Automagfreek
06-09-2006, 21:28
Following the outbreak of war against the Five Kingdoms, plans that were months in the making had been set into motion. Before sailing off to war and fighting the Ardan menace Damien had left explicit instruction as to what actions were to be taken and at what times. It was not too long after the last of the initial battlefleets left that the first order was put into effect.
The old 250 nautical mile boundary was deemed obsolete, and was ordered to expand to 500 nautical miles. This would be the new Freekish naval boundary, and would be a strict 'no sail, no fly' zone for all except Gholgoth residents. The vast new stretch of water would be heavily militarized with Crawlers, sonar installations, mine fields, and submarine patrols. It was decided that if Ardan forces ever tried to retalliate against the Empire itself they would be met with a gauntlet of resistance.
Deep water channels had also been constructed to allow Freekish ships a specific way to get to port, with dredging machines creating artificial sandbars along the more open eastern waters. This was also done in limited fashion in the south, since the terrain there is mostly inhospitable and unsuitable for even native populations that had tried to settle there, making it unfavorable as a landing zone. These sandbars were all strategically placed where the waters were already naturally shallow, but perhaps the most sinister defense was what was waiting beneath the sands. Methane pipes were put in place leading from the mainland, their routing snaking right underneath the deep water channels. These pipes were directly linked with a large pocket of natural gas on the east coast and contained many release valves, so in the event Ardan ships tried to pass through the channels, the valves could be opened. As a result, the methane release would cause the water to lose it bouyant properties, and the ships would simply crash to the bottom of the sea. With enough ships piling up the channel would then become impossible to navigate, an ingenious defense conceived from the first Coaltion War against Melkor, though Morgoth had used a large amount of crude oil on the surface to deter ships. But to the casual observer, the Freeks were merely drilling for oil in the open seas...a clever disguise that hid the true nature of the pipeline.
Hours after the order came down tribal fleets under the command of Count Anderton moved forward into the newly claimed territory, and began setting up shop. Frigates dropped the mighty Crawlers into the water, where they would sink to the bottom and lay in wait for enemy vessles. Their purpose was simple and time tested: to lie dormant until the last minute, then release a score of highly explosive mines that would float to the surface and contact with the underbelly of its target.
This process of militarization would last several days and require the efforts of many ships. However, others had been charged with a different task: the clearing of outposts.
It had been many years since the incident at the now sunken Cariya Islands, but nearly a hundred miles out from their location was a series of small landmasses. Nearly devoid of life save for a few pesky locals, the islands were quickly swarmed and claimed by Sentinel stormtroopers. Those who were rounded up were forced into slave labor, charged with the task of clearing out the island for missile and artillery batteries to come ashore and position themselves. It was decided that these would be permanent outposts of the Empire, and would create a first line of defense that would allow elements on Automagfreek proper more time to prepare for an invasion.
Those who refused to cooperate were hacked to pieces where they stood by Sentinel swords, while others were impaled and left to rot in the hot sun. The islanders that were forced into service were met with a quick death once their jobs were finished. They were lined up and mowed down by a volley of machine gun fire, then dumped into a large sand pit and forever forgotten.
Progress was being closely monitored by Count Anderton as well as the other Warchiefs, including the hero of the Kraven Corporation war, Vidimir Breathstealer. Satisfied with the speed and efficiency thus far, they then prepared to execute the second stage of the operation.....
It was rumored that Freekish vessels would be sailing into Gholgoth proper and laying claim to assests on the mostly uninhabited landmass to the west of the Automagfreek island. This gigantic territory was left open to all who dwell within Gholgoth to do with as they please, but it appeared that Lord Dreadfire was about to make the first big claims thus far.
The old 250 nautical mile boundary was deemed obsolete, and was ordered to expand to 500 nautical miles. This would be the new Freekish naval boundary, and would be a strict 'no sail, no fly' zone for all except Gholgoth residents. The vast new stretch of water would be heavily militarized with Crawlers, sonar installations, mine fields, and submarine patrols. It was decided that if Ardan forces ever tried to retalliate against the Empire itself they would be met with a gauntlet of resistance.
Deep water channels had also been constructed to allow Freekish ships a specific way to get to port, with dredging machines creating artificial sandbars along the more open eastern waters. This was also done in limited fashion in the south, since the terrain there is mostly inhospitable and unsuitable for even native populations that had tried to settle there, making it unfavorable as a landing zone. These sandbars were all strategically placed where the waters were already naturally shallow, but perhaps the most sinister defense was what was waiting beneath the sands. Methane pipes were put in place leading from the mainland, their routing snaking right underneath the deep water channels. These pipes were directly linked with a large pocket of natural gas on the east coast and contained many release valves, so in the event Ardan ships tried to pass through the channels, the valves could be opened. As a result, the methane release would cause the water to lose it bouyant properties, and the ships would simply crash to the bottom of the sea. With enough ships piling up the channel would then become impossible to navigate, an ingenious defense conceived from the first Coaltion War against Melkor, though Morgoth had used a large amount of crude oil on the surface to deter ships. But to the casual observer, the Freeks were merely drilling for oil in the open seas...a clever disguise that hid the true nature of the pipeline.
Hours after the order came down tribal fleets under the command of Count Anderton moved forward into the newly claimed territory, and began setting up shop. Frigates dropped the mighty Crawlers into the water, where they would sink to the bottom and lay in wait for enemy vessles. Their purpose was simple and time tested: to lie dormant until the last minute, then release a score of highly explosive mines that would float to the surface and contact with the underbelly of its target.
This process of militarization would last several days and require the efforts of many ships. However, others had been charged with a different task: the clearing of outposts.
It had been many years since the incident at the now sunken Cariya Islands, but nearly a hundred miles out from their location was a series of small landmasses. Nearly devoid of life save for a few pesky locals, the islands were quickly swarmed and claimed by Sentinel stormtroopers. Those who were rounded up were forced into slave labor, charged with the task of clearing out the island for missile and artillery batteries to come ashore and position themselves. It was decided that these would be permanent outposts of the Empire, and would create a first line of defense that would allow elements on Automagfreek proper more time to prepare for an invasion.
Those who refused to cooperate were hacked to pieces where they stood by Sentinel swords, while others were impaled and left to rot in the hot sun. The islanders that were forced into service were met with a quick death once their jobs were finished. They were lined up and mowed down by a volley of machine gun fire, then dumped into a large sand pit and forever forgotten.
Progress was being closely monitored by Count Anderton as well as the other Warchiefs, including the hero of the Kraven Corporation war, Vidimir Breathstealer. Satisfied with the speed and efficiency thus far, they then prepared to execute the second stage of the operation.....
It was rumored that Freekish vessels would be sailing into Gholgoth proper and laying claim to assests on the mostly uninhabited landmass to the west of the Automagfreek island. This gigantic territory was left open to all who dwell within Gholgoth to do with as they please, but it appeared that Lord Dreadfire was about to make the first big claims thus far.