NationStates Jolt Archive

Having come under more fire from other buildings, the Dentaran forces fell back, only to begin anew once a new strategy had been decided upon. The Siege Regiment artillery had reloaded, but this time there would be a 50/50 mix of HE and Smoke rounds, and the order was for a blanket barrage. The second the order was given, another earth-shaking barrage was fired by the artillery, soaring in and turning the intersection area into a sea of grey, putrid-smelling smoke.

The second the barrage was over, the Dentaran Imperial Infantry charged forward, with A Company tasked with taking the Church ruins, B Company taking the strongpoint IDed as the Library, and C Company was tasked with securing the other, unfortified buildings and clearing them of the opportunistic snipers. Flipping their thermal goggles down, the Dentaran forces quietly began running toward their objectives, passing the wreck of the M3 Bradley that had led the first assault on the Library.

Watching from his command vehicle, Regiment Commander Thompson muttered, 'God help those poor bastards...Dentaran and Naashan both.'

Even as the Ezaltian tanks were destroyed, the Naashan infantry was taking casualties. The nature of the wire-guided rockets meant that the firer was exposed for at least two seconds, and this was too long, as many Naashans found out to their cost.

The machine gun post was destroyed by the tank shells, the returning fire seemed to be bouncing off the enormous Behemoth which was now eliminating every point that they attacked from.

Behind the screen of the ambushers, the rest of the force was retreating deeper into the city.

The Naashan defenders returned fire on the enemy, who were advancing headlong up the beach. It looked like they were causing some casualties, but the sheer momentum of the assault threatened to overrun the Imperialist positions.

Coughing and reeling, blinded by the acrid smoke, Trooper Henson staggered out, almost running into the advancing Dentarans. Throwing down his weapon he gave a strangled cry of "don't shoot me!" and raised his hands above his head.

The remaining Naashan defenders of the church were following suit, throwing down their weapons, overawed by the power of the enemy artillery. The Library had taken two hits from HE shells, and by the time the Dentaran Company B reached it, all of the Imperialists who hadn't succumbed to the deadly shrapnel also had their hands in the air.

Through the remaining buildings scattered pockets of resistance were forming, but they were isolated and soon to be overwhelmed.

Through the rising smoke came the buzz of the two NA-3's, who began firing their rocket pods indiscriminately into the engagement below, hitting the surrendering Naashans as well as their foes.

Knocked down by a close hit from an aerial rocket, Lt. Jurren yelled into his radio, 'Bring in air support! AA is disabled! Under fire from attack ships, possibly helicopters!'

Screaming in from the heavens, a wing of orbiting F/A-18 Hornets dove in, arming several missiles, and fired a salvo of missiles, three targeting the first heli, another three targeting the second.

Meanwhile, the Dentaran forces down below were rapidly evacuating the Naashan PoWs from the firing zone, before preparing to continue forward.

Both helicopters were hit by at least one missile, the first began spinning wildly until it collided with a building, the second exploding in a bright fireball. The neighbourhood was under Dentaran control now, it's defenders either surrendered or dead, but they had bought some time. Even now the Naashan 1st Armoured Division was moving at full speed toward the embattled capital.

OOC: This isn't the only force in Forstvir. There are about fifteen others advancing in other parts of the city. For simplicity's sake, let's say that they've suffered the same casualties this one has.

Assault Squad: (16 in Forstvir)
4x Behemoth III
6x Challenger 2
10x M3 Bradley
5x TOW HMMWV
10x MG HMMWV
140 infantry (armed with G-36, MG36, L115A1, UMP-40, or Javelin)

IC:
"Vogel 1 to Vogel 2. You see that?"
"Yeah, looks like they're pulling back."
"You know what to do."

The entire squadron of 8 red-striped AC-130 Spectres dove and circled, their howizters and Galtlin guns pumping explosive rounds into the masses of retreating Imperialists. The escorting F/A-37 Talons also joined the carnage, dropping laser-guided bombs into suspected MG nests and sniper posts. The artillery continued to pund the city ahead of the advancing Ezaltian Army. If the Naashans kept putting up this kind of a fight, there woudn't be much of a city left to capture.

The carnage was terrible to behold. The gunships cut a swathe through the Imperialist forces as they retreated, the defensive lines they had planned to fall back to were being bombed before the defenders even had a chance to reach them.

With the majority of the Naashan troops forced back into the city centre, and hounded by air raids, the outcome looked grim.

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

Commisar Evans strode amongst the men, screaming instructions at the battered, demoralised men. Rounding a corner he spotted a sergeant bandaging another soldier's leg.

"Sergeant! Leave that man and gather your squad. We're going to die for this city if we dam well have to!"

The red faced and burly man looked up.

"Sir, this man needs help, or he'll bleed to death."

"I don't care, the Ezaltians will be here any minute, leave him, or are you going to disobey a direct order?"

The sergeant scowled, several other men of his squad had gathered around to watch.

"With respect sir, we aren't going to win this fight, and the lads have families to go back to..."

The Commisar flushed a deeper shade of puce.

"Sergeant, are you suggesting we surrender?"

"Well, yes sir."

Evans gestured to several soldiers who had gathered to watch.

"Arrest that man!"

Nobody moved, the troops looking away guiltily.

"I said arrest him soldiers!"

One of the men shuffled forward, and murmured something in the negative.

"So, you're a traitor too eh? Well, we can have you arrested too, and then you can both answer to the Empress herself!"

Commisar Evans gestured for the soldiers to arrest the man, but again nobody moved. The sergeant sighed, and glanced around the crowd of men, then he turned back to Evans.

"As the second most senior officer here, I think I speak for us all when I say we've had enough of this. We aren't going to win, and dammed if we're going to throw our lives away."

He gestured to the men.

"Place him under arrest and get someone to deliver our surrender to the Ezaltians."

Every rifle in the platoon whirled around to face the approaching man. "Hold fire! Hold fire!" Copperfield yelled, noticing the white flag in his hand. A Ezaltian soldier helped the Imperialist over a pile of rubble, and Colonel Bronsworth climbed out of his tank to greet the man. No words were necessary. The Ezaltian and the Naashan simply nodded at each other, and then the Ezaltians started digging out medical supplies to treat the captured soldiers.

They would be held captive until the regime change, but they would be treated fairly, with good food, hot showers, and even paid as if they were the equivilant rank in the Ezaltian Army. They could even join their families if they could find them at one of the refugee camps being set up along the countryside.

The weary soldiers trudged out from their positions amongst the rubble of the city, many faces bleached white by the swirling plaster debris left in the air.

They regarded the enemy with some suspicion at first, it was common practice amongst Imperial units to shoot prisoners, but once they realized they were in no more danger they allowed themselves to be disarmed and captured.

Once the good hospitality of the Ezaltians became apparent, they settled down completely, swapping jokes with their captors, the grim Imperialist troopers becoming once again cheerful and bright young men of Naasha.

After the successful capture of Forstvir, the commanders allowed their troops rest while they mobilized their forces for the assault on Sandya. Gunships and fighters were already being sent to assist the Dentaran forces holding the line near the airport.

Hopefully, the Sterotopian forces would take Morgur soon, so they could all advance on Sandya together. Colonel Bronsworth looked up from his barbecued chicken drumstick to the flight of AC-130s and F/A-37s roaring overhead towards the Dentarans. He wished he could send a few of his tanks to assist as well, but they were all needed to assault Sandya.

The soliders carried on running towards the defenders, taking a few casultys and a few fatalatys as they got further onto the beach a few of the anti tank soliders were ordered to open fire on large groups of defenders to kill them quicker
Sudnley about 10 missles came flying from the group of attackers

....

The hastily erected defenses along the beach did not hold out long, with the Sterotopsian troops using anti-tank missiles against the Imperialist strongpoints. The bulk of the Imperilaists were able to withdraw back toward the city, but halted and formed a hasty defensive ring outside the settlement, unwilling to have another town devastated by a foreign power.

"Sir, it looks like the Imperialists have retreated to defend Morgur."
"Very well. Prepare to launch fighters."

The RES Chimaera became a hive of activity as twelve F/A-37s and twenty-four Su-34 Strike Flankers were prepped for launch. The red-striped aircraft toook off from the carrier one by onel, forming up at 10,000 feet and then diving for the deck, flying towards the Naashan defenses at treetop level.

At such low levels the aircraft sent the Imperialist infantry scattering into cover, however, the enemy had made a tactical error in bringing the attack craft in so low, it gave the Naashans yet another chance to bring out the trusty Starstreak missiles.

With two MANPADS teams amongst the defenders, they got a total of four missiles into the air during the first enemy sweep, at least three Naashan casualties were recorded as a cannon round destroyed a roadside checkpoint.

Two Su-34s were destroyed by the missiles, and one was clipped in the engines, so it turned around and fled back to the carrier. The remaining Talons and Strike Flanker pounded the Imperialist defenses with missiles and laser-guided bombs, aiming for any tanks, APCs, machine gun nests, or vehivles that they might have.

The poorly trained and equipped conscript regiment was shaken by the close air power of the Ezaltians. Their defences and vehicles were swept aside as if they did not exist, and the ground assault hadn't even begun yet.

The regiment commander, a moustached fellow named McGovan, strode back and forth inside the command tent. He was conscripted out of retirement, a former military advisor to the government who had quit when he saw what the administration was ordering the troops to do. As such, he felt a much stronger attachment to his fellow conscripts than he did to the Imperial cause.

"Alright Lieutenant, that will do I think. Pass the word along to stand down and have our surrender passed along to the Ezaltians and Stero-whateverians. We did as well as a bunch of old men and boys with rifles could."

Grinning through his weathered features, he set about gathering his papers and drafting out a letter of defiance to his immediate superiors.

OOC: I'll wait for Sterotops to reply to this one. He's the one going after the city, after all.

In the interests of pushing the thread along...

N1 News

"Good evening and welcome to the nine o'clock news on N1, the primary news network for Naasha and Surdun. Battles continued to rage across the country today as the coalition forces redoubled their assaults on Imperial cities."

"We can now confirm that the nations involved in the conflict are Ezaltia, Dentara and Sterotops, although each countries role is yet unclear. They are believed to be working with the UNNS, a 'freedom fighting' group that has captured small areas of southern Naasha and staged an attack upon this very broadcasting station."

"We are aware that coalition forces have captured much of the nation's west coastline, with Vogrost, Forstvir and Morgur falling under their control and Samka still in UNNS hands. We are also informed tha-"

Camera shakes, an explosion is heard in the distance.

"...that coalition forces launched a daring raid on the International Airport outside Sandya, in fact, you can hear the intense fighting in the distance as Imperial troops are forced to give way, inch by inch, to the invaders."

"What does this mean to the average Naashan? Well, the UNNS has stated that the coalition forces have their full backing. We've had no reports of the same scale of atrocity as committed by Clandonian troops, in fact, eyewitnesses report that these invaders are showing great compassion and mercy."

"With the surrender of at least one Imperial unit to the coalition forces, it appears that this reputation is working for them, as the coalition gains support amongst both the military and the populace. We've heard little from the coalition itself, or any of it's members, but expect a press statement or message to be delivered soon."

OOC: Sry for holding it up been a little busy :(

The sterotopian soliders stoped and took cover behind some rocks and pulled out a radio and called an airstrike in, while 10 snipers start fireing at anything that moved
With in a few minutes three B2 bombers where overhead droping bombs on anything fortifed

.....

"Bastards! We're pinned down! Didn't they get our surrender sir?"

A bomb whistled over their heads, fortunately there was little for the enemy to aim at.

"I don't know, I'm sure we sent the message, the Ezaltians have stopped bombing us anyway!"

"Well what do we do then sir?"

Marshal McGovan grimaced and reached for a megaphone usually used to direct the troops on parade. Raising it cautiously he glanced around to check nobody was actually firing back at the Sterotopians before flicking the switch.

"Hold your fire! Hold your fire! We've surrendered already and are mostly unarmed, you are shooting at non-combatants! Repeat, hold your fire!"

He bellowed the last sentence for good effect and dropped back into cover, wincing as another bomb exploded about fifty metres away.

Commodore James Salvatore sat behind the fine walnut desk as the two privates in front of him fiddled with the camera. Slavatore took another look at the speech in front of him, skimming through it yet again. Colonel Bronsworth had wrote it for him. "Sir! Sir! You're on the air now!"

"Oh! okay, um..Citizens of Naasha and Surdun. Officials, military officers, and beaurocrats. Soldiers and craftsmen. Adults and children. Please lend an ear to this broadcast.
"This is Commodore James Alfred Slavatore of the Imperial Ezaltian Navy. I am the leader of that task force has been liberating you from the brutal Jade regime. I sit here in Forstvir, listening to children play outside. Listening to adults laugh and joke among themselves. Soldiers, both Ezaltian and Naashan, sitting and talking with each other. Listen to these. Are these things heard among you as well? Are you joyful and carefree like these ones, or are you too afraid to go outside for fear of arrest and execution?
"We hear these here in Forstvir. We hear them in Vogrost, Murgur, and Samka, all cities we have liberated from the Empire. We marched into Forstvir with guns blazing, and we left with the Imperialists shaking our hands. We entered Morgur without firing a shot. Hear this, soldiers of the Empire: you cannot win. The allied forces of Ezaltia, Dentara, Sterotops, and the UNNS will crush you. Surrender now while you can.
"Citizens of Naasha, now is the time to revolt. Find every method you can, however small, to strike back at the oppressors. Weaken them to the point of collapse. Any effort will be define you as a hero. Thank you for listening. Good luck."

It had begun as a murmur, a general discontented muttering amongst the populace, like the groaning of an old oak as it sways in the wind. If the current regime was the oak tree, then the message was the proverbial lightning bolt, setting the lower branches aflame until they threatened to consume even the highest perched leaf.

3:00 AM, Naash
The wail of sirens pierces the night, screeching tyres signal another fast Imperial clamp-down on would be trouble makers. Closer at hand, a car alarm adds its own electronic screams to those of the residents of this peaceful neighbourhood. Hooded figures stalk the streets, throwing bricks through windows, scattering as the authorities arrive.

Up the road, a few blocks north, a solitary police station burns brightly in the dark night, an abandoned fire engine lies dormant outside, it's crew driven off by the hooded messengers of the revolution.

Humanity has, for the evening, departed the city, and indeed most of Imperialist Naasha, the ordinary people, whom the government left behind, are finally standing up for themselves. Dark figures, flitting across the streets and twitching net curtains, the precursor to revolution and the collapse of the Jade Dynasty.

3:30 AM, Sandya

Gunshots echo around the city, yet another firefight erupts as revolutionary elements attack the Grand Raven Hotel, the temporary headquarters of the government.

Once again the guards drive them off, a swirling rag-tag mob of disgruntled citizens and turncoat soldiers once again fleeing up the street only to regroup around the next corner.

The Dentarans find themselves virtually unopposed on the city outskirts, that area remainin dead quiet as the former Imperial soldiers slip home to their loved ones.

With the breakdown of order across the remaining Imperialist cities of Naasha, the UNNS find themselves able to capitalise on the confusion and lack of morale amongst the Imperial troops.

In a series of lightning maneouvres the UNNS, assisted by the ever swelling numbers of defected Imperials, begin to take ground across the country. The UNNS hold on Samka is tightened as the Imperial forces surrounding the city are forced into retreat.

Taking advantage of the situation, the UNNS leadership prepares for it's boldest strike of the war so far. The city of Reyvver, tucked away in northen Naasha, was one of the first to cast off it's Imperial oppressors, unfortunately a combination of trade unions known as the 'Worker's Party' was able to step into the vaccuum and seize power.

Believing that the populace of the north would be far better off under a democratic government, the UNNS has mobilised it's ground forces in Samka to deploy north-east in an effort to bypass the Imperial defences around Sandya and seize Reyvvr from the Worker's Party while the fog of war still shrouds events.

Colonel Lloyd Bronsworth sat next to his tank, reading a novel one of his subordinates had loaned him. It was a crappy book, but it was better than doing nothing. When would those Sterotops forces be ready? Bronsworth thought, turning the page. We're just sitting here with our thumbs up our asses. And the Dentarans are going into Sandya all alone...

Stepping up onto an M1A1 Abrams MBT, the Dentaran Task Force commander, General Folvir, began his announcement to the Dentaran troops who had spent the night preparing for a further offensive. 'Loyal Dentarans, in 15 minutes, we will begin yet another push forward, toward the seat of the crumbling Imperial government. This will be effect by a coordinated strike of artillery, air power and our own forces. In 10 minutes, a massive artillery bombardment will begin, wherein the ENTIRE of our artillery forces will bombard the city with smoke warheads. 2 minutes later, a high altitude aerial strike will commence, wherein several squadrons will flatten confirmed Imperialist hardpoints. 3 minutes after that, we will begin our deployment, and we WILL NOT STOP until the Imperial Palace is under our control. Mount up, and prepare to deploy!'

With a roar of machinery and a clatter of weapons being loaded, the Dentaran forces prepared to begin yet another push toward the seat of Imperial Naashan government.

OOC: Well and truly crumbling, the Imperial Chambers got bombed by Clandonia...

The wind whistled across the empty streets of the city suburbs, the Imperial defences left unmanned as the soldiers slipped home to rejoin their families. In the city centre the people were out in force, they had driven back the remaining Imperial forces, mostly Empress Guard, into two pockets of resistance.

The Grand Raven Hotel was still heavily defended, and the street outside was empty, anyone not in uniform on the street below was being shot at, the Imperials were taking no more risks with their government's lives.

The ruins of the Imperial Chambers were also held by another portion of Empress Guard, who found themselves cut off from the main force. Crowds of citizens surround the iron bar fences around the compound, shaking the metal and baying for blood. The Empress Guard are fighting a desperate battle to hold the gate against the angry mob.

The convoy stretched over a mile back along the road, admittedly very few of the vehicles carried troops, but this show of force was all the UNNS hoped they'd need.

Slowing as they neared the exit for Reyvver, the lead truck allowed two APC's to overtake it before the group continued down the wide asphalt road toward the city.

At about a mile out from the suburbs, the UNNS column drew to a halt and the men disembarked, stretching their legs and checking their weapons. The latest battle in the road to liberation was soon to begin.

Striding up to stand beside a massive 182mm Annihilator Artillery System, Colonel Joston was watching his stopwatch intently. With a minute to go before the massed blanketing of the entire of Sandya's city centre, he was, naturally, slightly exhilarated and anxious that the bombardment go perfectly. Walking to the command console at the rear of the contraption, he asked the gunner, 'Have you made sure the warheads are set to airburst 10m above the ground?'

'Yes, sir, and the coordinates are locked in, and I've linked with the Artillery Synchronisation System, AND I've triple-checked all these things,' replied the annoyed gunner.

Then, with no warning whatsoever, the barrage began, with the ground shaking as the Annihilators, Thunders & MLRS Vehicles launching their payloads of smoke charges into Sandya.

Encrypted Message to UNNS Leadership

Greetings from the Republic of Ackistan!

My government wishes to cofirm that all goes well with your liberation efforts. Specifically, we wish to know if your new allies are conducting themselves properly, and whether or not you lack any essential equipment.

Best wishes,
Anglelina Whittaker
Secretary of State

The whistle of incoming shells caught many by surprise. The smoke rounds appeared to detonating high but it was enough to send the rioting citizens scurrying for cover, believing that an Imperialist counterattack had begun.

Within minutes the city centre was engulfed in a mass of rolling smoke, with most of the citizens and soldiers not fortunate enough to have gas masks being forced to lie on the floor in order to find breathable air.

UNNS Response to Ackistan

Our thanks for your kind concern, as yet we have no complaints of the coalition forces, who are doing an admirable, if slower than planned job. Later in our campaign we may require the use of the broadcasting aircraft, but we will discuss that later on.

Many thanks again,
UNNS Leadership.

The rumble of tanks and APCs filled the air as the huge convoy moved toward Sandya. Colonel Bronsworth, in the lead Behemoth, rode with his head and shoulders out of cupola, as usual. The STerotops forces were taking longer than expected, so Salvatore had ordered Bronsworth's division to move ahead and assist the Dentarans assaulting Sandya. Talons and Strike FLankers roared overhead, on a mission to weaken the citiy's defenses before the tanks got there.

The Ezaltian convoy wasn't going unobserved, but the Imperials had very little they could do about it.

A solitary helicopter, an NA-3, was despatched from Imperialist Sandya to 'delay' the enemy advance. Catching sight of the tanks strung out along the road, the pilot opened fire with his cannons and mounted rocket cluster.

Two rockets blew up on either side of Bronsworth's Behemoth, but one slammed right onto the chassis below the turret. The thick armor on the tank blocked most of the damage, but one of the forward treads was torn to peices. A Challenger 2 next to him was also disabled, its engine blown out.

They weren't just sitting there, however. The Stinger pods on either side of the Behemoth popped out, and two missiles rocketed towards the Imperialist helicopter.

The pilot jerked the stick backwards and managed to evade the first missile but the second struck just under the armoured cockpit, knocking out the NA-3's controls and leaving the pilot helpless as his craft spun to the ground.

Troops jumped out of their APCs and rushed to the helicopter, their G-36s trained on the crew as they hoisted them out and shoved them into an APC. The first prisoners of the assault on Sandya had been captured.

Colonel Bronsworth was leading the division form a new Behemoth. The convoy advanced at double speed, leaving the two disbaled tanks behind with repair crews swarming over them. They would catch up later.

True to form the Imperialist crew of two came quietly, not resisting the rough treatment from the Ezaltians, the war was over for them and they were glad.

The Ezaltians would arrive to find the outskirts of Sandya deserted and undefended, columns of smoke would be rising from the city centre and the remaining fanatically loyal Empress Guard would be ready and waiting for the enemy assault.

OOC: been realy busy but i should be back to checking this every few hours now, who where you surrending to?

The Sterotopian troops carried on running for the defenders, while they were running unfortunaly they were taking a few casultlys including 8 fatalys
"Got any ideas?"
"Yes just shoot anything that moves unless it surenders"
Sudnley all the troops that could started fireing at anything up ahead


.........

Great, Colonel Bronsworth thought to himself as they approached the outskirts of Sandya. This was just like Forstvir. Ten credits says they'll ambush us before long.

The Talons and Strike Flankers dove from above over the center of the city, dropping laser-guided bombs and missiles onto the Jade Guard defenders. As usual they were aiming for tanks, APCs, artillery peices, MG nests, and bunkers. Instead of last time, though, they also took great care in strafing and destroying any soldier with a Starstreak launcher.

Sweeping through the city at a fast pace, squads of Dentaran Imperial Troopers, equipped with thermal goggles and gas masks, moved to evacuate civilians from the combat area while capturing the few remaining Imperialist hardpoints. Then, as they rounded yet another corner, the Dentaran forces came upon a large structure, heavily reinforced and defended, which was, undoubtedly, an Imperialist stronghold. Moving into position, several squads of Dentaran forces prepared to assault the structure as the rest of the Dentaran force, led by a squad of four M1A1 tanks, sweeped ahead to the ruined Imperial Council Chambers. Just before the assault began, one of the squad leaders at the base of the building whipped out a small, collapsable megaphone, and announced, 'Imperialist soldiers! You are surrounded! Escape is impossible and defeat is inevitable! Surrender now, and you will be withdrawn from the combat area, taken to a PoW camp, and treated well until your transfer to the control of the United Nations of Naasha and Surdun! End this madness yourselves! Why pledge your services to an Empress who cannot even control her own nation?' Finishing the announcement, he threw the megaphone away, and primed the breaching charge on the door, waiting for the Imperialist reply.

The interior of the building was deadly quiet after the Dentaran shouted his message. The lobby had been turned into a maze of overturned cabinets and desks, anything that could be hidden behind.

General Terenga, the Naashan Chief of Staff had been meeting with his government colleagues in one of the conference rooms. The sound from outside had been muffled and so everyone was more than a little surprised when the door burst open and two black uniformed, gas mask bearing men stepped into the room.

"The enemy are outside, for your own safety we are going to confine all civilian personnel in the cellar."

Terenga blinked, and then glared at the man, half rising.

"Soldier, we are in the middle of a meeting here, and what do you mean the enemy are outside?!"

The muffled voice of the second trooper answered him.

"Right outside the hotel, now, if you don't mind, all civilian personnel to the basement."

The indignant looks on the faces of the politicians said it all, but Terenga spoke for them anyway.

"We are not taking any orders from you! Escort us to the door, maybe we can reason with them."

The two black garbed, fantically Imperial soldiers raised their rifles, the first and more senior of the two spoke.

"By order of the Empress, there will be no surrender, nor compromise, all civilians will be removed to the basement for their own safety, any who do not comply will be shot."

Without another word, all fourteen remaining members of the Naashan government in Sandya were lead away to the cellar, the ominous click of a lock sealing them in the gloom.

Up in the lobby, the gas masked, elite Empress Guards were crouching in cover, ready to make their final stand.

From an upper storey window, a lone soldier aimed his rifle and clearly stated:

"No surrender, no compromise, attack at your peril."

The shuddering crack of a rifle shattered the calm air, a mark of defiance even to the last.

Great, Colonel Bronsworth thought to himself as they approached the outskirts of Sandya. This was just like Forstvir. Ten credits says they'll ambush us before long.

The Talons and Strike Flankers dove from above over the center of the city, dropping laser-guided bombs and missiles onto the Jade Guard defenders. As usual they were aiming for tanks, APCs, artillery peices, MG nests, and bunkers. Instead of last time, though, they also took great care in strafing and destroying any soldier with a Starstreak launcher.

And yet, there was no ambush. There were also no targets for the Ezaltian aircraft, observers would be reporting that the only areas of fighting appeared to be a large hotel and the ruins of the Imperial Chambers, both surrounded by civilians and Dentaran troops.

Sullen looking citizens parted reluctantly to allow the convoy through, murmurings of 'yet another liberation force' replacing the waving flags and cheering crowds that some of the soldiers were undoubtedly expecting.

"They're still coming sir! Look out!"

Another volley of Sterotopian bullets whined over their heads as the Naashans lay prone behind whatever cover they could find. Irritated, McGovan picked up the megaphone again.

"We surrender! Stop shooting at us!"

Hearing the gunshot, several teams immediately detonated their breaching charges, followed by a mix of several flashbangs and frag grenades being thrown into each doorway. Hearing the detonations, the assault teams charged into each room, firing their rifles and moving quickly to take over the ground floor of the Grand Raven Hotel.

Meanwhile, another UH-60 Blackhawk sped towards the Grand Raven Hotel, flying between buildings where possible to minimize it's profile, carrying a squad of Ghosts to the Grand Raven Hotel to begin another assault, this one from the roof.

The Empress Guard on the ground floor of the lobby had been incapacitated by the flashbang grenades, and were quickly overrun. The Dentarans would find the remaining lower level rooms empty, and the lift to the basement out of operation.

Firing down the large staircase from the upper landing, Empress Guard machine gunners were trying to pin the enemy in the doorway and on the base of the stairs.

The commander of the sterotopian forces yelled "Stop shooting, they have surrended!"
Imedetily all of the shooting stoped and the troops ran towards the peopel defending the beach with wire hand cuff's out ready to take everyone prisoner

The Naashan infantry around the city surrendered peacefully to the Sterotopians, most seemed a little relieved to be out of the firing line. The unit's commander caught the eye of a senior looking Sterotopian.

"On behalf of the Naashan Conscript Division, I formally surrender to you. My men have already stood down and we shan't be any trouble. Let's hope you give those real Imperials in the north a good bashing eh?"

Grinning, he held out his hands to be cuffed.

Good afternoon citizens of Naasha and Surdun. I, Thomas Lenrov, leader of the UNNS am appearing this afternoon to bring you both wonderful and sad news.

First of all, I would like to send a message to the people of Ackistan, from all of us here in the UNNS, and indeed I expect, all of the Naashan peoples.

We of Naasha, and Surdun, feel for you in your plight, and recognise that your government acted negligently by bringing such destruction around you. That is why the UNNS will be opening up our two nations to any Ackistani refugees who wish to make our nations your new home. We will be accepting any Ackistani government and military personnel currently on our soil, or indeed any who wish to seek refuge here, as we feel we owe them a debt for their help in freeing our nations.

Now, in light of these events, it has become apparent to us that our nations must present a stronger, more united front to the world at large, so that we may never again be bullied by foreign aggressors. As such, the UNNS will be taking over all Naashan government affairs, until such a time as the flagging governments of both our nations have been totally removed and a democratic election can be held.

The UNNS cause grows stronger every day, our soldiers, freedom fighters and volunteers, along with our allies, have almost completely removed the Imperial government from power, this will be completed within a few days. The city of Reyvver is in UNNS hands, and Naash has been handed over to us by Imperialist troops who no longer wish to fight. Indeed, only the far east of Naasha remains free of our liberating reach, but we will endeavour to drive back the oppressors from all of Naasha within a fortnight.

In Surdun, the UNNS wields more and more clout over the corrupt Surdunni government. Yesterday they handed over control of military facilities in Gunwe to us, they are weak, and ripe to fall. This will be down to you, the people of the Surdunni nation.

I will speak to you again once your liberation is complete, and with the help of our allies, a democratic election prepared.

Until then, I bid you goodnight.

The tanks continued to drive further into Sandya, and still had yet to encounter any Imperialist opposition. Colonel Bronsworth was getting more wary by the second.

OOC: Iv had some trouble replying
I type it up and hit reply and it just doesnt post :S

The commander of the sterotopian forces nodded hes head at the man, and carried on walking past checking that everything was ok
He got onto hes radio
"We need a prisoner transport ship brought in as soon as possible"
"Roger that it should be here soon"
One Hour Pass's
"Ok get them all onto that ship now"
The sterotopian troops started to move all the prinosners onto the ship

As the Ezaltian tanks moved toward the city centre they would notice the sounds of gunfire coming from the east of them as Dentaran forces stormed the Grand Raven Hotel. Directly ahead was the sounds of shouting and the occasional crack of a rifle, usually accompanied shortly afterward by screams.

As the tanks rounded the latest twisting intersection they could see the remains of the Imperial Chambers up ahead, the huge black stone structure squatting in ruins, surrounded by an iron fence.

Around the fence were crowds of Naashan citizens, average people dressed as if they had just finished work, for the most part. They were rattling the iron bars of the fence, screaming and shouting at black clothed soldiers inside.

Even as Colonel Bronsworth looked on, one man raised his rifle and fired directly into the crowd, knocking several people down and driving them back from the large pair of gates that were swaying precariously from the weight of humanity pressed against them.

OOC: Not a problem Sterotops, Jolt can be quite merciless, I always tend to ctrl-c my posts just before hitting submit, just in case.

The surprised soldiers allowed themselves to brought aboard the ships, a sort of worried muttering filled the air. Feeling his men's anxiety, Marshall McGovan again spoke up.

"I err... do suppose we're safe and everything. Where are you taking us? Sorry to seem a little suspicious but the men and I have seen some nasty things in our time."

As the Ezaltian tanks moved toward the city centre they would notice the sounds of gunfire coming from the east of them as Dentaran forces stormed the Grand Raven Hotel. Directly ahead was the sounds of shouting and the occasional crack of a rifle, usually accompanied shortly afterward by screams.

As the tanks rounded the latest twisting intersection they could see the remains of the Imperial Chambers up ahead, the huge black stone structure squatting in ruins, surrounded by an iron fence.

Around the fence were crowds of Naashan citizens, average people dressed as if they had just finished work, for the most part. They were rattling the iron bars of the fence, screaming and shouting at black clothed soldiers inside.

Even as Colonel Bronsworth looked on, one man raised his rifle and fired directly into the crowd, knocking several people down and driving them back from the large pair of gates that were swaying precariously from the weight of humanity pressed against them.

"Forward!" Bronsworth cried, and the Behemoth advanced, honking its horn to warn the civilians to get out of the way. Then it drove right into the fence, flattening it and clearing the way for infantry to get inside. Bronsworth's tank opened up on the Imperialists with its M240s and chainguns, mowing them down.

The fence gave way under the enormous tank's onslaught, civilians scattering for cover as the giant machine forced it's way into the courtyard before the Imperial Chambers.

The Empress Guardsmen had at least seen the tank coming, but two men were not fast enough and were cut down by the machine gun fire before they could find cover.

The remainder of the infantry fell back quickly into the semi-ruined structure, taking up ambush positions out of sight of the various entry-ways.

After accepting a flower from a smiling Naashan five-year-old girl, Lieutenant Andrew Copperfield hefted his G-36 and steppe through the flattened fence with the rest of his platoon. A soldier armed with a MG4 led the way, training his machine gun into the empty doorway as Andrew and several other Marines took positions on wither side.

After a few seconds, Andrew pumped his fist up and down, the universal signal for 'advance.' His men did so, their assault rifles at the ready as they walked cautiously down the hallway.

Lieutenant Jargan of the Imperial Ghosts watched from his vantage point as the Ezaltian tank drove through the fence and opened up on the Empress Guard. 'Gents, looks like we won't have to wait for our support. Check your weapons and stow all gear. You all did well in storming the bunkered buildings earlier today, but this is a much tougher nut to crack. Everyone ready? Good. MOVE IN!'

Charging out from a ruined building, two squads of Ghosts began their long-awaited assault on the Imperial Chambers. Charging up alongside the Exaltian forces, they approached one of the entrances and began the long, difficult and obviously ambush-ridden job of securing the Imperial Chambers.

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

The UH-60 carrying a squad of Ghosts to the Grand Raven hotel flew through the streets of Sandya at breackneck speed. Swinging around another corner, the Ghosts inside grinned and checked their weapons as the UH-60 rapidly approached the rooftop of the Grand Raven Hotel. Down below, on the recently secured 1st floor, the Dentaran Imperial Infantry opened up with a fullisade of automatic rifle and heavy machine-gun fire to try and cover the sound of the UH-60 for as long as possible.

Jumping from the chopper, the Ghosts ran to the doorway, set a breaching charge, and blasted their way through, before tossing a pair of frag grenades down through. Hearing the twin thumps of the detonations, they dived through as the Infantry on the bottom floor began their push to take full control of the Hotel.

"Hey, guys," Lieutenant Copperfield said as the Dentaran Ghosts joined them. "Lovely day to capture an Empress, eh?"

Trooper Gowen heard the slow footsteps of the leading Ezaltians as they made their way inside. Clutching his rifle to his chest he leaned back even further into the deep shadow of a doorway. He saw the shadow of the first man walk past, and then the second. A pause, then one more.

Hearing no more noises in the hallway he scrambled out from his precarious hiding place and opened fire on the back of the man ahead of him. Unfortunately for him he had misjudged the Ezaltian numbers, and had actually emerged about halfway through their line.

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

The Dentarans weren't given such a quiet start to their task, the first man into the building, a different wing to the Ezaltian entry point, was faced with a corridor partially filled with rubble.

They waited for the enemy to get in range, maybe half way along the corridor, before two soldiers began firing their assault rifles from the shadows, now illuminated by their muzzle flashes.

The muffled sound of the breeching charges, two floors up from the defenders, went completely unnoticed by the Empress Guards on the second floor, who were desperately defending the main stairway.

Access to the two upper floors was via two curving stairwells on either end of the building. Each stairwell had a man at the lower door, but otherwise the EG resistance was centered around holding back the Dentaran surge from below.

One man leaned out from behind a corner, pulling the pin from a grenade and pulling back his arm to toss it downstairs. He took a round in the chest and crumpled, actually rolling halfway down the large carpeted staircase before the grenade detonated somewhere underneath him, spraying the walls with gore.

Andrew whirled around as he heard the gunshots and the scream behind him. Lance Corporal Victor Stebbins was down on the floor, blood gushing out of his back and his G-36 still clutched in his hand. In a split second, Andrew knew he was dead. However, before long, the marine behind him raised his rifle and opened up on the Naashan trooper, gunning him down. The Ezaltian marines were more cautious now.

OOC: Naasha, what's the standard service rifle for your guys?

OOC: The Empress Guard use a weapon of their choice, this is usually an AK-47 due to their cheapness and quantity.

And cautious they should be, the EG were going to make them pay for every step they took, even here when all was already lost.

Further up that corridor, past several twists and turns, Trooper Gavig was laying down the next Naashan ambush. A fine trip wire, stretched at shin-height across the walkway, either end attached to rather vicious looking mines on either side of the corridor.

Hearing the Ezaltian approach, he finished up and turned to run down the corridor to the relative safety of a shadowy doorway. In his haste though, he tripped over a loose piece of rubble on the darkened floor and fell.

Twisting desperately to avoid setting off his own trap, the man landed heavily on one side of the corridor, grunting he tried to rise but couldn't. As the enemy drew near he put his face into the ground and tried to look dead.

"What was that?" Sergeant Grimes whispered, raising his G-36 as he heard the clatter.
"Dunno," Andrew replied, his hand resting comfortably in his rifle's molded grip. "Be careful."
They advanced a few more paces before they saw the trooper sprawled in the hallway. It was odd because for one, they had not been here yet, and two, there was no blood. "I think he's faking it," Grimes muttered, aiming his rifle at the body. Andrew nodded, and then pulled the pin from a flash-bang grenade and threw it down the hall.

OOC: I think this'll set off the mines.

And sure enough, a blinding white flash filled the dark hall briefly, followed by the deep booms of the two mines exploding. Trooper Gavig's unfortunate body took the brunt of one of the mines, which was only about a metre from his head, the end result was naturally rather grisly.

OOC: It's spelled 'grisly.' My good deed for the day.

IC: "Damn," Grimes said reverently as the two mines went off.
"Yeah," Copperfield agreed, checking his G-36 yet again. "Stay on your toes, gents, I don't think we'll be quite so lucky next time."

They had penetrated deep into the structure now, around the next corner the Ezaltians would find a large doorway leading to what was the throne room, now serving as a temporary operations control centre.

Piled across the doorway, which featured a rather obvious lack of door, were several filing cabinets, clearly plundered from nearby offices, and behind the cabinets, several bloodthirsty Imperialists glaring down the sights of their weapons.

OOC: are the cabinets compeltely covering the doorway, or are they only a barricade near the floor, so the Imperialists can shoot over therm?

As if in response to the Ezaltians thoughts, an Imperialist soldier fired off a short burst from his position kneeling behind the barricade, which was about three foot high.

"Holy crap!" Grimes yelled, pulling his head back as the bullets cracked past. "Hostiles! Around the corner!"
Andrew nodded and looked at his grenadier, a soldier with a AG36 grenade launcher attached to his rifle. The man punched in a grenade, poked his rifle around the corner, and fired.

The grenade whistled against the barricade and detonated a second later. One of the defenders who was shielded from the actual blast, was still hurled across the room from the shockwave. The uppermost cabinet of the blockade swayed and then fell down, crushing another Guardsman to death.

Fresh soldiers rushed to take up positions on either side of the door, and a grenade was hurled back down the corridor in response, while the remainder of the troops tried to suppress the Ezaltians with more gunfire.

OOC: Is it too late to send in troops?

And by the way, can someone resume the combats and operations so far? I dont have enough time to read through all of the thread.

OOC: Ummmm... I think (checks map) Keyremar and Rosaa in the far east of Naasha are still Imperialist, even if it is in name only... Or you could launch a surprise invasion of Surdun in support of the UNNS to remove Surdun's corrupt, if rather ineffectual regime.

Alright, thread started when Naasha tried to annex their southern neighbour in Surdun. The world (Clandonia and Cravan) got involved and pushed them out, Clandonia invaded Naasha and commited various atrocities before withdrawing under a treaty mediated by Ackistan.

A terrorist group, the UNNS, aiming to knock out the Naashan government and unify Naasha and Surdun under one, democratic regime, gathered international support. They launched an invasion of Naasha, helped by Ackistan briefly.

Progress was slow until Ezaltia, Dentara and Sterotops formed a coalition force to invade Naasha and topple the Imperials. Dentara staged a landing at an airbase north of the capital, Sandya, and has almost completed liberation of that city.

Sterotops made an amphibious assault on Morgur in the west and took that city.

Ezaltian tanks captured Vogrost and Forstvir in the west and spearheaded a drive into Sandya to relieve the Dentarans, the Imperials in the city are either dead, surrendered, or fighting in the ruins of the Imperial Chambers and a hotel housing government ministers.

The UNNS took control of Reyvver, a northern city, and the port of Samka. Naash, a southern military city fell when the Imperial troops stood down and returned home.

The long term aim for the coalition is to remove the Imperial government and stabilise the nation, the UNNS wish to remove the Surdunni government and bring that country into the fold too.

The grenade whistled against the barricade and detonated a second later. One of the defenders who was shielded from the actual blast, was still hurled across the room from the shockwave. The uppermost cabinet of the blockade swayed and then fell down, crushing another Guardsman to death.

Fresh soldiers rushed to take up positions on either side of the door, and a grenade was hurled back down the corridor in response, while the remainder of the troops tried to suppress the Ezaltians with more gunfire.

"Grenade! Grenade! Watch out!" Soldiers scattered as the explosive bounced once and then detonated, instantly killing one of them. Another was hurled out into the hallway, where he was cut down by gunfire. In response, two soldiers carrying AT-4 rocket launchers took aim and fired at the barricade, assisted by three more grenadiers and their AG36s.

The two guardsmen left at the barricade were hurled aside like ragdolls as the rockets struck the cabinets, which exploded in a hail of deadly shrapnel. The room's remaining five occupants had overturned heavy looking metal tables, and now opened up on the doorway with their weapons.

"Advance!" Copperfield yelled, and the MG4s and MG36s behind him opened up on the Imperialists, trying to make them put their heads down long enough for the Ezaltian troops to find new cover further up. Andrew pulled the pin from a frag grenade and hurled it into the room. Grimes, across the hall, did the same, and they both waited for the detonations.

OOC: Lots of explosives going off here, I gotta say.

Fortunately the grenades both dropped short of the overturned tables, and exploded roughly in the centre of the room, far enough away from the soldiers to not injure them.

Unfortunately, what the grenades did do was weaken further the already damaged ceiling of the room, and large chunks of plaster rained down on the defenders, reducing visibility greatly in the swirling, choking mist that followed.

OOC: Ummmm... I think (checks map) Keyremar and Rosaa in the far east of Naasha are still Imperialist, even if it is in name only... Or you could launch a surprise invasion of Surdun in support of the UNNS to remove Surdun's corrupt, if rather ineffectual regime.

Alright, thread started when Naasha tried to annex their southern neighbour in Surdun. The world (Clandonia and Cravan) got involved and pushed them out, Clandonia invaded Naasha and commited various atrocities before withdrawing under a treaty mediated by Ackistan.

A terrorist group, the UNNS, aiming to knock out the Naashan government and unify Naasha and Surdun under one, democratic regime, gathered international support. They launched an invasion of Naasha, helped by Ackistan briefly.

Progress was slow until Ezaltia, Dentara and Sterotops formed a coalition force to invade Naasha and topple the Imperials. Dentara staged a landing at an airbase north of the capital, Sandya, and has almost completed liberation of that city.

Sterotops made an amphibious assault on Morgur in the west and took that city.

Ezaltian tanks captured Vogrost and Forstvir in the west and spearheaded a drive into Sandya to relieve the Dentarans, the Imperials in the city are either dead, surrendered, or fighting in the ruins of the Imperial Chambers and a hotel housing government ministers.

The UNNS took control of Reyvver, a northern city, and the port of Samka. Naash, a southern military city fell when the Imperial troops stood down and returned home.

The long term aim for the coalition is to remove the Imperial government and stabilise the nation, the UNNS wish to remove the Surdunni government and bring that country into the fold too.

OOC: So, you are almost done then.

Oh well, next time.

Copperfield slapped a new magazine into his G-36, loading in the first bullet with a satisfying click. These grenades weren't doing much. It was time to get down and dirty with these Imperialists. He glanced behind him, where a trio of soldiers armed with UMP-40 submachine guns were taking cover behind a pillar. He gestured to them, pointing to the door and dragging a hand across his throat. The soldiers nodded, so Andrew yelled "Covering fire!"

The machine guns opened up again, and the SMG-weilding soldiers dashed towards the doorway, trying to get close enough to do some serious damage with their UMPs.

"Get them!"

The two men behind the table directly opposite the door returned fire briefly with their AK-47's while the enemy were in the open. One man was cut down by the incoming enemy bullets, and the other was forced to duck back down as bullets whined off the heavy table.

One soldier let out a Wilhelm scream as he was gunned down, but the other two managed to make it inside the doorway, dashing behind the table and cutting loose into the Imperialist soldier behind it.

...who was cut down in a hail of bullets. The remaining Naashans, three of them, began firing on what they could see of the Ezaltian's backs.

Sadly, both of the Ezaltians were killed. They hadn't seen the Imperialists behind them, and paid the price.

"Shit," Copperfield cursed as he saw the soldiers fall. Looks like we'll have to go back to our grenades. He gestured towards the three grenadiers, who punched the explosives into their AG36s, dashed closer to the doorway, and fired.

This time they fired to deadly effect too. All three Naashans were caught in the shrapnel of the grenade's detonations as they stood and fired into the Ezaltian ranks, this wing of the Chambers at least, was in Ezaltian hands.

"Finally," Lieutenant Copperfield sighed, stepping over the mangled bodies at the head of his platoon. He looked around the chambers, impressed by the ver expensive-looking ornaments and furniture. Consoles and TV screens were spread all around the room, which apparently had just been abandoned. However, the fight was not over yet.

OOC: are there any other places to go in this building?

OOC: I guess you could look for a way into the other wing to flank my guys who are fighting Dentara's 'Ghosts'.

OOC: of course, I really have no way of knowing where the Ghosts are. So I think I'll just sit tight here and wait for Dentara to make his move.

One of the stertopian soliders heard the man

"You will be taken off shore and then will be transfered to a prinson, you are perfecttly safe"

The soliders carried on helping people on to the ship

The Naashans cooperated with their captors, although several mutterings began at the word 'prison'. From what they had heard, most of their comrades had been pretty much set free once they surrendered.

OOC: Ezaltia, could you have your guys attack the hotel that Dentara was storming? We can get this over with quickly that way.

OOC: sure thing.

The two V-22 Ospreys roared low over the city, escorted by a quartet of Ka-50s. One chopper landed on the roof, and soldiers poured out, jumping through fire exits and storming into the building. The other Osprey hovered over the street as the soldiers zip-lined out, smashing open the main entrance and moving inside. The two teams would work their way to each other, searching every story, room by room. If the Empress were here, she would not escape.

The enemy reinforcements swept past the Dentarans, who were bloodied and pinned down, if not exactly losing by any stretch of the imagination. The Ezaltians would run into concentrated fire coming down the staircase up from the lobby to the first floor.

The enemy on the roof however, would be descending by two spiralling staircases at either end of the hotel. They would find the upper two levels clear, although it was obvious the rooms had been occupied.

On the first floor, a lone guard stood outside each doorway leading to the staircases, their backs to them as they watched the firefight rage further down the corridor.

Lobby

"That way!" Captain Kevin Youngblood ordered, pumping his fist towards the main stairway. The machine-gunners took point as the platoon advanced, but three of them were cut down by the withering hail of fire coming from the top of the stairs. Three more soldiers were killed as the Ezaltians scrambled for cover, upon which they began pumping bullets and grenades into the Imperialist forces.

Top Floor

"Clear!"
"Clear!"
"Clear!"
Captain Youngblood's subordinate, a young lieutenant straight out of the Academy named David Alanson, added to the chorus of 'clears' as he entered the room, which was empty. As far as he could tell, the entire floor was empty, and his men were getting nervous. He had heard stories about the Naashan ambushes.

OOC: lobby to first floor...are you British?

OOC: British indeed.

At the top of the stairs the first grenade went off with an explosive crack. The three men holding the stairway were knocked to the ground instantly, drying up the stream of Naashan bullets pinning down the attackers. The remaining defenders grabbed their weapons, cursing loudly, and kicked open various doorways from which to shelter in.

Trooper Yurinov was startled by the muffled bang of a door slamming upstairs. It might have been the wind, but dammed if the Empress Guard were going to take anything by chance. Cocking his weapon, he ascended the side staircase slowly. Peering through the glass window in the doors to the level directly above, he caught sight of a soldier in the corridor.

Unthinking, he eased open the door and fired his rifle at the man, unaware of the other enemy soldiers that might be around.

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

The sounds of the firefight above were still raging, but dammed if Terenga was going to listen to them anymore. There were only two things he wanted in the world now, to get out of this damn basement the EG had locked himself and his government colleagues in, and to see the men who did it shot, whether by Naashan or enemy fire, it didn't matter.

Banging loudly on the service doorway which was located behind the counter in the lobby, he shouted at the top of his voice, trying to be heard over the din of battle.

"Olivier! Greilich! Stay here and hld this position! If any Imperialist sets his foot in this lobby, shoot him! Everybody else, forward!" The Ezaltian troopers surged up the stairs, immediately ducking back behind doorways and various objects when the Naashans began firing again.

Alanson saw the muzzle flash a second before the bullets caught him in the shoulder, right in the joint between his ceramic breastplate and the Kevlar arm protection. He fell to the floor as a sergeant stepped over him, raising his MG4 and pumping bullets into the Naashan in the doorway.

"Hey, Sean, you hear that?"
"Yeah, where's it coming from?"
"Dunno. Let's find out."
The two privates hefted their rifles and walked around the lobby, eventually going behind the service desk and finding the door. Olivier aimed his G-36 at the door as Greilich opened it, ready to gun down anybody inside, if need be.

OOC: yeah, that makes sense. Gotta love the Brits ;)

They only saw a flash of movement as the Ezaltians charged across the corridor and into cover, but the quickest few Imperials managed to squeeze off a few bullets in their direction. Signalling for covering fire, Corporal Farrer pulled the pin from a frag grenade and tossed it toward the Ezaltian's positions in the hallway.

Yurinov saw his mistake the second he finished firing his volley, the Ezaltian Sergeant stepped from behind his comrade, he had been shielded by the man's body, and returned fire. The EG trooper took a bullet to the leg and dropped to the ground, cursing and losing his rifle on the way.

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

The assembled ranks of fourteen of Imperialist Naasha's politicians, General Terenga's angry red face loomed up from the dark, squinting to recognise the soldiers.

"Let us out! You have no right to keep us down here, we are your government!"

Squinting further at the men, he realised they were the enemy.

"Oh... Dentaran eh? Well, if you'd be so kind as to let me and my colleagues out of here so we can get back to defeating these rebel scum..."

"Grenade! Take cover!" Youngblood yelled, and the Ezaltian scattered, trying to get as far away from the blast as possible. One unfortunate soldier tripped as he tried to run, and was killed when the grenade went off. Anothe soldier was cut down by Imperialists bullets as he tried to run.
"Give 'em some of their own medicine, gents!" Youngblood cried as he pulled the pin from one of his own frag grenades and hurled it down the corridor. His grenade was joined by five others, aling with three launched by the grenadier's AG36s.

"Dentarans? We oughta shoot them just for that," Greilich scoffed as he leveled his rifle at the Naashan politicians.
Olivier chuckled as he grabbed Terenga by his collar and heaved him outside, gesturing his his gun for the others to follow. After they were all patted down and lying on the floor, Olivier contacted Captain Youngblood. "Hey, sir, we've got around fifteen of these Imperialist buggers. Politicians, looks like. What should we do?"
Over the din of gunfire and explosions, Youngblood yelled back, "Just keep them there! We're a bit busy here!"
"Yes, sir."
"You can both expect a promotion for this, though."
Meanwhile, Greilich was pacing the floor, making sure his combat boots made the most intimidating noise possible. "You stay here, and don't move a bit. I'm looking for an excuse to shoot every single one of you fuckers, so it would pay not to piss me off."

OOC: is Yurinov on the same floor Youngblood's men are on? (the first floor to you, second floor to me)

OOC: No, the floor above the main fighting, he went upstairs to check out the noises you guys made on the roof.

Corporal Farrer saw the grenade land directly outside the room he was sheltering in, thinking fast he slammed the door shut just in time as the detonation rocked the wooden frame. Others hadn't been so quick, four Naashans had been killed, two by grenades and two by enemy fire. The remaining EG continued to fire back along the corridor at the Ezaltians.

Cowed, Terenga lay with his face pressed into the carpet, apparently all soldiers were as bad as each other. As the Minister for Defence he was the most senior present, although the white faced 'Minister for Special Operations' was nearly on par with him he guessed.

Youngblood's platoon continued to pump bullets down the corridor, and although they were taking losses, they seemed to be driving the Imperialists back. They continued to advance under heavy covering fire from the machine gunners behind.

"Medic!" Sergeant Major Percy DeTomasso yelled as he knelt down beside the wounded Lieutenant Alanson, pressing both hands down on his shoulder to try and stem the flow of blood. The medic was there in an instant, his G-36 slung across his back as he began to take off the lieutenant's breastplate and Kevlar armor in order to apply a field dressing. He looked up at Sergeant DeTomasso, who was aiming his MG4 down the hallway, ready to gun down any Naashan who showed his face in the doorway. "You'd better go on ahead," the medic advised. "I'll be fine here."
"All right," Percy nodded, and began barking orders. In seconds, the entire force was moving down the stairs, readu to reinforce Youngblood's men. Behind them, the medic picked Alanson up and set him gently down on one of the hotel beds to make him more comfortable as he was treated.

The Sergeant Major's force couldn't have picked a better tactical position for themselves if they'd had the chance. Coming down the building's northern staircase they found themselves staring down the second floor (I'll use Ezaltian floor references for simplicity) corridor.

About twenty yards away from them stood the nearest Naashan, firing at Youngblood's men further down the hall. The Empress Guard was caught in a deadly crossfire.

OOC: thanks.

DeTomasso dashed to the nearest Naashan and pressed his machine gun against his back, yelling, "Drop your weapon and get down on the ground!"
The rest of his platoon joined in, aiming their rifles at the Imperialists and ordering them to surrender.

And to be fair... a few of the younger members complied, dropping their weapons and raising their hands, the trouble was, Corporal Farrer and his veterans who were right in the middle of the conflict, simply gunned down their surrendering comrades, actually choosing them over the Ezaltians who were returning fire.

"Deserters and mutineers will be executed!" bellowed Farrer, even as his men were going down left, right and centre. Even as he made his final defiant cry, a bullet ripped through his chest, knocking him to the ground, rifle firing wildly at the ceiling.

The Empress Guard had been defeated, and with them, the Imperial regime's last serious chance of resisting the coalition invasion.

"What a waste," Captain Youngblood sighed, stepping over the mangled body of a Imperialist soldier. "Where's Alanson?"
Sergeant DeTomasso stepped forward, his SAW slung behind his back. "He was shot, sir. Corporal Evans is taking care of him."
Kevin nodded as he reached down and closed the eyes of a dead Naashan. Enemy or not, he at least deserved some dignity. He was roused alert when his earpiece squawked, "Cap? We've still got these buggers down here..."
"Oh, right. I'll be there in a second. Sergeant, you take the rest and continue to sweep the building. These guys were probably the last of them, but it never hurts to check."
"Yes, sir."

He raised his eyebrows as he saw the fourteen officials spread out on the floor under the watchful eyes of the two privates. "Good show, lads," he congratulated them. "Let's load 'em up on the chopper and bring them to the UNNS."

A few minutes later, the V-22 was roaring off to the UNNS headquarters of *INSERT CITY HERE*, carrying its precious cargo.

Gregor Radinar, Operations Director for the UNNS was the first to receive the messages from the frontline. It appeared that the capital had been taken by combined Ezaltian and Dentaran forces. Calling together the remainder of the UNNS Command in Arkam, he addressed them.

"Comrades! It appears that our allies have struck what may well be the decisive blow against the oppressors. They have completed the liberation of Sandya and defeated the EG fanatics!"

A ragged cheer rose amongst the assembled members, which was silenced by a stern glare from Radinar.

"That will be enough my friends. We shall leave the rejoicing for the common people who have been freed from their Imperial overlords. I understand that an Ezaltian transport is on the way here, carrying members of the Imperial government. Our sources believe Terenga is on board, the Prime is unaccounted for, we believe he may have done the honourable thing and ended his miserable life."

One of the commanders, a rugged looking, unshaven Surdunni, who was just barely high enough ranked to be there, stood.

"I say we repay them for the pain they have caused comrades!"

Radinar looked in distaste at the man, who was making crude gestures with a combat knife.

"I doubt that would be looked upon too well by our allies, nor the world at large. We will make arrangements for a trial, quick of course, at the end of which they shall all be put to death for their crimes against humanity."

*********************************************************
"Ezaltian Helicopter Flight 22, UNNS air control. Proceed to Arkam military airbase, that's in northern Surdun. Bear 175 degrees, you are cleared for approach."

"10-4, Air Control. Flight 22 out."

The Osprey slowed down in mid-air as its rotors went from horizontal to vertical, and slowly began to descend. Dust billowed out from the massive downdraft, and the V-22 touched down. The rear dorr opened, and the officials were herded out, their hands flexi-cuffed and under the watchful eyes of a dozen Ezaltian Marines. "Hello," said Captain Youngblood, greeting the UNNS men cheerfully. "What should we do with these slimeballs?"

OOC: I did some reading on those Ospreys, don't they like to crash at inappropriate times? :p

Captain Drosna, the outspoken Surdunni, nodded at a stationary truck, obviously less than enthusiastic with his new role as the jailor, especially as Radinar had ordered his combat knife taken away from him. That had been petty, but probably necessary.

"Seat them in the lorry, it's not a long way to the bunker."

The officials, as well as a few other regional leaders who had been captured elsewhere, were to be held in a refurbished air raid bunker, it had more freedom for the prisoners than cells, but it still had only one door and was pretty much self-contained.

"Come on, gents," Youngblood said, prodding Terenga with the butt of his rifle. "Into the truck with you."
The officials slowly began to meader towards the truck, prodded along by the Ezaltians. Once they were all inside, Kevin went back to Drosna. "So should we stay here, or help you out with these?

OOC: Im going to push thru to where im going quikcly, if you want to resit just say where you want to resit and ill stop and fight you :p
Oh and im a little lazy so i dont want to go thru the pages to find out where im going (gah my memory sucks) so could some one remind me :rolleyes:

The final few men where rounded up and then the sterotopian troops picked up their stuff and radioed to the fleet

"We need our transport vechcials soon, we are ready"
"10-4, they are inbound eta 10 mins"
"Roger"

...

I think the fighting's pretty much over. My Marines just finished off the last Imperialists in Sandya, and most of the Naashan officials are being herded to a prison in Arkam.

OOC: Yeah, Naasha, I heard about that. But MY Ospreys are more secure, using advanced aerodynamic....um.....theory. Yeah.

The unhappy Surdunni half shrugged. "It's up to you comrade."

Not looking back to see if the Ezaltians had joined the prisoners in the back of the truck he waved to the driver.

The vehicle drove for only about half a mile, eventually pulling up at a compound on the edge of the airbase, surrounded by chain link fences and barbed wire. Once inside, the truck slowed to a halt and the driver disembarked, lighting a cigarette as he watched several burly soldiers roughly herd the captives toward a steel door in a squat grey concrete building.

"Oh well," Youngblood shrugged as the trucks peeled away without them. "Let's go home, chaps. It's been a long campaign."
They piled onto the Osprey, which took off and began to fly back towards the carrier.

All over Naasha, Ezaltian troops were piling back into trucks and APCs. Tanks and helicopters joined them as they began to move back to the ports, where they were brought back to the ships.

OOC: Yeah, my troops are pulling out and heading back home. However, I am sending humanitarian aid to help the reconstruction. Where was that Empress anyway?

OOC: She actually went into exile before you got involved, maybe before you started your nation even, I kept forgetting to point that out.

"... and on the behalf of all remaining Imperial forces in Naasha, I do hereby surrender on the terms that myself and all remaining Imperial personnel in the field are allowed to return home and are left unmolested."

Marshall Reed shifted nervously at the podium, which was situated directly in front of a large UNNS flag. The old regime had treated him well, as a divisional commander he had found life easy, and hadn't really been aware of what his troops had been ordered to do. This was an easy announcement for him to make, and provided his captors held up their end of the bargain, it was an awful lot better than what he had been expecting. Maybe these crazed barbarians and southern terrorists were fit to run the country after all.

"To any Imperial soldiers watching this, as my last order to you I tell you to lay down your weapons and return home. Live as peaceful a life as you can, it was a pleasure to command men like yourselves."

Breathing a small sigh of relief, Reed stepped back from the podium and climbed into a waiting military jeep. Leaning forward, he addressed the UNNS driver.

"Home now please, my part is done and I shall enjoy watching how this new government turns out!"