatch and blinked blearily in the light of the early morning sun, coughing from hours spent in the fume-filled turret. ASDPR tanks were burning everywhere, along with his own.

Communist infantry crested the ridge above him. They carried white flags.

___________________________________________________________

OOC: it was touch-and-go for a while but better leadership and effective artillery and air support won the day over the ASDPR armor. After the tank engagement, the ASDPR corps sort of disentigrates, with units as large as battalions not simply surrendering, but going over to the Republican forcers. (they're disarmed right away, of course, but it just shows how total the lack of faith in Marshal Buyruz is). The ASDPR field army is by and large dead, although Republican guard infantry and "Peoples Militia" (ethnic somalis loyal to Buyruz) still hold Sanaa. Now the 3rd division will roll up the coast, enter the narrow mountain passes of Yemen, and take Sanaa.

Except Buyruz has one trick up his sleeve.

Sanaa-Hodenigah highway

The Ahzadis wait for a moment before pressing the detonator. The explosives go off right next to the ASDPR trucks and small arms fire riddles the convoy. The tribesmen walk down afterwards and strip the bodies.

The mountain villages and Ahzadi hill tribes are in full scale revolt. No propaganda can hide the fact that the Sultan is gone and free Ahzadis are coming.

Sanaa

Arslan Buyruz has not only a total military defeat but also a full-scale rural revolt on his hands, but he's an optimist. He has mobs of armed ethnic somalis who don't want Ahzadi opression to return, he still has the most elite units of the republican guard- his commandos and bodyguard- and the passes to Sanaa are narrow and can be held. He also has a plan to deal with the rebellion, and the handful of 152mm long-range guns he has should do the trick. He has enough shells for them, of the kind he needs anyways.

_____________________________________________________________

The scene is the same in dozens of small hilltop Ahzadi villages in the yemeni mountains. The light artillery bombardment (not nearly as bad as what they've endured in the past), but then it gets worse. Then come the yellow clouds that burn and the women and children collapsing in the streets, and the tortured painful deaths or the seizures and the choking, and then nobody lives or moves. Across what is left of the ASDPR republican guard artillery crews pant and sweat in their gas masks and work the guns, and villages die. If the butcher of Sanaa is going to go, he's taking as many as he can with them.

Raysuz

Hikmet Bektasi read the reports once again, and knew that his fears were justified. Oh, yes, Massad was doing quite well in the west, but the reports from the east troubled him. First one garrison, then two, now a town and a firebase, and what next? It was gaining pace, and he knew the whole thing was snowballing. They'd brushed off Wazzef as a backwoods hick with no real ties to the throne, but now he was at the head of a bedouin army nobody in the Republican government knew the size of. To make things even nicer, the regular army was tied up in the ASDPR, and the few other units were either being trained, training others, or guarding Raysuz.

There was a solution, a subtle solution Hikmet was rather fond of.

The interior

The huge french super frelon chopper landed, and out jumped one of the dangerous-looking young men that comprised the rank and file of the Association. He walked up to the bedouin that was waiting for him.

"Sheikh Hassan Al-Suluf, I presume?"

Al-Ahzad

09-02-2005, 02:15

UE: could you sum up your actions re: the islamists in muscat?

LRR: could you in general sum up your policies/send a guy to raysuz/TG me?

Lunatic Retard Robots

09-02-2005, 02:42

OCC: I'm shipping in arms to the Republican government, mainly APCs and such, as well as some older (by Hindustani standards, and Hindustan has very good ATGWs) ATGWs and Mi-24 attack helicopters.

There will probably be some advisers along with the equipment.

Roycelandia

09-02-2005, 04:00

Firebase Tango One

Col. Griffin had to admit he was impressed. The Bedouin under Wazzef were certainly a competent fighting force, and the Roycelandian Bedouin were providing some much needed discipline, as well as gaining combat experience.

The other advantage to the capture of the firebase, in addition to the ammo etc, was the capture of a runway. This had already been put to good use, with a Roycelandian C-130J unloading food, .303 and .455 ammunition, and, most importantly, two Land Rovers and two 25 pounder field guns, along with the shells for them. Wounded Bedouin were also being evacuated on the plane as well.

"A Present from His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I" explained Col. Griffin, whilst he and some of the Roycelandian Bedouin demonstrated how the guns worked to the Al-Waloud Bedouin...

Al-Ahzad

09-02-2005, 06:45

Roycelandia

09-02-2005, 08:01

Al-Ahzad

09-02-2005, 08:02

The Roycelandian Government has indicated it would like to give some Choppers etc to Wazzef, but there's the problem of operating them from mobile bases and desert strips... still, the offer is open if you want them

Choppers don't fit Wazzef's style. If you really want to give him a boost give him pickup trucks. No joke. In the 80's the sudanese were able to (IRL) use them along with anti-tank missiles to bring swarming desert cavalry tactics to the modern age and defeat the libyan army. He's a bedouin- let him fight like one.

Roycelandia

09-02-2005, 08:13

Fair enough... then the Imperial Roycelandian Government has authorised the shipment of several hundred Land Rover Defenders and Troop Carriers, along with Lewis MGs, Vickers MGs, RPG-7s, and various other small arms.

I didn't think choppers would be his style, but it might not hurt to have one or two anyway...

Al-Ahzad

09-02-2005, 16:44

Give Wazzef choppers if you want, but helicopters do the following things:

1) force him to fuel them

2) force him to maintain them

3) forces him to organize movement and link-ups with the main force, etc

4) force him to essentially have a logistics base, which is totally not his fashion.

you could give the bedouin choppers and tanks, and they'd quickly lose. right now their great advantages are the mobility of the whole force and their lack of logistics. they need ammo and food and animal fodder and water and a little gas and that's it. any sophisticated or large vehicles will probably not be integrated too well, however, trucial states may be sending some special ops units with choppers, so I'll have to check with him on that.....

if the trucial states forces are operating them, that'll mean wazzef has *access* to choppers without operating them, and that would be the best of both worlds

Lunatic Retard Robots

10-02-2005, 00:08

My government loves you.

A lot. How many helicopters?

Mabye thirty or so. Mostly they're bought off of Eastern Europe, although the Mi-24 does comprise the entirety of the HA's attack helicopter force (a fearsome 34 machines).

This issue of Wazeef's forces does trouble me...the HA has only once come into contact with such unorganized forces, in fighting insurrectionists on Sulawesi, but the environment there is very different from Al-Ahzad...and as much as Hindustan likes Al-Ahzad its not likely that any APC-3s will come your way. Of course, the APC-3 (similar in profile to the M113 although internally very different) can absorb RPGs and various other anti-tank weaponry. Even older ATGWs can be defeated by the Zelda-style armor.

The BMP copy equipped with a Hindustani engine and ZPU-23-2 complex should be able to fight off Wazeef's troops if deployed properly. The key, of course, is for the Ahzadi army to adopt a more mobile style of combat, something that my advisers will try to teach them.

And with those ZPUs, the BMP rapidly becomes a handy anti-helicopter weapon should certain...third parties...make incursions into Ahzadi airspace. I mean, the thing's got a nice, low profile and pretty good range, and they cost next to nothing to replace.

United Elias

11-02-2005, 00:25

OOC: Sorry for the delay.

Muscat

Over the past few days, the team from the Federal Intelligence Bureau's Jihaz al Khas (Special Apparatus) department had been meeting shipments of weapons at the docks. Coming in on largely unflagged dhows, the same way they themselves were inserted, the outisde world would have no reason to suspect that the UE government was supplying islamist guerillas. The weapons, largely consisting of AKs, RPKs, PKs, SVD Dragunovs, RPG-7Vs and a sizeable number of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines were of differing origins, and would be near impossible to trace to any government, part of the reason that more sophisticated systems were not on offer. As well as the weapons themselves, the agents began to train some of the militiamen, aiming to improve marksmanship and guerilla warfare proficiency.

The arming of the fundamentalists largely contradicted UE's policy of secularism, and this fact was not lost on some FIB officials including the Director, and this operation had never been officially sanctioned. The Jihaz al Khas however was largely independant, and many would have called the department renegade, if they had much idea of what it got up to. Although this autonomy was by design to create an oppurtunity for disavowal, there would become a point that the men of the 'Special Appartatus' would have to decide whether supporting anti-Massad guerillas was the best of way of interpreting the directives of the government, which generally only gave broad objectives, to be achieved through 'means to be determined at the operational level.'

The Trucial States

12-02-2005, 17:36

OOC: The Trucial States has sent in a company of Dubai Defence Corps Special Forces to advise and assist the bedouin forces, and about 12 AH-64As, 16 Ah-1Fs and half a dozen or so Alouette IIIs have been made available and can be called in when needed. Hueys and Pumas would also be able to provide medevac, and if necessary fighter aircraft could be used to gain air superiority.

Al-Ahzad

12-02-2005, 21:59

Sanaa

Outside the city, the artillery keeps firing, FROG rockets or 152mm cannons or katyusha tubes spitting Tabun or mustard gas out into the hilltop villages and terrace farming communities where most of the Ahzadis in the yemeni moutains live. Thousands have already died. The use of chemical weapons by the ASDPR is a sign of just how desperate they have become. The special republican guard is stretched too thin protecting the highway to Sanaa and guarding Buyruz himself, and communist control of rural areas is about nil. The ASDPR is gone, but Massad is still in a near-panic. The gassing of the mountain villages is a national tragedy, and if it continues will hold back the development of the region for years to come.

_______________________________________

Ahmet rolled over the crest of the ridge and swept down the slope of the mountain a few hundred feet above the ground. His eyes picked out the semi-circles of the artillery battery entrenchments below him. His thumb pressed down on the button and his skyhawk jerked as the weight of his bombs fell away. The explosions thudded behind him as he shot skywards to re-join his squadron.

He had destroyed it, but his whole squadron had made runs on the position before. It just wasn't enough- they couldn't find and couldn't destroy these positions fast enough to stop the brewing genocide.
___________________________________________

Desperate, having sent the whole of his small (but slowly growing) air force against the artillery positions, General Massad puts out a frantic request to Elkazor, LRR, and anybody that will listen: we need PGM's, and fast. Smart bombs and satillite photos are pretty much the only way that these guns can be silenced.

Yemeni mountains, at night

The 3rd was rolling forwards that night. They'd swept through the entrance to the pass with no problems, but had yet to encounter any meaningful resistance.

It didn't matter. There was no way they could possibly move fast enough for the Republican leadership to be happy.

So the swarm moved though the valley with a loud, low drone. Dozens of them, the pilots insectile with their helmets and new French NVG's. The unit had grown since it's assault on the royal palace in Raysuz. New recruits had filtered in, handpicked men from the fighting on The Line, "Association" types that had discarded their precious turtlenecks for BDU's, volunteers from the Jandarma counter-terrorist commando, and a few Ahzadi's whose berets used to read legion etrange.

They sat in the narrow benches inside the super frelons, or on the edge of the huey compartments, legs hanging out over the air. About five hundred of them. They'd been totally re-equipped, and they were nervously checking their body armor or futuristic FAMAS rifles and night-vision goggles.

They came upon Sanaa as the AAA was firing blindly into the sky. They numerous 23mm cannons could easily shred the heliborne force, but they were currently blasting away at the F-4 Phantoms that had screeched in on afterburner, chucking bombs at the great hall of the people and generally raising a ruckus.

The few Super Cobras slowed to a hover, took aim, and put their TOW missiles into the motor pools of the speical republican guard. LRR Hind's, making their combat debut, began to lay down sheets of supressive fire all over the city, destroying the radio antennas at army HQ and shredding roadblocks with their cannons and rockets.

In the midst of all the chaos, soldiers quick-roped down from their huey's and secured a few intersections, and clearing the Great Square of the People so, two-by-two, the super frelon's could come in and disgorge their cargo. 500 elite Ahzadi troops were now in downtown Sanaa. They'd had a cakewalk getting in, but surviving was going to be a bit harder.

The empty quarter

Task Force Bravo was gone. 600 Ahzadi regular army garrison troops had been concentrated, hopped on their trucks and armored cars, and had driven north to "reconquer" Al-Ghaba. The bedouin had been waiting. Antitank rockets and machineguns had torn apart the vehicles, and the almost invisible bedouin had struck from the dunes on either side of the road. There were no survivors.

Task Force Bravo was the last serious effort by Ahzadi Army High Command to subdue the Al-Waloud and their tribal and foriegn allies through regular means. Hikmet Pasha's solution has now gained the full support of not just his covert organization, but his regular army.

A bedouin tent, somewhere in the interior.

The borders around here weren't definied, and the young man honestly didn't know where he was. Well, you got used to this in the association. He just shrugged off the thought and opened the suitcase.

"10 million francs. hard cash- think of it as a sign of good faith."

Sheikh Al-Suluf gave him his best poker face in return. The young Ahzadi had arrived from nowhere and demanded much. The central government was not something Al-Suluf took seriously- after all, what had it been but an extension of the Al-Waloud?- but the confidence of the man and the new helicopters and the weapons he promised and had already given....but the catch, ah, the catch.

"So you will take my young men?"

"Once it all settles down, yes. Everybody between 17 and 30" The Ahzadi didn't speak as if that could be negotiatied.

"You will teach them how to fight? To use missiles and machineguns?"

"Yes."

"Will you send them away? To other lands?"

"Not without your express consent. You'll also have full and total local autonomy."

"and you'll give me this money, and more, and weapons?"

"Yes."

"Just to fight the Al-Waloud?"

"Yes."

"Do you care what happens to them?"

The Ahzadi agent gave Sheikh Al-Suluf a long, hard stare.

"No."

Al-Waloud settlement, near the well at Al-Mafa

They came out of the desert on camelback. Their headdresses were still there, but they had bandoliers of magazines and M-14 rifles that may have been wiped free of cosmoline that morning. They set upon the few men that had remained (most were gone to fight and reclaim the throne) the men of Al-Waloud at that well had been perhaps 15 or 16 years of age, and they fought- or tried to fight with at least some honor. None lived. The houses were shattered with the LAW's the nomads now carried, and as they rode into the streets out came the long knives and vengance was had for decades of opression and centuries of rivalry. A tribal grudge was being settled. This time it was different, however. This time the Al-Waloud women knew fear as raiders charged the streets, this time Al-Waloud wells were poisoned and their herds machinegunned. This time, the Al-Suluf were dressed differently. This time they wore mottled kahki and brown, with a patch that said "Ahzadi Republic Arab Legion" on the shoulder.

Spyr

13-02-2005, 00:27

Upon hearing of the extent of atrocities, the Spyran government issues a promise of aid for the Ahzadi republic. The difficulty, of course, is finding units which can back the statement up.

The closest Spyran units were a smattering of ships on joint patrol with the Sundanese, west of Sumatra. Orders were immediately given, and after meeting up with its supply ships the guided missile cruiser Ataryuu-ya and its pair of pickets set out across the Indian Ocean for the Gulf of Aden... wether they would make it in time to make a difference remained to be seen.

Lunatic Retard Robots

13-02-2005, 01:27

The HNS Pondicherry and HNS Jaipur, stationed in the Bab El Mandeeb after the Osa attacks, immediately respond to the ASDPR attacks.

The Pondicherry, a Type 42 destroyer, comes in close and prepares to shell shore targets with its 4.5in main gun, left on the ship through the refitting process. The Jaipur, a Type 12 'Leander' class frigate, its armement enhanced with a NAVLAR rocket artillery system, also puts itself in a position to aid in bombarding ASDPR targets.

The Hindustani government promises to increase the amount of military equipment sent to Al-Ahzad. More rocket artillery and also more small arms will be included in the new shipments, as well as advisers to train the Ahzadi military.

Al-Ahzad

13-02-2005, 19:32

Somewhere in Yemen

"I won't do this, you can't make me do this"

The ASDPR private had torn off his gas mask and was sobbing, screaming at the top of his lungs at the battery commander. The rest of the gun crew was trying not to make eye contact with anybody.

"This is insane! It's all over anyways! Why are you making us do this? WHY ARE YOU MAKING US DO THIS?."

A special republican guardsmen drew his makarov and shot the private in the head.

"Get back to work."

Another tabun shell slid into the breech.

Raysuz

The darkness of the photo lab didn't hide the fact that the men were sweating, nervously rushing to develop the photos from the F-4's recon pod as fast as they could. A courier waited, nervously.

The door to the darkroom opened, the courier snatched the photos and bolted as fast as he could.

___________________________

The hundustani naval officer looked up as the panting Ahzadi burst into the office.

"We've located the batteries! Get this data to your ships as fast as you can!"

The LRR naval liason officer rose, and grabbed the photos.

Lunatic Retard Robots

13-02-2005, 22:27

Gun crews rush to their stations on the Pondicherry and Jaipur.

The 4.5in on the Pondicherry is swiveled towards the location of the nearest ASDPR battery, and the autoloader slams a shell into the cannon.

"FIRE!"

As soon as the cartrige is spit out of the turret, a new round is loaded and fired in quick succession.

On the Jaipur, the NAVLAR battery is quickly manned and aimed. A rocket barrage is spat at the first target location, and the crew rapidly reloads the 160mm rockets with the help of a crane.

Roycelandia

14-02-2005, 02:19

Somewhere in the Desert

Col. Griffin snapped open both his Webley Revolvers and loaded them with their powerful .455 cartridges, before closing the guns up and holstering them.

He climbed out of the Land Rover, and made his way toward Wazzef.

"You know, I think it's time we hit a sizeable town. Gen. Massad's forces, the ASPDR forces, and the various other factions might actually sit up and take notice. However, rather than just looting a town, I think we need to find somewhere with a Communications Centre, and bring it down. Start severing railway lines etc between the big cities, and melt back into the desert."

OOC: Al-Ahzad, could you perhaps give us a very quick rundown of the various factions and their goals? I'm a little confused now, since there appear to be remnants of the Sultan's Army, General Massad's Army, the Azhadi Socialist Peoples Democratic Republic, The Muscat of Oman's Jihadi forces, Wazzef and Col. Griffin's Bedouin Raiders, and now there appears to be at least one other group of Bedouins... A little "Who's Who" might be helpful, if you get a moment... :-)

Al-Ahzad

14-02-2005, 17:00

Ahzadi Republic

Having overthrown the Sultan, the new Ahzadi Republic controls the central coastline, the major coastal cities of the dofhar like Raysuz and Sut. These guys are the Yeni Ahzad movement, and have control of the regular army, jandarma, etc. They're run by Generall Massad (at least the military component of it) and Hikmet Bektasi. A constitutional convention is currently underway, and elections are promised as soon as things stabilize. They're also looking for anybody to arm them.

ASDPR

Marshal Arslan Buyruz's socialist breakway state is on it's last legs. He has a handful of army units, and his special republican guard (who are mostly ethnic somali and at this point fighting more out of fear of what will happen if they lose), and he's decided that if he's going down, he's taking everybody with him, hence his random chemical attacks on villages. Coastal ASDPR should be safe, as LRR is pounding ASDPR guns near the sea, but the government forces still have a ways to go before declaring the ASDPR totally dead.

Jihadists

Right now, they're quiet- too quiet. After a series of suicide bombings in Raysuz (the wost of which killed 300 jandarma in a barracks) they seem to be content to sit back (for now) watch the chaos, and collect UE arms.

Al-Waloud

Ah, the royalists. With help (special forces, helicopters) from the Trucial States, as well as aid from Roycelandia (the military commander, weapons, some bedouin troops) and old army units (the 5,000 man ethnic bedouin royal guard) the Al-Waloud tribe has rallied around the dead Sultan's brother, Wazzef. Currently numbering anywhere from 9-12,000, this is growing into a fearsome desert army equipped with antitank weapons and modern small arms.

Al-Suluf

The ancient enemy of the Al-Waloud. Long suffering due to Al-Waloud control of the central government, the Republic has recently contacted their Sheikh and has swung a deal. Now technically an irregular unit in the Ahzadi army, the Al-Suluf are being armed by the government to fight the Al-Waloud at their own game. Currently in the empty quarter, the Al-Suluf have begun to raid and pillage Al-Waloud villages while the fighting men of the Al-Waloud clan are away fighting to re-claim the throne.

Roycelandia

15-02-2005, 02:34

OOC: Thanks for that! I know what's going on now...

BTW, the Roycelandian Government has said, through Col. Griffin, that there are Spitfire Ground Attack aircraft on Socotra that can be made available for airstrikes, if they're really, really needed (ie they can't be called on to bomb some little village somewhere, but if there's major military opposition, they can be used to help)

Gen. Massad must be starting to worry about a 10,000 strong army of Desert Warriors with modern weapons...

The Trucial States

15-02-2005, 17:45

Rub Al Khali

Sweeping low over endless dunes, flying South from their base in Ar Ruways, half a dozen helicopters from the Abu Dhabi Defence Force. Three Pumas, a Gazzelle and two Cobra gunships made up the sortie, they were now over the nebulous boundary between United Elias and the former Kingdom of Al-Ahzad.

The formation adjusted heading as they approached the Al-Suluf village, which intelligence had apparently reported as the location of the clan's Sheikh, but whether that was correct or not did not matter that much. Just under a kilomtere out, the formation broke, and the two AH-1Fs moved in ahead, opening fire on the bedouins with rockets and 20mm chain guns. The Pumas spread out, descending as door gunners prepared to meet any resistance with volleys from their FN MAGs. The three transports touched down on sand, a hundred meteres or so from the encampent, and men from the ADDF's Commando Battalion, Royal Guards Brigade jumped out, and outprone as the helicopters lifted off. As the Cobras circled, still firing somewhat indiscriminately at anything in the village that moved, the troops charged forward.

Asgard Combine

15-02-2005, 18:59

Sanaa

anybody that will listen: we need PGM's, and fast. Smart bombs and satillite photos are pretty much the only way that these guns can be silenced.

The extremely pale and unnervingly still man stood before the Ahzadi negotiator.
The negotiator was nervous. The Asgard representative looked like he wasn't breathing, and his dead-eyed stare never wavered. It was like talking to a video camera.
"We have what you're looking for," rasped the motionless Asgard monotonically, indicating the sample avionics kit and model cruise missile. "What we want in return is nothing special. Do we have a deal?"

"We-, uh, .. I .... we'll get back to you," stammered the Ahzadi. "I have to clear this with .... with my ... superiors."
The Asgard was perfectly still for several seconds (that seemed like eons to the Ahzadi), before slowly standing. "Understood."
Shaken, the Ahzadi waited until the Asgard representative was out of the building before exhaling forcefully and mopping his forehead. The Asgard request was, well, just weird, and he didn't want to be the one to authorize it.

ooc { the asgard combine is sending avionics kits and laser-guidance adapters for gravity bombs to Al-Ahzad. Cruise missiles are pending further negotiations, but it looks like they will go through. }

Al-Ahzad

17-02-2005, 17:25

20,000 feet, 80 miles from Sanaa

The RIO fiddled witht the sleek black box the Asgards had given them to interface with the targeting pod. He locked in the firing solution.

"We're good! We have target! Say again, we have target!"

The bombs fell away from the Phantom, fins snapping out as the icelandic guideance heads worked their tiny digital brains, fixating on one thought. If the bombs had an internal monolouge it would probably have gone like this:

"OMG A LASER IS RIGHT OVER THERE OMG A LASER IS RIGHT OVER THERE OMG A LASER IS RI-"

The ASDPR artillery position had some of it's guns thrown over 40 feet away.

Overhead, the F-4 peeled off, in search of new targets.

_____________________________________________________________

Thanks to the PGM's delivered by the Asgard combine, as well as the LRR naval bombardment, the republican guard artillery is falling silent. The gassing of villages has ceased. Some 9,000 civilians have died, but untold thousands have been saved. For years the LRR will be held in high esteem and great respect for it's help. The role of the Asgard Combine will be forever downplayed, due to the nature of the secret deal that gave Al-Ahzad those weapons....

Sanaa

The 500-so men of the Special Airborne Battalion have managed to secure the Great Square of the People despite heavy resistance from special republican guard and armed militia. As dawn breaks, they begin to abandon the square and, in dozens of small groups, scatter througout the city only to re-converge near the presidential palace.
____________________________________________________

Hakan raised himself above the wall just long enough to fire the AT-4 at the roadblock in front of him. Thing were getting desperate. The bad news is that they were running out of 5.56 for their new FAMAS rifles. The good news was that the F-4's with the new guideance pods were raining precision death from the skies. The bad news about that is one would only show up every two hours, which was impressive for the Ahzadi air force, but still...

They just had to wreak havoc, and hold out until the 3rd division held out. It sounded so damn simple on paper...

Hodeingah-Sanna highway

A M-109 self-propelled gun is employed to lob shells on a high arc at enemy targets beyond the line of sight.
In this case, it was wheeled up to 300 meters away and fired directly at the ants nest of jersey barriers and sandbags that comprised the final blockade. As the echo resounded across the valley, a stillness fell over the battlefield. The only noise was tank motors idling.
Then the cheering began from the hills as the women of the mountain villages began their high, shrill call. They continued as the huge column of armored vehicles began to move again, little tan-colored beetles on the dark brown and green yemeni landscape. They were illiterate, mostly, but they weren't dumb and they knew victory when they saw it. The 3rd was going to Sanaa.

Mountain Airstrip, some 8km west of Sanaa

The Somali guardsmen saluted as Arslan Buyruz walked to his waiting An-2 Colt. The biplane started it's engine. It was all over, everything. Well, not true. He'd known defeat before. This was not the end. These republican bastards would pay, one day. As he walked, he shouted questions at his deputy.
"The dhows?"
"many have been sunk, many have not, sir"
"The stay-behind cells?"
"In place, sir."
"Good." He stood at the door of the old soviet transport and spoke to his men one last time "we are beaten, but the struggle is not! we are driven from the bosom of our native land, but we shall keep up the fight! for the people!"

In the distance, artillery boomed.
_________________________________________________________-

With the air-landing of Ahzadi troops in Sanaa itself, the destruction of the artillery batteries, and finally the collapse of the blocking force in the passes, Arslan Buyruz realizes the game is up. He flees to east africa in an old transport, crash-landing a half hour later somewhere in rural Sudan. Many of his followers- the "dhow people" make their way to eritria, somalia, or the sudan. Embittered communistst soon crowd teahouses, talking about better days gone past.

In Raysuz, crowds choke the streets in celebration. The decades-long civil war is over, and General Massad, in personal command of the 3rd division, has triumphed. Ahzadi State TV uses all of it's meagre facilities to broadcast news of the fall of Sanaa. Grainly TV pictures of cheering throngs welcoming Ahzadi army tanks as they roll through the streets are shown alongside the Special Airborne Battalion storming the Great Hall of the People and raising the crescent-and-star above it.

Military developments

In Raysuz, the first new division is activated and declared combat-ready. Equipped with non-upgraded M60 tanks, a hodgepodge of older US, new LRR, and captured ASDPR artillery, and riding in Lunatic Retard Robots APC's, the 4th infantry division is made up of the first crop of draftees from the fervent Yeni Ahzad youth. Quickly trained by some 3rd divsion NCO's, LRR military advisors, and some Elkazorian personell, they are officered by former "Regulars" officers, and their NCO's are older veterans of the ASDPR war, student Yeni Ahzad leaders, or (as is often the case) French mercenaries working as "volunteers". 15,000 strong, the division is being sent right away to the former ASDPR, to occupy the former breakaway republic.

The 3rd division will be pulled out of Sanaa within a week. The occupation of the ASDPR will be carried out by the 4th infantry division, the 7,000 strong "Line Brigade", and some 10,000 Jandarma paramilitary officers that are already moving in. In the longer-term, Peoples Armed Police units, purged of Buyruz loyalists and commanded by Jandarma officers will play a large role in integrating the ASDPR.

The other unit activated in Raysuz is the 10th Cavalry Regiment. With 5,000 men, it is equipped with M60's pulled out of depot and hastily upgraded, Roland SAM's sent from Elkazor, and LRR BMP fighting vehicles. Not up to the standards of the 3rd division, it is still a rather good unit, having been given the creme of the crop of the new recruits.

The Air Force is still only three dozen planes strong, but efforts are underway to get more old jets flying. (A rumored deal for spare parts with qunintonnia, if true, should speed this greatly). In the meantime, the shadowy Asgard Combine has flown in hundreds of seeker heads for laser-guided bombs and the avionics pods to desginate them. These, along with Matra Magic short-range heatseeking missiles from France, actually give the tiny Ahzadi Air Force something resembling modern capabilities.

Ahzadi Army as it stands

3rd Armored Division- exhausted after defeating the ASDPR, this elite formation has taken heavy losses, down from 18,000 men to 10,000 (at most) effectives. It's battle hardened, but worn down, and is heading back to Raysuz for rest and re-fitting.

4th infantry division- new, lightly equipped, heading to occupy the ASDPR

The Line Brigade- a picemeal unit that's become semi-official. 7,000 infantry doing rear-area security work. Occupying the ASDPR.

Raysuz Brigade- 4,000 infantry guarding the capital.

Jandarma Brigade- 3,000 paramilitary security troops grouped into a field unit and given armor. Think a stryker brigade on the cheap. In Raysuz, itching for a fight.

10th Cavalry Regiment- 5,000 men in a mechanized formation. Better than average, waiting for orders

Special Airborne Battalion- heliborne commando unit. In Sanaa, but won't stay there for long.

Ahzadi Republic Arab Regiment- stregnth unknown, location unknown, armed with small arms, MANPADS, and ATGM's....

The Empty Quarter

The 20mm shell from one of the helicopters had burst against a rock nearby, and Sheikh Hassan Al-Suluf stopped a fragment of it with his face. Not dead, but in no state to command, he ordered his men to scatter, and scatter they did.

But not before putting up a fight.

A SA-18 lanced out from the shoulder of one of the Ahzadi advisors, frantically seeking the engines of the Trucial States helicopters. Single-shot antitank rockets and the guided equivalents given to the bedouin were fired from behind dunes or scrub or rocks, from all directions. The bedouin decided that the airborne commandos were worth their wrath as well, and every Al-Suluf in line of sight decided to begin emptying M-14 magazines at them. Not that any of them were accurate, but enough lead was flying in their direction that eventually a commando would be in the way of one of the 7.62 rounds.

So some of the bedouin fought, some ran, but many waited, hidden, clutching the launch tubes of the SAM or antitank missile or LAW they'd been given and waiting for the helicopters to come in low again. There would be enemy wounded, and the enemy wounded would need rescuing, and the rescuers would come in helicopters......

The Trucial States

17-02-2005, 20:20

Rub Al Khali

The commandos were on the ground, prone, behind any cover available. The fight was going well, the enemy had numerical advantage and their bullets were of higher calibre. However the special forces made up for both in accuracy, as sharpshooters picked off the bedouin with telescopic sighted M-16s and M-4s and although they were taking casualties they had the uneqalled advantage of having a fleet of choppers circling overhead blasting at the Al-Suluf.

Having just unloaded their troops, the Pumas were making passes over the enemy, banking and swerving to give each of the GPMG gunners the best arc of fire. Further away the Alouette was patrolling, using .50 gun pods to mop up any who fled, or any incoming reonforcements. The two Cobras, came around to unload yet another withering salvo of fire. Then it happened. The SA-18 SAM arced skyward towards the AH-1s, which shed flares instantly. The missile seemed to miss, and exploded in mid air, one of the gunships being struck with some debris. As the pilot wrestled to control the helicopter, smoke billowing from the tail rotor, it began to climb sharply, until the fueselage of a Puma came between it and the clouds. Too quick for the eyes to register, a fireball erupted, and the two helicopters disintigrated, spraying smouldering hot metal over the enemy. In the space of seconds the mission had become a quagmire, the Commandos now with much less air support, could not all be airlifted out by the two remaining SA330s, they would have to fight and win.

The remaining AH-1F spun around, desperately trying to evade rockets and resumed a relentless onslaught, considerably more zealous than before. The crew of the Alouette immediately radioed for reinforcements, and within minutes additional Cobras and Pumas as well as Panther gunships would be lifting off. It was a fair distance and they would take time, time the troops would have to buy.

Quinntonian Dra-pol

18-02-2005, 01:45

As a result of a series of hushed and confidentail talks between Al-Ahzad and the government of Quinntonia, the Quinntonian government is happy to announce officially that they are entering into talks with Al-Ahzad.

It is hoped that a mutually beneficial trade agreement can be reached and talks will also include
i)The state of the Christian church in Al-Ahzad
ii)The willingness of Quinntonia to send humanitarian aid
iii)The necessity for a long-term stabilisation of the region
iv)A long-term oil deal
v)In response to above, a large-scale arms deal that will provide Al-Ahzad with Quinntonian military hardware, including some modern AA, SAM and jet fighter capabilities

It is understood that this region is facing a serious conflict, and it is hoped that Quinntonia's numerous oil deals will not be affected by these talks. Any and all nations are welcome at this phase in the talks to offer advice, or wiegh in with their questions/comments/concerns.

OOC-That can be done by TG or here.

WWJD
Amen.

Roycelandia

18-02-2005, 02:04

The Roycelandian Government, meanwhile, is viewing events in Al-Ahzad with great interest, not least of which because they have a lot of money and resources invested in Wazzef.

At this stage, the Imperial Government doesn't recognise General Massad as the true ruler of the country (Supporting the monarchy means Roycelandia sees Wazzef as the country's rightful ruler).

Suffice it to say, this conflict still has a way to go as long as Roycelandia's involved... :D

United Elias

18-02-2005, 17:41

Elias State News:

"...and in other news, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Zaki Mohammed has reportedly made comments implying that the United Elias government should recognise General Massad's regime, according to a leaked policy recommendation, which appeared in today's Baghdad Daily News. The report, apparently written by the Minister for the Council of Ministers and the President seems to advocate a reversal in the current policy, which recognises the Ahzadi Royal Family, and principally azzef Al Waloud as the ruler of that country. According to the document, 'United Elias shares no historical alliance or even amicability with the Royal family of Al Ahzad, and this new regime should be welcomed and viewed as a way of reconciling the differences that have existed between our two countries for the last half century.' The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refused to comment on the voracity of this report, and the Presidential Press Department has also remained silent over the issue."

OOC: Two things to note, firstly that you can assume that anything leaked from within a UE Ministry was probably deliberate, and secondly that the Foreign Minister Zaki Mohammed is an increasingly sidelined figure, he is old and frail and a traditional diplomat whose views do not resonate much with the President and the largely neoconservative cabinet. However he is still prominent, and can be persuasive on occasion.

Al-Ahzad

18-02-2005, 22:25

Elias State News:

OOC: Two things to note, firstly that you can assume that anything leaked from within a UE Ministry was probably deliberate, and secondly that the Foreign Minister Zaki Mohammed is an increasingly sidelined figure, he is old and frail and a traditional diplomat whose views do not resonate much with the President and the largely neoconservative cabinet. However he is still prominent, and can be persuasive on occasion.

Zaki Mohammed? Is that how you say "Colin Powell" in arabic? :D

OOC: don't worry, UE, I'll be getting to your boy the Imam soon.

United Elias

19-02-2005, 00:36

Well yes I suppose there are similarities (but hey we got rid of that commie! ;) ), but quite often Foreign Ministers have been like that e.g. Lord Halifax etc.

Quinntonian Dra-pol

22-02-2005, 19:15

The Quinntonian government is waiting to see what is asked for by Al-Ahzad and what is offered.
WWJD
Amen.

Spyr

22-02-2005, 20:01

At last, the Spyran cruiser Ataryuu-ya and its escorts arrive off Al-Ahzad... while too late to assist in removing the ASDPR artillery emplacements, the vessels extend a Spyran offer of support to the Ahzadi Republic, for wherever else they might be needed, including the deployment of marine infantry and onboard helicopters for land operations and training of Republican units.

Lunatic Retard Robots

22-02-2005, 21:20

The Pondicherry and Jaipur remain on station, ready to bombard any more ASDPR targets. Their Alouette III helicopters also make forays into the ASDPR, armed with AT. 43B anti-tank missiles and folding fin rockets.

Captain Marut Bensal arrives over Sanaa in an Alouette III a day after the liberation, and surveys the city before heading to visit the local Ahzadi army commander.

Meanwhile, in order to address the Ahzadi AF's aircraft shortages, a production run of 50 SAa. 5s (liscence-built Jaguars) has been initiated.

Al-Ahzad

23-02-2005, 00:21

Consider this a tag for an update which should be coming later tonight.

Elkazor

23-02-2005, 22:59

((Sorry about the lag, AA, truly))

Ft. St. Louis, that massive French base in Al-Ahzad, was just completed.

It stood clearly visible upon the horizon, gargantuan walls and reinforced posistions opening up into a secure harbor, and massive oil refinery.

French security concerns had been doggedly training the national Army of Al-Ahzad. The French provided the troops with weapons, and trained them in French tactics and manuevers, European classics.

And now, a squadren of 3 Brest Class Frigates led by the Marseilles Class Light Cruiser Indomitable, the constituents of the new French Eastern Fleet, made harbor at the Fort of their patron saint. They had been dispatched weeks earlier, but had had to travel round the Cape, consequently they made a long voyage.

Additionally, a force of 36 Mirage 2000's landed at Raysuz International Airport. They were being sold to General Massads Airforce, the pilot core was currently training at the ODSE Academy in Grenoble, France.

News from Versailles was stunning. Due to the ever closening relationship between Al-Ahzad and France, His Most Christian Majesty Louis XX announced that he would invest General Massad with the peerage. Dubbed in absentia, General Massad was made the First Grand Prince of Ahzad, and was made a Chevalier du Saint-Louis, the highest order of French Honor. This gave General Massad official recognition in the Court of Versailles, something very nessicary for the increased arms and lethality thereof Monsieur was requesting.

And so Ft. St. Louis burgeoned, its center the high rise headquarters of the
Royal Ahzad Company, quickly becoming the most profitable French venture worldwide.

Ahzad was quickly becoming Frances most invaluable source of oil, especially since the dissolution of Marimaia. General Massad, or Monsigneur le Grand Prince, had simply to ask His Most Christian Majesty for the weapons they desired, and they would be sold to him immediatley.

Roycelandia

24-02-2005, 01:36

Port Imperial, Roycelandian East Africa

"Dammit, I hate quandaries!" His Majesty said, a little too loudly for the comfort of the assembled Government People.

Wiggles, Governor-General Fry, Lt. Governor Kiff, Commander Blackadder, and Foreign Minister Lebowski nodded, having read the same briefing sheet.

"We can't have Ahzad turned into Noveau Algerie- but on the other hand, France's friendship and alliance are important to Roycelandia. And I can't just snub Gen. Massad."

His Majesty sighed and put his feet on the conference table, drumming on his notepad with his pen.

"OK, here's the plan. We keep supporting Colonel Griffin and Wazzef. We have a long tradition of "helping" the Ahzadi Royal Family, and we intend to keep it that way. At the same time, we strategically block all economic aid to Ahzad from Roycelandia. We won't starve them or anything like that, but suffice it to say if we have any Subsidies or Grants available, Strathdonia is at the top of the list to receive them. And keep the Boothroyd in the area."

There were murmurs and nods of assent from the gathered room.

"Now then, if no-one else has any pressing business, I beleive it's time for Lunch and possibly a Call of Duty LAN game..."

Elkazor

24-02-2005, 01:49

Secret channels from Versailles to Port Royal would assure His Imperial Highness Royce I the French had no intention of Colonial activites in Ahzad, indeed as they had assured General Massad long ago. They simply had to have Ahzadi oil, and Massad had proved to be an invaluable French ally in the region.

Indeed, Versailles would assure Royce I they valued his friendship beyond worth, and had no intention of snubbing him. Also, the security of Ft. St. Louis was paramount, ergo Louis XX was happy to help the Ahzadis help themselves.

His Most Christian Majesty sent another round of gifts to Port Royal, a collection of priceless Rembrandt originals to show Royce I that Louis XX was still eager to be his friend. A little note also, in the Kings hand, hoped that Roycelandia was enjoying its news possession, also a French gift, Bassas de India.

If Roycelandia needed any favors, Louis would be delighted to assist.

Al-Ahzad

24-02-2005, 17:46

The empty quarter

Sheikh Hassan Al-Suluf would be dead if it wasn't for the Association medics who were along with his tribe on the raid. Sheltering in a tent, medics pick chunks of Truncial States 20mm shell out of his face. With antibiotics and sterile medical equipment at least somewhat avalible, he will live, but he has lost sight in his right eye. Although somewhat enthused about the impressive mass of scars he will end up with, through a morphene haze he requests that "I carry a light machinegun from now on cause I can't aim for shit with one eye"

The raid on the Al-Waloud village had gone well, sure, but due to UAE involvement the results hadn't been much better than your average Al-Suluf raid.

A few more Super Frelon flights are sent to the desert, and more Association advisors and modern equipment show up. Tactics will be changed, and the whole pardigram of bedouin warfare is about to shift.

A week later, at an Al-Waloud village at the edge of the empty quarter

They'd been challenged to do this, and like any good Al-Suluf, they took a challenge.

More than a few were finding this dumb.

They were huddled behind a dune in the middle of a raging sandstorm. They could barely see 20 meteres ahead of them. The Ahzadi advisors with them had suggested this (they were not only weak city folk, was the gossip, but also madmen), insisting that no helicopter could fly in the sandstorm. Their promises of not getting lost were actually kept, and their "GPS" boxes they all carried seemed to actually do their job.

The advisors were setting their new mortars using those same boxes. They were about to do something totally new in the bedouin tradition of warfare. If the Al-Suluf lost, god help them all. If they won? They would rule the desert.

The Al-Suluf liked taking risks.

The mortars whoomped out roud after round, and as they fell silent, the Ahzadi Arab Brigade stumbled off into the sandstorm. Almost glad for the shelter from the storm, they entered the village and scattered, confused fighting broke out. They moved as they were told- satchel charge in the door, next building, satchel charge in the door, next building. The few defenders were easily crushed and the Al-Suluf set about their bloody tribal revenge.

The Association team made a beeline for the center of the village, and threw their backpacks down the most critical structure in the village, throwing themselves flat. The explosives went off, and the well collapsed.

As the Al-Suluf and Ahzadis stumbled back into the storm, they had killed the village just as surely as if they had destroyed every home.

Al-Waloud headquarters

Col. Griffin and Wazzef were both pacing, and both worried.

"Look, Wazzef, news will filter back to the men sooner than later, and then your tribal levies will dissapear back to their homes! You need to act now. The Republic is growing better armed by the day, and we're the strongest we can be"

Wazzef had to admit that the englishman had a point. They'd taken outposts, they'd taken battalions, they were 10,000 strong....

why not now?

"Where do we strike, englishman?"

"Raysuz!"

North of Raysuz

10th Cavalry Regiment had recieved orders the day before to head north and "inititate sweep and clear operations against royalist forces" and they were doing exactly that.

What sucks for 3rd Battalion, 10th cav is that they happened to be on a road march with their tanks on transporters some 40 kilometers north of Raysuz in what was expected to be friendly territory (the roads were watched, but hey, bedouin don't need roads, do they?). From the gently rising escarpment to the north of them, the first antitank missiles lance out, taking down the lead vehicles in the huge convoy.

In the few hours that follow, some really insane things happen. M60 tanks are started up and driven off the tank transporters while under fire, a small and very stupid group of Al-Waloud realize why you don't charge LRR BMP's on horseback after a harsh 20mm lesson. By nightfall, the battalion has taken over 60% killed or wounded and is pinned down, it's armored vehicles unable to climb the ridge facing them, and unable to retreat thanks to the huge number of bedouin pinning them down.

North of 3rd battalion

"Gunner! traverse right! we've got targets!"

"Shit, which pickup?"

"Any pickup, gunner! Hayallah! there are so many of these fuckers!"

The 105mm gun boomed, promptly missing the nimble toyota pickup. A clanging sound rang through the tank.

"What the hel-"

The commander was cut of a satchel charge fell in through the hatch, exploding and destroying the tank.

_______________________________________________________

The rest of 10th Cavalry Regiment rushes to the aid of 8th Battalion, and (to their suprise) finds about 10,000 heavily armed battle hardened bedouin waiting for them.

In the open scrub of the dofhar, the tanks of the 4,500 strong regiment engage the bedouin, who swarm around the Ahzadi armored formations, getting in among the tanks to hit them with their rocket-launcher armed pickup trucks. In Sanaa, the third division gets orders to rush north to assist, but given the fact that it's men are exhausted, and it's tanks are on the verge of breaking down, it will take some time.

_______________________________________________

The mechanized infantry bolted out of the BMP as soon (actually, even before) it came to a halt, and right away they began to come under fire. Inside the APC, the crewmen looked through their sights at the burning Ahzadi tanks in front of them.

"Sir, the armor is asking for our assistance"

The gunner interrupted "Shit, I can't pick targets- those trucks are literally right alongside the armor"

The gunner turned to the commander. "M60A3's can take 20mm, right?"

The commander nodded.

"Fuck it, then" spat the gunner, and started spraying into the twisted mass of tanks and pickups and horses and camels.

"Gunner! New target!" The commander had finished his sweep of the area. To the west, a group of mounted Al-Waloud were charging the dismounted infantry.

"Who likes horsemeat?"

_______________________________________

Raysuz

"But if we use the air force, that means the truncial states may use theirs! Or United Elias! Godammit, Massad, consider the implications!"

Massad shouted back at Hikmet Bektasi

"You consider the implications if the first unit of the new army gets it's ass handed to it by a bunch of desert nomads! You consider the implications of that goddamn Al-Waloud who considers himself strong enough to seek a conventional battle! What the fuck do you just think landed at Raysuz international? A bunch of photographers from Elle magazine, on the 4:30 Paris to Raysuz flight?"

They stared at each other for a tense moment.

"Alright" Hikmet raised his hands "you are the General, you make the call, but I'm just trying to warn you of the implications"

______________________________________________________

The ground crew waved the Mirage 2000's onto the taxiways. Bombs hung in big olive-drab clusters under the wings. The men inside the cockpits wore Ahzadi air force uniform, but the ground crew had to snicker.

Those were the whitest guys they'd seen in a while.

"Allons-y!" crackled over the radio "uuh.....gidiyorsuz"

The afterburners lit and the planes lifted into the sky to join the Ahzadi F-4's circling over the base.
__________________________________________________

Over battlefield, they waited for the signal, the french "volunteer" pilots in their Mirages and the Ahzadis in their Phantoms. Over 60 aircraft were on this airstrike. The largest airborne force Al-Azhad had fielded in decades.

On the ground below, frantic radio calls came up, and with appropriate gaullic elan the Mirage pilots- with their freshly sewn on ARAF patches- swept in first. The cluster bombs fell from their wings, the first of what promised to be a long night.

Soon the Phantoms would swoop down, and the process would start all over again.

The battlefield, to the rear of Al-Waloud positions

The Special Airborne Battalion was ragged, exhausted from their bloody insertion into Sanaa. Duty, however, makes no exceptions for fatigue. The Hinds and Super Frelons settled to the ground of the Dofhar, and the elite troops hurriedly disembarked as the attack helicopters circled overhead. Time to give the Al-Waloud a suprise.

Al-Waloud command post

Although not quite persuaded to fight from a hole in the ground, Griffin had got Wazzef to set up his command in a sheltered area, someplace to put all the radios and such. Right now, those radios were not telling good stories, and you only had to peek over the crest of the ridge to see the battle. Tracer rounds from the Ahzadi BMP's sent green chains into the night, tank guns echoed across the desert scrub.

The sources of those traers were getting closer, and now another sound had joined in. A high-pitched whine/roar, the flare of afterburners at night and the display of chaff and IR decoys settling to earth after a bombing run. The cluster bombs did, Wazzef had to admit, look beautiful as they went off like huge firecrackers over whole sections of the battlefield.

But they were killing his men. In huge numbers.

"This is NOT good englishman! You were the one who told me to take the cities! you were the one who told me to fight the army on the field!"

Wazzef stomped up to the ridge and waved at the battlefield.

"LOOK! Englishman! Look at this! Even if we do make it out of this alive, all my men will go and seek to protect their homes against the Al-Suluf, and I doubt we could even do that!"

The bedouin was sort of right, but being rather pessimistic, and Griffin was just about to correct him when a bullet spanged off a nearby rock.

The Special Airborne Battalion was in the rear, and was coming for the command post. Wazzef and Griffin snatched up SMLE's and joined the Royal Guardsmen as they rushed to attack the Ahzadi commandos.

Quinntonia

24-02-2005, 19:27

This is the arms shipment that will be on its way via ship, protected by a full Aircraft Carrier Battle Group-Jonah:
The shipment should be expected within the next 60 days.
There will also be 200 ex-military civilian contractors that will be instructive for your staff.

-600 kits to up-gun the M60A3 main gun from 105mm to 120mm.

-spare transmissions, engines, treads, etc for the M60 series tanks.

-about 1,000 electronics kids to upgrade older M60's to M60A3 standards in terms of night vision, ballistic computer, etc

-spare parts (engines, transmissions, etc) for the M113 series APC's

-2,000 additional armor add-on kits for the M113 APC's

- contractors and parts to upgrade 60 Cobra helicopters to Super Cobra standards

-spare engines and rotors for UH-1 helicopters

-spare engines, rotors, etc for Cobra attack helicopters

- about 600 older-model M109 self-propelled gun chassis- we will fit guns ourselves.

For the air force/air defense we need the most expensive gear, which will follow.

-AIM-9X advanced Sidewinders. Our jets lack modern avionics and are at a severe disadvantage in air-to-air combat. We need these right away to give us at least some air-to-air ability

-36 Late-model HAWK anti-air missile batteries (3 launchers and radar each). we lack modern SAM systems to protect our cities and field units.

-6 Patriot missile batteries with launchers, radars, etc. to protect Raysuz and the surrounding area.

i) In return for this shipment, at reasonable prices, half to be paid now in Quinntonian Dollars, Francs, and Kruggerands, and the rest over a 5-year period.

ii) Also, this will give Quinntonia FIRST PURCHASER rights for a period of no less than 10 years, wherein Quinntonina will be able to buy any and all oil products from Al-Ahzadi at 10% less than market.

iii) The above will not conflict with any rights previously negotiated with France

iv) The Raysuz State University Philosophy and Religious Studies Department will tenure 1 Quinntonian theologian or philosopherfor every 4 native or foreign tenures.

v) Quinntonian clergy will be allowed into the country without reservation, with the express purpose of “meeting the needs of the native Christian community.”

vi) Quinntonian aid workers and charitable programs will be allowed to work with and integrate into existing government programs for aid, etc. But all will fall under government jurisdiction.

vii) Al-Ahzad agrees that there will be no religious oppression of any kind within its borders that is sanctioned by the government, and any reports of the kind will be dealt with thouroughly and efficiently by the appropriate government agencies.

In return for the signing of this document by General Massad, and the Quinntonian Foreign Minister, Deacon Vanessa Moerike, an aid package consisting of 2 billion Quinntonian Dollars has been approved by the Council of Bishops, and will be turned over to the government agencies in Al-Ahzad in quarterly sums spread over the next three years, with the first payment to be shipped immediately, in the amount of 425 million, to ease the suffering of the victims of the Sultanate regime. This is not in any way to constitute government funds, but, under the article stated above, will be administrated by a joint council of Quinntonian Chritable concerns, under the supervision and administration of government officials.

Is this acceptable?
WWJD
Amen.

The Trucial States

24-02-2005, 20:01

News Wire:

In his weekly press conference, Prime Minister Abdallah bin Husayn al-Ahmar termed the Quinntonian-Azhadi treaty discussions, 'deeply concerning' and that they 'could affect our trade relationship with Quinntonia and if a treaty was indeed signed, the Trucial States would have an obligation to our Arab brothers to embargo oil exports to the United States.' Given the Prime Minister's pro-western persuasions, it is suprising that Quinntonia would choose a revolutionary military regime over a stable and sympathetic Federation of Kingdoms.

OOC: Quinntonia, BTW, you realise you'll need either UE or the Trucial States, and probably both to supply you oil, considering that most of Ahzadi oil is going to France, and FYI France's daily oil consumption is about double that of Ahzad's total daily production already. In other words they don't actually have that much oil, and will have hardly any to spare for you. If you go ahead with this I'd expect UE would also embargo you, so basicallythat would leave you a choice of importing from Russia (currently in a civil war) or that very friendly nation of Iran! Of course a similar deal with us would solve all those problems....

The Trucial States

24-02-2005, 20:04

Ever since the Al-Waloud radio frequencies had cited the appearance of aircraft, fighter squadrons all over the Trucial States had been ordered to scramble. From the Dubai Defence Corps, 18 Mirage F1s and 11 F-5Es, from the Abu Dhabi Defence Corps 24 Mirage IIIs, 12 Mirage 5s and 16 Mirage 2000-9s and from Central Military Command another 12 F-5Es.

The 90+ fighters, armed with AIM-9L and AIM-7 air to air missiles swarmed across the desert, rapidly closing the distance to engage the hostile aircraft. With numerical superiority, and with good pilot skills, and some modern fighters they would stand a good chance against planes carrying predominantly air to ground laodouts. Unfortunately they would probably too late to do anything other than avenge the Arab deaths...

North Yaman

24-02-2005, 22:24

Yaman doesn't have the force projection to do anything but watch the news from the Mid-east.

(Tag)

Quinntonian Dra-pol

25-02-2005, 01:23

OOC-I asked in an earlier post for any and all questions, comments or concerns, no one said anything, so I moved ahead. Of course I need your oil. I don't want to do anything to screw that up, and if you wanted to work out some kind of deal, I would be more than happy to listen to your proposal.

WWJD
Amen.

I guess that there is no moajor objection then? The shipment is still being gathered, and will soon be on its way.

WWJD
Amen.

Roycelandia

25-02-2005, 10:43

Near the Al-Waloud Command Post

"Gunners, Target enemy armour!" called Col. Griffin over the din of battle, instructing two of the 25lb Anti-Tank guns to fire on the Ahzadi armour.

Meanwhile, sandbagged emplacements containing a Vickers MG opened fire on any of the Ahzadis who got too close.

Many of the Landrovers and 4WDs, as well as Utes (Pickup trucks) had been fitted with Vickers MGs, Lewis MGs, and a couple of them (being kept close to Col. Griffin and Wazzef) had Hotchkiss 20mm Gatling Cannons on the back.

Col. Griffin had also ordered around 150 of the Roycelandian Bedouin to construct slit trenches as well, for defensive purposes...

Port Royal, Roycelandia

Meanwhile, in the spirit of generosity ("Those Rembrandts will look VERY nice in the National Gallery, so everyone can enjoy them!"), His Majesty has gifted to King Louis XX a 12th century illuminated manuscript detailing the voyage of St. Brendan to North America. "We found it in the Imperial Archives and thought it would be a fitting gift to a great Man Of Faith" His Majesty said in the accompanying note.

The gift has caused many people in Roycelandia to wonder what else is in the Imperial Archives that might be of interest to scholars and anyone with an appreciation for history, but the Imperial Registrar of Archives isn't commenting at the moment...

Al-Ahzad

25-02-2005, 16:21

Exact loss numbers are not quite in, but following the (presumed) thrashing of the Ahzadi air force, official requests go out to France and Hindustan. In them, General Massad requests that they deploy regular fighter squadrons to Al-Ahzad to protect the soveriegnty of Ahzadi airspace.

Elkazor

25-02-2005, 20:44

Versailles listened well to the request of Grand Prince Massad.

Through His Majesties Ministry of State, Louis XX offered to amend the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. He was prepared to deploy a full French Army (about 1/4 of the Royal Dauphin Corps, which at any rate will be departing Lavrageria for France again before too long, mostly) to be based at Ft. St. Louis, as well as one full wing of ODSE Mirage 2000's.

In return, His Majesty requested an indefinite lease for Ft. St. Louis, and additional financial privelidges in Ahzad.

But, what Louis was basically offering Massad was French sponsorship and guarantees on the security of Massads Regime.

The force offered was one full division of French Guards (the 11th), 10,000 strong, and one wing of Mirage 2000's (72 craft).

Massad was also asked if he would deign to join the Holy Leauge (since he was now eligible following his peerage in France) which would guarantee him mutual allainces and definite securities.

Lunatic Retard Robots

26-02-2005, 06:26

Before long, ships sail from Hindustan full of the 50 donated Jaguars built by the state arsenals.

The Jaguars, while by no means world beaters in this day and age, are still very capable aircraft and form the bulk of the Hindustani AF's attack capability. The Ahzadi models, designated SAa. 5Az, differ from the HAF models mainly in their weapons systems, designed to accept French and Quinntonian armements rather than the hodgepodge of Eastern European, Bedgellen, and native-designed weapons.

The Jaguars are a useful addition to any airforce, and the new Hindustani engines will certainly extend their useful lives well into the 21st century. (Embarrassingly enough, there are no plans to replace the Jaguar in the HAF completely until 2020.) With their high reliability and good maintainability, coupled with excellent performance in adverse conditions, they should fit right into the Ahzadi airforce.

Meanwhile, outside of Raysuz, Vijay Utpal sits inside the troop compartment of an Mi-24, radio in one hand and FN-FAL in the other.

The army major tries his best to direct the Ahzadi mechanized infantry from his makeshift airborne command post, and notices that one thing that the Ahzadi army could really use is some good artillery.

"Keep your distance! Engage them at a longer range!" he shouts into the radio to the vehicle commanders in the relief force, beckoning them to stay out of close engagements now that he could direct them from the air.

In response to Ahzadi calls for assistance, the HAF dispatches three squadrons- a total of 36 aircraft- from Gujarat and Matharasthra. These three squadrons are all equipped with the most capable, twin-engined SAf. 6 multirole fighters, described as the Hindustani F-15. While the aircraft is a good deal slower than most comparable types, like all Hindustani aircraft it is a rugged, reliable machine that can hold its own in any situation, if not dominate.

But against any aircraft like those which so recently attacked the Ahzadi AF, they are not expected to fare too badly, as long as they use their long-range AAMs and refrain from close-in engagements, where their relative bulk is a potential drawback despite the AA-11 missiles and their look down/shoot down capabilities. After all, the SAf. 37, a copy of the Viggen, was intended as more of a light, closer-in fighter while the SAf. 6 was meant to be a long-range interceptor.

Elkazor

28-02-2005, 23:13

Le Merechal d'Malsherbes stepped off of the ODSE Airbus as it landed in Raysuz. He had been appointed by His Most Christian Majesty Louis XX as Special Envoy to Al-Ahzad and the Court of Grand Prince Massad.

In his prodigious uniform he was greeted by a detachment of the French Marines, who journeyed all the way from Ft. St. Louis to greet Le Merechal.

Proceeding immediatley to Massad's Palace, le Merechal was in Al-Ahzad to see if Massad would recieve the French offer of a standing army and airforce in Ahzad. High Command believed that the 11th French Guards and the Bronze Spurs Wing of the ODSE could be deployed in one month, if the effort was intense enough.

D'Malsherbes was quick to explain to the General his tenuous posistion, Ahzad was in danger now of loosing its economic security, with the level of current conflict indeed sovereignty itself.

Louis XX made it very clear that he did not want Ahzad to turn into a French Colony. He was much more interested in boosting the capable Massads power base, and if that meant the Grand Prince needed a armed French Army in Ahzad to do it, well then so be it.

The plan would have all French forces (including the air wing) based at Ft. St. Louis. When Massad had need of his allies, Ahzadi would call in French support as needed to stamp out dissadence.

Furthermore, with the conclusion of the Lavragerian Accords, The Kingdom of France would be in posistion to undertake a full but limited campaign in Ahzad: to finally crush the ADSPR and make Massad without doubt the Suzerain of Ahzad.

Lunatic Retard Robots

01-03-2005, 03:15

After a flight over the Arabian Sea from Gujarat, the three SAf. 6 squadrons land in Al-Ahzad. Their arrival might be of interest to the French pilots, and while they are probably a good deal more capable than the Mirage 2000 and Rafale in range, weapons capacity, and maintainance characteristics, the SAf. 6 is a fairly expensive aircraft and therefore the HAF operates only around 125, not to mention it is somewhat slower than its contemporaries, owing to heavier armor protection and bulky landing gear.

In the meantime, weapons shipments continue to the Ahzadi military forces, now including numerous Grad MRLs and M-46 howitzers, as well as a wide range of mortars. Instructor pilots also arrive so as to get the sizeable contingent of Jaguars off the ground as soon as possible.

Al-Ahzad

01-03-2005, 17:36

sorry for not posting as much as I should: real life is distracting and, to be honest, I have no idea what to do next

The Trucial States

01-03-2005, 21:36

Prime Minister Abdallah bin Husayn al-Ahmar was displeased, inspite of his Minister of Defence's claims of victory against the Al-Ahzadi Air Force, five planes had still been lost, and each of the nation's three Air Forces reported dwindling stocks of air to air missiles. The armed forces were a mess, the Abu Dhabi Defence Force, the Dubai Defence Corps and Central Military Command running more or less autonomously were weak, numerically their numbers were acceptable, but equipment levels varied, and there was no war mentality. For too long, surrounded by two friendly neighbours, the Al-Waloud controlled Al-Ahzad and United Elias, they had become complacent, as there simply had been no need for a significant military strength. The situation had changed, Al-Ahzad had overnight become twice as powerful, not to mention hostile. For years Prime Ministers had pressed for the integration of the military, controlled by the federal government, but every time the Royal families had rejected it, but al-Ahmar would stake his career on it, the security of the people would be in jeopardy otherwise.

Having called an emergency meeting of the Federal National Council, the Prime Minister warned the representatives of each Trucial State's royal family, that the unification of the armed forces and vast increases in the Federal budget would be the only way to maintain security in what was a new political enviroment. Even more controvertial than the suggestion that the Sheikhs should relinquish control over their precious militaries and give more of their money to him, the Prime Minister told the chamber that supporting the Al-Waloud in Al-Ahzad was futile, and the chances of sucess practically zero unless United Elias used their military, which appeared unlikely. In the face of this suggestion of abandoning Wazzef, the delegates from Al Fujayrah walked out, threatening to suceed from the Federation, that particular state being ruled by Shaykh Hamad ibn Muhammad Al Waloud, Wazzef's cousin.

Within hours a nearly unanimous vote, apart from the abstentions of the absent Fujayrah representatives, passed legislation recalling all direct assistance of the Ahzadi Al Waloud tribe members by all armed forces of the Federation. Special Forces would be recalled, while helicopters and aircraft would no longer be allowed to go on combat missions into that territory. As some compensation, a second vote gave the right of every Al-Waloud tribe member to citizenship in the Trucial States and granted special exile to Wazzef Al Waloud should he also choose to cut and run, if he still had the option.

A comminique was also sent to Quinntonia, the Trucial States would offer the same as what the USQ wanted in return for military aid from Al-Ahzad, under the condition that their government did not recognise General Massad. The only other things asked of USQ was they would give a guarantee of security, and allow the Trucial States to purchase American defence systems at some discount, to be determined by future requirements, pending the re-organisation of the armed forces.

Quinntonian Dra-pol

01-03-2005, 23:57

QUOTE-A comminique was also sent to Quinntonia, the Trucial States would offer the same as what the USQ wanted in return for military aid from Al-Ahzad, under the condition that their government did not recognise General Massad. The only other things asked of USQ was they would give a guarantee of security, and allow the Trucial States to purchase American defence systems at some discount, to be determined by future requirements, pending the re-organisation of the armed forces.-QUOTE-

i)What military aid are you asking for?
ii)Garauntee of security from whom? And how would it be enforced?
iii)Which Quinntonian systems? Al-Ahzad gave me a shopping list.

Quinntonia would be happy to negotiate a settlement of some kind with your government (In addition to the assumed numerous trade deals that we already have) and this can take the place of some kind of treaty. But, TG would be a better way to negotiate, away from prying eyes. Or are you asking to have the exact same deal with Quinntonia as we have with Al-Ahzad? In that case, look over the treaty and we can just change the names.

WWJD
Amen.

Roycelandia

02-03-2005, 04:14

Meanwhile, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I has been in touch with King Louis XX, expressing concerns that his support for General Massad is "Making us look bad", and more importantly, is inadvertently eroding nearly two centuries of Roycelandian/Yemeni "Co-operation" on things.

"I'm sure you know we have a man in Ahzad with the Bedouin trying to to restore the Monarchy, which puts us in a VERY awkward position, as I'm sure you can imagine."

Short of offering to take the entire surviving Ahzadi royal family into Exile in Roycelandia, we're kind of stuck. We can't, and won't, abandon the Bedouin in Ahzad, and we don't want to keep fighting someone who is being supported up by one of our strongest allies.

This whole thing is kinda stalling, isn't it?

Elkazor

02-03-2005, 20:54

King Louis XX continued to assure Royce I that his posistion in Ahzad would only be strengthed in time.

King Louis would apologize deeply for France's need to activley prop up the Massad Regime, but there were simply no other options. With the Trucial States moving towards a open conflict with Ahzad, and the ADSPR hemmoraging, France was in danger of loosing a major source of oil and of strategic worth.

Indeed, the relationship between the Royal Ahzad Company and Impetco only improved daily, and the "Montmarte Group" (the French Investment Firm into Impetco) invested more capital each day in Royce I's excellent petrolium industry.

Royce I was given an open line to Versailles, in case he had any concerns.

Meanwhile, le Merechal d'Malsherbes pressed General Massad.

"Your Grace, it is imperative you give permission for a full French deployment in Ahzad at once. It is my belief that only this action will prevent a two front war, and preserve Your Grace in power."

Al-Ahzad

03-03-2005, 17:19

Over the battlefield

Erhan threw his phantom into a roll, chaff and flares flying away from the pod his jet had been carrying as part of this mission. His RIO shouted to him

"UAE fighter on our four 'o clock!"

Looking out into the night, Erhan, almost without thinking, made a snap judgement. Hitting the rudder, he managed to manuver his ungaily, obsolete aircraft, slipping in behind the Arab F-18. A harsh buzzing tone sounded from his French Matra Magic missile. He pressed the button, and the IR guided weapon shot out, in an eyeblink exploding and cutting the Arab jet in half.

He spun the F-4 around, arming his remaining air-to-air missiles. His RIO soon found a radar lock on another UAE fighter, and he sent his 60's vintage AIM-7 Sparrow lancing away towards it. The ancient missile required a radar lock all the way to the target, and Erhan was so busy trying to stay on the tail of the Emirate fighter it took his backseat RIO to notice the harsh buzz of a missile lock incoming.

Erhan glanced back to see the trail of white smoke curving towards him. He didn't have a chance.

"Eject! Eject! Eject!"

Eighteen minutes later, Erhan and his RIO were on the ground, parachutes blowing in the wind. They had been the last Ahzadi Air Force pilots over the battle.
______________________________________________________

Most of the French-piloted Mirage 2000's were able to engage or evade the enemy, with only four being lost and Mirage 2000's being responsible for three of the UAE losses. The Ahzadi-piloted 60's era US jets had a different story, and were all rendered unflyable. Several F-4's and a Skyhawk were able to limp home or crash-land on the pancake flat terrain of the Dofhar, but none of them will fly again. The Ahzadi Air Force has lost more than half it's combat aircraft.

All of the jets, though, had dropped their bombs.

10th Armored Cavalry Regiment

The BMP's were dashing forwards into a scene out of hell. Horses galloped in a panic, spraying blood from shrapnel wounds. The bodies of men and camels lay burning after Ahzadi napalm had torched their positions. Out of the APC's the mechanized infantry came charging, bayonets on their FAL's to root out the bedouin that had survived in this area. They could hear a booming, rythmic now, as the tanks managed to disengage from the Royalist anti-tank forces that had hurt them so badly in the first hours of the battle, and now were grouped together, volleying as platoons. The center of the Bedouin line had collapsed.

The 3rd Armored Division

They had raced from Raysuz as soon as they heard the news. Exhausted men, many of their number in the hospital, most of their vehicles in repair. 8,000 of them had still set out to assist the inexperienced 10th ACR. They arrived a few hours after the airstrikes, hitting the Bedouin forces on their flanks.

Only a few feet seperated each tank as they rolled forwards in a line, like napoleonic soldiers. The whole company would stop, volley fire, and then begin to slowly roll forwards again. Mechanized infantry followed them, and attack helicopters (LRR Hind's and Super Cobras) circled, their cannons chattering.

Any bedouin that were grouped together would die.

______________________________________________________

Royalist Command Post

"This was a bad idea, englishman!" Wazzef was starting to panic.

Stay calm, lad. Just like they taught you at sandhurst. Stiff upper lip and all that.

Col. Griffin drew his webbly revolver and calmly shot an Ahzadi commando in the throat. Little buggers had been attacking the CP last night, and between dodging their machinegun fire and repelling the (how many was it, four so far?) close-quarter attacks. He'd rather lost sight of the big picture.

So it turns out he had misjudged a few things. What had gone wrong was really beyond his control, but the situation could still be salvaged, a fighting retreat as it were....

He was distracted by the need to swing a clubbed SMLE at an Ahzadi soldier who had decided to try and make use of his comically stubby FAMAS's bayonet.

He collected himself.

"Look, Wazzef, we control a large part of the Dofar! We can lure them into the desert and fight them there!"

"No, englishman! This will not happen. The Al-Suluf are killing our sons and horses, and destroying our wells. The men that do escape this slaughter will melt away to defend their herds and families. We cannot win this fight, englishman."

The bedouin had a point, Griffin had to concede. But damn-all if the lack of "can-do" spirit didn't annoy him.

"So you're just going to accept defeat? Give up?"

"This is not defeat. This is a set-back. The Al-Waloud have endured worse. Our lands are where there is no border between United Elias and the Truncial states and Al-Ahzad- they dare not conduct mjor operations against us there. I have family in the truncial states, and a few Royal Guardsmen live to let me fight on. We have lost this round, englishman. Now we must survive to fight again."

Wazzef Al-Waloud rode under the moonlight, with his red-robed guardsmen following him, swords at the waist and M-16's at the hip. He lived, he carried on the line (and he carried on the struggle), but his tracks into the empty quarter were a tacit admission that, for now, no Royalist Army would march again the Republic.

[OOC: This whole RP is really an attempt to establish "history" or context, and an interesting international situation for Al-Ahzad. What will emerge from all this is a constant, low-level insurgency among the bedouin, a tribal war that spills over, located in the empty desert where no borders are defined. I feel that, for RP purposes, this is the most interesting outcome. Wazzef has money, shelter in the Truncial States, and men that, while lured away to defend their homes, are still loyal to him (as well as a core of elite guardsmen). He should be a thorn in Massad's side for years to come, and if the Republic ever screws up big time, he still has legitimacy as a Royal...../OOC]

The Former ASDPR

"God in heaven, cut those people down!"

The ASDPR didn't provide 24 hour electrical power, but they did try so there were lampposts in Sanaa. Right now, they were being used to hang the corpses of ethnic Somalis so mobs could pelt them with rocks.

The officers of the 4th infantry division were not happy about this. Spyrian commandos stood around nervously while Ahzadi infantrymen cut down the greusome bodies. The ASDPR had relied heavily on ethnic Somali resentment to recruit for it's Republican Guard, and the newly-liberated populace of the ASDPR had decided to take some revenge.

Needless to say, ethnic violence was not high on the agenda of the new Ahzadi Republic. The 15,000 men of the 4th division, as well as the 10,000 Jandarma moved into the ex-communist ex-republic (assisted by Spyrian special forces) were cracking down, and hard. Jandarma patrols were present in ethnic Somali neighborhoods (as much to search out former Republican Guard members as to protect the Somali population) and regular army units were sweeping the countryside.

There was a lot to be done in the ASDPR. Mis-rule here had been (hard to belive it) worse than under the Sultan. Industry was present, yeah, and modern infastructure more developed, but the fertile fields of yemen were yielding barely a quarter of what they could. A lot of the villages had been gassed, and the chemical warfare battalion of the 4th division was very, very busy doing cleanup.

Most of the "former regime elements" had decided to flee to east africa instead of try and set up some sort of resistance. But that didn't mean all of them, and a slow trickle of bodies was coming out of the occupied ASDPR.

Raysuz

The curfew that had been in place ever since the revolution was finally lifted in celebration of the (costly) victory agains the Royalists. Normalcy was beginning to return to the city after months of war and civil strife.

The lifting of the curfew brougt about a good deal of celebration as people streamed out into the cafes and terraces of Raysuz.

Then the truck bombs went off. Ghazi militants, in hiding since the revolution, killed over 200 people, and teams of militants attempted to storm the Great Mosque of Raysuz as well as a few government buildings. Jandarma counter-terrorism units engaged them in a fierce battle that lasted through the night and into the next day.

It became clear in Raysuz that there was still one major threat to the Republic. Muscat. There Imam Al-Abbas sat protected by 12,000 militants, and he had struck again at the secular regime. Everybody knew a reckoning was in order.

Elkazor

04-03-2005, 01:57

General Massad was informed that his terms (TGed privatley) were acceptable.

However, if he wished for the 72 Mirage-2000's to be deployed in Ahzad for his succor, King Louis was adamant that the 11th French Guards Division would be sent in as well to secure the "Bronze Spurs" of the ODSE.

Le Merechal d'Malsherbes pointed to Ahzads lack of military infrastructure.
Speaking to Massad le Merechal stated "Your Grace, His Majesty cannot train your army without a defacto presence in Ahzad, it proves impossible. Consider the difficulty of a few security concerns trying to help your army cope with a two front war, on several levels. Impossible!"

"Your Grace, if you allow the deployment of the 11th, then it will collaborate with (and in the process definitley train) the Ahzadi Army and attain victory, Aden will be yours before the years end."

If Massad refused, there would be no reprocussions, the Treaty of Amity and Commerce having already been signed. However, if the Wing of Mirages was desired, the troops came with them. That was His Most Christian Majesties terms, in for a penny, in for a pound.

Lunatic Retard Robots

05-03-2005, 05:56

Before the end of the battle, several dual and single-seat Jaguars, in Ahzadi AF markings, show up over the desert. If anyone got a good look at the aircraft, they could probably be identified as not of English or French manufacture, owing to different engines and different AAMs.

Overhead, a type probably totally alien to Arab pilots makes its second combat showing.

Over Nepal, the SAf. 6 proved a useful fighter, and over Al-Ahzad it would hopefully perform as well. Launching from Raysuz airport, they soon aquire missile locks with their Blackadder AAMs, although the engagement would be too close for the fast, long-range missiles in minutes. (If there are any hostile aircraft still airborne).

Al-Ahzad

06-03-2005, 17:10

The Dofar

The column rode onwards, the exhausted and battle hardened men of the 3rd division had massed on the battlefield as the Al-Waloud army had scattered. Now they marched north, with different objectives. They had been asked to give one last burst of effort for the homeland, and heads down, bodies numbed by hours of shaking in armored vehicles, they complied.

Advance Elements of 10th Armored Cavalry Regiment

The 20mm cannon chattered, sending horsemeat and bits of Al-Waloud everywhere. Hundreds of meteres ahead, a group of bedouin were galloping into the Dofhar. The BMP halted, along with the other AFV"s of it's platoon. The beouin continued to flee. Over the dunes, the insectile shape of a pair of Hind attack helicopters appeared.

The BMP's turned, and began to probe in another direction. Their work here was done.

___________________________________________________________

OOC: The bedouin army is melting away, and the exhausted and heavily damaged 10th ACR is doing it's best to chase them into the desert. It's best isn't a whole hell of a lot, so hunting down and destroying Al-Waloud fighters is left to the Special Airborne Battalion and (increasingly) the Arab Brigades of the Al-Suluf.

The Arab Brigades are 3 2,000 man units that are pseudo-informal semi-standing Al-Suluf fighters. Right now, they're being trained in things like marksmanship and use of radios and heavy weapons. Their camels are being supplanted by heavily modified jeeps and land rovers (a la the SAS in north africa) and the Arab Brigades are quickly becoming the only organized armed force that can operate in the depths of the Empty Quarter for any legnth of time. They really have one purpose- to supress the Al-Waloud and keep them from ever raising an army this large again. Granted with a huge degree of autonomy- the Al-Suluf get to make their own laws and dont pay taxes- they simply have to offer their young men to the Arab Brigade, to be trained and commanded by selected Ahzadi officers. This also has the effect of preventing Al-Suluf from staging raids of their own.

Raysuz

A blue-uniformed form lay sprawled in the middle of the street. The whole area seemed still, abandoned. A green flag with arabic script flew from the top of the domed mosque that dominated the district. Every now and then a shot would pop as the Ghazi radicals and Jandarma troops exchanged fire.

Quietly, groups of Jandarma filtered out of the buildings surrounding the square, shuffling out, crouch-running to line up near the main door of the mosque. Across the square, almost casually, a Jandarma carrying a LAW walked out, and fired it into the door.

Men on each team threw tear gas into the smouldering remains of the doors, and dashed inside. A half hour later, the last pocket of the Ghazi uprising in Raysuz was crushed. The islamists had engaged the Jandarma and the Raysuz Infantry Brigade in a series of street battles all through the night. Jandarma casualties were heavy.

That afternoon, the Jandarma Field Brigade mounted their armored cars and personell carriers. They rolled onto the coastal highway, heading north to the 3rd division, and Muscat.

Muscat

Imam Al-Abbas prayed. They were coming, the battle would be joined soon. He closed his eyes, listening to the chants of thouse around him. Faith filled him, as it filled 12,000 hearts with love of martyrdom. His fighters would lure the secular abomination into the streets and buildings, fight the secular horror with car-bombs and roadside explosives.

His men had made Muscat a fortress. They would make their stand here, and one way or another, their actions would secure them a place in paradise.

France

General Massad stepped out of the airliner and into a light drizzle. The French honor guard snapped to attention with all the pop he'd expected of your upstanding european kingdom.

His wife had been here for weeks before, and was proving to be the darling of the French media, making six appearances on TV5 alone, speaking fluent french to her interviewers, being demure and respectful in court and assertive and articulate in front of the cameras. It would seem like a hard sell- a secular republic that had killed it's monarch- in this religious, firmly royalist nation, but that seemed not to be the case.

The french had shown a fascination with that nation in the south of arabia with it's hawkish-looking leader and fierce warrior aura. For your average frenchman, Al-Ahzad was someplace far off and exotic, and better yet, an underdog that was putting it's own house in order. The french could relate to that, as the restoration had shown them that when things are going into the crapper, you need a firm hand to make sure it all works out.

For your average Ahzadi, france wasn't an evil monarchy. They were Europeans! It's what Europeans do! They drink wine, eat loaves of bread and pork, and they have kings. The French patronage of Al-Ahzad was seen with a good deal of pride. Al-Ahzad was getting respect. The Republican regime was being treated as an equal. Yeah, the French were there for the oil- nobody doubted that- and the strategic position, and yeah Al-Ahzad was the inferior partner in the relationship, but Elkazor asked about things and had terms that could be dealt with and changed. The alliance with France was something Ahzadis could look at and see as proof that they were an equal among great nations.

Walking down the staircase, Massad saluted the French honor guard, and strode down the red carpet. Passing the glittering uniforms of Elkazorian soldiers, his eyes fell to the other body of troops present. At attention in their flight suits, the first class of Ahzadi graduates from the french Royal Flight School stood in formation on the tarmac. Behind them was the first squadron of Mirage 2000's to be delivered, with fresh crescent insignia painted on them.

Massad smiled. These pilots and Mirages would be a start. He was here to cut a deal that would bring much, much more.

Spyr

06-03-2005, 17:25

With events back home (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=398608) falling into a downward spiral, Spyran units in Al-Ahzad become quite nervous about standing in the figurative shadow of Fort St. Louis.

The marines continue to assist the Ahzadi where needed, wile the three ships in the region stick close to their Hindustani counterparts and keep a close watch for approaching air and submarine units.

Lunatic Retard Robots

06-03-2005, 18:09

Vijay Uptal continues to circle the battlefield in the Mi-24, happy that the Ahzadi army won this notable engagement.

"Good job everyone," he says to the vehicle commanders, as his helicopter swoops down to look for wounded. In Raysuz itself, the SAa. 5az (Jaguar) attack jets are assembled by Hindustani and Ahzadi ground crews. Given events back in the Hindustani neck of the woods, the Hindustani crews do not seem terribly worried about the French being able to examine their major combat types close-up. In fact, French and Ahzadi pilots both will probably have a chance to sit in the cockpit of an SAf. 6.

For the present time, the government is happy to simply let things proceed as they have in Al-Ahzad, and not do anything provocative unless attacked. Of course, with a large chunk of the HAF's most capable aircraft on the ground and within easy reach of Ft. St. Louis, the pilots are a little worried.

But Hindustani aid to Al-Ahzad will not likely slow down. The next rounds of delivery contain artillery systems, many based on the BMP-2 so as to facilitate easy maintainance.

Al-Ahzad

06-03-2005, 18:24

The British Federation

06-03-2005, 18:24

Those events troubling the Spyrians are also causing concern in the UK, where rumblings ask for involvement against French interests in the Middle East. Fort St.Louis looks increasingly like a launch-pad for further imperialism in Asia. Public opinion seems to be leaning against continued tolleration by region governments for the French presence in Al Azhad. There has been official inaction, however, as London looks to the nearly-achieved peace of Lavrageria.

Elkazor

06-03-2005, 23:54

General Massad was given a heroes welcome in France. He was brought to Versailles itself where, in full panoply of a French High Noble, he was presented to His Most Christian Majesty.

Together they reviewed a company of the King ultra-elite Grade Suisse, in their blue, silver, and red uniforms. At the concusion of the review the Swiss Bodyguard slammed their mahogany butted silver bayoneted rifles to the ground in perfect unison, bellowing out "God Save King Louis! God Save General Massad!"

That night, at a Grand Ball, Louis confided that Massad would be sold whatever weapons he wished to buy, bar NONE. Louis made it quite clear that Frances nuclear, biological, and chemical arsenals would be available for purchase to the government of General Massad, among the more conventional armaments.

Louis was delighted with Massad, publicly adressing him as "Our dear friend." Massads wife entertained Queen Marie Therese, the Queen so happy she endowed the Generale with a diamond tiara. Louis was very grateful for Massads granting of Ft. St. Louis, and His Majesty was very eager to repay the General, granting Massad several wondeful mansions in Paris and Marseilles.

As the Ball was ending, Louis would inform General Massad that he felt it quite proper that Ahzad ought immediatley expel all Spyrians, in light of the Lyong Incident. Louis also thought the Brits should be sent packing, as they were always up to no good. His Majesty however had no problem with the LRR, finding them like mischevious teenagers, and he quite loved the Roycelandians.

And Louis would make sure that General Massad was well introduced to M. de Saint-Germain, Louis Minister of War, and the man who would coordinate the massive arms deals.

Lunatic Retard Robots

07-03-2005, 02:54

Kickass! Can I get some long-range 152mm guns from you as well? I've ordered all these M109 chassis to mount really good eastern bloc guns to, so some good 152mm guns would be nice.

Also, what do you have in the way of ATGMs and multiple rocket launchers?

Oh definately. The armories could certainly come up with an M-109 mounted M-36. With the 155mm upgrade, they now have a good 39 kilometers range with rocket-assisted projectiles. On the M109, they'd be a sound weapons system.

As for rockets, we've got tons of those. After all, the Hindustani army uses more MRLs than just about anywhere else. There's the basic BM-21 122mm, 20km range, and then there's the 214mm Pinaka with 40km range. The R.130 is the Hindustani equivalent of a towed howitzer, and is a good deal lighter than a 105mm gun. With 14km range, the R.130 is very useful for supporting armored elements. It can be mounted on BMPs and other APCs very easily. You can have it as a specialized vehicle, or simply as a launcher bolted to the top of a turret to give some extra firepower early in the battle.

And when it comes to ATGMs, we've got those too. There's the AT. 25, essentially a Milan knock-off but quite a lot cheaper to replace and more rugged, the AT. 32 which is closer to the TOW 2, and mabye, just for you, some AT. 43As.

Hmmm...I must now design a replacement. Curses! Oh well. Should I call the next one the AT. 46? I think that's a good name. Essentially the same missile except a bit faster and more accurate.

The British Federation

07-03-2005, 03:03

(OOC: This post, of course, fiddles with reality. In this case it is largely to protect the right to tell-me-to-sod-off of one Michael Hastings, arguably legitimate king of England. As with Elizabeth III, I've had to make up a new character to replace a real person, as I don't want to speak for real people (and strangers at that) in recreational role-play. Otherwise, it is based on reality, though the facts may be subject to different interpretation, as ever :)
It's a little off topic, but takes place approaching this region and involves parties near by. There are two thrusts to the post, and the first may later be carried on in a different thread, if it takes-off.)

An unremarkable agricultural enterprise in an uninteresting part of the United African Republic of Lusaka

There could be found here a fairly strapping Englishman of complexion harmed enough under the sun that his twenty-nine years looked like more. A young man arrived just the previous year in pursuit of an easier life of profit, drawn-in by the anti-Igomo coup and the regime to which he promised much. He has insisted that he was well connected in the best possible way, and that his being a white man shouldn't matter to an ambitious government trying to shake-off the trouble with Igomo's socialism. That worked well enough, and he came to run just about the only profitable farm in Tendyala's Lusaka. That was, until Mr.Derek flew back from London and gathered around him support for a counter-coup, one that threatened this Englishman's position with great immediacy.

"Blady Hell, get that boat loaded, the damn Vultures are coming!" He cried, muttering, "useless bloody kaffirs" under his breath and caring little for his innacuracy. He quickly realised yet another mistake as the farm hands upped and ran at the mention of the famous 17th (Vultures). The man cursed again, throwing his hat to the floor and pacing in the dirt for a moment before turning to the heavy crates in a hopless attempt to load them aboard his little yatch.

The sound of approaching diesel engines prompted him to abandon the rest of his cargo and cast-off alone into the Indian Ocean, chased from Lusaka by what turned-out to be a tractor belonged to an Igomo Social Progress Party-sponsored land reclamation initiative.

As he headed slowly and somewhat miserably north, having -on the spur of the moment- decided to make for Fort St.Louis, a good deal more than two thousand kilometres away and still, he thought, his best bet. As he struggled up the African coast, Graham thought about what might have been- what might be. And about what sort of a name Graham was for a man of his status, he'd best come up with an alternative.

He dreamed and drifted on.
Edward IV's father, Richard of York, was campaigining in France at the time of, "his son's" conception, which would probably make that particular child one of two things. Since it was not widely regarded that he was the second coming, it could perhaps be argued that he was what one might call a bastard. Not only was he a bastard, but one only half royal, and even then only by a mother whose legitimacy also lead back to a birth out of wedlock thanks to John Beaufort's premature arrival into the world before his mother Katherine could marry one John of Gaunt. Edward the IV's daughter -Elizabeth of York- was then not a legitimate carrier of the royal line when Henry VII took her in hopes of legitimising his shaky claim. From then on, the line leading to Elizabeth III was a farce, Graham mused (not for the first time). That, and Protestantism, probably explained the revolution and the stop-gap measure of Parliament, yes, that made sense.

But Edward IV wasn't the be-all and end-all. He had siblings, and their line, of course, did not lead to Elizabeth marrying Henry VII, a man whose claim was based on [the out-of-wedlock birth of] John Beaufort. An alternate line continued without this illegitimacy, though it included executions of its members as Catholic martyrs, and it carried through secret royal blood to the C21st.

I think that I shall call myself Richard. Richard, how does that sit with Plantagenet? Richard IV.

Of course, young Plantagenet would probably come to little more than the subject of extradition proceedings by the restored Lusakan government if HMS Diamond, even now heading through the Mediterranean for Abu Dhabi, ran accidentally into his little boat before it found Al Azhad and, hopefully, French sympathy.

Diamond, meanwhile, was a story in her own right. The Type 45 Daring Class destroyer was carrying a detachment of Royal Marines from 40 Commando along with a handful of further staff associated with an impending deal between the United Kingdom and the Trucial States, which would see the latter open bases and ports to British forces, who would establish a long-term presence in the area. The strategic security venture meant to improve British operational capacity and protect Trucial sovereignty went hand in hand with major exports by the British defence sector, likely to provide the Arab state with Desert Warrior family armoured vehicles and Challenger 2 battle tanks.

Roycelandia

07-03-2005, 06:22

Somewhere in the Deserts of Al-Ahzad

With the Bedouin Army melting into the deserts, Colonel Stewart Griffin, Emperor's East African Rifles decided that, for the time being, the Roycelandian Bedouin had fought valiantly, and the better part of valour was to know when to take your bat and ball and go home, so to speak.

Despite the ferocious fighting, there were still at least 2,600 Arab Guard left with Colonel Griffin, and airlifting them out wasn't a realistic proposition.

Whilst it may have been possible to get to the coast and be extracted by ship, it would still take at least two days and probably three or four ships- they'd surely get noticed.

After calling a meeting with the Bedouin, it was decided that they would make their way north to United Elias, and from there back to The Sudan, probably via ship.

An inventory of supplies revealed that they had plenty of food, water, and ammunition for the trip to UE.

The 25lb Anti-Tank guns and towing vehicles would be left with Wazzef, along with all the ammunition for them- a gift from the Imperial Government, as it were.

Similarly, over 1,000 SMLE Mk III .303 rifles and bayonets, as well as over 1,000,000 rounds of .303 ammunition were being given to Wazzef, along with the two remaining Meerkat Light Tanks and all the Land Rovers not required by the Roycelandian Bedouin in their trek northwards.

"Farewell, my friend. Allah has not smiled on us this time, but we will not forget or abandon you." Colonel Griffin shook Wazzef's hand.

"If you ever need any assistance from us, get in touch. You have the necessary radio and encryption equipment. Roycelandia has a long history with the Ahzadi Royal Family, and as an honourable nation we shall continue to maintain that history, even though an usurper is currently pretending he runs the country."

Colonel Griffin paused for a moment, staring off at the majestic sand dunes.

"There is... one other thing. Please do not be offended, for I know you are an honourable man, but my superiors have charged me with this task. His Imperial Majesty Emperor Royce I would like to formally offer you, your relatives, descendants, and heirs, as well as your men, formal sanctuary and residence anywhere within the Roycelandian Empire, if you wish to take His Majesty up on the offer."

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

Somewhere off the coast of Kenya, Roycelandian East Africa

The crew of the IRNS Boothroyd were particularly miffed at being ordered to withdraw from Raysuz Harbour. Sure, they'd evacuated refugees, shelled the city a bit, and had a good time, but that was weeks ago, and now they were simply sailing around the Indian Ocean watching for illegal fishing trawlers, people in distress, and generally projecting a Roycelandian Maritime Presence, something the large Roycelandia class Dreadnoughts were extremely good at.

Therefore, the small boat containing the Plantagenet would have provided a welcome diversion to an otherwise empty Radar Screen.

The Dreadnought sounded it's Fog Horn, and tried raising the small boat on the radio.

"This Is Captain W.E. Johns of the Imperial Roycelandian Naval Ship Boothroyd. Your vessel is now in Roycelandian Waters... please state your Vessel's Name, Port of Registration, and Destination. Over...."

United Elias

07-03-2005, 14:53

Muscat

The Elias intelligence agents surveyed the city one last time, they had done good work. On nearly every corner there was a barricade, at every major intersection a team of Mujahadeen with RPGs and RPKs, and along the streets, snipers awaited the secular army. In each disrict there was a headquarters, usually attached to a mosque, so that the minaret could call the citizens to arms as well as prayer when the moment came. Along the city's approaches there were minefields, strategically located to cause the most disruption to an advancing force, and even in the city centre, anti-tank and anti-personnel charges protected chokepoints, and inside some buildings, tanks of petrol and fertiliser could be remotely detonated, literally creating firestorms of city blocks to burn the infidels. The several thousand strong hardline core of the Ghazi, well armed and some having recieved advanced combat training, would not only stand their ground and inflict much death, but would inspire the common citizens to take up the rifle as well in defence of their homeland, and their faith.

The tiny team of foriegners then collected their equipment from the safehouse in the market district, and walked down through the quaint streets to the harbour, before boarding a Dhow. Their mission complete, they would never see the results of their weeks of effort first hand, and they did not want to. They were not proud of their achievements for they knew much suffering would result, but they felt a deeper pride, which made it easier to bear, the pride of serving their country.

Al-Ahzad

07-03-2005, 16:41

Lunatic Retard Robots

09-03-2005, 03:15

The British Federation

09-03-2005, 05:07

(LRR: Replied. Probably nothing for you to get excited about, though. As I say there, the future of the RN's general warfare capacity is unclear, and with continental stresses high, we can't get rid of the old frigates until replacements are in hand.
If anyone wants to throw-out any wise opinions on such things as the notion of adapting Type 45 hulls for use with general warfare frigates, or the nature of a trimaran future combat ship for the RN, please don't hold back :)

Roycelandia: I will write-up Plantagenet's next part soon, I haven't time to write on all the issues I want to, just now.)

There has been much buzz this week about major new arms export contracts in the UK, as contracts from the Trucial States call for, "a substantial quantity" of 'Desert Warrior' infantry fighting vehicles (Warrior with minor changes and a Quinntonian turret section) as well as for a smaller but not insignificant number of Challenger 2 battle tanks in what one may call a customised configuration. British sources are also to supply long-term spare parts to the Trucials in regard to their helicopter force, which is to be boosted by a handful of heavily-equipped late-mark Lynx aircraft.

Word of large Trucial contracts assuring many British jobs comes as HMS Diamond makes for Abu Dhabi, news confirming that the UK is to take on multiple-year basing rights on the Arabian Peninsula. The MoD has said that while deployments will be relatively small, they will include the creation of an RN patrol element akin to that operating in the South Atlantic, and may even see the stationing in the Trucial States of a small number of RAF assets.

London is said to be seeking expected confirmation from United Elias on the passage through Suez of the destroyer HMS Diamond and future assets associated with the defensive basing agreement in the Trucials.

Armandian Cheese

09-03-2005, 06:08

Hey! Thanks for saving me the trouble of writing up the Ghazi defenses! That's seriously exactly what I was going to do. Muscat is going to be Fallujah on a much, much larger scale.
OOC: Sorry to bother, but are you sure you want to make it like Fallujah? Because then you'll be having pretty high casualty ratios...30 to 1,200, was it?

Al-Ahzad

09-03-2005, 16:39

OOC: Sorry to bother, but are you sure you want to make it like Fallujah? Because then you'll be having pretty high casualty ratios...30 to 1,200, was it?

Well, I mean a Fallujah in the sense that a group of islamist (okay, not all of them were islamist insurgents in IRL Fallujah, but Imam Al-Abbas's forces fight using similar tactics) have fortified the hell out of a city, booby-trapped every street and corner, and are bascially going "here I am, come and get me"

The Ahzadi army (and jandarma, because the provisional Republic is treating this as an internal problem) is basically just going to have to go in there. It will be much, much worse than Fallujah. There are 12,000 insurgents in Muscat (a city of about 2 million in Al-Azhad) and they have a hard core veterans of insurgencies in east africa or united elias.

Muscat is the last area in serious open rebellion, and has several key industrial facililites that will be essential to Al-Ahzad, such as shipyards, steel mills, etc.

OOC: I can't be posting much about this for the next week or so, though. I have finals, and one bitch of an anthro paper to crank out. Don't worry though, after that comes break.

United Elias

09-03-2005, 18:00

OOC: I can't be posting much about this for the next week or so, though. I have finals, and one bitch of an anthro paper to crank out. Don't worry though, after that comes break.

Ok, well good luck with finals!

Spyr

09-03-2005, 18:31

Though few in number, the Spyran marines in Al-Ahzad offer to join with the Ahzadi military in operations against Muscat.

Where the marines are still stationed with Ahzadi units, the soldiers can be seen to scowl whenever France emerges in conversation.

Al-Ahzad

14-03-2005, 23:04

Raysuz Harbor

"Dude is this really a good idea?"

The whirring of the drill cut off the concerned musings of the engineering student as his companion bolted the umbrella stand to the deck.

"Presto!" Said the other student, removing his goggles. They gazed upon his handiwork- two mistral SAM's on a metal bar, now bolted to the deck in an improvised AA mount.

Work like it was going on all over the ancient gearing-class destroyer, and it's companion. The newly re-formed Ahzadi navy (and it's tiny new marine corps) was swarming over the world war two era ships, replacing vacum tubes in the 50's era radars they had recieved in a long-ago upgrade, cleaning the five inch guns, filling fuel tanks.

More importantly they were welding on armor and stacking sandbags everywhere, as well as bolting on 20 and 40mm autocannons and mounting heavy mortars on the deck. Nobody was told what it was for, but everybody knew: Muscat harbor.

The marines began to file onboard. This promised to be an unusual mission.

Southwest of Muscat

The motorized Jandarma troops had taken their first casualties. Roadside bombs had claimed the lives of 13 enlisted jandarma on the way up to their current position.

The 10th ACR was continuing it's half-hearted chase of the Al-Waloud forces to the north, but the Al-Suluf had taken up most of the slack there and were busy turning the struggle between republican and royalist into another backwoods tribal war.

Behind the Jandarma brigade (now expanded to 5,000 men) came the worn-down troops of the 3rd division, as well as the newly formed "redemption brigade" of former ASDPR republican guardsmen. Muscat promised to be an urban meatgrinder. The 21,000 troops the Republic had assembled would sufffer badly. The redemption brigade killed two birds with one stone: fought the Islamists, and provided one last chance for former communists to save the honor of their family.

______________________________________________________________

Third section, battalion 2, Jandarma Field Brigade

The paramilitary troopers nervously sat behind a small hill. They nervously checked their FAL's, anxious to get some payback for the hundreds of Jandarma killed in the suicide bombing of the Raysuz barracks. They wore plain olive drab with the blue shoulder boards of the Jandarma. The new parliment had termed the Muscat enclave to be an "internal security" issue, so the Jandarma was being sent it first (well,behind the redemption brigades, who were already in Muscat, probing the Jihadist defenses and soaking up IED's) there were of course political motivations, not wanting the army to get all the revolutionary glory, not wan-

the idle thoughts of the Jandarma were cut off as Jaguars screamed overhead to hit Jihadist strongpoints. The Hindustani pilots (all comissioned Ahzadi Air Force officers, but strangely all hailing from LRR...) were ground-attack experts, and their bombs found their marks. On the heels of the airstrikes, artillery began to fall on Muscat, and the Jandarma rose from camp and advanced.

Elkazor

14-03-2005, 23:14

((Top of the mornin tu ya, TBF. Interesting post on the Plantagenet, I must say. BTW, please check Lavrageria again, and OOCly let me know if the changes I have purposed would be satisfactory to to you, Im likewise waiting on Quinntonia before I can get back to posting.

Now then, whats this Plantagenet business? Why is he on his way to Ft. St. Louis, hrrmmm? You know, if Bonny Prince Charly didnt work once, it shant work again.

Oh, and Monsieur Massad, I will likewise post again soon when I get the green from Quinntonia and TBF on Lavragerian Thread. As to your TGs, I find them wholly acceptable.))

Strathdonia

14-03-2005, 23:41

Elkazor

14-03-2005, 23:45

((hah, strath, BPC = you must be British. If youd ask me, of course youll know what Id say: its not either. It would be a attempt by, when was the invasion anywho? Who was on the British Throne? Was it William and Mary or George I, I always get confused at the turn on the 18th. At any rate, it was a Bourbon funded attempt to cause confusion in Britain, I think only Bonny Prince Charly ever thought hed win. So, its neither, in modern terms id equate it to the Bay of Pigs.))

Lunatic Retard Robots

15-03-2005, 02:53

the idle thoughts of the Jandarma were cut off as Jaguars screamed overhead to hit Jihadist strongpoints. The Hindustani pilots (all comissioned Ahzadi Air Force officers, but strangely all hailing from LRR...) were ground-attack experts, and their bombs found their marks. On the heels of the airstrikes, artillery began to fall on Muscat, and the Jandarma rose from camp and advanced.

OCC: Hmm...not to nitpick, but Hindustani pilots, or HDF personnel in general, stay away from urban areas by habit. I guess, though, if called upon to bomb targets inside a city, they would do it with the utmost care. I guess it all works out in the end...

IC: The Jaguar pilots climb away from their targets, wary of AAA and shoulder-fired SAMs, and pray that they didn't kill any civilians. Hopefully, the Muscat operation would go smoothly.

Some Hindustani advisers knock around the idea of using some of the foreign troops, or Jandarma for that matter, with helicopters in order to assault Jihadist strong points from the top down. Of course, this could be very dangerous, but the advisers assume that, if such a plan were to be put into practice, the helicopter assault units would be right above advancing Jandarma on the ground level, and provide a useful way of clearing out resistance.

North Yaman

15-03-2005, 03:48

OOC:
Well BPC did face the problem that half of scotland hated him so he never actually had a powerbase capable of standing upto the royal army.
Now there's an interesting though: the Jacobean uprising:scottish rebelion or scottish civil war?

Civil War: Cultural split resulting in one part of the Highland Gaels - Campbells in Argyll and the Kintyre MacDonald clan supporting the Hanoverian King versus the clans of the former Lordship of the Isles, who were Jacobites. It wasn't a problem for the Jacobites to take Scotland, it was close to their Highland powerbase. It was the resulting invasion of England by the Prince Charles that ruined it for them...

Roycelandia

15-03-2005, 03:58

Meanwhile, the Arab Expeditionary Force led by Colonel Stewart Griffin has finally arrived back in The Sudan after successfully making their way into Elian territory, and from there back to Port Sudan via airlift.

They're beeing hailed as heroes, the Soldiers Who Fought Off An Entire Military. The fact they "lost" is being glossed over (much like how Australia maintains they didn't "Lose" the Vietnam war, as they packed up and went home just before the US did), but in the meantime, weapons and supplies are still being smuggled into Wazzef through various complicated means...

Al-Ahzad

17-03-2005, 19:09

OCC: Hmm...not to nitpick, but Hindustani pilots, or HDF personnel in general, stay away from urban areas by habit. I guess, though, if called upon to bomb targets inside a city, they would do it with the utmost care. I guess it all works out in the end...

Of course I know this! That's why I had Hindustani pilots make the strikes with PGM's. Muscat is an Ahzadi city, and one with crucial port facilities at that. We don't want to see it ripped apart.

In Re; the air cav, expect the Jandarma Special Intervention Squad to make an appearance here soon.

Also- to all european powers: I am trying to follow your silly dealings, but have really no idea of what the hell is going on in Europe- Elkazor, care to TG me with a rundown of the ukraine/belarus situation?

Al-Ahzad

17-03-2005, 20:08

Outside of Muscat: second day of operations

The "Redmption Brigade" had probed into the suburbs of the city and proved the worst-case fears of Ahzadi army command. With United Elias help the web of crude IED's and killzones had been professionally set up with land mines, guided missiles, and machinegun nests.

By the end of the first day some 220 Ahzadi soldiers are dead in probing attacks into the city. During the night, Islamist forces stage the first of what will be many infiltration attacks with light infantry. Filtering out of the city, a company-sized force moves into the 3rd division line outside the city, triggering an all-night firefight that rages until dawn.

The 3rd division and 10th Armored Cavalry Regiment are trying as hard as they can to maintain a blockade around the city (French, Hindustani, and Ahzadi jets circling overhead make this task somewhat easier) but Raysuz fears militants filtering out into the surrounding countryside. After the uprising and terrorist attacks in the capital, nobody really knows what is going on.

Muscat: Third day of operations

After their first probe into the city was repulsed, the Jandarma field brigade makes a dawn assault on the Muscat suburbs, supported by third division artillery and a tank battalion from the 10th ACR.

________________________________________________________

The Ghazi waited in the minaret, clutching his RPG as he worked his prayer beads. He could hear the creaking treads getting closer. When the whine of the diesel engine got loud enough, he rose. He could see the tan-painted bulbous form of the tank in the street below, followed by scurrying Jandarma infantry. He fired his RPG, sending the rocket flying downwards into the Republican tank. A huge, flat crash followed, and the tank ground to a halt.

Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! came the cry from the Ghazis in the mosque and the buildings surrounding the square. The small olive-drab clad figures of the Jandarma scattered to what little cover was on either side of the street as machineguns opened fire upon them.

The chain of remote-detonated artillery shells went off, making the whole side of the street explode. The Jandarma squad following the tank was nowhere to be seen when the dust cleared. Ghazis scurried forwards, pulling the corpses of the Republican tankers from their destroyed vehicle. This attack had been halted, and they were resisting the secular troops all over the city.

The celebratory dancing and cries of "god is great!" were silenced by the low thudding of helicopter blades.

______________________________________________________________

The French-built Puma helicopter flared out, killing velocity as the crew chiefs threw the sisal rope out of the troop doors. One after the other, with metronome pacing the troopers of the Jandarma SIS rapelled to the rooftops below. The cables dropped away as soon as the last man hit the ground, the helicopters pulling up and away seeking to avoid the storm of RPG's and MANPADS systems that were soon to come.

On the ground the SIS troopers ran full-tilt for cover, the teams moving with practiced competence. Rooftop doorwas were kicked in, grendades thrown, and soon the SIS commandoes were among the courtyards and alleys of Muscat, their FAMAS rifles firing in short, controlled bursts and scything down the brave (albiet not too competent) militants.

________________________________________________________

Muscat Harbor

The ancient destroyers groaned as the engines worked full-tilt for the first time in decades. The marines they carried made the last minute checks to their weaponry in their sandbagged on-deck positions. Moving through the imposing cliffs that marked the entrance to the port of muscat, the five-inch guns spoke for the first time as the city came into view. A hail of gunfire and rockets came from the shore, answered by sheets of fire from the 20mm AA guns and infantry support weapons bolted onto every spare square foot of deck space. The first destroyer took an RPG to the bridge, and ground up against the pierside with a sickening crunch, botching it's assigned manuver badly.

The gun turret crews didn't seem to care, and the three 5in guns and 3in automatic AA mounts began to fire point-blank into the Ghazi strongpoints as the company of marines carried onboard jumped onto dry land and the onboard crews used the sudden lack of motion to begin firing their heavy mortars.

The second destroyer cut it's engines and drifted into the shallow water near the shipyard. Climbing over cargo nets the Ahzadi marines waded ashore into the main slips of the Muscat shipyard and within a half hour had established a strong point inside a half-completed freighter. The Ghazis now were getting it from two sides, and had to deal with what were essentially floating artillery batteries in Muscat harbor.

The going was not easy, but the government troops were proving that they could give as good as they got.

Lunatic Retard Robots

19-03-2005, 02:22

OCC: Now that is a good idea! With the destroyers and all.

IC:

The Pondicherry and the Ahmadabad move towards Muscat, in case they are needed in the fighting.

Elkazor

19-03-2005, 02:34

((Its pretty stable now. Peace has been signed in Lavrageria, and there is going to be a massive military parade --posted in a day or two-- in Paris to celebrate...hopefully Massad will be in attendance, he was invited.))

Le Merechal de Gras du Mont looked out from the high rise heart of Ft. St. Louis, listening to status reports file in and the reports of scattered gunfire in Ahzad.

That day, at about 12:00 p.m., the "Bronze Spurs", ODSE Mirage Wing 5, touched down behind the massive concrete ramparts of the fortress. Now le Merechal awaited the arrival of the 11th French Guards Division, which had been reassigned to serve at Ft. St. Louis. He worked with a bevy of Ahzadi advisors, working to come up with some way to coach such a deployment smoothly. The fleet, a few troop ships escorted by a trio of Brest Class Frigates, was expected in about two weeks...they had to travel round the cape, as opposed to a quick trip through the Suez. After all, Massad had to remain in power, and His Most Christian Majesty Louis XX intended to honor his pledge 100%. Together, the French trained Ahzadi National Army and fully equipped French regulars should be able to pacify all groups of resistance in Ahzad, finally making the land fully available to the benefits of commerce.

Meanwhile, he called Monsieur Massad himself, inviting him to leave that night for a massive parade in Paris, celebrating victory in Lavrageria and the rise of reactionism. The ODSE had a special aircraft ready to ferry Louis' friend over to Versailles, to enjoy the bright rays of the sun.

Al-Ahzad

21-03-2005, 20:05

Hey there, leaving for a short break. Also leaving a departing note:

Suffering heavy casualties among the Jandarma (almost half of the brigade dead/wounded) Government forces have pushed a narrow sailient towards the grand mosque of Muscat. In the port, Ahzadi marines have a small and steadily increasing toehold and have recieved reinforcements via helicopter and merchant ship. Reports from the leaky cordon around Muscat tell of Ghazi militiamen breaking out of the city in small 100-200 man groups and attempting to disperse into the countryside.

Spyr

29-03-2005, 03:30

[Did Ahzadi republican forces have any need of Spyran marines/ships for further action? Or, perhaps more importantly, will you follow French reccomendatios and boot them out? ^_^]

Elkazor

29-03-2005, 22:44

((Indeed, Spyr, that is the question isnt it. Well, AA is still on vacation, so I think well just have to play it by ear. Call this a glorified bump.))

Lunatic Retard Robots

30-03-2005, 00:29

I guess so. Eh.

Al-Ahzad

30-03-2005, 17:46

Not on vacation anymore,and getting over this damn sickness!

/OOC

Muscat

The tanks rolled forwards at a walking pace, with nervous and tired jandarma crouched behind them. The past week had not been kind to the ragged 3rd division and the paramilitary security forces. Hundreds of Jandarma were dead upon the streets of muscat, but they had arrived.

The M60a3's creaked forwards over the final barricades, and the grand mosque of Muscat came into sight. Jandarma infantry rushed forwards as islamist machinegun nests were cleared by the tanks. Among the lead platoons, many carried the new upturned-crescent flag of the republic, hoping to be the first to re-claim the ancient ottoman mosque.

They were going to be dissapointed.

Inside the grand mosque of Muscat

....for a life of virture is rewarded by god in the hearafter, and we, my fighters, have led a good life in the eyes of god..

the crackling of small arms fire interrupted the Imam Al-Abbas's speech, popping rising to a peak and then suddenly falling off. He resumed speaking.

We have bled the deniers of god terribly in this city, and many of our men have slipped away into the desert to continue the fight. What happens to us now is written- we will enter the embrace of god.[/b]

A flat bang was followed by a crash as the main doors fell away and Jandarma rushed into the building. They saw the Islamist fighters with their guns at rest, calmly listening to the Imam, and a few among the Jandarma had a moment to realize that this was very, very bad.

One or two even began to make a run for it before the militants touched off the huge arms cache beneath the Mosque.

And so the uprising ended with a (very, very) large bang instead of a whimper, yet another several hundred Jandarma dead to terrorist bombs.

The day, however, was one of victory in Raysuz. The Imam Al-Abbas is dead, his men along with him (or scattered to the desert) and the last serious opposition to the Republic inside Al-Ahzad is gone.

General Massad returns to Raysuz on that day from paris, and makes a brief public statement:

[i]Our forces have met with victory on this day. I also wish to announce that I have made an agreement with the French king to purchase weapons systems and equipment to provide a solid, high-tech core to a purely defensive force for Al-Ahzad. An air defense network and costal protection navy up to the most modern standards shall soon be ours, and our nation will no longer have to fear foriegn domination or internal rebellion. Long live the republic!

OOC: yes, it's a very large arms deal. how did we pay for it? french generosity, the last of our hard currency, and low-interest loans. It may seem provocative, but it's really not, and I feel it's well within regional standards for a powerful defensive military. I mean, it's main components are a hundred-odd modern multirole fighters, a top-line SAM network, and a littoral navy. Hardly the best offensive weapons.

_________________________________________________________

The French Arms Deal

Armored Vehicles

Main Battle Tanks:

-450 Leclerc Main Battle Tanks (desert/tropical variant) for the 3 planned Armored Cavalry Regiments+ attrition reserve

-40 Leclerc Armored Recovery Vehicles

Armored Fighting Vehicles

-1,400 AMX 10 P Fighting Vehicles to equip the ACR's and divisional mechanized units. Command, guided missile/mortar carrier, and 90mm gun armed direct-fire support variants are included in the order.

-2,300 VAB six-wheeled personell carriers for mechanized/motorized infantry units.

Of course, that is all well and good, but Al-Ahzad can already vouch for itself in terms of basic land warfare equipment, and aside from a solid force of cutting-edge MBT's, the army needs little from outside. What we really need, is high-tech weaponry.

Air Defense Systems

Short-range SAM systems

-60 Croatale short-range SAM batteriesv (1 radar, 3 launchers each, fixed) operated by Air Force

-40 Croatale mobile short-range SAM batteries each (1 targeting vehicle, 3 launcher vehicles each, based on VAB chassis) operated by Army

-50 Roland 2 point-defense SAM systems (on AMX-30 chassis) operated by Army

-16 Mica Land-based version vertical launch systems

Long range SAM systems

60 Aster-30 SAMP/T batteries (20 to be road-mobile and semi-stationary, 40 to be integrated with national air defense system), additionally, a "large number"- said to be in the 2,000+ of these missiles have been ordered to provide a large war stockpile.

OOC:not exactly the best-known SAM system, I guess you could call the Aster series "le patriot"- it has a 100km+ range, advanced semi-active guidance, ability to intercept high-flying targets, and basic anti- ballistic missile ability. As good as the PAC-3 patriot? Eeeh, probably not, but it's *more* than able to be the very effective workhorse SAM of a modern military. The French call the program the PAAMS (principal anti-air missile system) and are producing naval versions of the ASTER-30 long range and ASTER 15 (medium range) missiles as well. No Aster-15s are on order as Improved HAWK missiles should be adequate medium range SAM.

French assistance with the construction of a national air defense grid will also be sought, with several major french construction firms contacted to assist Ahzadi engineers with deep-bunker construction. Thomson-CSF has also recieved orders to assist in the production of several large phased-array early warning radars to be constructed in the Yemeni and Omani mountains. Assistance with the establishment of a computerized air-battle control network will also be sought, as well as hardened bunkers for the Aster-30 SAM's.

Aircraft

Helicopters

-10 addtional Super Frelon large helicopters for special forces insertion (modified w/fuel tanks, terrain following radar, night vision compatibility)

-Assistance in conversion of 20 of the 40 Super frelons currently in service to naval configuration

-120 Puma transport/utility helicopters for army usage as utility helicopter

-Eurocopter Tiger- 40 UHT scout/light combat variants, 30 HAC tank-hunting variants for use in ACR's and mechanized/armored division aviation battalions

Fighter/ground attack aircraft

-120 Mirage 2000-9 multi-role fighter/strike aircraft for air force fighter wings

-24 Mirage 2000-D two-seater strike/penetration model for air force strike wings

-42 Super Entard naval strike aircraft for Naval Air Arm land-based units

-6 Mirage IV long-range strategic bomber (reconissance variant with cartography radar and high/low altitude side-scan cameras) for air force recon squadrons

Other aircraft

-14 Atlantique maratime patrol aircraft for naval air arm use

-40 Airbus A400M theatre transport for air force cargo/paratrooper use.

-9 Airbus A310 tanker variant to extend loiter time of Air Force interceptor squadrons

-6 Airbus A310 Airborne Early Warning aircraft fitted with long-range air surveillence and tracking radar for national air defense use (euro AWACS!)

-4 Airbus A320 ground-scanning radar (euro JSTARS, yay!) for air force (split air force/army crews)

-140 Crécerelle low-cost tactical recon UAV's

Aircraft Equipment

- 320 SNECMA M 53 P2 jet engines, as well as technical assistance and the rights to liscence copies, as well as all machine tools, equipment, and documentation required to do so

- 160 Air intercept radars from Thomson/CSF with look down/shoot down capability and multipile threat tracking/engagement ability

- 140 strike avionics packages to include: Thomson-CSF Antilope 5 terrain following radar, Icare digital map, integrated GPS, integrated countermeasures, laser designation pod with thermal camera (PDL-CT)

- 250+ PGM guidance pods

- 150 Thomson-CSF ECM pods

Naval Equipment

- 8 Agosta class diesel/electric submarines (6 from Elkazor, assistance with building 2 in Ahzadi shipyards)

- 6 D'Estienne D'Orves anti-submarine corvettes

- 4 Commandant Riviere class patrol corvettes

-2 Georges Leygues class destroyers

- 22 Fast attack missile craft in the 100-200 ton range, to be built to Ahzadi specifications and carrying the Exocet bloc 2 anti-ship missile as well as 40mm guns and capable of at least 45 knot speed.

- 10 mine warfare ships in the 400-600 ton range, first six to be built in Elkazor, last four in Ahzadi shipyards

-Technical assitance with construction of modern systems integration facilities at Sut, Raysuz, and Muscat.

- 600-800 modern antisub/antisurface "smart" encapsulated torpedo mines

Missiles/Missile technology (if not already covered in land-based SAM systems, etc)

-250 Exocet MM.38 anti-ship missiles for fitting to ship-based and land-based launchers

-175 Exocet AM.39 air-launched antiship missiles.

- 95 SM.39 sub-launched exocet antiship missiles

- rights to produce and assistance in the production of MM.38, AM.39, and SM.39 antiship missiles, as well as blueprints, documentation, and needed machine tools.

- 50 Exocet MM.40 bloc 2 advanced ship-to-ship missiles

- "many" (several thousand) Magic R.550 short range air-to air missiles

- "many" (belived to be high hundreds/low thousands) Mica medium-range air-to-air missiles

- 800 AS 37 Martel radar-homing missiles

- 1,200 AS-30L land-attack guided missiles

- 400 Apache standoff conventional cruise missiles

- 3,500 durandal anti-runway munitions

- 36 Fury V conventionally-armed IRBM's with 12 launcher vehicles.

__________________________________

there you have it, folks!

United Elias

30-03-2005, 19:21

OOC: I suggest you read through this:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=406395

Page 2 is specifically relevant to you.

BTW I think the arms deal is a little over the top, after all Ahzad is not likely to be that wealthy.

Strathdonia

30-03-2005, 19:44

OOC:
And i though my Astros II and II order from brazil, PAC-3 order from the US/germany and my Mica VL order from the UK* were bad...

*again working on the basis that both the UK and france have access to everything on the MBDA porduct list.
Oh and the ASTER series is as much british as french being intended for the type 45.

Elkazor

30-03-2005, 21:31

Versailles was elated over the Ahzadi arms deal.

His Most Christian Majesty Louis XX had authorized the deal with a flourish, a cannonade being sounded after the Royal Pen finished its work. Grand Prince Massad had affirmed his friendship to His Majesty, and now His Majesty affirmed his to that intrepid Generalissimo.

The Ahzadi Government had taken great pains to pay for this massive alotment of arms, which would grant General Massad a first tier military capacity, although with infinitley smaller numbers than the greater powers. Still Massad would now be firmly entrenched, and the Ahzadi economy would boom in a secure tableau. French financiers had been given greater freedoms in Ahzad, and were now working very closey with the Ahzadi national bank. Massad had again lowered the price of Ahzadi oil to France, and guaranteed a raise on the output.

Ft. St. Louis was now bustling, and the high rise heart of it, the skyscraper of the Royal Ahzad Company, engaged in volumous trade with Massads Government. Its one thousand Royal Marine Garrison patrolled the massive walled facility, while hundreds of thousands of Ahzadi nationals staffed the Refinery, and worked at the docks. Pipelines ran in from all corners of the land, and French tankers dutifully hauled the balck gold back to His Majesties realms.

Even so, French loans to Ahzad were very generous, and with the arms deal aristocratic investors now felt safe that they could see returns on their substanial investments. Ahzad was seen as an ally of the finest caliber, and Louis XX now gave Massad the key to his soverignty. Massad had cut a splendid figure in Paris, and in Versailles his role as Grand Prince had shown him both a polished courtier, and dashing military figure.

In Ft. St. Louis, as the massive arms deal went underway and crates were offloaded military transports; Le Merechal de Gras du Mont, Governer of Ft. St. Louis and Admiral of the Royal Navy Indian Sea Fleet , made a private phone call to the jubilant Palace of Grand Prince Massad.

He stated that since Ahzad and France were now engaged in such close military leauge, His Majesty only thought it proper that General Massad boot out all Spyrian and other 'subversive' nationals hitherto allowed to remain at Massads leisure. It would be prudent in the interests of security, and Louis XX considered it a personal favor.

Armandian Cheese

30-03-2005, 21:42

OOC: Elkazor, can you lobby Royce to give the green light for the Nigerian operation?

Lunatic Retard Robots

31-03-2005, 00:57

Hindustan is visibly alarmed at the solidifying of Al-Ahzad's relationship with France, although at this stage there really isn't anything that they can do about it. Where Louis could amaze Massad with a solid block of Leclercs rolling down a Paris avenue, the popular congress could, with luck, assemble a rabble of more or less presentable T-72s, T-55s, and mabye a few of the relatively advanced BT. 2s.

However, Hindustani aid continues to flow into Al-Ahzad without obligation. Jaguar Azs continue to land at Raysuz airport, painted in the Republican airforce's livery, and the heavily modified BMP-2 variants distributed to numerous friendly countries keep coming, with many equipped with rocket artillery systems and ATGW launchers. In response to the call for high-tech weaponry, the Ahzadis even recieve numerous AT. 43A and B systems, excellent ATGWs that are comparable to the best systems on the world market. This choice has led to the crash development of a new ATGW, to be designated AT. 46, so as to make sure that the French aren't presented with examples of Hindustan's most current tank killers. The AT. 46 will likely be a shorter-range missile with a reach of around 6km, but will feature numerous improvements in speed and jamming resistance.

With victory in Muscat, the Hindustani personnel in the country celebrate along with the Ahzadis. Jaguars and SAf. 6s participate in the pursuit of fleeing militants, and Hindustani advisors coordinate raids to capture escaped concentrations.

But in light of the growing Ahzadi relationship with France, Hindustani diplomats make it known to the Republican government that they will withdraw completely from the country should Massad request it, and in short order.

Elkazor

31-03-2005, 02:12

Lunatic Retard Robots

31-03-2005, 02:56

((LRR, just an FYI, Louis never asked for you to go. LRR and France have a good relationship, as far as they ever could. Just Spyr and the Lyongese folks is all, they are in the active business of destabilizing governments. LRR, although revolutionary by nature, seems to be pretty good about not interfering in other peoples business. And Ahzad, just another FYI, is not going to become a French colony, and I have no ability to influence what a French ally chooses to do, I can simply ask.))

Well, we are pretty chummy with the Lyongians. The only thing standing between us and that damned mafia, wot!

While I would describe Hindustan as more Benthamian or Millist than Marxist, the government more or less sympathises with Lyong, considering that they had to rely on a more militant brand of progressivism in order to gain their present way of life and protect it, whereas Hindustan simply waited around until enough salt marches convinced the Brits to leave. And its not like we actually share a good border with China either. Sino would at least have to deal with some major logistics problems in order to conduct operations in India.

While I don't think my nation approves of what the Lyong bloc says at times, they believe that they have the right idea.

But for fear of appearing to have a geostrategic agenda (even though I don't quite know what geostrategic means, or even if its a real word), Hindustan doesn't want to boss around Al-Ahzad or even oblige them to do anything. (Although you could expect quite a fuss if Massad ever did anything like persecute minorities or such other unpleasantries that the government tends to take a strong stand against.)

Al-Ahzad

31-03-2005, 06:16

overr the top, after all Ahzad is not likely to be that wealthy.

OOC: You are totally right. Al-Azhad isn't that wealthy. Is Israel? Was Egypt when it signed the arms deal with russia?

Foreign benefactors are nice

EDIT: So is racking up huge charges on the national credit card and worrying about paying it later. Don't worry- I will factor in the huge cost of this arms sale into future RP's.

Armandian Cheese

31-03-2005, 06:25

OOC: Considering that this thread is full of those in the Middle Eastern region of AMW...would anyone be interested in RPing Kazakhstani Islamic rebels?

United Elias

31-03-2005, 11:29

OOC: You are totally right. Al-Azhad isn't that wealthy. Is Israel? Was Egypt when it signed the arms deal with russia?

Foreign benefactors are nice

EDIT: So is racking up huge charges on the national credit card and worrying about paying it later. Don't worry- I will factor in the huge cost of this arms sale into future RP's.

Ok, but yes Israel is wealthy, with millions of jews from all over the world donating money....however, as long as you factor in later, I guess its fine...

Lunatic Retard Robots

01-04-2005, 02:39

OOC: Considering that this thread is full of those in the Middle Eastern region of AMW...would anyone be interested in RPing Kazakhstani Islamic rebels?

OCC: I might be up for it, but do you consider Kazakhstan part of Russia? It isn't in RL, so I don't know what you'd be up to...but if it means fighting the mafia then I'm in for sure.

Beth Gellert

01-04-2005, 03:06

OOC: Russia's annexing Kazakhstan. At the moment, all that's stopping them is a potentially large portion of the none-ethnic-Russian population, and about a hundred GSIC commandos sent to the cosmodrome (where we're stealing the Russian space programme, whether or not we admit it :) ). Sadly, BG is unlikely to support the resistance in any serious way, as the resistance is likely to be build on racial and/or religious lines, and we don't give a damn for either.

Lunatic Retard Robots

01-04-2005, 03:16

Ou est le link?

Perhaps we might shoot up some paras to have a look around, advisory role mostly. But I'd be happy to RP resistance.

Beth Gellert

01-04-2005, 03:28

( http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=408828 I think)

Al-Ahzad

01-04-2005, 17:27

Al-Ahzad Developments:

With the re-integration of the last rogue areas, Al-Ahzad is now a unified country for the first time in decades. The Republican government has been recognized by United Elias, and it seems as if the young Republic has made it. Al-Ahzad has many advantages: A battle-hardened, well led military, the majority of the populace energized by and supportive of the current regime, a large educated segment of the population, a physical infastructure suprisingly intact despite years of political strife, and a number of (rather small) oil deposits that are currently yielding decent revenues.

There are, of course, downsides: the industrial base is small to begin with and obsolete where it isn't blown up. substantial political disunity still exists, the urban-rural cultural and educational divide is huge, large parts of Al-Ahzad are torn by decades of war, and years of mismanagement of Al-Ahzad's most fertile lands by the ASDPR have resulted in horribly poor crops year after year. Rural populations are largely illiterate, urban populations lacking basic services. Unemployment is rampant, and the Government has an almost total lack of hard currency.

The Economic Situation

Crappy. Crappy crappy crappy. But it could get better, and quickly, if a few key challenges are met. The greatest task facing the development ministry is probably the re-integration of the ASDPR into the Ahzadi economy. Years of corrupt, inefficient and unrealistic rigid economic planning have left the ASDPR incredibly under-developed. The huge state-run monopolies and collective farms were wasteful even by soviet standards.

However, the ASDPR has a pretty formidible industrial base despite all that. As part of it's socialist showcase economy, several factories were shipped in from Moscow. While some of them (The Aden people's electronics combine- I'm looking at you) will simply be shut down, others have a promising future. Several factories- almost all of them defense related are simply siezed by the government to be integrated into the Ahzadi State Armories industrial system. Others- like the Sanaa tractor works or the National Automotive Factory- are set to be privatized in a very closely-watched and fair process. Al-Ahzad wants the free market to take hold in the country, but doesn't want privatization of state industries to turn into a free-for-all of nepotism and corruption.

The one exception to this area is collective farms. The huge, inefficient blocks are broken up into mid-sized plots and offered for sale to groups of 20 or more families for pennies on the dinar, along with low interest loans and financing on modern agricultural equipment also being sold off from the collective farms. The Republican government is seeking to create mid-sized, farmer-own co-operative farms to compete with each other using modern agricutural equipment. Rural Yemen backed the republic, and was punished for that by the ASDPR- the government wants to nod it's head to their suffering under gas attack, and also prove to the world (and Al-Ahzad) that the new regime is not just about cutthroat capitalism.

The state of Industry is looking a bit shakier. The Muscat shipyards were spared the worst of the fighting thanks to quick action by Ahzadi marines, but they've been lying in neglect for some time now. The equipment is aged, but still there, and as part of the massive defense deal with Elkazor, it should be getting an overhaul sometime soon. Short term economic goals are to further increase oil production and exploration (Al-Ahzad is generating pretty good output as is, but more is better and the government wants a flood of money for two-three years instead of a trickle for a decade). Medium-term economic goals are to get heavy industry moving again. The Raysuz steelworks have been producing on some level for a while now, but government efforts to employ the populace will soon result in more and more workers being avaliable.

The Ahzadi Dinar has recently been pegged to the French Franc, hopefully ending the almost totally random fluctuations the Dinar had undergone. It's still by no means a hard currency, and this is presenting a big problem for Ahzadi companies. Foriegn debt is simply massive, but this is a longer-term problem.

General Massad's secret weapon

The secret economic weapon of the Republican regime is:

the Ahzadi diaspora!

As the Sultan became more and more cruel, fundamentalist, and isolationist, not suprisingly many Ahzadis with the means decided to get the hell out of dodge. They fled to europe or hindustan, or the USQ and gained a reputation much like IRL Indians- IT workers, professors, professionals, things like that.

Now standing at some 500,000 the Ahzadi diaspora has established something of a niche for itself in the global IT industry. They make computer chips in Texas, set up servers in Calcutta, stuff like that.

Now the situation at home is improving, and now the government is starting a major propaganda and financial effort to lure these skilled workers back home, appealing to a number of factors:

1) Patriotism. Al-Ahzad is getting back on it's feet and needs your help

2) Status. Sure, you're a manager in Toulon. You're a supervisor on the CPU assmebly line in Texas. But you could be a CEO in Al-Ahzad. You wouldn't be an immigrant employed at below your level of training.

3) Money. We'll give you grants and loans to set up your own damn company. Plus, lets face it- the government doesn't want sweatshops but wages in Al-Ahzad are so, so, so low. You can sell your video cards to quinntonian kids at the same price, but a decent living wage in Al-Ahzad is like four bucks an hour. It's how taiwan took off! It's how japan took off!

The ace-in-the-hole economic scheme of the Republican regime is to "digitize" Al-Ahzad's economy. Bring IT industry to the country. Set up factories and assembly lines- factories for computers are a hell of a lot easier to build than steel mills. Al-Ahzad is going to do everything it can to build cheap consumer electronics by luring the Ahzadi diaspora home and reversing brain drain.

Education

Another aspect of the attempt to get the Ahzadi Diaspora to come back is education. Assistant professors abroad are offered Tenure in the Ahzadi school system. Ethnic Ahzadi educators- and there are a lot abroad, esp. in the engineering fields (think about most places you find middle eastern or south asian acedemics abroad- this is exactly the same sort of thing the Ahzadi diaspora elite have done)- are being lured back to Al-Ahzad as well. The university system- damn good considering the attempts by the Sultan to turn it into a huge madrassa- can be saved, and is on the way to doing that. Urban Ahzadis are still rather well-educated.

Rural Al-Ahzad is just fucking dismal. Literacy is low, schools are nonexistant. Steps are being taken to remedy this. More than one platoon leader in the 4th ID has made himself head of an ad-hoc schoolhouse in the former ASDPR, and the Army is being given (implicitly) a huge role in education. As conscription reaches out to the villages, a young farmer's son time in the army will be consumed as much by learning to read and write as learning to fire and clean his FAL.

Young city girls are urged to "do their part" by going to the countryside to teach basic grade-school type education. This, of course, creates a huge deal of culture shock. Young women with their heads un-covered teaching people to read and write is something not many Ahzadis have seen before. The challenges faced in bringing basic education to most of Al-Ahzad is huge, but a solid core of a functioning higher system is still there.

OOC: Well there you have it. All I really have the energy to write about right now. I just figured it was time to expand on the situation in Al-Ahzad. Politically things are chugging right along- the constitution has been unveiled, setting up a parlimentary democracy with a very strong executive, and elections have been called for next month, so Al-Ahzad is well on it's way to slowly dragging itself up from the edge of third world status.

NationStates Jolt Archive

High noon in Al-Ahzad (modern world RP)