NationStates Jolt Archive

In the Republic, the name Laeryn brought about disgust and anger. This had been ever since the Buraydah Massacre -- known to some as the Erse Massacre, in which over 1000 Halladi civilians lost their lives at the hands of Shessaran "War Prince" Braedd Laeryn. The man was a monster in the eyes of Halladis, and the Halladi government used this image to their advantage. Many a military budget increase was to combat the "Laeryn Threat" in the north. The bureaucrats in Buraydah had more on their mind than 'defending the Republic' from the 'backwards, barbaric Shessarans.' No, it was, as it always is, about power. Hallad was a large nation, and was begining to feel the effects of over-population. The cities were crowded and being a nation primarily of desert, it was a net food importer. Much of this came from the north -- Shessara.

Shessara was a beautiful nation and bordering Hallad were Yr Ucheldiroedd and Crastiroedd. These provinces were home to two of Shessara's most war-like clans. But alas, they had their weaknesses. Shessara seemed a nation divided by the lust for power and the throne. Hallad, too, lusted for open land to be settled, collectivized, and farmed by Halladis. By no means were Yr Ucheldiroedd and Crastiroedd the agricultural centres of Shessara, but their farming potential was greater than most land in Hallad -- and if properly utilized they could yield a great deal of crops. Better yet, both of these regions had access to fresh water, and would allow for new fresh water resoviors to be set up (Halladis had been accustomed to de-salinization plants as their source of water). Adding to the attractiveness of these lands were the rumours of oil wells and mineral deposits in Crastiroedd that were relatively unexploited.

Along the border with both of these two Shessaran fiefdoms were the standard Federal Border Guard units. However, stationed in the area was with 5th Republican Guard division, and the 7th and 8th Red Army divisions. In addition to that, there were two major Air Force bases in the area that housed the 4th Air Wing. In a short time, a well timed telephone call had gone out to the regional militia's and to the Halladi Red Army reserve force -- the Workers' and Peasants' Army. Within a week, four reserve divisions would be mobilized on the border, and the 3rd Republic Guard division would be placed their as well. Some two divisions worth of militia were also on call.

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v15/Belovia/NationsOnline/Hallad2.png

TO: Heddwyn Cleddyf, Prince of Yr Ucheldiroedd
FROM: Jabir Yusuf, People's Commissar of Defense
SUBJ: Threat From Clan Laeryn

Comrade,

It has come to the attention of Halladi intelligence and the Workers' Protection Agency that Clan Laeryn may be planning to create confusion and chaos within your lands so that they may expand their own claim. As a steadfast enemy of the Laeryn clan and their warmongering ways, we are a friend to their enemies and we have respectable evidence that they are planning to engage in acts of espionage against your court. To prevent such a situation, the Halladi Workers' Republic finds it is in your best interest to open your land up to Halladi Red Army forces so that they might stabalize the region and thwart any attempts by the Laeryn clan to expand its evil empire.

In Solidarity,
Jabir Yusuf
People's Commissar of War
The Halladi Workers' Republic

Information enclosed.

OOC: The 'evidence' is, of course, either faked or outdated.

From: Prince Heddwyn Cleddyf, Penniaeth of Clan Cleddyf
To: Jabir Yusuf

SUBJ: Re: Threat From Clan Laeryn

Sir;

We are quite aware of the situation regarding the Butcher of Erse, who also happens, if you were unaware, to be the grandson of the murderer of my father, Gobaidd Cleddyf. We are also quite capable of defending ourselves, as we have for the last two thousand years. Unless Hallad can prove that their assistance is necessary to a Cleddyf victory, not a single Halladi will set foot in our domain.

As to your information, we thank you for the intelligence. All matters will be dealt with in the Shessaran way, which I will not suffer your intelligence to attempt to understand. The Halladis made that more than clear at the trial of Braedd Laeryn.

Good day,

Heddwyn Cleddyf, Prince of Yr Ucheldiroedd.

Upset, but not dettered, the Halladis stepped of their plans. This first attempt, was just that, a preliminary attempt to 'test the water.' Jabir Yusuf, other hawkish party members, and the bureaucrats looked to the border now, with thir envious eyes. Within their vision was a Laeryn lord, Efan ap Morw Gaeleinion. Gaeleinion had been a lieutenant under Laeryn during the Erse Massacre, and publically had spoken against his lord -- a bold feat, indeed, that almost cost him his head. As such, he was of interest to Hallad.

In the dead of night, a helicopter was dispatched from Hallad. In it were a squad of men and a Workers' Protection Agency operative -- working under the guise of a Diplomatic Commissar. Abdullah Talal al-Ryydra was the mans name, but tonight he was Dawud Abdel. With some tension, they passed over the Shessaran border unharmed -- but quite possibly noticed. It was of no consequence. The man who would be informed was the man they were looking for. It was 1PM when the helicopter came near Gaeleinion's keep, and the helicopter radioed out on all frequencies.

"This is a Halladi Diplomatic Envoy, en route. We ask permission to use your Lord's keep to refuel and resupply. Do you comply?" Spoke the co-pilot.

The radio crackled promptly. "This is Caer Heddiw. Permission is granted. Please proceed to the stableyard. We're lighting torches for you." Sure enough, four pinpricks of light flamed in a square in the stone structure below them.

The helicopter hovered over the stableyard for a moment, and then began its desent. It landed with a light bump, and then the engines began to wind down. The side doors opened, and the soldiers hopped out -- their rifles in their slings. Finally Abdullah emerged, looking around for the Shessaran who seemed to be in charge.

Three men emerged from the doorway, two guards in green-and-blue livery, a badger on blue, and a taller, lanky man with a balding grey head. His face was thin and his chin pointed, and his eyes bright, giving him a clever, shrewd appearance.
"Good eve!" he shouted over the dying rotors. "How can my simple keep serve the Halladi ambassadors today?"

"Hail, comrade. I am Diplomatic Commissar Dawud Abdel." He said, sizing up the man. The Halladi was shorter than the man, and much darker skinned. However, he was a fair bit stockier and suggested to himself he could break the lanky Shessaran in half if the need arose. "My comrades and I would be greatful for feul and food. And, well, if you do not mind my asking, are you Lord Efan ap Morw Gaeleinion?"

"I am. And you're not." At the Halladi's confused look, he added, "Here for fuel or food. You may have both, but the larger and much better stocked Gwladgiard is sixteen miles away. Tell me, sir, why have you come here?"

Abdullah eyed around, looking at the other Shessarans. "May I speak with you in private, good sir?"

Efan smiled and nodded. "Of course. Please, come inside. Will you take refreshment?" He led them down a narrow stone corridor, through a short doorway, and into a small, rounded room with a long table in the center: what passed for an audience chamber on the Laeryn Marches. More guards were in evidence here; a middle-aged woman looked up as they entered, and smiled. Efan went to her and said some quiet words in Welsh, and she smiled again, nodded, and left.
"Gwarchodwyr, ymadaelwch," he murmured, and the guards bowed low, leaving him with the Halladi.
"Now, Ambassador, what is so important that you send a full mission in the middle of the night, to a border lord, no less?"

The dark skinned man looked around once more, then taking off his officers cap, he ran his fingers through his curly, greasy hair. "My name is not Dawud Abdel, and I am not a Diplomatic Commissar. I am Abdullah Talal and a member of the Workers' Protection Agency -- domestic intelligence and state security."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Do you follow me so far?" But he did not wait for the Shessaran to reply. "Your criticism of Laeyrn after his massacre at Buraydah -- Erse, as you would know it -- have not gone unnoticed by the Republic. And now we wish to have you as an ally once again, so that we may, perhaps, depose the Tyrannt Laeyrn."

"The Tyrant Laeryn, hmm?" Efan asked, smiling slightly. "I see you're determined to have me believe you. If I didn't, I'd have grounds to execute you immediately."

"I suppose you would, however that would come at a great loss to your finances," he paused, "... and security." Nervously, he looked around some more. "If you would like to know more, I will continue. But, I warn you that my failure to return back to Hallad if you are not interested may result in... unnecessary hostilities."

"Oh, pish," Efan said, smiling slightly. "I had hoped you were bright enough to realize that you were still alive. In any matter, what was it you had intended? Speak quickly. I do not wish the rising sun to find a Halladi intelligence officer in my castle."

The Halladi kept a straight face, treating the matter now a deadly serious. "The Republic would like to extends it hand to you -- granting amnesty. Pending your defection to Hallad, of course. Your input is necessary on a matter regarding Laeryn's nuclear programme, which, as I understand, violates many Clan treaties." He coughed. "We require your input to help educate Clan Cleddyf to the imenent danger on their border and the necessity for a Halladi Red Army presence in their territory."

Not waiting for Efan to talk, he began to speak again. "And we will pay handsomely for your cooperation."

"Let me set one thing straight for you, Halladi," Efan said, softly and intensely. "No amount of money will convince me to betray my nation. Your accusations against Braedd Laeryn are disturbing, and I must admit that I no longer hold any loyalty for the Butcher. He is a carnal, violent man who will bring ruin to Shessara if he is not stopped."

"My point exactly, comrade." Snorted Abdullah. The Halladi reached into his coat, taking out several papers. "These are intelligence reports and satellite images of nuclear testing sites. In Laeryn's territory. Help us get rid of this man... Help us, help you do what you know is right." He caughed, again. "If you hate the man so, then... let us protect you from harm. You know he will go after you!"

"He would only go after me if I betrayed him. Though I think he has betrayed enough that no action could be betraying him. It would be justice. However, as I've said, he is a murderer. Why can you not simply slay him from afar? It is like your kind to do so."

"Slaying him from afar will not suffice. It simply will not." The Halladi paused, let out a sigh. "Personally, comrade, I find your love for Shessara quite respectable, and your inability to leave her honourable. Perhaps, then, you would defect to another Shessaran clan?"

"Because you are a foreigner and say you are my ally, I will forgive you that comment," Efan said sharply. "We are born into our clan, and only the most dishonored will take up the banner of any other clan save that of their liege lords'. No. If anything is to be done- and that remains dependent on your proposals- it will be done quickly and in the Shessaran way. Am I clear?" He waited for the Halladi's assent.

"Then what do you have to propose?"

"Though I think my last offer is more a danger to your health than anything..." The Halladi sighed. "Challenge Laeryn in Shessara court, using evidence that I will provide for you, and shame his good name. I believe that would be a more... 'Shessaran' approach, wouldn't it? Though, he'd probably try and duel you, wouldn't he?" Abdullah muttered something in Arabic that translated to something along the lines of, "Damn backwards Shessaran government."

Efan smiled, and said something along the lines of "I do speak some Arabic", in heavily Welsh-accented Arabic.

He turned his back on the ambassador, staring thoughtfully at the Shessaran flag on the wall. "When I said the Shessaran way, I didn't mean the legal way. You ought to know, if you have studied our history, that these laws are only imposed in the last fifty years, by the grandfather of our Prince Cyridd, Prince Cyrn, whom the more submissive among us call Cyrn Unwyr Tangnefeddwr. Once there were other laws... the Laws of the Gods, they are called. More or less they say that a man follows his obligations to his lord and to his vassals; but of course there is another side. Any break of the word-bond demands retribution in the name of Annwn Hunter and Dagda Father; 'and let he that break his word be like the wood that burns neath the cauldron of the Unborn, and let him be for eternity as one in torment, and let him remain there until the sun have coursed three times through the night and the moon ridden to death by the horsemen of the Dagyddiad.'" He closed his eyes a moment. "So you understand both my reluctance to commit to anything without a sure knowledge of its success; because if I fail in my attempt to enforce this law it will surely damn me to a fate far, far worse then death, years of agony in the crypts of the Laeryn Dinas Crastiroedd."

He was silent for a long time.

Abdullah raised a eyebrow. "Please correct me if I'm wrong, but, are you honestly saying that you're afraid that you will go to -- well, basically -- hell?" He quickly changed the subject, pulling out a folder from his jacket, and offering it to Efan. "Here," he said, "this is all the assurance you need, comrade. Photographs of the injustice that Laeryn is doing. Nuclear facilities, uranium enrichment facilities, and plenty more. What he is doing is illegal in Shessara and a threat to my nation. It is your duty to your nation to stop this and go public in any way that you can. Protection is not an issue, comrade, you will be well protected." He handed him a roster of names. "B Company, 4th Mechanized Brigade, 6th Republican Guard division. A fine lot to protect anyone."

"Yes, I am saying that- although I fear far more what Laeryn will do to me first." Efan took the folder slowly, but hesitated in opening it. "Are you telling me that this is all completely true, unaltered and unedited?"

Abdullah smiled. "We have eyes and ears everywhere, comrade, even in the most unlikely of places, like Shessara. Especially in the most unlikely of places, like Shessara." He noded, "These are unaltered, unedited. Laeryn was kind enough to not give us a need to edit or alter them. I think he's losing it a bit, personally."

Efan winced. "He has nothing left to lose. I was there when the last bit of the lord I knew disappeared."

He studied the plans, his brows furrowed. "I was convinced, you know, that he would be the last Prince to break these laws. He has a near-fanatical devotion to the old times; did you know he cannot read?"

He closed the folder slowly. "I haven't yet made my decision, but you need to tell me exactly what I need to do and what it will entail- and it had better entail more than one company."

"From what I understand of the man, he has a near fanatical devotion to enhancing his own power," countered Abdullah. "And no, I didn't know he couldn't read."

"What you need to do is take this and tell the world about it. All of the nobles you can get in contact with and make Laeryns life a hell -- after all, I'm sure this won't go down too well with the other nobles... and clans." He shrugged. "I can get more soldiers for you, but given my study of Shessara military tactics you shouldn't need any. Give me a number of how many you want and I'll see what I can do -- but there's no way in hell you're getting more Republican Guard thana single company. Hallad doesn't dispence its finest soldiers like Pez."

"And Shessarans don't betray their lords without being certain of victory. If I am not given three companies of Republican Guard; I am not secure enough to do anything, much less become a thorn in Laeryn's side. If Hallad wants to secure a victory here- and I am not nearly naive enough to believe that you are without desires or motivations- they will have to commit themselves fully. There will be no international backing out if this fails. Also, Hallad will supply us with ammunition and tactical intelligence.
"And one more thing. You will sign a document acknowledging Halladi knowledge of and support for the diversive elements. It will be kept secret here, where neither our enemies nor you Halladis will know where it is. If we lose, it will fall into enemy hands and the Halladis will be shown to the world to have acknowledged sponsoring an attack on a dominant government. If we win, we will destroy it and Hallad may take credit for that which pleases it. Understood?"

"One company of Republican Guard and a brigade of Red Army regulars along with one squadrons of fighter aircraft, one bomber squadron, and one helicopter squadron. That is protection enough, we will only field more Republican Guard units if it becomes necessary," said the Halladi in a serious tone. "Hallad will supply your own soldiers with weaponry, ammunition, and tactical advisors. As for your contract, I will be happy to sign such a document."

Efan hesitated only a moment before nodding. "We are at your disposition."

"Good," said the Halladi with a nod. "Then I will sign the document and take my leave of here. Halladi soldiers will begin to arrive tomorrow."

"What arrangements will you make for the disposition of the troops? What is our broader course of action?" Efan took a step forward. "I need to know a bit more."

"Disposition of troops? I would imagine they're coming here. By truck I would imagine, maybe by helicopter. You can tell me how you'd like it done, though." He took a step back. "Unfortunately, this isn't my area. You can discuss tactics with the Republican Guard and Red Army officers when they arrive."

"Are we attempting to keep this secret or not? What do I tell the Laeryn when they demand what I am doing?"

"Comrade," he said sternly. "We're talking about moving several thousand Halladi soldiers into Shessara -- exactly how secret did you expect this to be? As for the Laeryn, tell them they have been hired out to build infrastructure in your land. It's not unplausible, in peace time Halladi army units preform functions like that all the time."

"But this is Shessara," Efan growled. "Keep it as quiet as you can; but when Laeryn hears of it you'd better be ready to hold him off."

"Alright," he sighed. "Quiet as we can, but it's hard when you're moving so many men in such a short amount of time. So, then, shall we end this?"

Efan nodded, once. "Don't betray me," he said.

"Of course," replied the Halladi. He and the Shessaran lord drafted the document and Abdullah signed it, then returned to his helicopter and headed back to Hallad, reporting to his superiors about the success of his mission.

* * *

Early the next day, Halladi soldiers that had been stationed on the border began to load into trucks, tanks, APCS, and helicopters. A brigade of Red Army soldiers, some 2,500 soldiers, and some 400 Republican Guardsmen began to cross the border into Efan's land -- and Shessara. The first to arrive were the commanders from the Red Army and Republican Guard units -- Colonel Hafiz al-Buradiya and Captain Omar bin-Khalid, respectively. Both of them immediately went to Efan's castle, requesting an audience with the lord.

Their troops, meanwhile, began making a camp nearby to the castle and start construction of an airstrip and fortifications. This would be the command and control point for Halladi forces operating in Shessara.

The Shessarans were already hard at work building a stockaded barracks area in the shadow of the walls of the keep; as the Halladis arrived they were shown the new areas, spartan but not uncomfortable, with rugs thrown on the ground and pallets of straw made up. Communal showers were set up and a dining hall, but food would have to be eaten in shifts both inside and outside the fortress, with the numbers that had arrived.

The Halladi commanders, on arrival, were shown to the same small room, where Efan awaited, this time flanked by four vassals in the colors of minor nobility, poring over a map of their immediate surroundings and talking of military affairs.

When the Halladis entered Efan straightened up and the power-armoured guards saluted.
"Good day, gentlemen," Efan said softly.

The two Halladis saluted. "I am Captain Omar bin-Khalid of the Republican Guard," said the taller of the two. The Captain was a clean cut and handsome. "And this is Colonel Hafiz al-Buradiya of the Red Army." The Colonel seemed older and more passive, with graying hair and a thick beard. "I assume you wish to begin planning immediately?" Asked the Captain, who seemed to be taking charge over the older Colonel.

"Of course," Efan said, his face carefully controlled. "We have procured the most recent maps of both the area and of Laeryn's domains. I want to hear now that you know what you're doing."

The two Halladis approached the maps. Both of them eyed it for a moment. "We need to know several things. First, the number of troops under your control, and under his. Also the number of vehicles and aircraft you and he posess," asked the Colonel, this time.

The Captain noded. "What are his capabilities, as far as SSM's and SAM's, and what are his fortifications like?" He took a moment to think. "And do his soldiers field guns or swords?" He said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Braedd Laeryn is a supporter of the old guard, or perhaps its leader- he fights according to rules laid down a hundred years ago. He makes some small adaptations for technology but he is at his heart a Shessaran warleader who would rather ride a horse with sword and shield than man an artillery cannon.
I cannot give an exact account of the military at his command- because in Shessara we do not always keep track of these things- but I know that his military capabilities have only grown from the last war.

He has at his disposal at least four million men of fighting age and armed; but it is nearly impossible, given the nature of our land, to raise the entire army. Rather, he will probably fight in defensive waves spaced in miles, each advancing on an enemy position, reinforced from behind.

I know only too well from my own experience that he is an able artillery commander; although in his unique Shessaran way he lacks anything resembling decent armored support his men on the ground will use improvised explosive devices, stolen grenades, anything to destroy the cavalry, or at least hold them off long enough to drop death from the sky.

As for artillery, he will probably conceal it in strategic positions, notably where it is difficult to put an airplane; his own planes- albeit that they range from biplanes to modern fighter jets- are numerous and he will attempt to create utter confusion in the skies, forcing you to fight on the ground, where he has the advantage in numbers.

So, I would ask you to consider alternate plans to fighting a war outright; considering the small number of troops that you have.

Any questions?"

The two Halladis looked at each other. "Human wave tactics," said the Colonel, shaking his head. "This is going to be easier than I thought. Comrade Captain, care to explain how to defeat the dreaded human wave?"

"Iron discipline, excellent fortifications, and superior firepower," answered the Captain smuggly. "Lord Efan, our suggestion is to allow Laeryn to come to us, using the time it will take him to raise his army to our advantage and creating an impenetrable defensive position. I believe it should be organized into three lines. All three should be infantry and armour, with fast and mechanized units in reserve to reinforce and repel. Artillery units should be placed strategically in order to be able to attack both advancing infantry and possible artillery positions Laeryn could use. Colonel?"

The Colonel nodded. "Also, I believe it would be in our best interest to deploy teams to these positions in order to ambush and sabotage enemy artillery positions. I suggest we call in another surface-to-surface missile brigade to get range on their artillery, too."

Bin-Khalid turned to Efan. "Comrade, we will need your soldiers help to get the lay of the land to build fortifications. In addition to an SSM brigade, I'm going to call in a SAM brigade for air cover and put air units alert status over the border in Hallad. We also have at our disposal SSM brigades in Hallad, whose missiles have range enough to reach even Laeryns castle with some of their weaponry. Does this sound exceptable to you?"

"If you say so, Commanders," Efan said nervously. An aide suddenly started up and moved to the door, received a paper and carried it to his lord.
"We've received the first diplomatic communique from Canolbardd. I hope that the Halladi Ambassador can keep the government there occupied long enough...?"

"Well," said the Captain. "What does it say?"

He looked at his Red Army counterpart worryingly. Al-Buradiya had a similar look on his face, but niether because they were afraid of immediate combat, they merely feared for the Ambassador's life.

"It's a demand for us to justify your presence... to explain the presence of Halladis on Shessaran soil. What do I send in return?"

"We're having a party," replied the Colonel, chuckling.

Al-Khalid, smirking, gave the real answer. "We're hired out to build quality infrastructure -- modern buildings, paved roads, and modern military bunkers, etc. That is our official reason for being here."

The aide looked worriedly from the Halladis to Efan, who stared at the map. Finally, he mumbled "Send it."
"But, my lord-" the aide began to protest, but Efan fixed him with a glare and he retreated hurriedly.
"There are two main routes that Laeryn can take to arrive here. The first is through the mountains that lie running through the eastern half of Crastiroedd. However, if he comes that way, he would have to contend with the Halladi planes; he'd be in range of your airbases there prematurely. Probably he will swing by Canolbardd and try to come up against us from the south; in that way we'd be trapped in the end of this valley."

"Then I suggest we begin by sending forces to both these areas immediately," said al-Khalid. "The south must be put under military control immediately, and I suggest that we begin laying mines in strategic areas around these two possible entry points. And if his intent is to cut us off, I'm going to alert several units in reserve across the border to be on call, so that they might flank Laeryn in case of an emergency."

He thought for a moment, then resumed talking. "I believe we must begin preperations this moment. Any workers you can spare will help us tremendously, and I hope your soldiers are accustomed to digging foxholes and trenches, because we're going to need to do it quick and efficiently. I can probably get a unit of engineers in here by tomorrow, but we can't wait for them to get here before we start."

"Laying mines?!" burst out Efan. "You would destroy this land for generations?!" He shook his head. "You will, of course, do what has to be done. As for foxholes and trenches... those haven't been used in Shessaran warfare in many years, but I daresay the older soldiers still remember, and can teach the younger.

It will be done as you said, but have the reserves standing by... I daresay that Laeryn will surprise us all, in the end."

"We will keep detailed maps of where we lay mines and clean them up after hostilities have ended, of course." The Captain and Colonel looked at each other. "We've got to be going, we'll be with our soldiers if you need us."

Both of the Halladis saluted and exited the room. They headed to their command tents and got to work, order SSM and SAM brigades to be moved into position as soon as possible as well as additional troops and engineers to arrige in Shessara. Also -- although they didn't tell Efan -- they ordered two other things, meant to be surprises. The first was a unit of Air Mobile soldiers to be put on standby, in order to drop behind Laeryn's forces. The second was to order another brigade of Red Army soldiers across the border in Hallad to be on standby, in order to flank Laeryn's army.

Meanwhile, the Halladis began digging their fortifications. Three simply trenchs were being dug out, and in between each trench were foxholes and spiderholes. The trenches were simply in design, not meant for long-term use, but built with some basic sandbag fortification. Larger sections were dug out in order for tanks to roll in and out of, so they could harass the enemy.

The Shessarans ran through their order of battle; large groups drilled on the wide grassy ground before the keep. The peasants, commanded and herded here and there by their Armoured aristocrats, their iron and steel suits belching smoke into the air. They were good at shooting, almost all of them- hunting was a skill that Shessarans prized; however, they moved sluggishly and uncertainly in the combat lines and maneuvers; there had not been any wars in generations to teach them how an army fought.

In the keep, Efan and his officers hunkered over maps with the Halladis, poring over defensive points and maneuvers.
An aide smashed open the door, not bothering to knock, and all started up.
"My lord," the aide gasped, dropping to one knee. "Two messages. Cyridd ap Herlan tells you that he knows exactly what you are doing, and sends a formal demand that the Halladis leave Shessara immediately."
Efan winced. "And the other?"
"The Laeryns are massing. We have word that several of your kinsmen have been seized by their allies. I have a list for my lord to read."
Efan turned slowly to the Halladis. "Well, it has begun."

"How long until they arrive, do you expect?" Asked the Republican Guardsman. His Red Army counterpart continued to mark thing on the maps. "I suspect he'll try to mass as many soldiers as possible, so it'll take a bit of time, wont it?"

"The way that Shessarans do these things is a little different. He will start moving within a few days, and his lords will fall in as he moves, accumulating as he goes. He probably won't even stop but keep coming. Assuming that he makes maximum use of vehicular trasportation, I give him a week at most before he's making contact with our outer positions."

"Good enough, we'll be done with the trenches in five days, I'd say," said the Red Army Colonel. "Now that the Engineers have arrived, they've brought in hevier construction equipment. They can dig out trenches pretty easily."

Captain Al-Khalid nodded. "Even so, I'd not underestimate Laeryn..." He thought for a moment, then turned to a radio operator. "Double the sentries and make sure they're covering all sides. I want constant air patrols up, as well. UAV's and the real thing. No surprises."

"Yes, comrade Captain," answered the man witha salute, then going to relay the orders.

The Halladi turned to Efan. "You don't, by any chance, have any allies?"

"I have my family, those that Laeryn hasn't already executed," he added, with a glance at the aide. "If we put up a real fight here, others will rise. I'm not alone in my hate of the Tyrant, you know. This was our goal all along, I thought."

Al Kahlid shrugged. "I was just asking, and yes, that is our goal. No harm in having them, though." The Halladi turned and went back to his planning.

In the capital building of Hallad, Gareth-Hywel Pendifigion, a little more grey in his hair but otherwise the same old belligerent character, stormed past the guards, ignoring their attempts to get his attention, and into the Premier's office.
"Would you care to explain this?!" he demanded, dropping a sheaf of papers on the other's desk.

Premier Hasan Muhammad was surprised to see a Shessaran in his office. However, the fact that it was an angry Shessaran wasn't really that surprising. The man threw papers down at his desk, over the work he was doing. Muhammad looked down at them for a moment, thumbing through them. Halladi soldiers in Shessara.

"Explain what?" Replied the unenthused Premier. "Ah, I heard one of your noblemen had struck a deal with the Red Army for the use of engineers. Good on him for modernizing. Now, if you don't mind, there are several bills I have to sign."

The Shessaran Ambassador drew himself up angrily. "Since when do engineers require brigades of heavy infantry support?"

"Tanks can be used for heavy lifting, comrade," siad Muhammad sternly. "I was in the Army once, and my unit used its heavy vehicles for construction all the time -- building infrastructure, clearing ground. It's cheaper to use them than speciality vehicles, anyways. Money was probably a concern or something. Now, if you don't mind..."

The Shessaran took a step forward. "I am not a child, Mahomet, nor am I an idiot. We know exactly what you are doing, and we are prepared to act to stop you! We demand that you remove all of your forces, immediately."

"Will you calm the hell down," said Muhammad, slamming his fists down on his desk as he stood up, his chair falling over. "You know, just because one of your people decides to do something that might actually benefit his people, doesn't mean you need to come here whining to me. Why don't you just accept that the world has moved beyond your pathetic scope of vision that is feudal monarchy? It died a long time ago, Pendifigion, and banning all modern necessities may not be the best policy, believe it or not!"

"So, what then?" He sneered. "You come to me, after seeing one man try to modernize the very basics of his land, and claim foul play? Get the hell out of my office, I don't have time for your games!"

"Perhaps the problem is that your law, your government, you society is outdated. If your man wants to hire out Halladis, it is no problem of mine." He looked over the Shessaran, at the Guards who were unsure of what to do, and gave them a nod. Two large men approached the Shessaran. "Now, these men will show you the door. Or if you insist, the pavement, too."

"Only one of us is playing outside the rules, Halladi," snarled Gareth. "We are a sovereign government, every inch politically equal to you. You are fully aware that the Halladi military is violating Shessaran law, and yet you do nothing?! You do not have the right to interfere in our government because of ideological differences!"

"If you lay a hand on me, it will be war," vowed Gareth, wheeling. "I am a prince of Clan Pendifigion-!"

Muhammad watched Pendifigion leave with a sigh of relief. He didn't have time for such petty arguements. He sat down, signed a bill, then got on the line with his secretary.

"Yes, Premier," answered the older woman.

"May, please get Commissar Yusuf and Commissar Ghazi on the line. I need to make a conferance call."

"One moment," she snapped back.

After a few moments of silence, another line picked up. "Premier," said a familiar voice. The retired General was in charge of all of Hallad's defense, after all, so they knew each other well. The another moment went by, and Ghazi picked up his phone. "Yes, Premier?"

Muhammad put the phone on speaker. "Commissars, I need you to issue a joint statement to all diplomatic personnel in Shessara: they are to be advised that the danger level in Shessara has risen from Yellow to Orange. Their Ambassador just barged into my office claiming we're trying to overthrow their regime, and that we have soldiers in Shessara for more reasons than that report you gave me, Jabir. The one about the engineers and construction business. Either way, I don't like, and I think they may be planning something."

Confirmation came from both the Commissars. "Jabir, stay on the line please."

"Of course, Premier."

"One more thing, I want the border on alert. No funny business from the Shessarans. If anything happens, I want to know about it ASAP."

"Yes, Premier, I'll be sure to do that. Is that all?"

"Yes, yes."

The call ended. Muhammad hung the phone up and fixed his chair. He sat back in it, sighing heavily. "What the hell are they planning?" He asked himself.

Braedd Laeryn was feeling in a particularly fine mood. He had reasonable provocation for finishing that which he started- and this time Cyridd bloody Pendefigion could not tell him to stop. He might even have to join in, and that was a thing that pleased Braedd Laeryn immensely, that even his nominal lord was forced to follow him when he went to war.
Not that it would be easy. On the contrary. No, he had fought the Halladis before, and knew them to be tenacious adversaries, with the advantage of technology on their side. But he hated them, hated them with a fiery passion that consumed all but one other... although a victory here would allow him to deal with that one, too.
His armies swelled, now, and coursed across Crastiroedd. He followed their path on a map every night, and saw the great streams of Clan Laeryn converging, converging in a terrible torrent that flowed directly for the rebel Efan and his Halladi allies.
He reckoned they had about three days left before they came in contact with the outermost Halladi positions. Especially then, progress would be slow. But he smiled. He knew something they didn't know.

In the Shessaran command center, the aide once again dashed in. "Sirs, we are receiving a direct-radio transmission on an encrypted channel from Yr Ucheldiroedd!"

"What's the message?" Asked Captain Al-Khalid, who was drinking a cup of cold water. He yawned and stretched, an indicator that he hadn't slept well the night before. "Good news, I hope?"

"Oh," said the Captain. "Where? When? Are you sure this isn't some trick, I don't feel like having an enemy sniper shoot me."

"It's from Heddwyn Cleddyf of Yr Ucheldiroedd. Sirs, he wants to meet with you."

"Well, no, sir, I don't think that will happen," said the aide.

"Okay, okay," he got up and moved over to the aide. "Does the message say a location or a time?"

"Well, no, sir," the aide said, a little agitatedly.

"Right," he said, "Well, get on it, man, message him back saying I'll meet with him!"

"Well, I don't think that would help, sir!" the aide squeaked.

The Halladi raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Well, I don't think that would help, sir!" the aide squeaked.

"Because he's here!" the aide burst out, and sure enough, feet were heard on the main staircase.
"My men must have let him through," cursed Efan. "Well, at least we will hear what he has to say..."


"Why didn't you say that in the first place!?" Exclaimed Al-Khalid, shaking the aide with boths hands on his shoulders. "Alright, alright, let him through!"

He turned to his soldiers in the room. "Hide that stuff!" He said, referencing the maps and other planning material.

"Because he's here!" the aide burst out, and sure enough, feet were heard on the main staircase.
"My men must have let him through," cursed Efan. "Well, at least we will hear what he has to say..."

"Why didn't you say that in the first place!?" Exclaimed Al-Khalid, shaking the aide with boths hands on his shoulders. "Alright, alright, let him through!"

He turned to his soldiers in the room. "Hide that stuff!" He said, referencing the maps and other planning material.

The soldiers had just finished shoving the last map through the other adjacent door when the first swung open and Heddwyn Cleddyf, guarded by two Shessaran Knights out of their armor, marched into the room. Not a large man, he was nevertheless imposing, his long brown hair tossed back but with one forelock that hung down in front of his handsome face. He carried himself as a ruler, head up and back straight.

Efan gave a little hiss when he entered, and his eyes were fixed on the other's mantle; where the seal of Cleddyf was quartered with the Christian cross.

"Well, now," the Prince declared. "What have we going on here?"

Al Khalid looked the Prince head to toe, then proceeded to talk. "That's what I would like to know," he said. "It's not everyday a Prince stops into town to have a chat."

"It's not every day a Halladi deigns to express a Prince so," Heddwyn said, seemingly casually.

Efan was kneeling.

Al Khalid looked over at Efan, and shook his head slightly. He turned back to the Prince. "To quote a revolutionary from the Americas, 'Better to die standing, than to live on your knees.' I'm not here to pay homage to you, and I don't think you came here to simply inflate your ego. You said you wanted to talk, so talk."

Heddwyn snorted. "Halladi, I would advise you not to offend me- not when I am here to make you an offer you'd be an idiot to reject."

"Uh-huh," said Al Khalid, thoroughly unimpressed by the Prince. "Well, go on, then."

Heddwyn smiled thinly. "I am prepared to offer you support and indirect aid- but primarily I can promise you that I can keep the Pendefigion distracted long enough for you to finish your war. In return, I only ask a pittance."

Heddwyn smiled thinly. "We do what we've always done: caedire eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius."

He raised an eyebrow. "You want a pittance? Isn't that some christian... thing? I'm not really up to date on what the christians do these days, sorry. Ashadu an la ilaha illa-llah, wa ashadu anna muhammadan rasulu-llah."

"I want an alliance, of course," Heddwyn responded calmly. "I want Halladi aid when I turn against the Pendefigion. And I want Braedd Laeryn's head."

Heddwyn smiled thinly. "We do what we've always done: caedire eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius."

"Right," said Al Khalid, moving the conversation along. "Well, what exactly do you want, then?"

"A worshipper of Mahomet offers me something to drink? I never thought I'd see the day," said Heddwyn, smiling slightly. "As a rule, I don't, but if you want to role around in the sod, be my guest. I will have tea."

"I want an alliance, of course," Heddwyn responded calmly. "I want Halladi aid when I turn against the Pendefigion. And I want Braedd Laeryn's head."

The Halladi chuckled quietly. "An alliance? I'll run it through my superiors. Laeryn's head? Well, I suppose you can have that. Halladis really only need pictures." He paused. "You Shessarans do love your coups, don't you? Well, alright, I'll send a message out to the PCWD, and see what we get back."

He turned to one of the radiomen. "You there, make yourself useful and relay this information back to command." He turned back to the Prince. "Want something to drink? We'll get a response in a bit."

"A worshipper of Mahomet offers me something to drink? I never thought I'd see the day," said Heddwyn, smiling slightly. "As a rule, I don't, but if you want to role around in the sod, be my guest. I will have tea."

"Get some tea for the Prince," said Al Khalid to one of the Red Army soldiers, who went off o fetch some. The Hallad took a seat and grabbed a canteen. "I don't drink alcohol," he said. "Especially when I'm on activity duty in the Halladi Republican Guard, in a foreign nation. Especially in Shessara."

"A Halladi with principles?" Heddwyn said, settling his pristine white robes around him as he sank into Efan's chair. Efan, finally liberated, rose to his feet, but remained far away from the chair, his head bowed. "How strange."

"You don't know many Halladis, I suppose," said the Captain. "And it is against military regulations to have alcohol while in activity duty, anyways. I think I saw some poll once that said seventy per cent of Halladis don't drink and eighty per cent don't gamble. We are a muslim people, after all."

"Hm," Heddwyn said, wrinkling his nose slightly. "For non gamblers you have certainly taken a chance coming here."

"Well," he pulled out his side arm, "with one of these, I hear our chances of survival increase quite a bit, and the average Shessaran lifespan plummets."

The Shessaran bodyguards leapt forward, their swords clearing their sheathes in great, sweeping arcs. But Heddwyn held up a finger and they froze, the blades an inch from Al Khalid's neck.
"Don't provoke my bodyguards, please?" Heddwyn sighed.

"You should watch out for mine," said Al Khalid. Behind the Prince were two Halladis, rifles pointed squarely at his head. Around the room there were some twelve Halladis with pistols and rifles out. The Captain put his sidearm away. "Shessarans," he snorted. "No sense of humour. Stand down comarades." The rifles lowered.

"Let's get one thing quite clear, Captain," Heddwyn said, frowning. "You need to choose your enemies quite carefully. You antagonize me at great risk. I represent one of three factions in Shessara; the other two you already know. If you pick a fight with one and another stalls the third, you can have your little war. If you start a war with us the Pendefigion will join us and you will have started a full out war immediately, facing the full military might of Shessara. Whether we win or lose, you will have to commit much more fully. Do you want that, Captain?"

"What I want is irrelevant," stated the Captain, "all that really matters is what the military wants. If they want a large war, they will have it -- and they will win."

"Let me put it a little more bluntly, Captain. Offend me and I will join with Laeryn, and there will be no force in hell that can stop us." Heddwyn put down his tea carefully on the arm of the chair and stood. "Appease me and we shall go to war alongside you."

The Captain quietly rolled his eyes. "Well, at least you made a joke."

Just then one of the radiomen turned to the Captain. "Comrade Captain, we have a message from the CoDW."

"Go on," said the Captain.

"The PCWD states he will support moves by the Prince in his coup and grant him and alliance. And he can have Laeryn's head."

Just then another man entered the room, and handed a cup of tea to the Prince.

Heddwyn seated himself again, ignoring the Halladi aide. "So you have your government's approval? All of my requests?" There was a light in his eye that was uncanny.

"That's what I heard, yes," said Al Khalid. He saw the Prince's reaction, but made no comment. He owed Hallad a debt now -- assuming he even was successful in his coup.

"Very well," said Heddwyn, smiling slightly. "If some of my vassals have already begun moving their armies to attack the Laeryn, without my approval, obviously this meeting can mean nothing. Or if they give you supplies which they were already carrying. Obviously I can't have ordered them to do it because of an alliance with you, can I?"

"Obviously not," said the Captain. "Well, I suppose it's about that time? My adjutant will show you out."

Heddwyn raised an eyebrow. "Efan?" The nervous lord, forgotten in a corner, bowed deeply and remained with his head down, eyes fixed on the floor.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Ready my convoy to depart."
The other nodded and dashed from the room. Heddwyn stood slowly. "I'm glad you understand the situation, Captain. We will not speak again." He turned and swept from the room, his two bodyguards close on his heels.

The Captain sighed. Shessarans their theatrics, He thought. He turned to soldier in the room. "What news of Laeryn's advance..."

He hoped it would come soon, the waiting was killing his soldiers. And their defenses were ready. With high morale and plenty of ammunition, they knew they would stop anything the Butcher of Buraydah threw at them.

"We give Laeryn approximately twenty-three hours to first contact with our outermost defenses. Given that the Cleddyf forces were mobilized later and have farther to come; they should engage with the Laeryn in about twice that time. Do we wait or engage with skirmishers?"

"We wait for them to attack," said the Captain. "Make sure all the men are at their posts and well supplied. There are no excuses for them being caught off guard. I want UAV's in the air, monitoring our perimetre, pull back the scouts."

Midnight was pitch-dark, as the low, thick clouds obscured even the faintest traces of moonlight. Halladi and Shessaran strobelights searched the fog, but even the powerful beams lost resolution in the mist. They knew the Laeryn forces were approaching, could see them on radar... but they could not see their faces.
Then there was a long, low hiss and the horizon lit with fire.
"Just on time," Efan said, smiling grimly.
Then the shells began to rain inside the Halladi position.
"Mobilize all forces!" Efan shouted. "Gaeleinion to arms! Caer Heddiw to arms!"

Through the radio, all different voices could be heard. And over it all, Captain Al Khalid yelled orders to his soldiers. "Engage with thermal sights!" The front-line Republican Guard soldiers all had thermal scopes that could be attached to their rifles. Each man did so, and stared down the barrel -- waiting for their targets to come into range. One shot, one kill. The weapons were set for semi-auto.

The tanks at the front, too, we blessed with advanced night-vision and thermal imaging technology. They could easy spot the advancing Shessaran line and across the front line, hell broke loose as various Halladi tanks fired onto the Shessarans. They used their shrapnel-producing shells to maximize the effect.

The Red Army Colonel, too, ordered his soldiers. Although they had no line of sight to Shessaran artillery, they had computers. And triangulation was their friend. The Halladi Red Army brigade had with it a unit of mixed artillery -- towed, self propelled, and rocket. Once the most probably locations had been determined, a process that took only minutes, Halladi artillery began firing at the Shessaran artillery.

Back towards command was also a unit of mortars, who, recieving information from tank commanders who knew exactly where the Shessarans were, could drop their shells right into the lines of the advancing Laeryn supporters.

On the Hallaid lines, though, cassualties did begin to accumulate. Though well made, not everything can defend from an artillery shell. And they were especially deadly. The wounded began to flow into the field hospital. The dead came in bags.

The first rank of Shessarans crumbled, screaming and bloodied as they hit the ground. The first wave fell like grain before a scythe, hitting the ground hard. However, of those who did not fall, no one fired. They just kept screaming, racing at the Halladi positions.

At the rear, a few spectacular explosions heralded the ends of Shessaran artillery pieces, blasted apart by Halladi counter-artillery, but the shells kept falling- and their number only increased as literally hundreds of artillery cannons began to fire. For every one that was blasted by Halladi counterfire, the lords at the rear wheeled up two more, as if they cared little or not at all for the terrible rate of attrition.

At least a thousand fell in the first twenty minutes of the battle, and finally, the first wave ceased to move, as the last standing figures toppled and fell.

The Halladis reloaded, and another wave came screaming at their positions.
Then the sky roared with light, and the Halladis could see a vast flotilla of planes filling the sky above them, biplanes and fighter jets side by side. Ignoring any Halladi anti-aircraft fire, they made roaring waves of attack runs on the Halladi positions, those that fell slamming into the ground near or on top of the Halladi soldiers.

Dozens were dead, dozens of tanks were damaged or destroyed, by the front line was still there. And now the planes seemed to have arrived, but the Halladis had been in the air non-stop for a while. Two squadrons Su-36 Imperator's were in the sky, the best interceptor the Hallad had to offer, and they made everything count. The first wave began to approach the Shessaran planes, who did outnumber them. They made their run in a V-formation, firing off fire-and-forget guided missiles at the enemy -- atleast 30 of these missiles. Then, showing off their acrobating skills, turned upward and around, showing the next squardon who fire off their entire stock of missiles -- over one hundred -- and then proceeded to engage with their guns.

On the ground, Halladi troops crouched to avoid the bullets and missiles and shrapnel from the Shessaran planes. Tanks, with heavy machine guns, fired up toward the sky at the slower planes -- old biplanes and other world war two-era planes. They were hoping the combined effort of the planes and SAM and anti-aircraft artillery would be enough to send the planes away.

* * *

At the command centre, Al Kahlid looked over the reports. The Red Army colonel talked to him. "They've lost hundreds of soldiers, maybe even a thousand, maybe more. But they've got hundreds of thousands of soldiers in reserve. Our best bet is to destroy their air support and artillery -- we can hold against their charges, but the artillery is what is killing our men."

"Right, right," said the Captain, pacing. "Call up the SKA-2's and the MiG's. I want hell rain on their next charge."

He turned to a radio man, "Signal Beta Brigade," he said. "Tell them to engage in flanking manuevers."

"Yes, comrade Captain." The man got on the line. They would not arrive for nearly an hour, however, they would add another 3,000 soldiers to the Halladi's side, and directly on the left flank of the Laeryn's forces.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the skies, far above the fighting, was a squadron of Tu-22M bombers. They were quiet and packed with their cargo -- explosives, of course. The orders they recieved were quite specific.

Pilot and captain of the lead plane, Abdullah Mahmoud, read the orders over the intercom. "Proceed to Laeryn Capital [Coordinates Enclosed]. Drop ordinance. Return home."

The formation began to adjust their course and set it for Laeryn's castle. Halladis did love their psychological warfare.

The missiles exploded inside the weaving mass of Shessaran planes, and sure enough one dropped out of the sky with each hit. But the Shessarans hung on, flying insane maneuvers at the Halladis and spitting machinegun and rocket fire in every direction. The scene that presented itself when the SKAs arrived was one of complete chaos.

The Shessaran front line kicked into movement again, and another wave charged the Halladi trenches- also, this one did not fire any handweapons, merely ran screaming into the Halladi fire or into the various safeguards the Halladis had built, until mounds of corpses began to obscure the view of either side.
Shessaran artillery continued to pound the Halladi position.

Crastiroedd seemed empty when the bombers arrived; no vehicles or people moved on the streets. The bombers came in fast, readying their bomb doors, and let fly; one after one the explosive devices began to pummel the Laeryn capital. And then, suddenly, from plazas, rooftops, and a hundred other places, anti-aircraft cannon began to spit fire at the Halladis directly overhead. Sirens wailed and flashed from the city below as the garrison forces manned their positions- but the infantrymen were helpless to fight the death that rained from above.

The SKA-1's entered the area to see one hell of a dogfight. But their mission wasn't to deal with that. The helicopters moved toward the charging -- and dying -- Shessaran line. There they unleashed a withering barrage of hellfire missiles and rocketpods. And the MiG's were there two, low-flying and ready for ground-attack. They had two objectives -- each of the twelve MiG's was to drop the one bomb they had and then enagage Shessaran aircraft. But these weren't just bombs. Each was filled with a highly controversial, though legal, jell -- Napalm.

* * *

"Captain," said the Red Army Colonel. "The second wave has started their attack... I've heard reports that they're not even carrying weapons or firing, or... anything. In fact, I've recieved a report that no Halladi soldier has died from a bullet yet, but again.. the artillery."

"Allah!" He exclaimed. "The damn artillery. Arn't we firing at it?"

"Yes, comrade Captain," the Colonel replied, "but they seem to be replacing it faster than we can destroy it."

"Hmph." He snorted. "Well, I want those bombers to take care of it once their back..."

"Yes, sir, but that won't be for hours."

Just then a man, a Republican Guardsman, entered the command centre. He was clearly a front-line soldier. He saluted. "Sorry, comrade Captain, but our radio got blown to hell, I ran here as fast as I could."

"Yes, soldier?"

"Lieutenant Misr is suggesting a tactical retreat, sir. Defending the first line is becoming far too dangerous, he says."

The Captain thought for a moment. Misr was a smart man and he knew tactics well. "Okay," he started, "Tell the Lieutenant to order a tactic retreat... after you boys boobytrap the trenchs. You should have plenty of cover from the helicopters."

"Yes, comrade captain!" He saluted, then headed back for the trench.

"Colonel, order mechanized infantry to move up and escort our Republican Guard comrades back to the second line."

* * *

Back at the trenches the message was recieved and men began to put mines and other charges around the trench, working their way down the line to make sure there were not accidents. They placed an extra few layers of razor wire in some area where they felt like being particularly cruel. The tanks pulled out of their fortifications and the soldiers hopped on to them in some cases, and otherwise followed. They were met by APCs and IFVs, who took them on board and led them to the next line, where they were dropped off.

* * *

High in the sky the Halladi bombers looked downward at the explosions. Then at the flicker of lights from defenses. The sweetest thing was, to the crew, that no anti-aircraft cannon could reach these bombers, travelling at 40,000 feet. Most SAM's could barely fly that high. So they sat tight and dropped their ordinance. Their mission wasn't a surigical strike by anymeans. This was a carpet bombing and they carried enough ordinance to easily flatten the city.

The second wave, still numbering in the thousands, died easily, slumping or blasted apart, blood covering the ground in a hellish brownish muck.
The Halladi bombers screamed overhead, one or two falling to the fire of the Shessaran airforce, but the vast majority let their bombs fall.
The ground lit on fire. The screaming was terrible to hear, hundreds of voices screaming in terrible dying agony, and the sky glowed red under the murky clouds as the Halladis fled back to the safety of their second lines, dropping charges and other traps as they went.
In the midst of the chaos, new Shessaran artillery positions began to open up from either side of the initial attack front, spreading out along the lines of the foothills and mountains. As soon as a Halladi plane smashed one, another a few hundred feet away opened fire. As the Halladi bombers were away, however, their number grew- and the first shells smashed into the further systems of trenches, periculously close to the walls of the citadel itself. The sheer volume of projectiles was terrifying, and the noise, the whine of death, cut through the hearts of all who heard it, Shessaran and Halladi alike. But it could not be seen if the Shessarans turned to run or not; in the murky confusion there were only the screams of the dying.
The shells also fell between the trenches, hitting Halladi soldiers in the instant that they showed themselves to enter the second wave.
It was then that more smoke started to rise, from the new Shessaran positions. This was not smoke from the detonations or cannons; no, this was a chemical smoke, acid and bitter and burning against the skin. It was dark, choking, and it shrouded, clinging to the ground. With the winds and explosions, it diffused quickly, creeping across the ground toward the trenches. The Shessarans, having only one, stationary target, moved constantly, and their artillery lit up the cloud with brief flashes and then moved, a constant struggle for the Halladis to pinpoint it even as their radar began to lose clarity.
The valley became a little piece of Hell.

* * *

Finally, almost painfully slowly, the Shessaran aircraft that remained at the Laeryn capital came into the air- but once they were off the ground, they were not slow, screaming into the attack, a squadron of mostly new-model MiGs.
However, their slow response came at a cost- the Trade District, one of the oldest and most populated parts of the Laeryn city, almost ceased to exist, and the bombs marched ominously on.
In the streets below, however, nothing moved but the defenders- there was no one but the soldiers of Laeryn.

"Chemicals!" Yelled one Halladi, as he made his way down the line. He had first seen it as it scarred one of his best friends.

The orders on the radios became as one, suddenly, as people put over their gas masks and put cloth over their hands, trying to seal themselves from what appeared to be crude chemical weapons. Atleast a dozen Red Army regulars were burned severly by the Shessaran chemicals and were taken back to the infirmary, the others were ordered to fight on. Political officers can stirring speeches through loudspeakers -- "the Halladis must hold back the Shessaran infidels!" "The valiant soldiers of the Red Army will hold the line!" "For every Halladi comrade dead, kill fifty Shessarans!"

An ammunition run was made and it was fully successful despite the losses of several trucks. Prior to the battle, Al Khalid made damn sure they had the supplies they needed. More had even been shipped in via air drops while the battle had started.

Back of HQ, the commique had arrived from the Halladi reinforcements. Skirmishers were some twenty minutes away from the Shessaran flank. They had been slowed slightly by Shessaran "border guards," who had been since annhilated by the division of Halladis -- quite easily, at that. They made sure the message of their arrival hadn't got to Laeryn.

Al Khalid was relieved by the news. Soon a regiment of light infantry would strike at the flank of Laeryns forces, and the Halladis that Al Khalid commanded would be relieved enough to make significant advances -- that was the plan, anyways.

The Halladi skirmishers crept up the slopes toward the Shessaran positions on the mountainside, the going hard because of the steep, rocky terrain, although to the seasoned Halladis it was not an obstacle. They crept closer, and they could see the Shessaran artillery crews in the brief flashes from the guns and from the fires blazing on the hillsides.
But beneath them, the valley floor was now covered in the thick, Shessaran-made mist, glowing from within with the light from the fires, but a strange, distorted color, pierced by the sound of Halladi weapon fire and screaming. The Halladi soldiers, however, focused on their training and went on. In six different artillery emplacements, Halladi soldiers annihilated the crews before they could even respond, and three more managed to put up a fight before they, too were eliminated.
And then the return fire started, blasting down the hillsides at the skirmishers, and a series of flares rocketed into the firelit sky from seemingly random positions. Shessarans countercharged, three thousand men at least who had been waiting at attention at the top, howling down the slopes blasting ahead of them with their rifles, dying in droves but carrying the Halladi platoons down one by one.

On the valley floor, all was chaos. The Halladis fired into the mist although the visibility was about ten feet- and they heard wild howls and screams, and then explosions as the defenses in their first trench went off, but the screams never stopped, nor the Shessaran advance- and the enemy was still not firing.

On the mountainous flank, the Halladi light infantry had made good in relieving their comrades -- to a point. The artillery soon began to fall on them and a counter-attack was produced. An uphill battle wasn't exactly the Halladi's favourite sort of battle. After the initial barrage, and against an enemy force that was roughly a third larger than the Halladi advanced guard, a tactical retreat was called for. The rest of the division was informed of this, who began to hollow out the their centre line -- turning the shape of the division into that of a "U". They make provisional hiding spots and hoped the Shessaran peasant guards would fall for the trap. The light infantry made a retreat to the centre of the Halladi's bulge -- hoping the Shessarans would follow, they planned to use a classic pincer movement to trap and surround the Shessarans, then anihillate them.

In the valley, the situation was growing poor. They could hear screams. They could shoot. Only the Republican Guard were equipt with thermal scopes on their weaponry -- aside from Halladi snipers. A sudden ease in artillery was a bit of a relief, however the common soldier could only kill at an uncomfortably close range. A large convoy of armoured vehicles were sent up to the front to bolster their forces. The hope was that the multiple computers on board the vehicles -- thermal imaging, night vision, etc -- could be used to direct the fire of the infantry. This was partially successful, the vehicles instruments allowed them better range but the chemicals covered their vision after some forty feet at most. The other problem was the artillery -- the vehicles were big targets and there were only so many entrechments that had been prepared.

* * *

Above the skies of Laeryn's castle, the Halladi bombers waited to see the reaction from the Shessaran airplanes -- which were easily caught on radar. They ceased their bombing and increased speed. Halladi bombers were outfitted with automated turrets, which were set to stand by. Shessarans were known for engaging in dog-fights, and the pilots didn't want to waste precious counter-measures on missiles that weren't being fired.

The light infantry fell back, firing, but the Shessarans came on like maniacs, running at full tilt through the fog, screaming wildly, falling on the Halladis at close quarters, where they resorted to daggers and swords with any they managed to pull down. They swarmed them, trying to overwhelm them, even as Halladi point-blank fire took dozens down.

The artillery picked up again, but this time without a specific target, marching back and forth in seemingly random patterns on the Halladi position. A few armored vehicles fell victim to shots from the artillery, although from the ground the trenches were still taking no fire. The next wave of Shessarans came on again, hitting the first trench- and climbing over the now-deep piles of the bodies of the other waves and Halladi soldiers fallen victim to the artillery. Any that made it this far now came screaming up the trench toward the Halladi lines, and they still came on in the thousands.

In the sky, the dogfight was not very clean. Shessaran planes closed against the Halladis in their usual style, but the more advanced Halladi planes took several Shessarans each. A few more modern Shessaran planes acquitted themselves fairly well, but for each Halladi downed the price was steep.

On the flank, the advacne guard made their way back the way they had come, many of the soldiers retreating into the light armoured vehicles that had accompanied them -- Halladi BMPs, IFVs, trucks, and jeeps. From armoured personnel carriers, the infantry were able to fire out of firing ports, each with a periscope for the safety of the infantry. Though there only some four dozen vehicles with the group, it made retreat qiucker and more effective. They continued with their plan, seeing now the Shessarans were in a frenzy.

In the valley, mounds of bodies began to pile, obstructing view. The simply sollution to this was the use of grenades on the mounds, though it wasn't the safest method and several Halladis were lightly wounded as a result. There was also a call for several support vehicles, with dozer-blades, to arrive up at the front to help clear out the bodies. Al Khalid look over the situation very carefull, knowing that if something went wrong now, the Halladis would be forced to retreat back to the third line -- something which he hoped not to do for atleast another day. He ordered a squadron of helicopters to go in and simply blast the hell out of whatever was in front of the second trench. They were fueled, armed, and ready to go after a few minutes and they took of laden with rocket pods. They twelve gunships arrived at their position, fired off atleast a hundred of the small rockets fairly blindly into the the area infront of them and reatreated again.

Rockets came spiralling down the hill like a forest of little fires, landing all around the Halladi APCs. The Shessarans continued to come on, firing wildly, many falling but still continuing-
And then the first Knight in full battle armor charged down the hill, spewing fire from a heavy machine gun that the gigantic warrior carried in two hands like a toy. Behind him twenty more came charging, rockets, grenade launchers, and other heavy weapons opening up.

The first volley of Halladi grenades launched into the bodies- and the resulting explosion was far, far too large to have come from just the grenades. The earth shook, fire and debris and lethal shrapnel rocketing in all directions- explosives strapped to the bodies.
Then the next wave of Shessarans came on, still not firing, but every time one fell the resulting explosion was like an artillery hit. Still they charged on, screaming, aimed straight for the Halladi trench, the detonations making the very earth tremble and filling the sky with dirt and rocks and flying shrapnel.
The screaming was like a chorus of the damned.
The helicopters came in, and fired, and again the resulting devastation was terrible- but another wave of Shessarans came tearing in, still not firing.
Where the Halladi trench commander crouched, there was a sudden blast, and something came flying from the air to land with a sickening crunch next to him- the upper torso of the corpse of a child, the wires still evident where something had been strapped to its chest, its wide eyes staring.

On the far side of the keep, the Shessarans continued to spread out, only now they took up positions against the Halladi border, training guns on anything that might try to pass in to resupply the defenders. If there was to be a resupply effort, it would have to be from the air.

On the flank, the Halladis continued their retreat, taking plenty of cassualties. They first met the Kinghts of Shessara and learned very quickly that shooting at their horses was the best way to incompacitate them -- their armour was thick enough to deflect most bullets, or atleast slow them down. Finally, the Halladis made it down to the bottom of the hill and retreated back toward Hallad, until finally, the flanks of the division engulfed their Shessaran attackers.

* * *

"Suicide bombers." Stated Al Khalid, relaying the news to Efan. "Is that customary in Shessara? I've read nothing of suicide bombers in the tactical journals about Shessara. Certainly not from children, too! My commander at the front says children strapped with bombs are attacking them!"

"This is madness," added in the Red Army colonel. "Children suicide bombers? That's unheard of!"

Captain Al Khalid ordered his radio operator to call in for an airlift for the injured, along with some provisions of light vehicles and ammunition.

He went back to Efan for his explaination of the bombers. The Red Army colonel went back to giving orders and listening to news from the front. The Shessarans were breaching in several areas and he ordered troops forward to reinforce the line. He turned to Efan, "Lord Efan, we require some of your soldiers at the front."

Those Knights who were on horses- the commanders- stayed far, far back out of the Halladi gun range. Those that came rampaging down the slope did so on foot, with the aid of their great, smoke-belching suits of armor. As the Shessarans came, they spread out, trying to hit the division broadside, where its superior numbers would either force it to thin out too much or simply surround it.

Al-Khalid found Efan distinctly unwell. The once-proud Lord was crouched in one corner of the command room, his head in his arms, and was muttering quietly to himself. His aides looked around, shuddering or jumping at every blast of Laeryn artillery, and regarded him unhappily.
As Al-Khalid approached, Efan shot to his feet. His face was hollow and there were huge, dark circles under his eyes. "It's happening again, Halladi. All over again!"
At Al-Khalid's question he spun away and stalked to the one, lone window, looking out over the valley of death. "These aren't soldiers, Halladi. Soldiers fight."
"Suicide bombers." stated Al Khalid, his face grim. "Is that customary in Shessara? I've read nothing of suicide bombers in the tactical journals about Shessara. Certainly not from children, too! My commander at the front says children strapped with bombs are attacking them!"
"Children..." murmured Efan, and he swayed on his feet, his eyes blank, and his aides stepped forward as if to catch him.
"This is madness," added in the Red Army colonel. "Children suicide bombers? That's unheard of!"
"It is a sin," Efan whispered. "A sin to the Old Ways, a sin to the New Ways. No Shessaran would ever give his life without dying like a warrior, unless... unless they didn't have a choice."
Al-Khalid's radio operator caught his attention, and he whirled, his face never losing its black expression even as he ordered his radio operator to call in for an airlift for the injured, along with some provisions of light vehicles and ammunition. The Red Army colonel went back to giving orders and listening to news from the front. The Shessarans were breaching in several areas and he ordered troops forward to reinforce the line.
He turned to Efan, "Lord Efan, we require some of your soldiers at the front."
Efan shrugged sadly. "What difference does it make, when Hell itself is here to claim us?"

Cyridd Pendefigion stood on a long stretch of wall, seemingly by himself, at the heart of the capitol, and watched the storm brewing over the mountains to the north.
"This is a storm that bodes ill for us all," he whispered.
"It reminds me too much of our youth," responded another voice, and a tall, black-cloaked figure stepped into view.
"You came," Cyridd said, smiling slightly.
"If you call me, I always will," responded Adyn ddim-Laeryn, his voice calm but the anger evident behind it. "Now tell me what's happened."
"We've all but lost contact with the valley of Caer Heddiw. Lord Efan is, at last knowledge, a prisoner- either willing or not- in the hands of the Halladis. Your esteemed cousin has taken it upon himself to destroy all of them. Last night, Braedd released some sort of chemical in the valley, and all means of communication, including radio and other sacriligious instruments, are cut."
Adyn grunted. "And what would you have from me?"
"I want you to muster a small force and move to await the outcome of the battle. If you must, enter the keep or in some way discover if Efan has wished this or is in fact a prisoner. And in some way find out what the hell is going on in that valley!"
"As you wish," Adyn responded, dipping his head once.
"Thank you, old friend," Cyridd said, smiling, and the other touched his shoulder, just once.
"For you, Cyridd, and for Shessara."

Abdel jumped into trench and his nine comrades followed, they were reinforcements. Close to them was a breach and set out for it, setting up a machine gun quickly while firing into the mist. Word had spread that these were not soldiers -- they were children. Children strapped with explosives. The groups sniper had already equipt his thermal scope and peered through it, snapping off several shots and directing the squads fired.

"One o'clock," he called out. Then a moment later, "Twelve!"

Abdel looked over his shoulder for a moment, seeing a T-15 pull up behind them. The cannon fired into the mist and several smaller explosions ensued. He went back to firing, reloaded, and fired some more. A Halladi soldier made his way down the trench dropping off magazines for the rifles.

"This is totally fucked," said one of his squad. "Why won't these Shessarans fight us the way they're supposed to!"

"Hey, if they aren't shooting, it just means more of them die," corrected Abdel.

* * *

"Oh god, I can't believe I would say this..." Al Khalid muttered to himself. "Pull yourself together, man!" Yelled the young Halladi Captain at Efan, grabbing him by his shoulders. "People's lives are at stake -- my soldiers, myself, you, everyone in your keep. You are the lord of this castle, and you must defend it! Order troops to the front! And do it with conviction! A lot of people are dying, Efan, dying! You know Laeryn is evil, that is why you chose this, and now a fire in your heart should have started. He is using children -- unarmed, strapped with explosives -- to fight his war. He is turning them into martyrs for his own sick, manipulative ego, and you know this! Now send soldiers to the front and talk to me Efan -- talk to me! How do we stop these children from destroying themselves? I don't want to have my soldiers killing... but if they have to..." He trailed off. "We're in this together, damn it, so act like a man."

* * *

The division gave in, allowing them entrace into its heart, where it had hollowed out. Several motorised brigades were sent in to close the gap quickly and they began flanking manuvers against the charging Shessarans. Meanwhile, in the back of the division, near the rear guard, were the artillery and anti-aircraft units. The division had an independant artillery brigade with it, along side from its one. There were some five hundred artillery units when they were combined. The towed units were not ready to be used, and were not set up, however the self-propelled and MRLS units were prepared, and they constituted about half of units. Nearly fifty of these were given the coordinates of were the Knights' commanders were and they opened fire. The others split their fire between enemy artillery on the hills and the charging Shessarans.

Then, suddenly, the Shessaran charges picked up, and they came on like a flood. The leaders of this charge crumpled and fell beneath the Halladi counterfire but now those behind dodged behind the massive piles of corpses, running and ducking through no-man's land even as the fog blurred their movements.
The Halladis fired as the Shessaran charge crept closer and closer to their position. Then the Shessarans at the front started calling out to them, some in broken Arabic, others in Shessaran. "Help me," they called, "Please, I can't go back, they'll kill me!" The moaning rose to a chorus as the front line staggered forward, arms held out beseechingly to the Halladis.

Efan stood up, the whites of his eyes highly evident, his body trembling. "I... I... I don't know if I can..."
One of his aides skidded into the room. "My lord, your cousin Amrawg awaits your orders, sir!"
"Tell him..." Efan glanced about wildly, and fell silent, staring at the floor.

The Shessaran commanders were already falling back when the counterattack blasted their positions- one unlucky aide flew from the saddle and his horse, shrieking, thrashed on the ground, killing him instantly.

The Shessaran advance slowed wildly and suddenly became a confused retreat, as their comrades came almost painfuly slowly to aid their flanks and hold back the Halladi firepower.

"Stay where you are!" Said a Halladi officer over a megaphone. It was hard to hear over the gunshots, but he tried to get the point across. In extremely broken Shessaran he tried to give orders to the enemy -- that was certainly a first for him. "My name is Captain Nasser Aban, I am in command of this fortification. We do not want to kill unarmed civilians. We are simply defending ourselves. We will shoot anyone who we feel threatens us. Do not come closer! We will use deadly force." He spoke english much more fluently, and hopped that it was a more common language for the Shessarans than his arabic. "Do not come towards our fortifications," he said in english. "We will shoot anyone who is in range. We are merely trying to defend ourselves."

He stopped. Aban's lieutenant look dismayed. "This is fucked," the lieutenant said. "This whole thing is fucked."

"Those Shessaran bastards, they've been sending civvies at us the whole fucking time!" He kicked the side of the trench in anger. "We've got to help those people..."

"We can't, Captain..." Said the lieutenant. "No, I want to, I know you do, too. But we don't know if that's a trap, or if it isn't -- well, for all we know the bombs are remotely detonated."

"I know, I know..." He took up the megaphone again. "If you are unarmed... if you have no bombs on you... Approach the trench, but stop when you are in sight of us. If you do not stop, we will shoot."

Aban grabbed the radio that was next to him. "All units, cease fire. Fire only if they come closer than your max visual range. There are civvies out there, caught in the crossfire. Proof must be shown of authenticity -- make sure targets are unarmed and not booby-trapped. If so, take them into the trench and into custody."

Various acknowledgements were heard on the radio. "Oh Allah, please make this work..." He muttered under his breath.

* * *

"You're fucking useless, Efan!" The Halladi Captain had drawn his pistol and held it to the mans temple. The entire room tensed as his aids prepared their weapons and the Halladis did the same. "If you're not going to fight like man, then just go! Go die for all I care!" He lowered the weapon and holstered it. "Fuck!" He yelled. "What news, Colonel?"

"I've got scattered radio transmissions, comrade Captain, but I think our comrades in the relief force have made progress into their flank."

"Oh, Allah be praised..." He said, turning back to Efan. "I'm sorry, Efan, I was getting angry, I know, but this isn't the time to sink into a corner and give up. It is hell out there, battle is hell. But you can't give up on your comrades now, give the word to send up your soldiers, we need them at the front."

* * *

A solid spearhead of armoured vehicles emerged as the forward units of the Halladi division began to take advantage of the retreat. Shessaran commanders began their attempt to rally against the flanking Halladis. The division made good use of its speed to easily outflank the mix of nobility and peasant and had them on the run. The gave chase hoping to overrun them and move on to their well placed artillery, taking the excellent positions for their own.

* * *

Yazid was awoken by the sounds from the east. He got up and approached the window in his aparment's bedroom. In doing so, he awoke his wife, who rolled over in bed and asked him what was wrong.

"Do you hear that?" He asked, brushing aside the blinds on his window. He could see over to the east was a unatural light. The east wasn't bright. It never was, because there was barely any electricity there. To the east was Shessara.

"Hear what?"

The phone rang and he answeed it quickly. "Yazid, it's Lahab. Listen comrade, the commander's called the militia to active duty. No one's sure what's going on, but something's up over the border. Army units are starting to arrive in the town and they're enforcing a curfew for non-militia personnel. Get up to your position ASAP, alright?"

"What's going on Lahab?"

"I don't know, all I know is what I already told you. I'll see you soon." Click.

Yazid looked very seriously at his wife. "I've gotta go, no I don't know what's up, but something's up. I won't wait the kids. Call you in the morning." He rushed to get dressed and to his position.

"Wha? Alright?" Was all his tired wife managed to get out before he left the room.

Yazid got dressed in his fatigues and grabbed his rifle and some ammunition, he stepped outside to see an eight-wheeled armoured vehicle outside his house. There were infantry around, walking at its pace. A soldier moved over toward, him.

"You're militia?" He asked, but not really as a question. "Papers."

Yazid reached into his pocket and produced his identity card and his militia membership card.

"Alright, get to your station make sure you don't see anyone out of place around town."

"What exactly is going on?" Asked Yazid.

The infantryman didn't answer, he just went to rejoin his comrades. Yazid moved quickly to his "station." It was a police checkpoint outside the town where he saw a group of familiar faces. He got over to his comrades, looking for answers.

"Hey, comrades," he said being offered some drink.

The police were busy on the radios and the militia stood in the road, waiting to inspect anything that might be headed their way.

Lahab was there, and Yazid made his way over to him. He knew he could rely on Lahab for some mroe information, he was higher ranked than Yazid was and seemed to be "in the know." Plus, they had been friends since secondary school, so Yazid knew he wouldn't hold anything back.

"Lahab," asked the militiaman, "What's going on?"

His friend looked around. "I'm not really sure, Yaz," he said softly, "but rumour has it that we're at war. I hear militia all over the border regions with the Shessy's are being called up and the Red Army is moving into positions. I haven't heard anything from the Commissariats... or the Premier, for that matter."

The civilians milled and thrashed in panic. "I... bomb!" one screamed desperately in Arabic. "I... bomb!" The others shoved him away, and three suddenly ran for the trench, darting terrified glances behind, as another one chased them, his face desperate, the bulky form of a vest strapped over his clothing.
Then, suddenly, rifle fire cracked into the crowd from behind, and screaming, panicked, they fled for the trench en masse.

Efan stood there, breathing shallowly, his gaze fixed on Al-Khalid. "Maybe this was a mistake..." he breathed softly. "Your men on the hills had better know what they're doing..."

The Halladis on the border crossing received an extremely strange transmission on the Halladi diplomatic frequency- a royal request from Clan Pendefigion at the highest level, a diplomatic courier to the Shessarans aligned with the Halladi force.

"All units, open fire," ordered Captain Aban, softly over the radio. He did not want to give that order. But, he did not want to die. He levelled his pistol and began firing at anything that came toward the trench. He heard several explosions and they picked up intensity. One hit the trench.

Aban reached for the radio again, firing as he spoke into it. "Reinforcement! We need reinforcement immediately! God damn, Colonel, where the fuck are those Shessaran allies you promised? Get the choppers two! We're taking hell over here!"

At the Command Centre, Al Khalid and his Red Army colleague heard this on the radio. "Get the choppers in the air, and get the petrol reserves out from the keep. We're commendeering them," said Al Khalid. He walked past Efan, to his aid who had asked him for orders. Putting his hand on the mans shoulder, he looked at him seriously, "Please order some of Lord Efan's soldiers up to the front."

* * *

At the border, the General, General Amir Husseini, in charge of that military district was informed of a transmission coming in from Shessara. He asked it be patched through to his office.

The Halladis hesitated- and then opened fire, trying to drown out the screams. But some hesitated- and the Shessarans plunged, screaming and crying, toward the trench.

Efan just stood there, swaying, staring out across the ghastly plain, his eyes wide and unfocused.
His aide looked to him, a little desperately. "My lord, your orders? My lord, your orders?!"

The transmission crackled intermittently but the message was fairly clear- "Shessaran diplomatic mission from Prince Cyridd... highest military clearance... ordered entrance in Caer Heddiw..." It was followed by a high-frequency codeburst.

In the hills, the Halladi division showed its expertice of combined arms warfare, with armoured and mechanised units moving forward at a rapid pace, followed up by "clean up crews" of Halladi infantry. Motorised units covered the flanks, able to keep up with the fast moving iron spearhead. Two regiments were posted to the rear, keeping a channel to Hallad open and guarded. In some areas, defenses were prepared -- sand bags and the like, to defend against possible intrusion into the heart of the division. Through this safe corridor, a relief effort was launched toward the Halladis in the valley. Several transport aircraft escorted by an appriate number of fighter craft made their way toward the make-shift airfield prepared in the area. They had supplies, reinforcements, and space to take away the wounded

However, the situation in the valley had become quite bad. Those soldiers in the infirmary who were able to walk and fire their weapon were set up back into the rotation of soldiers. They were set in to go last and with a mix of healthy, uninjured soldiers, but it was one of the only ways the Halladis could keep their numbers up, atleast until aid arrived. Many armoured vehicles were ferried back and forth, getting quick repairs on any light damage, and as muchas could be salvaged was being so. Machine guns were taken off the hulks of the vehicles that simply couldn't move any longer.

General Husseini wasn't sure what exactly to make of the tranmission. He got back on the line and ordered army intelligence to figure out what the codeburst at the end was, and to find any missing chunks of the message.

The Shessarans took tenacious positions before the Halladi advance, giving ground slowly, burying explosives as they fell back, their artillery pounding the ground always at the head of the armored column, striving to slow it down. They hammered the column heaviest from the left- where it would swing torwards the Halladi fortifications- the Shessarans put up a wildly tenacious fight to keep them away from the battle. A squadron of fighter planes, diverted from their covering runs overhead, strafed the armored convoy.

The Shessaran refugees ran forward, ran forward- and suddenly the crowd behind them acted differently. They produced rifles, and at extremely close range opened up with gunfire and grenades on the beleaguered Halladis, throwing the innocents before them like human shields.

A motor-vehicle roared toward the checkpoint and skidded to a halt even as the guards raised their weapons, and a driver stuck his head out the window, waving a piece of parchment. "In the name of Prince Cyridd, you will let us pass- we are carrying diplomatic staff to Caer Heddiw and we need to get inside the warzone- the only possible corridor is from Hallad!"

Just as the Shessarans seemed to spring their 'trap,' a familiar sound was heard by the Halladis and Shessarans alike. The "chops" of the helicopter gunships that were sent forward to repell the Shessarans. They couldn't see them yet, but suddenly in the mist behind the trench there wre several bursts of light, following dozens of streaking missiles toward Shessarans. The twelve helicopters swept forward, unleashing hell as they made an attack run, then retreated. They came up again, this time their 30mm cannons, armed under the cockpit, blazing. The 30mm cannons were perfect as anti-infantry and anti-light armour weapons.

On the hills, the Shessarans made a mistake in their retreat. It was the mistake of attempting to give ground slowly and sow the land with mines and other explosives. As far as Halladi tactics were concerned, doing this in their position, because it slowed their retreat too greatly... making them targets for heavy armour and well-coordinated artillery. Both of them struck with a vengance. And when Shessaran aircraft were detected, the SAM briagde at the rear of the advance put its weight into the fight. Nearly all of the some 75 vehicles were capable of targetting aircraft from many kilometres away, and were firing before the Shessarans were at their targets. The only units incapable of doing this were the anti-aircraft artillery fielded by the Halladi military.

* * *

Lahab approached the vehicles in no rush. He took a look at the parchment, but seemed unimpressed. The police officers approached and took a look at it. They could tell the men were Shessaran and that they were in a rush... All in all it was suspicious. "Wait here," said the ranked police officer in english. Lahab stood by the vehicle, and Yazid approached him.

"What'd they say," Yaz made sure to ask in Arabic.

"They're some Shessaran nobility or something... They want to get to the 'war-zone.'"

"So, we are at war..." Yaz sounded very concerned.

Lahab shrugged. "Maybe." He looked around. "Or maybe it's a police action." One side of his mouth curled up to a smile.

The officer came back, he had been on the phone. "You're cleared to move through here, but you'll have to take an escort to the border." The policeman looked to Lahab, who was the elected captain of the militia that were there.

"Alright," he looked at Yaz and raised an eyebrow. "Yaz, Omar, and Nasir."

The three Halladis started up the jeep they were loaned by the military and prepared the escort the Shessaran delegation.

The Shessarans at the trench died quickly; innocents and soldiers alike; but no sooner were the helicopters finished with their run when rockets spiraled up out of the plain from behind, firing blindly but in great volume, changing position and firing again.
Another wave came at the trench, screaming for mercy.

After five minutes of slaughter, the Shessaran retreat passed into a narrow valley between two fairly steep cliffs. The Shessarans continued to give ground slowly, although casualties were high.

The Shessaran groundcar bounced along the road heavily, its wheels squealing as it went faster than it ought to, the Halladi escorts close behind, as they curved into Hallad and then around, so that they were entering the increasingly narrow and unreliable corridor between Hallad and the defensive positions around Caer Heddiw. The car shot ahead, heedless, into the murk, even as Laeryn artillery began to fall all around.

Flying low over the ground, Halladi ground-attack planes screamed across the battlefield. On the radio, Aban heard the Colonel mention something along the lines of a "special gift" for the front. It was quite a gift indeed, as the mist was very suddenly illuminated by great plumes of fire that stretched outwards and upwards. Dozens of napalm bombs were dropped onto the advancing Shessarans, searing their flesh.

On the valley the general advance was halted when a thin valley was appraoched. The terrain was no longer ideal for an armoured advance. An artillery and SSM strike was called on the valley and the sorrounding cliffs, as well groups UAV's were released to scout for enemies who may have been hiding in the area. The UAVs helped to guide artillery strikes with exact coordinates of enemy positiosn they came upon.

In the sky, the bombers that had set out from the camp hours earlier had arrived home at last. They were loaded up with more ordinance -- this time, pounds of cluster bombs. There were not set out.

In Hallad, General Husseini got his first reports back from Halladi units in Shessara. They were encountering strange conditions but made steady advance. Halladi forces in Caer Heddiw had taken heavy cassualties, but were fighting with every ounce of strength and it is said they inflicted "massive" cassualities on the Shessarans thus far. It was reported that several planes had already set out to Shessara with supplies and reinforcement, but the situation was dissatisfying to the General. He got on the phone and ordered Republican Guard (the division which some of the defenders of Caer Heddiw were a part of) units to enter Shessara and support a more cohesive line to the Halladi units at Caer Heddiw.

It was half an hour from the phone call when Shessaran units on the border were identified by UAVs and assualted by artillery and surface-to-surface missiles. The elite infantry of Hallad were ordered to move forward, in order to reinforce their comrades from the division.

Inside the Shessaran keep, all was chaotic. The retorts of weapons fire were all around them, and the windows glowed with red light from the mist. To the beleaguered defenders, crouched within its walls, it felt like they were in hell.
Efan groaned, leaning against the wall, a trickle of blood making its way from his temple down his neck, where he had been struck a glancing blow by debris from the large hole blasted into the southern wall of the chamber. His guards stood about him, apparently stricken, uncertain and watching the maelstrom through the gaping crater in the keep wall.
Captain al-Khalid paced back and forth, eying the carnage with an unease born more than out of fear.
The Shessaran guards bowed hastily as someone swept in the door, long brown hair flying behind him, his plaid cloak thrown irritably behind him. The Halladis who had read about the Butcher of Erse started back, shocked, and a few raised their guns before realizing that the man who stood before them, while sharing the same fierce good looks and tall stature, was far more slender than his cousin Braedd, and he was older, with a touch of gray at the temples.
Efan half-started to his feet, his eyes mad. “You- outcaste, dog, villain!”
“Calm yourself, Lord Efan ap Morw ap Rhys ap Hywel, Gaeleinion of Laeryn!” barked Adyn ddim-Laeryn. “I am here to end this senseless fighting-!”
“You are outcaste, scum!” Efan hissed, and spat on the ground before Adyn. “Your life is forfeit simply for returning here!”
“Excuse me?” al-Khalid broke in. “Who are you and how did you get here?”
“I have a diplomatic letter from Prince Cyridd,” Adyn said calmly. “I am authorized to speak with his voice. The guards at the border let me pass.” Artillery fire echoed close at hand, and a blast of light illuminated brightly for a moment the newcomer’s features.
“Then he is forsworn as well, who would harbor outcastes-!” snapped Efan. “Guards, kill him!”
The tabarded men started forward, but one twitch of al-Khalid’s hand and they were covered with Halladi assault rifles. “What is going on here?!”
“His family were outcast generations ago,” Efan growled. “They committed unspeakable crimes-!”
Adyn was silent, his etched face betraying the pain he felt at the constant reminder of his fate.
“I don’t care what his granddaddy did,” the Halladi snapped, “but he is a Shessaran government envoy and I’d like to know why the hell he’s here.”
Efan growled, but in the face of the assault rifles he could do nothing, and nodded curtly. His men put their swords away, and the Halladis eased their rifles.
“And you, sir,” Adyn said, rounding on al-Khalid. “Do you wish to explain the presence of Halladi military forces on Shessaran soil?”
The Halladi’s gaze was unreadable. “Lord Efan has rejected the sovereignty of a known war criminal. His realm is now part of Hallad.”
“Hah,” Adyn snorted, bitterly. “This is not the first time!”
Efan turned white, and al-Khalid frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
“Old history,” Adyn said. “Old history.”

The situation in the valley worsened as the hours crept on. In the hills, the Shessarans fought a war of attrition, striking and fading away, their knowledge of the terrain overcoming even the Halladi’s night-vision, which was in turn spoiled by the warm mist blowing through the valley. On the valley floor itself, the carnage continued, as wave after wave of warriors and civilians charged up the slopes. The second trench had now fallen, and the last trench, at the base of the curtain wall, was littered with the corpses of both Halladis and Shessarans who had reached the last defensive line. Still, the small force fought on gamely.
They were now quite cut off except from above, and the supply planes were flying blind, often straying into the path of one of the multitude of Shessaran aircraft winging wildly through the sky, even colliding with other Shessarans at times.
Lord Efan ap Morw Gaeleinion was by now completely insane. It was hard to say at which point, between the screams and the cannonfire, his mind actually snapped, but when he emerged from his private room, a great smile on his battered face, he no longer retained any vestige of sanity.
He strode through the halls, smiling here, whispering there, making his way through the keep and out into the battle-scarred courtyard, walking seemingly unconcernedly through the rain of debris and artilleryfire, emerging unscathed. He spoke to his vassals, quietly and in a hushed voice, and wandered on, finally returning into the keep and walking almost lazily up the grand staircase and into the great hall. Here Shessarans were everywhere, lurking by the walls, all in their formal plaids, long knives at their hips. Al-Khalid was arguing with Adyn ddim-Laeryn, about what, it just didn’t seem important anymore. For a moment, Efan considered ddim-Laeryn, might he not be more worthy? Then he brushed it aside. He knew the only way he could restore his honor.
“For Laeryn!” he screamed, and dashed at al-Khalid, revealing the knife in his right hand.
Quick as a flash, half of the Shessarans assembled rose up and plunged their knives into the weak points of the Halladis’ body armor.
Al-Khalid saw his men crumple, went for his sidearm, but Efan got their first, swinging the knife down. Al-Khalid abandoned the firearm and blocked Efan’s wrist, but not quite fast enough, and Efan scored a long cut down his arm. Efan’s fist cracked into his jaw and the Halladi flipped backwards onto the map table, scattering pins and diagrams everywhere. The veteran Halladi commander fought to right himself, but Efan was on top of him, bringing down the knife- and then crack!
It hung in the air like a whipshot, and a sudden silence filled the room, none moving, as Efan’s corpse toppled from the table, and al-Khalid fought to right himself, meeting the unforgiving eyes of Adyn ddim-Laeryn, holding out a long, arcane-looking pistol in his right hand.
There was a long silence among the Shessarans. Then- “Death to the outcaste!” and roughly half of those assembled bore down on Adyn, who roared back in their faces “Laeryn gorchfygol, wyrion bryd haearn, rhuthrwch!” The old Laeryn battlecry, it was; unheard since the deposition of Adyn’s grandfather.
There was a silence, and the room split into chaos. All of them howling “Laeryn!” the Shessarans laid into one another with sword and pistol, and all was confusion for a few minutes before suddenly there was only one group standing, about fifteen men, eying al-Khalid and Adyn.
Adyn grimaced. “Pa rydych chi gweini, wyrion Laeryn?”
“Chi, Tywysog,” the first of them whispered. “Chi.”
And they knelt, all of them, and Adyn felt tears in his eyes and blinked them away. “Come, Halladi, we must get out of here.”
“Impossible,” al-Khalid retorted. “First, my men…”
There was a loud crack and scream from outside.
“Your men cannot be saved,” Adyn growled back.
“Second, I do not trust you.”
“You have my word as a Laeryn,” Adyn said.
Al-Khalid paused and looked him in the eye, thoughtfully. “Your cousin has made that name mean less than I saw it mean ten minutes ago.”
“I hope to make it mean something again,” Adyn replied evenly, and al-Khalid reluctantly nodded.

They fled into the trenches, a few Halladis seen desperately fighting Shessarans who had come from the wrong side of the trench; al-Khalid stopped several times as if to go to their aid but Adyn grabbed him by the hand and pulled him on. Like shadows, the fifteen men that had called Adyn lord followed them.
“There’s an old well shaft,” the first one who had spoken, Geraint, said. “If we can reach that, there’s a passageway from it that leads to an old gully. We’ll have to swim five feet, but we can make it.”
Adyn nodded curtly. “Lead on.”
Al-Khalid dashed a look sideways at him. “You trust these men?”
“Do I have any other option?” Adyn shot back dryly, and the Halladi bowed his head, a fencer acknowledging a hit.
Then they were off and running, shots all around them, confused cries abounding, and then they were scrambling up and over a stone circular wall and down a long, rusted ladder. One of the Shessarans with them screamed and fell, clutching his back, but no man stopped.
Then they were all in darkness, clambering down, and then they were ankle-deep in water. The Shessarans clasped hands, each joining with the next, until finally Adyn’s slender hand took al-Khalid’s rough, broad one. Then they shuffled forward, their feet freezing in the ice-cold water. How long they walked, none could say. It could have been twenty minutes, or two hours. Each man tried his hardest not to think about the present situation.
Suddenly they were jerked forward. “Each man, walk forward holding your breath,” Geraint hissed. “You will fall into deep water. Swim forward and feel the ceiling above you with one hand. Eventually you will feel nothing- you are outside.”
And one by one they did so, Adyn going last. Finally it was his turn, and he ran forward, dropping with a titanic splash into the pitch-black water. He threw off his plaid cloak and kicked forward, through the freezing, lightless depths, until suddenly someone was grabbing his arm and setting him upright.
It was night- and it was silent. Turning about Adyn saw a faint reddish glow and heard… music?
“What is that?” al-Khalid hissed.
“Victory celebration,” Adyn said softly. “Braedd Laeryn will be jolly this night.”
“He doesn’t know whom he almost caught, milord!” Geraint said.
“General al-Khalid, we will take you as far as your border,” Adyn said. “Then I and my men will take to the hills, and in time, we will reach Eldidd and Prince Cyridd. I pray that when the war comes you will remember that not all Shessarans are mad butchers.”

When the Halladis were stabbed in the back by those who joined Laeryn's side, there was confusion in the ranks. An assault from both sides led to the deaths of many, far too many. There had been one call for retreat on the radio, before it went off. At the keep, the Halladis fought as best they could against those Shessarans turned against them. For their fortunes, they were coordinated and trained and loaded up what was possible in those few crucial minutes. Few made it back from the front, but many were still fighting through trying to make it back. With their last ounce of fuel, the Halladi planes ignored the airfield at the keep and headed for safer skies, soon reaching the safety of Halladi Air Defense. On the ground, the soldiers boarded their helicopters and whatever else could be acquired. A seizable force vehicles loaded men into -- and on top of -- them, and they headed in the one safe direction -- Hallad. Two-thousand five hunded had been there and of them this is their fate:

Eight hundred wounded, five hundred of them air lifted before their Shessaran allies turned traitor. Most of the rest were carried out in the final evacuation, the rest were slaughtered by Laeryn's soldiers, though it is said they fought to the bitter end and the more superstitious of the Halladis say they were each met in Heaven by 72 virgins.

One thousand two hundred dead -- killed in valiant battle, fighting to the end for salvation, glory, and the ever-dimming hope that they would get out alive.

The rest lived to tell the tail unharmed.

It was estimated that they took with them, however, many times their own number in Shessaran dead. The exact number could never truly be known -- the Shessarans were backwards, uncivilized, and hardly knew how many had been there in the first place, much less how many had died.

In Premier Hasan Muhammad office he received the news. Jabir Yusuf, Commissar of War and Defense, broke the news to him. Yusuf was older, a former General in the Red Army, and a devout Muslim. He sat down in the padded chair in front of Muhammad desk and spoke through his large, graying beard like a father breaking the news of a loved ones death to his son. "Hasan," he said, calmly, collected, and slowly. "Hasan, there has been an incident."

"There's always an incident, Jabir," replied Muhammad, almost sarcastically. He was doing paper work, only half paying attention.

"With Shessara," added the Commissar.

"Allahumma," the Prime Minister spoke. Oh God. "What has happened now? Trouble on the border?"

"Worse, much worse. You recall the engineers that we had sent to build modern roads in Shessara."

"I do," he frowned. "They were killed?"

"Some were." Yusuf frowned also. "It seems the master of the Lord who had hired them did not approve of this. He raised an army and attacked both our comrades and the Shessaran we were working with. I know, I should have alerted you sooner, but-"

"Sooner? This is old news?"

"Hasan, please, I had to make a quick decision, I had to send in soldiers."

"You did, what?"

Jabir stood and put both his hands on the desk. "Hasan, calm down, I had to make a snap decision. I sent in Republican Guard units, a battle erupted, and many of those engineers are killed. They fought too, as best they could, but were overwhelmed." He paused and there was an air of tension. "Hasan, Laeryn is at it again. Provoking us."

"It was Laeryn who did this," asked Muhammad, as if outraged that the name had been spoken.

"Yes, he amassed a large army -- thousands -- in order to show off his strength to us, to challenge us."

"Idiot," said Muhammad. "I won't have it. I've been trying harder than ever to get Hallad back on the map, to make us known as a great nation again, and I will not have him -- that, that Butcher! -- challenging Halladi dominance. This area is our territory... If Laeryn does this now, next it'll be the Doomani in the Halladi strait. No, you made the right call, Jabir. I will call an immediate session of the Assembly-- if it's war he wants, they he will have it."

"Shall I prepare units to retaliate?"

"Yes, comrade, we will make him pay."

It was the next day when the response came from the Halladi government. War. Bloody, dangerous war. It worried many, especially those in the North. They became on edge. They began to see a military presence. The militias began to begin activities.

For Yazid al-Shura, this was all very worrying. Just a day ago, he had escorted a Shessaran to the border. From there, it looked like the war had started without an official declaration. There was fire, artillery, loud noises -- it looked like hell and he feared it would spill over into Hallad. War was fine, but war near his village was not. He had a wife and three children -- he had joined the militia to protect them, but never had he truly expected to be needed in combat.

That night, though, he tuned into the radio. With his wife, who he held tight. The Premier was speaking tonight, live from the National Worker's Assembly. The children were tucked away for the night, he did not want to worry them.

"My fellow Halladis, my comrades, my friends.

"I must inform you now that the Arab Worker's Republic of Hallad is now in a State of War with the Shessaran Laeryn clan. This has officially been enacted earlier today after an emergency session of the National Worker's Assembly.

"It is difficult to live in war-times, but I assure you life shall continue as normal. The government of Hallad and its military is devoted to defending its people and our Arab and Socialist way of life. Laeryn, the Butcher of Buraydah, shall not enter Halladi soil and if it is war he desires, it shall be on his territory this time. Let his people feel the burden of death and war, for we Halladis have had enough of it.

"We shall prevail, comrades.

"Wahda, Hurriya, Istirakiya!"