NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: For detailed information, see the OOC Thread HERE (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=506840).)

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The Bramstokeran Civil War: Guns of Patriots

War shall yet be, and to the end;
But war-paint shows the streaks of weather;
War yet shall be, but the warriors
Are now but operatives; War's made
Less grand than Peace,
And a singe runs through lace and feather

~ Herman Melville: A Utilitarian View of the Monitor’s Fight

A man dies like a butterfly,
Life burns from the touch of the Reaper,
All things must pass,
One love is a crooked lie,
The world lies in the hands of evil,
And we pray it would last…

~ Apocalyptica: Life Burns

---

Chronology of Events

1 November 2006
- The ‘November Revolution’; following tensions between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and right-wing opposition groups, a military coup by the Bramstoker Self Defence Forces places the leaders of the Neo-fascist United Bramstoker Party in power. President Johnathon Rawlings declares a Fascist Theocracy, and appoints a Provisional Government ahead of elections for a new National Parliament.
- Threats of retribution by international community lead to nothing.
- The new government organises diplomatic relations with the Allied States of Dai Yuddha Ossyria and begins economic ties.
- The Ministry for Covert Affairs, under a wide-ranging brief from the President, purchase three NW-590 atomic weapons from the Leafanistani Mafia, totalling 12 kilotons of destructive power each, retrofitted into aircraft-carried bombs. A mistake by the Ministry of Covert Affairs in payment details results in the Bramstoker government being left with a massive debt they are unable to pay with the current military budget.

3 November 2006
– Rawlings informs the Cabinet as to the purchase of nuclear weapons and resulting economic crisis. Plans are drawn up for dealing with the issue of payment through printing extra Bramstoker Dollars (B$) and the resulting inflationary effects on the Bramstoker economy, known as the ‘Black Protocol’. The plan entails government rationing of basic items to minimise civil unrest, and the deployment of military forces to populated areas in the event of public disobedience to the government.

4 November 2006
- President Rawlings addresses the nation on the economic crisis, accusing a foreign blockade as the result of increasing prices due to a limit in supply. Rawlings declares a State of Emergency and promises to resolve the crisis.
- First indications of economic crisis begin. The B$ loses a fifth of its value in twelve hours, and prices on imported goods and domestic goods reliant on imported components begin to rise rapidly.

5 November 2006
- First indications of civil unrest being to be reported, involving price disputes in shops and retailers across the country. Issues minimal, but growing.
- A group of Bramstoker citizens attack the semi-constructed embassy of the Allied States of Dai Yuddha Ossyria following the President’s speech against foreign nations. Bramstoker Self Defence Force Infantry accidentally open fire upon the protesters, leaving twelve civilians dead.
- Additions to the ‘Black Protocol’ discussed and enacted at the daily Cabinet meeting. A proposal to the Allied States to being purchasing B$ to stabilise the currency is accepted unanimously. President Rawlings orders Marshall Walsh, the senior military officer, to begin working with the Ministry of Covert Affairs to counteract possible dissent within the government, and orders the bugging of ministerial offices.
- Minister of Defence George Hesseltine, Minister for Internal Security Donald Frankson and Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs Greg Davis approach Minister for Economic Affairs Lawrence Yardley with concerns about President Rawlings. The three propose the former to take President Rawlings place in the event of the situation getting out of hand.

6 November 2006
- Leafanistani Mafia being black market operations in Bramstoker, attempting to alleviate the issue of food shortages in the rationing system whilst making a profit at the same time. These actions allow the Mafia a supply route into the country for future operations.

12 November 2006
- The economic crisis begins to abate. The B$ begins climbing again to its former value, albeit at a slow rate of ascent. Economic instability and civil unrest is still a danger, but looks to begin abating in the near future.
- Bugging of ministerial offices in completed.
- Large protest is carried out in Red Valley City by several political parties, headed by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Communist Party as the two largest political opposition groups. The group declares to march on the capital. General Jacob Taylor, Commander of the Southern Military Command, secedes the military forces under his command to a democratic leadership formed by the opposition political parties. The Democratic Alliance is unofficially formed.
- Conspirators Hesseltine, Frankson and Davis discover this development, and convince Yardley to take part in a vote of no confidence at the Cabinet meeting that afternoon. The conversation is heard by the intelligence operatives of the Ministry for Covert Affairs and the President himself. President Rawlings orders the deaths of the conspirators.
- Conspirators killed on their way to the Cabinet meeting and torched inside their vehicle on the outskirts of Bramstoker City.
- Government begins to assess its response to the Democratic Alliance.

---

Red Valley City was the largest settlement in the south of the country, with a population of several million. Standing as the regional capital for the entire south of the country, Red Valley City was a central hub for internal and external trade out of the Red Valley Port, and also served as the headquarters for the Southern Military Command of the Theocratic Self Defence Forces, or SOUTHCOM. The city had spawned several revolutionary movements, being the founding city of the United Bramstoker Party – the ruling Neo-fascists – and also for militant members of the Communist and various democratic parties. Today, it continued that trend.

The City was thronging with people in the streets, cheering and celebrating the tumultuous events of the last four hours. On the outskirts of the city, soldiers of the Self Defence Forces began consolidating defensive positions in the city, preparing for any possible attack within the next few hours. Armoured vehicles and transports were fuelled, supply depots were opened and ammunition was being dispersed. Following General Taylor’s secession of command authority to a democratic leadership, the highest members of the Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, and the Communists had immediately gone into conference with the leadership of the smaller democratic-aligned political groups to actually form a democratic leadership. The result was the Democratic Alliance; an executive council of the leading members of the LDP, the Communist Party, the Conservative Democrats, the Socialist Democratic Movement and the Green Party, making decisions on a majority vote basis. This Executive Council was currently in its first meeting, gathering in the office of the Red Valley Major.

George Theodore Oxfordton, Chairman of the LDP, stood with his back to the table of political leaders, looking out across Red Valley Square. The protesters were still there, cheering and waving their flags, celebrating their first taste of possible freedom since the fascists took power. He smiled, feeling a warm glow in his stomach. These were his people. He would not let them down.

Turning back to the table, he surveyed the group sitting around the mahogany oak. An assorted bunch, they represented the diverse elements of Bramstoker’s political landscape, united in a common cause. The idealist in Oxfordton took this as promising; the realist in him cautioned against believing this to be any more than an alliance of necessity.

The key worry he had was the Communist Party. Jack Smith, Chairman of the Communists, was a quiet character who kept his cards close to his chest. Nearing his late forties, he was an apt politician that had been working hard to restore the Communist’s traditional power base in the working class – a class that had grown in the economic disparity before the fascist takeover. Oxfordton wondered how democratic Smith was in the manner that Oxfordton believed. The problem was, the Communists were essential, holding a massive power-base in the country. So he sat down at the end of the table and addressed them all.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said in a dramatic sense. “We face a time of crisis in our history. It has come down to us to solve this crisis. It is our responsibility to bring democracy back to the people.” He paused, looking around the group once more. “We did not ask for this responsibility. But it is ours and ours alone.”

“We have military strength,” he continued, “and support from the people. We must now decide what to do next.”

It was Yvonne Saunders who spoke first. The Chairwoman of the Socialist Democrats, she was a seasoned politician in her middle fifties. “We must move quickly to take advantage of our position,” she said determinedly. “Reynolds must know by now about SOUTHCOM’s secession, and is likely already mobilising his own forces to suppress our uprising. However, he cannot know yet how much strength we maintain, or our immediate actions.”

“I agree,” Chris Watson, Chairman of the Conservative Democrats added. “We must move our forces towards the capital fast, to catch Reynolds off-guard. At the very least, it will extend an area of defence around the city and give us more warning before they knock on Red Valley’s door.”

The table nodded in general agreement. Oxfordton nodded also, more to himself. “So we move our forces for the capital quickly.” He turned to General Taylor, who stood in one corner of the room. “General, is this feasible?”

General Jacob Taylor, now the Supreme Commander of Democratic Alliance forces, nodded his assent. “I would totally agree,” he remarked. “However, I must stress that the military forces under the President’s command is likely to be equal, if not stronger than our own, so speed is of the essence.” He paused, collecting his thoughts. “I would also like to point out,” he added, “that the President is likely to seek outside support for his regime in order to maintain his position of power.”

“You think he might ask for international assistance?” Uriah Jackson, Chairman of the Green Party asked.

The General shrugged. “That is what I would do,” he responded.

Oxfordton nodded. “It is clear therefore,” he surmised, “that we must also ask for international help. How can we do this?”

There was a moment’s silence. Then, Jack Smith spoke up in his quiet voice, causing people to strain to listen. “We have control of the military communication’s network for SOUTHCOM, and the civilian broadcasting transmitters. We can utilise these for our own communications.”

Oxfordton nodded. “Very well,” he said. “The two motions are put to vote.”

Both votes passed unanimously. General Taylor was issued his orders to mobilise his forces and to command a group of Engineers to prepare the broadcasting network. Within a further four hours of the decision being made, as the dusk began to fall over Bramstoker, the military forces of the Democratic Alliance saddled themselves and began to roll north-east along and parallel to the main highway towards Bramstoker City.

It would be a long way to victory, and a bloody path to freedom.

---

The Cabinet of the Bramstoker government sat in stolid silence for several moments as the briefing by Marshall Walsh, the senior military officer in the Self Defence Forces, finished his briefing. Each Minister let the situation sink in; an economic crisis only just coming from the brink of ruin, an entire military command region seceding from government control, and several senior Ministers killed in strange circumstances on their way to the Cabinet meeting. Each man knew why, but would not dare to say anything in front of the man at the head of the table.

President Johnathon Rawlings sat silently, his gaze resting on each assembled Minister in turn. “Gentlemen,” he said sternly. “It is clear that we are in a state of emergency. We cannot, and we will not allow the blatant insurrection against the people’s government to go ahead.”

There was general assent from around the table. Reynolds then turned to Walsh once more. “Marshall, what are our options?”

Walsh took a moment to collect his thoughts. “Mister President, we have roughly equal parity with the seceded forces-”

“Traitors,” interrupted Reynolds sternly, staring hard at the military man.

The Marshall nodded in apology. “With the traitor forces,” he corrected himself. “We also have the benefit of maintaining control of two of the three nuclear bombs in our national stockpile; the one under Northern Command and the one under Capital City Command control, respectively.” Marshall cleared his throat. “I would therefore recommend that we mobilise for an immediate push south-west, to crush this dissent within its cradle.”

Reynolds nodded his assent. “What are our chances?” he asked.

The Marshall considered his words carefully. “With equal parity,” he said levelly, “I would recommend looking towards seeking foreign assistance in this issue.”

The room was silent for a moment as the Minister considered the proposition of foreign military personnel fighting on Bramstokeran soil. Presently, Minister for Foreign Affairs Jack Harrow had the nerve to speak up. “It would allow us a massive opportunity to strengthen our diplomatic standing with the international community,” he ventured to the President. “It would also speed our victory over the traitors and solidify the regime’s position completely.”

Reynolds considered this. “Very well,” he said. “Motions are put to vote.”

The motions passed unanimously, of course. Reynolds smiled. “Mister Harrow,” he said to the Foreign Affairs Minister, “you will facilitate the necessary writing of an appeal to the international community. You will also contact our Ambassador in the Allied States of Dai Yuddha Ossyria and request support from their quarters.”

Jack nodded. Reynolds then looked around the room. “You all have your instructions,” he said clearly. “Dismissed.”

That dusk, the Self Defence Forces of the Bramstoker Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, began mobilising for a deployment south-west. Taking a few hours longer due to a comparatively lower alert rating than their southern counterparts had been, it was a few hours after dusk when the troops and armoured vehicles of the Ground Forces rolled onto the highway. High above, aircraft from both sides began their movement towards each-other, scouting for the other’s position in a game of electronic hide-and-seek. Within just a few hours, the first shots would be fired. Significantly, they would be fired by Bramstokerans upon Bramstokerans, even before foreign personnel became involved.

It would be a long and interesting night.

---

Doctor Peter Sway, Bramstokeran Ambassador to the Allied States of Dai Yuddha Ossyria, breathed a sigh of relief as his armoured limousine re-entered the Bramstoker Embassy and the doors sealed behind them. A pair of infantry saluted the vehicle as it pulled up the driveway to the main building. Doctor Sway had just come from delivering a personal message from President Rawlings to the Office of the President of the Allied States, requesting assistance of any and all kinds to counter the threat of insurrection. Sway had not been given a response at the time, but was instructed to head back to the embassy and await a response. He did not know how this would go, but felt safer within the Allied States than he would have done back home at that time.

The limousine entered the Embassy parking lot, and the bullet-proof garage doors swung shut behind them.

---

Declaration to the World from the Democratic Alliance of Bramstoker

‘Friends, countrymen, comrades of the free world! We require your assistance! Once again, the forces of evil and tyranny seek to blot out the candle flame of democracy and toleration so sparse in this void of blackness that spreads across the world! We must seek to achieve victory against this darkness in all its forms, and we must start now!’

‘The Democratic Alliance represents the opposition to the Fascist UBP in control of Bramstoker that illegally seized power on the back of a military coup earlier this month. Now, it intends to spread its web of tyranny over the population following its economic mismanagement in the last several weeks. We can stand this no longer!’

‘Already, forces of democracy march for the capital with the intent of restoring our valued and beloved democratic institutions of government! We do this with the threat of violence, and we give this threat with a heavy heart but an iron will, for we must triumph for the good of the people! I call upon nations of the free world to assist us in our hour of need – we must show a united front against the forces of darkness that besiege our world!’

George Oxfordton – Liberal Democratic Party Chairman
Jack Smith – Communist Party Chairman
Chris Watson – Conservative Democrats Chairman
Yvonne Saunders – Socialist Democrats Chairwoman
Uriah Jackson – Green Party Chairman

United we stand, divided we fall.
The Democratic Alliance of Bramstoker

---

Official Diplomatic Message

’The Government of the Theocracy of Bramstoker comes to the international community with a dire crisis on its hands. Traitorous forces, intent on the destruction of the popular fascist government of the people, have begun a march towards the capital of our country.’

‘Our armed forces move to meet this threat, but we see danger in the involvement of foreign forces attempting to gain a foothold in our nation through the laughable concept of liberal democracy and its associated weaknesses.’

‘To this end, we ask with steady determination that nations allied with the Fascist Theocracy and like-minded nations unite in the face of these traitors in the form of military and other forms of aid in our continuing fight against those who wish to destabilise our country.’

Johnathon Rawlings, President of the Fascist Theocracy
Jack Harrow, Minister for Foreign Affairs

To, The Democratic Alliance

Hello, my friends. We have recently sized up your forces and see you are in need of a few troops. This we can supply, along with our 3rd Quick Response Taskeforce. (In Signature) We also offer up to Eight Hundred Thousand of the Grand Imperial Jimuhns loyal troops.

All of these can be yours. The only catch is that in your next elections you must have an Pro-Imperialist canidate. That is all, remember this will be yours. But we retain the right to pull back your troops if a larger war break out on our soil.

Official Reply to Bramstoker Goverment from Red Tide Goverment
"We here your cry for help, and have decided to send the 7th & 8th Army Corps, 300,000 men in total, to your nation. They will arrive from the sea, escorted by the 3rd Dreadnough Battlegroup."
End Message

OOC: Im invited, and no, I am not going to play China anymore. Please keep all OOC messages to the signup thread like he requested.

"Most interesting," the Emperor said, leaning back in his chair. This situation had been brewing for a while, and now it seemed it was to fully escilate. Now it was time to choose sides. The Emperor, and in fact the entire Errikan establishment, had always had an aversion to fascism, with its extreme statist policies, and appriciated expansion of democracy; however, Communism is clearly the far greater evil, and the Democratic forces had three major leaders whose policies leaned strongly in that direction, whereas fascists were generally very dependable allies, if not the sort of leaders that one would want to live under. Perhaps now was a time to hand the torch off to the true power in Errikland - the private sector - for a time.

"We will provide no restrictions on trading with both sides."

To: The Democratic Alliance, the Fascist Theocracy
From: Weapson and subsidiaries

The Errikan private sector has taken note of your current predicament, and would like to get involved. The Errikan Corporation Weapson can sell military weapons, ammo, fuel and equipment to you for highly competetive prices, and will, on the behalf of major partners and subsidiaries, also sell foodstuffs (Errikland's main gigantic surplus product), which, at the prices that they provide, can be used to feed not only the army, but any section of the population which is displaced by the war.

Also, Weapson is willing to rent out mercenary armies to any party in the conflict. They are of very high quality and very competetive prices.

OOC note: Errikland will shortly become aware of the Lactian Empire's involvement ICly

OOC: Hehe, like a true RPer you don't know everything, or say you don't but act like you do.

IC:

The Latican Emperor, Airch Rien was appauled by the recent Errikan Empire's decision. Had their alliance been for nothing? This angered the Emperor greatly and knew if the Errikan Empire sold weapons to the Facist mongers that more Latican blood would be spilt. It was good that the Democratic Alliance hadn't called upon them and their troops yet. This would defiently stall the outcome of troop deployment.

The Emperor had to make a decision. He could either attack the Errikan Empire's shipping to the Facist Goverment or withdraw his offer to the Democratic Alliance. He could even decide to send his troops in anyway, but this would lead, most likely, to more casuelties then if the Errikan merchants were not allowed to sell their deadly arsenels to the Facist whores.

"Oh . . . damn."

The Emperor had just discovered the public communique sent from the Lactian Empire, one of Errikland's closest allies, to the Democratic Alliance. This complicated things.

"I want an order issued immediately, limiting all Errikan based enterprises from giving mercenary services to any forces hostile to the Lactians." Technically, since they were allies, this was sort of in effect. However, the law had far too many loopholes that clever corporations could exploit to sell their mercenary services to the Fascists anyway without a specific Imperial Proclamation of Limitation. Loopholes he had specifically pushed through. He liked loopholes. They gave benefits to intelligence. But in this case they would be bad.

For a moment, he toyed with the idea of ordering all trade cut off with the Fascists. It was in his power.

In the end, he decided against it. It would not help their war effort that much to not have to worry about foodstuffs, and having a stable food supply would ultimately help innocent civilians more than soldiers, who could always just take what foodstuffs the civilians in the area had if they needed them. Besides, he did not like to exercise government power over private enterprise unless it was absolutely necessary. Such precidents set could turn out badly in the future.

The whole the Latican Empire's people cheered as they recieved word that the Errikan Empire's allowance of letting merchants sell military goods to the Facist goverment. The happy Latican Empire began suiting up its troops and powering up the engines of the 3rd Quick Response Taskeforce. They knew that the trip would have to be taken in turns, so in the spirit of haste the Grand Imperial Jimuhn began shipping off 50,000 troops, the first of the 800,000 troops to be sent.

This, the Emperor did not expect. Damn, I can not believe I missed such an important thing. "Overseas shipping of troops" I need to buy more landing ships. And so he sent an order for Twenty-Five Ivan Rogov Class Large Landing Ships. Each of these ships were forced to fit five thousand men and where sent along with the 3rd Quick Response Fleet. It boosted the number of troops being carred per trip to 175,000.

(OOC: I'll post my Order of Battle tomorrow)

Presidential Purple Palace
Urushalim
Federal Capital District
Dai Yuddha Ossyria

It had only been two hours since Dr. Sway from the Bramstoker Embassy had personally delivered a request from Pres. Rawlings regarding military and financial aid in this time of crisis. Law dictated that the Chamber of Delegates, one of the three houses of Congress, meet in closed session and vote on whether or not the Allied States were to go to war. This was only a formality of course and everyone expected for the Chamber to approve the proposal. Formality, though, was paramount is this byzantine state were law and unnecessarily complex hierarchies reigned supreme. The Chamber of Delegates was still in session when Pres. Dr. Wilhuff Woodhelm had called the Council of Ministers to a meeting in the Presidential Purple Palace.

The President had assembled all 28 Ministers, as well as the Prime Minister and himself, to his office where the men and women were spread throughout the conference room, "Good evening, Ministers of the State. I assume that everyone is up to date with this Bramstoker mess. If not, then here's a rundown; several opposition parties in the country, including the Bramstoker branch of the Communist Party, have allied together in a so-called 'Democratic Alliance,' to oppose the ruling Theocratic Fascists which we are allied to, and the latest reports indicate that a sizeable portion of the military, the Southern Command, I believe, has broken away in an apparent sign of treason against the central government."

Wilhuff's old friend and ally, Minister Achilles Tullio of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, stood, "Mr. President, this is surely an affront to Bramstoker's national sovereignty. This civil war will most certainly cause more harm than any possible good. We must provide any and all possible help to Pres. Rawlings."

"Yes, Achilles, I am inclined to agree. But what of the international reaction to this? Will we be put in a position where we will have to combat a foreign force?"

Minister Yosea Taruba of War and Home Defense shot out a response before Minister Tullio could think of an answer, "Of course, we will! We must send a Naval Force to blockade the island! Our Aerospace Forces can declare a no-fly zone over DA-held areas of Bramstoker! Our Ground Forces will provide ample support to the Fascist military! I say, act now! The Chamber of Delegates will most definitely vote yes on military intervention. We must have our forces in the country before any other nation has a chance to establish a foothold."

The President glanced over to the oft-overzealous Minister of War, "Yosea, please be calm. Remember that we are all friends in this room looking for the best solution to this problem. Now, of course, I have faith in your ability to lead our military in this, but we must legally wait for the Chamber to vote."

The Minister of Intelligence, Tiwaz Heimat, looked to the others and then to the President, "Sir, my spies report that the Democratic Alliance has already mobilized their forces towards their capital. Any military force that we send in will be too late. Either the DA will have taken the capital and we will require to fight a full-scale war, or the Bramstoker Self Defence Forces will be severely crippled after the battle. If I may be so bold as to request that we organize a multilateral approach. I believe the best course of action would be to pressure the DA into disarming, before we send our men in."

Maccus Bormis, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Asylum, decided to speak up, "Sir, I think that you should issue a statement offering asylum to any and all citizens of Bramstoker loyal to the government wishing to flee the country. It will increase our standing in this conflict, showing our compassionate side, rather than just our warmongering side."

Wassa Os-beorht, the first female member of the Council and Minister of Law and Order (making her Ossyria's top cop), calmly voiced her concern, "Mr. President, it would seem like a prudent decision to increase our police presence around the Bramstoker Embassy. Unfortunately, I foresee some of our citizenry taking out their anger against our involvement on the Bramstoker diplomatic mission."

Delbeth Ferro, the well-respected businessman and Minister of Trade, Commerce and Industry, also decided to take part in this little debate, "Mr. President and fellow Ministers, I believe we are leaving out a very important concern that I am sure that we all share. That is, if this civil war drags on we will be in a prime position to establish ourselves as important trade partners and establish a trade ministry on the island and exploit the undeveloped west."

"You all make good points, Ministers. Mr. Ferro, you make a good point but I would like to take care of this civil war on our hands right now before worrying about trade. Ms. Os-beorht, I completely agree and approve your proposal to increase a police presence all around the Bramstoker embassy. Mr. Bormis, I will make a statement regarding asylum to Pres. Rawlings along with our declaration of assistance. Mr. Heimat, that is usually the safest approach to any problem of this magnitude, but unfortunately the international community seems to be split in who to support. We will likely find as many enemies as allies. Mr. Taruba, organize a Carrier Battle Group and and a suitable number of legions and themes to provide support. Achilles, ahem, Mr. Tullio, inform our ambassador in Bramstoker to be prepared for the invasion of the Democratic Alliance. As a sign of support to Pres. Rawlings, we are keeping him in the country, I don't want to evacuate any of our embassy staff unless it is absolutely necessary. You are all dismissed..."

As soon as the Council had dispersed, the President's chief of staff entered his office where he was relaxing, "Doctor, the Chamber has opened. They have voted 78-23 to allow military action in Bramstoker. Are you ready to issue a statement to the Bramstoker government?"

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

Official Government Communique
To: Bramstoker

From: Dai Yuddha Ossyria

Pres. Rawlings, your current civil unrest is a serious concern in our government. With your permission, we will assign a naval blockade around Alliance-controlled ports, as well as establish a no-fly zone around Alliance-controlled territory. We have boosted our police presence around your embassy to protect your staff against any possible threats. Our nation would also like to extend an offer of asylum to any Bramstokeran who wishes to avoid the upcoming war, they are welcome here. Glory to the Theocracy and the Allied States!

Signed,

Dr. Wilhuff Woodhelm, Federal President
Vinzenz Tal-Utrei, Prime Minister
Achilles Tullio, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Yosea Taruba, Minister of War and Home Defense
Maccus Bormis, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Asylum

On Behalf Of

The Most Sanctified and August Sage-Emperor
of All Under Heaven and Defender of All Beings
Markos IV Orlan

Operation Salvation

The Fall plus fifteen minutes:
The men had moved out, leaving their disassembled plane well camouflaged in the wood, scattered over a large area. It would take very long time until someone found it, and even longer until they could pieice together what had happened. They were close to the place where they would meet with members of the Bramstokeran Democratic Alliance. Malik took point. Barachiel followed close by, his machine gun ready to fire the moment they got contact with enemy troops. Uriel and Samael covered the flanks, while the rest followed in a line behind Barachiel, two meters' gap between everyone.
The moon was still high above, casting its pale illuminating light upon the silent ground; shafts, like silver, penetrating the forest canopy to reach the soft soil underneath. It had rained recently; the soil was still wet, there were no dry twigs. Somewhere in the distance a wolf howled. Another one soon answered.

The Fall minus two hours:
The aeroplane, a small cargo plane of the RAF, silently towed it's cargo, a Vanquisher military glider plane of the same air force, across the black sky. In the east the twilight illuminated the cold gray, now golden, waters far below. Down on the ground, the sun would not rise for several hours but thousands of feet up the burning disc would soon clear the horizon. Overhead a Stratotanker positioned itself, ready to refuel the the cargo plane.
''Eve to Adam, Eve to Adam. Ready to refuel. Over,'' reported the pilot of the Stratotanker, his voice distorted by the radio.
''Acknowledged, Eve. Stand-by.'' replied the pilot of the cargo plane replied, changing the frequency of his radio equipment to that of God.
''Adam to God, Adam to God. Reached 1:26. Awaiting confirmation of orders, over.''
''God to Adam, confirmed. Proceed according to orders, over,'' spoke the radio, this time transmititng the response of Operational Command.
''Roger that, God. Over and out.'' The pilot once again addressed the tanker above, codenamed Eve, relaying the orders to proceed. After confirmation, he began to steer his plane closer to the tanker, aiming for that, seemingly infinitely small, tube that would refuel his plane, now craving for fuel after the long flight from George IX Airbase. The co-pilot spoke, addressing the men in the glide plan, through the radio.
''Adam to Abel, Adam to Abel. Operation Genesis confirmed. I repeat Operation Genesis confirmed. We have go. Standby, lads, we'll be entering Garden of Eden in a few hours, where we'll disconnect. Then you're on your own.'' The men in the glider nodded silently. There was no turning back now.

The Fall minus forty-four hours:
Highly encrypted communiqué to the leaders of the BDA:
''The Republic of Blackwood has always been a staunch and stalwart defender of democracy and human rights, and have always supported freedom fighters throughoutthe world. Liberty loving people have always known that they can depend upon the Republic for support in their quest for freedom. This day shall be no different.
If the BDA does not object, the Republic wishes to lend you our fullest moral and diplomatic support. We promise to aid your struggle not only diplomatically, but economically as well. With your help we hope to establish secret supply routes to provide you with equipment, medical resources and training.
We are also willing to argue for international support of your movement, as well as provide training grounds and military expertise.

We have already dispatched a team of ten special forces operatives to establish closer contact wiht your noble organisation. We hope that you will meet them at the enclosed co-ordinates.''


The Fall minus sixteen hours:
It was a small conference room in Robertson Air Field, one of Blackwoods many military air bases. The lights had been turned off and the shutters kept anyone from seeing in. The only light was that of the slide projector in the middle of the room. Ten men were seated in the chairs that had been brought in and arranged in two rows on either side of the slide projector. They were all members of the Grand Army of Blackwood's Light Infantry Corps, having many years of faithful service behind them. All of htem were expert marksmen, one was a demolition expert, two were field medics, one a machine gunner and another a sniper. The others had similar qualities. In fornt of them, on a podium half illuminated by the projector, stood a man dressed in an army uniform, the oak leaves of the Blackwood Secret Intelligence Service and a colonel's two stars and a crown on his shoulder straps. He was of average height, maybe an inch higher, brown hair and pale blue eyes. He wore a gallery monocle, a slight nervous twitch in his left eye always threatening to throw it off. He coughed and addressed the men assembled.
''Men, I'm Colonel Shepherd of the SIS. You have been brought here because the President requires your services. I must remind you that you have taken a vow of silence, and all information that will be disclosed to you must remain a secret.'' His introduction was interrupted by another cough, maybe he was asthmatic, and he skipped the rest of it, instead presenting them wiht the purpose of the gathering.
''You have all served together at one time or another in different units, you know each other well and during your service you have distinguished yourselves as soldiers than can be depended upon to get the job done. That's why you were picked. You will form a First Contact Group that will gather intel and explore the possibility of a large scale military deployment, regiment sized and up; establish contact with the leaders of the Democratic Alliance and gather what intel on enemy, that's pro-government, forces you may and explore the possibilities of having secret shipment of arms and supplies sent to the Democratic Alliance, either by the sea or by air. You are to report when you have finished this mission or within ten days, whichever comes first. At 10 PM every day are you to send a coded transmission to our local embassy, confirming that you are continuing your mission. The confirmation code is 10-3-5, re-coded daily according to standard procedure. If no confirmation code is sent, or it is not properly coded, we will assume that you have been captured. If captured, you are to report only what is required of you by the Geneva conventions, and that you are there on an observation mission. Our embassy, upon receiving no correct confirmation code, will then deliver a message explaining that you're observation personell on a mission to guarantee that the Geneva conventions are respected. You will be released and flown back to Blackwood.''
''Once again, any information you receive is top secret. Tell no-one.''
The colonel switched on a slide projector, the first image being a detailed satellite map of the south-western parts of Bramstoker. Pointing to the city of Red Valley, he informed the group that Intel had reason to believe that the CO of the Southern Command had joined forces with the Democartic Alliance during a rally there. A more detailed picture, this time of a forest a short distance north of Red Valley City.
''This,'' Shepherd said,'' is where you'll land. The LZ is code-named The Tree of Wisdom, and will be referred to as such form now on. You will arrive there by a Vanquisher glider, call-sign Abel. Adam will be your tower.'' A new picture was shown, this time showing a large scale map of the ocean.
''You will meet up with tanker plane Eve here,'' he said, pointing out the exact location.
''When you prepare for aerial refueling, you will contact Operational Command here at Robertson Air Field, call-sign is God, and ask for confirmation of orders. If OPCOM confirms, proceed according to orders. Otherwise you will follow new orders which will be given to you.'' Yet another picture, this time of a place outside Bramstokeran coastal waters.
''You will detach here, and glide towards The Tree of Wisdom. Anything beyond this point is called Garden of Eden. In there ROE applies, unless ordered otherwise. A few hundred meters fue south is another glade. There you will meet members of the Bramstokeran Democratic Alliance. When you've established contact with their commanders, you will contact OPCOM.''

The Fall:
The Vanquisher glided silently above the tree tops; finding the designated landing zone, a lone glade in the middle of the dark forest codenamed The Tree of Knowledge, it began its rapid descent.
''Hang on now, lads, we're in for up for a shaky landing.'' He was right, as the men of the Blackwood Special Forces Group soon noticed as the light glider, made out of canvas and wood, hit the rough ground, continuing for almost fifteen meters before finaly grinding to a halt. Breaking up the doors, which had been bent closed during the landing, and collecting their equipment, the men disembarked; fanning out to secure the glade and set up a temporary perimeter. Selaphiel, Raphael, Uriel and Jegudiel took position just behind the treeline, disappearing in the dark forest; while Malik, Michael, Barachiel and Samael began cutting the specially designed plane to pieces and making provisions to hide these. Gabriel and his second in command Radwan studied the maps, making a crude tent out of their raincoats to keep any observer from seeing the light form their flashlights. Gabriel was a short man in his late thirties with a thick brown beard, his hair cut short and not very much personality aside form his commanding abilities. Radwan on the other hand was tall, sporting a black curly beard and had celebrated his twenty-third birthday just a week ago. He and the rifleman Malik were of Arabian origin, and had chosen their codenames to reflect this.

OOC: I were going to write more (and more detailed), but I got a lot of homework to do right now.

The Battle of Devil's Pass

'Two armies are two bodies which meet and try to frighten each other.'

- Napoleon Bonaparte

---

Plumes of dust, debris and smoke rolled into the air high behind the forces of the Democratic Alliance as they rumbled along the main highway towards Bramstoker City. Massive machines of steel and war belched toxic fumes from their exhausts as they carried their deadly payloads of men and equipment to their brutal, possibly final destination.

Brigadier-General Quentin O’Reilly looked silently through his binoculars in his lead vehicle. The single BMP-1 had been equipped into a mobile command post, sporting several communications aerials and transmitters on the top of the Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Inside, several senior military officers discussed tactics for the assault on Bramstoker City, and possible attacks on the way there.

O’Reilly lowered his binoculars, bracing himself against the wind from the turret where he stood in the vehicle. He turned, observing the vehicles with him.

Behind him, two columns of Infantry Fighting Vehicles similar to his own stretched out like military green snakes weaving their way along the concrete vein of the Red Valley-Bramstoker Highway. Behind these vehicles were dozens on troop trucks; large, pug-nosed vehicles with full platoons in the rear of each. Behind these, the ugly box-shaped Artillery Tractors rattled along, pulling their 122mm weapons of death behind them. To either side of the highway, stretched out across the grassy plains flanking the drab grey concrete, the T-62 Battle Tanks of the Ground Forces provided an armoured hammer of steel. It gave O’Reilly a chill in his spine to witness the sight.

Ahead of them, a sight that chilled the General more; Devil’s Pass, an area of land fifteen kilometres across sandwiched between Mount Julia on the right and the Julius Forest to the left, climbing slightly as it brought the highway north-east towards Bramstoker City. A veritable zone of death, particularly with the latest reports of enemy movements; recon aircraft reported the government controlled forces of the Bramstoker military closing in on the north-east end of the pass at high speed. It would likely come down to a battle within Devil’s Pass itself. Quentin bit his lip as he raised his binoculars once more; this could get bloody.

---

At twenty thousand feet, the scene was beautiful. Nearing the middle of the morning, the sun was rising grandly over the thin layer of clouds below, casting yellow and pink light across the sea of light condensation like a field of marshmallow. The remnants of stars, still visible in the growing light, pinpricked the sky where the sun’s light still did not dominate; the defiant souls of long-lived bodies standing strong before fading against the prominent power of the sun. But then they would be back, dominating the sky during the night when the sun had its back turned, and the cycle would repeat again.

From this altitude, Fascist Loyalist Lieutenant George Tate almost managed to forget his mission.

He looked around the rumbling cockpit of his fighter, checking his gauges in the surreal scenery of industry and nature. Glancing either side of his craft, he gave hand signals to the nine other aircraft of his squadron that hung off both wings. In the distance, he could discern the shapes of other Mig-21 Squadrons; dark hulks of metal against the glowing sky of the ancients. It was almost biblical in a way.

“Red Leader to Brown Leader,” Tate called into his VOX. He checked his weapons load out one more time, and studied the radar.

“Brown Leader, go.” Far below, Frank Walters responded from the cockpit of his Harrier as they cruised languidly along the northern edge of Mount Julius. They would be the first to strike.

“Brown Leader, I have incoming multiple contacts on approach vector,” Tate straightened in his seat and began preparing himself. “ETA of three minutes. We’ve got you covered.”

“Roger, Red Leader,” Walter’s voice responded. “We are engaging ground forces.”

Tate nodded to himself and selected ‘Weapons Hot’ on his console. This was where it began.

---

Frank Walters gritted his teeth as he throttled forward and pushed the Harrier into a dive towards the targets at the base of the mountain. Either side of him, four other attack aircraft maintained position as they lined themselves up on the column of Democratic Alliance forces far below.

“All units, this is Brown Leader,” he said, carefully controlling his aircraft through the dive down the side of the mountain. “Line up on target and-”

He was interrupted by an alarm blaring wildly across his console. Affording a glance up from his controls, Walters swore in alarm as the radar showed an incoming missile track. Desperately pulling back on his joystick, he fought against gravity to pull the Harrier out of the run. “Brown Leader, mayday, may-”

The missile caught the lead Harrier at the rear of the aircraft, causing the wreckage to tumble backwards as the inferno took hold of the fuel tanks and turned the aircraft into a fireball. The other Harriers in the squadron turned sharply to avoid the debris, managing to get several Air-to-Ground missiles off before having to avoid further missile tracks.

---

O’Reilly’s column ground to a halt as the missiles slammed into a pair of IFVs and several tanks. He swore, picking up his receiver as his driver attempted to manoeuvre. “All units, we have contact. Disperse and attack according to plan.” Above, O’Reilly saw the roars of Mig-17s blast over, firing upon the Loyalist Harriers in the name of freedom and justice.

The DA Forces began a hasty dispersal. The IFVs began moving forward in the centre of the line, flanked on either side by T-62s racing to take advantage of slight high-ground and outcrops of rock to shield against the Fascist forces fighting down the Pass. Trucks of infantry dispersed across the road, and thousands of soldiers jumped down from their vehicles and began moving up the Pass behind the BMPs, taking advantage of the armoured shield. Artillery pieces were deployed, and crews began loading their shells for the first volley. Above, O’Reilly could already see an air battle taking place as the first radio messages from T-62s reported visual contact with the Fascists.

O’Reilly gritted his teeth, taking a moment to wipe his brow before issuing the first Field Command of the Bramstokeran Civil War. “All units, weapons free, I repeat, weapons are free. Commence firing.”

---

Dr Peter Sway stood looking out of his window across the compound of the Bramstokeran Embassy in Dai Yuddha Ossyria. It had been several hours since he had personally delivered a letter of request to the President of the Allied States, and several hours since the positive reply had been given. Walsh now had to wait for final confirmation from his government to accept the assistance and give details for where help would be given.

He sighed, his weary eyes taking in the gently swaying Oak trees on the lawns of the Embassy. At the edges of the walls, Bramstoker Defence Force personnel stood calmly at their posts as if nothing was happening at home. However, something in their manner of walk, something in the way that they gripped their Kalashnikovs told Walsh that they knew only too well. The Ambassador wondered briefly where the loyalties of each man lay, and dismissed it just as quickly. Out here in a foreign country, everyone was on the same side because they had to be.

A knock resounded on the door of the large office. Sway turned. “Enter,” he said in a crisp, official tone.

The door swung back to reveal one of the Embassy Messengers, who stepped forward timidly to the desk of the Ambassador. “Ambassador Doctor,” he said quietly. “I have a message from back home.”

Sway took the message from the man’s hand, glancing at it briefly.

To: Ambassador Sway,

Loyalist forces have engaged the traitors in open conflict. You are authorised to accept assistance from the Allied States Government.

Signed,

President Rawlings.

Peter sighed, leaning on the edge of his desk and rubbing the bridge of his nose with one hand. “It didn’t have to go this way,” he muttered. Looking up to the Messenger, he smiled briefly. “Tell my secretary to get a message to the Foreign Office of the Allied States and let them know that we accept their help.”

As the Messenger turned and left, Dr. Sway sat down in his leather-back chair and turned to face the window once more. Outside, the oak trees swayed deceptively peacefully in the wind.

---

Battle plus Three Hours

“Target!”

The AK-101 lit up in the undergrowth as Private Gregory Kyle squeezed the trigger of his automatic rifle before rolling back under cover of the undergrowth as return bullets traced a path up the mound of dirt he crouched behind. As he reloaded the magazine on his weapon, he took a moment to glance around.

The centre of Devil’s Pass had become a wasteland. On either side, the forest and the mountain created a killing field that turned deadly with artillery involved. The highway along the centre of the pass had been ripped and torn like paper, with concrete and steel twisted and smashed like an urban nightmare. To either side of the roadway, the grassy fields had been beaten and ripped by the continuing artillery fire of both sides, creating massive shell holes and mounds of asphalt and dirt that created excellent cover for either side.

Kyle pushed the magazine into his weapon and chambered the first round, turning back to face in the direction of the Democratic Alliance forces trying to kill him. He heard his Sergeant bark an order to advance, and Kyle opened fire once more before joining his AK47-wielding comrades in a desperate dash to the next mangled area of ground.

Tracers ripped along the floor around him as the soldier ran, his heart pumping faster than he’d ever witnessed before. Soldiers to either side of him were ripped apart by continuous fire, and one group towards the tree-line were thrown into the air by artillery fire. Kyle thanked God when he threw himself down behind the next area of cover and began to open fire on the DA soldiers just ahead of him.

---

Bramstoker City Air Force Base was a flurry of activity. Even though most of the Air Force was deployed, a portion of aircraft had been held back as a second-line should it be required, and constant checking of these aircraft was taking place. But at Commander Robert Ingle’s side of the base, there was a complete lockdown, and so the hangar was completely silent.

Ingle sat in the cockpit of his A-4 Skyhawk, checking and double-checking his instruments and running through the start-up procedure. His guts churned with anxiety, hoping that his command to launch would never take place. Underneath the fuselage of the A-4, the deceptively harmless-looking casing of a 12 Kiloton atomic bomb hung like a parasite from the underside of the aircraft.

The news was not looking good; both sides were evenly matched in terms of military strength, and Devil’s Pass was turning into a death zone. Ingle had already received the order to standby; if the DA forces broke through, then the Loyalist’s superiority in controlling two of the country’s three nuclear bombs would be utilised. Ingle leant back, taking a deep breath and began praying.

Somewhere across the expanse at Red Valley City Air Force Base, his DA equivalent was doing the same.

---

Battle plus Five Hours

A layer of smoke hung over Devil’s Pass, where the scenery was now unrecognisable. The Bramstoker Highway had been obliterated in the centre, now simply a pile of rubble at the centre of the Pass. The grassland either side had been churned and crushed by vehicle tracks and artillery shells. The bodies of the dead and the dying lay everywhere, their cries of the pain now the only sound since the guns had ceased.

Both sides had pulled back to their sides of the Pass, with both Field Commanders realising that they were evenly matched and not wanting to exercise their nuclear authority at this time. There was still some civility in this Civil War.

But it was about to get worse. Both groups called out to their respective allies, accepting the offers of assistance put forward.

‘The government of Bramstoker formally accepts the offers of assistance put forward, and requests supplies to be brought in through Bramstoker City Port. Naval facilities are also offered for foreign vessels…’

‘In seeking the destruction of tyranny and oppression, the Democratic Alliance accepts assistance from the Coalition of the Willing we have discovered, and requests Red Valley City Port be used to utilise supplies.’



Captain Jack Bowker of the DA Infantry was sent forward with a platoon to meet with the Special Forces from Relative Liberty. His Platoon arrived at the coordinates in a BMP-1 IFV, the troops fanning out in a protective circle in the case of enemy fire. He jumped down from the vehicle and dropped a cigarette underfoot, clutching his AK47 loosely.

There was nobody in site at the coordinates, as to be expected – Special Forces did not simply give themselves away. After a few moments of ensuring his position was secure, he called out. “I’m Captain Bowker representing the Democratic Alliance. We have been instructed to meet you. Please step forward.”

---

And so the die was cast, and the cards were played. What would follow would determine the future of a country and of a people.

The Bramstokeran Civil War, until now a single exchange of lives at the Battle of Devil’s Pass, was about to become an international affair, and to dominate land, air and sea.

(OOC: Sorry for the delay – work is annoying. See the OOC Thread for an after-action report on the Battle of Devil’s Pass)

OOC: When playing MT, I'm called Blackwood. I've been trying to get around and change my signature, but I've been busy lately.

Gabriel rose from his cover in a small pit 'neath the trunk of a great oak, shook the leaves off, brushed some ants out of his ghillie suit and approached the captain. A moon beam, like a pale silver spear, pierced the forest canopy, illuminating his camouflaged face covered by a cracked mask of dried up mud; his weary and blood shot eyes; the short hair all tangled up by sweat, dirt, mud and camouflage. Thin, delicate fingers, a small scar, the reminder of not a battle, but a CQB training accident; twisting around the first knuckle of the index finger and across the palm of his hand; clenched the black assault rifle in his hands; glow-in-the-dark tritium sights casting a pale green light on his hands, smeared with camouflage paint, and up on the sleeves of his ghillie suit. He brought his hand up to his brow in a salute, sharpening up; the smart smile on his lips reminding people of the first viscount of el-Alamein Bernard Montgomery.
''Colour Sergeant Gabriel; Special Forces, Blackwood Light Infantry Corps!'' he introduced himself in a hushed, dandy and ready-to-go voice,
''This is Sergeant Radwan, my second-in-command,'' he said, motioning to a small bush which immediately transformed, as if it underwent a magic metamorphosis; a caterpillar bursting through its cocoon to reveal a butterfly; to a tall Arabian marksman.
The other members of his section too appeared out of nowhere, dressed also in ghillie suits; wet, tired and weary but ready to do their duty. Barachiel, a tall, dark man wearing standard issue corrective glasses, was the machine gunner and demolitions expert of the team. He was now standing behind and slightly to the right of Gabriel, his piercing hawk eyes penetrating the subvegetation, his machine gun ready to fire. Raphael and Uriel, the two medics of the section, flanked him on either side. Selaphiel, the rifleman and signalist; Samael; Jegudiel; Malik; Michael; the other riflemen, were spread in a circle around them.
''My men and I are on an important mission to support your uprising, and it is imperative that we speak with your superiors. If you would be so kind as to take us to them...'' Gabriel said, motioning to the Soviet-made IFV.