NationStates Jolt Archive

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This is *not* a dogpile war, it is an attempt to explore the trials and tribulations (and headaches) in fighting a “police action” while trying to be politically correct and avoiding any “closer looks” at the situation.

Please use the “subscribe” feature if you want to watch, TG me if you want to play.

Tabu Colonel Rashne Khortdad considered the map display hovering over his desk. There was nothing surprising about it – many times he had considered the map of Antarctica and the nations upon it. Lately, he had been considering it all the more often, but with recovery, not conquest, on his mind.

Operation: Polar Thunder had begun as a method of controlling and reversing the spread of polar bears across Antarctica. As the spread left controllability, the operational goals had changed from “Control the spread of polar bears” to “Defend from polar bear incursion… and loot the victims”.

So far, it had worked; far beyond the original, modest plans for some gains, Vastiva had… acquired the full material wealth of not one, but three nations. Everything not nailed down had been taken – what was nailed down, the nails were removed. What wasn’t needed in Vastiva, was being sold via the Internet as “surplus”. The clothing sales alone threatened to eclipse VALOREC’s yearly income from pushing crude oil onto the international market.

The current joke: “How do you commit the ultimate bank job? Take the whole bank”.

Rashne had expected an outcry from the region, to be shut down in a few months. Instead, he had been given regional honors for his work in “Restoring the Natural Beauty of Antarctica”.

“Restoring the Natural Beauty of Antarctica” was proving to be very, very profitable.

And, grinned Rashne, a definite step towards the Generalship.

He tapped one key; a list appeared and hovered before him.

The Democratic Republic of Relorin
The Queendom of Intellectuala
The Empire of Taun Taun
The Protectorate of BlueIceia
The Queendom of Crystal Dorm
The Grand Duchy of Polardia
The Traditional Land of Japanese Artica
The Dictatorship of Thornapplebison
The Republic of Orchomenos
The People's Republic of Duck Moss
The Incorporated States of Umbrella-Inc
The Holy Republic of Episcopalia
The Borderlands of Mist and Fog

Another tap, and areas on the map colored in. Relorin, Intellectuala, and Taun Taun all filled in with a deep blue. The remainder colored green.

“Three down, ten to go. Maybe nine, have to consider how Antarctica feels about the Borderlands.

In the end, it came down to a choice between two, and a coin toss. The small silver chubat came up with the flame and triangle showing.

Colonel Khortdad’s trac-balls spun; the 3D pointer came to rest on the remnants of The Holy Republic of Episcopalia.

With a click, its color changed to blood.

The 1206th Combat Engineer Division had undergone a renaissance over the last year.

Originally a survivor of Vastiva’s part in Operation: Brimstone, it had been returned to Vastiva with honors, refitted and rearmed just in time for The Queendom of Intellectuala to fall. Orders had come down from no lesser personage then the General herself – Stop the Bears. Preserve Vastiva!

The 1206th had been chosen to answer the call.

In the year following, its membership had become adept polar bear hunters; armed with a wide variety of UAVs and UAHs and no small amount of armor, the 1206th was now considered a crack spearhead in the war against the bears – and for the betterment of Vastiva’s bank accounts.

Sirdar Cerus van der Valken continued to sip hot coffee from his silvered travel mug while the rest of his officers finished fetching fresh fruit, bagels, and bignets before milling to their seats. His thumb caressed the thirty-eight parallel scratches in the side of his mug until the last one sat.

He stood.

“Gentlemen. Our objective this time is the Holy Republic of Episcopalia.”

~holodisplays sprang to life before each officer~

“As you can see from these OVERSIGHT projections, the population of six hundred million has been decimated; it has been nearly three months since our scouts examined the area. Because of their theocratic beliefs, there were no zoos or the like to draw our early attention.

“We do not believe there are many survivors; any who exist are probably barricaded in the many churches throughout the area.”

“How many churches?” Risaldar Dalmas’ voice carried through the stillness.

“We estimate there to be one church for every hundred citizens.”

“Ahh, so ka,” answered Dalmas. “That explains all the white buildings.”

“If I may continue?” van der Valken’s voice glassed the room to silence. “The bears have mostly finished with this area, though they are still reasonably active in most of the rest of the remains of the nation. We will start with the city of Eerdmans: it has an unexploited natural port, several tracts flat enough for ersatz airways to be constructed, and – most importantly – it is somewhat isolated by these hilly and mountainous areas on one, meaning it can be controlled for our purposes. It is also only a short distance from the Trans-Antarctic Highway, the distance between either we control or is part of no-mans land.

“UAVs and UAHs will be used for early scouting: drones will clear out any pockets and a defensive perimeter will be gained before we move in. Once the bears have been disrupted, we should be able to commence normal operations.”

“Aren’t we close to several other nations?” Several nodded at Risaldar Bristol’s words.

Van der Valken shrugged. “We have been before, we will be again. We do this with the… blessings of the region, to ‘restore the natural beauty of Antarctica’.”

A mild chuckle ran through the room.

“First line troops are going to clear buildings first in this outlying area, then towards the middle as the areas are denuded of ursines. Engineers will first repair and recharge the road, connecting it to Vastiva’s power grid for de-icing. Then we start the… “beautification” process.”

Another chuckle as the display changed and the briefing continued.

Daffidar Khoraspir picked a fresh drum off the APC and slotted it into his CAWS. ”That makes four today. At this rate, we’ll have to resupply early.”

The rest of his platoon had done well enough – no deaths, one injury, fifteen bears accounted for with another ten at large but tagged for the UAHs.

A good day.

“Daffidar.” Corporal Kwazir was at his side, as always, his .50 RWR-6 at the ready. “We have the drones on this street and the next, but the gas truck is going to be late.”
“Damn. Have the openings mined and trapped, then use the gas charges. It might not hold them, but it will keep them out of here for right now.”
“Yes, sir. The engineers say the road will be done in an hour, charged in four.”
“Too long. We’re going to need reloads sooner then back. Pick two and send them back as bike runners. When second squad gets done with their area, have them start up the hexamine stoves. We’ll group here until the reloads arrive.”
“Yes, sir.” The Corporal flung off a stiff-armed salute before keying the orders into his M-TCOD.

Daffidar Khoraspir locked the drum in place – the street was white, cold, empty, even to the UV HUD display on his visor. Not for a minute did he believe the bears weren’t out there, somewhere.

He counted his blessings that they weren’t here, now.


OOC: Notes
VALOREC: Vastiva’s petroleum company, producing over 80 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Episcopalia: synodals or other payments by the clergy to the bishop

"Deconstruction" began once the forward teams had cleared out a two block long, three block wide area. This gave the Engineers a block worth of "clear area", protected by autodrones, in which to work.

Everyone still carried weapons. Sentries were still posted.

Two T-105A tanks "stood guard", with four SV-90 IFVs playing roving patrol and four CV-90P APCs set as mobile "warmhouses". The six Polar Bears were all armed with 40mm miniguns at the least; one mounted a rocket pod, "just in case".

Tomorrow, the Engineers would arrive, and begin taking out, apart, and down the various habitations. A flood of trucks would head to and from Vastiva, carrying the wealth of a nation.

All in order to "Restore the Beauty of Antarctica".

The Ancient Vampire was sitting at his desk contimplated whether to mobilize the troops and take advantage of the recently defunct countries in the area.
After mulling it over for several minutes he decided that the potential benefits out weighed the cost.
so he spread out his maps of the area, he had purchased the modern imaging systems and knew how to use them, perhaps he was just old fashioned as several of his Generals often stated to him but what could they really say he was the king.
After studying his maps for a while he selected what he saw a the Target of oppertunity "The Holy Republic of Episcopalia.
Lestat then turned to his generals/ advisors who actually thought they had a say in what went on in his country, that always made him smile a little, if they would stop and think about it for a minute they would realize the the name of the country started with the word Dictatorship, "oh well perhaps he would buy them each a dictionary" he thought.
"Mobilize my military" Lestat bellowed.
"what is our target my lord" asked one of the higher ranking of his generals.
"the holy republic of episcopalia. General Lemner you will lead operation."
"yes lord"
As the General turned and left the office he wonderd what his king was up to this time but did was as he was told and issued the orders to prepare for an operation thats purpose was to occupy and plunder a country that had fallen into a state of anarchy.
The orders had come down two days earlier and the military was on the move 3 divisions of infantry 1 heavy armored consitisting of 12 heavy battle Tanks, 1 chopper division consisting of 8 Longbow Apaches and 8-10 support choppers. Several miles behind was the support teams transporting the nesisary supplies escorted by a light armored division.
General Lemner thought this was probably excessive for a country that no longer had a military to speak of but, orders were orders.
The convoy crossed the border as the general still wondered why his lord had ordered this.

*bump* because I'm still writing up the reply.