NationStates Jolt Archive

The Solux Empire

Day 1

Emerging onto the balcony that overlooked the Solux Grad Luan (Solux Imperial City), the Solux Emperor Shen Volsky towered over the advisors and guards surrounding him. Below him was a cheering crowd of citizens, flanking either side the cities main street. In the street was a long parade of military might. The parade consisted of a platoon of sixty soldiers, followed by four various mechanized units, ranging from tanks, to open-topped HMMWVs carrying high ranked officials, to FAADV units brisling with missiles. The Emperor, dressed in the traditional robes, mask, and head dress, began speaking, his powerful voice being transmitted over loud speakers to the crowd below.

“Beloved citizens of our great empire, today marks a historic moment. The Solux Empire shall spread its ideals to the poor, uneducated masses outside its borders. And with this, the Solux Empire shall become one of the greatest powers in the world.”

As the emperor spoke, a squadron of the empire’s new F-35b’s flew over the parade, leaving a sonic boom in their wake. The gathered populace gave a great cheer, either for the speech, the fighters, or both. The Emperor’s speech then changed direction, now addressing the marching soldiers.

“Loyal soldiers of the Solux Empire, today you set out to conquer the unclaimed lands, to spread our ideals far and wide. We wish for your safe and quick return. You all have my blessings.”

The Emperor then retreated from the balcony amid more cheers from below. The many soldiers in the street were merely for show, on the outskirts of the empire’s territory, Comanche helicopters were scouting for any of the native populous while troops set out with tanks to “persuade” these people to join the empire.

Day 3

Rolling through the dense forest, a M1A2 Abram tank emerged into a clearing. From behind it came two M9 Armored Combat Earthmovers, followed by two M113A3 APCs and a single armored HMMWV. Across the clearing rose the heavy stone walls of a small native town. From the HMMWV emerged an Imperial general of Chinese decent in a heavily starched uniform.

Twenty-two troops emerged from the APCs, spreading out to guard the vehicles, while another pair of soldiers emerged from the HMMWV, flanking the general as he approached the town’s entrance. As he approached, a middle-aged man Chinese man came from inside the village. The general gestured to the man, and began speaking in Chinese. “<I greet you in the name of the Solux Empire. Our kind Emperor has given me permission to give you and your people the chance to join the Solux Empire.>”

The middle-aged man looked furiously at the general. “<You dare insult our pride? We shall never give up our beliefs! Now leave.>” The man then stormed into the town, and its heavy wooden gates shut behind him. From above the stone walls, bowmen appeared on the edges.

The general turned to the soldier to his right and began speaking in traditional Luan (Imperial). “The locals don’t ever seem to understand what they’re up against. We’ll make an example of this town. Tell the Abram to fire a single HE shell at the base of the wall between the gate and archers. Tell the soldiers to be ready to take cover should they resist.”

The soldier saluted the general, and ran back to the Abram to start issuing orders. The general and remaining soldier returned to the HMMWV to wait out the coming events. The soldiers who had been spread out seemed to be withdrawing to the APCs, but as soon as the last soldier was behind sufficient cover, the Abram opened fire, the explosion leaving a huge gap in the wall. The general picked up a handheld radio microphone, and began issuing orders to the troops. The M9s moved to the hole, pushing the rubble away.

Arrows began bouncing off the hull of the M9s to no effect. When the path was clear, the soldiers who’d previously been hidden ran through the hole, and with military breed precision, began eliminating the bowmen. The HMMWV drove into the hole when the shooting had died down, and the general once again exited the vehicle. Two soldiers escorted the now injured middle-aged man. His face was twisted in pain and fear, and his voice was shaky as he spoke. “<You have won; please just stop massacring my people.>”

The general nodded, and turned to the other soldier who’d stayed with him. “Call in the trucks; we’ll begin transporting these people to the city immediately.” The general then turned back to the man. “<We are bringing in trucks to take your people to our cities. They will receive medical attention as well as beginning to integrate your people into the Solux Empire peacefully. As long as no one resist, no more injuries will occur.>”

Turning, the general walked back to the HMMWV. There were still two more towns that had been located by the Comanche helicopters he had to visit today. He rather hoped they townspeople were more understanding than this one.

Day 10

The Army Rukov (Rukov being Luan for "head general" or leader), Sun Cao, was looking at the map of the surrounding landscape on the metal table in front of him. The troops under his command had seen little resistance so far, but when they had reached what would be their eighth village on this side of the Solux Empire, they’d run into resistance. The villagers had acquired many weapons including: AK-47s, type-24 heavy machine guns, RPG-7 anti tank rocket launchers, and 81mm mortars. There was no telling what else they had, or where they’d attained them from. He had already lost a Comanche and half a dozen soldiers, the only casualties in the invasion so far. Sun Cao knew he had to take that village out, or lose his position.

Sun Cao decided that his army might not be able to handle this problem without further lose, so after talking with the commanders under him, Sun Cao contacted the Air Force Rukov, Edesii Kupetsky. The Air Force was still very young, but his planes could fly higher and faster than Sun Cao’s own helicopters, and any lose would no longer be his problem. Walking over to the temporary HQ’s communications center, Sun Cao had the communications officer contact Edesii’s office.

“What can I do for you Rukov Sun?” Edesii’s said over the radio.

“We’ve encountered heavier resistance than expect Rukov Kupetsky; we need some of your planes to assist in the capture of the village.”

“I see. My people have been rather anxious to see action. I suppose I can spare some resources for the glory of out Emperor. First I will have half a squadron of our F-35b’s to fly over the village to scan the threat; I will contact you after I have decided on a course of action.”

“The Emperor praise you, Rukov.”

“The Emperor praise you.”

The radio off, Sun Cao returned to the map and plotted the course from the nearest air base. Looking at the map scale and figuring in an F-35b’s average speed, he figured about three hours before Edesii would respond. Until then, he would just have to wait.

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Edesii Kupetsky read the report from his pilots. It was hard to believe that these villagers had amassed so many weapons from no where. The report contained visual images the pilots had recorded, and the stockpiles of weapons were indeed impressive. The men seemed gathered around, waiting for an attack to arrive, while the few women seemed to be leaving the village from behind. About ten miles away from the village, his pilots had seen an odd clearing, the report said. The pictures from the pass over the clearing showed a field of women, elderly, and children, along with a number of their belongings and animals.

Edesii was pleased with this. The men were staying behind to defend the village, while the rest had fled to safety. No one would fault the generals for destroying the armed men if the woman were allowed to escape. Walking from his office, to the air base’s command center, he had the comm. officer contact Sun Cao.

“General Sun, I believe I have a solution to our dilemma. I am sending a single B-1 bomber to the village. In the mean time send one of your men to offer them an ultimatum, either they surrender or we level their village and them with it. If they still refuse, my bomber will follow through.”

“Murder women and children? You know the public would never approve.”

“You are correct as always Rukov Sun. However, if you send some troops to coordinate wolf 43, you’ll find the entirety of the village’s women, elderly, and children. The village consists only of armed men intent on harming our people.”

“Well, this changes everything. I will send troops out immediately. It was a pleasure working with you Rukov Sun; I hope we can work as well together in the future.”

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Rukov Sun Cao motioned to have the link killed. Turning to his subordinates, he began issuing orders.

“Brigadier General Yuan Fe, take an Abram and two APCs to the coordinate wolf 43 and capture the villagers hiding there. Also send one man back to the village gates. Have him tell them ‘Surrender now or we will destroy your village and kill all your people.’”

Yuan Fe nodded, and left the building. A half hour later, an injured private of Chinese decent entered the temporary HQ. Saluting with his uninjured arm, he gave a report.

“Sir! I delivered the message as ordered, whereupon the enemy combatants opened fire.”

“Good work soldier, I hereby issue you one month field leave, heal up and return to duty.”

“Sir, yes sir!”

The soldier left, not once nursing his wounded arm. Sun Cao had expected such a response, while General Pei Fong had succeeded in terrifying a few villages into submission with the first village invaded; the rest seemed to only resist more as they went on. Now they even had weapons.

The Emperor had obviously planned for this with the large number of troops in the invading force, but that still didn’t make up for losing so many troops so early. It would be another few hours before the bomber arrived; he only hoped the villagers didn’t try anything in the meantime.

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Inside the village, the village’s leader had been discussing with the other men how they should intake the strange invaders when for the second time a loud noise came from the skies. The first time they’d seen six strange planes flying past them, to high to shoot. This time it was a single plane, and it was very large. The men around him looked fearful of this giant steel menace, and as they watched, its belly opened and large objects began falling toward the village. The men in the village ran into their house to try and escape the falling objects.

In a series of bright fireballs, the village disappeared from the planet. The woman and old men watched the flames in the distance s they rode away in trucks. Those that realized the significance began crying.

Day 15

Lt General Yerik Brezhnev looked through his binoculars at what remained of the ruined city of Shanghai. Since General Sun had encountered militants five days ago, the army had been fighting almost constantly. So far losses were minimal, but Yerik believed this would change here at Shanghai. From his position in a tent ten miles out of Shanghai, he could see the telltale silhouettes of numerous T-80U MBTs.

It was astonishing how well armed the people were considering they’d been mostly abandoned by their western counterparts, and as far as Yerik had seen, the villages could barely support themselves, let alone afford weapons. Realizing he’d become lost in thought, Yerik turned to the coronal standing next to him.

“Ready the troops. I want our soldiers prepared for urban combat. They are to search every man, woman, and child for weapons, but not to shoot at anyone unarmed. Also get someone in to take out the tanks. Have Apaches take the tanks on the outskirts, and send in a platoon from 1st divisions Echo Company to hunt down any hidden tanks. Equip them with those M136 AT4s the higher ups have been trying to get rid of, and satchel charges. Once they have cleared a sector, send in the rest of Echo Company and Charlie Company.”

The coronal saluted, and left the tent to begin preparations. Echo Company was a mechanized unit, while Charlie Company consisted of a large portion of the Solux Empire’s Iron Cheetah MBTs. Even such, no one knew exactly how many people still hide in the ruins of Shanghai, or how many of them were armed. The rest of 1st Division was to arrive in a matter of hours, and if Yerik’s initial attack proved insufficient, the entirety of the division would be mobilized.

Leaving his window position, the general moved to the table in the center of the tent. On it rested a detailed map of the city taken by an E-8 JSTARS and over flying F-35bs. Their information showed a dozen visible T-80U tanks, and provided numbers of up to four dozen hidden tanks. This would be no walk in the proverbial park.

Outside, Yerik heard the telltale sounds of Apache helicopters starting their engines. The operation was underway, and all Yerik could do was wait, and see how the next few hours unfolded.

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Pvt. Ling He affixed his satchel charge to the tank’s rear, next to its right tread. When the satchel went off, it would at least make the tank immobile of not destroy it outright. Dropping back to the ground, he crawled back through the rubble the tank was hiding in. Walking back to his sergeant located in a bombed out building to blocks down, Pvt. Ling saluted him.

“Satchel charge in place, sarge.”

“Good work private. Your’s is the last LAW we have. We have a tank on the move; it will be coming into range of this building in five minutes. Get upstairs and take it out.”
“Sir, yes sir!”

Grabbing his LAW from the ground by his pack, Pvt. Ling carefully walked up the damaged stairs to the second floor. As he watched, the barrel of the before-mentioned tank came into sight. Ling readied the LAW onto his shoulder, and waited. The tank slowly rumbled along, an armed individual was sticking out of the top, undoubtedly looking for the soldiers who had been destroying tanks all over the city.

For his part, Ling couldn’t believe his luck. The lookout was looking in every direction but up, and the tank rolled right under the window giving Ling a perfect shot into the tank. Leaning forward, Ling took aim and pulled the trigger. Without seeing whether his attack was successful, Ling dropped the LAW out the window, and flung himself back into the building. The heat engulfed Ling as the tank exploded from within, and the building caught on fire.

Nearly falling down the stairs, Ling hauled his pack onto his back and ran out the buildings back door following behind his comrades. Their sergeant led them into another empty building, and soon after another soldier came into the room.

“The last satchel is in place sarge.”

“Good work, let’s head back to point saber and call in the reinforcements.”

The platoon carefully made its way back to their entry point into the city. Pvt. Lesta Balk was on the radio, while the sergeant readied the remote for the satchel charges. When Pvt. Balk signaled that the rest of the company was coming, the sergeant activated the charges. The city was engulfed in sound as twenty satchel charges nosily announced their presence, many taking a tank with them.

When they heard the treads of the Iron Cheetahs coming into the city, the platoon ran through the back streets to rejoin their company. When the companies arrived in the city’s center, the enemy combatants started coming into the square, arms raised. Pvt. Ling He smirked at them. This battle had ended easier than originally thought. They would still have to spend the next few hours looking for pockets of resistance, but it seemed the majority of the resistance had chosen to surrender.

Day 16

Emperor Volsky scowled at the papers in his hands. They were reports from all over the Solux Empire about the various aspects of the invasion. In a report from the north, the Air Force Rukov, Edesii Kupetsky, said that the expansion to the Russian borders was complete, but that his pilots had met no resistance when over flying Russian territory. Either their military had deteriorated more than Volsky had thought, or the Russian’s had larger worries than a rogue country touching their borders.

The report from Shanghai was truly bittersweet. He was pleased they’d captured the city with only a dozen wounded soldiers, but where the resistance had gained their weapons was what worried him. Their equipment seemed to largely be obsolete Russian technology, so it could have come from many sources. This invasion was supposed to have been a quick sweep of a shattered population and their land.

Rukov Sun Cao reported that at the current rate, it would take two weeks to reach the designated western border city of Chengdu and another two weeks to reach Zhanjiang to the south. His report also mentioned that the resistance seemed to be greater the further south the army moved, and that if things kept up, the invasion could extend another month. That of course also accounted for the non existent resistance in the northern march. The leaders of the other nations would probably be as displeased with these results as he was.

The intercom system built into his desk began blinking. Emperor Volsky tapped the blinking button, and his assistance’s voice came over the line.

“Your highness, Vasilii Ivanova is here to see you.”

“See him in.”

A man dressed in an officer’s uniform entered the large office. He walked in typical stiff military fashion to the front of the desk, and saluted. The rank on his collar read as Polkov (the Luan equivalent for colonel). Vasilii was a native of the Principality of Athrean, and head of the SERIY, or the Solux Empire Ratnid Ispitivati Yanju (roughly Solux Empire Military Research Institute).

“Your Highness, I have come to report the status of the SERIY projects.”

“Ah yes, I expect much from your department, as well as from you.”

“I am honored by your trust. As for the projects underway, we have successfully backwards engineered many of the vehicles the Empire has obtained. Our scientists have completed a new tank design, and await the cannon design from Hajar. They have also installed an experimental engine that uses hydrogen instead of gasoline or diesel. This brings me to the next major project. I have here a report from the assistant director of the SERIY Energy Development Section, Galina Zhukov. In opening she states:

‘We have found through our research that the advanced gasification of coal in a power plant design, in conjunction with preexisting scrubber technology, will greatly reduce air pollution, though the process will be more expensive, the near nonexistent pollution provides us with a very effective, and very clean energy source. As this coal process burns, a variety of gases are capture. Most important among these is hydrogen, with this the Solux Empire can use it to power vast varieties of vehicles and devices. Also, as it is a by product of the coal burning, this simultaneously lowers any costs for creating hydrogen especially for fuel use. We at the SERIY Energy Development Section recommended immediate adoption of this technology, as a benefit to the entirety of The Solux Empire.’

The rest of the report gives detailed information about the processes, as well as estimates of costs, potential power production, and implementation timetables. This second report details the weapons branch, specifically the new tank design.”

Vasilii handed the emperor two fairly thick folders of paper. It would probably take Volsky a good deal of time to sift through the technical jargon. Taking the folders, he placed them on the top of his pile of unread reports. He wanted to read them as soon as possible, and he trusted his men to handle themselves on the field.

“Good work Polkov Ivanova. I shall decide on the coal idea as soon as possible, but in the meantime how is the reactivation of the Gaogongdao nuclear plant going?”

“Unfortunately slow your highness. The core components are undamaged, but it is apparent when they shut it down, they did not plan for its reactivation. Our scientists are working around the clock, but it could be another few weeks.”

“This is indeed unfortunate, but nonetheless acceptable. Thank you for you time.”

“It was an honor to be in your presence you highness.”

With another salute, Vasilii turned and left the office. Picking up the report from Galina, Volsky began reading. This would be a long night for many people.

Day 20

Li Xuedin ran through the thick vegetation, feeling the branches scratching her exposed arms and face. Slung over her back was an AK-74. She was dressed in a tattered green tank top and camo pants, the typical clothing of the resistance movement in Eastern China. It was night now, and the distinct sound of SE-04 assault rifles had long since vanished.

Suddenly, the resistance of branches disappeared as Xuedin flew from the forest into an open field. In the distance she could see the ruins of Chengdu, another city that fell victim to bombing raids during the Chinese civil war. Xuedin knew she could easily reach the city without losing her breath, but then the others in the resistance would be suspicious of her. Picking up speed, Kaplar Xuedin began sprinting as fast as she could.

About ten minutes latter, an exhausted Xuedin arrived on the outskirts of the city. As soon as she arrived, so did the resistance. Their leader walked up to Xuedin, an AN-94 trained on her. The Kaplar mentally noted that the resistance had again acquired more advanced weaponry, her AK-74 was the best the resistance had had less than a week ago.

“<State your business.>” The leader said in Chinese.

“<I am Li Xuedin, member of the Xian resistance.>” Xuedin responded as she attempted to catch her breath.

“<The Xian resistance was wiped out as they tried to escape; our field agents saw the wreckage themselves.>”

“<I was one of the few that survived; I have been running for days, the rest of my team that escaped with me was picked off by Solux infantry.>”

“<What, you mean you lead those Solux bastards to us? Do you have any idea what you have done?>”

“<Do not fear, after their ambushes got the rest of my team, their pursuit has seemed delayed. They are overconfident and do not fear a single soldier. More to the point, the entire reason I came here was to inform you an attack force has already been mobilized to attack this city.>”

“<It was only a matter of time I suppose. After the defeat at Shanghai, the resistance leaders have begun pulling out of the cities. We may know these cities better, but the Solux troops are far better equipped for urban combat, as you must have witnessed at Xian.>”

“<Yes, our tanks were destroyed before they fired a shot, and then their army appeared throughout the city suddenly, we had no choice but to surrender or flee.>”

“<Come, we must hurry. If what you say is true, the Solux could arrive any time.>”

Xuedin followed him to a MT-LB armored vehicle, another new bit of technology. Ducking into the vehicle, Xuedin was joined by numerous others. The vehicle started moving with a jump, revealing the driver had little experience driving it. From the firing port on the other side, Xuedin could see them driving though the city’s ruins.

As the MT-LB gained speed, Xuedin began bouncing around in the canvas seat as the vehicles tracks drove over the massive pot holes formed by bombs. Soon the ride became smoother, and when Xuedin looked out the window, she saw they’d left the city and where now traveling through fields much like what she’d run though not an hour earlier.

Looking around the troop compartment, Xuedin studied the others. They ranged from well muscled, to scrawny. Some wore a confident and defiant expression while others look terrified, all of them looked hungry. Xuedin was well fed so she could not figure out what drove these people, who had lived in hunger since the end of the war, to fight the Solux Empire where everyone was given ample food.

After about another hour of driving, the MT-LB came to a sudden stop. The resistance soldiers emptied out of the troop compartment, and entered what looked like an old mine. Xuedin followed them in, and was rather surprised when she saw the inside was lined with concrete, and looked more like a military bunker than an old mine. From behind her, the leader she had met earlier began speaking.

“<I see you were not expecting us to have converted the mines so quickly. We actually found this, probably a leftover from the civil war.>”

“<This is indeed impressive, how deep have you completed the conversion.>”

“<We have two hundred fifty-three bunk rooms, two operation rooms, five armory rooms, ten storage rooms, and a large open chamber so far, but I digress. I have not even introduced myself. I am Tang Yuejiu, we have an empty bunk room two floors down, you must be exhausted from your escape.>”

“<I am, thank you. I would like to assist tomorrow in any way I can.>”

With a nod from Yuejiu, Xuedin followed another of the resistance fighters to the elevator shaft. Stepping onto the large platform, its huge gates closed and the platform began its decent. After just a few moments, it arrived two levels down. After walking twenty meters down the hallway, they arrived at a door that looked like it had been ripped from an apartment building.

The man left, and Xuedin entered the room. It was lit by a single light that probably ran in a string throughout every room. There was a set of two bunks that also looked hastily obtained like the door. Setting her AK-74 down by the bed, she took off her boots. She then stripped off her camo pants and tank top, sitting on the bunks rough cloth blanket in her underwear.

Picking up the boot, she pressed a button on the inside of the heel. She set the boot back down, and crawled into the bed. Exhaustion soon set in and she was fast asleep. She would need every bit of sleep she could get for the next days events, because tomorrow Kaplar (Marine Corporal in Luan (Imperial)) Li Xuedin’s comrades in the Solux Empire’s Marine Corp would attack this bunker.