NationStates Jolt Archive

The port city of Teriasvof was a reasonably populated city of three million people... and about half of them had decided to make the decision to stage a protest infront of a international news team. Even the cities police were protesting. The cities chief of police didnt however, he hadnt gotten his position by being insubordinate, and called the cities garrison of Intellegince-Consortium Agents... both of the cities two battalions were deployed to the scene.

A Consortium Helicopter hovered overhead, broadcasting the command for the people to return to their homes, the people would have none of it. They were tired of the oppression, of the dissidents disappearing in the middle of the night, they wanted change... they wanted democracy. The Intellegince-Consortiums commander did not hesitate when he told his men to open fire. But the police officers who had been protesting brought their weapons with them. Immediatly, both sides began to exchange fire with SMG fire. There were alot more police officers, and alot less of the Intellegince-Consortium Agents.

By the end, all of the Consortium Agents were dead... none had been left alive, for those who did continued to fire. Within the hour, the entire city was in peaceful revolt... and it was threatning to spread to the neighboring towns. So the Supreme Commander made the ultimate decision to put down the revolt.

Three hours after the revolt reached Ariga, a Artillery Battery moved to within 10 kilometers of the city limits, its ten Self-Proppelled 203mm Artillery Guns deployed, their stabilizers deployed, and each one loaded a five kiliton atomic artillery shells. The shells were set for airburst at 500 feet, and aimed at different parts of the city.

30 seconds later, there were ten immense flashes of light, the entire city was instantly set ablaze. Where the shockwaves intersected, buildings, trees, and people were crushed. 3/5s of the city died instantly, the rest of the people were left injured, crying, and dying. Those few who were uninjured would wander the ruins, waiting for death from starvation, radiation, or thirst to kill them. None of them would recieve help from the rest of Red Tide.

Bump!

"Your Highness, we have a situation," announced Defense Minister Michael O'Neill as he walked into the Lord Protector's reading chamber. Looking up, Lord Protector John Melkovich put down the book he was reading, The First Belistand War. "Oh? Don't tell me that even with Vulcan under construction the Belistandians are getting uppity again."

"No, your Highness, the Belistandians are quite content actually," replied O'Neill, frowning. "The matter actually concerns a nation called Red Tide. They are an oppressive government, the usual disappearences and such. Yesterday, the city of Teriasvof revolted, over half the city's population in fact. The government's response was to raze the city with nuclear artillery. Several million are believed dead."

Melkovich's face paled briefly, before he got control of it, and kept it from displaying the sudden burst of hatred.

"They're too large for us to handle on our own, but we don't need to combat them directly. Start shipping advisors and supplies to any underground groups. Make sure to include some atomic demolition munitions in that."

Encrypted to Red Tide

We watch, we wait, if you need us, just ring.

OOC: I was expecting more of a response.

IC: The weapons shipments would have a hell of a time getting in. Most of Red Tide imports faced rigorious scannings, inspection, and so-on before being let through, although this was less true of exports because they were leaving the country.

How the weapons would reach the various democratic and communist rebel groups in the southeastern rainforests was a very good question. These groups were splintered, under constant assualt from the Red Tide Military, and frequently fought amongst each other.

One last morning BUMP!

Aber Borber, leader of the Rogue Nation of Razat was watching the news, and his face was getting redder by the minute. "This is unacceptable", he yelled. He made a visible effort to calm himself down, and turned to his Minister of Intellegence. "Obviously, we have been lax. While we've been building our nation, we've let evil nations like the Red Tide murder their own citizens. We must take action. What can you tell me about the Red Tide"

The Minister of Intel responded, "They are a very large, powerful, militaristic nation. We don't have any known cells within the Tide, and their own freedom fighters are disorganized".

Borber thought awhile. "Okay, we're going to try to smuggle some of our people into the Tide. If they have a tourist industry, or any immigration, we can slip our people through. They will make contact with the Tide's freedom fighters and get them organized to attack from within. Also, keep our main army ready to move. I'm not prepared to attack them alone, but if anybody else moves against them, we can assist".

OOC: Tag. I will keep an eye on the situation before using this as an opportunity for revenge.

Immigrating to Red Tide would actually be a very easy matter. Emigrating from it would be another story entirely.

The logic was easy: More people=larger workforce and larger military recruiment base. Therefore, immigration was encouraged while emigration was outright banned. As long as the agents didnt bring weapons with them and fille dout the proper forms(which would be filled out on arrival), they would find it incredibly easy to get in.

Presidential Manor, Magna Casa, Aequatian Republic

President Arnold Saltzman was walking through the hallways of the Manor when he was approached by a young man in an Air Force uniform, an intelligence type, "Mister President, we have a situation within Red Tide involving tactical nuclear weaponry," explained the officer as he handed over the paper.

"They used these weapons to quell a protest?" Saltzman asked with disbelief, "Well, call a meeting, I want us to make a move within the hour."

"Yes Sir," said the officer as he saluted and left the President to continue to his office.

----------

RNS Europa

Rear Admiral Albert Stockwell stood on the bridge of the vessel alongside the carrier's commanding officer, Captain Alan Kirkland, as they received word of the multiple detonations within Red Tide, "Guess who gets to go there first?" said the admiral jokingly, refering the the carrier group's current position which made it the closest Aequatian vessels to the nation.

"Well, we are fully prepared, Sir," replied the captain, "We have some of the best crews and the newest vessels."

"True, let's just hope that things won't get out of hand," said Stockwell in a serious tone, "If they used those weapons against their own people, they won't hesitate to use them on a foreign carrier group."

The port city of Teriasvof was a reasonably populated city of three million people... and about half of them had decided to make the decision to stage a protest infront of a international news team. Even the cities police were protesting. The cities chief of police didnt however, he hadnt gotten his position by being insubordinate, and called the cities garrison of Intellegince-Consortium Agents... both of the cities two battalions were deployed to the scene.

A Consortium Helicopter hovered overhead, broadcasting the command for the people to return to their homes, the people would have none of it. They were tired of the oppression, of the dissidents disappearing in the middle of the night, they wanted change... they wanted democracy. The Intellegince-Consortiums commander did not hesitate when he told his men to open fire. But the police officers who had been protesting brought their weapons with them. Immediatly, both sides began to exchange fire with SMG fire. There were alot more police officers, and alot less of the Intellegince-Consortium Agents.

By the end, all of the Consortium Agents were dead... none had been left alive, for those who did continued to fire. Within the hour, the entire city was in peaceful revolt... and it was threatning to spread to the neighboring towns. So the Supreme Commander made the ultimate decision to put down the revolt.

Three hours after the revolt reached Ariga, a Artillery Battery moved to within 10 kilometers of the city limits, its ten Self-Proppelled 203mm Artillery Guns deployed, their stabilizers deployed, and each one loaded a five kiliton atomic artillery shells. The shells were set for airburst at 500 feet, and aimed at different parts of the city.

30 seconds later, there were ten immense flashes of light, the entire city was instantly set ablaze. Where the shockwaves intersected, buildings, trees, and people were crushed. 3/5s of the city died instantly, the rest of the people were left injured, crying, and dying. Those few who were uninjured would wander the ruins, waiting for death from starvation, radiation, or thirst to kill them. None of them would recieve help from the rest of Red Tide.

ooc: you nuke your own city? does anyone else want to kill this man or at least put him into an asylum?

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Official Message to Red Tide Government

Well. You did it again.

You know who we are. You ought to.

We mentioned, a while back, that if you used nukes again we'd get the international community on your collective asses. This meant against your own citizens, not just against other nations.

As of now, therefore, a State of War™ exists between the Concordance and the government of Red Tide; basically, we're going to get rid of you. And we'll round up whatever's left of our old coalition to help us. Except this time, there won't be a compromise.

Reflect on your actions, for they shall be the death of you.

And give our love to the wife and kids, best wishes and all that.

~ Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kari Alhoun is in a videoconference.

On one screen is the face of the Minister of Defense, Henrik A. Ogden; on another, that of the Secretary-General, Andreas Caverra. Alhoun addresses his first question to Ogden.

"What's the basic situation?"

"Here in Czardas, we're already under attack, so we can't do much. However, the Colonial Fleet and Air Force of Silanche are prepared to do what they must." Ogden answers.

"And what is the approximate strength of the Colonial Fleet at Silanche?"

"Uhm... Thirty-seven ships in total."

"Dear God..." Caverra murmurs, amused.

"However, there are approximately one hundred more docked around Singapore, which can put out to sea within a day or two."

"That's slightly better. Slightly." Alhoun grins. "Air forces?"

"The 7th Air Force is fully active, that's 4,608 planes in all."

"Not bad. Ground forces?"

"Very few to aid this rebellion," Ogden says. "Four hundred soldiers, a cow, and the Radical Communist Front of Silanche."

"Hrm, they might be useful," Alhoun says. "Pack them aboard."

"What about allies? We can't very well do this alone..."

"Good point. I'll get in touch with Aequatio, Anagonia, Northrop-Grumman, and Tarlag... and the rest of them. Hopefully they're still around."

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message to all former coalition nations:

We are seeking action against Red Tide, and are interested in knowing if you people would like to join us. Thank you in advance.

~ Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister
~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Red Tide Goverment didnt respond, they were a bit... busy.

They had tried to keep the news from getting to the regular citizens. But when it reached them, there was general anger and the desire for revenge. However, as soon as the first clusters of people began to form infront of the Supreme Commanders Manor, martial law was declared and Red Tidean Infantry Divisions began were moved into the major cities to enforce it. Several dozen revolts were crushed nearly as soon as they began.

In one case, however, the revolt went on long enough to be dealt with more harshly, this was a medium sized town that was immediatly flooded with Phosgene Gas.

We have recently decided to deport some citizens. Every year as befits the traditions of Athenians we kick some people out of our country by vote. We get to choose where they are sent. We want them to have a bad time. Have 100 of our most hated deported citizens. Please describe your immigration process.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message to all former coalition nations:

We are seeking action against Red Tide, and are interested in knowing if you people would like to join us. Thank you in advance.

~ Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister
~~~~~~~~~~~~

To: Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister
From: Heidi Ghoddard, Aequatian Secretary of State

We are aware of the growing situation within the nation of Red Tide and have placed our closest unit, the Europa Strike Group consisting of the fleet carriers RNS Europa and Athena, on alert for deployment to Red Tidean Waters. In addition, President Saltzman has called for a change to Defence Condition Level 3 to be enacted for the mobilization of additional forces.

Official Message Broadcasted on all International Networks - Wire Hack to National Red Tide2 Networks

Offical Message from the Executive Government of the Motherland of Anagonia

People of the International Community:

It has come to my attention that the Tyrannical Government of Red Tide2 has once again oppressed its masses, and initiated genocide within its borders. Agents of the Motherland Intelligence Agency have concluded that the time for watching has ended, and a second War with the Imperial Oppressors should begin once again.

Therefore, with conclusive Satellite Data, and unpresented resources now at our disposal, the Executive Government of the Motherland has decalred a State of War with the Tyrannical Oppressive Government of Red Tide2.

All assets, Nucler/Biological/Chemical and Conventional forces have been mobilized to assit our Coalition Allies of Czarda's. Therefore, only by their need shall we enter. If they should request a Nuclear Strike, we shall Strike. If they request Coventional Strikes, we shall strikes. Land, Air, and Sea has been given command to the Czarda High Command.

Use these assets wisely, our Brethren Allies. You command these forces now.

==Ground Units==

(Battle Tank)
-Main Battle Tank-
100x M102 "Dominance" MBT
5000x Type 42 Medium Tank
800x M1A2 Abrams
400x Challenger I
-Heavy Battle Tank-
800x M60A3 Patton
400x T-72BV
-Medium Battle Tank-
450x T-55M
-Light Battle Tank-
345x Leopard 2 Battle Tank
(Support Tank)
-Troop Support-
380x M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
350x M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle

(Artillery Tanks)
450x M109A6 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer



=Soldiers=
(First Ground Division)
x8,000,000 Anagonian Defense Forces
x500,000 Anagonian Special Forces
x2,000,000 Anagonian Marines
-Troop Support-
500x M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
(Second Ground Division)
x8,000,000 Anagonian Defense Forces
x500,000 Anagonian Special Forces
x2,000,000 Anagonian Marines
-Troop Support-
500x M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
(Third Ground Division)
x8,000,000 Anagonian Defense Forces
x500,000 Anagonian Special Forces
x2,000,000 Anagonian Marines
-Troop Support-
500x M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
(Fourth Ground Division)
x8,000,000 Anagonian Defense Forces
x500,000 Anagonian Special Forces
x2,000,000 Anagonian Marines
-Troop Support-
500x M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
(First Special-Forces Division)
x500,000 Anagonian Military Police
x500,000 Anagonian Elite Forces
x500,000 Counter-Terrorism Forces

==Air Units==

(Air Superiority Fighter)
480x F-22 Raptor
255x Su-27 FLANKER (SUKHOI)
(Fighter)
800x AV-8B Harrier
2500x F-5A Freedom Fighter
(Bomber)
280x B-1B Lancer
(Attack)
250x A-4M Skyhawk
140x F-117A Nighthawk
140x F-111E
(Fighter/Interceptor)
1000x F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel
(Fighter/Bomber)
2200x F-86H Sabre
2000x F-104 Starfighter
2400x F-4 Phantom II
(Multi-Purpose)
870x F-16D Fighting Falcon
870x F-15E Strike Eagle
520x F/A-18 Hornet
420x A-7 Corsair II
(Support)
3000x A-10 Thunderbolt II
2850x Su-25BM FROGFOOT Grach (Rook)
150x ASF-4 Phantom IV
120x ASGF-20 Thunderbolt IV
(Helicopters)
-Attack-
2150x AH-64A Apache
2800x AH-64D Longbow Apache
2000x AH-1F Super Cobra
1840x Mi-28N HAVOC
1350x Mi-24V HIND E
-Multi-Purpose-
850x RAH-66 Comanche
(Utility/Transport)
-Non-Rotary-
400x C-141B Starlifter
400x C-130 Hercules
-Rotary-
500x MH-53J Pave Low III
800x UH-60L Blackhawk
720x CH-47D Chinook
1000x UH-1D Huey Helicopter
850x V-22 Osprey
(Combat Medical)
1000x UH-60Q MEDEVAC

EXPERIMENTAL
100x XF-5 Phantom IV
100x XF-200 Super Starfighter

==Sea Units==

(Aircraft Carriers)
30x XCV-1 Anagonia Class Carrier
(Battleships)
40x BB-61 Iowa Class
(Battle Cruisers)
80x Project 68 Modified Sverdlov Class
Cruisers
32x CG-47 Ticonderoga (TICONDEROGA-class AEGIS Cruisers)
Destroyers
20x DD-963 SPRUANCE-class
20x DDG-51 ARLEIGH BURKE-class (guided missile AEGIS destroyers)
32x DDG-993 KIDD-class
Frigates
20x FFG-7 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class

(Submarines)
Ballistic Missile Submarine
60x 677BDRM Dolphin DELTA IV
45x 941 TYPHOON
45x SSBN-726 Ohio Class
Cruise Missile Submarine
80x SSN-688 Los Angeles Class
80x SSN-671 Narwhal Class
Nuclear
20x SSN-21 Seawolf-class
100x Project 971 Shuka-B Akula Class Attack Submarine
100x Project 671 Victor III Class Attack Submarine
48x SSN-594 Permit Class Attack Submarine
Experimental/Conventional
40x Project 641 Foxtrot Class Submarine
25x ASX-01 Modified Foxtrot Class Submarine
40x SSH-ASX Hydrogen Attack Submarine

NUCLEAR FORCES
ONE Nuclear Strike

Space Forces
ONE Type 54 Ion Cannon Satellite (Skylab Class)
FOUR Coventional and Non-Conventional Spy Satellites

Thank you,
Chief Governor Dunan Ruu

I support the actions of Red Tide! Their dealing with such a revolt will be printed in all of my history books for 100 years! The use of nuclear and chemical weaponry against rebels is a Class A upkeep of the law. My own law says that they must vote for me, and they WILL die if they attempt revolt.

Bravo, Red Tide, Bravo! You have won the support of Hard Rock Beyond!

"Using nuclear weapons against their OWN CITY?!" screamed Prince William. "Those bastards. They won't get away with this!"

"Certainly not, my Prince," replied General of the Air Force Salazar T. Sherman. "Nations are already rallying against them. Why, even the citizens of Red Tide are rising up in rebellion against the government."

"Yes indeed." said the Prince. "I think we ought to help them."

"A fine idea sir. What will it be, a bombing run against their government institutions by a hundred B-52s?"

"The bombers yes, but not the bombs." The Prince grinned a wicked grin. "I think that we should use the capsules."

General Sherman's eyebrows went up in shock. "Are you...sure sir?"

"Yes indeed. And make them Capsule B's as well."

"Yes sir!"

"And don't forget the usual escort."

"Of course." The General bowed and left the office.

An hour later, three E-3 Reconaissance Planes, 100 B-52 Bombers, and 1,000 Su-37s took off from the Yalta Air Force Base.

RNS Europa

Admiral Stockwell watched as two large twin-engine F-1N Averna fighters shot off the catapults and flew off to form part of the defensive perimeter around the carrier group. He looked down on the flight deck and saw other aircraft preparing for launch, including E-2D Hawkeye II AWACS, F-2N Lucifer fighters, SV-22 Osprey and SH-20 Seacat ASW aircraft, each ready to fulfill their roles. He drank from his coffee mug as he turned back to the operations center and looked over the charts displayed on LCD terminals, each monitored the movements of the ships within the carrier group, including the Athena fleet carrier and her air wing, the missile cruiser Shikra and the destroyers Albright and Black and the ASW frigate Mason. Three submarines were also part of the group, including the new fleet sub Barracuda and two hunters Bold and Bulwark. Running alongside the carriers for protection were the support ships Cardwell and Hurst, both vessels were showing their age but only remained in service since there simply wasn't anything to replace them with. Stockwell smiled, "We're ready," he thought to himself.

----------

Presidential Manor, Magna Casa, Aequatian Republic

The most powerful men and women in the Republic were all sitting the large table within the Presidential Manor as their predecessors had done so long ago for previous presidents in times of crisis. President Saltzman sat at the head of the table, to his left sat his government secretaries and on his right were the combined commanders of the Aequatian military. He looked down both sides of the table before speaking, "What can we do here?"

General Krist Von Mann, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, spoke first, "Well, we've gone to Defence Condition Level Three and have called up the activation of our regular units, especially Air Force and Navy units."

Admiral Daniel Thomas, Chief of Naval Operations, spoke as the general finished, "The Europa Carrier Group is prepared for combat operations and can conduct integrated operations with our allies."

"As for deployment of ground forces, what can we do?" Asked the president.

Marine General Robert Warrick spoke up, "The 1st MEF is prepared for immediate deployment due to activation for equipment familiarization, those boys are ready for action, Sir."

Admiral Thomas nodded, "And we have the ships prepared to move, we could have them moving within three days with carrier and battle groups."

"All right, make it so," said Saltzman, "This time we don't stop."

----------

Camp Fowler, Espandor, Aequatian Republic

Colonel Roy Gates, commanding officer of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, had just left a briefing with the other brigade and the divisional commanders of the 1st MARDIV upon the recent mobilization order for the entire unit. He had talked with members of the 15th Division about their deployment to Red Tide during Operation Noble Lion and had made reading the after action reports mandatory for his battalions. He returned the salute to a pair of sergeants as he walked past one of the barracks filled with Marines preparing their personal equipment.

--Rive--
The leader of Usea was watching the TV when the message came up.At the same time a official came in with the offical report."What the,Why is red tide doing this?If they are going to attack the inocent,We must stop them."THe aid said,"There is a international Coalation with the same idea."Then SSu-Mikoyan sent this-
To-International Alliance,Red Tide Goverment
From-SSu Jason Mikoyan,Leader of the Union of Usean Soviet States
The Actions of the red tide and it's corrupt govermant have stept too far.We of Usea know how it is like to be attacked by these hurtfull weapons.So Red Tide,The next move is yours,Do the correct and just thing and give your people freedom.

The smuggling of weapons was rather an easy deal, even with Red Tides' security measures. Those who can smuggle in drugs and other such contraband can just as easily smuggle in weapons. Fishing boats are also a good way to smuggle in weapons, as inspection is a rather more difficult procedure on vast fishing fleets. So it was that Karl Macek and his fellow revolutionaries found themselves in possession of a wide variety of formerly Rosdivan weapons.

"Karl, this is insane! There's an entire division here. Do you honestly think that a couple dozen of us are going to succeed in this attack?" asked Mark, one the aforementioned revolutionaries.

"In this attack? Yes. Remember, we aren't attacking the entire division, just an infantry company. And it's not just us, the rest of the city will be attacking. Now, hand me that bomb, wouldya?"

With a *kwump*, three 60mm thermobaric mortar bombs headed off to the plaza, while a .308 caliber machine gun and numerous small arms began firing at exposed troops.

-------

"Aren't you done with this yet?" John demanded angrily.

"Two more seconds. There, it's attached." Malcom answered.

"Great, let's go. What'd you set it for anyhow?"

"A kiloton. You set the trigger?"

"Yeah. Let's get out of here."

Every bridge towards the city was now rigged with an atomic demolition munition. A magnetic fuze ensured that as soon as a sufficiently large mass, such as a tank or IFV, moved over the bridge, they'd receive a nuclear surprise. The blast wouldn't amount to much at only a kiloton, but the bridge, and platoon crossing it, would abruptly cease to be.

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

To The Corporate Dictatorship of Red Tide2

It is the duty of the Foreign Ministry of the Commonwealth of Rosdivan to inform you that a state of war now exists between our nations.

-----------

"The nations not so blest as thee,
Shall in their turns to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all."

"Is that it?" asked Admiral John Hipper. The coded message in his hand had arrived just a few minutes ago.

"Yes sir."

"Very well. Signal the fleet. We are now at war with Red Tide and shall move in prosecution thereof."

Third Attack Fleet:
3 CVAN73-class fleet carriers
--144 F2O-3 Seacat fighters
--144 A3N-1 Vendetta attack planes.
12 DLN destroyers
4 DDN destroyers
12 SSAN132-class anti-surface ship
3 SSKN ASW subs

OOC: Can we hold off on the new posts until I get to the whole... IC thing.

Anyways, same rules as before, the nuclear weapons detonated in the beginning will be the ONLY ones. Chemical and biological munitions, however, are still allowed.

OOC: Sure, I'm just getting the slow, setup posting out of the way now so I can get in on the fighting when it starts. I agree to the rules, except that any attack on Aequatian soil with chemical or biological agents will result in a much more powerful retaliation, including use of the trinity.

OOC:
I know its a little late, but can i get in on this ?

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Official Message: [ENCRYPTED]

We wish to thank our Anagonian and Aequatian allies for their swift response. As I write this message, Czardaian forces are en route from our Indian Ocean holdings towards northwestern Red Tide, which according to our intel from the last war is the best place to mount a landing; if your forces could link up with ours, our chances of success would increase sixfold, thus bringing liberation to the long-oppressed people of Red Tide. Thank you once again.

A list of Czardaian coalition forces is attached.

~ Kari Alhoun, Czardaian Foreign Minister
~~~~~~~~~~~~


Czardaian Coalition Assets:

Ground Forces -
400 Marines in full combat gear
A cow (one never knows, it might be useful)
7,600 members of the Radical Communist Front, who will blend in well with the rebels due to similar ideals
40 APCs
20 Emperor Mk.II MBTs

Sea Forces -
1x Vistula Class Super Battleship (SBN)
4x Warspite Class Heavy Battleship (BBAN)
4x Czardas Class Command Battleship (BBCN)
4x Aerion Class Supercarrier (CVHN)
8x Salvatore Class Battlecarrier (BCVN)
12x Mjenaz Class Missile Cruiser (CGN)
10x Arsenal Class Missile Ship (AGN)
24x Dorandor Class Destroyer (DDN)
24x Pulsar Class Frigate (FFN)
30x Otter Class Light Sub (SSLK)
16x Dawn of War Class Attack Sub (SSN)
[Surface - 91 / Submarine - 46 / Total - 137]

Air Forces -
7th Air Force
... /Daggers - 2,016x
... /Strikers - 864x
... /Blue Jays - 864x
... /Peregrines - 648x
... /Kestrels - 144x
... /Hailstorms - 72x
... /URAV - 72x
... /UECMAV - 72x
... /Chimaera - 12x
... /Tanker - 80x
... /Supply - 120x
... /HELOs:
...... Gunships - 1,152x
...... Support (Attack) - 2,160x
...... ASW - 864x
[Fixed - 4,964 / Rotary - 4,176 / Total - 9,140]

[More detail to come later, when I get the inspiration. Let's just assume I'm deploying these forces.]

IC: The Wilhelmsborough Raid...

Wilhelmsborough should have done its homework on Red Tide and its air defences. As the bombers, AWACs craft, and their escorts reached within 1,200 kilometers of Red Tidean Airspace, they were instantly detected by Over-The-Horizon RADAR. At 500 kilometers, uncountable amounts of SAM detection and tracking RADARs and LADARs detected them.

Since Wilhelmsborough had not officially declared war on Red Tide, they would be dealt with the same way as Red Tide would deal with any other aircraft... if they cross into Red Tidean Airspace, they would be downed.

As soon as they reached within 11 kilometers of the coast, the warning devices on the Wilhelmsborough aircraft went INSANE as 10,000 Surface-Air Missiles leaped up at them at mach 4. 8,000 of these were the newest version of the MDM-4 Stationary SAM, the other 2,000 were MDM-6s.

The MDM-6 was a new, mobile SAM with a range of 150 kilometers. It was self-guided and had a sophisticated sorting computer on board the missile. The computer would fly the missile dumb until its infrared scanner locked onto a particularly large heat source(such as, say, the exhaust of a jet airplane), at which point the missile would react as would all other Infrared missiles. Each mobile launcher held four of these.

The sheer amount of missiles would garuntee that the Wilhelmsborough aircraft were dead. And just to make the trick the Czardians had played in the last war a one-time only thing, the MDM-4 had been hardened so it would not be affected by EM Waves.

Rosdivans Attack

Rosdivan too, should have done its homework. There was not a single port, beach, or other coastal strip that was not defended by Red Tide, each part of the coast was divided up into sections, and each section was manned by a Brigade(5,000 men) of soldiers. Not to mention all of the towed artillery pieces that the Rosdivan's would be in range of.

The Rosdivanians would instantly be attacked by sufficient firepower to turn a herd of elephants into fine red mist.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM RED TIDE GOVERMENT
"Bring it..."
End Message

"HOLY SHIT! EVERYBODY FALL BACK! FALL BACK NOW!"

The Su-37's turned on a dime and flew back from which they came. The E-3s, which where furthest behind, turned around easily. The B-52s on the other hand swung around, and made turns that strained the structure of those aircraft.

As fast as they could, the Principality aircraft raced away from the Red Tide coast.

OOC: Do you not have a Navy or something? Because given the lack of soldiers embarked, that defense there is pretty useless.

OOC:Wilhelmsborough: The MDM-6 has a range of 150 kilometers and a speed of mach 4, the MDM-4 has a range of 400 kilometers and a speed of mach 4. Me thinks you wont be able to get out there fast enough. Mach 4 is 4,900 kilometers per hour. The fastest plane you have in there(the Su-37) can only move at 2,440 kilometers an hour.

Aequatio: What is Trinity?

Rosdivan: Given the fact that ALL coastal areas(excluding ports and the Western Wastelands, which is another matter) are fortified like this, it IS a effective defense, not to mention that there are tons of more divisions being held in reserve. And yes, I do have a Navy... it just sits in port most of the time :p.

Aequatio: What is Trinity?
It's in his sig.

And methinks we need an OOC thread.

And here it is. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10975546#post10975546)

Archon Doned Hopkins looked at the news with immediate disgust. Apparently, incidents are occuring all over the world. "First the comet-cum-tsunami, now some maniacal rogue state is blasting their own city with nuclear weapons?" He sighed. "Dispatch the escort group of the carrier fleet to the battle zone and open a public communications channel. I wish to make a statement."

[SEVERAL HOURS LATER]

"To the People of Aralonia.
"We already do not condone any nuclear attacks from nation to nation. Aralonian defense forces usually do not take part in matters such as these, but I feel that intervention in this theatre of combat is necessary.
"Several hours ago, the people in the nation of Red Tide underwent a massive revolt, culminating in nuclear bombarment of their own port city.
"Again, we do not condone nuclear attacks, but this type of terror upon their own people cannot be condoned in any way, shape or form.
"The Republic of Aralonia is dispatching a light fleet to this nation. Do not fret about the safety of our people. They are already well-protected against any further nuclear assaults.
"That is all."

[ABOARD AMSDF HARBINGER, HARBINGER-CLASS HEAVY CRUISER]

Captain Hawking sighed. "Very well. Redirect the course our vessels, maneuver to 300 klicks from their coastline. Load dual-stage high-velocity warheads into the capital turrets and ready dual-stage intermediate-range HV missiles. Do what you can to protect our vessels - spool the THEL and ready AHEAD rounds for the 35mm coilguns."

"Oh FUCK! Those missiles are coming at us too fast!"

"We'll never escape them!" moaned another pilot.

"Oh yes we will!" yelled the first pilot. "Don't we have those MOAB-based missiles?"

"Yeah, but that's only one per jet!"

"That's all we need! ALL FIGHTERS! COBRA STRIKE MANUVER!"

At once, the Su-37s turned 110 degrees in the air and flipped upside down. They saw the SAMs coming right towards them.

"FIRE!!"

The missiles shot off the middle of the jets and streaked towards the SAMs. Then, the fighters just as quickly righted themselves and blasted their afterburners.

The missiles streaked towards the SAMs. As one missile made contact, there was a tremendous explosion that tore apart every SAM in range. Missile after missile impacted against the SAMs and the result was the same.

Massive explosions tore through the air. As SAM after SAM exploded in the sky.

"Alright! Calling all B-52s! We got alot of em, but not all! Get your countermeasures ready in case any of them survived!"

"Oh FUCK! Those missiles are coming at us too fast!"

"We'll never escape them!" moaned another pilot.

"Oh yes we will!" yelled the first pilot. "Don't we have those MOAB-based missiles?"

"Yeah, but that's only one per jet!"

"That's all we need! ALL FIGHTERS! COBRA STRIKE MANUVER!"

At once, the Su-37s turned 110 degrees in the air and flipped upside down. They saw the SAMs coming right towards them.

"FIRE!!"

The missiles shot off the middle of the jets and streaked towards the SAMs. Then, the fighters just as quickly righted themselves and blasted their afterburners.

The missiles streaked towards the SAMs. As one missile made contact, there was a tremendous explosion that tore apart every SAM in range. Missile after missile impacted against the SAMs and the result was the same.

Massive explosions tore through the air. As SAM after SAM exploded in the sky.

"Alright! Calling all B-52s! We got alot of em, but not all! Get your countermeasures ready in case any of them survived!"

About 5,000 of the SAMs were destroyed... given the various directions they were coming from, it was pretty difficult to get them all. The rest continued forward, true and true.

To: Red Tide
From: Edltonia

Red Tide, we do not beleive that the other nations actions are justified. The Nation of Eldtonia is willing to offer any and all assistance you require. A list of Military Resources at your disposal:

1800x M60-A4 ( Our own Variant, 105mm main gun, and ERA)
300x F-18E
250x B-52J
400 000 Soldiers, 1 000 000 in 2 weeks

Our Forces aren't large, but we support your position and your sovreignty.

Central Eldtonian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade. (CEDFAT)

The pilot saw that a good number of SAMs had been destroyed...but not enough...

"Alright everybody, that was good, but not good enough! Every split up! Fighters, take your vehicles into a nosedive! Two hundred and fifty of you will dive left, another two-fifty will dive to the right! Full speed straight down! The rest of us, we'll stay with the bombers!

"Attention all B-52s! Prepare the first countermeasure!"

As 500 Su-37s dived left and right, the B-52s released gigantic clouds of liquid nitrogen gas into the air from their tail-ends. These cold gas clouds went towards those SAMs that had followed.

And then, the B-52s dropped 200 small decoy missiles apiece. Their engines did not fire until the SAMs got close. Then their engines started to fire, and the missiles shot this way and that. Some of them even went straight for the SAMs. But their purpose was to attract the SAMs.

OOC:

Know that Main Command Bunker you had that controlled all the defenses? I'm gonna go for that.

IC:

Low Orbit - Skylab Class Ion Cannon Satellite Armageddon - Positioned above Main Command Bunker of Red Tide2

The Skylab look-alike had just finished a turn to allow its solar panels to engage the Sun. Beneath, its bottom spread open in four sections as its top started to transfer the stored energy into a particle beam. The Inner workings of the Ion Cannon had come harmfully alive. Its Central Computer Core had just finished the calculations necessary to initate the firing sequence, and would therefore compute and initiate the proper functions that had been requested of it.

The Imperial-class firing chamber was already bright with a greenish glow. A strong beam of greenish-blue light, the tracer beam, had just shot down to where the Command Center was. A few more seconds of transfering energy, and a powerful blast would unleash itself on its helpless target. Helpess as was found, at least.

The Solar Panels tilted once more, five minutes had past and the sun had changed position around the Horizon. Everything was ready....and the Imperial-class Firing Chamber extended a barrel as its charge had completed. If space could continue sound, a loud hum would be heard as the Cannon held back the particle charge.

Suddenly, and per sequence, the chamber fired. A ball of Ionized Destruction decended down the tracer light, followed by and forward to the Ion Beam itself. Seconds later, an impact ten times more powerful than a 20 MG Nuclear Blast would be uncleashed when it would impact.

Wilhelmsboroughs Attack...

On command, ten thousand more SAMs rocketed out of their launchers and towards the air group.

Another 3,000 missiles were lost to the B-52s decoys, but the rest kept coming.

All Range Command Bunker...

Given the extreme loyalty of Red Tide regular soldiers, non-comissioned officers, and comission officers under the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Red Tide military was more decentralised then most dictatorships. This did not mean that the Military did not deploy a full-scale command bunker to coordinate its conventional forces. This bunker was the second most important bunker in Red Tide, the first was the leadership bunker, whose location was completely unknown to everyone but those who lived there and the top national officials. The number three bunker was Strategi Command, located in the dead center of the country, it controlled all of Red Tides space, nuclear, chemical, and biological assets.

The bunker was located on the area inbetween the Northeastern Mountain Range and the Central Desert. The bunker itself and all within was turned into radioactive gasses. The surrounding area was pulverized, small villages located nearby were wiped out and some native nomads were killed also. The most damage was done to the amount of military generals there. Three Field Marshals, a dozen four star generals, and several dozen three star generals were killed.

However, the loss of communication was noted instantly at the leadership bunker and Strategic Command. Strategic Command had also noticed a sharp energy spike over the location of the All Range Command Bunker. It quickly discovered the source of the energy spike.

A mere three minutes after the Ion Cannon had fired, fifty MDM-5A Anti-Sattelite Missiles rippled out of their launchers, simultaneously, two hunter-killer sattelites exited their orbits to attack a target... the Ion Cannon Sattelite.

“And that concludes our briefing on Red Tide’s naval forces,” Captain Mark Margik finished to the attack squadron commanders. As he looked around, he couldn’t help but notice the incredulous looks on all of their faces. One of them spoke up with a distinct Southern drawl.

“So wait you’re saying, is that they are keeping their fleet inside of harbors where anyone can just go and blow them up rather than massing so that they can provide some utility?”

“Yes. They have a very heavy SAM blanket however, and Intelligence believes that they believe that those land-based defenses are so strong that any attack will fail. Your job is to prove them wrong by attacking the port of Gielmajad and destroying the carrier group stationed there.”


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

It was a full alpha strike by the Rosdivan Third Attack Fleet. All 128 of the Vendetta attack aircraft available were to participate in the strike. 96 Seacats were with them to provide escort, though that wasn’t considered to be all that likely of a need. The fleet was launching the strike from 1100 miles off the Tideian coast, and the planes would only be on radar screens of Red Tides OTH-R for a brief half hour, the latter half of which would be spent returning to the fleet at Mach 2.4 after launching their missiles.

Eighty of the aircraft were carrying a single ASM-GN-43 Claymore missile. The missile would travel 400 miles at 2700mph and 100,000 feet. Then, above its target, it would dive over, crashing into the target at Mach 6. With a titanium cap that, in addition to penetrating target armor, also defended against CIWS, the warhead, equivalent to 3,000 pounds of TNT, would detonate in the bowels of the ship, scattering remaining fuel across the ship to burn. It was a missile intended to quickly takeout superdreadnaughts. Its effect on smaller combatants, such as destroyers or frigates or some of the supply ships in port, did not bear thinking on. As a result, while twenty missiles were targeted on the supercarrier, the rest were divided evenly the smaller ships.

The other twenty-eight attack planes carried eight ASM-N-45 Squeaker missiles each. Devious little missiles, these much smaller missiles were designed to imitate the radar signature of a Claymore perfectly. As a result of their imitation mission, they flew just as far, fast, and high as a Claymore, presenting the defense with hundreds of false targets to enable the real Claymores to reach their target. Within them were two extras. The first was a random target generator. Thousands of targets that were nothing but radar illusions would dance across the screens of Red Tideian radar officers. Sure, an IR guided SAM could ignore the radar hash, but the officers firing it had to know what was a real target and what was not, at Mach 4 and a hundred thousand feet, the Claymores and Squeakers would have only a limited range of vulnerability against a particular battery, and coming in from over the sea, they wouldn’t have to overfly any batteries, further reducing their vulnerability. If a missile was launched at a false image, it would be unable to turn and head towards on of the real missiles. With only 8 minutes from missile launch to target impact, the time available for the Red Tideans to do so was quite limited. The second goodie was an anti-radiation seeker. When their fuel was exhausted, the missile would dive in on an enemy radar station and destroy it with the combined force of their impact and a 20-pound explosive.

If the Anagonian attack succeeded in taking out the defenses, so much the better. Still, it was far better to be prepared to defeat them by oneself.

[ABOARD AMSDF HARBINGER, 300KM FROM SHORES OF RED TIDE]

[Communication channels open - most electromagnetic bands]

"To all ships participating in the active blockade of the nation of Red Tide. This is Captain Daniel Hawking of the Aralonian Marine self Defense Force vessel Harbinger. We offer our services as an armed forces to aid in the blockade. We are able to provide long-range missile bombardment as well as close-in fleet defence. Please reply when able."

OOC: so how many of the remaining missiles followed the 500 jets in their dive?

OOC: 2,000, with 10,000 more following up. And please, use the OOC thread. No more IC posts until I can come up with the losses to Rosdivanians attack.

[OOC: After posting this I realized that Red Tide had requested no more IC posts, or OOC posts in this thread. So, in essence, I'm sorry for both this entier post and especially for adding an OOC comment to it. I just can't win today. :p ]

-
A Senate Action Committee was formed within minutes of the news from Red Tide. Red Tide was an old McKagan ally of sorts. They'd worked together in Frozopia and various other theatres despite their issues with the Leafanistani Civil War.

The 10 man team had a very agreed stance on the whole thing. There was a chance to create funds to funnel into their own projects and campaigns. Soon an agreement was reached, in secret of course.

[Encrypted Message]

To: Red Tide Government
From: McKagan Imperial State Department

We realize you're having some issues with pesky self righteous nations. At some point it's necessary to become realistic about the situation. Your nation may not last long against the onslaught of the international community. It is with this simple, highly classified email, that we ask a simple question. These nations want to destroy YOU, the government. If they can't find you, they can't kill you and win. As your only chance - we can attempt to evacuate members of your government to a McKagan province of your choice by inserting an elite McKagan Special Forces team into the region. Make a choice.

RNS Europa

Admiral Stockwell was returning to the bridge after a short break away to one of the officer's messes when a petty officer approached with a piece of paper, "Sir, orders from fleet command," he said handing it to him.

The admiral looked it over, the entire group was to link up with Czardaian forces within the theatre and begin operations against the nation of Red Tide. It also mentioned the response that came from the Red Tide government and how they were preparing for a fight, Stockwell nodded to himself as he continued towards the bridge with the ensign in tow, "Have the entire group change course so that we can link up with the Czardaians."

"Aye, Sir," came the reply as the young officer took off in a jog ahead of the admiral.

----------

RNS Espandor

Captain Ian Rodgers had been used to the enclosed space that was the submarine's environment, but the tension of war was in the air and he felt stressed, especially since there was the possibility of being required to deploy his boat's weapons, a total of ninty UGM-174 Trident III SLBM missiles were stowed away in the hull of the vessel, "God forgive me should I have to do my job," he prayed to himself.

OOC: I am sorry, but this is going to have to be quick, I will be leaving in 5 minutes and wont be back until 8:30 PM here in Atlanta(last confirmation class).

IC: The Aircraft Carrier sunk in less then 30 seconds after impact, a true record. Even though the missiles were quickly detected inbound, and indeed, one or two were shot down by MDM-5B Super-High Altitude SAMs, there was no stopping it. The Aircraft Carrier itself barely looked like anything when it sunk, the rest of the ships were either blown into halves or thirds. The entire naval base was turned into flaming wreckage in less then a minute. Some of the flames began to carry radioactivity into the air from the Cruisers and the Carriers nuclear reactors.

None of the rest of the Red Tide Navy disposition was changed in the following hours, or even days, weeks, or months after the attack, however. What was changed was that more MDM-5B launchers were moved to protect the ships and the BLUEBIRD Ships were armed with more MDSM-5B Super-High Altitude SAMs.

The McKagan Offer was met with alot of interest. It was debated, then the reply was sent.

Top Secret Reply
"We accept your offer, but we wont be leaving just yet."
End Message

-Official Message-
The Armed Capitalist Republic of the Silver Sky

The Armed Capitalist Republic of appaled at the rash, horrible and unhuman treatment of the citizens of the Red Tide2 by their government. Usage of nuclear weapons against your own populace is a horribly wrong deed.

I am proud to announce that at 1200 Hours today, the Republican Senate declares that The Armed Capitalist Republic is in a State of War with the Red Tideian Government. The Republic pledges it's support to the countries trying to topple the corrupt and self-destructive Tideian Government, in paticular to nations of Czardas, Aequatio, and Anagonia.

May God have Pity On Your Souls.

President Kara Maddox

Top Secret Reply
"We accept your offer, but we wont be leaving just yet."
End Message

[Encrypted Response]

Before we start moving assets, how many governmental agents will be moving? We suggest keeping this low profile within your ranks, as we can only transport a set number of people safely and do not wish to have to worry about angry people who were left behind spreading 'wild rumors.' Also, do you have any ideas for areas that aren't heavily guarded or contested that we can use to our advantage in future operations?

RNS Europa

Master Chief William Burns directed his team of blue shirts as they helped the catapult crews mount one of the ship's RQ-4 Global Hawk drones for launch, it would aid in the long-range detection by relaying the RADAR signals broadcast by the E-2D Hawkeye II aircraft. Once they had gotten it onto the catapult, he and his team stepped back and let the green shirts take over in their duties. Things had been stressful for Burns ever since their group's officer, Lieutenant Philip Post, had to be removed before they started on the cruise after his wife left him along with his three daughters.

On the bridge of the carrier, Stockwell looked down on the busy flight deck and he could only imagine how busy things got during wartime. He considered himself lucky to have worked with destroyers throughout his career and the only aircraft he had to worry about was the small ASW helicopters that were housed on the stern. With the potential for the Red Tidean deployment of chemical weapons, Captain Kirkland had called for the deck crews to prepare their personal RBC protective equipment. Soon enough, they would join up with the Czardaians.

As the Su-37 went screaming down towards the wall of water below, the pilot looked up to look at the B-52's. Then he gave a whoop of joy.

"Men, those countermeasures on the B-52s worked! They got rid of the SAMs. The B-52s are clear now!"

There were scattered cheers over the radio.

Immediatly the pilot got serious. "Alright listen up! We're getting close to the water, and we got SAMs on our asses. Now, once we within 20 ft of that water, we're gonna pull our asses back up and shoot into the air! Got it?"

There were responses of affirmation.

"Good! By the way, to everybody in the back, if any of those SAMs survive, you're gonna be first on their menu! When we get out asses back into the air, do a cobra strike manuver and blow those missiles out of the sky!"

The water rushed up the the Su-37s quickly. 200 ft, 100 ft, 50, 40, 30, 25....

"NOW!!" shouted the pilot.

Instantly the jets turned their noses up 110 degrees and hit their afterburners. The fighters which had previously been nosediving, shot up into the air, while the SAMs streaked towards the water.

North Point Naval Base

The First and Second Naval Armadas were gathered inside and around the gigantic crater that was the center of the North Point Port Complex. The 1,200 ships massed in the base ranged from the massive 'Hyperion'-Class Assualt Dreadnaughts to the small 'Dolphin'-Class Trimaran ASW Frigates.

The fleet was loading the nearly 1.8 million troops into their transports. Thousands of planes loitered in the skies above the fleet.

Admiral of the Navy Michael Sutherland watched over the fleet for the bridge highup on his 'Hyperion'-Class, the 'Hyperion'.

"Sir!' Said an ensign, "The troops have finished loading into the transports. The rest of the ships have reported that they are ready for depature, should we send out the order?"

"Yes, all ships full steam ahead, to the Red Tide."
----------------------------------------------
Heavily Encrypted Message
To: Czardazian, Aequatioan, and Anagonian Fleets
From: Admiral Sutherland, First Naval Armada, The Silver Sky

We have mobilized two of our armadas and they are currently enroute to the Red Tidean area. We request that we link up at a certain point so we may support each other. Please send your response quickly with the link-up points.

Admiral Michael Sutherland

A-ComSat Encryption...

To: Admiral Sutherland, First Naval Armada, The Silver Sky
From: Rear Admiral Stockwell, Europa Carrier Group, 1st Aequatian Fleet

We are nearly in position to enter Red Tidean waters, however, we shall hold position in order to conduct joint operations with your forces and allow time for other coalition forces to integrate. Our precise position has been sent within this message's attachment.

End of Message

A mere three minutes after the Ion Cannon had fired, fifty MDM-5A Anti-Sattelite Missiles rippled out of their launchers, simultaneously, two hunter-killer sattelites exited their orbits to attack a target... the Ion Cannon Sattelite.

In Orbit

And thus, with its last mission accomplished, the Armageddon took no notice to the threat, for it could not comprehend. Its mind was not programmed to comprehend danger, nor was it programmed to comprehend death. Its computerized systems were never told how to react, never informed on how to properly save its existance. For all the Armageddon knew, it was a tool of war.

However, one thing was done. All information for its decades long existance was sent down to a secret source on the other side of the planet. This was what it knew to do, and this was what it could conclude to do. All it knew, was that existance was not necessary, but what it held was.

So, before many a Offciers eyes on computer screens, the Skylab Class Ion Cannon Armageddon, ceased to be with an explosion. No tears, no sorrow, no nothing.

In the last seconds, and milliseconds, of its existance, it concluded that time should end inside its main clock.

OOC: I am closing this now, I think there are more then enough people to kill me plenty of times over :p.

IC:Wilhelmsboroughs Attack

The SAMs were not confused one bit, they corrected their flight paths only slightly slower then the Su-37s.

The McKagan Message:

Top Secret Reply
"There will only be ten of them. Nine ministers, one Supreme Commander. We are currently burning all documents that are worth too much to the enemy."
End Message

OOC1: Does that mean that this RPing scenerio is over?

OOC2: How could at least one SAM not hit the water?

OOC: Wilhelms, closed means that no one else can join the RP, at least for our side I'm assuming. And either way it's probably a good idea.

The McKagan Message:

Top Secret Reply
"There will only be ten of them. Nine ministers, one Supreme Commander. We are currently burning all documents that are worth too much to the enemy."
End Message

[Encrypted Response]

Thank you for choosing such small numbers. However, much work remains ahead of us. You will need to hold off a complete hostile takeover of your mainland for nearly two weeks while we get our Hamlin Class Next Generation Attack Submarine in place. Military planners would like to ask that you begin working with them on a meeting area for extraction. A secret nuclear submarine restocking facility would be perfect. If no safe harbor is available, please get back to us.

OOC: Forgive me, but I hope my comment beforehand and this is a show of support will permit me to comment.

Encrypted to Red Tide

We've noticed your situation and we would like to assist.

We have a 225mm Coastal Gun available to be airlifted to Red Tide that has a range of 165 kilometres with tradiational shells and 215 with rocket boosted shells.

Just ask and they will be airlifted.

DMG sells a 500mm railgun with a range of 550 kilometres which will be useful.

We'll be calling via more secure lines.

[END]

OOC: Anagonia, I sense a bit of Arthur C. Clarke in your writing. Very beautiful, indeed!

IC:

[PRIVATE COMMUNICATION: NEW SARIS OCTAGON TO AMSDF HARBINGER]

CAPTAIN HAWKING DO WHAT YOU CAN TO STOP ENEMY ATTACKS STOP
MANEUVER SHIP BETWEEN ATTACKING LAND UNITS AND POTENTIAL ALLIES STOP

---

"You heard the man. Maneuver vessels to within 250 kilometeres and protect the battlegroup with an umbrella of fire."

Encrypted to Enemies of Red Tide

The Office of Naval Intelligence has commented on this and there is nothing Leafanistan can directly do to assist you.

However, they have contracted Strategic Solutions Inc. for an extravagent price to bring to bear the 40 ships of the First Corporate Fleet to assist you.

They will be 300 kilometres offshore until further orders from us or the Corporation.

[END]

OOC: Using a bit of fluid time and the assumption that the 300km off the coast in Leaf's post means 300km off of RT2.

Heavily Encrypted Message
To: Rear Admiral Stockwell, Europa Carrier Group, 1st Aequatian Fleet
From: Admiral Sutherland, First Naval Armada, The Silver Sky

Recon satellites have been monitoring the waters around Red Tide2 and have detected a small fleet about 300km off shore. Our own forces are about 24 hours enroute form their position, we suggest your forces attack them and we come in to trap and encircle them.

Of course owe are open to other courses of actions
-------------------------------------------------

The massive armada continued towards the Red Tide armed to the teeth and ready for actions.

The Palisade, Aequatian Republic

With the change to Level 2 Defence Condition, the President and his staff were moved to the national command centre located at a secret location within Aequatio. Deep underground, the most powerful men and women of the nation decided the fate of the billions of citizens around the Republic. The first decision was to enact the Civil Defence Plan, a similar move made during the Federban War when the nation was struck with chemical and biological agents during peace talks. If Aequatio was going to be hit with weapons launched from Red Tide, they were going to be prepared to suffer the least amount of civilian casualties.

----------

RNS Europa

Admiral Stockwell was starting to see the coalition fleet take form as vessels from many other nations began their deployments to the theatre of operations. He was glad that as many nations as before would be ready to confront the corrupt dictatorship. He read many of the reports after Operation Noble Lion, about how many of the Aequatian carrier-borne fighters were eliminated through a complete lack of countermeasures, he swore to not make such a costly mistake this time around.

He had received word that a command group with one of the nation's greatest warships, an Aequatio-class superdreadnought, was en route along with an entire Marine Expeditionary Force and its accompanying vessels and two additional carrier groups. It was as he finished reading the report on the Aequatian deployment when he was handed the message sent from Admiral Sutherland.

A-ComSat Encryption...

To: Admiral Sutherland, First Naval Armada, The Silver Sky
From: Rear Admiral Stockwell, Europa Carrier Group, 1st Aequatian Fleet

We have taken notice of the unknown fleet with our own satellites and we feel it would be a better solution to contact the vessels and determine their alignment before taking an offensive stance against them. A hasty attack could eliminate a potential ally in the coming mission.

End of Message

----------

RNS Espandor

Captain Rodgers monitored his boat's course through international waters, soon they would move their ship within range of many targets within Red Tide by taking themselves within territorial waters. He checked his watch, which read both the current local time and that of Arrio, where his wife would be putting his sons to bed and making her way to watch television until bed as she always did when he was away on operation.

----------

Stone Marine Naval Base, Piscina, Aequatian Republic

Colonel Gates walked up the boarding ramp for the RNS Bishop Amphibious Assault Ship and looked around the base as other Marines boarded on other ramps and air-cushion landing craft loaded on heavier equipment such as the M1 Panther main battle tanks and 155mm artillery pieces.

The Aralonian ships shadowed the 30 mysterious ships. Captain Hawking stood up. "These guys look suspicious. At all costs, attempt to maintain radio silence. I do not trust these newly appearing forces at all. Maneuver within 60km to launch lightning-strike against them if necessary. Spool the cannons."

Up and down the Northern and Southern coast of Red Tide, big blast doors slid open, and rising out of their gun pits were 25 inch and 18 inch ETC Shore Defence Guns. Shells were slammed into the breaches, coordinates of enemy ships shown via RADAR were tracked. With a roar, the guns fired, the recoil springs protested loudly as the guns volted back into their pits.

Red Tide had increased the number of Shore Defence Guns along the coast to 36. Most of them were 18 inch guns, the rest were 25 inch ones. Each gun fired a shell filled with Kraven designed but Red Tidean manufactured C-12. The C-12 had been bought from the Red Tide Mafia, who in turn had stolen it from the nation Kraven had once called home when it was occupied by AMF. After being purchased, the C-12 was disassembled and reverse engineered. C-12 was extremely powerful, a block of C-12, if placed in the proper point, could bring down a skyscraper.

[ooc:] Damn, a lot to respond to. In approximate order.

[ic:]

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Official Message To:
Silver Skyian Fleet Group [encryption heavy]

We thank you for your support; we're currently waiting near the Aequatians with a combined strength of about 1024 ships, just outside bombardment range. Aerial forces number about 47,000 aircrafts in all; land forces over 24 million, so I think we're more than ready to hit the beaches in Red Tide.

As for that mystery fleet... I'd suggest actually trying to contact them before we blow them up; we might piss someone off who doesn't like being pissed off, you know?

~ Medium-Admiral Josiah Peabody VI
~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Official Message To:
Unknown fleet

Would you mind explaining to us who exactly you are, whose side you're on, where you come from, and what you're doing in Red Tide?

~ Medium-Admiral Josiah Peabody VI
~~~~~~~~~~~~

RNS Marcus Pendleton

Vice Admiral Frances Killian sat in the passenger compartment of the SH-20 Seacat helicopter as it approached the massive superdreadnought vessel, no matter how many times she saw the ship, it was still impressive to see. The admiral would be taking command of the entire task force which included the Pendleton and its group along with the two other carrier groups and the entire amphibious assault force that was not steaming through the ocean towards Red Tidean waters. Several dozen F-1N performed air cover by running at a long-range perimeter around the fleet as it plowed through the water while underneath the surface lurked the Avenger-class attack submarines which would protect the other ships against enemy submarine threats.

----------

RNS Bishop

Colonel Gates walked along the flight deck as Navy personnel worked with Marine flight and support personnel prepare the assault helicopters while others below decks maintained their heavy equipment. He stopped to watch a platoon of Marines on the stern of the ship perform firing rites on a makeshift weapons range. He smiled as he witnessed the young lieutenant talking with the platoon's staff sergeant, thinking back to his days as a fresh officer taking his first command. His thoughts were interupted when a flight of Marine F-2N Lucifer strike fighters flew past, having taken off from the accompanying attack carriers which carried the force's air group.

----------

Anson Air Force Base, Magna Casa, Aequatian Republic

Captain Charles Grant sat in the cafeteria eating a late dinner when he was approached by his weapon's officer, Major Luther Bloom, with a folder filled with reports and satellite photographs, "Finish that up, we're moving out in two hours," he said inbetween sips from his coffee.

"Where to?" Grant replied finishing off a handful of fries and taking the folder from Bloom, "Looks like Red Tide."

The major nodded, "We're needed for strike missions, the whole damn bomber wing is being used for just knocking out the shore batteries," he said with smile, "The damn swabbies are too afraid to take their planes out to do it, so it's up to us."

Grant continued to read through the folder before looking up at Bloom, "What's the loadout?"

"Each bomber taking two GBU-28D Improved Busters, they really want us to make those batteries dead," The major said just as Grant read it on the paper.

"I guess we're going to have to refuel on the way just to make room for the weapons," came the pilot's reply.

A massive projectile comes screaming down out of the sky with a great rush of air, slicing through the blue void like a knife through butter as it plunges straight towards a large Destroyer.

The ship's XO, in the middle of eating breakfast on deck, looks up with a sudden premonition and, overturning his plate of ham and eggs, runs helter-skelter in search of his CO while the ship's CIWS come online, spraying the shell with bullets, Rolling Airframe Missiles, and shrapnel until it explodes. Meanwhile, the XO bursts into the main cabin, inducing the CO to quickly stuff an inappropriate magazine behind the desk.

"What is it now?"

"The Red Tideans are firing shells at our fleet."

"What kind?"

"Big ones, sir."

A loud explosion sounds and both officers glance at the nearest window or screen. One of the shells has hit an Arleigh Burke, leaving nothing but a few scraps of oil and flotsam on the water; shockwaves spread outwards, rocking the fleet. Another shell hits the water nearby, sending up a massive plume of water that nearly capsizes one of the Czardaian frigates. The Czardaian and Anagonian officers manning the various ships immediately run to the bridges, getting real-time feed from the Vivace, the 1.8-km long battleship at the centre of the fleet.

The CO of the Fleet, Medium-Admiral Peabody VI, paces the bridge uneasily. "What are we picking up?"

One of his RADAR officers says, "We've tracked the location of the guns back to their co-ordinates, sir."

"Good. Load 'bunker buster' shells into all of our big guns."

"All of them?"

"Yes. All."

The main 711mm battery of the Vivace, thirty guns in all, begins to grind with the sound of shells clanking into place. Of these thirty guns, fifteen fire, the recoil shattering plates in the galley and deafening crewmen stupidly staying on deck. Forty 675mm guns in all from the four Warspites also fire, propelling a total of 55 massive shells towards the Coastal Defense Guns. The tungsten core of the shell is capable of penetrating even the heavy blast doors guarding the guns; the explosives within are a powerful fuel-air combination which will crush the guns and possibly detonate the C12 shells below them. Two volleys of these shells are fired towards the guns, aiming to destroy them before they can inflict any more damage.

A shell or two landed short of the Red Tidean guns, but given the amount of shells being fired, that didnt matter. The guns eached managed to get another volley of shells off and were in the process of reloading when the Czardian shells came in. The blast doors were designed to withstand most conventional projectiles... but not bunker busters.

Each gun was also in the process of automatic reloading. In one specific case, a shell penetrated the overhead doors just as the auto-loader slammed another shell into its gun. The volatile C-12 detonated, sending a massive, and awesome looking, fireball into the air. The Red Tidean soldiers that were not killed instantly were simply burned alive. Oddly enough, none of them shrieked in pain or writhed about as their flesh burned.

The other guns were simply blown to pieces, shrapnel being ejected out of the pits and into the air, killing those around it.

"Success -- that's the guns out, sir."

"Good, commence Phase 2 of Operation Coalition Invasion of Red Tide, Take Two."

"Operation what?"

Medium-Admiral Peabody sighs. "Just fire the goddamn HARMs, kid."

Eighteen of the Hailstorms are armed with modified AGM-890D High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, and their bomb bays open, each one firing no fewer than 250 such missiles, which rocket out along an eerie smokeless trajectory at Mach 2. The missiles target radar installations along the northwest coast, to knock out sensors and the command posts for all of the countless 'Whirlwind' installments, softening up Red Tide for the invasion. All in all, 4,500 HARMs streak through the sky towards the coastal RADARs; their solid rocket fuel boosters propelling them up to 175 km, or 45 km farther than the normal HARM range.

RNS Europa

Warning klaxions blared their alarms as the RADAR network picked up the incoming Tidean shells. Admiral Stockwell knew the procedure for dealing with enemy munitions, first the long-range RIM-154 Sea Comet missiles would engage and they did so as video monitors, provided by the Aequatian News Network cameras onboard the cruiser Shikra showed the VLS doors blasting open in a cloud of ceramic dust and flame as the missiles streaked off into the sky and towards the incoming shells. Most of the engaged munitions were destroyed, much to the relief of the fleet's personnel, but those that remained would be dealt with by the individual close-in weapon systems of the ships. The RIM-118 Improved RAMs locked onto targets and fired their missiles, those that weren't eliminated by these were engaged with the license-built Falltech laser systems, causing many of the shells to simply detonate in mid-air. A few of the 18-inch shells managed to penetrate the defensive lines and struck the ships in the fleet, the support ship Hurst was hit by two shells and fires broke out, causing the crews to work furiously to secure the decks and prevent it from reaching the fuel and munition aboard. The Athena took a third shell to its armoured hull, doing little more than damage to the surface thanks to the design of the Olympiads. The Shikra's attentions then turned to returning the favour, although only in a small manner with its twin 203mm turret, the high-capacity high-explosive rounds were fired at nearly three rounds a minute for a sustained barrage.

----------

Red Tide Coastline

One of the many RQ-9A Predator C drones launched from the decks of the fleet's ships flew low over the water as it approached the coastline before rising to a comfortable altitude and turning on a transmitting, simulating the RADAR signature of an F-1N Averna strike fighter, like the other twenty three drones along the coastline, it was hoping to draw fire in order to probe the Red Tidean air defence systems.

"Open a communication channel with the coalition fleet's leader. I want to contact them and let them know we're here." Captain Hawking began to write down a message on his keypad.

"Hai, sir! Intelligence reports show that the CO of the coalition is a Medium-Admiral Josiah Peabody VI of the country of Czardas."

"Understood. Ready telegram."

---

FROM CPT DANIEL HAWKING OF ARALONIA STOP
TO MEDADM JOSIAH PEABODY 6 OF CZARDAS STOP
ARALONIAN MDF MANEUVERING IN TO PROVIDE ABM FIRE STOP
AMDF CURRENTLY SHADOWING MYSTERIOUS BATTLEGROUP STOP
ENEMY FORCE COMPOSITION 28 PLUS SHIPS UNKNOWN CLASSES STOP
ARALON CICNAVFLT AUTHORIZE CZARDAS COMMAND OVER AMDF STOP
PLEASE REPLY USING LASER COMMS STOP

---

[OOC: AMDF = Aralonian Marine Defence Force and CICNAVFLT = Commander In Chief, Naval Fleet.]

OOC: I am closing this now, I think there are more then enough people to kill me plenty of times over :p.

IC:Wilhelmsboroughs Attack

The SAMs were not confused one bit, they corrected their flight paths only slightly slower then the Su-37s.

End Message

The pilot of the Su-37 swore as he saw the SAM's correct their fight paths.

"Damnit! Alright men, it looks like that didn't work! No matter then! Everybody get Foxes 1 through 5 ready ready to fire!"

The pilots armed their missiles.

"Ok men! Cobra Strike NOW!"

The five hundred Su-37s flipped 110 degrees and shot five R-77 AAMs apiece at the approaching SAMs, then righted themselves and shot forward at full speed.

Meanwhile, up with the rest of the Jets...

An E-3 pilot sent out a message. "Attention all craft! RADAR has picked up 10,000 more SAM's rising off the ground and headed in our direction!"

The Su-37 pilot replied. "B-52's keep that cold gas flowing! It will confuse the SAMs, make them fly dumb! But if you think that any of them are getting too threatening, just drop some of those distractor missiles! And remember, we're here to help! Don't worry! I think we're getting out of range for those SAMs to hit us!"

The cold gas continued to flow from the B-52s, and they continued to remain on standby to launch the distractor missiles if necessary. The Su-37s armed their missles as well.

FROM CPT DANIEL HAWKING OF ARALONIA STOP
TO MEDADM JOSIAH PEABODY 6 OF CZARDAS STOP
ARALONIAN MDF MANEUVERING IN TO PROVIDE ABM FIRE STOP
AMDF CURRENTLY SHADOWING MYSTERIOUS BATTLEGROUP STOP
ENEMY FORCE COMPOSITION 28 PLUS SHIPS UNKNOWN CLASSES STOP
ARALON CICNAVFLT AUTHORIZE CZARDAS COMMAND OVER AMDF STOP
PLEASE REPLY USING LASER COMMS STOP

The diligent COMMS officers begin to type up a response, which is then transmitted to the Aralonians. Yes, I know, we're too lazy to write a longer description of their work, which, let's face it, is rather tedious for a war roleplay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
FROM MEDADM JOSIAH PEABODY 6 [XX.XXX.XX.XX]
TO CPT DANIEL HAWKING [XX.XXX.XX.XX]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT STOP CZARDAIAN AND ANAGONIAN SHIPS CURRENTLY HAILING UNKNOWN BATTLEGROUP STOP NO RESPONSE HAS YET ARRIVED STOP CHC AUTHORISATION GRANTED STOP CONTINUE WITH CURRENT ORDERS STOP

END TRANSMISSION
~~~~~~~~~~~~

IC1:Wilhelmsborough Attack

The SAMs were moving far too fast and were far too small for the air-air missiles to do anything. About 1,000 more of the missiles were decoyed by the countermeasures. But the rest continued on home towards their targets.

OOC: Whilhelmsborough... those planes are dead. Get to posting casualties already!

IC2:Czarda's and Aquatio's 'attacks'

The HARMs were met by a mass of SAMs that thinned out their numbers quite a bit. Of those 4,500 missiles approaching the coast, about 300 got through the missile cloud, apparently Red Tide had taken the words 'expenditure of munitions' to a whole new level. Even worse, years of paranoia and arms buildups had left sufficient ammo for Red Tide to keep up this kind of firing for a decade. Those that survived were scattered all over the place, but continued on to their targets... until they got blown away by SmartFlaK.

"Medium Admiral, sir, do we have a plan B?"

"Yes, ensign, we do."

"What is it?"

"Hang on a minute, I have to think..."

"Think about what?" The XO stares at his corpulent CO, Peabody the Sixth.

"Er... what to do next. HARMs didn't work. Shells won't work. Conventional munitions won't work..."

"EMP, sir?" the XO suggests tactfully.

"Of course not! What a ridiculous suggestion!"

As soon as the ensign was gone, Peabody quietly gives his orders to the Ohio SSBNs, which surface and fire off 24 EMP armed cruise missiles. Meanwhile, the Missile Cruisers launch volleys of drones, which separate into dozens of decoys giving out exactly the same radar signature as the cruise missiles.

The missiles go into low earth orbit, out of SAM range, and begin to rocket along at Mach 2.7, the electromagnetic signals already playing hell with enemy satellites and anything else in range. Once near the sites targeted by HARMs, they plunge downwards, their task twofold: One, to send out powerful signals that can fry through almost anything but a Faraday cage; Two, the actual missile itself will leave quite a big crater, especially thanks to the assorted explosives and shrapnel contained in a second warhead. The decoys are unarmed except for sending out directional jamming sequences to destroy radars as well, and confuse SAM electronics.

OOC: Czarda's, if they can reach low earth orbit, then they are not cruise missiles.

IC: The booster rockets on the ballistic missiles were unmissable, their plume appeared on the Early Warning Sattelites Infrared Scanners easily... and as they reached the upper atmosphere they were blown out of the sky by sattelite launched 'Brilliant Pebbles'. The wreckage of the Czardian missiles fell back towards the Earth... vaporizing in the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, on the SouthWestern Coast of Red Tide...

"SIR!" The colonel manning the control panel saluted the three star general that had entered the control room to Red Tides newest weapon.

"At ease colonel. Is ORTHODOX ready?" The general asked.

"Yes sir." The colonel replied, "We are fully operational and ready for the test."

"Good..." The general sat down, "Proceed."

"Yes, sir." The Colonel said, turning back to the control panel.

"Prepare to use ORTHODOX, all stations check in."

Over the intercom came the responses.

"Weapon coordinates locked." Said one voice.

"Power supply has been fed." Another voice went on.

"Overcharge capacitators locked." Another said.

"Emergency shutdown ready." A final said.

"On my mark." The Colonel said. A strange noise began to fill the room, the sound of atoms being ionized, then the Colonel yelled, "FIRE!"

On the top of a tower stretching 50 stories high a extremely large and bright blue beam of light rippled out. About 300 kilometers away was a line of large remote controlled drones. The beam sliced into the middle one, caporizing it, then it swept to the right, vaporizing three more, then to the left, vaporizing the final three, several seconds later the beam faded.

"Targets confirmed destroyed." The colonel said, the three star general smiled and said, "You should be commended, colonel. ORTHODOX is now operational."

"General Quarters-Missile Stations, all hands, General Quarters"

Klaxons blared across the Rosdivan cruisers before gouts of flame began rising from VLS tubes. Three hundred cruise missiles arose from their tubes and split into three groups, to deliver their 1,500 pound warheads to to three carrier groups in ports hundreds of miles away. Sea-skimming and equipped with RAM, radar wouldn't pick them up until they were nearly on top of their targets.

The fleet secured from general quarters and began moving to a new position. The next target was a superdreadnaught group, which ruled out the use of cruise missiles, which they were now low on anyhow. Luckily, the First and Second Attack Fleets would soon be arriving, along with some UNREP ship to replace those missiles. More importantly, two BC4-class coastal bombardment ships would be arriving with them.

The sea skimming and RAM would help the cruise missiles survive until they were 150 kilometers out... then the powerful RADAR of the BLUEBIRDs and TIDAL WAVEs detected them. The puny amount of missiles were blotted out of the sky by twice the amount of SAMs.

Next to a host of ranches and farms, Tideian rebels gathered. These groups had been carefully selected by Rosdivan Intelligence due to their hatred of "bourgeois capitalism." Offered the means to strike back, they gladly agreed, though they had no knowledge of who was providing them with the weapons. A few mortar bombs were launched, detonating with a rather subdued popping sound, and that was it.

Over the next few weeks, the food production of Red Tide would abruptly end. Contained in those bombs were highly virulent airborne biological agents. Harmless to humans, but devestating to the cattle, chicken, and crops they were bred to target. With the blockade, Red Tide would be unable to import any food. Starvation was the inevitable result if they did not surrender.

The sea skimming and RAM would help the cruise missiles survive until they were 150 kilometers out... then the powerful RADAR of the BLUEBIRDs and TIDAL WAVEs detected them. The puny amount of missiles were blotted out of the sky by twice the amount of SAMs.

OOC: You do realize that without airborne radar, you can't detect a sea-skimming target at that range, right? It's far below the radar horizon.

NorthWest Red Tide

The rebels were detected as soon as they fired their mortars. They were packing up when a TC-2B Heavy Transport Helicopter appeared. Its two wingmounted and two doormounted 15.5mm heavy machineguns were aimed at them and the helicopter landed, disgorging a squad of Red Tidean Army Soldiers before the helicopter lifted off again, hovering with its guns still pointed on the rebels.

The Disease would exterminate all of the unharvested crops and cattle up in NorthWest Red Tide. But the SouthWest remained unaffected. Sure, there would be starvation, but this would mean a readjustment of supply. The regular Red Tidean, who was hovering at the poverty line, would now recieve even less food, with more going to the Goverment and the rich.

The Czardaians are realising now that this will require a co-operative effort, so they wait off Red Tidean waters until the Silver Skyians arrive to provide the main shore bombardment force. They withdraw their fleet slightly to just out of gun range, reasoning that with its truly impressive firepower it can defend itself against most long-range missile attacks.

The Long Range Directional Electronics Countermeasures System (LRDECMS) electronics frying equipment atop the Vivace and all of the Chimaera AWACs meanwhile comes into play, playfully rotating this way and that to knock out electronics along the shore with its powerful concentrated beam of electromagnetically charged particles. The AWACs especially stay just out of SAM range, utilising their height to their advantage to burn out circuits first here, then there, and then the planes disappear into the clouds like children playing. This may have no effect whatsoever. But the Czardaians are waiting.

OOC: Rosdivan: Please post in the OOC thread. Anyways, the AEGIS system is designed to detect sea skimming missiles several hundred kilometers away. The system onboard the BLUEBIRD and TIDAL WAVE ships are much, much, much more modern and effective.

IC:This has absolutely no effect. Red Tide had long since hardened their electronics against the EM waves. As noted before, that little trick could not last.

OOC2: Czardas: How far away from my coast are those AWACs and how high?

"Sir! Communication from Aralonian homeland. Satellites have detected major energy charge - quite similar to a laser weapons system. We have been given orders to take it out. Coordinates have been sent."

Captain Hawking watched the multidimensional display. "Right then. Ready the hypervelocity warheads - we're going to actively take out that laser system. On my mark - fire!"

A total of 132 low-observable missiles fired from the five ships of the Aralonian fleet. The missiles followed a high trajectory to 150km up, then fell on an unpowered trajectory to a set height of 25 kilometers.

Then all hell broke loose.

Each missile opened up their payload shroud, revealing three barrels set at 2-degree angles away from each other.

Ground crews went into high alert as the objects became easily apparent to radar now. Laser defense batteries began to be turned, but it was indeed too late. They fired in vain at the copious amount of munitions in the sky.

Each missile fired their railgun barrels, one, two, three, as 200mm high-explosive warheads shot through the atmosphere at 8 kilometeres a second, accelerating to 9 kilometeres per second when they hit. A total of 248 munitions got through, devastating the ground around the spire, disabling the anti-air weapons and destroying the weapon system before it could be fired in anger.

[OOC: Technology behind the missile will be posted in OOC thread.

Impact -06 seconds: Shrouds released.
Impact -05 seconds: Radar detection of missile shrouds.
Impact -04 seconds: Weapons brought to bear.
Impact -03 seconds: Weapons firing - missiles being taken out. Missiles fire submunitions, height 25 kilometeres.
Impact -02 seconds: Submunition height 17 kilometeres.
Impact -01 second: Submunition height 8.5 kilometeres.
Impact +00 seconds.]

[ooc:] About 250km out and 50,000ft up.

What kind of hardening do you use?

RNS Europa

Stockwell watched as the Czardaian attempts to strike at Red Tide were repeatedly defeated by the excess that seemed to be the signature of Tidean doctrine. He called for the carrier group to pull outside of gun range, after seeing what damage had been done to the Hurst by the enemy shore batteries. Unfortunately, he would have to wait for the arrival of the other battle groups. Several flights of EF-2B Erebus Electronic Warfare Twin-seater Aircraft shot off the catapults of the both the Europa and Athena, once in the air, they would form up with the E-2D Hawkeye II aircraft already running the perimeter.

[ooc:] About 250km out and 50,000ft up.

OOC: Thats within my SAM umbrella... not in range of any of my MDM-6s though, but still in range of the MDM-4.

Aralonia, You are nearby the Aquatian fleet.... correct? If not, then ignore the second half of this post.

IC: The Czardian Aircrafts RADARs gave them away. About 500 SAMs screamed upwards, targetting the Czardian AWACs craft.

The Aralonian missiles were detected climbing into the atmosphere by the Over-The-Horizon RADAR. As the missiles began to point themselves at an 85 degree angle, ORTHODOX fired.

The giant laser, fed by four expiremental TOKAMAK reactors, vaporized each kinetic energy slug... and the missiles they were fired out of.

RMV Denny, a small, stealthy Hamlin Class Next Generation Attack Submarine, slides out of its dock at the mouth of the bay in Kurora McKagan. Within a few minutes it is heading out to sea, constantly diving.

The Hamlin Class represents something distinctly needed for McKagan. A VERSATILE vessel. It can operate as a deep water vehicle or fight in the littoral.

It should be within operational range of Red Tide before the ground war starts. Traveling at a depth so great that opening its torpedo tubes would be impossible means that even FINDING the submarine is nearly impossible.

Now, the only thing for the crew to do is sail and wait for Red Tide to provide an evac-zone.

TOP SECRET MESSAGE TO MCKAGAN!
"Meet us at the Ariga commercial port. Nobody is there due to the blockade anyways."
End Message

Heavily Encrypted Message
To: Allied Fleets
From: Silver Skyian 1st Naval Armada

We have arrived. Our carriers are readying aircraft for a strike on the enemy SAM Network. What should be our course of action? Also, we have a few tricks up our sleeves.

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

1st Naval Armada

The massive fleet, centered around the six gigantic assualt dreadnaughts neared the Aequatian and Czardazian Fleets. The ships slipped through the waves and came to a halt just outside of Red Tide gun range.

Thousands of planes loitered in the air above the fleet. However, they stayed low enough to stay out of the radar horizion of Red Tide surface radars.

The decks of the carriers were a buzz with activity as several squadrons of E/F-177A "Coldun" Electronic Warfare and Air Defense Suppression Aircraft were prepped with AGM-326B Buzzsaw ALADSMs. Soon they began to thunder off the catapults of the carriers and into the sky where they joined their escorts.

After the last of the craft lifted into the sky the guns of the fleet began to traverse towards the enemy SAM sites and coastal batteries. Eighty-Four 675mm guns from the six 'Hyperions' Assualt Dreadnaughts in the group, and three hundred and twenty 610mm guns from the 32 'Ravager' Heavy Dreadnaughts were aimed at the enemy coast.

The loaders swung into action and loaded GPS Guided Anti-Radiation Rocket-Ramjet Assisted Shells into the breech of the guns, the main propellant was loaded behind the shells and the breech slammed shut.

The gunnery radars made last minutes adjustments to the targeting computers of the shells and guns. an strange silence then settled over the fleet as the men on the decks found shelter. Then came all hell. The entire fleet opened up at once. 320 610mm shells screamed down range with 84 of their larger 675mm brothers. Quickly another salvo was loaded due the new "multiple round-simultaneous impact" (MRSI) capability of the larger guns. This salvo contained GPS Guided Rocket-Ramjet Assisted Penetrating HE shells designed to penetrate bunkers and cause large craters. The rounds would take just under 12 minutes to impact, a total of 808 shells impacting at almost the same instance. the Anti-radiation shells would fall to just 500m above the target at which time they would release 156 anti-radar/SAM launcher submunitions, which would deploy small motors to stabilize them selves and use small radar to seek out the enemy radars and SAM sites to crash into and detonate, hopefully destroying them.

Just one minute after the shells were on their way the ships in the fleet fired off a salvo of 24,884 RGM-101LR Fireblast Long Range Surface Attack Missiles. They were targeted at the radar and SAM stations along with SAM battery control centers and AA guns. Their AESA radar allowed them to remain undetected by passive radar and their stealthy profile and very low altitude would keep them mostly safe from enemy SAMs and AA batteries until they were already to close (OOC: Less then 50km because of radar horizion, stealth and speed). They would procceed at Mach 3 at 160m above the water until 125km from the target, they they would accelerate to Mach 4.5 and drop down to just under 25m above the ground until impact.

The shells and missiles would hit at almost the same time unleashing total destruction onto the enemy forces.

High Earth Orbit

Hundreds of thousands of satellites orbitied the earth, but our focus is at a group of satellites belonging to the Silver Sky Orbital Force. They were fairly large satellites carrying 32 Thor Kinetic Energy Weapons. These 30 feet long and 3 feet wide projecticles were made of solid Tungsten covered with ablative heat shielding and equipped with GPS guidance, fold out wings and rocket engines in the rear. 20 of these satellites were in orbit above or near the Red Tide. The solid tungsten and ablative shielding were both capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and would shield the weapons from laser weapons, making the recently detected enemy laser station almost useless.

The satellites were encapsulated in titanium, tungsten, and kelver armor with shield shaped pieces of tungsten coated in reflective material used to keep the satellite safe from laser and KE weapons.

The boxes carrying the projectiles extended from the protective shield and one by one the projectiles fired their initial propellant to send them hurtling towards the enemy country. A total of 640 Thor KE Weapons descended onto their targets, a fourth were targeted at airfields, another forth at large enemy ships (OOC: Carriers, battlerships and up), the last half was targeted at enemy SAM control sites near the allied fleet. Each weapon released over 121 TeraJoules of energy, or approx. 3 tons of TNT onto it's target.

For once the full strength of The Silver Sky would finally be reveiled. The world would tremble in fear.

TOP SECRET MESSAGE TO MCKAGAN!
"Meet us at the Ariga commercial port. Nobody is there due to the blockade anyways."
End Message

From: RMV Denny

We'll be pulling into the harbor before nightfall. We'll evacuate the government officials to the submarine by using two RHIB's to move them to a single Mini-Submarine which will then return to this vessel. Please be ready to leave once we get there.

-

Denny continues on its path. Using advanced SONAR to sweep out in a large radius around the vessel, the Attack Submarine easily avoids the large fleets which are busy fighting Red Tide targets.

Just to the rear of the submarines sail the main asset for the extraction operation is located. The Special Operations Chamber, including the DART's quarters and the mini-sub, doesn't stand out from the rest of the hull. However, inside the hull, in the armory, the six man team prepares for its mission. The two RHIB's are tucked into the jettison tube, and their Light Weapons are checked and rechecked.

In only a matter of time they'll be deploying to the surface of a wartorn region to recover politicians that mean nothing to them.

There was no stopping it, the SAMs took out as many approaching missiles as possible, the WHIRLDWINDs even more, the ORTHODOX blew away some of the shells, but there was not stopping all of them.

The stationary, MDM-4 SAM network was pretty much destroyed. Instantly, communications went down to the storehouses in the central desert to get replace the SAMs. Trains immediatly began moving North, along railways heavily protected by WHIRLWIND AA/AM sites... not to mention the odd surviving stationary SAM. However, the mobile MDM-6s were still active... as a matter of fact, their constant movement ment that not a single one had been destroyed. So there were still about 2,000 batteries of SAMs left in all locations.

The Navy was blown to pieces. Not a single capitol ship remained standing

In addition, the Strategic Command decided to destroy the Coalitions Sattelite network. All over Red Tide, indeed, at various points in all types of earth orbits, Anti-Sattelite weapons were locked... and fired. Every single sattelite, civilian or military, communication or spy, armed or unarmed, owned by the Coalition would be turned into blazing wrecks. For every sattelite, there were about 3 or 4 anti-sattelite weapons locked onto them.

Relevant OOC: RedTide2, I'm moving to join up with their battlegroup, nowhere near them at the moment. So what you're saying is that I've destroyed the ORTHODOX system? If it did fire, then I've already allowed losses - there should have been 396 impacts but only abour 240-something got through. They would have otherwise punctured the system - I'm guessing that would count as a mission-kill. Kinetic penetrators would have probably aimed at the TOKAMAK as well - let's say, 50 at each reactor, minus kills, I'll say 20 at each reactor system got through.

IC:

"Send another telegram message to the Silver Sky fleets."

FR: CPT DANIEL HAWKING CO AMDF 225 LCD STOP
TO: CO OF SILVER SKY 1 NA STOP
ARALONIAN MDF CAN PROVIDE RANGED FIRE WITH HV SYSTEMS STOP
SEND COORDINATES TO DESIGNATED TARGETS FOR DESTRUCTION STOP
WE CAN SALVO MAXIMUM 960 HITS ON DESIGNATED TARGETS STOP
BOMBER FORCE CAN BE CALLED UP TO DEPLOY HV ROCKETS STOP
REPEAT SEND COORDINATES TO DESIGNATED TARGETS FOR DESTRUCTION STOP

--Jasonsgrad,Usea--
A message from SSu Jason Mikoyan,
"We have recentlly seen a battle to free the traped people in The Red Tide.We of the Soviet Usean Union will also help Czardas, Aequatio, Anagonia, and other allies to liberate this tormented land.Red Tide,The Sword of Justice is upon you."
--Ports of Usea--
As the Declaration of war went on the airwaves,the prepared Usean Navy Force Was all ready gone.Ports from Rive to Farbanti,Riketzgrad to Cinnigrad,The mighty fleet was moving.New untested Weapons would be feilded here,as well as old reliable systems.the Fleet was on the move.
Message to allied fleets,
The Soviet Usean Navy Is en rout to the battle.We are here to help.We are about 3-6 hours away.The fastest ships expected there are the Assalt Carrier Battlegroups and Sp-1 Hydroair jets.The heaver ones will join soon.


(ooc-I posted earlier,haven't gotten a chance to post)

Low Earth Orbit - Skylab Class Orbital Ion Cannon Apocalypse

The second, and last, of the Old-Generation Type 54 Skylab class Ion Cannons was already being placed in an orbital trajectory as to aim its cannon down at the Coast of Red Tide2, where the allies would be landing. This, of course, would signal to the enemy the precurser for its enemies landings. However, the masters behind its tactical uses had that in mind.

The destruction of the last target signaled to the people masterminding it that the Old-Grade Ion Cannons were definitley formidable in this day and age. It was befitting that they would be built again, as they were most definitley cheaper than the Third Ion Cannon in orbit currently. The Newer, Type 70 Ion Cannon had the ability to battle incoming threats such as missiles and whatnot, but was too much of a cost to be put into Red Tidean eyes. As such, the Type 54, having no defenses, was cheaper and easier to maintain, and worthy of a sacrifice.

Therefore, as the end of the Skylab-lookalike opened up in four sections to reveal the cannon underneath, the central power core was set to overkill. A sixty Megaton beam of destruction was about to be unleashed on the Costal Defense of the Tidean forces. All the poor satellite could take was being mustered, and in ending the tip of the barrel extended to allow the tracer to shoot down upon its helpess target.

In the split second between the firing chamber release, and the firing, the Apocalypse recalled, on its own, the death of its brother satellite, the Armageddon. Beyond the comprehension of its processors, and the decades it shared the link to its brother, something clicked inside its Processing Unit. It finally achieved an understanding of why its controllers were doing this, and how inferior it was compared to its data-log entries of the newer version of itself. It finally realized why its "brother" had been destroyed, and why it had been used. Everything became known to it, if not limited to the IQ of a subsentient being.

Down below, an Operator half-smiled, taking note of this as the glob of Blueish Green energy shot down on the Coastal Area to erupt in a fury of 60 Mega Tons of Ionic destruction. Knowing all too well its fate, the Operator quickly transfered its pet experiemnt down to the Computer Storage Unit where its brother was. Both were dormant, both would remain that until the Operators division could discover how a computer could realize such things.

As far as the Type 54 was concerned, it had achieved both objectives in its lifetime. One: destroying enemies. Two: creating an Artifical Intelligence for warfare.

OOC:

Sorry, I have to leave open a space so I can get the ball rolling on a previous RP plan I had in the making. Gotta get it going.

TO SILSKY 1ST NAVAL ARMADA
FROM COALITION FLEETS

ATTACK STOP

Surface-to-air missiles streak upwards towards the Chimaeras, and like an angry dog growling at a creature menacing its puppy, the Czardaian fleet rumbles, spitting forth a steady stream of bile, five hundred LBRRAMs, which blow many of the enemy SAMs to pieces outright, shrapnel and ball bearings knocking many more out of the sky.

The Fleet -- Medium Admiral Peabody already refers to it in his mind with a capital F -- has barely moved, and as the Silver Skyian forces open up with a barrage against the Red Tidean SAM sites, Czardaians come out on deck to watch, wearing protective earwear, and breaking into spontaneous applause barely after the last missile has shrieked out of its launcher.

Shortly thereafter, a large blueish-green beam strikes the visible landmass about two hundred fifty kilometres away and the earth and sea shake with the force of its impact, sending a large wave outwards which ripples under the fleet, off towards some distant land. The Czardaians wait until it has died down, and begin to move closer to shore to begin the Attack.

Then the XOs of the five largest ships in the Czardaian armada, who appear to have rigged up massive speaker sets, grab microphones as everyone floods inside.

The Czardaians let loose the opening cries of the war.

"Red Tide ... ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!" the XO of one of the Super-Carriers yells, his voice carrying across to the Silver Skyians, Aequatians, Anagonians, and possibly even as far as Red Tide's shore.

Someone on another Super-Carrier calls back, "SCRAMBLE EVERY 'ZIG'... FOR GREAT JUSTICE!"

The 'Vivace' and a pair of Warspites exclaim in unison the terrifying cry, "OMG WE'S GONNA GET SOME UBER H4X AND WE'SA PWN J00 LIEK J00 PAY US $$$ TO STOP!", or some rough translation thereof.

Then a single order, passing from ship to ship and from fleet to fleet in an adrenaline-flooding cry, a single word spread amongst the entirety of the Coalition, a preparation for one of the most awe-inspiring sights ever to be seen off the Red Tidean mainland, a symphony of death unlike any ever seen or heard before.

"Fire!"

Then there is silence, but for the ominous clack-clack-clack of shell after shell loading into gun barrels, and the endless grumbling of VLS tubes opening.

And then all hell breaks loose.

Fifty-six thousand, three hundred and twenty -- yes, that's 56,320 for those of you too lazy to figure it out for yourselves -- Advanced Long Range Surface to Surface Missiles rocket from VL tubes, aimed at railways, further SAM sites, military bases, airfields, and virtually anything else withiin range. A minute or so later, the fleet lets off a full broadside of 30 711mm, 80 675mm, 64 533mm, 72 508mm, and something like 360 406mm shells, whose rocket boosters activate, propelling them through smoke and dust to similar targets.

Meanwhile, virtually every Zig... er, plane, in the Coalition Aerial Force is proceeding to rise in the air, for a total of something around 45,000... an uneven mix of Czardaian and Anagonian assets. With almost no SAM sites to block them, or at least far fewer SAM batteries than there are planes, they have free rein. Nonetheless, they know enough to exercise caution as they creep very slowly through the middle atmosphere at approximately Mach 2.

Thousands of fighter-bombers initiate the air raid from 50 km away from the shore, firing approximately 5,000 AGMs towards detectable warehouses or even probable warehouse points along railways. The air armada continues to approach Red Tide; at its current speed it will arrive within several seconds. ~

[Quick OOC: Again, a very Clarke-esque post, Anagonia. Beautiful!]
[More OOC: In a definite contrast, Czardas' post made me fall out of my chair with laughter. XD]

[ARALONIAN OCTAGON, NEW SARIS]
"We have reports of spaceborne weapons everywhere targeting all of our satellites, communications or not. This includes commercial satellites."

"Very well, then. Is the AMC Discovery anywhere in the area?" CIC Donatello Tallen looked at a multidimensional display of the space surrounding a wheel station.

"Yes - right here." A point in the display began to flash. "It can covertly take out the satellited - we've got lasers that can do that job and the multi-fragmented shells with the 35mm and 130mm HV coilguns."

"Sir! We're attacking the ground forces!"

[AMDF 225TH LCD]

"Fire all weapons!"

The combat group let loose another volley of hypervelocity missiles and emptied its stocks of the incredible weapons. Two waves set 30 seconds apart, a total of 640 missiles, began to wreak havoc on the coastline, landing 1243 hits out of a possible 1920 and decimating any pillboxes or anti-missile defense systems nearby. Constant firing of the ship-mounted coilguns aided in the volley fire, sending up huge plumes of dust, sand, and dirt on the beach.

"Call the fleet tender Yuki to restock us with hypervelocity missiles. I wonder if they have the flechette types?"

[ARALONIAN 8TH BOMBER WING, IN FLIGHT 800KM FROM RED TIDE]

"Fox-Two! Fox-Two! Drop 200 and peel away!" 50 heavy bombers fired their own airborne hypervelocity warheads, coasting to the desired angles and unleashing even more firepower. The streaking trails of night fire were an awesome sight to witness from the ground or the air, temporarily dazzling all the pilots. "Damn, I'm lucky to be up here."

[ARALONIAN AMV DISCOVERY]

"We have our orders. There are enemy armed weapons platforms near here - arm up the THEL and load fragmenting HV rounds into the coilguns." AMV Discovery undocked from an Aralonian reload platform, and began a silent coast on an inconspicuous orbit that would take it to within 100km of its first target cluster.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Official Message To:
Unknown fleet

Would you mind explaining to us who exactly you are, whose side you're on, where you come from, and what you're doing in Red Tide?

~ Medium-Admiral Josiah Peabody VI
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Encrypted Reply

This is Corporate Admiral Callard Smith of the First Corporate Fleet. We've been contracted by an outside party to initiate offensive actions against Red Tide but are awaiting orders and a supply convoy which is about to leave shortly.

[END]

300km offshore

"Christ almighty they are firing!"

"Engage stealth mode, lets see what DMG has given us."

The DMG ships with their OLED panels changed to reflect the color of the sea and essentially the ships became vague mists relative to the human eye.

The mist refraction system excited the air and the ships became even harder to spot.

Everything but the active jamming turned on, cutting power from the ship and reducing the fleet to 15 knots. But it was a silent fleet, using ion propulsion to move and barely making a dent in the water with only odd ripples radiating away from the area where the MRS stopped.

They would continue this dodging until they got new orders to strike.

[More OOC: In a definite contrast, Czardas' post made me fall out of my chair with laughter. XD]
Thanks. I like to think of myself as the TIOR of 2006. Capable of making serious, detailed, *insert author's name here*-esque posts, but using that talent for humour instead. :P [/ooc]

Official Communique of the High Council of Eternal Wisdom of the Humanist State of Kravania

From: The Humanist State of Kravania

To: All Nations

The Humanist State of Kravania and the High Council of Eternal Wisdom express the desire to see a state of peace between the nation of Red Tide 2 and the nations at war against it.

The Humanist State would like to inform the warring nations that we offer our services to the cause of resolving this pointless war with all our resources and the eternal wisdom and sacred grace of Father Himself.

Again, The Humanist State asks all nations to respond to our offer so that a peace can be brokered and the nations put to rest their war machines.

We also have a telescreen message from Father, addressed to all nations:

"Dear brother nations.

As Father of the Great Humanist Revolution and the ideals of human brotherhood, I ask only one simple request, that you stop this war and allow peace to reign supreme.

The Great Humanist Revolution that I led in Kravania resulted in a blissful peace between man and it is my life's work to see the end of man's inhumanity to man and thus I have no choice but to use my position as Supreme Leader of the Humanist State of Kravania to offer my services to resolve this war and bring a just peace.

We are all nations of the brotherhood of humanity and I ask you to not allow petty nationalisms and petty ideologies of worthless value to human progress to destroy human life.

Let us have peace so that the unity of man can be transformed from a utopian concept of abstract theory to a living reality for all peoples.

As Father, all humans are my children and I deplore the senseless destruction this war has caused.

The High Council of Eternal Wisdom has already selected worthy diplomats to go to your capital cities to solve this war.

Accept our offer for we have only the cause of humanity in our hearts."

[Quick OOC: Again, a very Clarke-esque post, Anagonia. Beautiful!]

OOC:

Thanks again! I try! Weeee...

To: The High Council of the State of Kravania
From: President Arnold Saltzman, Aequatian Head of State

While your offer would be more than acceptable under normal circumstances, however, the repeated offences committed by the administration of Red Tide have forced the current coalition to ensure either the replacement or elimination of the current government for both the safety of Red Tidean citizens and for the stabilization of the international community by finally defeating such an evil force.

----------

RNS Marcus Pendleton

Admiral Killian had kept a close eye on the course her entire fleet was on, it would be at least another seventy two hours before they would link up with Rear Admiral Stockwell's Europa Carrier Group. She transmitted orders to him to begin conducting air operations against targets inland only if it was safe for strike aircraft.

----------

RNS Europa

As soon as the orders came through and the flight deck became even more busy than it had already been, Master Chief Burns and his team were pulling an large, twin-engine F-1N Averna strike fighter to one of the bow catapults as team behind them pulled a second F-1N aircraft. The aircraft would be performing the usual combat air patrols along the perimeter with the EA and AWACS aircraft.

Admiral Stockwell knew that the drones launched had been eliminated by the excessive defence network within Red Tide and he paused to think as he watched the other bridge officers direct the group's actions as they moved into their new position. The EF-1B Electronic Attack aircraft flew alongside the E-2D Hawkeye II, using the AWACS aircraft to amplify the signals produced by the Erebus fighters to flood the RADAR frequencies of the Red Tide air defence network. Just as the other dozen groups were doing the same, RQ-9A Predator C UAVs began to take off from the flight decks of the carriers and moved as formations, each with signatures to represent the aircraft present in strike packages. A total of fifty "packages" were on course towards the coastline and would make their way on simulated attack runs on targets chosen from satellite reconnaissance.

----------

RNS Espandor

The boat went to silent running, using its electrical induction propellers which cut the noise produced by the submarine by almost eighty percent. Captain Rodgers was standing with the lieutenant at the sonar station, the lieutenant looked relaxed, which made him feel better since the only time a sonar officer looks calm is when he hears nothing.

RNS Bishop

Colonel Gates was meeting with his battalion commanders in one of the briefing rooms aboard the Bishop along with the other commanding officers, including the close air support officers and the Navy personnel who would be shuttling the Marines ashore.

----------

Anson Air Force Base, Magna Casa, Aequatian Republic

Captain Grant sat in the cockpit of his B-4 Valiant as he prepared for take-off, beside him was Major Bloom who was running diagnostics on the weapons deployment system. Their targets and munitions had changed once word had been received that many of the shore batteries had been eliminated by the Czardaian warships.

Explosions rippled across Red Tide, from the East to West, North to South. Arms warehouses exploded in large fireballs, rising into the night sky. Railroad bridges collapsed, trains rolled right off them into valleys. Other trains exploded as missiles hit them. The WHIRLWINDS and MDM-6s did their jobs as best they could, but most of the railway network, which was the primary method of transportation for Red Tide armaments and munitions, were severed.

In the SouthWest, the damage was much less severe, mainly due to a mix of ORTHODOX, MDM-6s, and WHIRLWINDs. A coastal strip along the NorthWest was annihilated by the Anagonian Ion Cannon, but not before the Ion Cannon was targetted by numerous MDM-5Bs and Hunter-Killer Sattelites.

As the Czardian Fight-Bombers streaked overhead, being constantly targetted by SAMs, APC-45 Autocannons, and WHIRLWIND AA/AM Emplacements, people stood on hilltops and watched... and CHEERED!

The night is filled with sound.

The constant pocketa pocketa pocketa of flak rounds bursting from cannons, doing what any sensible flak round would do, and shooting upwards to explode in brilliant fireworks.

The screeching of planes slicing the sky ominously, leaving jet trails in their wake as they race through the sky, weapons armed for warfare.

The booming of bombs descending upon any surviving Red Tidean military bases in the Northwest, and upon SAM sites that can be located, as napalm, cluster munitions, "general ordnance", and heavy concrete bombs begin to drop down upon WHIRLWINDs, SAM batteries, APCs, tanks, and anything non-civilian within range.

The rhythmic humming of nuclear turbines propelling the Czardaian fleet ponderously forward towards the shore, accompanied by the bang of shell after shell arching through the sky towards the Red Tidean mainland.

The whirring of helicopter blades as flocks of HELOs begin to touch down in the northern cities and towns, crowding civilians aboard to fly them to safety.

The cheering of the Red Tidean people, watching their liberators commence operations against the oppressive regime that has crushed them for so long.

Liberation is a glorious thing, when done right.

But it can also be a terrifying one.

In the SouthWest, the damage was much less severe, mainly due to a mix of ORTHODOX, MDM-6s, and WHIRLWINDs. A coastal strip along the NorthWest was annihilated by the Anagonian Ion Cannon, but not before the Ion Cannon was targetted by numerous MDM-5Bs and Hunter-Killer Sattelites.

Silence. Space, in its vastness, was superior to the earthly realm for this fact. Life, and death, met with silence. A new life would only be cheered by the suns mighty stare, and a old death would be met by the comforting silence of Dignity and Honor. All these things made Space a horrible place to live, if you did not treat Space with care. For even a measley satellite with sub-sentient thought could comprehend these facts, so surely a man can himself.

That, and the neverending battle of Life and Death on the planet, perhaps made Man numb to the fact that Space could be a better place to die if you were alone.

And such was the Apocalypse, as it exploded in a fury unlike its brother. Nothing was heard but silence, and nothing was seen but dust and a structured fireball. The Age of the Type 54 was over, and with it the protection and service of the most loyal of the Ion Cannon designs. For the Operator would not use the newer ones, for they were too costly. The older ones would not be used, for they were not powerful. The twin brothers of the Skylab-Class were perfect, in every manner, for the warfare its human operators so desired for them to be one with.

Now, the perfection was gone. Now, the loyalty was gone.

But as in every story, hope reigned supreme. One Man, one human, had the insight to trap the minds of the Brothers below. One Man would soon find his destiny were two had lost their own.

For now, in the Skylabs place, a Spy Satellite roamed across to view the damamge. For in the eyes of the Operator, it was perfect.

[FIVE HOURS LATER, ABOARD AMDF HARBINGER]

"Right then. Yuki, please remain on station for reloading after this salvo. Fire HVM!"

Yet another fury of dual-stage missiles fired, another 640, aimed directly at the ORTHODOX system. Yet this time, the missiles swerved around in the upper atmosphere, outside ORTHODOX's range due to atmospheric blooming of laser weaponry. The missiles recieved the command to turn - and thus they did, coming in at high angles from all vectors. 1920 warheads launched, and even as they were shot down in the hundreds, about a thousand managed to pierce through the anti-air umbrella, destroying more AA systems and puncturing the ORTHODOX system even further.

"Well, that was nice of them," remarked Defense Minister Michael O'Neill upon viewing battle damage assessments.

"Quite. With the destruction of Red Tide's Navy, and much of their air defense around the coast, the next step of launching an invasion is coming much closer," replied Lord Protector John Melkovich.

"The Third through Seventh Mobile Divisions are currently embarking, and we have LSTs and LHAs transporting equipment to the warzone. We should be ready within a week, which means we may end up coming in after the others have opened up a beachhead."

"How did the space battle go?"

"Well enough, the few ASATs launched at our satellites were defeated with Brilliant Pebbles. Parliament has introduced a supplementary spending bill for an emergency replacement of those Pebbles used."

RNS Shikra

The cruiser had just finished replenishment with the Cardwell since Hurst was still undergoing makeshift repairs to keep her afloat until a repair ship arrived with the other forces. As soon as the cruiser returned to formation, it prepared its vertical launch system with the newly-developed BGM-172 Pike hypersonic cruise missiles, targets had been chosen from satellite images and they included known airfields. Missiles carried cluster munitions for aircraft that were exposed and to damage the runways and "bunker buster" style munitions to knock out hardened hangers. Repeatedly, red spires rose from the launch tubes on the forward and aft of the vessel as sixty missiles of each type were launched and began their course inland towards Red Tide.

----------

35,000 metres over International Waters, three hundred kilometres from Red Tide

Captain Grant felt safe at his current altitude, knowing that only the largest weapons could reach his aircraft if it could first detect and then catch it. On supercruise, it travelled nearly 3,000 knots and the stars shot by as he changed course for his final bombing run on his target in Red Tide, which was now an airfield, like the other seventy-one hypersonic bombers of his entire wing. Major Bloom armed the aircraft's weapons, which now consisted of four GBU-32 1,000 pound GPS-guided bombs that would rip apart their target, a command structure on their flight's respective airfield.

The main ORTHODOX Tower, its accompanying, railway mounted THELs, and its four TOKAMAK Reactors exploded violently from the impacts of the kinetic energy weapons. The ORTHODOX Tower teetered, then fell completely over, snapping in half midway through its fall.

The Rosdivan optomism at defeating the ASATs were naive, for instantly, more MDM-5B Anti-Sattelite Missiles burst from their mobile launchers, streakinng upwards towards the heavens. Rosdivanian sattelites were also targetted by space based 'Hunter-Killer' Sattelites, these were far more survivable then the MDM-5Bs.

Civilians flocked to the helicopters, many of them were apparently starving, some were holding malnourished children. Here and there on the beaches, there was a surviving Red Tidean Soldier, each time a Czardan Soldier(s) came across one, the result would be the same, the Red Tidean Soldier would raise a gun or bring out a knife and charge them like a madman, firing/stabbing crazily, but accurately.

The Usean's currently had a small part,yet that changed when the big ships came.Including the STN Barge and the SDK Carrier.The Usea'n planes started taking off from there carriers,as the STN barges fires there magnetic rail cannons.The cannons were effectine,being derived from the mainland's STN "Stonehenge" Cannon array,only smaller.The SDK carriers fired there guns as they launched fighters.The new planes hoped there be more,the planes from before took out most.Also ariving was the Usean Submarien Aircraft carriers that rose up only to launch planes then sink into the water.

[Space]

One would imagine that the space above the earth would be all but empty, but such an observation would be wrong, oh so very wrong. Hundreds of thousands of objects, ranging from the largers ortillery gun to the smallest fragment of debris. orbited around our mortal earth in an never ending pattern of the living and the dead.

Of course, for such man made devices there was no "death", rather it was being turned back into smaller components to be used on the next generation. Metal would fall back to earth or be snatched from the sky to be used again.

For this would be the fate of many of man's greatest creations on this day.

The targeting computers coldy plotted the courses of the enemy missiles and slaved their smaller brothers to sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

If space could transmit sound it would have been louder and more awe inspiring then the world's greatest battles.

"Enemys", could a word truely have any meaning for the weapons, so cold, so heartless, yet unafiliated except by the accident of creation? Computers could not possibly comprehend the expansive moral questions, but yet, neither could man.

However, they were still targeted as the "enemy". As the rising red tide of fire rose from the ground to meet them another tide, this time of bluish-whitish glow descended from the heavens to meet in a battle that would have earned the respect of the gods.

Thousands upon thousands of mechanical warriors clashed in battle, a battle that would be determined not by thinking, but by technological prowess and raw numbers.

Thousands of flashes raced across the heavens as ASATs and Brilliant Pebbles, along with lasers and ball-bearing loaded missiles, collided and wiped each other from existance.

The cold calculating eyes of the satellites that had already expended their destructive force upon the enemy watched as the battle between the titans commenced, as the destruction swept forward to swallow their brothers and finally themselves.

Finally the battle subsided, one side remained victorious, but what is victory to a cold mechanical creation? It is merely an extension of it's lifespan, an upgrade to it's clock if you will, they merely waited to destroy, or be destroyed, nothing more, nothing less

This is the way of the machine.

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

OOC: Losses: Uncountable number of brilliant pebbles, approx. full replacement time: 1-2 weeks

Entirety of the Thor System capable of striking the Red Tide: Approx. Full Replacment time: 3-6 weeks

OOC:

The Silver Sky,

Damn excellent post, rivalling mine completely! We should work together on a Machine-Based AI RP! TG me! Rawr!

"Here comes another one. Looks like its probably used up its entire fuel supply or just about," commented on technician as they plotted the incoming ASAT tracks.

"Watch this," came the response from the tech next to him, as a few keys were hit. Hundreds of miles overhead, a civilian communications satellite received an emergency override signal and made a slight burn.

"Excellent!" The new plot showed the ASATs trajectory falling far short of the satellite and, in a few orbits, burning up upon reentry.

"Early warning is picking up missiles being launched from the surface, command believes them to be land based ASATs" announced a loudspeaker. A few more keystrokes and the response was in place. Tiny microsatellites, no bigger than a watermelon, dashed in, shattering the large missiles before they had a chance to reach the few targets over Red Tide's sky, a few of them diving into the atmosphere in order to do so. Much of the protection afforded the Rosdivan satellites was the fact that there were so many satellites from other nations, which soaked up the vast majority of Red Tidean ASAT weapons.

Some of the satellites would be lost of course, but their functions were easily transferred to other satellites not in the line of fire, or neutral allied satellites if that was not possible.

[First Naval Aramada, SSRS 'Hyperion']

The crew cheered as the Czardazians and Aquetioans launched their forces to spearhead the invasion. Men embraced as they knew that they would be part of the glorious forces of freedom.

Men loaded into their vehicles already in the bowels of landing craft as the fleet rushed it's self at the now undefended shore. Thousands of rounds, ranging from small 75mm guns to the massive 675mm guns. Helicopters lifted gracefully from the decks like thousands of hummingbirds, the descended like a swarm of angry locust on the enemy positions firing rockets and missiles at the remaining enemy positions as others landed troops on the beach.

The troops swarmed up the beach

Men in their strike fighters began to advance towards the enemy coast. They fired off thousands upon thousands of missiles onto the enemy SAM sites and vehicles.

Bombs fell from the bays of high altitude bombers, ranging from the small 500kg guided bombs to the massive 60,000lb guided "Bunker Demolishers".

Nearly 25,000 Land attack missiles targeted any enemy land formations up to 300km inland.

Finally the landing craft reached the shore, under fire they unleashed their tanks upon the enemy, as if a rising tide of man, metal, and machine had poured out to swallow the land before them.

Precision weapons, machines crafted by other machines were the spearhead of the international effort as men fought men. But these machines were not tied to a side by rank of affiliation, ones that were abandoned or lost were picked up by others, they were the true warrior, they didn't have a conscious to hinder them, nor emotions, they would fight until they could fight no more, until they were destroyed, no matter who weilded them.

The era of man in combat was over, it has been for years, it was time to clear way for the true warrior, the machine, and their true commanders, the computers.

For now the world would hold their breath in terror as the forces of man and machine combined to one deadly fighting force.

The enemy would be reduced to ashes before the battle was over.

OOC: Why aren't my posts being responded to? Others who have posted after me have been responded to first.

The Silver Sky and most other Coalition nations had just wasted a huge amount of ammunition for nothing. All Red Tidean formations within 60 kilometers of the coast had been shattered by the initial Ion Cannon Blast. The Land Attack Missiles were also wasted on the mechanized formations much farther inland, the Red Tidean APC-45s shot them out of the sky.

The APC-45 differed from other APCs and IFVs in the fact that instead of carrying anti-infantry weapons, they carried anti-aircraft weapons. Each APC-45 had dual 30mm autocannons, LIDAR operated, and firing SmartFlaK, FlaK shells that would actually manuever to hit their targets. In addition, the B version of the APC-45(APC-45B) carried MDM-2 Surface-Air Missiles, which were cheaper versions of the American Stinger. The A version of the APC-45s(APC-45A) also carried fire-and-forget LASER guided Anti-Tank Missiles. Most Mechanized-Infantry and Armored Divisions were now rolling towards the landing sites.

The Silver Sky and Czardian bombers and fighters found themselves targetted by MDM-6 missiles, since they utilised only Infrared and inertial guidance, not a single MDM-6 had been destroyed as of yet. Each MDM-6 carried six missiles, about half that of the MDM-4, but still sufficient to fill the sky with enough missiles to kill every single aircraft being tossed at Red Tide. Many WHIRLWIND emplacements also remained operational, there were far more WHIRLWINDs then there were Aircraft and bombs.

Finally, the Red Tidean Airforces Air-Superiority Fighters began to make its appearance... unfortunantly, the majority of it consisted of MiG-29s modified to carry Red Tidean Weapons and equipped with a more powerful RADAR. The more advanced aircraft were being held in secret warhouse bunkers. The problem was... there were alot of MiGs. Over 12,000 of them were now streaking towards various parts of the battlefield inbetween mach-1 and -2 numbers, behind them, moving at subsonic speeds, were VTOL H/K-1 Surface Attack Aircraft, they carried multi-pupose cluster munitions.

[ABOARD AMDF HARBINGER]

"Oh, shit."

Radar had detected the incoming massive wave of aircraft towards the sea battlegroup. "Load AHEAD into all 35mm cannon! Ready the rotary SM2 launchers with anti-air HVM and ready the Starstreak missiles! Spool the THEL and begin maneuvers towards Aequatian battlegroup! Move, now! Call in the 384th and 563rd LCD as well, on the double!" The ships of the Aralonian forces turned a full 270 degrees and opened up the throttle to their maximum velocity of 40 knots. "Dear insert deity here, it's going to get messy, and fast."

[ABOARD AMDF STELLAR RANGER]

"384th LCD understands your call, we're maneuvering now. Launch fightersto provide air support." Carrier-based F-35 fighters streaked from the launch decks of the Stellar Ranger, another modified Viraat-class light carrier. F-35s were being outfitted with airborne versions of the 35mm HV coilgun with AHEAD rounds and Starstreak missiles, scaled down versions of the multiple-warhead XR-ASTM used aboard ships.

Corporate Fleet 300km offshore

"Operation has yet to be completed, sir."

"Holding until new orders."

And the new orders arrived.


OPERATION STILL ON HOLD.
MOVE 50km CLOSER TO COAST, STAY AT REAR OF ATTACKING FLEETS
ACT AS DEFENSIVE IF ENEMY ACTS


The fleet obeyed and while in stealth mode moved forward.

--The SUS Ryokin--
"Sir,There are still many implacements further in the mainland."The Captian of the bommer thought,hearing the leutenits words."Use the MPBM in VTB's one through five."As the order rang along the submarien,The boomer's missle toobs loaded with the fearsome Multi-Purpose Ballistic Burst Missile.Since usea has a lack of nuklear arms,the new weapon was used in the few bommers it did aquire.The missles ripped into the water and the air,twards the reports of heavy enemy activity,as a transmission was for all allied forces to move away from the blast site.The missles rocketed from the ships as other captians launched the highly destructive missles from there ships.

[ooc:] Red Tide, we've been firing at the surviving emplacements... not the area blasted by the ion cannon. That should be common sense. *sigh*

Post coming later.

The time was upon them. Four DART's assigned to RMV Denny boarded the minisubmarine and unmounted from the larger vessel.

With all the naval warfare going on, a large number of objects would be impacting the ocean surface. Meaning - a small mini-submarine would be able to penetrate much easier. The fact that the submarine would be moving through an area that wasn't being contested into a civilian area also added to the stealth aspect of the mission.

After about an hour of moving through calm seas made rough by their vessels small size, the DART's arrived at their destination: Ariga Commercial Port.

To avoid having their nation of origin identified by any sort of photograph - the DART's avoided using their EHT-Hydra battlesuits. Instead they opted for a more generic system of armored plates like many third world nations continue to use.

Their ride, the minisub, was secured in a reverse-parked position at the end of one of the many civilian piers - ready to escape quickly if needed. After all of the trivial tasks were complete the four man DART team moves down the pier and onto land. Acting in the most discreet manner, they moved with as much stealth as possible. In short - the hoped the find the government officials without any curious onlooking deciding to investigate.

It was then that the DART Team detected a Platoon (50 men) of HURRICANE Commando's, these were Red Tides Special Forces. And apparently, the Commando's detected them at the same time.

Their weapons came up, they shouted in Russian simultaneously (in a voice that sounded identical to one of Kraven's Capitol Police), but before any of the DART team could do anything, a third voice entered, and the Commando's lowered their weapons. A man stepped out of the Platoon, he was of moderate height, build, with blondish-brown hair, and on the whole, unimpressive looking.

He spoke in English, "I guess you are the McKagan Team... I am Supreme Commander Gregori McKenna."

The Major commanding the DART team really had hoped that the Red Tidian Official wouldn't give away their identity in front of so many soldiers fighting for a lost cause. The Major would definately have to put that in his report so that the MCID could gauge the risk to operational security.

Giving a blank look with a few nods of his head, the Major said simply "We're from the Corporation sent to do business with you."

At such a close distance it was obvious that he was lying, and that he was indeed what McKenna had said in the first place.

"We'd like to leave this place ASAP. Are you ready?"

"Yes, I am ready." McKenna said, he turned to the commando's and said something in Russian, they all saluted, then turned and walked away.

Gregori McKenna turned and smiled, "Dont worry about them giving us away, its against their... nature." He obviously choose that last word carefully.

In front of the DART Team were fewer men then had actually been briefed, there was Gregori, a black man in a buisness suit with a huge build, a women with red hair, and a man in a wheel chair.

"I apologise for the last minute change in plans, but I had to leave some ministers behind, they are in a safe location and do not know about the evacuation. Please, lead the way."

"We're going to have issues with the wheelchair but I think it'll fit in the rear of the sub." the DART Commander said to the wheelchair-bound man.

After listening to the response, the DART team moved off slowly. They weren't far from the pier. With rain starting to slowly fall down in the land that they all wanted to leave as quickly as possible - it made them all happy.

OOC: My forces were not firing at any ground formations, they were targetting airfields farther inland.

Also, I've been using EW aircraft to barrage jam your detection systems, is that being ignored?

IC:

RNS Europa

Stockwell felt relieved with the arrival of the amphibious readiness, carrier and command groups and was ordered to the superdreadnought for a briefing with the force's commanding officer, Vice Admiral Killian. He was walking through a corridor with two Marine bodyguards and one of his staff officers as they stopped only to don white vests and helmets before walking out onto the carrier's flight deck and towards a waiting SH-20 utility helicopter that would bring them to the massive Marcus Pendleton which was now on the horizon. A young woman dressed in a green vest, white helmet and the usual digital woodland pattern fatigues saluted as the Rear Admiral boarded the helicopter and the door slide shut behind him. The green vest raised his hand and gave the helicopter's pilot a thumbs up as the rotors began spinning, within minutes the aircraft was on its way towards the superdreadnought.

----------

RNS Espandor

Rodgers took a seat on his bridge chair for the first time since their arrival off Red Tide and took a drink from his coffee mug with the boat's coat of arms and registry number printed on the side. There had been a scare earlier when the submarine had come close to hitting the ocean floor as they moved at their operating depth, luckily the nav officer was able to detect it quickly enough and inform the helmsman to change the boat's depth and avoid scrapping the hull against the rocky bottom.

[74TH COMBINED TASK FORCE FLAGSHIP AMDF ARBITER]

The arrival of Commodore Norien Elson and the 384th/563rd LCD was marked by yet another huge salvo of XR-ASTM, aimed this time at power infrastructure and airfields. A total of 768 missiles launched twice from the battlegroup, firing up an array of about 4600 rounds, decommissioning airport control towers and underground power wires.

A cutter was sent across from the Arbiter to the Harbinger.

"Commodore Elson! Good to see you again!" Captain Hawking saluted as Commodore Elson reciprocated and shook his hand.

"Indeed, it's been a while. How are things on this front? Off the record, but I hate these inhumane bastards." Commodore Elson paced the command deck of the Harbinger. "Very well. Continue the bombardment. Henceforth, we are the 74th Combined Combat Division."

"Commodore, sir, would you like to enjoy a drink in my cabin?" Captain Hawking was always a courteous man.

"Indeed, I'd enjoy that." Elson and Hawking walked to the cabin. "Get tenders Haruhi, Mikuru, and Yuki to start reloading the VLS systems and charge the exel-asstem [OOC: literal onomatopeia of XL-ASTM] to launch."

The Grand Duchy Of toremal hereby declares war on Red Tide2 for the cruel and oppressive acts of this country.

The Grand Duchy Of toremal hereby declares war on Red Tide2 for the cruel and oppressive acts of this country.

OOC: Red Tide has forbidden new combatants from coming into the conflict unless they are on his side. Please read the entire thread.

Corporate Fleet 250km

"Operation complete, they are pulling out."

"Good, get me telemetry on the allied fleet."

"Yes, sir, should we raise them on the horn?"

"Do it, find out where everybody is so we can coordinate our fire."

Encrypted Message to Allied Fleet

New orders have arrived and we are to join into the combat arena. We wish to know the location of the allied fleet so we can coordinate our fire best.

Moving only four Red Tide officials made the DART's job much easier. The mini-submarine could transport up to 10 people according to its manual - but they were planning on over a dozen had all the people who were supposed to actually showed up.

After just a moment of moving through the damp area, they arrived at the pier. Running out it, the rear hatch to the submarine was quickly opened. One DART moved inside the aid in getting the governments officials in and strapped down. Another stood near the hatch on the pier to help get down into the sub in the first place. With the other two guarding the rear, it was a quick mounting.

The submarine slips out of its holding and dives - heading back out to sea.

OOC: McKagan, do we want to move the arrival of my goverment dudes into a new thread?

Aquatio, no your not being ignored, I am just waiting for you to get within 100 kilometers of the desert.

IC: The Aralonians would find that Red Tides power network lay deep within the Western Wastelands, called that because the area was infested with ultra-high levels of radiation... to the point where nothing(not even insects) could survive. The powerplants were all nuclear and all had radiation safety standards that would make an IAEA inspector shoot himself. They were all automated.

This didnt mean they were invulnerable to bombardment though. Quite the contrary, they were the most vulnerable targets in Red Tide due to the lack of any defenses what-so-ever, it only took a couple of minutes... but Red Tides nuclear power plants went off line. Most military bases had back-up generators, though, so it would affect the civilians more then the military.

Their attempts to destroy Red Tides Air Control Towers were mostly faliures. Most air bases were located in the central desert... well out of range of the Aralonian guns. Most Civilian Airports were located inside the SouthWest Red Tide, although these were mostly closed, partly due to the war, and partly due to the fact that the civilian air controllers were taking part in the riots and revolts popping up all over the SouthWest.

Speaking of which, the revolts were beginning to tie down numerous Red Tidean Divisions. To this point, only Infantry Divisions were sent into the cities when martial law was declared. But now, three Mechanized-Infantry Divisions orders to move to the NorthWest were cancelled and instead re-directed to the three largest cities.

The air armada of 12,000 MiGs had now gotten close enough to the Allied Aircraft that they began to mass fire off ALLRAAMs. Each MiG-29 carried 4 ALLRAAMs(Advanced LADAR Long-Range Air-Air Missile). In total 48,000 missiles screamed towards every single Aircraft that the Coalition had in range. Helicopters, fighters, attackers, bombers, electronic, it didnt matter.

The Usean ballistic missiles were blown out of the sky, once again, by Red Tidean 'Brilliant Pebbles'.

[OOC: Whatever you want to do, RT. I'm not really part of this thread other than evacuating your people.]

--Space--
Usea still had tricks up it's sleave,as with the STN cannons fired there anti-Asteriod cannans in the orbital arria above the Red Tide.These High speed explosive shells were made to deflect incoming asteroids with a high velosity collition.Yet this time,there target was the MPBBM's of the Usean subs.As some of the 'Brilliant Pebbles' activated on usea's missles,the STn fired on Some of the missles clearing the way for the rest.As the missles that cleared the mine feilds of space coles in,they were aquired my Red tide SAMs.As the SAMs rocket into the air,the burst missles showed ther final secret.As the missle was over 10,000Ft.The warhead opened and dossens of smaller missles flew out,some colliding with the SAMs,and manny of the SAMs hit the main rocket,who's use had been finished.

--Space--
Usea still had tricks up it's sleave,as with the STN cannons fired there anti-Asteriod cannans in the orbital arria above the Red Tide.These High speed explosive shells were made to deflect incoming asteroids with a high velosity collition.Yet this time,there target was the MPBBM's of the Usean subs.As some of the 'Brilliant Pebbles' activated on usea's missles,the STn fired on Some of the missles clearing the way for the rest.As the missles that cleared the mine feilds of space coles in,they were aquired my Red tide SAMs.As the SAMs rocket into the air,the burst missles showed ther final secret.As the missle was over 10,000Ft.The warhead opened and dossens of smaller missles flew out,some colliding with the SAMs,and manny of the SAMs hit the main rocket,who's use had been finished.

OOC: I'm sorry, what? What is going on here? Is this even English? :confused:

IC:

Corporate Fleet 250km

Encrypted to Fleet

"Again we are hailing for coordinates of the allied fleet so we can coordinate our fire best."

[END]

The ships held their position in between the major portions of the allied fleet in stealth mode, waiting for allied coordinates so they could coordinate their fire and avoid hitting allied positions on shore.

(ooc-Short version.
The STN are clearing the space in space by exploding some burst missles,as others make it past sams by launching ther cargo.)

OOC: Guns? These are long-range missiles, range 1500km.

IC:

[ABOARD AMDF HARBINGER]

"Tell me what's been going on." Commodore Elson put his elbows onto the table and leaned forward, nursing a cup of mocha.

"Sir-"

"You can quit with the 'sir' now. We're friends, right?" Elson chuckled as he took a sip of the mocha. "Damn fine stuff this is, too."

"Thanks." Hawking smiled slightly. "Now. We've been launching multiple waves of the exel-asstems towards their bases. Their performance is astounding, as you've heard. Yesterday at zero-one-thirty-four hours and 10 seconds, we disabled an enemy laser defense system. Here are the photographs." Hawking slid a manila folder across the table. "The laser system operated in both pulse mode, similar to what we've been trying to accomplish with the THEL, [Note: THEL in Aralonia operate on continuous wave] and continuous wave, exemplified by the destruction of numerous test targets." Hawking took a sip from his coffee as well. "We've also launched missiles at numerous targets, such as pillboxes and railway junctions."

"Sir!" An ensign burst into the room, banging the door so hard that Hawking dropped his cup.

"What the hell!"

"Sorry about that! Just in, we've taken out the power plants for the country, but the military bases are still online. The Octagon advises that we disable those plants as well."

"Right then. I'd better get back to my ship. Keep at it, Captain." Commodore Elson stood up. "And." He chuckled slightly. "Clean up the mess, Ensign."

"Yes, sir!" The ensign saluted rigidly, and grabbed a mop.

Captain Hawking saw symbolism here. Indeed, the combined coalition fleet was definitely mopping up the enemy.

OOC again: [INSERT DEITY HERE], it's so much easier to RP when you have two characters. Makes things more interesting, yeah?

High above Red Tide

"Is the communication system ready?" asked the captain, making one final preparation before the electronics warfare bird, one of many, began operation.

"Yes sir, everything is ready to go," came the response back from the enlisted crewman next to him.

"Here we go then," muttered the captain as he pressed 'play' on the tape that would begin broadcasting across Red Tidean frequences.

"Soldiers of Red Tide! Look around you. You and your loved ones are starving, there is no food to be had. Everytime your comrades have fought against Coalition forces, they have been annihilated. The heavy defenses which were the linchpin of your nation's defense have been eradicated, without a single Coalition casualty. Why continue this pointless fight? Lay down your arms and surrender. Free food and aid for reconstruction will follow as soon as you do so. Soldiers of Red Tide..."

The Red Tidean citizens who saw the broadcast(which was pretty much anyone) quickly got the word out before the order was given for the Television System to be shutdown.

None of the Red Tidean Military or Intellegince-Consortium Units mutinied, infact, they carried along like nothing had happened. With the civilians however, it was quite the opposite story. Revolts broke out EVERYWHERE, numerous regimental, brigade, and divisional commanders tried to surrender, only to be shot by their own soldiers or superiors. Even worse, Tech-Com Corporation Personnel, who were inferior in numbers but armed with the same weapons as the Military, abandoned their posts and joined the revolts. Up to 37 Armored and Mechanized-Infantry Divisions had their orders to move to the NorthWest cancelled and were instead sent into the cities to restore order. In one case, Chemical Weapons were employed against the metropolis of Beriaovostok, the city was flooded with Phosgene Gas, killing 75% of the cities population and maiming the rest.

As the news of that last atrocitie broke, the Red Tide Mafia, which had been a wild card in the conflict, decided to take its chances under the puppet goverment that the Coalition would set-up rather then be exterminated by the said Coalition. Its Thugs joined the citizens who had been revolting. The Red Tide Mafia organisation was unique in that it was less of a standard crime organisation and more of a illegal military organisation. It had its very own military heirarchy and equipment(most of which stolen or bought on the black market) and, even more importantly, it barely outnumbered the Red Tide Military, although not the Intellegince-Consortium.

Another crucial aspect of the Red Tide Mafia was that it began to send intellegince to the Coalition Forces.

MIGHT-BE-SECRET MESSAGER TO COALITION FORCES FROM RED TIDE MAFIA!
"We cannot ensure that this message is secret, the Red Tide Goverment DOES have access to our encryption codes after-all, and they might actually decide to use them this time around.

Anyways, our forces have joined the freedom fighters in Red Tide. Here is a list of all Red Tidean Military Installations that we KNOW OF.

Signed, The Boss."
END MESSAGE

What followed was a list of previously unknown underground arms warehouses, hidden weapons of mass destruction sites, some underground command posts manned by field marshals, and a bunker that had a Red Tidean Minister in it(the Transportation Minister to be precise).

MIGHT-BE-SECRET MESSAGER TO COALITION FORCES FROM RED TIDE MAFIA!
"We cannot ensure that this message is secret, the Red Tide Goverment DOES have access to our encryption codes after-all, and they might actually decide to use them this time around.

Anyways, our forces have joined the freedom fighters in Red Tide. Here is a list of all Red Tidean Military Installations that we KNOW OF.

Signed, The Boss."
END MESSAGE

Encrypted Message to the Boss

We know of what is happening and know that your brothers in arms in Leafanistan will not stand for this. We are willing to retrieve you from Red Tide at no cost to you and help you run your organization from exile.

Use our secure phone line to call us and arrange the details of your escape.

Signed,
Cincinnatti Jones
Leafanistan Red Mafia

[END]

OOC: Friends are friends.

[74TH CTF FLAGSHIP AMDF ARBITER]

"Sir!" The same ensign from before skidded onto the command flag bridge of the Arbiter.

"What happened?" Commodore Elson spun in his chair to face the ensign. "Aren't you attached to the Harbinger in any case?'

"Yes, sir, I got stuck on the refueling line."

"Right. Carry on." Elson waved his hand.

"We have a list of coordinates from the Red Tidean Mafia for target coordination." The ensign handed Elson a sheet of paper with some important-looking figures on it.

"Three bushes of potatoes?"

"Err. Sorry sir. Here are the real coordinates." The ensign took back his shopping list and handed Elson a sheet of paper with some important figures on it.

"Good work, Ensign. Add another bushel of potatoes onto that list." Elson turned back to the flag bridge. "Retarget the HVM bombardments to the WMD silos on the double!"

And so, yet another hellish wave of 2112 missiles launched from the Aralonian fleet.

Encrypted to The Boss

We've decided to help you, we'll use the port on a part of Red Tide that has been relatively untouched by enemy fire though is quiet now due to conflict.

It is usually where we shipped our supplies to you. We will wait offshore until we get the call to move in. We'll pick you up by Submarine.

Don't be surprised if we came with some force or protection for you.

[END]

Corporate fleet 250km offshore

A readout of new orders flowed in along with an amount listing the bonus each officier would recieve if they followed the order.

A large section of the corporate fleet with a dreadnaught, several cruisers and a destroyer left the main section and headed toward a relatively quiet port several hundred kilometres east of the main action of the fleet. What wasn't seen were the submarines under the surface.

Soon the detachment was 50km offshore, still in stealth mode while a high speed hydrofoil met up with them and began unloading supplies and loading some very unusual crates full of clinking armour and guns.

OOC: I'm aware that my ships are not within 100km of the coast, but why should that affect my strikes against targets within your nation?

IC:

Air Combat Perimeter Position Alpha

Lieutenant-Commander Louis Savage was an Electronic Warfare Officer seated in one of the many EF-1B Erebus aircraft when alarms broke out, signalling that the detection network had picked up the arrival of a large mass of Red Tidean ALLRAAM on course towards the Aequatian aircraft in the air. He knew the barrage jamming would do nothing against weapons guided by LADAR. The lieutenant began to sweat as the missiles closed in, he knew his aircraft carried the new Pulsed LED Jamming Pod, but it was an experimental system introduced to service only a month before they mobilized from Carter Naval Base on this cruise. Savage switched the pod on and the small lamp reading "Port 02 Armed" glowed orange as the suite came to life and began sweeping the sky, he was still nervous as they would only know if it was effective once the missiles came within 500 metres of the aircraft.

It was a nervous few minutes before the missiles began to make contact with the Aequatian aircraft in the air, many of the missiles merely passed by the aircraft although a few were struck, it was the Erebus EW aircraft that took the brunt of the assault with nearly all of the thirty two aircraft being downed. Savage was lucky that his aircraft hadn't been hit, although his accompanying E-2D had been struck on its starboard wing and fell towards the water below. His pilot called in the aircraft's position for the HH-20 Jaycats to pick up the downed air crews.

RNS Marcus Pendleton

The ship's executive officer, Commander Mackenzie Younge, stood next to a petty officer in a green vest and white helmet before he stepped forward onto the flight deck and helped to direct the SH-20 helicopter down onto the landing pad. Admiral Stockwell disembarked from the helicopter and was greeted by salutes from both the landing enlisted member and Commander Younge, "Welcome aboard the RNS Marcus Pendleton, Sir, I am to bring you to the briefing with Vice Admiral Killian, if you'll follow me."

After ten minutes of traversing the large vessel, the commander led Stockwell into the briefing room where Vice Admiral Killian, Marine Lieutenant-General James Grisham, a few intelligence officers and the other commanding officers of the carrier groups were sitting around the dark oak table. Stockwell took a seat at the chair designated for him as Killian spoke, "Now that we're here, what are our options?"

Lieutenant-General Grisham spoke from his seat, "My Expeditionary Force is prepared for immediate operations, we could get enough elements on the ground within H-Hour plus three equal to three brigades plus support elements."

One of the intelligence officers frowned and spoke with a serious tone, "That's a good idea, general, but Red Tide has already used tactical nuclear weapons against their own people for merely revolting, what's to say they wouldn't do the same to a Marine division landing on their shores?"

"Forces from Aralonia have already made landfall and have been greeted by cheering civilians and an odd unit of Red Tidean soldiers, this is the best time to land," Replied Grisham as he rose to his feet, "Just give us the word, Admiral, and my boys will hit those beaches like no one else."

Killian nodded, "Allied forces have already made landfall without too much incident, I believe that we could do the same. Move the fleet into a position to launch our amphibious forces." With that order, the mass of vessels changed course and moved closer to the coast.

OOC: Aquatio: Not your ships... your bombers.

Leafanistan, sorry about not responding to you earlier.

IC: Not-So-Secret Reply To Leafanistanian(Is that correct) Mafia
"Sure thing, problem is, the Red Tide Goverments is probably reading this right now... they'll know where we come. Here is a smuggling spot that we use in the NorthEast Mountains, in order to get to us, they have to go into OUR territory."
End Message

Along with the message was a fax containing coordinates too the smuggling spot.

Top Secret Message From Red Tide Goverment to Leafanistanian Fleet
"We will pay you (or your family) one trillion dollars(distributed evenly) if you turn on your coalition comrades."
End Message

The WMD sites that the Aralonians were targetting were not silo's, but chemical and biological storage sites. In one particularly nasty instance, a kinetic projectile hit a storage tank filled with M-432B Viruses, this was a particularly nasty strain that would cause continious, violent bleedings from any potential opening in a animal before said animal suffered death from blood loss. Fortunantly, the kinetic energy killed all of the viruses in the tank upon impact.

The Aquatians, were met pretty much the same way as the rest of the coalition forces now pouring into a 60 kilometer wide hole, scattered, if fanatical, military resistance and cheering, if malnourished civilians. However, numerous mechanized forces were heading for the landing zone as fast as possible, there were now a total of 13 Armored and Mechanized-Infantry divisions, each with an attached brigade, an hour away from the landing site. At 40 kilometers an hour, that meant it would be approximately 1/4th that time before the coalitions beachheads would be in range of Red Tidean 203mm artillery guns, self-propelled and towed.

[OOC: Aralonia has no land forces on Red Tide yet, actually.]

Not-So-Secret Reply To Leafanistanian(Is that correct) Mafia
"Sure thing, problem is, the Red Tide Goverments is probably reading this right now... they'll know where we come. Here is a smuggling spot that we use in the NorthEast Mountains, in order to get to us, they have to go into OUR territory."
End Message


OOC: Leafanistani is the correct way to pronounce it.

Soon following the instructions, a submarine was on its way to the coordinates of the smuggling spot, when it got close, it deployed a smaller submersible. The smaller submersible got close to land and saw the usual dock they used.

It surfaced and the skull and sickle insignia of the Leafanistani Mafia on the side clearly identified it. Red Tidean Mafia personnel on the dock must have been happy to see some allies for once. A mafia thug holding a rather fearsome shotgun climbed out first. However, behind him something black rose out of the sub. It's eyepieces glowed a bright red. It carried a large black machine gun. It had a gas mask and its breathing could be heard raspy and its voice mechanical as it yelled out: "ASSEMBLE". Quickly 4 more of these suited warriors came up. It was unmistakable. They were wearing the Kraven battlesuits and carrying GPMGs with corporate sidearms strapped to their sides along with the characteristic C12 blocks.

The thug said, "We are here to safely evacuate the Boss. And don't mind the tin cans, they're with me."

And the suited soldiers stood there and waited.


Top Secret Message From Red Tide Goverment to Leafanistanian Fleet
"We will pay you (or your family) one trillion dollars(distributed evenly) if you turn on your coalition comrades."
End Message

As soon as the corporation got word of it, orders were quickly changed. The Corporate Fleet began to approach the center of the unaware coalition fleets.

(More on this later)

The Mafia Thugs were initially frightened when they saw the Capitol Police look-alikes. But they came to their senses, and one of the thugs ran off to get the Boss and his bodygaurds.

The Boss had come here from his usual living quarters in a nightclub in Ariga. He was a moderately built man, with unknown features as he was completely covered in some sort of unrecognisable military uniform and wore a gas mask with a visible voice amplifier that made him sound Darth Vaderish on his face. Along with him came another man, this time in a black jumpsuit with sunglasses, this was a man referred to only as 'Ghost', he was the Boss's primary bodygaurd. The Boss spoke, "The Council of Five has decided to stay in Black Market Mountain, me and Ghost here will come with you."

Then an alarm went off, a Mafia Thug ran into sight and yelled, "AIR RAID! Its the Red Tide Airforce!"

"Voy Tuperivoch!" Ghost cursed, before going on in English, with a semi-raspy voice, "We need to get out of here FAST! If they intend to attack this pier, then that means its either helicopters or H/K-1 Attack Aircraft, if the former, we're still in trouble, they might be ASW, if the latter, they're subsonic, so we might be able to get out."

The Red Tide Military HAD as it turned out, decided to throw at the dock a H/K-1 Surface Attack Aircraft. They were flying low to the water and coming in from the North, having took a roundabout root.

[74TH COMBINED TASK FORCE FLAGSHIP ARBITER]

"Damn! The spaceship Discovery shows that the enemy's got those heavy cannons headed right for the landing area!" A viewscreen directly to an LCD next to Commodore Elson's chair popped up.

"What are you trying to say?" Elson knew exactly what Hawking was trying to say, but he wanted confirmation.

"Commodore Elson, I have reason to believe that those cannons are the same ones that fired thermonuclear weapons on the city earlier today." Captain Hawking was beginning to sweat slightly. "The cannons cannot threaten our ships at 325 to 350 klicks away, but the coalition forces..." Captain Hawking dropped off.

"Very well. Load dual-stage projectiles into the coilguns and set targets to specifically the 203mm cannon." Commodore Elson's eyes suddenly brightened. "Belay that order!"

"What are you talking about, sir?" The fire control officer turned in his chair.

"If we mishit and impact a nuclear warhead, it could spell nuclear disaster." Commodore Elson leaned back in his chair. "Fire warning shots. Aim so the impacts hit at 100 meters in front of the enemy cannon. Load high-intensity star shells and detonate at 100 meters by 200 meters above the enemy formation."

The order was given to clear the decks as the WHUMP. WHUMP. WHUMP. WHUMP. WHUMP. of numerous ships firing high-velocity projectiles lanced through the air.

Betrayal

The Leafanistani government got word of the cancellation of the Red Tide contract and with much anger and confusion a press release was going to be worked out to warn the coalition fleets. Alas, it was too late.

The Corporate Fleet left stealth mode and the submarines moved to where the Czardas fleet had gathered. They were probably low on missiles since the attack was draining and it was impossible to load VLS tubes in the midst of battle.

The cloud of F-35s and F-44s began to lift off. Ironically the F-35s were carrying Red Tidean anti-shipping missiles, fast and powerful. They were moving toward the Czardas fleet with the appearance of heading inland to conduct airstrikes. At least that is what the unencrypted channels said. Anti-submarine helicopters began to deploy, they lifted off toward where the Czardas fleet's submariens were detected using DMG sonar systems. To keep with the illusion the dreadnaught fired several shells with large blooms of coloured smoke toward where a few buildings still remained on the coast.

The Dreadnaugths, Superdreadnaughts, Battleships and Battlecruisers of the fleet took the forward position along with the attack submarines.

Then they coordinated their fire, they targetted the supercarriers, all at once a salvo lifted off from the fleet, but not targetted at the marked location on the shoreline. They were aiming for the Czardas fleet. Dozens of heavy shells from the various battleships, dreadnaughts, battlecruisers, and superdreadnaughts fired evenly divided with the superdreadnaughts providing heavy fire moving down the line of supercarriers. Soon another salvo was in the air.

The F-35s which were moving engaged their anti-shipping missiles at the same time, 540 airborne anti-shipping missiles flew off the racks, soon another 540 anti-shipping missiles, then another. The planes flew back toward the carriers to rearm.

The 120 F-44 interceptors moved to intercept the various planes that made up the protective cloud of planes that surrounded the Czardas fleet.

The anti-submarine helicopters began to fire their anti-submarine missiles and 230 missiles were now targetted at the 46 submarines they had found thanks to shared fleet information. Depth charges and anti-submarine missiles from the cruisers and destroyers began to deploy also.

The VLS tubes of the various support ships opened up with more Red Tidean anti-shipping missiles all aimed at Vistula Class Super Battleship, 1024 heavy missiles flew toward the ship.

The submarines had begun to lightly shadow the enemy fleet fired on the submarines underwater and those that weren't in the attack force, let loose Tomahawk cruise missiles at close range toward the enemy command battleships.

All this at once, coordinated together with one word by the Corporate Admiral "Fire."

Soon the Corporate fleet broke formation and began to follow their shells, missiles and airplanes toward the Czardas fleet. Opening up with more cannons, and missiles, firing everything they had at the closest ships.

The Mafia Thugs were initially frightened when they saw the Capitol Police look-alikes. But they came to their senses, and one of the thugs ran off to get the Boss and his bodygaurds.

The Boss had come here from his usual living quarters in a nightclub in Ariga. He was a moderately built man, with unknown features as he was completely covered in some sort of unrecognisable military uniform and wore a gas mask with a visible voice amplifier that made him sound Darth Vaderish on his face. Along with him came another man, this time in a black jumpsuit with sunglasses, this was a man referred to only as 'Ghost', he was the Boss's primary bodygaurd. The Boss spoke, "The Council of Five has decided to stay in Black Market Mountain, me and Ghost here will come with you."

Then an alarm went off, a Mafia Thug ran into sight and yelled, "AIR RAID! Its the Red Tide Airforce!"

"Voy Tuperivoch!" Ghost cursed, before going on in English, with a semi-raspy voice, "We need to get out of here FAST! If they intend to attack this pier, then that means its either helicopters or H/K-1 Attack Aircraft, if the former, we're still in trouble, they might be ASW, if the latter, they're subsonic, so we might be able to get out."

The Red Tide Military HAD as it turned out, decided to throw at the dock a H/K-1 Surface Attack Aircraft. They were flying low to the water and coming in from the North, having took a roundabout root.

The thug became frightened, "Do you have AA?" The Capitol Police look-alikes who where in fact wearing actual Capitol Police armour reached into the Submarine and pulled out a Kraven AA launcher. He tracked it moving toward the dock and let loose. The other Kraven troopers scattered and moved around with their GPMGs intending to fire at the aircraft.

These cannons unknownst to the Aralonians, these guns were carrying Weapons of Mass Destruction... but they were chemical, Phosgene Gas to be specific. Red Tide was intending to open its counterattack by barraging the area with chemical projectiles followed by conventional munitions.

Of course, the warning shot didnt really do anything, the cannons kept rolling right along, but now they were zig-zagging to avoid any further incoming artillery fire. Besides, the 203mm guns were not the only artillery pieces the Red Tideans had, they also had 122mm and 105mm guns, in both self-proppelled and towed form. The 105mm guns could not use nukes, but the 122mms could(although much smaller ones then the 203mm guns).

They kept moving right along.

At the Red Tide Mafia docks, in the meantime, Ghost answered, "We have a SA-12 nearby, but their flying to low for it to track, and some IGLAs. Problem is..." He was interrupted as the H/K-1 flipped on its vertical thrusters(becoming much louder) and skid to the right to avoid the incoming SAM. "... the H/K-1 is a VTOL Plane, we have to get out of here! I dont think its carrying any LRASMs."

That was true, if it had been carrying LRASMs, it would have fired them off already.

At the Red Tide Mafia docks, in the meantime, Ghost answered, "We have a SA-12 nearby, but their flying to low for it to track, and some IGLAs. Problem is..." He was interrupted as the H/K-1 flipped on its vertical thrusters(becoming much louder) and skid to the right to avoid the incoming SAM. "... the H/K-1 is a VTOL Plane, we have to get out of here! I dont think its carrying any LRASMs."

That was true, if it had been carrying LRASMs, it would have fired them off already.

The thug told the Boss and his associate to get into the sub. The Kraven troopers began to fire their GPMGs at the aircraft got closer. Another reached into the submarine and took out some reloads as the personnel inside the minisub unloaded all their ammunition. The trooper sighted for another shot as the thug gestured for them to get inside.

Another trooper picked up an assualt cannon, a stationary 20mm cannon, and began to fire it, using a long belt feed. Others fired their GPMGs as the AA trooper reloaded his launcher and prepared another shot.

[74TH COMBINED TASK FORCE FLAGSHIP ARBITER]

"Oh, what."

Quite an understatement indeed. The Aralonians had already expended their missiles for the next three hours, and couldn't do jack squat against such heavy battleships such as those that the Leafanistani possessed.

"Bloody hell. Well, we're about 500km away from the thick of that. Full battle stations. I'm going to have to ask for help from the Octagon on this.

[SPEAKING OF WHICH/SPEAK OF THE DEVIL]

"What the hell is this!?"

"Some fleet came out from cloak out of nowhere and started attacking the Czardians!"

"The hell with those guys, then! Contact the Leafanistans and tell them to stand down! Someone order a nuke launch on them or something!"

"General Jones!" Archon Doned Hopkins rose in his chair. "You are put under duress for even the suggestion of use of nuclear weapons on any forces, allied or enemy. If you disagree, then take it up with the firing squad! Guards! Take him away!" The Archon regained his composure. "Very well. Tell the 74th to remain on station and move to a safety distance of two megameters away from the furball while remaining within 400km of the Red Tide coast. I want also to contact the Leafanistans to find out what the hell exactly is going on in there as well."

The Archon turned to the Naval Construction Chief. "How goes construction on the Prince of Aralonia?"

"Construction is at 80%, sir. It will take another year before we are able to completely finish the ship to specifications."

"Very well, that is acceptable. In order to project power in such a way that we wish to, the first vessel of such a line should be as perfect as possible to show the world what we are capable of. Now, the construction of such a vessel, clearly beginning to break self-imposed self-defence force guidelines and laws, might seem unnecessary. But as you may see, in times such as this, the necessity of such defensive measures is quite important." The Archon smirked at himself. "Very well indeed."

Official Press Release from the Revolutionary Government of Leafanistan

We are in the process of cutting relations with Strategic Solutions Inc and our contract has been cancelled. It seems that Red Tide has bribed them with a trillion dollars, easily exceeding our bid of 300 billion for this contract. They have turned on us and we are dispatching the 2nd Fast Response group to deal with them before they cause too much damage.

2nd FRG

15 x Dietz-class Rapid Attack Hydrofoils
12 x Sour-class Nuclear Destroyers

[END]

However, like Leafanistan's other plans, it had all gone wrong. As the group left port they were ambushed by a Nimitz carrier group of the "Legitimate Government of Leafanistan" and were quickly engaged in a large battle which soon involved another Nimitz battlegroup and a Macabee built Superdreadnaught group. The 2nd FRG was being delayed heavily, which was going to cost Czardas precious men and equipment.

The Usean Navy now unleashed something Weird and fearsome,The Super Dreadnaugth Carrier.As they got on the sean,Normal and assalt carriers were launching aircraft and Usean Battle Zepplin,s from far off started fireing Ballistic rounds to increase there range.The might of Usea had also included the SICN,a connection to other allies that insured no freindlly fire.

The Usean Navy now unleashed something Weird and fearsome,The Super Dreadnaugth Carrier.As they got on the sean,Normal and assalt carriers were launching aircraft and Usean Battle Zepplin,s from far off started fireing Ballistic rounds to increase there range.The might of Usea had also included the SICN,a connection to other allies that insured no freindlly fire.

Free Translation Service:

The Usean Navy had now unleashed something awesome, the Superdreadnaught carrier (which is an old idea anyway). As soon as the ship arrived on the scene, normal and assualt carriers were launching aricraft and Usean Battle Zepplins from far-away began firing ballistic rounds to increase their range. The might of Usea also included the SICN, a connection to other allies that insured no friendly fire.

OOC: Please include a complete fleet description, and what is a ballistic round that increases range?

A total of two(2) E-3s, sixty-three(63) B-52s, and seven hundred and fifty(750) Su-37s were shot down by the SAMs. The rest managed to escape, but not without first firing off every missile and countermeasure they could. They had escaped but not without heavy loss, both to number and moral.

----------

The Prince slammed his fist on his desk in rage. "Dammit all to HELL!" he screamed. "All of those lives lost and we couldn't even make a dent in their defenses! NOT ONE FUCKING DENT!"

He put his head in his hands. "All of those death certificates, and all of those families..." He looked at General Sherman with grief and rage written all over his face. "Sherman! Dammit Sherman, what the hell are we going to do?!"

The Prince broke down and started crying. For a while, nobody spoke. There was silence, except for the quiet sobbing of the prince.

Finally, General Sherman spoke.

"We made a serious error in judgement." said General Sherman, being slow and deliberate with his speech. "It was wrong to launch a huge strike force against a foe which is numerically and militarily superior to us."

"Then what do you suggest then, General?" sneered the Prince angerly.

"Attacking such a large foe requires subtlety. Gile. A huge attack force can be easily repelled. What we need is to be more clever, more quiet then they are."

The Prince looked right at the General of the Air Force.

"How?"

"I have an idea, your Majesty."

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

Thousands of feet in the air, the two pilots of the EB-180 Stargazer received their orders. In less than a minute, the advanced aircraft went from patrol mode to active mode. The pilots angled their craft into the sky and shot up into the air. The Laser Radar and Radar Detection Avoidance System were activated.

Their destination was the militant nation of Red Tide, currently at war with several nations around the world. They were to do their mission as quickly and as quietly as possible. The radio was shut off.

The EB-180 rose thousands and thousands of feet into the air. Then it headed for Red Tide.

Red Tide

Captain Grant rose to the Valiant's operating altitude of 40,000 metres as they approached their launch point, like the other bombers, they had made landfall and were over Red Tide territory to drop their weapons against the targets across the nation. The interior weapon mount doors opened and released the four GBU-32 weapons which began their flight towards the control structure of a Red Tidean airfield.

RNS Bishop

Colonel Gates had left the brigade briefing room as he walked down to the wet launch deck where his command vehicle was waiting with his staff. As always, he would be landing with his brigade's first battalion, around him, the Marines were donning their Level Four Mission-Oriented Protective Posture. There was an air of tension on board the ship among the soldiers after hearing of the Phosgene gas attacks.

The hovercraft landing boats moved over the surface of the water, Gates stood on the deck with his gas mask and hood sitting underneath his helmet as it approached the shore. The dozen LCAC hovercrafts hit the beach without incident as Marines walked through the beach's wake alongside the 8x8 Cavalier armoured carriers and the 120mm gun-armed Cougar vehicles. Along the flanks of the LCACs landed LCU boats and released M1 Panther tanks as they rolled ashore, keeping watch for enemy vehicles. In the air, Marine F-2N Lucifer fighters flew cover for OA-5A Wasp attack aircraft carrying 130mm rocket pods and cluster munitions.

RNS Marcus Pendleton

The vessel's five turrets housing the twenty 755mm guns turned inland as the ship's gunners loaded the standard DPICM munitions into the breeches. Each ship in the fleet shook as the guns fired the first salvo against likely avenues of approach to the Aequatian landings zones.

"Bloody hell..."

"You said it." The CO, Medium-Admiral Peabody, slouches wearily in his chair.

"What the fuck are they thinking, sir?"

"Beats me. Respond to them."

Contrary to the Leafanistanis' belief, the Czardaian Fleet has yet to utilise the vast majority of its missile armament, using mainly its big guns to strike at the Red Tidean defenses. Well, all right, the "vast majority"? Maybe not. But a good quarter of the fleet, including all of the large battleships, has yet to expend its missile armament. Primarily because it's rather difficult to fire missiles and guns at the same time.

The four Super Carriers have a sole missile armament of rolling airframe missiles; dozens of these begin streaking towards the shells plunging out of the sky as Peabody looks on with an expression of ineffable boredom on his face. Then there is a loud explosion, one of the ships begins to rock, and Peabody begins to fume. Ringing up his XO, he says, "What the hell happened?"

"Sir, we're still getting back the reports... A large calibre shell smashed the deck armour of the Baklava, and one of its runways is dead. Not to mention thirty crew and a dozen airframes lost."

"Damn, damn, and damn!"

Another klaxon begins to wail amid the pandemonium. "Missiles incoming!"

Peabody throws something at the radio, which shatters satisfyingly. "Blow them up!"

We now move to the life story of a Rolling Airframe Missile, Fred.

Fred was born, some years ago, in an arms manufacturing factory in Czardas. Long, sleek, and powerful, Fred was always proud of his solid rocket fuel engine propelling him to Mach 3+, and his ability to roll in mid-flight. He always looked forward to his first time in combat, at least as much as a missile can look forward to anything. Perhaps they have some hidden intelligence they never care to show until their radar blips into life.

Several weeks prior, Fred had been dragged on a truck across Silanche and loaded into a launcher aboard a battleship, his new residence, occupied with nothing more than the thought of heroically saving his ship by blowing up a threatening missile or shell.

Finally, one day, his chance comes. With the exhiliration only a creature built solely for one purpose can feel upon attaining that purpose, Fred joined flocks of his comrades as they rose upwards; he gets a glimpse of explosions amid a sea of bullets from the CIWS guns before his purpose is fulfilled, hitting a missile with a brilliant explosion, kind of orangey like if you know what I mean, that sends shrapnel rattling in all directions and cutting apart another missile or two.

Anti-shipping missiles continue to streak through the sky even after CIWS and RAM have done their work, and now lasers activate, heating the missiles up until they explode, which due to the very nature of lasers occurs rather quickly; that is to say, within several seconds. A single missile manages to get through to the Vivace, causing cracks to radiate through its armour and sending maintenance crews scurrying. Other ships are not so lucky; a pair of frigates and a cruiser simply blow up in exasperation, while other ships are damaged.

Below the waves, torpedoes begin to streak through towards the subs, which immediately begin to dive to avoid destruction, releasing depth charges as they go; several of the missiles hit the depth charges, exploding, but others continue downwards, following the submarines.

Point defense SUCAV guns and ASHUMs now activate, lobbing mortar and gun rounds at the missiles; however, by now the subs have a right to be nervous, as the remaining missiles are no longer waiting to see what other tricks they have up their figurative sleeves, but are approaching at several times the submarines' maximum velocity, which they do not happen to be traveling at at the time.

Meanwhile, the ASW Frigates have noticed the submarines' issues, and with a swift bit of negotiating they let off their minitorps, which proceed to blow up most of the remaining torpedoes with proximity blasts. Thanking the frigates profusely and promising to buy them beers afterwards, the submarines return to the surface, having lost but three of their number to the torpedoes and/or evil dolphins.

The approaching Leafanistani ships meet the salvo from one 'Warspite' after another, or four waves of 5,000 missiles each; meanwhile, the Vivace, eight 'Czardas's, and the four 'Salvatore's swivel their big guns towards the fleet and begin to fire upon it as well.

Allied attack submarines begin to fire their torpedoes now, launching a total of over 400 towards enemy shipping; this is coupled with a volley of a hundred and eighty ASROC style missile-launched torpedoes, which plunge into the water a few klicks from the Leafanistani fleet to reveal OMG SUPERCAVITATING!!!1 torpedoes, which hit 100 knots rapidly, making the waters around said fleet quite dangerous.

Noticing the Interceptors, sixty of the Peregrines simply launch their ELRAAMs, 240 in all, towards the enemy planes; this is coupled with another volley of 240 ELRSAMs from the destroyers, or four missiles in total per plane, all programmed to hit at the same time. Bombers and HELOs meanwhile begin moving in for a deathblow to the enemy fleet.

OOC: Red Tide: What makes you think all of our forces are pouring through the same hole, my forces have their own breakthrough made in your defences.

SSRS 'Hyperion', First Naval Armada

Admiral Michael Sutherland watched in barely contained anger as he watched the so called "Corporate Fleet" attack his Czardazian allies. THey had been tracking them for hours, even the best cloaking had it's weakness. Luckily the Skyian Fleets had moved off to support it's own attack on the mainland while tracking them, this put them out of the immediate line of fire.

The order was given to the First Naval Armada to turn and attack the Corporate Fleet. The Second Naval Armada was to provide fire support for the forces on land and protect the landing ships.

As the ships slowly brought themselves around the aircraft above them had already targeted the Corporate Fleets many aircraft and ships.

The 384 FB-177A "Barsuk" Strike Bombers positioned above the fleet turned towards the enemy forces and fired off their 10 AGM-502MR Starblast Medium Range Air Launched Anti-Ship Missiles each. A total of 3840 missiles streaked towards the escorts of the "Corporate Fleet".

As they were firing 768 F/A-3C 'Dragonfly' Multi-role fighters came in low just over the waves and at their max speed. The order was given and 3072 missiles, again of AGM-502MRs were fired at the escorts and carriers of the fleet. They peeled off and mixed themselves with the enemy fighters dancing around and firing off AIM-509B Starfall II air to air missiles at the enemy attackers and fighters.

Then came the big guns. The three 'Hyperion'-Class Assualt Dreadnaughts and the sixteen 'Ravager'-Class Heavy Dreadnaughts, along with the fleets 48 'Spiritus Dei'-Class Heavy Cruisers fired off 14,044 RGM-101LR Fireblast Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles at the dreadnaughts and SDs along with battleships and carriers of the enemy fleet. The the 'Hyperion's fired off their 84 675mm guided shells and the 'Ravagers' fired off their 320 610mm shells at the enemy large combatants.

The 816 F-620 "Xeon" Air Superiority Fighters of the Armada turned on the 'Corporate Fleet' with swift and deadly percision. They fired AAMs at the enemy fighters and ASW Helicopters and strafed the smaller boats and helos with 27mm fire from their rapid firing cannons while dancing in and out of the enemy formations.

The 80 'Poseidon'-Class Heavy Attack submarines fired off their four 1000mm 'Broadsword' Ultraheavy Torpedoes at the enemy ships and submarines, their 3000kg warheads and 60knot speed would almost assure a kill if they exploded near an enemy combatant.

The 'Corporate fleet' had vast underestimated the complatancy of the Coalition forces.

125,000 ft

At approximately 700 km from the Red Tide mainland, the Laser Radar began to draw a detailed picture of the target. Naval warships from several countries were currently engaged in battle. Aerial dogfights were going on as well. Everything, above, below, behind, and straight ahead was picked up.

The image of Red Tide's lands were coming into view. The locations of the SAMs and other defenses were located. The system was also picking up missiles and SAMs in the middle of transit. But what was really interesting was the Strategic Command base. According to intelligence, this base housed all of the nation's WMD's.

The data from the Laser Radar kept pouring in. Quietly, the pilot made considerations on where to enter. He chose the area of land where the Aquatians had penitrated. He laid in a course correction. The EB-180 Stargazer moved towards this new target. All the while, the Laser Radar kept collecting data.

Aequatian Beachhead "Red Beach"

Staff Sergeant Mats Gregor fell to his knee alongside a squad of soldiers as they reached the top of a sand berme, his company was moving with a platoon of four M1 tanks as they spotted a large group of nearly two dozen civilians. His voice didn't travel well through his mask as he shouted for his platoon to move forward and secure the people so they could be evacuated to one of the ships offshore. He had heard reports of Bravo company having run across a group of fanatical Red Tidean soldiers and being engaged in a long firefight before they called in the OA-5A Wasp attack aircraft to hit the area with rockets. He looked over at the Marines, all dressed in full protective equipment, as they moved towards the group of civilians, their rifles and light machineguns still aimed and ready to fire. Sergeant Gregor waved over his squad's Cavalier infantry carrier and the vehicle pulled up, he climbed up to the commander's hatch and took the handset for the vehicle's loudspeaker system, he pressed the button on the handset before shouting through his mask, "This is the Aequatian Republic Marines, we have orders to temporarily evacuate you to our Navy's vessels off shore where you will be treated well and receive food and medical attention. We ask that you slowly approach our lines and to surrender any personal weapons you may be carrying."

Meanwhile, Marine F-2N fighters dropped pods which opened to release leaflets over the areas occupied by Red Tidean forces, they read as follows:


Brave Soldiers of Red Tide2, if you want to save yourself comply with the following:

1. Remove the magazine from your weapon.
2. Carry the weapon upon your left shoulder, pointing the muzzle downward.
3. To assure us of your sincere desire to save yourself, please place both hands above your head.
4. When approaching Aequatian or Coalition locations, do so slowly, any person ahead of the group raises this leaflet above his head.
5. This will affirm your desire for safety. Hello and Welcome.


SAFE CONDUCT PASS

The bearer of this card is permitted to cross to the Coalition Forces and receive good treatment, so that he reaches the nearest Joint Forces headquarters in complete safety. This invitation is open to all Red Tide soldiers to join the Joint Forces where he will be welcomed and treated according to the Geneva Convention.

OOC: Taking some artistic liberty here. Hope you don't mind RT.

The Beaches, Away from the other Coalition Forces

Tank Commander Jason Urwin watched from the turret upon his M160A1 'Phoenix' MBT as the Transport Hovercraft he was one slipped over the waves. Most of the beach had been cleared of resistance but a single strongpoint was holding out against the airborne troops with their light 105mm guns. This hovercraft carried 12 more tanks in 2 rows, his was the right most one of the first row. He could see 5 more hovercraft near the bunker complex, each carrying either M89A1 or M89A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicles or more M160A1 Main Battle Tanks.

Jason closed his couple as the hovercraft neared the shore. Machine gun fire glanced off the armor of the tanks and hovercraft, large splashes in the water around the craft and the others showed that the enemys still had heavy weapons. The group shook as one of the craft took a hit to the engine and crashed into the waves spilling out the vehicles inside into the dark ocean, crews could be seen trying to escape from their watery tombs.

Finally after what seemed to be an an eternity the craft hit the beachs. The ramps lowered and the tanks raced out. Rockets screamed down from the bunkers and hidden positions, the VAP-ER system on the tanks took out most of the rockets, but a single rocket blasted through the roof of one of the tanks blowing out the ammo and killing the commander, the gunner, loader and driver all escaped but were cut down by a motar shell. A Hovercraft was hit by a large caliber shell and burst into flames as it crashed into the waves on it's way back.

The tanks leveled their cannons and blasted at the bunkers with HESH and HE shells blowing whole bunkers to pieces with their 125mm ETC cannons. Another tank took a APFSDS in the side cutting through it's tracks, thus imobilizing it as the crew turned to put an HEAT shell into the offending gun position before being blasted into chunks by two 155mm shells. Two more M89s were blasted by tank caliber cannons as they unleashed ATGMs, 35mm, and 75mm shells onto infantry positions.

Jason yelled a position out to his gunner how turned the turret and blasted the position with a HEAT shell. He picked up his digital radio set and yelled "Enemy bunker at grid square Alpha-Charlie-Omega, requesting bunkerbusting shell." He hung up the set before he turned his remote controlled MG on an enemy ATGM team ripping them to shreds with AP rounds, their blood splattered across the rocks and sand behind them. A grim smile came across Jason face as he saw the expressions on the enemy's faces, one of pain and fear.

SSRS 'Da Vinci' 'Endeavour'-Class Large Combat Transport Ship

"Captain, we have a request for heavy gunnery support from Attack Force 032, they're the bunker attack team." Yelled the Weapons Commander from his position.

"You have permission to engage." Stated the Captain simply.

The 356mm Mark X ETC guns and 280mm Mortars turned towards the enemy position, in quick sucession they fired off 4 salvos of thermobaric bunkerbusting shells at the bunker complex.

Beach

Jason and most of the other vehicles had reached the relative safety of the bluffs, at least they were until the enemys managed to get new mortars online. Just then several huge explosions could be heard as the bunker was wipped off the earth by the thermobaric shells from the SSRS 'Da Vinci'.

After the shelling was finished the vehicles roared over the bluff as they renewed their attack on the scattered enemy, they eliminated a few straglers only to run into attacking elements of the airborne troops.

The beach was declared cleared and within several minutes hundreds of tanks and vehicles poured onto the beach, these were the first elements of the heavy divisions of the First Red Tidean Theater Force.

OOC: Silver Sky: I dont mind at all, although you may have to rearrange the whole pain and fear thing, Red Tidean soldiers show no fear, show no pain. The reasons of which will be revealed in the thread with McKagan I started. BTW: did you notice those 12,000 MiGs firing their 36,000 ALLRAAMs?

Actually, that applies to all of you, I havent seen anybody return fire.

IC: The leaflet aircraft were met with plenty of anti-aircraft fire, especially while they were dropping their leaflets. None of the Red Tidean Soldiers layed down their weapons however. Groups of civilians did begin to approach the Coalitions lines with these leaflets held high.

The civilians that Sergeant Gregor initially ran towards them... but one of them apparently knew English, and shouted out the directions in Russian to the rest of the civilians. They began to follow his directions to the letter, the few registered hunters in the group pulled out their .22 pistols and removed their clips, holding them up to show that they were empty.

Then there was a series of rumbles off to the East, the horizon lit up in flashes of what could only be on thing... artillery. Quickly, a distinctive whine filled the air, they were not regular shells... but gas shells.

35 kilometers away, the Red Tidean 203mm Self-Proppelled artillery ETC guns had deployed their stabilizers and fired two volleys of Phosgene Gas, the rest of the shells would be conventional. Red Tidean Armored and Mechanized- Infantry Divisions were heavy in artillery. Now they were mass firing shells, supplied by a constant stream of trucks from nearby, still intact, supply depots.

OOC: Those bloody 203s!

IC:

[ABOARD AMDF ARBITER, FLAGSHIP 74TH CTF]

"Bugger all." Again, the understatement of the year from Commodore Norien Elson.

"That's about right, actually. Frigate escorts and destroyers, fire HVMs at the artillery pieces. One salvo. Bloody hell, I hate bioweapons." 288 missiles lanced from the 74th Task Force, launching 864 projectiles. Granted, the standard losses due to CIWS et cetera, but about 770 projectiles managed to penetrate the anti-missile shield and land targeted hits.

OOC: BTW: did you notice those 12,000 MiGs firing their 36,000 ALLRAAMs?

Actually, that applies to all of you, I havent seen anybody return fire.

I responded to the missiles when I lost a great number of my EW and AWACS aircraft, since I had so few fighters up, I wasn't able to return fire since they were shot down as well.

IC: The leaflet aircraft were met with plenty of anti-aircraft fire, especially while they were dropping their leaflets. None of the Red Tidean Soldiers layed down their weapons however. Groups of civilians did begin to approach the Coalitions lines with these leaflets held high.

The civilians that Sergeant Gregor initially ran towards them... but one of them apparently knew English, and shouted out the directions in Russian to the rest of the civilians. They began to follow his directions to the letter, the few registered hunters in the group pulled out their .22 pistols and removed their clips, holding them up to show that they were empty.

Then there was a series of rumbles off to the East, the horizon lit up in flashes of what could only be on thing... artillery. Quickly, a distinctive whine filled the air, they were not regular shells... but gas shells.

35 kilometers away, the Red Tidean 203mm Self-Proppelled artillery ETC guns had deployed their stabilizers and fired two volleys of Phosgene Gas, the rest of the shells would be conventional. Red Tidean Armored and Mechanized- Infantry Divisions were heavy in artillery. Now they were mass firing shells, supplied by a constant stream of trucks from nearby, still intact, supply depots.

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

The Marine pilots of the F-2N fighters dropping the leaflets were able to take the usual evasive maneuvers, although not all were lucky when eight aircraft were hit by ground fire and fell towards the ground, most of the pilots were able to eject and glided to Earth under their canopies. A few more audacious pilots mad straffing runs with their aircraft's 27mm Vulcan on the launch points before making for the coast and the Amazon-class attack carriers offshore.

Gregor and his platoon were helping the group of civilians while the commander of the Cavalier vehicle was calling in one of the fleet's MH-53J helicopters to arrive and evacuate the people. The Marines collected the leaflets from the few group "leaders" and the collection of firearms from those that were armed as they led the group inside the carrier vehicles for safety until the helicopter arrived. The Staff Sergeant was helping a young woman and her infant daughter into the back of his squad's vehicle when the call came out over the company's intercom, "GAS... GAS... GAS!" (OOC: I'm assuming Phosgene's deployment is similar to any other gas munition, correct me if I'm wrong.) The Marines looked skyward before dropping to prone positoons to get as much cover as possible as the shells airburst and released their lethal clouds upon the already gas-mask clad soldiers on the ground. Before the gas reached their position, the rear boarding ramps on the Cavalier vehicles closed and sealed to protect the civilian refugees inside. The gas made things hard to see as the incoming shells impacted around their position like it was for other Marine companies already ashore. The 8-inch shells impacted with such force, they shook the Aequatian positions, sand and dirt were spit into the air as the shells hit and exploded. Through the explosions of vehicles hit and of stray rounds, shouts of "Corpsman!" were heard. Gregor watched in horror as one of the M1 tanks, struck by a 203mm shell from above, exploded and sent its turret high into the air, the force knocked him and the Marines around him back onto the ground as they could feel the heat of the tower of flames.

Artillery hunter RADAR units, mounted on Centurion LAVs, tracked the enem artillery shells and transmitted the information to the Marcus Pendleton off shore where its gunnery computers calculated the positions of the Red Tidean guns inland. With only the slightest change in elevation and traverse, the large 755mm guns, still being loaded with the DPICM rounds, aimed at the enemy artillery positions and fired, it was the main force in a barrage supported by the 203mm guns on the Griffon class cruisers and BGM-172 Pike High-Speed Cruise Missiles armed with cluster submunitions fired from the Avenger class attack submarines that lurked off shore.

Colonel Gates sat in the rear of his command vehicle as reports of the gas attack came in from the forward elements of his brigade, the entire first battalion was under attack by the Red Tidean artillery. He had heard reports of civilians that were not protected from the gas being striken with the effects of the weapon and, unforuntately, had to be euthanized by the Marines. Knowing that his brigade's artillery had not yet made it ashore, he called in the next best support weapon, the helicopter gunship. The AH-16 Black Cobra helicopters were launched from the Bishop Assault Ships off shore and had been watching the flanks of the landings along with the brigade's armour. They were called forward to the first battalion's position and be prepared to engage any enemy armour that decided to push through after the gas attack.

OOC: The effects of Phosgene is pretty similar to Chlorine Gas, though a number of times more lethal. So, yeah, you got it right.

IC: The Aralonians and Aquatians kinetic energy projectiles took out half of the artillery batteries firing away. The rest stood their positions and continued to carpet the landing zone in shells.

The armored divisions brought another nice little treat along with them, Mobile Artillery Rockets, known as the MDM-3, now locked their stabilizers, raised their launch beds, and closed their cabin shutters before their crews hit the launch button. A massive volley of 24 rockets per launcher went streaming up into the air, tipped over, and came hurtling down, at 4,000 feet their nosecones blew off releasing 600 submunitions per rocket, half of them were armored piercing, the other half anti-personnel. Given 4 batteries, that meant 576,000 submunitions now filled the air.

And if anybody bothered to calculate their trajectories, they would notice that 7,200 of these munitions were aimed at the Aquation command post... a testament to the excellent E-LINT that the Red Tidean Military had. Of course, the Red Tidean Military did not actually KNOW what the command post was saying, it only knew it was saying something and could track its location.

The first thing the Aquatian helicopters would run into was the Red Tidean Recon Line, consisting of a mix of APC-45Cs(the reconnasiance version) and slightly fewer APC-45Bs. The APC-45Bs quickly locked onto the helicopters and fired a volley of MDM-2 Infrared Guided Surface-Air Missiles, followed by a constant stream of 30mm SmartFlaK Shells. The APC-45Cs did the same, but this time at the infantry, simultaneously, the reconnasiance screen began to fall back, they had already radioed in the fact that they had contacted the enemy... so that meant the main force would be coming soon.

OOC: Why no effect for my counter battery fire? 30-inch guns firing DPICM would be able to cover the same amount of area as an MLRS battery in addition to the added 8-inch guns from the cruisers and the cruise missiles from the submarines.

The helicopters were only called forward to the farthest inland forces and if they're in range of your forces, then they would have engaged my first battalion already there.

[ABOARD AMDF ARBITER, FLAGSHIP 74TH CTF]

"Buggering hell." Commdore Elson sighed. He was already somewhat weary. "What is this, anyhow? Fire missiles. Wait 5 hours. Fire missiles. Lather. Rinse. Repeat." Elson sighed again. "Might as well. Call in those new fleet tenders, the Kyon and the Itsuki. Relieve the Haruhi, Mikuru, and Yuki from fleet duty. Reload all tubes, aim and fire. Direct fire from all cannons as well, aim at the barrage missiles and artillery pieces. Full salvo."

"Sir!" Coffee-cleaner Ensign walked into the room.

"What now?" Elson turned in his chair.

"Reports show that the barrage missiles are launching!" The Ensign tried to catch his breath.

"Oh, deary me." Elson sighed. "Fine. Ready the AHEAD rounds for the 35mm cannon and fire at the missiles. Target the rolling-airframe missiles at the enemy missiles in flight and try and redirect the main cannon to target any airborne missiles as well. They'll track." Elson sighed again. "Deary me, this is getting tiring."

OOC: Why no effect for my counter battery fire? 30-inch guns firing DPICM would be able to cover the same amount of area as an MLRS battery in addition to the added 8-inch guns from the cruisers and the cruise missiles from the submarines.

The helicopters were only called forward to the farthest inland forces and if they're in range of your forces, then they would have engaged my first battalion already there.

OOC: Please use the OOC thread next time, but I see your concern, I did not realise that you were utilising DPICMs on those shells, I will modify my post to fit.

Also, the recon screen DID engage your ground troops... before withdrawing back to the main force.

Aralonia: According to the information you put up earlier... your fleet is far to far away to provide AA support for the land troops. Even if that was not the case, by the time you have countered launch, the missiles would have already launched their submunitions.

The thundering sound of helicopter blades tore across the blasted landscape as hundreds of Rosdivan HR2G rotodynes landed their troops. Five brigades, over thirteen thousand men, debarked, taking the high ground of the hills several miles from the bay, deserted since the ion cannon bombardment had destroyed Red Tide’s coastal defenses. HAG gunships cruised nearby, ready to pounce upon and destroy any who threatened the transports. Higher above, over a hundred Seacat fighters patrolled, with Vendetta attack aircraft on call. Within the bay itself, LSTs landed and began disgorging their loads. Thousands of men, hundreds of guns and armored personnel carriers, five divisions worth, in fact, all left the relative comfort and safety of their landing ships and plodded out towards war with Red Tide.

“General Haymond? The invasions proceeding according to plan sir, Murphy has yet to strike us,” announced a major aboard LHA17. “We’ve received word that the Aequation forces have been hit hard though, with gas as well.”

“I see. Send orders for our troops to be prepared for chemical warfare. How’s the EMCON?” came the gruff response.

“Not a peep out of anyone sir, and the Navy’s using passives only at the moment. With luck, they won’t detect us until we’ve finished building up the beachhead, at which point we can move in reinforcements from home.”

“Good. See to it that EMCON stays that way.”

OOC: Sorry about not responding to the fire, will do so now. This is also assuming that one-fourth of the missiles were targeted at my craft.

Skies Above the First Naval Armada

A E-128A 'Regulator' Aerial Control and Surveillance (ARCS) Aircraft near the rear of the fleet was the first to pick out the missiles from the fog of battle.

"Incoming Vampires!" Came the call from the Radar Operator (RO). The word quickly spread around the fleet as all of the craft fled to the rear of the fleet.

Their were about two missiles per every Skyian Craft in the air, but even at those odds the favor was still with the skyians. As the missiles neared the aircraft some of them ran out of fuel because they were flying farther then their fuel could take them. Then the active jamming suites on the craft kicked in confusing some of the missiles. EMP devices on the larger craft knocked some missiles right out of the sky.

Finally several B-300C 'Hurricane' bombers that had been converted to MD-300C 'Typhoon' Missile Defence Craft began to ripple fire off their missiles towards the enemy missiles. The Air Defence Ships of the fleet did the same, firing off 75mm and 155mm AA Shells, the pop-pop-pop could be heard all around the fleet as flak shells exploded trying to take out low flying missiles aimed at helos and sea hugging aircraft.

Needless to say, there were still casualties, several F-177s, F-620s and F/A-3Cs were blasted from the sky and some transport helos were taken out.

Reprisal was a bitch.

The silently scanning Advanced Electronically Scanned Arrays that made up the "AEGIS IV" AN/SPY-5X Multi-Function Radars detected the enemy craft. Their radio waves came back and in some computer languaged told them "Enemies are Here". This knowledge was given from the hands of the cold and computing to the eyes and mind of the warm and scheming. It did not matter to the mechanical components of the fleet who was who, only that they had one purpose in their short lives, to destroy.

Human's silent counterparts did not care for the thoughts of their controllers. Electronic signals were all that left computers know who were their enemies, not that the word really held any meaning to them. Finally the right signal came and nearly 36,000 long ranged SAMs, with ranges over 600km rippled from the fleet and ground batteries towards the enemy aircraft.

Each carried it's own computer, it's own tiny electronic soul, for maybe by now, the advances in computing had given even the most basic home PC the power to make a human like soul.

Maybe this was the way humanity was meant to be judged, maybe the sky was nothing but little ones and zeros, all streaming at light speed, thus creating our world.

For Only in The Eyes of a Machine Could All Humanity be Judged Equally.

Silver Skyian Beachhead 'Delta Blue'

The situation on the beaches was different, and although most of the helos were low enough to hide in the ground clutter some were still targeted. The Fighters remaining above the beachhead were also targeted, a few helos that were to far forward or high were blown from the sky and most of the aircraft were blasted. After the attack fleet and ground operations went back to normal.

Our old friend Tank Command Urwin was commanding his remaining tank platoon from his opened turret. They were maning a bluff over looking the beach and were awaiting orders. Just then a shouting voice came over the radio from one of the Counter-Battery Radar Vehicles.=, "Incoming Artillery, Repeat, Incoming Artillery, take cover!!!!"

It didn't take long for the order to be heeded. Dozens of vehicles and infantry began to leave the beaches. However the shells were too fast. Shells blasted sand all over and released their contents, however the BAS-1 'Titan' Battlesuits that the infantry wore were equipped with CBR gear, only a few men who didn't have their helmets on or visors down inhaled the toxic gas. They were immediately take away by medical teams. The gas was quick to disperse because of the strong coastal breeze which lifted and pulled the gas out to sea where it dispersed amoung the heavy salt water air.

Then came the real shells, they blasted the beach with tons of firepower, soon the smoke and sand filled the air and blocked the beach from view. Ships that were about to unload were force to pull back from the barrage. Jason's tank company deployed their smoke grenades and smoke screens as they raced away from the barrage. He saw a M89A1 get blasted apart by a direct hit from a 203mm shell. They passed several other burning and destroyed vehicles. Most of his company's tanks were taken out by the enemy guns and shells were still falling at the beach, but it was no use, most of Skyian Forces had already landed and were advancing inland.

Then they heard the choppers, the SAH-27A "Peregrine" Next Generation Attack Helicopters came low and fast, they were headed to assist the main force, which was now abount 30km inland. Just then Jason heard the Thump-Thump-Thump of the Corbulo Self-Propelled 155mm Field Guns positioned at least 30km outside of the Red Tidean Artillery range. They were targeting the enemy artillery tanks to the Skyian ELINT and Counter-Battery Radars mounted on modified M89s.

200 of these guns had positioned themselves in time for the attack. They were scattered up and down the beach head, but their advanced communications ability allowed them to fire their shells at almost the same time, they all used their multiple round-simultaneous impact (MRSI) ability to fire off 5 rounds per gun so that they would hit at the same time.

The rounds of choice were the TIR.76 Extended Range Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions, long heavily favored by the Thumpers (Artillery Corp) each round carried 72 Anti-Vehicle Submunitions, the round was GPS and millimetric wave radar guided while the submunitions were guided to their targets using MW radar, a total of 1000(72,000 Submunitions) of these rounds rocketed down range.

Next came the shreeks of the 250mm rockets from the M250 'Ballista' MLRS's Quickdraw Rocket Pods, a total of 200 vehicles launched off twelve of these rockets each, each rocket contained GPS and MWR guidance, the submunitions were the same as in the TIR.76's, but this time there were 450 of them per rocket. A total of 2400 rockets proceed towards their Red Tidean Counterparts and their command post and tanks.

Their targets would be of course the enemy artillery guns and MLRS batteries along with tank formations, and command post. As the rockets and shells reached 2000ft they dispersed their submunitions. A total of 1,152,000 submunitions fell onto the enemy positions and vehicles.

The 84 675mm rounds and 320 610mm Extended Range Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions that were fired from the fleet were also targeting enemy artillery positions, but this time they were mostly aimed at the enemy supply lines, depot and command centers, each of the 675mm shells carried 1350 Submunitions and each of the 610mms carried 1200 of them for a total of 497,400 submunitions.

As each submunition targeted an enemy in their final seconds we will never know what their 'thoughts were. Each contained their own little computer heart and soul, it's only purpose to destroy it's brothers and sisters and their controllers. Maybe this was the computer version of being emancipated, maybe this was their only way to freedom, to destroy and be destroyed.

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

As the shells fell upon the enemy the 1st Armored Corp had managed to regroup and joined with the 2nd and 3rdArmored Corp in an attack on they main enemy force. They contained 6000 M160 'Phoenix' Main Battle Tanks, minus the few dozen or so already taken out, complementing them were around 3125 M89A1s and an equal number of M89A3s. They would force the enemy forces back as the tanks blasted at enemy positions with their main 125mm ETC guns and the M89s took out smaller targets with their 35mm and 75mm ETC guns and taking out enemy tanks with ATGMs and enemy helos with short range SAMs. Dozens of planes, mostly A-102c 'Stormcrow' Close Support Aircraft and F-620 'Xeon's Air Superiority Aircraft were guard the skies above them. They forces did not stop and kept their fire on the enemy front and flanks.

The stone that were the coalition forces had started to role, now nothing would stop them.

OOC: Something I dont understand Silver Sky, the area I am targetting IS the beach... so unless your artillery units are out on the water somehow, I find this highly doubtful. I also will have to dispute your advance of 30 kilometers inland, given that my beach defenses would have kept you tied down for much longer then that.

IC: The MiGs did what most pilots would do if confronted with the huge mass of missiles flying their way... no, not retreat, but loose every bit of RADAR confusing chaff and dive for the ground, turning up their jammers to maximum, this managed to decoy alot of the missiles, but still 7,000 MiGs went down in flames. The rest turned their jamming pods back to normal and climbed back to regular altitudes, they now went to afterburners, moving at over mach-2 now. They came in with determination that seemed suicidal.

The MDM-3s were completely unaffected, they had long withdrawn to reload. The 203mm guns, however, were still firing away, even as death rained down upon them. But they were not the only artillery weapons the Red Tideans had, even as the last 203mm gun was incinerated, a SECOND line of artillery even closer to the beach opened up. These consisted of 122mm and 105mm artillery guns. They blasted away, not at the frontlines... but at the enemy artillery.

Another worthy note that all Red Tidean command posts consist of command vehicles. These moved about quite frequently... actually, they virtually never stopped. Therefore, not a single officer above Major was lost. Even worse, even MORE Mechanized formations were on their way, another 23 Armored and Mechanized-Infantry Divisions were now an hours drive from the frontlines.

Finally, the forward units of the Coalition forces spotted the leading formations of the enemy mainforce... a mass of MBT-66 'Hydra' Main Battle Tanks, APC-45As, Bs, and Cs, M-1RT Tunguska Anti-Aircraft Vehicles, and, at the very lead of the formation, HSPAGX-01 'Medusa' Heavy Self-Propelled Assualt Guns. These were incredible beasts, capable of taking a redicilious amounts of punishment and dealing out even more pain with their 203mm ETC Guns. But like all beasts, they had weaknesses, in this case, they had no anti-infantry weapons, which would allow infantry to get up close and disable the treads of the tank... however, what was just about to happen made that prospect exceedingly unlikely. For, just 30 seconds before the massive armored column was about to enter into range of the enemies ground weapons, it stopped.

There was a moments pause... then each of the Medua's guns roared to life, the chassis could be seen literally jolt back as the gun hurled its massive projectiles towards the Coalition forces, the shells would easily reach them. Then the rest of the Armored Forces rumbled forward, firing on the move. The MBT-66s firing with their 122mm enhanced ETC Guns, the APC-45s constantly sweeping the sky and the ground with their 30mm autocannons, and the Tunguska's searching for air targets for their own 30mm Autocannons and QMSAMs.

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

The first battalion's position was ripped apart as the submunitions released by the Red Tidean artillery rockets struck the ground, Sergeant Gregor watched as a large part of them hit the ground and detonated ahead of their position, obviously to the error of the enemy gunners in their estimates of where the Marines would be had the halt order not arrived. Many of their vehicles were put out of service, including the vast array of Cavalier and Centurion light vehicles along with many of the cargo trucks, those that remained were the heavy M1 tanks. Reports over the radio channels were sporadic, from what Gregor could establish, much of the battalion had been taken out of the fight and most of the helicopters moving in from the fleet were to evacuate the wounded and dead as the landing craft shuttled in the second and third battalions of the brigade.

Above his position, two sections of AH-16 helicopters came in low and fired flares into the air above their rotors as the enemy missiles passed overhead. First Lieutenant Sean Patricks watched as the MDM-2 missiles aimed at his bird fly past at blinding speed before he rose to a firing altitude and looked through the FLIR eyepiece on his helmet to scan the position that he had been told enemy fire had been coming from. He spotted an armoured vehicle as it turned to withdraw and he painted it with the laser designator, he called into the radio, "Cobra One, Hellfire away!" as he hit the master arm and pressed the trigger on the aircraft's stick. Immediately outside on the wing, a mounted Hellfire II sped off towards the target. Elsewhere, other AH-16s weren't so lucky and were struck by missiles, half a dozen spinning to the ground close to the Marine lines and the injured crews were pulled from their downed birds by the odd collection of Marine fireteams.

Colonel Gates awoke to see the camouflage-painted face of a young Navy Corpsman as he instructed two other Marines to cut through the bisplate cover that was the roof of the command vehicle's compartment that had fallen on top of the wounded officer. The vehicle had been ravaged by the bombardment, he only remembered reports of incoming before waking up pinned by the wreckage, and he saw one of his staff officers, a major, who was crumpled up against one of the command consoles, blood smeared over his station and the broken monitors. After several minutes of work, Gates was pulled from the wrecked vehicle and loaded onto a litter before boarding a waiting SH-20 helicopter, "Shit, my war is over," he thought as he saw the crew chief slide the door shut.

Nearly the entire brigade had landed on the beach which was now pot-marked with craters and burning vehicles, they would push ashore for the 2nd MEB which would be comign ashore in the next run by the landing craft. Lieutenant-Colonel Jon Hertz, the brigade's executive officer came ashore onboard his own Centurion command vehicle and immediately move ahead with the second and third battalion and pushed ahead, he looked over his screen and saw that he at least still commanded at least a hundred M1 battle tanks, seventy Cavalier and Viking armoured carriers each and eighty Crusader combat vehicles. He ordered them ahead, with engineer vehicles ready to clear any mines and obsticles that may have been left behind by the withdrawing Red Tide forces. The M1 tanks and Cougar armoured guns would be leading the advance with Vikings and Cavaliers at their side, the flanks would be covered by the Chimera anti-tank vehicles, armed with BGM-88 Mace KEMs. As they advanced, the monotonous concussion of the 120mm automatic mortars started their bombardment against the withdrawing forces while Cyclone air defence vehicles kept their electronic eyes on the sky with its dual RADAR/LIDAR scanners, keeping their 25mm Vulcan cannon and Starstreak HVM armed and ready.

A second wave of Marine F-2N Lucifer fighters covering the slower OA-5A Wasp attack aircraft came in over the water and sped past the positions on Red Beach and began attack runs on the advancing Red Tide forces, the F-2N fighters, although armed with AIM-132 missiles, still had CBU-140 cluster bombs, the sixty aircraft each dropped two weapons which released 300 submunitions with the warhead of 81mm mortar bombs (36,000 Total). The forty OA-5A aircraft each unloaded 76 rockets (3,040 Total) into positions along the line of retreat along with six AGM-65 Maverick missiles (240 Total) against armoured vehicles.

RNS Europa

Admiral Stockwell watched as the Red Tide MiGs continued to linger in the area, "Get those Avernas and Lucifers in the air to knock those bastards out, but hit them with the Comets first." He watched the flight deck from the bridge as a number of damaged EF-1B EW aircraft landed at the stern, "Too few returning," He thought as he took a drink from his mug, which had switched over from coffee to Aequatian Rye. In the distance, the Shikra was firing a barrage of 200 RIM-154 Sea Comet high-speed SAMs as did the other four cruisers in the fleet, a total of a thousand weapons sped towards the MiGs first at Mach 5 before engaging their scramjet engines and increasing their speed to nearly Mach 20.

Master Chief Burns and his team had been run ragged by their duties, he had lost count as to how many aircraft they had towed to the catapults. He knew that crews on the other five carriers would be busy launching fighters. A total of 200 F-1N fighters were launched alongside 100 Navy F-2N fighters, all armed with AIM-154 and AIM-120 missiles.

First Corporate Fleet - Engaged and Entangled with Czardas Fleet

At this close range a miss was highly unlikely, and especially an interception. The ships had moved forward, using their DMG stealth to make themselves as thermally neutral as possible fooling some types of missiles but not others.

Countermeasures including CWIS and RAMs flew up along with chaff and flares. But again, at this close entangled with the Czardas fleet it was useless. Pretty much every ship has sustained some sort of damage, A Lord-class Battleship with a close range engagement against the Warspite guns lost. Badly. It penetrated the forward and rear ammunition batteries almost simultaneously while the Lord fired its guns toward the command area and turrets. It exploded into a massive ball of flames envoloping the ship it was engaging, the nuclear reactors weren't penetrated but were compromised, and were heating the water recklessly. A heat fog started to be produced from where the nuclear powered ships were sunk.

3 Stingrays had sustained heavy damage and were sinking, most had exhausted their missiles.

The air situation was just as bad, missiles couldn't be used because the combat was too fierce. The second wave of F-35s were intercepted and 45 were taken out with only 10 making it out of the planes. The F-44 did better only losign 10 of their number but the rest engaged in fierce combat.

Most of the submarines had sunk. It was absolute chaos. Two Stingrays had fired on each other in the confusion and damaged their forward missile arrays. Still it was close range at high speed since every ship was attempting as close to flank speed.

A Superdreadnaught who had sustained medium damage to its rear turrets continued to fire and was bearing down on an unknown destroyer and nearly cut it in half in a mad dash to make a turn parallel to the shoreline. However, it was caught up with another ship and turned off and kept engaging enemy forces. The two superdreadnaughts being large targets had lost 2 turrets each and were emptying their missile armament at close range.

However, in the midst of this a Dreadnaught that had been shadowing a SDN had been able to take up positions and let loose a massive Tomahawk salvo, 140 missiles total at the shoreline where Coalition forces were attempting to land.

It then turned its turrets and began to pound the shoreline, following where Red Tidean artillery shells were landing to try to copy the Red Tidean efforts.

It was protected by 3 Stingrays, a Thunder, another Dreadnaught which was setting up its shot against the shoreline and a Superdreadnaught close by helped keep the smaller escort ships off their backs.

An officier a Flank class destroyer watched an anti-shipping missile fired by the far away enemies go through the entire melee and toward the shoreline before finally detonating before it reached the shore. He was wondering the odds of that when a 27mm round tore him in half and sent his carcass tumbling on the command deck.

Casualities were mounting heavily as a group of helicopters were cut down and flew down impacting a Search-class ship in the rear.

It was absolute mess with Corporate ships at Flank speed with variously failing optical stealth modes cutting through the then stationary Czardas fleet. The Corporation hoped that the confusion would help even the odds.

Hundreds of men from either side were in the water, many clinging to debris, life rafts. In an odd bit of cooperation, they didn't care whose side they were on, once they were on the raft or debris, it became survival.

The EB-180 Stargazer was now within 300 km of Red Tide

There was a lot of missile fire going on down below them. A lot of ships being sunk.

The co-pilot raised his eyebrow at the incredible number of SAMs showing up and flying around on the Laser Radar. No wonder the first strike had gone so terribly.

He turned to the pilot. "Five thousand feet higher?"

The pilot looked at him and nodded. He angled the aircraft upwards and took the Stargazer higher.

The aircraft continued further on it's course towards the Aequatian beachhead. The Laser Radar continued to track missile and artillary fire.

RNS Yates

The second Marine Expeditionary Brigade began to embark on their landing craft as the other Marines aboard the Mitchell and Neal did the same. First Lieutenant Darian Kennedy walked onto the utility landing craft that held his M1 tank alongside his crew, within minutes they were heading ashore alongside the first battalion of the brigade, Viking amphibious armoured carriers carried Marine infantry ashore while the heavier vehicles and artillery pieces were aboard the hovercraft landing crafts. The second brigade would help to secure the beachhead established by the 1st MEB while their battalions moved ashore, in time, they would be reinforced by the rest of the division. Above, AH-16 gunships flew escort to the MH-53J helicopters carrying the entire second battalion.

[OOC: I'm going to try and put up an IC eventually, probably tomorrow. This is good - I want to continue, at least.]

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

Sergeant Gregor dropped against the sand berme again as the second barrage of Tidean shells rained down on the positions, a young corporal armed with an MG55A2 SAW with its bipod deployed shouted as he kept his helmet from falling forward over his eyes, "Christ, where's fuckin' second and third battalion?" The comment made Gregor look behind their position to where the tanks and other armoured vehicles should have been coming from the beach. Elsewhere, the shells rained down on the other positions held by first battalion, destroying or damaging the unit's armoured vehicles. As the incoming fire died down, the Marines returned fire against the vehicles with a collection of 84mm rockets fired from SMAW launchers, a dozen FGM-148 Javelin missiles which raced off into the air before coming downward towards their targets, the Hydra main battle tanks, and BGM-88 Mace kinetic-energy missiles launched from the Chimera tank destroyers. The air was filled with continued concussions as the battalion's remaining Cougar mobile guns fired their 120mm smoothbore guns at the lighter targets, such as the APC-45 vehicles and M-1RT Tunguska SPAAGs. A few surviving recce Crusader IFVs fired their own BGM-88 KEMs mounted from the single-use launchers mounted on the sides of their turrets along with the 35mm rounds against the softer targets like the Cougars.

The 122mm shells slammed into the side of the berme and into a few of the battalion's vehicles, a Caregiver armoured ambulance was struck and it was reduced to a flaming hulk. Captain Sarah Howe, commanding officer of the last remaining tank company in first battalion, sat in her seat as she looked over the monitor of her Battlefield Information Control System as the compuer assgined arget priorities for the crews, without hesitation, the enemy Hydra tanks and the Medusa guns were considered the most dangerous target. She switched the channel to speak with her company's platoon leaders through her headset, "This is Charlie Six Six, arm bravo-golf-mike eighty-eights, lock india-romeo signatures on the Medusas, once threat is eliminated, target Hydras, over."

"Roge that, Charlie Six Six," came the chorus from the platoon leaders as Howe's own gunner, Lance Corporal Anthony Jones, looked through the gunsight and assigned the infrared signature of a Medusa self-propelled gun and pressed the fire button, "MACE AWAY!" He said as the guided kinetic-energy missile sped from the barrel of the 140mm gun and speed off towards its target. The young loader private grabed another BGM-88 Mace missile and loaded it into the breech, "Mace, up!" and within seconds, it was fired.

First Lieutenant Patricks pulled the flight stick hard to the right as the tracers streamed past his helicopter, he dropped his aircraft to about fifteen metres from the ground before he fired off a salvo of a dozen 70mm rockets towards the position the anti-aircraft fire was coming from. The 30mm rounds still took their toll on the other aircraft, sweeping a few other AH-16 gunships from the sky along with nine OA-5A Wasps and half a dozen F-2N Lucifer fighters that were lingering in the area, waiting for targets with their remaining 130mm rockets and 35mm rotary cannons.

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

The massive shells struck the beach and detonated, throwing tall pilars of sand into the air and covering the third battalion's landing vehicles and personnel, the cruise missiles and their warheads air burst over the Marine's positions (assuming they're similar to the anti-material BGM-109s) and damaged many of the more sensitive equipment, including a number of artillery hunter RADAR mounts and the soft-skinned Wolf humvees and M35 trucks.. The beach was littered with burning vehicles and mangled bodies after the barrage lifted, Navy medical personnel and Marines helped to clear the bodies and wounded personnel as they loaded litters onto MH-46A Black Knight helicopters.

OOC: For Leafy, and don't worry, I'll get you for that.

Above the Fleet in the Melee that is the crowded sky

The lethal mix of naval artillery, naval anti-aircraft artillery and missiles, anti-shipping missiles and enemy fighters and bombers made flying a serious danger to anybody. Several DMG built aircraft had been lost taking out Czardas aircraft accidently, via collision. Two wings of F-35s which had been given small fuel-air bombs tried to make it to their destination. Their escorts had been beaten off or entangled. 2 were destroyed by missiles. The remainder were so very close.

Then another one got hit, it couldn't release it's payload. The wing was gone and the weapons were jammed. It tumbled out of the sky toward the beach, its pilot ejected and was beheaded by a piece of flying debris, a testament to the chaos overhead and below. Its payload exploded on the beach without causing much damage beyond a large fireball. The remaining five planes were close. Suddenly the fifth fell back and the missile chasing the wing was attracted to it. The fifth fighter's pilot ejected and the missile caught up to the plane. Another missile destroyed one of the fighters chasing the remaining wing. The last 4 flew parallel to the beach. They dropped their payload of cluster munitions and 2 fuel air bombs, none of them returned to their carrier to be rearmed, they were destroyed by a flight of Czardas fighters.

Secret Transmission to Red tide:

Should I call for either dreadfire or the WACL or CAD, I am sure they would effectively crush this little libertation army and take their land in retribution. I cant offer you any help though sadly...

[ABOARD AMDF ARBITER, FLAGSHIP 74TH CTF]

"Sir! Lock engaged!"

"Fire missiles!"

"Wha- Fire command denied! The area is saturated with allies and enemies!"

Elson groaned. "God damn it, can someone get me a stationary target, already!?"

"Targeting ammunition depots! They're within range!"

"Then fire the missiles!" Elson turned in his chair. He hated being useless.

"Czardas fleet is in trouble, sir! Heavy battlewagons engaging each other at point-blank, it's horrible!"

"I realize that already!" Elson turned back and forth in his chair. "Take out land targets or something! Call up the Aequatian and Czardian land forces and see if they need any help with land targets!" Elson felt slightly less useless. "We have to do whatever we can to stop the tyrannical leaders of this nation. No matter what."

Even in the day time, the explosions were magnificent. The ammo depots erupting into fireballs in explosions worth up to fifty(50) tons of TNT, trucks were shattered, military firemen rushed to put out the flames only to be peppered with shrapnel.

At the beachhead battles, the Red Tidean military machine continued to bear down on the hapless Coalition forces, which were now returning fire. Tanks erupted in flames, armored personnel carriers exploded, killing their crews and passengers instantly. A M-1RT began burning, a crew member got out right before the 30mm shells cooked off and detonated. The crew member calmly got up after being thrown down by the blast, he had third degree burns. Yet he unslung his M-50 Submachinegun he had grabbed from underneath his seat and began to march towards the enemy.

The tanks, APCs, and M-1s manuevered around their fallen comrades, rolling forward relentlessely, zig zagging across the battlefield. The APC-45As let loose volleys of ATGM-4 fire-and-forget, top attack missiles. The Tunguskas began to lock onto hostil IFF signatures flying under 15,000 feet and within 8 kilometers and loosed their QMSAMs. The QMSAM(standing for Quick Manueverable Surface-Air Missile) was a very short ranged, low altitude missile. However, it was fast and could follow through virtually any manuever an aircraft could pull off. Both the Tunguska's and APCs continued to fill the skies with lead that would be lethal to aircraft.

The Medusa's which had been acting as direct fire support seemed unstoppable. They were taking an incredible amount of pounding yet continued to move forward. In several cases, a missile or shell would blow the treads off, destroying its ability to manuever, but that just turned them into gun bunkers, capable of firing at everything within a small arc infront of them. The ones that could still move were even more dangerous... until they too were disabled. In some cases, the crews decided to abandon their vehicles, coming out with SMGs after setting charges to destroy their Medusa and then charging towards the enemies lines in a suicidal fashion only to be cut down by gun fire.

OOC: Are you guys having trouble finding this?

OOC: I'm finding it, just the time to reply is not much, I'm trying to get something decent, but I keep getting interrupted, like now, i just got back from going out to dinner, I'm about 3/4 done with my reply, should be up before the night is over.

OOC: And I'm waiting for action on my landing zone.

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

"Don't these fuckers die?" Shouted the young SAW gunner as he loaded a fresh box of 200 6.35mm rounds into his weapon and taking up a firing position again as he fired in bursts into the advancing infantry. Sergeant Gregor slammed another magazine into his M2 Carbine as he watched second battalion's vehicles approach their position, the reinforcements would certainly help them push off the advancing enemy and get the first brigade off the berme and inland. First battalion had nearly lost all of their lighter armoured vehicles with only a handful of Cougar and Crusader fighting vehicle remaining alongside a single platoons of M1 tanks. Many of the Panthers had been eliminated by the top attack missiles, despite the advanced defensive systems installed on the vehicles.

Although the first battalion's losses were heavy, the last elements fought hard as the second and third battalion vehicles approached the berme and unloaded their infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Hertz monitored his brigade's formation along the beach from the rear compartment of his Centurion vehicle, he was able to see both his own forces thanks to their satellite transmitters and the enemy elements that were close to his own forces thanks to the RADAR systems on the orbiting Navy RQ-4 Global Hawk drones. The incoming rounds shook the Marines as they took up a position on the berme and returned fire, attempting to stem the wave of Tidean soldiers with small arms and support weapons. Just as their comrades in the first battalion had done so, they fired Javelin and Mace ATGMs against the heavily armoured Medusas and Hydras as others fired the SMAW's 84mm missiles at the surviving APC-45s and M-1RTs, they were hoping to create corridors to concentrate their fire on the enemy forces.

Lieutenant Patricks fired his AH-16's 35mm cannon at the advancing infantry until it ran dry and, like the other surviving helicopter gunships, pulled back and flew back to the assault ship sitting offshore for refueling and rearming. Soon enough he would be back over the Red Tidean soil, helping his comrades on the ground. Like the other aircraft making for the coast, Patricks had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid the 30mm anti-aircraft rounds. All of the Aequatian aircraft weren't as lucky, as many of the slower OA-5A Wasp aircraft were hit and forced their pilots to eject over the water, making sure their striken aircraft didn't hit the forces on the beach. Another wave of Marine F-2N fighters came in low over the water and released stand-off satellite-guided 900kg bombs which flew in, piloted by their internal circuitry with directions from the signals provided by the navigational satellites above. The bombs were to strike targets like the large Medusa assault guns and the infantry concentrations.

----------

RNS Marcus Pendleton

The massive ship was having replacement munitions shuttled aboard by the utility landing craft which belonged to the superdreadnought. They would be required soon enough if they had to maintain the current rate of fire against the targets ashore. The massive 755mm guns continued their barrage, this time using high-capacity high-explosive rounds along with those fired from the vessels secondary 203mm guns. Underneath the waves, the task force's entire submarine group coordinated their efforts by being assigned targets along the beachhead. The four Ocean II-class missile boats each launched 200 BGM-172 cruise missiles (800 total) armed with 500 cluster munitions (400,000 Total) each against targets at the beachhead while the fourteen Avenger-class attack subs each launched 120 BGM-172 weapons (1,680 Total) each armed with 450kg (1,000 pound) high-explosive warheads. Admiral Killian looked over the allied communications channels and took notice of the message from the Aralonian commanders, "Have our targets chosen for our own Pikes sent to them, they can help us stem the... tide, so to speak, for our forces ashore."

----------

RNS Espandor

Rodgers sat back in the bridge chair, they had been receiving reports from the battles raging ashore, in the air and on the water. The ship was still tense, but things had died down a little, they were still glad that they were not required to launch their weapons.

OOC: The artillery was already off the beach, a few klicks south of it, but still behind the front lines. Whew, finally got it up.

Skyian Beachhead, Frontlines, 1st Marine Corp, ~18km inland

Commander Urwin peered out of his Commander's Intergrated Camera system scanning the front of the column. His tank was two from the front of the formation he was in charge of. Nothing was showing up yet, he turned to his senors, they were detecting a large enemy formation of tanks and vehicles, but he couldn't see them.

He looked out again and finally saw an enemy formation advancing. He turned on his radio, "Looks like they finally decided to roll out the welcome wagon for us boys, you know what to do."

"Yes sir!" Came the reply as the individual tank commanders gave instructions to their drivers and gunners. Several of the tanks slipped into shell holes from the naval gunfire in an attempt to hide their weaker glacis armor sections and lower their profile. Jason positioned his tank in a small divet with his hull down.

Before long he could see the enemy tanks come to a halt and turn their guns. "Attack, For the Republic!!!!!" He yelled. His tanks roared out of the divets and shell holes in an attempt to throw the enemy's aim off.

Then the shells from the MBT-66's screamed down range at the M160A1s. The enemy made a strong arguement but it wasn't enough. The thick armor on the M160A1s and their Kaktus Heavy ERA. Most of the enemy weapons had their trajectory skewed slightly by the ERA and did nothing but get stuck the armor as their velocity and angle wasn't enough to penetrate the thick turret and glacis armor on the M160A1s. In some rare cases the penetrators were shattered by the forces of the ERA plates of them. Other shells and penetrators were destroyed or skewed by the VAP-ER Active Protection System, from the nation of Mekgui. The ATGMs from the enemy made only a little difference, but again the VAP-ER was the deciding factor in the casualty rate, they worked almost flawlessly.

However, some losses were encountered by some hits on the side armor, but this was limited to about few dozen or less tanks. Several IFV's were also taken out by enemy shells. More IFVs and tanks were taken out or disabled by the enemy ATGMs. The effects of the enemy APC shells was surprisingly small as most of the dismounted infantry were farther behind the front lines and out of range of the enemy guns, but some infantry and crews that scrambled out to escape vehicles were killed, others grabbed either FGM-11-B Man-Portable Anti-Tank missiless, or BAR-68 Battle Rifles and fired on enemy troops or vehicles with range.

A more pervasive arguement was made by the Medusa's 203mm cannons. Dozens of M160A1's were lit up as they were penetrated and destroyed by the large cannons. The enemy heavy tanks seemed unstoppable.

A third, but rather weak argument was made by the enemy artillery, their shells plumeted downward hoping to inflict massive casualties on the Skyian Batteries. But their hope was ill-placed, most of the Corbulo Self-Propelled Field Guns had moved to new positions by now as had the 'Ballista' MLRS, only a few stragglers were taken out along with a few M89A4 Counterbattery Radar Vehicles. However, dozens of infantry, light vehicles and a few Hovercraft were taken out. The heavy armor of the assualt ships and roll-on/roll-off cargo ships and troop transports saved them from the arty fire.

Now time for the rebuttal. Three excellent, straight points were made by the Skyian Forces.

They first came from, of course, the armor. As soon as the enemys had fired their salvo the 125mm Mark XV Advanced ETC Cannons on the M160A1's sent APFSDS rounds at nearly 2,750m/sec at the enemy tanks and APCs. Almost assured destruction would most likely ensue. The M89s also voiced their presence, firing off FGM-11-Bs at the enemy vehicles, their top attack warheads would penetrate the weak top armor of enemy tanks and APCs, also a large handful of them were aimed at the Medusa's, hoping to penetrate their weaker top armor. The M89A1s swept the enemy lines with their 35mm ETC Autocannons, the Air Bursting Munitions would blast infantry apart and hammer enemy APCs with Armor-Peircing Discarding Sabot rounds. The M89A3's attempted to destroy enemy APCs and Tunguska SPAAGs with their ATGMs and Hyper-Velocity 76mm ETC cannons with APFSDS rounds, they also took shots at the side and top armor of enemy tanks, their Heavy 15.5x125mm Heavy MGs swamped the enemy lines with armor peircing projectiles. Even rear line troops could attack the enemy with their GWS.80 Ostrich Heavy Anti-Tank Guided Missiles because of their 12km range, this placed them well beyond the range of enemy tank fire. Six missiles from each of the 500 helicopters, for a total of 3,000 AGM-512s streaked towards the enemy AA guns with deadly percision

The second rebuttal came from the SAH-27A Attack helicopters and A-102C Stormcrow Close Air Support Aircraft. Staying outside of the 8km range of the M-1 Tunguskas the SAH-27As fired a volley of AGM-512 Stararm New Short Range Anti-Radiation Missiles at the enemy Tunguska's, the 34km range put them out of striking distance while letting them hit Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns father back behind the enemy lines. The A-120Cs announced with presence with a volley of AGM-531B Bumblebee New Tactical Air-to-Surface Missiles, firing from about 12km they stayed away from the enemy AA guns, a total of 450 of these planes were in the skies for 3,150 missiles fired at the enemy tanks and APCs, especially the enemy . Each of the missiles carried a large amount of anti-vehicle submunitions, about 75 each. they would used Self-Forging Projectile Technology to fire themselves through the weak top armor of enemy vehicles, a total of 236,250 submunitions would rain hell on the enemy vehicles and infantry.
The third attack came from the artillery and naval gunnery. Only 2/5th of the 'Corbulo' Self-Propelled 155mm Guns and 'Ballista' 250mm MLRS launchers had actually fired, the rest had been move about to avoid enemy fire, they were now joined by 203mm 'Broadsword' Self-propelled Howitzers newly deploy from the landing ships. It was now time for them to stop running and make their voices heard, Literally the entire beach head shook as the guns opened up. 300 155mm guns opened up in 5 round burst, again with DPICM Submunition rounds, a total of 1,500 rounds, containing 108,000 submunitions were fired at the enemy before the vehicles again packed up and moved, these were targeted mainly at the enemy artillery but about 1/5 were targeted at the enemy superheavy tanks. Next came the 'Ballista', each of the 300 vehicles fired off their 12 missiles each, a total of 3,600 rockets propelled towards the enemy tanks and vehicles, each again contained submunitions, a total of 450 per rocket and 1,620,000 of them in all, they were mainly targeted at the main battle tanks, APCs and troop formations within 39km of the frontline. Next came the big guns, all 300 of the Self-Propelled Howitzer, Mark VII, "Broadswords" fired in unision at the enemy front line, they fired off 3 rounds before moving, each contained about 108 submunitions, a total of 97,200 of them, they were almost all targeted at the enemy super-heavy and main battle tanks.

The Assualt and Heavy Dreadnaughts, along with the cruisers fired off their guns, but this time with guided HE shells instead of submunitions, 84 675mm shells, 320 610mm shells, 432 381mm shells, and 432 305mm shells all blasted towards the enemy positions, the larger shells were aimed at the enemy rear formations to cause panic and slow down the reinforcements while the smaller ones were aimed at the frontlines, most importantly the super heavy tanks the enemy was fielding.

The largest and until then unknown punch would come from the B-300C Hurriance Hurricane Heavy Supersonic Strategic Bombers that were above the fleet, each of them carried 6 of the most massive bombs in the world, the Guided Demolition Bomb Model 001 "Super Nova", these massive MOAB type bombs weight in at 60,000lbs and contained about 26,000lbs of GSX (Gelled Slurry Explosive) giving it a yeild of nearly 39,000lbs of TNT. The massive blast radius was enough to take out reinforced concrete structures at 2km, the entire blast radius was over 2 miles in diameter making these the strongest conventional weapons in existance.

The scary thing was, that 60 of them were about to strike at the enemy, 6 of the B-300Cs departed for the Aequatioan Beachhead and the other six towards the Skyian Beachhead, the bombers quickly swooped in at Mach 1.6 they were escorted by 408 of the fleets F-620s which fired off 2 long range missiles each at the enemy Migs to provide cover, they would also draw AA fire. They bombers neared the 20km drop point, the bombs dropped from their pylons and out of the weapons bays of the bombers, their retro rockets fired boosting them to stand off speed, after reaching the nessecary distance the rockets cut out and were blasted off, the massive bombs then screamed down on the enemy using GPS for guidance and lattice control surfaces, they were targeted at the enemy front lines, just far enough from the Skyian and Aequatian lines to avoid friendly fire and programed for Air-Burst to avoid digging huge craters. The massive bombers turned turn back and lit up at Mach 2.2 back towards home.

They were leaving the ultimate fireworks show.

[ABOARD AMDF ARBITER, 74TH CTF FLAGSHIP]

Elson smiled to himself. The war would be over soon, hopefully, possibly. “Very good. Retarget another missile salvo towards the next set of targets an-”

“Commodore! Detecting multiple metallic transients in the water! Active sonar signature detected!” A frantic sonar operator turned in his chair. “They're moving towards the battle group!”

“Deploy interceptor torpedoes and other countermeasures! Stop them!” Norien Elson stood completely up in his chair. “Protect this fleet, at all costs!”

“Enemy torpedoes have gone into full active mode! They're tracking in!” The sonar operator's eyes flicked across the screen at an ungodly rate.

“Full evasive! Try and skirt around the torpedoes! Avoid them!” Norien Elson activated a sonar projection of the area. "Where are the countermeasures?!"

“It's too late! Impact in 2 seconds!”

“Brace!”

The Arbiter was hit by a heavy guided torpedo, launched from an underwater mine platform. The hit from the torpedo broke the keel of the vessel immediately, with a second torpedo detonating some of the explosives and the oil aboard. Many of the other vessels were hit by torpedo strikes, destroying them in much the same manner as the Arbiter.

[THE OCTAGON, NEW SARIS, ARALONIA]

“AMDF Arbiter, Code Omega!”

“AMDF Stanek, Code Omega!”

“AMDF Harbinger, Code Omega!”

“I don't believe it.” Archon Doned Hopkins put his head into his hands. “I lost two of my best ship commanders – no, my two best ship commanders, period.” He shook his head, and looked up again. Five more Code Omega alarms were heard before the screens went silent. “Expedite the finishing of the Prince of Aralonia. I want that battleship out of the harbor and into the battlefield as quickly as possible.” Archon Hopkins stood up and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “When can that be done?”

“Six months.”

“Six months! Very well then. Try and call the Aequatian fleet to perform minesweeper operations and rescue what they can.”

[LAST KNOWN LOCATION OF AMDF ARBITER]

Captain Daniel Hawking tried to grab on to a box of potatoes, floating in the water. He could smell burning oil all around him, threatening to choke the life out of him. He pulled his white shirt sleeve across his face, turning the sleeve a bit gray. “Dammit! Commodore Elson! Commodore! Dammit!” Hawking floated in the water. It was, really, futile. There was no chance that Commodore Elson could have heard him. The two ships were about a kilometer and a half away from each other by the time that they ran into the minefield.

Captain Hawking collapsed and fell unconscious as strong hands pulled him aboard a lifeboat.

RNS Punisher

Lieutenant Commander David Shepherd stood on the bridge as the mine countermeasures ship moved ahead with the cover of the new gunboats, he looked off to starboard and his partner vessel, Penetrator, was keeping formation at the steady speed of 15 knots when they received the call to move. They were to transit to the Aralonian area of operations to rescue survivors and conduct sweep and clear operations for enemy mines which had, according to the reports, already claimed at least three allied vessels, "Fools," Shepherd thought to himself, "Who goes to war in littoral operations without mine countermeasures?" He likened himself to the Army Combat Engineer Corps whom he considered overqualified and disrespectfully misunderstood just as he was, although inferior compared to Navy personnel. He turned to the helm petty officer, "All ahead full, have the gunboats keep us covered as we pick up the survivors and Penetrator clears the mines." With that order, the two gunboats and two mine countermeasures ships changed course and plowed through the water at 20 knots towards the Aralonian positions.

----------

RNS Europa

Admiral Stockwell received the report informing him of the losses inflicted on the Aralonians, "Damn, we should have swept the area for them if our ships weren't so busy clearing the way for the Marines," He cursed himself as he walked through the corridor leading from the CIC to the forward galley, "Some coffee will help my nerves and gather my wits, or at least what's left of them," He said to no one walking with distinct taps as his shoes contacted the PVC tiling. He couldn't provide any cover for them either, with his jammer force nearly wiped out along with half of his Hawkeyes, his carrier's fighters were off with the rest of the task force's as they engaged the enemy MiGs that had come out of the woodworks. Even then, when they were finished with the air threat, they would be needed to support the ground operations ashore. Stockwell sighed as the seaman filled his mug with coffee and two packets' worth of brown sugar, "Thanks," He said before taking a sip and starting on his way back to CIC.

----------

Red Beach Landing Zone, Red Tide

Lieutenant Kennedy was standing in the turret of his M1 tank as it drove off the end of the landing craft's ramp and into the wake against the beach before making its way up onto the sand. To his left were the Viking landing vehicles filled with Marines alongside the LCAC hovercrafts as they disgorged the first elements of the second brigade onto the beach. Not far from his own position sat one of 1st MEB's artillery batteries, its M777 155mm guns facing a near perfect sixty degree angle inland meant they were practically firing as field guns against the enemy positions, the loud concussions could be felt as their barrage began, even through the heavy armour of the Panther main battle tank. Kennedy's company would be moving forward with an armoured gun company and two infantry companies to bolster one of the positions on the battle line with the first brigade, the beachhead was the most important objective at the moment, and he meant to hold it as best he could.

130,000 ft

The EB-180 was now within 50 kilometers of the Red Tide Coast. And down on the ground, there were some massive explosions going off. Apparently, one of the coalition forces had decided to launch everything they had at the Red Tide defenses on the coast.

That was just fine to the pilot. While all of this action was going on, the Stargazer could fly over the boarder onto the mainland.

Through the cockpit glass, the pilot could see the mainland rapidly approaching. This was it. The time had come. He steeled himself for what lay ahead. Then he increased the speed of the aircraft to Mach 3.5, and shot towards the coast.

Aquatian Front:

More armored vehicles exploded in flames. Destruction and death consumed the area as the Red Tidean vehicles continued to advance. The APC-45A and Bs rolled to a halt as they reached within a 100 feet of the Aquatian Trenches, their back doors fell open and ten soldiers per APC jumped out, they charged towards the enemy lines, blasting away accurately with their laser scoped M-100 Assualt Rifles, sending 6.8mm rounds towards the Aquatian positions. Firing on the move, the infantry charged towards the Aquatian positions, as the APC-45s slammed shut the doors to their troop compartments and began to move forward again.

Multiple Medusa's erupted in flames as the Aquatian aircraft pounded them from the skies. Numerous Hydra's erupted, their turrets shooting up into the air followed by a jet of flames as laser guided bombs ripped them to shreds. Up and down the lines, Mi-36 Hind-RTs appeared, managing to fire just a couple of ATGM-5 missiles and 88mm rockets before themselves being taken down by either hails of bullets or a few SAM/AAMs. Behind the lines, artillery men continued to service their guns, blasting away until they either ran out of ammunition or were destroyed. In the former case, they would undeploy their guns and try to get away.

Silver Sky Front:

The MBT-66s were undettered even as their comrades were blown to bits, they continued to fire, aiming for the area's they had already hit. Some ATGMs were blown away by ARENA-MK2 Countermeasures, but others hit. Up and down the line, the Red Tideans continued to move forward, rolling past their dead comrades in a nearly-suicidal determination. The M-1RT SPAAGs would never get hit by the HARMs, they relied on LIDAR and Infrared rather then RADAR.

Then the Silver Skies 'Super Nova' Bombs hit, huge holes were torn in the Red Tidean lines, in more then a few cases, a Medusa was close enough to the center of the blast to be turned over and have its ammunition detonate. These holes were immediatly filled with even more Red Tidean Armored Vehicles, who manuevered around their dead comrades, continuing to roll towards the enemy en-masse, firing all the while. Behind the lines, the situation remained mostly the same as the Aquatian front. Artillery crew men servicing their weapons as much as possible until running out of ammunition or being destroyed.

The Air Battle:

Another 974 MiGs were blotted out of the sky by the Aquatian SAMs, the rest came in, full afterburner at over mach-2. The Aquatians would enter the range of their QAAMs in 6 minutes.

I have been meaning to reply to this, but I simply haven't found time. Assume I'm landing troops in a large area just south of The Silver Sky's beachhead, and that we're fighting our way inland while evacuating towns and cities by helicopter; if anyone attacks me I'll try to summarise, but I don't have much time this weekend, or actually very much at all over the next two weeks, due to finals. (On the plus side, I finish school earlier than TSS. :p)

Air Combat Zone "Red-One"

After the Navy's RIM-154 SAMs took their toll on the enemy MiGs, the 100 F-2N Lucifers each fired off two of their own variants, AIM-154 Comet AAMs while the 200 F-1N Averna fighters fired off four of the AIM-154 weapons themselves, sending a thousand of the long-range missiles speeding towards the Tidean fighters as each of the Aequatian pilots followed suit for their adversaries and used their afterburners to speed up to Mach 2 to close range for their shorter ranged AIM-120C and AIM-132 missiles along with their aircraft's cannons.

----------

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

The Marines of first battalion had thought they had seen everything after the intense bombardment, but now they could not believe their eyes after seeing the Tidean infantry charging towards them. Sergeant Gregor, like many of the rugged Marines, had been hit by an enemy round and continued to fight, thanks to the personal armour provided to them by Project Conqueror, which although was a failure, had provided the Aequatian soldiers with excellent body armour. He leveled his M2 and began firing in semi-automatic bursts which others fired 40mm HE grenades from the M203A4 launchers, the chatter of the 6.35mm MG55A2 SAWs and 7.62mm MG76 GPMGs filled the air while the heavier M2C1 12.7mm machineguns fired from their tripods in the background. Many weapons lay in the sand, such as the FGM-148 Javelins and SMAW Launchers, which were either out of ammunition or had ceased to function from damage during the barrages. Over their heads, the anti-tank missiles and rockets screamed past and struck the newly-arrived vehicles of second and third battalions, several being reduced to flaming hulks. The Cyclone air defence vehicles, which had used their Starstreaks to engage the Hinds as they appeared turned their 25mm Vulcan cannons on the advancing infantry and armoured carriers, tracers and high-explosive rounds streamed from the cannon at 3,600 per minute and they were swept along the advancing lines.

As the second wave of Marine F-2N Lucifer fighters were landing on the Amazon attack carriers from their attack runs with the guided-munitions against the enemy vehicles, a third wave of another thirty six fighters, armed with 130mm rocket pods, were being prepared for launch against targets ashore. They could not provide the same level of ground support fire as the Wasp attack aircraft, but the Red Tidean anti-aircraft fire had destroyed many of the OA-5As and damaged the others enough to put them out of the fight, many of them sat damaged on the flight decks of the assault ships, those that were beyond repair had their more sensitive equipment salvaged before being pushed off the deck into the water. It seemed wasteful, but the aircraft was designed to be expendable and easily replaced, unlike the pilots who were treasured. Soon enough new flights would be shuttled in from Aequatio for the pilots to use.

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RNS Bishop

Lieutenant Patricks took the short period of time it took for the crews to rearm and refuel his AH-16 on the flight deck of the assault ship to stretch his legs and examine the damage inflicted on his helicopter. A 30mm dud round sat embedded in the helicopter's armour plating, he smiled as he took it from its resting place and examined the round which had been blunted after hitting the carbon-60 composite layer. Within twenty minutes he was back inside the cockpit and was heading in towards the beachhead, this time his gunship was armed for anti-personnel missions with 7.62mm Miniguns, 70mm rocket pods and a full compliment of 35mm high-explosive rounds.

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RNS Marcus Pendleton

Commander Wayne Leander, the chief gunnery officer of the massive battleship, had received word that the enemy positions had become too close to the Marines ashore so he decided to turn the ship's guns against targets off the coast, mainly the Corporate Fleet which had been shelling the coalition beachheads. The ship maneuvered into position and the 755mm guns loaded their armour-peircing shells as the radar operators isloated the two largest signatures in the enemy fleet, their Leviathon Superdreadnaughts. The twenty guns split their firing with ten guns per target, as before, the entire fleet shook as the vessel fired. Its secondary armament of 203mm and 127mm guns opened fire on lighter targets such as cruisers and destroyers along with the 127mm guns of the fleet's cruisers and destroyers.

Each of the Ocean II missile submarines opened fire with another salvo of two hundred BGM-172 armed with 450kg High-Explosive warheads, sending another 800 weapons ashore, this time targetted for the Red Tidean artillery units and the soft-skinned support elements behind their main lines. The Avenger attack boats prepared their own Pike cruise missiles, these ones armed for anti-shipping with armour-peircing warheads packed with 225kg of High-Explosive, and each submarine fired 120 (1,680 Total) of the weapons against targets within the Leafanistani Corporate Fleet. After the missiles penetrated the surface of the water and started their course towards the enemy vessels, six of the Avenger-class boats moved off the perimeter and made a heading for the same fleet, armed with their heavy 810mm torpedoes and tube-launched BGM-172 Pike Anti-Shipping Missiles.

[NEAR LAST KNOWN LOCATION OF AMDF HARBINGER]

“Welcome aboard, sir. Are you alright?” A small motorboat full of crew members from one of the frigates picked up the tired Captain and started to check his vital signs for discrepancies.

Captain Hawking groaned and slowly whirred back to life. “I guess so. What happened, exactly?”

“Underwater torpedo platforms. Took out our ships.”

Captain Hawking sat up and took a sip of coffee. “What have we lost?”

“Harbinger, Stanek, Aptekar, Haque, Brennerman, Benjamin, Packard, and Arbiter.”

“The Arbiter!” Hawking shot up immediately. “Where is Commodore Elson?”

“We are not registering his signal.”

“What do you mean by that!?” Hawking stood up fully. “Bring me to the Sentinel now!”

“Yes, sir.” The crew of the cutter deftly maneuvered the boat at low speed to avoid detection by other mines.

RNS Punisher

Lieutenant Commander Shepherd examined the burning flotsam in the water as they made their way towards the Aralonian vessels that were still on the water. The two gunboats ran the perimeter between the minesweepers and the mainland as the Penetrator broke formation and began tracking the underwater weapon systems using its variable depth sonar. Shepherd ordered that the vessel be brought over to the collection of ship's motorboats and the ship moved over to one of the small boats, the officer walked out onto the deck, "Greetings gentlemen, I am Lieutenant Commander David Shepherd of the Republic Navy Ship Punisher Mine Countermeasures ship, how can we be of assistance?" He had finished speaking when he was interupted by a large explosion in the water, one of Penetrator's unmanned submersibles had planeted a 1,200kg explosive on a platform and successfully detonated it, eliminated one of the torpedo platforms.

No sooner had the Aquatian Aircraft lifted off their carriers then did a barrage of MDM-6 SAMs screeched towards them, the SAMs were 40 kilometers in land. Even worse Aquatian counterbattery RADAR would suddenly pick up artillery firing signatures 35 kilometers inland from 203mm guns. That could only mean one thing, a second armored wave was coming. Sure enough, the 23 extra Armored and Mechanized-Infantry Divisions had come into sight of the Aquatian drones camera's. They were 10 minutes away from the frontlines.

AT the front lines, however, the battle continued as Red Tidean soldiers ran, hobbled, crawled, and limped towards the Aquatian entrenchments. Men missing legs continued either continued the way crawling or got trampled by their still two legged comrades. The Red Tidean soldiers did not care for their safety, any non-fatal wounds they seemed to be unaffected by, and the only ones who stopped running were dead. One mans arm was blown off, throwing him to the side, but he raised to his feet and, firing with one arm, continued to charge the Aquatian positions, supported by heavy 30mm HE-FRAG shells and ATGM-4s from the APC-45s, and the MBT-66 and Medusa cannons.

The battlefield was littered with wreckage. Most divisions had lost up to 20% of their strength, a few had lost 50% of their strength and continued to charge forward. The M-1RTs had taken a particularly heavy beating. Some anti-air regiments had lost so much of their strength that only a vehicle or two remained.

OOC Note: Casualties based on the fact that I am only facing three battalions. I am not sure how your army is organised. Ill look into your ORBAT and modify if nessecary.

IC:Air Battle:

Another thousand MiGs fell from the sky, the survivors now numbered approximately 5,000. The rest continued to go forward, the two forces would collide in 2 minutes.

OOC Note: Casualties based on the fact that I am only facing three battalions. I am not sure how your army is organised. Ill look into your ORBAT and modify if nessecary.

OOC: Well, three battalions plus support elements, or a single brigade at the moment with a second brigade finishing their landfall. But the numbers seem right.

OOC2: Oh, there wasn't a response to my cruise missile attack.

IC:

RNS Amazon

The carrier had just released its fighters when they came under fire from the SAMs, not expecting to encounter anti-aircraft fire so soon, nearly a dozen aircraft were lost immediately with the others being damaged and forced to return to the carriers. With only eight aircraft remaining in the attack wave, it had effectively halted the attack with the surviving aircraft ordered to return to the carriers as a new wave was prepared.

----------

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

The 1st MEB was taking a beating, especially its first battalion which had lost a great number of its vehicles, and was having a hard time trying to stop the enemy soldiers from advancing. The Centaur mortar vehicles belonging to the 2nd MEB moved into a firing position and starting lobbing the heavy 120mm shells against the Red Tide positions. The three battalions of the second brigade took up firing positions along the berme to allow the 1st MEB to begin withdrawing their wounded personnel as low-flying MH-53J helicopters landed on the beach to evacuate the wounded to the assault ships offshore. Sergeant Gregor was helping another Marine load a wounded lance corporal on a litter onto an MH-53J before rallying the remaining members of his platoon to return to the line. The 2nd Brigade's newly-arrived counterbattery radar units were quick to link into the network and helped to guide the fire support provided by both brigade's artillery battalions. The 155mm guns began firing against targets inland, but they were not firing standard HE shells but cluster munitions filled with mines that would scatter and cover the ground with both anti-personnel fragmentation mines and anti-tank implosion warheads which were meant to knock out tracks and punch holes in the bottom of armoured hulls.

----------

Air Combat Zone "Red-One"

As the fighters closed within range, they opened fire with AIM-120C missiles, the F-1Ns fired ten weapons each (2,000 Total) along with the F-2N fighters which each launched eight of the AIM-120C weapons (800 Total) against the enemy targets. Having launched their medium-range, the pilots realized that they had now entered range to be engaged by the MiGs, but pressed on towards their targets.

The ready room was filled with officers and covered with maps. Arcane symbols and arrows cluttered the maps, instantly intelligible to the officers there but to a civilian it was impossible to tell either a meaning or a difference from Egyptian hieroglyphs. At the head of the center table, a lanky man with starbursts decorating his shoulders, General Haymond, stood up.

"Thank you all for coming gentleman. The purpose of this briefing is to discuss Operation Running Surge. As you know, since landing, our forces have stayed within a relatively small area, to aid concentration of force and air support against a possible Red Tidean counterattack. It is obvious to note that there as been no such counterattack. Therefore, we are going to launch a breakout operation, to hookup with Coalition landings to the south. Colonel Williams, if you would?" finished the general, motioning to his chief of staff.

"Yes sir," replied Williams, standing up and grabbing a pointer. "Intelligence believes that the lack of Red Tidean response is due either to a lack of available resources or to a lack of intelligence. In other words, they either don't have the ability to combat us or are not aware of our presence. This should allow us to blitz them." Smacking the tip of the pointer against a map, he continued, "This is 'Red Beach', six hundred miles to our south. Aequatian forces have landed here and are currently being opposed by heavy Red Tidean forces. It is our final objective. The Third, Seventh, and Eight Armored Divisions are to spearhead the drive, with the airborne brigades providing flank security for the assault. The Fifth Mechanized Division is to provide rear area security for the landing zone while the Twelfth Mechanized Infantry Division acts as a mobile reserve force. Do this right, and we should plow straight into the enemy's rear. Air support will be carrier based. Time from launch off until engagement with forces opposing Aequatio's landing is expected to be no more than thirty hours. Are there any questions?"

There were of course no questions, the briefing was pro forma, and all the division and brigade commanders had already received plans for the attack, and made their own plans in accordance.

"Very well, we begin operations in four hours."

130,000 Feet

The EB-180 was 20 km from the coast and approaching fast. The pilot was adding speed to the vehicle, taking it from mach 3 to mach 3.8.

And the speed was increasing. In less than a minute, they would be passing over the Aequatian beachhead on its path to the mainland, and the Strategic Command bunker.

It would not be long now.

The EB-180 continued to shoot towards the coastline. Now they were within 16 kilometers of the Aequatian beachhead. The Laser Radar continued to pick up the action on the battlefield as it happened.

Originally Posted by Aequatio

RNS Marcus Pendleton

Commander Wayne Leander, the chief gunnery officer of the massive battleship, had received word that the enemy positions had become too close to the Marines ashore so he decided to turn the ship's guns against targets off the coast, mainly the Corporate Fleet which had been shelling the coalition beachheads. The ship maneuvered into position and the 755mm guns loaded their armour-peircing shells as the radar operators isloated the two largest signatures in the enemy fleet, their Leviathon Superdreadnaughts. The twenty guns split their firing with ten guns per target, as before, the entire fleet shook as the vessel fired. Its secondary armament of 203mm and 127mm guns opened fire on lighter targets such as cruisers and destroyers along with the 127mm guns of the fleet's cruisers and destroyers.

Each of the Ocean II missile submarines opened fire with another salvo of two hundred BGM-172 armed with 450kg High-Explosive warheads, sending another 800 weapons ashore, this time targetted for the Red Tidean artillery units and the soft-skinned support elements behind their main lines. The Avenger attack boats prepared their own Pike cruise missiles, these ones armed for anti-shipping with armour-peircing warheads packed with 225kg of High-Explosive, and each submarine fired 120 (1,680 Total) of the weapons against targets within the Leafanistani Corporate Fleet. After the missiles penetrated the surface of the water and started their course towards the enemy vessels, six of the Avenger-class boats moved off the perimeter and made a heading for the same fleet, armed with their heavy 810mm torpedoes and tube-launched BGM-172 Pike Anti-Shipping Missiles.

NOTE: The bombardment is continuing it will end very quickly however. There was but one Superdreadnaught salvo, and 7 more Dreadnaught salvos an several cruiser's worth of remaining missiles which is ~250 more missiles, in the cluster munition kind.

The firing would have exhausted the fleet's missile supplies because VLS arrays are unreloadable except at dock or the most peaceful of seas. And this wasn't peaceful. The missiles and shells flew toward their target, flying past other ships, many missed due to the extreme speed the ships were all moving at and their manuvuers to dodge nearly point blank shots by Czardas fleet ships. In fact, a few shells or missiles may just impact friendly targets. The Corporate Fleet was already devastated, many of the crew had already hit the water with pilots who had bailed out and Czardas crew members.

On board a large group of rafts tied together, some Corporate Sailors were playing cards with Czardas sailors and yelling at the planes who flew too low to the water and were threatening to disturb their game of Poker.

A very peaceful scene, compared with the fact that the Superdreadnaughts were about to be absolutely devastated.

The kill-shot delivered by the ships were expected and the Superdreadnaughts did their best to destroy the missiles and the shells with the help of some of the aircraft complement. Their anti-torpedo measures had been nearly exhausted but still active. The other cruisers couldn't take it and were badly damaged.

By now casualties were mounting heavily and most of the ships in the Corporate Fleet had been heavily damaged or sunk.

1 x Admiral Class (Defensive only)
2 x Dolphin Class (Abandoned and listing slightly)
7 x Stingrays light damage
4 x Stingrays, listing badly, defending, being abandoned
2 x Search classes light damage
1 x Pathfinders medium damage
1 x Orca, badly damaged, only defensive, being abandoned
2 x Cheiftains, medium damage
2 x Leviathons, heavy damage, both listing badly

The Corporation decided that to avoid even more casualaties that they had exhausted their contract. They had no more land bombardment facilities and they had done their job. Now they pulled together the remains of the fleet into a defensive formation and broadcast this message.

Open message to coalition fleet

This is Corporate Vice Admiral Alexander Benedict, the corporation has given us orders that we have completed our contract and to discontinue firing and to retreat from this theatre. At the moment 3 hospital ships which are waiting 200 km are coming in and are going to initiate rescue operations.

We hope for a civilized end to hostilities and that we thank you if you are to let us pick up those who are still alive and bring them back to the Corporation. This is a surrender, we have fulfilled our contract and are now retreating via our hospital ships. Thank you.

[END]

The Corporate fleet switched entirely to defensive operations and began to move away from the Czardas fleet, out of the melee toward incoming hospital ships.

The Leafanistani fleet was now moving in to intercept the Corporate Fleet and had no doubt recieved this message.

Leafanistani Interception Fleet

2 x Argentine-class Galleons
1 x Indestructable-class Carriers
5 x Illium-class Destroyers
3 x Paramount-class Cruisers
5 x Cartagena class Submarines

Non-encrypted Message to Corporate Fleet

This is the Leafanistani Interception Fleet, we have come to collect the debt you owe us after you kept the money from our contract. Surrender your ships to us and we'll give you a safe trip home.

[END]

OOC: The Corporation had decided that they have fulfilled the terms of their contract and are pulling out, the Revolutionary Government of Leafanistan is pissed off about the contract.

The Laser Radar continued to pick up the action on the battlefield as it happened.

OOC: Ok this really bothers me but while the term Laser Radar is sometimes used, it is more properly LADAR, or LASER Detection and Ranging. Laser Radar implies Radio waves which are much too long for this type of stuff and military LADAR or LIDAR uses infrared - ultraviolet as Radio is too vunerable to not detecting certain features. Also LADAR is very vunerable to being scattered by aerosols, like clouds something the atmosphere is full of and smoke, something the battlefield is full of.

IC:

The Corporate Fleet got the Leafanistani Fleet message and shuddered. They sent the message back to the Corporation with the Leafanistani orders and kept speeding toward the Leafanistani fleet, ready to engage if they have to.

RNS Venture

Commander Tobias Ciprian had his boat running quiet, he was the boat in Submarine Task Force 11 as it closed distance with the Corporate Fleet. They had received word of the broadcast which only made command frustrated, "An enemy that arrives, shells your Marines then bugs out when you bloody their nose?" Thought Tobias as he walked over to one of the command consoles, "Combat, bridge, how's out load out looking?"

An answer came back, a young lieutenant, "Bridge, combat, we have four fish ready to go, two 540mm mark sixties and two heavies, 810mm mark seventies."

"Affirmative, prepare for launch once we get in range," Ordered the commander as he turned to his helms officer, "Bring us to full speed, I want us in range to knock out a few more of those vessels, see if we can't bring down those superdreads a little more."

The black hunter changed course as it turned to intercept the fleeing Corporate Fleet.

Fleeing the Melee

The Corporate Fleet's lurch was no match for full speed Leafanistani ships. Soon the Galleons surrounded the remaining ships and the support ships moved in around them.

The Leafanistani fleet sent a message:

"Abandon Ship, these ships are now the property of the Leafanistani Government"

Reply from Corporate Fleet:

"This is Corporate Fleet Vice Admiral Benedict, this is a clear violation of contract to take possesion of Corporate ships."

Reply from Leafanistani Fleet:

"You broke the contract first by siding with Red Tide."

The Corporate Fleet ships were in no condition to protect themselves. They dutifully complied. Helicopters from the Leafanistani Fleet began to evacuate those still alive, starting with the most injured.

This was when the Aequatian submarine came into view of the Leafanistani Fleet's scopes.

"Sir, we've got a sub movin' in, what do you make of it."

"The Corporation probably wants to make sure we don't get those ships, it'll probably try to sink them. Hail them, if they don't respond, tell those Corporate scum to back off and fire a few warning shots from the 6 in guns."

"Yes, Sir"

Message to Unknown Submarine

These vessels are now the property of the Leafanistani government, if you are Corporate, please surface and get off our ship, if you are not, back off and don't damage our ships.

[END]

The 6 in guns leveled on where it was approaching. The Fleet was on active sonar.

OOC: Party was great. Got a new graphics card and memory card. Most of my games run like a dream now.

Wilhelmsborough: The following post is made on the assumption that your plane is flying above 100,000 feet.

IC:The Wilhelmsborough Bomber had not escaped notice. It had been detected a long time ago by the Over-the-Horizon RADAR, now it was time to down it.

Twelve MDM-5A Super-High Altitude SAMs erupted from their launchers. Running on inertial guidance, their solid fuel boosters moved them to within 30 kilometers of the aircraft and above 95,000 feet, at which point the boosters fell away and the second stage SCRAMjet engine activated, rocketing the missile towards the aircraft at Mach-7. There were missiles approaching from everywhere but behind, and given that the active guidance RADAR didnt turn on until the SCRAMjets activated, the bomber would have extremely little time to avoid.

OOC2: Will be back to finish up.

OOC: Yell at me if I missed anything.

Skyian Beachhead, Frontlines, 1st Marine Corp, ~18km inland

The enemy kep coming and coming, but the Skyian Troops held their line. Fighting valiantly, many men continued to fire their weapons even as the tanks and vehicles they were in were hit and disabled. Some enemys came within 300m of the line before being destroyed, but the line did not budge.

"Enemy tanks left! Gunner load sabot! Target the one with the command flag!" Yelled Tank Commander Jason, even through the dense armor of the tank and his sound reducing headset he could still hear the battle raging outside, dozens of tanks on either side were being destroyed as cannon after cannon thumped away at each other.

The Gunner selected the ammo and the weapon loaded one of the deadly Depleted Uranium penetrators from the autoloader. "Fire!" yelled Jason as the gunner pulled the trigger. "Sabot away!" Yelled the gunner as the tank shuddered from the firing of the weapon, merely two seconds later the enemy tank erupted into flames.

The scene was repeated throughout the front as the eighty-six ton mechanical warriors blasted away at the enemy forces. Nearly 450 or so M160A1 Main battle tanks now lay destroyed at the front, a nearly 15% of the forces, nearly two entire armored brigades destroyed, casualties for the M89s were similar if not more.

Then the word came, the 2nd Marine Corps armored components finished land fall and were heading to the front. The line troops went wild with joy, they renewed their attack with refound vigor, tanks began to move forward, first just a group here or there, but then the whole line was yelling. "Attack! Get those Red Tidean Motherf*ckers!" Became the battle call of choice as the troops rallied and pushed forward. The Tankers of the 2nd Corp picked up on their radio broadcast and gunned their engines, they reached the front in no time and filled in the weakened spots as the line moved forward.

But the rallying was not limited to the ground pounders, the tube launchers were relieved, after taking dozens of casualties they were finally not being fired on, they loaded their weapons once more and the 155mm guns fired off a 5 round burst of TIR.33.155 Trajectory Correctable Munitions, guided using GPS and MMW Radar in the terminal stage they were the most accurate munition in the Skyian Arsenal. All of the remaining 520 Corbulo Self-Propelled Field Guns fired 2600 rounds, half of them solid HEAT shells targeted at the enemy Medusas and tanks as well as any supply depots within range, the other 1300 shells were equipped with submunitions, a total of 72 Anti-Armor submunitions for each for a grand total of 93,600 submunitions raining on the enemy forces along the front lines. The 300 203mm guns also joined in, firing 5 shells each, they were equipped with 144 anti-armor submunitions, a total of 1,500 shells and 216,000 submunitions would target the enemy forces once more.

The 450 'Ballista' MLRS vehicles fired their salvo before heading off the reload, the 5400 rockets roared down range, they were GPS and MMW Radar guided and equipped with large HEAT warheads, the targets were again the main battle tanks and heavy battle tanks the enemy had in the front and rear lines.

The navy noticed this fun and just couldn't let the army have all the entertainment. The ships in the fleet fired again, but this time the amount of shells doubled as the 2nd Naval Armada was no longer tied up with the Corporate Fleet, a grand total of 168 675mm shells, 640 610mm shells, 864 381mm shells, and 864 305mm shells rained upon the enemy positions, the 381mm shells and down where using HEAT warheads while the large shells used Fuel-Air-Explosives for wide area devestation, they were all GPS and MMW Radar Guided and aimed again at the front and rear lines.

Nearly 400 new and reloaded SAH-27 Helicopters had come within range of their GWS.80B Ostrich heavy anti-tank guided missiles, firing from 11km out they were targeting the enemy Tunguskas again, but this time with active radar, a total of 1,600 of these missiles rained down on the enemy AA vehicles.

At nearly 40,000ft above and 24km out 384 FB-177As soared above the raging battle, not armed with fancy radar guided missiles but with good ol'e GPS guided smart bombs, they carried 93 GWS.47 Robin small diameter bombs, at 115kg (254lbs) these bombs were light, but accurate and very deadly to lumbering tanks. As they reached their drop point the planes dropped the entirety of their loads on the enemy tanks hoping to wipe large swaths of enemy forces off the map. Nearly 35,712 fell on the enemy formation.

The fighter bomber crews started to sing off-key, "It's Raining Bombs! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Bombs! Amen!"

RNS Punisher

Lieutenant Commander Shepherd examined the burning flotsam in the water as they made their way towards the Aralonian vessels that were still on the water. The two gunboats ran the perimeter between the minesweepers and the mainland as the Penetrator broke formation and began tracking the underwater weapon systems using its variable depth sonar. Shepherd ordered that the vessel be brought over to the collection of ship's motorboats and the ship moved over to one of the small boats, the officer walked out onto the deck, "Greetings gentlemen, I am Lieutenant Commander David Shepherd of the Republic Navy Ship Punisher Mine Countermeasures ship, how can we be of assistance?" He had finished speaking when he was interupted by a large explosion in the water, one of Penetrator's unmanned submersibles had planeted a 1,200kg explosive on a platform and successfully detonated it, eliminated one of the torpedo platforms.

[AMDF BRYANT, DDG-65 MODIFIED ARLEIGH-BURKE DESTROYER]

"This Captain Daniel Hawking of the AMDF vessel Harbi-" He stopped for a moment. "Sorry about that. This is Captain Daniel Hawking of the Aralonian Marine Defence Forces. My vessel was hit by an underwater torpedo platform, as was most of the fleet. We weren't expecting deep-water mines, really - these things came as a surprise to us. Can you-" He stopped for a moment again, swallowed the lump in his throat, and cleared his throat again. "AHEM. Oh, sorry about that. Megaphone was still on. Can you scour the area? For bodies and survivors as well?"

Message to Unknown Submarine

These vessels are now the property of the Leafanistani government, if you are Corporate, please surface and get off our ship, if you are not, back off and don't damage our ships.

[END]

OOC: The sub was running silent, so I'm going to assume you went active with your sonar.

IC:

RNS Venture

"I've got pings, about a dozen or so and they're tracking us," Shouted the active sonar officer as he sat at his console in CIC.

Ciprian paused to think, "Shit, I shouldn't have come in so shallow," He thought to himself as he turned to his XO, "We dive under to the colder water, we disappear from their active sonar, force them to deploy other assets to hunt us."

"I don't know, Sir, if they're as good as we are, they'll get us in twenty minutes," Replied the lieutenant commander.

The communications officer interupted them, "Cap'n, message coming in from the Leafanistanis, the Corporate Fleet surrendered to them, they want us to leave."

The commander shook his head, "I don't think so, clear the ballast and surface, I'd like to have a word with these Leafanistani bastards."

The electric pumps began emptying the large tanks filled with seawater as the attack submarine rose towards the surface before it broke through and settled on the surface. As soon as they reached the surface, they sent a message to the Leafanistani fleet:

To Leafanistani Fleet

This is Commander Tobias Ciprian of the Aequatian Republic Navy Ship Venture, those of the enemy fleet are responsible for the death of Aequatian personnel and the destruction of Republic property, they are to be surrendered to us for trial and punishment. If possible, I would like to meet with the commanding officer of your task force.

----------

RNS Punisher

Shepherd stood on deck, his coffee mug in hand as he spoke, "The Penetrator is currently neutralizing the uderwater platforms and mines and this ship will soon join them, the two gunboats will be able to aid in the collection of survivors and casualties from the water." There was an even larger detonation as another platform was eliminated by the other countermeasures ship, Shepherd smiled as he took a drink from his mug and realized he was finally going to be doing his job.

~snip~

Response from Leafanistani Fleet

If I am to have my way I'd have the bastard Vice Admiral Benedict and all his senior officers shot on the spot. However, as per my orders I am to take them back to Leafanistan for a show trial then imprisoned for the rest of their lives in a cold, brutal Leafanistani work camp.

However, if you wish to discuss it, I will allow you aboard my command ship GCS Experienced Hunter for a conference. I'll inform my crew to clean up the conference room and prepare tea and biscuits.

Rear Admiral Jessica Lerner

[END]

The Galleon which the message came from cleared its flight deck and a transport helicopter took off toward the surfacing submarine.

RNS Venture

Commander Ciprian stood on the mast of the submarine when a young petty officer climbed up with the response from the Leafanistanis, the message quickly changed hands and was read over. Tobias nodded, "Fine, I'll meet with them, but how am I to board a helicopter from this boat? They should have sent one of their motor launches." The boat's XO shook his head and merely laughed as he sighted the Leafanistani helicopter in the distance.

The Mi-171 helicopter was outfitted for VIP transport and pulled alongside the submarine, it began to hover and turned its side to the officiers standing on the deck. It then landed on the top, and extended a tiny stairwell to let people board. The helicopter was still flying technically but on the submarine nonetheless. A man wearing a fine suit leaned out and gestured for the XO to get inside.

Meanwhile on the GCS Experienced Hunter the conference room was cleared of its various maps, manuals on other ships and radio equipment and was made clean. A large tablecloth was brought over, it was an expensive Halberdgardian import, stain resistant and beautifully decorated with gold fibers. Fine china was brought out and several packs of freeze-dried teabags were brought out, Black Tea, Green Tea, Orange and Black blend, and Earl Grey. Freeze-dried lemon juice was reconstituted along with evaporated milk and raw sugar packs were brought out. Dry buscuits were put down on the table while bodyguards donned their ceremonial grey suits with ZMG-65 personal defense weapons to prepare for their guest.

The lights were dimmed slightly and the crew hurridely prepared a dossier on the contract that originally told the Corporate Fleet to support operations along with a dossier on their orders. In about 15 minutes what used to be a sprawling mess of maps and radios became a table fit for a living God, though with a bit of military necessisty on it, the freeze-dried foods were a testament to that.

Vice Admiral Jessica Lerner sat at the end of it, on a rather nice Halberdgardian built chair with stain-resistance and good embroidery. She thought about how useless these fineries would be in wartime, but command regulated that the command ship carry these, in case of formal visits and surrenders. She sipped some of the blended tea, remembering how much she hated evaporated milk. She waited, flipping through the dossier in her dress uniform wondering when the officier(s) would arrive.

RNS Venture

The XO was helped up onto the aircraft along with an intelligence officer before it lifted off towards the Leafanistani vessel.

OOC: For time's sake, just post the landing and travelling to the meeting with your admiral.

RNS Venture

The XO was helped up onto the aircraft along with an intelligence officer before it lifted off towards the Leafanistani vessel.

OOC: For time's sake, just post the landing and travelling to the meeting with your admiral.

The men landed on the deck of the Galleon and soon they were being led inside by more men in gray suits, Leafanistani Military Police dressed in their Diplomatic uniform. They were lead into the well dressed room, with the Rear Admiral in her full dress uniform sipping a cup of tea.

"Welcome gentlemen to my ship, the Experienced Hunter which is an odd name considering this is a relatively new ship. Sorry about the opulance, protocol dictates we be as welcoming as possible and provide for you as much of the necessities of diplomacy as possible. I'm sure you have many questions and the dossier on the table where you'll be sitting will answer many of them, if you wish to get a full meal or just anything else, ask one of the Gray suits and they'll provide."

Rear Admiral Lerner then went over to one of her intelligence officiers picked up a dossier on the Aequatio fleet and sat down. The Gray suits shut the door to the room and there was only 1 Gray suit in the room.

OOC: Your move.

OOC: Party was great. Got a new graphics card and memory card. Most of my games run like a dream now.

Wilhelmsborough: The following post is made on the assumption that your plane is flying above 100,000 feet.

IC:The Wilhelmsborough Bomber had not escaped notice. It had been detected a long time ago by the Over-the-Horizon RADAR, now it was time to down it.

Twelve MDM-5A Super-High Altitude SAMs erupted from their launchers. Running on inertial guidance, their solid fuel boosters moved them to within 30 kilometers of the aircraft and above 95,000 feet, at which point the boosters fell away and the second stage SCRAMjet engine activated, rocketing the missile towards the aircraft at Mach-7. There were missiles approaching from everywhere but behind, and given that the active guidance RADAR didnt turn on until the SCRAMjets activated, the bomber would have extremely little time to avoid.

OOC2: Will be back to finish up.

The pilot of the EB-180 had already seen the the twelve SAMs rising from the surface, and he knew that they were looking for him. But he didn't panic. For the EB-180 was equipped with a highly advanced “Scatter Plot” Radar Detection Avoidance System (RDAS). Whatever radar emissions that Red Tide had used against the Stargazer were being thrown 180 degrees away from their origin. Those SAMs were looking in the wrong place.

Still, thought the pilot, it was better safe than sorry. He switched on all the missiles, bombs, and countermeasures. Then, he angled the aircraft upwards and cranked the speed to mach 6. He decided to take the aircraft to 170,000 feet this time. All the while he looked for the largest concentrations of these SAMs. If there was a chance that push would come to shove, he knew that it would be be best to take out larger numbers with a highly explosive missile.

OOC: Wilhelmsborough, you're halfway to the astronaut club! :P

IC:

[ABOARD AMDF BRYANT, NEAR RNS VENTURE]

Hawking raised the megaphone again. "If you find anyone with shoulderboards with two bars and three diamonds or three bars and one star, we request that you send the body directly towards this vessel for expedited delivery to Aralonia." He sighed and said to himself. "Dammit, Elson. Where the hell are you?"

OOC again:

If you can find a body with three bars and one star in the next post, that'd be splendid.

RNS Punisher

Petty Officer Kari Vladimir was on aft watch for survivors and casualties and kept watch on the surface with the binoculars, she had not thought much of the detail until she spotted a grouping of bodies within the flotsam, a few with what looked to be officer uniforms, she contacted one of the rigid-hull motorboats already in the water collecting the dead with her radio, "Lieutenant, this is aft watch, I see casualties in the water, off the port stern, possible officer types."

"Affirmative, aft watch, on course now to check it out," Came the reply as the black motorboat sped off towards the wreckage, once it arrived, the lieutenant along with two seamen used a polearm to pull the bodies in close and it was then that they noticed that one of the bodies had the uniform the Aralonians were looking for, although it was difficult as only one shoulder and arm remained, they were able to identify the three bars accompanied by a single star that sat on the untouched shoulder, "Aft watch, this is Alpha Launch, have found Priority Target Bravo, continuing retrieval."

"Aye, Sir, Aft Watch out," The petty officer replied as she turned to the chief standing behind her, "Inform Lieutenant-Commander Shepherd that we've found one of their targets." The chief nodded as he walked off towards the bridge and delivered the message before it was transmitted to the Aralonians.

To Captain Daniel Hawking, Aralonian Fleet

One of our search teams has come across the body of a uniformed officer with the rank of three bars and a single star on its shoulderboards. Search operations continue.

----------

Experienced Hunter

Lieutenant-Commander David Hans and the intelligence officer both took a seat at the table before the sub's XO spoke, "It's nice to come face-to-face with other allied members in this operation, if it was not for that message, we might have been still fighting," He said before shaking his head at the offer of a meal, "No thank you, I'm afraid we don't have time for such things at the moment, I am just here to discuss the future of the previous owners of the fleet you have captured."

OOC: Oh snap I put the wrong ship name on my last post. I'll edit that later.

[ABOARD AMDF BRYANT, NEAR RNS PUNISHER]

Captain Hawking sat on the deck on the side of the ship that faced the Punisher. He took a sip from his coffee. "Dammit, I hope he's okay."

"Captain Hawking!" The ensign that had bothered him earlier - now sopping wet and covered in soot - limped towards the Captain.

"What happened?" The Captain stood up, and almost instantly collapsed again. "Damn leg!"

"You should get that checked out, sir." The ensign handed Hawking a message. "This is for you."

"Thanks for that." Hawking limped towards a medical station as he opened the letter.

To Captain Daniel Hawking, Aralonian Fleet

One of our search teams has come across the body of a uniformed officer with the rank of three bars and a single star on its shoulderboards. Search operations continue.

"Oh, shit. Oh, shit oh shit oh shit." Hawking nearly fainted again, but collapsed on his injured leg anyways. "Dammit! Medic!" He smirked slightly. "Never thought I'd have to say that. Norien always teased me about t-" But the feeling of a loss of his best friend, a good commander, hit him again, and he collapsed.

[THE OCTAGON, NEW SARIS, ARALONIA]

"Hail, Archon!"

"Yes, what is it?" The Archon was overseeing the design of a battleship variant.

"Sir. As you are aware, the Aralonian fleet was attacked by some sort of underwater-launched torpedo. Many ships were sunk, including the fleet flag Arbiter. The ship's CO, Commodore Norien Elson, went missing after the destruction of his ship. Commodore Norien Elson's body has been found in the waters near the ship."

"I see. Thank you for the information." Archon Hopkins sighed. "He was a good commander. I want this next ship designated in his name." The Archon pointed directly at the LCD, displaying the blueprints in front of him. "BB-03 Norien Elson. Understood?"

RNS Punisher

The small ship moved alongside the Aralonian vessel, AMDF Bryant, a collection of nearly two dozen corpses, along with that of Commodore Norien Elson, were wrapped in white as the crew prepared to transfer them over to the Aralonian personnel aboard their ship. Shepherd monitored the detail, no matter who it was for, it was always a grim affair. In the distance, the Penetrator had detonated another underwater platform, for its actions, the crew and vessel were sure to receive an award for their success.

OOC: :runs in: :trips: AAGH! :gets back up: Sorry for being late!(that was one damn good game)

IC: Much to the Wilhelmsborough pilots chagrine, the missiles did not divert away from him, instead, they easily matched his climb and continued true and true. The MDM-5A was a self-guided missile that utilised LADAR, which was next to impossible to jam, confuse, or otherwise get rid of. By the time the pilot would realize that, however, the missiles and the plane would have collided.

Aquatian Landing Zone, Aquatian Designation: 'Red Beach', Red Tidean Designation: 'Intrusion Site Beta'

The Aquatian mines slowed down the Red Tidean reinforcements, but not by much, as no sooner had the first tread been blown off, then did mineclearing vehicles get called up. Red Tidean artillery, despite losses, continued to hammer the beaches relentlessely, the MDM-3s made a return, volley firing their rockets into Aquatian lines with the same effects as before and then scurrying off.

At the front itself, more tanks and armored personnel carriers exploded, as did more SPAAGs. More lines of infantry were cut down only to be replaced by more, and finally the Red Tidean infantry reached the Aquatian trenches, ruthlessely clubbing any Aquatian Armies over the head with their rifles, some even hurling themselves at the aquatian hoping to rip their jugular out with their teeth.

On the Silver Sky Front, the same thing was happening, here, however, the Red Tidean troops were suffering even heavier casualties then the Aquatian troops, due to the initial 'Super-Nova' Bombs.

GCS Experienced Hunter

Lieutenant-Commander David Hans and the intelligence officer both took a seat at the table before the sub's XO spoke, "It's nice to come face-to-face with other allied members in this operation, if it was not for that message, we might have been still fighting," He said before shaking his head at the offer of a meal, "No thank you, I'm afraid we don't have time for such things at the moment, I am just here to discuss the future of the previous owners of the fleet you have captured."

GCS Experienced Hunter, Corporate Fleet Conference

"The Corporate Fleet...mercenary bastards..."

Rear Admiral Lerner laughed a bit.

"A few months ago, a group of corporate mercenaries from Strategic Solutions Inc. hired by the Reformists reached the town where my parents lived with my brother and two younger sisters. My brother was 18, of conscription age and was home for his 2 weeks hometime before he left for the frontlines. My sister was 16 and was going to begin training. My youngest sister was 8 and was in grammar school. The mercenaries being better equipped than the poorly armed conscripts easily took control and went from house to house, pulling people into the street for execution or just humiliation."

"My father shot the men trying to pull my mother out for rape in their headquarters. My father and mother were immediately shot and killed by machine gun fire. My younger sister and brother hid in the house while my other sister ran to the neighboring village to gather reinforcements."

"When they returned my entire family beside my younger sister who ran for help was dead. My mother's body was raped, my sister was impaled upon a broomstick and the Republican Guard troops caught the mercenaries in the house drunk, playing with my brother's corpse. They were all shot, every single one, by my sister who took it upon herself to exact revenge."

"If it was up to me, I'd have that Corporate Vice Admiral brought in front of you and shot, along with every member of his staff, every senior officier and the rest will be returned to their ships and sunk with them."

"However, FleetCOM under personal instruction of Fleet Admiral and Acting Prime Minister Sandra O'Toole has ordered me to capture the remaining ships and return them to ports in Leafanistan. It took them half an hour and they threatened to demote me because I wanted to kill every single one of them and get our money back that way. They would have picked somebody with a little less history with 'Strategic Solutions' but they are all tied up in the territories fighting."

The Admiral was brought a bottle of whisky and downed a shot, a gray suit brought it over to the foreign officiers.

The Rear Admiral sighed and said:

"Technically they gave no instruction on what to do with the senior officiers with the exception of Vice Admiral Benedict for he is to be brought back to the mainland for trial and imprisonment in a cold, cold, cold hole in a brutal work camp."

"If you want, I can give you the surviving senior officiers on each individual ship."

OOC since I don't feel like looking for the thread I've yet to tag: Aequatio, do you mind if I provide long-range naval gunfire support (can't hit his frontlines due to inaccuracy at range, but should be able to hit behind it) with a mix of CW and conventional?

IC: Much to the Wilhelmsborough pilots chagrine, the missiles did not divert away from him, instead, they easily matched his climb and continued true and true. The MDM-5A was a self-guided missile that utilised LADAR, which was next to impossible to jam, confuse, or otherwise get rid of. By the time the pilot would realize that, however, the missiles and the plane would have collided.



Wait a minute, what the hell? Red Tide, meet me in the OOC thread.

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

The submunitions took their toll on the Marines again as many of the lighter vehicles were knocked out, "Where is the damned counterbattery fire?" Sergeant Gregor cursed as he moved with his platoon towards the berme to plug a hole in the line created when a group of Tidean soldiers smashed through. Many of the units held their ground, using their training in hand-to-hand combat which taught them to quickly dispatch their opponents and move to the next target. Many fought their their M2 carbines fitted with bayonets while others used a myriad of close combat weapons such as brass knuckles or even their rifle.

His command vehicle having survived the enemy barrage, Lieutenant-Colonel Hertz monitored the screen in front of him, displaying his available forces before having a look at the enemy assets, "Too close to hit the bastards that came in close, but I can stop the reinforcements," He thought to himself before he turned to the Navy Forward Air Controller and the organized their efforts.

Lieutenant Patricks brought his AH-16 gunship in low along with the other helicopters as they trained their weapons on the advancing infantry, they fired their 70mm rockets at the tops of the vehicles as they swept the groups of infantry with their wing-mounted miniguns and nose-mounted 35mm autocannons. He smiled as he sat in the black smoke created from the several hundred burning vehicles below, knowing that the mostly LIDAR and infrared guidance systems used by the Tidean air defences would be greatly obscured.

The first elements of the second brigade approached the berme that marked the Marines' advance against the Red Tideans. Lieutenant Kennedy lowered himself back inside the turret of his M1 tank and the vehicle vibrated as the main gun fired one of the 140mm high-explosive, dual-purpose against one of the armoured carriers while its 12.7mm coaxial machinegun raked a group of enemy infantry. The other lead vehicles of the brigade opened fire against the enemy elements that were not entangled with fellow Marines.

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RNS Europa

As soon as the requests came in, the carriers in the fleet began organizing their EF-1B Erebus, although the Europa and Athena could only muster about a dozen aircraft each which had survived the onslaught of Red Tidean surface-to-air missiles, the newly-arrived Phemius, Telemachus, Artemis and Demeter still had their full compliments of the aircraft and put them into the air. In total, 184 EF-1B aircraft were moving in low over the water and were armed for a dangerous mission, the lead aircraft jammed the Tidean radar systems with their onboard systems, they were barrage jamming so to avoid detection if they chose to randomize their frequencies, to avoid detection by LIDAR, many of the pilots had covered most of their aircraft with black tar and paint so that the beams would be absorbed and drastically reduce their cross section against the detection systems. Those that followed behind the jamming shield each carried six CBU-110 cluster weapons for SEAD along with eight Direct Attack Munitions armed with thermobaric warheads. The Erebus tactical fighters came in off the water and came over the lines through the black smoke that covered the beachhead, when they were engaged by enemy air defence vehicles, they dropped their cluster bombs on the SAM and SPAAG positions.

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GCS Experienced Hunter

Hans nodded as Lerner spoke, taking in the entire story before considering his offer as he spoke with the intelligence officer and turned to the Lerner, "Admiral, since they are going to be tried anyway, why not send a liason flag officer to the trials and see to it that justice is served against those guilty?"

GCS Experienced Hunter

Hans nodded as Lerner spoke, taking in the entire story before considering his offer as he spoke with the intelligence officer and turned to the Lerner, "Admiral, since they are going to be tried anyway, why not send a liason flag officer to the trials and see to it that justice is served against those guilty?"

GCS Experienced Hunter

Lerner thought a bit, "Justice is served? I'll be waiting there with a personal firing squad, itching to get some use out of the rifles. However, you do raise an interesting point, while the other senior officiers may not be as guilty as Vice Admiral Benedict, well..."

She waved her hand and the gray suit left, the rooms lights flickered a bit.

"There, this room is soundproof now, Vice Admiral Benedict is a corporate slimeball, but he is a well connected corporate slimeball. He'll probably walk home to his wife and kids safe and sound or maybe with a minor fine the corporation can pay. The rest of senior officiers are going home in the brig on a frigate, but if anything, I'll overlook a 'kidnapping' of the Vice Admiral."

Lerner pulled out a card, "This is his cell's ID, but we need a plan."

GCS Experienced Hunter

Commander Hans nodded, "I'm sure we can arrange something, having fire upon Aequatian military personnel during operations carries severe penalties back home in the Republic, he certainly wouldn't receive a fine or even have a chance to walk. At the very least, he would probably spend the remainder of his life in a prison camp in the jungles of Aequatius Secundus. As well, if we take him aboard the Venture, we could exfiltrate him from the theatre easily."

RNS Amazon

The first of the newly-arrived Marine OA-5A Wasp attack fighters landed on the deck, they would be taking the place that the F-2N Lucifer fighters had been holding for them in providing close air support to the soldiers ashore.

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Red Beach Landing Zone, Red Tide

The 2nd Division's first brigade elements, the 4th MEB, began landing from their assault ships offshore. Lance Corporal Allen Church, donned in his protective equipment and riding in the rear compartment of a Viking armoured carrier, was talking with his squadmates as the vehicle lurched up as it drove out of the water and onto the beach. They were heading straight to the berme to hold off the advance as soon as they assembled at the makeshift staging area, Private Victor Wolfe shook his head as the vehicle continued forward, "Fuck, Church, right into the grinder, huh?"

The Air Battle:

The number of MiGs was now down too 1,836 planes, now they entered into vicious dogfights, the MiGs were most likely less manueverable then the Aquatian fighters, but their weapons were the best. The QMAAM was the air variant of the QMSAM... actually it was the other way around. They both had the same characteristics. 8 kilometer lock-on range, 12 kilometer chase range, Infrared seekers, extermely fast and manueverable.

Aquatian Beachead, 'Intrusion Site Beta'

The Red Tidean vehicles continued to roll forward and manuever around their blown away comrades. The Red Tidean Infantry continued to fight ferociously, taking wounds that would have rendered unconscious anybody else and continuing to fight to their last breath.

Shells continued to blast the Aquatian beachead, huge plumes of dust rocketed into the air. The Aquatian helicopters gamble worked to a large part. The Infrared Sensors were blinded by the large fires, the LIDAR did better, but only to a limited extent. However, the Red Tidean 30mm autocannons had a optical sighting and the helicopters sitting in smoke gave away their positions by firing their guns and rockets, soon 30mm SmartFlaK shells were filling the sky again.

As the Aquatian Attack Aircraft lifted off, they were, once again, targetted by a multitude of MDM-6 SAMs, the detruction of the MDM-6 missile stocks were now made apparent, as there were fewer then 2,000 missiles heading for the Aquatian aircraft.

However, the Red Tideans had been quietly moving Surface-Surface Missile Launchers and Surface-Detection RADARs into a area 60 kilometers inland. They had also been quietly replacing their LADAR and RADAR antennaes for their MDM-4 SAMs, keeping them switched off until now.

All at once, the RADARs came alive, no sooner did they then did the Aquatian ships pick up numerous CM-3 Mach-3.5 Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles equipped with a 2,000 pound C12 warhead. About 13,000 were heading their way. MDM-4 sites also came back online and immediatly began to hunt for aircraft. They were pretty spread out and were coming in a way so to the missiles would arrive at the same time.

OOC: Going by calculations that me and Aequatio's beachheads are 25km wide, 20-16km deep and 30km apart. (Mine to the west, Aequatio's to the east

IC:
Skyian Beachhead

After a brief video conference between the Skyian and Aequatian Commanders it was decided that the Red Tidean reinforcements must be eliminated, at all cost, for they threatened the beachheads. Several Skyian Air Forces had been brought up for this attack. Also the Red Tidean long range RADAR had to be taken out. The Tidean ASMs also had to be intercepted

The attack was precedded by a two volleys of 8,000 RGM-502MR Starblast Missiles each. They were targeted at the enemy MDM-6 and MDM-4 RADAR arrays and launch vehicles. Not only were these missiles equipped with home-on-emmission sensors (passive RADAR/LADAR) but they were equipped with AESA L/NPI (Low/No Probability of Intercept) radars. They were lauched just a few seconds after the MDM-06/4s and their ASM cousins had fired off their missiles then the RGM-502MRs blasted from their VLS cells. GPS guided them to the 30km area around their targets where they then picked up the enemy on active radar, even if the enemy had shut off their RADARs they would still be tracked and attacked. Equipped with 130kg HE-FRAG or HEAT shells they would ripped the lightly armored Red Tidean SAM and SSM radars and launchers to pieces.

Five battalions of MIM-601M Starlance Medium Range and Missile Defence SAMs had managed to set themselves up on the beach. They had 640 Tele-Erector-Launchers. Their 'Spotlight' AESA N/LPI RADAR tracked the enemy missiles from launch. They fired off their 5,120 SAMs to intercept the enemy missiles with their AHEAD type warheads. The fleet also joined in and fired off another 5,120 RIM-501MR Starbolt Medium Range and Missile Defence SAMs. They collided with the enemy missiles causing them to explode and then taking out others, of course some SAMs were destroyed this way too. In the end about ~11,000 SSMs were destroyed. (OOC: I'll leave the exact number to Aequatio).

A minute or two after RGM-502's would hit the first wave in the main attack was to come from the airforces. Coming in at 65,000ft and Mach 1 were 384 B-300C 'Hurricane' Heavy Supersonic Strategic Bombers equipped with six GDB-001 'Super Nova's each. Just behind them were 768 FB-177As equipped with 93 GWS.47 Robin small diameter bombs. About 3 minutes behind them coming in at Mach 1.5 were 384 B-5 'Sonic' Supersonic Strategic Bombers equipped with 3 GDB-002 'Nova's each.

[Above The Skyian Fleets]

As the B-300Cs came in over both the Aequatian and Skyian Beachheads and the 30km area inbetween them. But they did not release their loads right on the frontline troops. The penetrated about 10km, and some up to 20km, inland from the beachheads before dropping their payloads. With a range of 24km the 2304 'Super Nova's saturated everything from 10km to 44km from the Skyian and Aequatian Beachheads would be obliverated by the ungodly destructive power of the 'Super Nova's and their 26,000lb GSX warheads(twice the power of TNT). Nearly 60 kilotons worth of TNT had been dropped all along the 138 by 44 kilometre area infront of the beacheads. They were guided by GPS on pre-planned points where their explosive affects could be used the fullest.

As the B-300C's released the first of their bombs the FB-117's came in at 20,000ft above the Red Tidean Troops, again over both beacheads. As they came over the rear of the trenches they released their 93 GSW.47 Robin bombs for a total of 71,424. They were GPS guided onto enemy vehicles within 12km of the beachhead, the area mostly left unscathed by the 'Super Nova's. Another 1.8 kilotons of bombs had fallen.

As the last of the bombs impacted then B-5 'Sonic's came in at over the already destroyed zones. They gunned it to Maxh 3 and headed for the rear of the enemy lines, around where the SAMs/SSMs were. As they reach the area about 44km inland from the front lines they released their GDB-002 'Nova's on the enemy's heads. These bombs contained 13,000lbs of GSX, or 26,000lbs of TNT. The bombers released their 1152 'Nova' bombs on the rear of the enemy. They were targeting enemy supply depots, SAMs, SSMs, and large troop formations.

It was truely hell in a handbasket for the Red Tidean Troops

[Skyian Beachead, Frontlines]

All while and before this had happened the 3rd Army Corp in it's entirety had managed to land on the beach. They had 3,000 M160A1s MBTs and 800 M89A1/A3 IFVs along with 1060 artillery pieces had assembled. A quick 1-2-3 punch was designed to link the Skyian and Aequatian Beachheads.

The arty had combined with the remaining 1st and 2nd Corp arty. There were 1350 Corbulo's left, with a like number of 'Ballista's and 900 'Broadswords' with their 203mm gun.

The Corbulo's launched a 5 round volley, again with the 72 submunitions. They fired close and at the frontlines to take out any enemy stragglers. A total of 6750 155mm shells with 486,000 submunitions hit any enemy from 50 to 100km of the beach head. The next attack came from the 'Ballista's. They fired off their 12 rocket salvo at the enemys from the frontline all the way to 50km inland. A total of 16200 250mm rockets with 4,665,600 submunitions flew down range at enemy remaining enemys.

As the last shell landed next came the shove.

All across the center and right side of the front, the 5,500 remaining M160A1 tanks of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps attacked at the same time, firing their 125mm guns at any remaining enemy while the 7,350 M89A1/A3 fired their 35mm or 76mm guns at enemy light vehicles. The raced out at 36km hoping that their Aequatian allies would meet them half way.

While this was happening the 3,000 M160A1's of the 3rd Army Corps attacked in waves, their objective was to charge across the 30km gap from the Skyian left flank to the Aequatian right flank. Off shore frigates and destroyers moved closer to shore and pounded at enemy positions near the Aequatian lines and the Skyian 3rd Corps positions. 768 155mm shells from the destroyers fell on any enemy within 45km of the beach while 576 125mm shells from the frigates hit anything within 25km of the shore.

While this was happening the cruisers of the fleets, with their 381mm guns took up long range bombardment, 864 381mm shells rained down from 45 to 80km inland. Targets even farther back were the targets of 168 675mm shells and 640 610mm shells, special attention was paided to troop formations and supply depots, and especially SAM/SSM batteries and enemy arty.

Meanwhile a second force of landing craft, carrying the 4th and 5th Army Corps neared the shore and prepared for landing. If the 3rd Corps was stopped or stall a back up plan which involved a second landing had been created and sent to the Aequatian commanders.

Overwhemling firepower was the name of the game. Red Tidean Division would be eradicated from existance just like that.

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

OOC: Bombers are still in the air, you can shoot at them. They are turnning back, but it's hard to turn a huge bomber. :p

The Coalition Efforts to destroy the Red Tidean SAM network was a failure. Every single missile that was launched with the intent of destroying a SAM was destroyed as Red Tidean SAMs now outnumbered the incoming missiles. The missiles were blasted away by an even greater number of Red Tidean SAMs. The incoming Skyian aircraft also found themselves targetted by enough SAMs to wipe out the American airforce a couple of times over.

Some of the 'SuperNova' Bombs never made it to their targets, the bombs were so huge that the Red Tideans simply targetted them optically as soon as they reached 15,000 feet and blasted them out of the sky with SmartFlaK. Those that did found themselves wiping out six Mechanized-Infantry and Armored Divisions and their attached brigades. However, there were still 17 Armored and Mechanized-Infantry Divisions still rolling onwards.

At the front, everything was wiped out as the GPS guided bomblets rained down, with the exception of the Infantry.

Then came an oddity, Aqutian and Skyian RADAR picked up a few H/K-1 Surface-Attack Aircraft coming at them... but soon a air wing of MiG-23s with a unknown IFF signature came onto the RADAR, heading straight for the H/K-1s. Pretty soon, the MiGs began to launch their medium range AAMs at the H/K-1s. The MiG-23s were then jumped by some Red Tidean MiG-29s that had appeared on the edge of the RADAR screens. It wasnt long before some Tyrandian made TSF-620A Air Superiority Fighters also with unknown IFF signatures appeared and got their own jump on the Red Tidean MiG-29s, then both the unknown MiGs and the TSFs turned and blasted the H/K-1s out of the sky. Then both the MiGs and the TSFs were blotted out by Red Tidean SAMs.

The coalition forces would never find out that those TSFs and MiGs were Tech-Com Corporation and Red Tide Mafia fighters, respectively, they would also never find out that the H/K-1 Surface-Attack Aircraft were carrying LRASMs armed with 5 kiliton nukes laced with cobalt.

Air Combat Zone "Red-One"

Although still heavily outnumbered by the Tidean MiGs, the F-1N and F-2N fighters were capable of engaging several targets at once, first with their AIM-132 short-range missiles, the aircraft fired a total of a thousand of the infrared-guided missiles as the Tidean weapons came bearing in on the Navy fighters. The QMAAM's properties were not unlike the AIM-154 exercises that the pilots had trained against, although the addition of an infrared-guidance system made them more difficult to avoid than the radar-guided Comet. Many of the fighters fell victim to the QMAAM weapons as burning fuselages fell towards the Earth below, followed by a large number of parachutes belonging to pilots that had ejected. Lieutenant Luke Carpenter had been piloting an F-1N moments before, it had been hit by an enemy missile which took off its starboard wing assembly, "Triple-redundancy means Jack-shit when you don't have a wing," He thought as his parachute slowed his plummet towards the ground. The aircraft did not close to cannon range as they broke their tight formations and turned on their jammers to a full power barrage before they started to make their way back towards the fleet.

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RNS Shikra

As the EF-1B aircraft lifted off the decks of the fleet carriers, the missile cruisers were expecting another attack that claimed so many of the Marine F-2N fighters earlier and their electronic eyes scanned the sky for enemy weapons. They were quick to detect the Tidean SAMs and ASMs as the cruisers throughout the fleet, which had now formed a screen between the other ships and the shoreline, switched their systems to automated as the computers came to life, they coldly processed the information received from vessel's own radar system along with the Clear Sight Multistatic Radar network that was maintained with the RQ-4 Global Hawks as they prioritized and selected targets in mere fractions of a second before they began launching their weapons. Anti-missile variants of the RIM-154 Sea Comet, nicknamed "Buckshot" by the weapons personnel due to their wide-area fragmentation warhead, which were designed to eliminate up to eight weapons per missile were launched from the vertical launchers mounted on the decks of the cruisers, nearly 3,600 missiles were fired from the twelve cruisers as they streaked across the sky towards the enemy missiles and exploded their proximity warheads once they were close enough to intercept the enemy weapons. Once the long-range Sea Comets were launched, the automation switched to point defence, activating the close-in weapon systems throughout the vessels of the fleet.

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RNS Black

As the fleet's lead destroyer, it had coordinated the systems of the fleet's ninteen other Judge destroyers and the four Erschoff escort destroyers and their respective missile systems. Their targets: the ASMs that were closing in on the fleet, they fired the same anti-missile variants of the RIM-154 weapon, this time launching a wall of 2,320 missiles against the high-speed missiles, although they could not match the speed of the Mach 20 Sea Comets. Once they were close enough to the enemy missiles their proximity warheads exploded against their targets. As with the cruisers, the destroyers prepared their close-in weapon systems for the unlikely surviving missiles. With there being no threat of Red Tidean submarines, the Mason class frigates joined in the fray and the seven ships each fired 560 of the SAMs which performed in the same manner as those launched from the cruisers and destroyers.

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OOC: More coming, just waiting on some other things to go through. BIG post coming for the Beachhead battle.

Plenty of MiGs fell out of the sky... almost all of them in fact. Of the original 12,000 that started the mission, there were now only a few hundred, seeing the Aquatian aircraft retreat, the MiGs were called back.

The Skyian shelled the Red Tidean reinforcements plenty, some shells missing, some not. Then, to everyones surprise, the Red Tidean forces began to fall back. They had been badly malled by the combo of naval artillery, air attacks, and etc, but that never stopped the Red Tideans before. Even the artillery fire dropped off as artillery crews began to fall back. What was going on?

What was going on is that the Metropolis of Crig, Red Tides largest city which also contained its largest ports, had fallen to revolting civilians... INCLUDING the airport and harbors and the Red Tidean Goverment wanted the place retaken before the Coalition forces took advantage of the situation, that meant that every mechanized formation Red Tide had in the SouthEast had their movement orders cancelled and were ordered to march into Crig with the orders, 'Kill anyone that resists, all weapons EXCEPT atomics are allowed.'

Another reason, the supply lines, under strain by constant coalition attacks, had finally snapped. Pretty soon it was becoming obvious that the entire Red Tidean troops and Intellegince-Consortium Agents in the NorthEast were heading inland towards the central desert and a new defensive line. Along the way, they had orders to pick up as many male civilians to fight for Red Tide, those who refused were to be dragged into, as the Red Tideans called it, 'Processing Sites' where they would be 'trained', equipped, and sent to the frontlines, women and children, on the other hand, were to be shot on sight.

Aequatian Beachhead, "Red Beach"

The artillery hunter radar systems calculated the trajectory of the enemy shells as they rained down, "Complete saturation," was called by the DIVARTY commander and so it was to be. The 155mm gun batteries that sat on the beach changed their elevation and were loaded with DPICM rounds as the four field artillery battalions that had landed initiated their barrage with a total of 72 guns, each firing at a sustained rate of five rounds a minute as the Marine gunners worked furiously. There was a rumbling offshore as the superdreadnought Marcus Pendleton opened fire with its 755mm and 203mm guns to aid in the barrage, they fired the standard high-capacity, high-explosive shells that would rain down on the advancing divisions, raking along the avenues of approach to the beachhead.

Lieutenant Patricks felt his helicopter shake as he realized a 30mm shell had taken off one of his aircraft's stubby wing mountings, he kept the aircraft stable as he continued to fire at the enemy infantry. Others were not as lucky as another AH-16 was struck in the cockpit, killing both the pilot and gunner, and spun as it fell to the beach below, exploding as it crashed into a destroyed Crusader IFV. He finished off the last of his rockets as he kept his remaining minigun trained on the Tideans as his gunner followed suit with the 35mm autocannon. Six others were knocked out of the air while others took evasive maneuvers, moving back through the smoke and reappearing elsewhere to continue their support of the soldiers on the ground.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hertz watched on his monitor as the 4th MEB joined into the fighting alongside the 1st and 2nd MEBs, "About time those 2nd Division assholes showed up," He said to himself as the battle continued. His first battalion had been taken off the line after holding it for the other five battalions of the other brigades. The fresh three battalions of the 4th MEB would certainly help in a push forward, as well as the 3rd MEB of the 1st Division, which was arriving on the beach via landing craft of all types. He watched as all of a sudden, the enemy elements were pulling back, "What the hell?" He thought to himself as he paused for a moment before turning to his communications officer, "Get a message out to brigade maneuver commanders and the 4th MEB commander, we need to press this attack."

Sergeant Gregor and his platoon were sitting with the collection of the first battalion's vehicles resting until a young private ran up, "Sarne, the Tideans are bugging out, second and third battalion's are moving out!"

At once the staff sergeant was on his feet along with the rest of the platoon, they all wanted the same thing, Red Tidean blood on their hands. He ran over to a Viking armoured carrier from the 4th MEB and hit his fist against the side armour plating, the vehicle's commander opened the hatch and looked down, "What can I do for you, sergeant?"

"My people need a ride, lieutenant, mind if we hop up on your Viking?" Replied the sergeant, "We heard they're bugging out."

The officer smiled as he motioned to the roof of the vehicle, "All right, Marine, get some!" With that said, the platoon cheered as they climbed up onto the vehicle, rifles and machineguns ready for action.

Lieutenant Kennedy sat in his seat, his gunner sitting opposite the 140mm gun, the loader was behind them as he slid another HEDP shell home into the breech just before the gun fired, they were all sweating since the air conditioning unit had been rendered useless after it was damaged in one of the artillery barrages. He saw a lone group of infantry and spoke into his headset, "Gunner, infantry, ten o'clock, load canister and fire!"

The young man pulled a silver cylinder with a red stripe around it and the code "M-550 Anti-Personnel Canister Round" spraypained on through a stencil and slammed it home in the breech, "CANISTER UP!" He called out.

The gunner hit the firing buttons mounted on his controller, "CANISTER AWAY!" He shouted as the gun fired and shook the vehicle as the cone-shaped flock of 12.7mm tungsten pellets flew through the air at almost MAch 4 towards a group of Tidean infantry that were withdrawing from the berme. All along the lines the Marines opened fire at the retreating Tidean soldiers, the other M1 tanks fired their canister rounds on the enemy infantry. Entire companies of infantry were firing from prone and kneeling positions, firing M2 carbines, M203A4 grenade launchers and MG55A2 SAWs. MG76 gunners were firing their GPMGs in long bursts at the soldiers, M2C1 gun crews opened up with their 12.7mm tripod-mounted weapons in their fields of fire. Along with the tanks firing their canister rounds at the infantry, Crusader IFVs fired 35mm high-explosive rounds and coaxial 7.62mm machineguns as the Cougar armoured guns fired their own canister rounds from their 120mm guns, a collection of Cyclone air defence vehicles which had not used up their 25mm rounds continued to sweep the Tidean infantry with their rotary cannons.

Far behind the lines, the surviving EF-1B aircraft dropped their direct attack munitions, armed with thermobaric warheads against the columns which had now changed direction. Once their weapons had been dropped, they moved in low and began strafing the vehicles and infantry with their 27mm vulcan cannons.

----------

RNS Amazon

The entire Marine Air Group, 108 OA-5A Wasp attack fighters, took off from the small carriers and sped towards the shoreline after receiving word of the withdrawl. They carried 130mm rocket pods along with canister bombs filled with Napalm-C which burned at a higher temperature and slower than traditional incendiary weapons, they flew for the enemy positions that had been called out by the Navy EF-1B aircraft.

RNS Rathburne

The assault ship sat on the water, lined on its flight deck were its compliment of MH-53J Pave Low III heavy and MH-46A Black Knight medium assault helicopters along with those aboard the RNS Sims, the Marines of the 6th MEB embarked on the helicopters as they lifted off. The Black Knights would be carrying the Marines as the Pave Lows would be carrying equipment such as Wolf HMMWV with a myriad of weapon mounts such as those armed with BGM-88 Mace anti-tank missile launchers and air defence variants with FIM-190 surface-to-air missiles as slingloads. Recon elements would be mounted on the MH-20 Shadowcat helicopters in place of their normal Crusader IFVs. They moved in towards the shore low over the water to avoid being targetted by enemy detection systems. Mounted loudspeakers on the Shadowcat helicopters blared with heavy metal music as they moved towards the landing zone where the 5th MEB was already underway with the landing hovercraft shuttles, they would be reinforcing the beachhead as the other brigades moved inland to support the attack on the retreating enemy forces.

Infantry were ripped to shreds as they retreated back into their waiting APCs, which were constantly shifting fire to target the helicopters. Tanks and other armored vehicles began to back-up, firing while on the move. Behind the lines, a bunch more towed artillery pieces were torn up by Aquatian counter-battery fire, the self-proppelled pieces having long left their positions. RADAR and LADAR antennaes in the Northwestern region were shut off and MDM-4 SAMs were dissassembled for transport to the central desert.

All along the NorthEastern sector, horrible atrocities were being committed against civilians, men were dragged from their homes and into waiting military trucks for transport to Army and Airforce bases in the central desert. Those that resisted were simply shot. Children and women who did not hide or hid and were found were hanged from street lights, those that did hid and were not found were left without simple essentials such as food as storehouses were emptied and to be driven down to feed new recruits. Finally, entire towns and cities were set on fire as Red Tidean forces left. When Coalition force reached them, they would find burnt buildings and dead bodies everywhere, either asphyxiated, shot, or hanging from tree's and light posts. They would find survivors stumbling about, either trying to find relatives or friends or, for the more survival minded, scavenging about.

GCS Experienced Hunter

Commander Hans nodded, "I'm sure we can arrange something, having fire upon Aequatian military personnel during operations carries severe penalties back home in the Republic, he certainly wouldn't receive a fine or even have a chance to walk. At the very least, he would probably spend the remainder of his life in a prison camp in the jungles of Aequatius Secundus. As well, if we take him aboard the Venture, we could exfiltrate him from the theatre easily."

Lerner thought aloud for a bit, mentioning everything from a simulated torpedo attack to a superficial destruction of several of the CIWS systems, to a simulated attack from one of the damaged Superdreadnaughts.

"How about a Special Operations team come in, take the card, give it to the other person, and while I'm occupied, you could get some men to grab him. After the rebellion by a few people including the Late Vice Admiral Kim, the crews are now very loyal to their commanding officier and they would 'overlook' this incursion. If anything, we can claim we never found Vice Admiral Benedict and just put a body in the water. We have a few chucks of their senior officers, I'm sure we can 'slap together' a Vice Admiral"

Lerner smiled at the prospect of the pampered Vice Admiral Benedict spending the rest of his life, in tattered clothing in a jungle prison camp. She turned back toward the two foreign officiers.

"So, do we do it?"

OOC: There going to be any response at all to my forces that landed awhile ago?

OOC: Nope... you'll just have to chase after the retreating Red Tidean Forces.

OOC: Just a few things I like to know: A) How fast are your forces retreating, B) About how far is the cental desert from where we landed? and C) Can we please get a map with cities on it? :P

Silver Skyian Beachhead, Frontline, Center

As the Red Tidean troops pulled back the void was filled by rapidly advancing M160A1 MBTs and M89 IFVs. 15.5mm and 35mm shells blasted apart enemy infantry while 125mm, 75mm guns, and ATGMs destroyed APCs and MBTs.

"Gunner, APCs left, HEAT!" Barked out Tank Commander Urwin bullets were pinging off the turret and narrowly missing the remote weapon stations on the top of the tank. "HEAT loaded!" Yelled back the gunner he locked the turret on the APC and the autoloader completed the loading of the gun. "Fire at will!" Came the reply from Urwin as he shredded some Red Tidean infantry as they retreated. "HEAT away!" Yelled the Gunner, but he was barely audiable because of the thunderous sound that was the 125mm cannon.

When the blast was over almost nothing remained of the enemy APC and the troops trying to enter it. Urwin's tank unit pressed the attack on the retreating enemy. The entirety of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps were blasting away at the backend of the retreating forces. The beachhead hand already expanded by nearly 3km inland in the center and up to 4km on the right flank. Tanks crushed dead and dieing infantry under their massive treads as they sprinted across what remained of the Red Tidean lines.

Thunder booms sounded all along the center of the beachhead as artillery took pot shots at the retreating tank columns, only about 450 shells, again with submunitions, were fired in all. Most of the artillery was busy stockpiling ammunition for what would probably be a long chase of the rapidly retreating enemy.

Thousands of MBTs and IFVs poured out of their 'contaiment' to attack the rear of the retreating forces. They were determined to pile as many casualties on the retreating enemy as possible. SAH-27A Attack Helicopters fired off 75mm rockets equipped with either HEAT or Thermobaric warheads and ATGMs at the retreating enemy while raking them with 35mm cannon fire. They used the smoke created by the destruction of 8 (OOC: Can't remember, 6 of 8?) Red Tidean Divisions, it was an effective barrier to keep the LADAR/IR guided SPAAGs from getting a good lock on them, the black and absorbant paint on the SAH-27As helped as well. However, they were careful to stay out of range of enemy APCs and their flak shells.

Shells from the Skyian dreadnaughts still rained with constitancy on the head of the enemy. They would continue to do so until the enemy was around 500km from the shoreline.

Beachhead, Left Flank

The 3rd Army Corps attack had been a complete sucess. With the Red Tidean Forces retreating a path had been opened up for the Corp to link up with their Aequatian allies to the southeast(?). The 11th through 14th Divisions had turned to the south/southwest to widen the link between the beachheads and to put more pressure on the enemy's rearguards while the 15th Division pushed on until the Aequatian trenches were right in front of them, their Skyian Flags flew high as the commander of the 1st Field Army, Lieutenant General Marcus Johnson, sent a message to the Aequatian Commander asking for a meeting to formulate strategy, and most importantly to see if it was possible to take advantage of the revolt in the city of Crig, which by now had reached the ears of Skyian Commander.

The 4th and 5th Army Corps were landed just 10-20km to the right of the orginal beachead. They met little to no resistance as they turned to link up with the 1st and 2nd Army Corps. There mission was to push forward and to the west of the beachhead to try and cut off any Tidean divisions retreating from up the coast. The original Skyian beachead of 18km deep by 20km wide had been expanded to nearly +30km deep by ~90km wide.

All of the 1st Field Army, 5 Army Corps with 25 Divisions had been dedicated to this sucessful attack. Although casualties were high for the intial assualt units, the 1st Corp had lost nearly 700 of their initial 3000 tanks, an staggering 23% of their available armor. The two armored brigades of the 2nd Division, which had been the first to land and at the center of the frontline, sustained 78% casualties, losing 470 tanks while the 1st Division lost nearly 100 tanks with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Divisions losing the remaining 130 tanks. Casualties for IFVs were less, but not by much. The 2nd Division had been reduced to only 130 tanks, 330 IFVs with the remainder of the force consited of the artillery and light vehicles.

But the 1st Field Army only accounted for 1/4 of the total forces in the Expeditionary Force had been deployed on land as of yet, another 75 Divisions, a full 3 Field Armys, waited in transports guarded by the fleet.

The first 12 hours were critical in repusling an invasion, but the Tidean Forces had failed and it would cost them their country and quite possibly their lives.

OOC: A:Lets say 70 kilometers a day, but I will look up on historic retreats and try to calculate the increase in the speed due to modern equipment and then adjust as nessecary. Of course, if you follow THAT fast you'll break your supply lines. B: Central Desert is approximately 900 kilometers inland from the shore and stretches about a further 850 kilometers inland, on the way you'll run into civilian centers, including at least 120 small cities, 37 medium sized cities, 13 major cities, and one metropolis, not to mention numerous towns and villages. Of these, most of the small cities, a few of the medium cities, and the metropolis is on the coast, all have ports suitable for heavy cargo ships, the Metropolis even has a heavily damaged major naval port, expect all to have their infrastructure pretty much ruined by the time you get there though. C: No, I have neither the time nor the ability.
As for the number of divisions you destroyed, lets say 8.

IC: The Red Tidean military was running away as fast as it could. Now there was one main objective, inflict as much casualties as possible on the enemy and force them to the negotiating table. The enemy couldnt move directly south, as they would wind up stranded and dead in the radiactive wastelands. They could head east and try to loop through the NorthWestern mountains, but most of the roads there were poor, with only one or two highways suitable for tanks and there was a garuntee that the tunnels on the highways would be blocked by the time the Coalition forces got there.

The new defense line would be set up on the edge of the central desert. In the meantime, the retreating divisions took losses from airpower and artillery, both land and naval, however. The enemies artillery and armor couldnt keep up forever, and eventually, the enemy naval artillery would wind up shooting blind.

OOC: Are those cities on the way to the desert or are they in the desert?

Phase Line Sierra 05, 18km inland of Red Beach

Sergeant Gregor held onto one of the handles sitting on the hull of the Viking personnel carrier as it lurched over the berme and advanced behind the main force of Panther tanks and Cougar mobile guns which had formed up in line formation to advance with their firepower directed completely against the retreating forces. Damaged vehicles sat on the ground, they were still burning as they had been knocked out in the hasty advance, a tank crew was seen sprinting back through the lines as the 140mm high-explosive, dual-purpose rounds cooked off in the burning vehicle, sending the stored BGM-88 missiles bursting through the roof of the turret.

As the Tidean vehicles shifted their fire against the helicopters, the forward flights were knocked out, leaving only a few remaining AH-16 gunships to withdraw from the line and pull back out over the water towards the assault ships offshore for repairs and rearming.

Colonel Hertz stood up at the hatch of his Centurion command vehicle as he watched a group of vehicles hudded around a large towed-launching mount. Sitting on the mount was an RQ-9B Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle, it had a forward-looking infrared television camera on a nose turret along with a laser target-designator. The drone was launched along with a number of others and they slowly gained altitude before moving ahead of the Aequatian's lines and watched the rearguard elements of the Tidean retreat from a safe distance of three kilometres and at an altitude of five thousand metres. For each RQ-9B that was monitoring the enemy forces, there was a command vehicle manned by the pilot who was remotely-piloting the drone along with forward air controllers who were studying the images produced by the FLIR camera. Of the four drones in the air, there was an additional twelve drones armed with a number of weapons, including AGM-65E Maverick air-to-surface missiles.

----------

Phase Line Sierra 10, 48km inland of Red Beach

Kennedy and his platoon of four M1 tanks were moving alongside a platoon of Marines riding in four Viking armoured carriers on the left flank of the advancing line, the battleline had become stretched at some places from varying speeds of the retreating Red Tidean soldiers. He sat on the open hatch of the tank as it sped over the sand of the desert, "Christ, I thought we were finished with this shit on the damn beach," He said to himself as he looked forward with his field glasses. The combined units of the 1st, 2nd and 4th MEBs were advancing against the enemy forces, with the 4th MEB acting as armoured vanguard, if anyone was going to get to fight again, it would be the leading Marines. The group of eight vehicles was joined by one of the fire support vehicles that directed artillery fire support as they drove over the terrain towards a small village, which was nothing more than burnt out skeletons of buildings and a few survivors that were moving about. The vehicles moved down towards the collection of ruins and came to a stop after the tanks had set up a perimeter. The infantry platoon disembarked from their vehicles and the unit's corpsman began examining the civilians, other soldiers gave the civilians the sealed meal pouches from their own kits, with the helicopter ambulances busy and the other units holding a temporary position and waiting for the M35 and M939A2 trucks to resupply them.

Furthur ahead of the advance forces, the 108 Marine OA-5A Wasp attack fighters came in low on the retreating forces, they strafed the rear and lead elements with their 130mm rockets and napalm canisters. The aircraft swarmed over the grouping of vehicles on the ground, like their namesake insects, they continued to strafe the columns with their 35mm triple-barrel cannons.

GCS Experienced Hunter

Commander Hans grinned as he nodded, "I can have my skipper organize a boarding party to come aboard and take the Admiral. How long do you need to prepare?"

----------

RNS Marcus Pendleton

Vice Admiral Killian stood in the massive Combat Information Centre aboard the vessel where not only the ship's own actions were directed, but the rest of the entire fleet's actions were commanded. The Marine commanding officer, entered the room and saluted as he approached Killian, "Madam Admiral, Lieutenant-General Isaac Sigmund, commander of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, reporting for duty."

Killian returned the salute before speaking, "Excellent, I have called you here since I have received word from Central Command that we are leading the coalition efforts now, it looks like Army has finally decided to take part in the game and get their asses in gear. They're sending their flag officers to us so we can coordinate our efforts with the other coalition commanders, I'll be calling a meeting with them so we know where everyone stands."

Coded A-SatCom Transmission to Coalition Commands

All coalition commanding officers and their principle staff members are to attend a meeting aboard the Aequatian Command Fleet Battleship, RNS Marcus Pendleton, in order to fully coordinate allied efforts inland.

----------

RNS Europa

Rear Admiral Stockwell looked down on the flight deck from the bridge, the crew celebrated the Red Tidean MiGs' bugging out, although things were not perfect as nearly twenty percent of the aircraft sent up had been knocked out, with a large number bailing out either over land or water. HH-20 Jaycat helicopters lifted off the deck as they sped off over the water, homing in on the transponder signals of the downed pilots. "There will be no rest for anyone," He thought to himself as he watched the deck crew continue their work of preparing aircraft and launching them from the catapults.

On the deck, Master Chief Burns and his team of blue shirts were kept busy with flight operations as they led one of the F-1N fighters, laiden with numerous air-to-surface missiles, cluster bombs and guided munitions, over to the waiting line of aircraft preparing to use the forward catapults.

----------

Peters Air Force Base, San Allimos, Aequatius Prime

Army Major Nicholas Dixon sat in the rear seat of an open Wolf general purpose vehicle as it drove across the tarmac of the base towards a group of waiting MC-130J Hercules transport aircraft. They had been in briefing for more than three hours preparing for the operation and the fatigue was starting to set in on the old soldier, he led one of the best units in the Republic's inventory, a troop of soldiers within the 4th Special Combat Application Regiment, or "Scar Troopers" as they were named by regular forces for their unit's distinctive shoulder patch and the fact that each member had been in combat during their military career. His troop had three operative squads along with his own team of specialists, including his executive officer, Captain Carlos Vittore, who was enjoying his last cigarette before boarding the large cargo aircraft, "Another day, another dollar, huh, Carlos?" Said Dixon as he disembarked from the vehicle as it came to a stop.

The captain nodded as he took a drag off the cigarette and exhaled the blue smoke into the air, "We're getting too old for this shit, that's it, last war for us." He joked as they continued to talk before they were called up inside the aircraft by the crewchief. Within minutes, the entire regiment was en route to the Red Tide Theatre of Operations, the fleet of twenty transports was escorted by two Air Force squadrons of F-2A Abaddon fighters which were divided into a pair for each MC-130J. They would refuel in the air thanks to the Air Force KC-17 Supertankers and Navy KC-2A Greyhound Tankers.

----------

Phase Line Sierra 10, 48km inland of Red Beach

Lieutenant-Colonel Jim "Dandy" Holland flew his small MH-10D Super Raven helicopter low over the ground as he approached a fairly large town that sat in the middle of the path of the 2nd MEB's advance. His loudspeakers blared rock music as he ran the invisible circuit around the urban area, blasting the enemy units that had been spotted holding position in the town. Not far from his position, tanks and soldiers from the brigade would arrive to either accept the surrender of the enemy or engage them in brutal fighting in the city's streets. High above his helicopter were pairs of single-engine Marine F-2N Lucifer fighters that dropped guided stand-off weapons which flew off towards the city and past the Red Tidean lines ahead of their withdrawl Once the weapons were over their target areas, they exploded in a cloud of white particles as leaflets rained down onto the city and onto the ground ahead of the Red Tidean retreat, so that the fleeing soldiers would come across them as they moved. Their job done for now, the F-2N fighters turned back out towards the attack carriers that waited for their return.



Depicts two images, the first has a single soldier (with a Red Tidean flag insignia on his uniform) standing with a rifle in hand, opposite the outline of an Aequatian M1 Panther tank, an AH-16 Black Cobra helicopter gunship and another armoured fighting vehicle who are all firing their weapons against the soldier in unison, displaying an obvious superiority in firepower over the Red Tide soldier.

Caption: You have two choices, fight and die for sure...

The second image is of the same soldier, who is seen as thinking about his wife and children, with his arms in the air and without his rifle, surrendering to another soldier who is well-equipped, shaven and clean who is also standing in front of a group of flagpoles, each flag depicting a different nation within the coalition (Aequatio, The Silver Sky, Czardas, etc.).

Caption: ...Or surrender and live so they can be with your family again.



To Seek Refuge Safely the Bearer Must Strictly Adhere to the Following Procedures:

1. Remove the magazine from your weapon.
2. Sling your weapon over your left shoulder muzzle down.
3. Have both hands raised above your head.
4. Approach the Multi-National Forces position slowly, with the lead soldier holding this document above his head.

If you do this, you will not die.

A second set of leaflets were dropped as well, but were of a much more gruesome display:



A single image shows several dying soldiers (with Red Tidean flag insignia on their uniforms) attempting to reach through a solid curtain, which is made of the collective flags of the coalition nations, to an unflattering characterture of Red Tide's Supreme Commander, Gregori McKenna, who was seen walking away from the dying soldiers shrugging his shoulders in complete apathy for their plight. In an insult to injury, there are warplanes above the soldiers, marked with coalition flags, that are dropping bombs on the group.

Caption:

YOU ARE UNARMED!

Your supply lines have been cut off and you will not be receiving any more. Gregori does not care about your fate and he has deserted you. Put down your arms and join your comrades in the coalition, you will be treated well and will return to your families! You have the power to end the unnecessary bloodshed and useless sacrifice you are making for a leader that is only exploiting you for his own survival!



To Seek Refuge Safely the Bearer Must Strictly Adhere to the Following Procedures:

1. Remove the magazine from your weapon.
2. Sling your weapon over your left shoulder muzzle down.
3. Have both hands raised above your head.
4. Approach the Multi-National Forces position slowly, with the lead soldier holding this document above his head.

If you do this, you will not die.

RNS Phantom

The vessel's pumpjet engine combined with its hydrogren-cell engines made the submarine silent as it moved through the water at a depth of a hundred metres. General Carl "Ratman" Schwartzman, one of the Aequatian Republic Army's greatest maneuver officers and commanding officer of the Republic Armour Training School in San Allimos, sat in the cramped and cold quarters that had been provided for him as he was transported to the Red Tide Theatre of Operations to take command of the Multi-National Coalition that was arrayed against the nation of Red Tide which had, according to intelligence reports, cracked under pressure and were on the run. He was to direct ground and air forces once he arrived and met with the other commanders of the coalition, the general decided to keep himself busy with reports and equipment lists, but was distracted by his environment as the submarine was much colder than the Western Desert he was used to in the area outside of San Allimos and Alpha City.

OOC: Rosdivan, those are a list of cities that are in the North/NorthEastern hills. The second defense line which the Red Tideans are retreating to is about 30 kilometers inside the Central Desert.

IC: A Army Base in The Central Desert...

Truck after truck filled with fit civilian males rolled into the base. These civilians were forced off the trucks, those that had volunteered(which was very few) walked their way to the processing center by themselves, the rest were forced.

Once inside, each person was strapped to a table manned by physicians wearing the same collars found on Red Tidean Soldiers. Then the machines went to work, drilling tiny holes in the side of the draftee's necks, the screams of pain echoed throughout the building. Then the HCC-01s(Hallucigenic Control Collar Model-1) were fitted around the draftee's necks. The HCG the collar contained took a few second to reach the brain via the spinal cord, but when it did reach, the struggles of the subjects stopped. They no longer were individuals, now they were just soldiers, one of many soldiers, soldiers that would follow their orders to the death. They were led outside where they were issued serial numbers and equipment. Then they were sent to the assembly area to be put in squads, which would be put in platoons, which would be put into comapnies, and so-on, until a division had formed. This division would promptly move off to the new defense line, equipped with weapons that had stayed in storage until now.

Meanwhile, the retreating soldiers never stopped, except to refuel and as rearguards to slow the enemies. They didnt even pick up any of the dropped leaflets. Any coalition aircraft that got too close to the Central Desert would face huge volleys of concentrated Surface-Air fire, including the ever-present MDM-4 Surface-Air Missile, regardless of whether they were stealthed or not, as the proximity to the Over-The-Horizon RADAR meant that the aircraft would be detected, no matter how stealthy. The re-deployment of the North-NorthEasts SAMs to the South-Southeast grasslands and the central desert further upped the concentration of firepower.

Rosdivan Expeditionary Army Headquarters

As usual, headquarters was filled with activity, most of it clustered around one man, who was studying maps of Red Tide. A young captain hurried his way through the bustle, colliding with a few other officers in his haste. Arriving at the center of the unchaotic chaos, he reported in.

"General Haymond sir, we've figured out why we have yet to make contact with Red Tidean forces. They're in full retreat sir, heading towards the central desert," was the announcement, unaccompanied by salute due to being indoors.

"Excellent. We'll conduct a rapid closure to contact, then keep in contact till they decide to settle down."

"Uh, yes, about that sir. Aequatio has 'invited' all other nations fighting Red Tide to a meeting for the coordination of further efforts."

"Then go get the damned Rotodyne ready for take off, we leave in an hour."

Hyper Encrypted Satellite Transmission to Aequatian Command

I, Admiral of the Naval Michael Sutherland, my subordinate Armada Admiral Jason Anderson, and Generals Baylor Johanson and Kevin Miller will be attending this meeting, we will arrive via two MV-87K Coba VTOL Light Transports. We shal be leaving within the hour.

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

Phase Line Serria 14, 72km Inland of Beachhead 01

SAH-27As Attack Helicopters and MV-87KG Gunship screamed low over the advancing armor formations of Skyian and Aequatian Troops. As they came across the retreating enemy formations they released 70mm rockets with naplam and thermobaric warheads and 35mm HE cannon fire onto enemy infantry while blasting tanks with ATGMs and AP 35mm shells.

Just below and behind them Skyian tanks and IFVs were being resupplied at several abandoned towns along the line, most of them had enough fuel to last for a while longer but some where scarily low, and most needed more ammo.

Tank Commander Urwin leaned out of his commander's turret and watched the front while his gunner and loader piled ammo in the ammo storage racks. Just a kilometre or two infront of them Skyian 3rd Corp advanced elements fired on the retreating enemies

Meanwhile artillery continued to hammer them with submunitions, they were still in range of large caliber ship fire, 381mm ERGMs with submunitions and 678mm and 610mm Penetrating HE shells from the Heavy Dreadnaughts pelted the enemy formations with an unending stream of deadly fire made accurate by satellites and RQ-9B Predator drones from carriers and assualt ships off shore.

A battalion of SAH-27As fluttered over the firey shells of knocked out enemy vehicles. "Enemy APC! 3000 metres!" Yelled Major Kyle Kandin to his gunner as he skillfully manuevered his SAH-27A to give him a better shot. "Target locked!" Yelled the gunner as he got the tone for the fire control computer. "Arrow 2!" He yelled out as an ATGM fired off the pylon and rocketed towards the enemy vehicle. "Give'em hell!" Yelled out Maj. Kandin as he strafed an infantry group with his 70mm rockets. He could see a group of MV-87KGs blasting apart enemy vehicles with their 35mm chain guns and ATGMs. But a nearby blast of flak jolted him back to reality as he targeted the culprit.

Skyian Beachhead

Just 50km inland of the beachhead the entire force of 768 F/A-3C 'Dragonfly's'. Each of them were carrying 20 AGM-531C Bumblebee-ER New Long-Range Tactical Air-to-Surface Missile, with a range of 220km they were targeting all Red Tidean forces within range. The ripple fired off all 15,360 of the missiles.

Just 40km inland from the beach a massive force of 1536 B-300C Hurricanes and 768 B-5 'Sonic's had assembled, the largest ever bomber force assembled for any one operation in Skyian History, this would be the first of a hopefully short series of strikes on the enemy's defensive lines in the central desert.

The B-5 'Sonic's were armed with 38 AGM-502MR Starblast Medium Range Air Launched Ground Attack Missiles each. As they reached 24km from the retreating enemy's they fired off the entirety of their 21,504 missiles at the retreating enemy forces, their 130kg warheads would hopefully wipe out a few more Tidean Divisions before they were able to disengage.

Next came the main punch,each of the B-300Cs were armed with 53 AGM-101LR Fireblast Long Range Air Launched Ground Attack Missiles. Almost at once each of the bomber's huge bomb bay doors opened up and the hundreds plus missiles started to fall from the rotating pylons and from wing hardpoints. A total of 40,704 missiles rocketed off at the enemy defensive lines in the desert. Their 900km range was just enough to get them into the desert. They would come in low over the ground, each of them had active radar jammers that would kick in when enemy SAM launches were detected. They were coated in light and radar absorbant paint and leading edges were coated in RAM. These would serve to lower their RCS and LADAR detectability while hiding in the ground clutter.

GCS Experienced Hunter

Commander Hans grinned as he nodded, "I can have my skipper organize a boarding party to come aboard and take the Admiral. How long do you need to prepare?"


GCS Experienced Hunter

A subdued rumble flowed through the room and a gray suit burst in and the lights flickered as the soundproofing turned off.

Lerner faced the gray suit with a look that would have burned through 2 metres of battleplate. The gray suit stopped for a second before picking up a remote in the room and switching to a feed marked 'Interest' on the main video screen.

One of the Corporate Fleets ships had suddenly exploded while unloading its crew to a cruiser that was hugging the side of the ship. The Corporate Fleet's damaged destroyer was sinking rapidly as men rapidly jumped off the ship clinging to the side of the now flaming cruiser.

Lerner got even angrier and the gray suit could swear the screen's glass was distorting from the heat and that she was about to tear the seat in half. She got up and ordered all hands to the battlestations.

She looked at the two officiers and motioned for the other gray suit outside to join them. "We are getting him now."

She whispered something to the gray suit and motioned for the officiers to join her.

(OOC: to save time we'll get downstairs quickly.)

GCS Experienced Hunter: Brig

Lerner waved away the security crew and told them to forget everything and they'll be excused from duty.

She moved over to Vice Admiral Benedict's cell door and slid her ID card through. A female voice asked for biometric verficiation, and she put her hand on a panel and said her name, rank, and number.

The door slid open and Vice Admiral Benedict sat on a bench, looked up with a smug look and asked, "So have my men sent a lawyer to get me out?"

Lerner removed her service pistol and put it up to Benedict's head.

Benedict coughed out a laugh, looked up at Lerner and said, "You are really going to shoot me, come on, FleetCOM will kill you, well not literally since the lack of the death penalty in Leafanistan."

Lerner laughed too, "With the exception of the military which are allowed to commit summary executions on the spot with justification." Lerner cocked the pistol, a superficial action since it was an automatic pistol.

Benedict looked considerably worried for a second. Lerner pulled back the gun, Benedict's smile returned and Lerner brought it down on his head with a sickening smack and Benedict tumbled to the bench, his bloodly head striking the hard metal surface. She motioned for the gray suits to pick up Vice Admiral Benedict. They threw a blanket over him and started carrying him up to the hanger. "Come on", Lerner said to the foreign officiers, we are leaving, call your submarine.

(OOC: Again, time saving measure)

Lerner secretly brought them to the Mi-171 helicopter while the pilot was warming it up and the gray suits carried in Benedict. She threw her pistol into the ocean and turned toward the foreign officiers.

"If you want to say anything more, the intel officier can go back to the sub, you will stay and we'll continue talking. And if you can do me a favor, find enough of a body of one of the Corporate Fleet, and help me slap together a Vice Admiral."

The pilot was shocked at this sudden change in the situation. The twelve SAMs had not flown off course. They were headed in his direction.

He cranked the power to Mach 6 and blasted higher into the sky hoping to loose them.

But to no avail. The SAMs kept climbing, and kept following, right on the Stargazer's tail. And they were getting closer and closer. The lead SAM was 500 meters away. Now it was 400 meters. 300 meters. 200 meters.

At once, the pilot realized the horrifying truth that he simply could not outrun these things. It was a thought that sent agony through him. Agony that he would never see his his friends or his wife. He would never see his 2 children grow up. It was all over now. The pilot closed his eyes and waited for the horrible end to come.

Suddenly, the lead SAM exploded. The debris took down 3 more SAMs close by. Four more SAMs closed in on the EB-180, but then they got close like the leader had, they too exploded in balls of fire. One by one, the four remaining SAMs came up upon the Statgazer's rear, and exploded. The debris fell back down to Earth.

The SAMs were no more.

For a moment, the pilot was stunned. There were twelve SAMs that had been shooting up towards his aircraft. By all acounts he should have been dead 15 seconds ago.

Then the realization hit him. And he laughed. And laughed.

Those SAMs, in their attempt to follow the EB-180 higher into the sky, had flown right into the Stargazer's jetstream. Now normally, this wouldn't be significant when an SAM took down aircraft.

But this bomber, the Stargazer, was different. It had been designed with five Willington F-205-W110 Turbofans. But around those turbofans were five Pulse Detonation Wave Engines.

It all made sense now. In order to fly, a typical aircraft mixed air with fuel to create a flammible mixture that was then ignited. This burning mixture would exit out the engine exhaust and provide the thrust for the jet.

But the Stargazer was different. His aircraft was traveling at Mach 6 when the SAMs made their approach. At such hypersonic speeds, shock waves were created that pushed the combustable materials out towards the rear of the engines. Instead of slowly burning the air and fuel to produce thrust, the combustable materials were ejected in one shot.

With his five Pulse Detonation Wave Engines, the air and fuel used to create thrust was not burning. It was detonating outside the aircraft to create the speeds that his aircraft needed.

If one was able to see high enough into the they might have noticed a string of doughnut-shaped clouds stretched out along the bomber's jetstream. These were the pulse detonations that were used to give the aircraft it's incredible speed. It was these detonations which allowed the EB-180 to move at such high speeds, and it was these detonations the SAMs had flown into and led to their destruction.

Counting his lucky stars, the pilot of the EB-180 Stargazer leveled his bomber off at 175,000 feet, and shot onto the mainland. He had now penitrated into Red Tide territory.

On the ground, Red Tide, which was loosing ground to the combined might of the coalition forces, were beginning to move their SAM batteries further inland.

[ABOARD AMDF BRYANT, NEAR RNS PUNISHER]

Captain Hawking saluted as Commodore Norien Elson - no, now, a full Admiral - was brought aboard the last remaining Aralonian heavy cruiser, the Sentinel. The good Captain saluted as the cruiser passed by on its way back to the naval base at New Saris. He sighed, and tried to recompose himself. He jiggled with the controls on his powered wheelchair, which went completely out of control, ramming him into a railing and throwing him, wheelchair and all, into the sea.

[NO, I'M ONLY KIDDING. LET'S TRY AGAIN. I'M FEELING SILLY NOW.]

He jiggled with the controls on his powered wheelchair, which moved forward a bit and then moved backwards. He maneuvered onto the bridge of the Bryant, now with a somewhat makeshift command deck. “Scan the battle nets for additional targets.”

“Sir, there is one message directed to the commander of the Aralonian forces in the area.”

“Patch it through.”

Coded A-SatCom Transmission to Coalition Commands

All coalition commanding officers and their principle staff members are to attend a meeting aboard the Aequatian Command Fleet Battleship, RNS Marcus Pendleton, in order to fully coordinate allied efforts inland.

Hawking read the message with a slight smirk. “Very well. Ready the Merlin and let's head over to the Pendleton.”

He didn't feel it, but his men did feel some sort of absence – or was it a new feeling? - in his voice.

The problem was, his men didn't know which one it was.