NationStates Jolt Archive

The President of Chechen Republic: Amar Shanz
Chechen Population: 5 million
Chechen ethnic groups: 55% Chechen, 21% Russian, 10% Turkish, 6% Georgian, 6% Arab, 2% English

Provinces: Istari, Iskaytira, Alka Terro, Zalala, Yitina

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Two soldiers walked by the bunker and turned the corner, as they turned the corner, several guns were turned on them and they dropped their weapons and raised their hands. Quickly they were tied up, and the several dozen rebels, coup members, moved quickly to the main building that held military communications for the small nation of Chechen Republic. Machine gun fire was exchanged between the several dozen men and women and several guards at the main building.

In the short exchange of gun fire, there laid 2 coup members, and 1 soldier dead in a pool of blood. However, the coup members were in control and were blaring over the radio that they were in control of the country.

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Capital of Grozny:

Fighting began immediately between coup members and units of the military loyal to the President. So far it was unknown who had the upper hand, but there were more loyal soldiers to coup members in the capital of Grozny.

Bullets whizzed by Cpl Allanon as he hid behind a garbage can in the main street of the capital Grozny. Rebel forces, or coup plotters of a former Russian commander had tried to gain control of the new nation of Chechen Republic and depose the President Shanz. They had taken a military base with several casualties, but had retreated when two army units hadn't sided with them like they planned. They were now off in the mountains somewhere.

However in the capital, a army unit the 7th infantry with 200 soldiers had gone with the rebellion and had lead to several hours of street fighting. There were unknown reports of rebel and security force casualities, but Allanon had seen the bodies of two dead civilians as he had come down the street.

Several more soldiers moved past, as he laid down covering fire for the four or five soldiers.

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Official Chechen Republic Foreign Ministry:

We have had a coup by a Russian general with supporters from what we believe to be the Russian minority within our national borders. We believe they are receiving outside help and request peacekeepers or someone to come to our assistance, preferablly a Muslim nation. Thank you.

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General Admar Palovich communications:

We are raising a resistance against Muslim agression and trying to unite the Chechen lands to a greater land of united Russians. Please if you support the end of Islamic tyranny please assist.

OOC: Anyone going to assist or condone or oppose the actions of the two parties?

Encrypted Message to the Chechen Republic:

If you are willing to install a cooperative government where both a monarch (OOC: Whichever title you want) and a parliament share power evenly where no one is above the other then we will assist in any way we are able. In return we will drive out your the terrorists and after the war for your independence we will supply your nation with money, arms, and supplies. Do you agree to these terms?

We are independent. We are having a coup from a Russian insurgent who has some supporters who want to create a greater Russian country.

Coded transmission from the Brettonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As another nation seeks to define itself in the world theatre, we in Bretton would be pleased to offer our assistence to your cause.

We have one stipulation: it has long been our belief that, while personal freedoms are greatly necessary for any succesful nation, a democratic government works best in groups of less than fifteen people, and is wholly unsuited for the serious business of running a country. Therefore, we will trust that the leaders of your rebellion will make the proper decisions in keeping the new nation up and running.

If you find this to be acceptable to your cause, we shall assist posthaste. Be in touch.

End transmission

OOC: Sorry, I know that you weren't splitting off I used a wrong word and I will correct it now.

Coded transmission from the Brettonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As another nation seeks to define itself in the world theatre, we in Bretton would be pleased to offer our assistence to your cause.

We have one stipulation: it has long been our belief that, while personal freedoms are greatly necessary for any succesful nation, a democratic government works best in groups of less than fifteen people, and is wholly unsuited for the serious business of running a country. Therefore, we will trust that the leaders of your rebellion will make the proper decisions in keeping the new nation up and running.

If you find this to be acceptable to your cause, we shall assist posthaste. Be in touch.

End transmission

Rebel Transmission:

We will accept your stipulation for government. We are prepared to create a government of 15 or less. We need advisers and military aid.

--------------

Fighting had ceased in the capital city of Gronzy with military forces in control of the capital region. President Amar Shanz is due to make a peace conference in a few hours.

Rebel forces under Admar Palovich have gone into the mountain provinces to fight against the government forces.

In the fight for the military base;

2 soldiers and 2 coup members were killed, while in the capital there was 9 coup members killed along with 5 soldiers and 5 civilians for a total of 23 dead.

The Aequatian government is prepared to offer support to maintain the sovereignty of the Chechen Republic. While we are a secular nation, we believe in the importance of protecting independent states against exterior interference. With the permission of the Chechen administration, we would be willing to aid by deploying our own military to the region as a peacekeeping force.

General Arnold Saltzman,
Aequatian Head of State.

The Aequatian government is prepared to offer support to maintain the sovereignty of the Chechen Republic. While we are a secular nation, we believe in the importance of protecting independent states against exterior interference. With the permission of the Chechen administration, we would be willing to aid by deploying our own military to the region as a peacekeeping force.

Chechen Republic Foreign Ministry:

To the Aequatian government we accept your offer of a peacekeeping force. We will have to discuss the size and what kind of conditions they will face but it will be acceptable, as long as if they commit crimes, if any, in Chechen Republic they will face Islamic law, unless prosecuted in their home country.

Aequatian soldiers have only ever had an excellent record in combat zones and have performed in a most professional manner within foreign nations and will keep their conduct within the confines of the host nation's culture and laws. As for deployment, we will be sending the Aequatian 1st Marine Division with an attached Aviation Regiment which would be mobilized through an area of responsibility within the Chechen Republic. Numbers consist of the following:

23,944 Personnel
396 "Raider" Light Armoured Vehicles
180 "Banshee" Main Battle Tanks
100 "Viking" Landing Vehicles, Tracked
72 155mm Field Howitzers
72 AH-16 Black Cobra Helicopter Gunships
45 UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters
20 MH-46A Black Knight Helicopters

Aequatian soldiers have only ever had an excellent record in combat zones and have performed in a most professional manner within foreign nations and will keep their conduct within the confines of the host nation's culture and laws. As for deployment, we will be sending the Aequatian 1st Marine Division with an attached Aviation Regiment which would be mobilized through an area of responsibility within the Chechen Republic. Numbers consist of the following:

23,944 Personnel
396 "Raider" Light Armoured Vehicles
180 "Banshee" Main Battle Tanks
100 "Viking" Landing Vehicles, Tracked
72 155mm Field Howitzers
72 AH-16 Black Cobra Helicopter Gunships
45 UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters
20 MH-46A Black Knight Helicopters

Acceptable but why don't you make it an even 24,000 soldiers.

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In the mountains of Chechen Republic, several dozen insurgents fired machine guns at a patrol of two dozen soldiers, mostly Muslim. The short firefight left 1 soldier and 1 coup member dead. However, with tensions rising between ethnic groups, most of the coup members had been of Russian descent, so it was only natural to have rioting in the capital of Grozny. The police forces did not quell the violence, that resulted in 100+ people being injured mostly Russian or Enlgish.

Acceptable but why don't you make it an even 24,000 soldiers.

OOC: It's not an even number since the number has been carefully calculated with the organization.

IC:

Operation Just Sentinel, Order of Battle

1st Marine Division
23,944 Personnel
396 "Raider" Light Armoured Vehicles
180 "Banshee" Main Battle Tanks
100 "Viking" Landing Vehicles, Tracked
72 155mm Field Howitzers
*201st Aviation Regiment
72 AH-16 Black Cobra Helicopter Gunships
45 UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters
20 MH-46A Black Knight Helicopters

The force would be deployed to Groznyy and mobilize from a base of operations until an area of responsibility can be established within the republic.

Aequatio:

You will have to protect your peacekeepers because the insurgent scum already killed a soldier in a sneak attack.

You can establish your base near the outskirts of Grozny.

Rebel Transmission:

We will accept your stipulation for government. We are prepared to create a government of 15 or less. We need advisers and military aid.

--------------

Fighting had ceased in the capital city of Gronzy with military forces in control of the capital region. President Amar Shanz is due to make a peace conference in a few hours.

Rebel forces under Admar Palovich have gone into the mountain provinces to fight against the government forces.

In the fight for the military base;

2 soldiers and 2 coup members were killed, while in the capital there was 9 coup members killed along with 5 soldiers and 5 civilians for a total of 23 dead.


Coded response

We are dispatching an expeditionary battalion with all due haste. We will call again as we near deployment for specifics.

End response

Corporal Ken Ericsson arrived in Groznyy along with the other members of his battalion, his rifle was slung across his back as he assembled with the others on the tarmac while around them, vehicles and heavy equipment was being unloaded from the transport aircraft. The Marines would be comandeering the airport and using it for their base of operations to protect the Russian and English minority within the capital from the Chechen majority that was targetting them.

"Fuckers are always causing trouble!" said one of the Marines as they loaded into a Viking personnel carrier. Ericsson's A Company, 1-1st Marines would be moving from the airport through the city to a block of residences that housed mostly Russian ethnics. They would maintain security for the area until relieved the next morning. Eight "Viking" armoured carriers moved out of the gates with two humvees in lead and two at the rear with a platoon of four Lynx armoured cars for security as they turned the corner and moved down the street towards the flats.

The Russian minorities were still being targeted by the Chechen Republic civilians, as violence and rioting continued in Grozny. Fires burned at Russian churches, and the first death was reported, a 61-year-old Russian man who was protecting a church when he was shot to death.

So with the rioting and coup violence, 26 people had been killed.

The convoy halted before the flats when it was noticed that a group of gunmen were chasing after an unarmed group of civilians, Ericsson sat on the roof of the vehicle with his rifle in hand. The vehicle's commander, a sergeant, pointed at the two groups as he manned the 20mm autocannon and fired a burst of rounds over the gunmen's heads, both groups dropped to the ground as Ericsson's squad dismounted and moved along the side of the street towards the civilians, he heard a burst of fire as the gunmen scattered from the vehicle's weapon.

A young private laughed, "They're not used to people shooting back at them!" as the squad herded the civilians to the armoured carriers. A translator talked with them and discovered that they lived in the very residences they were en route to, so they were laoded into the vehicles and the Marines walked alongside the vehicle as the convoy started again. Ericsson watched the alley and doorways for gunmen or gunners with rocket launchers, he was tense like any others around him.

As the peacekeeper convoy moved past an alleyway, protecting the Russian and Enlgish minorities that were involved in the coup, about a dozen to two dozen men, armed with Ak-47s and RPGs prepared to attack. Several were up in a third story window on the left side of the convoy, in a red apartment building. Several others were in the alleyway with grenades and Ak-47s.

Just then two of the armed men with RPGs leaned out the window and fired two RPGs at the convoy. One RPG missed completely and exploded down the street away from the convoy, but the other one landed in front of the convoy.

Just then, about four to six gunmen came out of two alleyways and began to open fire on the peacekeeper convoy, firing their Ak-47s into the vehicles and such.

Several civilians, Muslim and Russia ran away even though one woman was hit in the side and fell to the ground with a bullet to the side.

At the report of gunfire, several police cars arrived on the scene and exchanged gunfire with the armed men on the street. A RPG was fired at the police cars, resulting in the lead one going up in flames. The exchange of gunfire soon ceased and the police had arrested most of the attacking men. Luckily only 3 gunmen, and 2 police officers and the woman had been wounded in the fighting.

A police sgt moved to the lead convoy and asked;

"Anyone injured or killed."

----------------

In the mountains of Chechen Republic, several soldiers came upon a former camp of what appeared to be insurgents. The fire in the center of the camp had burned out and it appeared that equipment hadn't been used in several days. Therefore, the several dozen insurgents still left, were moving away from the hunting soldiers.

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President Shanz conference:

President Shanz a middle-age, Muslim man stood at the podium stroking his hair before speaking.

"Several days ago, a coup took place, mainly by a minority within our ethnic community of minorities. Since then there has been violence in Grozny which has left one civilian dead, and brought the death toll to 26. Now, the government understands the majorities anger against the minority that caused this coup, and we agree that anger should be frustrated directed at the General and his forces not ordinary, law-abiding citizens. So, if the violence doesn't end we will be prepared to lead Jihad against these criminals who believe it is desirable to wage an ethnic wart within our lands. To the insurgents that tried to topple the government. If you were a mere soldier, you will be treated fairly, however, if you were and officer, you will be given death when caught.

That is all."

To Chechen Republic Foreign Ministry:

We are a United Nations nation and if you need a peacekeeping force within your borders to seperate both sides in the conflict and help in ending ethnic violence we will be happy to deploy forces to help you in this troubled time.

To Union Canada:

We accept your offer of peacekeepers. They will have to follow the Islamic laws of Chechen Republic and if they commit a crime be faced with Islamic law.

To Chechen Republic Foreign Ministry:

We are prepared to send several thousand troops. They will be under the U.N and wear U.N berets and insignias.

---------------

2nd infantry unit

300 soldiers
14 Mach-14 tanks
10 howitzers
22 transport trucks

5th infantry unit
250 soldiers
10 transport trucks

along with 5 armed helicopters that will have a crew of four each in them so a total of

570 U.N peacekeepers so far. We will deploy more later.

Corporal Ericsson approached the police sergeant, "Two wounded, only minor though... our medics are looking after them." The firefight had been brief, especially with the arrival of the local police force. He had thought it was odd that the gunmen would be bold enough to attack a well-equipped, foreign military force yet yield so quickly to local authorities.

The lead humvee had swirved to avoid the rocket that exploded in the street, it had struck a line of parked civilian vehicles and plowed through them. The group of Marines staggered from the wreckage but quickly regained their composure and were ready to fight.

Members of the support battalion had arrived with another platoon of armoured cars and a recovery vehicle to transport the damaged humvee back to the makeshift motor pool that had been established. An ambulance also arrived to return the wounded personnel to the field hospital, the convoy would continue on to the flats.

The lead transport plane carried several vehicles and ammunition from the nation of Union Canada as they landed at the international airport in Grozny. Several peacekeepers got out, pistols strapped to their hip, blue berets on their head with the U.N insignia. They wondered if they were going to meet any Chechen officials to tell them where to place their forces. The peacekeepers could see the tents and supplies of another nation, who knows who as several more peacekeepers emerged from the plane.

In the next week, a total of 570 Union Canada peacekeepers under the auspicy of the United Nations would be in Chechen Republic.

The policeman turned away from the foreign peacekeepers and walked back to the other police cars, where three militants were to be taken away to prison for the violence that left several people wounded but no one dead fortunately. He roughly pushed one of the injured gunmen into the back of a police vehicle as two more police cars arrived to begin to collect evidence and hunt for the criminals.

The lead transport plane carried several vehicles and ammunition from the nation of Union Canada as they landed at the international airport in Grozny. Several peacekeepers got out, pistols strapped to their hip, blue berets on their head with the U.N insignia. They wondered if they were going to meet any Chechen officials to tell them where to place their forces. The peacekeepers could see the tents and supplies of another nation, who knows who as several more peacekeepers emerged from the plane.

In the next week, a total of 570 Union Canada peacekeepers under the auspicy of the United Nations would be in Chechen Republic.

A humvee flying the Aequatian flag and that of the Aequatian Marines, an older man in simply a battle dress uniform and a field cap with two stars on it approached the Union Canadians, "Greetings, I am Major-General Thomas Doyle, commander of the Aequatian 1st Marine Division and of my nation's contribution to the peacekeeping force within the Chechen Republic."

As our nation knows all too well the experience of dealing with rebellion and terrorism, Grand Duke Caedmon Bedwyr has authorized me to place at your disposal the 3rd Battalion of the Cymry Brigade, our elite special operations unit. They and their support equipment will be transported to your nation upon your reply. They will require no more than a small airfield as a base of operations.

Shay O'Donnal
Foreign Minister,
Caer Dyvi, Yr Widdfa

3rd Battalion, 10th Special Operations Brigade (The Cymry Brigade)

240 Personnel
25 Light Recon Vehicles
20 A-94 Fury Attack Helicopters
15 AT-23 Harpy Attack/Transport Helicopters

A humvee flying the Aequatian flag and that of the Aequatian Marines, an older man in simply a battle dress uniform and a field cap with two stars on it approached the Union Canadians, "Greetings, I am Major-General Thomas Doyle, commander of the Aequatian 1st Marine Division and of my nation's contribution to the peacekeeping force within the Chechen Republic."

Captain Sanderson, was the head of the U.N mission of Union Canada within this nation. He looked at the Aequatian flag and General, a major General no doubt and saluted in a respectful tradition.

"We are the lead transport of the U.N mission in Chechen Republic. The government has accepted our arrival and we are the first 20 of 570 soldiers being deployed here as peacekeepers. We have heard about the ethnic violence in the capital and have come to assist until we are deployed by the government to where they want. I am Captain Sanderson by the way, I am apart of 2nd infantry.

In the mountains, Admar Palovich had about 100 soldiers that were still going to fight for him, and in densely Russian areas he had support from the civilians. However, since the coup had taken place, he and his forces hadn't done much violence with the Muslim government in charge of this fictionous country and watched with interest as the government and the Muslim majority destabilized themselves with the rioting that had left one Russian civilian, and several peacekeepers injured.

He smirked before he stroked his beard. He then spoke in Russian to a private, ordering him to get him some vodka from the local village.

------------

To Yr-Widdfa:

As the government of Chechen Republic, President Shanz accepts your proposal and would like you to send your forces as peacekeepers to the international airport in Grozny where they will be told where to go. Thank you again!

The convoy arrived at the flats and the vehicles had assembled within the commons that sat in between the block of buildings. Ericsson moved with his platoon and two of the armoured vehicles to the Southeast corner of the perimeter as did the other three groupings to their respective points at the corners. The humvees and armoured cars would remain within the commons and only move should their assistance be required to bolster a point on the perimeter.

The civilians that had been picked up exited the vehicles and returned to their homes, they were shaken and uneasy, but were all right. They were told to remain indoors until the fighting had ceased or until they could be removed from the area and relocated to a safer environment. A MH-60 helicopter arrived with a squad of Military Police officers and a replacement humvee as a slingload underneath the aircraft. The wheels were set down on the ground before the crewchief let the cables go and the pilot circled around before landing and allowing the MPs to disembark. They would be present to process any prisoners that were captured by the Marines. Ericsson watched the helicopter travel off towards the airport and almost felt dispair, almost expecting it to never return.

A second Union Canada transport plane, carrying over 60 soldiers and some more transport trucks touched down at the airport. Now with nearly, 100 soldiers under the U.N in Chechen Republic Captain Sanderson, decided to put a squad of 25 in one of the hotzones, about 5 miles away in a small Russian minority enclave surrounded by Muslim neighborhoods, in the capital of Grozny.

With the soldiers climbing onto a transport truck, and a second one, both transport trucks carrying 25 U.N peacekeepers drove out of the Airport and headed along their way.

Captain Sanderson, was the head of the U.N mission of Union Canada within this nation. He looked at the Aequatian flag and General, a major General no doubt and saluted in a respectful tradition.

"We are the lead transport of the U.N mission in Chechen Republic. The government has accepted our arrival and we are the first 20 of 570 soldiers being deployed here as peacekeepers. We have heard about the ethnic violence in the capital and have come to assist until we are deployed by the government to where they want. I am Captain Sanderson by the way, I am apart of 2nd infantry.

"We were to be deployed elsewhere within the nation, however, due to the situation growing within the capital region, we are going to remain here and attempt to stabilize the situation," explained the general, "I have sent infantry companies to areas around the city that house the Russian and English minorities to protect them from being targetted by angry militia groups. If possible, we could use your support around the city just making sure that important community areas are not targetted in addition to residences."

Behind the general stood one of his staff officers, a young lieutenant-colonel, in the standard digital woodland disruptive pattern of the Aequatian military, the insignia on his shoulder revealed him as an intelligence officer when he tapped Doyle on the shoulder and spoke, "Sir, it may be best to combine the forces' resources."

"Yes, you are welcome to utilize any of our resources, be it helicopters, tanks or medical personnel," said the general with a smile, "We are in this together."

In the capital of Grozny, near the region where the U.N peacekeepers were going, an explosion, from a grenade went off outside a mosque. There were reports of injuries and fatalities as soldiers and ambulences went to the region.When they arrived their, they could clear see that one person, a child was dead and that at least 15 other people had been wounded in the explosion. A policeman, quickly grabbed a injured child and carried her into the back of an ambulance. However, sadly that child died of her injuries as well.

Therefore two children were killed and 14 people injured in an attack that the government immediately blamed on the insurgent coup members. And indirectly the Russian minority.

Maj. Llwch Maelwys sat casually in the doorway of the Harpy. The Chechen capitol sped by below. He could see smoke where fires had started. Occasionally, he thought he heard gunfire, but it was probably just the whirling blades overhead. The crew chief sat calmly next to him, manning the chaingun and watching for danger. The international airport was still a few minutes away, but they were high enough that small arms fire would not reach the choppers. An RPG might, but by the time the rebels would know of their presence, they would have passed them by.
At last, the Harpy set down on a tarmac at the airport. The Transports landed quickly and discharged they Battalion while the Furies circled over head. Once the last troops had disembarked, the Furies went into a rotating holding pattern overhead. The Harpies landed to await orders and the troops fell out in the general area, setting up a command center and as well as small tents.
Maj. Maewys started looking for a Chechen representative.

"We were to be deployed elsewhere within the nation, however, due to the situation growing within the capital region, we are going to remain here and attempt to stabilize the situation," explained the general, "I have sent infantry companies to areas around the city that house the Russian and English minorities to protect them from being targetted by angry militia groups. If possible, we could use your support around the city just making sure that important community areas are not targetted in addition to residences."

Behind the general stood one of his staff officers, a young lieutenant-colonel, in the standard digital woodland disruptive pattern of the Aequatian military, the insignia on his shoulder revealed him as an intelligence officer when he tapped Doyle on the shoulder and spoke, "Sir, it may be best to combine the forces' resources."

"Yes, you are welcome to utilize any of our resources, be it helicopters, tanks or medical personnel," said the general with a smile, "We are in this together."

Captain Sanderson said;

"Thank you for the offer, and i suspect that we will assist you and can ask for assistance when needed from your forces. We are already sending about 25 soldiers to a Russian neighborhood, and if you want to send a unit or platoon if you have enough resources to send they might need it.

... information of the grenade attack on the Muslim mosque which killed two children near the area that the U.N soldiers were being deployed to was heard over the radio

... "We might need some help to calm tensions."

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The first transport truck rolled into the Russian neighborhood and deployed their forces, and setup a small encampment of soldiers and supplies around the corner. Several men and women greeted these soldiers, and the U.N peacekeepers greeted the adults with smiles and gave some candy to children. However when they saw two men with weapons they immediately got the attention of the peacekeepers and, the squad commander quickly ordered four soldiers to disarm the two men and arrest them, which was done without incident. The two men were then taken to the supplies and sat on a crate, hands in plastic cuffs.

A car pulled up to the airport, and a Chechen foreign affairs minister stepped out. Hoping to get the attention of all three international heads he said;

"Thank you for coming to Grozny. I believe all of you are here as peacekeepers, and because Russian and English minorities spies for General Pavlovich are still in the capital killing and terrorising the majority population, we think your assistance is needed in Gronzy at the moment. However, there are also good Russians and English minorities that have been targeted in anger by good Muslim men and women. That is why we believe you should deploy to these regions, and join police units as well all across the city. Hopefully, if you get into an incident violence is not needed, and you will be under strict orders not to kill any civilians. If you do, your soldiers will face Islamic law here, or face prosecution within your own nation. However, casualties are expected, but hopefully civilians will be avoided. Any questions?"

"Do you have any idea where the attacks are being organized from, or where the rebels are based? Surely there must be a supplier of weapons somewhere in the city that we could hit," said Maelwys, pulling off his grey boony hat and wiping sweat from his hair. "If not, then where in the city do you want my men setting up?"

Meanwhile, several of the Furies had moved off to patrol the city, searching for hotspots of activity. They had orders not to engage unless ordered or fired upon, so they flew high, using nose mounted cameras to zoom in on the city bellow.

A car pulled up to the airport, and a Chechen foreign affairs minister stepped out. Hoping to get the attention of all three international heads he said;

"Thank you for coming to Grozny. I believe all of you are here as peacekeepers, and because Russian and English minorities spies for General Pavlovich are still in the capital killing and terrorising the majority population, we think your assistance is needed in Gronzy at the moment. However, there are also good Russians and English minorities that have been targeted in anger by good Muslim men and women. That is why we believe you should deploy to these regions, and join police units as well all across the city. Hopefully, if you get into an incident violence is not needed, and you will be under strict orders not to kill any civilians. If you do, your soldiers will face Islamic law here, or face prosecution within your own nation. However, casualties are expected, but hopefully civilians will be avoided. Any questions?"

"With all due respect, Mr. Minister, urban combat cannot guarantee the absense of civilian casualties," said General Doyle, irritation in his voice, "Although we will use the utmost restraint, our standard rules of engagement are to fire back and we will not be held back by the same tactics used by the enemy in the Balkan conflict in the early 90's by giving way to snipers and gunmen firing from civilian buildings in hopes we will not fire back, our troops will do what they can to protect your citizens, but they will do whatever it takes to protect themselves and their comrades."

The Intelligence Lieutenant-Colonel spoke, "We have already displayed our restraint by not utilizing our force's artillery or air support elements, by leaving our helicopters on the ground and our howitzers undeployed and only using infantry units, we have already prevented as many civilian casualties as possible short of leaving the country."

-----

Ericsson sat on a stoop of an apartment building on his corner of the perimeter and was sharing a chocolate bar with a group of children as the other Marines sat relaxed, but vigilant to the streets around their position. Within a few hours, the sun would be going down and they would have to convert to using their night observation equipment, which would limit their combat abilities.

"Do you have any idea where the attacks are being organized from, or where the rebels are based? Surely there must be a supplier of weapons somewhere in the city that we could hit," said Maelwys, pulling off his grey boony hat and wiping sweat from his hair. "If not, then where in the city do you want my men setting up?"

Meanwhile, several of the Furies had moved off to patrol the city, searching for hotspots of activity. They had orders not to engage unless ordered or fired upon, so they flew high, using nose mounted cameras to zoom in on the city bellow.

"We do not know where the insurgent scum is hiding. In the city, we would like Yr-Widdfa to deploy in the northern and western regions of the city along with other peacekeeping forces, where their are more Russian people."

The twenty-five peacekeepers within the enclave of Russian neighborhood in Grozny bunkered down for the night. They had heard about the explosion that had killed the two young childrenand had sent several soldiers that had assisted the injured along with police authorities.

However, everything seemed quiet in the small Russian neighborhood in Grozny, and their didn't seem to be any violence or inclinations of any acts of violence.

At the outskirts of the airport, several armed men, unknown if they were insurgent or militia men, positioned themselves outside the gate and positioned two mortar guns at the international tents and stuff that was at the airport.

Immediately two mortar shells were fired immediately from the mortar guns and another six mortar shells were fired before the men left. Explosions rocked the area that was under International control and it was unknown how many casualities there were from the three peacekeeping forces.

Widdfae Helicopters doubled their patrols, looking for some sort of sign of where the center was. There had to be something behind this. Meanwhile, Maelwys ordered 2nd platoon off to the Russian quarter. The other half of his force remained at the airport for now. Half of the platoon moved into the center of the district, near an old hotel, and set up a command post there. The other half split off and began patroling the area. They were ready for anything. Most of them had been involved in the defence of Kriegorgrad's capitol several years ago. They remembered the desperate battle there and the horrific aftermath.
So they passed silently through the streets in grey BDUs, rifles at the ready.


Maelwys and the 1st platoon ran for cover. The troopers threw tables over and dove behind crates and began firing. The men manning the morter were easy targets in the open. At the same time, one of the Fury gunships roared in from its holding position and laid waste to the morter position with the wing mounted chainguns.

The explosions rocked the ground of the International airport, nearly hitting the Union Canada transport plane. Immediately several Canadian soldiers opened fire with pistols in the same direction of the Yr-Widda peacekeepers were firing. The two mortar positions were destroyed from the gunfire that was shot towards that position.

Captain Sanderson yelled:

"Anyone injured? Is there anyone injured or killed from the other two peacekeeping forces?"

Several of the armed men exchanged gun fire with the peacekeepers. Bullets hit off the mortar emplacements, and soon fire was coming from both implacements.

The gunmen moved into the shrub and continued to fire at the peacekeepers. One of the gunmen though fell over, dead with a bullet in the head. The other gunmen ran away even though some of them probably had injuries.

Snipers continued to fire at the retreating men. Finally, they were too far and Maelwys ordered them to stop. Three men were down with shrapnel injuries. Medics saw to them. Several others had minor cuts and scrapes from debris or from diving for cover, but no one was killed. Maelwys and five others advanced toward the position to recover the enemy dead and their equipment, to see if any clues might be gained from it.

At the other side of the fence, where the mortar impliments were, there laid two dead men, that seemed to be of European or Russian descent so probably they were a part of the insurgents who were apart of the coup.

Because of the violence at the airport, it brought the death toll to now 30.

With the three injured Yr-Widda peacekeepers, it was still unknown if anyone had been killed by the shelling. Union Canadian peacekeepers, numbering around 150 now were reporting in.

However, Captain Sanderson could see that 6 Union Canada peacekeepers had been injured two of them with extremely serious burns and head and upper body damage.

As he moved over to the stretchers where Union Canada soldiers were caring for their injured mates, there was a call, and a paramedic began to do CPR on a limp soldier. Captain Sanderson turned his head as after a few minutes a blanket was put over the injured soldier.

Therefore, so far in the attack,

1 Union Canada soldier had been killed along with 2 gunmen.

5 Union canada soldiers had been wounded along with 3 Yr-Widdfa peacekeepers.

The Aequatio force hadn't said if they had injured or dead.

Eight Marines were wounded in the mortar attack when an M35 2.5-ton truck was hit with a shell and exploded, two of the wounded are in serious condition. Within moments of the attack, a section of AH-16 attack helicopters was in the air and began to run the perimeter of the base. Major Chuck "Blackbird" Crowley looked at the monitor of the helicopter's FLIR camera and noticed a pair of light vehicles driving away from where the enemy mortar fire had originated. He adjusted the microphone on his helmet's headset and spoke, "MARTower, this is Blackbird One-One... have spotted possible technicals, permission to engage, over."

There was a pause until General Doyle's voice was heard through the headphone, "Affirmative, Blackbird One-One, you are cleared to engage enemy vehicles, over and out."

"Roger that MARTower, Blackbirds One-One and One-Two... rolling in hot!" replied the major as the two sleek gunships changed course and came in low over the tarmac. The autocannons at the bow of the aircraft opened fire with a deafening chorus as explosions ripped up the ground around the fleeing vehicles on the ground.

-----

Ericsson had climbed up on top of a Viking armoured carrier and was talking with the vehicle's commander when a small Honda turned the corner and began to speed towards the makeshift blockade created by the two large vehicles, the sergeant pointed at the silver coupe, "Better tell him to stop, or we're going to have to blow him away!"

The corporal jumped down from the vehicle and joined the platoon's translator on the street, the Civil Affairs specialist spoke into the bullhorn as his other hand held onto his sidearm, "Стоп! Стоп теперь!" was heard over the click made by Ericsson's rifle as he switched it to the semiautomatic firing mode and aimed the rifle over the vehicle and fired several warning shots before he turned to the Viking's commander and gestured with a thumbs up and a very serious nod.

The sergeant returned the nod as he aimed the 20mm autocannon at the small car's engine and fired a burst that ripped several holes into the hood and through the front fenders which destroyed the car's front tires. It swirved and came to a stop in a ditch at the side of the road and almost immediately Ericsson and his fireteam carefully marched over to the now immobilized vehicle with their weapons aimed at the driver who was the sole member of its crew who was bleeding from the mouth and the baseball-sized hole in his chest. The platoon's medic went to rush forward but was stopped by the corporal's vice-like grip on his armoured vest, "There could be a bomb in that car for all we know... he'll have to wait until we know it's clear before going near it!" Ericsson pointed at the radioman, "Call the captain and let him know we need an EOD team down here at Sector Three."

"Aye, Sir!" came the reply as the fireteam and medic made their way back to the safety provided by the armoured vehicles.

The attack on the airport had left one Union Canada peacekeeper dead, and left about 16 peacekeepers from all three forces dead. Captain Sanderson, along with several soldiers looked at the body bag that laid at their feet. It held the body of Cpl. Andertunk who had arrived on this mission leaving behind a wife and three children in a poor village in Union Canada. So far besides the two bodies found at the fence near the mortar placements, there were no more militants to be found.

Captain Sanderson sighed and said softly;

"The 25 man crew at the neighborhood checkpoint in Gronzy will have to be changed. So Sgts, let get to it."

The bloody fighting in Gronzy had gotten the attention of Amur Shanz, the president of Chechen Republic. With 32 dead from the coup and ethnic clashes after, the ethnic tensions were being shown, and countries that had peacekeepers in this nation who seemed to not like this national Islamic government.

He sighed softly and rubbed his eyes. Being the leader of a country that was small and was Islamic was tough in this world. Grabbing his cigarette from the tray holder next to his desk he took a puff and sighed again.

-------------

Mountains:

Fifteen soldiers walking through a village spotted several men. They exchanged eye contact, before the men pulled out military issued weapons and began to exchange gunfire with the soldiers. A young farmer was shot and collapsed to the ground as both sides continued to shoot at each other. However, the armed men, being heavily outarmed slowly retreated back into the mountains. This small clash left the civilian dead and an untold number injured.

To the Chechen Democratic Republic:

We have been monitoring the situation currently happening in your country, and we are willing to send a peacekeeping force to Grozny.

To that end, we are willing to send:

1 Battalion (5,000 men) of Special Forces
250 M113A3 APCs
72 Comanche helicopters
2 Global Hawk UAV

We, however, ask that any men that commit crimes while in your country be tried under our courts.

Thank you for your time.

To Altistan:

We accept your offer of peacekeeping forces. We allow for your forces to be tried in your own country if they commit crimes in Chechen Republic.

To Altistan:

We accept your offer of peacekeeping forces. We allow for your forces to be tried in your own country if they commit crimes in Chechen Republic.

When we land at Grozny International Airport, is there any specific areas that you would like us to deploy to?

To Altistan:

You can deploy to the city of Gronzy until the ethnic squabble ends and then we will probably deploy all peacekeepers in the mountainous provinces so that they can fight or be a buffer between the coup members and government forces.

Are there any specific buildings in the city that you want us to deploy to?

No, only the airport where the other 25,000 peacekeepers are.

Battalion C.O Eric Stevenson thought as the final preparations were made for the transport of the peacekeeping force to Chechnya. "So, another nation is experiencing an insurgency, and we're going to try and fix it. Well, at least this one is a democratic one, and Arab no less. God knows there aren't enough of those in the world."

He turned to his men and started to talk.

"So, gentlemen, you know what we're going to. I just want to tell you guys that I want no trouble whatsoever during our deployment. If I hear any trouble at all coming from any of you guys, I'll have you court-martialed and a dishonorable discharge so fast, your head will spin. Do I make myself clear?" he said to the men.

They all nodded. They had all memorized the Armed Forces' Code of Conduct, and planned to live by them.

Lieutenant Randall Steele had just exited his battalion's headquarters and made his way along the tarmac to his helicopter, an Aequatian MH-10 Raven that had been modified for his unit's purpose, psychological warefare operations. He had been given orders to fly over the city and play the message that had been given to him by his commander. Steele sat in his seat and shut the door as his co-pilot entered and began running through a checklist, "What bullshit are we peddling this time 'round?" asked the co-pilot.

"What? And ruin the surprise once we're in the air?" replied Steele as the rotors began to spin and the helicopter began to rise above the ground along with a few others that would be covering other sectors of the city. He reached over to the computer console and began to program the speakers for the message they would be playing, within minutes they began to run their course and the speakers mounted on the short wings came to life, it spoke:

"Citizens of The Democratic States of Chechen Republic, you are being led astray by your own government... They called upon the international community to aid in the extermination of the Russian and English minority within the republic for which they blame the constant violence within your nation. They ask us to remain in the shadows when time comes to protect you against the violent forces that wish to destroy you and yet are quick to blame you, indirectly for the recent civil conflict within your republic. The time has come to enact the guidelines of the social contract and remove the current administration that seeks to mislead you all!"

The message ended and started playing in both Russian and Arabic, it cycled once again back to English as the small helicopter circled the urban morass.

-----

Ericsson and his fireteam were sitting at the side of a building when they heard the message being played by the PSYOP helicopters circling above. They realized that this would only lead to more violence, but the requests made by the government to try and fight the insurgency with both arms tied behind their backs only seemed to prove the point made by the speakers.

-----

Major-General Doyle sat at the table in the division headquarters as his staff moved about the room, performing their duties and directing the force's movements and missions. He had contacted Central Command in Arrio for reinforcements should the situation become a lot worse, they had yet to contact him back with their response. He had already been on edge about the reports of limited firefights around the city between his troops and unknown gunmen in residential zones, MH-60 helicopters had been called out to act as light air support, providing fire from their own weapons for the Marines below.

The body of the Cpl was carried to the transport plane. He was in a black casket, with a blue U.N flag wrapped around it. The first casualty of this peacekeeping mission. As he was put on the transport plane, his casket was saluted and the transport door was closed and the plane went away carrying the first Peacekeeping casualty in Chechen Republic.

Captain Sanderson marched into the room of the major-general. He was enraged at the broadcast of the Aequatio forces.

"What the hell do you think you are doing. Blaring radio messages to raise up against the independent country of Chechen Republic and replace its Islamic government which is in charge of this new nation. We have not seen any signs or evidence that they are trying to destroy their minorities, and we insist that these prodcasts end immediately."

Captain Sanderson marched into the room of the major-general. He was enraged at the broadcast of the Aequatio forces.

"What the hell do you think you are doing. Blaring radio messages to raise up against the independent country of Chechen Republic and replace its Islamic government which is in charge of this new nation. We have not seen any signs or evidence that they are trying to destroy their minorities, and we insist that these prodcasts end immediately."

The general was overtly annoyed by the intrusion and stood up to confront Sanderson, "We've been told time and again to try and take on these gunmen with the most minimal means while allowing them to go after the minorities within the country who are constantly being blamed by the government for the violence when it's not true, since our arrival, we have only seen violence committed against the minorities and have had our own people wounded trying to protect them," Doyle motioned to two Marine Military Police Officers and pointed at the Canadian Captain, "Now get out of my headquarters before I have you removed!"

Captain Sanderson pushed past the two guards and stormed back to his camp. He growled as he walked by some of his soldiers. No wonder, 24,000 soldiers came, they were here for their own reasons.

There had been no big events of violence from the peacekeeper statement the day before. There had been the reported shooting of a police officer in a small village but no big violence.

Since 34 people had been killed in the violence, 1 peacekeeper had been killed as well.

-----------------

Mountains:

In the mountainous region, coup members ambushed an army patrol of 30 soldiers. Fighting was intense between the two sides, as people began to drop. Bullets wizzed by soldiers, hitting the long grass as both sides continued to fire. After a 20-minute gun battle, the soldiers retreated with 3 soldiers dead, 11 injured and 2 captured. 4 Coup members were also killed in the fighting.

-----------

President Amur Shanz got on Public T.V:

"There was a battle today between the insurgents and government forces that left 3 glorious soldiers dead. However, we insist that violence in the capital region between Muslims and Russians end. Even though the general in charge is Russian, we don't know about his soldiers. However, we order the Aequatio forces to leave this nation in the next three days because they have picked the rebel side. The three other peacekeeping forces can remain because they are neutral. If Aequation forces don't leave, we cannot be held accountable to what our citizens do. That is all, good night."

Union Canadian peacekeepers had arrived fully into Gronzy, and were deployed in five regions across the city, and around the airport. There had been no violence reported from the regions after the Aequatio forces had tried to make the civilians rebel against their government. It had resulted in the exact opposition and the civilians were more suspicious of the peacekeepers now, and the Canadian forces, unsure about the other two were trying to calm the situation.

With 569 U.N peacekeepers now in Chechen Republic, Captain Sanderson was telling his forces to be wary of the Aequatio forces who seemed to be up to no good. However, he had checked up on evidence that he had to see if any genocide was being committed against the English and Russian minorities. There had been clashes between both sides, and most of the times the authorities hadn't acted, but they seemed to be cracking down now.

Sighing softly, Sanderson felt that something was going to happen. Hopefully the Aequatio forces would leave.

With the attempt of the Aequatio forces to get rid of the Islamic government of Chechen Republic which had gotten rid of Russian authorities and had Amur Shanz as president in the new nation of Chechen Republic which already has faced a coup, to take over, angered the Muslim majority, and even some Russian and English minorities.

Near a Aequatio military checkpoint where about 10 to 12 foreign peacekeepers were, about fifty well armed men and women creeped up and prepared to attack this checkpoint. With several snipers up on the roof of an apartment building the leader of this armed group gave the okay, and immediately grenades and molotov cocktails were thrown at the Aequatio peacekeeper checkpoint, and then the snipers and the ground forces opened up. The snipers fired with semi-accuracy, while the 40 or so ground militiamen opened fire with machine guns and rifles.

As the gunfire opened up, civilians began to dock and run away quickly, however one or two civilians were wounded from militia fire, but there were still about 10 to 12 civilians in the line of fire.

Militia men, moved around the back of the ten to twelve peacekeepers and continued to fire at the peacekeepers. So far their had been no army or police response.

Statement from Aequatian Central Military Command to the Chechen Republic Government

We cannot in good conscience simply withdraw from this conflict and allow the population of your nation to target the minorities which have constantly been blamed for the violence despite field reports made by personnel of the 1st Marine Division. We have only seen violence committed by gunmen against the Russian and English minorities and we are led to believe that this was simply a plot to eliminate said minorities which was manufactured by your administration.

Operation Just Sentinel has ended and we have decided to initiate Operation Urgent Caravan in which we will use our Air Force's intratheatre airlift aircraft to extract those of Russian and English ancestry who are being targetted by hate to waiting camps which have been constructed in neighbouring Dagestan near the city of Kizlyar for the Northern regions, Khasav''yurt for central and Botlikh for the South. Our forces will now be conducting missions through Groznyy and surrounding areas and transporting them to our base of operations for re-location to Dagestan.

Signed,

General Arnold Saltzman,
Aequatian Head of State

-----

Groznyy, Chechen Republic

The Marines began to assemble the Russian and English minorities in their residential areas, the damaged apartment flats depressing reminders of the conflict within the city. Corporal Ericsson and his platoon were helping families pack their belongings as the rest of his company outside maintained security against any angry members of the population which now viewed the Aequatians as supporters of the rebellion. A platoon of four Marine Banshee main battle tanks arrived in the commons since it was viewed that they would now be vulnerable to open hostilities from gunmen hiding within the ruined buildings.

-----

The Marines at the checkpoint, while surprised at the intensity of the attack, were utlimately prepared for the assault. A few were mortally wounded by the gunfire, but none by the grenades and petrol bombs. One of the soldiers, a Private Michael Ross opened fire on a cluster of militia with his MG55 Squad Automatic Weapon in controlled bursts. Another Marine, armed with a SMAW launcher, took aim and fired a rocket with a thermobaric warhead at the roof of a building where the squad was taking sustained sniper fire from. The gunner atop the squad's "Raider" LAV fired at the largest grouping of militia with the cupola-mounted 23mm autocannon, the large rounds that missed ripped apart parked cars and punched holes in concrete walls of nearby buildings.

With fear of being overrun, the squad's sergeant took the handset from his radioman and once he had finished with it, yelled over the din of the firefight, "Gas!" and almost immediately the squadmembers that were able to, put on their gasmasks as overhead, 120mm mortar shells exploded in a white cloud that fell over the block of buildings and the militia positions. Ross caught his sergeant's attention and asked what was falling over the area, the sergeant replied, "Don't worry... it's only CS gas, now keep firing."

Union Canada peacekeepers had heard about the Aequatio plan. Now, it appeared that they were just trying to cause trouble in the nation. So they were trying to move 25% of the nation's population to another region.

To Aequatio and Chechen Republic:

Now we are opposed to moving 1/4 of the population to another nation because of a coup. It appears that violence was settling down before the peacekeeping comments, and it does appear not only has their been ethnic clashes but also clashes between rebels and soldiers. So the Aequatio comments are false. Now we order that all provacations from both sides end so that their are no clashes between peacekeepers or militiamen, or no ethnic clashes.

The militiamen continued to fire at the peacekeepers at the checkpoint. So far, 5 gunmen had been killed in the fighting and another 14 gunmen had been wounded in the fighting as well. However, 2 civilians that were hit by Aequatio forces had died of their injuries as well as an untold number of Aequatio peacekeepers.

Throwing more grenades at the checkpoint, the gunmen began to advance so that in a matter of minutes they would take the check point and any survivors as prisoner.

-----------

Elsewhere:

A Muslim man, with a RPG on his shoulder fired a RPG grenade at a Aequatio tank and an explosion rocked the ground. It was unsure if anyone was killed or if the tank was destroyed.

---------------

President Amur Shanz Press Conference:

We opose the plan of the Aequatio forces plan to move our minority people. We are a nation of ethnic people and we beg that all sides end this senseless violence that has spread from the coup of General Palvoich. There have been at least 40+ deaths including a peacekeeper in this and we urge every leader of the Muslim community to tell our young folk to settle down.

I would also like to urge a peace and conciliation conference be held, with the Peacekeeping forces as an overseer and have all ethnic minorities as well as the government and coup members to begin national conciliation.

Until that time, 2,000 soldiers will be deployed to Gronzy to impose martial law from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m and if any armed men or women are found on the streets, they will be arrested or shot.

To Aequatio and Chechen Republic:

Now we are opposed to moving 1/4 of the population to another nation because of a coup. It appears that violence was settling down before the peacekeeping comments, and it does appear not only has their been ethnic clashes but also clashes between rebels and soldiers. So the Aequatio comments are false. Now we order that all provacations from both sides end so that their are no clashes between peacekeepers or militiamen, or no ethnic clashes.

With the utmost respect, we have only seen the contrary in our time in country. The goals of Operation Urgent Caravan are to transport those who wish to leave, we will not forcibly remove Chechen citizens. More than satisfactory conditions await those who do not wish to be targetted by the government of the Republic. However, any who do stand in the way of Urgent Caravan's progress will be arrested and detained until the operation's completion.

Major-General Thomas Doyle,
Commanding Officer, Aequatian 1st Marine Division

OOC: C.R.: For the firefight, did you forget that there is a large cloud of CS gas that has fallen onto the area surrounding the checkpoint? And as a militia unit, I doubt they would have suitable equipment, let alone any at all, to protect them from the effects of the gas.

We still oppose any removal of civilians and believe that this council proposes should be taken as a chance for peace. However, if any civilians want to move to a Aequatio camp ad have their places of residence guarded by peacekeepers until a resolution, which might allow a removal of people, to occur.

OOC; The RPG attack is in another area. Will add about the gas.

IC: Gas rose from mortar shells that had been fired. Several militiamen started coughing and the leader, ordered all his men and women to wear the hankerchiefs and bandanas he had given them that had been wettened.

However, several militiamen, backed away and began to run away from the gunfire and battle because the gas was so intense. However, about 30 mobile militia men remained along with the 15-19 injured militiamen.

Civilians running from the gas got caught up in the cross fire, and several civilians around about 3 were hit and killed bringing the civilian casualties to 5.

However, with eyes watering, militiamen still continued to fire at the peacekeepers even though about 50% of the bullets would probably be astray.

Maelwys sat on a crate on the tarmac listening to the distent firefight. So far his force around the hotel hadn't reported any contact. The action must have been shifting to other areas. Aequatio's announcement had surprised him. It was uncalled for and a farely blatant violation of national sovereignty, but Duke Caedmon had sent him to make sure the civilians were safe, not to get involved in an international squabble. Problems like this were exactly why Yr Widdfa had rejected U.N. membership. He looked over to the powder blue flag hanging over the U.N. camp and smirked. Light blue berrets made great targets. He had found that out in the fighting in Yr Widdfa, when the U.N. had tried to sent peace keepers. After half the force was gunned down by rebels, they had left.
He sighed, took a drag from his cigar, and waited for 2nd platoon to report.

The rocket had struck the side of the tank and one of the reactive armoured boxes exploded, protecting the vehicle from the weapon's blast. The tank's turret slowly aimed in the direction that the rocket had come from, the main gun fired and a 140mm shell was shot into the doorway of a building that the gunner and a few militia members had retreated into.

-----

The sergeant had called for the squad to load the dead and wounded into the back of the Raider LAV and for the remaining Marines to defend the vehicle as it made its way to a safepoint with the rest of the squad's company. Two riflemen were loading the wounded into the vehicle alongside the bodies of the three dead soldiers. Ross spotted a group of militia fighters and moved to aim his light machinegun when he was struck in the upper chest by a round in his body armour, the force knocked him back a step, but he remained standing. Angerly, he took aim again and opened fire in long bursts. Within minutes they were moving alongside the armoured vehicle, the commander providing covering fire with the LAV's autocannon.

So far, many more militia men had arrived at the fighting, they included now over 300 men and women, along all ethnic backgrounds. So far in the fighting, three peacekeepers and 12 militiamen and 5 civilians had been killed in heavy fighting.

About a dozen RPGs were fired at the transport vehicles and tanks and at any soldier that was around. Also, snipers appeared out of windows and took pot shots at the retreating soldiers.

On the ground level, about 100 militiamen armed with heavy machinery opened up with heavy gun fire, thousands of rounds going into the vehicles and fired at the peacekeepers. Also, a landmine had been planted in the road right in the middle of the lead transport truck.

Anger was rising in the city of gronzy.

----------

A battalion of soldiers was near to the fighting that was taking place between the peacekeepers and the militiamen. Most of the men, didn't want to go assist because they were angry at the peacekeepers, however, their commander had made a passioned plea and therefore they were headed towards the fighting.

As they neared, several militiamen turned around and disappeared into the shadows not wanting to fight their own country men. However, from an apartmen window shots rang out, and a Pte clutched his shoulder and hit the ground.

The men moved for cover and began to exchange gunfire with the militiamen.

Several U.N transport trucks were loaded with 15 U.N soldiers in each, for a total of 60. They sped through Gronzy headed toward the other peacekeepers who appeared to be in trouble. As they passed by a military checkpoint, they saw that it was abandoned and that it appeared that there was minimal number of people on the streets.

As they passed by a burned out church, a grenade was thrown at the peacekeepers, but it bounced away and exploded harmlessly.

As they neared the other peacekeepers they heared the intense gun battle that was going on and radioed to the Aequatio peacekeepers;

"We have come to assist, we are the Union Canada peacekeepers, if you need any cover we will provide it."

At that moment, several militiamen jumped out in front of the peacekeepers but the vehicles went to fast by the militiamen.

Coded message from Brettonian airborne battalion

Chechen rebels: We are presently en-route to your neck of the world, and have prepared an armor brigade for rapid deployment.

We require specific coordinates to begin commencing air operations, as well as whatever intelligence you may have as to enemy forces in the area that will be necessary to remove.

Additionally, we have become aware of a socialist foreign force acting within your region; they will have to be removed as well.

Be in touch.

End message

Many of the rockets had missed but two had struck the armoured vehicle, one had hit the slanted armour and bounced off into the air while the second struck one of the wheels and destroyed the tire. The rounds striking the outside of the vehicle sounded like hail on a metal roof while scores more struck the street around the soldiers who were now running alongside the speeding vehicle. Despite the speed, they managed to steer around the placed landmine and turned into the garrisoned point created by the company of Marines.

Ross and his squad had linked up with the rest of his company and they then prepared to fight against the militia, he took up a position along with the other Marines of his platoon along a low wall and fired at the militia. The larger MG76 machinegun opened fire and set into its sustained rate of fire, spraying the street with 7.62mm rounds and orange tracers. First Lieutenant Albert Hobbes, the company commander, could see that they were outnumbered and grabbed the handset from his radioman, "DIVARTY, this is David-Six, requesting fire support in sector three-four-three, fire for effect!"

Roger that David-Six, rounds inbound!" came the reply.

The Marines continued to fire even as the 155mm shells rained down on the city streets and surrounding buildings, several buildings were nearly demolished by the shells while others fell around the militia's avenue of approach. An MH-60 helicopter came in low and a crewchief opened fire at a group of fighters with his station's minigun, he ceased as the helicopter landed to extract the wounded personnel and any remaining civilians.

-----

Ericsson and his company prepared to move out from their position and return to the base of operations to transport the civilians out of the country. The corporal sat with his fireteam in the back of a humvee as it moved at the rear of the convoy. Vectored, they were only a kilometre away from the base, but with reports of growing violence around the city, they knew it was going to be a little longer than usual.

Shells exploded as militiamen kept up their attack against the Aequatio forces. Casualties on the militia side were now at 34 dead and nearly 100 wounded. Civilians were also wounded and killed in the fighting that had damaged parts of Gronzy, and it was unknown how many peacekeepers had been killed or wounded in the intense fighting. So, even with the coup and ethnic fighting, this day was the deadliest because it pitted foreign forces against militiamen who were muslim loyal to Islam.

The militiamen began to retreat, but they had mortar rounds themselves, and fired at least two dozen mortar shells at peacekeeping positions, at the Aequatio forces and at the other peacekeeping forces, especially the Altistan forces.

--------------

Coded message from Brettonian airborne battalion

Chechen rebels: We are presently en-route to your neck of the world, and have prepared an armor brigade for rapid deployment.

We require specific coordinates to begin commencing air operations, as well as whatever intelligence you may have as to enemy forces in the area that will be necessary to remove.

Additionally, we have become aware of a socialist foreign force acting within your region; they will have to be removed as well.

Be in touch.

End message

General palvoich headquarters:

To Bretton, we have lost the rebellion and number around about 100 soldiers in the mountainous region of this republic. The violence that has been reported is ethnic fighting in Gronzy, has nothing to do with us. However, there is a small military base that we would like striked at in Northern Chechen Republic at Z 54. There is a village there, but it is filled with Muslims so you can bomb it if you want.

-----------------

Gunfire was exchanged between the soldiers and the militiamen. Two RPGs were fired at a sguad of soldiers resulting in an explosion near several soldiers. Machine gun fire was also reported on the rooftop where two snipers were shot and arrested by the soldiers.

The fighting between the soldiers and the militiamen left 5 gunmen and 2 soldiers dead and numerous people wounded.

Union Canada peacekeepers drove by militamen, as explosions rocked the ground as artillery shells hit the ground and sent people flying. A bullet whizzed by and struck a Union Canada peacekeeper and he was attended by a medic as pistol fire responded to militiamen gunfire.

As exchanges of gunfire continued, the Union Canada peacekeepers followed the Aequatio forces from behind.

As they got back to the airport with bullets denting the front and sides of all three transport trucks. There were four wounded U.N peacekeepers from the clash between the militiamen and Union Canada peacekeepers.

President Amur Shanz got on the radio;

"Please desist from the violence that is continuing within our national capital of Gronzy. Before this day of violence started, only 40 people were dead from violence, but now we have estimates that nearly 100+ people have been killed in the fighting. A curfew has been called, and we believe that it is best for the peacekeeping forces to return to their bases for a few days to quiet down the crowds unless they are in hotzones."

Kizlyar, Dagestan, Russian Federation

The Aequatian II Airborne Corps had been assembled quickly after a request had been made by Major-General Doyle within the Chechen Republic for a reinforcement. The force consisted of both armoured and light forces and an Air Force Fighter Wing that would provide support. The goal of Operation Chaotic Resolve was to support Urgent Caravan's goal and to help extract the 1st Marine Division from Groznyy.

Operation Chaotic Resolve, Order of Battle

II Airborne Corps (83,829 Personnel)
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant-General Nelson York
Wolf (1st) Brigade, 1st Armoured Division (8,657 Personnel)
9th Infantry Division [Light] (25,384 Personnel)
17th Infantry Division [Mechanized] (27,680 Personnel)
6th Airborne Division [Air Assault] (22,108 Personnel)

401st Fighter Wing
96 F-62 "Black Sparrow" Strike Fighters
48 F-62E "Electric Sparrow" Electronic Warfare Aircraft
12 EC-130J PSYOP Aircraft

It would be a few days time though before the entire corps was prepared for operations, although a few fighters would be conducting missions over Chechen airspace to provide safe passage for the airlift C-130J planes carrying civilians to the camps throughout Dagestan. One such aircraft was the F-62 piloted by Lieutenant-Colonel Jack "Hooker" Witt who was flying at 5,000 metres with his wingman in a tight formation along the route that took them between Kizlyar to Groznyy.

From Grozny, the Aequatio peacekeepers had only been able to take out 1,000 to 3,000 civilians who wanted to go. Shelling of Aequatio forces and other peacekeeping forces continued from inside and outside Grozny. Mortars were placed and fired and then another mortar was fired.

So far, about 100 mortars had been fired at the Aequatio forces, before police officers and soldiers arrived and arrested the militiamen.

Explosions rocked the city, and several civilians were reportedly injured and sent to hospital. There was unknown peacekeeper casualties from all four nations.

Maj. Maelwys got on the radio as soon as the Chechen transmission ended. Lt. Alastar MacAndrews answered on the other end, at 2nd Platoon's command post.
"Bring 'em back to the base, Alastar. The Government wants us to hold at the airport for the time being."
"Understood," answered MacAndrews. "Just give me an hour to call all our squads back in and we'll move out."

An ala of five Furies flew out to escort the returning platoon from the air. They were followed on the ground by a convoy of five Light Recon Vehicles.

To Chechen Command:
All Widdfae forces are returning to airport to await your pleasure.

Maj. Llwch Maelwys,
3rd Battalion, Cymry Brigade,
Commanding.

From what could be heard down the line, nearly a dozen Marines had been killed with twice as many wounded in the fighting, but Ross continued to fight alongside his platoon, he paused in firing only to reload and to change out the barrel on his MG55. The mortar rounds rained down on their positions, one struck the roof of a Raider LAV and the vehicle exploded, killing the vehicle's crew of two, adding them to the casualties already inflicted in the fighting. The Marine's own counter-battery of 82mm mortars returned fire at trajectories that would bring their own rounds down on the militia's mortars.

-----

Ericsson's company had run the gauntlet of Groznyy's streets and turned into the airport, they had taken only small arms fire, but three Marines were wounded in the journey back to the base. Once they arrived, the wounded were sent to the field hospital as M35 trucks brought the scared civilians to the waiting C-130J aircraft that would bring them to Camp Alpha at Kizlyar. As soon as they were ready, Ericsson and his comrades paused only to grab a quick bite of chow and refilled their canteens with water and rearmed themselves with fresh ammunition before heading out again in their armoured vehicles to link up with the company that was pinned down by the militia. Main battle tanks lead the convoy now as they headed out of the base and were followed by Raider armoured carriers and Lynx armoured cars. Ericsson sat behind the commander, who was manning the 23mm autocannon atop the vehicle.

To Aequatio Forces from Captain Sanderson:

There has been reported fighting between militiamen, soldiers, peacekeepers and civilians caught in the crossfire. U.N peacekeepers were wounded, around about 4 peacekeepers, and we would like to know if you need assistance for your wounded or killed peacekeeping forces.

Soldiers were beginning to be deployed to the streets of grozny as three more battalions of soldiers were brought into the capital city as night began to fall on the region. So far, only 7 civilians had been brought to the morgue and only 3 soldiers had been killed in the fighting in the city. However, explosions rocked the city and machine gunfire and explosions could be heard around the city. Many civilians were scared and hid inside their buildings and apartments even though some buildings were damaged or destroyed from the fighting.

Spotting several armed militiamen, the soldiers engaged the gunmen and after a short gun battle, all four gunmen and 1 civilian lay dead in the fighting. 2 soldiers were wounded in the fighting and were taken by an ambulance.

--------------

Nearly 100 militiamen, attacked Aequatio forces with machinegun fire and RPGs that were fired at the Aequatio peacekeepers, as the 100 militiamen did not care who they were fighting anymore. Some fired out of windows and hid back in the hallway so that gunfire would not hit them.

Also three RPG shells were fired at a Yr-Widdfa convoy and it was unknown if it hit.

To: Captain Sanderson, Union Canadian Peacekeeping Force
From: Major-General Thomas Doyle, Aequatian 1st Marine Division

At this moment, the only assistance we would require is medical personnel if they can be spared for our own field hospital to treat wounded troops and civilians.

-----

Two Lynx armoured cars along with three MP humvees arrived out front of a civilian hospital in Groznyy where Intelligence Personnel had reported that militia members had been taken after firefights with Marines in the city. The two armoured cars and their crews remained outside as the six MPs exited their vehicles and entered the hospital with the Civil Affairs translator. They walked down the hallway until they reached the administration desk, the translator removed his cap and placed it on the counter before taking the nurse's attention, "We recieved reports that certain... persons, have been brought to this hospital that may be members of the Groznyy Militia who have killed and wounded Aequatian Marines during the fighting. We are requesting your cooperation by providing us with the room numbers these people are in so we may question them about the situation," The translator smiled as he finished and gestured to the towering MPs behind him.

Medical assistance will be provided when you arrive at the airport.

The nurse gave the number of two rooms where there was about ten injured militiamen. Fighting was still reported outside in the streets as Militiamen continued to fight against the peacekeeping forces. However, in most areas of the city, government forces were beginning to take over control from the rebel forces.

The Marines bolstered their lines and prepared for the second assault by the militia, Ross loaded a fresh box of ammunition and deployed his weapon's bipod as he began firing into doorways where he had been taking fire. There was a loud concussion beside him as a Marine fired a thermobaric rocket from his SMAW into a building, the resultant explosion caused the building to collapse in a cloud of dust. Autocannon fire also raked the buildings from the armoured vehicles alongside the small arms fire from the infantry. Behind the company, a makeshift landing zone had been created by the Marines using humvees to clear a parking lot so that MH-46 Black Knight and MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters could land to rearm the company and extract wounded personnel. Throughout the fighting, three other soldiers had been killed, those wounded could not be counted since so many remained in the fight with dirty, blood-stained uniforms.

-----

The translator pointed down the hallway and began walking towards the rooms, the MPs close behind. The group split as they branched off into the rooms and examined the wounded militia fighters. The translator employed the aid of a few orderlies to begin moving the wounded persons from the rooms outside to the waiting ambulance humvee parked out front.

Battalion C.O Stevenson had just sat down to start reading The Da Vinci Code in his bunk when one of his NCOs ran into the room, telling him that there were reports of Aequatian peackeepers being engaged in a certain sector of the city. Stevenson quickly sent out orders to send military units to support them.

To Aequatian peackeepers:

We have heard about your peacekeepers being engaged in Gorzny, and are sending various units to help support you.

44 Special Forces men
4 M113A3 APC
2 Comanche helicopters

To: Altistan Battalion Commanding Officer Stevenson
From: Major-General Thomas Doyle, Aequatian 1st Marine Division

We appreciate the offer for help, however, we do not wish to draw other nations into the conflict that has been created between the Chechen people and our forces.

-----

The convoy turned the corner and the company disembarked their vehicles to join the line with the other company, Ericsson dropped to a prone position alongside Ross and opened fire with his G6 rifle as the machinegunner paused to clear a jam in his weapon. The corporal tapped on Ross's shoulder and pointed at a burnt-out hulk of a pickup truck which a few gunmen were hiding behind and the SAW gunner sprayed the wreck down with 5.56mm rounds.

General palvoich headquarters:

To Bretton, we have lost the rebellion and number around about 100 soldiers in the mountainous region of this republic. The violence that has been reported is ethnic fighting in Gronzy, has nothing to do with us. However, there is a small military base that we would like striked at in Northern Chechen Republic at Z 54. There is a village there, but it is filled with Muslims so you can bomb it if you want.

Coded response

Pity we had not arrived earlier. We will hold our airborne brigades at a safe distance and commence heavy bombing of said military base; our stealths shouldn't have any issue penetrating what air defenses there may be.

Keep us posted.

End response

---

"Major," the radio-intercept officer reported.
"What've you got?" the commander inquired.
"Communique from the brigade commander. The Chechens have provided us a target to commence bombing at Z Five Four."
"Very well, we'll proceed to the given coordinates and give 'em some pepper. Inform the rest of the squadron. The remainder of the corps are to continue flying 'outrider' until further orders," the Major ordered.
"Roger that, commander," the intercept officer replied. "Relaying now."

Fourteen behemoth BA-104B Arbiter II (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=452252) stealth bombers dropped out of formation from the rest of the air fleet and kicked their afterburners into gear, proceeding at high speed towards the target.

Union Canada medics assisted the wounded Aequatio forces that were at the airport as well as any wounded civilians. Reports were coming in of fighting all across the city, and dead bodies everywhere even though that couldn't be confirmed.

U.N peacekeepers were headed back out into the city to see if they could find anymore injured.

Captain Sanderson sighed softly as he saw four U.N tanks and three transport trucks carrying about 100 U.N peacekeepers head back into the city.

A government battalion was near the fighting Aequatio forces and radioed to them;

"We are the Chechen army. Please tell us where the militiamen are and we will assist you with fighting them. Please do not target us."

--------

On the other side of town, militiamen attacked the U.N convoy with heavy machine gun fire and fired several RPGs at the lead tank. There numbered around about 30 to 40 militiamen in the action. As well, 12 mortars were lobbed into the airport section near the Aequatio forces as well as the Altistan forces.

Two of the several RPGs exploded harmlessly away from the tank. However, one RPG hit the tank square on and another one exploded right next to a transport truck blowing out the tire. Machine gun fire binged off the tank and other vehicles metal armour.


Pte Johnson grabbed his pistol and leaned out the passenger window of the transport truck and fired several shots at the militiamen who were several meters ahead of the U.N peacekeepers shooting at them from the dark. A bullet glanced off johnson's forhead and he was pulled back into the truck by the driver.

At that moment, the tank opened up with two tank shells that blew up a truck near the militiamen which sent them moving. Other U.N peacekeepers then fired their pistols at the militiamen as the transport trucks and tanks started up and moved past the still firing militiamen.

Luckily no one was killed in that incident but there were several injuries, one serious.

North Chechen Republic, over area Z54

"Approaching the target drop area," the pilot reported.
"Awaiting your orders, commander," the bombardier stated. The commander checked his documentation briefly.
"Very well. Commence bombing. Use the fuel-air explosives first, then drop the JDAMs. They'll fall faster and surpass the FAEs, which should take care of any survivors of the main strike. Make it happen."
"Understood, Major. Commencing bombing," the bombardier returned, and began punching in commands to his console.

Numerous ordnance bays split open across the stomachs of the bombers. Seconds later, a cloud of red-striped fuel air explosives began plummeting out from below, inertial navigators spinning in the thin air. After a momentary pause, a much larger swarm of laser-tipped JDAMs appeared, quickly assuming a steep angle of attack as they hurled towards their targets many thousands of feet below.

The bombers didn't loiter for long and quickly began banking out of the local airspace.

The bombs fell on the small military base from some unknown bombers. Explosions rocked the facilities as soldiers ran for cover. Luckily, most soldiers were practicing for drill at the front gate and they were able to escape even though most had pretty severe burns.

The bombing left the military base in an inferno and it was lucky if anyone came out alive.

However, when the fire died down, four soldiers were pulled out alive, but 13 other soldiers were killed in the bombing.

First Lieutenant Hobbes got onto the radio and had his radioman switch frequencies so he could contact the Chechen soldiers, "Come in from the North, my troops will not fire on you until we can be sure that the militia is eliminated, over and out."

-----

The mortar shells rained down on the Aequatian sector of the base, however, no Marines were wounded in the attack. Counter-battery RADAR systems picked up on the location of the enemy mortars, soldiers quickly returned fire with battalion-level 120mm mortars.

Chechen soldiers moved around to the north, and began to engage the militiamen. Exchanges of gunfire could be heard in the dark streets as AK-47s rattled away as Chechen soldiers took cover behind cars as they continued to fire at the militiamen.

The militiamen in turn fired several RPGs at the advancing Chechen soldiers and a militiaman got so close to the Aequatio forces that he blew himself up igniting a damaged car that blew up as well.

But with both forces attacking the militiamen, a white flag was seen in an apartment window and others began to retreat.

Coded transmission

Chechen rebels:

We can confirm destruction of the military establishment at area Z54. We encountered predictably nil resistence.

Our airborne units continue to wait for your directives concerning areas of further interest and possible landing zones.

End transmission

Union Canada forces, arrived at the gunbattle between Aequatio-Chechen and militiaman fighting. There weren't too many militiamen left but when the transport and tanks arrived machine gunfire started up slightly. However two shots from a tank blew out one of the front walls of a damaged building and most U.N peacekeepers got off and began to open fire with their pistols.

Gunfire binged off stones and cars, and one U.N peacekeeper fell from a shot, but medics raced to him to tend to his wounds.

The Lt. in charge of the peacekeepers went over to the Aequatio in charge and said

"put your wounded and dead in the transport."

As violence continue on in Grozny, a government battalion actually found the headquarters of General Palovich. Fighting became intense as grenades were tossed into the caves that Palovich and his forces were hiding in. Machine gun fire and heavy fighting was reported from the mountainous region.

Hobbes greeted the Union Canadian officer and gave a quick salute, his uniform spattered with blood of his wounded soldiers, "Thanks for your help, Lieutenant, I'll have my men get on that as soon as we're finished here."

Ericsson and his fireteam rose from their position and advanced on the building where the militia members were surrendering. The corporal walked over and stood to the side of the doorframe as he knocked the door open with his rifle and a private moved inside, inside were dead and wounded militia fighters strewn about the floor who were quickly detained with plastic cuffs. The sergeant pointed up signaling the second floor and Ericsson and two others walked up the stairway and confronted the group of gunmen in a room littered with empty shells, puddles of blood and a few bodies. They quickly subdued the few militia members and brought them to the first floor where a Raider LAV was waiting for the prisoners, wounded and all.

Chechen airspace

The fleet of Brettonian air transports continued to orbit Chechen airspace.

"Still no word from Palovich?" Colonel Krotkov insisted.
"Negative, sir. We've been unable to raise the rebels since recieving the bombing coordinates earlier," the lead transport's radio operator reported.
"This is troubling... could the regular Army have taken him out, I wonder?" Krotkov pondered.
"Perhaps we should deploy to his last known location?" one of the drop officers suggested.
"Not a bad idea... very well. Deploy the second infantry company to ascertain the situation on the ground. Prepare the main force for drop, but wait for further orders before proceeding," the Colonel ordered.
"Understood, sir!" the drop officer saluted, then went about making preparations.

Within the cavernous holds of one of the titanic air transports, dozens of Stahlkörpe (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=447922) assault suits began locking down to the launch frames that would carry them out the back of the aircraft. The transport reached drop altitude as the loading crews vacated the hangars.

"HANGARS CLEAR, COMMENCING DROP OPERATIONS IN TWENTY SECONDS," a voice boomed over the PA system. Massive hydraulic rams began lowering the rear cargo doors; the holds quickly depressurized. "HATCHES ARE OPEN AND LOCKED." Final safety checks were ran on the assault suits and their launch frames.

The launch crew hurriedly went about preparing for the drop operation from within their control center, a large observation blister sandwiched between the twin tail booms.

"COMMENCING LAUNCH."

The launch frames moved on pneumatic rails towards the open back of the hangars. Drag 'chutes burst from their packaging, which acted to yank the assault suit and frame out of the transport and into the outside world. In short order dozens and dozens of orange parachutes bearing the Brettonian coat of arms began their descent from the transport, heading towards the mountains beneath them.

The militiamen had either surrendered or melted away back into the alleways and fighting had basically died down. There was an unknown amount of peacekeepers killed or wounded from all four nations in the fighting and ambulances were going around collecting soldiers and civilians and injuried militiamen.

At the end, it was reported that 61 militiamen, 17 civilians and 11 soldiers were killed in the intense fighting in Grozny.

-----------------

Fighting in the mountains ended as coup members began to surrender. General Palvoich was among the first to come out with his arms raised. In total, 12 coup members and 5 soldiers had been killed in the fighting. Most of the surrendering coup members were hit and kicked but they were not executed and put on trucks that were to head towards Grozny.

-------------------

With the parachutes opening up the people at the small military base immediately got to the 50 caliber machine guns and mortar implacements at their base. With about 100 soldiers in the base they lines up against the walls with heavy weapons as well. With the sighting of the parachutes, the 50 caliber machine guns began to open up, hot lead began to shoot out of the machines shooting at the parachutes and the soldiers that were tied to the parachutes. Mortar rounds began to be fired as well at the parachutes.

In total, 29 Marines had been killed in the intense street fighting with nearly 61 wounded. With the fighting coming to a halt with the arrival of the Chechen military, the Marines began to recover their wounded and loaded them into their own vehicles along with those of the Canadians. Ericsson walked slowly along with his platoon back towards the position in which the two companies had occupied in the skirmish, they had berely slept for nearly 36 hours since their deployment originally to protect the residential area and were both exhausted and relieved that the fightinf had finally ended in their sector of the city. After a short while, the two companies embarked on their vehicles and began the journey back to the base at the airport.

The Canadian peacekeepers helped the Aequatio forces load their wounded and dead into the transport trucks. In the fighting only 3 U.N peacekeeepers had been wounded in the fighting, and as they carried the dead Aequatio forces to the transport they couldn't help but feel sorry for these soldiers who had lost their life in extremely bloody fighting only trying to keep the peace.

However, the General who caused the coup had been reportedly arrested and coming to Grozny but it appears a foreign nation bombed a Chechen military base from early reports. Along with still simmering tensions, the violence and conflict in the Chechen Republic wasn't over.

The Transport truck arrived with the General and several dozen soldiers that were apart of his coup and had been captured in mountainous fighting. They were kicked and pulled into a police station and were placed into several cells, hands tied behind their backs and blindfolded.

President Amur Shanz went on national T.V:

"The rebel commander and his forces were captured today. We would like the four U.N nations to stay in Chechen Republic because even though this started as a military coup it took on ethnic and religious tones that have split or great community at the moment. Also, there seems to be a foreign backer of the General who is attacking a military outpost in the North. However, we feel that our forces will be able to win. Sadly though, in the past few days fighting in the capital killed over 120+ people, including 30 peacekeepers who came here to keep the peace. I call for three days of mourning and for people to provide gifts and food for any peacekeeper they see and they deploy across are great city. Thank you."

From the Altistan Government:

We would be happy to continue our deployment in your nation at your behest.

Do you have any idea if there are any more coup leaders still in hiding? If so, we should make them a top priority.

Upon the Marines' return to the airport, many others who had returned earlier hurried to the convoy and helped move the wounded to the field hospital as well as the dead to the makeshuft morgue that had been setup when the first of the killed were brought in on helicopters. Ericsson and his own company returned to their barracks in an old hanger that had been converted for their force's use. the soldiers either sat or laid down on their bunks, many around were empty and although it upset the other Marines, they did not display it.

Private Ross had set his MG55 down against the wall on the outside of the field hospital as he entered to view the wounded members of his squad. his sergeant had been wounded in the trek from the checkpoint to their company's position and was extracted by an MH-60 helicopter. A doctor with a group of medical technicians were standing around the wounded soldier on the table, he had been struck in the right leg and his femoral artery had been punctured. Blood stained the floor, the doctor's apron and the sheets, he was bleeding out like a river and they knew it was only going to get worse. The doctor stepped back to take a moment to catch his breath while the technicians continued to work when Ross approached him, "Sir, I've seen this kind of wound before, if you need extra blood-plasma, I have type O blood and would be willing to help."

"Thank you, Private, I'll keep that in mind," replied the doctor as he turned back to the wounded sergeant.

Along the runway, the civilians were still boarding C-130J aircraft for their transport to the waiting Camps Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. Air Force F-62 fighters landed and were refueling for the escort duty they would perform on the journey to the camps in Dagestan. The tarmac was potmarked with shallow craters where mortar rounds had landed in militia attacks and a blackened hulk of a destroyed MH-60 helicopter that had been struck by a shell in one of the attacks.

Major-General Doyle walked down to the barracks and entered to see the soldiers that had returned from the city fighting, he visited each Marine and congratulated them on a job well done, surviving the fight and displaying the courage and strength of the Aequatian Marine. He sat with the group for an hour, listening to the men share memories of the dead and wounded, comforting those that were the most distraught and laughing with those who made jokes to help get through the emotions of the situation.

Mountainous region

As the Stahlkörpes (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=447922) plummeted towards the ground, tiny solid-fuel rockets blasted from the bottom of their launch frames, slowing their descent. Each Stahlkörpe ejected its parachute at the 130 foot mark, hitting the ground and throwing up a substantial cloud of dust. The scene was quickly doubled, tripled, and so forth, until nearly the entire infantry company was on the ground. A small number had drifted over the Chechen military base that had earlier been bombed. When faced with a barrage of small-arms fire from the ground, they cut their parachutes early and relied on their launch frame rockets to make a safe landing out of harm's way. Those that had missed the mountainous landing area quickly withdrew from the area, lest they cause unwarranted attention.

"Colonel, we've made landfall," Major Gayle reported via a direct laser communication to the orbiting air fleet.
"Confirmed, Major. Rally your men and locate the rebel commanders. Re-establishing contact with them is top priority," Krotkov ordered.
"It will be done, sir," Gayle replied, closing the communication. "Allright, men. Platoon 1, check in."
"Otto here, Platoon 1 has landed and is intact," the first platoon's lieutenant reported.
"Platoon 2, check in."
"This is Jackson, Platoon 2 is more or less intact. Two units strayed over enemy airspace, we're trying to link up presently," was the second platoon's response.
"Platoon 3?"
"Higgens reporting, all green here."
"Platoon 4, status?"
"Hello? Hello? Anybody reading this?" said the fourth platoon's lieutenant, apparently having communication issues.
"I read you, Franco. What's your platoon's status?" Gayle inquired.
"Platoon's fine. I ended up over that base, though. Have linked up with Jackson's stragglers, will rendezvous at first opportunity," Franco reported.
"Understood. Allright, fan out and find the rebel command elements," Gayle instructed. "Activate your camouflage, and keep me posted of anything you find. Out."

Each assault suit let out a brief humming noise and its electrostatic field generator came to life. Seconds later, they all apparently disappeared as their optical camouflage flickered to life. The suits began moving, the only hints of their presence being the sound of heavy footsteps and the visable distortion around the edges of their armor.

A single suit happened upon a pair of government soldiers on patrol near a roadway. The troopers whipped around upon the sound of its footsteps, but hesitated as they couldn't tell exactly what they were looking at. The suit clocked the first soldier with one of its slave arms, sending him flying into a tree. The Stahlkörpe levelled its assault rifle at the second trooper; a small smear of blood on its left arm betrayed its size.

"Where is General Palovich?!" the suit's amplified voice demanded.

OOC: Gee, miss a day because of class and you miss the war ;). Well, with the rebellion collapsing, no point in starting another firefight.

2nd Platoon debriefing report
Contact made with rebel forces on way back to airport. The LRV was disabled by RPG fire, and the driver was killed as was the soldier manning the machine gun on top. Two troopers killed by shrapnel. We immediately opened fire on the building from which the rockets came. One of the two rebels was confirmed killed, the other us unknown, but we received no more fire and so continued after removing our dead and destroying the wrecked vehicle with incendiary grenades. We then double timed it back to the airport, revceiving only scattered gunfire from snipers. No other casualties.

Lt. Alastar MacAndrews

Maelwys set down the report. "Well done lad, another firefight would have made things worse. Besides, there are reports of new forces in the mountains, we may not yet be done here. In the meantime, rest your men and refit your equipment.

The soldier said quickly, Palovich is at the capital. He will be tried for his crimes.

------------

Government forces moved around the area near the bombing of the military base. They now had about 1,000 soldiers around the area.

They were settled in all over the area to ensure that no enemy forces would escape.

Mountainous area

The Stahlkörpe operator shut off his external speakers.

"Major, Pfc. Stetson here. I've apprehended a Chechen soldier who has informed me that General Palovich has been taken captive and moved to the local capital," the operator reported.

"Good work, Stetson. Detain the trooper such that he cannot reveal our position to the government and foreign forces operating in the area," Major Gayle returned. "I'll inform the Colonel of this progression. I imagine we'll move to the capital and liberate the General thereafter. Hold your position."

"Understood, Major. Out," Stetson reported. He switched his external speakers back on. "You're coming with me. I suggest you hold still if you value your life." A storage slot on the Stahlkörpe's thigh popped open, and Stetson produced a wide nylon plastic zip tie. He went about binding the soldier for capture.

---

"We'll be acting on it immediately, Major Gayle. Over and out," Krotkov stated into his radio. "All right, here's the plan. The company commander has reported that our rebel contact, General Palovich, has been taken prisoner by government forces. We do not recognize the present government as a legitimate governing body, therefore, we will be liberating the good General from his captors. Relay these words to the fleet."

"It shall be done, sir," the radio intercept officer reported.

"Now. Logistics, bring up a feed of major radar facilities and installations in this theatre of operations."

"Sir!" a technician remarked. A large electronic topographical map was replaced by an overlay displaying various radiation signals.

"Filter down to the military-grade signals. We only want to see those being projected by government and foreign forces."

A number of signals disappeared, leaving the military ones.

"Excellent. Those radar facilities will be a bother to our operations within this republic. Provide their coordinates to the bomber wing and have them dispatched. Use the antiradiation msisiles."

"Already underway, sir," the radio operator responded.

"Drop control?"

"Sir," the hangar control center responded.

"Upon the neutralization of the radar facilities, you are to begin operations. Prepare the main force for drop. I'll be in communication with Supreme Command, and we will dispatch more forces if necessary."

"Willdo, sir."

---

Another wing of Arbiter II (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=452252) stealth bombers recieved the Colonel's orders. The Arbiters split into groups of two, and began moving towards their targets. Each pair of bombers approached their targets at low speed, remaining invisible to radar and infrared. At the hundred and fifty mile mark, the bombers began releasing their smokeless antiradiation missiles. In short order, only Brettonian radar would be functioning across the theatre.

As the gas was being dropped down on the Chechen City, AA guns that surrounded the city opened fire on whatever bomber there were in the sky. Explosions rocked the sky and turned the night sky orange, and several hundred to several thousand rounds were fired at the sky.

However, the Chechen forces were firing blindly because their communication was out. Now, all Chechen forces in Grozny were now put on high alert along with all police officers.

"To all Peacekeepers, it seems that a foreign force is trying to support the rebellion and General Palvoich and we would like for you to assist us."

General Palovich was sitting quietly on the floor of his cell when four soldiers came in and grabbed him by his uniform. Several of his soldiers tried to assist him but they were kicked and beaten by guns. Palovich shouted;

"Long live the revolution, long live Greater Russia" which resulted in his soldiers crying out in cheers. Palovich continued to be dragged up the stairs, and was sat in a chair. After ten minutes, President Amur Shanz appeared and told Palovich about the explosions outside, and saying that Palovich must have a follower out in the world.

Palovich smiled and spit at Shanz, which resulted in a rifle butt to the back of the head. Shanz said;

"We are willing to send you and your forces to this nation where you will be free to go anywhere. However, you can never conduct operations, or every step foot in Chechen Republic again. Do you understand."

Palovich nodded slowly before he was raised from the seat and dragged back to his cell.

Shanz went on T.V and radio and said;

"To the people of Chechen Republic, we are being attacked by a foreign nation. We believe that they want General Palovich and we are willing to give them General Palovich and his soldiers that we captured and allow them to be free in this foreign nation under an amnesty. However, they will never be allowed to return to our country. If this nation accepts, we are willing to transfer Palovich into their custody so they can do what they want with him."

With the request from the Chechen Forces, several U.N helicopters were launched into the air, and when they spotted numerous planes, they fired over 100+ missiles at the planes. Unknown if anyone was hit in the exchage. The helicopters then returned back to the airport.

Chechen airspace

"Colonel, all enemy radar transponder signals have been silenced. The only parties capable of first-response action in the Chechen Republic are ourselves," the flagship's radio intercept officer reported.

"Marvelous," Colonel Krotkov stated, making a brief applause. "Now, we must have air superiority. The stealths still in the field should commence taking out air fields, heliports, civilian airports, and so forth. That will allow us to commence landing forces with impunity."

"I am relaying your orders now, sir," the officer reported. Krotkov crossed his arms and waited. Suddenly, an alarm klaxon sounded.

"Colonel! Enemy aircraft have launched! VTOLs!" the electronic warfare officer shouted.

"Activate ECM! DSO, prepare the CIWS and AAMs! Relay their coordinates to the rest of the fleet! Now!" Krotkov bellowed. The bridge lights dimmed to a dull red. An array of enemy transponder signals appeared on the electronic topographical map.

"They've launched missiles!" Tiny red dots appeared at the transponder signal locations and began moving towards the air fleet. "Air-to-air, short range, infrared guidance!"

"Flares, now!" Krotkov yelled.

"Deploying flares!" the defense systems operator acknowledged. Outside, hundreds of flares began rocketing out of the air transports and their bomber escorts. Simultaneously, the fleet began deploying their 30mm CIWS and opened up on the approaching warheads.

---

Elsewhere, a fresh wing of Arbiter II bombers arrived over Chechen airspace from the Brettonian homeland. This time in groups of three, they flew at maximum altitude, well above the range of ground-based air defenses. These Arbiters, armed with earth-penetrating bombs, set out to crater the Chechen airfields and heliports; their warheads would also make short work of hardened concrete aircraft shelters.

The Brettonian strike force has already blinded the Chechen and foreign forces. Now it was about to hamstring them as well.

Chechen AA guns and other kinds of weapons fired all kinds of ground artillery and such on the first round of bombers and air transports.

Civilians and others were moved out of the city, and military bases around the capital were being evacuated.

Over 15 dozen Union Canada Peacekeeping helicopters rose into the air and began to search for the stealth bombers that were prepared to blow up the city. As they moved in quick formation they were prepared to meet anything even though their screens were pretty messed up. However, going higher in the air the helicopters spotted a moving aircraft several clicks away. Radioing in between each other they got into position, and fired a first barge then a second then a third barrage of a ton of missiles. The bombers would probably be able to destroy or maneuver around the first round but it was unsure about the other ones.

OOC: I do hope you fellows actually took time to read the profiles I've been linking to. The Arbiter flies at an exceptionally high speed and altitude; unless you've got some seriously long-range surface-to-air missiles, you're not gonna have much luck. Also, are you packing new radars or something? When I said "blanket" the theatre with anti-radiation missiles, I wasn't kidding. I apologize for the tech-wanking involved, but I've gone to great lengths to explain all my technology for a reason...


---

Chechen airspace

"Colonel, more enemy choppers have appeared! They're not far from our current position," the ECM officer reported.

"Well, what're you telling me for?! Blow them out of the sky! Order the outrider Arbiters to start letting off their antiaircraft missiles! They've got plenty, so start using them!" Krotkov angrily ordered.

"On it, sir!" the radio-intercept officer sharply responded.

---

"More whirly-birds, it seems," the lead bomber's radio officer stated.

"You'd think they'd have learned their lesson when the last flight went on a hot date with our AMRAAMs," the commander sighed. "Well, whatever. Their persistence is admirable. Nevertheless. Deploy the Middlemen! That should give them what-for."

"Deployment commencing, sir!" the bombardier replied.

Three of the bombers released their eight Middleman drones. The orange-painted drone fighters began losing altitude for a few moments, then kicked their scramjets into action. Almost immediately the unmanned missile boats rocketed forward at unbelievable speed, leaving the Arbiters behind in a matter of moments.

Each of the twenty four drones locked on to a particular helicopter and began releasing their AMRAAMs. As a final precaution, the drones would then detonate themselves against the Union heliport, preventing further launches. Each drone loosed its six AMRAAMs, for a total of one hundred and forty-four missiles.

---

The bomber strike force was making its final approaches over the various Chechen airbases, airports, heliports, and so forth.

"Major, it would appear they're on to us," the DSO reported.

"Strange.... could it be they're following our thermal signatures?" the aircraft commander pondered, stroking his chin.

"It's what I believe is going on. Stealth properties aside, they've got no radar, thanks to the antiradiation blanket earlier. Obviouisly, they've got to be tailing our exhaust," one of the flight engineers supplanted.

"Pity we can't design a missile to home in on infrared cameras," the commander noted. "In any case, they've only got a vague idea where we are. Deploy the CIWS turrets and target any missiles that get too close. Bombardier, what's our distance to the target?"

"Just about ready to begin releasing ordnance as we speak," the bombardier reported.

"Good. Make sure there's a thorough saturation; nothing must be left operational at this or any other air facility. Understood?" the commander inquired.

"Jawohl, commander. I'll relay your words to the rest of the strike force as well," the radio officer reported. "No operational air facilities."

The strike force began releasing its earth-penetrating bombs over the various airbases scattered across the Chechen Republic. Distant explosions, barely visible to those on the ground, marked the detonation of the Chechen SAMs by the Arbiters' CIWS.

Moments later, the individual runways and helipads were torn to bits as the earth-penetrating bombs, falling almost faster than the naked eye could follow, embedded themselves through the tarmac and into the ground, then exploded shortly thereafter. The resultant underground detonation collapsed the assets above it, dropping taxi strips, runways, landing pads, and command and control assets into the ground. The hangars were not spared either; their parked aircraft went up in flames shortly thereafter.

OOC: I don't know how planes cannot get hit from the salvos of weapons fired at it. Know, I am thinking of trying General Palovich so if anyone wants to join in, as a judge I will make another thread, and if anyone wants to play him, I will allow it.

Air Force C-17 and C-5 transport aircraft began landing on the airport's tarmac as the 1st Marine Division soldiers began to assemble for their force's departure from the country. Ericsson and his company were part of the regiment which was scheduled to leave last and were posted to watch the perimeter of the Aequatian sector of the base. He stood watch at the main gate with his squad, a Raider light armoured vehicle behind their position, its commander manning the 23mm autcannon. The extraction was called for after being asked to leave by the Chechen government and with the completion of the evacuation of nearly 3,000 civilians, Central Command no longer saw a need for Aequatians to remain within the country. The 1st Marines would be transported to the bases where the Aequatian II Airborne Corps were stationed in neighbouring Dagestan for Operation Chaotic Resolve.

OOC: I don't know how planes cannot get hit from the salvos of weapons fired at it. Know, I am thinking of trying General Palovich so if anyone wants to join in, as a judge I will make another thread, and if anyone wants to play him, I will allow it.

OOC: Simple, your missiles lack both the range and guidance necessary to hit a bomber flying at speeds in excess of Mach 3 and at the very, very high altitude of 90,000 feet.

---

Chechen airspace

"Colonel, reports from our strike forces: all operational air facilities within the theatre have been neutralized," the radio-intercept officer reported.

"They're blind and immobile now. Fabulous," Colonel Krotkov stated, tenting his gloved fingers. "Allright. Order Major Gayle's unit to proceed into Grozny from their positions in the mountains. We'll begin full-scale drop operations once he has engaged the enemy."

"Relaying your orders now, sir," the officer reported, beginning his transmission.

Across the Brettonian air fleet preparations commenced to lock down the armored units for the coming drop operation.

---

Mountainous region

"Roger that, commander. Out," Major Gayle reported, closing communication. "Allright, men, we're proceeding into the capital. Neutralize anything with a weapon that isn't flying a white flag. Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" the rest of the company echoed.

"Very well. Stetson!" Gayle barked.

"Sir!" the private reported.

"Toss the prisoner into a bush somewhere, we've got bigger fish to fry," Gayle ordered. An image of General Palovich's face appeared on the holographic HUD of each Stahlkörpe. "This is our objective. Bretton recognizies General Palovich as the only legitimiate authority in this nation, therefore, his security and safety are paramount to victory in this theatre. If you encounter the General, protect him with your life! Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" the company echoed again.

"Is that clear?!" Gayle insisted.

"Sir, crystal, sir!"

"Excellent. Let's roll," the Major ordered. The Stahlkörpes again activated their camouflage and began charging towards the capital. The setting sun illuminated the shimmering outlines that, along with the footsteps, were the only signs of their presence.

By dawn, Palovich would be enjoying his liberty again.

President Amur Shanz got on national television and said;

"Because a foreign nation wants to put a racist General Palovich in charge of the Chechen Republic, even though he has said he wants to get rid of the Chechen people we have decided to send General Palovich to a third nation to stand trial. Also, we ask for foreign support to fight this foreign aggression that left over 100 soldiers dead along with several civilians in the bombing of Chechen facilities. We ask for foreign nations to stop this foreign agression.

We thank the peacekeepers for helping us in Chechen Republic and if they want to leave they can. Thank you."

--------------

The offer had been given to allow General Palovich to go to a foreign nation. If the offer wasn't accepted he was to be executed.

Union Canada peacekeepers were heaqded out of Chechen Republic. However, their leader had accepted General Palovich and several of his followers, who had been his officers. They loaded the General and his soldiers into a helicopter and took off from the Chechen capital. Soon they were out of Chechen space and headed back to Union Canada and had the General and several officers.

Nearly half of the 1st Marine Division had been extracted or were en route to the waiting Aequatian bases in Dagestan when Major-General Doyle had heard of the reports of a foreign nation attempting to take control of the Chechen Republic. All that had remained of the Aequatian peacekeeping force were two regiments of Marines and their equipment and vehicles, the combat support battalion and an armoured battalion with sixty Banshee main battle tanks. A message was sent to the Chechen military's command for all the intelligence they had on the foreign invaders and how the Aequatian forces within the region could aid in the defence of Groznyy.

It appears that the foreign invaders are spporting General Palovich who is now heading towards Union Canada to stand trial for his crimes. We believe that the best way to assist Grozny is to provide as much air cover and fighter plane and bomber support against foreign ground forces and their bombers and fighter planes.

This is the thread to the ooc for General Palovich's trial in Union Canada.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=468361

"Stay steady, boys, keep the choppers on the ground," said Maelwys. "Get the transports in route, this has stopped being a peace keeping mission."

The transport choppers flew in low with their esscorts. They set down on the tarmac as Widdfae soldiers began barricading the airport. They were too few to make much difference in the city, but they could keep the airport open for refugees if things went bad. Maelwys quikly dispatched a message to the Chechens.

"It looks as if things may turn poorly for you. If you have anyone who needs to get out to neutral ground, this is the time, while we still hold the airport. Our transports are ready to extract anyone who wants out of the city."

Transport aircraft were hastily rerouted and the complete combat elements of the 1st Marine Division were being returned to the airport where the other peacekeeping forces were present. In addition to the 1st Marines, the Aequatian II Airborne Corps would be mobilized into the Chechen Republic in order to defeat the foreign invaders, including the air assets provided to them. 6th Airborne Division personnel began their movement immediately for Groznyy aboard their own aviation assets and their intratheatre airlift C-130J aircraft. Aequatio's contribution of troops would nearly double in the troubled country.

Grozny

The Stahlkörpe company approached the outskirts of town, keeping within the forested areas as the mountains flattened out. The darkening skies furthered their stealth infiltration.

"Platoons, check in," Major Gayle stated.

"Otto reporting, Platoon 1 is go."

"Jackson speaking, Platoon 2 is go."

"This is Higgins, Platoon 3 is go."

"Franco here, Platoon 4 is go."

"Very good. Now, if you'll keep your beady little eyes on your HUDs..." Gayle began, bringing up a simulated map of Grozny. "Platoon 1 and 3 will attack from the west, here." A red arrow labelled '1' and '3' appeared, pointing towards one of the main thoroughfares. "You'll be serving as the hammer of this operaion. Platoon 2 will attack from the east, acting as the anvil." A second arrow appeared. "Platoon 4 will attack from the south to cut off any retreating forces." The third arrow appeared. "Saturate your entry points with WP grenades (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_phosphorus_(weapon)); that should scatter any exposed enemy forces while covering our advance. Take cover if you encounter enemy heavy armor and attempt to disable them with the thermate canisters. Try to minimize civilian casualties, but don't hesitate to neutralize anyone who seems threatening. Use the riot control slugs if you have to. Understood?"

"Sir, yes sir!" the company echoed.

"Allright, let's see some action! Move, move, move!" Gayle shouted. The platoons dispersed, hustling through the vegetation towards their assault points. The relative darkness and dense arbor masked the imperfections in their optical stealth.

In short order, the platoons arrived at their assault points.

"Are all units in position?" Gayle inquired.

"Ready to go, sir!" the platoon leaders reported.

"Fire first volley!" the Major bellowed. The Stahlkörpes raised their assault rifles and fired their grenade launchers. Dozens of white phosphorous grenades sailed into the air, bursting on the way down into incendiary plumes of chaulky smoke. The edges of Grozny were soon filled with the caustic, acidic phospohorous clouds. "Second volley!" More grenades arced into the city. "Final volley!" From a high vantage point, it seemed as though a bitter, pea soup of incendiary fog had rolled in from the forests, albiet only from three sides.

"Grenade dispersal complete, sir!" Otto reported.

"That's it, then! CHARGE!!" Gayle yelled. The Stahlkörpes burst from their positions and sailed into the smoke screen, peering through the mist with their thermal imaging systems. They projected their charging battlecries through their external speakers, which meshed with the sound of their steel footsteps in the cacaphony of war.

---

Chechen airspace

"Colonel, we've got a new feed from our orbital assets," the communications officer stated.

"What? Status!" Colonel Krotkov demanded.

"More foreign air assets are percolating into the area... this may take longer than we've forecasted," the officer added.

"I grow weary of this balderdash... give me an open broadcast channel, now!" Krotkov barked. The officer ran a few numbers, then handed him a radio handset. Krotkov cleared his throat and began broadcasting on major open frequencies.

"Attention foreign assets, this is Colonel Alex Krotkov, Brettonian Army Air Force Expeditionary Commander. You are hereby advised to turn away immediately. The Brettonian government and people recognize the only legitimate authority within this nation is that of the embattled General Palovich, who is currently imprisoned by those claiming the authority to rule. Our objective will not be sidetracked by the intervention of bloodsucking foreigners. It was we who caused the nationwide radar blackout, and we who neutralized all the major air facilities. However, this foreign intervention has forced our hand in this matter. To this effect, in the spirit of chivalry, I am providing this ultimatum to all parties involved: you will vacate Chechen airspace, and you will do so now, or you will be regarded as enemy combatants and treated accordingly. This is your first, final, and only warning. Leave now, or go quietly to your graves. That is all," Krotkov ended the transmission. "That should give them something to think about. Status on the arrival of the second and third battalions?!"

"They're en route as we speak, should be available within twelve hours," the radio officer reported. Krotkov nodded approvingly.

"Sir, Major Gayle's company has begun its assault into Grozny," the combat observation officer reported.

"So it's begun," Krotkov said. "Commence the drop operation!"

"Commencing drop operation!" the deck control officer acknowledged. Across the Chechen Republic, Brettonian air assets began releasing their combat units. Entire companies of Stahlkörpe suits, dozens of A4G Partisan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=450430) bipedal tanks, and even a handful of the gargantuan A7V Peacemaker (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=444410) multi-legged tanks were soon on their way to the ground. The war was finally beginning in earnest.

Maelwys got on an open com line and flashed a message to the Chechen command.
"If you have any sense, you will get out of this city. We still have helicopters on the ground here and can evacuate any governmental agents or civilian ambassadors. I will keep this airport open as long as possible but I have no interest in making it my Thermopylae so get anyone who's going here or tell me no one's coming."

A message was then flashed to the Brettonian command.

"Widdfae transports will be airlifting civilians and other non-combatants out of danger zone, do not fire."

Maewys shook his head as he got of the com. MacAndrews was there.
"Should I send up escorts?" he asked. Maelwys shook his head no.
"It wouldn't do any good. Both sides have fighter aircraft in the sky. The Furies are great little birds but they don't have the speed to deal with a fighter. We're just going to have to trust in their sense of honor here, and hope we can keep the LZ open long enough to get anyone out of here."

OOC: I know when I'm good and beaten. Damn unclear definitions between MT and PMT. *grumbles*

IC:

After receiving reports on the strength of the Brettonian forces within the area and a review of his own forces, Major-General Doyle paused to think for a moment as he sat in the middle of his headquarters at the airport base of operations. He lacked the proper weapon systems to clear the skies that would allow him to use his available air assets fully to engage the enemy ground forces that would certainly overrun his own. He made the call for the withdrawal of Aequatian forces as originally planned and would have his forces airlifted out of the city and to the bases in Dagestan, the forces that could not be immediately extracted would be leaving Groznyy via the main roads which would take his troops East towards the border and the eventual trip home to Aequatio. Final messages were broadcast:

"To all it may concern,

after careful consideration and review by Aequatian Central Command and the field command elements of the Aequatian forces deployed to the Chechen Republic, it is seen that any conflict against the forces of Bretton is impossible for our forces currently deployed to defeat the threat without considerable loss to our own personnel and resources. As such, Aequatian 1st Marine Division elements will be extracted from the capital of Groznyy by airlift transports while those that cannot be airlifted will be using the main roads which will take our forces East towards our bases in Dagestan."

-----

To: Colonel Alex Krotkov, Brettonian Army Air Force Expeditionary Commander
From: Major-General Thomas Doyle, Commander, Aequatian 1st Marine Division

Aequatian forces are being withdrawn from the area and will not engage Brettonian units unless unjustly provoked or attacked. I know when I'm beaten and I can only hope that the next time we meet on the field of battle, that we're standing next to each other and not against.

Kudos, Colonel.

Chechen airspace

"Colonel, relay from the Aequatian commander. It seems they're folding," the radio-intercept officer reported. Krotkov was noticeably relieved.

"Well, this a refreshing development. What about the others?" Krotkov inquired.

"Another group identifying themselves as Widdfae are pulling out as well."

"Is that all?" the Colonel cocked an eyebrow.

"As of the present," the officer stated.

"Very well. We'll bide our time a little longer," Krotkov said. "Some of them might be a bit slow in response. What about Palovich?"

With the Aequatians pulling out, and no response coming from the Chechen government, Maj. Maewys ordered a full scale evacuation. As many civilian refugees as had come were loaded onto the large transport helecopters with the heavy equipment. They were followed by the majority of the Battalion. Any overflow loaded onto the Harpies. At last, Maelwys looked about the air strip. Aside from potholes for mortar rounds, the tarmac showed no signs that they had ever been here. Of in the distance, he could see smoke from Brettonian invasion force. Their bloody radar jammers were messing with his transmissions back to Yr Widdfa, so his report of the evacuation had not received official approval yet, but Maelwys felt pretty certain that the Grand Duke would look with less favor on the eradication of a battalion of the most elite unit in the army than he would on Maelwys making a judgement call to pull out. So, with a last look around, Maelwys stepped onto his chopper. Several messages were flashed out.

To Chechen command:
Lacking response to our previous transmissions, our forces have evacuated such civilian and diplomatic personnel as have arrived. We are evacuating to neutral airspace and thence to Yr Widdfa. Recommend you get the bloody hell out of the city.

To Brettonian command:
My compliments, sir. Request ceasefire as we remove our personnel to neutral airspace.

OOC: Antiradiation missiles and radar jammers are mutually exclusive things. A jammer floods the area with dud radar frequencies. An antiradiation missile locks on to the source of radar emissions and blows it away. Know your tech!

Chechen airspace

"We've recieved confirmation of the Widdfae pullout," the radio-intercept officer stated, eyes reading over a feedout.

"Good to hear they've made good on their earlier actions," Colonel Krotkov remarked. "Just to make sure they've got the right idea... helm, bring us in for a low-altitude pass over Grozny. That ought to get them sweating just a bit."

"Sir!"

---

Grozny

Major Gayle's Stahlkörpe company surged into town like lightning, their feet throwing up chunks of asphalt behind them. No attacks had been made against them yet. The presidential site was ever closer. Suddenly, a loud rumbling began to announce itself across the city. The Stahlkörpes briefly paused, trying to find the source of the noise. Within moments, it was blatantly apparent. A behemoth Brettonian air transport (http://malikcarr.250free.com/OYW_images/UNDEFINED-77.jpg) streaked across the sky, scant yards between its lower wing and the tops of the buildings in Grozny. Its nearly kilometer-wide wingspan ensured it would be seen by anyone nearby. A battery of illumination flares were left in its wake, bathing the city in a red glow. A rallying battlecry roared forth from the Stahlkörpes, redoubling their efforts to sieze the presidential site before anyone could get in their way.

With General Palovich in Union Canada awaiting trial, most Chechen forces did not engage these foreign fighters. However there were reports where civilians had been indiscriminately killed by these foreign thugs. President Amur Shanz the leader, elected leader of Chechen Republic waited for whoever would come through his office. He had sent his staff and body guards away so they could protect their families. However, he had a demolition expert rig the doors and room and the third floor of the presidential building with explosives if his heart stopped.

Grozny presidential site

The Stahlkörpe company arrived at the presidential site, still having encountered no resistance.

"Have we got the flag?" Major Gayle demanded.

"Ready to go, sir!" a private, Vesque, pointed at his battlesuit's storage compartment. Gayle nodded.

"Allright, through the front! Secure the compound, hurry!" Gayle barked.

"Hooah!!" The eleven-foot-tall armored suits charged up the concrete stairs, crumbling bits of them as they went. The doors of the presidential site lay before them. The suits lined up against the wall.

"Franco, take your platoon around the back. Make sure nobody gets out from the rear exits," Gayle instructed. The fourth platoon lieutenant saluted, then lead his men around back. "Load the baton rounds in your grenade launchers. I want to do this with as little bloodshed as possible." Gayle loaded his own with a flashbang magazine and cocked it. Two Stahlkörpes positioned themselves in front of the double doors and flipped their rifles over. The two rifle stocks slammed the doors open, cracking their frames in the process. Gayle pivoted into the doorway and fired a flashbang inside.

---

Outskirts of Grozny

Having already secured their landing zones, more armored columns were approaching the city. The two-legged Partisans (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=450430) were a sight to behold, but they were quickly overawed by the monstrous, arachnid Peacemaker (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=444410) tanks. Even now, the seismic vibrations of their gigantic feet were felt across the city. Those within eyeshot witnessed the unearthly smooth movements of their building-sized legs and the eerie scanning glances of their numerous camera eyes. A shot had not yet been fired; it was up to the Chechens and their foreign allies whether or not that would all change.

---

Grozny presidential site

"Clear!" Otto yelled as he determined the foyer was unoccupied. His troops followed him inside, their giant feet pulverizing the rugs and marble beneath them.

"Left wing, clear!" Higgins reported, also having found nothing.

"Right wing, clear!" Jackson stated. Major Gayle and his two lackies were already charging up the stairs to the top floor, intent on locating whomever was running the establishment before anyone else did. A particularly sturdy-looking door caught his eyes. A quick glance at holographic floor plans revealed his suspicions were more or less on-the-ball.

"Here we go..." Gayle noted. "Breach the door." One of the troopers nodded and cocked his grenade launcher. A crack issued from its barrel as a baton round shot into the door, smashing it clear from its hinges. Gayle crouched his Stahlkörpe under the doorway so he could see inside.

"President Shanz, I presume?" Gayle asked.

President Shanz looked at the man and nodded. He waited for the man to shoot or what was going to happen.

At least the man hadn't seen the explosives, and if Shanz heart stopped they would all go sky high.

Chechen airspace

"Colonel, sir, Major Gayle's unit has taken the presidential site," the radio-intercept officer stated.

"Excellent," Colonel Krotkov smirked. "Now, we must locate General Palovich and get this business over with."

---

Grozny

The massive A7V Peacemaker (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=444410) multi-legged tanks were now leering over the edges of Grozny at the eight compass points. Their enormous frames and eerie camera eyes, constantly in motion, appeared as if they were demon sentinels ensuring that nothing in the city happened that wasn't meant to happen. The smaller A4G Partisan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=450430) bipedal tanks had penetrated inside the city itself, along with innumerable Stahlkörpe (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=447922) armored suits. Disgruntled Chechen citizens lobbed stones and other similar objects at the battlesuited soldiers, but they chose not to respond.

---

Grozny presidential site

A single Stahlkörpe had made its way onto the roof of the presidential site, very carefully navigating over the heavy iron support beams to ensure it wouldn't fall through. A second Stahlkörpe on the ground threw an iron pole some sixty feet long up to the first unit. In short order, the suit had set to work welding the pole to the top of the presidential site's superstructure. Convinced it was sturdy, the first Stahlkörpe unfurled an enormous Brettonian flag (http://malikcarr.250free.com/Defense/BN.jpg) and attached it to the pole, marking the official end of Chechen sovereignty, at least for the time being. A whooping cheer rose up across the city from the various Brettonian armored units, amplifying their voices through their external speakers.

Inside, Major Gayle and two other Stahlkörpe units had confronted President Shanz, who had remained at his desk throughout the entire affair.

"Well, that saves us the trouble of lengthy introductions," Gayle remarked, bringing the Stahlkörpe to its full height and nearly scraping the ceiling. "On behalf of the Brettonian promises to the rightful leaders of this country, I am removing you from your office of the presidency. Before that, however, you have one final task. Your last action as president will be to order a ceasefire, and that all Chechen citizens will follow the new authority from hereon." Gayle produced a photograph of General Palovich from the storage compartment in his suit's armpit. He kneeled down to bring the suit low enough, then used one of its master arms to place it on the desk, facing Shanz. The Stahlkörpe returned to its full height afterwards. "If you would be so inclined as to prevent further bloodshed, you'll comply swiftly." Gayle paused. "Oh, yes, if you were planning on making another plea to the spineless international community for aid, we've already taken the precaution of instrumenting a communications blackout over the entire theatre. With that in mind, we'll have a television crew and equipment here shorlty. I do hope you'll have made up your mind before then."

President Shanz said angrily;

"We will not let a Russian man, who has said he doesn't care and has tried to exterminate the Muslim majority of Chechen Republic beforehand to become leader of this country. I am the elected leader, and you and your soldiers will not scare me. Besides, he has been taken to a third nation to stand trial for his coup."

"I will not resign."

Grozny presidential site

Major Gayle's eyebrows did a doubletake. Oh, Christ... he thought, opening a radio frequency.

"Colonel! We have a problem!"

---

Chechen airspace

"What!? What do you mean he's not in the country?!" Colonel Krotkov demanded.

"That's exactly what I mean! They've moved him elsewhere!" Gayle wailed.

"Well... fuck!" Krotkov exclaimed. "Find out where he went and get back to me! Palovich is essential to our continued operations here!"

"What about Shanz? He's not cooperating," Gayle added. Krotkov clenched his fists.

"If he's not cooperating, make him cooperate!!" he shouted. "I'm sending down a VTOL to acquire Shanz, get him onboard and do it quietly. There's a suitable landing pad on top of the presidential site, be there!" Krotkov angrily threw the radio handset to the deck.

A giant tilt-rotor transport lifted off from within the goliath airship's hold, quickly making haste for the presidential site.

---

Grozny presidential site

"I understand. Over and out," Gayle reported. He moved his Stahlkörpe up to Shanz' desk. "You have the power to make this a bloodless revolution. How many people end up dead when the dust settles is entirely in your hands. For the time being, you're coming with us. If you enjoy your bones, I recommend you don't struggle." Gayle tossed his rifle to one of the other Stahlkörpe units, then proceeded to grab President Shanz and lift him up over the desk, taking care not to crush the man's torso with the Stahlkörpe's massive, power-assisted slave arms. Gayle ducked under the doorway again and proceeded towards the roof.

Shanz did not struggle but he spit at the man.

-----------

Outside the capital, several rockets were fired at a low flying foreign aircraft, explosions rocked the sky as it was believed to be a direct hit. The men who had fired the rockets then disappeared.

Grozny

"So, I'm looking at this chick, right," a Stahlkörpe operator said to another, who nodded in affirmation. "And she's got these knockers like you wouldn't believe, right."

"What, are they just huge, or have they got, like, definition to them?" the second responded. "Like in classical paintings and shit."

"Oh yeah, they've got the firm yet bouncy quality to them and-" the first's reply was interruped as a rocket streaked overhead. "Shit!! Where'd that come from!?" An explosion announced itself as the missile struck the tilt rotor's left wing, destabilizing its descent.

"Fucker, look there!" the second yelled, pointing. One of the gargantuan A7V Peacemaker (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=444410) multi-legged tanks has also caught notice of the missile. Its eyes, now glowing bright red, locked on to the thermal source of the projectile. Its autocannons opened fire, annihilating the forest around the missile's point of origin within a sixty yard diameter. The guns ceased firing, leaving a small mountain of shell casings under its arachnoid legs. It fired a blue flare into the desolated foliage.

A pulsating blue dot appeared on the electronic topographical map of the nearby Stahlkörpe units, who quickly charged into the forest to search for any survivors.

---

Grozny presidential site

"I don't believe this..." Major Gayle muttered. The tilt rotor lost altitude, gained it, then lost it again, unable to stay in the air. It finally managed to set down in an open thoroughfare, nearly clipping the tops of the nearby buildings in the process. Three A4G Partisan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=450430) bipedal tanks and a number of Stahlkörpe assault suits formed up around the incapacitated transport, ensuring no further harm would come to you.

"Do you honestly intend to start a war inside your own capital?!" Gayle demanded of the captive President Shanz. "Get a grip! Look around you for a moment! Do you see those giant spider tanks that are completely surrounding your city?! I really don't think you want to irk their spirits any more than you already have." Gayle radioed for a second transport to collect them. This one would have a gunship escort to ensure there would be no further incidents.

"Ahhh, Major," one of the other Stahlkörpe operators piqued up.

"What?" Gayle demanded.

"You've seem to got something stick to the side of your Stahlkörpe's head," he said, pointing. Gayle groaned.

"Oh, isn't that cute... well, get it off!" Gayle barked.

(OOC: Need to keep this moving, regardless if CR is going to assist with that or not. This a dynamic event!)

Chechen airspace

Four Stahlkörpes, two at each door, lined up on the edges of the huge tilt rotor as it rose into the air, buffeting the Brettonian flag that was now flying above the Grozny presidential site.

President Shanz was sitting on one of the benches, a zip-tie binding his hands behind his back. Major Gayle had been against it, as he was a head of state, but the pilot insisted on having 'no possibility of further problems' in the wake of the first tilt rotor being shot down on the way over. A gunship helicopter flanked the tilt rotor on each side as further insurance against another rocket attack. Despite their relative altitude, they were still only just above the tops (http://malikcarr.250free.com/Peacemaker/ChechenOccupation.JPG) of the A7V Peacemakers (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=444410) ringing the city. Before long, they were in the clouds.

"TS-9, TS-9, we've got the package. Requesting permission to land, over," the pilot stated into his radio.

"Permission is granted. I'll inform Colonel Krotkov of your success, over," an officer aboard the giant air transport reported.

"Roger that. Over and out," the pilot concluded.

"How much longer?" Major Gayle hollered from the back of the aircraft. He didn't want to abruptly move forward and ask the pilot directly, as his heavy Stahlkörpe might adversely affect the tilt rotor's balance.

"Just a bit longer, we should be able to see it short- ah, there it is!" the pilot exclaimed. What appeared to be a set of running lights for multiple aircraft was shortly visible as a single gargantuan air transport. Its twin wings and tail booms stretched out nearly a kilometer in each direction. A set of much brighter landing lights appeared at one of the wing-mounted hangars, guiding the tilt rotor in.

Deck crew, teathered to the aircraft, headed towards the edge of the hangar, flagging the tilt rotor inside with their light sticks. The tilt rotor suddenly started flying smoothly as it passed into the calm air directly behind the overhanging wing, and it proceeded inside as if it was landing in clam weather on the ground instead of the inside of another, much larger aircraft.

Two Stahlkörpes disgorged first as it began touching down. Major Gayle, his adjutant, and the captive President Shanz emerged second, after the rotors had slowed down and the hangar doors were closed.

"Welcome aboard, Mr. President," Gayle said, a subtle tone of mockery in his voice. "The Colonel is expecting you. Follow me."

OOC: Seeing as CR has ceased posting and answering issues, I'm going to assume he's folded for the time being. Another foreign holding, huzzah!

A week after Brettonian armored units hit Chechen soil, a relative degree of peace had been restored. An occasional rocket or burst of gunfire would go off throughout points of interest to Brettonian forces, but for the most part hostilities were over.

In a shining example of Brettonian realpolitik in action, the economic and propaganda machines had already gone to work in high gear. Taking advantage of the closed borders and media blackout, spindoctors were plying their trade with all matters of anti-socialist rhetoric. Propaganda trucks sailed through Chechen towns, handing out various alchoholic beverages and pamphlets extolling the joys Brettonian citizens enjoy, such as legalized prostitution, gene therapy, and stylish long coats. Brettonian Military Industries engineering crews were on the scene as well restoring power facilities, generic utilities, and other matters of essential infrastructure. They were also hard at work detailing Chechen oil and mineral resources for later exploitation. Of particular impetus was any uranium deposits in the region, as both Brettonian military and civilian institutions were always putting the radioactive element in high demand.

For the time being, the Brettonian occupation forces treaded lightly, preferring to let their armor handle the occasional RPG than to go around kicking in doors and taking prisoners. The last thing they wanted was a full-scale rebellion, and in order to maintain their monkier as liberators, that could not happen.