NationStates Jolt Archive

Dark Basin Research Facility, Western Desert, Aequatius Prime

The large C-5G Galaxy II cargo aircraft came in low as they landed at the facility's airstrip and taxied to their unloading positions. Slowly, on steel pallets, the Arca IV Nakíl main battle tanks were brought off the aircraft and for the first time, touched the Aequatian soil. Brigadier-General Marcus Jericho, commanding officer of the 1st Armoured Cavalry Regiment and one of the leading tank commanders in the Aequatian Republic Army, chomped down on the stubby cigar between his teeth as he overlooked the new tank, drapped over with an olive drab canvas covering. He fixed his desert pattern field cap before making his way over to the first unloaded tank as the Air Force loadmasters pulled the covering off to reveal the tan-painted vehicle, devoid of markings or insignia. Within minutes, the four vehicles were lined on the tarmac as the crews sat in the operations centre, reading the technical manuals for the tanks provided by the Kriegzimmer Board of The Macabees.

There were two companies that were immediately interested by these new vehicle trials in Aequatio. Well, to be honest, one was the one of the largest conglomerates in the world, but they were both equally as interested at least. Irregardless, these were none other than the two biggest armour firms in the Empire, Kriegzimmer and Atmos. The former had designed, along with Atmos and the Ejermacht, the original Nakíl 1A1, while the latter was responsible for any upgrade programs to the Arca, which were surely going to happen, and happen soon. Consequently, they had a vested interest in knowing how the Arca. IV Nakíl Ausva. A fared. Therefore, each had sent two representatives to cover the trials. Kriegzimmer sent Dr. Antony Kerás, one of the foremost experts on tank gun technology, and Dr. Alfred Inged, a mid level engineer who had worked on the Nakíl. Atmos sent Major General Danel Federín, a commander who had served at the River Nestor six months before, and Dr. Jar Kerst, the group leader of the 1A2 project, which was the interim upgrade of the Nakíl until the 1A3 was complete in one or two years. They had arrived at Aequatio a few days before the beginning of the trial and by now they had become accustomed to the location and its customs and were fully ready to begin rating these trials and seeing what they could get out of them.

For now they remained most interested on the upgunning of the Nakíl to the indegenously produced 125mm AMI K1 gun. Various nations had changed the gun, either because they didn't want to deal with the liquid propellant, or something rudder, and that had stranged Kriegzimmer given that the liquid propellant was one of the massive aids that gave the gun so much power and potential - there was no tank that could put up a fight against that gun. Regardless, various nations had already exchanged it for their own technologies and that stranged all engineers. Furthermore, they wanted to see the effects on the turret if the gun was upgunned, even by so little of a diameter. Now, Aequatio didn't want to change the gun to reduce the power, but to instead allow their own shells and their own missiles - which made sense. Subsequently, it was also a point of interest on how they were going to replicate the technology to allow the same power out of that calibre gun. There were no doubts that it could be done, and surely Kriegzimmer and Atmos would give Aequatio enough information to finish the project and indegenously produce their own guns [except the solid propellant; that is a state secret!] , but it was still interesting nonetheless.

In any case, the four men were ready on the days of the trials. Three of the four were dressed in casual clothing, showing their status as foreign engineers, and the general wore full militaria, with his long black parka and a dashing row of medals along his right breast area. Near them stood Brigadier-General Marcus Jericho, a very much respected armour commander of the Aequatian military. He was dressed in a very militaristic uniform of dark green nature, with overtones of even darker green. There were various patches that marked him from where he was. All five of them were very serious this morning. From the morning sky arrived a single Galaxy II cargo aircraft, and from its massive innard bowels slipped out four Nakíl tanks. The four tanks were quickly led to where their crews were waiting, and there the trials began.

General Federín looked over to General Jericho and said, "Well, let us begin!" He gave a large smile, and then looked the other way. The other man nodded. This was the Nakíl's debut in Aequatio.