NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: Teh Ninjas. Can you shed light onto what equipment he had?

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/Lobster%20Claw/guantanamo-invasion-01.jpg

The news of the governmental collapse of Tyrandis came as a shock. Based in Australia, the Tyrandi government was well over 10,000 miles away, on the other side of the world. A battleplan for an invasion was already in place and the Layartebian government was only a month from implementing the battleplan, which would call for a naval blockaide of the Caribbean and an island-hopping campaign from Venezuela all the way up to Cuba and the Cayman Islands. Now the battle plan had to be revised.

In light of the Tyrandi collapse, the nation of Teh Ninjas was finding itself in a quandary, a major allie suddenly non-existent. Annexation of all Caribbean Islands, sans Cuba and the Caymans, had been announced after peaceful negotiations with the Teh Ninjan government. The terms of the conditions allowed Layartebian rule over all Caribbean Islands except the Caymans and Cuba, a free-trade agreement, a non-aggression pact, a naval base at Hope Town in the Bahamas for Teh Ninjas, the unimpeded invasion of Guantanamo by Layarteb, a proposed 15 miles DMZ along the Guantanamo-Cuba border, 7.5 miles per side, and lastly, a renogitation of territorial waters. Monetary funds were also dispersed to Teh Ninjas.

Few shots would have to be fired on the hundreds of islands in the Caribbean as Layartebian military and civilian units moved in, establishing the Empire. However, the single province in Cuba, Guantanamo, was definitely not going to be easy. Tyrandi resistance in the small province of only 6,178 km² numbered at least a half million civilians and army personnel. The more realistic estimates were in excess of 800,000 with at least 80% of them owning arms. The Tyrandi and Layartebian people always saw each other as enemies and no Tyrandi citizens were allowed passage into Layarteb for the longest time. The idea of being ruled by their enemy inflamed the Tyrandi civilians and military personnel, who would all be deemed as insurgents by the Ministry of Defense.

The province was home to two major cities, Guantanamo and Baracoa, each having in excess of 50,000 people. The cities were well laid out but poverty stricken with too many places to hide and too much urban warfare to have to encounter. The province also had eight other municipalties, which would all be targets of resistance to the Layartebian military forces.

Thus, the battleplan had to be revised. The plan would call for five carrier battlegroups: one Enterprise, one Vampire, and three Wasp. The Enterprise and one Wasp battlegroup would station off Baracoa. The remaining three groups would take up positions to the south. In the southwest of the province was a major target, a naval base, which had, at minimal, six destroyers, two patrol boats, and eight submarines, all expected to be put to sea by the time the invasion force arrived, making things that much more difficult. An order of battle on Tyrandi military equipment was difficult to have. They possessed a large number of advanced tanks, fighting vehicles, aircraft, and so on and so fourth.

Marines would have to encounter heavy resistance at six landing points. Special Forces would be inserted, by parachute, to the two main cities, north of the naval base, and in the vacinity of a major air force base, near Baracoa. Paratroopers, on the other hand, would land on opposite sides of each city and assist Special Forces in securing them and stopping all supply lines to the beaches. Another Special Forces insertion would be done along a major highway to stop armored reinforcements from reach the beach, where a majority of Marines would be landing.

Naval aircraft and warships would bombard the province for two weeks before the first soldier stepped foot on the sand. Air Force aircraft and bombers would pound them as well, morning, day, and night, in all weather. This was going to be a bloodbath and three Marine Brigades numbering 22,500 men, two brigades of Paratroopers numbering 7,776 men, and 400 Special Operatives would be on the ground to fight the near half million enemy forces. They would be sorely outnumbered and after the first four days of fighting, the beaches were expected to be secured and supply lines so severely hindered than an entire Army infantry and armored Army of 155,520 men would be deployed to push forward, the Marines, SOFs, and Paratroopers leading the charge.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/Lobster%20Claw/guantanamo-invasion-02.jpg

OOC: I pretty sure he had not too much at Gitmo. As terms of military he had excellent helicopters, tanks, and fighter aircraft. Navy lacks, and his soldiers lack I believe.

IC:
I Empire wishes to offer it's assistance in Layarteb in quelling the resistance fighters at Guantanimo. We also wish to assure you that any armed man or woman that flees the province will be captured by our military and handed over to you if we deem him to be a fighter.
Emperor Alec Takenski

OOC: I pretty sure he had not too much at Gitmo. As terms of military he had excellent helicopters, tanks, and fighter aircraft. Navy lacks, and his soldiers lack I believe.

IC:
I Empire wishes to offer it's assistance in Layarteb in quelling the resistance fighters at Guantanimo. We also wish to assure you that any armed man or woman that flees the province will be captured by our military and handed over to you if we deem him to be a fighter.
Emperor Alec Takenski

OOC: Do you know what types he had? RL or NS-made?

The Empire thanks you for your assistance. If you could close the border it would be most helpful.

Thank You

7th Enterprise Battlegroup

AEGIS Class: 4
Dnalkrad Class: 2
Earthquake Class: 2
Emory Land Class: 1
Enterprise Class: 1
Henry Kaiser Class: 2
Hurricane Class: 2
Liberty II Class: 4
New York Class: 1
Oliver Hazard Perry Class: 4
Scythe Class*: 2
Seawolf Flight III Class*: 2
Supply Class: 4
Ticonderoga Class: 4
Twin Towers Flight IIA Class: 4
Unforgiven Class: 2
Verrazano Class: 4
Wilson Class: 1


7th Vampire Battlegroup

AEGIS Class: 2
Arsenal Class: 1
Dnalkrad Class: 2
Earthquake Class: 2
Emory Land Class: 1
Henry Kaiser Class: 2
Liberty II Class: 4
New York Class: 1
Oliver Hazard Perry Class: 2
Seawolf Flight III Class*: 2
Supply Class: 2
Ticonderoga Class: 2
Twin Towers Flight IIA Class: 2
Unforgiven Class: 2
Vampire Class: 1
Verrazano Class: 2
Wilson Class: 1


12th Wasp Battlegroup

AEGIS Class: 2
Arsenal Class: 1
Dnalkrad Class: 2
Emory Land Class: 1
Falcon City Class: 2
Henry Kaiser Class: 1
Jackal Class: 2
Layarteb Class: 1
Liberty II Class: 4
New York Class: 1
Oliver Hazard Perry Class: 2
San Antonio Class: 2
Scythe Class*: 1
Supply Class: 2
Ticonderoga Class: 2
Twin Towers Flight IIA Class: 2
Unforgiven Class: 2
Verrazano Class: 2
Wasp Class: 1
Wilson Class: 4
Ynoga Class: 1


13th Wasp Battlegroup

AEGIS Class: 2
Arsenal Class: 1
Dnalkrad Class: 2
Emory Land Class: 1
Falcon City Class: 2
Henry Kaiser Class: 1
Jackal Class: 2
Layarteb Class: 1
Liberty II Class: 4
New York Class: 1
Oliver Hazard Perry Class: 2
San Antonio Class: 2
Scythe Class*: 1
Supply Class: 2
Ticonderoga Class: 2
Twin Towers Flight IIA Class: 2
Unforgiven Class: 2
Verrazano Class: 2
Wasp Class: 1
Wilson Class: 4
Ynoga Class: 1


15th Wasp Battlegroup

AEGIS Class: 2
Arsenal Class: 1
Dnalkrad Class: 2
Emory Land Class: 1
Falcon City Class: 2
Henry Kaiser Class: 1
Jackal Class: 2
Layarteb Class: 1
Liberty II Class: 4
New York Class: 1
Oliver Hazard Perry Class: 2
San Antonio Class: 2
Scythe Class*: 1
Supply Class: 2
Ticonderoga Class: 2
Twin Towers Flight IIA Class: 2
Unforgiven Class: 2
Verrazano Class: 2
Wasp Class: 1
Wilson Class: 4
Ynoga Class: 1


Aircraft - 7th Enterprise Airwing

A-5D Vigilante: 8
C-2B Greyhound: 4
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 16
E-2D Hawkeye: 4
EA-5F Vigilante: 4
EA-18A Growler: 4
F-14E Super Tomcat: 12
F-18C Hornet: 14
F-18E Super Hornet: 14
F-19B Ghostrider*: 10
F-22N Raptor: 10
F-24B Knightowl*: 10
F-26B Typhoon: 16
F-29A Vulture: 16
HH-60H Seahawk: 14
RA-5E Vigilante: 4
S-3B Viking: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 44
SH-97A Serpent: 4
SH-97B Serpent: 3


Aircraft - 23rd Falcon City Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 8
AV-8C Harrier III: 8
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 8
HV-24C Bulldog: 4
UH-95A Huey II: 8


Aircraft - 24th Falcon City Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 8
AV-8C Harrier III: 8
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 8
HV-24C Bulldog: 4
UH-95A Huey II: 8


Aircraft - 25th Falcon City Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 8
AV-8C Harrier III: 8
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 8
HV-24C Bulldog: 4
UH-95A Huey II: 8


Aircraft - 26th Falcon City Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 8
AV-8C Harrier III: 8
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 8
HV-24C Bulldog: 4
UH-95A Huey II: 8


Aircraft - 29th Falcon City Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 8
AV-8C Harrier III: 8
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 8
HV-24C Bulldog: 4
UH-95A Huey II: 8


Aircraft - 30th Falcon City Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 8
AV-8C Harrier III: 8
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 8
HV-24C Bulldog: 4
UH-95A Huey II: 8


Aircraft - 7th Vampire Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 8
AV-8C Harrier III: 12
C-2B Greyhound: 2
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 18
E-2D Hawkeye: 2
F-26B Typhoon: 16
HH-60H Seahawk: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 26
SH-97A Serpent: 4
SH-97B Serpent: 3


Aircraft - 12th Wasp Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 4
AV-8C Harrier III: 6
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 26
HH-60H Seahawk: 6
HV-24C Bulldog: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 20
SH-97A Serpent: 4
SH-97B Serpent: 6
UH-95A Huey II: 4


Aircraft - 13th Wasp Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 4
AV-8C Harrier III: 6
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 26
HH-60H Seahawk: 6
HV-24C Bulldog: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 20
SH-97A Serpent: 4
SH-97B Serpent: 6
UH-95A Huey II: 4


Aircraft - 15th Wasp Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 4
AV-8C Harrier III: 6
CH-53E Sea Stallion: 26
HH-60H Seahawk: 6
HV-24C Bulldog: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 20
SH-97A Serpent: 4
SH-97B Serpent: 6
UH-95A Huey II: 4


Aircraft - 12th Ynoga Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 2
F-29A Vulture: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 4


Aircraft - 13th Ynoga Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 2
F-29A Vulture: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 4


Aircraft - 15th Ynoga Airwing

AH-94B Stalker: 2
F-29A Vulture: 8
SH-60R Seahawk: 4


Infantry - 12th Marine Brigade

Officers: 605
Infantry: 6,050
Logistics: 845


Infantry - 13th Marine Brigade

Officers: 605
Infantry: 6,050
Logistics: 845


Infantry - 15th Marine Brigade

Officers: 605
Infantry: 6,050
Logistics: 845


Cavalry - 12th Marine Brigade

M2005A1 Boar: 16
M2008A1 Dingo APV: 128
M2010A1 Bushmaster IMV: 128
M2011A1 Scout: 36
M2011A2 Scout TD: 36
M2012A1 Marauder APC: 36
M2012A3 Marauder TD: 36
M2012A4 Marauder C3: 16
M2012A5 Marauder MRTR: 16
M2012A6 Marauder EW: 16
M2012A7 Marauder AT: 16
M2014A1 Howitzer: 16
M2015A1 Cobra APC: 96
M2015A2 Cobra MRTR: 16
M2015A3 Cobra AT: 16
M2016A1 LAADS: 16
M2017A1 Frog: 60
M2018A1 Wolf LBT: 48
Five Ton Truck: 144


Cavalry - 13th Marine Brigade

M2005A1 Boar: 16
M2008A1 Dingo APV: 128
M2010A1 Bushmaster IMV: 128
M2011A1 Scout: 36
M2011A2 Scout TD: 36
M2012A1 Marauder APC: 36
M2012A3 Marauder TD: 36
M2012A4 Marauder C3: 16
M2012A5 Marauder MRTR: 16
M2012A6 Marauder EW: 16
M2012A7 Marauder AT: 16
M2014A1 Howitzer: 16
M2015A1 Cobra APC: 96
M2015A2 Cobra MRTR: 16
M2015A3 Cobra AT: 16
M2016A1 LAADS: 16
M2017A1 Frog: 60
M2018A1 Wolf LBT: 48
Five Ton Truck: 144


Cavalry - 15th Marine Brigade

M2005A1 Boar: 16
M2008A1 Dingo APV: 128
M2010A1 Bushmaster IMV: 128
M2011A1 Scout: 36
M2011A2 Scout TD: 36
M2012A1 Marauder APC: 36
M2012A3 Marauder TD: 36
M2012A4 Marauder C3: 16
M2012A5 Marauder MRTR: 16
M2012A6 Marauder EW: 16
M2012A7 Marauder AT: 16
M2014A1 Howitzer: 16
M2015A1 Cobra APC: 96
M2015A2 Cobra MRTR: 16
M2015A3 Cobra AT: 16
M2016A1 LAADS: 16
M2017A1 Frog: 60
M2018A1 Wolf LBT: 48
Five Ton Truck: 144



The Imperial Layartebian Navy was coming from a multitude of places. Some units were coming from Florida, others from New Foundland, and others from Suriname and Grenada. The ILN was coming with a good amount of firepower and would be off-shore inside of a few hours, with the last groups arriving from New Foundland in a mere six days. The firepower coming in just five battlegroups was enough to blanket the entire province with munitions and level it. The combined firepower of the Imperial Layartebian Air Force, which would include units from Layarteb, Ynoga, and South Eastern Virginia, would do even more damage, with even more firepower, and even more precision.

The five battlegroups and their thousands of men were at sea at a moments notice, submarines and cruisers leading the way, frigates covering the air, destroyers checking underneath the waves, battleships checking the surface, supply ships keeping fuel oil moving, and carriers providing the mainstay. Missile launching platforms, in the form of Arsenal and Hurricane class warships were both ready and willing to open more fire upon the enemy than physically possible. All five battlegroups were coming with 179 ships and a ton of firepower.


Combined Weaponry

FIM-186A Wizard: 1,180
FIM-186B Wizard: 1,152
MK-50 ALWT: 696
MK-55 ADCAP II: 680
RGM-84G Harpoon: 272
RGM-165A Standard LASM: 2,592
RGM-176A-2 Tomahawk II (Nuclear 250KT): 64
RGM-176A-4 Tomahawk II (Nuclear 1MT): 50
RGM-176B Tomahawk II (Anti-Ship): 596
RGM-176C Tomahawk II (HE): 1,298
RGM-176D Tomahawk II (Cluster): 680
RGM-176E Tomahawk II (Cluster - Incendiary): 120
RGM-180F Harpoon II: 1,064
RGM-193A Relic*: 600
RIM-116B Rolling Airframe Missile: 8,275
RIM-161B Standard SM-3 LEAP Block II: 604
RIM-162A/B/C/D Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile: 8,868
RIM-184A Standard SM-4MR Block I*: 2,780
RIM-184B Standard SM-4MR Block II*: 1,250
RIM-185A Standard SM-4ER Block I*: 2,404
RIM-185B Standard SM-4ER Block II*: 1,460
RUM-139D ASROC-VL: 944
UGM-176A-1 Tomahawk II (Nuclear 150KT): 100
UGM-176A-2 Tomahawk II (Nuclear 250KT): 110
UGM-176A-3 Tomahawk II (Nuclear 500KT): 100
UGM-176A-4 Tomahawk II (Nuclear 1MT): 110
UGM-176B Tomahawk II (Anti-Ship): 344
UGM-176C Tomahawk II (HE): 592
UGM-176D Tomahawk II (Cluster): 200
UGM-180H Harpoon II: 224
UGM-193B Relic*: 48
UGM-198A Stallion ASM*: 64
UGM-198B Stallion LAM*: 24
UGM-198C Stallion ASW*: 72



* = this system is TOP SECRET IC

The Carribean is too close to our northern territories. I want to crush these rebels, after their recent car bombings in Rio de Norte. And I can't trust foreign nations to fully eliminate this rebel threat. I will be sending some air divisions in to destroy them, accompanied by my naval escort squad

6th Sonic Naval Division
2x Atalas class carrier
4x Devlin class destroyer
2x Aurora class frigates
3x Nautic class missile cruiser

6th Sonic Air Division
15x SU-47
20x SU-30
10x TU-26

The Empire thanks the nation of The Andromedan for their concern and their like feelings on these rebels. However, the Empire is currently in no need of any assistance and to reduce the risk of fraticide, the Empire wishes that the nation of The Andromedan stand down all military forces from entering the area of operations. The Empire insists; however, that the nation of The Andromedan protect its own borders and shorelines, should rebels seek to escape. We do not anticipate this as the rebels we are dealing with have too much resolve to surrender and flee.

Thank You
The Minister of Foreign Affairs

If that is what needs to be done. Then my forces wil make a full naval blockade around the carribean as well as my own shore. They will be cautious not to invade forgein waters.

If that is what needs to be done. Then my forces wil make a full naval blockade around the carribean as well as my own shore. They will be cautious not to invade forgein waters.

Blockaiding the Caribbean will be invading upon the Empire of Layarteb. The Empire insists that the nation of The Andromedan deal on with their own territorial waters in this case. The remainder of the Caribbean is being dealt with and in this case, Cuba is a priority of the Empire, no one else.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs

The ILN had only just left their ports. They would not take up their offensive positions off Cuba until all of them were there, meaning six days were required. During that time, satellites collected hundreds and thousands of reconnaissance imagry of a small naval base, two airfields, one being much larger than the other, both cities, and several hundreds of other targets. The estimated ORBAT for the Tyrandi air force was estimated at:

TSA-12A/B Kestrel: 80
TSB-8 Talon: 80
TSEB-52N Skyfortress: 60
F-117R Nighthawk: 20
C-17 Globemaster IV: 100
ASWP-2 Wolfslayer: 24
TSF-616 Eidolon: 180

The TSF-616 was highly advanced and the most dangerous threat. They were based at both airfields. Overall, most of the aircraft were evenly split between the two airfields but the real pounding would tell. Surface to air missile systems were also prevalent, all over the area, guarding both major cities, both airfields, the naval base, and several other crucial points throughout the rugged, hilly province. Cavalry operations would be problematic because of the ruggedness and hills of the area.

The attacks would begin at 2000, after the sun was down. A flight of sixteen B-7B Incubus bombers would fly from southern Layarteb and attack Guantanamo. The aircraft would be carrying some forty AGM-192D Dreamcatcher missiles, eight AGM-192C Dreamcatcher missiles, 192 AGM-86E CALCM Block III missiles, and 96 AGM-86F CALCM BLOCK IIIA missiles. The Dreamcatchers would be split into four different targets. Ten D versions and two C versions would blanket each airfield, taking out the entire electronics network (the C versions are EMP), the radar, central command structures, control towers, and hangars. Another ten D versions and two C versions would hit the naval base, hitting the same relative targets and the final group would be going after a major command center located in the rural part of the province. The AGM-86E CALCMs, armed with conventional, penetrating warheads would be directed at a number of communications, radar, and other command and control targets in and around both major cities. The F versions, with their incendiary warheads, would attack supply depots, tank farms, and other staging points.

All missiles would be launched from 500 - 1,000 miles away and at an altitude of 80,000 feet.

The Royal Norwegian Navy was particularly interested in what was happening in the Caribbean, and they had sent a reinforced Kampgruppe, consisting of the following vessels.

Odin [Flight I] class CVN: 1
Elestee class LST: 2
Hordaland class CGN: 1
Kubler class CGN: 2
Devlin [Flight II] class DDG: 3
Rothsky class DDG: 2
Bergen class FFG: 2
Mjelde class FF: 5
Hades class SSN: 1
Moengen class T-AO: 3
Kilauea class T-AE: 3
Supply class T-AOE: 1

The aircraft embarked on the vessels were also numerous, and very advanced.

A-5D 'Vigilante': 30
C-2B 'Greyhound': 4
E-2E 'Advanced Hawkeye': 4
EA-5F 'Vigilante': 8
F-22N 'Sea Raptor': 10
F-37G 'Razor': 50
F-37H 'Razor': 10
RA-5E 'Vigilante': 8
S-3C 'Viking': 8
SH-60R 'Seahawk': 25
SH-97A 'Serpent': 9
SH-99C 'Lynx II': 3

Their target: the island of Barbados. The Norwegian and Layartebian governments had already discussed this, and reached an accord, which will remain secret for the time being. Anyway, aboard the LSTs, there were eighteen M2008A1 Dingo APVs, ten five-ton trucks, four M2012A1 Marauder APCs, two M2012A4 Marauder C3 and four M2017A1 Frog APCs, as well as three hundred and twenty Marines. They were to secure Barbados and help the local police maintain law and order, exercising total respect for the local population.

They were set up two camps. One in the heights in Hothersal Turning in St Michael parish, and the other one in Spring Hall in St Lucy parish. The camps would hold the same amount of Marines and equipment each, and the four frigates, two LSTs, refuelling vessel and ammunition vessel would be based in Bridgetown where they would make up the first permanent Caribbean naval presence by Norwegian warships in more than a century.

Joint Operations Command - Operation Lobster Claw

The JOC for Operation Lobstern Claw was Florida, based out of Mac Dill Air Force Base. It was a hectic place, deep underground, with a lot of data and input coming in and out of the center. This was a busy time. Air Force bombers were already being prepared to fly against Cuba while naval units were steaming towards the small sea.

"Sir," one of the runners came hurrying into the main command briefing. "Sir, the Cottish are beginning operations against Barbados."

"Very well." The man in charge of the operation was a Lieutenant General in the Imperial Layartebian Army. "Keep me updated." He turned his attention back to the table. The main situation they were handling was the interference of the nation of The Andromedan. There were threats by the nation to blockaide the Caribbean, which wasn't a good idea. The base plan was being drawn up. If there was a blockaide, naval elements would be forced to act against an aggressive foe.

In light of this, two Hunter SSN attack submarines were forwarded to the area immediately to back up a pair of Seawolf Flight IIIs already there. Submarines coming with the task force would be conducting patrols throughout the Caribbean Sea, protecting all friendly shipping.

Lexington Air Force Base, Kentucky, Layarteb

The airbase at Lexington was alive and busy. It was a top-secret Air Force Base, housing some of the most advanced aircraft in the entire military. B-4 Magnum and B-7 Incubus bombers were based there, protected immediately by F-37 Razor advanced fighters. For this mission, sixteen of the thirty-two B-7B Incubus bombers would be taking off and flying southward. They would be launching two types of missiles, CALCMs and Dreamcatchers. The CALCMs would all be launched from points over central Florida. The Dreamcatchers, on the other hand, would be fired from further out, more towards northern Florida and southern Georgia and Alabama. They would need no escorts, being inside Layartebian airspace. At least sixteen F-37A Razor fighters based in Florida would be up and flying, providing a barrier cap between Florida and Cuba. If any Tyrandi fighter took off and began northward they would encounter those fighters and many air to air missiles.

The bombers took off at 1845 from all four runways at the airbase. By 1905, they were all airborne and they were now heading southeast. It was, more or less 1,350 miles from Lexington to Guantanamo and a mere 850 miles, maximum, to the furthest launch points. The timing was done so that all of the missiles would be striking at the same time, a lot of mathematics having been done to calculate the exact flight times to the targets from the launch points. They quickly lifted to over 60,000 feet, settling at 80,000 feet, moving well in excess of Mach 2.0. They would be launching from high-speed as well.

All aircraft were at their designated launch points by 1945 and began firing off their missiles. The CALCMs would go first, followed by the Dreamcatchers some time later. By 2030, all of the missiles had been fired and were on their way to their targets, less than five hundred miles away. Only time would tell...

Jamaica Channel

The Sehnsucht class command ship floated into positionjust over the horizon, south of the Jamaica Channel. The intelligence gathering ship was nothing short of amazing. The self-defense systems alone cost at least 25% of the total cost of each ship. Her VLS systems carried 20 RGM-176B Tomahawk II missiles, 64 RIM-162B Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, 20 RIM-184B Standard SM-4MR Block II missiles, 20 RIM-185B Standard SM-4ER Block II missiles, and 20 RGM-193A Relic missiles. She also carried 24 RGM-180H Harpoon II missiles in six quad-launchers, 84 RIM-116B Rolling Airframe Block I missiles, 36 Mark 50 Mod 2 Barracuda torpedoes, and 6 Phalanx CIWS guns. One SH-97A Serpent ASW helicopter and one SH-97B Serpent transport helicopter sat tucked away in their hangar as the ship studied and gathered intelligence on the southeastern province of Cuba. The ship wasn't equipped to launch a land strike but it's escors were, which was a single Hunter SSN, Scythe SSN, and Seawolf Flight III SSN. That put a grand total of seven submarines in the Caribbean: three Hunter, one Scythe, and three Seawolf Flight II submarines in the Caribbean. The Scythe was operating in the south, around 14°N, 72°W. Two of the Seawolfs were operating near the Cayman Islands, about fifty-seven nautical miles apart. Two Hunters were operating just east of Turks and Caicos and in the Windward Passage. One Hunter was within ten nautical miles of the Sehnsucht and the other Seawolf Flight III was just north of Baracoa, about sixty nautical miles away.

The Seawolf Flight III north of Baracoa was completing its target analysis. It was steady at 150 feet, 3 knots, and its vertical launch tubes were getting hungry. She had eight UGM-176C Tomahawk II, six UGM-176D Tomahawk II, and two UGM-176E Tomahawk II missiles loaded in those sixteen tubes and each one had a target. Three UGM-176D and one UGM-176E missiles, equipped with cluster bomblets and incendiary bomblets, would strike each airport, aiming for the parked aircraft. The eight UGM-176C missiles were being directed against air defense control sites, primarily the command centers and one massive radar array, which was taking three missiles.

As soon as it was ready, the Seawolf fired her missiles. The tubes opened and gas propelled the missiles upward and out of the water. As soon as they broke the surface, their engines fired. The missile appeared to be slowing down, falling back into the water, as it popped out. Then, suddenly, it almost stopped mid-air and shot upwards. The missiles were set for low-altitude attack, which put them moving at Mach 1.8, a mere 40 feet above the terrain, and they had a very low radar signature, less than that of the AGM-129 ACM missiles. They would pop up and attack once they got to the target, meaning a heavy impact, at a steep angle, and Mach 2.0 speed.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/Lobster%20Claw/dvic470.jpg

Off Barbados

A single Scythe SSN, now meaning 8 total submarines in the Caribbean, moved northward from South Eastern Virginia. It was loaded heavy with anit-submarine and anti-surface weapons. The Scythe was part of the protection of both the invasion of Guantanamo and the Norweigan invasion of Barbados.

The captain of the Scythe linked up with the JOC in Florida and pretty soon, it was just another part of the operation.

OOC: An example of a bad post but still a post...

The first Norwegians to land in Barbados was a group of diplomats and two Marine officers, flown in from the aircraft carrier via an SH-99C 'Lynx II'. They were heading for the Parliament building in Bridgetown to talk with the interim leaders.

As the 'Lynx II' landed down by the Customs Hall, the only plaza in relative proximity to the Parliament building, the Barbadian delegation stood there, waiting with three cars for the delegation. After a quick drive along Princess Alice Highway, the three cars stopped at the Parliament building in Broad street, where a few police officers stood guard. They saluted the delegation, who walked into the building quickly. Once inside, they were greeted by the Prime Minister and rest of the cabinet.

Five hours later, and the delegation and Barbadian cabinet had reached an accord. The Norwegians would get control of the island, and Norwegian law would apply. However, the Barbadian people would have full rights to vote their own leaders into office. Barbados was becoming a dominion under Norway, but a very free one. The Barbadian people would be granted Norwegian citizenship, be allowed free entry into Norway and the Norwegian military, and the Norwegians would place a few bases on Barbados.

Those bases would be as follows.
The parish of St. Lucy was to become a federally administered territory, with five hundred Marines garrisoned there. Spring Hall was to house a palace for the King and / or cabinet if they ever came to visit. When they weren't there, it was to be the headquarters of military operations on the island. It would employ roughly 200 locals.
At Workhall in the parish of St Phillip, a base for the Royal Norwegian Air Force was to be erected. It would contain two 3,000 meter runways and a base for roughly 144 aircraft of various types and roughly 8,000 personell. In addition, some 4,000 locals would be employed.
A naval facility for Norwegian and allied vessels, including a dockyard, would be built at Harrison Point in the parish of St Lucy. It would be able to hold up to 60 vessels. Three large piers would be erected, as well as a large molo. It would garrison 9,000 personell, as well as up to 6,000 locals as employees.

All in all, the stationed personell would number 500 Marines, 8,000 airmen and 9,000 seamen, as well as roughly 300 staff for the HQ. All in all 17,800 Norwegian military personell permanently. The Norwegian military would also employ roughly 10,200 locals.

In addition, the Norwegian government intended to subsidize hotels and holiday resorts built on Barbados, thus further increasing the populace employed. Thanks to the initial five resorts to be constructed, a total of 15,000 more locals would be employed directly, and many thousands more in the many businesses and shops which would appear here. Not bad, for a population of 280,000.

Construction would start immediately, and the Barbadian parliament accepted the deployment of Marines to assist the police force. A simple and calm takeover, just the way the Norwegians like it.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/Lobster%20Claw/guantanamo-invasion-03.jpg
Airbase, Navy Base, SAM map

Airbases all around Layarteb came alive. The initial B-7 strike was in the air and decending on their targets. It would effectively disable their immediate attack capability and a major pathway in their air defense net. This would allow the transports to get into the airspace and drop their paratroopers without much worry of enemy aircraft or air defenses harassing them. Of the 100 C-17A Globemaster III cargo aircraft based in the province on Layarteb, all of them would be used for the airdrop. In addition, they would be escorted by 48 F-37A Razor aircraft, 48 F-22A Raptor aircraft, and 10 EA-5F Vigilante aircraft.

[Drop Group Alpha - Baracoa Area]

C-17A Globemaster III: 50
EA-5F Vigilante: 5
F-22A Raptor: 24
F-37A razor: 24


[Drop Group Bravo - Guantanamo Area]

C-17A Globemaster III: 50
EA-5F Vigilante: 5
F-22A Raptor: 24
F-37A razor: 24


Each of the C-17A Globemaster IIs would be loaded heavy. 5 of them would be carrying 80 SOFs each. 80 would be carrying 90 - 102 paratroopers each. The remaining 15 would be air dropping supplies and weaponry, as well as 40 M2021 Fast Patrol Vehicles, to help SOFs. They would be air dropped at the airfield, naval base, and the supply choke point. They would all be escorted by EA-5F Vigilante aircraft carrying 8 AGM-88F AARGM Block I missiles for attacking radar sites along the way and 4 AIM-204A Escape missiles for dogfighting. The F-22A Raptor escorts would each be carrying 2 AIM-204A Escape missiles, 2 AIM-202A Dodsengel missiles for long-range combat, and 4 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles for medium-range combat. Each group would have 16 F-37A Razor fighters for combat air support, carrying 4 AIM-204A Escape missiles, 8 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles, 2 370 gallon fuel tanks, 4 AIM-202A Dodsengel missiles, 2 AIM-179E BVRAAM long-range missiles, and 2 AIM-179C BVRAAM long-range missiles. Then, they would be carrying 8 F-37A Razor fighters for SEAD. They would be carrying 4 AIM-204A Escape missiles, 2 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles, 4 AGM-88F AARGM Block I missiles, 4 AGM-205A AMESM missiles, and 2 370 gallon fuel tanks.

The main ingress would be towards 80 miles of the island and then all aircraft would drop to 200 feet AGL. Once they came within 10 miles of the island coast, they would drop to 100 feet AGL. The two groups would fly towards Baracoa. At that point, the second group would change to a slightly northern heading and come down on the drop points.

The time for the airdrop would be around 0200 for Baracoa and around 0230 for Guantanamo. Then, all aircraft would exit airspace and return back to their airfields to refuel.

The goal for SOF would be to secure the airfield and naval base first. Once they were secure, they would split up into four groups of forty each. One group would remain at the naval base and another at the airfield. A third group would go northward, from the naval base, to the second airfield and secure it. The fourth group would move to another supply choke point in the middle of the country.

SOFs securing the mainy supply choke point and the cities would work and hold their positions. Paratroops landing at the cities would assist SOFs in securing the cities and capturing high-ranking military officials. They had one week to complete their tasks before the Marines landed and then twenty-four horus after that, the army would land with a massive armored and infantry force.

The AGM-192C Dreamcatcher missiles streaked downward at 15,000 miles per hour. Their stealthy features enabled them to avoid radar scans and sweeps from the Tyrandi air defense net, something that they did not expect. The anarchy and chaos of the Tyrandi land was definitely more than they bargained for. Their EMP based warheads went off and cause everything electronic for miles to suddenly short out and die. Lights went out, batteries died, and everything electronic was warm to the touch. The bright blue light overhead had definitely caused some problems. Military men on the ground at all target locations knew one thing, they were under attack. It was followed the AGM-192D missiles, which impacted at their precise points. The 8 missiles that slammed into the airfields took out the control tower, the main radar mast, the command center, and four hardened hangars. At the naval base, the missiles slammed right into the main command center and the two submarine pens. The last group, heading to a rural command center, impacted with fury and force. The command center was obliterated, the missiles and their massive warheads, as well as their kinetic energy, shattered the site after the EMP blast turned everything off.

The AGM-86E missiles slammed into 96 separate targets, hitting hard and hitting accurately up to 98%. 4 missiles encountered malfunctions, putting one into a residential block in the middle of Baracoa and putting the rest into the ground, before they hit their targets. The AGM-86F missiles, equipped with incendiary warheads, hit thirty-two separate areas, lighting sixteen fuel depots, twelve ammunition depots, and four staging points on fire. The flames and temperature alone melted steel on tanks, buildings, vehicles, and defense systems.

From the submarine, the UGM-176C missiles all came screaming into two air defense control sites, one command site, and two communications sites. 3 UGM-176D and 1 UGM-176E missiles came flying low, over the airfields, with their 400 bomblets. The missiles could be programmed to release up to 4 salvos of the bomblets of 100 bomblets a piece. They would overfly the target, drop the first salvo, fly around, drop the second, fly around, drop the third, and fly around and drop the fourth. The maximum was four targets but they could drop on one, two, or three. The UGM-176D missiles were each programmed for three attacks. 100 bomblets fell on each of two tarmac areas and 200 bomblets fell on the runways. The UGM-176E missiles were programmed for four targets, dropping on the barracks, the tarmac areas, the runways, and the power relays.

In one crippling strike, the ILAF and ILN put 352 smart-missiles onto targets in Baracoa, Guantanamo, the naval base, both airfields, and many other targets around the province, crippling the communications, air defense, command networks, and the air force. Both runways would be unusuable for at least fourteen to twenty hours. That would be plenty of time to bring in the transports and their escorts.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/Lobster%20Claw/c17night.jpg
C-17 loading up.

Areas of Guantanamo instantly went black in the central command center, buried deep underneath Guantanamo City. The leaders of the military and of the province were all hunkered down. Lights were out though. Both airfields, the naval base, and an entire section of the air defense net had suddenly vanished. The Layartebians were coming!!!

The massive aerial armada of 100 C-17s and their 106 escort aircraft were already in the air. They were flying low now, almost just over the tree tops, flying in strict radio silence, their jamming systems off. The EA-5F Vigilante escorts were way out front, twenty miles or more, flying higher, faster, their active jammers on and their defensive warfare systems activated. They had their AGM-88F AARGMs warmed up and ready, ready to pierce through any point defense SAMs, especially around the cities. Each group had twenty missiles flying on the EA-5Fs and an additional 32 on the escorting F-37s. They also had 32 AGM-205 missiles, which were hard-strike missiles, designed to take out targets of importance. Each F-37 had a single target to launch their missiles at and each one of them would require at least two missiles to knock them out, they were high value targets.

Once they were over the coast, the aircraft all changed to their headings. The group heading westward moved over their waypoints as those moving to Baracoa. The aircraft would be dropping their soldiers and supplies from 1,500 feet AGL to 2,000 feet AGL. The group over Baracoa all dropped their men and supplies on time and on target, putting some 4,088 soldiers onto the ground, one of the largest aerial drops in the history of the Empire.

Over Baracoa, the F-37s working ground defense all acquired their targets, six command bunkers and two power relay stations. They fired off two missiles at each target and quickly switched over to their AARGM missiles, which were honed in on some seventeen, active, point defense missile sites. They would have another fifteen on hand and available. The EA-5Fs working far cover had already taken out six medium-range sites.

On the way to Guantanamo, EA-5Fs tagged some eight medium-range sites and four long-range sites. The F-37s went on to get some twenty-six short-range sites, including six anti-aircraft gun platforms. They would fire their missiles on two radar stations, one communications center, three power relay stations, and two helicopter pads. Unfortunately, six attack helicopters did manage to take off and were over the air in Guantanamo, threatening the incoming C-17s, all fifty of them. F-22s and F-37s out front working CAP targetted the helicopters from far away with their superior AIM-204 Escape missiles and fired accordingly, claiming the first aerial victories of the conflict.

All 206 aircraft quickly evacuated enemy airspace. The Tyrandi Air Force was severely crippled. The runways were out of commission and quite a bit of aircraft were destroyed. Reconnaissance in the morning would reveal just how many were still in working condition.

Throughout the remainder of the night, things were quiet in Tyrandi airspace. Layartebian aircraft were not striking nor were they running any flights. Paratroopers and SOFs were to organize and get into position. Combat air support and combat air patrol would resume at first light in massive force. Layartebian A-13A Viper aircraft would be on hand in massive quantities to fly over the small southeastern area and destroy enemy targets with impunity. Razor, Raptor, Knightowl, Tornado, Firefox, and Foxhound fighters would all be available for counter-air operations, taking out any aircraft that attempted to take off. Cruise missile strikes from bombers would be conducted as well. All of this was set of 0627, where over 500 aircraft attacked southeastern Cuba.

The attack would come in three waves, each one half hour apart. The first wave would happen at 0627 and see the detonation of AGM-86E and AGM-86F CALCM Block III and IIIA cruise missiles. All-in-all, sixty-four B-52H bombers would fire 512 missiles and thirty-six B-1B Lancer bombers would fire 216 missiles. Out of the 728 missiles, some 187 would be incendiary AGM-86Fs. All of the missiles would be aimed and targetted at supply routes, staging points, and other targets of the Tyrandi Army.

The second wave would see actual interdiction into Tyrandi airspace. Forty-eight F-22A Raptor fighters would ingress at 50,000 feet armed with 2 AIM-204A Escape and 6 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles for air to air combat. They would be followed in by sixteen EA-5F Vigilantes with 4 AIM-204A Escape missiles and 2 AGM-88F AARGM Block I missiles for jamming and electronic warfare duties. They would be followed by a flight of one hundred and twenty aircraft, which consisted of forty F-31B Tornados armed with 2 AIM-204A Escape missiles, 2 AGM-205 AMESM missiles, and 2 GBU-52B JDAM bombs; thirty-five F-111M Aardvark bombers with 4 GBU-52B JDAM bombs, twenty-five F-16E Falcon Block 60 fighters armed with 2 AIM-204A Escape missiles, 2 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles, and 4 AGM-205A AMESM missiles, and twenty F-26A Typhoon fighters armed with 6 AIM-204A Escape missiles, 2 AIM-179A BVRAAM missiles, 6 AGM-177A Brimstone missiles, and 4 GBU-51A JDAM bombs. These one hundred and twenty aircraft would descend upon a multitude of targets ranging from the airfields to the army barracks and bases to the naval base.

The third wave would come in with two hundred and thirty-two aircraft. They would consist of thirty-two F-37A Razor fighters armed with 4 AIM-204A Escape missiles, 8 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles, 2 370 gallon fuel tanks, 4 AIM-202A Dodsengel missiles, 2 AIM-179E BVRAAM long-range missiles, and 2 AIM-179C BVRAAM long-range missiles, all for air defense. The further two hundred aircraft would consist of forty F-111M Aardvark bombers, forty FB-22B Manta bombers, forty F-16E Falcon fighters, forty F-31B Tornado fighters, and forty F-37A Razor fighters, all optimized for ground attack. They would hit command and control targets and the airfields. The entire goal was to have, by 0600 the next day, the entire Tyrandi airforce and air defense net completely obliterated.

These three waves would be only three of many for the day. Bombers would resume strikes at 1000 with cruise missile launches and high-altitude, percision bombing. Some forty-eight heavy bombers would take on each task, putting ninety-six more bombers into the air over southeastern Cuba, protected by at least sixty-four more fighters: F-22A Raptors, F-31A Tornados, and F-37A Razors.

OOC: Hey Layarteb, I'm back, my country's being restored.

I want to RP this out, since I've been gone for so long, but do you mind if we start over? If not, I'll be glad to RP as the remnants of the Tyrandisan federal military.

OOC: Hey Layarteb, I'm back, my country's being restored.

I want to RP this out, since I've been gone for so long, but do you mind if we start over? If not, I'll be glad to RP as the remnants of the Tyrandisan federal military.

More or less everything is over and done with, land gone and what not. Aus is all divied up, the Africa stuff is gone, unfortunately it's all gone :(.

Errr, Australia still hasn't actually been conquered yet, and your own thread says the matter is under RP...

(http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=450630)

In any case, I'm willing to say that NZ and Guantanamo have been lost to foreign conquest, but all Cotland has done so far is attack a number of surface navy units. I still possess my rather large and extremely powerful air force (BTW, the Seraph has already been discontinued as obsolete, all fighters are now Eidolons or my new Xeon-series), which is in underground bunkers in the Australian outback, and no amphibious assault has yet taken place on the shores, meaning my land armies are still there. Not to mention, my submarine forces have yet been to be attacked as well as sizeable carrier battle groups currently in the Pacific.

So can I still fight for my land? Please?

Errr, Australia still hasn't actually been conquered yet, and your own thread says the matter is under RP...

(http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=450630)

In any case, I'm willing to say that NZ and Guantanamo have been lost to foreign conquest, but all Cotland has done so far is attack a number of surface navy units. I still possess my rather large and extremely powerful air force (BTW, the Seraph has already been discontinued as obsolete, all fighters are now Eidolons or my new Xeon-series), which is in underground bunkers in the Australian outback, and no amphibious assault has yet taken place on the shores, meaning my land armies are still there. Not to mention, my submarine forces have yet been to be attacked as well as sizeable carrier battle groups currently in the Pacific.

So can I still fight for my land? Please?

Well it kinda went odd. See if it were D12 then by all means yes. If it were 21-day then by all means yes. But because you got deleted it all went into free-claim, meaning that no RP is required, unfortunately. Hence all the land u hand went into free claim. Whilst they are still dong the RP for that (as far as I am aware) it's just for formalities. Technically all of the land is gone or claimed or claimed for. The reason I haven't sent it out is because they haven't divied it up yet and I didn't want to update the map 400 times, as usually happens when people trade away land left & right. Technically, because of that deletion you weren't a part of E2 anymore (kinda like when DA got the deat). You could ask to participate and I wouldn't mind actually fighting someone here (and knowing what I am going against) but technically nobody actually has to agree to it because it isn't 21-day or D12, it surpassed to deletion.

The first wave of missiles came in when the Tyrandi air defense net was recovering, which was catastrophic for the strike. Though the missiles were supersonic and came in at very low altitudes, some 84 of them were shot down, including 46 incendiary warheads. The missiles that did hit, hit with fervor and accuracy, destroying countless targets, severely damaging others, and moderately damaging even more. Supply routes and suppy depots sat burning underneath the incendiary explosives and high-explosives of the CALCM missiles.

The second wave of strikes came to see EW aircraft laying down metallic fury against air defense radars, active SAM units, and further air defense sites. Strike aircraft descended on the airfields again, bombing aircraft, hangars, runways, control towers, and other structures into oblivion, using JDAM bombs and supersonic, heavy-strike missiles. It was estimated that, by now, 25% of the Tyrandi Air Force was out of commission with a possible 25% more being devestated by this strike wave. The naval base was hurt bad, ships sinking in the harbor. Army bases already hit by cruise missiles were hit again and again and again by the aircraft, seeing tanks and vehicles burning, barracks destroyed, and ammunition storage depots being obliterated.

The third and final wave would come and bomb the airfields once again and even more command and control sites. The bombs that fell from up high would be powerful enough to hit the hardest targets. Rumor already had it that the Tyrandi high command was killed but nothing had been proven yet. Strikes against the main cities were limited with most of the strikes taking place around the countryside, in the more rural areas, against the most isolated targets. The next waves, beginning at 1400, would see strikes against the cities.

At 1400, sixteen B-4A Magnum bombers and sixteen B-7B Incubus bombers would drop another 3.76 million pounds of ordinance, in the form of JDAM bombs weighing 1,000 pounds, 2,000 pounds, and upwards of 4,500 pounds. Their main targets would be more command and control targets in the rural countryside, including six of those already hit. Each bomber had one target and each bomber had enough ordinance to decimate far more than just one.

A second wave would come at 1500 and come with a force of some 400 aircraft: 96 F-37A Razors (CAP), 104 F-16E Falcons (CAS), 80 F-111M Aardvarks (Strike), 60 F-37A Razors (SEAD), and 60 FB-22B Mantas (Strike). They would be hitting more air defense and communications sites, command sites within the cities, and other crucial assets such as the powerplants and other high value targets throughout the province. Their bombs would fall from altitudes in excess of 45,000 feet and their missiles from miles upon miles upon miles away.

The third wave would come a mere hour later, at 1600, and bring with it, even more aircraft. Some 360 more fighters and attack aircraft would come screaming down on the Tyrandi military might, bringing A-13A Vipers (60), F-16E Falcons (60), F-37A Razors (60), and F-31B Tornados (180). They would not only provide CAS and CAP for advancing forces already deployed by parachute but they would also begin operations against the grounded air force and army.

All across Guantanamo, fires raged. The fires were lit from the countless number of missile strikes that hit Guantanamo over the past few hours. The ILN would be coming into the area in force within the next 48 hours even though something dangerous was forming far away. Forming around 13.5°N, 62.7°W was a small tropical depression with sustained winds of 35 miles per hour, moving WNW at 10 mph. The projected path saw it coming south of Jamaica but then who knew where it would be going.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/Lobster%20Claw/01.AL2705W.gif

The Tropical Depression would churn up the entire Caribbean and if it came too far north, it would completely stop the entire operation for a period of time in excess of 18 hours. No naval aircraft could fly, ground operations would be highly difficult, and high altitude bombers would be the only capable aircraft of attacking and only with GPS guided munitions at that. Any medium-altitude flights would have to be halted and effectively, the entire area would be off-limits. That would be if it became a tropical storm. If it were to become a hurricane, it could do far worse. Naval units in the AO would have to either evacuate or ride out the storm and with swells in the area of 20 feet during a tropical storm to more and in a hurricane, it could be in excess of 46 feet. Ships would have a serious time riding through the storms. If they listed too far, they would capsize.

The Tyrandi landscape was not the same as it had been a week ago. Craters and burning fires dotted areas around major military targets. The wreckage of aircraft and structures littered the airfields. The naval base was damage severely and two ships had sunk in port. The rest had all made it out, southward, and were unaccounted for, which were six destroyers and eight submarines. The destroyers had, most likely, escaped southward, into the heart of the Caribbean Sea and the submarines had probably gone into either the Cayman Trench or the Windward Passage. That would make sense. Stopping the ILN from coming through the Windward Passage was a definitive way of stopping them from landing Marines.

Most of the warships were already in the Caribbean and the only one that was not there was still in the Atlantic, coming south from Newfoundland. The battlegroup coming from there had 1/3 of the Marines being used in the operation and thus it would have to arrive before anything could commence. The remaining warships were already preparing. They had conducted training throughout the course of the time that they were present, while looking for enemy warships, submarines, and aircraft.

The second grouping of strikes had pulverized more and more of the Tyrandi military. If their total forces were above 50% operational readiness it was a miracle. Strike continued throughout the day and into the night, seeing another three groups of three wave strikes, giving nine more sets of sorties over the province. By the time that was over, it was doubtful the Tyrandi's had any will to fight but that would be found on the beachhead, not at 36,000 feet.

They did manage to scramble a dozen or more fighters but most of them had been shot down by F-37A Razors using Escape and AMRAAM missiles. There had been no dogfights, as expected, and the closest they got to one was a five mile kill using an Escape. The airbases were continually pummelled by cruise missiles, cluster bombs, and JDAM guided munitions.

When dawn rose the next morning, everything was taking a bad turn for the Tyrandi province. Paratroopers and SOFs began their assaults, using their FPVs to attack the airfields, naval bases, and cities. SOFs at the naval base and airfields were already attacking. They were meeting strong resistance, from hundreds and thousands of enemy soldiers. Snipers were reporting kills in the area of fifty plus, confirmed. Soldiers assaulting with machine guns and assault rifles were slowly advancing inwards. The second airfield, still unattacked, was already preparing. The soldiers there were digging in and in between bombing raids, makeshift runways were made, enabling fighters to begin to take off. By dawn, two makeshift runways were set up and available for use. They had an ability now to harass the incoming bombers and strike aircraft.

The first waves of the new day would begin around 0600, with F-111M Aardvarks, A-5D Vigilantes, F-16E Falcons, and F-37A Razors. EA-5F Vigilante EW planes and RA-5E Vigiliante recon aircraft were flying support and high speed missions doing BDA. The whole area was under heavy flight patterns. RA-5Es flew low-level, at near top-speed, breaking the soundbarrier. EA-5Fs flew medium-level, their powerful jammers confusing everything for miles upon miles upon miles. The remaining aircraft were up at medium-altitudes as well, dropping their guided bombs and firing their long-range missiles under the cover of Razors and Raptors flying CAP. By the time noon came, a grand total of forty-six Tyrandi aircraft had been shot down in the air and two new aces were made. Another pilot was only one kill away from being a triple ace and as he flew his F-37A over enemy airspace, he was hoping for one unlucky fighter to creep onto his radar scope so that he could put an AMRAAM, BVRAAM, Escape, or Dodsengel into his ass. It was just a matter of time.

After days of bombardment, fierce firefights at the airports, navy base, and inside the cities, the Tyrandi backbone was broken. The catastrophic event that had been put into motion was one of true resolve and true courage. By the time the Marine landings were ready, the Tyrandi Air Force was non-existent, their navy was sitting at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, their army was crushed, and their militias were the only remanents left of their mighty military.

However, there was impending doom for the Layartebian assault. In just forty-eight hours a small, though powerful, tropical storm was coming their way, and brining with it 45 mph winds.

http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/Role-Playing/Lobster%20Claw/17.AL2705W.gif

Tuesday was only forty-eight hours away and the ILN was already making preparations. They were going to land as many Marines as they could and allow them to hunker down as best as they could while the ships headed out into the deep water, to ride out the storm. Carriers operations would be out of the question.

The storm had missed the area on the first pass but now it was scheduled to come back for another one, a brutal one that would lead it directly into the path of the Marine landings.