NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is West Corinthia's other account, just to let you know. Right now this country is full of rival warlords and armed civilians. Picture Mogadishu in Black Hawk Down. People are asking for help, but I'd prefer not to have 20 countries send troops. A few countries is plenty.

IC:

~Present Day
"My family is dead." the man declared grimly, holding back the tears. "They killed my son, my wife." The announcement was being aired on news channels across the globe, translated into domestic languages. "Please, we need more foreign aid. The warlords sieze our food, destroy our crops. We need someone to step in and put an end to the violence! Send peacekeepers! Please! Help us!"

~2 months earlier

"Today Soviet Arms Dealers, a country not often on the news, was rocked by violence. The Emir of Soviet Arms Dealers, Bashir al Musharraf was assassinated by anti-government extremists. This left the door open to every militant group in the country to make a grab for control. As of today, Soviet Arms Dealers is in a state of civil war." the newscaster was silent.

~1 month later

The camera panned over a section of desert which had once been a thriving village. Now it was an assortment of burnt huts and smoldering bodies. It was 6 o'clock, time for the evening news again. "I am sad to say the death toll in Soviet Arms Dealers has risen to well over 180,000. An unfortunate combination of extremist violence and famine. Though the UN has been sending food shipments to the country for nearly a month, much of the food has been claimed by local militias. Anyone caught trying to take a bag of the humanitarian aid is shot on sight by the soldiers of various warlords. The warlords themselves have fought brutally over the past few months, slaughtering civilians, intercepting food shipments, all over the capital city of Dubai."

~3 weeks later

The evening news came on once again, more viewers following the story now than ever before. "We have more information than ever before regarding the Soviet Arms Dealers civil war. Please let us explain to you the curent situation and what started it for those of you who are just tuning in." Janet, the anchor, paused a moment before continuing.

"A number of warlords have taken control of sections of Dubai and the rest of the country. Some of the more powerful warlords include Diya al Din, a Muslim extremist who favors a strict theocracy be established in the country. Next is Khair al Din, a less violent warlord who also favors a theocracy, though a more subdued one. Rashad Muntasir is an extremist favoring a powerful military dictatorship be established. Then comes Waqqas ibn Yazid, an extremist supporting Socialist forms of government. Zakwan ibn Khulus is perhaps the most peaceful warlord, though he will defend himself accordingly. He favors Democratic Socialism. Finally comes Fadi al Badr, the most ruthless warlord in the country. He is responsible for siezing much of the food imports to supply his militia and he forces citizens to fight for him off the street. Doubtless he would establish a psychotic dictatorship and continue the killing."

"Thank you, Janet." another anchor took over. "Dubai has become a very violent city as you know. Many buildings have fallen from the almost daily bombings. The population is also heavily armed, the average citizen can walk out onto the street and have a very wide variety of weapons and ammunition to choose from at low prices. It would be mad for a foreigner to venture into the city if they valued their life."

~Present Day

The man finished making his declaration over the television. Now it was up to other countries to decide whether to send peacekeepers. And would the countries ally themselves with any of the country's warlords? Helping certain warlords could help them bring their favored form of government to the country, as well as quell some of the resistance from the populace. Then again countries could rush in, set up a puppet government, and face the wrath of the entire extremist population. It was really up to anyone willing to intervene. Then again everyone could sit back and watch the country destroy itself on the news.

OOC: I'm trying not to favor any specific warlord. I'll accept whichever can really come to power or whatever the foreign countries decide to do. But remember my population will give you hell if you stay in occupation, though I won't blast you with the IGNORE cannon if you decide to, given you don't decide to make me part of your own country, or a colony.

OOC: Is it cool for my guys to send troops over? Shoudl I just post that? I can send a task force, havent done much RPing tho (just a couple threads), so please forgive me if I make some mistakes

"As the small nation of Soviet Arms Dealers entered its second month of bloody civil war, famine and violence continued to rage across the nation, killing many. The great powers of the world have not as of yet offered any significant aid, and little is being done to stop the siezure of food and medical supplies by extremist militias." The news anchor paused as new information came through her earpiece. The camera switches to local footage from the streets of Dubai.

[Civilians cry for help, begging for international aid. With tears, one man describes how his family died at the hands of militia.]

"It seems that the world is beginning to take notice," the anchorwoman corrected herself. "A demonstration is taking place outside Parliament, and citizens are demanding intervention by the Imperial Commonwealth."

[The camera pans across Government Square in the capital. Hundreds of people throng the streets, waving signs and shouting. Some of the more common signs read "End Genocide in Soviet Arms Dealers," and "Right With Might!" A group of students from the Royal University is leading the demonstration, bearing symbols of the four major political parties in Parliament.]

***

Alexei I stood before the assembled Parliament, awaiting the decision of the people's duly elected representatives. The Conservative, Liberal, and Socialist parties all cried for intervention by the Empire. It was an unusual alliance of convenience, given the three parties' general animosity toward each other.

Only the current Ruling Party, the left-leaning Progressives, waivered in their support of action. Standing below and to the right of Alexei, his Prime Minister James Kilroy turned to face both the Emperor and the right wing of Parliament. "We are not in the business of building democracies out of the ashes of nations. It is an expense and a burden that this nation cannot bear. We must continue to support international efforts to bring food and medicine to Soviet Arms Dealers, but we can do no more."

Several dozen voices rose at once to challenge the PM. Gradually, they yielded to Liberal MP Charles Ross, who shouted the loudest. "You oppose action for the sole reason that your political opponents support it! Across the Commonwealth, our citizens demand action, and you stay our collective hand because of politics? How dare you?"

Alex Gestein, a senior Socialist, spoke in support of Ross. "The causes of human rights and liberalism, which this nation has always espoused, are threatened in this civil war. Need I remind any of you that allowing injustice anywhere is to allow injustice everywhere?"

More shouts rose, from both sides of Parliament. Not wanting the session to end in chaos, without accomplishing anything, Alexei raised his hand. The Sergeant-at-Arms yelled for silence. "In recognition of His Majesty Alexei I, SILENCE AMONG THE PEOPLE!"

Alexei lowered his hand as the assembled politicans grew quiet. "The assembled representatives of the people will put this issue to a vote. Shall we, or shall we not, act to help end this brutality?" By law, the Emperor was allowed no vote in Parliamentary matters, but his tone made it clear where his intentions lay.

The politicians sat, and pressed the voting buttons on their personal desks. Very quickly, the green lights of the Ayes overwhelmed the red lights of the Nays and the yellow of the abstainments. Alexei remained impassive, though inside he was glad. Action would begin now.

***

The destroyer HMS Indomitable, on station near Soviet Arms Dealers, began beaming a secure radio transmission on frequencies known to be used by Zakwan ibn Khulus and Khair al Din, the most moderate leaders of the warring factions. As per Captain Owensford's instructions from High Command, it was a simple message.

The Imperial Commonwealth of Malkyer will not tactitly ignore this brutality any longer. We are entering this civil war in order to end it, and hope that you will bring your faction in line with us.

OOC: Go right ahead. I'm not making people ask to join. I just don't want every country sending entire armies. To tell you the truth, I've been watching too much Black Hawk Down and that was my inspiration for this thread.

IC: Zakwan ibn Khulus recieved the transmission from a messenger. Yes. he thought. We shall use these foreigners to bring democracy and socialism to Soviet Arms Dealers.

"Do you wish to send a reply?" the messenger inquired.

"Tell them we most heartily accept." Zakwan smiled and sent the messenger away. Just then a a hail of bullets came streaming through a window near him. He barely flinched. He knew it was just another attack by Fadi al Badr, the psychotic dictator. His troops returned fire with old Soviet weapons including Ak-47s and AK-74s. One soldier shot an RPG down from the roof of the headquarters and destroyed the attacking vehicle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The radioman in Khair al Din's underground headquarters answered the foreign transmission. He brought it before Khair. "Alexei I of Malkyer has offered us a truce. They intend to intervene in the war."

"Bah! It is a mere cover. They intend to make this country their own. I know how these foreigners think. Send them a negative reply and warn them not to interfere with our matters. The country shall be ours soon enough. Not even Malkyer can stop us now." Khair al Din stormed off angrily. Dust came down from the ceiling of the bunker. A mortar attack was raging above them.

OOC: Islamic America will be willing to assist one of the warlords in this national civil war. But would it be okay if Islamic America and this clan that they support, declares independence and create a seperate nation that would then join Islamic America even though it isn't known at the moment.

OOC: Islamic America will be willing to assist one of the warlords in this national civil war. But would it be okay if Islamic America and this clan that they support, declares independence and create a seperate nation that would then join Islamic America even though it isn't known at the moment.

OOC: I'd prefer that you don't do that but you're welcome to join sending peacekeepers or the like. I want to keep my country together and this thread is really about a change in government and re-establishing order. None of the warlords would just break off from what they're doing.

OCC: ok im sending a small task force to do some agressive recon. Is there some costal region in which I can place my units? both military and civillian?

ICC:

George entered the kitchen, he walked over to the table, were a bowl of cereal was already prepared. He sat down and turned on the Television. “Civil War continues in Soviet Arms Dealers, the death toll is still rising, and no certain faction seems to have an upper hand.” Says the reporter; “we will now show you images from the conflict”. Urban area, many people are gathered around a reporter. Many are retelling their tales of suffering for the camera. Switch back to newsroom. “Very few countries are doing anything, we have just received information that Malkyer has already begun to take action, we now take you to the newsroom at the Presidential Palace, where VP Carlos Olarto will make a statement. Slight blackness comes on screen, white flash, camera zooms in on a podium “Franberry will send help to Soviet Arms Dealers. We will send medicine, food and trained doctors, as well as other useful supplies. To escort them, we shall be deploying a small task force, which will also help to bring stability to the region. Units of the Rapid Deployment Force are being moved into Soviet Arms Dealers national waters as we speak”

*****

The newly formed SAD (Soviet Arms Dealers) Relief Force, consisting of 4 Coral class destroyers, 10 torpedo boats, 10 patrol boats and numerous transport and medical ships was headed stragiht for the coast of Soviet Arms Dealers.

*****

20 Global Hawks entered SAD airspace, they quickly determined that if anyone whished to oppose the landing, they would have a lot of trouble doing so, as most of the area close to the coast had been ravaged by fighting, and enemy forcesin the area were weak compared to the 31st Landing Division.

IC: Zakwan ibn Khulus recieved the transmission from a messenger. Yes. he thought. We shall use these foreigners to bring democracy and socialism to Soviet Arms Dealers.

"Do you wish to send a reply?" the messenger inquired.

"Tell them we most heartily accept." Zakwan smiled and sent the messenger away. Just then a a hail of bullets came streaming through a window near him. He barely flinched. He knew it was just another attack by Fadi al Badr, the psychotic dictator. His troops returned fire with old Soviet weapons including Ak-47s and AK-74s. One soldier shot an RPG down from the roof of the headquarters and destroyed the attacking vehicle.

OCC: I would be more than happy to assist this Socialist/Democratic faction

Perhaps it was his brain throbbing for anything to find as amusing, for something to be running with joyous pain and sorrow, for him to act as a hero behind the thick wave of steel and fire and lead and bullets. Or perhaps he was simply senile. But whatever happened, whatever was his position, his goal, the great and merciless Lord Egos had heard of this certain – calamity – within the shocking and possibly crumbling civil structures in the small sector of land that was the Soviet Arms Dealers. Shaking his head in disbelief, he could only wonder what was happening, what was transpiring, but he felt he would have to intervene.

It was a long time in the uncertain timeline that Jenrak had touched its own blood, tasted its own wounds, to feel a civil of its own to keep its blade sharp, and this civil war amongst others would certainly gain him some favourable thoughts on the military, some enlightening prowess into the Jenrakian stage. Perhaps he could even set up strong trade relations with whomever he decided to help, whomever it may be.

Many of them seemed enticing, but he had to choose carefully – any of them could instantly be a wrong choice later on in the world, and Jenrak’s elite aristocracy already had enough babbling amongst their devoured lives as it was. His fingers shaking, his hands twitching in anticipation, Egos shook his weary and strained face, his veins throbbing on his skull, his thinning cheekbones shown with full tenacity and brightness alongside his other features. Bones thin and wiry, face and hair greyish and dry, he licked his blood red tongue hungrily as he walked along the fanciful marble halls, the paintings adorning every corner.

A small sheet of paper in his hands, a small list perched through his fingers as they crackled in front of a small screen attached to Egos’ wrist watch, showing the carnage over and over again. Heh. He would lick hungrily again, watching as all the corpses slithered and slinkered down like a fresh slab of meat shining with the greasy blood in the heated sun, a voluptuous meal in all manner.

“Oh, so fresh.” He snickered, watching even more bodies slinking along the pile of corpses from the chaos that was seemingly totalled from the list of damages done in the war.

Flipping over the crisp white sheet, he saw another list – an attribute of each of the ‘Warlords’, and every single one of their maniacal behaviours. Only one caught his eye - Zakwan ibn Khulus, a man who must truly be crazy to be a peaceful fiend – to worthy of help. Truly this brave and interesting warrior have secrets in his mind to fight with peace and righteous violence, turning his ideals against the other Theocrats. As much Egos loved spreading the Tsellian belief, to help a Theocrat of a heretic religion was truly not his forte.

A thin and clawed metal gauntlet holding a pen, circling the man Zakwan ibn Khulus, Egos walked out onto the balcony, ready for his declaration. His arms outstretched amongst his clans, his people, his warriors, all of them cheering on with their fangs outstretched and their claws in the air, the humans and the monsters of men, the dread Sadicistra. Oh dear lords, what a fate for such a woe-like civil war to suffer with the intervention of the deadly cannibals of the Haasdra island.

Talking into his communicator, he readied for his confirmation. Fingers dry, eyes bloodshot, lips smacking in anticipation, Egos spoke once more to his leader.

“Lord Authaulus. Permission to bring the Red Wing?” He asked, his voice crackled and his throat dry with many years of sorrow and pain beneath its rocky voice.

“Permission granted.” Authaulus said, before chiming back up. “But,” He said in a tone of finality, “I do not want a single rape or murder of civilians attributed to the Sadicistra. If you do, then great Enkur forbid what you have done, and your burning in the NecroMarnen will be nothing to the torture in my Necromarnen.”

“Understood.” With that, Egos turned his communicator off, and gradually nodded to his hungry soldiers – their thirst for chaos exciting, their hunger for flesh and blood and war unperturbed.

“Sadicistra ego nahm! Egos Kaith kath Kaith nahm! Zakwan ibn Khulus ego Nahm! Noquira Kath Kaith! Requiem ego – Noquira Requiem!” With that shout of flaming passion through his coarse voice, spew of charisma and morale into the air, the atmosphere, Egos nodded as his men prepared.

The Elite of the military, the Jenrakian Sadists, were going to war. But for a purpose of good, not evil, this time. Only the great gods would determine whether their triumphed is to be attained as force of nobility, and just theocracy – not simply feasts of the damned. Before the shipment of the soldiers began, Egos had to send a single message, unencrypted, towards to any whom may pick it up.

The Ickos Kaith is coming. The Sadists of Egos are arriving. Dear Zakwan ibn Khulus, meet us well, and we will pay back in tenfold.

OOC: I have to eat dinner now, but I will post something shortly.

Zakwan ibn Khulus read a copy of the transmission. "Most excellent. Perhaps our fortunes in this war are turning." For the 2 months the civil war had been raging, Zakwan ibn Khulus had been getting pushed back steadily by Fadi al Badr and Rashad Muntasir. Many people regarded him as being overly pacifist and therefore a weak coward. A pacifist in Soviet Arms Dealers was a rare commodity these days. He had less recruits, less territory, but now allies in the foreigners.

"Sir." an officer interrupted Zakwan's pleasant thoughts. "Rashad Muntasir is strengthening his eastern border with the bulk of his men to protect from foreign incursions."

"Another bonus." Zakwan thought out loud.

"Sir?" the soldier asked, confused.

"That leaves the market on his west poorly defended and as you know we are falling behind in the fight for the city. Everyone visits the market. Taking it would guarentee an increase in the numbers of our men. Organize an assault immediately."

"Yes, sir." the officer's face suddenly brightened as he saluted. His morale spiked as he saw this change in his warlord. Finally an offensive operation. Maybe he isn't such a pacifist as we believed. The officer rushed outside to begin planning the operation.

Zakwan returned to his thoughts as several truckloads of his troops drove off for the Dubai marketplace. Not much planning went into offensive operations anymore. Now "planning" pretty much meant assembling an assault team and loading a civilian vehicle with an IED (improvised explosive device).

OCC: I would be more than happy to assist this Socialist/Democratic faction
OOC: Well say so IC. Also, there is plenty of coast for you. And remember most of the population is armed and the ones who were afraid of a fight have for the most part already left. But that doesn't mean anyone with a weapon is going to attack. This might be my last post until tomorrow.

IC: A scout searching the rubble of buildings around the coast spotted the Franberry global hawks. He pulled out a radio and informed his leader. Word spread fast between factions. A new enemy was coming. Citizens started stockpiling weapons at a faster rate than ever before. The arms dealers were making huge profits in the streets as crowds rushed them looking for anything that could shoot.

Aboard it’s illustrious borderline design, the sleek and steady Arodax Eiken, catwalks and pipes adorning its massive interior, steel and wood alongside each other in the bunkers, entirely steel from there on, giant slabs and sheets of metal sticking out of its skin like a porcupine of death drifting delicately at sea. His captains and lieutenants walking along, looking about, Lord Egos stood there, watching his minute, but still formidable given fleet, consisting a fairly moderate number of battleships, all as large and as powerful as the Arodax Eiken, all containing transports and cruisers tied to their hull, swimming alongside with utmost speed.

Like a large metal platform floating on water it seemed, Egos watched from its heart the bustling of the people around preparing themselves for the possible occupation of the coast. Launching up into the sky three small but sturdy spy planes, satellite photography was simply too risky to bear – a large floating space oriented object flying over another country’s base would certainly cause thought and disruption.

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The Royal Army Rapid Reaction Force was capable of deploying anywhere in the world within a few hours. This deployment would be no different. Scant hours after the replies were recieved from Zakwan ibn Khulus and Khair al Din, transport planes flew high over the city of Dubai. Too high for shoulder-mounted weapons, the planes were reasonably safe from an enemy not believed to possess true anti-aircraft weapons.

The lead force, which consisted of two battalions of soldiers, was itself preparing for the jump into the city. Officers gave final briefings to the troopers. Ibn Khulus had replied favorably to the Malkyeri broadcast, and al Din had been rather blunt in his refusal of terms. Therefore, the airborne troops were dropping into a section of the city believed to be controlled by ibn Khulus' faction. Even so, the soldiers were reminded that it could be a trap, and so caution was in order. Anyone who did not welcome the incoming Royal Army was to be assumed an enemy and neutralized quickly.

The lead group, the 44th Parachute Battalion, began diving from their transport aircraft in the darkness of predawn Dubai. Attempting to negotiate a landing in an open area just outside the city, the battalion landed with little trouble, though there were some injuries such as twisted ankles and bruised legs. Regrouping and gathering their equipment as quickly as possible, the soldiers began moving into the city, scanning constantly with infared cameras and keeping their weapons at the ready.

The second group was kept as a reserve in case the 44th came under attack before the main task force arrived from Imperial territory. Even so, a Scout Team of fifteen men performed a HALO jump into the city, landing just outside the area of ibn Khulus' influence.

"Bravo 2, take your squad and head for the market," ordered their leader upon landing.

"Sir." Six men hurried into the darkness, faceplates down and passive scanners on. They quickly disappeared behind a building.

"Alpha 2, your squad will come with me. Sewers," the leader said. The remainig eight men hurried to a manhole cover, and waited as it was pried open. The eight Scouts quickly vanished into the sewers of Dubai, ready to wreak havoc on all sides. LACONIA had arrived in Soviet Arms Dealers.

OOC- Ill join, but my guys will play the role like the UN in somolia, providing food to civilians and stuff, but while defending themselves and going after clans attacks the base.


IC-
MESSAGE PLAYED ON RADIO
Willink is monitering the situation and would like to offer out a helping hand to your people. We will supply food, water, medical supplies, temporary housing, and protection from the brutal warlords of your country. We will be sending an aircraft carrier to send supplies to you nation, and will set up a base of operations were you will be able to recieve these supplies, may god be with you.

The Newly commision Assault Carrier/Cruiser the WNF- Zepher was deployed to the region, around 5 miles off the coast. The ship gleamed on the water, its sensors whizzing away. 20 Helicopters took off from its flightdeck, landing in the outskirts of dubai, were supplies began to be placed about, tents were set up, and around 50 troops protected the area. In a few minutes some Heavy lift helicopters would take off, carrying supplies to build lightweight buildings and sandbags, light vehicles and around 150 Aid workers. It would slowly, but eventualy, turn into a massive aid center, for providing the populous with supplies and refreshments.

(OCC- Is the whole RP taking place in the capital? If so, does it have port facilities? I'm interested in participating, but how would depend on these)

OOC: Well, if you need ground/navy, count me in! I don't have much of an air force or AA though.

IC:

Khonsu, Supreme General of Pythogria, scoffed. "What is this? Warlords?"

"Yes sir. Genocidal, sadistic, maniacs." The advisor told Khonsu.

"We are sending aid. I want most of our army over there."

"Yes sir."

"Oh, also, drop 100,000 tons of food in. They need it."

"Yes sir..."

To: Soviet Arms Dealer

From: Pythogria

Re: International Aid

Text:

Seeing the sorry state youyr country is in, we wish to help. We'll land on the northern shore. Expect this to come:

150,000 Troops (All in "Conqueror" Advanced Infantry Combat Systems (CAICS), equipped with HVAR rifles and Thunderclap rockets)

1000 Black Lanner Tanks

1500 Shadow RSTV's (750 with TOW missiles, 750 with machine guns)

150 M11A3 APC's

18 F16E Bombers

60 UH-75 "Knighthawk" utility/assault helicopters

8 Goliath Class Maritime Prepositioning Ships

6 Orlan IIB CGN cruisers

1 Toryu Class BB Flight I/IIA Battleship

250 M249 Wolfhound AVLB's

150 Dolphin II Class SSN submarines

200 M109A6 Paladin's, with 200 FAASV Supply Vehicles

3 Talos Class MOB Modules

We'll assist your side in this war. Down with the warlords!

Also, 100,000 tons of food will be airdropped in.

Yours truly,
Konsu

OOC: I assume these guys arent too strong? I'm not facing a superpower here.

(OOC: who is posting the local deaths? Because I don’t think Soviet Arms Dealers can handle like 5 fronts at once, all being update at different times, well, maybe you can, but it just seems like a lot to me.)


Corporal Everson stepped of his landing craft onto the western coast of Soviet Arms Dealers. He immediately started running towards a small rock, which would offer some protection, although no one was opposing the landings, this was what he was trained to do. As he slumped against the rock, he could see the hundreds of landing craft unloading men of the 31st division, Kronos main battle tanks, Kramer infantry fighting vehicles and other assorted vehicles.

*******

At the High Command of the Army, reports were coming from all over the beached reporting success.

"General Donavan. This is going even better than planned. Our landing forces have landed completely unopposed, and we've suffered only a couple casualties after we sent a recon into an urban area.” Reported the general’s aide to his superior.
“That, Donello, is excellent. We will have to send more troops, the 31st division, even with the supporting regiments is only 25, 000 men. Another country is sending 150,000 men in there. We need at least 2 more divisions”
“The 154th armoured is in the area. We also have 5 other divisions that can have leading units arrive within the end of the week”
“Very well, move the most veteran of those in there. As for air and naval strength”
“We have 5 squadrons of the air force, and the 3rd fleet is getting in position”
“Good. Local support?”
“There is a socialist faction that could ally with us due to their similar ideology.”
“Ok, send and emissary, and I want a makeshift airbase set up as quickly as possible.”
“Yes sir, I’ll go arrange everything now”

OOC: I'm assisting Soviet Arms Dealers.

OOC: The RP will take place in the capital city Dubai. It does have a large port. I also really don't have an official government so you can't really say you're helping Soviet Arms Dealers, it has no officials. It's been 2 months of civil war between warlords after the Emir was killed. And while you aren't facing a superpower, the population is extremely hostile, knows the city, and is not afraid to drive at you with a car loaded with bombs. That should answer all questions.
Oops and I just realized I've been logged in as West Corinthia for a while, stupid jolt.

Just to make things easier on myself, I've decided the major warlords (the ones with organized forces) are Rashad Muntasir (Military dictatorship), Zakwan ibn Khulus (Democratic Socialist), and Fadi al Badr (Psychotic dictator). The rest of the warlords are less powerful and lack organization. However the theologists will control the masses and could send a large crowd at you.

IC:

Zakwan ibn Khulus woke up from a bad dream. He was sweating, and realized he had fallen asleep on a pile of maps of the city. Several explosions sounded off in the distance. The attack for the market must be starting. He had an attendant bring him a glass of coffee, then he stood on the balcony outside of his third floor apartment. He actually owned the whole apartment, well, what was left of it. The real owner had fled the country, so now he used it as a base of operations.

In the distance the sun peaked over the mountain tops, casting stray streaks of light into the city. Though much of the city was still shaded, occasional explosions light up different sections at what seemed like regular intervals. This shall be a glorious day. he knew.

Those in the marketplace did not share this sentiment. "Incoming!" one of Zakwan's men shouted, before hit by an RPG round. The other men opened fire with their AK-47s and brought the shooter to the ground.

An officer crawled to a group of men who were pinned down by machine gun fire. "Where are they?" he asked them.

"Held up in the building over there." the soldier motioned the direction by swinging his head. "I saw three PK machine guns. Rashad's men for sure."

"Alright." he took out his radio. "Requesting immediate support code alpha charlie 6. Marking area with red smoke." he threw a smoke grenade towards the building.

Soon a civilian car came racing into the market. The machine guns immediately aimed for it, but they failed to stop the car in time. It slammed into the storefront, producing a gratifying explosion and silencing the guns permanently.

"Let's go!" the troops yelled as they surged forth.

OOC: We'll land soon. Terrorists? Hmm... this'll be challenging. Thunderclaps should serve us well...

IC:

To: Soviet Arms Dealers

From: Khonsu

Re: Landing

Text:

Could you please clear the port? My infantry are highly trained in urban combat. Should be a good asset. However, we can't help (other than helicopters/bombers) unless the port is clear.

-Khonsu

OOC: Unless you're speaking to a specific warlord, there are no officials in the government, no national army. If you want the port cleared for you, ask one of the warlords or another nation that has troops on the ground.

OOC:
Hmm... I'll go with... well, any warlord which is not in there for money, power and opression.

OOC: Pretty much all of them are there for all of those reasons. On my first post I list them all and what they stand for. Most people seem to be supporting Zakwan ibn Khulus, who is a Democratic Socialist.

The lead elements of the 44th Battalion hunkered down on the outskirts of the city, and began to attempt to contact ibn Khulus' forces.

"Zakwan ibn Khulus, this is Major Roberts of the Royal Army of Malkyer. We're to assist you until our main force can arrive. Can you send someone to meet us?" Roberts quickly read the address of the building he had taken for his strongpoint. He sat by the radio, waiting for acknowledgement. Nothing to do now but wait.

***

The explosion from the improvised carbomb rocked the market square as it tore apart a nearby building. Bravo Team used the resulting chaos to cover their exit from a nearby subway station, and dashed into an alley. Taking position behind a large shop, the team paused.

"Status report," inquired Bravo Leader.

"Assumed undetected, Bravo Leader. I don't think they know we're here yet."

"Roger that." Bravo Leader thumbed the dial on his helmet faceplate, switching from visible to IR feed. A quick glance at the wall told him that it was much too thick to be penetrated by the infared camera. Perhaps they could shoot through it, but they would do so blind. Switching back to visible light, the Leader issued quick commands via handsignal. They would have to take the building the old-fashioned way.

Bravo Four broke formation and placed a satchel charge against the wall. The other team members broke for cover. The charge detonated, and sent a small shockwave down the alley. The commandos quickly moved to the mousehole, tossing a flashbang ahead of them. Ducking inside the shattered wall, they found a militiaman clutching his head in a daze. Not bothering to indentify him, Bravo Three put a bullet in his head. Another man came through the door, yelling something in a language none of the team spoke and waving a Kalashnikov. Bravo Leader slammed the man's head against the wall with a gauntleted fist, and suddenly the building was quiet.

Small-arms fire and occasional explosions peppered the square as the team made their way to the second floor of the shop. Seeing a railed balcony, Bravo 2 pulled something from his stachel and dashed onto the balcony. He unfurled what was quickly revealed to be the Malkyeri flag, and draped it over the railing. Speedily clipping the flag to the rail, he turned back and almost avoided the bullet coming toward him. It caught him in the back, just tearing through his spinal column. He dropped in a brainless lump. The other team member standing in the doorway quickly ducked inside.

"Bravo 2, are you okay? Bravo 2?" There was no reply. Bravo Four swore quietly. Two had been the team's sniper, and his rifle was now lying next to its owner, balanced precariously near the ledge. Four thought fast, and pulled a smoke grenade from his belt. Once it began venting smoke, he rolled it out onto the balcony, letting it create a screen. After a second, he somersaulted onto the ledge, grabbing the rifle, and scurried back into the hallway. He dropped his G2A2 rifle in favor of the heavier gun, and headed to join his team.

***

Several minutes later, Bravo Two groaned and woke from a groggy state of unconciousness. His head felt faint, meaning he'd lost a lot of blood. That didn't worry him nearly so much as the fact that he couldn't feel his legs. Groaning again, he reached for the assault rifle in front of him. He could figure well enough how it had replaced his favored .50 caliber rifle. Arduously, he pulled himself into the hallway, and propped himself up against the wall. He left a slimy trail of blood, though he could still see clearly enough. He rested the barrel of the rifle on his left arm, and prepared to cover the hallway and the stairs, to hold any pursuing militia off of his comrades' backs.

OOC: I'll support him then.

IC:

To: Zakwan ibn Khulus

From: Pythogria

Re: We wish to support you.

Text: Hello. Seeing as you seem to be the most benevolent warlord here, we wish to establish an alliance. We'll help you take the country, in return for free trade and a military base in the nationj once it's yours.

If you accept this agreement, could you please secure the port? We can't help much with no forces there! 100,000 tons of food will be airdropped in if you accept an alliance.

Sincerely,
Khonsu, Supreme General of Pythogria

to Rashad Muntasir
From General Grimm, Leader of The Holy Republic of Bloodbank
My friend i hear of you struggle and am willing to help you with getting control of you contry my troops are waiting for you answer.

The air-waves come to life as a nearly deadpan Carthaginian broadcasts his nation's intentions to the people of Soviet Arms Dealers:


Attention all residents of Dubai, the Eudemian Islands of Carthago Deuce has heard your cry for help and has dispatched the 545 bed hospital ship Halcyon and the 300 bed hospital ship Lister to your city; where they will remain moored until your country regains social and political stability. All people will have access to the facilities aboard, regardless of faction.

The Halcyon and Lister will be escorted by the helicopter carriers Thundermare and Jabberwock, supporting the 3rd AirCav Regiment, 48th Air Support Company attached. Our hospital ships are to be considered neutral ground, and any hostile action taken aboard either vessal, or within our established perimiter will have grave consequences. Our forces will arive in two days.

(OOC- The ships are also open to forgein "peace-keepers".)

OOC: Ok we have enough people. Any more and things will get confusing.

IC: Rashad Muntasir held a copy of the transmission sent by Bloodbank. Normally he would have scoffed at such an offer, but seeing how Zakwan ibn Khulus had accumulated allies left him with no choice. "Tell them we accept." he told his messenger reluctantly.

~~~~~~~~~

Fadi al Badr was the strongest warlord in the city. The section of the city he controlled was extremely well defended, and he had more recruits than anyone. Upon reading the transmission sent by Carthago Deuce, a plan came to mind. He gathered some of his men, told them the plan, and then shot them in non-vital areas. Then they were brought to the port where the hospital ship would be working out of.

~~~~~~~~~

Zakwan ibn Khulus held the message from Pythogria, and sighed. The port is controlled by Fadi al Badr. he thought to himself. I could lose the initiative trying to secure it.

He turned to his messenger. "Send Pythogria this." he wrote on a piece of parchment and handed it to the messenger. It read:
Thank you for your support. I will do everything in my power to secure the port for you, but I will need assistance. The port is a terrorist playground that supports Fadi al Badr. Perhaps we can launch a joint-attack.
Signed,
Zakwan ibn Khulus

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Malkyer troops were facing highly fanatical followers of Diya al Din, the religious extremist. After one of their soldiers reported enemy movement inside a building, troops swarmed inside. They were armed with everything from Ak-47s to pistols and even knives. Diya al Din knew foreigners had come to the country, and he would do everything in his power to eliminate them. Countless soldiers swarmed up the stairs towards Bravo Two's position, and more men were covering all the exits, including MG-armed trucks.

HRB Troops were soon loaded in planes ready to deploy 900,000 Paratroopers with their gear and some Vehicles with enough arms and other stuff for Rashad Muntasir's troops.They leaded near his base and made their way towards his base

Thank you for your support. I will do everything in my power to secure the port for you, but I will need assistance. The port is a terrorist playground that supports Fadi al Badr. Perhaps we can launch a joint-attack.
Signed,
Zakwan ibn Khulus


To: Zakiwan ibn Khulus

From: Pythogria

Re: Port Assistance

Text:

60 Knighthawk helicopters will help you inm securing the port. We would shell it, but that may destroy the port also. The plane carrying your food is en route, and should arrive right after this message arrives!

Signed,
Khonsu, Supreme General of Pythogria

---Zakiwwan ibn Khulus Base---

A massive Pythogrian plane streaked over the base, dropping 100,000 tons of food and water.

Another explosion rocked the market square. Bravo Team had just collapsed a conjoining wall between two buildings, sealing themselves inside a large room. Al Din's followers were more tenacious than had been initially expected, and the LACONIA soldiers had been forced to fight there way through several buildings, trying to find a way out of the square. They couldn't go back the way they had come, and could not retrieve the flag. A muffled thump a few minutes ago had signalled the explosives that Bravo Two had killed himself with.

Sealed in this new room, the men immediately took over new firing positions by the windows, while Bravo Three began examining the floorboards, searching for a sewer or duct below. Constant machine gun fire poured at the building from surrounding technicals, forcing the team to keep their heads down. Ammunition was not low, though they had less than had been anticipated. They fired only when the target was worth it, and only when they had a clear shot.

Bravo Leader's radio chirped. "Bravo Team, this is Alpha. Status report."

"We have casualties. Six," he said, fingering the bullet wound in his left shoulder. "We lost Bravo Two, but the rest of us can still fight."

"Roger that. Where are you?"

"About a block down from where we planted the flag. We're running low on ammunition and water."

"Roger. Stay there. Our part of town is pretty quiet; we'll come to you."

"Affirmative. Bravo Leader out." And with that, Bravo Team was isolated once again. Meanwhile, 77th Battalion began fortifying their position and continuing attempting to contact Zakwan's troops.

***

Off the coast of Soviet Arms Dealers, dozens of ships dotted the horizon, wakes gleaming white in the blue water behind them. Three fleet carriers, ringed by cruisers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and supply ships, sailed for Dubai at full speed. The Royal Navy of Malkyer was coming to this troubled spot of the world, and with it the Royal Marines. Zakwan ibn Khulus had gained an ally the day the Imperial Commonwealth had decided to support him. The factions currently warring in Dubai would soon find themselves to be outmatched.

(OOC: I can see your point that the thread might get very confusing very quickly if left open. Because you closed it so recently I am going to make a quick plea for my acceptance in and if you reject me, as you have every right to, I will walk away un-offended and delete this post.

I think I might make a good addition to this thread because I have no intention of supporting the socialists, despite what I might say in character. As I see it this thread is going have a quick, bloody, and convoluted war that will end with you being a socialist country. Please don’t miss read me there is a certain fun in that. I however will be an interesting antagonist insofar as I will arm another faction. Beyond that I am willing to secure the docks with my own men and allow the foreign powers access to their preferred faction. Mind you this is not so much an act of charity as it is self interest. I will be indispensable to the other foreign powers and hopefully a bit of diplomatic intrigue will open up as the other foreign powers vie for preferential treatment from my dock workers. This could be something as grandiose as establishing diplomatic relations with my government, cutting deals with my secret police to pull strings, or just offering the foremen shit loads of cold hard cash.

I must admit that I never bothered to watch black hawk down but as a political science student I am intimately familiar with how bloody and how quickly interventions into the third world can become. Mind you the question is answered better in the NationStates world as some people don’t mind ‘putting down’ half of your population.

So room for one more? I don’t mind being contacted oocly at a later date as well so that I can push forward certain plot mechanisms that you want to see occur.

Again I will take no offence if you deicide to turn me away, just thanks for reading this far into it.)

(OOC: sorry for not posting, my school has banned Jolt Gaming Forums)

ICC:

Along with his platoon, Corporal Everson stepped off his Osprey, he ran towards a large rock, and sought cover there from the incoming small arms fire. Supreme Command had decided to fight its way to Dubai, too many other countries were using the port already. An AK-47 rattled out from behind a bush. Everson pluked a frag granade from his vest and threw it straight in, a loud bang happened and a hand flew by him. He and his men were advancing slowly towards the outskirts of Dubai.

*******
"General, we now have 4 divisons in Soviet Arms Dealers, the 31st inf, the 2nd tank, 3rd cavalry and the 87th mounted rifles."
"Good, plus support troops?"
"Thats almost 100,000 men"
"Excellent, and I assume the airforce and navy have lent us all that we need?"
"Yes, 3 air regiments, and the navy has given us the 3rd fleet"
"And our push towards Dubai?"
"Good progress is being made, we are only 6 km away from hte outskirts, we have suffered 35 dead and 76 wounded. We estimate enemy casualties in the high hundreds"
"Very well, continue the assault, and have the air regiments moved into the temporary airstrip"
"Yes Sir"

Hello, Zhair Al Din,
We realize you are a muslim nation that most likely would support a theocracy with a mild parliament. We realize you may not have the regular support of the other foreigners, but you are most likely to have support of the people. As a first offer we are sending you several easily implementable designs that will give you a surprising advantage.

The first is called a "technical" -- it is a lightly armored 4x4, a diagram shows how to armor a 4x4 with 1/2 inch steel plates, and a lightly armored cab in the back. This can be built in most machine shops. A second diagram shows how to build a rotary turret which can mount either a morter, 20mm antiaircraft gun, or light artillery unit for the back of the 4 x 4 These can be built fairly easily. They are mobile and fast. Another shows a heavier version of an open backed jeep with a 105mm cannon the back. it describes how it can be moved around and fired from most positions.

The second diagram is how to turn a bulldozer or heavy dump truck into a light tank using local materials. It describes a modular system using steel plate and concrete to make modular 1 foot thick armor blocks. 1 inch steel plate surrounding 1 foot thick concrete mixed with bar. This is heavy but you should be able to turn tractors and other heavy equipment into armored vehicles.

The next diagram is how to be build a light machine gun, pvc rocket, large steel rocket tubes, a pvc mortar, several examples of IEDS, hand grenades, and a variety of other explosive materials. With this you should be able to arm an insurgency over time that will eventually gain the upper hand.

We are sending 30 observers in to help you with your situation. This is an initial offer. We will be shipping you special material if you request it.

In order to secure your support we would like you to meet us in a secluded harbor not far from the city. There we will offload a large amount of food, clothing, 5,000 korans, 3000 arabic math textbooks, 3000 arabic reading textbooks, and 3000 basic science texts that are checked for proper Koranic teaching for the Madrassas or religious schools.

Regards,

Strategos Sharp.

The Halcyon slowly, with little grace, made her way into port; main engine shut off and manuvering only with the z-drive and thrusters, her captain swearing under his breath about not having the assistance of a tug or two. The air was thick with the 'whup-whup-whup' of rotary wings as the 48th provided cover for the large hospital ship, and landing of the first men of the Third AirCav regiment. Despite being smaller the Lister was older and less manuverable, forcing her to hold back and stay with the Thundermare and Jaberwock.

The ship had barely been secured, the gangplank still being erected, when the first wounded were halted at the AirCav's perimiter.

***
The Hind-K his unit was attached to had just lifted off when a number of men with poorly dressed wounds approached Petty Officer 2nd Class Hill's position. He and the seven other men of his squad leveled their weapons as Hill called out "Halt! State your names and business!"

***
"Stallion One, Stallion One!", called the Hind-I gunship pilot to his wingman, "Hey, Vlaho, check out the fire-fight near that plaza! Think we should break it up? Over."

"Negative Stallion Two, I don't think those are ours. Over."

"Come on, we're supposed to be peacekeepers! And besides, they aren't that far from our lines. It could get some of those guys from the Third involved! Over."

"It is pretty close, Stallion Two. . . fine. Let's go break it up. Out"

With that the two upgraded Hind gunships moved in towards the firefight at an altitude of about 320', opening up with their 37mm auto-cannons on the militiamen and trucks in the avenue. They throtled up as they heard the 'tink-tink' of small-arms fire on their hulls, and let loose a burst from each of their general purpose rocket pods before disengaging and turning to head for friendlier air-space.

(OOC- Malkyer, that last part was aimed at your engagement.)

OOC: The port is taken by a warlord... you aren't landing there yet. And if you support him, you'd need to go through my fleet to get there.

(OOC- I'm (outwardly) neutral and offering aid to everyone. Based on the response of the warlord controling the port I think he let me in. )

OOC: Ah.

IC:

Admiral Petrarch sighted Carthago Deuceian ships from aboard the Apocalypse SuperDreadnought.

"Hmm... nuetral... Carthago Deuceian..."

"Orders, sir?" the First Mate asked.

"Disregard them. Let them through. Do NOT fire upon them unless they fire first."
The Admiral replied.

"Yes sir. Alerting crews."

(OOC: Doing the antsy dance but trying to remain respectful to OP because he didn’t want more foreign powers.

Man I so want to know whether I have a yes or no to go.

FYI to anyone else if I do get ‘let in’ consider now the time I am prepping the logistics. I will not however have my ships pop into theatre. I will RP their approach, giving the other powers time to react.)

The machine gun fired was suddenly redirected away from Bravo Team's position, creating a lull in the fighting. Realizing that helicopters were drawing off enemy fire, the team seized the opportunity and bugged out through a window, heading toward a back alley. Bravo Four threw a fragmentation grenade toward an enemy technical, and the squad peppered the militia with rifle fire as they withdrew into the alleyway.

Once the last team member had ducked into the sheltered alley, Bravo Leader issued a flurry of commands via hand signals. Fall back, square cannot be taken or held. Head for friendly territory. Will inform Alpha Team as to whereabouts.

The team began jogging in the direction the helicopters had flown, figuring that to be as close to friendly territory as would exist until the Royal Marines landed. Now came the difficult part of surviving the city...

"Captain Bendt, we have radar contact with a naval force considerably larger than our own. They appear to be moving in towards the port facilities, sir." said the executive officer of the Thundermare to her CO, "We think they're another peace keeper force."

"Thanks, Miroslav. Hail them and let them know that the port is now a neutral area and any combat with in our perimiter will be dealt with harshly. Also inform them that the port presently lacks any active tugboats, so getting anything moored there is going to be tricky. Oh, and give their taskforce commander my regards."

"Aye, sir."

The stone hosue exploded after a shot from the Kronos' 152mm R7 cannon. Corporal Everson was standing too close to the tank, and his ears hurt from the loud explosion. 3 insurgents apeared from the rubble they chucked their RPK to the ground and raised their arms. a private raced towards them and brought them to the ground. Everson moved forward behidn the Kronos', it might've seemed that the tank was a magnet for RPGs, and it was, but its armour made their explosions harmless. A cloud of dust appeared down the road, 3 technicals aproached. The Kronos' made short work of them. Everson was getting tired, they were 3km from the city outskirts, and he had been fighting for 10 hours. Someone tapped his shloulder "Time to go Everson, the IFVs are waiting for your platoon". Right on time, he and the survivors of his platoon ran towards the Kramers, he rapidly got in and sluped down on the seat. His shift was over, but Everson knew that he was gonna be coming back in a matter of hours.

Rear Admiral John Grimes shrugged at the dispatch handed to by the XO. I know there aren't tugs, he thought. The city's only been a warzone for two months. "Comms Officer," he said. The command carrier's watch officer looked up from his computer terminal.

"Aye, Sir?"

"Send a message to the Carthago Deucian flagship. My compliments, and let them know we won't bother them so long as they don't interfere in our operation. Make a similar statement to the Pythogrian dreadnaught. I don't want any unnecessary shooting until we've landed the Marines and secured a perimeter. be polite, but make sure that general quarters are ordered in case our friends aren't as obliging as we hope."

Broadcast to Involved Naval Powers:
Rear Admiral Grimes of the HMS Reliant sends his compliments to the officers commanding. His Majesty's Navy requests that it be permitted to enter the waters off Dubai, and land a force of Royal Marines to act as peacekeepers and protectors of humanitarian services. Godspeed.

To: Foreign Powers in Soviet Arms Dealers
From: Franberry

We in Franberry only seek to help the populace of Sovet Arms Dealers (SAD), but to do so, we must displace the warring warlords. We wish that all foreign power co-operate to achive this greater good. Franberry will assist any that seek help, and we will allow foreign movement within our occupacion zone. We wish for peace within the powers involved.

Foreign Affairs Ministry of Franberry

OOC: Otares you can join but you're the last one. This has already gotten a bit confusing for me. But just one point I'd like to make, some of you are supporting different warlords, so you may end up fighting eachother. Just keep that in mind. I'll try to respond to what everyone's done since I last posted but I will probably miss a few of you so just remind me. And Carthago Deuce, if you have any objections to me putting a hole in your hospital ship (not necessarily sinking it mind you) just shoot the guy in the water. I have backup plans.

IC:

Diya al Din's militia looted Bravo 2's body for everything he had; clothes, weapons, ammo. They took the body and Malkyer flag out into the street. After taking off most of Bravo 2's clothes, they started dragging his body through the streets and they lit the Malkyer flag on fire. The militia didn't know exactly where the enemies were now, but maybe they could see what was happening. A man took out a loudspeaker and stood on the back of a technical. He immediately began spreading anti-Malkyer propaganda to all who could hear him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Militia of Waqqa ibn Yazid, a fanatical communist warlord, began rushing to hiding spots on the outskirts of Dubai. Scouts had radioed in approaching Franberry troops. Snipers took positions in buildings that still had windows and other militia with AK-47s and RPGs took ambush positions anywhere they could find them; behind rubble, in patches of tall grass, or in the burnt out shells of exploded cars. They held their fire just until the hostiles were in range, and then opened up with everything they had.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Khair al Din looked over the message from Commanalitarianism. "We'll accept their observers." he told his messenger. Khair prepared to move his HQ to a nearby mosque. Recent mortar attacks had decimated his sentries, and he hoped the other warlords would at least hesitate before bombing a mosque.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The men heading for the hospital ship halted when weapons were aimed at them. "Please. Do not shoot! We are wounded. You have come to help us, no?"

One of the men groaned and began to fall. Two others caught him and supported him. "He is hurt worst of all! Please let us aboard! We are unarmed."

A man swimming in the bay furtively approached the keel of the ship. He carefully placed a clay like substance on the hull and swam away trying to maintain his stealth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the Malkyer troops attempted to escape undetected a man noticed them. He shouted something in Arabic and pulled out a desert eagle on the enemies. Without much skill he opened fire, which nonetheless got the attention of every gun-wielding lunatic in the city for a 6 block radius.

Broadcast to Involved Naval Powers:
Rear Admiral Grimes of the HMS Reliant sends his compliments to the officers commanding. His Majesty's Navy requests that it be permitted to enter the waters off Dubai, and land a force of Royal Marines to act as peacekeepers and protectors of humanitarian services. Godspeed.

Admiral Petrarch recieved the message.

"Allow these guys to land too." he told his First Mate.

"Aye."

Another message came on the computer screen.

To: Foreign Powers in Soviet Arms Dealers
From: Franberry

We in Franberry only seek to help the populace of Sovet Arms Dealers (SAD), but to do so, we must displace the warring warlords. We wish that all foreign power co-operate to achive this greater good. Franberry will assist any that seek help, and we will allow foreign movement within our occupacion zone. We wish for peace within the powers involved.


"Hmm..." Petrarch thought aloud.

"Send this to Khonsu. International diplomacy is out of my hands."

"Aye!"

---Supreme General's Palace---

"Sir, we've recieved a message from Admiral Petrarch."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Here sir."

To: Supreme General Khonsu

From: Admiral Petrarch

Re: Diplomacy

Text: Franberry wishes to go against the warlords. From what I understand, we are supporting the Democratic Socialist one. We have asked your council for this issue.

Khonsu read it over. "Tell them to only attack another nation if they attack us. We came here to take the place over and establish stable rule under a competent ruler, not get into fueds with other nations."

"Yes sir."

To all nations and factions:

We, the Allied States of Nakanaori, shall remain neutral in this conflict. However, as a new nation, we would like to study and document this conflict. We have an aircraft carrier off your shores, but we have no intention of deploying it. We would, however, like to embed journalists with each of the factions to document the beliefs, rhetoric, and hardships that individuals in this conflict face. We ask that you do not fire upon our journalists.

We need locations and guarantees from all factions. Journalists will not be armed, but will be protected by CRISAT body armor. If any journalists are killed intentionally during this conflict, we will retaliate by blackening your name in the news so all other nations will villify you.

Please set a safe location for journalists to be dropped. We will be employing Little Bird Helocopters marked with a bright blue cross. Do not, repeat do not, fire upon these choppers.

Thank You,
High Command of the Allied States of Nakanaori

Six journalists prepared to enter the war torn country.

"You know that you can be killed in there, right?" Vice Admiral Johnson warned.
"Yea..." one reporter replied.
"We won't be able to take you out of there until this whole mess is over. I hope you know what you're doing."

OOC: I'll let you in because you're not actually sending troops. But I warn you, some warlords will let your journalists in but others will probably attack them on sight. Do you think the Taliban would let the U.S. send journalists to document where they hide? Keep in mind, journalists get attacked all the time in wartorn areas.

IC:

At different times and on different frequencies all the warlords have responded saying they will not harm any journalists entering the country. Some, however, cannot be trusted to keep their word, particularly the extremists.

(OOC: There are no branches to my military, just military.)

General Andrei Yakovlev looked over the bow of his flagship, The Glorious Providence. Breathing deep the salt sea air he looked to a conscript who approached him now. Snapping to attention the conscript spoke to him the guttural Otariet tongue.
“General. We are coming into radio contact with the foreign navies. The Captain wants broadcast the message.” The General gave a brisk nod and the conscript left him, knowing not to wait for the salute that would never come. Turning on his heel the General strode to the side of the battleship and looked back to admire his flotilla. He had to admit that it was an odd sort of deployment, with only one battleship. Commitments to other waters left the navy a bit misshapen though. The Glorious Providence saw itself surrounded and supported with an excess of cruisers, destroyers, and frigates. While the deployment certainly lacked a force of ‘true‘ capital ships the Otariet cruiser class was beefy indeed. Looking more like streamlined battleships the cruisers, numbering in the dozens with pairs of smaller ships in their wings, these pseudo capital ships meant business and no fair assessment of the fleet could deny that.

It was about now that the arrays on the support ships began to crackle to life. Some with massive imaging scans, developing what could only be assumed to be an extensive model of the theatre, and others repeating the following general message in a variety of languages (not the least of which was Arabic, with some eight dozen dialectical repetitions) on a plethora of frequencies.

General Message

To Whom It May Concern:

The Kingdom of Otares has been deeply moved by the impassioned outcry of these warring peoples. The Soviet Arms Dealers have seen enough fighting and it is with will of the Crowned Prince that it stops. To that end the Imperial Navy has been dispatched for the seizure of the docks of Dubai.

Let this act not cause apprehension in any party involved. Otares has no desire to provoke a war with a foreign power. It is understood that the docks are crucial to the effort in Dubai. Moreover peaceable medical operations have started in earnest. The Otariet presence will not interfere with this. In fact Otariet dock workers will be a great boon to those who feel the moral need to support these people, but lack in theatre logistics.

To address those parties specifically: Your interests are diverse and have the possibility of igniting an expensive war. This is unacceptable. Think about the terms you find yourself committed to conflict here. Was it to start a war with another foreign power, or was it to support people on the ground? Otariet personnel are willing to die for these few hectares of concrete. The Otariet people have great experience in fortifications and in holding an area that could be a blood bath. Let us worry about the protection, maintenance, and operation of the docks. Your skills are better served inside Dubai proper.

To address the warring factions within Dubai: Do not resist us taking the docks. We are coming in force and we will be taking the docks. From there you can receive food, water, and medicine, not only from us but from the other foreigners. If you need to resist us this is not the place, for we come to these docks like the rains of Noah. We will claim it as surely as the flood did the world.

Otares is committed to not only bring these docks back up to full operating capacity, but expanding them as well, allowing for greater foreign involvement. Surely all can see that allowing us to take this small step diffuses the risk to all parties involved.

Finnis

Concurrent to this broadcast another, much more discrete, directed carrier wave washed into Dubai. Concentrated into the territory held by Rashad Muntasir the carrier would be difficult to detect, let alone comprehend if one was not the desired target. Quite simply during the radio address the frequency most used by Rashad Muntasir, and only in the area presumed to be his headquarters, experienced static waves. These waves however were patterned for the human ear, though to most computer systems it looked like radio wash. If one listened carefully they could pick out a synthesized voice: “Once we take the docks send a courier. We have much to discuss.”

The General looked at the wall of computers the tech crew worked on to make this trick of the senses come to life. As he watched his men come to work the Captain came to his side.
“Sir we have started monitoring all broadcasts in theatre. Most of the foreign stuff is encrypted but if the put enough chatter out there cryptography will get it eventually.”
“Good. How long until we are in weapons range of the other fleets?”
“Varying from an hour to three depending on the nation in question; sir. With respect if they are going to go hostile we will know soon because the carriers will toss up some fighters and send them our way. I have already taken the liberty of ordering the freighters in the most secure innards of the formation.”
“Excellent. Keep me posted on the foreigner’s responses.”
“Yessir.”

(OOC: Heh, forgot.)

The smaller ships of the flotilla could be seen launching on the city. When the payload cleared the fleet the missile broke into a spy drone. Several dozen all told the tiny birds sought to create a better tactical model of the city, as well as isolate concentrations of resistance, and isolate radio frequencies. This was all relayed back to the ships who took over more and more of this as they approached, their onboard systems coming into range.

OCC: Otares, who are you supporting? j/w.

IC:
"Well... all the factions have agreed. We're sending you in." The Admiral of the ASoN Jitsu(Truth) Observer-class carrier said to eager reporters on the flight deck.

"Isn't this exciting? I can't believe all my years of journalism have led me to document a war torn country!" shouted Alisha Gibs. She was a new journalist with no experience outside of the ASoN. Her photographer Misha Slavechek stood on her right. His eyes gazed towards the smoke rising from all parts of the city. "this is going to be hell..."

The other reporters preparing to fly in were Andy Rochester (w/ photographer Steve Berger), Daniel Hoon/ Michael Rockwell, Jimmy Chu/Samuel Wells, and Alex Marande/Christian Wells.

Little bird choppers warmed up their rotors. The whup-whup of their rotors increased until it became a constant whir.

"It's time." informed the Admiral.

"Christian, be safe out there. Don't do anything stupid." Samuel Wells watched over his brother. He knew Christian liked extreme and risky situations. He just didn't like the feeling of his brother with all the warlords.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The choppers flew in a line. As they neared the city, those onboard could see the fire fights. The flag of Malkyer. One of the birds banked right and flew towards the base. The others continued. One by one, the helos split up and went towards the separate factions.

"According to this, Fadi al Badr's encampment should be in those buildings," one of the pilots said.
"Hey look, that guy's got a sign... 'Repoters here.' You'd think they'd learn to spell."
What's the status on your chopper. Sierra Two-Three?
"We're dropping the reporters, over," the pilot replied through the radio.
"Ok! GO, GO, GO!"

With that, Gibs and Slavechek slid down the ropes as they were trained to do into the hands and mercy of Dubai's most violent warlord.

"Captain, we've recieved word that Otares has dispatched a naval taskforce to our area, the commander of which intends to hold the port facilities himself it seems. I think he even suggested we move the Halcyon into the city." Lieutenant Commander Miroslav reported, snickering, "How should we respond?"

To: General Andrei Yakovlev, Otariet Naval Taskforce

From:Captain Bendt, CCFS Thundermare CVH-15

We have secured the Dubai port facilities, and ask that the designation of said facilities as a neutral zone be respected. If your craft are capable of safely manuevering into the harbor, or you have had the foresight to bring craft suitable to assist your less maueverable vessals, you are free to do so.

Our forces are very limited, we did not come looking to spill blood. We have only 2,784 infantry, supported by 732 helicopters, who are dedicated to the defense of our hospital ships. As such I will not comply with your request that I move Carthaginian forces further into the city.

It is my understanding that our peoples are on good terms, peaceful terms. I'd prefer that we maintain that relationship.

***
Petty Officer Hill didn't speak Arabic, as such it was up to one of his squadmates to translate for him. Seeing one of the men fall to the ground, he motioned to two of his soldiers to disarm them and help them towards the still lowering gangplank.

As his squad moved towards the Halcyon, they heard a sailor standing watch call out and open fire into the water.

Daniel Hoon and Micheal Rockwell landed safely in Carthago Deuce hands.

"We are the embedded journalists that are assigned to your faction!" Hoon shouted over the howling of the departing chopper. "Where can you stick us?"

(OOC- Er. . . Where exactly in my hands did they land? On the Halcyon (moored hospital ship), on the docks, on the Thundermare or Jaberwock, or on the Lister?)

OOC: obviously on the docks were there is a clear landing area. lol. you can transfer the journalist to any division on ur team, such as the Malkryer teams or whtever.

Over directed radio channel. We are off loading the food, clothing, korans shelter to a small inlet next to the city. It is being offloaded from a shallow draft military transport catamaran. The catamaran does not need to be in port to offload amphibious vehicles. The 10 amphibious armored trucks will move towards landfall at about 15-20 KPH and meet you on the beach. Light machine gun, mortar, composite ceramic, high tensile steel, super dense bioplastic, aluminum alloy hull. Bulletproof glass, underarmor, wheel guards. Thoroughly coated in light armor. The supplies will be aboard the trucks. Please send us an escort to move into the city if you want. We are providing 50 body armored escorts with rifles, comm equipment and some heavier weapons. They will be observing what happens. 10 of them will be from the hospital brigades-- they will have some medical equipment, 10 will be from the Construction brigades, and 20 will be regular troops, and 10 will be a mix of special operations and communications. They will meet you outside the city. We would prefer this to be a quiet meeting on the beach before other decisions are made.

Note: We have a small muslim population in the Commonalitarianism with freedom of religion, many of the observers will speak Arabic, and quite a few should follow a mild form of Islam. Most of this crew will be a mix of Cruonian-- Greek/Eastern European and Ming. The Military Catamaran can hold up to 1200 tons of cargo-- 1600 overloaded. It is based on the TSV-X1, a US military catamaran. It has 3 AHX 20 choppers on the roof. It is armored. There are 5 More Hummers in the hold as well as 10 light amphibious tanks, 2 Landing Craft Air Cushioned, and 300 More soldiers and a decent amount of supplies.

(OOC: I haven’t said ICly in a way anyone would realize yet.)

Yakovlev read the Carthagan response again. Walking over to the radio logs he punched up a transcript of his last transmission.
“Huh.”
“Sir?” The Captain perked up at his superior’s sigh.
“For some reason the Carthago Deuce contingent is under the impression I told them to move deeper into the city.”
“Sir?”
“It must be a poor translation. Either us into their language or them from one of our variants. Rebroadcast a specific reply to the Carthagans.”
“Yessir.”

Message
Perhaps we have done ourselves disservices in an unintentional misspeak. The Otariet force that is closing on your current position is not threatened by your medical efforts. Indeed we had plans to expand our defensive perimeter around your medical ship.

While the docks will be flying an Otariet flag they are to be secured with the understanding that this is a policing action. You medical efforts would do well to operate within our defenses. In fact if it is a problem we can include the Carthagan force in part of the perimeter, as a show of good faith.

Or if it is more to your liking we can seize all of the docks you are not currently moored at. Our perimeter would then have no affect on your medical operations. Giving complete autonomy from our actions, but still leaving the majority of the dock for us to upgrade and offer to other incoming forces.

I repeat the purpose of seizing the dock is to operate a functional and efficient facility which can cater to the needs of the international community. While we are not making any claim so grandiose as neutrality we will be, in practice, something of armed neutrals.

Khonsu sighed. "Pull the troops out to sea. We don't want to obstruct traffic. Tell the warord that the docks will be taken by another power."

"Yes sir."

To: Zakiwan ibn Khulus

From: Pythogria

Re: Docks assualted

Text: Otaresian troops will take the docks. No need to send troops.

The conflict has stirred up quite commotion here in the capital city of Dubai, Soviet Arms Dealers. I am here at the docks where Carthagian Hospital vessels are moored. These ships have been the refuge for thousands of civilians seeking medical attention, food, and safe haven from the violent firefights that have plagued the city. Despite their efforts, at least 240 people have died from their medical complictions.

Chief of Surgeons, "Many of these people die from shock when they get here. Just the other day, we had a man die from shock as he collapsed on the deck. Other patients die from loss of blood and surgical complications."
As more and more civilians populate the vessels and docks, there has been the growing concern of "Where to put the ones that have recovered?" Officials are urging people without life-threatening afflictions to stay on shore and away from the docks for fear of a suicide attack on the masses gathered on the docks.

However, even these neutral ships aren't safe from attack. Just a few hours ago, a man set a claylike explosive on the hull of the Carthagian Halcyon, the largest of the hospital ships. Officials have yet to discover the faction of the man responsible. The man has been identified as Akbar al-Sultani and is currently in the hospital ship after deck guards opened fire upon him. He is suffering from 7.9mm wounds from M37s used by the deck guards. The explosive has been safely removed by Carthagian Naval Forces.

Off the docks you can see the Otariet fleet pulling in. The incoming fleet is in an unusual formation, as they lack aircraft carriers and heavy battle cruisers. With the arrival of this huge and formidible military force, the international safety zone may finally be secured to reach it's full capacity. From a recent transmission though, it seems the Otariets are here for economic goals, as they stated their intentions of reopening the ports to international commerce and aid.

This is Daniel Boon with the Associated Press of Nakanaori, signing off.

OOC: Every few days in the conflict I will be posting news reports from various embedded Journalists. I'm currently trying to figure out who has what where and who's on whose side. lol. confusing....

OOC: Just a side note, I notice some of you are doing helicopter recon missions over the city, and not being attacked. If anyone in the city saw a helicopter flying by, they would shoot at it, including with RPGs. Sooner or later you're going to lose a helicopter.

IC:

The men who had come aboard the Halcyon earlier nodded in agreement. Plan A had failed, placing an explosive on the hull of the ship. The men snook off towards a section of the ship where they were near the inner hull. Then they simultaneously detonated shoe bombs they had brought aboard secretly.

Every warlord in Dubai except for Zakwan ibn Khulus agreed, they would open fire on any journalists on sight.

The Theocrats Diya and Khair al Din began preaching propaganda at their mosques. Within one day the entire city was writhing in anti-foreigner sentiment. Considering most people in the city were armed, no more foreigners would be safe from attack until the warlords were defeated. Terrorist attacks would also become a daily event, targeting foreign bases of operation and ships.

Having lost a portion of the docks, Fadi al Badr retaliated sending a wave of suicide bombers targeting all foreign military groups and journalists. He also organized plans to sabotage the docks if he lost them completely so that enemy vessels would be kept to a minimum.

To whom this may concern,

As the UN ambassador to Venezcuba, I will speak on behalf of them. Venezcuba is willing to send a small peackeeping force after the violence in your country lessens. The troops are not trained nor equipped to handle offensive operations but we wish offer support. I hope to hear a reply from your nation soon.

Ramon Lopez
Venezcuba ambassador to the UN

(OOC: Not actually doing recon... it was just the initial drop into faction territory. Each journalist/photographer pair has to get transported to the locations each faction is located. The choppers are not returning until after the conflict. PS: I don't care if my journalists die.)

"Sir, we have a situiation"

"What happened?"

"This morning at 0830 hours, a Toyota pickup ran through a checkpoint in Alpha base. The pickup crashed through the front of the communications building, and detonated."

"Dear God, how many dead?"

"31 dead, all within or just outside the building, and 45 wounded."

"This is horrible. Any indications as to who did it?"

"Yes sir, this video just came in."

Screen is turned on, static, out of focus figure. Camera focuses, a man with a black overall stands in front of a white wall.
“We demand that Franberry withdraw its troops from our sacred land! God has instructed us to do battle against the xenos, and purge him from our country! The Legion of God will not stand for this foreign attack!!! We will be victorious!!!!”

Camera goes out of focus again, static; screen is turned off

“Bastard, do we know of his position??”

“Not exactly, but we do know that the group is located to the east of our position, in the opposite direction from Dubai.”

“Well, send out some probes, we have to find that bastard and bomb the hell out of him and his zealots.”

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

The Global Hawk flew over a group of tents close to an oasis. It gathered the date quickly and effectively. Above other places in the desert, aircraft of the same type were doing the same thing, finding Legion of God strongholds. It turned back towards base, it’s mission was complete.

Secure Broadcast

To : The Allied States of Nakanaori Aircraft Carrier, Name Unknown

From : Captain Bendt, CCFS Thundermare CVH-15


It has come to my attention that you know the location of Fadi al Badr's compound in the capital city of Soviet Arms Dealers. I request that you forward his address to me ASAP. We have a rather urgent need of it.

***
The waves of suicide attacks launched by the mad warlord Fadi al Badr were ablely dealt with by the coordinated efforts of the Air Cavalry on the ground and Hind gunships in the air. Despite this, three Hinds had been severely damaged by repeated RPG impacts, one actually downed (crew unacounted for) and a number of infantry had been forced to return to the ships to be treated for superficial wounds caused by shrapnel.

***
A 'thump' was felt throughout the Halcyon when the shoe bombs detonated simultaniously. While the explosion wasn't enough to blow a hole in the side of the large ship, it was enough to crack the exposed hull in that compartment; granting the sea slight access.

Her captain wasn't sure what had just happened, but called the DC crews into action, ordering them to their stations.

(OOC- The Hind gunships have a crew of four: A pilot, a gunner, and two 'door' gunners)

These men were certainly bored of their travels, awaiting as the ships lumbered in masses, but finally they had reached aboard the lands of the Soviet Arms Dealers, the land comprised of the many dissenting and crackling warlords, fighting for the measly power they had. Or, at least that was what rummaged through his mind. Oh dear power, what has transpired? He asked himself, his mind swimming with thoughts as the Sadicistra began to prepare their insertion into the eastern spot of the Arms Dealer coastline.

“I need some kind of confirmation from Zakwan ibn Khulus.” Lords Egos said, his mask reaping with his humid breath. “Get me a response from him.” He spoke.

To Zakwan ibn Khulus, I am Egos, an emissary of the Jenrakian Elite. I am here to help you, but you must keep your methods clear. Where do you need our assistance?

50 fighter-bombers took off from the decks of the Islandia and Krole aircraft carriers. The formation flew over the coastline of the Soviet Arms Dealers at high altitudes. They spilt up into 5 smaller groups, and then again, into even smaller groups of 5. Each group was now dozens of kilometres away from the others, and right above the camps of the Legion of God. Each plane unloaded its pair of AGM-130’s right at the enemy camps; they would be destroyed in a fireball.

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

The Toyota pickup truck was just the beginning of command's worries. Waves of suicide bombs had been striking Franberrian positions since dawn. Although casualties are low, 5 dead, 14 wounded, it is disrupting the army's ability to conduct offensive operations. Never have suicide attacks been carried out against so many Franberrian troops, and in such a scale. High Command seems to be slow in drawing up an effective way to combat them, and seems to be content with blowing the insurgents to hell from the air.

"Hmm?" Admiral Petrarch thought aloud.

"Send the helicopters. Those docks will be taken!"

"Aye!"

60 Knighthawk helicopters took off from the SuperDreadnought and the cruisers, filling the air with blades.

"To battle!"

OOC: I'm only attacking the warlord, not any other nations.

(OCC- But the docks have already been taken. . . and we should probably have a OCC thread to accompany this one)

OOC: Oh... And yes, we should. SAD, could you start it? Disregard my post, BTW.

IC: Goliath ships have landed on the docks. 50,000 troops have been sent to take the square for a base, along with 40 helicopters and 50 tanks.

---Square---

"Enemy troops sighted sir! Trojan 1, orders?"

"Keep back. Let's see who they are first, then we'll charge if they're hostile."

OOC: Who's in the square?

OOC: I think we shoudl have an OOC thread, and I think im the onyl factiosn whos main body of troops is outside the city. I have around 100,000 men along the coastline and inside the outskirts of the city. I also have around 100 warships, including 3 aircraft carriers, and a makeshift airfield, which has 20 aircraft. I just wanted to clarify my position.

ps. Im just fighiting insurgents and the Legion of God

OOC: OOC thread is up. Sorry UN ambassadorship but we have enough people already and we don't want it too crowded. I have to read through two pages of content every time I post as it is. And also, I think it would be okay to claim part of the docks as having been taken. I think RPing a battle for the rest would be interesting, considering helicopters are now coming for me to destroy...erm, nevermind that part. And Pythogria, the area around the port is Fadi al Badr territory, and he is the strongest warlord in the city. And I hope it's okay if I say I kidnapped a journalist I have uses for one.

IC:

The roar of the blades accompanied by the sight of helicopters on the horizon woke up every insurgent in Fadi al Badr's territory. Thousands of militia grabbed their weapons and took to the streets in huge mobs. They grabbed women and children for cover from air attacks. With RPG-armed troops at the front, they headed for the port in an unorganized mass filled with hatred.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A journalist had been captured in the city after a small firefight with foreign forces. After blindfolding him, he was finally shoved into the open and his equipment was returned to him. Behind him was what remained of the camp of the Legion of God.

"Please let me go." he pleaded with his captors.

"You film this now, or we execute you right here, right now. Let the foreigners see what they have committed this day."

The reporter turned around, and winced for a moment. His eyes were sensitive to the bright sun after being blindfolded for hours. When his eyes adjusted he threw up on the ground. The bodies of militia, but also of women and children lay mangled around a collection of burnt and burning huts.

"You come claiming to help us, and murder our children." a militiaman spat at the reporter.

"You use them as cover. You have no right to use a child as a human shield!" the reporter choked back tears.

"Don't you tell me my rights!" the leader of the squad of militia stepped forward. "You came to document this war. Film now!" he pressed his pistol against the back of the reporter's head. The reporter had no choice but to film the devastation along with a prepared speech denouncing the presence of foreign powers in Soviet Arms Dealers.

Next the leader of the militia came onto the camera and warned that terrorist attacks would increase as long as foreigners stayed in Soviet Arms Dealers.

OCC: I understand Soviet arms dealer. You still have my nations moral support.

OOC: Ah.

IC:

The unorganized mob charged at the port. Pythogrian troops ambushed them from the buildings, attacking what little vehicular support they had with Thunderclaps, and filling the streets with bullets. Tanks blocked enterances to the port, and bombing runs began on troop colums. Helicopters began to attack the infantry as well, and a good 10,000 infantry, supprted with helicopters, tanks, and Shadow RSTV's, charged, attempting to take the square. Bombing runs would soon follow.

The mob broke for cover, charging the occupied buildings and fighting hand-to-hand when necessary. They abandoned their children and women human shields in the street as they ran for cover. Subsequently the women and children were killed by Pythogrian fire. The militia with RPGs fired at the tanks or helicopters before running towards the buildings for cover.

When the street was clear of living militia, who were now fighting building-to-building, the dust from the street blew over the bodies of hundreds of women, children, and men. Surely a journalist frenzy will follow.

OOC: You'll see from my last post they were using women and children as shields. By the way you're cleaning this up the bodies after lol.

OOC: OH NO! SORRY, sorry, sorry! Disregard that post! Please! I didn't mean to do that! Can I please take another course of action?

(OOC- No do-overs! :p )

OOC: Oh well, it was inevitable...

IC: The soldiers did not stop. The enemy defeated, they charged to the square. Tanks and helicopters followed, and the bombing runs began...

General Andrei Yakovlev winced at the massacre that was unfolding.
“Dear lord. I can’t say which is more impressive.”
“Sir?”
“Well the fact that they opened fire on civilians or the fact that they somehow unloaded 100,000 troops to push to the square; genocide and a miracle of logistics in a single act.”
“Well sir not much of this has sat well with me.”
“Indeed. I take it the Carthagans will be keeping to their section of the docks?”
“Seems to be sir. With so large a port it is possible to commence an entire amphibious assault and leave them well enough alone.”
“Right~o we work with that then. Their section of the docks will stay neutral and we will see if they are happy enough.”

At this point the officers were interrupted by the audio warning of radar contacts.
“Sir Pythogiran bombers are making a run at the city!”
“WHAT?!?!”
“Yessir they seem to be heading towards the square to provide air support.”
“Are the Malkyerans still on the ground?”
“From the last radio comm we picked up yes. We have no idea where exactly they are and I don’t think the Pyhogiran’s have any better idea.”
“Damn.” The general paused for only a moment before he launched himself into dictating the course of his men. He hoped only that this policing action was not going to bloody his hands before it was done, blood was one thing but to have so much of it on your conscience was not good.
“Send a message to the bombers, tell them they do not have flyover permission. Prep the anti-aircraft weapons incase they violate this. This should buy us a few minutes as they regroup and go around.

“Get the choppers in the air now, the mob is hot but lets hope those maniacs have them mostly occupied. I want men securing the docks as well as picking up the Malkyerans. I think they are about to need it. If they don’t want it leave them, this is a courtesy lift.

“Launch the landing craft I need some armor on the ground so I can dock the freighters. The damnable natives won’t leave us to our own vices for long. Move all!”

Message to the Pythogiran Bombers

“Your bombing of a purely civilian target is unacceptable. While a tactical strike is one thing it is completely another to depopulate an area. Your intentions are noble I am sure but restraint is in order. To this end we deny you fly over rights. Go around our ships if you must but not plane is to cross of the bow of our ships.”

While the message was relayed the crews made ready to launch the rafts. More pressing though was the chopper launch which saw three heavily armed VTOLS and a heavy transport roar towards the Malkyeran position. Hopefully with so much death by the Pythogiran advance the birds could slip into the area without a hitch, but things never work all the time.

Lastly the decks of the ships were bustling as they prepared helos of units to secure the dock. The soldiers sat in their air transport tight lipped and with grimaces. They knew that RPGs were in the area and that moving from the ships to the dock in helos was going to get a good number of them killed but they also knew that without ground crews in place it would be next to impossible to unload the freighters in a fire fight. So as the dozens of helos moved towards a city so beleaguered the sound of a hundred “Our fathers” echoed through the harbour.


(OOC: Sorry I am so tired I can’t think, that is hopefully good for now.)

Your bombing of a purely civilian target is unacceptable. While a tactical strike is one thing it is completely another to depopulate an area. Your intentions are noble I am sure but restraint is in order. To this end we deny you fly over rights. Go around our ships if you must but not plane is to cross of the bow of our ships.”


"WHAT? CALL THOSE BOMBERS BACK!" General Wilson thundered.

"Yes sir."

"Hey, also... do you have any intel on how the square is doing?

"Yes... we're meeting heavy resistance."

OOC: Hey, don't call me a maniac! I had no idea your troops (or any other troops) were in the square. Not to mention that my civilioan fire was nesscesary-- they opened fire on my troops!

To: Foreign Powers currently operating in Dubai


Franberry will conduct a bombardment of the western areas of Dubai, which will be followed by a ground attack supported by helicopters and paratroopers in their Ospreys. We would like to warn the other powers of this, as to make sure that Franberry will not be attacking any foreign troops. The bombardment is neccessary as the insurgents have fortified the western entrance to the city, and we need to destroy those in order to reduce our casualties. If anybody has troops in the western area of the city, we advise you to remove them, or to warn us as to were their specific location is. If you remove your troops, the area formally occupied b them shall be given back to you.

From,
17th Army of Franberry Supreme Command (current theater: Soviet Arms Dealers)

To: Foreign Powers currently operating in Dubai

Franberry will conduct a bombardment of the western areas of Dubai, which will be followed by a ground attack supported by helicopters and paratroopers in their Ospreys. We would like to warn the other powers of this, as to make sure that Franberry will not be attacking any foreign troops. The bombardment is neccessary as the insurgents have fortified the western entrance to the city, and we need to destroy those in order to reduce our casualties. If anybody has troops in the western area of the city, we advise you to remove them, or to warn us as to were their specific location is. If you remove your troops, the area formally occupied b them shall be given back to you.

From,
17th Army of Franberry Supreme Command (current theater: Soviet Arms Dealers)
Today 2:18 PM

No troops present. Pythogrian all-clear.

We are a trading nation. Our primary motivation is not military in nature. We are here to provide food, shelter, clothing and education. It is in our long term interest to build relations of trade and cultural exchange. We are willing to drop off food and supplies at a location outside of the city. We are providing 6000 Korans and 6000educational texts checked for cleanliness according to Islamic law, 5000 sets of local clothing, 200 tons of halal food dried vegetables, fruit, rice, and fish which will all be clean. We will drop off the supplies and leave them in a sheltered inlet. We do not have to be there for you to get them. They are in sealed weather resistance crates. Location is indicated on map. The supplies are here.

The entrance and attack of the city of Dubai was unplanned aggression with very little forethought. We think that better tactics and planning should have been used. We wish to create a peaceful solution to this conflict. It is not in our interest to promote aggression. We will retaliate if attacked however and are more than prepared to defend ourselves.

Thank you for your time and peace be with you.

Strategos Sharp of the Commonalitarianism.

At Supreme Command

"SIR, you have to see this right now!"
"What is it??"
"The Legionof God is more of a threat than we thought!"
"What happened??"
"A global hawk took these pictures 15 minutes ago. They from the north of Soviet Arms Dealers."
"Is this...."
"An airfield sir, somehow, this is not the insurget group we thought it was"
"Are those hinds?? and a Mig-21??"
"Yes sir, our course of action?"
"Bomb the crap out of them, this is an excellent time to try out the new Airships. Send 5 of them to attack the airfield"
"Yes SIR!"

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

Lt.General Franco stood on the deck of his Lorton-class airship (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=471603) infront of him he could see 3 other Lorton's and he new there was a 4th one behnd him. Thsi was goign to be the combat test of the airship, and a lot of weight was riding of his shoulders.

The airfield was 100 km away. The airships turned off their engiens, and prepared to launch fighters. Within 15 minutes, each airship had launched 5 F-18 Super Hornets. The 25 aircraft went into formation and streaked away towards the target.

Sonn afterward Franco's aide ran up to him
"Sir, aircraft have arrived on target, and have started their bombing runs."
"Very well, what is the enemy doing?"
"They have been taken completly by surprise"
"I dont think that they expected aircraft so far up north."
"Thats probably it sir."


15 minutes later, Franco squinted at the horizon, there were 25 dots, coming straight at the airships.
"Mission succesful".

----------------------------
Back at Supreme Command

"Sir, the operation was a complete success. We had no casualties, and the airplanes took off and landed onm the airships very easily."
"Good, and the airfield?"
"We wiped it out sir, took out many aircraft on the ground, and we then cratered it, even if we missed something, it can take out from there."
"Thats excellent, good job. Send my congratulations to the crews of the airfields"
"Right on it sir"

We regret to inform you that we cannot directly, or offically be involed in this conflict, especially miltary aid.

However, if you need some sort of assistance, we be happy to provide some intell and other uncovental means of support of brining stablitiy in your nation.

From Commander V.I. Cious,
T.T. Foreign Offices, International Affares Div.

The mob charging the port broke into a rout and soon blended back into the normal population. Since everyone was armed, it was impossible to tell who was aggressive and who was just going through the normal routine of each day.

~~~~~~~~~~

After news of the massacre reached the warlords, they each decided to begin blockading their territory to prevent armored assaults. They piled up debris on every road leading into the city, so that assaults could only be made from the air or on foot.

~~~~~~~~~~

A deserter from Fadi al Badr's army has reached the base of Carthago Deuce. He was asking for asylum in their country and in return would tell them where Fadi al Badr was hiding.

~~~~~~~~~~

Fadi al Badr was furious at the loss of the docks. "Can we retake them?" he shouted at one of his officers.

"We tried, but were defeated. The foreigners attacked us even though we were using women and children for cover. They killed everyone. Do we go to Plan B?"

Fadi thought for a moment. "It seems we have no choice. Sabotage the docks immediately."

Using sewers to sneak to the docks, insurgents carefully placed C4 charges on multiple mooring piers, avoiding ones already occupied to prevent being seen. The insurgents retreated back to a designated point away from the docks, and remote detonated the C4 charges. Several piers were disabled by the blasts, but nothing that couldn't be repaired given some time. However, the main goal of the attacks was successful. The port now had only several functioning piers that could hold boats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sight of what was already being dubbed the "Dubai Massacre" was crowded with journalists and their crews. Many had hired locals to protect them from militia attack as they filmed the devastation Pythogria had inflicted. "Today was another grim day in Dubai as Pythogrian forces opened fire on a crowd of women and children in Soviet Arms Dealers. This has led many to question; what motives does Pythogria really have for being here?"

An explosion from behind the journalists sent many running for cover as they finished their individual reports.

Pythogrian World News

Khonsu said the following today in an official press release:


"Some may consider what we did a massacre. In fact, those citizens were shields for an attacking force. We had to open fire; how else could we protect ourselves?

It was indeed an incredibly unfortunate event; for that reason, the families of the descesed shall all e paid $5,000,000 Pythogs out of my personal funds, and the descesed shall be remembered wth a monument erected to them wherever they wish, so long as it is within law."

"If we have confirmed his location, then go find Petty Officer Costica and tell him to have his Werewolves ready for briefing in 30 minutes. I'll let the Captain know we have his address.", said Miroslav to the runner who had brought him the message about the militia defector.

***
". . . While we don't have any exact numbers for his remaining forces, we are certain that he is still the most powerful warlord in the capital. Our opinion of him hasn't changed, he is seen as the greatest obstical to a lasting peace in Soviet Arms Dealers and needs to be neutralized. That is where the your Section comes into play. Were we to attempt to pacify him conventionaly, in the manner of our less experienced allies in the Pythogrian military, we would take massive casualties and risk colateral damage trying to beat his faction to death through attriton. It will be up to you to implement our strategy of decapitation.

We won't be able to covertly instert you directly into his compound via helicopter because of their ability to use RPGs effectively against air attack, and we are assuming that he has more proper air defenses around his compound. That said, we will get you as close as possible; about three blocks away. You are to move as quietly as possible into his compound and kill everyone. If it breathes kill it. Once the opperation is complete, return to the insertion point for extraction. Your call sign is 'Atrox'. You'll deploy at 23:00. Good luck, and formidonis incarnate."

"Formidonis incarnate!" came the reply, the 12 Werewolves echoing their motto.

***
The order went out, every available Hind gunship was in the air rocketing towards Fadi al Badr's teritory at top speed and 300ft. in the air. The 3rd's 2nd Battalion (which had been kept in reserve aboard the Jaberwock up to this point) was coming in as a second wave at 500ft. On the ground, the men of the 3rd Battalion were advancing under the cover of their Hind transports, and meeting staunch resistance.

Above the chaotic fighting, the cramped Hind packed with the 12 elite men changed direction and altitue seemingly at random, just skimming the tops of the buildings, but generaly heading in the direction of Fadi al Badr's compound. Reaching the instertion point it hovered at 65ft and droped a pair of Spectra lines off of the stern and had the Werewolves on the ground in all of 15 seconds.

Only moments after they'd gotten onto the dusty street an RPG back blast lit up the street ahead of them, its projectile almost skimming the distinctive cockpit buble. The helicopter's gunner immediately aquired the target and let loose a burst from the .54 caliber machinegun mounted under the cockpit. The first round tore his right leg off at the hip, while the others blew his abdomen out behind him. The helicopter diverting the attention of the local militia-men as it moved away from the hostilities as quickly as possible, Section Atrox snuck into an alley-way and began their covert assult on the compound.

(OOC - Check the OOC thread for my unit-strenght / equipment stats. And remember, all of the above is happening at 11:00 PM.)

"Sir, scouts are reporting enemy helicopters have deployed an assault team several blocks from here. We lost track of them after they landed, but we assume they are coming this way."

Fadi al Badr was pleased. "Good. It seems our 'informant' found them all right. Remember to keep all units alert. Keep the technicals on patrol all night and have them report in regularly. I want to find this assault team so we can ambush them before they ever get here. Remember, tell all units to aim for the heads, they are likely using body armor and will stick to cover. When they are found, fire a flare over their position."

"Yes, sir." the messenger picked up his weapon and returned to duty. Already sandbags were being piled into bunkers on many streets. PK machine guns were being deployed in windows, and snipers occupied several rooftops.

Moving into the alley-way the four men of Atrox 2 attached a folding grapple to a coil of spectra and used it to make their way up to the roof of the building next to where the helicopter had been only moments ago (the men of Atrox 1 and Atrox 3 making their way to the other end of the alley, holding position there; hidden by a large pile of debrie). The gunner having spotted a group of hostiles on the roof had dispatched them neatly with his .54 caliber machinegun, leaving (most) of them in a cluster around the far corner.

Petty Officer Second Class Levi used hand signals to tell his fireteam to get into position along the edge of the wall. When his men were in position, he touched his throat mounted radio and speaking barely above a whisper informed PO 1 Costica that his team was in position, and of what they saw.

On the avenue below, three technicals and about two dozen militia were preparing to begin their search for the Werewolves. At Levi's signal Yale (the team sharpshooter) tossed a smoke grenade into the cluster of men. At the same time PO 3 Kasper (the Comms. man) tossed a frag grenade. The frag grenade killed most of the men on the ground, injured all of them. When the frag went off, Carys (the LAW man) put a 70mm HEAP rocket right in the side of one of the technicals, while Jurgen and Gerolt (the LAW opperators from the other fireteams) who were on the ground took out the other two. Silenced assult rifle fire covered the men on the ground as they crossed the avenue, after which the men on the roof quickly moved back into the alley-way; quickly crossing the avenue and joining their Sectionmates.

They were now only two blocks from their target.

"Sir. Another report: Several rooftop patrols have radioed in the position of the enemy forces. Also, one of our patrols has not reported in, and it was in the same area. That lets us pinpoint their position to...." he paused, and took out a map of the city. "Here." he pointed with his index finger.

"Perfect." Fadi al Badr whispered. "That means they can only use this road to get here." he identified the road with his finger. "All the others are roadblocked and the buildings well-occupied with civilians and our men. Set ambushes throughout the road. I want technicals, carbombs, snipers, machine-guns, suicide bombers, demolition troops..." he paused. "And tell our new ally, Diya al Din, to begin a massive wave of bombing attacks against all foreigners."

He sat down and leaned back in a chair. What a glorious day.

The soldiers watched as the enemy slipped away. They decided to charge the square. Besides, only a couple enemies had fled.

The soldiers, tanks, and aircraft charged at the square.

Article from the Hoot Bay Trumpeteer:


Soviet Arms Dealers: Humanitarian Relief Mission or Weapons Testing Ground??

Civil war rages in SAD(Soviet Arms Dealers) but what is the goverment stance on this? Is it what they claim to be? A peacekeeping mission dedicated with restoring order to SAD. OR a testing ground for their new Airships?

Trumpeteer reporters have seen very little evidence of any humanitarian relief apart from the photo-ops that happen everytime a group of reporters shows up. Looking at was is beign unloaded at the makeshift port, it seems that almost all of it is material of war.

If the Franberrian Armed Forces (FAF) isnot helping the people of SAD, then why are they there?

To test their new Airships. Our reporter has spotted 20 different airships of differentsize within the safe-zone and FAF airfield in SAD. Each airship was bristilling with weaponry, and one of them even launched fighter planes. Our reporter asked several prominent military when, whose standart response was: "recon blimps". At the official FAF website, there are no recon blimps listed, not even in development. An informat, who has chosen to remain anonymous told us that he operated a weapons system on an airship, and bombed insurgent positions with it. He refused to tell us anymore for fear of reprisal.

Our reporter shall continue the investigation. The Trumpeteer has made a pledge to get to the bottom of this!


This article apeared in most non-major newspapers across Franberry

Costica was glad it was dark. If it hadn't been his Section would have surely been engaged after crossing the avenue by two patrols coming from either direction up the road, forcing them up onto the rooftops once more. They stayed low, remaining as flush with the roof as possible, and surveyed the area:

The road they'd been on was now crawling with militia men and technicals, the road opposite was looking no less safe; they'd have to go roof top to roof top. This was easier by how close the buildings were to one another, but seven or so militia men could be seen taking up positions along their inteded path of travel, with another four behind them. Costica signaled, and they dropped all of them quietly; Atrox 1 and 2 moved closer to the compound while Atrox 3 moved in the opposite direction.

Pythogrian World News

Khonsu said the following today in an official press release:


"Some may consider what we did a massacre. In fact, those citizens were shields for an attacking force. We had to open fire; how else could we protect ourselves?

It was indeed an incredibly unfortunate event; for that reason, the families of the descesed shall all e paid $5,000,000 Pythogs out of my personal funds, and the descesed shall be remembered wth a monument erected to them wherever they wish, so long as it is within law."


"Damn, what a mixed blessing. 5,000,000 USD just being 'holey'," as one of the five T. Tower agent exlamed while doing "pest control" within Soviet Arm Dealer's borders. "I guess the so-called high priests back at the F.O. (foreign offices) knew what they were getting into when they sent us here..."

"Yeah... but those guys were our top die-hard agents " replied a young agent "Even though that this would make money for T.T. being shot up like punkins. Hard to find, even harder to train, and they weren't immortal or knew any parolar tricks to save their asses from that port onslaught we sublimaly started. If caught, that would put T.T in a bad place within the international commuitiy. The money isn't worth getting into this bulls..."

"Yes, it is true, but that was done unoffically."

"Huh?"

"It wasn't Tri-Tower who ordered it to be done, even though that is the nation we serve. The Order want a few **** and giggles, so they knew that the top brass they have back at the F.O. had the men availible that could deliver."

Oh, so they just hired us out as mercs to some secert order, and to the warlords. So what?" snapped the young agent, who was playing with telekinis abibities.

"Boy, you better stop that attitude you have. THAT ORDER is the reason Tri-Tower was found. That plus a bar tab. Those warlords need to be removed from this region A.S.A.P. and taking into our custoy. And save your enegry, we have some mental intel work to do..."

HRB troops had been moving for a couple of days trying to find out what was going on in the city but could find nothing but heard about the killing and the battle still going on in the city. They had all ready ran into some enemy troops and lost 5 guys but that wasn't a huge lost, what was is the troops were starting to run low on moral and getting depressed. Their leader Lena Grimm, 5th daughter of General Grimm, had to make a quick choice before her troops started to mutiny. She took a quick look around and realized they were in some sort of housing sector. That when she got an idea “Troops it's time for us to get more men." (And some Slaves to.) She thought. The troops moved out and started pulling men and women out of their homes and then fining the best and pulling them out into another line. After this was done Lena Stood in front of them “Men and women you have just been recruited into The Holy Republic of Bloodbank any body not willing to join step forward" most did. She walked up to one man "What's you name?" "He said it. She looked at him and smiled “You a brave man." She then shot him in the head" Find his family and kill them all too." after five families had been killed everyone started doing what they said. HRB troops looted the homes and hung some of the bodies and chopped up the rest and spared them out they then sat fire to the homes before moving out looking for some more action.

The troops moved out and started pulling men and women out of their homes and then fining the best and pulling them out into another line. After this was done Lena Stood in front of them “Men and women you have just been recruited into The Holy Republic of Bloodbank any body not willing to join step forward" most did. She walked up to one man "What's you name?" "He said it. She looked at him and smiled “You a brave man." She then shot him in the head" Find his family and kill them all too." after five families had been killed everyone started doing what they said. HRB troops looted the homes and hung some of the bodies and chopped up the rest and spared them out they then sat fire to the homes before moving out looking for some more action.

(OOC: your guys sound nice)

ICC:

A Franberrian People's Airforce recon Helicopter (a Blackhawk) flew over the city. Several pillars of smoke climbed towards the sky.
"This dosen't look like a place I would want to invade"
"We better let the guys in Supreme Command handle that"
"Still, I wouldne tmove my men into some sort of urban hellhole, the flatlands outside the city are much better, less civillians, less cover, less buildings."
"You may have a point, but remeber our mission, we have to recon the city"
"Ok then, lets just do that, and go home"
"Haha, roger"

Secure Broadcast

To: Captain Bendt, CCFS Thundermare CVH-15

From: Admiral Steven Hiller, The Allied States of Nakanaori Observer Class Aircraft Carrier, Jitsu (or Truth, in English)

We regret to inform you that although we have intel on Fadi al Badr's compound and location, since we are a neutral state, we are not allowed to reveal that information.

OOC: Sorry I haven't been posting, I was snow camping for the past 3 days.

"Sir, we've lost another patrol. They must be using the rooftops."

Fadi thought again. "They're walking right through our patrols. Here's what we do. Plant explosives on the roofs of all buildings. Make them inconspicuous. When the trigger-man hears footsteps overhead, he sets off the bomb. And tell our patrols to be less obvious. This is an ambush, not a walk for charity."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Horrified to see her husband killed by Bloodbank forces, a woman opened fire on the group of soldiers from her window. This drew attention from other civilians (all civilians are armed in Dubai) and they too opened fire. Soon some official soldiers from the warlord Waqqas ibn Yazid attacked as well. These soldiers were more experienced and better armed. Quite capable of putting up a fight. Soon bullets were raining down from all directions, and RPGs were included shortly after. The entire neighborhood rushed in to surround the hostiles and lay down complete fire superiority.

After a few radio calls, armored cars came speeding in from most roads. Suicide bombers all. They headed for the foreigners at full throttle, so that even if killed, inertia would keep the car bomb going to its target.

The men who had been "drafted" into the army of Bloodbank scattered and ran for their lives. Others just lunged at their captors using their fists. Truly Soviet Arms Dealers' hatred of foreigners was expressed in its purest form during the engagement. Even as they fought, anti-foreigner propaganda was blasting from loudspeakers on mosques throughout Dubai.

"Crap" Lena said, there were explosions and bullets and it just seemed like the world was coming to a end. The carbombs hit and killed 300 of her troops and wounded 2,000 of her troops. more were getting wounded and killed by the minet "That it Flame troops move and and burn the buildings and people." As some Flame thower troops were burning the building. Lena then yelled" Throw the smoke bombs" As the smoke bombs hit and started going up the HRB started finding cover in alley ways and were ever they could and started firing at anything that was shooting at them. Some troops that were loaded with Rocket lunchers started firing them at spot that had good cover or just into a group of the enemy. Most of the people they caught before were the first ones they shot.

OOC: What is Bloodbank's official stand? err... are you recruiting(drafting) from the native population?

IC:

Today, it was a sad day for the nation of Soviet Arms Dealers. More than a dozen civilians have been killed today. The factions report that about 142 combatants have been killed in three separate incidents, and 59 others injured. A Holy Republic of Bloodbank Army drafting attempt ended up in total chaos as the brutality of the officers struck a wrong tune in the draftees, which promptly opened fire upon Bloodbank forces. Suicide bombers arrived at the scene and completely decimated the scene. As the smoke cleared, 300 Bloodbank servicemen and service women had been killed. Over 400 civilians have also been identified as deceased.

Earlier this week:

A Hind military chopper was downed from small arms fire and its crew is reported missing.

Carthagian forces have reported the capture of one of Fadi al Badr's patrols.

Pythogrian forces opened fire on Fadi al Badr's men, killing 24 and injuring dozens more. Women and children were also killed in the firefight. An official word from Pythogria on civilian casualties has been posted.

The Legion of God, a foreign Muslim extremist organization, has declared jihad on all foreign forces in the Soviet Arms Dealers.

Franberrian experimental air units have decimated a Legion of God airbase outside of SAD. Woman and children are among the casualties.

The ports in Dubai have been sabotaged. Moorings have been destroyed preventing the docking of new ships and reinforcements.

Suicide bombers blew a crack into the side of Carthagian Hospital Vessel, the Halcyon. Repairs are being made.


This concludes this night's look on WAR: The SAD Nation's Struggle for Balance, A Week's Glance.

A beutiful young anchor faces the camera. " hello and welcome to the 6:00 news. we will go straight to our man in the feild over in Dubai.
"Frank can you here me?"
The camera changes to a fly over of a city, the shadow of a helecopter visible amoung small street fights and burning buildings. "as you can see the city is not looking so good. i have personaly witnessed at least a hundred murders since i got here. There seems to be some action being taken by fouriegn governments but it might not be enou..." a blaze and explosion are all that could be heard or seen on the screen for several seconds. then the picture returns. The camera is on the ground screams of pain can be heard in the background. abruptly the picture changes to the news room. the anchor's eyes clearly wet. "we seem to have lost contact with frank for a bit. hopefully our tech boys can fix it."

Still being fired on Lena decied it was as good a time to get the out of there as any. Lena ordered a artillery fire on the enemy. As soon as the shells started hitting the HRB grabbed whatever wounded Soldier they could and made their way out of town to their base near the city. the losses Lena could find out where 350 died, 2,100 wounded and 10 missing.

Many civilians had died in the fighting with Bloodbank, however they universally saw the situation as a decisive victory. More militia were killed in the artillery strike, however many buildings afforded cover from the falling shells. After the strike, a cheer rose through the masses as they watched Bloodbank forces retreat.

They took shots at the enemy until they were out of sight, and then sent several remaining technicals loaded with more militia after them. The rest of the militia cheered with their weapons in the air, letting off bursts of fire into the sky as they shouted. Bloodbank had taken their wounded with them as they retreated, which inevitably would slow them down and allow the technicals to prey on them. Though they lacked the firepower necessary to inflict serious damage.

Then the militia noticed that Bloodbank had left their dead where they fell. Instantly the crowd lunged at the bodies. They stripped the corpses down and paraded them through the streets of Dubai. Some were carried on the shoulders of the militia, others dragged through the dusty streets. As they proceeded they continued shooting and stabbing at the bodies. More bursts of gunfire were let into the air as they found a Bloodbank flag and burned it.

Lena ran and brooded (being shot at was not part of way I did this). As technicals started killing them Bloodbank troops happen apon a group of their armor division, sent to help them get out alive, which started firing on the tachnicals as Bloodbank troops made their way to their base as fast as they could.

Corporal Everson's Kramer sped into the city. With only 2 Kronos MBT's infront of him, he felt very vunerable. Being the leading platoon was an honor he no longer wanted. The colum was one fo 3 driving deep into the western side of the city. After some 20 minutes of uninterrupted driving (the bombers must've done something right) the collumm stopped for the day. Infantry spilled out of the Kramers, thanks to god, Everson did nto have to clean the area room-to-room, his job was to protect the outpost that was being built on the edge of a large road (with enoguh space to be able to spot people attacking). As far as Everson knew, his day was over.

(bump)

OOC: What about my charge into the square?

Also:

BUMP!!!

(OOC- Hey, sorry it took so long to get a post up. I've been seriously distracted. Anyway, all of this takes place about a week after what's going on with the Werewolves; I'll make another post dealing with them later this weekend.)

Karim Yasir Firuz had been evacuated to Carthago Deuce, and was hearing the first casualty reports as they were coming in over a Carthaginian news station on a cheap radio he'd purchased upon his arrival.

Everything seemed so easy! The Carthaginians had provided him with his own home, and 300,000 Otas ($457,590) as a reward for his service. His mission had been completed, and the Carthaginian forces in SAD bled white as a result. 250 helicopters lost, 510 of the Airborne soldiers were KIA, 702 wounded severely enough to warrent their return home, and 145 MIA! Not counting the losses had by the Close Air Support Company or the pilots of the Airborne's own helicoters that was nearly a 50% casualty rate!

The Carthaginian news gleefuly reported, as if to dull the pain of their losses, that 'The Mad Warlord' Fadi al Badr had been killed during the attack. All over the television news channels, they showed a still photograph of a masked man dressed in black (seemingly dripping with blood) holding high with his left hand the warlord's severed head. Karim would see to it that the warlord would be avenged though.

He hadn't been able to find an AK-47 for some reason, though the SKS was plentiful. He'd purchased one, along with seven spare magazines and a 'Witness' 10mm pistol, 240 rounds of ammunition for the SKS and 30 for the Witness. At his home he'd filed a facet on to the point of each bullet (this would cause it to tumble and fly erraticaly once it impacted the target) and fasted. The next day he'd show the foreign dogs just what the peoples of SAD thought of them.

***

Karim loaded a duffel bag with his weapons and ammunition found his way to the Tarpan Hill Commercial Center, the massive shopping complex near the center of the capital city of Carthago Deuce, moved to a position on the second floor overlooking the eastern food court, said a prayer and opened fire on the unsuspecting people below.

(OOC- SAD, do you want to control what Karim does? If not then I'll cover him in my next post. He's got eight 30 rnd. mags for his SKS and three 10 rnd. mags for the pistol. The SKS is semi-automatic)

(OOC: Okay sorry about my lack of attention here guys I disappeared out into the woods for a few days. I can count the number of people I have seen in the last few days on one hand.

Anyway when I had left off we were in the tense position in regards to the advance on the square and the evac of some foreign troops. That player has not posted anything one way or the other so I am going to ‘omit’ that helicopter for the sake of the RP. If the player in question comes back on I will RP the chopper and quick evac. If not we can assume they were never found and the chopper circled back.

In regards to the docks I was seizing. They were scuttled while I was incommunicado; which is fair to be honest. So I am going to assume one of them is still in working condition and I will land repair crews at the others. If there is problems please let me know.

Also I noticed that there has been some talk of an out of character thread; I would be obliged if someone would toss up a link.)
IC:

The heavy choppers surged forward towards the docks. The men inside were tense, the idea of getting involved in this quagmire was not pleasant. This was reinforced by the troughs of death laid out in the city streets. The Pythogrian advance, the Bloodbank slaving effort, and every other thing suggested to the officers that this was going to get much worse before it got better. The grunts picked up on the officers’ nervousness and despite reassurances they knew that not all of them would be making it out of this one.

As one conscript took the liberty of doing so long ago in Otariet service others did today; a gracious rephrasing of the lords prayer.

Our Father,
who art in heaven,
because he knows better than to be here,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come
by our grubby hands and gun stocks.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
and just ignore our small hell here.
Give us this day our ammo ration.
And forgive us our trespasses,
For no one who greets you today will have not trespassed
And we forgive those who trespass against us.
because we’re too busy eating dirt to hold a grudge.
And lead us not into ambush,
But deliver us home safely.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever, or at least until the nobles ink a peace
Amen.


The prayer resounded about the assault force as cruise missiles flew from the fleet. Recon drones had located several technicals about the docks and in areas that might respond. These vehicles would be quickly dispatched by the cruise missiles. Screened from view by the urban landscape the missiles arced high and dropped straight down into the cityscape. While most missiles dropped straight onto their target, detonating with a directed charge to limit collateral damage, a few had to navigate for their target. Perhaps one of the more memorable pieces of video footage was a missile cornering into an alleyway to catch three frames of a very startled native peeing on a nearby dumpster. The man had just enough time to zip up before the entire alleyway was filled with burning garbage.

While technicals about the city were still being targeted the first of the choppers hit the docks. Immolated by the incendiary devices of the suicide bombers most of the docks were torn beyond practical use. While this did slow down the Otariet’s docking it did mean that the soldiers were not dropping straight into a flat open surface. The twisted nature of the docks meant cover for advancing squads.

The choppers hovered about thirty feat above the docks as conscripts began roping down to the dock. Everything was proceeding smoothly for a time. The first couple of choppers managed to unload entirely and begin their return to the ships, their unfettered drop was the exception as one of the choppers hovering over the dock ignited into flames, downed by a HEAT round from one of the windows over looking the dock. The light cast off illuminated the entire dock area, the boom of the helo’s fuel exploding was the starting gun of a race into absurdity.

Radio exchanges broke out all over the assault force as they began to co-ordinate; swiftly, smoothly, and efficiently the Otariet landing was a well oiled machine that was gearing up to assert itself. The docks needed to be secured. There was no question of if it was going to happen, merely at the cost of how many lives on either side.
“Assault Alpha to fire control theatre is now hot!”
“Roger Assault Alpha this is fire control, Transport seven is down get us some co-ordinates.”
“Hold for firing solution…. Transmitting now.”
Three cruisers out to sea brought their naval guns to bear on the shore, specifically one building in particular, a hot bed of resistance. The naval guns tracked for a moment, their crews confirming their accuracy, and then loosed a series of incendiary rounds. Unlike the beefy weighted rounds of naval exchange these lighter rounds were designed to strike soft targets with extreme accuracy. Losing penetrating power in favor of a self correcting guidance unit these rounds lit the tower up like a match stick, making it buckle and fall in short order.

While fire support roared over their heads the Otariet conscripts charged the docks. Taking ground quickly they made it to the earliest beginnings of the docks, closest to shore, before the warehouse itself seemed to spew bullets at them. While it probably didn’t feel like it to the grunts taking fire on the dock the rebels were responding to the shock and awe. The Otariet show of force had at least quelled the most brazen displays of resistance. Hopefully they would be able to avoid the same displays of cowardice that plagued the Pythogrian advance; human shields should not be a problem this far from a residential zone.

The rebels in the warehouse were sticking guns out of every slot they could. Broken out windows to holes punched through the walls themselves. It was as if the warehouse was one entity; cursing foreigners, shouting praises to Allah, screaming, and most importantly firing bullets. The Otariet response to this beast was that one of the helicopter gunships that had escorted the transports prepped its non-lethal rounds. After a moment of frantic spooling and clutch grinding the auto cannon on the bottom of the Otariet gunship began belching rounds into the warehouse. The rounds were designed for situations like this; to punch through cover and deliver non-lethal ordinance. The warehouse walls would provide little resistance to the high speed round. They would however strip it of its sabot. The next place the round impacted would trigger its primary ordinance, a powerful flash bang and teargas. Beyond the fact that the resistors would be incredibly disoriented by the flash bang the culminate effect of the tear gas would make that building unbearable within seconds.

As this first prong began to engage the enemy in earnest the second and third prongs began moving out. The second prong was an amphibious tank landing further down on the beach; the third was higher altitude choppers which would hopefully place teams on buildings further from the dock. These teams would hopefully be able to stem the eventual counter attack.

(OOC: Hopefully I didn’t overstep, I know you said you expected us to show we were having some difficulty in moving in so that is why I was playing the rebels a bit.

So from you [Soviets] I need either a nod, and possibly some criticism, telling me continue RPing both my and your troops or a response in kind. I am fine with either but I figured I should stop here to let you deciede.)

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10528797#post10528797

(OOC: i'm gonna controls the locals for this post, SAD please tell me if I can continue to do so)

"To the defences comrades!!"
Everson heard the shout of his superior officer, and ran towards the stockade. All along the avenue large numbers of enemies bursted out from behind cover. Everson rasied his AN-94 to his shoulder, and let out a burst at the oncoming mob. Puffs of red appeared in the midst of the mob, and several went down. Everson emptied his mag, and quickly reloaded. A technical fired a rocket at the concrete blockade next to Everson, slightly damaging it. The mobs kept coming, wave after wave, but it was not as easy as in the begginning, because they now had mortars zeroed in on them. Everson empitied his last mag, and ran towards the supply truck. suddently, everything slowed down, and Everson saw a small black shape falling just behind the truck, he jumped backwards, spinning, as to offer his back to the explosion he knew was coming. Everything went incredibly bright, and there was an incredible silence. Everson felt an incredible pain in his back, as he got up to see his wound, he saw the stockade had been severly damaged by the explosion, and saw the enemies crawling over the emplacements
"Do not surrender Comrades!! Fight on!!"
Everson sivilled his head to look at the company commander, who was promtly cut down by small arms fire.
"Lay down your weapons and we shall not hurt you"
Everson raised his hands over his head, as did many around him. A few tried to bring down as many enemies as they could with them, and fired full-auto into the mob.
"Lay down your weapons!"
A man with an AK-74 ran up to Everson, and signalled him to get in line. By the looks of it, 50 men had been captured. Everson was very worried, that was half the company strength, which must mean that the others were dead or missing. If the enemy exploited the openeing quickly, grave damage could befall the Franberrian perimiter in the city.

The Franberriana soldiers heard a voice above them. "Perhaps you need assistance?"

It was no less than 36 Knighthawks. The helicopters began to fire upon the mob, using machine guns and rockets, and some unloaded infantry, which opened fire with HVAR's.

Everson looked, up, dozens of helicopters opened fire on the mob. He quickly reached for his concealed pistol, and fired it in the face of the enemy officer, the rest of the Franberrians quickly overpowered an enemy guard and took their AK-74's. Everson quickly lead his men into a nearby house, and up to the terrace, were they signalled to the helicopters.

OOC: They need rescue? OK.

IC:

Pilot Uzbek Iakiska commanded the heicopters next to the building. "Get going! Theres enemy tanks en route!"

(OOC: Can we make so u can only take 35 of the men back? so 15 of them have to make a stand until some Tanks reach them? And if ur helis have to return to base or somethin, so its like super dramatic. Also im going to lunch, i'll be back in a couple hours, so if we can leave this little senario alone)

"Damn! you can only take 35? ok. All wounded get on those helicopters!! 14 of you stay with me"
"Yes sir Corporal!"
"Get down there and slavage what you can from the street! You 3, accompany him. The rest of you, turn this house into a fortress!!"
"Yes sir!"
"Radioman! send an S.O.S to HQ, we need help fast, and tell them to bring a couple tanks"
"Yes sir"
Corporal Everson's men ran about doign their tasks, within 10 minutes the house had been fortified, and every weapon that could be retrieved, had been.
"Ok men, we have 3 AN-94's, 24 Ak-74's, 4 RPG-7's, 2 COW (compact offensive weapon), and 25 granades. I want 5 men on each of the 3 floors, and I want cover on the intersection and the streets. A local informed me that armored vehicles are coming. Lets move!"

Atrox 3 had gone in the opposite direction of the rest of the Section, and had reached the final building on the street with in minutes. PO 2 Brogan, Fireteam leader and heavy weapons opperator, ordered his men take up defensive positions on the roof and then stay down. He saw no fewer than four militia patrols coming their way and several more who were within range.

The plan was to put out as much fire as possible in order to make the militia think the entire Section was on that rooftop, diverting the warlord's forces from Atrox 1 & 2's intended route.

PO Brogan was confident they were up to the task. He was armed with a 'snub cannon' (a drum-fed fully automatic 12 gauge shot gun), Staas (usually the air-defense man) was armed with a Carthaginian stand-by, the Thumper II (a semi-automatic version of the M79; these ontop of Gerolt's LAW and Ignac's M37 7.9mm rifle. And that was just their issue weapons.

As two of the patrols converged in the three-way intersection south of the building the men were occupying Brogan ordered Staas to open fire, putting four 40mm grenades in a tight pattern amongst the militia men. The API (anti-personel, incendiary) rounds gored the clusters of men, who were then put under fire by the rest of the Fireteam. Most of the men who survived the initial grenades were wiped out before they'd located their attackers, but the raucous explosions and burst of gunfire had already begun to draw militia from all directions; the plan was working.

***
Atrox Section heard their comrads in arms open fire and winced. They knew they'd probably not see them again alive, but the men held their position. They held their fire as they saw masses of militia rushing towards the sound of battle, waiting for their chance to make their way towards the warlord's home and base.

At a break in the rushing mob Atrox 1 made their way down to the street under the cover of Atrox 2, and began advancing on the compound which was at the end of the street. Costica called Atrox 2 to move up and advance.

Then there was an Earth shattering explosion. The concussive force shattered any glass windows that had been intact, and knocked every member of Atrox 1 off their feet. Looking back, as he returned to his feet, Costica saw a very different street; what had been relatively intact had been devestated with masonry thrown everywhere. The building they'd just moved off of was nowhere to be seen, just a pile of broken ruble with a single wall standing.

"Atrox 2, Atrox 2, Do you copy?" whispered the stunned Werewolf as he touched the radio on his throat, "Petty Officer Levi, Do you copy? Carys? . . . Kasper? . . . Yale? "

Atrox 2 was dead. It hurt. A deep, gut wrenching pain slowly crawled from Costica's groin to his chest and up through the back of throat. Forcing his emotions back, he ordered his men down.

"Damn! you can only take 35? ok. All wounded get on those helicopters!! 14 of you stay with me"
"Yes sir Corporal!"
"Get down there and slavage what you can from the street! You 3, accompany him. The rest of you, turn this house into a fortress!!"
"Yes sir!"
"Radioman! send an S.O.S to HQ, we need help fast, and tell them to bring a couple tanks"
"Yes sir"
Corporal Everson's men ran about doign their tasks, within 10 minutes the house had been fortified, and every weapon that could be retrieved, had been.
"Ok men, we have 3 AN-94's, 24 Ak-74's, 4 RPG-7's, 2 COW (compact offensive weapon), and 25 granades. I want 5 men on each of the 3 floors, and I want cover on the intersection and the streets. A local informed me that armored vehicles are coming. Lets move!"

OOC: Ok. My forces will arrive in... oh, lets say three NS hours.

IC:

---Pythogrian Forward Command Center---

General Uziel thundered. "I want 6 tanks to get those men NOW! Send two APC's as well."

"Aye sir."

OOC: Ok I'm going to try to respond to everyone in the order they posted. Sorry about my inactivity I've been busy with school.

IC:

A shell from a Bloodbank tank (no rhyme intended) hit a technical and it exploded in a huge fireball. All 8 men occupying the vehicle were killed instantly. Another technical was hit by a fire from a mounted MG. The rear turret gunner of the technical was killed and another militia replaced him. Nevertheless, the technicals saw that they were outmatched and they raced out of the engagement zone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pythogria took the square of the docks relatively unopposed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: CD you can control Karim, that's your storyline now. Fadi al Badr's surviving militia will link up with other warlords or suicide bomb to avenge their warlord's death. Expect special animosity from them, though they are now few in number. His leftover territory (a bit of the docks, some territory in the city connected to the docks) will be in anarchy until someone siezes it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: Otares *nod*. I'm fine with anyone RPing militia on a small scale. Partially because it keeps the storyline smooth and because I can't always respond right away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: Same goes to you Franberry. Small scale militia attacks are fine for you to RP as long as you're fair, which you have been. However I see perhaps an opening for me to take over the militia in this scenario.

IC:

Upon hearing the helicopters overhead the militia fell back to gain more cover behind buildings and debris. This allowed many of the Franberry troops to take a position in a nearby house. Many militia fired RPGs with little accuracy at the hostile helicopters before either taking cover or being cut down by enemy fire. Fortunately an officer for Diya al Din was among the mob. He took cover in a house and pulled out a radio.

"This is captain Yuri. I need immediate backup, position..." he gave the estimated position of the enemy to the radioman on the other end of the transmission. "Estimate strength half company with foreign helicopters overhead evacuating some of them."

"Roger, captain. I'm diverting forces from all borders to reinforce you. Sending technicals and some heavy armor to link up with you as well. Until they reach you, keep the enemy pinned down and try to take out some helicopters with RPGs unless they leave with the men they're taking. I'll ask other warlords for help as well."

"Thank you, over. Tell those techicals to motor, we have no time to waste." He picked up his own RPG and leaned out a window. He aimed for a helicopter and fired. A bullet flew through the window and struck his shoulder just after he fired. He ran to the opposite wall of the house and began dressing his wound.

Already militia were swarming in, more desperate than ever. Civilians were being massacred by foreigners all week, and they wanted blood. Some militia even were carrying the heads of Bloodbank soldiers on spears, which they threw into view of the Franberry troops.

Diya al Din sent a priest up to the minaret of his mosque. However, instead of calling the people to prayer, he called them to war.

OOC: One more thing, I said in a previous post the warlords started putting roadblocks of debris all through the city. So if you're sending any ground vehicles they will have to take back roads and detours to get anywhere. I'll keep this in mind too and delay my own armor a bit.

OOC: Couldn't my tanks destroy roadblocks?

OOC: Probably not tanks, but a few C4 charges could sufficiently lower them. They're mostly big piles of debris. Stopping to set charges on roadblocks will still slow you a down at least a minute or two per roadblock.

OOC: ah. I'll send infantry ahead to take them out.

IC:

200 Pythogrian Infantry went ahead to clear the way ahesd of the tanks.

It was rough going over the docks. Now more disconcerting than the enemy fire was that the area was slippery with their fallen comrade’s blood. The Otariet grunts held at the edge of the docks, using what limited cover they could. Offering up heavy resistance fire the troops ablated a lot of the surrounding buildings with bullets. While the resistors had supply concerns, worries about ammo rations, and a generally conservative use of munitions the Otariets had no such compunction.

By now the warehouse had ceased fire and one of the helicopters had spotted its evacuation through a rear access. It spewed men coughing and gasping. Some covered in vomit from the nauseous gas that had been pumped in by the gunship.
“This is gunny five to control the warehouse has been evacuated.”
“This is control to gunny five; anyone left inside?”
“No one conscious sir. The infrared is blinded by our own ordinance.”
“Level the building we can’t have it fall back into enemy hands.”
“Yessir.”
With that the missile racks on the side of the gunship opened up on the building. Six micro-missiles spasmed forward into the grey warehouse, turning the building into rubble. As soon as building collapsed the grunts on the dock surged forward. Three man squads sprinted the distance to the still standing warehouses. With quick motions of the C4 applicator they blew open doors and moved to clear the buildings of resistors. From outside the warehouse windows flashed offering up brilliant white light as flash bangs subdued the people found inside.

Further down the beach landing boats hit the shore. Their canopies were pulled back and the doors flung down into ramps; making way for Otariet heavy tanks to roll onto Soviet soil. The Otariet main battle tank was a beast of a machine. While most modern tanks took to heart the lessons of reactive armor to defend from infantry rocket attacks the Otariet military made no such concession on account of fiscal concerns. The designers were asked to make a brutish work horse for the Otariet army and no cost concessions were ever made. While this meant budgetary woes for years after the vehicle was implemented it also meant that the Otariet army rolled into town with a beefy vehicle that most modern tanks would have trouble disabling, let alone a shoulder wielded RPG or HEAT round.

Rolling off the ramp the tanks were so large that only one vehicle per landing boat could be accommodated, with of course a handful of conscripts as well. While this large vehicle made logistics and support an interesting endeavor it also provided an intimidating sight to behold. Sand was tossed into the air as the tank rolled forward. All told there were only a baker’s dozen (14) but it was hoped that the imposing nature of the vehicle would deter attack, as well as provide some much needed cover for the ground troops. The fourteen tanks tore apart the beach, accelerating quickly. The men sitting on top of each tank bounced about, trying to hold steady as the tank cleared the terrain.

Hitting the coastal drive the tanks corned tightly, sliding over the pavement as they did. One wouldn’t think a treaded vehicle, especially a tank, would slide. The sliding was not a loss of traction, but of pavement. As the vehicles pin wheeled onto the road, still accelerating, the pavement beneath them tore apart like so much loose sod. With the speed of the tank, an impressive top speed of seventy kilometers an hour, and its gross weight, a heavy one hundred and twenty metric tons, no pavement not specially made for the abuse would hold.

Added to the destructive noises of the tracks razing the streets of Dubai was that of the tanks powerful engine. Hauling itself forward the tanks would temporarily deafen those around it. Were it not for a standard issue headset most Otariet conscripts would be totally deaf by now, their hearing degraded quickly by the loud guttural roar of the engine.
“This is armor one to control, control do you read.”
“This is control go ahead armor one.”
“Control we have made a successful beaching and are moving to support the flank of the assault.”
“Roger armor one what is your ETA?”
“We will be in visual in ten, in position in fifteen.”
“Roger armor one we need you in position before we dare put a freighter in there. Control out.”

The third prong of the assault was not fairing so well as the armored flanking maneuver. Designed to capture key buildings and hold them to be reinforced this prong was a series of heavy choppers, flying high towards the taller buildings in the industrial dock area. It was presumed that these buildings were once corporate head quarters, near the industrial processes which were their lifeblood. Now they were empty towers; obelisks to the rising cost and devastation of this civil war.

The choppers approached the towers quickly, descending from previously gained altitude. With quick, but fluid, motions the choppers halted over the towers dropping conscripts onto them. Repelling down the conscripts were greeted by unexpected resistance. Apparently since the last drone had flown overhead the roofs had been fortified. (OOC: See resistor response to CD squads in city.) The resistors had apparently waited until the choppers were in the position of no return. Spraying AK fire into descending grunts, launching RPGs into still choppers, and some so brutal as to knife troops as the jumped from downed choppers the resistors handed the Otariets a deadly obstacle. There were more than enough choppers to take the rough tops, but what of the human cost. General Yakovlev hesitated for only a moment, a moment that saw two more choppers plucked from his tactical display – their crews assumed dead, before ordering the assault to continue.

The choppers sprayed the roofs of the buildings with auto cannon fire, punching holes into the lower levels. Soldiers, both Otariet and local militiamen, could be seen plummeting from the height of these buildings; splattering into a spongy red mess in the streets. The soldiers continued repelling into the fire zone, some taking enemy fire – while others took ‘friendly’ auto cannon rounds.

War always seemed to be trading men’s lives for insignificant pieces of land and property thought one particularly profound conscript as he repelled down. The chopper above him began to buck wildly, no longer able to hold position after so many bullets had impacted the engine housing. The engine stalled out and he was thrown from the rope sailing over the side of the building. The cityscape rushed toward him as his thoughts, both profound and perverse, raced.
“I wonder if anyway has seen such a small piece of area be the bartering chip though. I mean really, my life for a piece of a shot open rooftop?” His body buffeted in the fall, pivoting him to see that his transport was sailing through the air with him.
“I wonder where helicopters downed over city’s land. We’ve lost dozens. I hope they don’t hit any cats, I like cats. They are so…” –splat-

The civilians, for the most part, scattered before the fire Karim Yasir Firuz poured into the crowds. He'd sent more than 40 to their fate in only fifteen minutes, and he still had 120 rounds for his SKS! A few old men, vetrans he assumed, had tried to stop him but he gave them the point of his bayonet and butt of his rifle. Exhilarating.

The police had arrived, and he'd shot two officers as they tried to come in through a mall entrance near him. He could still hear one of them mewling, crying out for his mother, and was contemplating puting the man out of his misery when his world was suddenly dominated by flashing lights, waves of concussive force, and undescribably, painfuly loud burst of noise. Then nothing.

***
Xenophobic though the people of Soviet Arms Dealers are, if this problem is not dealt with now then a greater problem will have to be dealt with later. If a single warlord were able to dominate the others and bring peace within the year without our assistance, we have every reason to think that they would only rest for a moment before charging over the borderlands of their neighbors and creating a much more destructive situation.

Dubai is their capital city. The people of Soviet Arms Dealers look first there when looking for national leadership, as such if we are able to stabalize that city the rest of the nation should follow suit. Our efforts have not been in vain in this regard; Fadi al Badr, who earned the monicker 'The Mad Warlord', was completely psychotic and encouraged cruely sadistic behavior in his lieutenants. What kind of a nation would have grown under him? Thanks to our efforts we will never have to know. Thanks to the medical personel of the Halcyon and Lister the old, the sick, the weak, the young, and the injured all have a hope they might not have had otherwise (such a lack of hope might even have turned a great many of them against the less careful foreign militaries in their city!).

We'll deal with SAD now.

Darius Fedde, President

***

Secure Broadcast

To: General Andrei Yakovlev, Otariet Naval Taskforce

From: Captain Bendt, CCFS Thundermare CVH-15

General, I request your assistance in securing the areas which have up until now been under the control of the warlord Fadi al Badr. Under different circumstances I wouldn't make this request, but I simply don't have enough men to safely advance beyond my own perimeter due to the recent intense fighting.

The 1st and 2nd Aircav Regiments, with the 45th, 46th, 47th, 49th, and 50th Air Support companies will be reenforcing me in three days, forming the 1st Aircav Brigade and Airsupport Regiment respectively. At that time I should have forces sufficent to hold this area, but until then I need the help of your men to keep this area from sinking into anarchy or being taken by another warlord. All remaining Hinds in the 48th Air-support will be made available to you, as will all medical facilities and equipment under my comand to support you in this endeavor.

"WE NEED HELP NOW!!" Everson screamed into the radio. "I've lost 1 man, and 2 are wounded. My ammo situation is fine for the time being, but in a couple of hours we're gonna run out. Yes I KNOW THERES MILITIA ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT WE NEED HELP NOW. Damn right we do. So what are you sending?"
"Sir, enemy technicals aproaching"
"Godammit, HQ, i got to go" Everson put down the radio and ran down the stairs to the second floor.
"Come on men, they're sending tanks to get us, only a bit more"
3 technicals raced across the avenue, autocannons spewing rounds into the house. The private beside Everson fired his COW into the space between two of them, the technicals exploded and flipped over. Everson raised his AN-94 and fired into 3rd vehicle. Militia kept coming from across the avenue, although now they came more slowly and more carefully, covering each other very well. The bloodbath that they endured in the morning was not to be repeated. Suddenly all the militias firing stopped.
"Oh my god, are they flinging bodies at us?"
"Yes sir, they appear to be Bloodbank soldiers, or are atleast carrying their uniforms."
"Thats horrible, look how mutilated they are. "Everson screamed out the window. "YOU WONT DO THAT TO US YOU BASTARDS!" With that cry, the militia opened fire again.

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

The 152mm gun blew the roadblock to bits. The Kronos quickly sped over the remains, tank tracks crushing the small pile left. Convoy-927 was heading straight for Corporal Everson and his men. Helicopters could not be sent due to the large amount of small-arms fire and the RPG armed militia. But although an RPG would heavily damage a helicopter, probably downing it, the RPG would not even scratch the amor on the Kronos. Convoy-927 was the largest single Franberrian force to enter the city, numbering 20 tanks, 50 IFVs, 30 trucks and accompanied by 1,500 infantry. ETA at Everson's house, as it was informally called, 30 to 60 minutes.

OOC: My fighters should help with your situation, Franberry.

IC. A good six Nightmare Fighters came over the horizon, showering the technicals with missiles.

They sent this:

"ETA for our tanks is five minutes. Hold on!"

Time Until Pythogrian Tank Arrival: 5:00

"Our RPG's do nothing against those behemoth tanks they're sending at us." the soldier reported to Diya al Din, now the most powerful warlord following the untimely death of Fadi al Badr. Since the two had been allies, many former al Badr troops had gone to Diya al Din's militia. He was a fiercely pious man, and an extremist when it came to war. He wanted to establish a theocracy in Soviet Arms Dealers, and was only beginning to realize the need for foreign alliances.

"I don't care what it takes. We can't let those tanks reach the engagement zone. Make more roadblocks, set landmines, use molotov cocktails...." Diya al Din paused, caught up in the moment. "Chain some women and children across the road so they can't get by for all I care. STOP THEM!"

"Yes, sir. I understand, sir." the now frightened soldier scurried off to make preparations.

"Radioman!" Diya al Din shouted.

Another soldier ran up. "Yes, sir!"

"Broadcast a message to all foreign powers. Tell them that to continue the fight will hurt them more than it hurts us. They need to realize God is on our side, and he will not allow infidels to sieze the country. They would be wise to join us rather than oppose us."

"I will do that right away, sir."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The militia now had the Franberry troops completely surrounded. They occupied every rooftop, every street, and every vehicle. The sun was beginning to set on the city. An orange glow covered the city as the last few minutes of light wasted away. Soon a bright full moon was revealed, casting an eerie glow over the city.

The militia had plenty of ammo, and they didn't let up their fire for a second. They even began firing RPGs into the building; windows and walls. If they couldn't take the building they would level it.

OOC: Just a note, I probably haven't mentioned this but most roads are dirt. It's a 3rd world country.

Brogan was reminded of a zombie movie in some ways. The sheer number of militia men in the streets and surrounding buildings meant that many of them were completely unable to even seek cover or concealment, which meant that they were pretty easy pickings for Staas' Thumper II. Or rather had been until he ran out of ammo. He'd since switched to using his Glock 20 carbine conversion to pick militia men off of the surounding roof-tops. The same thing could've been said for Gerolt; at least until he'd caught an RPG round with his face. It was up to Ignac to use up his remaining ammunition.

PO Brogan ducked down and lay on his back for a moment, taking inventory of his remaining equipment. He'd run out of 0 buckshot for the snub-cannon and had switched to pointing his 10mm service pistol at the milita and just pulling the trigger. He had 20 rounds left for it. Other than that he had his personal weapon, a Remington model 870 MCS 'Breeching Weapon', and 24 rounds of 000 buck for it.

He heard a sick gurgle come over the radio and turned to look at the men under his comand. Staas had taken a round in the throat, and was clutching at it (which had activated the radio). Things weren't going well.

***
Costica touched his throat and whispered "Martins, move it up.". With this comand the sharpshooter of Atrox 1 quickly made her way to the front, squatting next to her Section leader.

"That's the compound. I've seen three militia guarding what appears to be the main entrance. There are also two large caliber machine-guns; one on the roof and one in that second story window. I don't think any of the sentries can see beyond the edge of the flood light, so I want you to take out the machine-gunners quietly. When they're both neutralized we'll move on the senties and enter the compound."

Fluidly, with a practiced grace PO Martins shouldered her silenced m37 and took aim through its scope. Not wanting to attract attention with the (considerable) muzzle flash she waited for the three sentries on the ground to turn away before neatly putting a 7.9mm bullet in first one, then two machine gunners. The major threat gone she leveled her weapon at one sentry who was standing between herself and another, putting a round through the base of his neck, and his friend. She turned to the third, but he fell to Amet's assult-rifle.

Atrox 1 moved in, and used a grapple and cable to enter the building via the open second story window.

They were in.

OOC: Sorry I'm getting a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of posts. Which compound are you talking about?

OOC- Fadi al Badr's. I know he's dead, but I wanted to finish RPing Atrox Section going in and getting him.

"Hmm..." General Ki' Ziak thought aloud. "Bomb the buildings around the Franberrian position. Level them all."

"Aye."

F16E's came over the horizon, dropping bombs on all of the enemy positions.

ETA Until Pythogrian Tank Deployment: 3:00

OOC: Ok ok.

IC:

Fadi al Badr sat in a chair smoking a cuban cigar. "Have we ambushed them yet?"

The messenger replied, "Yes. We have them pinned down, only just outside."

"What!?" Fadi leapt out of his chair. "So close?! You didn't feel I was in danger?"

"Well, we.....have them....pinned down."

"Enough. Your cowardice to speak has put me at risk too many times." he pulled out a desert eagle .50 and shot his messenger with a ful clip. The man fell in a suitable puddle of blood.

"Get me a helicopter!" he screamed to another messenger, who had just come into the room and noticed the body on the floor. The other messenger didn't speak a word, and went to radio for a helicopter evac.

"Hmm..." General Ki' Ziak thought aloud. "Bomb the buildings around the Franberrian position. Level them all."

"Aye."

F16E's came over the horizon, dropping bombs on all of the enemy positions.


OOC: Well this does wonders for the civilian population. And take into account the buildings are in close proximity. Your bombs have to be pretty small to avoid hitting your own men, and they have to be dead-on accurate as well. I'll let you reconsider your post before I reply. If you don't want to change it we'll just continue, I just wanted to let you know.

OOC: What about me?

IC:

---Port Square---

The base was built. A barracks, airfield, command center, and radar station stood in the square. Nearby buildings were demolished, and replaced with walls.

OOC Edit:

OOC: Well this does wonders for the civilian population. And take into account the buildings are in close proximity. Your bombs have to be pretty small to avoid hitting your own men, and they have to be dead-on accurate as well. I'll let you reconsider your post before I reply. If you don't want to change it we'll just continue, I just wanted to let you know.

Oh. Disregard that.

No sooner had Atrox 1 prepared to move further into the building they heard several gunshots in rapid succession. They all tensed and leveled their weapons at the door. As they opened the door they heard a man screaming in Arabic down the hall, and a very flustered looking man suddenly running out of a door and towards them. Costica brought his Carthaginian made Sagia 12 guage to bear on the mans chest and pulled the trigger twice in a heartbeat. The native man had started to shriek at the sight of them but was quickly silenced by the twenty 41 calibre tugsten balls impacting his chest. Atrox 1 moved towards the door he'd come from.

(OOC- Pythogria, I mean no offence by this, but do you think you could put a little more meat on your posts? Describe the jets moving towards their targets, describe the pilots; and what your characters are thinking. It makes for a much more realistic and enjoyable experience for everyone than just stating 'this is happening' or 'she says this'. Adjectives are everyone's friend.)

As Bloodbank made it back to their base the main force came out to great them" Welcome back " said Colonel Rufus. Lena Walked by him she was mad seeing blood red."They dear attack us why those... Never mind Do you have the machiens my father gave us up and running?" "Yes We'er getting good power from are Bio Reactors(( Bio Reactor is like a power plant but uses People as energy along with electricity Note that the people inside the Bio Reactor do not die; in fact, if a Bio Reactor is destroyed, the freed people well surive)) and we also got the Gattling Cannons up ((At its best, this stationary anti-air and anti-infantry weapon is a deadly defense that can chew up incoming lines of infantry, tanks and even air units. With variable firing rates, the Gattling Cannon spins its barrels faster the longer it's in use during a combat situation, making it deadlier the longer the conflict lasts. While it's vulnerable to hit-and-run tactics and fast assaults, the Gattling Cannon is overall a formidable defense weapon against both air and ground targets.))" Lena nodded "Good good anything else to make our job here a little easier." "well .... we do have the Psychic Dominator up." (( the Psychic Dominator is the pinnacle of General Grimm's insane forays into the dark recesses of mind-control research. the Psychic Dominator sends out an ultra-concentrated mass brainwave that quickly engulfs all units in the targeted area and puts them permanently under control of the Yuri player. Units can then be told to attack their own base or attack each other. Either way, the result can cripple an enemy if used correctly. The only units not affected are friendly units, units that are psychic-immune, and units inside urban combat buildings or tank bunkers -- and they'd probably do well to run for cover.the good news is that this thing takes a couple of hours to recharge)) Lena Smiled"Great better then great lets us it right now just to show the people that we won't be pushed around and the target well be..." Lena looks at a map of the city" there" she points to a spot were the battle is going on" I'm right on that."
_________________________________________________________________
The the Psychic Dominator starts to power up and after a few minets it fires. The bases has to use so much energy that the auto defense go off for 10 minets before coming back on.

(OOC- The psychic dominator sounds like it in the wrong tech level for this RP)

OOC: Just kidding just kidding would be cool huh got it from C&C Red Alert 2
Nah i think I've had enough of a beatting lets just say my troops pull out of the country.

(OOC- Pythogria, I mean no offence by this, but do you think you could put a little more meat on your posts? Describe the jets moving towards their targets, describe the pilots; and what your characters are thinking. It makes for a much more realistic and enjoyable experience for everyone than just stating 'this is happening' or 'she says this'. Adjectives are everyone's friend.)

OOC: Don't worry, I'm not offended, and I will. Now I'm waiting for SAD to post.

OOC: Well I'll post tomorrow I need to sleep now. It's ok if you go a post or two ahead without me.

(OOC: Pythogira is it ok for me to rp ur relief force in this bit? becuase I think it will make it go smoother. Bloodbank, you leaving?)

An RPG streaked into the house, down the hall, and into the bathroom wall.
"FREAKIN HELL HQ, we're being showered with RPG's. The house is gonan fall in like, 10 minutes. THAT I SHOUD NOT WORRY?? I have 2 dead and 5 wounded, 3 of them seriously. Thats leaves me with 9 men, and they militia strength just grows and grows. So when's the ETA? 5 min on our tanks?? There's others? Pythogrian tanks in 3 minutes. Well at least we're being saved by somebody."
"SIR, they're charging again!!"
"Gotta go HQ. Get on those windows, fire an RPG into them!." Everson ran to the window and empited the clip on his AK-74 into the crowd. Large amounts of militia poured over the road. Suddenly, an unusually large explosion came from below.
"SIR!!! THEY'RE IN THE HOUSE. JONAS IS DEAD. THEY BLEW THE DOOR. ARRGGGGGGHHHH!!!!"
Everson ran to the stairs, and chucked some frag granades down to the lower floor. "Ok guys, hold them off at the stairs, im gonna try to radio HQ."
Everson climped to the 3rd floor, anything short of a miracle, and he would not survive. Well, maybe captured, but that just meant torture. He ran into the radio room, onbly to find a piece of shrapnel through it, rendering it inoperable. "To hell with it" Everson growled, and picked up a COW in the corner, he was gonna do as much damage as he could. Everson fired it into a blockade that was swarming with militia. There was a massive explosion, Everson thought he'd hit an ammo depot. But from the smoke of the explosion, machine gun fire spwed into the street. An explosion appeared in the middle of the mob, downing dozens. Everson squinted at the lead tank, "We're saved men! Pythrogias come to help us!" Everson raised his AK and fired at random into the militia, who was now scambling for cover. The tanks made their way to the house very slowly, making sure to clear the militia as best the could.


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

Tank Commander Parkings could see and hear the fight, the sounds of explosions, and the orange glow against the blue of the night. "Hang a right here". His Kronos turned right, and fired into the roadblock several times, blowing it appart. "HQ, we can see Everson's House, the Pythogrians have already arrived"

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

Everson could not belive his eyes, tanks coming in from both sides, and the militia regrouping.
"SIR, we've driven them out of the house!"
"Thats good private, what are our casualties?"
"6 dead, 3 wounded"
"Dammit, move the wounded upstairs. I'm going to signall the tanks."
Everson walked down into the first floor, when he saw a figure in the doorway. He launched himself down the stairs and he raised his rifle, but he could now see he was wearing a Franberrian uniform. He was saved.

Many of the militia fled upon sighting the tanks. A few remained and hurled molotov cocktails or fired RPG's at them.

As the civilian militia blended back into the normal population, Diya al Din's squad of militia regrouped in a house. "We have to fall back. We can't take those tanks like this. We need our own armor. I'll tell Diya al Din what happened here. Until then-"

"Captain!" another militia ran in, holding a pistol to the head of a journalist. "Caught him filming the battle."

"Please." the journalist pleaded. "I have a wife and three kids."

"What is your name?" the Captain inquired.

The journalist had some knowledge of Arabic. "I'm Frank Anderson. Please, don't kill me!" his eyes were welling up with tears.

"Change of plans. We bring him back to Diya al Din. Let's go!" the Captain picked up his AK-47 and bashed the reporter in the face with the butt of the rifle. They dragged him away to a waiting technical and headed back to Diya al Din's hideout.

Though much of the crowd had dispersed, several dozen militia still rained fire down on the foreigners. They had more room to seek cover now and did not stay in one place for long. They picked up RPG's from the bodies of dead militia and continued a smaller barrage onto foreign forces.

(OOC: Oops. Well it’s the coastal area I landed in so perhaps it is a piece that catered to foreign tourists before the civil war; the roads that is. Or simply ignore my flavor text I was just having fun. Trying to show what it would be like to see this tank roll towards you.)

The area in front of the warehouses was becoming more and more populated both with Otariet conscripts and with POWs. The conscripts had done their best to force retreats but when using the non-lethal ordinance like they did sometimes enemy combatants were subdued instead of forced into flight. This left the soldiers with an interesting conundrum. They didn’t particularly want prisoners, but they could not leave them behind in an area declared secure. Now four dozen or so Soviet citizens found themselves bound by the hands, forced into a sitting position, their legs tied together at the ankles, and then strapped to every other POW via a heavy chain. After every ten prisoners a large metal spike was driven through the chain to hold that section of prisoners to the ground. For now this was the fate of every prisoner taken in this conflict, until the Otariets army had secured the dock that is. Then a more permanent solution could be found.

The first prong seemed to have been successful, securing the last remaining functional dock and all of the other destroyed ones. The Otariet conscripts had taken up defensive positions amongst the warehouses. Snipers hoisted themselves onto the roofs of warehouses while the grunts sand bagged the alleys between. It was rough going as they still took fire from the towers that the third prong had yet to secure. The snipers on the roofs ended up exchanging long range fire with the men on the lower levels, not yet engaged by the third prong of the assault.

The men at the sand bagged positions worked diligently to set up some heavier ordinance but it was so hard going. Every time one would move the gun emplacement forward a shot would ring out, ricocheting off the area immediate to them. Sand was tossed into the air obscuring vision as the bullets rained down on the sandbags. While this meant slower going for the Otariets it also meant less accuracy for the resistors. While the fatality rate was relatively low in this fortification maneuver the rate of casualties was high. The Otariets had the advantage of partial concealment but a lot of them took ricochet wounds as the bullets sprayed about. Ligaments were severed, bones were broken, and blood sprayed; most managed to protect their centre mass though.

The second prong, for the most part, was skirting the developed area of the city. Flying down the coastal drive the operators were apprehensive, they knew that part of their route would taken them through the city where they would need to move single file. It was not a long distance through the city, but it was going to be tricky all the same. Recon drones had reported to control, who had reported to the armor convoy, that anti-tank measures were being taken in the city.

Turning off the coastal drive and onto the main through fare the tanks decelerated slightly, compensating for the change in terrain. The first obstacle was an unmanned road block, its defenders probably in hiding considering its proximity to the rest of the Otariet invasion. The convoy slowed as the men jumped from the sides of the tanks. Rushing the buildings around the street in question the troops began to mouse-burrow down the street. Either side of the street shuddered as they demolished the adjoining wall. Securing building after building the men radioed to the tanks, announcing the all clear.
“This is Assault Two to Armor One come in. *loud explosion as room is cleared*”
“This is Armor One go Ahead Assault Two.”
“We’ve cleared the area just past the blockade. Do you want us to blow it or do you want to take a run at it?”
“Blow it. We might be able to make it over the debris but we shouldn’t test fate.”
“Sir, respectfully we are not under fire here. We are not going to get a better chance to test this than now.” The radio was dead for a moment before Armor One came back online.
“Roger that Assault Two we will try to clear it ourselves. You’re digging us out if this goes poorly.”
“Copy that Armor One. Don’t pop the clutch.”

With that the lead tank leveled its main gun at the pile of debris. With a loud boom that would shake a man’s innards the tanks fired into the debris pile. The auto loader could be hear grinding away in the back and three more shots came in quick succession. Inside the tank the crew went to putting shells back into the auto loader, while the driver revved the engine and geared the tank down, apply as much torque to the road as the large beast could manage. The tank was going about 45-50 kph when it hit what was left of the debris pile. Losing a lot of its initial velocity the tank was geared down again as it climbed the pile. Spinning its treads a bit the tank tore into the debris pile climbing slowly. The front end of the vehicle pointed high into the air, the treads still pushing. Then so much weight had cleared the tipping point that the vehicle pivoted forward. Coming down with a crash it rolled down the other side of debris, to the hearty applause of Assault Two.
“Congratulations Armor One you can haul ass.”
“Well I don’t know if I’d pull that maneuver under fire but its good to know we are not getting stuck here.”
“Slow up we will hop back on” As the lead tank slowed to pick up its men, and the second tank in the line took a run at the debris pile, the radio cackled with the authoritative voice of control.
“Armor One, Assault Two this is Control. Do you copy.”
“Roger.”
“Armor One copies.”
“We doubled back one of the recon drones and it looks like there is a chain of people cross the road. They’ve started putting land mines in as well but there is nothing we can see between you and Assault One. You must be too fair out on the peripheries, the supply line is too long.

“We have new orders for you two. Armor One you are being redirected deeper into the city. We have been contacted by the Carthagan leadership and they’ve opened up a new hell.”
“Sir?”
“They’ve assassinated the warlord in this area. You may not have noticed but most of the militias you are fighting now are under a theocratic despot. The area has become a free fire zone and we need you to restore some of the peace. Armor One is being broken into two smaller convoys. Your mission orders are being sent now. Your on board computers should decrypt them momentarily. Until then Armor One Take your next left and go right at the fork. Armor Two the same, but left at the fork.

“Your primary objective is an area of the city that has been decimated by heavy fighting. The area itself should not be of importance to anyone. You will be clearing a fair bit of distance to get there though. Once you have secure the area you are to flatten it enough so we can airlift supplies in to you. The planes are being prepped back in Otares proper now. These were going to be the re-supply of the dock area boys, it is imperative that you secure the landing zone. Otherwise we will have to drop at the docks as originally planed and without a forward base our ability to project force into Fadi al Badr old territory will be extremely limited.

“Assault Two. You are to proceed on foot towards Assault One. You are to rescue those people chained across the road enroute. Be careful grunts we are putting you poor bastards in a lot of trouble. We want you out alive.

“There is a large manor just after the people chain and if you can get to that you will be reinforced by Assault Four. We are prepping them now but the manor may be fortified. We will keep you updated.

“I am sorry to all of you but we knew this was going to be a mess when we were sent in. This is just the first adaptation to the ever changing theatre. Good luck and God bless.”

By this time all of the tanks had cleared the debris, which had been ground into nothing more than a large mound, while Assault Two had gathered together near the front of the convoy. Looking apprehensively at one another Assault Two waved off their protection. As Armor One, and now Armor Two, rolled deeper into the city Assault Two was left to make a long hike through enemy territory, attempt a rescue of a group of people who may be just as hostile as their captors, meet up with Assault Four – in an area which might be in enemy hands, and then God knows what else. Seeing the apprehension of her crew Royal Lieutenant Valentina Petrov stepped forward, she knew that her grunts morale was going to drop without some reassurance and she aimed to offer just that.
“Well grunts it looks like its up to us to save the day again.” She smiled, moving her focus to each of the people under her command. “HQ made a slip up and its up to us to catch their fat from hitting the fire. We’ve always known that the Otariet military rested on the skill of their conscripts, but this just proves it.” Pulling her helmet off for a moment she wiped her black hair back from her eyes, trying to retie the military bun.
“You know what I say to this, this stint that puts out lives on the line, this maneuver that tosses us into the line of fire with inadequate backup?” The tone in the Royal Lieutenant had bolstered, biting on a fury that she saw mirrored in the eyes of those around her.
“Fucking right.” The grunts were still hyped up but confusion washed over them now. “The whole reason HQ keeps putting stuff like this in our hands is because we are the best. The Otariet peasant is the hardest working mother fucker around. Some of you might feel a bit angry that you’ve been asked to do another impossible task, but to you I say this. If not us then who? We are trained, armed, and ready to do this. And you all heard Control, they have a chain of people strung across that road. What exactly is to be done about that? The crown has trained us to be ruthless, effective, machines of war. Now we find ourselves in a war zone once again and we are being asked to rescue those who do not have the same advantage as us. These people were ripped from their homes and tied across a road to make sure that our tanks could not pass. Well I say this. If they want to make us feel the personal cost of our being here then I say we make them feel it too. I say we march down this God forsaken hell strip of a road, save those people from their obviously deranged countrymen, and share with them a good stiff drink!” With that a boisterous cry rose up from the ranks of Assault Two. Strapping her helmet back on Valentia smacked the flak resistance material for attention. The squad quieted immediately, whereupon she signaled with a hand motion to move out.

Prong three of the attack was definitely taking the most losses. After having taken the rooftops the grunts needed to be reinforced by an additional helicopter maneuver. Once full of numbers the assault down the tower turned out to be little better. Rolling fire fights through office cubicles and sending demo squads to diffuse traps on the stairs, while under fire, became the norm. The towers must have been on an independent electrical grid because the elevators still worked, much to the chagrin of the officers in charge of the assault. After having secured the top floor the teams were pincered from the rear, as the militia had taken the elevator to the top floor and walked down. The Otariet fought hard but these towers were kill zones. With little cover for either side the casualties on both sides racked up. And for better or worse the men were committed. The only saving grace of this operation was that they seemed to be making progress. The militia retreated, slowly at first, until Assault Three was half way down the towers. (With varying degrees of success for each tower.)

Earlier on General Andrei Yakovlev’s flagship

It would seem odd for to anyone not an Otariet, to have a stocked liquor cabinet on the bridge. Perhaps odder still was that General Yakovlev sipped at a dark looking drink even while he commanded the assault. Alcoholism was a way of life for most Otariets, especially any one of them with professional success. Life in Otares was hard and unlike their western counterparts Otariets had not developed a lively trade in therapeutic treatment. No AA meetings existed in the country, therapy was for the weak or deranged, and poor coping mechanisms abounded. And now if anyone needed a poor coping mechanism it was General Yakovlev. While not inebriated to the point of debilitation the general quite obviously had a buzz on. His motions were sweeping and exaggerated, but perhaps more telling was the rosy red on his cheeks and nose. The blush peeked over his dark beard and made him look almost jolly, despite the look of an empty man that sat in his eyes, and the tight lipped expression that was definitely not a smile.

As the general strolled about the bridge, taking in tactical readings from all over the theatre his head swam a bit. Pausing he rested his hand against the side of a console. Closing his eyes he willed the war to be going better, but like most wishful thinking it was to no avail.
“Sir?” It was the concerned voice of his second in command. Straightening himself he opened his eyes and looked at the young man.
“Yes son?”
“There is a message for you from Captain Bendt on the Thundermare.”
“The Thundermare… The Carthagans? What do they want?” With that the younger man passed the General a print off. Reading for awhile the general placed his drink on the console, where it was promptly collected by the yeoman, and rubbed his eyes. Walking over to the main tactical display he punched up the area the analysts had marked as Fadi al Badr territory.

Moving to another display device he punched up the other information that had been released by the government of Carthago Deuce. Exhaling deeply he moved towards the war room. Shouting over his shoulder as he did,
“Pump all available information into the war room. Tell the Thundermare to hold for a response.”



Please hold for a response.





To: Captain Bendt, CCFS Thundermare CVH-15

From: General Andrei Yakovlev, Otariet Naval Taskforce


Greetings Comrade Bendt;

I must say I am very surprised that you asked this of me, humility is not a trait commonly found in successful tacticians; despite how desirable it is. With this compliment I must also congratulate you on successfully cutting the head off of Fadi al Badr, faction. Well played. This action is however what one might consider a fait accompli, in regards to the Otariet military response to the destabilization of the theatre. Or more succinctly we have no desire to see the arousal of a super faction, i.e. the combined might of Fadi al Badr’s old faction as well as that of another.

So with this in mind I say two things to you. Of course we will move to provide stability to the area in question. To that end I have dispatched an armored convoy of fourteen tanks deeper into Dubai to secure a forward base. Into this area we will paradrop what was going to be the re-supply of the docks. The planes will be in theatre in six to eight hours. At that time a sizable Otariet presence should be further in the city and from there we can move towards other areas.

Within the next four hours we should have a fair sized contingent unloaded at the one functioning dock. With these troops on shore we can thrust forward, in the desire of creating a secure corridor between the Otariet forward base and the docks. These troops will also be used to expand our local defense towards your position. This should eliminate the possibility of a flanking attack on either one of us. It will also give us the ability to lay land communication lines between our positions with relative safety.

The second thing I say to you is this. I am not entirely pleased to have my strategy dictated to me by Carthagan action. To assuage my concerns in this regard I would appreciate if you would put a delegate on a helicopter and send said delegate to my flagship. They will of course have full diplomatic immunity and be well cared for but it is my hope that this quick link might limit further communications difficulties. It is becoming painfully obvious to me that that some degree of co-operation is needed with the foreign effort. Perhaps through this delegate we can formulate a joint position and then bring some of the other foreigners in line to it.

Finally it is good to see that your country has not given up us. I was at that failed conference a few years back and was saddened to see that our own prejudice stopped what could have been an amazing opportunity for Otares. Please be assured that I do not purport the same oblivious and egocentric bias as some of my countrymen. I look forward to conversing with your delegate.

OOC: Yes, go ahead with my relief force!

IC:

The tanks immediately started to clear the area. Infantry charged at the miltia, cutting them down with HVAR's. The lights and sounds of the tank's guns filed the air.

Six infantry ran towards the house and opened the door. Walking in, they saw the Franberrian soldiers. Sgt. Argfar Geeshtagumir asked the Franberrians, "What are the casualties?"

The militia who had stayed used their superior knowledge of the city to their advantage. They set up RPK machine guns in windows and balconies and continued a deafening barrage onto foreign forces.

Now one of Diya al Din's snipers arrived on the scene. He was different from ordinary militia, he had been trained on foreign soil, deserted that army, and returned to Soviet Arms Dealers with his training in mind. He furtively made his way to the third story of an apartment near the firefight. He went prone on a balcony and scoped in on the evacuation process. He cocked his Dragunov SVD and searched for movement. He would pop the first thing that moved in the house.

Down an alleyway was a small market with a large stall belonging to an arms dealer. He had racks of AKs, RPKs, RPGs, pistols, and ammo of all kinds. He was being mobbed by civilians holding money in the air and shouting. Today the man was making good profits.

Meanwhile, across the city a mortar team set up several mortars and fired one shell. It went far to the left of the house. Acting as forward observers, the militia radioed in aim adjustments.

OOC: I'm sure that mortar isn't going to last long with my tanks prowling around.

OOC: True enough. They'll probably run if they hear a tank. Maybe they'll get away.

(OOC: Otares, u write SO much, i dont mean it in a bad way, but really man, i just skim your passages, and I assume everyoen else does too)

IC:

Everson was informing the tank commander of his losses, when some Pythogrian infantry came running up.
"Is the situation under control?" asked the infantryman
"Yes, its all good now, thank you for your assistance."
"Thats very good, if you dont mind, we're gonna set up a perimiter"
"Yes, thank you."
"Everson! Get over here!" yelled a Colonel standing in the doorway "By personal order of the Field-Marshall you are to get your ass back to HQ right NOW"
"Yes Sir Colonel"

"All right. We'll secure the area."

"Troops! Secure the area! I don't want ANY militia within 6 city blocks!"

"This is Talcom 1. Yes sir. Beginning manouver Nu-7."

Talcom squad (the tanks) rolled around the area, clearing streets. Helicopter blades filled the air with a buzz as they evacuated the remaining Franberrians, and some began patrols, watching for militia.

Infantry walked alongside tanks and cleared buildings. Civillians were brought via M11A3 APC to the Pythogrian base to be evacuated.

Not to mention the Empire's newest (although bought from DMG) helicopter, the Black Panther, had just arrived on one of the two aircraft carriers. 160 of them, prescisely, along with the other carrier, with 75 Nightmare fighters. Reinforcements at last.

To: All Foriegn Powers in SAD

From: Pythogria

Re: Port Proposal

Text: I suggest we rebuild the port so that reinforcements can arrive via sea.

Everson stood at attention. The field marshall walked down the carpet, surrounded by a Black Guard escort group. His chest glinted with all the medals he had, making Everson squint when a beam of light hit them head on.
"Staff Sargent Everson. Come foward."
Everson promptly took a step foward, and faced the Field-Marshall.
"By direct order of the President of Franberry, I herby adorn you with the Order of Hero of Franberry, 1st Class."
"Thank you Sir, it is indeed a great honor" Everson responded. He then stood while the Field Marshall walked out of the room, and here came the part he detested, the music, speeches and protocol, he found it greatly annoying.


To: Pythogria

From: Franberry

Re: Port Proposal

Text: Although Franberry does not need the port to bring in reinforcements, due to the fact that we have a couple CPFs (Compact Port Facility) to the west of the city, we would be more than happy to offer some help. What exactly is needed?

(OOC: careful now I might be sniping your officers if you don’t read the whole post :P )

General Yakovlev’s eyebrow raised at the incoming Pythogrian message. Jotting on a piece of paper her passed it to his second.
“Have this entered into the transmitter and respond on the same frequency as the Pythogrian broadcast.”



I General Andrei Yakovlev Otariet Supreme Commander of this theatre do bid you hello. I must say Comrade that there is a small flaw in your plan to rebuild the docks. You see the docks are currently held by the Otariet Royal Armed Forces and will be rebuilt by the same. Perhaps there has been some confusion but the Otariet Army thanks you for your interest. Once the docks are totally secure and reconstruction is complete you may talk to us again about using our docks. If this is unsatisfactory you can of course try talking to the Carthagan commander who successfully secured a small portion of the docks.

I thank you again and wish that our Mighty Lord might bless you in these trying times.

The sniper was not surprised to see so many reinforcements arriving on the scene. This is how people responded after losing men to an enemy they don't respect. Unfazed, he saw a squad of 5 Pythogrian Troops heading towards his building. He scoped in on what appeared to be the highest ranking one, and downed him with a shot from his Dragunov SVD.

The other troops barely had time to react as shutters on windows flew open and molotov cocktails came flying out. One landed next to a soldier and he went up in flames, rolling on the ground desperately to put out the fire.

The deed is done. the sniper thought. He packed up his equipment and prepared to move out.

A barrage of fire came down upon the Pythogrian infantry.
"Help our allies!! Fire Incediary rounds into the houses!!" Came the order through the radio. Tank Commander Esteban Emmanol ordered his men to point the tank gun to the nearest house. "Fire!!" he yelled, and the shell streaked into the house, exploding within, and setting it alight. The rest of the tanks and IFVs fired into wherever they saw movement. Houses collapsed all over the place, but better them than the Pythogrian's Esteban thought. "Sit tight tanks, we're gonna clear everything within a 5 block radius"

Dozens of men and women jumped out of the windows of the apartment building. Many were on fire and screaming. A woman came running out the front door crying. She was holding her baby and her baby was on fire.

A man jumped off the roof of his apartment building. He flipped over and landed on his head. His mangled body was motionless in a puddle of blood. Others jumped and broke their legs from the fall. It was a gruesome sight to behold.

A woman was debating whether or not to jump when a tank shell exploded behind her and sent shrapnel into her back. She fell onto the dusty road, paralyzed from the waist down. Frantically she dragged herself away from the tanks but was killed by machine gun fire.

Several men came with fire hoses, but ran away when they saw the tanks. The fire was burning out of control and spreading to other buildings.

The following message was sent to Franberry.

"Stop this madness at once, Franberry! You're killing civillians! Besides, did I tell you how advanced our healing technology was? Just don't do this again."

Admiral Wilson ordered the F16E's, "Bomb the buildings with waterbombs."

The lead pilot responded. "Yes sir. ATTACK PATTERN ALPHA!"

Back at the scene of the shooting, Sgt. F'rar Iaski was hurt badly, but reasonably stable. the medic was at his side in seconds, and treatment began. CAICs armor is good against sniper shots.

In the meanwhile, several Pythogrian infantry doused the civillians, and some entered buildings not on fire. The sniper was found, dead, scorched. Other militia soldiers had to be shot.

In the end of the fiasco, seven civillians were dead, and many more with burns.

To: Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: Round selection

Text: I suggest you don't use incediary rounds in urban environments. This area is highly flammable, and you've killed civillians.

The following message was sent to Franberry.

"Stop this madness at once, Franberry! You're killing civillians! Besides, did I tell you how advanced our healing technology was? Just don't do this again."

Admiral Wilson ordered the F16E's, "Bomb the buildings with waterbombs."

The lead pilot responded. "Yes sir. ATTACK PATTERN ALPHA!"

Back at the scene of the shooting, Sgt. F'rar Iaski was hurt badly, but reasonably stable. the medic was at his side in seconds, and treatment began. CAICs armor is good against sniper shots.

In the meanwhile, several Pythogrian infantry doused the civillians, and some entered buildings not on fire. The sniper was found, dead, scorched. Other militia soldiers had to be shot.

In the end of the fiasco, seven civillians were dead, and many more with burns.

To: Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: Round selection

Text: I suggest you don't use incediary rounds in urban environments. This area is highly flammable, and you've killed civillians.

(OOC: only seven?? I fired incediary rounds into apartment complexes, i think something around a hundred dead and countless wounded)


To: Pythogria

From: Franberry

Re: Round selection

Text: We felt that we had to use incindiary rounds to flush out the militia, our men were under attack. If some civillians perished, well better them than us. Do you have any suggestions on removing the peopel form the cities? We're thinking tent camps.

Good Luck,

Franberry

OOC: Oh... yeah, stick wit that then.

IC:

To: Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: Round Selection

Text: Now, though of course niether you nor myself wish your soldiers to die, but perhaps you could use something like CS?

(OOC: Im confused with the whoel warlord thing. Who died, and who took over?)

To: Pythogria

From: Franberry

Re: Round Selection

Text: What do you mean by "CS"? In the future, we shall try to do a lot less of firing into civillian occupied buildings, unless its nessesary. Any progress on the recolation idea?

To: Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: CS/civillians

Text:

"CS" is a gas that irritates the eyes and generally stops enemies from doing much. And thank you for the change in policy. As well, our housing ship is en route.

OOC: I don't know either, other than it's now anarchy.

Diya al Din slammed his fist on the table. "We'll have to go into hiding. If they'll attack civilians who knows what's next."

"I understand. I'll send word to our militia and organize a loyal group of soldiers to accompany you in hiding. The caves have enough supplies for a year or two, if you conserve them." the messenger reported.

"We have no choice." Diya loaded up on weapons and headed to a waiting technical. "We'll use a civilian road to get out of the city, avoid foreign forces, and if we're stopped we have fake IDs. Thankfully they don't know what I look like."

"Roger, sir." the technical sped off and joined with the regular civilian traffic.

Through word of mouth news will likely reach the foreigners within the week that Diya al Din has fled the city. Zakwan ibn Khulus replaces him as the most powerful warlord in the city, followed by Rashad Muntasir.

Anarchy in Diya al Din's territory is not as bad as in Fadi al Badr's. The people are upper-class and for the most part educated. Zakwan ibn Khulus has made a push into the territory, meeting light resistance.

OOC: Fadi al Badr died. Diya al Din has gone into hiding. The area southwest of the ports is in anarchy.

"Hello sir, why are you exiting the city?" Private Henderson talked to the driver in a car.

"We're fleeing the fighting"

"Well you cant exactly blame them for that" Said Henderson's squadmate, Jonas.
"No you cant, but, look at the guy in the passanger seat, I swear to god I've seen him somewere before"
"They all look alike to me"
"He looks funny, in a suspicious way"
"Dude, they all look funny"
"Whatever, ill go give him his ID back"

Henderson walked back to the car, signalled the men to roll down their windows, and handed them their passports.
"You have a good day Mr.Karim and Mr. Dannul"
"Same to you, thanks."
And with those words, the car sped off.

Now that the clearing of the sothwest was nearly complete, the Pythogrians began to set up checkpoints and add defensive emplacements.

The new housing ships had arrived. Choppers filled the air while citizens were being moved to the ships. Food and water would be free, as well as clothing. Guns were permitted on the ship, but not ammunition.

Secure Transmission

To: General Andrei Yakovlev, Otariet Naval Taskforce

From: Brigadier General Hannah Borislav, CCFS Thundermare CVH-15

Goodevening General, and salutations. With the arrival of the 1st Airborne Cavalry and Close Air-Support Brigades I am taking over theatre wide opperations from Captain Bendt. That said, he informed me of your request for a Carthaginian officer to be placed on your flagship to facilitate the coordination of our activities and I have decided that the Captain would be the one to act in this capacity. Please inform us which ship you are on, and expect Captain Bendt to arrive by helicopter as soon as is possible. He will be accompanied by Senior Chief Petty Officer Jacob Vidar, who is the senior most enlisted man in the 1st AirCav Brigade.


(OOC- More later!)

Hundreds of trucks sped by Alluhah Aldin. The trucks were either carrying soldiers or locals, all heading to the Relocated Safe Living Area (RSLA). The collumn he was in, advanced slowly, was made up of of men, the women and children riding in the trucks. The gates were fulng wide open, and they walked into the camp. They had very little possesions, even their shoes had been confiscated, but thy had been given new ones. For a few, it was worse, but for many, it was an upgrade. They would go to their tents, the families, if you had one, would be grouped together. Alluhah, would be in a tent with some other men, the woman being kept separate. He waited in his tent for about 3 hours, when a soldier came in and offered them clothing, he also told him when and were they could get food. Alluhah did not like being imprisoned, but he felt it was better than being randomly shot at.

Another man was in Allulah's tent. He was a soldier for Khair al Din named Muhammad Sarwat. I vow to Allah I shall not give up the fight just because they've locked me up with their fake sincerity. he thought.

He recognized several other men in the tent. They were his fellow soldiers. He nodded to them, and they understood instantly what he wanted.

When the Franberry soldier came in he stood up and asked, "Perhaps I could have some cigarettes. And a pack of matches. They help me relax in times like this."

"Cigarrettes??? you want cigarettes?" Asked the Franberrian soldier
"Yes please" said the man
"How many?" asked the soldier, while he brought out a whole pack
"Just some, and matches, I want to use them later."
"Fine, here you go" The soldier handed the man 4 cigarrettes and a 6 mathces
"Make sure to share now" added antoher Franberrian soldier
"We will, Thank you"
"You're welcome"
The soldiers walked out of the tent, Alluhah knew they werent gonna smoke those cigarettes, whatever it was they were planning, he was determined to stay out of it.

To: Pythogria

From: Franberry

Re: Port Proposal

Text: Although Franberry does not need the port to bring in reinforcements, due to the fact that we have a couple CPFs (Compact Port Facility) to the west of the city, we would be more than happy to offer some help. What exactly is needed?

We were going to dock some of our logistics trucks t ohelp with supplies. 100,000 of them.

---Off the Coast---

The fleet of Pythogrian housing ships arrived, tall and large. Each had space for 3,000 people, bringing the number that could be evacuated to 24,000.

---Anarchy area of City---

Most, if not all, of the terrorist threeats were killed or taken as POWs. The area was firmly under control. Defensive checkpoints, ech having a Browning machine gun, sandbags, and 6 troops, were set up around the area.

The following proposal was made to Franberry:

"Perhaps you could use assistance housing all of these people? We will give you 300,000 temporary housing modules and defenses, as well as a water purification truck, should you accept."

Muhammad and the other men he was with talked in a circle, making sure no one would overhear them. Then they walked out of the tent together. Once outside, Muhammad dumped a pitcher of water into the sand, creating a muddy area. One of the other men pretended to be angry with him. Some pushing followed, and finally Muhammad pushed the man into the mud.

"I'll need some detergent to wash these clothes." the man said through a smirk, and walked off to find the appropriate area to ask for it.

The other man with them acted hungry and moaned aloud. I need some food. I'll go get a peanut butter sandwich." then he in turn walked off to get one.

Muhammad pretended to smoke one of the cigarretes without actually lighting it. He stood just outside of his tent, surveying the compound.

With the arrival of the housing ships, the following message was cast through lousdspeakers in many languages:

"Citizens of Soviet Arms Dealers! To be guaranteed safe from enemy attack, we give you the option to evacuate to one of our housing ships which has just arrived. You do NOT have to board the ship. Due to the destruction of the ports by the terrorist enemy, all transport to the ships will be by Knighthawk helicopter. No ammunition will be allowed on the ships, however you may bring firarms. These ships will be heavily defended and we may guarantee your safety.
To register, go to one of the gates of our main base here."

Privates Henderson and Jonas walked around the main gate of the RSLA. It was really hot, especially with body armor on.
"Well, this is fun" Said Jonas sarcastically
"Be patient man, we get leave in 2 more days, and this shift ends in an hour" replied Henderson
"I guess, it's just so boring"
"Well, we're the lucky ones, we dont have to clear out the city"
"Thats true, I just hate sentry duty, I'd rather ride around in a Kramer, and that the risk of getting shot at"
"Well, im not suicidal, and I like it just fine stting around here not getting shot"
"Suit yourself"

--------------------
Sargeant Ivrok lead his men into the next house, this was a long buissness, clearing out the city. So far, they'd killed 7 insurgents, captured 29 and, unformutnately, shot a couple civillians.
"Come on men, 2 more blocks, we're halfway done for the day"
"Yes Sir, only a couple more dozen insurgents to shoot"
"Cool your cannons, Private"
"Yes sir"
They threw a flashbang into the house, waited for it to go off. BANG, a man screamed, the door fell down, 3 of the squadmen burst into the house, guns blazing. As the smoked cleared, the death toll could be seen, 3 men lay dead, and 2 stood at the top of the stairs, guns on the floor and hands on ther heads.
"Good job guys, cuff 'em"

To: Our Great Ally Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: Assistance?

Text:

We see you may require asstance in the southwest of the city. We are willing to place 40,000 troops of ours under Franberrian command. Do you accept?

To: Our Great Ally Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: Assistance?

Text:

We see you may require asstance in the southwest of the city. We are willing to place 40,000 troops of ours under Franberrian command. Do you accept?

To: "Those swell guys at" Pythogria

From: "The great 'moon party in outer space' of" Franberry

Re: Assistance?

Text: Thank you for your offer, we could use 10,000 men, but no more. If you need any assistance, be it Air or Naval (we're kinda tight on land forces till reinforcemnts arrive) just ask.

To:"The great 'moon party in outer space' of" Franberry

From: "Those swell guys at" Pythogria

Re: 10,000 Men

Text:

The 45th to 55th Infantry Divisions have been placed under your command. We, as of this time, do not require air or sea assistance. Thanks for the offer. If you need any, do not hesitate to ask!

"General Borislav, ma'am." said a Carthaginian seaman, snaping to attention and saluting as punctuation, "Petty-officer 3rd class Johness, reporting as ordered."

"What are your orders, Petty-officer?"

"LCMD Miroslav said I should bring this to you, it's quite urgent he said."


***
To: Brigadier General Borislav

From: LCMD Miroslav

We have reports coming in that the Franberrian forces, and possibly the Pythagorian forces (though there is less evidence of it), have been stripping citizens of their possessions and moving them into camps. Aside from being an outrage against the dignity of the citizens and soveriegnty of Soviet Arms Dealers, it is overtly imperialistic. I implore you to intervene on behalf of SAD!

***
Message, Via Helicopter Borne Runner

To: General Andrei Yakovlev, Otariet Naval Taskforce

From: Brigadier General Hannah Borislav, CCFS Thundermare CVH-15

General Yakovlev, how prepared would you be to defend the residents of Dubai and peoples of SAD from the overt imperialism and degredation which they are presently experiencing at the hands of Franberry and Pythagoria?

To: Carthago Deuce

From: Pythogria

Re: Imperialism? You call that imperialism?

Text:

We are not attempting to be imperialist. We simply cannot guarantee people's safety in Dubai. The only things not allowd on the ships are ammunition and explosives, not to mention going to them is voluntary, not cumpulsory. It's to keep people safe!




To: Those real great people at Franberry

From: Your ally Pythogria

Re: Imperialism

Text: Carthago Duece has accused us of imperialism, for moving people into camps if they wish. What do you suggest we do, noble ally?

OOC: If this is imperialism I will jump off of a bridge.

(OOC- That message was sent via messanger/runner, transported directly from the Thundermare to the Otariet flagship on a helicopter. There is no way that you can know about it IC.

Calling the moving of SAD people into camps and stripping them of their property imperialistic isn't necessaraly true, but that's what General Borislav was told it was a part of. Please don't jump off a bridge.)

(OOC: Right~o I need to bring my self up to speed since my last post. This will not be as deep as my normal writing since you guys have covered so much time since my last IC post. i.e. two full pages of posting since my last troop movement. So don’t get too upset by how much is about to get done…)

Assault Two humped through the coastal drive until they managed to find one of the chains of people across the road, the one the recon drone had located earlier. Speaking softly into their radio’s Assault Two coordinated a rescue.

When everything was set Assault Two began their attack in one fluid motion. Snipers opened up on the defenders, assault teams stormed the buildings – to take out the obligatory ambush men if a tank were to come through here, and a small squad rushed towards either side of the chain, intent on freeing its captives.

A man was lost in the effort of freeing the prisoners, his attacker immediately brought down by sniper’s built. His death hastened the efforts of the other, vengeance now on their mind. Despite the crassness of their resolve the managed to avoid civilian deaths, despite the fact that a family got flash banged when a nervous soldier cleared one of the rooms overlooking the street.

Now with fifty or so civilians in tow Assault Two continued on, their new friends too scared to stay in their homes considering the local warlord’s opinion of them. They continued on to the manor that Assault Four was working on clearing.

Assault Four took some losses dropping from the helicopter but luckily the manor’s main defenses were pointed towards the city and not the ocean, probably in anticipation of other warlords. The team cleared the large manor after a protracted fire fight that saw half a dozen men flee into the civilian population, unable to be followed any further. Assault four took no fatalities in the taking of the house, though some men earned themselves a trip back to Otares Proper with a bullet to a non-vital area. This was of course in contrast to the losses taken in landing on the roof, of which there were almost a dozen.

With the manor secured Assault Four and Assault Two merged into Manor Defense, whereupon they began reestablishing the manor’s already impressive defenses. They would hold the Manor as a forward relief outpost, from which they could distributed supplies. Already food and water were being airlifted in. When Manor Defense was assured that they could hold the area, the arrival of a few tanks and other heavy vehicles (including a mobile kitchen) helped in their decision, the Otariet flag was put atop the Manor’s roof. A proud display of the Otariet presence.

Meanwhile Armor One and Two had a tough fight through the city. With recon drones overhead they avoided most of the obstacles the locals put before them. Avoiding the large population concentrations and ambushes meant slower going but it assured that they would arrive intact. When they had arrived at the area in question, a section of dilapidated an abandoned buildings, a quick survey was done where they proclaimed that they area was indeed empty. Once this was established the tanks moved clear and the cruisers in the harbour once again turned their heavy guns on the city. The rounds arced high and landed with high precision, thundering into the rubble. The explosions were not as impressive as they should have been because the Otariet ships were once again using a guided round. (Not the incendiary though.) Within minutes the debris in the area was ash and powder. When the barrage had stopped the tanks rolled back in to take up defensive positions, awaiting the airdrop.

The air drop included with in it military grade combat bulldozers and construction supplies, including prefab buildings. Beyond that the fresh supply of troops expanded out from where they landed to defensive positions. The sand bags were a temporary measure but it meant that the area was secure, for now, as machine gun posts and anti-tank rifles were dispersed on the perimeter.

Concurrent to this was the reconstruction of the docks. Crane ships straddled the docks remains as reconstruction was undertaken. The last functioning dock was brought up to spec quickly and the freighters unloaded, one at a time, their precious cargoes. Beyond that with the area around the docks secured from RPG attack, due to the successful tower assaults which provided both advanced warning and an outer perimeter of defence, helicopter traffic picked up twenty five fold. It was an expensive use of fuel but re-supply was imminent and it meant that the Otariet military presence was put onto the ground much faster.

The precious cargo was in fact everything the Otariets would need to make themselves at home. More infantry, Heavy Tanks, Light Tanks, Light Artillery, Heavy Artillery, Mobile missile bases, Hummers, Infantry Transport Vehicles, and of course the command and support needed. Mobile kitchens, sensor outposts, command vehicles, construction vehicles and everything else a fully equipped invasion would need. All that was needed was for the rest of the ports to become active so that the other freighters could unload their cargos. Most likely more of the same but still hidden away under the heavy hull of the military freighter.

Meanwhile back in Otares proper planes were being prepped to be sent into theatre. Heavy strike fighters were given extended ranges vis-à-vis extra fuel tanks and cargo planes will prepped to re-supply the forward outfit.

A message was also sent to the Thundermare.
My flag ship is one of the two capital ships, of the same class, holding the centre of the formation. Send a helicopter to the centre of the fleet and you will be directed visually from there.

Once the delegate, and the runner, came aboard and a discussion was had in the war room the General took a moment to consult with the Crown Prince by a direct connection transmission. When this was done the general gave the runner a message and showed the delegate to his quarters, and assigned a yeoman to his needs of comfort.

Later once a sufficient force had been unloaded from the freighters a push west was made. The front wave rolled through quickly, killing anyone stupid enough to fire on the tank column or infantry transports. The front wave was slower than the max speed of the transports because it meant that they could stop and unload, while another vehicle could speed up to take the last’s place.

This made for an expanding front west, leaving behind defensive units that kept the area in order. Tanks were left in central positions to respond quickly to crisis, sand bagged positions were both on the roof and the road. Heavier more central positions became forward command posts as LARGE amounts of defenders were left to protect the more sensitive vehicles.

While the troops poured out of the port and pushed towards the territory of the fallen warlord the forward base, secured by Armor One and Two, was being turned into a fortress. Large reinforced concrete walls sprang up, two airstrips were put in, a mechanical bay was put in, and military base of the highest caliber took shape. It would not be much longer until the next aerial re-supply was sent and it would be well received.

Assault Five was riding the waves now, part of the effort to ensure that anarchy would not be the word of the day in Fadi al Badr old territory. Assault Five was the largest amphibious assault in theatre yet. Literally hundreds of landing craft circled the Carthagan position, aiming for the beach north of the ports. Escorted by a number of cruisers, destroyers, and frigates a successful invasion by Assault Five would see the harbour and the entire coast north of it secured for Otariet purposes. Omitting of course the Carthagan controlled ports. Simultaneously an identical force called Assault Six moved to make a landing where Armor One had come down. Their goal was to secure the entire eastern coast of the city, from the harbour to the eastern most point.

With the two assault forces hitting the coasts much more water would be open to the Otariet forces. This meant that even more of a naval presence would be required. This might seem like over kill considering absolutely no resistor navy existed but even still; more cruisers, destroyers, and frigates sailed towards the theatre – and they were escorting in more freighters to unload once the docks were fully operational.

(OOC: Assault post later. Probably not today.)

(OOC- That message was sent via messanger/runner, transported directly from the Thundermare to the Otariet flagship on a helicopter. There is no way that you can know about it IC.

Calling the moving of SAD people into camps and stripping them of their property imperialistic isn't necessaraly true, but that's what General Borislav was told it was a part of. Please don't jump off a bridge.)

OOC: Oh. Disregard that.

And the bridge part was a joke.

"Sir, our area of the city is relatively clear"
"Good, how many casualties?"
"27 dead, 102 wounded"
"Dammit, how many of them did we get?"
"We estimate their dead around 500, and their wounded around 1000"
"That is very well, and the camps?"
"No serious problems, the usual small fights. We have around 10,000 people in camps right now."
"Very well"
"Another 10,000 will be in camps by the end of the week"
"Thats excellent, consolidate our position until more reinforcements arrive"
"Yes sir"

OOC: Is that from the Anarchy part of the city? I can provide help you know.

OOC: With all the propoganda I'm pumping into the population I'm surprised so many are going to your camps. But I won't argue it.

---Pythogrian Base---

Long lines were at the PYthogrian base as thousands lined up for being evacuated. Helicopters filled the sky at the maximum-security event. In the end exactly 10,001 people filled half the ships. Messages are still being broadcast, and the ships are open.

Peeking through the armored visor in their transport ships the grunts could now see the shore. Assault Six expected no resistance on the beach, as an Otariet military landing had already been accomplished to a successful end. Assault Five had no such hopes. While the landing zone was a reasonably clear beach it was thought that the rebels had taken up positions not far into the city. This meant that they might be able to get to shore, but every street they took would be bloody.

Assault five was the back breaker. Anarchy reigned in these streets and it was Assault Five’s job to ferret out the trigger happy types. The plan would see Assault Five hit the beach and push due west, hard. After they had cleared the city of the worst of the fighters the Otariet troops to the south would wash north, securing the hostile but subdued area. The troops knew however that this was not always the case, especially in Dubai. Otares had traditionally been an isolationist nation and the fact that one of the earliest hooks that drew the Otariet bear from its cave was this bloody quagmire would surely not be easily forgotten. Already the conscripts were referring to Dubai as ‘The Bear’s Stumbling Block’ – but Otariet does not always translate well.

As the landing transports neared ever closer to the shore their canopies snapped back, revealing to those troops the overcast sky. Within seconds of the canopy being coiled the front door snapped down, with that steel ramp slamming down the contents of each transport surged forward.

The scene on the beach was a sort of organized bedlam. Transports hit the sandy beach a full tilt and their contents seemed to spill onto the beach. The tanks rolled straight forward, as did the mobile artillery, and the armored infantry transport vehicles. Meanwhile the infantry zigzagged about the forward roll of the machines. Converging in small groups the infantry dug into the beach with machine gun posts and anti-tank rifles. These troops would hold the beach to the end. While it was terribly unlikely that the resistors would even be able to push the advance back to the sea, the beach would be held anyway. Beyond the imposing image it provided, fox holed squad based defences, the grunts also waited for the next landing.

The next landing consisted of construction crews and the skeleton of a dock. The dock was actually self-propelled and would run itself aground. The cranes and dozers would then construct the dock around the beached skeleton, effectively creating a dock where there was once none. This dock would see much use as it was intended to be yet another Otariet artery of supply.

Meanwhile the vehicles of the landing pushed toward the city. The drones overhead provided intelligence but guerilla warfare could never be fully seen, else its effectiveness would be diminished. And so the way Otariets drove up the beach at about 65Kph, ready for anything…

(OOC: SAD if you could tell me what to expect I can write the post, or we can do a more tit-for-tat style like you are with the others, which ever you want. The troops will only engage those who engage them so you can either ambush them and I can post the response or what ev…)

OOC: I'm on my other account because I don't feel like switching right now. Anyway if you're in the anarchy section of the city expect dispersed militant groups, nothing very organized. A few roadside bombs, IEDs, maybe a suicide attack or two. I might be taking longer to respond for the next week or two because someone declared war on me and I'm trying to make a storefront.

OOC: I'm on my other account because I don't feel like switching right now. Anyway if you're in the anarchy section of the city expect dispersed militant groups, nothing very organized. A few roadside bombs, IEDs, maybe a suicide attack or two. I might be taking longer to respond for the next week or two because someone declared war on me and I'm trying to make a storefront.
OOC: Saw ur storefront, might buy some more stuff, APCs prbly, now I can blow up your other nation with stuff bought from your main nation!

To: All members of the Franberrian Expeditionary Force

From: Brigadier General Hannah Borislov

It has come to my attention that the "peacekeeping" forces of Franberrian origin have been stripping SAD citizens of their property and placing them in holding camps patroled by armed soldiers. Cease and disist immediately! I have been authorized to use all available force against you should you fail to open the gates of these camps, return all confiscated property, and allow the local people to police themselves! You have 24 hours.

To:Brigadier General Hannah Borislov

From: Franberrian Expeditionary Force

The citizens are being moved into the camps for their own protection. The fighting inside the city is too dangerous, and many civillians were being killed in the crossfire. Their property is in storage, and shall be given back to them once they exit the camp. They shall be given the choice to leave the camp once the fighting dies down. They have been forced into the camp so they shall not be killed within the city. Certain Franberrian soldiers behaved badly towards the civillians in the city, as did various militia groups. For their safety, they are being moved into camps. The camps give them a steady and safe supply of all necessary services, such as food, water, clothing and shelter.

To: Carthago Deuce

From: Pythogria

Re: YOU cease and disist!

Text:

Though we are against forced relocation (our ships are voluntary to move to), threatening Franberry will not be tolerated. Should your soldiers oppose them, prepare to see our wrath.




To: Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: Suggestion

Text:

We suggest you make moving to camps voluntary. We don't want war here.

-

To: Pythogria

From: Franberry

Re: Suggestion

Text:

Once the fighting dies down it shall be made voluntary. Also, we have stabilized our area of the city. In about a week, our perimeter shall be mostly safe, then those that came from that area of the city shall be given the choice to go back.

To: Franberry

From: Pythogria

Re: Good.

Text:

As long as they are treated fairly, we support you. Should war be declared, you have our support.

To: All members of the Franberrian Expeditionary Force

From: Brigadier General Hannah Borislov


My statement stands, and is non-negotiable. Return the property, remove your armed personel from the camps, and allow the residents to move freely or we will be forced to take action on their behalf. You have 22 hours.

***
To: All Pythagorian Personel

From: Brigadier Gerneral Hannah Borislov

Any hostile action taken against Carthaginian personel shall be returned in kind.

To: Carthago Duece

From: Pythogria

Re: Why in heck are you doing this ANYWAY?

Why are you opposing Franberry? He treats the citizens fairly. He gives them food, water, clothing, and shelter.

To: Pythagoria

From: Brigadier Gerneral Hannah Borislov

The act of forcing the citizens of a sovereign nation into camps and confiscating their property, all to protect them from the combat and lack of order present in some parts of Dubai (when so much of the colateral damage has been caused by Franberrian actions), shows the Franberry force to be an occupying one; not a peacekeeper or police force. It has been the long standing policy of the Carthaginian Government, and people, to fight such imperialistic acts as this when ever possible.

Additionaly, herding these people into camps without their consent is doing nothing to stabalize the situation here, and is only feeding their xenophobic fears. Returning the property, and opening the camps for their residents to come and go as they please, would do more to bring peace to this torn nation than imprisoning people at random possibly could.

***
General Broadcast

All Militia leaders and Faction Heads, you are hereby invited to the neutral area of the docks controlled by Carthago Deuce to attend a conference where the possibility of an inter-faction truce will be disscussed. If it is successful, and a cease-fire declared, we will be able to disscuss the creation of a new and official governing body for Soviet Arms Dealers.

To: Carthago Duece

From: Pythogria

Re: Imperialism?

Text:

This is not imperialism. He is going to let citizens go once the city is safer, which will be soon-- We're helping with policing the area.

To: Pythagoria

From: Brigadier Gerneral Hannah Borislov

This is non-negotiable. The course of action taken by Franberry is as outragious as it is degrading, and will not be tollerated.

To: Carthago Deuce

From: Pythogria

Re: How is this degrading?

Text:

How is this outrageous or degrading? The living standards in these camps are probably BETTER than when the citizens were on their own!

To: All members of the Franberrian Expeditionary Force

From: Brigadier General Hannah Borislov


My statement stands, and is non-negotiable. Return the property, remove your armed personel from the camps, and allow the residents to move freely or we will be forced to take action on their behalf. You have 22 hours.


To: Brigadier General Hannah Borislov

From: Franberrian Expeditionary Force

Text:
The standard of living within the camps, especially safety, is much better than within the city. Also, as soon as soon as the areas becomes more peaceful, they shall be given the option to go back to their homes, and they shall have their property back. The safety of the citizens is very important to us. The city is a warzone, and the chance of death is extremly high. Once order is restored, we shall help train local police and military forces so they may keep order.

Copies of a tape have been dropped off by anonymous citizens to many foreign powers within Dubai. In the tape;

A man with a black hood over his face walks by the camera wielding an AK-47. "Foreign infidels." he says. "We have taken a journalist hostage. If you do not meet our demands within 24 hours, he will be executed." the terrorist holds a microphone to the mouth of the journalist, who is blindfolded.

"My name is Frank Anderson." he says. "Please release all civilians from camps and return their property within 24 hours. Please, I have a wife and three children."

The terrorist wearing the hood smashes Frank in the face with the butt of his rifle. "You do not want this man's blood on your hands, infidels. Meet our demands, or else."


The tape ends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Muhammad Sarwat had accumulated all the materials he needed. He went to work in the tent, having two men stand guard at the entrance of the tent. Muhammad carefully worked with the chemicals as he had a thousand times before. Within an hour two crude explosive devices were complete.

"Place them near guards, yet out of sight." Muhammad instructed one of his men. "Cover them with sand so that it will fly out like shrapnel. Do your duty to God and to country. Go now." Muhammad handed him a handful of laundry to cover up the bombs as the man left the tent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following warlords have agreed to attend the conference at the docks: Khair al Din, Rashad Muntasir, Waqqas ibn Yazid, and Zakwan ibn Khulus. Only Diya al Din will not attend, as rumor has it he has fled the city.

"Taking hostages..." Khonsu thought aloud. "Those menacing Gradinko!"

"Tell my generals that we will not be fazed. They can kill every last journalist on the PLANET, and we will just want to kill them more. Search the city for this man, and liberate him. This menace will be crushed in the name of peace and the glory of the Empire!"

OOC EDIT: "Gradinko" is pretty much the ULTIMATE insult in my country.

OOC: In 24 hours there's no way you'll find him.:p

To: Conference Organizers

From: Franberry

Franberry would like to attend the peace conference. We are able to send a team of diplomats.

--------------------------
Official Statement

Franberry will not negotiate with terrorists.
A search effort shall be launced to rescue the journalist.
The only thing we will give the terrorists are projectiles, going towards their heads, at high speeds.

Franberrian Supreme Command

Pythogrian troops scoured the city, backed by tanks and helicopters. In the end, nobody was found, but territory under Pythogrian policing increased substantially.

OOC: I g2g on vacation! I will be back on Monday, so SAD, if you could, hold off that bombing you're gonna do on the camp. My troops will just sit around, trying to establish peace within my sector of the city.
Good Luck to all!

OOC: Vacation? Where? At any rate, lucky you. We're stuck saving up for a Christmas Hawaii trip.

And A Bump!

A video of Frank Anderson's execution has spread through the city and onto the internet. It showed him being killed by firing squad and was accompanied by a warning from the terrorists. They warned all foreigners that they attacks would increase until the camps were dismantled and the people released.

OOC: Holding off for the rest until Monday. And today only 15% off in the West Corinthian armor storefront!

"THOSE BLOODTHIRSTY SAVAGES!!!" Khonsu thundered after hearing the news. "Tell our soldiers to shoot any known threat on sight. If we are fired upon, fire back. I want any captured terrorists interrogated for any information. Execute them if they are a problem. Increase security tenfold on all of our areas of the city. If a suicide bomber is sighted, I want him shot. Any terrorist camps are to meet our Lightbringers."

"Yes sir."

OOC: Can I discover a training camp to test my new missiles? They're fuel air bombs, not nuclear. Just make sure I don't kill civillians.

OOC: Go ahead. Even have Waqqas ibn Yazid be killed in the attack. It's time for another warlord to fall.

OOC: Thanks!

"Sir... we've dicovered a camp, on the outskirts of the city."

"Who's it owned by?"

"Waqqas ibn Yazid."

"The warlord?"

"Yes."

"By Khonsu's order, we should fire our missiles. Do so."

"Yes sir!"

18 Lightbringer fuel air bombs rained upon the base, drenching it in fuel. It then ignited, leaving only a black scar on the concrete. Nobody could have survived that.

To: A General Press Conference in Nova Constans, Materdei
From: Magister of Foreign Affairs: Belisarius Brindisi

Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the press. This conference has been put together by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the civil strife occurring in Soviet lands. His highness, Basileus (Emperor) Theodosius Romanus Constans, passed earlier today via Imperial Decree—a piece of legislation sent to him by the Imperial Senate. This decree has authorized the handing out of temporary visas which would grant a limited amount of refugee’s access into the Holy Crusader’s Empire of Materdei.

The Basileus has stated that his main concern is the intervention of foreign nations which are taking an increasingly imperialistic and permanent stance within the borders of the sovereign state.

Later on today Senior Consul (Co-Leader of the Imperial Senate): Justinian Pella of the Imperial Senate is scheduled to make a visit to the Pythogorian Embassy in Nova Constans to relay his majesties concern.

Patriarch of Nova Constans, Isaac Vitellius Angelus, the first amongst equals of the Church of Saint Constantine, also issued a piece of legislation to the Basileus that was passed via Imperial Decree today. Certain refugees granted temporary visas into the Empire of Materdei may exchange them for permanent visas upon converting to the Christian faith and coming into full communion with the Church of Saint Constantine.

An armada of Materdei’s transports and destroyers has been deployed for the process of spreading humanitarian aid.

Thank you, there will be no questions.

To: Materdei

From: Pythogria

Re: S.A.D.

Text:

We are not taking an imperialist stance in SAD. The camps we are putting citizens in are not compulsory to enter-- it is completely voluntary.

Pythogorian Embassy: Nova Constans, Materdei
Senior Consul Justinian Pella and Minister of Foreign Affairs Belisarius Brindisi’s visit.

With the deployment of a Materdeian armada from the naval port of Moria, Materdei—the Basileus had been concerned with the possible reactions from the Carthaginians, the Franberrians, but particularly with the Pythogorians. It had not been long since the Empire of Materdei had established relations with the Despot of Pythogoria, and the Basileus had been very frank about wanting to make sure there were no bumps with the newly established diplomatic relations.

Of course Materdei itself had more than humanitarian aid and the passing out of temporary visas in mind, but that was only natural. Materdei, an empire of over 2 billion citizens had a market that needed expansion, and future markets came with the price of initial investments.

The visit by the Senior Consul of the Imperial Senate and the Magister of Foreign Affairs to the Pythogorian Embassy was to arrange a mutual understanding of what both countries expected to establish within the Soviet domain.

With the arrival of one of Materdei’s two most prominent politicians to the site of the Pythogorian Embassy, the building and the surrounding area had been rigiously and vigilantly guarded by a joint security task force of Materdei’s Praetorian Elites, and the security force for the ambassador of Pythogoria.

When the talks began, Justinian would propose that Pythogorian troops in the Soviet domain could be replaced by Materdei’s “peace keeping” forces. The Empire was poised to turn out new spheres of influence. There was of course, no intention or want of taking new lands. It was the markets that fueled the Empire’s interest.

The following response was given:

To: Materdei

From: Pythogria

Re: Our Intentions

Text:

Our intentions in SAD is to take it over, and replace the current government with a capable citizen from SAD. ASlso, our forces will not withdraw-- we started it, we want to end it. Should the new sovreign state allow you into it's markets, we wil lsupoport your intervention that way. If you truly need economic expansion now, we'll let you into Pythogria.

(OOC: I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaack)

Maisara was sitting in one of the new WC 120 Light Tanks. Recently purchased from West Corinthia. There were 4 other tanks apart from her own, it was to be the first combat trial on the tanks. They were to move into the city, and help clear some buildings. The 5 tanks rolled out of the depot into the marshalling ground. They were joined by 4 Humvees and 4 trucks. The infantry support was so large beacuse it was a trial.

"Ok men were going"
*AHEM* Maisara cleared her throat very loudly.
"Men and lady were gonna move out now" the group commander corrected himself.
The engienes started, and the convoy set off towards the city.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Nova Constans, Materdei
Belisarius Brindisi’s Office

Belisarius had expected the Pythogorians to reject any offer to begin the withdrawal of Pythogorian forces for a Materdeian peace keeping force. However, Belisarius and Senior Consul, Justinian Pella had both been relatively shocked at the frank nature of the ambassador.

The Pythogorians were looking to replace the unstable government with one of their choosing. If that wasn’t nation building overseas, Belisarius had no clue what was.

If the Pythogorians were going for the more forceful route of intervention, then the Franberrians would most likely be doing the same. It seemed that it would be in the best interest to contact the third party.

Belisarius issued the order to telegram the Carthaginians. They would begin talks with the other party.

To: Materdei

From: Pythogria

Re: To let you know...

Text:

We understand that there was confusion about SAD. Undestand that we will allow the people to choose their government, and that we will have no part in it (other than security, of course.)

(OOC: Franberry will also oversee over the election progress, as will the other nations)

OOC: I'll allow that.

To: All foreign powers operating within Dubai

As you all may know, we have initially taken a neutral stance in this conflict. Our main objective was to document the happenings in war-torn Dubai. However, seeing as how none of our journalists have reported in for the past weeks/months, we have assumed the worst: they have been killed. It is our interest to take a more aggressive, yet pacifist, stance.

We have aboard our Observer-Class Aircraft Carrier Jitsu a F-92 Widower aircraft. This aircraft is essentially a high-altitude heavy support bomber. We plan to use it within the next 72 hours. Within the next 72 hours, sometime at night, We will be "bombing" the city with canisters of sleep inducing gas.

At that time, we request that all foreign forces evacuate the city, go back to base camps, dawn chemical warfare suits, and comb the city in search of the war lords.

Window of operation: gas affects on humans will be between 5 and 6 hours.

Note: this is not a 100% guarantee operation, the gas may not penetrate all buildings, rooms, or compounds, but should neutralize the streets. It is imperative that no incapacitated combatant to be harmed; disarm sleeping combatants as necessary and/or arrest.

Admiral Steven Hiller, Jitsu Observer-Class Carrier, Allied States of Nakanaori Navy

OCC: Non-lethal methods please!

To: Nakanaori

From: Pythogria

Re: Call back that aircraft! Now!

Text:

Call back your aircraft! Our base camp is in the city, not to mention we cannot disengage our forces! Call that aircraft back!

The following message has been sent to the Nakanaorian fleet


To: Nakanaori

From: Franberry

Topic: Stop the airstrike!!

Text:
You must call back that aircraft. We have a large number of troops in the city, as do our international allies. We cannot remove our troops from the city as we just have cleared a large area of insurgents, and are determined to hold it. 5 Su-47 Berkut aircraft have been launched, and they will shoot down your aircraft if it enters city airspace.

OOC: Don't worry about the airstrike for now, the plane won't be finished preparing for about 56 hours. So if I were Franberry, I would call those fighters back to conserve fuel (unless you're using those uber-awesome helium planes).

IC:

To concerned powers:

It has been brought to my attention that there has been some controversy over our intented gassing. Rest assured that the gas canisters release a non-lethal gas that will effectively render personnel harmless while in effect. Many of you fear that the gas will harm your own forces and/or you cannot disengage militants in current locations. There is a simple step you can take to protect your forces:

As I am sure, all professional military personnel have NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Suits. All Nakanaorian Forces carry one in combat packs, and our carrier has extras. These suits should provide sufficient protection from the sleep-inducement agent.

If your forces are underfunded and don't have NBC protection, we will send a Chinook Chopper to your base camps with suits.

Another way to null the gas is by staying in a sealed environment.

We hope to use this gas during night hours when civilians will be asleep.

FURTHER INSTRUCTION:

Fly your flag above your base to help our bomber avoid your encampments.
Ground forces should use infrared optical devices as during a night gas raid, smoke will reduce naked vision.

OOC: OK, so this is no "poisoned earth" agent. I should be able to handle this then.

IC:

To: Nakanaori

From: Pythogria

Re: Airstrike Cleared

Text:

Fine, we will cave in tyo your demands. Our flag wil lbe flown over our port square base, and our troops will use their NBC filters and IR. Perhaps we could use this to take over a large land area? Could you coordinate your bombing for 6:00PM SAD time?

To: Nakanaori

From: Franberry

Topic: Airstrike


Text:
First of all, our area must NOT be gassed. We shall fly our flags around our perimiter. If you wish to conduct your bombing in other parts of the city go ahead. All our soldiers are equipped with gas masks and other anti-chemical/biological/gas equipment. We have evacuated the outskirts of our area. If some gas drifts there, nothing shall happen. If gas penetrates the outskirts of our area, we shall take military action. After the gas attack, we will condemn the attacks, but we shall take no action against them.

Rember, if our area is gassed, we shall attack.

The fighters have been called back, but when you bomber takes to the air, 20 Su-47's shall be launched. Also, the weaponry of the fleet is aimed on your ships.

Calm down, Franberry. This is an excellent invasion opprotunity, and we should be able to expand our land a ton. If you wish to coordinate this assualt with my troops, I'm all ears. Let's take the city!

To: Pythogria
From: Franberry
Topic: Airstrike

Text:
The goverment of Franberry would not want its troops gassed in any sort of way. It does not matter that they wont be hurt, there is a possibility, we have no samples of the sleeping agent, and we dont even know that they are going to use that agent. Franberry will probably take the opportunity, if it is indeed a "harmless" gas, and expand our area in the city. We are looking at the public relations side of things, and gassing a city does not seem like good PR.

To: A General Press Conference in Nova Constans, Materdei
From: Magister of Foreign Affairs: Belisarius Brindisi

It has been brought to our attention that the intervention of foreign troops in SAD has become increasingly aggressive and imperialistic. The governments which claim to enter the region to restore peace have begun to take effective measures in securing their own government in SAD.

The recent plans to gas cities, in which all of the population is affected, is not only an overly aggressive action, but it is also a violation of humanitarian rights.

Materdei demands that the plans be canceled at once, and that all nations respond to this violation immediately. The Baileus has ordered that Materdei begin to take a stronger presence in the region to secure the peace keeping mission. A new armada consisting of aircraft carriers and battleships have been deployed yesterday from the Moria to join the already deployed armada of transports and destroyers which have already arrived on SAD waters.

Pythogria has had no part in the planning of this gas attack. Also, why are you calling us imperialistic? The new government will be chosen by the people of SAD.

OOC: I'm not going to respond to this IC yet because I assume you don't want me to know about it. But just to let you know I am still here. Maybe I could go ahead with my civilian camp bombing?

OOC: Could you RP my missile attack on the terrorist camp too? I'd assume it's not around civillian buildings.

Press Conference in the main Franberrian base in SAD
We would like to clarify the accusations of the Materdeian goverment. Franberry is not is SAD to turn it into an outpost. Franberry wishes the best for the citizens of SAD. Also, Franberry strongly opposes the gassings, and if our area of the city is gassed, we shall take millitary action.

OOC: I'm not going to respond to this IC yet because I assume you don't want me to know about it. But just to let you know I am still here. Maybe I could go ahead with my civilian camp bombing?

OOC: Do you mean the bombing on one of my camps?? were the civillians are held?

OOC: Yes. It's from a few pages back, the camp that had Allulah al Din in it and another guy asking for cigarettes and some matches.

OOC: Yes. It's from a few pages back, the camp that had Allulah al Din in it and another guy asking for cigarettes and some matches.

OOC: Go ahead, I actually want to have n excuse to use those light tanks i bought from you

Food was being delivered by truck to the civilian camp outside of Dubai. Perfect. Muhammad Sarwat cogitated. He noticed the guards were all tied up with trying to keep the restless civilians under control. He quickly ran behind a guard house unnoticed. Then he unrolled his armful of laundry, revealing two crude yet powerful IEDs.

He placed one IED just inside the guard house via a hole in one wall near ground level. Muhammad threw a shirt over it. It would only have to stay hidden a short while. He lit a fuse that he estimated would give him 2 minutes.

While the civilians grabbed for food like wild animals, Franberry guards became increasingly agitated and began hitting the more restless civilians.

Muhammad lunged into the crowd of people. He dove to ground and thrust the other IED under the food truck. He lit the fuse and ran.

Soon afterward the guard house exploded in a fireball. Two screaming guards ran out on fire. Other guards ran to douse them with water. As they turned to help, the food truck exploded and flipped over. Shrapnel went into the crowd and several more guards.

The civilians wasted no time. They had guns but no ammunition. One civilian picked up the gun of a Franberry soldier who had been in the guard house and opened fire on the other guards. Others just attacked with the butts of their rifles.

"Let's go!" Muhammad yelled to his group of soldiers. They found weapons inside the burning guard house and ran for a row of civilian vehicles. While the others covered him, Muhammad got to work hotwiring the vehicle.

Utter chaos had erupted in the camp. Smoke could be seen from miles away.

To: Nakanaori

From: Pythogria

Re: Airstrike Cleared

Text:

Fine, we will cave in tyo your demands. Our flag wil lbe flown over our port square base, and our troops will use their NBC filters and IR. Perhaps we could use this to take over a large land area? Could you coordinate your bombing for 6:00PM SAD time?

ooc: err... when is 6:00 SAD time? lol. what is it compared to Pacific Coast time, so I kno when to commence.
to franberry: i have but one ship.:)

IC:

To: All still unconvinced parties

This "bombing" is a great oppurtunity to seek and arrest the warlords, militants, and terrorists. Think about this: once everyone's been knocked out, you can go ahead arrest the enemy you were fighting 15 minutes ago, and move your forces a few more blocks totally unopposed. In terms of PR, do you think that killing countless innocents in weeks of gunfights and losing soldiers for a few blocks is better than peacefully advancing through a drugged out part of town and establishing safer check points? The only injuries from this aerial neutralization I can see are from falling canisters, people falling down from high up places when they fall asleep and falling on sharp objects as they collapse into slumber.

Note: since the area around your bases will probably be vacant of militants we will not bomb within 2 city blocks of bases. If that's your concern.

Maisara's WC 120 Light Tank speeded along the road. The convoy had been weakened, a tank had hit a mine, so a humvee and a truck stayed behind. The convoy now had 4 of the light tanks 3 humvees and 3 trucks. Maisara stood in the turrert, looking out over the landscape. Suddenly, a ball of flame exploded from on of the camps. They were far from it, but they could still see the fire climb into the sky, the sound cathced up quickly, it sounded like a series of explosions. The collum suddenly stopped, everyone looking at the explosion.

"What the hell?" a voice on the radio said.
"Thats camp 3, imform command immediatly" the group commander said
after some discussion about the explosion, a voice came through the radio.

"Advance on camp 3, establish control. The guards have been killed, wounded or pinned down."

The collum started up. 2 tanks were in the lead, followed by 2 humvees, followed by a tank, followed by 3 trucks and a humvee, with another tank covering the rear.

"Watch out for civillians, theyre all over the place, a small number of them seem to be fighting, but remember, do not lose your life over hesistation."

The collum increased speed, they could see the camp clearly now, the guards had been forced to the outskirts, or they were confined within the perimiters of the guard towers.

ooc:
to franberry: i have but one ship. :)


To: Nakanaorian ship
From: Franberry
Topic: Gas attack

Text:
We condemn your gas attack, and if any amount of gas reaches our base, your single ship shall be sinked. We have 1 Columbo-Class aircraft carrier(ooc: pimped out Nimitz class), and 3 Falsiki-Class VTOL carriers (ooc: upgraded kiev class) as well as numerous destoryers and small craft. We feel that our fleet has the capibilities to sink your single ship.

ooc: err... when is 6:00 SAD time? lol. what is it compared to Pacific Coast time, so I kno when to commence.
to franberry: i have but one ship.:)

OOC: Let's call it 7:00 Pacific Time.

As the time stated for the Nakanaori aircraft's fly over approached, all Carthaginian soldiers donned their NCB equipment and medical personel aboard the Halcyon and Lister prepared for the flood of people adversly affected by the gas.

Pythogrian soldiers donned filters and prepared hospital facilities just in case. The assualt was about to begin... once the bombing started.

"Fox-Nine-Two, proceeding with Operation Sleepy Flight. Requesting final permission." The bomber soared over the city. At it's altitude, enemy small arms fire could not touch it.

"This is Admiral Hiller, commence with the bombing. It is imperative that the agent does not hit Franberrian forces. Their naval fleet has the capabilities to blow us out of the water, we do not want to risk retaliation."

"Affirmative, Admiral. Bombing commenced."

The bomb bay doors opened and small cylindrical canisters began their descent down to the earth. A total of 500 canisters were dropped. As the canisters neared the elevation of 50 feet, they release their package. The city was enshrouded in a misty white haze. Citizens preparing for night activities began to feel drowsy. Many collapsed in the burnt-out, yet still functioning market square. The whole city was asleep. Militants fighting in the streets against Pythogrian forces collapsed with the induced urge to sleep. For a minute, the city was silent, no gun fire, no explosions, just silence. NBC protected infantry began to comb the streets careful not to step on sleeping women and children.


All forces may proceed with the assault, remember: no unnecessary casualties or collateral.

OOC: sorry i was late! didn't get home till 7!

"Charge!" the higest ranking Pythogrian general shouted. "For the good of Soviet Arms Dealers and the glory of the Empire!"

Met with almost no resistance, Pythogria took over incredible amounts of Dubai in a single night. They did stop at a river, however, and set up another base and chokepoints at the bridges.

Primary objective:
take out a least one war lord

Secondary objectives:

arrest militia,
disarm civilians,
capture weapons caches.

OOC: In a nation called Soviet Arms Dealers the people are not going to like being disarmed. But that's your problem now.

IC: As the gas began to take effect many car crashes occured simultaneously, resulting in many casualties. Because no one was awake to bring the wounded to hospitals, many bled to death asleep in the wreckage of their cars.

A boy found a canister lying on the ground, apparently a dud. He brought it back to his home and stowed it in a secret place before succumbing to the effects of the gas.

OOC: How long does this last? And I thought Carthage was going to have a peace conference a while back?

OOC: the gas should wear off within 5-6 hours from release it depends on the individual's immune system and such, but 5 hours is minimum.

Car crashes? i didn't know they even had cars left in Dubai! i figure most of the cars were converted into technicals and people were too afraid to drive around. lol. well, there are bound to be collateral, it's inevitable.

General Press Conference in Nova Constans, Materdei
From: Magister of Foreign Affairs: Belisarius Brindisi

On behalf of his majesty, Basileus (Emperor) Theodosius Romanus Constans, I officially announce that earlier this morning, after reviewing the chemical attack placed on the city of Dubai by the nation of Nakanaori, the Emperor found their actions as a direct violation of humanitarian rights.

The use of chemical weapons even simple as sleep producing gas is still the use of a chemical weapon. For a nation that is claiming to enter SAD with peaceful intentions, it is overly aggressive and should be punished with consequences.

The Emperor passed via Imperial Decree with the approval of the Imperial Senate, full economic sanctions against Nakanaori. Any commercial vessels belonging to Nakanaori in Materdei’s waters will be escorted out to the international boundry.

Citizens with residing or with investments in Nakanaori are given 2 weeks before the sanctions will be fully put into place.