NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC Note: While this is an Open RP, there are some guidelines in that I'd like to have this get off the ground as a limited conflict until others begin to step in and become involved as I've noticed things get out of hand when too many people become involved and everything is bogged down from who is fighting who and who is deploying what. See the ad hoc OOC Thread here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=473827) until an official one can be set up.

OOC Addendum: Please keep all OOC Comments and Questions to the OOC Thread and please do not become involved in the thread other than IC comments once the military actions becomes known to the international community.

IC:

Lieutenant-Colonel Christina Terry watched over her troops as they prepared to load their vehicles onboard the landing craft acting as shuttles between the docks at Fort Fowler to the waiting Navy Assault Ships that would ferry them to the combat zone for Operation Golden Eagle. She was a veteran of Operation Noble Lion, the coalition invasion of Red Tide2, where she led a tank company and the first elements of the 15th Marine Division onto the beaches. For this operation she rode in the back of a command vehicle instead of the turret of a tank, and she missed out on the introduction of the new Banshee main battle tanks. Her Armoured Battalion was one of three in the division and had the heaviest combat elements in the entire division, although they wouldn't fight as a combined unit and as always, be divided among the infantry units to provide support.

At the second disembarkment point at Fort Fowler, the 3rd Marine Division was performing the same rituals. Major Erin Brown was the commanding officer of the Psychological Operations Company and was overseeing the transfer of his units to the waiting assault ships. His job would be one of the most difficult, with most of his unit being dispersed among the division's combat elements during the operations; however, he was confident that his mission would be completed without error.

Marine Captain Adam "Hooker" Longe was examining his new F-35B fighter, which replaced his older F-40 "Black Mamba", as is sat on the hanger deck of the 'borrowed' Navy carrier RNS Chief which would be deploying the 2nd Marine Air Group instead of a full Navy Carrier Wing.

Farther North, the XI Airborne Corps prepared for their deployment from Fort Bould, two entire airborne divisions would be deployed and pave the way for other units, such as the 44th Light Infantry. Among the troops preparing, Captain George Bowles and his company assistant, First Sergeant Peter Knox, were inspecting their company's new arrivals, the "Wolf" HMMWV with the armoured BGM-88 "Mace" Kinetic-Energy Anti-Tank Missile launcher turret and were busy discussing the differences they had to the older humvees with the older TOW2 systems which were sent to the National Guard units.

Vice Admiral Katherine Jenkins, grand-daughter of the famous Admiral Albert Jenkins, stood on the command bridge of the RNS Nicklas Schaeffer as it ploughed through the ocean and sat situated among the other ships of Task Force 302, the Navy's Battleship Force for the operation. She was commanding only one of the largest ships in the Aequatian Navy, the Aequatio-class Superdreadnoughts which were, in reality, license-built Doujin-class vessels when the government obtained an exclusive license from The Freethinkers.

Colonel Jack Cohen sat in the briefing room for the 25th Bomber Wing with his fellow pilots as they waited for the call to action from the unit commander. This would be the first combat flights for the B4 "Valiant" Bombers and all were positive it would be one of the most successful of all the new equipment that had been recently introduced.

As the legions moved on towards the combat zone for Operation: Golden Eagle, General Malcolm "Thinker" Fisher stood in the Combat Operations Command Center at Aequatian Central Command in Arrio. He would watch and lead the forces as they moved on towards the target island, Al Kahif of Mondoth.

OOC: I really wish you would have fielded these questions in the other thread. If you had read the entire thread, you'd probably understand. There's a map for the island and fairly complete OOB's.

The Worker's Report

Greeting comrades. The Aequatian Republic has commenced agressions against the island nation of Al Kahif. This act of Imperisalism cannot go unchallenged. Prime Minister Dantes went before a joint session of the Senate and House of Deputies in the General Assembly today to address this crisis. Only time will tell how this all will end. Hopefully a peaceful resolution shall be found. But, it is believed if they do not halt this agression that this great Socialist state will not allow them to do more harm.

Admiral Martin Hale stood on the bridge of the INS Illustrious, the jewel of his battle group. He watched the bow of his Imperial-class battleship cut through the waves of the tranquil ocean with ease. His group, the First Battle Group of the Third Imperial Fleet sat on its usual patrol route.

"Quiet as always.", the Admiral remarked to his XO.
"That it is, Marty. That it is."

The group continued on through the wide, seemingly endless ocean, completely oblivious to what was happening just a few hundred miles north of them on a tiny island that the Empire never thought twice about.

The Worker's Report

Greeting comrades. The Aequatian Republic has commenced agressions against the island nation of Al Kahif. This act of Imperisalism cannot go unchallenged. Prime Minister Dantes went before a joint session of the Senate and House of Deputies in the General Assembly today to address this crisis. Only time will tell how this all will end. Hopefully a peaceful resolution shall be found. But, it is believed if they do not halt this agression that this great Socialist state will not allow them to do more harm.

OOC: As of this moment, no one knows of the military actions. It will not become known until it is announced by one of the involved nations. And please move any comments or anything to the OOC Thread.

OCC: Is this in the pacific ocean or something made up?

IC:

Prime Minister Dantes stood at the potium, the Senators and Deputies sitting attentively. He began to speak.

"Comrades, the events unfolding in Al Kahif are a tragedy. The world turns a blind eye while this small island nation, benevolent in its ways is being conquered by imperialistic Aequatio. They are bullying this smaller nation in their expansion. If no one else will stop them , then who will? What will stop them from taking another soverign state? And another? And another? A message must be sent that this imperialistic thinking cannot and will not be tolerated in this day and age! I say Kulikovo must answer the call! How will we be able to sit here and do nothing, and feel no regret? While a soverign nation is being threatened by an imperialistic power? It must end! Al Kahif has long been a trading partner and ally, we must go to their aide. Push the invaders out and make them pay and regret ever stepping on Al kahif soil. It is here today that as Prime Minister that I ask for a declaration of war against Aequatio. To preserve the soverignty of Al Kahif!"

The General Assembly roared with agreement as the senators and deputies rose to clap. The declaration of war passed easily. Kulikovo is going to war, once again.

OCC: Sorry, didn't see your last post until I already posted mine. Should I delete it?

Kraven Tactical Command

"What have we received?" A Oberstfaust Furher spoke to a group of young Captains and a few Majors...

"Well, Since we have been able to bring back online our Satellite Imaging, we have picked up a small Island that may be of use to us in the Coming months"

"Explain further Major..."

"Well, the Island is a perfect area for us to Mine its resources and at the same time use it as a Mass Grave, we can ship in hundereds of thousands of Bodies, and ship out Resources, it would be a perfect system..."

"Good, I want a full Invasion plan, and what forces with can bring to Bear..."

"As you wish, Oberst Furher.."


The Group of Officers returned to their business, others looking up what Battalions were available and what vessels could be dispatched...

Oberstfaust Furher looked over the Sattelite pictures of this small island... what little did its inhabitants know about the shadow of darkness that was about to decend upon this quiet little part of the world...

Hale continued to watch the horizon, taking in the peacefulness of it all. He watched as the INS Liberty cut through the waves, the massive carrier gliding surprisingly gracefully for its size. The surface of the flattop bustled with activity as flight crews carried out endless drills.

He took a deep breath of the warm air (climate of the area?), and went to sit down in his chair. The bridge crew remained at their stations, watching dilligently for anything abnormal.

The radio operator perked up when he reported to the admiral that he was picking up encrypted transmissions from several hundred miles north of the group's current position.

Finally, something to do., Hale thought to himself.

OOC: That may be best for continuity, Kulikovo.

IC:

The fleet of warships moved through the water, the slim trimaran vessels like the Advance-class cruisers and Erschoff-class destroyers were nominal compared to the larger battleships like the Aequatio-class. Navy E-2C Hawkeye AWACS aircraft flew ahead of the vessels, with close fighter escorts provided by the F-62N Sea Sparrow. However, far ahead of the fleet's position traverse the silent Blowpipe-class attack submarines of the 1st Squadron, they would be clearing the way of any enemy vessels and would protect the surface vessels when operations commenced off the island.

Many of the Marines continued with their physical training on the decks of the assault ships, while others conducted tests for their MOPP procedures should chemical weapons be used against them in the landing or following ground operations. Support personnel prepared the vehicles and organized equipment and ammunition that would need to be brought ashore once the Marines were on the ground fighting.

Meanwhile, as the Marines and Navy were travelling towards the island, the airborne elements were preparing to launch their assault by air. Airlift Command had mustered part of its fleet to mobilize the two airborne divisions for the operation. Captain Bowles sat with First Sergeant Knox on the loading ramp of their C-17 Globemaster III transport while they awaited the order for the unit to move out.

Colonel Jack Cohen walked along the tarmac of the base and examined each of the sleek B-4 bombers inbetween drinks from his coffee. He walked over to his own aircraft where a young staff sergeant was overseeing the loading of numerous guided munitions. He would soon be in the air like the others of his unit and be conducting strike missions.

"When will the next satellite be passing over that area?"
"Several miniutes, sir."
"Put in an order for some recon photos of the area, and have command look the place over. I want to know what that is."

The group continued on, wary of what was happening just north of them.

Al Kahif branch office of the Mondoth Aerial Mapping and Sattelite Photography Co. (a front for Mondoth's intelligence agency)
"Mr. Al Barabi, We just got the latest Sat-maps from Home Office, it looks like there's some increased naval activity in the area, might be some military exercises."

"Interesting, I don't believe any exercises are planned for a while, might be worth taking up to the Admiral. Good work Osama, get to work on some force-analysis, this time tomorrow I want to know exactly what's shipping out from where."

"Yes sir, I'll get right on it."

Encrypted phone call from Mondoth Aerial Mapping and Sattelite Photography Co. to Al-Kahif Naval Base, offices of Admiral Jesse Noda
"Sattelites been picking up some interesting activity over the past day or so, not sure how long its been building as the constellation is stil flickery since the attack on home-office, but it looks like a couple of big-leaguers are setting up to do some damage somewhere, not sure who the target is but I should have a political analysis later tonight."

"Thank you Arif, I'll put the air-base on alert, giv those fly-boys osmethign to do besides pick their finger-nails how eer this turns out, I want that analysis on my desk no later than tomorrow morning, I don't like not knowing whats going on."

"Neither do I sir, I'll get my people on it immediately."

"Good work."


At Lewis AFB, the call came through at 8 p.m. and sevral pilots were diverted to the airfield quietly and efficiently, within an hour A pair of E/A-20 AAWACs were in the air escorted by four IF/A-14 interceptors each, circling the island and looking for anything suspiscious, in a few hours another pair of patrols would go up to replace them and again at four hour intervals until the alert was ended.

The entire fleet was just under two hundred kilometres West of the island of Al Kahif and had increased its average speed from twenty eight knots to thirty two. Vice Admiral Jenkins was on the bridge when a lieutenant walked over from the A-SAT console with the most recent satellite photographs of the island and the current deployments of the Mondoth aircraft and vessels.

While the naval forces kept on course towards the island and the airborne forces prepared for launch along with the bomber crews, the President's office realized that others may have become aware of the 4th Fleet's movements and had decided to issue a false statement of the Navy's presence.

Statement from the Aequatian Department of the Navy

The current deployment of elements of the 4th Fleet, which includes amphibious assault vessels of the II MEF, are on exercise in procedures for the initial stages of an amphibious operation.

Imperial Palace
Cravna, Cravan

The Emperor read the statement from the Aequatian Department of the Navy. He crumpled it up, and threw it into the trash can next to his desk.

"Utter nonesense.", he said to himself. He dialed the number to Imperial Command, and called four of his head military advisers into his office. Within a half-hour, they were all there.

"I want options people. What in the name of God is going on over there?"
"We... we don't exactly know, sir. The Aequatians claim to be carrying out exercises, but I personally think they have too many forces in the area for it to be considered an exercise. I could of course be wrong, but it looks much bigger than that."

The Emperor looked to his intelligence adviser who was also present.

"What can you tell me about Aequatio?"
"Well, sir, they are a massive nation. They've recently had their eyes set on becoming a massive force on the world scale, but statistics on their military are sketchy at best. Should I arrange for some agents to be sent to Aequatio?"

The Emperor considered his options.

"Send them, but try to keep them from being traced back to us. I don't want an unnecessary war with a nation as large as Aequatio."
"Of course, sir. I'll have a few agents ready for insertion within a day or two."
"Excellent."

The Emperor turned to an Admiral present in his office.

"What are our forces present in the region?"
"We currently have two groups in the area, one several hundred miles south and the other a few hundred miles west. Both are on patrol in the area. One is the Illustrious group, the other is the Majestic group. They can be at the island in question, known as Al Kahif, within two days. They can initiate air sorties immediately with their F-56C fighters."
"Good. I want them at combat ready status within the hour. They're to hold their position, and wait for further orders."
"Yes, sir."

The Emperor stood from his chair, brushing off his suit and fixing his tie.

"Keep me informed, gentlemen. I want to know if something happens five miniutes before it happens."

They left the room, and the Emperor returned to the papers and folders on his desk.

"Why can't this damn country run itself once in a while?"

*************************

Several Hundred Miles off the Coast of Al Kahif
Illustrious Battle Group

Admiral Hale read the communique from Cravna, and ordered his group to stop.

"Set condition three throughout the group. We're to be ready for combat at a moment's notice."
"Yes, sir."

The group sat in silence, waiting for further orders.

As the fleet closed to nearly 140 kilometres, alert conditions changed and F-62N fighters were prepared for immediate scramble off the decks of the carriers while the cruisers and destroyers prepared their missile systems as their detection equipment scanned beyond the horizon for enemy aircraft and surface ships. Within an hour they would be in position to initiate the assault. Admiral Jenkins could feel the tension on board her vessel and was sure that every other commander in the fleet felt the same way.

As the fleet got into position off the coast of Al Kahif, the order was given for the 4th and 5th Airborne Divisions to mobilize for their part in the operation. C-17 Transports were soon in the air and the Aequatian Airlift was now undertaking its largest combat operation by deploying two entire airborne divisions. Air Force C-130J aircraft would be travelling with them fleet as well in order to move in low and deploy the airborne's Hellcat Armoured Gun Systems which would provide the paratroopers with an armoured fist against the enemy, in order to augment their short range, they would be refueled en route using the new KC-17 Global Tankers.

Although launched at the same time, the B4 Bombers like the one piloted by Colonel Jack Cohen were already far ahead and were on course to strike their targets. The Colonel's target was a power transformer station which powered the Northern Sectors of Maltung City and the air force base to the North, his aircraft carried four GBU-32 1000-pound satellite-guided bombs and would rain enough destruction to disrupt the power grid.

AAWACs Patrol Flight-773/177
"I'm getting readings on inbound aircraft on a hostile approach profile, behind that we've got some big-birds, probably transport...wait, look at that, classic refueling signature, C-17's or similiar."

"Vector the interceptors in. Hit them with the standard greeting and patch the radar into the island defense network."

"Aye sir."

Within seconds the four IF/A-14's were angling in to intercept the bombers while the E/A-20's radio officer loaded a recording into the transmitter for broadcast on the standard hailing frequencies


"Unidentified aircraft, you are on a course towards Modnothian Airspace that has been identified as hostile, please abort your current course and identify yourselves and your intentions or prepare to be fired upon, this will be your only warning, this aircraft is armed with tactical nuclear anti-air weapons and is fully authorized to use them to defend Modnothian Citizens. Please respond immediately on Channel 23.0049."

As the message was transmitted, the fighters at Lewis began scrambling, SF-41 air superiority fighters while the stationed fleet warmed up air defense radars and armed anti-air missiles in preparation for fending off any incoming attack.


Encrypted phone call to Mondoth Aerial Mapping and Sattelite Photography Co. from Al-Kahif Naval Base, offices of Admiral Jesse Noda
"Arif, The sentries are telling me that the Aequation fleet is just outside knocking at our door."

"Very likely admiral, they've been rumbling a little imperialistically recently and they just announced that the Fourth fleet had deployed on an excersize, but this close to an oil field that might as well be imperial-speke for 'prepare for an attack"

"And you didn't tell me until now because?"

"Well admiral, we've been busy with some technical difficulties witht he new interfaces, and we've been burning the air between here and some local intel stations, I have a fairly accurate order of battle on the Fourth fleet and a few technical descriptions of some of the Aequation equipment, it should be useful."

"Well, at least you're not tottally useless I suppose."

"Admiral, long range radar reports unidentified planes, presumed as Aequatian, on an attack heading with the island. Forces from Mondoth holding the island have moved to intercept. No shots fired as of yet."

Admiral Hale looked out the bridge windows at the endless sea.

"Contact Command and inform them of the situation. Ask them for further orders."
"Yes, sir. Right away."

*******************
Imperial Military High Command
Cravna, Cravan

Personnel rushed about the war room, carrying papers and folders filled with intelligence and other information of the situation unfolding around Al Kahif. Officers were standing at the charts, constantly updating the position of the Aequatian fleet. Televisions lined up against the inner wall showed everything from sattelite feeds, to radar readings, to live video broadcasted from the Cravanian battle group in the area. The DEFCON level had been lowered to two, and forces in the immediate area were put on alert. Reason being there were a few islands nearby owned by Cravanian companies with mining operations on them, and it was in the interest of Cravan to protect this region.

And all they could do was wait and watch.

**************************
Imperial Palace
Cravna, Cravan

The Emperor sat at his desk, preparing a message to be sent immediately to the government of Mondoth.

To: The government of Mondoth
From: The Democratic Empire of Cravan

It has come to our attention that a crisis is unfolding near an island known as Al Kahif involving your forces and those of unknown origin, presumed to be from Aequatio. We have interests in the area, and we wish to know if everything is all right or if you may need assistance. Please respond immediately.

He signed it, and sent it.

OOC: Post coming tomorrow.

Beltan Mining Facility in southern Al Kahif
Somewhere inside the control tower

"Try it now!" shouted Greg Phyllis, the radar mechanic.
The radar had been out for several hours now. Not that it had been needed, but it was handy to know what was going on.
The operator, Ian Chalmers, activated the radar.
"It's working... wait, this can't be right."
"What?"
"I have a large attack group moving in on Maltung City! Transports, carriers, warships... it's an invasion!"
A message came up on a computer screen. It was from Maltung City.
... REPEAT WE ARE UNDER ATTACK FROM AEQUATIAN FORCES. ALL CIVILIANS RETURN TO THEIR HOMES...

Chalmers forwarded the message to M3 headquarters in Redwater. He tagged it as MOST URGENT. With the size of this attack group, General Remmol would need to know.

Air Force Captain Todd Reilly was sitting at the controls of one of the KC-17 Global Tankers when he received the message from the Mondothian IF/A-14 fighters, he had been briefed on the aircraft as their recent release was cause for concern of Aequatian Combat Air Command, and prepared the reply they were given as he switched to the proper channel:

"This is Aequatian KC-17 Global Tanker Golf Lima Two-Three, our navigational radar is malfunctioning and we were on course to the nearest-known island on our charts, if you could escort us to a runway, we would be most appreciative."

He switched off the radio headset and kept the aircraft on course, hoping that the IF/A-14 aircraft would close in on the aircraft and into the jaws of the waiting Navy F-62N fighters which were in the area, but would not immediately make their presence known. As for now, Navy AWACS would track the Mondothian fighters from far away and commanders would wait for the opportunity to strike.

On board the RNS Nicklas Scheaffer, Vice Admiral Jenkins was returning to the bridge with a cup of fresh coffee from the forward officer's galley when a petty officer ran up to her with a report page with a thick red border along the top meaning it was urgent, "Ma'am, A-SAT broad sweep of the AO show a large force to the South, at least four carriers, three other capital ships and a dozen smaller escorts, we aren't sure of the nationality yet."

The Admiral continued to walk with the petty officer stumbling to keep up with her pace, "Put the task forces on full alert and prepare for combat operations, as soon as we close to 80 kilometres of the island, I want the MEF to launch the assault as soon as we get word of the Air Force's strikes against the mainland."

The petty officer nodded and saluted, "Aye, Ma'am," she said running off ahead of Jenkins, the Admiral finished her coffee and tossed the styrofoam cup into a wastebin.

On the flight deck of the carriers Gladiator and Ardent F-62E Electronic Warfare aircraft equipped with the Clear Sight Suite Pod shot off the catapults in order to build the multi-static RADAR detection field which would make use of the signals produced by the E-2C Hawkeye aircraft in the air and transmit the information to the supercomputer processors onboard the RNS Nicklas Schaeffer which would then assign targets to the individual Advance-class cruisers and their MIM-154 Comet high-speed surface-to-air missiles to intercept the enemy aircraft. To augment the surface fleet's air defence systems, the carriers also launched additional F-62N fighters to increase the numbers from the original eight to thirty-two fighters equipped for air superiority.

With the assault ships closing on their launch positions, the Marines below deck prepared for the landing. Infantry donned their RBC protection suits and vehicle crewmembers ran diagnostics on their vehicle's combat and protection systems. Major Brown pulled his gasmask out of his rucksack and shuddered remembering the chemical attack exercises the 3rd Marines underwent in the jungles outside Espandor, hoping that they wouldn't need to wear it for too long once they hit the beaches and moved inland. He would be moving with a team of PSYOP personnel in two Wolf humvees with mounted speakers.

Colonel Cohen closed on the island and dropped the aircraft's altitude to decrease the chances of his bomber's detection by enemy RADAR and LIDAR systems. He armed the weapon systems and fixed his finalized course towards the power transformer station. He looked out the cockpit windshield and watched as the coastline passed below him and dropped lower again, almost hugging the treetops at nearly 3,100 knots. Cohen looked at his watch, fifteen minutes to his target and then he could go home.

"Golf Lima Two-Three, this is Al-Kahif Control Tower, please change course to 85.227 north by west and follow the Navigational Radio Beacon for landing information, do not deviate from this course or you will be considered hostile."

The fighters had more interesting things to do, the visual detection system linked to aircrafts sensor systems had noted another set of targets, low and fast, just hitting land. Diving in the flight of four fighters kept their sensors in stealth mode, relying ont he passive IR and Electro-optical sensors to keep tabs on the new targets. The bombers were hard to keep track of, flying low and fast electro-optical could barely pick them out and most of the time they were lost in gorund clutter, however, the speed was a disadvantage too, leaving a bright flare of thermal energy from friction and the engine heat. 'Shriker' the lead pilot in the element triggered off a quick burst of encrypted radio to the control tower at Lewis AFB letting them know of the incoming threats, the Thundercat's were armed as interceptors and weren't equipped with close in Heat-Seeking missiles that could lock onto the bombers heat-signature.

At the AFB, a flight of SF-41 Air superiority fighters that had been on standby was launched to prepare an intercept, armed with a wide variety of Air-Air munitions, the 'Ruddy Hawks' were easily equipped to take down a threat with IR guided weapons.

Al-Kahif Naval Base

Sailors were streaming in from the city, quickly preparing their ships for launch. Almost immediately after the alert, a group of Mercury class Corvettes was at sea, plying the waves towards the island's west coast, armed with anti-shipping and anti-air missiles, the plan was to hide them in and among the oil platforms, ready to strike any enemy aircraft foolish enough to overfly them, or any ship reckless enough to try and move through the waters around the oil-platforms.
Beneath the surface, wolf-packs consisting of three Hunter-killer subs and a guided missile sub were also underway to serve much the same purpose only farther out from shore, providing a first line of defense against enemy subs as wella ssurface ships.

Message to Democratic Empire of Cravan
from: The Mondothian Ministry of External Affairs
Via: ESL-7643
Encrypt: Public
Decrypt: ****
Our Intelligence suggests that your evaluationi s correct and that Aequatio is behind the situation, Any help will be greatly appreciated, have your regional commander contact Admiral Jesse Noda, our senior officer in the area, responsible for defense of the Island.

Imperial High Command
Cravna, Cravan

"The group reports contact has been lost with the unidentified aircraft. Their last known altitude was just above the radar. They've ducked out, sir.", a sergeant reported to one of the commanding officers in the room.
"Bastards... They're making a run on the island. What was their heading, and what are possible targets in that area?"

She let out a sigh, and looked over the data.

"The heading they were on wasn't finalised before contact was lost, so it could be anything in Maltung. Anything from the local garrison, to the radar station up north, to Lewis AFB, to the power plant... Anything, really."

He let out a heavy sigh, and looked to the charts on the table below him.

"Tell our groups in the area to prep a sortie. I want those ships ready in fifteen miniutes. As soon as we get a response from Mondoth, they're either going in or staying on the deck, but I want them ready anyway. Fifteen miniutes."
"Yes, sir."
"SIR! Response from Mondoth."
"Let me see it."

He read the message, and contacted the Emperor.

"They have given us permission to move, sir. What are your orders?"

The Emperor paused.

"Go..."

***********************

The order was handed down, and simultaneously the carriers in both groups began FlightOps. Four F-56C Vipers were catapulted off the deck of the INS Liberty, and every other carrier in the AO for that matter. F/A-74 Eagles were put on stand-by in the event of the need for CAS while the massive flock of metal birds screeched north and a second flock east.

Meanwhile, Admiral Hale contacted Admiral Jesse Noda, asking what he could do to help.

Mount Stronghold, Mirkana
General Ken Remmol was almost totally alone in the Mirkanan Command Center. Tonight was his turn to run the night shift. SOP required one executive officer on duty at all times in the Command Center. And as Remmol liked to keep up with things, he was included.
A MOST URGENT message popped up on the computer screen. Remmol read it. It was coming from the... Beltan Mining Facility? Where was that? The general looked it up. Ah, an M3 operation on the island of Al-Qahir, which belonged to Mondoth. What could happen to a minor M3 op on a foreign island that required his attention?
Remmol read the message. I guess a large Aequatian attack force does require my attention.
Remmol then summoned a few of his Cabinet officers - Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Industry. He also called in the current head of M3.
Meanwhile, he composed a message to Aequatio:
We have detected your forces inbound for the island of Al-Qahir. Be advised, there is a Mirkanan-operated copper mine on the southern part of the island. Any agression against the facility will be viewed as an act of war.

Captain Reilly changed course as he was ordered in order to prevent rousing suspicion from the Mondothian fighters but cut the power to two engines in order to buy time for Navy F-62N aircraft to arrive and intercept the enemy fighters. He switched the channelsonce again on the radio and contacted the Mondothian fighters, "This is Golf Lima Two-Three, two of our engines have been shut off to save our aircraft's fuel, we will be decreasing speed to 210 knots, please compensate for escort, over." Far behind the tanker lurked four F-62N Sea Sparrows, arming their AIM-154 high-speed air-to-air missiles to knock the Mondothians out of the sky and into the ocean.

Cohen was coming upon the transformer station when he slowed the aircraft to Mach 2 in order to successfully launch the satellite-guided payload, in under a minute the four GBU-32 bombs were dropping groundward to their target along with the many other bombers across the island like the Colonel's who were striking other targets such as SAM sites, the hardened aircraft hangers at Lewis AFB to the North, facilities around the Al Kahif Naval Base, many of the vessels which remained moored within the harbour zone, the submarine pen on the Eastern coast and the RADAR stations that would monitor the Northern sectors of the island. Cohen felt he could breathe again once he had sped back up to 3,200 knots and was making his way out to sea for the round trip that would take him home to Forester Air Force Base.

Flying over the ocean, the fleet of transports carrying the 4th and 5th Airborne Divisions flew towards their designated landing zones on Al Kahif with a feeling of security thanks to the escort of F-62 Black Sparrow fighters provided by the 13th Air Force. Each transport had at least four fighters covering it, the Air Force learning a harsh lesson of high losses to enemy aircraft during Operation Hellfire. Captain Bowles, like his comrades were preparing themselves mentally for the assault as they were conducting the first airborne assault by Aequatian Forces since the commitment to the defence of Automagfreek against the forces of Praetonia and Sarzonia.

Lieutenant-Colonel Terry boarded the utility landing craft that would bring her ashore along with the nearly four dozen others that would bring her division ashore along with her fellow Marines in the 3rd Division. Vehicles were loaded onto the LCACs while soldiers boarded the amphibious landing vehicles and made their way ashore through the somewhat choppy water under the cover of Marine F-35B Strike Aircraft and AH-16 Black Cobra attack helicopters. MH-46 Black Knight assault helicopters loaded with Marines lifted from the decks of the assault ships behind the Close Air support aircraft and moved to land at the flanks of the primary landing forces. Captain Longe, with "Hooker" written on the nose of his F-35B strike fighter underneath the picture of a topless woman, flew in low towards the shoreline and activated his aircraft's ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System which he would use in conjunction with his AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missiles to supress any enemy air defence systems that threatened any Marine or Navy assets.

The Naval multi-static RADAR system had been put up and was now watching the skies with their multiple electronic eyes, carefully monitoring the movements of the Mondothian aircraft. Missile cruisers readied their HSSAMs as carriers launched interceptors, armed with the same high-speed missiles equipped for the air-to-air role. Other F-62E Electronic Warfare aircraft were launched off the carriers carrying jamming pods which would either cover the position of the other Aequatian aircraft or 'magically' creating entire squadron signatures that would distract the enemy aircraft and air defence gunners inland.

Major-General Simon Harper, commander ofthe 3rd Marine Division, stood next to Major-General Peter Gyle who commanded the 15th Marine Division on board the RNS Admiral as they both watched monitors covered with blue icons which represented their own forces moving towards land. Soon it would be marked with red icons for the Mondothian garrison troops as they would certainly launch a counter-offensive against the coming beachhead.

As the Marines made their way ashore, Admiral Jenkins ordered Task Force 302 and its battleships to move itno a position in which they could provide full fire support to the soldiers as they fought their way inland, the 1st Submarine Squadron was moved into position that would place them in the avenue of approach of any enemy vessels. The eight sleek Blowpipe-class boats moved through the water and began to sow mines through their rear ports, area denial was new in offensive operations, but they hoped it would work well. Weapons crews of the Meyers-class frigates loaded Phoenix Cruise Missiles into the vertical launch systems and they began targetting the RADAR stations that sat upon Mount Gundar and Benday before firing their payloads, plumes of fire rose from the decks of the ships as the missiles streaked into the air and off towards land.

The flight of SF-41's quickly swooped in on the B-4's approaching the airfield and city, spotting the flare of the powerful engines and high-speed friction, they immediately launched deadly AIM-197 'Eagle' a2a missiles,e ach missile locked onto a target and dove in at extremely high speeds, at the last moment, each missile broke open revealing the weapons claws, three Depleted uranium darts, complete with independent maneuvering fins and seeking in on the heat signature from the bombers' engines. After releasing the missiles, the fighters broke up, using all of their agility and speed to get on the bombers tails in case the missiles missed their targets.

The Airforce base itself was defended by a scattering of flack guns and a pair of particularly deadly Rolling-Airframe Missile launchers, ready to take on anything that entered their assigned portions of airspace.

The radar stations and Sub pen were out of luck for a fighter shield, but they had their own defenses, the radar stations each had a black-widow type metalstorm CIWS capable of targetting and destroying the incoming bombs as well as any bombers that might fly close enough to get hit.
The Sub pen on the othr hand was defended by the ships scrambling to leave the harbor area and lighting up the airwaves with high powered radar, preparing to fill sky with CIWS bullets and anti-air missiles.
OOC: I'll give you the city infra-structure and the radar stations, but you'll have to fight harder than that to get the airbase and naval facilities

AAWACs Patrol Flight-773/177

"This is Shriker we've got high speed and aggressive contacts trying to stay low and out of sight, reccomend going to full alert imediately."

With those words still crackling over the radio, Captain Bin-Jabar ordered the AAWACs radar brought to full power, easily illuminating the Aequation fighter trying to linger out of sight. wihtout event hinking about it, he ordered the aircrafts weapons officer to fire upon the enemy aircraft, in a split second a Banthor long-range Air-to-Air missile was streaking towards the tanker, following the Banthor, two AIM-195LR missiles were headed towards the flight of F-62Ns. the AIM-195LR is the extended range variant of the standard AIM-195 medium range air2air missile, euipped with a longer burning booster, more fuel and, instead of three KE darts, six. Each missile is designed to engage two targets, releasing three darts for each target. The AAWACs warning about nuclear weapons was not an idle threat, but it was also not one often followed through on, this time al the missiles were conventional, but incase of a larger force of enemy aircraft, Captain Bin Jabar ordered the two Banthor-Shadow nuclear armed Air-To-Air missiles readied.

The Oil Fields
The transports and their fighter escorts posed a highly tempting target to the now weapons-free Mercury corvettes hiding in the shadows the oil-platforms thoughtfully provided. detecting the jamming and realising the fighters were probably equipped with HARMs, Commodore Nathan Rhines, commander of the small task force hiding int he oil fields, ordered the ships under his command to engage with passive weapons, includign Anti-jamming missiles and IR guided heat seekers. Notlong after the orders were distributed over the secure communications network, actionw as suited to words as the commodores Mercury was the first to engage, firing off a salvo of Anti-Jamming missiles and quickly plowing towards a new area of operation to avoid reprisal. soon the air over the ocean approaches to Al-Kahif filled with missiles.
Even as the missiles were bursting overhead, the corvettes' crew rushed aver the decks preparing for what had to be coming next by readying Nautilus and Shrike anti-shipping missiles and preparing AH-71 light attack/stealth helicopters to ward off a sea based attack.

Al-Kahif Naval Base
the docks were practically empty now, warships making a steady blue-green line splitting just outside the harbor to twist north and south around the island, preparing a flanking maneuver for the Aequation fleet. In his command bunker, Noda watched the screens showing all the information coming in from his forces in realtime. In the corner, Arif Al Barabi and several technicians were arguing quietly over how to fix the unit which would allow him to view the information overlayed on a realtime sattelite image but he wasn't too hopeful of that ever working. Instead he ordered that flights of RS-17 'SIlent Crow' UAVs belaunched, giving him much the same overview as if the sattelites were beaming the image in, only instead of a brightlight revealing the entire battle area, he had about a dozen 'flash lights' he could direct around the battlefield to updae information and cast light on blind spots. It was an inperfect solution, but one the Admiral was prepared to deal with.

Message to Democratic Empire of Cravan
from: The Offices of Admiral Jesse Noda
Via: ESL-7994
Encrypt: Public
Decrypt: ********
Any help at all would be appreciated, right now we need some air support, our fighers aren't scrambling fast enough to deal with the Aequation airforces. Also, I'm settign up a flank of the Aequation fleet and I could use your help closing it off, I'll send an Iroqois transport out with some techies to hook you up with our commo network, that should alow us to coordinate more easily.
Noda Out

OOC: how did your marines all of a sudden get to shore, bypassing my corvettes?

OOC: how did your marines all of a sudden get to shore, bypassing my corvettes?

OOC: They're on their way ashore, the only thing close enough to the shore that belong to the Marines are the F-35B fighters equipped for SAM suppression.

OOC: Ah, misread your post, sorry 'bout that

Colonel Cohen took his aircraft into evasive maneuvers, as any of the other aircraft being targetted by missiles would, although others would not be as lucky in avoiding the missiles. The colonel pressed a button which released the super-heated flare countermeasures, his last line of defence against the missiles. Elsewhere across the island, half a dozen B-4 Valiants were falling from the sky, either hit by enemy missiles or engaged by fighters. The surviving aircraft drew the fighters out over the ocean and away from the island before starting to mark a new course that would return them to their base in Aequatio.

Alarms rang out throughout Captain Reilly's cockpit as the missile streaked towards his lumbering aircraft, travelling at such a slow speed, he had little to do but launch standard chaff and flare countermeasures and take as evasive maneuvers as he could in the tanker before the missile struck the starboard wing inbetween the two engines and the aircraft shook violently as the wing fell to pieces and the KC-17 began to fall from the sky. Reilly pulled the cord at the top of his seat and was ejected from the cockpit alongside his co-pilot, unfortunately they were alone as they drifted down towards the water below and witnessed the large aircraft tumble down becoming engulfed in flames.

The two lead F-62N fighters broke their tight formation and separated by banking sharply to distract the missiles, thanks to the advanced systems provided by the Tyrandis-manufactured electronics and countermeasures as the fighters trailed behind them a string of white flares. One of the missile's submunitions managed to catch one of the F-62N's wing and the dart punched through and immediately exploded once it was within the wing (OOC: Assuming that it is based off the Starstreak HVM), however, due to the triple-redundancy avionics, the aircraft was kept in the air, albeit struggling as it turned to make its way back to its carrier. The remaining fighter, tracking the enemy fighters after patching into the Clear Sight multi-static radar system, armed its AIM-154 Comet high-speed air-to-air missiles and fired off six of the missiles from the wing-mounted hardpoints, the weapons shot off as soon as they dropped from the fighter and sped off towards the Mondothians.

OOC: More coming later.

"Captain?"

"Yes Corporal?"

"It looks like things are starting to hot up already around this Island"

"Really?"

"Yes Captain, take a look at these Satelite reports.."

The Corporal handed over several documents, various photographs taken from the orbiting satelite..

"Well, this certainly puts a new spin on this, it looks like we are not the only ones interested in this Island... Corporal, Dispatch these to The Oberstfaust Furher, and give me an Update on our current forces available for Dispatch.."

"As you wish, Captain"

The Corporal scuttled off, giving some Kreigsmarines the task of delivering the file to the Oberst Faust Furher, before returning to the Captain with a different dossier, it was crimson red, with the Kraven Eagle Stamped, across it...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/HorusGodEmperor/KravenInsignia2.jpg

"According to these reports, we have Four Capitol police divisions we can deploy, including two battalions of Centurians and a small Battlefleet of around 240 vessels, including Reichmarshal Helghans personal Flag ship, The Dark Throne"

"It survived the 2nd Kraven War?"

"Yes, Whyatica stowed it away, in the Underground docks, on its Coastline, However Reichmarshal Helghan suffered an Accident earlier in the week, when a Rogue Whyatican Scientist, shot him forcing him over a Gantry and into a vat of Concentrated acid..."

"Helghans Dead?"

"No, Nearly Crippled though, they are performing emergency operations on him to support his life, Augmentations from the Sardaukar Project I belive..."

"Jesus"

"He has nothing to do with Helghan Captain, The Butcher has no place in heaven or Hell.... The Scientists Speculate thats why the Acid didn't Kill him..."

The Captain Remained silent....

A message was immediately sent back to the Mondothian admiral.

Watch out, since the skies are about to get a hell of a lot more crowded.

**********************

Lieutenant Robert Caulswell tugged gently on the stick, bringing him up to 14,000 feet. He slowed his throttle down to cruising speed, and let his Viper sink down slowly. The waves of the calm ocean appeared to fly beneath him. He flipped a few switches, and the yellow dots on his HUD quickly turned to a sea of red as Aequatian fighters were marked as hostile.

"Illustrious actual, this is Wardog One. We have multiple bandits dead ahead. Request permission to fire.", He heard his commander's voice crackle through his radio.
"Wardog One, this is Illustrious actual. All weapons are free. Repeat, weapons free."
"Copy that, Illsutrious actual. Wardog One out."

The massive formation of Vipers from the Illustrious group's air wing streaked towards the island. The coastline of Al-Kahif slowly came into view, and the radar screens of Mondothian fighters and radar stations were flooded with a sea of green.

"Lead, this is Knight. My sights are hot and I've got a tone. Request permission to engage."
"Copy that, Knight. Light 'em up."

Lieutenant Robert "Knight" Caulswell swung into a firing position with his wingman, and a deep tone filled his ears. His targeting reticule flashed red, and he squeezed the upper left button on his stick.

"Fox Two, Fox Two."

Two trails of smoke sped through the clear sky at the formation of Aequatian fighters as he broke off and let the other pilots take their shots. He turned his head, and saw an uncountable number of smoke trails come from under the wings of other Vipers. Their initial run had been fired, and the wing came around for another pass. At that moment, a second sea of green was detected from the west as the air wing from the Courageous battle group approached the western coast of Al-Kahif.

"Beginning my second run."

He positioned himself in formation again, and three other wingmen followed him in a wedge.

**************************

The battle groups began to move towards the island and prepped their F/A-74 Eagles for CAS sorties. They planned to assist in cutting off the Aequatian fleet, and begin an air assault on them.

Benday Mining Facility
After the radar station was destroyed, the manager, Lt. John Bulow, pepared for an air attack. He abandoned the watchtowers - they were as much for show as for defense - and put men with Stingers around the piles of rubble. All personnel were ordered into the mine.
If enemy aircraft attacked the facility itself, Bulow's men would fire. If not, they would lay low until Mirkana could send reinforcements.

Mount Stronghold
After a quick discussion, Remmol finalized his response plan. Mirkana would assume that Aequatio planned to seize the mine. Reinforcements would be prepared immediately. Against this army, Mirkana would need to send a sizeable force.
A large carrier group would accompany the transports to Al-Qahif. A base would be established around Mt. Benday. Then, Mirkanan forces would join with Mondoth to fight off the invaders.
Also accompanying the force would be four tactical nuclear warheads and several "Lullaby" missiles. The "Lullaby" warhead was basically an aenesthetic in aerosol form. It was so effective, a derivative was used in Mirkanan hospitals. Remmol knew that anticipating the unknown paid off.
Finally, Remmol sent messages to Cravan and Mondoth, informing them of his actions.

The Marine F-35B and Navy F-62N fighters broke formations and did their best to evade missiles, but to no avail, over a dozen aircraft were lost as flaming wreckage rained down into the water below alongside a few parachutes of pilots lucky enough to escape eath. Navy SAR helicopters would soon pick them up.

The Marine and Navy fighters that had survived the onslaught of the Craven missiles now turned their sights on the same aircraft, Navy Lieutenant-Commander Wally "Draco" Stewart waited for his aircraft's FCS to lock onto a signature of a Craven fighter from the uplink to the radar network and he flipped the master arm onto the "On" position and pressed the trigger on the flight stick allowing two AIM-154 hypersonic missiles streak forward and off into the distance as he spoke into his mask, "This is Draco, all Blue Elements move to engage hostiles, Red Elements return to Golden Eagle procedures, over and out!" As he finished, the other thirty-one F-62N fighters along with his moved to intercept the incoming craven aircraft and armed their AIM-120 missiles.

Alarms sounded as the multi-static radar network began to pick up all of the new Craven aircraft that were closing on the Navy task forces. The long range MIM-154 Comet missiles, the same as those moutned on aircraft as the AIM-154, waited in the launch cells within the decks of the six Advance-class ships that were acting in fleet air defence, as soon as they were tracking the Craven aircraft, the ships sprung to life as they fired a salvo of four dozen missiles within the avenue of approach of the enemy aircraft which would lock onto individual targets once they reached a closer range.

Underneath the waves around the oil platforms lurked the 1st Submarine Squadron as the stalked the corvettes and prepared launch tubes to fire Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes. Captain Justin Hammond was on the bridge of the RNS Javelin and made note of his boat's targets, a pair of corvettes sitting close to a lone platform, he rodered his helmsman to move the submarine into a firing position and readied the torpedoes, he would fire a split shot that would hopefully knock out each ship at the same moment.

Several Cravanian fighters were lost to the first wave of Aequatian missiles, and more began to drop. Chutes were seen for most of the brilliant fireballs, but many men were not going to make it home in one piece.

Countermeasures and flares were doing their best, and electronic jammers interuppted as many missiles as possible, but it was still no use for some.

"This is Talon Five, I've got one on me!"
"This is Three, bandit on my tai-"
"This is One, I have a lock. Repeat: I have a -"

***************************

"- lock on me. I don't know if I can-"

Static filled the ears of those on the bridge of the Illustrious as the life of another pilot was extinguished.

"What can we use to help them out?"
"We have out TGM-98 missiles, sir. They have the range to strike at the Aequatian force."

Admiral Hale contemplated his options.

"Do it. I want a few of their carriers and battleships taken out of this fight."
"Yes, sir. We'll prepare them for launch immediately."

Weapons operators worked frantically to plot the coordinates for the missiles, as more pilots were cut down on both sides.

Hang in there, boys..., Hale thought to himself. Hang in there...

***********************

Cravanian forces were being recalled worldwide as news of the crisis spread. Three more groups were being called in, and two submarine squadrons were called upon to assist. Troops were put on high alert all over the globe, and the Imperial Senate rushed into session for a solution to the situation. The Emperor ordered that the island of Al-Kahif could not fall to Aequatian forces for the sake of stability in the region.

Meanwhile, agents of the Cravanian Intelligence Service were being deployed to Aequatio, in order to infilitrate the country and retrieve information. Their gear was composed of publicly availiable tools, and their papers were forged. If they were caught, Cravan was not the culprit.

Captain Hardiggan was in love with his new command, well, not really a 'new' command as such, but the modifications he had got last overhall made his hunter-killer 'Nambu' truly a thing of martial beuty. He had read over all the reports and manuals and basically understood the ather, economic advantages of the new Hydrogen Fuel Cell powerplants, but when his sonar-man had complained about not being able to hear the subs reactor noises, he was hooked. Ever since moving up from one of the old diesel boats, Hardiggan ahd loathed the hum, he knew that he wasn't supposed to be able to hear it with his naked ear, but he did and it drove him crazy, almost as crazy as having to 'snorkel' witht he roar of the diesels to recharge batteries, but at least then he would be able to slip back into tottal silence mode. Now that remembered and cherished silence was back. With hydrogen he could linger for days without so much as the chirp of a bolt twisted to tight on some obscure piece of power-plant being twisted loose. Now he was a wraith, a ghost slipping silently beneath the waves, listening for the little, barely audible noises that ancient nuclear powered submarines still used by everybody else in the world pretended to sneak around in.

"Sir, contact bearing 297, sonar classifies as blowpipe type SSN, pump noises and turning to low to vector."

"match bearings, ready all tubes for ADCAP, prepare to fire."
within seconds of the orders reaching his well trained crew, the tropedo room signalled back.
"all tubes ready for ADCAP aye, prepped for launch."
"very good."
Now the captain had a choice, he had all the stealth capabilities the world of submarine warfare offered, a new silent powerplant, MHD thrusters that eliminated the noises assosciated with traditional 'screw' or propeller type propulsion systems, and a variety of noise cancelling equipment and sound-proofing to reduce the already nearly nonexistent detection levels well into the range where Hardiggan felt most comfortable, hugging zero like an asymptote. but once he opened his torpedo tubes, he would be making a statement that modern silencing technology had not yet been able to quiet into the same realm as the rest of his ships functions, once the tubes were opened, and the torpedo fired, every submariner for miles would know what had just happened and exactly where and he would have only a few minutes to escape before enemy subs converged on his position. In the end, he didn't have to make that call. A few dozen meters above the surface, events beyond his control conspired such that a small ball attached to a long line were dropped into the ocean, where that ball began making obnoxiously loud 'Pings' in every direction and then analysing the resulting echoes. Almost immediately the pings became a chorus as helicopters launched from the corvettes began using their 'dipping sonars' to search for enemy submarines from above the surface. Hearing the specific frequency of the pings, his sonarman automatically signalled an ELF radio signal alerting the helicopter to the presence of a friendly sub. not recieving the identifier from the blowpipe, the VCH-43 ASW helicopter promptly dropped a single long cylinder with a rounded nose packed full of high explosives and programmed to seek that non-signalling sub with all of the tenacity its computer chips could muster and then explode as violently as possible. The helicopter launched torpedo wasn't wire guided like an ADCAP, but it did have a very intelligent machine brain that gave it much the same capabilities.


The Air war
The fighters quickly angled up and out, the surviving B-4s were gone, much to fast on a straight-away for the majority of the Mondothian fighters. instead they now focuesed their attentions on the enemy fighters, F-35s and F-62Ns that were left. The IF/A-14s opened with their signature (if heavily modified) AIM-54X Phoenix extended range, self guided, advanced Air-To-Air Missiles, there weren't many of the expensive and large weapons fired, but they rarely missed, guided by self contained MMW radar that could target even radar stealthed fighters. it was a risky move considering the proximity of allied fighters to the enemies, but the missiles acquisitions had been set to only target fighters matching the profile of the Aequation fighters. still, things could go wrong, but with the number of enemy fighters still in the air as highas it was, the slight risk was deemed acceptable.

Kraven Forces secretly dispatched from the Numonican Garrison, currently held by Whyatica, a Kraven Slave State, the 250 vessels, ranging from the Annihilator Class Super Dreadnaught, The Dark Throne to the various smaller Classes of Kraven vessels, including the Mimir Class Tracking vessels...

Numerous Transport and logistical ships followed in the Fleets wake, ensuring that both the ground forces and the navy were well stocked with ammunition and other necessities such as fuel..

In total The Kraven Task force was employing a total of 2 Battalions, the First Sturmpanzer Battalion, and the 8th Centurian Legion.

With these forces was accompanying Armoured Divisions, including the Feared Emperor and the Epitome of Kraven, The Imperator, possibly the heaviest Tank in the world to date, usless in boggy or soft ground, but deadly in open terrain and stable ground, it wsa literally a land fortress capable of absorbing damage while at the same time dishing it out, although several problems arose, its twin V8 engines required copious amounts of Fuel and so the vehicle if on a prolonged Campaign became a logistical nightmare...

for now though, the Fleet broke port and headed into the open seas... its ETA would be around 48 Hours, plenty of time for the Officers to monitor the target island, and formulate a battle plan...

Some would say this invasion was illogical, others say it is perfectly Kraven...

"Options, people?"

The Emperor entered the situation room, and walked to a table with fleet movements marked on it.

"We currently have three more battle groups on the way, and two sub squadrons. We're also organising the reserves, and troops are being brought to combat readiness."
"How are our boys doing?"
"Well, sir, we've taken some casualties. However, they haven't exactly had a pleasant time either."

The Emperor looked over the positions of the fleets.

"I want this group-", he pointed to the Courageous group, located in the west. "-to move here." He pointed to the northwestern coast of Al Kahif.

He then pointed to the Illustrious group in the south.

"I want this group here.", He pointed to the southern tip of the island. "This should cut them off from escape other than turning right around."

He then pointed to the island itself. "I want some marines landed on this island to assist in holding it until the Army arrives. They are to dig in and reinforce Mondoth's forces garrisoned there."
"Yes, sir. Understood."

The Emperor removed his glasses, and looked into the general's eyes.

"I want our groups in the area to be given authorisation for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. They are only to be used in a dire emergency."
"Yes, sir. We'll send the orders right away."

*******************************

"The missiles are prepped, Admiral."

Admiral Hale threw his cigarette to the floor and stepped on it.

"Fire on my order."
"Yes, sir."

Five TGM-98 Conventional Cruise Missiles were prepared for launch in their tubes.

OOC: Mondoth, you haven't posted your losses to my fighter's counter attack near the KC-17 tanker. As for my next post, not much I can do tonight other than say it'll be done tomorrow during the day.

OOC: sorry, my week has been crazy, should be better now so I won't be making as many posting mistakes.

IC: (in response to above mentioned counter-attack)
The AAWACs was deadly exposed, witht he fighter escorts broken away to deal with the bombers and enemy aircraft. Two missiles locked onto the slow, easy target and, recieving the missile threat warnings, captain Bin Jabar punched the countermeasures button, firing off a salvo of flares and chaff while massive radar array shifted to jamming. Byt hen however it was too late, one of the missiles missed by mere feet while the other slammed into the port engine pushing the unwieldy aircraftinto a barely controllable spin. Cursing and slapping every emergency control that presented itself, the two Banthor-Shadow nuclear armed missiles dropped free and started actively seeking targets, but since the wepaons had been launched in emergency mode, the nuclear warheads were defused and when the missiles finally exploded, they would do so in a non-nuclear fashion.
regaining a modicum of control, Bin-Jabar hauled up ont he controls at the last second, providing a relatively safe water landing, with several brocken limbs and sprained joints, the AAWACs crew scrambled into life-rafts before the aircraft finally sank and began heading towards shore. three fighters, an IF/A-14 and two SF-41s burst into flame on contact with with the Aequation missiles, tumbling into the sea like fiery comets, striking the surface at more than a thousand knots and exploding violently as pilots and crew took a more leaisurely approach dangling beneath their parachutes.

Al-Kahif Naval Base
Surprisingly, Arif and his techs had managed to effect an ad-hoc sattelite uplink, giving Admiral Noda a real-time view of the war-zone from Geo-synchronus orbit above and slightly south-east of the island. From this god-like perspective the massing Kraven forces became easily visible, as was its wake making each ship the point of a wide white V pointed directly at Al-Kahif.


XXXXXXFLASHTRAFFICXXXXXX
to: MndthCINCFlt
Frm: ADM. Nda
Via:ESL-97314G
Encr:<Cnsrd>
Decr:<Cnsrd>
Msg:
Kraven Corp. Flt aprchg, approx 48hrs. ETA.
adn: rqst Crbrs clss vsl+air rnfrcmtns asap/wmh/rfn
cnfrm.
End Flash Encryption


Reply to Admiral Noda of Al-Kahif Fleet Base
From: Commander in Chief of Naval Operations (CincFlt)
Via: EOC-1279
Encrypt: ********
Decrypt:****
Message:

Confirmed, Kraven corp. fleet appraching, our estimate is also 48hrs. the Twenty-Ninth task force should be in the range at that time. Also, Recieved your request for Aerial reinforcments, the 380th and 403rd are inbound, expect arrival early tomorrow.
Your in luck, a Cerberus just rolled off the line, we can get you the 'MNS Unyielding Honor' in a week, before then you'll have to make due with the 566th fleet that should arrive a day or two after the Twenty-Ninth. Good luck.
<Signed>

Lieutenant-Commander Stewart broke hard to starboard alongside his wingman as the formation of thirty two F-62N fighters broke into individual teams in order to engage the Craven fighters. Once in range, each of the fighters fired their compliment of four AIM-120 AMRAAM weapons towards the enemy aircraft, Stewart then ordered the others to close range with their cannons.

Captain Hammond looked on the monitor keeping tabs on incoming weapon systems when he ordered countermeasures to be launched as his boat took evasive maneuvers, the rear torpedo launch tubes opened and gave birth to two cylinders filled with electronics to distract the threat torpedoes launched from both enemy submarines and helicopters above the surface. In addition to the active countermeasure, he also ordered that four vacant vertical launch tubes fire, creating large air pockets that would help to obscure the boat's signature as it changed course and moved out of the area Southwards to support the other task forces. The other seven submarines followed suit, deeming it too dangerous to the vessels and their crews to attack the Mondothian vessels positioned within the oil platforms.

The Mondothian AIM-54X missiles, much similar in design to the Aequatian AIM-154 Comet HSAAM with less speed, streaked towards the Marine F-35B fighters that remained behind to support the landings until a second wave of Navy F-62N fighters arrived from the fleet's carriers. Captain Longe watched as one if his wingman's aircraft was struck by one of the weapons which then exploded in flames and fell towards the water below. Having moved into a power dive and fired his countermeasures, his own aircraft had narrowly avoided a missile and certain destruction. Over the radio channel he managed to rally eleven other surviving fighters while the other twenty remained on air coverage and ordered them to engage the enemy as closely as possible, each fighter fired off four AIM-120 missiles before moving to close into cannon range with the Mondothian IF/A-14s.

OOC: The landing coming next.

OOC: It's Cravan. And when referring to my fighters or anything from my nation, Cravanian.

***********************************

"BREAK! BREAK!"

Fighters broke off as Aequatian missiles streaked towards their formation. Most got away, but some were not lucky. Plumes of smoke were visible as the pieces of Vipers plummetted into the waves.

"Fox Two, Fox Two."

A missile dropped from the wing pylon of one of the lead fighters, and the rocket engine ignited. It went spiraling off to its target. A split second later, another left its pylon and spun off to the target.

"They're closing in with us. Prepare for a dogfight, boys."

The fighters broke into formations of four, flying in a wedge. They made a pass on the Aequatian fighters, their miniguns spitting yellow tracers into the sky with a hiss. They passed the Aequatian fighters, and looped around for another run.

**************************

"Fire.", Hale said, looking out the bridge window.

Five TGM-98 cruise missiles left their tubes, and their engines lit up. They went speeding into the sky, each one with a different target in the Aequatian fleet. Carriers were the priority target. Their sattelite tracking ensured that if they missed, it wouldn't be by much.

The missiles dipped down to an altitude that would be uncomfortably low for a human pilot, to keep from being detected until they were very, very close.

"How long until we reach our destination?"
"Six more hours, sir."
"Excellent."

OOC: It's Cravan. And when referring to my fighters or anything from my nation, Cravanian.

OOC: My bad, it's Kraven's involvement that threw off my referencing.

The Thundercat's broke off to circle the begining dogfight, more suited to stand-off work they would try and avoid close-in work and attempt t pick off any enemy fighters attempting to cut and run. the main work of the fight fell to the the 'Ruddy Hawk' airsuperiority fighters, visciously maneuverable the fighters practically bristled with weapons designed for just this kind of fight, from a pair of rear-firing missiles nestled above the engine to take care of anyone on their tail to the directional 25mm cannon hidden behind a fairing to conceal its radar signature except while firing.

The Oil Platforms

Ducking and weavign through the ASW helicopters came a steady stream of larger VCH-43s equipped to carry marines instead of torpedoes two or three went to each platform, unloading a small group of marines and some large crates whicht hemarines began immediately disecting each crate revealed collections of parts that began assembling, many turned into Shrike anti-shipping sea skimming high velocity missiles, others became strange looking pedstals and assemblages, the purpose of which only became obvious witht he second wave of helicopters delivering 160mm guns that fit nicely onto the pedstals or SAM sites that were easily attached to the frame-work already in place. Other marines set about checking crew served weapons such as mortars and 15.5mm HMG mounts.

under the water, the helicopter launched torpedoes, while tenascious and intelligent int heir own right, did not have the same capabilities of a wire-guided ADCAP torpedo, and while the air-bubble trick and active countermeasures might have been programmed into their systems, a double dose of both countermeasures from each submarine filled the water with too many distractions and most of the torpedos fell dumb, a few continued to chase after whatever they thought was a real submarine, but whether that evaluation was accurate or not was anybodies guess.

The submarines however played a cautious game, utilizing all the stealth at their disposal, instead of firing upon the enemy subs, they followed them, attemtping to stay in the rear 'blind' spot, if succesful, the tactic would lead the Mondothian hunter/killers deep in the heart of an enemy ship formation, or at least near enough to do some damage.

Captain Longe had watched a few of his comrades' fighters fall victim to the rearfiring "Ruddies" before realizing the best way to confront them was to approach from underneath and to engage with their 25x200mm ETC Vulcan Cannons. Although there were losses, he was relieved to see a few parachutes falling towards the water below, knowing the Navy would rescue them in due time. A second group of four F-62N which were following the KC-17 tanker moved on the position of the Mondothian dogfight and armed their AIM-154 missiles to engage the lingering IF/A-14s as they circled the dogfight waiting for stragglers.

Only able to monitor the air battles from RADAR terminals on the bridge of the Nicklas Schaeffer, Admiral Jenkins watched as contacts on the screen were dropping from both sides, "I want our carriers to get as many of our F-62Ns as they can to support the fights against both the Mondothian and Cravenian aircraft, as well, launch two squadrons of F-35Bs from this ship armed for air superiority to support the air coverage over the landings, full compliment of AIM-154 and AIM-120 missiles."

"Aye, Ma'am," Replied a young lieutenant as he began organizing the launch of the aircraft off the two flight decks on the secondary hulls, deck crew personnel were quick to work as they fueled, armed and launched the small fighters one after another. Within a few minutes a dozen aircraft were in the air with another thirty six being prepped for launch and would soon follow. Elsewhere in the fleet, F-62N fighters were being launched off the catapults of the carriers as those that were damaged in fights earlier struggled as they either landed hard as they caught the wire arrestors or failed to reach the ship and forced the pilot to eject and allow the aircraft to splashdown into the water.

As the air battles raged between the Navy F-62Ns and the Cravenian Navy fighters to the South and the Marine F-35Bs and Mondothian IF/A-14s and SF-41s to the Northwest, the first elements of the 3rd Marine Division rolled ashore just North of Mount Gundar while the 15th Marine Division came ashore just North of their position. Lieutenant-Colonel Terry sat behind the Raider light armoured vehicle as it drove off the utility landing craft and onto the wet sand of the Al Kahif Southwestern coast. The landing craft that had reached the shoreline with hers unloaded the remaining elements of her Command Company and Battalion, including the first fifteen Banshee Main Battle Tanks of Alpha Company, water poured off the front of their hulls as they advanced along the beach and moved inland alongside the infantry units still embarked within their Viking personnel carriers.

To the South, Major Brown disembarked from the Air-Cushioned Landing Craft standing in the turret of his Wolf HMMWV in Level 4 Mission-Oriented Protective Posture, his protective mask sitting inside his waistbag and a gas alarm away from sitting on his face. He moved along slowly among an infantry and light armoured reconnaissance unit, he watched above as AH-16 helicopter gunships moved forward inland, scouting for enemy land forces. Marine infantry were deployed along the flanks by the MH-46A assault helicopters, which quickly lifted off and returned to the assault ships in order to shuttle reinforcements to the beachhead as it began to develop. In the same manner as the helicopters, the landing craft also made their way back out across the water and towards the ships.

The five cruise missiles hugged the waves as they headed straight for the Aequatian fleet. So far, they had managed to stay below the radar. However, they soon would have to rise in altitude if they were to hit their targets. Estimated time to impact was one miniute.

The Cravanian pilots continued the bitter dogfight as planes weaved in and out of each other.

*******************
Imperial Palace War Room
Cravna, Cravan

"Troops are beginning their landings, sir."
"Damn. How long until the first wave of our Marines reaches the island?"
"About a half hour, sir. It won't do much, though. Should we initiate CAS operations?"

The Emperor looked down at the table, trying to calculate how long it would take to get a sortie of Eagles over the invading Aequatian forces.

"Prep the Eagles for a sortie. I want them in the air soon, and I want them to begin precision strikes on the Aequatian landing forces."
"Yes, sir."

The order was handed down, and many thousands of miles away, the armaments for CAS missions were rolled onto the decks of the carriers as F/A-74 Eagles rose from the elevators.

Alarm clarions shrieked throughout the fleet as the missiles rose to engage the vessels within the group, they had penetrated the primary and secondary level defences with ease as they closed on the fleet carriers and battleships. In unison throughout the group, 30mm Goalkeeper close-in weapon systems came to life and spit fire into the sky towards the missiles, however, due to the late detection, only three of the cruise missiles were eliminated as the other two struck individual ships. The carrier RNS Ardent was hit on the bow which left one of its launch catapults out of commission along with two F-62N fighters that were enqueued on the flight line while the other missile struck the port-side secondary hull of the battleship RNS Indefeatable and damaged its helicopter flight deck.

Major Brown was meeting with a regimental commander at a makeshift headquarters, he walked by a group of Marines as they set up a battery of Gemini Twin 50mm automatic cannons and the supporting mounts with MIM-120 SLAMRAAM. He had seen what the cannons could do to low flying close air support aircraft during divisional gunnery tests when the 50mm shells tore holes into the fuselage of a remote-controlled AV-8D Harrier II before it desintigrated and fell to Earth in a large fireball. He would be moving with a company of infantry, a tank platoon and an anti-tank section Northeast to help even the battlelines alongside the 15th Division that had landed to the North.

Lieutenant-Commander Stewart's F-62N aircraft had long been out of missiles as he maneuvered along with his wingmen as they continued to engage the Cravenian fighters with their cannons. He had been told by the wing commander that there was a second wave of aircraft coming to join the fight, so he felt obliged to get as many kills in before the others arrived to steal them away as he broke hard and went into a dive on a straggling fighter.

"Two missiles confirmed hit, sir."
"Better than I expected. Let's keep quiet for now, until we need to directly attack again."
"Yes, sir."

Admiral Hale looked out the front window of the bridge to see a group equal in size to his approaching far off in the distance.

"Well it looks like the Pride battle group has come to join the party. That just leaves two other groups in this theatre."
"Do you have any specific orders for them?"
"Tell them to hold their fighters until needed. Also, begin recalling our fighters in a little bit at a time. I want to see how many Aequetian fighters decide to follow them into the jaws of our AA guns."
"Yes, sir. Will do."

***********************

Captain Harrison watched his LADDER radar systems as an Aequetian fighter dove at him from above.

Excellent. Worked like a charm.

He immediately jammed his throttle to full, and abandoned the straggler look. His three wingmen came up from under the radar and pulled off a flawless ambush. The pilot whom they ambushed, though, was no novice. He appeared to be an experienced pilot, and managed to avoid the first set of slugs thrown at him.

"Fox Two, Fox Two!"
"Fox Two! Missile away!"
"Fox Two, Fox Two! I've got two corkscrews free!"

The four fighters rejoined in formation, and made another pass on the Aequetian fighters. They watched as the missiles twisted and turned through the sky towards their targets.

The dogfight continued, heavy losses occurring on both sides.

Stewart cursed his brash thinking as his aircraft shook as a missile struck the tail section of his aircraft and began to fall towards the water below. He closed his eyes as he reached back above his head and pulled the eject cords and felt the rush of air as the canopy was torn off the cockpit and the rocket engines engaged as he lifted out of the aircraft, he opened his eyes to see his aircraft spiraling towards the ocean as he drifted on his parachute.

On board the Nicklas Schaeffer, Admiral Jenkins continued to monitor the RADAR display as she watched a gruop of F-62N fighters move towards the group which now had a few Cravanian aircraft drop out of the fight and change course to return to their own Navy groups. "Don't be stupid," she thought to herself as she realized her pilots would want to persue. She turned to the lieutenant-commander at the air operations station, "Lieutenant, I don't want our fighters enganging those that are withdrawing, only those that stay in the fight... have our own pull back and those with missiles engage at a standoff range." Her orders were followed as the Aequatian fighters began to break off from the fight and gain distance from the Cravanian aircraft to allow the missile-armed F-62Ns to engage without any mishaps.

Over the Northern coast of the island, the C-17 and C-130J aircraft carrying the airborne forces moved in low with fighter cover as it divided into two separate sections, for the two combat elements. The aircraft carrying the 4th Division moved to the designated landing zone which lay Southwest of Lewis Air Force Base while the elements carrying the 5th Division moved into position to perform the parachute assault just Northeast of the airbase and North of Maltung City. Captain Bowles and First Sergeant Knox readied their parachutes as they stood at the side door of the C-17, the rest of their company aboard along with their humvees, the Staff Sergeant Loadmaster watched the jump lamps at the door and signaled to Bowles that the jump would take place in five minutes.

The first too meet the Aequation landing was not the usual array of beach traps and mines, nor was it an array of somewhat more modern machine-gun nests and artillery. This strange lack of traditional greetings for a hostile landing was partly due to the lack of time available for setting up such labour intensive defenses, and ppartly because Mondoth had, after spending years and great quantities of money on creating a force that could land on a beach like no other force int he world, had eventually decided to fork over some time and money to do the inverse, defend a beach from hostile landings in a way totally unique.
Circling above the landing force was three objects of note, one was a clearly visible Storm-Crow surveilance drone, cricling like a hawk peering down o the landing force, the other two were sleeker, modern Silent-Crow Reconaisance drones, barely visible under the best circumstances, they had a special LCD skin to foil all but the keenest eyes and a hefty apportionement of radar and IR stealth as well. The drones job was twofold, for one they were equipped with laser target designators, as soon as the LCACs came into range, they began steadily lasing them with UV band targetting lasers, seconds after the lasers painted up the landing craft, the screaming whine of artillery missiles could be heard as pillars of flame and smoke arced up from behind the foothils leading up from the beach and homed in on the reflected laser light centered squarely on each LCAC. The second job was simply to monitor the progress of the troops that had already landed, once they crossed an imaginary line about half way up the beach, a signal would be sent back to the drones controller, who would pass the message on to the MLRS battery who would then activate the smart-mines they had laid a few hours earlier, trapping the enemy troops int he middle of a suddenly deadly mine-field.


In the Air
When the engineers at Shrak Aeronautics had designed the SF-41 Air Superiority fighter, they had first taken a group of Modnoth's top Dog-fighters and Air-superiority fighter pilots and grilled them for weeks, during the design process they kept returning to those experts and asked them obscure questions about tactics and what they liked and didn't like about their aging fighters and the training they had recieved for them. They got a huge amount of helpful data from these questions, but two items really stood out to their engineering brains and they decided to tackle the problems from a uniquely engineering standpoint. The forst really interesting thing was that the first thing pilots learn about fighting other airplanes was to never let an enemy get behind you, after thinking about this some, they came up with a way to fire missiles backwards against enemies in this perilous position on the tail of their fantastically expensive aircraft. The other thing they found interesting was a combination of inter-related ideas taught by pilot trainers the world over, that speed and altitude were life. Dissecting these poitns they found some good meaty data and reasoning, obviously the faster you were going, the less likelyyou were to stall and the more room you had to do interesitng things int he sky to keep people from getting on your tail, having already solved that problem, they set about the whole altitude thing, they realised that altitude as life was good because planes could only go so high, and if one plane initisated a climb, it was likely better prepared for it and could usually get higher and have all-kinds of advantages in being able to use gravity for adding speed and what not. Being engineers however, they were dissatisifed with these answers and looked at it inversely, planes could also only get so low before they had problems such as sucking up bits of ground into engines with hair thin tolerances surrounded by explosive fuels. To solve this quandary, they looked to commercial air-liners (which Shrak also, fortuitously designed) and their engines near-miraculous ability to suck up all kinds of things and keep on chugging, they checkedout CAS fighters and their need to get low and stay there,a nd after much bickering and beer-drinking they decided to put those kinds of features into their new Air-superiority fighter. So, whole their new fighter wasn't as fast as the others available,a dn didn't have the higghest ceiling, it did have lowest floor for a AIr-superiority fighter, and so when the Aequation fighters shifted tactics and started coming up from below, the Mondothian's shifted tactics right along with them and got so low that other aircraft would be sucking seawater into their engines and flaming out on the thicker atmosphere.

Another flight of 'Ruddy Hawks' screamed towards the fight to back-up their fellow Mondothians
Noticing the inbound AIM-154 missiles, the Thundercats dumped flares and chaff into the air and screached for altitude on their powerful methane-injecting jets, as the incoming missiles tipped up to follow them into the climb the IF/A-14s tipped over into breaching back-down roles, releasing more chaff and flares at the apex to further confuse the inbound missiles. Along with the countermeasures, the fighters also deployed a scattering of AIM-197LRs, lofting them with the parabolic trajectory of their role for greater range. Meanwhile, the AIM-154s that managed to follow the IF/A-14s evasions and punch through the countermeasures streaked towards the fighters, but the pilots had not yet run out of tricks, juking and jinking even more missiles missed or went 'dumb' falling for counter-measures or just losing sight of their targets altogether. it was then that a small number of the enemy missiles managed to strike home, one of the thundercats exploded outright leaving only a pilot and Radar Intercept Officer dangling from parachutes like fruits dangling beneath the trees of their parachutes, Another lost the right wing but managed to stay in the air long enough to make an emergency landing, skipping across the water until the waves slapped it into stillness, the pilot escaped with a broken arm but the RIO was dead in his seat.


The Skies over the Island
The transports were big fat easy targets, even fighter escorts and countermeasures couldn't have masked the radar signature that to radar operators from fighter pilots to SAM operators looked like big fat money signs ripe for the picking, The first to take on the risks and try for the glory was a group of woung men sitting in what looked like a standard shipping container except for all the antennae sticking out of it, the men inside of course weren;t really the ones that were going to take on the transports, that job fell to Flight J-199, a group of twelve PC-26 UCAV fighters that angled in like a flock of birds, moving easily as one aircraft but ready to break apart at the first sign of return fire, locking onto the targets, they fired AIM-197 AMRAAMs and broke off, sliding around the sky like a single large airplane to confuse anyone watching with eyes or radar, setting up to make another run if necesary while staying robotically vigilant for counter-attack.


The Oil Platforms
SSGH-2120 'Masamune'
The sub's corridors were deadly quiet, they knew enemy ships and subs were lurking in the area and would like nothing more than to take a good shot at the guided missile submarine. suddenly the silence was ended by the light clacking of the ELF reciever printing out orders which a watch officer ripped off and handed to the senior officer on duty.

"Sir, fire mission."

the deck officer grabbed the paper and quickly scanned it before barking out orders-
"helm, come to firing depth, misseleer, prep tubes zero through four for immediate firing, targets to be recieved over sixes."

the helm officer responded quickly.
"Aye sir, changing depth to firing." followed almost instantly by the misseleer
"Aye sir, tubes zero one two three four and five are armed and ready, targets over es-es-eye-ex."

the sub rose painfully slowly to keep the hull from giving tell-tale creaks as it expanded under the lower pessure, but soon it came upt o missile firing depth. From here it was also possible to raise the sattelite communications array, a tight pair of parabolic dishes that allowed the sub to communicate with the Submarine Sattelite Informational Exchange (SSIX) and reicieve targets for its cruise missiles, the targetting information was quickly downloaded and fed to the missiles.
As the communications mast retracted, the water above the sub began to boil with air released from tanks in the ridge between the missile tubes, prepping the water for what came next, the five missile tubes opened with lightning speed, releasing a five huge bubble of nitrogen gas with five Thor stand-off missiles, one in the heart of each buble to protect it fromt he corrosive effects of sea-water that could damage guidance equipment. Before the missiles had even cleared the surface, Masamune was already underway, leaving te site of its recent missile launch before the noise and flame attracted unwanted attention.

In the air the missiles roared to life, boosters igniting and then dropping off as the missiles' SCRAMjets ignited pushing the missiles well intot he Hyper-sonic range, streaking towards the Aequation fleet and pulsing with ECM and twisting ina pseudo-random way to give the missiels the greatest chance of success against the fleets counter measures.

The Fleet

The fleet continued to move out from the island, a pair of reach tenticles preparing to encircle the the Aequation fleet while each of the sixteen Shadow class SSGHs launched a small number of missiles to keep the enemy fleet's heads down.

As the laser detection systems on board the LCACs had alarms sounding as the crew fired smoke munitions which concealed the craft's hull. To furthur avoid enemy fire, the hovercrafts began running zig-zag patterns towards the beach, although not all were lucky enough to avoid enemy artillery and were struck by shells and limped forward before coming to a stop just off the beach, water-logged Marines rode on the back of the amphibious vehicles that survived the strikes and were on the landing craft while others, donned in lifevests, began swimming ashore slowly through water littered with burning fuel, destroyed vehicles and bodies.

As for those ashore, the artillery strikes took their toll on the Marines' state of mind, shocking those who expected an unopposed landing and providing relief for those who were waiting for the enemy to strike back (mostly sergeants). Many green privates and corporals dove for cover as they advanced alongside their vehicles while more experienced Marines dropped to knees and moved slowly alongside the personnel carriers and armoured vehicles. The deployment of the mines came as a shock to the vehicle crews as the lead vehicles struck mines and effectively halted the battleline until the Marine Engineers moved up and began to clear paths through the field and led the way for the other vehicles as they played a hasty "catch-up" to the combat engineer's positions as they rolled off the beach and furthur inland. Above the harassed soldiers on the beach, Marine AH-16 gunships moved inland towards the positions of the enemy artillery that had been provided by the hunter units and the battleships offshore. Lieutenant-Colonel Terry was riding in the passenger seat of a Wolf humvee, surrounded by radio equipment, as she witnessed the explosions from the enemy shells and rockets, she was annoyed by the delay caused by the minefield and ordered her battalion to push through inland once the engineers had cleared a path.

Artillery hunter units that were ashore used their RADAR systems and took in information and transmitted it all to the battleships such as the Invincible and Inflexible along with the monster, superdreadnought Nicklas Schaeffer for their computers to calculate the positions of the Mondothian artillery units and the main turrets traversed inland and raised to the proper elevation, at the breech of each gun worked a team with the autoloaders as they loaded the 755mm guns with the Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions, with such a large calibre shell, the amount of submunitions within a single shell would be comparable to an entire battery of field artillery. The two smaller battleships' gunners followed suit and loaded the same shells into their vessels' 460mm guns, once the guns had been loaded for the initial bombardment to the positions determined by the hunter teams ashore, the call went out for the escort vessels around the Nicklas Schaeffer to clear the decks of personnel due to the concussion of the 30-inch guns. Once they were clear, the order was given and the ocean shook as the guns began to spit fire inland, all five turrets fired each of their four guns while the secondary batteries of 203mm guns fired their share of shells as well, complimenting the bombardment alongside the other battleships as nearly a dozen salvos were fired from each turret of each ship before the crews waited a few moments and continued the barrage for another dozen salvos.

Seeing that the Mondothian "Ruddies" were hitting the deck hard, the F-62N fighters that had just joined the fight after chasing off the IF/A-14s long enough to enter unharassed, after entering the fight still armed with shorter-range missiles, they knew that aircraft that low to the deck would have a much harder time trying to outmaneuver missiles than if they were at a higher altitude. As soon as they heard the tone, they hit the master arm and each of the four aircraft fired two AIM-120 AMRAAM weapons towards the SF-41s. Those without missiles were charged with closing with the Thundercats and engaging them with cannons, as the pilots noticed how they pulled back when they first jumped into the fight. Two F-62Ns fell victim to the AIM-197LR weapons, both aircraft falling towards the water below with respective parachutes slowly drifting towards the same ocean.

The AIM-197 missiles fired at the transports took their toll on the lumbering aircraft as those that were not able to avoid them with countermeasures were struck and dropped to a lower altitude in order to release their loads of paratroopers and the few larger loads of vehicles and artillery pieces. Major Curtis "Spider" Webb was piloting one of the Air Force F-62A fighters flying escort to one of the damaged C-17s when he and his wingman broke hard to engage the enemy RADAR signature that had pulled out and was returning to the fleet of aircraft, nearly a dozen other fighters followed suit and each aircraft's pilot switched on the master arm and prepared to fight the hostiles that were harassing the transports. The E-3A Sentry AWACS aircraft that was flying with the fleet tracked the enemy fighters along with detecting that a locked transmission was connected to the unknown signature circling the aircraft. Along with the F-62E Electronic Warfare aircraft, they managed to triangulate the position of the enemy transmission and two of the fighters dropped to a lower altitude, armed their AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles and set a course that would take them on an attack run on the transmission's transmitter position.

Even as repair details continued their work on the ships damaged in the missile strikes from the Cravanian fleet, the alarms sounded once again as the radar network detected the disruption of the water during the launch and, despite the best efforts of the weapons' electronic countermeasures system, the Aequatian operators aboard the Advance-class missile cruiser RNS Reaper were among the best in the 4th Fleet for detecting false signatures produced by ECM systems and tracking the real targets as they marked them before transmitting their position to the missile crews below the launch system as they programmed the trajectory into five MIM-154 hypersonic missiles to intercept routes for each individual enemy weapon. The bow-mounted vertical launch cells came to life as the Comet missiles pushed through the doors and sped off into the distance. The operators watched their monitors as they tracked both the enemy missiles and the MIM-154s, three of the missiles made contact and disappeared along with the enemy, not too worried they watched as the other two were knocked out as they came into range of the 30mm Goalkeeper close-in weapon systems and the radar screens were clear once again. Throughout the fleet, the other Advance-class cruisers followed suit as they knocked out the odd missile with machine-like efficiency, an average time of 98 seconds between detection and elimination became the fleet standard as the cruisers almost began to compete to beat the record established by the Reaper and her crew.

Admiral Jenkins looked over a satellite photograph provided by the latest sweep from a unit of the A-SAT network and took notice of the Mondothian fleet's movements. She knew of the second task group that was on its way to reinforce their position and decided to make the most of what she had at hand. While the task group's battleships were busy firing inland against the enemy artillery positions, she ordered the group's Ocean-class submarines to form a perimeter around the fleet and strike at any ships that closed to within stand-off range with SSMs. The fleet's destroyers were moved to the outer perimeter in order to protect against enemy submarines that would move to engage and at a stand-off range once the Ocean-class boats had detected the enemy ships.

Four hundred and eighty kilometres to the West steamed an Aequatian Task Group led by the RNS Thomas Kaye, another of the fleet's Aequatio-class vessels, towards Al Kahif to support the fleet's operations against the now growing threat presented by both the Mondothian and Cravanian fleets in the area. Vice Admiral William Neil was on the bridge as he ordered that the fleet hold thirty knots and join the fight within half a day's time. He would move his ships into a position that would blunt the Mondothian assault against Admiral Jenkin's vessels.

OOC: Just a bump for those involved.

OOC: I was waiting for Mondoth to post, but I guess I will.

******************

The three Cravanian fleets continued to encircle the Aequatian force, just outside of gun range for either fleet. More cruise missiles were being prepared for a strike against the Aequatian fleet, but they would be held until necessary.

Admiral Hale continued to watch the sea, knowing that he was probably about to engage in the first ship to ship combat Cravan had been involved in since the early 1800's. And he knew with how this situation was going, it wouldn't be the last.

Admiral Jenkins stood on the bridge, a cup of coffee in her hands, as she watched her fleet maneuver into her ordered battleline that would run parallel to the Cravanian vessels to the South. The cruisers and destroyers prepared their stand-off anti-ship missiles while gun crews aboard the Nicklas Schaeffer, which had pulled off the gunline supporting the Marines ashore, prepared themselves for sustained firing of the primary and secondary armaments, they watched as the ammunition elevator started transporting the standard high-capacity, high-explosive and armour peircing shells for anti-surface warfare. Phoenix cruise missiles were loaded into the vertical launch systems of the Meyers-class frigates and they took up their own position on the battleline to fire against the enemy vessels.

The two Cravanian groups to the south made sure to stay just out of the range of the massive guns of the Nicklas Schaeffer, which had been confirmed from reports flooding the radio waves and sattelite images. They knew they were not out of the range of the missile attacks, but ay least they had to worry about one less thing.

Meanwhile, the Cravanian group to the north was staying relatively far away, waiting for the precise moment to launch the fighters it had recalled just a little while ago. Most Cravanian fighters had been recalled to their respective fleets, and Aequatian fighters were able to hold the skies. The initial aerial combat had been brutal, and many planes had been lost. Luckily most pilots from either side had managed to punch out before their fighters hit the water or the land. Sadly, Cravanian pilots were stuck there until Aequatian AA could be cleared so an SAR mission could be mounted.

In the meantime, a small contingent of marines were being prepared to help reinforce the Mondothian forces. Aequatian forces had managed to push their way inland, and it was decided they could not be allowed to go further. The problem with a CAS raid was the simple fact that satellite imagery picked up that the Aequatians had set up AA. These AA batteries had to be cleared before any raids could take place.

That was a job for the Imperial Guard.

The decks of the fleet carriers were crowded as the F-62N fighters that had been fighting the Cravanian aircraft returned at the stern while at the bow more aircraft were being launched as air cover against any air threats that would be in a position to strike at either the Marines ashore or the fleet in the ocean. Admiral Jenkins was looking at the latest satellite image of the Cravanian positions and realized that although they were in a position to fire their ships' cruise missiles, they weren't. What were they waiting for, do they want us to close in at gun range and engage with them, continue the air war with the fighters and remain at stand-off range while firing the odd missile or two at each fleet? She paused a moment to think before broadcasting a message out to the Cravanian fleet,

To my rival fleet commander,

Knowing full well that we could both begin this battle with stand-off and carrierborne aircraft at this range, I feel as though you do not wish to start the battle in this manner until something else is dealt with. Due to the previous aerial skirmishes, both of our forces have several dozen downed pilots still in the water and I wish to propose a ceasefire, for four hours so that both of our search and rescue operators and aircraft may retrieve our young men and women who fought bravely against each other. As an honourable adversary, I hope that we may come to an agreement and bring our people back before certain death and bloodshed becomes each of us.

Vice Admiral Katherine Jenkins, (ARN)

To my rival fleet commander,

Knowing full well that we could both begin this battle with stand-off and carrierborne aircraft at this range, I feel as though you do not wish to start the battle in this manner until something else is dealt with. Due to the previous aerial skirmishes, both of our forces have several dozen downed pilots still in the water and I wish to propose a ceasefire, for four hours so that both of our search and rescue operators and aircraft may retrieve our young men and women who fought bravely against each other. As an honourable adversary, I hope that we may come to an agreement and bring our people back before certain death and bloodshed becomes each of us.

Vice Admiral Katherine Jenkins, (ARN)

Hale read over the message, and immediately sent a reply.

To Vice Admiral Katherine Jenkins,

We humbly accept your offer, and we will uphold this cease fire for the alotted time. We will be quick in retirieving our downed pilots, and we are grateful for this oppurtunity. We thank you for this chance to bring our men and women back.

Fleet Admiral Martin Hale, (CIN)

Hale continued to watch the calm sea.

Thank God we're dealing with Aequatio and not some blood thirst terrorist state. Thank God., he thought to himself.

He looked to his XO.

"Have the SAR teams ready to go in five miniutes."
"You got it, Marty."

The Vast Kraven Battlefleet had now arrived, numering at over 250 vessels, fronted by the feared and immense Super Dreadnaught, the Annihilator Class, Helghans own personal Flagship... "The Dark Throne"

The fleet slowly moved into the Territorial waters of the Island, but never fired a single shot just sitting their like some mechanical sentinal, observing but never seeming alive, something or someone had a plan....

Lieutenant-Commander Stewart was laying on his back, floating in the water surrounded by a sea of green dye that would make his position more visable to any SAR helicopters that happen to pass by his area, he played over the situation in his head, regretting his foolish behavior of trying to engage a straggler instead of going after a proper opponent.

Jenkins read over the reply and smiled to herself before ordering the search and rescue SH-60 helicopters to lift off from the fleet's carriers. They would track the transponder signals from the transmitters on the pilot's flight suits. The F-62N fighters that were in the air were ordered to hold their flight patterns and monitor the SAR operations and not to fire upon the Cravanian aircraft, "Four hours, that's quiet enough for me," she thought to herself as she stood watching across the water towards the horizon, drinking from her cup.

A message was broad cast to the various forces currently in the islands surroundings, while at the same time, Capitol Police began to board the various smaller assault boats that would carry them to shore, the Marine Admiral began to speak into the radio mic, his voice commanded authoritory, something that all Kraven officers had...




"This is the Kraven Battlefleet, 'The Wintersun' This Island has been designated as property of the Kraven Military and The Kraven Secret Police, all forces are ordered to stand down and Comply, by the Orders of Reichmarshal Helghan..... I Await your response..."

The Battlefleet began to form up into the standard 4 tier circle, that made attempts to penetrate and strike the Command vessels near impossible, the various ships of different classes and sizes created an imposing wall of vessels and metal...

Cannons began to lock onto various targets across the Island, targeting structures or any area that could be deemed as either hostile, or defendable, while the Immense 'The Dark Throne' trained its 25" battle cannons onto the fleet with the biggest threat, which was currently deemed to be Aequatio...

OOC: What are the stats of the Anniahitator class?

IC:

The SAR teams set to work, rescuing many pilots in the first run. It appeared that most of the pilots had been able to eject, and many living pilots were recovered and detected by their transponders.

On the bridge of the Illustious, Hale sipped his coffee. He was careful to keep any from getting on his white uniform.

"Sir, incoming message."

Hale read the message from the Kraven forces, and looked up from the paper at the radar screens. There it was, in all its glory. The Kraven fleet.

"Tell our forces to the north to play a low profile. They may not have been detected just yet. I want our fleet to back out of range and double back. Keep the aircraft on stand-by. In the meantime, we'll stall for time by not replying right away."

OOC: What are the stats of the Anniahitator class?



OOC: The stats should be in my Factbook, which is in my Signature, if you can't see it I'll link you

OOC: Ah. Thanks for the info.

The artillery responsible for the first line of shore defense was entirely mobile Gunback and Bee-hive type SPHs and MLRS. capable of SHoot-and-Scoot tactics that enabled them to fire a volley and immediately relocate to avoid return fire, however, the rolling foothills inland of the landing complicated things and after a several volleys the counter-battery fire caught up with the slower elements of the artillery group and after several more volleys, the artillery had to finally abandon position, ceasing fire and retreating even farther inland. Meanwhile, the next phase of defenses was rolling forward, staying away from the view of the shore behind the hills, tank killer and sniper teams chose ambush positions, staying well concealed and using valleys that provided easy access to the inland as ready-made kill zones. The teams were to fire once or twice, taking out whatever valuable targets they could before falling back out of the way of return fire into secondary ambush positions, retreating and harrassing all the way back to the steel wall of Mondothian Tempest Assault Vehicles intermingled with faster WOlf utility vehicles and backed by the retreated artillery.

The Air

The 'ruddies' were having a hard time of it. As the missile warning indicators blossomed with blinking arrows painted directly on the canopy describing the location and vectors of the incoming missiles, the pilots pulled back on their yokes and jammed their throttles forward, letting the engines gulp up the thicker low-altitude atmosphere in a maeuver that would leave a more ocnventionally designed fighter flamed out with no thrust but propelled the decidedly unconventional Ruddy-Hawks into power climbs that were quickly abbreviated into a variety of links and jukes and rolls that left a glittering wake of Chaff and flares filling the air behind them. Returning fire with more AIM-197s even as a few of the fighters disintegrated. but the rest forged on with cannons blazing.

The PC-26s, detecting the advance of enemy fighters, scattered like startled birds fromt he flock formation, lining themselves up to engage the oncoming escort fighters and preparing to fire AIM-197 AMRAAMs.


As the air battle progressed, several small radar signatures began appearing at the very edges of the theater. These small signatures were moving in small groups of between four and six and appeared to be arriving at about 15-30 minute intervals. As they approached, it became clear that they were more Mondothian fighters, the first elements of the 380th and 403rd Air Combat Wings finally arriving to aid the Defenders.

The Fleet
Admiral Noda was no fool, even though the reinforcing Twenty-Ninth task force was easily in range to provide reinforcment to his fleet slowly encircling the Aequation one, he needed to save those ships incase something went wrong, and to keep an eye on the Kraven fleet that was lingering disturbingly in the area. Instead he had the Twenty-ninth send out all of its submarines except for a single Hunter/Killer squadron which he ordered to surface and run at higher levels of noise to make observers seem as though all of the Twenty-ninths submarines were still patrolling its periphery. Using his now enlarged submarine force, Noda began sending the subs to probe the under-water defenses of the Aequation fleet, occasionally the subs would use remote sensing packages, wire guided vehicles equipped with passive and active sonar that allowed the Mondothian submarines to stay safelyout of reach while keeping tabs on the perimeter of Aequation submarines.
Farter out, Missile subs continued taking potshots, though after the failure of the Thors to do any signifigant damage, the missiles were of considerably cheaper make, Ares class missiles that were little more than
explosives strapped to rocket boosters and GPS guidance software, just enough to keep the Aequation fleet on its toes, and hopefully to begin to wear them down, or at least use up their anti-missile ammunition. To avoid retribution, the Shadow class missile subs moved constantly, using the GOS guidance systems ability to be fired form a moving launcher to stay ahead of any possible persuers, while Kracken class hunter/Killers stayed behind in ambush for any opportunistic enemy submarines.


Encrypted Message to Kraven Corp. Fleet
From: Anonymous
Via: ESL-5550909(civ)
Encrypt: Public
Decrypt: ****

I have taken the liberty of using a secure and anonymous message service to relay this message so that it may not be used against me in any way. I could be any member of the Al-Kahif governing body or Military Garrison. I am however, in the unique position of having the ear of top officials in both parties.
I believe that it is in neither of our best interests to have the Aequation fleet in control of the island at this point, and while my country-men and the Cravanian alies are doing an excellent job of preventing such an occurence, I would rest better knowing that the mighty Kraven forces where also helping to prevent an Aequation victory. Perhaps if you help the defenders, when it comes time to inact your own will on Al-Kahif, you will not find military force necesary to obtain your desired ends...

When Remmol read Kraven's declaration, he immediately ordered that action be taken. Then he learned that Kraven had fired on Aequatio! He decided to let the two sides duke it out, and have the task force continue on course for southern Al-Kahif.

Jenkins looked over the message presented by the Kraven Corporation Forces, she didn't like the error made by those at the intelligence offices in Arrio that the Corporation would be capable of making such a move. It occured to her though that she, like all the other citizens of Aequatio, that its structure had been smashed beyond recognition by the forces of Automagfreek, she felt foolish for falling for such propaganda. Nonetheless, there now stood a Kraven Corp. fleet with a Superdreadnought of its own looking to do some damage against the Nicklas Schaeffer. She moved to the communications console and spoke with the junior lieutenant to send an encrypted message to Fleet Admiral Hale of Cravan. She decided not to send a message to the Kraven Corporation fleet as it would be futile to try and negotiate with them, the only contact she would allow with the Corporation would be from the shells and munitions provided by the fleet.

--Encrypted A-SAT Network Transmission--

To Fleet Admiral Martin Hale, (CIN)

With the arrival of the Kraven Corporation forces, which outnumbers both the forces of our respective fleets, I believe that our priorities lay not in the mission, as it would be in my case, or the force projection in defence of national interests in your case, but in the whole protection of those under our commands against the aggression of the Kraven Corporation. I have been given the authority from the President's office to ask that we extend our ceasefire to deal with the threat posed by the Corporation as well as enter into negotiations in the aftermath of the operation.

Vice Admiral Katherine Jenkins, (ARN)

Major Brown stepped out of his Wolf humvee and walked up to a young captain who had called for a halt of advance for the entire column as it was getting ready to move from its assembly point at the foot of the first hills which were designated Phase Line Zero, he approached the young officer who was standing beside a Viking armoured carrier surrounded by other Marines, "What's the fucking hold up, Captain?"

"Sorry, Sir, my first platoon's vehicles took a hit from an anti-tank missiles and many of them were killed by snipers, I don't want to move the rest of the company ahead and have the same thing happen," Replied the young man, "What do you think I should do?"

"Didn't they teach you anything in training?" Brown shook his head in utter disbelief before grabbing the handset from the company's radioman, "Sledgehammer, this is Piper Six, requesting fire mission at coordinates three-zero-two at seven-four-niner, terrain is unfriendly to Hotel Echo, suggest November-Golf Twenty, fire for effect, over."

A moment passed as the Major waited with the handset to his ear until the response came through, "Roger that, Piper Six, rounds on the way, suggest you get plastic, over."

"Roger that," Brown responded, knowing full-well that the words 'get plastic' meant for everyone to go to Level 4 MOPP, before turning to the company and shouting, "GET PLASTIC, WE GOT NG-20 COMING IN!" Immediately, and almost on cue, the Marines pulled their protective masks from their carrier bags to put them on and fix the hoods inside their over-jacket.

Brown ordered the company forward on his command as he returned to his humvee and sat in the passenger seat and put on his protective gloves. He listened to the radio as the artillery officer, who was positioned on the beach with his battery of M777 155mm guns, called back on the radio, "Piper Six, this is Sledgehammer... Splash, over." The major looked out the window as he heard the shells pass over and airburst over what was presumed to be the Mondothian positions into thick white clouds that slowly fell to Earth, he smiled from inside his mask as he ordered the company forward with the Banshee main battle tanks in lead and the infantry following behind riding atop the Viking armoured carriers. This was going to be quick.

Lieutenant-Colonel Terry had heard over the channels that a few lead elements had called for the divisional artillery to use NG-20 shells against enemy positions, she shuddered as she remembered back to chemical operations orientation and the lecture on the chemical agents. Her battalion moved forward, leading the way for her regiment with the rest of the 15th Marine Division as it pushed forward North towards the Al Kahif Naval Base. She received reports that snipers and anti-tank units were harassing her lead elements and informed her company commanders that close air support units were available and that they were to direct the Marine F-35B aircraft to targets. For these roles, the F-35Bs were equipped with a myriad of munitions, but they mostly carried CBU-110 cluster bombs which were considered the most effective weapon in the Aequatian arsenal against any soft target.

The Navy F-62Ns continued in their fight against the "Ruddies" as their numbers began to drop with fighters being struck by enemy missiles and falling towards the Earth below, parachutes following them. The second wave of F-62Ns got into the fight as though they had already been fighting, knowing that the SF-41s only had so many rear-firing weapon and had used up many of them in the earlier fights, they engaged the Mondothians almost with impunity with their cannons. Seeing the enemy reinforcements approaching, the Navy pilots were called to a position that would bring them closer to the fleet's defences, mainly the MIM-154 missiles that had proved fairly effective already against all threats.

The Blowpipe-class submarines had returned to the fleet and took up their positions on the perimeter to keep vigilant for enemy submarines and report back to the destroyers and ASW helicopters that were lingering, waiting for an enemy contact. Many of the submarines were running decoy torpedoes which provided a similar sonar signature as a full-size attack submarine, hoping that an enemy boat would take a shot at one and reveal its position. Getting wise to the potshots being taken at them from the random enemy missiles, the fleet's missile cruisers began allocating targets to specific ships while others, running alongside the supply vessels, began to replace fired vertical-launch cells. The Reaper itself had depleted its cache of MIM-154 weapons to only a single row of ten missiles.

Encrypted Message to Kraven Corp. Fleet
From: Anonymous
Via: ESL-5550909(civ)
Encrypt: Public
Decrypt: ****

I have taken the liberty of using a secure and anonymous message service to relay this message so that it may not be used against me in any way. I could be any member of the Al-Kahif governing body or Military Garrison. I am however, in the unique position of having the ear of top officials in both parties.
I believe that it is in neither of our best interests to have the Aequation fleet in control of the island at this point, and while my country-men and the Cravanian alies are doing an excellent job of preventing such an occurence, I would rest better knowing that the mighty Kraven forces where also helping to prevent an Aequation victory. Perhaps if you help the defenders, when it comes time to inact your own will on Al-Kahif, you will not find military force necesary to obtain your desired ends...


The Kraven Fleet put forward a message in response...

"Your Proposal Interests us... Continue..."

The Fleet continued to sit silently, not once showing a single sign of life, apart from the internal workings of various Transport vessels that continued to load up assault boats with Capitol Police ready for the coming conflict...

Seeing the enemy fighters lining themselves up for another attack run, Major Webb ordered the grouping of F-62A aircraft to each engage an individual target and keep contact with it until destroyed or withdrawn. Without giving the enemy a chance to fire first, the Aequatian fighters each fired two AIM-154 missiles at the PC-26 aircraft and then broke their formation for evasive maneuvers to evade reprisal.

As the fighter battle raged on, the C-17 and C-130J aircraft had finally moved on their landing zones and the call went out throughout the fleet of aircraft to perform the jump and the skies filled with parachutes as the two airborne divisions deployed at their respective landing zones, the 4th Division dropping just Southwest of Lewis Air Force Base while the 5th Division dropped to the Northeast of the base. Captain Bowles watched the light change from the red lamp to the green as the aircraft's loadmaster gave a thumbs up and watched as the Captain jumped through the door and felt the jolt of his canopy open before starting to drift below to the ground, he looked up to see the rest of his anti-tank company following while his humvees also drifted down thanks to the parachutes mounted on the palletes they sat on. He turned and looked at the ground below, mentally preparing himself once he hit the dirt and the ensuing fight that would surely follow.

A message was recieved by the Aequatian fleet from Hale.

I concur, Admiral, and the Emperor has already agreed to this. He's also preparing a delegation for negotiations to a permanent cease-fire after the Kraven Corp forces have been dealt with. We are currently waiting on two more battle groups to make their way to the AO, and I've already informed them to keep low and move to the north to avoid Kraven's forces. I eagerly await your response.

Admiral Hale

Admiral Jenkins received the message from Hale and sent a response. Although she would soon move the fleet into a position to strike at the Corporation's vessels, it maintained its defensive posture against the Mondothian ships, especially the submarine threat.

--Encrypted A-SAT Network Transmission--

To Fleet Admiral Martin Hale, (CIN)

Along with our forces deployed, we have a second task group with another Aequatio-class superdreadnought and three fleet carriers, however, they are still six hours away. As the Nicklas Schaeffer presents the largest threat against their fleet and is the most visable, that Aequatian forces form a battleline in order to counter the Corporate threat with Aequatian and Cravanian aircraft supporting operations.

Vice Admiral Katherine Jenkins, (ARN)

Unofficial Communique to Admiral Jenkins

I have put in a request for the deployment of one of our Triton-class ships, but I have not recieved any word on this. The Triton isn't as large as your Aequatio-class ships, but God damn are they speedy little suckers. I'll get back to you with any details on other deployments.

Also, I have recieved word from Cravna that the Emperor has given me the authority to negotiate a permanent cease-fire, since Kraven has been rearing its ugly head in other areas of interest of my nation. I don't have any details, but apparently the area where they are threatening is a nation of mutual interest between our nations.

Hale watched as the last SAR team returned to the nearby carrier. All active beacons had been picked up. An exact count of those pilots lost could now be made.

He knew his hand would be sore tonight writing letters to the families.

Encrypted Message to Kraven Corp. Fleet
From: Anonymous
Via: ESL-5550909(civ)
Encrypt: Public
Decrypt: ****

Given your nations formiddable reputation. The Mondothian government might be willing, given the proper application of political pressure, to surrender signifigant rights over Al Kahif, including rights to the oil fields, copper mine and land developments.


The Beach Defense

Even as the white clouds were sinking towards earth, the marine fire-teams pulled on their NBC hood/masks and sealing them against the uniform. Quickly and effectively checking for any breaks in the NBC layers of their uniforms. Any who lagged grabbed for the auto-injectors strapped to their legs and pushed the needles into the vein filled arm, administering emergency doses of a veritable stew of chemicals and engineered bacterium designed to defeat the widest possibel variety of common chemical and biological weapons, including G series nerve toxins. The side-effects were intense but very short lived; naseau, headaches and dizzyness for a few minutes and then slowly dissipating over the next few hours. But the soldiers stayed alive.

As the fighters started their cluster bombings, they were met by merlin shoulder fired anti-air missiles, fast and maneuverable the small missiles used a combination of all-aspect long IR and MMW sensors to punch through countermeasures.

Offices of Admiral Noda

The reports were still coming in from field teams. White clouds from Aequation artillery, medics equipped with field spectrometers that could identify the chemical compound confirmed the presence of G-series nerve toxins. In a way he was glad, the Aequation class ship lingering off shore had been worrying him and now he had automatic clearance to use his tactical arsenal to take care of the problem.
He made the call, distributing the arming codes and letting his missile sub commanders know to ready their nuclear missiles.

The Air

although fuel and missiles were running low and enemy fire had taken their toll, the Mondothian pilots were still in the air and fighting, using 25mm guns when missiles ran out. The fight was definately not going the Mondothians way. Luckily it was then that the reiforcments showed up. The SF-41s were beggining to break off, needing fuel to continue the fight. Normally this would be a suicidal retreat in such a visciou aerial battle, however, now they had back up. Coming in fresh from the air-base having just refueld after the transit from Mondoth, a flight of SX-24s, Mondoths premier fighter aircraft. The Spider's made an impression in the aerial battlefield like nothing else, the revolutionary airframe made it look like something that belonged in a sci-movie, but that was only when you could sea it, along with the revolutionary air-frame was the skin that covered it, a Liquid Crystal Display layered over the fighters skin and linked to Electro/Optical sensors that measured the ambient light and weather conditions to project a spontaeneously generated camoflauge design that made it incredibly hard to spot visually, trying to find it on radar made its visual stealth seem like day-glo orange. Otherwise, the SX-24 was more conventional than the poorly conveived SF-41, without rear-firing weapons or low-altitude engines.
The 'Spiders' roared in on supercruise, taking up the slack and supplanting the 'Ruddy Hawks' letting them escape to safety.

Lewis AFB

They knew that Aequation forces had parachuted to somewhere on the island, but not exactly where. So while RS-12's were dispatched to scan the island for the invaders, Marines were ferried to the Air base to beef security. Setting up machine-gun nests, ambushes and armored vehicle patrols, they began turning the base into a fortress and patrolling the surrounding area incase the enemies were able to avoid detection by the reconaisance drones searching for them.

The Fleet

The Bombardment continued. Missile subs rising and firing a short salvo of Ares low cost stand-off missiles, slowly wearing the Aequations down.
Underwater the story was the same, decoys were continuosly sent into the Aequation submerine perimeter, acting like Mondothian subs for as long as an hour before falling silent and drifting slowly to the ocean floor. Soon it would be time to take the offensive, but for now, it was time to put the Enemy on the defensive, keeping them alert until the hours piled up and continuous alert dgraded the performance and opened vital holes that the Mondothians could exploit.

Major Brown was annoyed that he had become the de facto executive officer of the forward battalion as it pushed against the Mondothian soldiers. He had effectively taken command of the battalion's maneuver elements after the first had been killed by an enemy sniper, an incident that made him thankful he refused to wear any rate insignia on his uniform, and ordered the infantry to move in behind the tanks which would protect the other vehicles from anti-tank weapons thanks to their Sword active protection systems. The Invincible and Inflexible remained off the coast to provide heavy fire support to the forces ashore and Brown was ready to take advantage of this fact, he called for the battleships to fire their standard high-exposive rounds while complimented with the 155mm guns on the beach firing DPICM rounds that would rain over the area with several hundred hand grenade-sized submunitions effective against infantry and light forces. Once he had received word from the battery commander that the round were on their way, he ordered his forces forward, avoiding the obvious kill zones within the open fields and prefering to move along the surrounding hills, effectively flanking many of the enemy positions that was slowing his battalion's advance.

The Marines of the 15th Division weren't seeing as staunch resistance as to those in the South, although things weren't going as easy as they would have liked. Many of the F-35B aircraft were engaged by the Merlin SAMs just as they began their attack runs and many were able to easily avoid the weapons simply by breaking hard and allowing the missiles to pass, although few were not as lucky, being struck by the missiles and falling towards Earth, followed by the trademark parachutes of ejected pilots. After the initial volley of fire from the ground, the Marine pilots went in on their attack runs, dropping their munitions on the enemy, ranging from cluster bombs to standard high-explosive. The pilots could almost feel the thunder below as the weapons struck their targets thanks to the satellite guidance.

Upon hearing reports that the Marines inland had deployed NG-20 Nerve Agent against the Mondothian forces, Admiral Jenkins immediately ordered that the detection network be strengthened so that it would be more capable of detecting enemy missiles which would more than likely carry tactical nuclear warheads due to the traditional escalation that follows the deployment of unconventional weapons. The entire defensive network of the Nicklas Schaeffer was activated down to the last gun and sailor, from the 205mm guns to the 40 and 30mm automatic cannons. Despite the seemingly infinite number of defensive guns and systems, Jenkins couldn't help but feel a little nervous as the message of the NG-20 deployment was sent to Central Command in Aequatio.

The anti-submarine forces began to establish patterns in the deployment of the enemy missiles launched against the fleet, SH-60 helicopters flew low over the water and dropped sonar buoys which were set to disregard larger signatures of submarines and decoys and were designated to only detect smaller disturbances underneath the surface similar to that of an underwater missile launch. While the first of the helicopters was moving over the water under cover of the F-62N fighters, a second wave of SV-22 Osprey aircraft were lingering behind. The SV-22 aircraft were armed with high-speed depth charges which were set to detonate at a submarine's launch depth, these were chosen in place of the traditional light torpedo as the enemy subs were already proving too elusive to be tracked and would be unable to defend or evade older, dumb munitions.

Seeing the enemy aircaft retreating back towards the island, the remaining F-62N aircraft of the first and second waves took the opportunity to withdraw themselves towards their carriers as they moved into the coverage zone of the outer perimeter of the Erschoff-class destroyers which prepared both their MIM-154 missiles and 155mm DP guns. The F-62Ns moved to lower altitudes so as to increase their speed and allow the gunners aboard the vessels to target the enemy aircraft which were certainly higher up. From the decks of the carriers a third wave of F-62N was prepped for launch to cover the withdraw of the other aircraft.

Bowles had never gotten used to landing and hit the ground hard before going into a half roll. Immediately he was on his feet with his G6 carbine in hand as he moved towards the assembly zone where his company's Wolf humvees had landed, other soldiers were quickly undoing the parachutes and drove the vehicles off the palettes. The captain entered his command humvee as he saw First Sergeant Knox directing one of the infantry platoons from behind an M90A2 20mm autocannon, Bowles ordered his driver to start towards the airbase, as they were ahead of the battalion and would peirce the perimeter defences and hold until their reinforcements had arrived. The grouping of light vehicles started off in the direction of Lewis Air Force Base as the captain bit off the end of a cigar and lit up, he was going to enjoy this mission.

To the Southwest, Staff Sergeant Reid, an assistant within an infantry platoon was moving along with the forward elements of his battalion as they pushed on towards the airbase, he noticed something flying in the distance from the rear of the M35 truck when he called for the entire platoon to stop and the weapons platoon to move forward, the RS-12 drone glided slowly as a three teams of two paratroopers each, armed with Starstreak HVM launchers took aim and fired a salvo of three missiles towards the target. Just as they were upon the UAV, the missiles' warheads split open and each fired off three kinetic-energy darts against it. Reid got on the radio and before long, the rest of the first brigade that was on the ground was alerted to the presence of the drones and were taking actions to eliminate them upon detection.

OOc: sorry for the wait, been busy again, might not be bale to ost again this weekend.

The Fleet
The counter-offense against the 'Shadow' guided missiles subs was quite successful for a while, but after the loss of a few subs at launch depth, the subs started to run deeper, below the effects of the Depth Charges. They also slowed down the pattern of launches, enlarging the area the Aequations would have to cover before a launch. But the SUbs were about to become superfluos anyway.

The 'MNS Unyielding Honor', a Cerberus class SDN on loan to the Mondothian Navy was within a day of reinforcing the fleet, already the fore-runners of its standard defensive force, the 566th battle fleet were fanning out and readying to take position with the units already in formation around the Aequation fleet. But Noda wasn't waiting for his reinforcments to begin the attack.
Without warning the Destroyers jetted forward, accelerating quickly to flank combat speed, twelve inch guns swivelling to fire while Missile quads fired Nautilus high-speed anti-shipping missiles. Lingering near the edge of the rapidly developing fight, the Guided Missile cruisers began firing off salvos of Zeus stand-off missiles which rapidly soared to altitude befor efiring off their SCRAMjet hypersonic engines and tipping over in a near ballistic trajectory towards the Aequation fleet. Unlike the Thor missiles, these did not emit their own jamming, they relied on the electronics war-fare systems on the Hermies class destroyers bearing down on the Aequation fleet. The Zeus missiles had two other key differences from the missiles that had been used up to this point against the Aequation forces, one was a row of miiture solid rocket fuel boosters arrayed pseudo randomly around the missile; as soon as missiles were within range of defenses, the boosters began igniting one after the other, pushing the missiles into randomly jerking maneuvers to avoid being easy targets for any-sort of defenses, To ensure a solid hit, even after the distresses of the anti-defensive maneuvering, each missile carried a MMW terminal guidancesystem that would keept he missiles from drifting too far from their targets. The other key difference was one the defenders wouldn't be able to appreciate until the missiles detonated, that is, many of the missiles, espescially those targetting the two Aequatio class vessels, were equipped with 5 kiloton nuclear warheads.

Only after the initial salvos done with did the 'MNS Undying', the Mithril class dreadnaught, take to the fight, firing its 16in guns, loaded with extended range guided munitions to outreach counter-attack by enemy gunships to deploy pin-point accurate supporting fire while its missiles tubes joined the barrage of Zeus type missiles.

The Air Battle
Seeing the withdrawl of the F-62Ns, the reinforcing SX-24s took the opportunity to take command of the skies, ignoring the retreating aircraft and, establishing heavy patrols while signalling for the launch of a pair of E/A-20s to re-establish firendly control of the skies. when the next wave of fighters emerged, they would find the sky full of fighters ready for them.

The Beach Defenses
With the fighter attacks and enemy artillery, the front line of shore defenses finally dissolved, only a few fire teams remained in ambush while the majority were either dead or retreating. The next line however, the virtual wal of armored vehicles, was ready and waiting. At the rear of the lines of armor the Artillery began to weigh in on the battle again, engaging in saturating fire against the approaching lines and engaging in counter-battery fire whenever one of the remaining fire teams got a track on the incoming enemy artillery.
seeing the reliance on F-35Bs taking CAS roles, the Air-defense units were brought forward, settign up pedstal mounted SAMs reasdy to engage the enemy fighters as soon as they appeared.

Lewis AFB
It was very frustrating, watching the RS-12s get shot down usually before they could gather much about the forces that had landed. However, the defenders were able to get a vague outline of the advance towards the air-field and it was decided that somethign had to be done.
Knowign that the enemy was armed with plenty of anti-air missiles, the first defense was several flights of PC-26 UCAVs configured as 'wild weasel' type fighters, armed with HARMs and a variety of other anti-missile weaponry, they moved in covering the projected advance routes and sweping for the signs of any sort of anti-air weaponry. Following that came the CAS fighters, AF-39 panthers loaded with cluster bombs, heavy 30mm gattling cannons, lighter 15.5mm guns and plenty of counter-measures, armor and jamming ready to take huge amounts of punishment. The CAS pilots were ready to zero in on any enemies spotted by the PC-26s, blanketing the area with supressing fire.

OOC: Post coming later tonight or sometime tomorrow.

OOC: I need Kraven to post here if I am to continue...

The Radar network systems warned crews as the destroyers moved forward and fired their weapons. The Advance-class cruisers went to work as they tracked and assigned targets to individual ships, the HSSAMs fired and were able to knock out many of the enemy shells but the Radar network was found to have difficulty in tracking the Nautilus missiles. The vessels hit by this enemy volley were those of Task Force 302, those around the Schaeffer, including the submarine tender RNS Wallick and the destroyers Betty Brooks and Mickey Warner, but the damage was merely superficial, leaving them still combat capable.

Just as Admiral Jenkins had received reports that the final battleline had been established, a young junior lieutenant approached her with another piece of paper which brought a smile to her face despite the attack that was underway by Mondothian forces. Vice Admiral Neil's task force had arrived, along with the much needed RNS Thomas Kaye, one of Schaeffer's sisters, which would lengthen the battleline and bring about fresh crews to the fight, forming the Southern end of the line parallel to the Mondothians. Her smile disappeared once the contacts began approaching the fleet and she witnessed the carnage unfold before her eyes.

Although invisible, the high-intensity beams of the 2.6MW and 500kW Falltech Laser CIWS systems aboard the Schaeffer and Kaye were able to eliminate the Zeus missiles which the two vessel's guns were unable to engage, many of the missiles aimed at the ships simply fell to pieces and down towards the ocean. Although the Aequatio-class vessels were well-protected, some of the Zeus missiles broke though and spread chaos throughout the fleet's vessels, two destroyers along the outer perimeter of Task Force 303, the Marley Jenner and Victoria Sadley were caught in the flash and detonation of a tactical warhead, which swallowed up the two vessels and eliminated their signatures from the multi-static network. Admiral Jenkins did not need to see the report handed to her as she saw the light from the blast from her position on the bridge, knowing all too well that the same might have happened to her own vessel if not for the superior Falltech systems. Utterly stoic, she immediately sent a dispatch to the Aequatian Central Command:

mondothian navy deploy tac-nuke, two ddgn lost... request deployment for fleet nuclear arsenal.

Just as aircraft were returning to the decks of the carriers, forty-eight F-62N fighters were deployed from the arriving carriers and made their way to the airspace currently occupied by the SX-24 aircraft. Making sure to be the ones to fire the first shots, they prepared their AIM-154 missiles from more than a hundred kilometres away, each fighter locking their two missiles onto individual targets before launching a vollet against the Mondothian aircraft. Despite the increase in their signatures, they fired their afterburners in order to close their distance so they could deploy their AIM-120 missiles at a closer range.

Major Brown watched as a platoon of infantry and their armoured carrier straffed a section of wood as they marched forward, knowing that the enemy had finally broke and ran from this point to their next defensive perimeter. Reconnaissance teams kept watch over the Mondothian armoured battleline and warned field commanders of the threat, it was with this warning that the call went out to form their own battleline of armoured vehicles, including Hornet IFVs and Banshee MBTs, in hulldown positions with support of low-flying AH-16 gunship helicopters that jutted out from behind low hills and sections of trees to isloate a target and fire an infrared-guided Mace KEM that had replaced the standard Hellfires normally carried. Major Brown was listening to the radio channel when the call went out, "Load sabot and prepare for targets."

The M777 artillery batteries had been mauled by the Mondothian artillery and primary fire support duties went to either the battalion-level 120mm mortars mounted on armoured vehicles or the two Indomitable-class battleships offshore. Lieutenant-Colonel Terry had watched a number of the F-35B aircraft being knocked down by SAMs and called for her forces to take up a battleline much like the forces of the 3rd Division had done to engage the enemy ground forces. She stood at the side of her vehicle, still in full MOPP gear like the infantry around her, on the radio with a forward officer as along series of loud concussions was heard as the 120mm automatic mortars fired their heavy shells against enemy positions.

OOC: Post for the airborne forces coming soon along with a few other things.

Klaxons erupted around the Illustrious when a nuclear detonation was detected in the Aequatian fleet.

"Dear God... Mondoth is getting desperate. That or insane."
"Sir, Imperial Command has requested an update."
"Tell them the Aequatian fleet just got nuked."
"Aye, Admiral."

He watched the distance, where only moments earlier a bright flash had overwhelmed his eyes, then subsided.

I wish I could help, Jenkins. But we can't spoil relations with Mondoth. And my only target here now is that Kraven fleet.

Colonel Jack Cohen had barely left his debriefing from his strike against Al Kahif when there came a call over the public address system of the airbase, "We are now at DEFCON ONE, TRINITY ACTIVATED, all personnel to their stations!" He tossed his cup of coffee into a wastebasket as he took off in a sprint to the hanger which housed his aircraft. He exited from the personnel building and jumped onto the back of a cargo-configured humvee before it drove off towards the hanger facilities with the other aircrews.

Ground support crews were loading black weapons canisters with a complete absence of markings or insignia as Cohen disembarked from the humvee and knew exactly what his mission would be as he approached his bomber. Within minutes he was in the aircraft and queued up for take off from the base for targets they would receive once they were in the air. Like the other seventy-one aircraft of his squadron, they set their course for Al Kahif.

Watching the events unfold for sometime now the Kraven fleet sat ready, it had watched the struggle between the various fleets like a child watching two insects struggle in combat, it had watched with silent glee, its unseen Commanders watching and Calculating every angle and possibility...

For hours the "Mimir Class" tracking ships had mapped out the different ships of The Enemy fleet, until the Kraven Commanders had an accurate map of their Command Ships, Carriers, and Dreadnaughts...

The Four tier fleet continued to sit, until the Commanders finaly decided to act...

"Standing Orders... Open Fire..."

The First wave came from the Super Dreadnaught, the Annihilator Class, its quad 25" cannons launched shell after shell in distinct harmony, while its Missile systems got a tracking lock on numerous ships, the large Anti Shipping missiles were fired in continuous symphony...


while the smaller destroyers, battle cruisers and battleships also opened fire with their various smaller caliber weaponry, dedicated missile ships launched a torrent of missiles towards the fleed that had now been designated the enemy..

however, part of the fleet, the ones that had been silently loading up Assault Boats, launched them, sending them towards the shore facing the fleet..

The Fleet had made its move and Aequatio would feel the full brunt of the Kraven fleet...

"Kraven fleet engaging Aequatian forces!"

Hale looked at the various status monitors around the bridge, and watched as the massive fleet fired off its first salvo.

"Continue to hold a low profile, and tell the fleet to the north to keep low, too."
"Aye, Admiral."

OOC: AUUUGH accidentally deleted my post, will repost in this spot tomorrow

OOC: Posts coming, sorry, things are just backing up like crazy.

OOC: okay, now I'm rcovering from a minor system crash, should have my post up either later tonight or tommorow morning.

Staff Sergeant Reid had received orders from his company's captain to hold his current position and only engage enemy forces if they approached. There had been radio silence called and many of the soldiers were worried, especially the offiicers who knew that radio silence calle for after a nuclear attack meant that Central Command would be transmitting launch codes to pilots in the area. Reid sat within a patch of trees with his squad and a weapons team armed with a Starstreak launcher, their vehicles sat behind them so as not to expose their positions.

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Captain Bowles was standing next to his humvee when the call came to halt, his company took up a line formation. A weapons platoon with Starstreak missiles moved up to the forward position and took their place on the line to wait for the enemy aircraft.

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Colonel Cohen was flying at 30,000 metres as he set his final course for his target, his aircraft carried two BGM-170B Phoenix air-launched cruise missiles which were each carrying 15kT nuclear warheads. His target, like most of the bomber squadron's aircraft, would be strategic targets on the island. He would be striking at Lewis AFB in order to knock out the Mondothian's air capability. He looked at the screen that marked his aircraft's course as he approached the island's coastline.

OOC: Post coming for Kraven Corps attack.

OOC: and then my ISP decided to quit... Its back now (obviously) but darn, this is getting crazy.

IC:

Admiral Noda had been watching the corner of his screen where the Kraven fleet lingered ominously with no little trepidation. But finally, the Kravens had made a move and he nearly shouted with joy as their target became clear. His gamble had paid off in spades.

The Fleet

The trick was one of the earliest employed by Mondoth's navy. Back then the smoke was generated by simply burning big vats of oil to produce a thick black cover, but eventually health problems, the rising costs of oil, and advances in chemical science made that method obsolete, but not the smoke screen as a naval strategy. Now the obscurant was not even really smoke, but obscurants made from various chemical reactions and dumped into the air from vents specially designed to give the particles a nice, even cover. 8in. shells were also employed to spread the dense chemical fog into the Aequation fleet. The fog was not really harmful to people, but it had several unpleasant effects on things like lasers, especially LIDAR, and was even pretty solid to some bands of Radar, a s well as obscuring IR and other light intensification very effectively. Visually the cover was thick and gray, obscuring anything beyond a few feet like conventional fog. However, the Modnothians had trained under this cover, their radar was not on the bands obscured by the fog and they didn't use LIDAR or laser based CIWS systems. Using the fog as a screen, as well as a variety of decoys and radar jammers, the Destroyers pressed the attack. Behind them came the Cruisers, using targeting data transmitted by the destroyers over the secure Shadow-net the Cruisers were able to continue the missiles attack, forgoing nuclear weapons too near the friendly destroyers, they kept to more conventional weapons. As they closed, the cruisers began another volley, this time though they were in range to use the most effective weapon in their arsenal. The Shrike hyper-sonic sea skimming missiles. Using a hybridized low altitude Scramjet thruster, the Shrike missile carries a warhead easily capable of snapping most modern war-ships in half. On a sea-skimming trajectory the missile would be lost in the scatter from the continuous wave action to all but the most complex missile defense systems, many of which hardly even bothered with defending against sea-skimming profiles despite such deadly adversaries as the earlier Exocet and Sunburn missiles that had given rise to the design of the Shrike. The drawbacks to the extreme high speed plus the large warhead were evident in the short range and the bizarre launch profile that required the Mondothian cruisers to carry a specially designed Angled launch system. The dividends though came as a deadly ship-killer.

The Air Battle
With the AIM-154s at the edge of their flight envelope, dodging them was easy for the state-of-the-art SX-24s. Even so, with the number of pilots in the sky and the speed of engagement, accidents were bound to happen. The accidents came in the form of four clipped fighters that would have to limp back home, surprisingly light. Before the fighters turned off though, they let loose with some AIM-197LRs, an action followed by the rest of the 60 odd 'Spiders' that had been called to replace the 'ruddies'. After the 197LRs were in the air, the Mondothian fighter element followed up, charging into the fight with cannons and missiles armed.

The 'MNS Unyielding Honor' task force
Most of the task force had went ahead to help with the battle against the Aequation fleet, but the Unyielding Honor itself, along with a small escort group stayed back both as a back stop and to project force over other areas of the battle through various operations, including supplying additional SX-24s to the air battle and supplying a corvette group to help with the beach defenses.

The Corvette group's primary mission was to take out the fire support provided by the two indomitable class Aequation ships. For this, each of the 8 ships loaded up on four small patrol craft called 'tiger-sharks'. These SWATH vessels offered many of the same advantages as marine attack/patrol helicopters only in a stealthy, low level package that could operate continuously for up to a week with up to three rotating crews, or a small marine boarding/customs force. For this mission though the 'Tiger-sharks' were loaded with deadly Shrike missiles.
The Corvettes stopped outside the battleships sensor range and unloaded the smaller stealthy patrol craft which continued on in full stealth mode to launch points close in to the two battle ships.

The SHore Defenders

The Tempest type AFVs and many of the Gorrilla type IFVs carried the Buckler active defense system and remained largely unharmed by helicopters attacks. The Mortars and battleship guns were a different matter though. To deal with the Mortars wasa job that fell to the artillery batteries which promptly engaged in counter-battery fire with cluster munitions to get any near-by enemy artillery support. As soon as it was clear the Aequation landing force was closing in to the armored battle line, the AH-71s and AH-43s were dispatched, the AH-71s were stealthy light attack/recon helicopters that stayed below the crest of the hill, using their mast mounted sensors to peack over searching for enemy positions and either calling in artillery or one of the much heavier AH-43s to deal with the enemies. For self defense the helicopters carried Air to Air variants of the Merlin missile as well as their 20mm cannon and 2.75in rocket pods. the AH-43s also carried the Merlin Air to Air missiles, but with a much heavier payload, they had a variety of guided surface attack weapons nad a 30mm cannon for tank-killing.
The armored line itself bellied down, dug in and began drawing lines of sight ont he approaches to their position. a few AH-71s were tasked to stay back and defend against mor enemy helicopter attacks and the mounted infantry detachments spread out into positons that would allow them to coninue the sniping and anti-armour missile firing while Centurion heavy infantry groups along with some of the tougher regular infantry groups stayed back to act as a more traditional mounted infantry unit.

AAWACs flight 17894
The radar operators were for the most part busily managing the devloping air-battle between the SX-24s and the enemy F-62Ns, however, knowing that one use of nuclear weapons often warranted a similiar reprisal, several operators were also watching the areas farther out, using the AAWACs defensive IF/A-14 fighter group to bounce bistatic radar signals around looking for more of the Aequation bombers that had caused so much trouble int he early stages of the fight. It wasn't long before the bombers were locatted and the 'Thundercats' were routed in to intercept. This time they had plenty of warning to do the job that the original F-14s had performed so well.

Angling in the Thundercats staed silent, using the passive electro/optical to keep track of the enemy bombers without giving their own position away. Knowing the bombers were most likely carrying nuclear weapons, the Thundercats were armed to preempt the strike with some tactical nukes of their own. Banthor Shadow Extreme range, Scramjet, nuclear air defense missiles, with a 5kt nuclear warhead and 150km of range, the perfect missile for dealing with an enemy bomber formation. Closing silently to 100km, two of the high-speed, long range missiles streaked out from the interceptor group on a path intersecting the imaginary line between the bombers and the shores of Al-Kahif.